Forgiveness

Chapter 13

'Thank you for that lovely welcome, is this the way everyone is greeted onto the floor?' Baise sarcastically grumbled. Yua sheepishly grinned and rubbed the back of her head.

'No, but I'm thinking of becoming the new welcoming committee, what do you think?'

Baise let out a sharp laugh and shook her head at Yua. 'I think it could use some work!'.

After the cake collision, Yua, Baise and the receptionist had made their way to the registration desk. The receptionist had explained to Yua that the rules for 200s matches stopped anyone from entering the arena once the fight had started. With the fight already in motion, Yua resigned herself to wait at the desk with Baise until it was over to find out the result. The other two could tell she was worried but tried to keep her in good spirits and distracted for the time-being.

'Why were you carrying all those cakes anyway?'. Baise asked whilst using a damp cloth to remove as much icing and jam from her top as possible.

'They were a gift for some friends, but one of them is actually in the match right now so I was rushing to go and watch. I wanted to make sure he was ok….'. Yua trailed off.

'Ah, the kid in the cute little green outfit, right?' Yua nodded, 'He's definitely not going to win but he's giving his opponent a good challenge. I was watching the start of the match before coming to this floor. Don't worry, he'll be ok!' Baise held a softness in her eyes which was hiding behind the sharp, strong front she had been maintaining the rest of the time. Yua appreciated the words but couldn't help knowing it was a false comfort. She decided to take her mind off of it as best she could.

'So how long have you been at the arena? I didn't know any 190s fights were on today.'

'Actually' The receptionist had returned from her office, a towel wrapped around her hair with just her fringe sticking out of the front like a strange pink hat. 'That's my question too. I can't find anything about you in the system from any floor but the 1st floor, and that's says you won the match today. Something must be wrong.'

Baise fell silent for a moment and then shrugged, 'In truth, it's correct.'.

Both Yua and the receptionist looked at Baise with a dumbfounded look, trying to calculate in their heads how this gorgeous woman before them had scared the floor one referee enough to send her straight to the 200s. They both reach different conclusions. The receptionist recoiled back from Baise with a horrified look on her face. In stark contrast, Yua jumped forward, eager to know her hidden strength.

'Uwah, how did you do it Baise-San?' Yua was too excited to wait for an answer. 'Did you kill your opponent? Did you kill the referee!?' She now started re-enacting her own match, trying to figure out what she had done wrong to only get promoted to floor 100, though Baise still hadn't managed to get a word in to explain. 'I only flung my opponent into the wall… maybe I should've killed her. She wasn't a nice person and it would've saved me time'.

'I kissed him.' Baise interjected before Yua could get lost in the rabbit hole of her ramblings. A stunned silence floated in the air between them as Yua was now lost for words. Whenever she began to respond, the words escaped her again, so she looked like a fish blowing bubbles in water.

After a few moments the receptionist cut in to save her. 'I'm sorry Baise-San but that isn't possible. It's undeniable that you are beautiful, but the referees would lose their job and maybe even their life for rigging the matches in the Heaven's arena. The bosses would not allow it.'

Baise chuckled. 'You don't understand, it's my Nen ability; Instant Lover. It makes whomever I kiss fall deep in love with me and they'll do whatever I say, including promoting me directly to the 200s.'

Yua took a moment to mull this over. She had never heard of a Nen ability used in this way but knew from Chrollo that Specialists could use Nen in all different kinds of ways. She cocked her head and put her finger against her chin to contemplate it further. 'What if they don't want to kiss you?'.

Baise must've been expecting this response because she suddenly turned and leaned down to Yua. She captured Yua's eyes with her sultry emerald ones and pouted her full lips. She pushed her breasts out and lightly placed a hand over them, feigning being upset. 'Awah Yua-San, that's hurtful. Don't you wanna…. Kiss me.'. Her eyes were bigger now and her lips parted in a breathy moan of disappointment.

Yua unconsciously leaned forward, wanting to comfort Baise and capture her plump lips with her own. She reached forward to tuck a stand of loose hair behind Baise's cheek and suddenly stopped herself and jumped back to put some distance between them. 'Oh, wow. That's good.' Yua laughed whilst sinking to the floor in disbelief that she had fallen for the trick!

Baise straightened and returned to her confident posture with her hand resting on her hip. She shrugged as if it was nothing but was smirking at Yua's reaction.

'Well, I guess that's within the rules.' The receptionist had watched the scene play out before her and knew anyone with a Nen ability would make it to this floor anyway.

'Great! So, can I cash in this slip then?' Baise handed over her winners slip she received from the referee on floor one. 'I came here to make money, so I hope it's worth something.',

'I'm sorry Baise-San, the floor one prize is simply enough money for a drink,' The receptionist grimaced at the disappointed look on Baise's face before continuing. 'And you should know, in the 200s and above, prize money is no longer given. The fighters are now here for the fame and glory of the win rather than the money. I'm afraid you should've worked up the floors if prize money was what you were after…' She trailed off towards the end as Baise's disappointed face turned to annoyance and then anger. She quickly composed herself when she saw the scared look on the receptionist face.

'It's not your fault, sorry for being angry. I should've checked before fast-tracking to the top.' She flicked her fringe out of her face and huffed as if she was already over it. 'I've got another job opportunity lined up anyway, so I guess I'll go do that instead.'.

'Wait Baise-San. I want to learn more about your ability.' Yua rushed to her feet, finally shaking off the feeling of momentarily not being in control. 'Does it only work on people who find you attractive?' Baise cocked an eyebrow at her and narrowed her eyes as if Yua was insinuating she wasn't attractive. 'No, no, no, I mean, say you were to kiss a gay man or a straight woman. Does it have the same affect?'.

Baise rolled her eyes and strolled over to Yua. She grabbed her top and pulled her towards her. 'Well Yua-Chan, are you a straight woman?'

Yua could feel Baise's breath on her cheek and blushed at how close she suddenly was. 'Yes, I mean I think so, sure I am.' She was babbling again; this woman was seriously confusing her.

Baise's musical laughter filled the corridor then she locked eyes with Yua and leaned in. 'Let's see then.'. Yua first thought the kiss was soft and delicate, kind of what she was expecting from another woman. Suddenly, Baise deepened the kiss, parting Yua's lips with her tongue and taking her time to explore. A sudden warmth was flowing into Yua, originating from the tingling sensation in her lips. It was unlike anything she had felt before, but she felt a need deep with her core to embrace it. A sudden lust overcame Yua and she kissed Baise back, matching her confidence, letting her hands reach out and grasp Baise closer.

Baise broke off the kiss and had to hold Yua back with both arms outstretched. She was slightly out of breath but was smiling. 'So, you said you were straight?'.

Yua sunk to her knees before her, grovelling at her feet but daring glances up as if she could never look away from those emerald eyes for too long. 'Not anymore Mistress. I love you and always will. Please have me as yours.'

A sly grin crossed Baise's face and her tongue flicked out to wet her swollen lips. She always enjoyed having this power over people. 'My, Yua-Chan, aren't you sweet. I am sorry though; I have to leave.'

Yua lunged forward and folded her arms around Baise's legs. 'Why Mistress? Don't leave me behind, take me with you! I will make you all the money you need, please just love me as much as I love you!'

The receptionist was staring open mouthed at the scene, finding it hard to believe that Yua was acting in such a way. 'B-B-Baise-San.' She stammered. 'How long does this last? She won't be like this forever will she?'

'Aha no, don't worry. The effects will wear off in 180 minutes. Maybe less time if I distance myself. I do need to go though so can I leave her with you?' Yua was still grovelling but Baise had kicked her off her legs, to now be sprawled out on the floor.

'Leave her with me?' The receptionist's face fell to a look of horror as she cast another glance towards the weeping woman, who she knew was a lot stronger and scarier than her, and who currently had a one-track mind.

Again, Baise rolled her eyes and turned back to Yua. She smiled and put on a sickly-sweet voice. 'Yua-Chan, you are so lovely. Please go to your room and I will come and meet you as soon as I've had a shower. Ok?'

'Of course, Mistress, whatever you want I shall do for you.' Yua was about to set off but Baise stopped her.

'Stop for a moment.'.

Yua literally froze mid-stride, following Baise's commands to the letter. Baise quickly scribbled a note on scrap piece of paper laying around on the registration desk, folded it neatly and placed it in Yua's pocket. 'That's for later, don't peak at it yet.' She wagged her finger at Yua who nodded enthusiastically in response. Baise smiled fondly at Yua and planted a kiss on her cheek. 'It was nice to meet you Yua-Chan. I will see you soon.'.

Baise waved as Yua rushed back to her room to wait for her new love that would never come.

'That was incredible.' The receptionist watched Yua leave and turned to Baise. From behind her she could see a few of the 200s fighters were trickling back onto the floor. 'Oh my, it seems the fight is over already. I hope the young boy is ok.'

'No matter what happened, with friends like Yua-Chan, he will be fine!' Baise gave the receptionist a comforting smile and then turned to leave. 'I really must go now but it was very lovely to meet you. I hope we meet again.' She waved, not one for long goodbyes and headed down the corridor and away from the 200s floor.

Once outside, Baise sighed in the fresh air, 'That was fun, but I really hope this Nostrade family has some money to pay me with'. She looked up at the tall building of the Heaven's arena, glimmering in the light. Her eyes reached the upper floors and she grinned. It was certainly a short amount time that she had been a 200s fighter, but she definitely enjoyed the little detour.