Chapter Twenty Seven
The Phantom Troupe spent the night discussing their plans, and much to Ayamis' annoyance, Chrollo called Illumi for a job. Chrollo chuckled as Ayami pouted.
"Why do you dislike him so, Ayami?" He asked.
"He's a jerk." Ayami grumbled but refused to explain. Chrollo watched her for a moment before smiling.
"How would you like to see your friends?" He asked. Ayamis head snapped up, eyes wide.
"Really?"
"Really." Chrollo caught his daughter when she hugged him excitedly, smiling and running his fingers through her hair.
"When?" Ayami asked eagerly.
"Tomorrow. I'm going to need the whole Troupe for the heist, and I don't want you here alone. You can stay with your friends for the day and I'll pick you up when we're done." Chrollo explained.
"Awesome! I'll let them know." Ayami beamed, pulling out her phone and texting the boys. The next morning Ayami said goodbye to the others and ran to Yorknew with her father, Machi, and Nobonuga following behind her. She ran all the way to the ice cream shop and tackled Gon in a hug when she found him.
"Ayami!" Gon cheered, hugging her tightly. Ayami hopped off him and did the same thing to Killua, who blushed furiously but hugged her back.
"I missed you guys!" Ayami laughed, pulling away and grinning at them brightly. "Where's Leorio?" Ayami asked, not seeing them.
"He said he had to grab something, he'll meet us soon." Gon shrugged. Ayami jumped when her father cleared his throat.
"Oh right! This is my dad, Chrollo, and this is Machi and Nobonuga. These are my friends, Gon and Killua." Ayami introduced.
"It's nice to meet you boys, Ayami has told me a lot about you." Chrollo greeted.
"Nice to meet you too, Sir." Gon said, grinning widely. Killua nodded, watching the adults warily.
"I'll leave you to your fun. Ayami, remember what we talked about?" Chrollo asked.
"Check in, stay out of trouble, be off the streets by sundown. I got it." Ayami promised. Chrollo nodded and kissed her hair.
"Be good. Call if something happens, Machi and Nobonuga won't be far. I'll pick you up tonight."
"They really don't have to stay, I'll be fine with Killua and Gon." Ayami sighed
"It's just a precaution."
"Okay." She sighed. "Be careful."
"Always." Ayami said goodbye to Machi and Nobonuga and the three of them left, Machi and Nobonuga headed to a nearby cafe to stay close to Ayami and Chrollo left to meet Shalnark at a hotel. When they left Ayami turned to Gon and Killua and grinned widely.
"What are we gonna do now?"
"Wanna get some ice cream?" Killua suggested.
"Sure!" The three of them took off towards a sweet shop. They spent the next few hours running around Yorknew City until Leorio called, asking them to meet him at the park. They raced the whole way there, laughing happily. Ayami froze when she found Kurapika standing next to Leorio and Gon and Killua, too close behind her, couldn't stop in time and crashed into her, sending all three of them tumbling to the ground.
"Surprise!" Leorio laughed.
"Hello Gon, Killua, Ayami." Kurapika said with a soft smile as the kids struggled off of the ground.
"Kurapika!" Gon gasped happily. Ayami and Killua shared a look before they both pasted matching bright smiles on their faces.
"What are you doing here?" Ayami asked. She tensed lightly when he wrapped an arm around her shoulders in a loose hug.
"Leorio tracked me down, he mentioned you'd been asking about me. You know you could just call." Kurapika said.
"I didn't want to bother you." Ayami said with a smile, subtly slipping out from under his arm to hug Leorio.
"Nah, that's my job." Leorio laughed. Ayami stood slightly behind Killua, slipping her phone out and texting Machi.
Kurapikas here
"I can't stay long, I'm just here on my lunch break." Kurapika said with a smile, making Gon pout. Her phone started ringing. Ayami stepped back with a smile.
"I've gotta take this, be right back." She walked away as she answered her phone.
"Hey-"
"Where are you?" Machi demanded.
"I'm at the park. Kurapika came by for a visit, he said he can't stay long."
"We're on our way."
"Stay out of sight, he doesn't know who I am and I don't want him to see the two of you." Kurapika stayed with them for half an hour before he had to go back to work. Ayami didn't see them, but she knew Machi and Nobonuga followed them the whole time. Things for much less tense after Kurapika left and they resumed running wild through the city. The kids even found a small carnival near the outskirts of Yorknew City and spent a few hours there, riding the rides and eating junk food.
They told her about their arm wrestling contest and being approached by two men of the mafia who had put bounties out on the Phantom Troupe. They and several other people were offered a lot of money to bring them in, but Killua and Gon deemed it too dangerous, much to Leorio's shock. Machi texted her when they had to leave for the attack on the auction house, warning her to be careful. Ayami steered her friends farther away from the auction house as it grew dark and they spent time in their hotel room, watching movies.
Meanwhile, Chrollo had managed to get close to Neon Nostrade and got her away from her bodyguards. They sat together in a restaurant as she wrote his fortune. He watched curiously as she worked and pasted on a smile when she finished.
"May I read it?" He asked. Neon smiled and passed him his notebook.
"Of course. My fortunes are kind of strange. They are usually made up of four or five poems. Each one corrisponds to a week of that month, so the first one may have already happened." Neon explained.
Once thought lost, the child is found
Enemies lurking near in wait
Yet as her protectors gather 'round
She will change the spiders fate
Three pages to be ripped from the calendar,
To lie on the ground beside bloody Scarlet Eyes.
But you will remain supreme.
Even after your everything is taken from you.
Enjoy the interlude.
Search out new allies.
East is the direction to go.
You will find one who awaits you.
"Amazing. And accurate." Chrollo complimented, wiping a stray tear. "About this first one-" He began.
"Oh, don't tell me, please! I never look at the fortunes I write." Neon said, waving her hands frantically.
"Why not?" Chrollo asked.
"I just get the feeling they'll be a lot more accurate if I don't get involved." Noen said. They spoke for a while longer before heading toward the elevator to go to the auction. Neon explained her inspiration to be a fortune teller while Chrollo pondered his own. Shortly after they exited the elevator, he knocked Neon out without being seen, catching her as she fell. Neon was loaded onto an ambulance and Chrollo escaped in the confusion, but not before taking her Nen ability. He easily killed two assassins sent his way as his Troupe ripped through the streets of Yorknew, wreaking havoc on their way to the auction site. He watched out the window as fires spread across the city, deciding to check on his daughter.
"Hey Dad!"
"Hello Ayami. How was your time with Killua and Gon?"
"It was great! We ate a ton of sweets and ran around the whole city. Did you know there was a carnival here?"
"I didn't."
"It was pretty cool, Killua and I beat Gon at Bumper Cars and we rode the Ferris Wheel!"
"Sounds like you had fun." Chrollo smiled as he killed another assassin who leaped at him from the shadows.
"It was! Are you guys done at the auction?"
"Not yet, I just wanted to check on you. You're off the streets right?"
"Yep! We're watching movies at the Hotel."
"Good, make sure you stay inside. I'll come get you in a few hours."
'Okay, be safe! Love you!"
"I love you too Ayami." Chrollo said, hanging up and continuing on his way.