Chapter Twenty Three
Chrollo, Pakunoda, Phinks, and Hisoka watched from the shadows as Ayami skated through the marketplace picking pockets as she went and hiding her loot in her jacket, completely unaware that she was being watched. She beamed when she fell into step next to two boys and started chatting happily.
"Get anything good?" The white haired one asked. Ayami grinned, pulling her hands out of her pockets revealing two large diamond rings and a pearl bracelet in one hand and a handful of wallets in the other. "Nice!" The boy laughed, taking her loot and stuffing it in his pockets. "We'll run these to the pawn shop later."
"I still feel bad about stealing." The dark haired one whined.
"Dude the jewelry alone is worth almost a million. Besides I only stole from people who could afford it." Ayami promised. The dark haired boy sighed but nodded. "I'm gonna head back out." Ayami grinned and skated away.
"What's the plan boss?" Phinks asked seriously as they followed the young girl. He couldn't believe Aya was here. The entire Troupe was devastated when Ayami went missing, especially the founding members, who had known her since the day she was born. Ayami was one of the reasons Chrollo had founded the Troupe in the first place, not wanting his daughter to grow up in Meteor City, never sure where her next meal would come from. Chrollo never really recovered from losing his daughter and Phinks wasn't sure he could do it again.
"We have to get her home without drawing attention to ourselves, the city can't know we're here yet. Ayami's smart, getting her away from here won't be easy. If she doesn't recognise us we might have to knock her unconscious, Hisoka." Chrollo looked away from Ayami for the first time since they'd found her. "Call her, get her away from the crowd." Hisoka nodded and called her. Still skating through the crowd, Ayami pulled her phone out and answered.
"Hello?"
"Ayami~"
"Not now Pedo-clown." Ayami hung up and weaved through a few businessmen passing by, grabbing two wallets and a pocket watch as she went. Paku smirked and Phinks snorted. Looking mildly offended Hisoka called again.
"What do you want, Hisoka?"
"Would you like to meet your family~" Hisoka purred. Ayamis eyes narrowed.
"Yes…"
"Wonderful~ There's a ramen shop in Yorknew called Ichiraku. Meet me there in ten minutes~" Hisoka said and hung up. Ayami sighed and headed in that direction, cutting through an alleyway on her way. She felt someone approaching from behind and whipped around, nails sharpened. Much to her shock, the tall blonde caught her wrist before it could connect.
"Hey kiddo! I see you've been practicing. Feitan will be proud." The tall blonde man said, examining her claws and catching her other wrist in a firm but not painful grip when she swung at him. Ayami's blue eyes narrowed, realising he looked familiar.
"Do I know you?" Ayami asked curiously. For some reason she didn't feel threatened, despite the fact that he caught her. Something in his eyes seemed to soften and he smiled at her.
"Sure do kiddo. Do you remember them?" He asked, turning her around and releasing her wrists. Ayamis eyes widened seeing Hisoka and two others standing behind her, they must have been using Zetsu, which meant the man holding her had let her sense him intentionally.
Hisoka stood next to a tall woman with short blond hair and a revealing office outfit and a tall man wearing long pants and an opened fur coat. Her breath rushed out of her when she saw his face. He looked so familiar her heart ached and for some reason her blue eyes welled with tears.
"I know you…" Ayami whispered. He was in every one of her broken and scattered memories. The man smiled at her, eyes damp and stepped forward, tracing a hand over her cheek.
"My Ayami… I've missed you, my darling girl." Chrollo said. "Do you know who I am?"
"I'm sorry, I can't remember." Ayami said, biting her lip. She desperately craved this man's approval.
"It's alright my darling, it's not your fault. Sleep now, it'll be better when you wake up." Chrollo promised. Ayamis eyes widened and Chrollo gently pressed a pressure point on the side of her neck, knocking her out instantly. He caught her when she fell, carefully cradling her against his chest for the first time in six years.
He'd carried her often as a child, the Troupe usually had to move quickly and couldn't be slowed down by a child. Because of her training, Ayami was faster than most adults, but not fast enough to keep up with the Troupe over a long distance. Chrollo hadn't realised how much he'd missed it. He shook himself out of his thoughts and nodded to Pakunoda. Paku reached over and brushed Ayami's bangs out of her face, touching her cheek and scanning her memories.
"She remembers bits and pieces of her life from dreams, but they're blurry and confusing. She's been having them more often, I think if we give her a few of our memories with her the rest may come back naturally." Paku told him. Hisoka watched curiously. He knew that Pakunoda could project memories onto other people, but wasn't sure how. It was a closely guarded secret and only Chrollo knew the process. Chrollo nodded slowly.
"Do it. Phinks, call Shalnark. I want a tracker on Ayami, find out what he needs and get it, please. Hisoka, go with him." Chrollo ordered. Phinks nodded and left, dragging Hisoka with him. Pakunoda pulled out her pistol and focused her Nen, conjuring an intangible bullet and pouring her memories into it. "How much are you giving her?" Chrollo asked.
"Not much, I don't want to overwhelm her. I'm just trying to connect some dots and put names and faces to the memories she already has, her subconscious should do the rest on its own." Paku said, focusing on projecting images into the bullet.
A younger Chrollo holding his newborn daughter in his arms, quietly humming a lullaby.
Chrollo, arms open, smiling proudly as the toddler took her first stumbling steps towards him, several people were heard cheering.
Uvogin repeatedly tossing a giggling little girl in the air and catching her, several voices warning him to be careful.
A visibly frustrated Chrollo scolding a two year old Ayami for biting Kaname again. Uvo high fiving her when Chorello turned away.
An older Ayami sitting in Feitan's lap talking in low voices in a language only the two of them knew.
Machi sitting on the floor with Ayami, playing happily with her toys. Ayami squealed in joy when Menchi used ner Nen strings to make the dolls move.
Chrollo walking through the forest, watching Ayami run happily ahead of him.
Nobonuga laying on the floor with Ayami, showing her how to properly hold a paintbrush dipping it into the new paints he'd gotten her for her birthday.
Chrollo sitting next to his daughter quietly reading to her.
Franklin giving Ayami a piggyback ride, letting her tug on his short hair and going whatever way she directs.
Chrollo tucking Ayami into bed, kissing her goodnight.
Pakunoda and Ayami sitting behind Machi, Pakunoda teaching Ayami how to braid Machi's hair.
Chrollo playing with Ayami in the snow.
Ayami sitting in Shalnarks lap, watching him play a game on his phone. She cheered excitedly whenever he made something explode.
Chrollo's proud smile when his four year old shouded herself in Ten.
Phinks tickling a giggling Ayami, a small grin on his face. Ayami tried to get away and Phinks pulled her back by her ankle, tickling her some more.
Chrollo hugging Ayami goodbye before leaving for their last mission.
When she was done, she loaded the bullet into her pistol and pressed the barrel to Ayamis forehead, glancing up at Chrollo for permission. Clenching his jaw at the sight of a gun to his daughter's head, he nodded, and Pakunoda pulled the trigger.