Runaway (Chrollo X Reader)

Chapter Three: Training and Results

       "Since your aura nodes are already open we will start with Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu," Chrollo says, his voice echoing off the walls in the underground training room. The walls are comprised of cinder blocks and the floor is concrete. Overhead the fluorescent lights hum a lackluster tune.

       I listen as he explains each of the four basic techniques and retain the knowledge to the best of my ability. Ten is enveloping myself with my aura, allowing it to flow out without flowing away from my body. Zetsu is cutting off the flow of aura entirely. Ren is forcing a larger amount of aura to be put out of my body. Apparently if I were to put malicious intent behind my use of Ren it would be translated by others as bloodlust. Hatsu is ultimately my own personal expression of Nen. I interpret this as more of the act of releasing my Nen in a more offensive manner. Chrollo says we will touch more on Hatsu once I master the first three, but we still spend about an hour on it a day.

       We drill the four main techniques for two and a half weeks. Sometimes the other members will check in, but most of the time it's just the two of us. There isn't much time for conversation though.

       Today I go down to the training room before he does. With my life on the line I need to make sure that I do everything in my power to get the results Chrollo so desires.

       "Good morning Y/N," Hisoka purrs from the doorway.

       I roll my eyes behind closed lids. I like most everyone else in the troupe, but him I could do without. Maybe if I ignore him he'll leave.

       "As a princess I would have thought you had better manners than to ignore someone addressing you." His breath is hot against my cheek.

       I jump back, nearly falling on my rear save for his long fingers wrapping around my wrist at the last possible second. Once I'm safely on my feet I rip my arm from his grasp making a mental note to scrub the skin he touched thoroughly when I bathe later.

       "I didn't mean to startle you, sweet princess," he coos. He picks up a section of my H/C hair and twirls it around his finger. "I sensed you down here and wanted to come and check on your progress."

Someone clears their throat behind Hisoka. "It would be in your best interest not to lay a finger on her again," Chrollo says calmly, but with enough authority that it sends chills down my spine.

Hisoka's shoes click away and he doesn't breathe another word.

Seeing the slicked back hair and cross tattoo of the pale leader settles my nerves. In his hands is a glass of water with a leaf floating in the middle. He places it on the makeshift table he made from a crate in the corner of the room and beckons me over.

"Place your hands next to the glass and perform Ren," his silky voice instructs.

I do as he says though I'm not sure what it will accomplish. Almost instantly the water turns a blood red color and the leaf twitches slightly before turning 90 degrees.

"Did I do something wrong?" I move my hands away from the glass and look at the amused expression on Chrollo's face.

His voice gives way to a chuckle. "You, my dear are an Emitter and it also appears your inclination for Manipulation is strong. Stay here for a moment."

A few minutes pass before he returns with Franklin and Shalnark in tow.

"So you're an Emitter?" The scarred man half smiles.

"The Boss also says the leaf moved," the bright green-eyed blond chimes in.

Suddenly the tips of Franklin's fingers pop off. Shalnark signals for me to cover my ears, so I do right before a volley of bullets shoot out of Franklin's fingertips.

Once the gun fire stops, his fingers return to normal and I remove my hands. He smiles at the countless holes he's created in the opposite wall.

"As an Emitter you can separate your aura from your body," the big guy explains. "I do this with my Double Machine Gun and fire off Nen bullets. It's pretty effortless and gets the job done."

Shalnark holds up his oddly shaped cell phone. "I'm a Manipulator." He pulls out a needles with a bat adorning the top. "If I stick this into anyone I can control them with an ability I call Black Voice. The person under my control then does whatever I tell them to do, much like a toy. I can make my toys kill, steal, talk, basically anything." Never once does his smile falter.

They talk so nonchalantly about using their abilities to kill people. What is it the Phantom Troupe does? I'm not sure Chrollo ever said.

"So, Y/N," Chrollo smiles. "As I said you appear to have an affinity for both Emission and Manipulation. I'll give you two days to think about what abilities you might like to work on. Once you have those figured out, our training will heavily focus on mastering those abilities. Then we will move onto more advanced applications of Nen."

With that, we all head back up to the main level of the manor. Shalnark hops over the back of the couch, sitting between Phinks and Feitan. The three of them are playing an odd looking video game. One of the avatars on the screen just launched a winged blue turtle shell that hit one of the other avatars.

"Feitan!" Phinks shouts. Shalnark ducks right in time for Phinks' fist to hammer down on Fei's head.

The short man laughs maniacally as he passes the green mustached character I now know to be Phinks'.

Shalnark hounds them about how he thought he left the game paused when the boss asked him to come downstairs.

"We're thieves, liars and murderers," Phinks begins.

"Not above cheating," Feitan finishes.

I spot Machi and Paku sitting in the breakfast nook thumbing through magazines. Nobunaga and Uvogin are sparring in the small space outside, occasionally throwing the other into the wall of the cave they've built this structure inside of. Shizuku and Kortopi are playing a game a chess. Franklin is making a sandwich. Bonolenov is nowhere to be seen and Hisoka is watching everyone from a dark corner while shuffling his cards. This is the new normal I've grown accustom to since leaving the kingdom.

"Feel free to ask the troupe for any inspiration," Chrollo's warm breath tickles my ear. He's standing behind me, awfully close. "When you have ability ideas come let me know." He quietly steals away to his study, where he spends most of his time after we end our training each day. I've tried asking the troupe what it is he does in there, but they can only speculate.

"You're already done for the day?" Uvogin's voice booms as he and Nobunaga partially limp back inside.

I nod my head.

"She's an Emitter with a high affinity for Manipulation," Shalnark announces to all in the room.

"I have to think of what abilities I want to use," I say. "I have a decent grasp on both types, but thinking of something that would be useful is where I get stuck. I know that a simple way to use emission would be turning my Nen into a projectile of some sort and that manipulation can be used on living and non-living things."

"We can help you bounce ideas," Nobunaga offers, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"It might come to that, but I want to think about it on my own for a bit." I smile at him. "I do have a question." They all look at me. The noise from the tv stops, causing me to second guess if I should ask them. Deciding to be as fearless as them I clear my throat. "What exactly does the Phantom Troupe do?"