"What did you say?" Chrollo framed that question, looking away from his book. His eyes were filled with darkness. What was even scarier was the tone of the question.

"She..got away." Feitan repeated.

"What? How is that possible?" Phinks scrunched his brows as his face was fully recovered.

"Hm, that's strange," Shizuku rationalized, with her vaccum not in her possession. "Feitan never lets someone get away that easily. Or perhaps..the girl did something that might've done something to make Feitan mindless."

Phinks and Shal peeped behind Feitan shrouded with sneaky auras, they creased a grin on the short man. "Well?" Phinks began as Feitan furrowed his brows in confusion. "Aren't you going to spit it out?"

Feitan baffled as he harshly snapped, "What the heck are you babbling about, Phinks?"

"What did she say to you that caught your attention?" Shal grinned, causing Feitan to scowl at him.

"Ugh. You too, Shal?" Feitan passed them and headed out of the Base after saying, "I'm heading out for fresh air. You people annoy me." With his hands stuffed in his pockets, the Boss interrupted his leave.

"Stop. You will be the one who will find her, Feitan."

Feitan didn't bother turning but just casted a glance at his Heinchou, "Hai, hai, I'll do what I can." He then left, unaware of Shizuku's words.

"We should go after him." Shizuku implied, "I'm not saying I'm underestimating Feitan, alright? It's just that girl is not enough for one person to handle."

"Very well, then." Chrollo Lucilfer looked back down his book and demanded, "Shizuku, Phinks, Machi, go after him." The three nodded and headed out.

I was in my apartment, recalling the earlier incident of being drowned in the pool and it gave me a nightmare from my childhood memories. Reality was a nightmare to me. All those suffering and sorrowful days were never once wiped out of my mind.

I jolted up, screaming. Truly, I never wanted to scream before. I hated it. I was an assassin and still I'm showing weakness? Ain't that pathetic. I gasped for air as Neon's bodyguards barged in my room to support me.

"What's wrong?! We heard a scream!" Kurapika came in.

Melody raised a finger and pointed over me, saying in her usual soft voice, "Your heartbeat..is pounding as rapid as a person living in a shallow world filled with fears and nightmares would."

"Etherell-san, are you alright?"

Kurapika touched my wrist yet I yanked it away with my eyes turning blue out of rage. extending out a tendrilous aura intensively, an intensive red violet aura emanating from you oozed out of the room, "Bastard. Don't touch me ever again." My eyes represented darkness and bloodlust as my third trait showed up.

Melody covered her mouth in fright as Kurapika's hand was shaking. I could feel everyone else in the room tremble in fright. "I am an assassin. I can take care of myself." I said before demanding the group of bodyguards to immediately leave the room in a harsh way.

I needed some time alone. After they left, I tried going back to sleep but I kept having those horrid nightmares that I couldn't longer sleep. I shot up and changed my pajamas into my everyday outfit.

I looked down my hand.

It's been a while since I've been out to York New City without
being ordered around. It's just once. Just this once. I need to feel liberated. I thought as I clenched my fist, Although, I don't believe there is such a thing called "freedom". You won't feel free when you kill someone, alright?

I used Nen to shroud the cloak with my aura, turning myself invisible. This was one of my unique abilities as an assassin and an On user. I can't use Zetsu since it perishes my aura, so I used In.

I opened the door and peeked through it even though I were invisible. I turned my head from side to side to make sure if someone was there but there wasn't. I sighed in relief and went out, intending to walk across the halls until I heard a familiar voice.

"You know, a word of advice, when coming out of a room invisible, be sure that no one would think there's a ghost leaving its habitat." I turned my head and saw Feitan reating his back against the wall near my apartment's door. Squealing in fright and flinching, my invisibility went off quick because I was out of focus.

"Y-You knew it was me?" I stuttered.

"Of course I did. I can hear your footsteps so clearly. Are you really an assassin?"

Just then before I could answer his question, I parsed my eyes into his outfit in curiousity. He wasn't wearing his mask or usual outfit but a suit. Is he going to the auction or something? I slightly blushed as I saw him without his mask, but shooked the feeling off.

"What's with the suit?"

"What's with the cloak?"

Both questions caused an awkward silence in the room. I flattened my brows before taking my hood off, revealing my pretty face. I couldn't sworn seeing a small rose tint blush on his cheek. This outfit was my usual outfit as an assassin.

"What are you here for?" I asked in a determind yet soft voice.

"The boss really wants you to be a member."

My eyes became cold as my cold-natured personality showed up, "From the last time, I'm not interested in joining your Troupe. I don't like killing children, the elderly and the innocents like you do."

"As an assassin, you are paid when you annihilate someone, correct? If your current boss tells you to kill children who are innocents, would you do it?"

I froze. That really was true. Suddenly, time froze for me to think of an reasonable answer. Do I really like killing children? I don't even feel love or pain. I'm not honest when performing bonds with other people.

"If you ask me such a question again, I swear I'll break your arm." I intended to walk away but he grasped my wrist.

I turned and met up a pair of dangerous eyes, "Break my arm?" He framed a question, followed by a sadistic chuckle. "I'll have you know that it's my routine to hurt somebody, even you."

And then I straightforwardly insulted him by saying, "What an eerie laugh for a quiet guy." He grown an irk mark on his forehead as my eyes remained impassive.

"How about you? What demonic words you have for having such an angelic appearance."

"Hm, is that supposed to be my problem?" I cluelessly pondered about it which caused him great irritation.

"You're pretty lucky that you survived this time. I never let people who make me angry so easily."

My eyes changed into a polite and clueless one. I pinched the short man's cheeks as I said between my teeth, "Didn't I tell you to kill me anytime you want to? How about now? Huh? Huh? Can't you do it, Master Torturer?" I blunted playfully. He was about to break my wrists but I created a portal beneath me.

Before going into it, I tilted my head as I gazed up at him. "Y'know, it's pretty nice seeing you again. I kinda like to see your irritated face everyday but guess I can't! See ya!" Feitan rushed down to catch me but I scooped myself into the portal right right in time before it closed.

He jammed his hands on the ground, blushing a bit of what I said. "Why do those weird words fluster me everytime? Dammit..!" He went back up and dashed down the stairs with impressive speed.

I landed my feet on one of the alleys in York New City. Pulling my hood back up and smiling in amazement, I examined the buildings. "Sugoi~! I wonder if I could climb one of those one day!"

I walked out of the alley. I gave death glare to those who kept staring at me. Isn't it annoying when somebody stares at you? I don't like it at all. It sucks like hell. On the amidst of the crowd, I saw another short man with back-length hair, covering all of his face except for one eye. This man sent me the shivers. Just what's with that look?

I frowned a bit as both of us locked eyes on one another. I knew who this is. A Spider. It was Kortopi. Man, that guy's creepier in person. Just how desperate does their leader want me to join? Take Gon or Killua or Kurapika instead, Little Man! While badly wanting them to leave me alone, strings snuck behind me, dragging me to another nearby alley.

I met up three people. Phinks, Machi and Shizuku. The one who tied me up was Machi. And of course, she doesn't know that I'm capable of something more than just manipulating water or conjuring portals.

"I apologize for the intrusion but can you please kindly shove yourself into the sack?" A voice chimed in. It was Shizuku. She gestured to a large sack, big enough for a person to fit in there. Well, at least I'm not being sucked by her vaccum, right?

"What is this? A friendly kidnapping?" I played a baffled confusion, furrowing your brows on the sack.

Shizuku thought about it. "U-Um, maybe?" She blinked and monotously said, "We need you in here or else we might kill you for that." Tch, yeah right.

"If you're gonna kill me, wouldn't your boss get angry? Disobeying such a task is close enough in disrespecting your boss." I reasoned with her but she remained silent.

The threads binding my limbs got tighter. I looked up at Machi and insanely smiled. My crazy Enhancer was showing, "Machi-chan~! Are you sure these threads are worthy enough to hold me? I mean, you are a Transmuter, riiight~?"

"Tch, it's her weird side!" Machi snarled, struggling in keeping me in those threads because I was planning to break them.

"Quick! Shove her in the bag!" Phinks yelped, prompting both of his fellow Troupes and I to gaze at him in a strange way. Man, he's so feminine. "What?! I don't like the Enhancer!" I tilted my head in confusion then creased a grin, making Phinks shudder.

I perked my head down as my dark aura of an On user oozed out, expanding into a massive and tendrilous one. My aura was purple this time but when I'm angry it is majorly red.

"Hmm, it seems like you found me out." My grin dispersed as my third trait showed up, the most dangerous one, the deadly Conjurer. "Does that mean you know what I'm capable of?"

"What?" Machi baffled up.

Suddenly, purple flames engulfed my body, destroying the threads as they emitted a snap. I summoned a portal beneath my feet after saying, "Don't worry, you'll find the right me sooner or later. Come back to me when you really know me." I jerked my head up, showing a pair of completely black eyes with a shade of red and orange pupils.

This intimidated the near Troupe members. Once I left, all that scary aura faded away. Crap! So the Conjurer uses her aura for flames?! Machi tried to rationalize everything, According to what Feitan said, there are three traits kept within her body. Does that mean there are three persons in one body?! But that portal.. It's not from the Enhancer nor from the Conjurer, it must be from the Transmuter herself!

So quick recall: the Manipulator is the innocent one while the Enhancer is the crazy one and the Conjurer is the scary one. All these three are mushed together within my body, the Transmuter. The Transmuter is the real you who is Etherell and NOT contracted to On.

The innocent Manipulator controls the water and the sea. She was the reason how I can control water and summon those watery tentacles on my back. While the crazy Enhancer is the one that makes me summon those water claws, allowing me to gain a massive physical strength. I can also lift someone up with my aura and block an attack by a forcefield or limited area forcefield made out of my aura. The Transmuter consists threads like Machi does but the only difference is that these types of strings can be fused with another trait's power. And last, the deadly Conjurer, can create fire out of her own aura.

The info is all mixed up. Hard enough for someone to understand.

I landed my feet on the ground as the portal above me closed shut. I was still in York New City, but another part of it. This one was empty. Oh right, the city's shutting down 'cause it's already midnight.

I sat on the streets' floor as something just to make this moment even worse. The rain soaked me up as I embraced myself with my warm cloak. I don't know where Hotel Beitacle is. I never went out, I was always at the Nostrade household or in her room.

I was always locked up. Every single step I took in my life always led me being locked up. When I was little, I tried to stay happy and consider that one day my parents will be coming back for me. After learning Nen perfectly, most likely all of the info about Nen and its four principles as well, I took a brand new step in my life. Searching for my parents and keep on hoping. But that step only left me in the sea, where I drowned and almost died.

Another step in my life is where I got to be an assassin and a Hunter. I got assigned to the Nostrade family pretty quick. Whenever something catastrophic happens like Neon being injuried when a gangster kidnapped her once, it's always my fault. I was the one who always took the blame.

And now, I took another step. Involving myself into this Phantom Troupe business. I don't like being joined in because I thought I was always a nuisance to everyone. "Why live when you just feel hopeless?" I mumbled beneath my breath and let the rain soak me more, "Isn't everyone's lives are meaningless as well?"

Shivering in the cold and being soaked up, something prevented the shall rain. And that's when I realized that I wasn't being soaked up anymore. I perked my head up to see Feitan with his red umbrella supporting me.

He avoided eye-contact. He was still wearing the same outfit from earlier. Rubbing his cheek reluctantly and giving out a hand to me, mumbling, "I..understand that you don't like joining the Troupe but..I'm going to let you go just this once. I won't tell Danchou that I saw you." I stared at his hand.

I slowly reached my hand out and accepted it. My eyes were locked up to his as I madly blushed but my hood was covering it. "You don't know where Hotel Beitacle is, right? It's right over there that building." He pointed out to the building from afar. It was really far.

"Can you walk?"

Before I managed to reply, he carried me on his back, making me squeal. "H-Hey! Don't! I can walk by myself!" I was unsure who this is. Is it the Manipulator? No, she would've just said "Aww, you're so sweet, Feitan-san!" It couldn't be the Enhancer because she'd say "Whoa, whoa, there! You sure you can carry me? You're a pretty short guy, y'know?" If it was the Conjurer, she could've said something like, "Get your dirty hands off me, you bastard."

"I refuse." Feitan snapped curtly, yet his voice sounded kind. "It's my fault this happened, right? I'm just returning the favor."

"No, it wasn't. I was the one who left the building." I protested.

"Yes, but it is my fault that I gave you a nightmare."

"Wait. You were watching me?"

"I was the one who watched over you when you were sleeping. When I touched your hand, it was probably the part when you had that nightmare."

"Watching me? Feitan-san, are you a stalker now?"

"What? I just went there because Danchou told me to. But I shouldn't have snuck up in your room. Naturally, I hid beneath your bed all that time 'till I got the chance to escape when you tried to sleep."

"Why are you..being so nice to me?" I said with a weak voice. I can feel yourself limping. As if I was a fatal rose that was wilting because I can't handle anything without sunlight. I've lived in the dark all that time, resenting every sin I've commited and resenting all those lives I took.

"Nice? Am I being nice?" Feitan thought about it, "How does that work exactly? I'm a criminal so I never knew how to be nice. What is nice anyway?"

I chuckled a bit, "Wow. Don't tell me no one has ever been polite or friendly to you."

"Um, define..'polite'?" I laughed with that, "Why are you laughing? What's so funny?"

"Oh nothing. Doesn't Shalnark or Phinks ever treat you in a way that made you feel so enjoyable? I mean, you are their friend, right?"

"Enjoyable.. The only thing I felt enjoyable in my life is murder. I never felt such an emotion. Speaking the fact that I only smile when I kill."

Even though he said that which was true, it didn't offend me. Well, the Enhancer has that type of habit because she's sadistic so that probably means I understand Feitan fluently. I smiled truly for the first time. When I'm acting as the Manipulator, I always smile fakely because that innocent face was just a facade. "Hm, then perhaps I can help you feel happy. I'll be your friend then, Feitan." I embraced my arms around him tighter as I snuggled my face on his hair.

You as the Manipulator, then said, "Marry me, Fei-chan!" Manipulator behaved like a child again.

Feitan was annoyed but madly blushed. Good thing (to him) that I didn't see that. "Tch, seriously, why did you summon the Manipulator now? I was kinda happy when you were the Transmuter, you were well-behaved."

I tilted my head, "Ara~ Ara~ Did you just say you were kinda happy?" My eyes sparkled in happiness, "Wohoo!" I flailed my arms around playfully, causing Feitan to struggle in carrying me. "I made you happy!"

"Well, now I'm irritated! Change back to the Transmuter!"

"Hm, I can't." Manipulator blinked, "I wasn't summoned, I made my way to the Transmuter myself. So I can't change back! No! Not until I say so!"

"Then what would make you turn back to her?"

"A kiss--"

"What?!"

"--ON the cheek!"

Feitan sighed as he grown an irk mark, "How about a hug instead? I'm not comfortable with the kiss thing."

"Affirmative!"

"BUT I'll do it only if you changed back into the Transmuter! I'll hug you later when I set you down!"

Manipulator pouted with her face bloating up before huffing, "Fine!" Transmuter went back on, which was me. I sighed as I relaxed, embracing Feitan gently with my arms, "What did I miss..?"

"Mani..pulator and I had a deal," Feitan was blushing in madness. He was embarrassed in talking the whole thing out with me, "We agreed that I have to hug you once after I set you down on the hotel's corridor."

"What?!"

"It was the only way for you to change back."

"Does that mean you want me instead of them?"

"Well, yeah, you're finer than the three."

I smiled as I felt happy. I sighed happily, "Well, I'm glad I was able to turn back." I then questioned myself, "What is the Transmuter anyway?"

"Hm?" This hooked Feitan, "Maybe..your real self."

"Real self?" I thought about it, "I don't believe in that. I was borned with these monsters in me. I never knew my real self."

Feitan sighed, "That's what I used to say back then 'till I found out I was actually a sadist." After a few minutes, us two got back to the hotel's corridor. He set me down. "Well, I guess we'll be going seperate ways then."

"Y-Yeah," I sounded a bit sad. I looked down my hand and noticed my thumb still bent backwards, I shrieked, catching Feitan's attention, "Wh-What the? It's still like this the whole time..?"

Feitan leaned closer to grab my finger and bent back normally, "I'm surprised that you didn't feel any pain and..I'm sorry I scrunched your finger, it was really part of the interrogation."

"Interrogation, huh? What happened to it then? Did you get what you want from me?"

"Yes," Feitan grabbed my waist and embraced me with his arms, "I got to know you better." He caressed my hair which wasn't part of the deal. My eyes widen but hugged back. After pulling away, he blushed madly as I did the same.

"So, I guess I'll see ya then..?" He looked away from your gaze, stuffing one hand in his pocket and with the other one carrying his red umbrella over his shoulder.

"I-I guess?" I twiddled my fingers to one another. What was this feeling? Why am I blushing? Why is my heart pounding so fast? Am I scared? "Um, if you ever feel like visiting me, perhaps you can."

"Huh?"

I got redder than his umbrella, "N-No! Fo-Forget what I said! I didn't think it through!" I blushed harder, covering my face with my palms. "Gah, this is so embarrassing..!" A hand was placed on my shoulder, making me take my palms off of my face to see Feitan.

He was smiling. Not out of sadism but out of kindness. "Sure. I'll visit anytime." I blushed harder but nodded. I watched him leave while he bid farewell. I was definitely still blushing.

"Anytime.." I whispered those words beneath my breath. I wonder if..there's just something more than just friends? I then went a hundred percent red. I covered my face with my palms. Gah, what am I saying?!

And then I realized something..

I forgot to say thank you.

I looked around and saw that he already disappeared. I never got a chance to say thank you. I wonder if we'll meet again. I hope we'll meet again tommorow though. I really wanna say thank you. You know, for a criminal, Feitan actually has a good side. Practically, his title as a Spider and his sadistic and merciless personality was just to manifacture that.