Chapter 5: Neon’s shopping spree

...CHAPTER 5: NEON’S SHOPPING SPREE...

It’s officially their first mission since they’re hired as the Nostrade’s bodyguards.

They know it’d be unreasonable to complain on the first mission but here they are, totally wasted.

“Baise… I don’t think I’m… gonna survive… this!” Basho was practically out of breath. Shopping bags piled up all the way to his face. Soon he won’t be able to see anything. His hands were about to fall off from all these loads.

“Tchh… Bear with it. Women’s shopping sprees are all like this.” Baise clicked her tongue. Yet she also has admit that this is no ordinary shopping sprees. She herself was carrying piles of boxes, too.

“Are you kidding me?” Basho asked incredulously. He never been in a proper relationship before, mostly just flings so the poor guy had no experience of bringing a girl for shopping.

“Get yourself a wife and you’ll know it!” Baise’s full plump lips twitched impatiently. This is really hell. Carrying the bags was enough. Why did she have to team up with this whiner? She’d prefer that quiet blond kid or the short music hunter. Speaking of which, where were they lazing off, leaving just her and Basho dealing with the Lady’s craziness

“For Christ’s sake, I’ll never ever get married.” Basho spat out. “Not even a girlfriend! This is so crazy!”

“Yeah, stay single all your life!” Baised fumed. “By the way, where’s Kurapika or Melody?”

“Didn’t you hear Dalzolene earlier?” Basho retorted. “They’re accompanying Lady Clandestia at the book store over there.”

“Wow, talking about luck!” She pouted.

“I must say… that Clandestia girl’s really something.” Baise said. “She is a total mystery.”

“I can’t get a hang of what she might be like either.” Basho agreed.

“What I meant was… She can act like a cheery spoiled kid most of the time but it feels like she’s totally something else. Is she a bipolar one?” Baise explained.

“I heard she’s a professor or something.” Basho cocked his head. “Speaking of professors, only bald old men with thick glasses crossed my mind.”

“Know what?-” Baise rolled her eyes. “-You’re just dumb.”

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Melody and Kurapika were standing outside of an enormous bookstore. The space reserved for it took up more than half of the shopping mall that they’re in.

Melody was on the phone updating Dalzolene of their whereabouts while Kurapika routinely kept an eye on the girl roaming inside the store. The way she looked really indulged in those books on the shelves, eyes twinkled with deep interest was quite unexpected. Although he already knew that Miss Clandestia is a professor as well as a doctor, he just never registered it because of her young age and superficial attitude.

For some unknown reasons, he briefly recalled the first time he read a book about hunters’ adventure with his childhood best friend. It was that same pure interest. But after his tribe massacre, he had long lost that eagerness to learn. Of course he still read and learned most of his time but everything he picks now would have a purpose regardless of whether he’s interested or not.

Book stores in Yorknew city are quite impressive.

There were all kind of rare books you could purchase over the counter.

Being a researcher means Clandestia shops for books much more than she shops for her clothes.

Plus it’s not like she has a chance to go to Yorknew everyday so she must really make use of it.

But she forgot one thing: She’s with Neon. How could she have any peace?

She glared at the caller ID appearing on her Beetle phone.

Oh here it comes. Again.

“Yes, dear cousin? Missing me again?” She asked sarcastically.

The other person on the phone was pouting. “You promised it wouldn’t take long!!”

“Neon, I’ve only been in the bookstore for 10 minutes.” She gritted her teeth. “I said I’ll be right back in 15 minutes.”

“I don’t know. You promised to pick out my swimsuit, Tia.” Neon whined. “And I happened to be at the swimsuit store now.”

“Ha, don’t be unreasonable, missy.” Clandestia almost wanted to strangle her phone. “You need to wait!”

“Oh, please, Tia.” Neon suddenly switched to a cute soft voice. “Pretty please. I need you, sis!”

Clandestia sighed. Urg, she did it on purpose. She knew I can’t say no to this!

“Fine. Message me the store location now.” Clandestia hung up.

As she’s about to put the books to their original places, she suddenly realized the shelves are way too high for her. She originally had some staffs help getting them down. She looked around to find if any staffs nearby but the store was so packed. She sighed and reached her arms up, trying to push one book into its place. Clandestia was not short. She’s even taller than the average teenage girls of her age like Neon but the book shelf was clearly testing her.

Luckily she managed to reach the shelf and pushed the book into place. But as she’s about to pull back, she lost her balance and let out a panic squeak. Someone caught her as her back landed onto the person’s warm chest.

“Miss Clandestia!” She heard a calm male voice right above her head.

She reflexively snapped her head up and promptly met a pair of pitch-black eyes. Kurapika was almost looming over her. He was the one that broke her fall.

The blond is not so tall, just a few centimeters taller than Clandestia. With her sudden movement to look up, it makes the distance between their faces unnecessarily close.

“Oh… sorry.” After a brief stupor, Clandestia quickly broke the eye contact and took a few steps back.

It was dangerous. She must be careful not to hold his gaze in such proximity again. This guy’s strangely emotional aura could trigger her ability anytime. She’s almost revealed it twice.

“You should have called us for help.” He said indifferently.

“Thanks, Kurapika.” She slightly exhaled.

The Kurta blond gave a quick glance at the books lying on the table. All about a certain topic: past life memories.

“Are these for your research papers?” The words curiously rolled off his tongue before he could stop it.

Clandestia looked at him, clearly surprised. She didn’t think he’d spare any interest in what she’s doing.

“Ah, no.” She smiled. “-Those are for fun. It’s a harmless topic to speculate.”

He frowned. What did she even mean?

“There should be nothing harmful to know.” He scoffed. “-Rather it’s fatal being ignorant though.”

It’s her turn to scowl. This jerk. Why does he have to be so extreme about everything? But she held back the words. It’s not an appropriate time to argue about their different views of research methodology.

Regaining her composures, she smiled brightly at him to lighten the mood. “We’d better go to Neon now or she’ll bite our heads off.”

A hint of mischief twinkled in her amethyst orbs.

“Come on, let’s go!” To his bewilderment, she grabbed one of his hands and pulled him out of the store like they’re best friends. She momentarily halt as her palms felt the cold metal chains around his hand but she quickly ignored it.

As they walked out of the store to call for Melody, she felt his apparent discomfort from their touch but once again, she deliberately dismissed it and made no move to release him. She grinned internally.

She might be acting at first.

But… now she’s starting to really enjoy teasing this blonde.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

“Pink or orange?” Neon asked excitedly.

“Seriously asking?” Clandestia rolled her eyes. “You’d always go for pink in the end anyway.”

“Tch, you’re no fun, Tia!” Neon protruded her lips.

“Now if you’re satisfied with my pick-“Clandestia ushered her cousin out of the changing room. “-Let’s head to the cashier.”

“Wait…check this out first, Tia!!” Neon squeaked, pulling out a classy black bikini set. “-You’ve gotta try it!”

Clandestia had to admit that Neon’s really got taste. She knows exactly what Clandestia likes and what actually looks good on her.

“There’s no need, Neon. I fell in love with it on first sight already.”

“Trying is the fun of shopping, Tia.” Neon sighed. “If not, you have to wear it for me to see later!”

“Alright alright!” Clandestia chuckled. “We’ll go swimming after we get back to the hotel, ok?”

“Yay!!” Neon jumped into her arms excitedly.

Everyone in the store was looking at them oddly but Clandestia didn’t mind. She can tolerate her cousin’s adorable clinginess.

“Little Miss and Lady Clandestia are indeed very close, huh?” Some of the Nostrade bodyguards whispered to each other.

They have the same level of troublesomeness. A certain blond bodyguard responded internally.

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