Episode Three: Killua's x Retractable x Claws

Bending back, I stretched out my spine, placing my hands flat on the ground before throwing my weight back so I could land soundly on my feet. Killua had wandered off, having spotted Gon and Kurapika over by Leorio. "Excellent work, everyone." Congratulated Satotz, standing in front of a pair of large doors. "Phase Two of the exam will occur here, in the Biska Forest Park. So, I shall take my leave. Best of luck to all of you." With that being said, he left us alone to silently wait.

The large doors slid apart, showing off rows of cooking stations in front of a large mansion. Sitting in front of the doors of said home was a curvy woman on a plush sofa, with a giant of a man sitting behind her. 'He probably weighs a good three ton, if not more...'

"Will all applicants who passed the First Phase please enter?" the woman asked, sounding nice. We all entered and gathered around. Gon, once he spotted me close to the front yet off to the side, dragged the others over. "Welcome. I'm Menchi, the Second Phase examiner."

"And I'm Buhara, the other examiner." It was surprising that his voice did not make the earth quack, given his large size. He was actually soft spoken. But his stomach was more vocal, as it growled loudly, scaring most of the applicants.

"You must be hungry."

"I'm starving…"

"There you have it." Menchi stood proudly before us. "Phase Two will involve…" dramatic pause, "... Cooking!"

"C-Cooking?" questioned the shinobi reject.

"Isn't that what she just said, idiot? Or is your hearing that bad?" I called out, my patience wearing thin by this group.

"What does cooking have anything to do with being a Hunter?!" someone shouted, jumping to the shinobi's defense quickly.

I smirked, the little light the shun in the darkness of my head covering showed the sharp incisors I supported; made for tearing flesh as well as marking it. "Obviously none of you pathetic humans have enjoyed a true hunt for your daily meals… I shouldn't expect much out of a race that is so coddled." I shrugged, as if it was nothing.

"We're here to take the Hunter Exam!" a large man, Todo I think, shouted in displeasure.

"That's quite right." Menchi agreed, smirking slightly. "Your challenge for the Second Phase is to produce a dish that will satisfy our palate." That is possibly easily said than done.

"Why do we have to cook?!"

"Will you stop your whining, children?! Maybe then we can move on… On the other hand, would you rather we all fail because you wasted all of our time? If you have yet to notice, these exams happen to actually be timed." If I hear another person complain, I'm killing them if we make it pass this phase.

"That's because we are Gourmet Hunters." Menchi explained, sounding proud of this fact.

Todo flat out laughed at them both, completely disrespecting their authority, as the others joined in. "Man, what a letdown."

"They're Gourmet Hunters…"

Turning, I flat out stared at where Satotz was hiding in one of the trees, listening in on his thoughts about these two Hunters. 'Just as I thought… Most, if not all, of us are going to probably fail because she has a bad temper. Fucking great…'

"So, Gourmet Hunters, what are we supposed to make?" asked a sarcastic Todo.

"Buhara."

The large man stood, making the ground tremble with his weight alone. "The required ingredient is pork."

"Pork? As in pig meat?"

"I think we have established that is what pork is, fool!" I moved to the side, dodging the fist that Leorio was going to use to punch the back of my head, causing him to lose balance and fall face down.

"You're free to use meat from any species of Biska Forest pigs. You must use the cooking facilities here to prepare the pork. And you only pass if we both find it delicious."

"And we will evaluate more than just the taste. Don't underestimate the intricacies of cooking. Got it?" clearly everyone did not get it. "When we've both eaten our fill, the exam will end."

"We get it. We get it. Let's just start." After a bit longer, Buhara slapped his large gut, making a sound of a gong. Flittering away from the others, I began my search for the pigs, a bit surprised at being able to find them so quickly. They were large, like the size of a small boulder, with even larger snouts.

"They probably have soft skulls, that's the reason behind the large noses." I jumped down, landing solidly on the back of one of the beasts, before driving my left fist down on top of its head; the kill was quick and easy. Slinging the large boar over my shoulder, its dead weight making my feet sink into the earth, as I pushed hard against the soil for a high jump; using the momentum for a second – mid-air – jump to get back to the site. Throwing the dead animal down, I examined my station with narrowed eyes.

"Ah, you're already back with your pig?" Menchi asked, surprised.

"The grill won't produce a hot enough flame to cook the meat if one was to put it on the rotisserie spit…" I then examined one of the knives, sighing heavily at how dull the blade currently is. I reached into one of my pockets and pulled out a sharpening stone that was wrapped in a thin cloth, and ran water over it before sharpening the blade until I was happy with the results. By now, more people have returned, as I pulled out a strainer and a large bowl, slitting the pig's throat, and allowing the blood to run into the bowl, while the more 'jelly' blood sat in the strainer.

"What are you cooking, Senka?" questioned Killua, peeking over at my station after quarter of an hour.

"Something called dinuguan…" I answered, finishing cooking the pork that I cut up.

"A-Are you using blood?!" a creeped out Leorio asked, just as I added the blood and bay leaves. I shrugged, cleaning whatever I dirtied, before grabbing a smaller spoon.

"What do you think?" I held it out to the white haired boy once I finished cooking, scooping some of the stew up.

He quirked an eyebrow at me, before leaning over and taking a bite, much to Leorio's chagrin. He chewed for a bit before swallowing, only to give me a very blank look. "It's alright… Probably needs more spice to it…" Killua shrugged, before turning back to his large pig.

"Really?" a bit unsatisfied with his answer, I spooned up a bit for myself and ate it. I frowned, glaring at his back. "Cocky bastard…" I added some more spices to it before I deemed it fit to serve with the rice I made to go with it, making sure to place it into two plates for the examiners.

"Now eat the pig and send me to the next phase." Commanded Todo, presenting his burnt meal.

"Okay, it's evaluation time." Menchi wasn't at all impressed. "Taste testing." Buhara passed him, but he'll probably pass everyone because he is that hungry. Menchi, however, was harder to impress as she failed him for the overcooked food.

The shinobi didn't do that much better, either. "Charred on the outside, uncooked inside." Do they honestly think this is a game? Menchi takes her life work seriously. And this trend continued for everyone, while I simply waited with an apple, secretly keeping my dish warm by my own means.

"No one's passed yet…" Leorio observed.

"And Menchi hasn't even taken a bite…" Kurapika pointed out, sounding exasperated.

"Hey! Can't anyone out there satisfy me?" our female examiner demanded.

Jumping off the top of my cooking station, I placed both servings on a large platter that I rested on my left shoulder, and carried it up to them both. "Hmm?" Buhara tilted his head and stared down at me in wonder. "Menchi, it's the first applicant that came back…"

"Oh? Let's see what you've prepared for us, kid." I bit the inside of my cheek, preventing the scoff that tickled the back of my throat. Rolling my eyes, I sat one plate before Menchi, before turning the platter around on my hand and setting a much larger plate before Buhara. The teal haired woman looked interested, as she leaned forward. "At least it is something different." The large man was first to sample it, and passed me like expected, while the woman was a bit more unsure. She shrugged her shoulders and picked up a spoon, scooping some stew and rice, and taking a bite.

'High chance I'll fail. But that is fine with me. At least I tried something different.'

Menchi had a thoughtful look as she took another bite, as if slowly thinking over the dish itself. Placing the eating utensil down, she dabbed at her face to remove any blood that might have gotten on her lips. "You did well. You brought something different to us, and you know how to cook, and ended up preparing a dish you seem pretty familiar with, but it could have been better." She held up a sign with a giant red 'X' on it. "Experiment more with the herbs and spices. You have what it takes to be a very good cook, kid."

I nodded in understanding and turned on my heels, heading back to my station. "See! That's what happens when you try serving someone cooked blood!" Leorio rubbed in, trying to sound superior to me.

"I doubt you can do better. After all, you all have only been talking about how the dish looks…" and I was correct. Both Leorio and Gon's dishes were tossed out for their childish decorations. Kurapika went next, presenting them a beautiful looking dish, which caused the teal haired examiner to try it, before throwing it in a table flipped rage, claiming it was worse than the wannabe-doctor's, which didn't sit well with the blond.

Just as I thought, everyone had failed the exam, and because of this, the exam committee's Chairman had to come and interfere with the decision, stating at how unjust it was. As punishment, Menchi had to join us applicants in the test retake. This resulted in her asking old man Netero-san to take us to Mt. Split-In-Half via his airship. It was actually a large mountain that was split in half.

Once we landed, Menchi explained and showed what we had to do. Simply jump into the cavern, grab a hold of the web, wait for the right moment, let go and grab a Spider Eagle egg, and ride updraft back up to the top. It was quite enjoyable, to the point that I wanted to do it again if all of our combined weight did not destroy the web. I scoffed, biting down into my boiled egg. "Bahaha! You act like a starving dog, Senka!" teased Killua, just as I licked off any remaining food from my fingers.

"Hn. It's been about a week since I last ate anything, so excuse me for being hungry…"

"Jeez, if you're that hungry, just say so. No need to starve yourself." He gave me whatever remained of his own egg.

Warmth flooded my cheeks as I took it into my small hands; nibbling on it a bit. "Thanks…" I mumbled, turning away from him quickly to save myself from embarrassment.

"Allow me to introduce myself to the forty-three remaining applicants. I am Netero, Chairman of this year's Hunter Exam Selection Committee."

Standing next to him was a little person with a green blob for a head. "I am his secretary, Beans."

"Originally, I'd planned to make my appearance during the exam's final phase, but as I'm already here…" the atmosphere was tense. "I'm loving this tension in the air!" Killua yawned, while I relaxed back. "So I think I'll stick around for the rest of the trip." The old man chuckled, finding all of this amusing.

"We are scheduled to arrive at our destination tomorrow morning, at 8 AM. You'll find dinner waiting in the dining hall. You are also welcome to get some rest. In other words, you're free to do as you please until you are contacted." The little green man stated.

"Okay, Gon, Senka! Let's explore the airship!" without waiting for my response, the snowy haired boy grabbed my free hand and dragged me behind him as Gon and he ran out.

"S-Stop dragging me, idiot! I can walk on my own!" I shouted, miffed that he could easily pull me around.

"Huh?" he looked down at our clasped and quickly let go, his face turning pink.

Next thing I knew the boys were being chased out of the kitchen by one of the chefs, while I simply snuck by with a large piece of meat, slowly eating it to savor the taste. Following behind them, Killua stopped and looked out the large window to the right. "Mm…" Gon enjoyed his meat happily.

"Wow, awesome!" the blue eyed boy ran to the window, pressing his face against the cold glass. "Look, Senka, Gon!"

"Hmm? What is it?" I leaned back a peered over my shoulder while Gon pressed his face next to Killua's, staring down at the ground below. "Whoa! It's like the ground is covered in jewels!" Killua agreed with the black haired boy. "Hey, I was wondering… Where are your moms and dads?" his hazel eyes trailed between us both, asking us the question that has been on his mind.

"Hmm… They're alive. Probably."

"What do they do?"

"They're assassins."

"Huh? Both of them?"

"Well, that's interesting." I stated with a shrug.

"That's your first reactions? Hahaha! You really are a riot!"

"Huh?" Gon was confused as Killua took to straddling one of the benches, while I sat on a railing, leaning against one of the supporting pillars as I watched their reflection in the glass, my outer leg hanging off the edge while the other was pulled up to my chest so I could rest my arm on top of my knee.

"You guys are the first people who has ever responded seriously."

"Well, you're telling the truth, right?"

"What makes you think that?" he questioned, looking curious.

"That's not something a normal person your age would joke about, you know?" I easily met his sapphire gaze with my crimson one.

"It's just a hunch." Gon explained his reason, staring right back at the other young male.

"That's weird… People only like me because they can't ever tell whether I'm serious."

"Huh? Really?"

Killua nodded, looking out at the land below us. "I'm from a family of assassins. So they're all assassins. And my family has really high hopes for me… But I can't stand it. Who wants to have their life planned out for them?" He sat up and stared angrily up at the ceiling. "When I told them I wanted to decide my own future, they all snapped! My mother had tears streaming down her face, as she told me I have the potential to be a top assassin." Gon chuckled awkwardly while I stared at him blandly, listening to him rant more about his family. "Horrible parents, right? It's natural their kid would go bad. We ended up fighting. So I stabbed my mother in the face, my brother in the side, and ran away from home." He looked smug, cupping his chin with his left hand. "I'm sure they're out for blood now. But if they find me, I'll send them packing."

I rose a black brow as he stood, probably imagining something amazing. "Okay…"

"When I become a Hunter, I'll start by capturing my family. I'm sure they're worth some hefty bounties…"

"Eh… Hehe…" Gon rubbed the back of his head uncomfortably. "What about you, Senka?"

"I don't know, nor care, where my father is. My mother, on the other hand, committed suicide a week after we were born." I spoke nonchalantly, eyeing them both as they took in this information.

"Eh? Why?"

"Probably due to shame of giving birth to me. Like Hisoka said, I'm the Imiko child…" I spat the word out, as if it was something foul tasting, turning my glare away from them. "To her race, I am a curse created from my mother's infidelity, soiling her body by laying with a man – a man the polar opposite of herself."

"How do you know that?" inquired Killua, leaning forward on the bench he straddled.

"I was born self-aware, meaning the minute I exited her body, I was already learning and understanding things that was going on around me… Because of being a mistake, my birth was never placed on record; I don't exist at all. To cover it all up, my mother's best friend took me from her arms and threw me over and into a river. A group of bandits found me and raised me for about 6 years, before leaving me because I always sought out someone to fight to the death against… Truly a shadow."

"H-How could they do such a thing?" Gon frowned, looking upset.

"Because they are Kōrime, women with hearts as frozen and dead as the island they live on. It doesn't really matter, anyways. I became what they greatly feared, and it will always be that way. I have no place to call home, and no real family that will ever miss me."

"Are you going to kill them?" Killua asked all of a sudden.

Turning my head, I looked him dead in the eye. "I first thought about it, after all I originally planned on finding my mother and murdering her. But that was when I found out she killed herself instead, and her friend that discarded me to my fate ordered me to kill her, so she could repent for her sins against me. But why should I? Their cold existence is far worse than death. They are a race that is never really alive; a race that I pity because of their cold hearts and frosty disposition."

"Isn't that place called 'Hyouga'? It's impossible to find, so how did you?" pointed out the young assassin.

"I have my own ways, such as you having yours, yes?" he looked at me sullenly, almost like a spoiled child who did not get his way for the first time. He quickly dropped the look as a wave of energy hit us, making them both turn and look in the direction it came from, while I looked the opposite way; spotting old man Netero calmly walking towards us.

"Something wrong?" he asked innocently, his clogs clacking against the floor.

"Ah, Netero-san… Did you see anyone coming from that side?" Gon pointed over at the area where the energy originated from.

"No."

"You're pretty fast for an old man."

"That little trick? I barely moved." Killua stared the man down, creating a tense environment.

"What do you want? You don't have to do anything until the last phase, right?"

"No need to be so unkind. I got bored, and was looking for some companions. By the way, I meant to ask the three of you… Any thoughts on your first attempt at the Hunter Examination?"

"Uh-huh! It's fun! And there haven't been any of the written exams I was dreading." The green clad youth happily responded.

"I'm disappointed… I expected the exam to be more difficult. I assume the next phase will be more entertaining?"

"Well, now… I wouldn't know about that. What about you?" the elder man turned his gaze over to me.

"It is… interesting, to say the least…" and I left it at that.

"Let's go guys!" the assassin huffed, turning on his heels as he got ready to walk away.

"Now wait just a moment." That caught their attention. "Would you care to play a game with me?"

"A game?"

"If you're able to defeat me, I shall let you be Hunters!" he declared.

"Really? I'll play!"

"How about it, eh?"

I lounged casually in the same room that Hisoka was building another castle of cards, my eyes closed as the hammock I was in rocked to and fro. Peaking one of my crimson orbs open, I sniffed at the air, actually tasting fresh blood. Even Hisoka picked up on it, if his sharp gaze was anything to go by.

Getting up, I sought out the source of the fresh kill, only to come across Killua carrying his shirts under his right arm, his left hand spotted with flecks of fresh blood on the tips. Behind him were two bodies. "Finally had enough of the old man's games?"

Killua's head snapped up with a dark glare, his sapphire hues still glittering with blood lust. The feeling slowly started to drain away, before he blinked a few times as he registered my form leaning against one of the windows. "Is that why you left Gon and me earlier, Senka?"

"That, and I wanted to rest for a bit. Hard to do that over your loud grunting." I looked back at his kills. "I bet they'll have a tough time cleaning all that up once they find the corpses… The wood flooring is going to absorb all that blood like a sponge."

"You're not afraid of me?" he asked, looking surprised.

"Do you have a bad memory or something? I used to kill people for sport, you know. Young or old, men or women, if they got in my way, I removed them by any means necessary. So no, I'm not afraid of some kitten like you."

"K-Kitten?! Why such an embarrassing comparison?!" he demanded, face flushing a rosy pink, as we walked side by side.

"Oh… because of the retractable claws."

IMPORTANT AUTHORESS NOTE:

For any review/comment I get mentioning that Senka is a Mary-Sue/Gender bent Hiei, I'm going to flat out ignore it.

I'll state it now that, yes, Senka is heavily, and I do mean heavily, based on Hiei from YuYu Hakusho, as he is my all time favorite character, and I've been a massive YYH fan for over 15 years, so expect it to be heavily implied through out all of this. But in no way, shape, or form is she a copy of Hiei, as this story will show later on.

Also, demons will be mentioned, but only fire and ice/water ones, because there are still things that are undiscovered in Hunter x Hunter that I do not see it as being implausible of having non-human races that can use Nen. So enjoy, favorite, add it to your alerts, and review.

Big thanks to all of you that have done all of the former. It means a lot to me. And I shall try to get all of Trick Tower into one chapter, so I don't bore you all to death.