Wanted

"That really happened to you?" Mayu marveled. Aya nodded, nibbling on a piece of bread. They were sitting in their Spot, backs against the car walls. Aya had just given Mayu the book launching into her story about the strange encounter at the bookstore.

"You really don't know that man?" Mayu asked for the fifth time since Aya began telling that story.

Aya shook her head vehemently. "I have no idea who he was. I've never seen him before. Have you? Did he maybe mistake me for you?"

"No, I don't think so. He doesn't sound like the kind of person either of us would know…"

Aya silently agreed. The man was obviously educated and richly dressed—poor orphans living in junkyards did not mix with people of such high caliber.

"You're right, Mayu. Perhaps he mistook me for someone else."

"Yeah. That's the only reason I can think of," Mayu agreed.

Aya finished off the last of her bread and dusted the crumbs off her hands. "So what were you up to, Mayu? How was your visit with Raen?"

"It was fun," Mayu said contently. "I taught him a little bit about the solar system. I think he liked it."

"That's good," Aya nodded. Aya quite liked Raen. He was a bright kid—a little weak sometimes, but always trying. And since he didn't go to school, Mayu sometimes taught him things she learned from books. Mayu loved that he was a fast learner. And Raen wanted to learn everything—completely indiscriminate with the things he wanted to know.

Sometimes he asked Aya to teach him things as well. But Mayu and Dixie would have been horrified if they knew that Raen was asking Aya for the ins-and-outs of how to be a successful thief so Aya shooed him away.

"By the way, Aya," Mayu suddenly said. "I'm thinking about getting a job."

"Oh?" Aya blinked back in surprise. "What kind of job?"

"Maybe a clerk or shopkeeper. Not a lot of places would take in uneducated orphaned teens, so it'd have to be simple."

"That's true," Aya agreed, though she pursed her lips in displeasure. It's not like they could help being orphans. And Mayu was plenty smart even without having gone to school.

"I'm just telling you I'll be job-hunting starting tomorrow so I might be away for most of day," Mayu explained.

"…Will you be alone?"

"Yes."

"…That's dangerous."

"You can't come with me," Mayu warned immediately because she knew exactly what Aya was going to say. "If there's a job interview, I can't have you there. What would I say? 'Oh, yes, this is my overprotective big sister. Please excuse her. She's just looking out for me.' I can't appear all sheltered like that. I need to seem confident and independent."

Aya was about to protest when Mayu cut in again.

"I know you're worried, but I'm fifteen now." Mayu made a pause to check and see if Aya was listening before continuing. "I have to learn to start taking care of myself. You can't just keep babying me, Aya. I want to be able to do my own things too. It's not fair to me nor you if I just sit back while you take care of us both. I'll feel like a burden, even if you don't think it. I just want to be able to contribute my share too now that I'm able. So please respect my decision."

When Mayu finished with a bright pleading smile, Aya remained completely silent. Honestly, she didn't know what to say. She didn't want Mayu to go, but Mayu seemed so determined. She couldn't possibly believe that Mayu, with her puffy cheeks and sweet, innocent eyes could handle being on her own. No, it really was impossible. And "be independent"? Of her? Truth was that Aya really did want Mayu to live a life without her—but she imagined it would have come in the form of Mayu falling in love and marrying a nice man who would take Mayu into his lovely suburban home where they'd lead normal, civilian lives together. And then Aya wouldn't have to take care of her anymore. She'd finally be satisfied knowing Mayu was safe with a person she loved… a person Aya approved of first.

"So?"

"No."

Mayu huffed. "I'm going with or without your permission, Aya!" Mayu asserted, deathly serious.

Aya blinked as a hazy little memory conjured by the echo of her words surfaced in her mind. It's been years since she's heard Mayu argue against her. And that time, Aya gave in. But this time...

Aya shook her head.

"Alright. Do you best," she sighed.

Mayu always won.

"Really? Thank you!"

Mayu was ecstatic, which Aya believed was the only good outcome of this talk. Still, she resigned herself to the fact she could never go against Mayu. Maybe Aya was weaker than she thought.

When Mayu settled down, she realized logically, her sister would have never said yes. Perhaps there was a catch?

Mayu raised an eyebrow. "You can't follow me."

"I won't," Aya smiled, bemusement mixed with sincerity. "I trust you."

"…I better not see you around the southern district tomorrow."

"I'll stay with Raen tomorrow. I won't come close to you."

"…Okay, good." Mayu said, trusting and cheerful once again. "Good… and thank you."

Aya grinned. "You're welcome."

"The Phantom Troupe," Chrollo announced.

Chrollo stood in the center of a clearing, surrounded by six people—four men and two women. Each have earned his respect as capable fighters and exceptionally intelligent people. But most importantly, they were… similar to him in many ways. And they all held him in high regard as well. These were the people he had known for years and they were the closest to home he had. He trusted them.

And today, he gathered them to explain his vision.

"You will address me as Danchou. There will be thirteen members. I'll be the head and you will be the body. The rule is to follow the orders given by the head. My orders are your priority…" he paused to look each of them in the eye. "…But my life is not. I'm a part of the spider too. What's important is not that I live, but the spider survives."

Uvogin, Nobunaga, Franklin, Machi, Feitan, and Pakunoda listened to him without a word. They didn't have to say anything for Chrollo to understand—they accepted.

At that exact moment, the Spider was born. The world would know chaos.

"Are there any questions?" Chrollo asked.

Machi, the youngest, raised her hand. "Danchou, what will we be doing?"

"Killing and stealing, mostly," he answered smoothly. Machi's reaction showed she was satisfied. Feitan looked pleased as well.

Chrollo looked around to see if there were any more questions. No one raised their hands.

"I will be determining the remaining members over the next few months. You are all free to do as you wish until I contact you. Dismissed."

"Aya, you are restless today," Raen observed quietly from the floor of the hut.

Aya flipped around suddenly, staring at Raen with wide eyes. Aya had been sitting by the window, staring out distractedly the whole day. She realized she was fidgeting too when Raen called out to her.

"You know the world 'restless' now, huh, Raen?" Aya laughed. She got off her chair and seated herself beside the boy who was playing with some broken action figures. Aya and Mayu found them when they were scavenging the dumps.

Raen grinned. "Aren't I smart?"

"Don't get ahead of yourself," Aya teased.

Raen shrugged and toyed with his action figures some more. "So what is Mayu doing now that you're concerned about?"

"You know me so well," Aya said with a smile, taking one of Raen's action figures for herself. She moved around some of the limbs absent mindedly as she talked. "Mayu is trying to find a job, but I don't know. I don't like the idea of leaving her alone. She's visiting a bunch of stores on her own, asking to be hired. It's just not safe. She's so easy to take advantage of that way—more so than usual, I mean."

Raen listened attentively. "So why don't you go with her?"

"She thinks I'm bothering her. She says I'm babying her so she made me promise to stay away."

"You are pretty overprotective of her," Raen commented. "You're protective of me and Aunt Dixie too, but Mayu is on another level."

Aya looked away guiltily. She didn't want Raen to think she didn't care about him and Dixie. But it was true that Mayu's importance exceeded theirs.

She tried to laugh it off. "…Haha. I like you guys too, but it's just… Mayu is my sister and she's not as strong." Then, with an assuring smile, she added, "You'll grow up to be very strong one day, Raen. I can trust you to take care of yourself when the time comes."

Raen smiled. "I'm not blaming you. We understand. But thank you."

Aya sighed wistfully. Raen was such a good kid. She wished she could afford to treat him better… but nothing could change the fact Mayu was her most valuable person. Aya frowned regretfully and silently pulled Raen in for a hug, which Raen accepted embarrassedly. He was in that stage where he didn't like to be touched or shown affection, but he couldn't reject the person who saved his life seven years ago.

"I'm sure Mayu will be fine, Aya. Why don't you just wait for her at the border of the southern district if you're so worried?"

Aya hesitated. "But Dixie hasn't returned yet. Will you be okay alone?"

"I'll be fine. You said I was strong, remember?" Raen assured. "Just go, Aya."

Aya pat him on the shoulder affectionately. "Thanks, Raen. See you later."

Every day for a month, Mayu went out to find a job, but ultimately came back tired and disappointed. Aya would be waiting for her at the border every evening to comfort her and walk her back to the Spot. At first, Mayu objected, but ultimately gave in when she was assured Aya hadn't been following her—just waiting for her.

"Are you still not giving up?"

"No, I'm not. I'll find work. Just give me time."

"Alright."

At the month's end, it was starting to get colder. It was less practical to be waiting outside alone in the that sort of weather. Still, Aya came to stand at the corner of the district after dropping off her day's "earnings" at Dixie's. As always, she waited patiently, though today she could feel goosebumps forming. It was chilly. Aya shivered, not particularly dressed up for the weather. She had thrown on a sweater over her usual shirt, but still wore her summer shorts. She stared worriedly in the distance. Mayu must have walked around a lot today in the cold. Had she dressed up warmly enough? What if she got sick? Aya started hopping up and down, impatiently trying to spot her sister.

Suddenly, she heard a voice—and it was not Mayu's. "Oh, it's you."

She turned around to see a tall, middle-aged man down the block looking at her. He started walking towards her as Aya observed silently.

He was losing his hair—Aya could tell by the way it was combed over. He had a pair of black sunglasses and wore a black suit, tightly fitted to the point she could see the outline of a hidden gun in his breast pocket. The man's body language was casual, but dominating. He kept his grubby hands in his pockets—he probably had some hidden weapon in it, prepared to use it at all times.

It all screamed mafia. Aya hesitated.

He looked drunk. It was still early evening. Aya tilted her head in thought. It was almost always easier to avoid drunks by acting normal. Don't instigate a fight; just let them go their way.

"Do I know you, sir?" she politely asked when he stopped right in front of her.

"Huh? 'Course, don't you remember?" he slurred. "Anyway, I've got a great offer for you. Come with me." He grabbed her arm and forcibly started dragging her. Aya, who had been dumbfounded by his weird insistence he knew her, was too slow to react. When it hit her though, she tried to wring her arm free to no avail.

Fuck. What now?

She decided to keep up the innocent girl façade for now. Maybe he'll let her go when he realizes she wasn't who he was looking for. If not, it would stall for time as she thought up an escape plan.

"Sir?" Aya said confusedly, forcing herself to remain polite even though she was already trying to think ways to break his hold., "Sir, where are you taking me? I don't know you!" He just grunted unhelpfully.

She was getting angry now. Her face go red in anger and her demeanor took a turn for the worse. "Hey, let me go!" she said, switching to full throttle mode. First, she tried twisting her arm away and using her free hand to push him off, but his grip was iron. Fuck. She switched tactics. With her other arm, she grabbed a section of his sleeve and pulled herself up to knee him in the back.

It worked. He dropped his hold on her from the sudden shock. Then, without sparing a second glance to check on his condition, Aya began running in the opposite direction at full speed.

But evidently, she wasn't fast enough.

She fell face first into the pavement. "Fuck!" she hissed from the pain. The bullet hit her right leg. It wasn't lethal, but she wouldn't be able to run away easily now. She raised her head to look back at the man, who ran up to her and hoisted her over his shoulder.

"Oh, you're really going to pay for that... Come on!"

"What the fuck! I don't even know you!" Aya screamed. "Someone help! HELP!"

"Oh, shut up, kid! We're almost there."

He didn't take her very far. The walk was far too short for anyone to have heard Aya's cries and come to her aid. He lived in the building right around the corner and when they arrived, he slammed the door and dropped her unceremoniously on the floor. She watched him lock the door.

"Who the fuck are you?" Aya shouted. She was trying to scramble up, but it was a slow process.

She noticed the room was small, furnished with just a bed, a table, and a stove to the side. There was small alcove where the bathroom was off to the right. And she was lying right between the table and the door.

"Are you kidding me? You came to the club twice last week begging for a job."

Aya blinked back at him, stunned. "What?"

"Don't you remember? You were on your knees, begging, pleading. 'Please, sir!' Haha! Good shit. Got me turned on right away."

"The managers said you were too young, but they know nothing," he scoffed. "I like 'em young. The younger, the better, I'd say. And it doesn't hurt at all if you're desperate and needy too."

"What the hell are you talking about, you dirty old man?" Aya said, panicking. The image of Mayu pleading for a job in some disgusting club full of leering eyes flashed into her mind. Mayu… WHAT THE FUCK.

"You wanted a job? I'm offering you one right now," he grinned sadistically. "Play with me and I'll give you 50,000 jennys. Not bad for a little orphan girl like you, eh? I gotta say, I really wanted you, but the managers were just saying no. Those fuckers know nothin'."

"Play with you? No way in hell, motherfucker! Stay the fuck away from me and my sister!" Aya shrieked. She crawled over to the chair… and threw it at him. It landed right on target, hitting him in the stomach. But there was no time to celebrate. She hoisted herself up with the help of the table leg and tried to limp quickly to the door. She had her hand at the doorknob. She needed to get out. She needed to find Mayu and—

Bam.

"FUCK!"

Another bullet. Another leg.

"'Your sister,' you said?" he repeated coldly. "So it's not you. She had a sister. You're the girl's sister."

Aya didn't respond. She could only lay there on the floor, clutching her leg and gasping for air. The man walked over to her. Aya could still see the smoke emitting from the gun in his hand. He bent over and stuck his face uncomfortably close to hers.

She clenched her jaw and waited, eyes closed, for the cold metal of the gun to press against her head. She waited for the worst to come. She waited for a bullet to break her skull and blow her brains out.

But that wasn't it. She only heard cold slimy words as someone's mouth whispered disgustingly into her ear.

"…Oh, how fun." Shivers ran up her spine. "It did seem strange seeing how demure you were last time. So it was your sister who came to me tears in her eyes, begging and pleading. And you… you're the protective older one, I'm guessing."

Aya said nothing. She had obviously said enough. She had made the situation worse by talking.

"Does your leg hurt? Do you want to see a doctor?" he said in a mocking gentle tone. "Tell you what. I'm a merciful man. I'll take you to the doctor if you obey me and listen to everything I say. I'm an excellent marksman so I'll tell you right now I didn't hit anywhere that would cause you to die right away. You won't bleed to death for another five hours, at least. That's plenty of time. So we can take it slow… you and me."

Aya couldn't believe that just one minute ago, she thought the bullet through her head was the worst possible outcome.

"…I'd rather die."

The man laughed heartily. "You're in no condition to refuse. If you decline… well, I'll still fuck you. I'll fuck you, then leave you here to bleed to death while I go find your sister. If you agree, however, I'll take you to the doctor and I won't touch your sister. And…" He rubbed his oily chin with his fat fingers. "After you recover, we can make this a regular thing."

Aya was listening. He could tell she was listening.

As loathe as she was to do anything for this man, she had to play by his rules now—he knew that. She had to seriously weigh her options if she wanted to survive—or wanted Mayu to survive.

And there was only one option that made sense.

He watched as Aya suddenly raised her fists… and brought them down to the floorboards. The floorboards weren't scratched… but her knuckles were bleeding. He grinned; she was pissed.

"…Okay," she finally said.

He laughed heartily. "Smart girl. Good choice. Should I help you take off your clothes or would you like to do it yourself?"

She wanted to spit on him. "…Myself."

Aya began with her sweater, slowly pulling it over her head as she racked her brain for ideas to handle this situation. She was still weak and definitely couldn't run, but… if he was distracted in the middle of intercourse… maybe she could steal his gun and kill him. She had never killed anyone before… but she was willing to try.

She looked again at his piggish face.

Very willing.

She was going to do it.

Her sweater was off.

Suddenly, the sound of glass breaking resounded through the small room. She turned towards the window, now shattered. The glass fragments were falling to the floor and gathering at someone's feet. Her eyes moved up and saw… a young man standing in the litter of glass, illuminated by the white light from outside. The glow was enhanced by the refraction of light from the glass shards. She thought for a moment, he was shining. But she couldn't see his face. He was turned away from her, instead, facing the old man, who just sat on the bed looking helplessly shocked.

"W-who are you?" the old man shouted, angered.

"It doesn't matter," was the calm response.

Aya's eyes widened. She recognized this voice…

"A-argh!" The old man reached for his gun again, but he was too slow. The young man slashed his chest open with a knife. Had he always been holding a knife? Aya couldn't remember. She could only watch the old man fall down on the bed, painting the bedsheets with his blood.

The intruder sheathed the knife before coming to kneel down beside Aya. She just stared at him stupefied.

His eyes… They were like black holes—no light whatsoever.

"He's dead," he explained to her apathetically as he examined her injuries. She nodded dumbly. Deeming her unable to walk, he picked her up in his arms. She was too shocked to protest.

"I'll explain in a bit. For now, let's go somewhere else."

AN: Umm... hmmm... I remember not enjoying writing the scene with the mafia guy. I don't know. It was really disgusting, haha.

HMM, I WONDER WHO MYSTERIOUS RESCUER IS.