This chapter is a bit short i think. It's also in the Kiyomi's POV.

Comments and reviews are welcome and appreciated.

Enjoy~!

DISCLAIMER: Hunter x Hunter along with all the characters and plot doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the awesome mangaka - Togashi Yoshihiro.

Chapter 3: The Quiz

Kiyomi'S POV

Eventually, the ship halted at a dock near Zaban City which is apparently, the location of the main Hunter Exams. It was a bright morning after the rough storm. The sun was up on the clear sky and everybody seems to have forgotten the whole ordeal that took place last night. Only four distinct passengers left the ship. Before we could go on any further, the bubbly fishing rod boy yelled a phrase of gratitude and farewell to the crew of the ship.

"The easiest way to Zaban City is through that tall tree on top of that hill. A married couple lives in there. They are navigators and they will take you directly to the location of the exams," this was the captain's parting knowledge given to the four us.

I stopped abruptly when I sensed an unfamiliar presence. It wasn't a threat but it was definitely eavesdropping. I hated it when people listen in to other people's private conversations. I hated intruders. They always added to my workload back in the Ryodan. Since my 'En' was one of the widest in the group, whenever I felt a presence near our headquarters, I was given the privilege to eliminate it right away. Yet, that wasn't the case now. I couldn't just go and kill anyone in here.

"What's wrong Kiyomi-chan?" Gon worriedly inquired. The two on the front also stopped to look back.

"Nothing, let's go," I replied and smiled, completely ignoring the stranger watching us.

The area around the dock was filled with strange looking men, "They are probably here for the hunter exams as well. Too bad, there are no potential candidates around here."

Soon, the four of us reached a notice board which displayed the map of the place. Ignoring the argument among the boys whether they should go to the tree or take the bus, I already made up my mind. Whatever they choose, I'm going to the tree like the captain said. The busses were cramped with those sweaty old men. Also, it would be too easy if I take the bus. Going through the forest sounds more interesting.

I was brought out of my thoughts when a familiar presence made its way to us. It was the same person who was stalking our group since we dismounted the ship. I spun around to stare at the approaching figure, making sure that my impassive face displays friendliness or something of that sort. Clearly, the approaching man didn't expect us to notice him since his expression showed his surprise. He was definitely sneaking from behind but recovered immediately and returned the friendly gesture.

"Hi, my name is Mashu! I heard you guys are heading to the tall tree on top of that hill. I'm also going there and I'm searching for a companion, would you like to come with me?" the stalker spoke with confidence as he held out his hand to each one of us to shake. The three guys behind me also turned to look at the stranger. I shook his hand to compliment my expression.

"Pleased to meet you, Mashu-san!" I shook his hand.

Gon followed suit, "I'm also going to the tree, let's go together!"

"I guess this is goodbye for now. I'm taking the bus. See you on the exams!" Leorio announced.

One left but somebody else joined. I didn't care. I could have gone alone but I still wanted to watch these people. Especially Gon, I can tell that he has the tendency to become very strong someday. However, I tried to maintain a little distance between Kurapica and I. He's very observant and I don't know, maybe I was worried that he might be a threat to the Ryodan? Pfft.

We kept on walking through the terrains of the hill. That was until the lazy stalker Mashu asked Gon for a piggy back ride because according to him, he tripped at a root and his ankle got injured. Liar. Gon, being his naïve self, didn't even think twice and carried the grown up man on his back.

"There might be some herbs in this forest that will help your injury heal, Mashu-san! I'll see what I can find," said Gon before he darted off to the heart of the forest. I had to suppress a laugh when I saw the stalker's annoyed face and I had to say that Kurapica was also thinking the same thing as me.

"Mashu-san, please stay here and wait for Gon. Kurapica-san and I will also try to look for medicine."

"Wait, don't leave me here!" his pleads were too late. We ditched him pretty quickly. I swiftly climbed a tree and activated 'Zetsu' to watch from above. I also sensed the Kuruta boy hid himself behind some thick bush. This is going to be fun, I can tell.

"Damn! We shouldn't be wasting time here," Mashu let out a few more colorful words escape his mouth as he stood up from his 'disabled' state.

Suddenly, he froze on the spot. In front of him was a fearsome looking rhino. He started backing away slowly while carefully taking out his weapons. I was practically waiting for something fun to happen like 'Mashu being chased by the rhino' or 'Mashu screaming out for help' but no, Kurapica just had to save the day. He leapt out from the bushes from behind mister stalker and prepared to fight the rhino. Gon also emerged from the bushes and walked calmly to the angered creature.

"Gon, it's already enraged. We have to kill it," Kurapica warned Gon but the boy didn't even give him a glance.

"It's okay. It just felt threatened because it thought we were going to take his territory," the boy began talking with the rhino to calm it down. I wonder how he communicates with those animals. It was working perfectly until a certain man in a suit decided to show up and hit the rhino's head with a suitcase. Unfortunately for him, he was the one chased by the rhino leaving the others dumbfounded.

In the end, he was forced to stay on a branch while pleading for Gon to take the rhino away. Eventually, it did and he was able to come down from the tree.

"Why are you here Leorio? I thought you were going to take the bus?" Kurapica asked the older man.

"Oh, I just thought you guys still might need my company, that's all," the man replied while laughing as if he was a hero of some sort.

I stuck out my tongue and yelled, "Liar!"

"Ok, ok. The other reason was because the bus was a trap. The driver kept on driving around that place."

"Stop your chit-chatting. We're wasting time here," stalker guy declared. His face was still contorted with irritation.

"Look at the positive side. Your foot magically healed, Mashu-san," Kurapica teased which made the stalker more annoyed.

An hour of walking in the dense forest passed and we reached a small town. It was quiet and there was something really odd about the place. Leorio thought there were no residents at all but he was wrong. Gon and Kurapica said that they can hear the breathing and footsteps of the hidden residents. There were around fifty of them according to my 'en' but they can't harm us. I believe they can't even fight.

Suddenly, an old woman emerged from an alley and white-clothed, masked children followed after her. They blocked our path.

"If you want to pass, you need to answer a quiz!" the old woman yelled, "If one of you gets the correct answer then I'll let you pass."

"A quiz? What kind of test is this? I don't have time for this, I'm going to find another path," Leorio whined but it was too late. Behind us, a crowd of masked children appeared preventing anyone from backing out.

"I think this is okay. I'm not really good at quizzes so I'm lucky I'm with you guys," Gon said happily. What an optimistic child.

"Hey, grandma, let me go first. I don't want to fail because of these idiots," finally, Mashu-san showed his true color, "Sorry Gon, I don't plan to be friends with you guys."

Leorio was about to launch at the stalker guy but Kurapica held him back, "its okay, Leorio. In this way, we'll know what kind of questions they will give."

"Okay. Answer only with 1 or 2, any other answers will be considered wrong. The question is 'If your mother and your girlfriend are captured by thieves and you can only save one, who would you save?' Answer 1 if you choose your mother, 2 if you choose your girlfriend. I'll give you 5 seconds…,"

Honestly, I didn't know what to answer if I was on his place. I believe it would depend on who you love most, right? But that varies between every person. I racked my brain for any logical explanation but found none.

"1," Mashu answered.

"Why?"

"A girlfriend can be replaced but we only have one mother."

Still, I didn't understand. I don't even know who my mother is. Kuroro never talked about our parents. It made me wonder if we really have parents at all.

The old woman and the children formed a circle as they discussed the answer. She went back to Mashu and said, "Pass this way."

"Are you mocking us? What's with that weird quiz?" Leorio shouted on the top of his lungs. He ranted on but I wasn't listening. I was more focused on tracing Mashu-san's aura. All of a sudden, it stopped. Gon and Kurapica had an odd look on their face when I glanced at them.

"Leorio..." before Kurapica could finish his sentence, the old lady intervened, "Wait! I won't allow you to talk among each other. From now on, any useless words will be punished by disqualification. Well, answer 1 if you accept the quiz, 2 if you refuse."

Kurapica answered 1 before anyone could protest which earned him a growl from Leorio.

The old woman continued on with her question, "Your son and your daughter have been kidnapped and you can only save one. Which one do you choose? 1 the daughter, 2 the son. Five seconds…"

Ugh! I don't know! I hope Kurapica gets it though but from the looks of it, he wasn't going to speak. Gon on the other hand was just looking somewhere else. Fine, I'll just kill this old lady if she won't let me pass. Meanwhile, Leorio took out a long wooden stick when the old woman was counting. He jumped for the old woman once the time limit was over. But then, the Kuruta boy blocked his attack.

"Why did you stop me?" Leorio yelled, clearly frustrated.

"We won and you want to mess everything up? We gave the right answer, Leorio. Silence was the correct answer."

I was baffled. This is so confusing! The old woman opened a gate for us to enter. She said that it was the right path to the tall tree and it would only take 2 hours to reach the top. Kurapica explained to us why it was the correct answer. I got the most part of it at least. Gon, on the other hand, didn't.

"Grandma, I owe you an apology…" Leorio said sincerely.

"It's because I wanted to meet guys like you that I accepted this job. Hang on and you'll become a good hunter."

The four of us walked in silence in the dark, straight path. Gon has been quiet since we entered this tunnel.

"If someday, really, I could only save one person out of those who are close to me…what would I do?" Gon suddenly blurted out, "I don't say this to have an answer to the question, but…a day may come where I'll have to make that kind of choice."

Leorio and Kurapica shared a look of confusion with each other but decided to stay quiet.

Silence enveloped us again. I thought about what Gon said.

If I have to make that choice someday,

...You have to imagine everything,

I'll do what is best for the Ryodan.

...even the worst,

Surely, that is what my brother expects me to do.

...because reality...

The Ryodan is everything I have.

...doesn't have a place for feelings.

They are my family.

At least that's what I think right now.

Review, review~

Arigatou for reading!