Chapter 35

Think I can sell them?

Minoru's eyes darted to the battered blades in my hands, small little hunks of metal with too many dents and scratches to be anything more than scrap metal. The gossamer wires of my and launching machinery was about as bad. I put another caramel in my mouth, shivering as the sugar popped along my tongue, making my teeth ache.

They'd make you pay for putting them in the trash, the nen-beast mused, lumbering away from where I lingered in the alleyway, sniffing at a pile of abandoned boxes before grimacing. In our stay with Hisoka, I think he had come to appreciate the finer things - like a blanket and pillow to sleep on. And food at the ready. Oh, and water. That had been nice. His eyes darted to me, peevishly.

Your mood is foul. The daggers met the bottom of the nearby dumpster with a heavy thud, the sound ringing through me like coins dropped into an empty can.

I stared down into the darkness, those sad little hunks of metal blending in with the other rubbish. I could keep them. I could make Minoru haul them with us even though I knew full well that their usefulness had ended on that wretched island. The metal had started to rust from my inability to clean them after every use. The guard was non-existent, leading to my hands becoming a scarred mess. The thin metal wire had become kinked some time in the tower, causing it to bend at an odd angle and become a nightmare to use. They were at the end of their usefulness.

"We saved up." I stared down at the blades, gasping as my fingertips opened, christening the daggers. Amori's eyes lit, watching me excitedly as I turned them, trying not to wonder how much they had cost. Behind him, Umori and Imori whooped, pushing each other out of the way as they crowded around Amori and I.

Who was that happy to give someone a gift? What a bunch of idiots, I had thought.

The sound of the heavy plastic lid slamming back into place boomed down the narrow alleyway, making a passing businessman flinch, glancing into the dank darkness in alarm. Our eyes met and I saw a flash of interest spark through his dark eyes before he hurried away warily.

Let's go, I whispered, brushing past Minoru, tugging at our shared nen until he gave a slight nod and followed me out into the bustling street. He could pass through anything he wanted like this, the crowd moving through him like he was air. I had become better at holding him in this state, keeping him invisible.

Minoru's eyes darted around, taking in the packed cobblestone streets, the vendors pushed up against the shopping center corners. My eyes drifted to the fountain right at the heart of the small town, watching as a group of children chucked off their shoes and dove in with a shriek. In a few moments, a herd of snapping parents would be along to shepherd them away but for now, they had room to terrorize the passing people, splashing water in every direction.

Do you think it's a good idea to come back here? Minoru questioned, blinking absently at a series of crocheted stuffed animals lining a shop window. I brushed past a dapper man, mumbling an apology as my side skimmed his. He didn't give me any mind, his head turned to the lady beside him, obviously a bit too interested in the way she was pulling at the collar of her shirt.

We're not on the run, Minoru. I stared down at the cluster of coins in my palm. Not as many as I had thought he would have. He had either been dressing to impress or had a penchant to leave most of his change at home. I sighed, diving back into the throng of people, toeing a trashcan right into the path of a friendly-looking couple. We never had any obligation to stay with Hisoka.

Our arrangement never had guidelines, Minoru acknowledged. I drifted back to him, feeling the nice pile of coins in my pocket. Two picks in one area was risky. His dark, button-drop eyes met mine in the store-front window. But we both know that he wants payment for his kindness.

It had been surprisingly easy to leave in the dead of night. So easy that I still wasn't sure if I had fallen into some fever-dream, still wrapped in the cluster of blankets Hisoka had gotten me, the dying fire whispering just a few feet away from my sleeping form. Perhaps any moment, Illumi would crash into the clearing, tossing me into a tree trunk by my arm to wake me.

In the end, we had simply…walked away. Down the mountain, to the small village below, to the bus station that ran all through the night where I had gotten money from a small, stout woman with foul body odor. And then from there, we had come to the first town that we had come to out of the hunter's exam. Minoru had gotten us back to this place with no issues, his memory as unflappable as always.

He expected me to stay, I reasoned, turning back to look at all the wandering people. I wondered where they were going. What their lives looked like. That's the only reason we were able to go so easily.

Minoru didn't answer, his gaze fixed on a small bear that looked just like him sitting in the window. A beast created from a child's toy - how macabre.

Do you know where to find Eimear? The red swirling through his fur brightened for a brief moment before he answered.

The almond seller.

Mm. I wheeled around, heading to the end of the square. I was just getting hungry.

"Who's asking?" The almond seller was a nasty piece of work, a bar pierced through both her ears and nose, her hair coiled through with red and silver wires like a Christmas tree being lined with tinsel. Her eyes seemed to big, the soft lines of her face seeming to contrast too sharply with the pieces of metal stabbed through her flesh and hair. The white of her pressed uniform seemed too bright, too formal. One manicured finger tap, tap, tapped against the top of her roasting machine.

"Friends," I ventured and then immediately tried another word at the seller's thunderous expression. "Customers."

"Surgeon doesn't have friends or customers," the almond seller snapped, dumping a steaming heap of spiced almonds into a paper cone. She turned quickly to hand it off, her expression lightening for a brief with a dazzling smile, blinding moment before it darkened again at the sight of me still standing in front of her cart. "The Surgeon has patients."

I blinked. "I misspoke. I'm a patient."

Her bottom lip poked out, brows slamming down.

I don't think she likes us, Minoru observed. His eyes drifted over the list of different menu options. Get five of the curry ones.

We're not made of money, you glutton.

"You look young enough to still be getting your lunches packed." Her eyes narrowed further. "Where're your parents?"

"I killed them," I stated blandly. Maybe it was the morbid curiosity to see someone's reaction. Maybe it was my lack of energy to come up with a retort.

Either way, it was the wrong answer.

The small open sign flipped with a sharp snap, the almond seller's face darkening until I thought the daylight had given up and fell into night. "We're closed."

I watched as the woman threw me another glare, snapping down her car umbrella and dragging it a few feet away before opening it again, glaring at me the whole while.

You have horrible people skills, Minoru sighed.

She didn't trust me. It was as simple as that.

The Surgeon obviously made an impression on her messengers if this was the sort of pipeline she had. I couldn't get her to even acknowledge me the next day. And the day after that she spoke with me only when I ordered and then gave me six bags of burned almonds at double the price.

On the fourth day I had had enough.

"I'll keep asking about her." The hand-held fan stopped flapping, almond seller's eyes snapping to me. I stared back. "Every day until I get you to send my request."

"You're not hurt, little girl," the seller sighed dramatically. "And I know you aren't with-"

I didn't acknowledge the reply. "I need her to teach me. Tell her the girl with the beast is back." I shoved a few coins at her, scooping up my daily order of almonds. "See you tomorrow."

I wouldn't see her the next day. Or ever again.

The Surgeon had gotten my message. And unlike last time, she hadn't felt the need to wait.

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