I know you already know this but then again, Hunter X Hunter is not mine. This wonderful anime story is owned by Yoshihiro Togashi.

CHAPTER 16: Waiting Game Part One

It took them a few minutes before proceeding to the room where they would spend the 50 hours they had gambled. Sam would vomit every time they took a step, the bitterness of the liquid rebounding and churning her stomach, prompting her to vomit more—exactly what she intended to do to expel the drug.

Despite the tower being a haven for many criminals, the warden was particularly vigilant about keeping it clean. Lippo disliked seeing the corridors of his tower tainted with the girl's continuous vomiting.

Leroute became overly emotional, constantly complaining about the dreadful smell, begging the warden to leave because the stench was making her sick too.

Lippo regretted allowing Ross to use those plant extracts to mix with the drug to incapacitate her opponent. The smell of those plants was so repulsive that it lingered wherever they were applied. So, he decided to provide medicine to the girl as soon as they reached the room. It was a better... no, the best option.

"Please, just make her stop staining and stinking up my floor with slime muck!" Lippo pleaded before leaving them to their own devices. Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio couldn't help but feel relieved.

"Am I the youngest person in the world to ever get drugged? That should earn me an award," Sam remarked weakly but with audible humor.

Kurapika and Gon carefully guided her to the nearest couch and helped her sit down slowly. Leorio followed behind, his expression troubled. Once Sam was comfortably seated, Leorio crouched in front of her, drew medicine from a vial with a syringe, and injected it into her. The older teen didn't find her humor amusing and kept muttering about her stupidity and recklessness.

Sam wasn't thrilled about Leorio calling her stupid, of all people, but she decided to let it slide since he was currently taking care of her. Knowing Leorio, his blood pressure might skyrocket the moment she opened her mouth. The last thing she wanted was for Leorio to accidentally hurt her with the syringe. That would be an uncool way to sustain another injury.

Leorio strongly advised—no, commanded—Sam to lie down, rest, and do nothing. But doing nothing wasn't her style! She hated to admit it, but this was the very first time Leorio had made her listen to his command.

While Sam lay on the couch, feeling very sick, Gon and Killua decided to explore the room in search of something to entertain themselves with. Like any child, she wanted to join in the fun, but her protective guardian Kurapika lectured her, insisting that the patient should stay put.

"It's as if you two are practically asking me to go CRAZY!" Sam whined, but Kurapika remained firm and simply allowed her to vent her frustrations.

Ignoring Sam's complaints, Killua happened to walk by. "Killua, can you explain how that technique works?" Kurapika asked.

"Technique?" Killua raised an eyebrow.

"The one you used to remove his heart," Kurapika inquired.

"Oh, that wasn't even a technique. I just ripped it out," Killua responded, demonstrating by extending his sharp nails like claws. "Mass murderers are still only amateurs. I used to be a professional. But my old man would've done better. When he removes a heart, you won't even see a drop of blood," he explained to the group.

Leorio wasn't sure whether to be amazed or disturbed. "How reassuring."

If Killua remained on their side, there shouldn't be any issues, right?

Killua paused, as if recalling something that still troubled him. "Speaking of techniques, how did that woman get drugged as well?"

The person in question clicked her tongue and her eyes showed disinterest, feeling too tired to explain. "Sick person here, remember?"

Kurapika sighed, capturing the boys' attention. "I think I know a bit," he began. He briskly walked over to the refrigerator and rummaged through it, searching for two water bottles. Placing them on the table, he continued, "Samara mentioned she has special pills that could rapidly heal wounds." With a gesture below his outer clothes, he mimicked retrieving something from his pocket. Then, using the same hand, he picked up the first bottle and pretended to sniff it, before covering his nose. He repeated this process, mirroring what Sam had done with the other bottle earlier on the platform.

"She had a hunch that both could have been tampered with, so she had to devise a plan to turn the tables on Ross... Sam used the opportunity when her hands covered her nose to discreetly place the pill between her lips and secretly drop it into the second bottle while sniffing it out. Samara had to be extremely careful, though, as Ross might have noticed her movements, and those pills weren't meant to be ingested," Kurapika explained, clarifying things for them.

Samara's jaw slightly dropped in awe and amazement at his deductions. Was that just a "bit" for him? He seemed to know everything! Damn that blonde, his observational skills were superb!

"Thank you, Mr. Observer," she said, impressed. Then, feeling compelled to complete his "a bit" of explanation, she added, "When those pills enter the stomach, the acid juices would react with them, making your stomach acidic." She paused, gathering her thoughts. "It feels like something is squeezing your stomach, and if you're unlucky, it could lead to a much worse version of Acid Reflux... It literally feels like your heart's burning. You'll just wish you could die," she explained weakly before leaning back to relax, deciding to keep her mouth closed this time.

With Kurapika's explanation and Sam's added insights, it seemed they had finally pieced together the puzzle of what happened during Sam's fight. All the questions that had been lingering in their minds were now answered.

As time gradually ticked away, the remaining hours dwindled. Tonpa decided to investigate the contents of the fridge, while Kurapika immersed himself in reading one of the books available.

Nearly four hours passed, leaving little else to explore. Killua took it upon himself to teach Gon how to ride a skateboard, while Tonpa subtly attempted to guilt-trip Leorio about the lost fifty hours. True to form, Leorio's temper flared, almost sparking a fight with Tonpa.

Fortunately, Gon's mishap with the skateboard sent it careening around the room, narrowly avoiding hitting everyone. Leorio redirected his ire toward the boys, scolding them for playing with the skateboard in such a confined space.

Sam groaned, her fingers massaging her pounding head. The loud voices only worsened her condition. She tossed a pillow at Leorio and another in Gon and Killua's direction. While the drug might have been slowly dissipating, it was causing side effects, including debilitating headaches.

They all made an effort to lower their voices to avoid disturbing Sam further. Thankfully, exhaustion soon caught up with most of the members, especially the hyperactive duo, prompting them to turn off the lights and settle in for sleep.

When they all woke up, they went about various activities to stave off boredom. Kurapika returned to his books, while Tonpa occupied himself by trimming his toenails. Leorio, on the other hand, remained asleep.

Gon decided to demonstrate how to use a fishing rod by thinking like a fish, a method uniquely his own that the others struggled to comprehend. He cast the hook, aiming for a mug near Tonpa, successfully distracting him.

Meanwhile, the only girl in the room let out a long yawn before rising from her spot and stretching her neck. The voices around her were too loud for her to consider returning to her beauty sleep. Despite feeling much better after the long rest, the boredom of being cooped up was starting to wear on her, and her back was beginning to ache from lying down for so long.

Deciding to search for something to alleviate the boredom, Sam wandered around the room, unaware of the piles of books on the floor. She ended up tripping over them, sending the books tumbling with her.

"Oops, my bad, Kurapika," Sam apologized. How did she know it was him? It was obvious that only Kurapika would spend his time reading books. Those four were lazy and uncaring enough to not even bother opening the cover.

"That's okay. It was my fault for putting it here," Kurapika assured, taking the books one by one and placing them back on the shelf. Feeling partially at fault, Sam helped him return the books, some of which were probably upside down. Kurapika didn't object, so she continued stacking the books.

As she slid a book onto the lowest level of the shelf, she felt something made of wood. Curiosity enveloped her, so she pulled it out. It was rectangular and seemed like a suitcase because of the handle. Sam jiggled the object. "Hey, I found something."

Kurapika's eyes landed on the object she was holding. "It's a chessboard."

"Really?" A knowing smile formed on her lips. Now here was a perfect way to kill time. "Do you want to play?"

"I know what chess is, but I haven't tried playing it," Kurapika told her.

Was that for real? Sam's inner self grinned with triumph. It felt good to know that there was at least one thing that Kurapika hadn't even tried... yet. "Then I'll teach you how. Though, I'm not very good at this, so my teachings will probably confuse you," she said, her mood lifting even more.

The blonde smiled and seemed eager to learn something new for fun. "Don't worry, I learn fast," Kurapika assured her.

Samara rolled her eyes playfully, matching it with a grin. She felt embarrassed all of a sudden because of Mr. Blonde Brain Box.

"Then let's start right away, oh-so-clever one!" they both shared a light chuckle.

Sam taught him everything from the very basics to advanced strategies involving chess. To her surprise and astonishment, he really learned it faster than she anticipated, despite her lousy explanations.

As they began their game, Kurapika hesitated but quickly asked how to play. Sam beamed at him and explained the conditions she'd add to their game.

Their game commenced.

Engrossed in the board in front of them, the pair failed to notice their friends taking an interest in their activity. Gon and Killua watched curiously, while Leorio's sleep had been completely disrupted by the boys, prompting him to join them beside Kurapika.

"Pawn to E4," Kurapika uttered.

Samara smiled. "Pawn to E6." But instead of making a move, she held her head high and appeared deep in thought or perhaps concentrating on something. It was Kurapika who moved her pawn and studied the board, analyzing the pieces.

"Knight to C3."

"Pawn to F5."

Their friends furrowed their brows as they listened to their rapid exchange of words. It was as if they were speaking in code.

"Knight to F6."

"Knight to C3."

Leorio and Killua finally grasped the words they're using (finding it much confusing as they watch Kurapika moving her pieces). Gon was left clueless. He still doesn't know what in the world they were talking about. The boy hated being left behind so he asked them. "What are you two doing? You look serious."

"We are playing the game of kings. It's called chess." Sam replied without looking at his direction. The boys gave them a scrutinizing look then at the chess board.

"I was not updated that the player could move his opponent's pieces. When did the rules change? Or were you lazy enough to move it?" Killua wondered.

"And Sam you're... I mean, how can you play?" Leorio asked, of course without insult in his voice.

The girl seemed lost in thought, so Kurapika took it upon herself to respond, pointing towards Sam's head. "She's playing blindfold chess. The board exists in her mind. It's her way of playing. She visualizes the board and memorizes the piece placements. Bishop to G7."

Leorio appeared astonished. "How is that even possible?"

"Well, I'm doing it, so it's possible. You should give it a try. It hones your memory skills, useful for a medical student. It also improves analytical thinking," Sam suggested. "Pawn to H4. As for what Kurapika's doing, he's moving my pieces to understand the flow of our game. He's a beginner, by the way."

"It's interesting to know there's something this handsome guy isn't good at. But hold on, what if he places the pieces on the wrong square or cheats?" Leorio questioned.

Kurapika shot him a narrowed gaze. "I think you're projecting."

Sam chuckled at the notion of Kurapika cheating. "No, Kurapika wouldn't cheat. It would damage his pride and ego. I trust him. He even suggested playing blindfold, but I declined, knowing he's new to the game."

After roughly four rounds... and that's where she made a mistake.

A big mistake.

She underestimated Kurapika as just another beginner. Sam was confident she could outsmart him.

"Checkmate."

"Ah, darn it!" Samara exclaimed in frustration, mentally reviewing the game. "I've been playing this since I was five, and it only took you forty minutes to learn and beat me four times? That's a blow to my ego, you know?"

The blonde sheepishly chuckled. "Beginner's luck?" Kurapika suggested humbly.

Sam snorted; arms crossed over her chest. "I'm not buying that. I've told you, it's not luck you need, it's skill."

"Well, you did pretty well," Gon interjected, impressed by the game.

"Yeah, except Kurapika was just better," Killua added.

"Wow, thanks for the honesty. Your brutal honesty is truly appreciated," Sam said sarcastically. "Was I asking for critiques? You couldn't even fib a little, could you?"

Kurapika found their banter amusing but realized he couldn't let his friends argue, especially knowing that neither of them would back down from an argument. "I'm actually more impressed by your blindfold chess skills," he interjected, changing the subject.

This piqued Samara's interest. "Really? Coming from you, that's quite flattering." There was nothing particularly impressive about it, though. Sam just knew the game, but she didn't consider herself exceptional at it. Playing blindfold chess was simply a way to train her mind, especially since she was blind and enhancing her memory was crucial.

"But I'm even more impressed by Kurapika's brain," Samara added, giving Kurapika a challenging look. "No more room for beginners. I'll beat you next time."

Kurapika blinked at the seriousness of her challenge but accepted it with a smile. "I look forward to it."

"Why don't you all just enjoy the game for now? We still have plenty of time," Leorio suggested, eyeing the timer on the wall.

Before Samara could respond, Killua jumped in. "What's the point? The outcome will always be the same. Kurapika will keep winning, and Samara will keep losing."

Samara scowled. "Then why don't you three join in?" she retorted, sounding annoyed. Only Leorio and Killua agreed, as Gon admitted he wasn't good at mind games. Samara offered to teach him the basics, so he reluctantly agreed and ended up losing several times to her. Like the previous match, Leorio struggled, with Samara mercilessly outsmarting him. When it was Killua's turn to play, it was evident he had his own strategies. Sometimes he won, sometimes Samara did, and eventually, they reached a draw.

"Tsk! That wasn't what I expected," Killua muttered in frustration. This time, victory belonged to Samara. He flicked the knight piece, and it nearly hit her hand as she was gathering the pieces.

"Hey, watch it!" she exclaimed.

Can anyone tell me what's happening to fanfiction? I can't upload my stories anytime.