Chapter XXI
"Akamu-san, tell me something. Why would a monk come down from the mountains after twenty years of training?" the young woman surprises the monk by asking. She is seated on the beach, using Zetsu, recovering from the fatigue of training for five hours straight.
"I felt I was missing something," Akamu replies after a while.
"Missing? Like what?"
"My life," he says, smiling beneath his thick black beard. He is seated across her, meditating, listening to the calming waves of the sea. "I spent twenty years following an ancient man who taught me how to enjoy the world, but I felt something was missing. So I came down from the mountains, for the first time in decades, to find out what was it that was missing."
"And what was it?" she asks.
"A family." His green eyes stare upwards to the moon, the sadness and longing reflected in them. "I came down the mountains and saw nothing but happy families and fulfilled lives. I never once thought I would long to have a family of my own, but I still did." He sighs and wipes the tear from his eye.
"Do you miss them so much?"
"I do. Every day, I miss them."
Valtiel looks over her shoulder to find both Chrollo and Feitan eavesdropping on the conversation. Both are as quiet as can be, and never interrupted the training session. Almost a month has passed since the slapping incident with Danchou. Now, she has mere three days left to train with her Nurchen teacher−but she has no reason to worry now, not like that night almost like a lifetime ago. She has listened and observed, she has learned, and most importantly, she has fought back several times and won. Akamu is safe, and so is his family.
"What are their names?" she asks again. "Your wife and son."
"My wife is Uilani," he answers with a fond smile. She has never seen him smile thus. "And my son is Keon."
"How old is he?"
"He is turning ten this coming July. I am planning to give him a present."
She smiles tenderly. "That sounds very sweet."
Feitan, annoyed at the conversation, trudges towards the teacher and student and glares at the both of them. Within two months, Akamu has learned not to fear the thief, but there is still the feeling of anxiety whenever he remembers that Feitan has his family stashed somewhere as hostages. Valtiel, on the other hand, has grown accustomed to Feitan's leering that she is no longer too afraid, only wary. Like now.
"Enough chatter," Feitan scolds them. "Time for training. Can't be late, little girl."
"I think we are making good time now." She sprawls spread-eagle on the beach, her hair fanned out around her. She lets out a tired sigh. "I get to have one hour breaks, remember? And look!" She points towards the midnight skies, dappled by several burning stars. "I think that might be the constellation Draco. It's very beautiful, don't you think so?"
"You know what else is beautiful?" Feitan asks; his voice soft and low.
Valtiel raises her eyebrow at him.
At once, he scowls at her and says, "Training−that's what's beautiful," he snaps. "Get moving."
As the thief turns for the sidelines, she sits up and sticks her tongue out at him.
"Don't make me go back there and cut your tongue," Feitan threatens, without looking at her.
For the first time since her physical training began, Chrollo leaves Valtiel's side.
And Feitan is not so ecstatic to babysit this little girl as she mopes over the carpet while using Zetsu.
"I'm hungry."
"I don't care."
She peers up at him from where she lies supine on the ground, her image of him upside-down. Her cheeks puff and she rolls over, like a common dog, to her stomach. "If you want, I can make us some breakfast."
He lifts his book higher to cover his face.
"Ah! That's Trevor Brown!" she beams.
"What?" Growling, his dark eyes narrow when the Kurta runs off to the bedroom. He scoffs and returns to his book, but ten seconds later, Valtiel comes back with two more hardbound books. "What you want, you pest? Stop bothering me!"
"No, but look!" This stubborn kid is really asking to be dismembered. She practically shoves the books to his face. "You're reading his second published book. I have the first and the third! We complete it!"
Feitan rolls his eyes, but actually indulges her, holding out his hand for the books. Valtiel is more than happy to give them to him, watching in complete excitement when he opens to the first pages and scans through the artworks.
It's true that he only has Brown's second published work. Collecting all twelve in existence is such a hard hunt. He could understand why the Danchou and his little pet would have two in their possession. Chrollo is a connoisseur of everything and anything literary and artistic, but Val? Who knows, really?
She sits beside him as he scans the third book. She points at a certain artwork. "I like this one."
"The Amputee?" He reads the artwork's title. He tilts his head to get a better view of a dark-haired girl seated on an expensive wheelchair. "Pretty girl, but brought her own..." He doesn't know the word in the common language. Valtiel must have sensed him hesitate. It feels frustrating. "... Bad luck," he finishes.
"I understand." She smiles, and he feels as if she is referring to something else.
Then the door finally opens. They both look up to see the Danchou brushing his coat and sleeves.
Chrollo has a smile ready for them, but upon seeing how closely they are sitting together−shoulder to shoulder−a hint of a frown crosses his handsome features. Feitan instinctively draws away from the Kurta girl, shutting the book, while she bounces to her feet to welcome him back.
Valtiel peeks at the grocery bags. "Chocolates?"
"Absolutely, my darling." Chrollo takes her by the chin and presses his lips to her forehead, but his eyes are on Feitan.
Three days later, after laboring for two months, Valtiel finally graduates from mastering Death Strike.
Dawn is breaking across the horizon when Akamu and Valtiel have one final spar, his twenty years worth of training in the mountains against her two months, claws, and eagerness. She could not match him in a real fight, but she has become strong enough to deliver a fatal blow on his neck and scratch him on the cheek. Akamu stumbles backwards, impressed, and bows in recognition of her. Valtiel's eyes brighten at the respect, the golden in her irises catching the glint of the predawn light. She searches for Chrollo's nod of approval, and she gets more than she asks; he gives her a nod and a smile.
Then she searches for Feitan.
In the dimness of the area, she could only see his black eyes glittering int the shadows. Hands in his pockets, and his bandana is higher over his face than usual. The wind stirs his raven hair.
For a moment there, she thinks he would ignore her.
Feitan does the unthinkable.
He nods at her.
She beams. That's all she could ask for from this thief.
An hour later, Feitan drives a black limousine and parks it on the beach. A middle-aged woman with long brown hair and tired eyes emerges from the backseat, followed by a young boy with Akamu's black hair and green eyes, excitedly running up to his father for the first time in months.
"Papa!" Keon calls out and throws his arms around his father's thin waist. Akamu embraces his son firmly, and falls to his knees, weeping and kissing his son's hair. His wife joins them, the happiness written in her weary face, as she kisses Akamu and holds his hand.
"Whatever have you been doing?" Uilani asks, eyes dancing at her husband's bedraggled appearance.
"I have been busy." Akamu looks over his wife's head and smiles at Valtiel.
"Papa, you won't believe what happened to us!" Keon gushes. "We stayed in this very cool hotel room and had very delicious dinners every time! Mama says that's because of your work, right?"
Eyebrows furrowed, Valtiel turns to Chrollo for explanation.
Caught red-handed, Chrollo just laughs and snakes an arm around her waist, pulling her against his hip. He smiles down on the happy family on the beach and meets Akamu's confused look.
"I said what I said to motivate the two of you to work together," he explains. "Without threatening your family or giving Val a little scare, the training would not have been successful as it is now. You must forgive me for deceiving you," he tells the monk. "I never meant to harm your family in the first place."
"So you−" Valtiel nips at her lower lip. "That was just−"
"A ruse, yes." Chrollo smiles at her uneasiness. "You were worried about nothing." He leans closer, his mouth against her ear. "And you slapped me for no reason at all. I expect a compensation for that."
She blanches as he draws back. "And I have a gift for you," he adds, producing something from his back pocket. He holds up a sleek black phone, the latest smartphone available. "It is about time you have a phone of your own. I took the liberty to save my number, and I sent yours to the other Troupe members. They should be messaging you after a while." He levels her reaction. "Do you like it?"
"Yes," she whispers, breathless. She is not one for gifts−technology more so−but she is grateful for this. She smiles and he kisses her on the temple. "Thank you, Danchou."
Feitan grumbles at the unnecessary intimacy. "Yeah, well, that's very good and all," he interrupts. "Can we leave now? I supposed to drop these three at the airport and Paku already asked me if I can accompany her in a mission. Time is ticking, unfortunately."
Chrollo chuckles at his friend's impatience. He smiles at Uilani and Keon, and pats Akamu on the shoulder. The monk seems surprised at the friendly gesture. "I thank you for your services," he says. "As recompense for troubling you and your family, I am sending 50 million to your account."
"Really?" Akamu's eyes widen at his luck. "Y-You don't have to…"
"I do," Chrollo insists. "Your family would need it." He nods to where the wife and son are waiting.
"Thank you." Akamu bows at him, and then turns for his student of two months.
His smile for her is wider and warmer, like a father fond of his daughter. He tries to bow to her, but she shakes her head and embraces him instead, standing on her tiptoes to reach him. His mouth is open in shock; when he glances at the dark-haired man, he, too, mirrors Akamu's shock.
"Thank you very much," Valtiel whispers, her cheek pressed against his cheekbones. "For everything."
"I am glad to teach a promising young woman." Akamu returns the embrace, but lightly. The dark-haired man's critical gaze is boring through them like a sharp knife. Then he steps back. "Take care of yourself."
"You as well." Her eyes go to Uilani and Keon. "And your family."
"Time to go." Feitan opens the door as the wife and son shuffle into the backseat. Akamu lingers long enough to study their faces, as if committing them to his memories, before following his family inside. Feitan slams the doors shut, and as he is rounding towards the driver's seat, the Kurta's voice stops him.
"Ah! Fei-san! Wait up!" She rushes towards him and mustering every inch of courage...
...engulfs him in an embrace.
There is no mistaking the deep rumble emanating from Feitan's chest. He sneers behind his bandana and pulls her away at arm's length. "I don't remember doing anything that warrants a hug," he says grumpily.
She only laughs, the golden light of sunrise on her face. "I wanted to thank you for teaching me as well."
"Well, you could have just told me."
"But sometimes words are not enough."
"This time, they are." Then his eyes catch the sight of the Danchou studying their exchange. Feitan concedes with another defeated sigh, and shakes his head at the Kurta girl. "Next time, do not ever touch me again. Do you understand, little girl?"
"I understand." She nods, not at all surprised by his harsh outburst. As she watches him reach for the driver's seat, she remembers the phone in her hand and stops him again. "Can I have your number?"
"What for?"
"Just for business."
"We're not on business." He glances at Chrollo again, and sighs in defeat−again. "Fine."
Valtiel takes her new phone back from the thief and smiles. "Thank you! Have a safe trip, Fei-san."
Feitan mumbles under his breath. He nods to Chrollo as farewell before getting into the car. In a few minutes, he drives the limousine out of the beach, taking the family of three with him.
Sunlight shimmers over the waves as the sun rises higher and higher into the skies. It is quite cold for a morning in early July, though they suspect that the cold breeze must have come from the mountains that surround the other side of the small town. Tired and relieved from training, Valtiel collapses once more on the white sand and spreads her limbs like a star. She basks under the warm sun, falling into another state of Zetsu as she tries to recover.
A dark shadow looms by her head. "It's time we go home."
She pouts. "I am tired. You can go ahead. I'll catch up later."
"That won't do."
"Then carry me."
"That won't do either."
She peeps at him with one eye and smirks. "You know, a good husband would carry his wife."
He seems unfazed. "No one's watching us. There's no need to pretend," he says dryly.
Moaning, she rolls on the sand and turns her back against him. "Fine, then just leave me here to rest. I'll catch up later." She starts to doze off then and there, in the middle of a public beach.
He sighs, growing exasperated. "Fine. Do you want me to carry you in my arms or on my back?"
That seems to wake her again. She purses her lips, considering the offer. "On your back, like a piggy ride."
Chrollo picks her up and balances what little weight she has against his build. Her arms loose about his neck, he feels that she is dozing off again, having been drained incessantly training after training. Her cheek is pressed on his right shoulder, the short locks of her hair tickling his neck. She smells of salt and sweat, with a little hint of chocolate from her usual late night drinks. He makes a mental note to make her shower when she wakes, and another note to reward her for a job well done. He smiles at the thought of it, rewarding her, and starts planning for tonight.
Nearly twelve hours later, Valtiel wakes up on their bed, still in her filthy tracksuit, but relieved of her shoes. She moans and buries her face into Chrollo's pillow. She feels numb pain in her body, but not painful enough to hurt. Like a stubborn child, she forces herself back to sleep, to catch up from all the hours she missed sleeping in exchange for training. Yet she is fully awake now, groaning into his pillow, fighting hard to ignore his heady scent, but could not.
Her phone buzzes from the nightstand. With an effort, she reaches out for it. To her surprise, she has 11 unread messages. Still sleepy, she breezes through them all.
06:45 +31-55-796-723: Good morning, Valtiel. This is Paku. Save my number, okay? I hope you and Danchou are doing well.
06:59 +45-384-0784: This is Franklin. Save this number if you need any help. Take care.
07:32 +61-462-7937: Valtiel! You have a phone already! Congratulations! o(^∀^*)o This is Shalnark, btw!
09:00 +47-619-3436: Machi here. Call me if you're injured. I can give you a discount. If Danchou's there, then it's free. Be careful.
09:14 +59-713-7291: Yo! Uvo here kiddo! How's your Nen training going? Let's meet up sometime!
09:58 +59-737-6406: This is Nobunaga and you're only allowed to call me if you're dying!
11:05 +67-379-2104: I heard you acquired for yourself a new mobile phone. Keep this number in case you ever need my assistance. This is Bonolenov.
13:26 +15-975-0017: It's about time we get in contact with each other, poppet. Do you not think it best if we spend more time together instead of Danchou keeping you for his own? … You know who I am.
14:25 +60-259-4314: Good afternoon, Miss Valtiel. It's Yuan. My apologies if you're busy and I might be bothering you. Danchou told us to give you our numbers. Again, I'm sorry for bothering you.
16:01 +65-731-5234: Here's my number, Val. Save it please. Kortopi.
18:59 +87-672-0422: Hey, doll face. It's Phinks. I received Danchou's message only now. You guys better be doing okay. If not… eh, never mind. Fei says you're both fine.
Valtiel reviews all the messages she received throughout the entire day, and feels warmth swelling in her heart. She has everyone's numbers saved in her phone now, including Danchou's and Feitan's. She reads them again one after the other, unable to keep the smile growing in her face.
Suddenly, her phone buzzes again.
19:03 Uvo-san:o(^∀^*)o
19:03 Uvo-san: (*^^*)
19:03 Uvo-san: Shal taught me how to do that in my phone.
19:04 Uvo-san: (͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
19:05 Phink-san: UVO STOP SENDING ME THESE STUPID FACES
19:06 Phink-san: Oh shit wrong send. Sorry doll face
Valtiel rolls on her stomach and laughs aloud. She stretches like a lazy cat across the bed, her sock-covered feet swaying in the air. After Phinks's outburst, she gets no more new messages, which is fine for her. She relishes what little time she has to enjoy the company of the Troupe, despite virtually.
"What are you smiling about?" a quiet voice asks.
She turns around to face him, and makes a face at him. They have been together for more than half a year and she has seen him half-naked over a hundred times. Tonight is no different. "Nothing. What's up?"
Chrollo enters the bedroom and strides across the floor, covered only by a dark green towel around his hips. His raven hair is a damp, tangled mess about his neck and jaw. He fetches a smaller towel from the closet and starts patting his hair with it.
"I am fresh from the shower," he says, as if she has not noticed.
She rolls her eyes at him and he laughs.
"No, I mean, we are going out," he says.
"Going out?" She raises an eyebrow. "Meaning?"
"Out." He finishes with his hair and moves to pick a suit from the closet. "To dinner."
"What for?"
"We have not gone out for dinner since your training began," Chrollo explains in his soft voice. He produces a black suit ensemble with a white inner shirt and black necktie. He lays it on the foot of the bed, and then sits on the edge, close to her. Under the lamplight, his alabaster skin glistens, smooth and still damp. "I want to take you out for dinner," he explains. "We have a reservation in a restaurant out of town."
"But we still have leftover in the fridge," she argues. "We can eat that."
"And let the reservation go to waste?" He stands and shakes his head. "Not a chance."
"Oh, fine." She kicks the blanket off her and enters the bathroom.
"Make it quick," he calls out after her. "And your dress is already prepared."
The next town is larger and more luxurious. Instead of archaic buildings or flagstone roads, it has glass buildings and paved roads. It is hotter here as well, despite the evening breeze. As Valtiel looks out the window of their newly stolen black sports car, she realizes that she prefers little Horologia with its cozy cafés and white sand beach. She misses looking at the White Tower and its massive clock. Instead, tonight she gets commercial districts and metropolitan buildings with its unending stream of bright lights.
The car's engine roars throatily as Chrollo pulls it into a stop. One of the valets comes jogging towards them, receives the key from Chrollo, and drives the car towards the parking lot.
As they have done so many times before, they walk with their arms intertwined with one another. Chrollo shares a few words with the man at the lobby.
The maître d leads them into a fancy dining room with golden triangular lamps, with chains of diamond hanging loosely. The diamonds catch the light, winking and blinding to the eyes. There are quite a number of people here, locked in conversations, and wineglasses in hand. The maître d takes them into a balcony with dim lighting and that overlooks the city from afar.
When he is gone, the pair settles into their seats.
"Cold?" Chrollo's eyes are on her bare shoulders and arms.
"Not in this dress, no." She smiles, gesturing on the navy blue off-shoulder dress. Her platinum-blonde hair is up in a half-ponytail, its thick wavy locks over one shoulder. A pair of diamond earrings wink under the dim lights. "To what do I owe this dinner, Danchou?"
"To yourself," he answers, raising his wineglass to her. "You did well in your training."
"Did I?" She sips on her water. "I am glad you're pleased."
"I am," he confirms. "Within five months you mastered the first three principles, with the inclusion of Gyo. Then you suffered months to master Akamu's martial art. I am very pleased with the progress of your training, so I had thought a lovely dinner is due."
"How sweet." Her eyes flash at him. "What's next in training?"
Chrollo takes another sip, and then licks his lips. "Hatsu," he says. "Putting everything you learned thus far into action. It is a Nen user's personal manifestation of their Nen training, reflecting their character." He notices her confusion, and so he elaborates: "Yuan's ability to turn his entire body into iron, Machi's threads, and even Kortopi's ability to make copies of those paper cranes−that is a Hatsu ability. Since it reflects the user, it differentiates between people. You would have to devise one of your own."
She nods, taking everything into heart. "And how do I do that?"
"You would have to go through Water Divination first. If you remember, Uvo already subjected you to it while we were in Meteor City. You would have do to that again, to determine which category you belong."
"And if I already know?"
"You still have to do it under my supervision. Anyway, we have more than half a year to spare." He raises his glass to her. "So, cheers?"
"No, thank you. I like my water." She grins and clinks their glasses together.
Dinner commences afterwards. They dine on extravagant baked seafood and chicken cooked in gravy. There is venison cooked in aromatic red wine sauce, topped with herbs, partnered with champagne. A small group of musicians is playing a romantic tune in the corner, setting the mood between the couples dining here in the balcony. And Chrollo−ever the good and eager conversationalist−starts the pace by asking about Han Feizi's take on the so-called three relationships that brings harmony to a country.
She purses her lips as she listens to his ramblings. Half of her attention is on his words, but the other half painfully reminds her of the Kakin prince. Much to her annoyance, both prince and thief appear to be captivated by the ancient philosopher's leading skills.
"Han Feizi says that a minister serves a ruler, a son serves his father, and a wife serves her husband."
"Oh, I have not read that part of the book yet," she murmurs.
"Which part have you finished already?"
"I am still stuck on the sovereign against his minister part," she says, exasperated, and makes a face.
He chuckles, bemused. "Well, you have been training. I did not expect you to continue reading Han Feizi while you are out there learning the Death Strike from Akamu. No hurt feelings if you can't catch up with me, dear Val. If you want, I can narrate to you some good arguments he pointed out."
"You think too much of yourself."
"Me? Perhaps," he agrees.
"Not the very makings of a leader."
Valtiel expects another comeback from him, but when she lifts her gaze from her food to his face, she finds him quite enthralled to the latest pair entering the balcony. Her golden eyes follow his sight and lands on a young man and woman, arms intertwined, taking the seat on the other side of the place.
Chrollo's eyes are on the woman: black-haired and bronze-skinned, she wears an airy gown of white and gold, open at the sides to reveal the lush curves of her waist and hips, and an ornate brass snake coiled around her upper forearms. Her dark hair is a thick mane that falls in loose ringlets across her shoulders and back. Her lips are red and lush, spread into a wide smile as she kisses the man she arrived with, full on the lips, for everyone in the balcony to see.
When Chrollo finally tears his eyes away from her, he sees Valtiel scowling at him.
"What?" he asks, suddenly innocent.
"Nothing." She shrugs her shoulders. Now she feels self-conscious, comparing her bare shoulders to that woman. She should have worn something less exposing. Taking her water, she sips until it is empty.
"You are upset about something," he guesses. He sits straight in his chair, forearms on the table; eyes only on her−as if that would heal the damage that was already done. When she does not reply, he tilts his head to the side and smiles that infuriating smug smile. Not so innocent anymore. "You're jealous?"
"Oh, no." Valtiel throws her head back and laughs spitefully. "You really do think too much of yourself."
"Then you have no qualms if I approach her," he says, taking the insult in stride.
She gestures with a hand. "Knock yourself out, Danchou."
He smiles, pouring oil into the fire, adding insult to insult. He does not care that her frown deepens. Rather, he is amused and wants to take it to the next level. He rises from his chair and has the audacity to kiss the back of her hand, as if asking permission.
"Then I will, Val," he says and strides to where the pair is seated.
From her peripheral vision, Valtiel watches as Chrollo introduces himself to the pair. Judging by the man's smile and the woman's demure laugh, the Spider leader is successful in capturing their attention. She scowls; not only did he ask her to have dinner, but also he has the very nerve to leave her−just like the night she met the prince. She was suffering alone while Chrollo was enjoying himself. It was unfair, like how it is unfair now, seated on her own with a half-finished dinner. Suddenly, the musicians' romantic tune sounds sour and bitter to her.
She finishes what is left of her meal, despite the rotten appetite. She could not bring it to herself to waste food while children like Warren and Julia are searching for scraps in dumpsters.
A few moments later, sensing that Chrollo is nowhere finished seducing the pair, she stands from the table and heads for the restroom. If the Spider leader ever noticed her leaving, she does not care. She lingers in the room for a while, leaned against the elegant sink trimmed with silver edges, and rummages through her phone, rereading the Spiders' messages for her. She laughs again at Uvo's smiley faces and Phinks's thunderous rage, imagining what could have been if the Troupe are together.
She is caught off-guard when a text appears on the screen.
21:34 Chrollo Lucilfer: Where are you, wife?
She has almost forgotten that he saved his number earlier.
Begrudgingly, she sighs and emerges from the restroom. She passes by the restaurant's bar as a young man backs away from the counter.
They collide together, his back on her chest, and she steadies herself on her heels and grabs the man around the wrist. The man curses at the spilled drink on the floor. He drops his scowl, however, when he sees the worried look on her face.
Valtiel bows a little. "Oh, I am so sorry! I was preoccupied with my thoughts and−"
"It is quite fine. Really." He laughs it off, waving a hand. "It was my fault, too. But are you all right?"
"Why, yes." She smiles, only to realize that this is the same man with whom the black-haired woman arrived. She gulps then, at a loss for words, unable what to do with this man smiling down on her.
"It is rare for me to accidentally bump into someone," he muses. He has a mass of brown curls that tumbles over his forehead and shoulders. His eyes, brighter under the light of the chandeliers, seem like a deeper shade of hazel. He wears a white suit with a maroon vest and black shoes. He inches closer, smelling of red wine. "What is your name?"
"I am−" Her eyes catch Chrollo in the other side of the room.
The Spider leader has cornered the beautiful woman into a side, his one arm pinned on the wall to trap her there. He is smiling, and so is the woman.
Valtiel returns her focus on the young man and feigns a smile. "I am Valtiel Eleison."
"Oh?" He sounds surprised. He checks back and nods at Chrollo's direction. "Your husband, then?"
She feels a wave of sudden resentment for the Spider head, and so she laughs and says, "My brother."
The man looks relieved. "My name is Luca. That woman over there is my friend, Nicola." He draws her to the bar and snaps his fingers for the bartender. He flashes her a charming smile−not at all dirty or perverted, but a pure, cheerful smile. She relaxes in his presence, enjoying his unexpected company. "Do you drink?"
A little chuckle comes from her. "Oh, no. My… brother… he's forbidden me to drink."
"Then you wouldn't mind if I drink enough for us." Luca smiles again and fills two glasses for himself. He finishes the first in three gulps, and then swirls the other drink in his hand. "You're not from around here."
"How could you tell?" She studies his face, which breaks into another charming smile.
"Your accent," he says and leans close to her face. "And your hair and eyes." He rolls a lock of her platinum-blonde hair between forefinger and thumb. "People who are born in this side of the world are usually dark-haired and dark-skinned. Look at Nicola: her parents are natives of this region and she inherited everything from them. She's quite exotic, very popular with the guys." And he chugs another drink.
"I can see that." Valtiel examines the other woman, how her body language seems to draw Chrollo ever closer. She feels another wave of resentment, higher than before. "She is quite beautiful, isn't she?"
"Only a fool would not see it," Luca agrees and notices her soft frown. "You are beautiful, too, in your own way." He nods appreciatively at her. "You have lovely eyes. Gold and bright and…" He narrows his eyes and looks harder. "With a hint of crimson… or red…"
"What?" She blinks at him, uncomprehending. "What did you say?"
"I thought I saw something red in your eyes," he answers. "It's beautiful."
"Red?"
"Brighter than red, yes."
She falls silent and wonders what it could be. Red eyes? How absurd...
Luca lets out an awkward laugh and a cough. Valtiel turns to where Chrollo and Nicola are trapped in their own world. The pair has found a couch to sit on, away from the others, with Chrollo's right arm draped over the back. Nicola chatters like an eager cuckoo, deft hands touching at Chrollo's arm and knee every once in a while. He would pretend not to notice her touches, and laughs at something she says instead.
The tableau of them flirting with one another fuels Valtiel's irritation all the more. Wife, indeed!
Despite the heat of the flirtation, Chrollo raises his dark eyes from Nicola and immediately finds Valtiel on the bar, chatting with Nicola's partner. He swallows hard before focusing back on the black-haired beauty by his side. He would have to deal with his Kurta later.
Luca offers her an apple-flavored beer, and she accepts. "Have you been to Yorknew City?"
"Yorknew? What is that?"
"It's a wonderful place, especially during September. They do auctions there and hold extravagant social gatherings. The world's richest personalities gather all the time."
"To throw money at each other?" She clicks her tongue at the strange taste of beer.
"More or less." Luca laughs. He props his chin on his hand and stares at her under heavy-lidded eyes. The drinks have gotten into his system, making his words slur; and, to her dismay, into his head. "Since Nicola is occupied with your brother, why don't you come back with me in my room? My family franchised one of the five-star hotels downtown. I can give you a discount…" He reaches out for her hand and squeezes it, gentle yet firm. "Or you can get a free pass anytime…"
"You are drunk," she says, blunt. "Maybe you should take Nicola with you and go home."
He grins and his head falls on the counter. Brown curls tumble over his face as he starts snoring.
She sighs. She couldn't leave him like this. Glancing back to the flirting pair, she notices that they are nowhere near finished. It has been more than an hour worth of flirting. That should be enough for one night.
Valtiel crosses the restaurant and comes upon the pair just as Nicola is leaning for a kiss. She looms before them and clears her throat.
"Sorry to interrupt," she bites out, "but Luca really needs to go home."
Nicola's tantalizing dark eyes go from the blonde to her friend at the bar. She shakes her head and touches Chrollo's forearm in permission. He nods to her, and she leans in to plant a chaste kiss on the corner of his mouth. Valtiel's eyebrow twitches at that.
"Excuse me," Nicola says in her thick native accent. She rushes to the bar and whispers something in Luca's ear. She is gentle with him, combing his hair off his face and wiping his face with a damp towel given by the bartender.
Luca wakes and manages to stand. Together they aim for the door. Nicola spares one last glance at Chrollo before the doors close.
"Ah, that went well," Chrollo says cheerfully. He puts a hand on the small of Valtiel's back. "How are you?"
"Don't touch me." Valtiel growls, slapping his hand away.
"What have I done now? You said you have no problems if I approached her."
"I'm tired. I want to go home."
"You sure you don't want to talk about it now?" He smirks, devious as he always is.
She levels him with a hard, piercing gaze. She could see red spots forming in the corners of her eyes. The shock of it makes her blink fast, as if blinking away at a ghost.
He steps closer, concerned. "What is it?"
"I... want to go home."
"Very well." He sighs, knowing he could not do much without inciting another argument. He offers his arm to her, but she breezes right past him and rushes to the door. Scratching his nape, he knows he has a lot of explaining to do when they get home.
The ride home is uneventful. Chrollo drives for an hour while Valtiel curls up in the passenger seat, stubborn as she avoids eye contact with him. When they get home, they immerse themselves into changing in their sleeping clothes: a nightdress for Valtiel and pajamas for Chrollo. When they tuck under the blankets, Valtiel rolls to the farthest part of her side, stretching the blanket taut between them.
Chrollo organizes the stack of books on his side. It has grown into a tall pile after so many months of reading between this book and that. Usually he reads five books at the same time, and if he finds another interesting, it adds as a sixth to his list of growing to-reads.
Tonight, he decides on merely arranging them in order, instead of reading until morning. He stares at his stubborn Kurta and knows for sure that she has taken offense on his neglect. He took her out for dinner, but he still ended up entertaining another that he found engaging. He does not blame her for anything.
"Val?" In the darkness of their room, he calls out. "Are you still awake?"
A slight shift on the bed confirms his suspicions.
He grunts and rolls over to her side, aiming to drape his arm around her waist, but she pushes him off and nudges him away with an elbow. Laughing at her childish sulking, he wrestles against her on the bed and puts his entire weight on her back, pinning her to the mattress. He feels her groan and sigh in defeat, her taut body going limp underneath his. He relaxes then, one strong arm on her hip.
His warm breath is on her ear. "Are you still upset?"
She grumbles something to her pillow.
"What's that?" He lifts himself onto his elbow and peers down on her.
"You smug bastard," she hisses. "Get off me. Don't touch me."
"Not until you forgive me."
"There is nothing to forgive."
"Oh, there's not?" Again with the innocent tone. It is fast becoming her most hated tone of him.
"I am tired, Danchou. Let me sleep."
"You have been sleeping for an entire day," he points out. "Spare some attention to your husband."
She raises her head from the pillow and glares at him. "No one's watching us. There's no need to pretend."
The bastard actually laughs at her. He laughs against her neck, warm lips pressed on her skin. The hand on her hip wounds around for a tight embrace, pulling the length of her body against his own. "Yes, no one is watching," he murmurs, "but that's not enough reason to stop pretending."
"You said those very words to me this morning!" she exclaims, earning another deep rumble of laugh from him. She squirms against his hold, but his arm is strong and firm. She frowns deeper. "You said there's no need to pretend when no one's watching!"
"I only said that to make you stop whining," he says.
"And so I am saying it right now, to make you stop whining."
"That won't work. I am the Danchou. I get to decide the rules."
"Unfair." She sticks her tongue out.
He chuckles and falls back on the bed. The moonlight shines from their window, casting shadows across the dark room. A sliver spills toward them, a vertical slash over their bodies. Chrollo's forefinger traces the moonlight over her pale skin. He feels her body grow slack beside him. "Val?" he mumbles.
She shoves an elbow to his sternum. "Don't touch me."
"Did you never wonder why I approached her?"
"I'm not interested."
"Make a guess."
"Oh, I don't know." She shakes her head, annoyed. She grabs a pillow and puts it over her head. "She's beautiful and exotic, I bet! So, can you give me a break and give me some well-deserved sleep?"
"No," he says in a tone so low she could not have heard it. He sighs and buries his nose in her thick hair, inhaling the scent of her lavender shampoo. He closes his eyes, feeling himself drift off to sleep. "I approached her because Nicola is the last pure Tongusic in this province. All her other clan members intermarried with outsiders, losing the dark hair and dark skin." His voice becomes ever softer, almost sleepy. "And I snatched a souvenir from her."
His hand reaches out for something and brings it to her face.
Valtiel, fighting a combination of sleepiness and irritation, opens her eyes to see the brass snake that coiled around Nicola's forearms that evening. "Why?"
Eyes closed, he smiles and nuzzles closer. "It's considered a relic in their culture. This coiled snake represents the unending cycle of life and death for them," he says with a yawn. "Do you like it?"
"It's beautiful," she agrees, "just like her."
"Yeah." Chrollo places the armband on the table and lulls into sleep. Then, with his last ounce of consciousness, he mumbles, "But you are still the most beautiful treasure for me."
Author's Notes: It's me making a comeback after two long weeks! Needless to say, I'm overwhelmed by the amount of support from you guys that you're all asking for updates. Thank you, thank you! I tried to squeeze a few moments of my time so I could update this weekend.
We've got more ChroVal stuff as requested, but also some... FeiVal? (Oh,boy, Chrollo's gonna kill me!) I kinda like the idea/tandem of having Feitan and Valtiel together. Two completely opposite sides of the character spectrum. Plus I really do love Feitan's character as a whole. Togashi found a way to make him well loved by fans and he certainly did a good job with the Spiders! I'll definitely give Fei more screentime in the upcoming chapters, but Chrollo and Val together-forever is a must!
What d'you guys think of Uvo's smiley faces? Lmao.
*xenocanaan - Hoping you like this one!
*Eric - Personally, I'm also terrified to be left alone with Feitan. Thank you for the suggestions! I did find a free writing software very similar to MS Office. It's so neat and familiar, I love it. Thanks for reviewing!
*Amy - Lmao Fei a royal bastard and Chrollo actually liked it being slapped? Oh, boy! It does feel satisfying on Val's end but then again Chrollo has had more satisfying moments for himself than anyone else in this story. And no kissing anytime soon? Probably no kissing anymore given how flirty Chrollo was in this chapter. *smh*
*HuangShaotian0005 - Slapping that pretty face every once in a while must be a must! This guy's been flirting left and right! If I were Val, I'd leave him alone for good. XDD
*iWeep - When Val slapped him, at that moment, we all must have cheered. Tell me, who didn't cheer?!
*Mia Mena - Chrollo must've been shocked to say the least. My poor baby. :'(
*Dontcha - At this point, even I can't tell if these two are already in love or are just good at playing each other. Believe me, I also want these two to get on with it and tumble off into bed. 🙈
*RoseGirl99 - This is probably one of the best reviews I've had for this story so far! Such a well-thought review, you've touched base with a lot of hints that I've been placing in-between the chapters. You made a good point how Chrollo and Val are the exact opposites, from their looks, personalities (and even their childhood).
As for Val becoming an Enhancer that can heal, I do see her like that... but we will see depending on her growth if she would be an Enhancer indeed. I absolutely love your description of her, that being kind and compassionate is her greatest strength. I myself couldn't have put all your descriptions of Val into words! Imagining Val as Chrollo's permanent lover makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.
Val's mother? Hm, I'd like to touch base regarding that matter as well, maybe in the future when her world collides with Kurapika. We'd definitely learn more of their Kurta Clan dynamics when these two meet and scare the shit out of Chrollo. *wink wink*
Thank you for such a wonderful review! Rest assured that I'd treasure this always!
*More please - Maybe I should start binge reading my stories too! I want to make sure all chapters flow well with each other, haha. I wish I studied Writing in college. Sadly, I did not and writing stories is just my beloved hobby. Thank you for reviewing!
*ChroVal- More ChroVal fluff and angst just for you, my friend!
*PLEASE UPDATE - I hope you enjoy this one!
Also, I will also update "Araneæ Diem" today. Don't forget to read and review that one as well. Thank you, folks! Have a great weekend!