Disclaimer: I do not own anything but my OC.

Warnings: Violence.

CRYING WOLF
by: Riseha

Chapter 10

Conflict

I glared as the old man patted my head.

Wonderful; my skin prickled with goosebumps. I knew everyone's attention was on me and one thing I did not like was being in the center of attention.

"My granddaughter here," Old Man yelled as if everyone was blind or deaf, "said she could beat every one of you with her eyes closed! She welcomes every challenge and even if you hurt her, I won't do anything to you, she's just like every other contestant here, free picking!"

My jaw dropped. I said no such thing!

That was practically bait for Hisoka and Illumi to gut me, knowing that they won't have any powerful old men after their backs.

"Now, as for you, Menchi..."

Leorio spoke up first—as usual—without the usual disrespect and condescending tone in his voice. "Wow, really?"

"You can't believe everything he says!" I hissed even as Killua pulled me into another direction; belatedly, I realized that everyone was heading towards the airship. "He's bullshiting, I'm telling you, like usual—"

"Is it all right to speak like that to your grandfather?" Kurapika asked, frowning.

"When I'm talking behind his back, yes," I paused. "Not one of you will say anything, will you?"

"No," Killua drawled. "So, paternal gramps or maternal one?"

"Paternal," I said. The partial truth, I didn't know my real mother's side of the family. "He's a Hunter too, but not very famous. Well, not as famous as Old Man but he's—" The airship shook and I slunk down the wall, suddenly green, tired and woozy. "Blargh," I muttered. "Another time, let's talk another time—urk."

"You're... you've got motion sickness?"

I accepted the bottle Kurapika handed, nodding.

"Yeah," I muttered, gulping down water. "I thought I could live with cars, but when I sat in a car for a dozen hours straight, I just... no, nuh-uh, can't handle it anymore. Then I experienced the completely terrible way of transport known to mankind as air-travel. Thirty minutes is all I can take, plus, I'm not too fond of heights."

"Any reason for that?"

I grimaced. "I don't want to talk about it," I grumbled, gagging. "and—urk, get me a bucket!"

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Needless to say, I was the first person off the plane.

I did not walk or even run there, I jumped right out of the window even before we landed. I got some odd looks when the others landed but no one dared to say anything. I caught a glimpse of Tonpa's suddenly pale face, and I smirked; maybe being publicly known as the Chairman's granddaughter (untrue) wasn't too bad after all.

Then, walking a little ways behind Tonpa was Hisoka.

I turned away; being the Chairman's granddaughter was terrible.

I edged closer to the boys in hopes that Hisoka would entertain himself with Gon instead of trying to drill fear out of me with his amber eyes.

I thought he actually liked Gon.

"What does she want us to do?" I asked when gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd.

"She wants to make boiled eggs, but not just any eggs," Kurapika pointed towards where the chasm yawned at us. "Tarantula eggs that only grow, well, down there."

"Who suggested this test?" I growled, already knowing who.

"Uh, your grandfather," Kurapika coughed. "I suppose he knows that you're terrified of heights?"

I shot him a brief glare. "How did she get up anyway? Climb?"

"No, she shot up suddenly," Leorio's brows knitted in confusion even as he made such an observation. "Is that some sort of magical powers Hunters get?"

Kurapika scoffed. "No way," he said. "she was blown up by the wind."

"Hey, that's easy!"

Killua shot him a wry look. "I don't think so." He glanced at Kurapika. "We have to wait for the right time, no? And, unfortunately, not many of us can tell."

"I can smell it!" Gon announced proudly. "I can also hear it!"

"Quiet down," I grumbled, tilting my head to the side to hear better, "there's a river down there. The currents are unforgiving, if we ever fell, we'd either be swept away miles from here or smashed against rocks down there."

"Not a bad deal," Killua remarked.

Gon grinned. "Come on!"

We jumped.

Instinctively, I grabbed Killua's arm for support, suddenly dizzy from vertigo.

He didn't disappoint, he squeezed my hand reassuringly and released it the moment we had to grab onto the threads. "Just don't look down if you're scared!" he yelled to me.

"Shut up!" I yelled back, aware of the sudden drop of Hunter hopefuls around us. "Don't tell the whole wide world!"

I heard Killua's laughter even as the torrent of wind blew around us. I heard the mellifluous sound bounced around the chasm and frowned.

"How much longer, Gon?"

"A little longer," the wild boy responded, staring seriously downwards. I was tempted to glance down to see what had captivated him so, but for the sake of myself, I chose not to glance down lest I lose my nerves.

"Well?" Leorio demanded, seeing a few guys free fall downwards. He glanced at the silky threads. "It's snapping!" he yelled in alarm. "What do we do now?!"

"We don't have time to wait, let's do it!" One idiotic guy yelled, loosening his hold and falling. Many joined him, but some smart ones—I saw Hanzo, Tonpa, Hisoka, Illumi, Badaro, Pokkle, Ponzu and a dozen more—hung on, and glanced expectantly at us.

They knew Gon could tell when was the right time.

I smirked slightly: it was time to eliminate the useless ones. Carefully, I wove a delicate illusion about us, quietly slipping my Nen into their body, mingling with their own aura and mixing the nerves up, especially the impulses sent to the brain.

Half a dozen participants fell, ensnared by the illusion that was Gon and the right time. I was mildly disappointed neither Hisoka nor Illumi fell for it; Glitturack didn't even spare me a glance, but Hisoka smirked at me, as if he was mocking my failure.

I would've growled and carved another illusion just for him but Gon's voice broke through my train of thought.

I released my hold the same time Killua grabbed my arm and pulled me down.

I yelped. "Don't do such a thing again," I warned, slightly miffed.

"Grab an egg!" Killua yelled back in response.

His warning was sound; I barely remembered having to do such a thing and I reached out for one, fortunately, I caught the last one in the nest.

I nearly crushed the egg in my hold when the wind pulled at my cheeks and clothes; I shuddered at the cold air and the rising goosebumps, fighting the urge to puke in midair.

That would be disgusting.

So much for being a talented assassin.

I stiffened when the river came into view. I heard Leorio's gasp at the sight of bloodied, fresh new corpses down there. The body of Hunter hopefuls who'd missed the river and had met hard ground instead. Some were twitching and bleeding, still alive.

The Examination Community would pick them up, I knew the procedure, but didn't think it was important to tell Kurapika and Leorio who were praying for their safe journey to the afterlife.

My lips curled wryly, momentarily forgetting that I was close to joining them. Well, friends, I can tell you what the afterlife's like.

The stinging on my cheek intensified ten times as I was blown upwards. I held the egg to my chest, shielding it with my arms as best as I could lest it cracked.

I, as expected, was the first to scramble to firm ground, far, far away from the cliff of doom.

That old geezer was fucking sadistic! No mercy even for his so-called granddaughter! What a jerk!

I wiped the cold sweat of my chin, cradling the egg in my lap. "So much trouble for an egg," I grumbled. I wanted to add that it wasn't worth it but with Menchi eyeing me critically, I didn't dare to say anything.

"Let's cook it," Killua suggested needlessly.

"...Un."

As we walked after the others, I felt a strange sort of warmth in my hand.

I glanced down and had to swallow the smile at our joined hands.

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When Killua suddenly stormed into our shared room, face dark and eyes narrowed into pissed-off slits, I could sense trouble and I just knew who had provoked him.

I sighed, dumping the cards I held in hand (revealing the Joker) for Leorio, Kurapika and Gon to see. I glanced at Killua wryly. "What did the old man do this time?" I asked, pushing a stray bang out of my face.

"You, Gon, Leorio, Kurapika, me—room one-oh-eight, now!"

I sprang to my feet. "What does he want?"

"Hurry up!" Killua barked.

Leorio glanced at me, curious. "What's his problem?"

I scratched my cheek awkwardly, unable to meet their eyes, and I was completely ignoring how Killua was bashing his head repeatedly against the wall, snarling curses under his breath. "My grandfather has the bad habit of, um, making people mad... and crazy, like how Killua is now."

"And he wants to see us," Leorio twitched uneasily. "Will we live? Like, coming out sane and alive?"

"Sure," I said. "as long as you ignore everything he says. But then again, I don't think he's out to get you. Just Killua."

"Any particular reason why?" Kurapika inquired coolly as he packed his bag, carefully storing the pack of cards he had and dumping it in a corner of our room.

"Just a simple game, I'm sure."

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Approximately seven hours later, I was not sure anymore.

Instead of a simple game, it had turned into a battlefield.

Leorio who had the weakest stamina and was overall the weakest had passed out on the floor. I glanced at where Kurapika was crouching, his form was trembling with tremendous fatigue. I glanced at where the other two boys were still jumping about to get the ball.

I was starting to get very frustrated.

We had been at it for hours and neither had wanted to give up. Whatever they were whispering to one another just now had fueled them for hours straight.

Those boys sure are something, I thought, slumping onto the ground. Kurapika had just announced defeat with the utmost shame and tired out, I repeated the same words of defeat.

I had teamed up with each of them and had failed at getting the ball.

Leorio and Gon had paired up as well, but those two with the least IQ just tired themselves out and got their asses handed back to them. Neither Killua nor I wanted to partner with Leorio to begin with and Kurapika lost his patience midway.

Kurapika was a fine partner but we just didn't sync, Gon and I just got in one another's way, then there was Killua who I worked best with. We failed at any rate.

Killua and Gon had teamed up and were still going strong.

I was envious of their inhumane amount of stamina, and I was also jealous that they still had a long way to go before they were maxed out.

"Why don't you guys just give up and rest?" Kurapika called tiredly; and I agreed with him, I was feeling even more tired when I saw them working so hard to get the damned ball. "We can just get our Hunter license the long way."

"You don't get it!" Killua yelled back. "It's my sister we're talking about!"

I stiffened.

"What sister?" Kurapika yelled back. He scoffed, sighed then sprang to his feet.

I glanced at him incredulously. "You're going to try again?"

"No," he said with the same amount of incredulity. "I'm leaving. You coming? Help me with Leorio."

I glanced back at the two spiky-haired boys, sighed and decided that this was too painful to watch; I better leave, I'm sure those guys had a personal discussion with one another.

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"You have a very interesting brother."

I frowned at the Old Man's remark, glancing up from where I was munching on my lemon bread. "I have no brother," I grumbled, rubbing the bleariness from my eyes; I was no morning person and the Old Man's too cheery mood wasn't something I could cope with now.

"Why did you approach him anyway?"

Old Man shrugged, passing me a bottle of orange juice which I took. I sniffed it cautiously for poison before I took a sip. I could practically feel Old Man rolling his eyes but he chuckled.

"He was the one who approached me. I must say, he's an excellent liar. He may look like he's having the time of his life, but deep down, he's so frustrated he killed innocent participants and threatened to kill me."

I blinked, suddenly feeling more alert.

"What?"

"I assumed that he's frustrated with you," Old Man answered. "you clearly knew who he was and yet, you actively deny his claims. Come to think of it, what are you afraid of exactly?"

I grunted. "No. 44 and No. 99—that pin guy, remember him, mhm, he's big brother Illumi in disguise."

"So? You're stronger than before, I'm sure you can hold your own."

It felt nice to hear the praise, it was rare to hear coming from him. My mood lightened a little. "Well, no, at least, I don't think so—he's definitely—"

"Your problem," Old Man interrupted, voice serious. "is that you overestimate your opponent and underestimate yourself. You expect the worst in every situation, you give up before trying, just assume an outcome without proof. That is a serious bad habit, you must overcome it."

I scowled. "Easy for you to say."

"Is four years not enough for you to get rid of it?" he shot back.

My scowl deepened. "Look, it isn't as easy as you think. At least, my brother's even worse than me. I'm working on it, okay? Stop pestering me."

"Someday," Old Man mused, voice further from where he originally was, a sign that he was leaving and I stood as well, following him. "you'll have to face him."

"I know," I said unhappily. "I can't run from him forever."

We descended the stairs together, in silence, allowing the tranquil morning to calm our raging souls.

Then the stares came.

I stiffened, falling back and allowing my foster grandfather to walk ahead first. I hated those stares whenever I was with Grandfather.

Yes, I knew that I wasn't his real granddaughter and that he might just be using me to amuse himself for a short while. But I still hated those stares that doubted me. As if I was a liar, trying to gain power through an old man. They were wrong. Supposedly, it was the other way around.

Even if we were in a deal, I'd definitely gotten the shorter end.

But, then again, my luck had always been terrible.

"Is something wrong?" Old Man asked, brown eyes twinkling—not with kindness, no.

I brushed him off. "Nothing," I murmured.

He had done enough for me, I had nothing more to ask of him and it was time to return home anyway.

The moment I landed on the tall, tall, tower, I felt vulnerable.

I was alone, without the company of the boys as we'd been in different rooms (in the end, despite saying that he wasn't biased, Old Man insisted I have a room of my own) and I felt as if everyone was seeing through me, my weakness, insecurities, everything.

Killua, I wanted him here now.

He was my older brother (even though it was only by mere minutes), he would protect me—

(like how illumi did such a fine job?)

I gritted my teeth in anger, the hurt of his betrayal hadn't been wiped clean by time, and damn, the twisting in my chest always got in the way whenever I was about to make a decision or to place my trust in someone.

(after all, how do i know he won't betray me?)

That's right. I won't know what's going on in that guy's head until it's too late; it would be better to not trust him in the first place. And my mistake of trusting Illumi would forever remain a scar in my heart, soul and mind; it'd never ever be gone.

I always had that problem: the inability to move on from something completely. If it was humiliation, I probably could forget it by doing many glorious things, but I could never forget a betrayal.

I glanced down at where I could hear an echo.

I had found a trapdoor.

I inhaled sharply, tensing my muscles and I jumped.

I'd ace this test by myself.

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A.N: Sorry for the long wait, my beta's taking a while and I was busy with other stories. The next chap will be up in a few days - definitely way faster than this took to get out.

QUESTION: Guests asked me who Illyria should be paired with and when I asked in the first chapter, many responded that you needed a good grasp of her character first. Could you judge now? Not necessarily I will add in romance, maybe, I'll just add a few mentions at the end of the story.

I have plans to write a Hunter x Hunter future fic, what do you say?

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