Chapter Eleven: Confusion and Turmoil

I walked with Hisoka in silence.

He still haven't let go of my hand.

I glanced at him sideways but his expression was a blank. I turn my gaze back to the front. I lifted my head to look at the sky. I hear nothing. The screams had died out. I sniffed the air. I couldn't get a solid scent in this fog.

He pulled me closer to him when I stray a little further.

"We're almost there." I look up at him.

"How do you know?" The side of his mouth twitched upwards. "Because I'm smart." I frowned at him and his eyes slid towards me. "My ally told me. You won't get any tell tale signs." He stated and turns his gaze away. I sniffed and look back in front.

After a ten minutes walk, Hisoka let go of my hand. I stopped and look up at him in confusion. I was already used to the warmth of his hand in mine. He glanced at me for a moment and continued walking. I look down at my hand.

It felt empty. I curled and uncurled my fingers to get rid of the empty feeling but I couldn't. I shuddered and continued walking.

But the feeling didn't go away.

I walked a little further and suddenly the fog began to clear up quickly. I look around and the small crowd of the examinees was in a clearing. Hisoka was right. Someone had put up a barrier.

I turn around and almost stumbled into Hisoka. He looks at me over his shoulder and turn to lay Leorio against a tree before he started to walk away. I quickly leaned over to touch his arm and he stopped.

"Thank you…" I said softly and he smirked, "I can't let you die so quickly. I haven't got the chance to see you grow magnificently." I mirrored his smirk. Well, that escalated quickly.

"Sokka? (Translation: Really?) Hmph. So I guess that makes the two of us. I can't wait to kill you too." I smiled sweetly at him and he chuckled slightly.

"I'll be seeing you." I said and turn my attention to Leorio. Ignoring the still empty feeling of Hisoka's warmth from me, I knelt beside him to inspect his wound. I whistled.

That is one punch. That bump isn't going to clear up that fast.

Unless…

I bit my lip. I hate to do this but it would be the fastest way to heal him but… Brr… I shivered slightly in disturbance.

The Daimons blood are great healing ointments and that's one of the reasons many bounty hunters and healers sought after us.

I groaned and whipped out a fortune card.

The things I do for love. I cleared my throat. Correction, 'friendship' would be a better word.

I sliced at the small tip of my tongue where the blood there has the most potent healing properties. Cut the wrong side of the tip and you can poison someone in the most painful way possible.

I felt the blood accumulate and immediately licked at Leorio's wound.

The moment the blood touched his skin, I slid my tongue back in my mouth and sat up right immediately. Too much of the blood would be a problem. I licked my teeth and felt the wound close up quickly.

That's why I hate healing people.

Ugh. I groaned and took Leorio's briefcase and opened it. Aha! I grinned at all the bandages. I knew he was a doctor but all this ointment won't do any good to his face anyway so a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

I took a plaster and closed the briefcase. I leaned over to stick the plaster to his face and sat back on the balls of my feet.

Cocking my head to the side, I regard the wound quietly, with thoughts overriding my mind. The memory of Hisoka's sudden kindness before invaded my mind's eye and I shook my head. That didn't mean anything. He just pitied me.

I narrowed my eyes and bit my lip. I knew deep in my heart that something is wrong with him and with me. But what?

I groaned and shook my head to clear my head.

I seriously need to get myself together.

Hisoka's P.O.V

I watch her as she busied herself with the boy's wound. I narrowed my eyes slightly as she cut her tongue with a card.

What is she doing?

Suddenly she lean over to him and my breath caught in my throat. I almost stepped forward towards her when she licked the wound and pull back quickly. I stop moving and stepped back.

I frowned slightly and leaned on a tree. I took out my playing cards and started to shuffle them, trying to clear my mind.

Why did my body react so violently? I don't even care what she does.

I shuffle the cards and pull out one to inspect. The six of Hearts. I stick it back into the deck and shuffled them again. I can't push away the wary and distrustful look in her eyes before.

And her hand. If her hand was a picture, it would be a black hole. Her hand felt like hollow darkness. It was as if she was afraid to trust herself.

If there was so much sadness in one of her hands, then what about her heart?

I stopped shuffling and stared at the card at the top of the deck that was facing me. Ace of Hearts.

Mikoto….ka? She is… strange. To be able to confuse me like this.

I blinked and look up. I saw Gon spotted me with eyes filled with questions and I pointed them to the direction where Mikoto and the boy were. The blonde boy beside him watches me for a moment before joining Gon who was beside Mikoto, observing the wounded boy.

I watch them talk. Mikoto was very tense before but once Gon was next to her, she immediately calm down.

Somehow, that irritates me a little for no reason.

She blinked and glance my way quickly. Seeing my attention towards them, she turns her head away and poked at the wounded boy's stomach.

"Oi, Leo-kun! If you don't get up soon, I'm going to leave you here~" She teased and he flinched a little at her touch. She shrugged, "Told ya he was acting possum." She glared at him, "Coward."

The boy groaned and sat up slowly. Opening his eyes, he frowned. "I just woke up when you poked me." She placed her hands on her hips and stood up. "Anyhow… We gotta move." She turns her head to the proctor and his voice rang over the crowd.

"Well done, you have completed the first phase of the exam. We are nearby the second phase of the exam. Please walk this way." He started to move and everyone got up and followed him.

I licked my lips, pushing all confusion away.

The fun is about to begin.

Mikoto's P.O.V

I grinned and look down to Leorio. "Come on then~ Don't wanna miss the second phase." I skipped off a little ways and look back to see Gon helping Leorio stand up.

Kurapika walked up to me and smiled, "You look beaten up. You okay?" I grinned and nodded, "I'm fit as a fiddle."

His eyes traveled down to my bandage and he raised his eyebrows. I smiled sheepishly, "Heh. Except for that." He smiled slightly and started to walk off. I followed him.

Looking around in the crowd, I piped out, "Hey, Kurapika." He looked towards me, "Have you seen Killua?" Before he answered me, I heard an annoyed voice.

"I'm right behind you, Mikoto."

I turn around and faced a frowning Killua. I giggled sheepishly, "Heh. Woops. Sorry, Kil. You were downwind."

He rolled his eyes, "You could've looked behind."

I smiled and hook my unwounded arm around his neck. "Don't be a sourpuss, Kill~ I still love you, neh?" He hid most of his blush by looking away.

"Yeah, yeah."

I closed my eyes and smiled softly. What a cutie.

I kissed his cheek softly and walked away as fast as I could as he tried to hit me in annoyance. I heard him exclaimed his surprise and annoyance. I laughed and walked alongside Kurapika.

"He always gets mad when I do that." I explained as Kurapika watched the annoyed Killua warily, since he was shouting a long string of curses fit for a thug of a taxi driver in a traffic jam in Paris, earning him a few glances thrown his way.

"How long did you guys know each other?" I glanced at him sideways and grinned, "Since we were kids."

I stopped grinning and look back to the crowd. "But, frankly, I haven't seen him for a few years since a misunderstanding."

Kurapika didn't talk much after that.

We walked into a grand garden with kitchen wares and cooking stuff all neatly lying around. I looked around. "Cooking?" I suggested and the boys just shrugged. I sniffed. What a weird test.

"All right, maggots!" I heard a woman's voice shout. "The second phase of this year's Hunter exam is cooking!" I heard mutters of displeasure and irritation flow around.

I folded my arms. Cooking? One of the worst abilities I have. I can't even toast burnt bread properly. The woman introduced herself as Menchi and the big man beside her as Buhara and that they were Gourmet Hunters.

I look up towards the sky and groaned. "I'm going to kill somebody." I felt a hand on my shoulder and I lolled my head towards Gon. "Don't worry. We'll get through this!" He said happily. I gave him the fakest smile I can muster.

"I can't cook." I stated simply. He grin wider, "It's ok. I can't either. We'll learn." I smiled slightly. My, my, quite the optimist, aren't ya? I thought to myself. He reminded me so much of Ging.

I tuned out the entire speech and random arguments in the front. Such babies, this people are.

I yawned and turn to rest my forehead on Killua's shoulder. "Well, at least you gotten taller." I commented and I heard him groaned. "Don't make me push you off." I smirked.

"Oh?" He shifted a little but fell still. I rubbed my forehead, letting my hair tickle his neck but he ignored me.

"Oh, and you can use any type of pig to cook."

My ears pricked up. Pig? I get to hunt down something? I lifted my forehead and rested my chin instead. "What did they say?"

Without looking at me, he said thoughtfully, "They said catch a pig, roast it and serve them." I raised my eyebrows. "That's it?" He smirked and glanced at me, "Yeah."

I stood back up and stretched.

"Then, let us go catch a pig."

"You can start….NOW!" Menchi announced and all seventy examinees spring into action. I sprinted quickly to a small clearing outside the garden's walls.

I look around and sniffed. I smell boar. I sniffed the air again and shuddered. Correction, I smell very aggressive boar. I shook my head to get rid of the smell in my nose.

I heard shuffling behind me and I glanced over my shoulder. Gon and the others were beside me in an instant.

"How are we going to catch a pig here?" I heard Leorio asked out loud. I look around. My question exactly. I can smell them but can't pinpoint their whereabouts. This is getting frustrating.

Suddenly, Gon tripped causing Killua and me to follow and slide down a hill. I felt Kurapika behind me and I exclaimed my surprise as all five of us slide down in a frightening speed.

Suddenly, Gon stopped moving and Killua bumped into him, bursting out his annoyance. I follow suit and felt two bumps hit me from behind.

I groaned, "Hey! Gon, Can't you-" and stopped myself. Gon and Killua had unreadable expressions. I turned to look at where their gazes were on and all the hairs on my body stand up.

A herd of Great Stamps turn to watch us.

I gulped.

Oh….

Dang.

Suddenly, a few of them started to charge at us and I grabbed Killua and Kurapika since they were closest to me.

"RUN!" I shouted and pulled them along quickly.

All five of us began to run like we were chased by zombies that have supernatural powers.

I ran up a tree and jumped onto a branch, looking down at a Great Stamp who was bellowing its frustration. I grinned and made a face at it when it suddenly started to hit the tree with its oversize, heavy snout.

The tree shook and I lost my balance. I fell off the branch and cursed. To think, of all the valiant deaths I could get, I'm going to be eaten by a carnivorous pig.

I bet Father Daimon would fall off his throne and die laughing if he heard I was eaten by a pig. Suddenly, a whoosh sounded to my ears and I was carried by someone who jumped on the pig's back and on to another tree,

"Please be careful, Mikoto-chan!"

I heard a bubbly voice piped up beside my ear. My arms were around Gon's little neck as he carried me. I blinked, "Gon?" He grinned at me and I sighed in relief.

"Thanks for saving me." He let me down to my feet and I knelt down to look at the branch that had fallen on the pig. "Yee-yowch. That is not gonna be in my list of favorite times on how to spend a lovely Saturday morning." I commented and look at the boar as it fell on its legs. I watched it and narrowed my eyes. It conked out. I look at the branch on its head.

"Gon, look."

He watches and took a sharp inhale of breath. "Its weak spot is on its forehead." He raised his voice, "Minna! Hit the boar's forehead! It will knock the pig out!"

The moment the suggestion sinks in, everyone springs into action.

I grinned up at Gon and he returned the grin.

"Let's cook them pigs and knock the proctor's socks off!"

(Hahaha...aha...aha... *Wipes forehead with a handkerchief* Sorry about my crappy story, dear readers... But, I will tell you something. This story will only stop at York Shin city Arc...sooo *counting fingers* Probably you've got to bear with me till...about...chapter 20 something or another...Hmm...

Hisoka: Oh? Why did you call me here, Mikoto-chan? Did you miss me, perhaps?

Me: Well finally! Yeesh. Took you long enough... It's the eleventh chapter, you stupid marshmallow. And don't flatter yourself. *Points to screen* Tell them I need reviews. Now. Or I'll make you die.

Hisoka: *licks lips* Interesting...But what if I dont?

Me:... I'll throw you into a pond of piranhas.

Hisoka: Hmm...That IS a tempting thought...And how would you do that?

Me: *evil grins* Well now, how indeed~

Hisoka: *random schwing* Oh...dont talk like that...

Me:Brrr...Is it me or the temperature just dropped? *turns to readers* I'll try to contact Gon and the others soon~~ *waves*