The Same Coin

Taken One Off

Even though it was summer, the Republic of Tentai was much further north than Yorknew City. The night was cooler. She wouldn't have been able to sleep outside on a balcony here — though she had somehow spent most of the day asleep in bed. She felt so tired today after traveling for so long the day before. She rubbed her eyes to clear the fogginess of exhaustion from them.

Tonight she'd dressed in gray pants and a plain white shirt, then paired brown boots with her matching leather jacket. Her hair was down, and she hadn't bothered checking her reflection before she left.

Winry had been worried she would be underdressed for the fight — she didn't know how big of an event she could expect it to be — but seeing Pakunoda and Machi in casual clothes when she arrived in the lobby reassured her. Machi's outfit had changed only in that she was wearing a longsleeved uwagi with black pants. Pakunoda was wearing the same as she had been earlier.

"Chrollo is in the car," Machi told her curtly.

Winry followed them out, and her footsteps hiccuped when she saw a limousine idling at the curb. The door opened as the women approached, and Nobunaga stepped out. While they three had done little in the way of dressing up, Nobunaga had dressed in a navy blue suit. He looked surprisingly debonaire, but Winry did not miss the sword sheathed at his hip. He tilted his head and gestured for her to climb into the car.

Winry ducked in, then backed away in surprise.

Familiar gray eyes rose to meet hers, but for a moment that was all she recognized. The man before her had dark, slicked back hair and there was a cross tattoo on his forehead. He was shirtless beneath a dark purple trench coat that was lined with a high collar of white fur, and a pair of jade pendant earrings hung from his ears. Unearthly beauty.

"Winry-san," he acknowledged with a bow of his head.

"Chrollo," she whispered, inching further in the vehicle. She approached him cautiously, her eyes surveying him. "What—What is this about?"

She gestured at his clothing. He was almost beyond recognition. Chrollo dropped his head and gave a quiet, amused chuckle.

"You were so good as to tell me so much about yourself," he said, "and I am ashamed I did not return the favor."

Winry felt a nudge at her side, and saw Machi was beside her, waiting for her to move over. The only direction she could go was closer to Chrollo. She shifted herself to sit by his side reluctantly, and Machi, Pakunoda, and Nobunaga climbed in. Something about Chrollo had changed. His... aura, for lack of a better word, felt different. Colder. It was as though he had put a mask on — or, perhaps, he had taken one off.

Chrollo, in this moment, reminded her of Hisoka.

"I don't know anyone who has hit him and lived," Hisoka had said of Chrollo.

Her concerns about Hisoka had returned in spades when she'd seen the tickets were to his match.

She didn't believe in coincidence, and the odds were low that he simply just happened to spend enough money for her to receive a trip to the Republic of Tentai, which just happened to include tickets to his fight. No. He had plans of some sort for her, and she was completely in the dark as to what they were. Hisoka would be putting himself in her path again, she knew it.

Perhaps Ed was right, she worried. Maybe she should have just gone home.

"Heavens Arena is my...home," Chrollo told her. "The closest place I have to a home now — meaning I have a room there that is always mine to return back to when I wish." He seemed to read her expression easily, because he continued, "Heavens Arena is a battle site where combatants come to compete; there are 251 floors. After the 100th floor you are given your own room. After the 200th floor, you fight for honor instead of money. The highest ranked competitors are given their own floor, and are known as Floor Masters."

He paused, and Winry was quick to connect the dots.

"You are a Floor Master at Heavens Arena," she said. Chrollo nodded. "Hisoka also fights there — and he is fighting tonight." He nodded again.

"Tonight is Hisoka's fight to advance to the 200th floor. He is facing a fighter named Kastro, it's their first time facing each other. Kastro is also fighting for a position on the 200th floor."

Winry found herself asking, against her better judgment, "Is it safe to fight against Hisoka?" Chrollo gave a smile that made him more familiar to her.

"Kastro has shown himself to be very capable, but Hisoka is formidable. Whether Kastro dies is at Hisoka's discretion."

"They would allow someone to be killed?"

"After reaching the 200th floor it is, and in agreed upon death matches. This is not one, but I would not put it past Hisoka to kill if it pleased him to do so, no matter what the rules say."

"How strong is Hisoka?" Winry asked.

Machi, Pakunoda, and Nobunaga all averted their eyes. Chrollo did not answer for a long moment.

"I am stronger, but I would prefer not to fight Hisoka without preparation," Chrollo admitted. "I still have not learned everything I would like to know about his techniques, and Hisoka the Magician is crafty and shrewd. I will be watching him closely tonight."

Winry lowered her eyes. He'd confirmed her gut instincts with regard to Hisoka — he was dangerous. But now she had learned that Chrollo was dangerous, too. He, however, had slipped past all her guards. He had been beguiling. Disarming. She never would have suspected it.

She didn't know why she should be surprised, though. Edward was the most powerful person she knew, and everyone who looked in his direction saw only a pint-size kid — not a skilled State Alchemist. Appearances could be deceiving. It would serve her well to remember that in the future.

She looked at Chrollo's companions with new eyes — studying Pakunoda, Machi, and Nobunaga more carefully now. Perhaps she had not considered them closely enough either.

"I've arranged for your seat to be moved so that you are sitting with us, instead of sitting alone," Chrollo said.

"Thank you."

She had been prepared to be on her own and, even though she suddenly had newfound doubts about Chrollo, he was a wolf she would rather have by her side if she had the choice.

The limousine arrived at the restaurant, and they emerged one-by-one. Winry stumbled slightly as she climbed out — someone caught her, and she put her hands on them to steady herself. Her eyes dilated when she saw it was Chrollo standing with his arm around her, even though he had still been in the limousine while she'd been getting out. How had he moved so quickly?

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Winry nodded, drawing her hands away. The warmth he radiated had not escaped her notice. Her cheeks pinkened with embarrassment.

"I haven't eaten yet today, so I'm feeling a little weak," she admitted. "Let's go inside," he said. "We all need to be in top form around Hisoka."