Author's Note: Hey guys! In case you haven't noticed, Genesis and Gon kind of have a ying yang relationship. I think, in a way, they balance each other out. So far, you've seen how different they are. In this chapter . . . you'll probably see quite a bit more of that, but also, you're going to find something about them that is fairly similar. You'll find out exactly how similar they are in later chapters though. This one is a tad bit shorter than the others, but then again, I omitted a few little thing. Genesis doesn't have to witness everything, now does she?


Hall of Fame

Part 1: The Hunter Exam

Chapter 3

Storms X Reasons X Protection


Everyone Gen had to entertain her were off doing their own things. Leorio was taking a nap on the deck. Kurapika was . . . well, she wasn't quite sure. But she wasn't going to bother him anymore anyway. Gon was at the back of the boat fishing. He sure did like his fishing. Why? She never really knew. It was probably something he picked up from their father. He probably enjoyed it even more now that he had their father's rod.

So Genesis was very much unentertained now . . . and dare she say . . . bored? The only times she ever really spent too much time on her own was when she slept, and with the day so bright in front of them, she didn't see that happening anytime soon. She now sat on a very dreary part of the boat with her feet in the air and her back on a hammock. It wasn't hers. In fact, she didn't even know if it belonged to another passenger. For all she knew, it was something the captain had set up as part of the boat.

Either way it didn't matter to her. This was where she was. It was no more animated than the rest of the boat, and if she was going to have to be bored out of her mind, she didn't want to do it in such a gloomy atmosphere because of all the dead weight's depressing demeanors.

She kicked her feet in a rhythmic pattern. Left leg up. Right leg down. Left leg down. Right leg up. And so on and so forth. Her hands were busy fidgeting with the slingshot she had pulled from the little pocket space she had created between her skirt and pants. The slingshot was basically a well carved stick with two ends at the top that created a 'U' shape. There were about five to six inches worth of some kind of stretchy material Aunt Mito had found connected to the two ends. In the center of the material was a soft plate about an inch and a half lengthwise and widthwise. She had made it herself a couple of months ago, with Aunt Mito's help to obtain the stretchy material.

She pulled back the sling, aiming it at the door where she heard footsteps walking past. There was no object for her to sling, but she aimed anyway, closing her left eye as she judged the space. Once she was sure that she was in the precise position to hit the doorknob, she pulled the plate back, taking in a deep breath before releasing it. She could almost see the path the projectile would have took, knocking against the center of the handle, making it shake. If there was one thing she was good at, her slingshot was it. When she aimed, she didn't miss.

It was then that she heard a commotion coming from the deck. Easily, she spun herself towards the door and jumped to her feet. Sticking her head out the door to make sure no one was walking her way, Genesis bounded up to the deck. Before her she saw a crowd gathered around. She pushed her way to the front to see two guys, whom she didn't know, fighting. Now, she didn't see many fights around Whale Island that didn't involve animals, so she was intrigued as to how it would turn out.

She didn't get to see much, though, because the captain called the fight to a halt just as the guy with the orange bandana around his head put his knife to the other guy's throat. She couldn't hold back her groan and kicked at the deck, upset that she wouldn't get to see just what these people were capable of. It wasn't very often that she got to see how everyone else interacted together. She and Gon rarely ever left their home. The house and the woods, that was about as far as they went on most occasions.

Once she finished fuming, Genesis noticed that the guy who nearly got his butt kicked was being thrown off the boat. She nearly busted out laughing at how clueless the guy was and that he had to be thrown off, but when the captain started speaking, even she knew it was in her best interest to keep her mouth shut.

Genesis was ready to head back to her little bunk when her brother's voice broke her ears. "I've got one!"

She turned to look at him just in time for him to pull the fish out of the water. As he was laughing and cheering at his victory, Genesis huffed and crossed her arms. "Show off," she muttered under her breath.

"Your brother is quite interesting," came a voice from behind her.

Genesis jumped and turned slightly to see Kurapika. His face showed no particular expression and, though he was talking to her, he was looking towards Gon.

"Yeah, he's something alright," she grumbled, watching Gon jump and hop around in excitement.


Genesis stood beside her brother, examining the fish he held in his hands, as he spoke with the captain. She didn't pay too much attention to the conversation, but her ears twitched at Leorio's complaining voice. She spun around and pointed an accusing finger at him.

"Would you stop complaining?" she shouted, throwing her hands up.

Leorio looked ready to respond when Gon made a curious noise. She switched her attention to Gon, who was staring up at the sky, following the sea cranes. After a moment, he put his fish down and turned towards the water.

"There's a storm," he said. "It's coming our way."

"Very funny," Leorio said, earning him a glare from Genesis, "The ocean's totally calm."

"You should probably listen to him," Genesis said, putting her hands behind her back. "It may seem nuts, but my brother usually knows what he's talking about with these kinds of things."

"Yeah," Gon replied. "The sea cranes are calling out warnings."

Leorio laughed. "So, you're telling me the kid can understand the sea crane's squawking? Sure."

Gon nodded and smiled towards them, making Leorio go wide eyed and his jaw dropping. Genesis just shrugged her shoulders and walked back to beside her brother, where she had strayed away from as she spoke to Leorio.

Genesis made a gagging expression when Gon mentioned something about their father, giving a fake smile when he turned to look at her.


The two hours that Gon predicted had come and gone quickly. Most of the passengers had gathered around the cross-like pole, and Genesis noticed it begin to light up. She'd never seen anything like that before. It was completely new to her. She stepped forward curiously, holding her hand up towards it, but she wasn't tall enough to reach it.

As she climbed up on the edge of the boat, trying to get closer to the purple glow, she heard her brother ask, "What's Saint Elmo's Fire?" She tilted her head back a little, curious as to what the answer would be.

"It's a phenomenon in which tall objects like that mast are illuminated by a buildup of static electricity," came Kurapika's voice as he walked to the front of the crowd. "That means there's probably a thunder head, or electrified cloud situated directly above us."

While all eyes were on Kurapika as he explained the light, Genesis had wrapped her arms and legs around the pole, trying her best to climb high enough to touch the light. One arm released from around the pole to reach up, only a few inches off target. She growled and regained her firm grip, trying her best to make it up the next few inches. Once again, she reached her hand forward, and just as she was about to reach it, she heard the captain.

"-no sailor who's seen Saint Elmo's Fire has ever made it back to port alive."

"What?!" Genesis shouted, leaning back.

Just as she did, one of her legs lost its grip around the pole, and with one leg and one arm off, she began sliding down. However, sliding down a wooden object wasn't very ideal and was actually quite painful. So much in fact that Genesis quickly had to let go, finding herself falling overboard. She managed to grip the railing, but she was still dangling over the water, losing that grip the more the waves crashed and the boat rocked.

"Gon!" she called trying to get a grip with her other hand as well. "Help!"

The moment didn't drag on like she thought it would, waiting for her brother to pull her up. Instead, just as her hand lost its grip on the railing, something tightened around her wrist. She dropped a few inches and screamed, but latched on with her free hand to whatever was now holding her up. Her eyes opened and she saw her brother leaning over the railing, one hand on it and the other around her wrist. Leorio had his arms around her brother's stomach, keeping him anchored to the boat.

The two pulled her up and she fell with her back against the railing. She darted her eyes around like crazy, watching the faces of the people who stared at her. Gon's face was right next to her's and his mouth was moving, but she couldn't register his words. Leorio had knelt down, but he was still at least a head taller than her, and if he was speaking, she wouldn't have heard him either. Her eyes landed on Kurapika, who watched her with an expression that seemed to show a hint of worry, but she didn't linger on it long.

She pushed herself to her feet and started stumbling back towards her bunk. Gon grabbed a hold of her arm but she yanked it away, swatting at his head, but he ducked. "Leave me alone, doofus."


Once all of the passengers were down in the bunk, Genesis began to come back to her senses. With the ability to finally comprehend what was going on, she started to feel bad about the way she had treated Gon. He saved her life, and she had just brushed him off, pushed him away even. She shouldn't have done that. Protecting each other was their vow after all. Their promise above all other promises.

She would have gone and apologized to him, had she been able to maneuver around the bunk properly. People were floundering about like fish on land, leaving her with no room to walk without being slapped in the head with one of the bodies. The ship was only tilting from side to side, it wasn't anything a little balance couldn't get over.

So she just stood in place, switching her legs along with the boat. If the boat was leaning towards the right, then she'd stand on her left leg. If the boat was leaning towards the left, she would pull her left leg up and let her right handle it. She even hopped in place after a little while, beginning to get bored with the whole escapade.

Her brother was doing fine as well, rolling around on his little barrel. He seemed to be having more fun than anything else. Leorio just sat around eating apples. Gravity didn't seem to have much effect on him, as he didn't even slide a little. She noticed, though, that like her, he was leaning towards the opposite side that the boat was leaning. They had the same idea.

Genesis found herself looking around for Kurapika, wondering if he had found a way to stay upright in the turning boat. She was shocked to see him in the hammock she had previously inhabited . . . sleeping.

Well, that's one way to do it, she thought, sweat dropping.

The boat took a long leap forward at that moment, and since she was mid-hop, her foot didn't connect with the ground when expected, making her slip and fall onto the hard floor. Thankfully, the boat had stopped rocking so hard, and people were now just lying unconscious on the ground. She stood up and rubbed her head, afraid a headache would begin to form.

Gon was now walking around to sick passengers, trying to help them get over whatever issues were ailing them. Genesis decided to help out as well, taking what she needed from Gon and walking around to the people. Though she was slightly annoyed when she walked by Leorio, who was simply looking at himself in the mirror.

"What are you looking at, Mister? Your unibrow?" she asked, rolling her eyes and handing a cup of water to a sick man beside her.

"Who are you calling 'mister'?!" Leorio snapped, rubbing his finger in between his eyebrows. " . . . I do not have a unibrow!"

Genesis had to laugh at him. She just had to.


"You want me to tell you what my name is?" Leorio asked, his voice much bigger than it needed to be.

"Yeah, I do," the captain said calmly.

Genesis looked up from the person she had been treating and rolled her eyes. "Don't be so secretive, Mister. You were all gung ho about us not calling you anything but your name. So why not go ahead and tell the guy?" she asked, shrugging her shoulders.

Gon nodded excitedly and turned to face the captain. "She's right!" he said. "My names Gon."

"I didn't mean you, doofus," Genesis replied, smacking the back of his head. "I'm Genesis." She stood up and raised her hand, pulling Gon to his feet as well.

"I'm Kurapika," said the blond haired boy.

Once again, Genesis jumped at his voice. Kurapika had this way of just creepy up on people. He seemed to make no noise until he spoke. But for some reason, she was the only one startled.

Leorio groaned and reluctantly told the captain his name.

"Now, was that so hard?" Genesis asked as if she were talking to a child, which resulted in Leorio lunging for her again.

She stepped back out of the way and wagged her finger at him. "Tsk. Tsk. That won't do, Leorio!"

The captain cleared his throat and the four of them brought their attention back to him. "Now that that's out of the way . . . I want all of you to tell me why you want to become Hunters."

Genesis froze in her spot. Why? Why did she want to be a Hunter? There was a problem with that question. She didn't want to be a Hunter. Not really. How was she supposed to answer that? What if this was some sort of evaluation? What if her answer wasn't satisfactory and he kicked her and Gon off?

"Our dad was one!" Gon said, snapping Genesis out of her thoughts. "And we wanna see what it's like!"

Genesis stepped up and whacked him again, this time with malicious intent in mind. Gon cried out from the force of the smack actually causing him a little bit of pain.

"Don't clump me in with you, doofus," she said and looked up at the captain. "You'd think my reasoning would be the same as Gon's, since we're twins and came here together, but it isn't. I don't even want to be a Hunter, to be honest. But . . . I will do anything to protect Gon." She clenched her fist. "And if that means going through this damned exam to help this idiot find our no good father . . . then I'll do it." She stopped again and pointed to Gon. "For him. I'll do it for him."

"Geez," Leorio said, yawning. "The old guy doesn't need to hear your life story. And I still have no intention of telling you," he pointed to the captain, "anything."

"I agree with you Rioleo," Kurapika said, and this time Genesis held in the jump her body wanted to make. "It would be easy enough to dodge the captain's question by making up a plausible lie. However, I consider lying to be a sin that is equal to greed and as dishonorable."

Genesis stopped paying attention at that point, reflecting on the boy's words. Lying as a sin? She'd never thought of it that way. It wasn't something she did all the time, but she lied almost any time she would kid around with Gon. Did that mean she had sinned? And what about it being dishonorable? She was only a child; there wasn't much honor for her to have. But for someone like Kurapika, who had to be a few years older than her, it might mean more.

"The Hunter Exam has already begun!"

Genesis looked up at the captain, her mouth open wide. "W-wait a minute. If this is part of the Hunter Exam . . . " she trailed off, holding up her index finger as she thought. "Then that means . . . I was right!" She pointed her finger at the old man. "You're testing us!"

He gave a hearty laugh. "You'd be right little girl," he said, pulling out something from his pocket.

"That's from the Hunter Association!" Leorio gasped, stepping back.

Genesis dead-panned. "No duh, Mister. I've only known about Hunters for a year and even I can tell that."

"Yes, well, there aren't enough Examiners in the universe to judge all of the people who want to become Hunters. So it's my job to weed out the weaklings," the captain said. "The other passengers didn't make the cut. If they can't handle a storm like this . . . there's no way they could make it as Hunters."

"But wait," Genesis said, raising her hand. "What if they find another way there?"

"That won't work. I have to make a report to the Committee and if they try getting there by any other means . . . they'll be turned away in a heartbeat."

"Oh." Genesis dropped her hand, letting the man continue.

"So, whether the four of you get to take the exam or not . . . that's my decision. Would you like to answer that question I just asked you . . . or not?"

Leorio then began to mumble something; perhaps it was supposed to be loud enough for the group to hear, but it wasn't.

"I'm the only survivor of the Kuruta clan," Kurapika said.

Leorio freaked about being interrupted, but Genesis simply looked at the boy with another curious expression. He sure seemed to draw a lot of those out of her.

"I want to be a Blacklist Hunter, so I can capture fugitives with a bounty on their head and bring them to justice," he continued.

"Why?" Genesis asked, obviously interrupting the captain. "Sorry."

Kurapika shook his head. "No apology necessary," he said. "Four years ago, all my brethren were brutally massacred. That gang of thieves, the Phantom Troupe, was responsible. And I am determined to have my revenge."

"Phantom Troupe?" Genesis echoed under her breath, furrowing her brows.

"The Phantom Troupe has a Class A bounty on them. Even the most experienced Hunters are weary about going after them," the captain said. "It could cost you your life."

Genesis let out a questionable sound, making everyone look at her. She covered her hands over her mouth and shook her head, stepping back behind her brother, who, in light of the situation, laughed at her.

"I do not fear death," Kurapika said, his eyes dancing from the Captain to Genesis. "What I fear most is that one day my rage will eventually fade away."

At that, Genesis sank back to the point of the hammock that had apparently been switched between the two throughout the ride. She didn't need, nor did she want to hear anymore. She was too confused as is. Everything about Kurapika confused her.


She was so out of it that she didn't even crack a joke at Leorio for his plan to gain money. It was an easy shot. It would have been simple for her to get a rise out of him. But she was too far gone by that point. Heck, she was even asleep by then.

So when she woke up and ventured onto the deck, she was surprised by what she saw. Leorio was almost naked, save for his undergarments with Kurapika sitting beside him. Gon was standing and looking out at the water, his clothes obviously wet.

Genesis just stood there, staring at them, taking her hat off of her head when all she meant to do was pull it up. Her ponytail fell, curling to the right and hanging around the bottom of her neck.

"What in the heck happened to you three?" she asked.

Gon turned around and grinned at her. "Nothing much, Gen. Just got a little wet, that's all," he said, scratching his neck nervously.

"I . . . I . . " she stuttered, "I . . . have no words."

Suddenly, the laughter from the captain filled their ears, and Genesis tensed up. "All four of you have passed the first test."


A little later, before the ship hit the docks, Genesis walked up to the captain alone. "Hey captain," she called. He turned towards her. "I heard what happened. I see why you passed my brother and them, but . . ."

"You don't get why I passed you?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Sweetie, those boys showed me just how willing they are to put their troubles aside to help someone else. They showed determination." As he went on, Genesis began to feel less confident. "But you . . . you showed me something else."

"What?"

"Dedication. Devotion. Love," he said slowly. "You love your brother enough that you're willing to do something you're dead set against doing. That sure says something about your character."

Genesis thought on it all the little while as the boat made its way to Dolle Island. Of course she loved her brother. They were twins. Of course she was dedication and devoted to protecting him. That was their promise.

You protect me, and I'll protect you. Until the day we die.


Author's Note: Now, that wasn't too horrible, was it? I personally like it to be honest. Of course, I wrote it, so it's only logical that I would like it. Here's a little info that I'm sure I've already said. Yes, I am watching the episodes (1999 series ONLY) to determine what happens in the chapters. If I find something redundant, then I might mix some episodes together or leave one out completely. Some will be cut or end at parts that aren't equal with the episode. That's a suspense tactic. Anyway, I hope you guys like it! Please review! What did you like? What didn't you like? What do you think of Genesis? Just review, please! ~Red