"No."

non. nāo. net. nie. nein. ne. ni. nej. nei.  næh. nahin. nahīṁ. nā. nihil. níl. ochi. kāo. kāore.  nid. lēdu. hindi. bù.

It didn't matter how it was said, what language it was in or even what the thought behind it was. The answer was the answer and that was it.

Chrollo, on the other hand, had really pondered the word. He, outwardly, didn't have a favorite word. But, if he had to choose it would be 'no'. The reason would be because that word comes with opportunities. When someone says 'no', there is then an opportunity to do more and better, right. The word 'no' allows for a greater challenge; for getting better and doing better. Whereas if there is always a 'yes' then there is no room for growth, as there aren't any real challenges. 'No' is under-used and sorely needed. For many, 'no' is a foreign word on the tongue; but Chrollo Lucilfer liked the taste of it on his tongue. For him, it tasted like power. Even if something would cause him little issue, the feeling that 'no' gave him was well worth the grief.

He savored the shortness of the word 'no', after all it was a small word with a big job to do. It was a word he used because of what we had to do to create a world in which he and his family can be. He had many 'no's behind him: no to being lesser, to being judged, as not human or less than human, no to how they were excluded or sometimes included for a laugh. He had said no to how the world was built to enable the safety, happiness and mobility of a few. He insisted that it be built for him.

For Feitan, however, 'no' was the experience of being subordinate – deemed lower or of a lower rank – could be understood as being deprived of 'no'. To be deprived of 'no' is to be determined by another's will. There was no 'no' to a 'no'. Or perhaps there was, but it was very costly for him to say 'no'. This does not mean there is no point to saying 'no'. If the 'no' is contained, you can still hope the container leaks; that it might spill out, getting everywhere. If he hoped for a leak, a break, to free him from his confines of subordination, then perhaps he would be granted one.

You were not supposed to laugh. You knew this and yet your vocal chords, diaphragm and other organs betrayed you. It was in fact lucky that you did so, breaking the tension and dissipating any potential fight. After a good, hard laugh for several minute, you wiped your eyes and looked up to see everyone in the room looking at you.

"What is so funny, Little Sister?" Chrollo's eyebrow tweaked up at you. "I have most certainly ruined your plans for happily ever after."

"No." You replied back. "No, you not do that. I do that to me."