The man nodded as the angel of death vanished into a wisp of darkness, the shadows shallowing her whole. A moment later she reappear a frown donning her lips. Paku didn't want to be brought back… He already knew one life was usually enough for one person.
Kuroro took her hand, "let's get you to bed now shall we?"
chapter 23
Z slept soundlessly taught under the heavy covers of her bed. Barely noticing the male beside her, slowing reading a book. He had yet to give her the book she was owned, but he had no doubt that when she awoke from her well needed sleep– she would demand it before heading on her way.
Luckily he still had the curse book on him – even without nen he could sense the books strange energy tutted away in his long coat flung over a chair in the far corner of the room. He turned a page on the book he was reading before freezing.
A slender arm wrapped around his midsection. Glancing down, his dark hues locked onto the still form of Z hugging his torso. She laid partly on her front– tattoos completely on show, like her wings where forever on shown… while her legs wrapped around his own.
The edge of his lips curled up, a smirk growing. Though he won't never admit it he enjoyed the warmth her body provided pressed up against his own. He gently moved an arm from his book placing it down on her exposed back.
As he read the interesting literature he absentmindedly drew circle patterns. Savouring the moment. Smirk dropping as a small genuine smile replaced it.
It felt like home.
-Time skip-
There was a rapid knock at the door, disturbing Z from her well needed sleep – she wasn't sure how long she was dead to the world, but her body was finally telling her to get up… not that the banging at the door was convincing her to move.
Begrudgingly the angel dragged herself out from under the covers, running her fingers though her hair she cracked open the door peering out into the corridor. She was blinded by the smile on the other side.
"What do you want?" she questioned dully, still haven't fully woken up.
"We found a way to free the boss from the chains, wondering if you wanted to come help us" the grinning blonde stated, Shal stood before the doorways – eyes reusing to leave her face despite her attire… or lack of.
She stood in the door, leaning against the frame. "Let me guess? Someone who can remove Nen"
"Yeah, can I come in to discuss things with you?" the blonde troupe member asking, trying to push the door open.
Shit, Z eyes widen in realisation as she gripped the door tighter, kuroro was still in her room…... "I'm afraid you can't"
"Eh? Why?" the blonde gave her a confused look.
"You can't come in that's all…" Z muttered blankly, "tell me what you can here and the rest over text"
Shal began to push at the door slightly in a teasing manner, "eh? Why is your room messy? Is that why you won't let me in? It's not like you get much guests…." The end of his sentences drifted of as realisation dawned on him. "He's in there isn't he?"
She didn't answer, but the look on her face must have confirmed it to the troupe member. His smile changed growing widen but there was something gentle about it, like it was telling her to look after the boss while he couldn't use Nen.
"Come to Greed Island"
Z frowned thinking over the blonde's words – he had left soon after telling her to come to the greed island? Where in god's name is Greed Island? It didn't ring a bell what so ever… "you heard" it was more of a statement then a question, as dark hues glanced towards the topless troupe leader sat on a leather seat an open book in his hand.
"I did"
"You know where Greed Island is?"
"I believe it's a name of a game"
"They want me to play a fucking game" she deadpanned at kuroro response.
"It's a special game for hunters or others who can use Nen to play. Obliviously there more to it than just playing a game"
She glared at the male, "never the one to make things easy are you?"
"I have no control over what they do" kuroro stated looking back towards his book.
She eyed him for a moment, contemplating her choices before sighing, walking closer to the head of the spider. "You own me a book"
"That I do" kuroro smirked walking over to his coat where it still laid over a chair. Taking a book from its folds, the book was covered in a plastic bag as the male didn't want to have skin contact with the strange book.
"The book of ritual as requested"
She took the object- taking the leather bond book from its confinements. Book in hand she sat on the bed- hands drifting over the cover as she studied it. Noting the strange symbols, only the dead could read – or those with knowledge they should not have. Yellow pages holding secrets that hopefully with never be open. Black eyes drifted to the bottom corner of the cover – the only recognisable words on the page – for human eyes.
A name.
"Z?" a voice called, the sound never reaching her ears as other noises drowned out reality around her. The small whines began – white noise of a crying child, the scarping of metal against stone. Increasing louder - crying turning into tortuous screams as the smell of copper reached her nose. The more she looked at the book the more powerfully the sensations became.
Yes, without a doubt this was the book of ritual.
"Z?" a worried voice and a hand on her shoulder, broke the female out of her trance.
Black hues flicker up towards the spider cocked her head slightly asking the unasked question.
"You zoned out, I called you several times and you didn't respond" the male sighed."Is it the real thing?"
"Yes" she spoke dully, her thoughts now conflicted. She had two more books left to fine… if kuroro helped her with that, then what need did he have to continue this deal, she would have no need for him.
Their deal no more.
No more favours for herself to partake in or books to fine.
How would these human emotions which were now plaguing her deal with that sort of situation.…
A frown donned her features as she looked at the emotionless man – a mask on his face as she studied him. Thinking over her options. The plans she could take… a finger tapped against her forehead snaking her attention away from the situation at hand and too the male before her.
"You're over thinking things"
"I'm not over thinking fucking anything"
Kuroro rolled his eyes, at her defensiveness. He had develop the art of reading people at a very young ages – choosing who to pickpocket and who to avoid. But Z... She was a hard nut to crack- though her shield was starting to crumble. He was getting better at spotting the tell-tale signs, for her mood. Though the lack of most common emotions had been proving it difficult he was getting close. If not close to her stone heart.
Shame he didn't realised he had already stole it.
"I hope you don't mind but I got Em to order you something..." that caught Z's attention, "I can't have to wearing my coat all the time"
"I alre-"
"I know you have ordered something, but I got you something. Think of this as a thank you gift"
"For fucking what?"
"For helping me get back my nen"
She raised an eyebrow… she hadn't even agreed to a fucking thing yet.
She looked at the buddle of cloth the male was passing her, before opening it out. It had more of a gothic flare to in compare to her old one. Same length and had pockets but this one had a red velvet lining – like red wine had slide over the soft material. Then the coat itself had a corset like design – it showed off her figure more when she put the thing on before puffy out slightly around her waist, making her look more feminine in a dark way. Very different too her originally choice of clothing.
She scowled – actually liking the coat the male had given her.
It wasn't fair, she thought sourly as her heart began to beat rapidly. And to top it off the collar also like her old one – but with a twist. It had a fur collar. A fur fucking collar! Much like his own.
"Nice…" she muttered putting it on. The coat was snug fitting like a glove.
Kuroro smiled – an actual fucking true bright real smile. She frozen – heart going haywire at the sight. Completely missing his comment. She didn't know what to do – the feeling completely foreign to her as she tried to put the right things into place in her mind, but nothing it was completely blank.
And she didn't like it.
It made her feel... human.
"I'm gonna… I'm going to put this book with the others" she cut him off, before vanishing into shadows. Leaving a confused but proud kuroro behind in her rooms.
to be continued...
hi all!
sorry for the long update.. was gonna update this last week but i decided to go on hoilday... well a break for work - also meaning i chose not to go on my laptop... like at all...
anyhow!
here it is! moving onto the next arch of the story and look how there relationship is processing!?
tell us what you think!?
love you all
happy hunting XX