Chapter XLI

"I heard some alarming reports."

"I'd be more surprised if you didn't hear any."

Chrollo stops from preparing their bed for the night and stares hard at her back. Ever since she returned from picking up the magician, his little lady has been irritable and inconsolable. He could not think of anything that could have incensed her, and now he is receiving a cold treatment and more snide comments as he keeps the conversation neutral.

In the other side of the small room, Valtiel is laying out their belongings from the duffel bag. There is only one bed, barely fitting one person, with a hard wooden board and no pillows or blankets. She keeps her back to him, as if to hide her displeased expression.

He weighs down his options and sighs. "You seem to be comfortable with Hisoka," he says bluntly.

"Of course. I went through Heaven's Arena with him for months." She turns around and shoots him that innocent look. He wonders if Valtiel is trying to act the innocent now, to misdirect his inquiries. She tilts her head to the side, blinking. "I thought you already know that."

"I know it," he agrees, "but you two are surprisingly close."

"Is there a problem to it?"

"No." He sets his jaw as she turns around for the belongings again. With a weary sigh, he removes his outer black coat and lays it over the chair's back. He sinks onto the small bed, feeling and hearing the wooden board creak under his weight. It could break any moment, he feels. "I just thought it would be very inappropriate to be very familiar with another man."

"Inappropriate?" She looks affronted. "Why so?"

"Well, you do have me, don't you?"

She bites at her bottom lip and says nothing.

He eases himself to the head of the bed, moving carefully over the creaking wood. Without any mattress, his back and hips are already hurting.

"Moving on, there is something else I'd like to discuss." Again, she says nothing and so he continues, "You seem to be upset about something. If you don't want to tell, then certainly I can guess."

She shrugs, twisting away from his gaze.

"Is it because I had you followed?"

"Oh, thank the heavens." She rounds towards him with a dark look in her face.

Chrollo braces himself for her annoyance, keeping his face nonchalant and his fingers intertwined over his lap. His long legs stretch across the bed, ankles dangling at the other edge.

"Why would you ask the Spiders to follow me?" Valtiel demands, standing tall over him. She stumbles over her next words, attempting to sound pleasant despite the anger reflected in her eyes. Then her shoulders drop. "You want me to be honest with you," she murmurs. "Then I will. I can't stand it anymore… I can't stand being watched and followed all the time…"

He nods and studies her face. A shadow crosses over her eyes and he knows there is something else she would not tell. He knows this is not just about him and the Spiders following her. It makes him wonder if she means Hisoka. Or even perhaps the Kakin prince who she so desperately evades? She is weary of people shadowing her movements, scares her even, and he understands that.

He stretches his arm for her and she comes, joining him on the poor bed. He runs his fingers through her hair and works on the tangles. She winces at his pulling. "If it makes you uncomfortable, then it won't happen again," he whispers. "I won't ask anyone to follow you again. I am sorry for it. I was only apprehensive."

She furrows her brows. "Apprehensive? Of what?" Then her eyes darken. "Of who?"

There is no need for him to mention the magician's name. She is sharp enough to understand his implication. He watches closer to see her frown. "You cannot be too familiar with him, or anyone else for that matter," he says again.

"What if I can't follow?"

At once, his tenderness melts away. His hold around her waist tightens. "You must endeavor that you refuse his advances, whatever they are. I won't stand for it."

She checks at his dark frown and sighs, defeated. "All right," she says and the arm on her waist relaxes. Perhaps she is not in so good a mood to argue. Just as well, Chrollo doesn't want more debates flaring between them. He wants peace and quiet−not sarcasm and stubbornness.

He nods and kisses her behind the ear. "Very good."

"In return, you won't have the Spiders following me," she specifies.

"Why not, if I may ask? It is dangerous for you to go alone."

"It makes me feel…" She hesitates. "It makes me feel like a prisoner…"

"Prisoner?" He rubs her arms up and down, soothing her. "Am I making you feel like one?"

To his utter surprise, she nods. "Sometimes."

Chrollo falls silent. He doesn't know what to make of that, or how to react. For all his years of command and control over the Troupe, no one has ever complained of feeling forced or imprisoned by him. This is a first. Then again, she is not among the Troupe. He should stop considering her as one if he wants to make everything work with her.

"I am sorry," he repeats. "It won't happen again."

"Thank you, Danchou."

He makes a face. "Chrollo."

She laughs and rests her head on his chest. His arms wrap around her smaller form and pull her closer on the bed, despite its wooden beams screaming in protest. She smooths her cheek against the fabric of his cotton shirt, buttoned down to his sternum. "Danchou."

"We should tell the others," he mutters.

Her head comes up from his chest, her eyes searching for his own. "Tell what?"

His smirk is both sincere and devious. "This." He gestures to the two of them, lying together inside a darkened little room somewhere in the lighthouse. "Us." He takes her hand and kisses her knuckles, watching in pleasure as her pale cheeks rise with color. He laughs against her fingertips. "No?"

To be honest, Chrollo doesn't like that hesitant look on her.

"Is it okay?" she mumbles under her breath. "Would it be all right to them?"

"We are not asking for their permission," he says. "We are telling them what is already here. The others have hardly any say in what we should do, but I am sure no one would disagree." He smiles and leans down for a kiss to prove his point, swallowing her little sighs of pleasure. He pulls away and puts a hand on the small of her back. "So stop worrying."

Downstairs, the Phantom Troupe gather together when their Danchou and Valtiel step down from the winding staircase. Chrollo meets everyone's eyes as they approach, all except the Number Four, who seems to be glued on his seat by the window. His dark eyes bore through the magician, at which point Hisoka's head finally comes up from his card pyramid, and answers him with a sly smile.

Chrollo lets go of Valtiel's hand as he prepares his scented candles. He arranges eight candles in a row on the stone platform, Phinks lighting them with his lighter. He steps back along with the rest of the group, all of them standing closely together as they always have since their childhood.

He fights back a tear when they start praying for Yuan's soul. Yuan was the last member to complete the thirteen Spiders, and was the first one to go−excluding Omokage, who had left on his own accord. Yuan was the first Spider to die in service to him, and Chrollo takes his death seriously.

Valtiel's hand tugs at his own and he squeezes hers back. Only she knows how much he suffered since the day Yuan was gone. Only she knows about his nightmares and fearful nights. He doesn't look at her, but he knows her kind smile would be there.

He never turns around for his friends, but someone behind him sniffs. It could be Nobunaga, who is friendly with everyone just as he is easily annoyed by them. It could be Uvogin, his usual brash self contrasting Yuan's calm demeanor. Yuan will be missed, but there is not enough time for mourning.

The Danchou breaks away from the group and stands at the front. The candles line up behind him, bright flames guttering in the salty sea breeze. It throws a long shadow at his side and makes his pale face darker, defining the bags under his eyes deeper. Everyone stands and waits for him.

"Due to Yuan's untimely demise, I took it upon myself to select a replacement," Chrollo begins in his soft yet still commanding tone. He has everyone's attention, even Hisoka's. "Number Eight, would you please come up front and introduce yourself to us?"

"Yes, Danchou."

Chrollo's heart flutters upon hearing his usual title. He has a new Spider now. Someone new to protect. He steps a little to the side to let Shizuku join him at the front, their shadows mingling.

Polite as always, Shizuku bows and introduces herself by name. There is a little murmur from the other members, about the cutesy appearance of their newest teammate, and some hushed questions about her Nen ability. Shizuku doesn't answer, but she smiles as she joins the rest of the group.

Next, the leader beckons for Valtiel.

The color in her face drains in an instant, but Chrollo would not allow her a moment of hesitation. He reaches out with one arm, and she comes, sliding next to him with her eyes lowered, avoiding the avid curiosity from the Spiders. Some are already grinning−Shalnark and Pakunoda among them.

"Valtiel and I have an announcement to make," he starts, and feels her fidget beside him and the eager step forward of his friends. He almost chuckles at them. Guess he doesn't have to twist his words colorfully this time. "Valtiel and I are together now, romantically speaking. I would ask for everyone's understanding and support on the matter."

The Spiders murmur again, pleased at the announcement. Hisoka is grinning from ear-to-ear.

"I don't get it," Nobunaga deadpans.

"What's not to get?" Feitan grumbles.

"Romantically speaking?" Nobu scratches his cheek. "What−like dating? A boyfriend-girlfriend situation?"

Valtiel buries her face in her hands to hide her embarrassment. Pakunoda stifles a laugh.

"Yes," Chrollo says gently. "It is exactly as you say, Nobunaga."

"What?! Really?!" The samurai's cheeks also flare up, embarrassed all of a sudden.

"What kind of reaction is that?" Bonolenov shakes his head.

Shalnark is bouncing up and down. "Oh! Oh! So it's finally official, Danchou?"

"It's official," the leader confirms.

"She's your first, isn't she?"

"Yes." Chrollo smiles at his Spiders, and then kisses Valtiel's hand in front of everyone. His dark gaze lingers on hers, lips hovering above her knuckles. "And hopefully, my last."

"This is so amazing!" Shalnark says.

"All righty!" Uvogin stretches both arms and makes himself a wide space between the group. He cuts through the space and approaches the couple at the front.

"It's about damned time," he tells them. "I'm so happy I could kiss you both!" He takes Chrollo's face and kisses him wetly on the cheek, and then with Valtiel, he puckers his lips teasingly. She giggles like a little girl when he gives a loud smooch on her forehead.

He steps back and grins down on them. "There! You have my blessing!"

Chrollo wipes the wet kiss with the back of his hand. "I thank you kindly, Uvo-san," he says.

"You two better not break each other's hearts," Phinks says in a gruff voice, folding his arms over his chest. He glares at Valtiel. "If I find out, the next thing broken will be your arms. Got that?"

"Gee, Phinks!" Shalnark throws his head back and laughs. "What a pep talk!"

"What? Someone has to say it!"

"In either case, I am very happy for you two," Paku chimes in.

"If there's anything we can do to help, tell us," Kortopi adds from beside Shizuku.

"Yeah, yeah, sheesh." Uvogin picks at his ear. "Let's skip all the cheesy stuff and get drunk already!" He shoves Nobunaga in his excitement and smashes the stolen crates that contain beers. He grabs four bottles and thrusts his hands into the air. "To our newest member and to our Danchou and Val!"

"You didn't have to push me, dumbass!" Nobu shrieks from his position on the floor.

"To Shizuku." Franklin holds up a bottle.

"And to Danchou and Valtiel," Machi adds.

"Thank you very much, everyone." Chrollo smiles and looks down expectantly at his lady. She might still be blushing, but she is already laughing when Uvogin chugs down his drink and smashes the bottle at Feitan and Kortopi's feet. He holds her hand and pulls her toward the heated celebrations. "Do you want to drink, Val?"

"No, thank you." Valtiel peeps at him. "I thought we're supposed to have a mission, Danchou?"

"Ah, about that." He spares a long glance at his friends, already drinking themselves into a stupor. Franklin and Bono are waving him towards the center of the celebrations. He laughs. "Perhaps we can postpone it until tomorrow morning."

So when the morning comes and the lighthouse is transformed into a bright space with windows spiraling the first floor, the Troupe members once again gather to hear the details of the mission from their leader−who takes his usual position at the head of the room and stands on the platform. He could tell that some members are still suffering from their hangovers, so he tries to keep his explanation quick and concise.

"This area is called the Pirate King Solomon's Islands," Chrollo says, sensing the quick attention from both Valtiel and Shizuku. "I collected the last pieces of the map, which lists the locations of the treasures Solomon and his pirate crew had hidden decades ago. We will work in pairs and disseminate the areas between the pairs. We will scout the entire area for at least seven days."

"Oh." Shalnark whistles. "Like a treasure hunt?"

"Yes, that's right. Out of sixty-four islands, the pairs would have nine islands to scout."

"Which islands per pair?" Machi asks.

"I split the map into seven sections. I will give them to everyone once the pairs are decided."

"So which pairs should it be?" Phinks says idly.

Those are the only words needed to trigger another competitive mood within the Troupe. Since it is a treasure hunt and that they would have their own areas, the most competitive ones are raging that the pair with the most found treasures are declared winners. Then Phinks demands what methods they should use to determine the partners, in which case Shalnark excitedly suggests a game.

But what kind of game?

And then there's the Spiders suggesting many different games they remember from childhood. Nobunaga suggests Rock-Paper-Scissors, Feitan mumbles something about hide-and-seek, while Uvogin stomps his foot on the floor and roars, "ARM WRESTLING!"

The bulb in Shalnark's mind dings. "Sounds like a good idea!"

Machi crosses her arms, exasperated. "What are the rules?"

"What about just have two people arm wrestle each other," Franklin pipes up. "Whoever wins gets to choose his partner. That means the chosen person cannot compete in another wrestling match."

"Interesting." Bonolenov raises a hand. "Count me in."

"Is this all right, Danchou?" Shalnark turns for their leader.

"Of course, as long as the pairs are decided before nightfall."

"Okay, then!" Shal faces the Spiders. "This is good practice to show our power−"

"Puissance," Chrollo whispers in Valtiel's ear. She shoves him away with an elbow. He laughs.

"−So no hard feelings!" Shal finishes. His bright green eyes rake around the room. "Who wants to go first?"

"All right. Let's get this over with." Phinks cracks his knuckles and drops in front of a massive stone block in the middle of the room. He smirks and searches around the room for a possible opponent. His black eyes land on Machi. He points a finger at her. "You."

She rolls her eyes and takes the other side of the stone. "You'll regret this," she says.

"Oho. We'll see." Phinks puts his right arm into position, and Machi follows suit. The two of them stare darkly at each other, taking the competition more seriously than they should.

"You two ready?" Shalnark asks. They nod. "Just one round, okay? No Nen allowed. Go!"

The two Spiders go at it, Phinks gripping Machi's smaller hand and forcing it to his side. Machi, not one to lose, narrows blue eyes at him and grips his hand tighter. The others are clapping and cheering for them both, Uvogin's cheers always the loudest. Chrollo inches closer to watch, curious, and when he steals a glance at his companion, he finds Valtiel also bouncing and cheering.

Sweat breaks across Phinks's forehead as he gives one powerful push, slamming Machi's hand on the stone. They break away panting, with the blond man wiggling his hand. "Ha! I win!"

Machi curses under her breath as she caresses her aching hand and moves out of the seat.

"Choose a partner, Phinks," Shalnark says.

"I choose Feitan!" the taller man says without hesitation, grinning at his partner's direction.

Feitan looks none too pleased. "You idiot," he snarls. "I wanted to arm wrestle, too."

"Can't do that now. You're chosen." Shalnark chuckles and looks around again. "Who next?"

"Let's go!" Uvogin drops heavily onto Machi's previous seat and bares white canine at Franklin. "It's you and me, big guy. Let's see what you got against the strongest Troupe member!"

"Pfft. Show off." Franklin sinks on the other seat, puts his arm onto place, and takes Uvo's in an iron grip.

At Shalnark's signal, they begin, pitting the two largest and tallest of the Phantom Troupe. Franklin is sneering at Uvo, while the latter is just grinning back and enjoying the show. Uvo's big hand is almost the same size as Franklin's, but the difference in strength starts to appear when Franklin's sneer turns into a tight scowl and when his right hand slowly starts lowering to the block. With a final push, Uvogin wins the match and jumps up to his feet.

"I choose Nobu as my partner," he says.

"Which is already expected," Bonolenov comments.

"That's two pairs down," Shal says. "Anyone next?"

"I want to try."

Everyone looks far down the room where a certain magician has been seated by the window all morning.

Hisoka rises from the window and saunters towards the group, hips swaying gracefully. He has a Queen of Hearts between his fingers, eyeing Chrollo and Valtiel with fervor. Then he stops, just before the stone block, and licks the card.

Shalnark scratches the back of his head. "Err, okay, who do you want to challenge?"

Chrollo lifts up his chin as the magician stares into his eyes. He could feel the bloodthirst reverberating from the magician and could not help but become amused, despite the bad reputation the magician seems to have in plenty when it comes to his Valtiel. That stare alone, he knows a challenge is at hand. He removes his black coat and gives it to Valtiel, before stepping up from the crowd.

"Oh, Danchou," Hisoka purrs. "I want to challenge you."

"I accept." Chrollo hears the protests from behind his back, but gives no heed to them. He sits on the right side and rolls up the sleeve of his white shirt.

Hisoka chuckles and takes his seat, arm in place. His amber eyes flick somewhere behind Chrollo, and the Spider head knows the magician must only be doing this for show. The magician stares seductively at Valtiel, and then takes Chrollo's hand in a firm grip.

Chrollo blinks at the strength. He only needs one touch to understand how much more powerful the magician is than him. He returns the strong grip, tightening their fists, and catches the delighted gleam from the magician's eyes.

The match begins after a signal from Shalnark. Both men start out using barely of their strengths, testing each other's capabilities, trying to see through the mind of the other−at least that is what Chrollo is trying to do. Half of his attention on the arm wrestling, the other half studying the magician. If he doesn't know any better, he would not know how theatrical Hisoka is, and that his thirst for challenges has no boundaries. Somehow, he has to match that without losing.

He breaks from his observations when Hisoka pours more strength into his right hand. The long nails of his fingers dig painfully into Chrollo's flesh. He frowns and adjusts his strength, pushing Hisoka's hand backwards, and, to his surprise, finds his other hand gripping the side of the block for more purchase. He growls, feeling the first signs of sweat on his forehead and down the length of his spine. His eyes flit back to the magician and notice him smiling still, which sparks a little annoyance into him.

Once more, Hisoka's eyes stray behind Chrollo's back. The annoyance doubles, and Chrollo also looks over his shoulder.

Valtiel is embracing his coat to her chest, half of her face buried into the fabric so that no one could see how conflicted she is between the two competitors.

Chrollo snorts and his gaze darkens at Hisoka. Infuriatingly smug, the magician smiles back.

In one lightning-fast movement, Hisoka digs his nails deeper and slams Chrollo's hand to the block, with so much unchecked strength that the stone shatters beneath their hands. The Spider head grunts and saves himself from falling to the ground from Hisoka's sheer strength.

Their hands disconnect then. Chrollo's right hand is bleeding.

No one knows what to do. No one cheers, claps, or speaks. No one even breathes too loud.

This is the first time someone challenged the Danchou−and won.

Basking in his moment of glory, Hisoka rises from the seat and turns for the green-eyed Spider. "Well, then," he hums. "That means I can choose a partner, right?"

"Um, yes," Shal answers uncertainly, still shocked. "Who do you choose?"

Chrollo follows to where the magician's eyes land on Valtiel. He tries to keep his scowl hidden.

"I choose Val." Hisoka smiles cheerfully.

While the arm-wrestling match is still in session, the couple retires to their bedroom upstairs so they could wash and dress Chrollo's bleeding hand.

He sits on the creaky bed, sleeves rolled up to his elbow, his right hand outstretched over the bed so the blood could drip freely onto the stonefloor. The force of Hisoka's last pull grazed his skin, while his fingernails had dug punctures into his skin like snakebites.

After everything that happened so fast, it still takes him time to understand that he lost. The denial kicks strong and insistent in his mind. He could not believe it. He, leader of the Phantom Troupe, lost to an arm-wrestling challenge. Did he make some miscalculations? Distracted himself when Hisoka kept glancing at Valtiel? Or did he simply underestimate the magician?

It is probably the third option.

Yet a voice in his head answers, All of the above.

"Stop that." Valtiel's voice brings him back to reality. Her golden gaze lingers to his hand, scowling at the profuse amount of blood and how it drips into a puddle on the floor. Chrollo fights the urge to chuckle, amused at her blatant disgust at him.

With the help of Paku earlier, she has a basin and a washcloth for his wounds. Bonolenov provided for some bandages, and Machi has some spare ointments. Valtiel drags a small chair to the bed and takes his hand, pressing to stop the blood flow first.

"Was that all for show, or did you really lose?"

He scoffs, offended. "It was no show. I lost."

"Was he really that strong?" She licks her lips. "I mean, I saw how strong he was during Heaven's Arena, but most of the challengers are nowhere near Troupe level. I thought his strength would be more comparable to yours than Uvo-san's."

"Perhaps he is two or three steps lower than Uvo."

"And which step would you be?"

"Who knows? It cannot be decided by just one match."

He turns over his hand, palm up, so that she could wipe the dust and light scratches from the magician's claw-like nails. He sighs at her tender touch, never getting used to the pleasing sensation. In his opinion, she has the lightest, feather-like touch, her fingertips soft and gentle. If there's anyone who should touch him, it should be her.

Valtiel, oblivious, keeps washing the blood. "So that means Hisoka-san is stronger than you."

He scrunches his nose. "Well, he is physically stronger and bigger than me."

"And taller."

"Yes, taller," he hisses and she raises her eyebrow. "Which isn't the point," he adds. "Hisoka might have me beaten, but it is only an arm-wrestling match. I highly doubt he could match against me one-on-one, given that I have a myriad of stolen abilities."

"That might be so," she says, a bit unconvinced. "But he's still stronger, physically speaking."

"No doubt about that."

She finishes dressing his hand and makes a space for her on the bed. She slithers into his arms and he wraps his right arm about her hips.

He buries his nose into her hair, inhaling, smelling salt and sunshine on her. "Would you be all right tonight?"

"What is happening tonight?" She closes her eyes and drifts off against his chest.

"The mission. We are splitting up and would search throughout a group of islands for one week. I was intending that we should be partners, as it should be, but Hisoka has to intervene. Now you would have to spend the entire week with him. Would you be all right with him?"

"I can handle Hisoka-san. Maybe not in a fight, but in everything else, I can handle him."

"Are you sure? He seems to be high maintenance."

She laughs against his neck, and his skin tingles at the pleasurable sensation. "You shouldn't worry so much about Hisoka," she mumbles. "He's not at all bad when you get to know him. He has his moments of strangeness, but he can be helpful sometimes. And he's funny."

He doesn't want to hear more about Hisoka.

His wounded hand pushes at the small of her back, guiding her to a new position that is easier for him, and embarrassing for her. His gentle hands guide her to his lap, the length of her thighs pressed against his hips. He tips his head up to admire her face, blushing as she squirms, still unused to the physical intimacy. He would have expected by now that she should. She is no more a child, and she should not be this innocent anymore. Yet he smiles, guiding her hands on his shoulders while his settle on her hips.

He shoots her a devious smirk. "Troubles, dear?"

"Why do you have to make everything so difficult for me?"

"Difficult?" He kneads the flesh of her hips, softly. "This is difficult?"

"Embarrassing," she corrects. Her eyes avert his, glued to the exposed skin of his sternum.

Though she squirms again, Chrollo is thankful she is not running away. Just uncomfortable. Hesitant, with the makings of a young woman who has never been touched by any other man. Well, he hopes that is the case. He quite remembers that, as a granddaughter of the Kurtan Elder, she was betrothed to someone else. A fellow Kurtan, and most likely about her age. He shakes his head; he is making himself more annoyed by just thinking about it.

Instead, he focuses back on her and smiles tenderly. Curious as to how she would react, his palms slide under her skirt and touch the skin of her thighs. She lets in a sudden intake of breath and closes her eyes. He chuckles.

No one has ever gone so far with her, and he likes that. Likes that very much. His lady is a modest girl, an untouched woman, and he basks in that fact so much that he purrs.

Chrollo nudges at her thighs again. "Kiss me," he whispers, almost begging. "Please."

She opens her eyes. Her lips tremble, and he almost chuckles. She looks like a child, ready to cry. But she complies, her entire body softening for the first time as she moves forward, leaning down to his lips.

He is all but ready for her, meeting her halfway and burying his bandaged hand into her hair. He kisses her, lazily at first, matching her careful, experimental strokes−and then presses harder and hungrier as his breaths come in short pants. He pulls back, panting, and then dives upwards again. His ears perk up, like a feline, upon hearing the soft moan reverberating in the back of her throat.

"Danchou−" Her fingers tangle in his soft hair, pulling lightly.

Chrollo groans and tugs at her hair, exposing the line of her throat. Valtiel gasps as they rock together, the bed creaking.

She digs her fingernails into his shoulder, fighting back the urge to turn them into claws. She gasps again when he bites at her collarbone. Her head drops onto his shoulder, whimpering, "Danchou…"

His initial plan was to draw her in, keep her close. Give her nowhere to run once he finally confessed.

Yet here he is, mere days after the confession, it is him who is on the ropes. He is the one drawn to her, intoxicatingly so, hoping for her touches on his skin. He is the one who wants to be held close, for no one has ever done so in his entire life. He is the one who doesn't want to run away.

The feeling is foreign, scary.

To hell with it.

"Oh, my love," he whispers in her ear and adjusts her position again, so that she is sitting straight again and straddling his hips. He smiles as his hands push down on her waist, grinding her down to him. She gives a little gasp, squeezing her eyes shut. "Kiss me again."

She cups his face in her hands and kisses him with more fervor now. He licks at her bottom lip, and for a split second, her lips part to pant over his mouth. He grins and gingerly slips his tongue in between.

Deepening the kiss, he captures her tongue between his lips and suckles. A helpless whimper sticks in her throat, her fingers seeking purchase on his hair and shoulders. He shifts her higher on his lap, one arm around her waist.

Valtiel groans, an irritated sound, and bites down on his lips.

Chrollo pulls away. He leans against the wall and studies her face through heavy lidded eyes. "Good enough. Are you all right? You look terrible."

"You are teasing." She pouts, her moist and lips reddened from all his bites look tempting.

"Now, why would I tease, Val? Is this not normal for couples to do?"

"We are anything but normal."

"Ah, I suppose you're right."

Grinning, he takes her chin and leans up for another lingering kiss. Without the usual fervor and experimental strokes. Just a plain sensual kiss. He smiles against her mouth.

"We are anything but normal, are we not? The leader of Class-A thieves and a scholar from the world's largest junkyard city." He laughs. "What a pair we are."

Once the sun has gone from the horizon, the Phantom Troupe is on the move.

The pairs have been decided: Phinks and Feitan, Uvogin and Nobunaga, Shalnark and Shizuku, Franklin and Kortopi, Machi and Bonolenov, Chrollo and Pakunoda, and lastly, Hisoka and Valtiel.

Chrollo distributes the maps as promised, giving each pair about nine islands to search thoroughly for the one-week allowance. Areas A to G, spanning across sixty-four islands, big and small. Each pair has a motor boat and provisions provided.

To make matters more challenging, Chrollo also announces only then that a group of Deep Sea Hunters protects the area, so everyone must needs to be careful. As a rule, killing anyone who interferes is allowed−although nothing is new to that. Eyeing Valtiel standing close beside Hisoka, the Danchou also adds that all members must come back to the lighthouse safe and sound after the mission. Contact between members throughout the mission is allowed, despite the heavy tension of competition hanging in the air.

As everyone moves out, walking towards the white shores, Chrollo stalks after Valtiel and snatches her hand. She turns around, and Hisoka, too. Dark eyes on the magician, he tightens his grip on her hand. Hisoka's eyes drop to their hands, smiles, and walks over to their boat.

"You will be careful." It is an order, not a suggestion. Chrollo pushes her hair out of her face, tucking them behind her ear. The platinum blonde locks that he loves are pulled back into a thick triple braid weaved with a silk light blue ribbon in between the plaits. Machi's doing.

"I will be careful," she repeats, dutiful.

"You will watch out for yourself."

"Danchou, that basically means the same thing."

"Fine." He rolls his eyes. She laughs. "If anything comes up, you will call me. Or Paku."

"If anything comes up, I will call you or Paku-san. Got it."

His voice drops into a low whisper. "And now kiss me goodbye."

She blushes and puts a hand over her mouth to stop herself from gasping. It catches the attention of the other Spiders, who are all on their way back and forth from the shore to the lighthouse. She shakes her head and steps closer to whisper. "Not in front of everybody."

"Why not? We made everything clear to them last night."

"It's just−"

"Are you ashamed of me?" he asks, blunt.

"No!" Her outburst warrants more attention, more curious glances their way.

"Then will you kiss me goodbye?" he requests again, voice soft and imploring. "We will not see each other in a week or so, and to be quite honest, I am not comfortable with your choice of companion."

"Everything will be fine. You'll see." She smiles and touches his face. He leans into the warmth of her palm and presses a kiss on her skin. With a slight hesitation, she reaches on her tippy toes and kisses him then and there, under the skies and out here on the shore, with the Spiders walking all around them.

Chrollo feels the heat of her blush and goes deeper, his tongue dipping once into her mouth before pulling away to see her heavy lidded eyes. "Thank you."

"You're hopeless," she grumbles.

"Hopelessly in love?" He chuckles and kisses her hand. "I hope so."

In the sidelines, Phinks's mouth is wide open, cheeks a bright scarlet, while his equally wide eyes are peeping between his fingers in a lame attempt to cover his eyes from the sight of his leader and his friend kissing.

Chrollo and Valtiel shoot him questioning glances. Phinks, still blushing furiously, stands speechless.

Feitan stands short beside his friend. "What the hell is with that reaction, Phinks?"

Author's Notes: I'M NOT BLUSHING! YOU ARE!

Okay, we have officially gone down the physical intimacy road between Chrollo and Valtiel. And I do not envy Val one bit; I would be a sputtering, blushing mess too if Chrollo did all those things to me. Although I do believe this is how Chrollo would act in a relationship. I do believe his "love language" would be physical first, and then everything else second. If the Danchou wants a kiss, he would get his kiss. If he wants something more, he will get it... one way or another. He is, after all, a thief who is used to the finer things in life. Him informing the Troupe and publicly displaying affections for Val is his way of marking his territory−a polite way of saying "F#$% off" to Hisoka.

Meanwhile, Hisoka is just chilling in the background because he and Val are partners in the upcoming mission.

Now that's done−I want to sincerely thank everyone who reached out to me and messaged me privately here in regarding my situation and about my difficulty dealing with the pandemic, mental health-wise. It brings me so much comfort that even if we are strangers, you do still care, that many others care. Keep up the kindness! The world needs it very much in these trying times! I got myself a new journal and some colorful pens to help get back to writing more and more. They will arrive tomorrow, so I'm very excited!

*xenocanaan - Thank you for always leaving positive reviews! I hope you stay safe always!

*Ambres - Oh, thank you very much for your kindess! And I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far. It gets even more complicated now with Hisoka in the mix between Chrollo and Valtiel's newfound relationship... and we might be also getting close to meeting Kurapika! I'm still deciding how to approach this, but we'll see! Take care!

*Gridly - Aw, thank you! I do understand the struggles of finding that particular fic in a fandom that just fits your taste and suchlike. I've read fanfics before I started writing them, and I barely remember anything that piqued my interest in the long run. I'm relieved that you enjoy the story (despite the OOC moments, these I understand, lmao) and that you also appreciate the character development. I do try my best every chapter, haha!

QUESTION TO EVERYONE: How would you feel about a timeskip towards the Hunter Exam arc? The Kurta Clan massacre happened five years before Yorknew; and here in the current Pandæmonium timeline, we have only been more or less two years since the massacre. We have about 3 years left to go, story-wise. Is a timeskip wise?

Please let me know your opinions and/or suggestions! Any kind of feedback would be greatly appreciated!

That's all for now! Take care, everyone, and see you all in the next chapter! ❤️