CHAPTER 10

NIJIKA P.O.V.

"To all passengers, we are ready to land..."

I groggily rubbed my eyes feeling extremely tired, maybe I worked too hard yesterday...
I tiredly gave Gon a strong kick on his side waking him.

"Wha...? Mito-San is it already morning?" Gon grumbled as he rubbed his eyes.

"Gon, I'm not Mito-san. Wake up, we'll be landing in seconds." I yawn and crack my back into place.

"Oh, ohayo Nijika! Where's everyone else?" (*good morning) Gon questioned as he jumped up immediately awake.

I used my chin and point out the window, "We just landed so people are probably exiting the blimp."

Gon dragged me out of the blimp enthusiastically while I continued to yawn. My eyes narrowed as I looked at the large tower we were standing on. Why were we here?

"Oh, morning!" Gon yelled making my ears ring. Too early...

"Ohayo Gon, Nijika!" Killua smirked as he greeted us. I frowned slightly as I saw a small drop of blood on his face.

"Killua here," I whispered as I rubbed the dry blood off his face, "You still got blood on you from killing the two guys."

The silver haired boy froze and stared at me in shock. But I ignored the look and smiled at the taller boy. He had like four inches taller than me...

A cough brought all of our attention towards the short man in the suits, yesterday I learned his name was Beans and he was the secretary of the exam. He was also the same person who handed out our numbers.

"Good morning everyone! We are currently at the trick tower, the next trial will take place here! Concerning the trial itself here are the jury's order, within the next 72 hour time period, you'll have to get to the bottom of this tower alive."

Get down? From this incredible tall building? Damn, this was going to take longer than I thought.

"Well good luck! May the trials begin!"

I eyed my group of friends with a smile. I snuck behind Killua preparing to jump onto his back but froze when a hand wrapped around my throat. Damn I didn't expect Killua to actually hurt me,

"What are you planning to d- Nijika?!" He immediately let me go while I rubbed my neck.

"Oops, I didn't expect you to act like that, next time I need to make sure you know it's me," I joke rubbing my neck feeling the light sting of a bruise appearing.

"Why did you do that!" Killua angrily yelled his cat like eyes hard, "I could've killed you!"

"But you didn't."

Killu just angrily walked off fuming, "Oops he's mad!" I mumbled and rubbed the back of my head feeling a bit uneasy, having a friend being mad at you never is good.

I then caught sight of Gon talking to Kurapika who looked deep in thought, "Hey Gon, Kurapika whatcha do- Kya!" I screeched as the floor suddenly collapsed underneath me.

I gasped in shock as cold water covered my head, water? I kicked and broke surface in shock, I was in cold water. Why the hell as I in cold water? Everything was dark and I couldn't see anything.

My frown grew even more when I noticed I was actually moving, no, I take that back, the water was moving.

"Oh sh-" I couldn't finish my sentence as I drop down, "Oh god, oh god, oh god!" I screamed as I slid down whatever I was riding, it felt similar to a water slide.

"Kyaaaaaaa!" I screamed as the speed increased, then 'BAAAMMM' A door flew open and I suddenly fell into a room with gallons of water raining on top of me. I groaned in pain and rubbed my back.

"Oh my, looks like Chibi-chan is our last person," a too familiar voice said. I moved my dripping brown hair out of eyes before moving the hair back in place. Oh god, why?

"Hisoka, don't bother Nijika too much." Illumi said in his normal tone.

I shakily stood up and frowned as all my clothes clung to me. Ewww... I then looked at my backpack and sighed, I bet even my spare clothes are wet, I can't change...

Realizing I had no other choice I stripped my shirt and jacket off, which left me with my black sports bra, ignoring the look the two older males were giving me I slipped the jacket back on.

I got the shirt that was wet and squeezed as much water out before ripping it in half. I got one piece of the shirt and wrapped it around my thigh and placed the other piece of shirt in my backpack. I then rolled down my knee high socks and pulled out multiple knives out.

"I am guessing your main type if weapon is knives?" Illumi questioned as he kneeled down to watch me work.

"Nah, I just brought knives to the exam since they are easy to hide," while saying that I pulled out a pocket knife out of my sports bra, "See?"

I looked at all my knifes in disappointment, "Che, I lost five cause of the stupid water slide," I grumbled as I started to collect them all. Using the cloth on my thigh to support I placed three knives on my thigh while putting two in my shorts and two in each of my long knee socks and one in my sports bra. For the last touch I grabbed a hat out my backpack and placed it on my head,

I then stood up and looked at Hisoka and Illumi seriously, "So what do we do?" I question.

"Just put on the watch over there, on we'll start." Illumi commanded. I followed his instruction and slipped on the watch with a 'CLICK'.

As soon as I did a loud voice boomed in the small room, "All right! This tower contains numerous passages, each one contains it's own crossways. You can only move forward following the choices, it is impossible to pass if you do not get the same answer as the other two in your group."

I eyed two of the older males, they are both killers so I just have to think like a killer.

"I forgot to mention but my name Lippo, I am the jury for the third exami- SORATA-SAMA!!!"

I jumped when the person's voice level changed drastically, I then found the camera at the corner of the room turned towards me and I glared at it angrily, "Sorata-sama p-please excuse my rudeness! I didn't know you were a hidden jury in the exam! Just press the second to bottom and third block to the right! It'll i-immediately take you to the bottom! I'm sorry Sorata-sama please don't do what you did last time!" The man screamed and with a loud snap you could tell the connection between us broke.

All three of us stayed silent utterly confused what just happened.

"Did our jury just mistake I was Sorata or something?" I question breaking the silence.

Hisoka just licked his lips and laughed creepily, "I believe he did."

I sweat dropped, what did Sorata do to scare the guy Lippo? But I shrugged the thought off hesitantly pressed on the block on the wall. My eyes widen eye I felt my footing disappear from underneath me.

"Iyyyaaaa! N-not again!" I screamed as I slid down the unbelievable steep slide in extreme speed. From behind me I could hear Illumi and Hisoka also following after me. Unlike the first slide I could see what was in front of me. Using that as an advantage I got off my butt and slowly changed position so I was on both feet while crouching, I used one hand to control my speed while the other hand held the hat on my head so it wouldn't fly off.

"Chibi-chan are you ok?!" Hisoka's voice that was filled with laughter questioned behind me.

I grunted in answer but hearing an amused chuckle I knew the red haired magician heard me.

My green eyes brighten in relief as I saw the enclosed tunnel open up. As soon as the slide disappeared I jumped into the air and snapped my fingers. With an amazing feeling my short hair flew around wildly as the wind wrapped around my body and place me gently on the ground.

"N-Number 300! Pass in f-first!" I smirked, and I didn't do crap. "Number 44 and 301 pass in second and third!"

I eye the two males as they jumped down onto the ground with a light thump. Illumi looked creepy with his weird face while Hisoka had a scary smile that send shivers down my back.

I search for the camera in the room, as soon as I found it I wave into it, "Thanks Lippo-San, but just to tell you I'm not Sorata but Nijika!"

A silence echoed through the room but a loud noise as if something falling over was heard before a buzzing noise.

I sweat dropped was he ok?

>>TIME SKIP THREE HOURS>>

I nervously sat against the wall not knowing what to do. Illumi who was acting his part as Gittarackur sat on the ground silently looking off into space. The red haired magician on the other hand was smiling to himself as he made a tower out of his cards. He often would look at me for a second before chuckling.

I groaned and fell back in misery, we had to stay here for another 67 hours, and I was hungry...

My eyes snapped up in alarm when I felt a presence in above me.

"What do you want Hisoka?" I grumbled, already in a bad mood.

He creepily chuckled as he shuffled his cards, "A game?"

I eyed him for a second searching any hidden motive, when I couldn't find any I gave him a hesitant nod and moved slightly to give him space to sit.

This man scared me, he seemed to have taken a liking of Gon and I, but I didn't want that at all. What was his motive? I mentally debated to myself, how can I get him to leave me alone? Should I show him my weak side and make him lose interest, no then he might kill me.

I looked at my card making up a plan, act weak but stay strong as well. Show you have both. Seem regular...

Hours passed and people started to come after twenty hours, many of them seemed unharmed. Hisoka and I continued to play card games, sometime I won, other times he won.

I worriedly looked at the clock, few more minutes and this stage will end. Every time the door opened I tore my eyes away from my card and looked at the door holding my breath.

"Che," I spat as I saw a guy I don't know tumble in, where are you guys? I know Gon and Killua can lead the other two here! My eyes followed the guy who just came in with shame, he was going to die, my eyes slowly looked at my bag but I looked away.

"Are you going to help him?" Hisoka chuckled as he threw down his cards.

"Che, you win," I moodily grumble as I look at his cards, "And to answer you question no, everything about him screams weak, I decided I'll only use the ointment on my friends and those who deserve it."

Hisoka chuckle, "Oohhh, I never expected you to be a cold one."

I shook my head, "It's the hunter's exam, if he weren't in the exam I would save him. People should know how 'dangerous' this exam is." I watched with unemotional eyes as the guy fell over, "I hate when innocent people get hurt but this man, everything about him smells dark."

I frowned, that guy he must have used people around him to get this far, even if they died... People surrounded the body, one of them touching the neck.

"He's dead."

"What an idiot, succeeding but dying, he would have been better off failing and coming back next year." The tallest guy in the group scoffed. He wore the similar outfit as the other two who poked the corpse.

I guess those three are siblings or something cause they looked the same.

"1 minute!" My head snapped up in annoyance at the speaker.

I angrily got up and stamped over to the camera, "I swear Lippo! If you don't shut I'll make you!" I growled and moved to stab the camera with my knife but a card sliced the camera before I could move.

My shoulders dropped and sighed, "Thanks Hisoka."

The red haired magician chuckled and licked his lip, "You were letting your bloodlust out!" He chirped happily.

Bloodlust? I had a bloodlust mode or something? Confused I just tilted my head to the side but snapped out of my thought when I heard the door open again.

"At last!"

A wide smile appeared on my face as I saw the three males, "Gon, Kurapika, Killua!" I yelled as I jumped to them. I jumped and crashed into Gon who caught me in surprise.

"Ah! Nijika! You made it as well!" Gon happily yelled as he hugged me back. I worriedly looked at him seeing how they all looked worn out and dirty.

"Hello Nijika," Kurapika greeted me with a smile, I smiled at the blonde and hugged him as well. I barely reached his chin because he was nearly a foot taller than me.

At the corner of my eye I saw Killua with his eyes shadowed, I felt uneasy, the last time we saw each other he was mad at me. But not caring I jumped on him wrapping my arm around his neck and my legs around his waist.

"Killu! Are you ok?!" I yelled as I hug him. Gon and Kurapika seemed surprised I did this but I gave them a look of worry.

'Is he ok?' I mouthed.

Kurapika who seemed to understand shrugged, 'I'll tell you later.' I nodded swiftly before taking Killua's face in my hand.

"Hey assassin boy you ok?" I questioned as he stared at me with wide blue eyes, "Hey you have blood on your face," I rubbed the blood off with my finger before smelling it, "Ewww, I could smell all the bad deed this person did! Good job Killua! You killed a criminal!"

Killua's eyes grew even larger as he stared at me. But he suddenly started to laugh, I started to slip off because of his shaking but he supported me by holding my thighs.

"Hahahahaha! You telling me good job after I killed someone?!" He laughed that he almost had tears in his eyes.

I looked at him confused, "He's a criminal right? If you didn't finish him off he could have hurt someone else."

He stared at me seriously but started laughing again and placed me on the ground. I looked up at him confused but realized what I had to do, "Sorry I made you mad before this trial." I apologized.

He seemed surprised that I apologized and a light pink blush came to his face, "Sorry that I got mad at you...."