A few months after the auction of the eyes
It was a rainy night in a remote country that the spiders were at for a job. They were taking refuge in an abandoned hideout used by slaves back when. The place was old and with mold in the ceiling, but for the spiders it was their home for the next weeks.
''Man I´m beat.'' Said Lucy all tired.
''Says the girl that had the least amount of action. You know your post should be of driver.'' Said Grace taking of her black coat.
''At least I am not some non nen user kid who still uses blades.'' Said Lucy with venom under her breath.
''Oh, shut up Lucy! You are the laziest one in the land.'' Said Grace
''Why you…'' Said Lucy ready to attack.
''Can you two brats knock off!'' Scream Nobunaga all pissed and tired.
''Yeah, we are trying to get some rest. If you two don't shut up I will sew your mouths.'' Said Machi all cold to the two girls.
The spiders were now setting into their new hideout. It had enough space for them to sleep and have some food. It was enough for Chrollo so was enough for all of them.
''So, this is going to be our place for the next weeks?" Asked Phinks
''Yes. Any problem?" Asked Chrollo
''I like it.'' Said Omokage
''The smells is not as bad as Uvo.'' Said Shalnark
''Say what?'' Asked Uvogin smelling his armpits.
''Whatever, at least we can sleep.'' Said Franklin all tired.
Chrollo was looking around and the place was perfect. It was abandoned and was in a far region from the town that they just attacked, so that would be the perfect hiding place for the short time they are in.
''Chrollo is this place safe for us?" Asked Pakunoda
''don't worry I have everything under control. If we are attacked, we can fight back. We always do.'' Said Chrollo.
''I still don't know how you can be calm after all the crap that we been through the last few weeks.' Said Nobunaga all tired as he puts his swords in the floor.
''Patience is something that I truly admire Nobunaga. You should try too sometimes.'' Said Chrollo all calm.
''Alright.'' Said Nobunaga with a pound of tired.
Chrollo only smile to see everyone in the Troupe get the things ready for their current base. He then see Grace setting out the equipment with Machi and Lucy. So being the father figure of the young assassin decided to give her something nice, it wasn't his style to give the Troupe members gifts, he usually give them at birthdays and Christmas, but he felt that the girl was starting to grow up so fast that she might catch on to the others very soon. So, she deserved a reward.
''Grace. I have a surprise for you.'' Said Chrollo all calm.
''What is it Chrollo?" Asked Grace in wonder what Chrollo might wanted to give her.
''I have a present for you.'' Said Chrollo reaching to his bag and that caught the Spiders attention.
''A present for me.'' Said Grace all happy.
''Yes.'' Said Chrollo with a little smile.
''What! She gets a present and not us.'' Said Phinks all pissed like a little kid.
'Yeah, no fair boss.'' Said Lucy.
''She has been growing a lot over the past few years. For someone that started in the troupe as a baby she has advance quite a lot in her training, so I thought this might be something to congratulate her achievements.'' Said Chrollo being all reasonable.
''Not fair.'' Said Shalnark all with a pout face.
'Yes, you are playing favorites.'' Said Lucy.
''I care for all of you equally.'' Said Chrollo
''But he likes me more.'' Said Grace with a smirk and that got her a punch in the head.
BONK
''Ouch. Chrollo!'' Said her in pain.
''Do you want me to burn this?" Asked Chrollo revealing the wrapped box.
''No.'' Said Grace still a little hurt.
''So, take it and what do we say when get something?'' Asked Chrollo
''Thanks.'' Said Grace bowing and hugging Chrollo
Grace despite being raised by a group of assassins still grew to have manners and good way of speaking. Just because the Troupe was always busy stealing and killing it didn't mean that the girl was not going to have an education. Chrollo insisted that she learned to write and read, so the spiders did that. Despite they never admitting they felt a little bit of joy and humble in seeing the little nine-year-old girl that they all raise growing up.
''We really raised a kid.'' Said Lucy with a smirk
''At least she isn't a spoil brat.'' Said Franklin.
''Yes, if she was, she would be dead on the spot and buried in some dump.'' Said Machi
''Agreed.'' Said Pakunoda.
''Make it fast Grace I want to have dinner.'' Said Uvogin
''Sure, jeez you people.'' Said Grace opening her gift.
''So, what is it?" Asked Shalnark excited.
Grace open the box and inside it was a ballet uniform for a girl of her age. It was like those that the little girls in ballet school wear. She turn around and show to the Troupe in great joy.
''it's a ballet uniform.'' Said Omokage in surprise
''Really…what a waste of money.'' Said Feitan
''Well, what are you waiting for go put it.'' Said Nobunaga.
''Ok.'' Said Grace running to the other side of the building.
Grace came back 1 minute later wearing the uniform and she looks as an adorable as you might think.
''How do I look?" Asked Grace with red cheeks.
''You look cute.'' Said Shalnark all chipper and taking pictures.
''Yes kid not bad.'' Said Feitan
''You look like a str…'' Said Phinks not carrying and he was hit by Lucy, Machi and Paku.
SMACK
''Ouch what that…'' Said Phinks confused and the women only give the man the dead eyes.
''Language or I will cut your tongue.'' Said Pakunoda all cold.
''She looks like what? Ein Phinks?" Asked Machi all cold.
''You want me to play in your funeral?" Asked Lucy with a smirk.
The blonde man saw the rage aura filling the women, so he knew he had to watch his words.
''I´m not quite sure why are you giving me this.'' Asked Grace
''I think you need a hobby and I see that you are fixated in ballet for years so this is my way of giving you something fun to do while we are not having mission. All of us have other things that we like to do besides doing the Troupe business and this my way of giving you that.'' Said Chrollo.
Grace was now blushing over Chrollo words. Was that kind of determination and style that set her to follow this man until she died. Chrollo saw her other passions beside doing the Phantom Troupe work so he gave her a chance, a chance to dance. That was so emotional that Grace even teared up a little bit.
''Thanks for this incredible gift Chrollo. I loved it and I will start practicing but also, I would like to ask you for something.'' Said Grace now a little shy.
''What is it?" Asked Chrollo
''Do you think I can finally try out nen?" Asked Grace
The entire Troupe was surprised by this question. For years Grace tried to unlock nen but every time she wasn't ready, so each year they tough up her training in the hopes that her aura would be strong enough to find out what type she was.
''You wanna find out nen? Now?' Asked Chrollo now curious.
''yes. My aura has grown a lot over the past few months, I know it was a little hard to unlock it first but this time I think is for real. I am stronger than last year so let me try.'' Said Grace all cheerfull and ready to try out.
''You know that if you unlock your nen we would put you thought hell.'' Said Feitan all serious alongside most of the Troupe.
''I´m ready. I was already born in hell and you guys are the reason I´m standing here today with this ballet outfit. So, whatever it is the case I am open to more intensive training.'' Said Grace with a tough girl smirk surprising the Troupe.
''that's the spirit kid. No wonder a 7-year-old girl is so ready to fight.'' Said Uvo while drinking bear.
'I´m nine Uvo!"' Scream Grace
''Oh yes, sorry I had too much to drink.'' Said Uvo laughing.
''You are drunk every day.'' Said Nobunaga shaking his head.
''True and I´m proud of that.'' Said Uvo smiling.
''I know.'' Said Nobunaga with a smile too.
Chrollo loved to see the Troupe having a good time. This is what he wanted people that they can trust and do whatever they pleased. This was the real Phantom Troupe.
A few days later
Grace was having the most intensive training ever. Every hour a different spider was training her in different ways in the hopes to make her aura grow more so she could unlock nen. It was thought and she lost a lot of blood, but this was the Phantom Troupe life and she wasn't crying or begging to stop. She was a real assassin.
Soon Pakunoda who just finished her shift in training Grace came to the center of the hideout where Chrollo was reading some books and asked what the next step was.
''Chrollo what do we do now?'' Asked Paku.
The leader of the Troupe closed his book and looked at Pakunoda in the eyes.
''Bring the water and the leaf.'' Said him much to Paku surprise.
''Oh really, now?" Asked Paku
''You know that I am never wrong in some circumstances and I believe is the time. Now bring the water and the leaf.'' Said Chrollo all serious
''Yes Chrollo.'' Said Pakunoda
Soon Paku brought the cup of water and the leaf. The test was about to start, and the Phantom Troupe was gathering around like an important event was about to happen.
''Here it is.'' Said Paku to Grace
''Hurry up kid we got things to do.'' Said Nobunaga.
''Shut up I wanna see Grace reaction to her type of nen.'' Said Shalnark filming the whole thing.
Grace was a little nervous. For some years nothing had come out from her attempts to access nen, but this time she was confident.
''Ok here it goes nothing.'' Thought her.
She put her hands around the cup and charge up her aura like the spiders taught her. She concentrate and soon she saw the water creating some kind of impuration inside of the glass, it mean it worked.
''Huh'' Said Grace in shock
''You are a conjurer.'' Said Chrollo all proud
Grace was now astounded by that. After years of hard work with her blades and stealth she had finally unlocked her nen and she was a conjurer of all things, she scored big.
''I´m conjurer!'' Said her all happy
''Well, that's is something.'' Said Franklin with a smile
''Sure. That means you are going to have training.'' Said Phinks with a smirk
''Hellish of training.'' Said Feitan all interested in putting Grace in some hell.
''And that's not going to be easy there kid. Are you sure you wanna do this?'' Asked Uvogin crackling his knuckles.
''I´m not afraid!'' Scream Grace all certain and Uvo hit her right in the face.
Punch
''Ouch.'' Said Lucy with a smile of joy in her face.
''God, I love doing that.'' Said Uvogin laughing as Grace standing up also laughing cleaning the blood out of her clothes and her face.
''You punched harder when I was 3!'' Said Grace ready for more.
''Oh yeah. Here I go kid.'' Scream Uvo charging in
''Come get me Uvo.'' Scream Grace ready to resist Uvogin attacks.
Chrollo saw Grace receive a beat down from Uvo. He knew that Grace wouldn't die because he wouldn't let her, so he only watch the girl that he saved from Meteor city fight the strongest member of the Troupe. Soon each Spider would use their nen attack to train Grace into accessing her own power, so in the meantime Chrollo would be only watching and see what kind power Grace would have and see if was worth to put in his book.
''She sure has fire under her.'' Thought Chrollo all proud
A few weeks later
Grace survived the most intense training of her life. Some people would die from the attacks from the Troupe but she grew up with these people so she knew how they would attack or try something. She was now with her body all charged up with aura and concentrate to finally complete a course that Chrollo and the rest of the Spiders set to see if her nen abilities had improved.
''Are you ready Grace?' Asked Chrollo
''Yes.'' Said her.
''Then go.'' Said him.
The nine-year-old closed her eyes and concentrated in her body aura to access her power.
''Concentrated.'' Thought her.
Soon two ribbons appeared. One going to each hand and she had a look of murder in her hands. In a average person a little girl holding ribbons might be a cute thing but in Grace case that was not going to be cute.
''And…start!' Scream Nobunaga.
The girl dashed forward with intense killing intent. Her speed really accurate and soon she spotted wood dolls that Chrollo made with an ability that he stole. Grace spot the dolls with her Gyo and then use her newfound nen ribbon to crush the dolls head.
Crack
''Nail it!'' Thought her all happy.
The spiders were impressed by this. With enough training those ribbons might be extremely useful in the future.
''Nice job there kiddo.'' Said Uvo with a thumbs up.
''Yes, you could have killed thousands of people before saving us plenty of times.'' Said Nobunaga.
''Agreed Grace, you should had awakened that power early.'' Said Lucy
''Oh, come on guys give a rest. You are doing great Grace!'' Scream Shalnark
''Yes, if things we can send her in some dancing contest and get us some prize moneys.'' Said Phinks.
''Oh, shut if of Phinks that's stupid.'' Said Pakunoda.'
''yes, you really are lacking brain this year.'' Said Feitan
''Hey this is good. Using her age, we can get all those kid crap prizes, I think Chrollo would like that.'' Said Phinks.
''You are so stupid.'' Said Machi and Franklin while Omokage only laughs.
Grace finished up her course and she show more control over her ribbons than the spiders can give credit for. She was a deadly girl with a killing weapon. Now she bow to the Spiders who were all applauding to her like she just finished a big show.
''Well thanks you guys. The training was hard, but it was worthy.'' Said Grace smiling.
''Sure, all training is hellish but what is more important is what you learn.'' Said Nobunaga.
''Yes, you might hate us beating the crap out of you all day but look how it to run out in the end. You have incredible nen powers now.'' Said Shalnark all happy like always.
''We look out for each other Grace. This is how you gain your power.'' Said Lucy.
Grace was smiling at them. They maybe be vicious cold killer, but they were her vicious cold killer family.
While the Troupe was having a bonding time Chrollo comes back to wake them to reality.
''Since Grace finally has enough strength to control her power, I guess is time.'' Said Chrollo
''What is time Chrollo?" Asked Machi.
''We have a new artefact to steal.'' Said Chrollo with a smile.
The spiders all grew a huge grim in their faces. They would be back in doing her deeds across the world. Nobunaga prepare his swords, Feitan picks his umbrella, Machi get her thread ready, Omokage gets his puppets on hand, Phinks cracks his knuckles, Shalnark beam with happiness as he gets his phone, Franklin only nods, Pakunoda also smiles, Uvogin has a huge grim on his face, Lucy prepare her gitar as Grace also had a huge smile on her face. She loved going to work alognise the entire Troupe.
''Tell us where to go.'' Said Grace with a smirk.