First of all I would like to thank those who have review the previous chapter :
Lani0108
Misty April
A ( Guest)
Sweet Kokoro
Sawaii Yume
SpadesPirate4Eva
Enjoy the next chapter!
It's been almost 4 hours since the exam started and no one knows for sure the exact distance they have ran. More and more candidates fall behind due to extreme tiredness. Only those who have super human stamina and strong will power were able to keep up.
Soon, the candidates find out they have to ran up the stairs. It's more worse and tiring.
" Looking good Leorio!," Chihana commented with a laugh when she saw the shirtless sweating Leorio beside her.
" Grrrr! I have to keep running even if I have to look weird! Nothing gonna stand between me and money!," Leorio said passionately. Kurapika and Chihana sweatdropped when they heard him. Unlike Leorio, both of them didn't show any signs of exhaustion.
"Ne...do you want to become a hunter just for money Leorio?," Kurapika asked as he ran. When Leorio didn't reply him, he knew for sure Leorio is not kind of person who's obsessed with money.
" The scarlet eye. That's the reason why my whole clan have been massacred," Kurapika told him. Hearing that, Chihana let out a small gasp.
' His whole clan…they all killed?,' she thought. When she compared herself and Kurapika, their situation was completely different. She killed the people with her own hands while Kurapika...How did he bear the pain he suffered all these years? Does Kurapika filled with hatred? Will he seek revenge? There's so many things she wanted to ask him.
" Oi…Chihana…Chihana..," Kurapika's voice called snapping her out from her thoughts. Chihana shook her head and placed her hand on her forehead.
" Are you alright? You've been quiet lately," Kurapika looked at her curiously.
" Aa..ah..nothing. I'm just thinking," Chihana told him as she let out a nervous laugh while running carefully so that she didn't tripped or stepped on the fallen exhausted candidates on the stairs.
"Uh huh…so why did you want to become a hunter Chihana?," Kurapika asked as he jumped over an candidate.
"Mmm…I thought I can do anything I want if I become a hunter," she told them with a smile. Leorio grinned at her and looked at Kurapika.
" See? She's after money too. Just like me!," he smirked. Chihana looked at him and smiled. Suddenly, she smacked his chest hard with her palm. SMACK! Kurapika chuckled because Leorio totally deserved that.
" Itaiiiiii! ( It hurts) Why did you do that for?," Leorio yelled at her.
" Nothing," Chihana answered flatly. " Ah! There's the exit! Race you guys to the top!" Chihana said running faster than them. She then noticed the same white-haired boy who saw her panties earlier. He was running besides Gon.
" Hey! You're that boy from before" Chihana said out loud. The white-haired boy turned to her and smirked. He whispered something to Gon and they both ran up the stairs in full speed and reached the exit at the same time.
When Chihana came out from the tunnel, she noticed their surrounding was covered with thick mist and high humidity. It's like there's a forest ahead of them. Soon, Leorio and Kurapika showed up. " Where are we?," Kurapika wondered while Leorio catch up his breath. He was clearly exhausted.
" Welcome to Numere Wetland," Satotz announced. " This is where the second round starts. You better be careful because there are creatures out there and they would love to have you for lunch. They willing to use any kinds of tricks to trick you. Follow me and pay close attention."
" He's lying! Don't listen to him!," a voice yelled and caught everyone attention. " I'm the real examiner! That one is an imposter! He's planning to kill all the candidates."
" What the?!," everyone started to talk and discussing which one is the real one. Some of even suspected Satotz was a fake because they way he ran.
" Looks like there's only one way to clear this circumstance," a creepy man said calmly and threw this cards towards the injured examiner and Satotz who caught the card easily before it hits him.
" There…with this it's all clear that he's the real examiner," the man said smirking as he looked at Satotz.
Chihana sighed. Of all places, why did he have to make his appearance here? And why do he have to use brute method to settle things? ' Hisoka no baka,' she thought.
" Now, let's start the second stage of the exam shall we?," Satotz announced as he's started moving. The candidates groaned and followed him again. Chihana tied her long black hair before running so that it won't get in the way. Her turquoise-coloured eyes searched wildly in the mist for any signs of other candidates.
Chihana heard screams and moans everywhere around her. She knew that some of the candidates already fallen into a trap. She tried her best to catch up after the crowds in front of her but the visibility almost zero making it difficult to do so. She could sense Kurapika running beside her followed by Leorio.
" Leorio! Kurapika! Chihana! Killua said it's better to go ahead!," they heard Gon's innocent voice somewhere in the thick mist.
" You guys go ahead first! We'll catch up soon," Chihana called. While running, they were ambushed by turtle-like monster. Chihana jumped out of the way before it could grab her in its mouth. She took out her weapon, that is a Chinese fan and threw it at the monster like a shuriken.
The monster backed away and let out painful cry. She caught the fan and landed safely. She could see Kurapika tried to save Leorio from being eaten. She wanted to help him but she have to deal with another two weird-looking monster. Because of that, she was separated from Kurapika and Leorio.
Kurapika poked the monster's eye with his weapon. The monster cried and released Leorio from his jaws. Kurapika helped Leorio on his feet as both of them ran to safety.
" Where's Chihana?," Leorio asked as they went on the move.
" I lost her when I tried to save you," Kurapika answered. " We should look for her. She can't be that far."
Suddenly, something caught their attention. Leorio stopped Kurapika from walking and pointed at Hisoka killed the candidates with his own hands. Hisoka spotted them and smirked. Kurapika backed away because he knew it's pointless to fight him. He was way too strong for him to deal with even if he joined forces with Leorio.
" Leorio, when I give you the signal, both of us ran in the opposite direction got that?," Kurapika whispered. Leorio nodded and they both quickly disperse Kurapika said ' Now!'
Hisoka was about to go after Kurapika but Leorio suddenly made an appearance. He was carrying a big log to hit Hisoka. " I'm not running away! That's not what I am!"
" Baka!," Kurapika said as he looked behind his shoulder. He ran and ran until he reached a point where he thought it was safe.
" Kurapika-kun!," a familiar female voice called him. He saw Chihana's slim figure appeared in the mist as she approached him." I'm glad I found you. But where's Leorio?"
Kurapika gripped his weapon tight and looked over his shoulder. " Hisoka…..," he said in a low voice.
" Oh no...," Chihana gasped and quickly ran towards the direction where Hisoka was.
" Chihana! Wait," Kurapika called but she ignored him. Who knows what Hisoka gonna do to Leorio? When it somes to Hisoka, he would mostly like kill any weakling stands in his way. Later, she found unconscious Leorio lying on the ground with Hisoka chocking Gon.
" Noooo! Let of him!," Chihana cried and she threw her fan towards Hisoka. Hisoka catched her fan easily with his other free hand and grinned at her.
" Relax my dear, I'm not going to kill him," Hisoka said with a smile releasing Gon from his grasp. He said something to Gon and carried the unconscious Leorio on his shoulder.
He walked past Chihana and grinned at her. "I've never thought a person like you would make friends my dear. I hope you still remember your actions in the past. Will they accept you after what you've done? Don't be so naive. It's better to be alone," he whispered to her before disappearing in the mist.
Chihana bit her lips and looked down. She felt her eyes became watery all the sudden. ' It's...better to be alone,' she thought to herself. Moments later, Kurapika arrived and helped Gon on his feet.
" Chihana! Let's go," Gon called waving at her. Chihana wiped her tears with the back of her hands and smiled at them.
" Urm!," she said cheerfully and tried her best to smile. Kurapika looked at her as she talked cheerfully to Gon.
' Is it me or I just saw her cry? What did Hisoka said to her?,' he asked himself. He can't help but feeling curious on her all the sudden.
Please review guys! Next chapter coming soon! Chihana's past will reveal soon if you're wondering :D