We all made it to the small room the scarred man mentioned earlier rested on the couches.
We have fifty hours to spend in this tiny little room.
What the heck is there to do?
"Oi Killua. How did you manage to kill Jones the Mantle within a matter of seconds?" Leorio asked
"Huh? He didn't tell you guys?" Gon questioned
"Tell us what?" I asked
"Killua is from the Zaoldeyck family" Gon said
"The Zaoldeyck family!?" I exclaimed.
This definitely explains how Killua was able to kill Jones instantly. He's from that family. The Zaoldeyck family are well known for being professional assassins.
I remember Chrollo mentioning that he would like to fight them one day. I didn't think I'd end up being friends with one of the Zaoldeyck family members. Let alone me being friends with the sole survivor of the Kuruta clan.
"No wonder you ended it so quick. What did you use?" Kurapika asked
"Well, it's not a skill. Its just my hand. My father does this technique better than me. Even though that mantle guy may be a killer, I'm the real professional. I am an assassin after all" Killua said with a yawn
"That is very interesting. It's cool to be friends with one" I said with a smile.
"Well, since we're here for fifty hours, what are you guys going to do?" Leorio asked
"I'm going to sleep." Killua said as he picked a corner, sat down and closed his eyes.
"Me too! I'm going to sleep!" Gon said as he joined Killua and closed his eyes.
"What about you Aoi?" Kurapika asked
"Me? Oh...uh...I'm not sure. Sleep? Bother Leorio for the whole fifty hours?" I said as I laughed
"Hey! Why would you want to bother me!?" Leorio shouted
"That's because you're the idiot that got us in this room in the first place!" I said as I stuck my tongue out at him.
I sat on the couch while Kurapika joined me.
I wanted to move away but I think it would be obvious that I was trying to avoid him. I kind of don't want to get too close to him for I fear that he'll find out about my secret.
"Hey Aoi, back at the arena, when I saw you fight, it reminded me of something" Kurapika said
"Huh? Reminded you of what?" I asked
Has Kurapika seen me kill his clan before? Did he actually witness me back then? Does he recognize me?
"It reminded me of something when my clan was massacred. Your fighting techniques was very similar to someone I saw from the Phantom Troupe. At first, I actually I thought you were one of them. But then I thought to myself at how ridiculous I would be to accuse you as one of them. So I just want to apologize to you about it" Kurapika said as he gave me a warm smile.
That broke my heart.
He shouldn't apologize to me. It should be me. I'm the one whose sorry.
"Please...don't apologize Kurapika. But, what made you change your mind about me?" I asked, curious
"That's because I've grown an interest in you" He said as he smiled at me.
My face was getting red, my heart ached more. I didn't know how to feel. My heart was beating fast too but I wouldn't know if its because of me liking him or me feeling sad for him.
"I-I see..." I stuttered.
"I actually want to get to know you better Aoi. Are you comfortable talking to me about yourself? Or your past?" Kurapika asked as he placed his hand over mine.
I panicked. I don't know how to react. I can't tell him I'm a member of the Phantom Troupe. I just can't. I like him too much to break his heart.
Flashbacks of what I've done four years ago was replaying in my head. I unconsciously kept tugging at my glove to make sure it stayed on me and that I'm not revealing my tattoo to Kurapika.
"Aoi? Are you okay? You're playing with your glove. Does your hand hurt? Here. Let me have a look" Kurapika was about to remove my glove and I quickly moved it away.
"S-Sorry Kurapika. I'm fine. I'm just a bit tired. That's all." I said
"Oh I see. You're right. Those fights we had were a bit tiresome. Good thing we have these fifty hours to take advantage of. I'll leave you alone and let you sleep." With that, Kurapika got up and sat near Leorio to talk to him.
I laid down on the couch and turned my face towards the back of the couch. I didn't want anyone to see me. I started to shed a few tears. Everything that happened just now was too much for me. Why is it fate for us to meet? What does God have in plan for us?
These fifty hours has finally passed by and we were ready to continue our journey out of Trick Tower.
"We only have less than ten hours left to get out of here. I suggest we go through this as fast as possible!" Kurapika said.
We all nodded in agreement and ran as fast as we could through the halls and floors.
We went through a lot of the 'majority rule' questions on choosing paths to go to. Few of the paths we chose were set with traps which was a pain in the butt for us.
"There is one hour left on Trick Tower. All examiners please find your way to the bottom." Said the intercom.
"What!? We have an hour left!?" Leorio shouted
"Will we make it in time!?" I asked, hoping someone would respond
"I don't know, we'll just have to see" Kurapika said as we all kept running as fast as we could
"Look! There's another path!" Gon said as we approached to what I hope is the last 'majority rule' question.
We all read the board and it said to press 'O' if five people wants to pass through but it will take forty-five hours to get down or we can press 'X' for three of us to continue and the remaining two be chained on the wall. This path is a shorter path that will take three minutes to the bottom.
"This is tough. If we choose 'X', then only three of us can go." Kurapika said while thinking.
"Even if we do choose 'X', I'm pretty sure none of us want to stay behind. If it ever comes to that point, I will fight for my spot." Killua said.
"We're not going to fight" Gon said
"Then how do you expect all five of us to go through?" Leorio asked
"We find another way" Gon responded
"Well I say we should choose 'X' and fight for our spots. It's the only way" Leorio said just as he was about to press a button.
"No!" Gon shouted
"No? No!? Are you crazy Gon!? Its obvious we have to choose the shorter path!" Leorio screamed
"And I said no! I'm choosing 'O'." Gon said
"Why!?"
"Because I want all five of us to pass without anyone getting left behind! We came here together, we leave together! As a team!"
"But we'll fail if we choose the longer path!"
Leorio and Gon continued to argue while I took the time to look around the room. There were two wooden tables with chains around for the two people to give up their spots. There were also weapons all over the walls. Ready to be wield if people were to ever fight in here. I wish there was a way for all five of us to take the shorter path.
"Enough! Stop fighting you two! This isn't going to help!" Kurapika yelled
"Yeah or else you'll end up fighting for real" Killua said
"This is really frustrating! How do you expect us to get across if we can't choose the short path Gon!?" Leorio picked up his briefcase and we all thought he was going to hit Gon with it but instead, he slammed it on the floor. Bits of pieces of the ground broke off and I noticed Gon staring at it. I think he got an idea.
"Gon? Did you have something in mind?" I asked
"yeah! I just thought of something. I just need all five of us to press 'O'." Gon said.
"What!? Didn't I just say we shouldn't press 'O'!?" Leorio shouted
"Trust me on this. I know how to get us out by pressing 'O'" Gon said
"No! I do not agree with you!" Leorio said
"Leorio. Just do it. I trust Gon." I said hoping he'll listen. "Please. Gon knows what he's doing. Just trust him"
Leorio stood there and stared at me until he finally said something.
"Alright. I'll trust Gon. Let's press the stupid button already"
We all put our trust on Gon and pressed the 'O' button. The door to the longer path opened.
"Well, now what Gon?" Kurapika asked
Gon went up to the wall of weapons and picked up an axe and pointed it to the wall inside the longer path that is next to the shorter path.
"We're going to use these weapons and break down this wall. If we break it down, then we can cross through the shorter path and all five of us can pass this exam" Gon said with a smile.
I smiled too. It was a brilliant plan. I can't believe this kid can think so creatively. I'm amazed by it.
"Aoi. You understood his plan right?" Kurapika asked
"Yup I do!" I said
With that, Kurapika and I picked a weapon as well and joined Gon to chop down the wall. Leorio and Killua continued what we were doing when we took a rest. We continued back and forth until the wall was finally broken.
It took us a while but we finally did it.
"It worked!" Leorio said
"I told you! The five of us can go through now!" Gon shouted
"Nice work Gon" Killua said with a thumbs up
"Even though we broke the wall, our timer says we only have less than three minutes left" Kurapika said as we all looked at our devices.
"Oh no! Our plan just went to waste! We'll never make it in time!" Leorio shouted
I looked around the room again. I noticed there was a huge shield that could fit all five of us in. And according to my calculations, this short path should be going downhill which means we can slide our way down. We can get to the bottom faster. So what can we use to slide ourselves down? Unless...
"Killua" I said
"Huh? Yes Miss Aoi?"
"Can we use your skateboard?" I asked
"My skateboard? For what?" He asked
I approached the shield and picked it up. Then I grabbed Killua's skateboard, placed it on the ground and explained my idea to them.
"I was just thinking about that Aoi!" Gon said in excitement
"I agree with Aoi. This is a good idea" Kurapika nodded in agreement
"Then what are we waiting for!? let's go!" Leorio said as he hopped on the shield and skateboard
We all sat on the skateboard and Gon was in the front with his fishing rod, using it as a steering wheel. The order went from Gon, Killua, Leorio, Kurapika then me.
"Aoi, This board may be a bit unbalanced, hold onto me tight if you think you're going to fall off, okay?" Kurapika looked at me as I blushed.
"o-okay" I stuttered
"Are we ready guys? Hold on tight!" Gon said as we pushed off into the shorter path.
We were sliding down the path at an incredible speed. I wrapped my arms tight around Kurapika's waist. I felt like I was going to fly off of this thing.
"We're going too fast Gon!" Leorio shouted
"Just hold on everyone! I see the exit right in front of us!" Gon screamed
I looked up and saw a bright light just at the end of the hall. As soon as we passed through, I noticed that a lot of people were already here. Even Hisoka, he stood up from where he was sitting and started clapping. What I didn't notice was that Gon had lost control of the skateboard.
"Hold on!"
Gon swerved a hard left which made me lose my grip on Kurapika. I felt myself flying off of the board and heading straight towards a wall.
"Aoi!" I heard Kurapika scream and saw him reaching his hand out for me. I reached for him too but my hand was nowhere near his.
Just as I was about to his the wall, I felt someone catch me to prevent me from hitting the wall. I had my eyes closed the entire time so when I opened them to look, I saw that it was Hisoka that caught me. He saved me just in time.
"My, my. I cannot let that cute face hit the wall. You're lucky I caught you or else Chrollo would've been disappointed about your possible injury."
I just glared at Hisoka. Him and his taunts. It's not going to scare me.
"Thank you for saving me Hisoka" I said
"Just be careful next time" Was all he said. He gently put me down and walked away and I noticed that he and Gon were staring at each other for quite a bit.
I was approached by my friends shortly after.
"Aoi! Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Kurapika asked, sounding really worried
"I'm okay. I'm not hurt anywhere." I said with a smile. Thankful that Kurapika cared about me
"Good. I was scared you were going to get hurt really bad" Kurapika said as he sighed in relief.
"Aoi. I'm so sorry. I lost control when we got down here" Gon said with a sad expression. I patted his head.
"No worries Gon. I'm alright. So you're fine." I said smiling at Gon
"Good thing you're still alive. We made it just in time for the timer to hit zero. We all passed the third part of the exam" Leorio said
"That's great! We made it!" I shouted in joy.
"Aoi!" I heard someone scream and running towards me.
I looked to see who it was and it was Hanzo.
"Hello Hanzo. Glad to see you made it out of this tower" I said with a smile.
"Oh man! I knew you would make it! A pretty girl like you is bound to be a strong person too. I waited forever for you to arrive down here" Hanzo said while grabbing my hands
"Uh...thank you?" I asked in confusion
"You know I could have rescued you if it wasn't for Hisoka being in my way" Hanzo said as he glared at Hisoka
"Oh, I see" I said with a slight nervous laugh. "Were you the first one here Hanzo?"
"I thought I was at first but then I realized I was the third person here" Hanzo said as he let go of my hands
"Third? Who were the first two?" I asked
"Hisoka was the first person to make it. Then it was some other creepy looking guy but I could care less about him."
"I see. Well at least we all made it down here" I said with a smile
Hanzo began to give me a weird look. It was kind of creepy. He's sorta drooling.
"Aoi?" I turned around to see Kurapika approaching me
"Yes Kurapika?"
"I just want to say, thank you for listening earlier. I know learning about my past may be a bit hard on you. Especially the fact that we only known each for a few days. I feel like I can get closer to you. I definitely want to know you more"
Kurapika put his hands on my shoulders. He was staring into my eyes. I feel like my heart was going to burst.
I feel like crying. I feel like hugging him. I feel like confessing to him. I feel like running away.
"I see" I said with a sad expression
"Why are you sad?" He asked
"I'm just sorry about what happened to your clan. That's all" I said as I looked at the ground. Unable to even give him eye contact at the moment.
I could tell Kurapika was going to say something but it was interrupted with the doors opening. A short man walked in and introduced himself.
"Good job to all of you that made it this far. I am the Blacklist Hunter, Lippo"
"Pft. What a tiny man" Leorio said while Gon elbowed him
"Sshh"
"I hope this part of the exam wasn't too hard for you. Things are about to get harder when we get to our next destination" Lippo snapped his fingers and the door opened to the outside.
We all walked through and noticed an airship, that is a lot bigger than the one Netero took us on, just outside of the tower.
"We will all board onto this plane to head to our next destination" Lippo said
"Woah! We're going on that!?" Gon said in excitement
"That thing is huge" I said to myself
"Let's get going. The ride to the next location will take a couple of hours. I suggest you find an area to rest until then. Now, let's go"
With that, Lippo went inside the airship as everyone else joined him. We all explored the area and picked a lounge that we felt comfortable in.
I didn't really pay attention to what my friends were saying. I was too focused on my own thoughts.
What should I do about Kurapika? I feel a roller coaster of emotions when I'm around him. I feel sad, pain, fear, and even love. Why do I have to fall in love with him? I know I always asked that in my head but it's true. What on earth does God have in plan for me?
It's not fair for Kurapika. He doesn't even know the truth about me yet he's being so kind to me. What should I do? Maybe I shouldn't have left the Spiders. That way I would've never met Kurapika and the others. I probably wouldn't have fallen in love with him too. If only I can find a way to escape all of these feelings.