Okay, so originally this chapter was only supposed to be the second phase, but then I realized that it would be a really short chapter. Aaaand, I got impatient 'cus I really wanted to get them on that air ship. Sorry if the second phase seems rushed.

Probably going to do the same thing to the Yorknew City arc, too... Sorry. :P

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Killugon Fangirl - Not entirely sure how I'm supposed to take that, but I'll go with positive! :P I really have some interesting ideas on what path she'll take in Trick Tower and I'm excited for it. Hope you enjoy it! :D

Well, let's get to it! Chapter four!

Menchi had pink hair, so it meant it would be the older version of the second phase. At this point, Aala had stopped caring. As long as she could tell what version it was, she was fine. She always did like her better in pink anyway.

The two Gourmet Hunters introduced themselves and the test. When they said it would be a cooking test, Leorio said, "But I don't know how to cook!" His eyes seemed to gravitate towards Aala. "But you know how to cook, right?"

She glared at him, "So just because I'm a girl automatically means I can cook?" she questioned.

Leorio studerd for a moment but was spared the need to answer when Gon asked, "Well, can you cook?"

"As a matter of fact, I can cook." Leorio let out a small sigh of relief. "But you shouldn't stereotype girls like that. I learned how to cook from my grandmother. My own mother can't cook to save her life."

Once Buhara made his order, Aala half expected a whole herd of pigs to come barreling through like they did in the older version, but they didn't. They had to go into the woods and find the pigs for themselves. It didn't take long.

"That's a big pig." Aala said, gulping. They looked bigger in person and very intimidating when they were chewing on those bones.

"It seems the pigs are carnivores..." Observed Kurapika. Then the pigs spotted them and gave chase.

"Go for the forehead!" Aala shouted, "That's their weak spot!" Aala went after her own pig, and instead of envisioning fight scenes from her books, she remembered the fight scenes from other anime she watched. With that running through her head, she easily landed the blow to the forehead.

Form there, it didn't take long for the others to kill their own pigs. Still remembering the almost inhuman strength characters in anime exhibited, Aala was able to gut and roast her pig with little difficulty.

She really didn't try too hard with the pig. She knew Buhara would pass it anyway. And Aala couldn't help but stare at the sheer amount of pigs he ate. She wondered what his nen ability was.

After Buhara ate 70 pigs, it was time to fill Menchi's order. Aala was excited for this one. She knew realistically nothing she'd be able to make would be good enough to please her, but she wanted to give it a shot.

While everyone else was wondering what sushi was, Aala gestured for the others to come closer. "I know how to make this dish!" She whispered excitedly. "It's just some rice molded in to a bite sized rectangular shape, a bit of raw fish on the top, and a bit of wasabi in between."

"Raw fi-" Leorio almost gave it away but Kurapika elbowed him before he could. The five of them and Hanzo left to go fishing. Once they got back with their fish, the other applications got the hint and went to get their own.

Aala prepared her fish then put it to the side, concentrating on her rice. She added the vinegar, then looked for anything else to add to it. She knew Menchi was looking for creativity, so she planned to do her best.

When she added some seasoning and a bit of seaweed to her rice, the other applicants were already making their own haphazard attempts at sushi. There was a line forming, and Hanzo was in front of their group. Aala sighed as she got in line behind Kurapika. That meant Menchi would go ballistic on Hanzo, and then he'd give away the method for making sushi. She had hoped to present her sushi before that.

It happened just as Aala thought. And just like before, Menchi found something wrong with every piece of sushi she tried. Her own sushi took a second longer for Menchi to fail, so Aala guessed that was sort of an accomplishment.

She went back to her work station and prepared another piece of sushi. This one was for herself. Sushi was never her thing, but she was curious as to what the sushi she made would actually taste like. As she ate it, Aala thought it was actually pretty good for her first try.

Soon enough, Menchi was full and she failed the whole group. It was then that the applicants started to belittle Gourmet Hunters. Aala was vaguely surprised when it escalated into a fight there, instead of Menchi going to get that moss.

Chairman Netero showed up soon after. Aala had seen him jump from the airship many times before, but it really looked more impressive in person. She went and stood by the others as arrangements were made to redo the second part of the test.

Once they'd reached Mt. Split-in-Half, Menchi demonstrated how to get a spider eagle egg. Instead of having to climb back up, there was a wind to blow them back up, like in the newer version.

Without any hesitation whatsoever, Aala launched herself over the edge of the cliff along with the others. It was exhilarating to feel the wind rush by her as she fell. Her arm jerked when she caught on to one of the strands of webs. Soon, applicants were hanging like ornaments from the webs.

Some of them jumped too early, but Aala and most of the others waited until Gon said so. The wind blowing her upward was even more exciting than when she was falling.

Boiling the eggs was easy enough, Buhara gave away when they were done. Aala greedily took a bite out of her own egg. It was even better than what she thought it would taste like. She had to exercise considerable self control not to gulp the whole thing down. She was now even more impressed that Gon gave half of his egg to that other applicant.

When they all boarded the airship, Aala felt incredibly happy to be going along with them, even if it was all a dream.

XXXXXXXX

It was really fun exploring the airship with Gon and Killua. She'd never done anything quite like it. Time flew by, and before she knew it, they were sitting on the beach by the window. "This is my first time exploring an airship. What about you two?" Aala asked.

"I thought it was great!" Gon said cheerfully.

"It was alright." Killua responded blandly.

Just then, the clouds parted giving them a clear view of the ground below. "Look, the lights look like stars." Gon said. Aala nodded. She'd always loved the view from the sky, that was why she always fought with her sister for the window seat on an airplane.

"Is this your first time seeing the view from the sky at night?" Killua asked. Aala stiffened slightly, then relaxed. This was it, the part where Killua tells Gon about his past, one of her favorites. She resolved not to speak unless spoken to for the next few minutes.

"Sort of. I saw some of it when kiriko carried me to the exam sight, but there weren't as many lights as now." Gon said. "What about you?"

"My family own private jets, so I've seen this millions of times."

"Wow, really?" Gon asked, impressed.

"We need them since our house is on top of a mountain we own. There's also about 200 servants we have on staff."

"Your family must be pretty rich then. Do you know what line of work your parents are in?"

"Assassination." Killua said blankly.

"You mean both of them?"

Killua turned and looked at Gon. Then he laughed, "I've told lots of people that, but you're the first to take me seriously." He looked past Gon to Aala and was surprised to see the completely unsurprised look on her face. "What about you? Do you believe me?"

Aala nodded. "It would explain your performance in the exam so far. It's plain to see you've had special training, and what you said fits the bill."

"And why wouldn't we believe you?" Gon asked. "You're telling us the truth."

"How do you know that?" Killua asked.

"I guess... I can just tell."

"Not many people can tell if I'm lying or not. You could call it a talent of mine." Gon and Aala were both silent, so Killua continued. "Everyone in my family is a professional assassin and they all look at me like I'm some great prospect. But when I told them I wanted decide my own future, they all went ballistic. My mom was actually crying as she told be I could be a great assassin one day. We got into a fight and I ended up stabbing my older brother and slashing my mom.

"Seriously, they're horrible! Who wouldn't want to run away from them. They're probably searching all over for me, but if they find me, I'll have to finish the job I started. Once I get my license, I'll hunt them all down. Once I collect the bounties on their heads, I'll be set for life!"

Aala had always liked the look on his face when he said all that. Killua could still talk about his horrible family with a smile on his face, even if it is about capturing them.

"Killua, you're incredible." Gon said with awe. "I've never even thought about trying to be a better Hunter than my dad." Gon turned to Aala and asked, "Don't you think so too?"

Aala smiled, glad to get the chance to voice her opinions of them. "Of course I think so, but I'd also extend that statement to you, Gon. Both of you are far stronger than I'd ever expect anyone, let alone 12 year olds, to be."

"What do you mean by stronger?" asked Gon, tilting his head.

"You, for instance are doing all this to find your father. A father that abandoned you when you were a baby and never so much as sends you a postcard. If it were me, I'd probably hate my dad. But here you are, trying to find him. In your situation, I bet it would be a whole lot easier to hate your dad than try to find him. That's how you are strong.

"And you, Killua," said person started a bit, "are strong in the way you were able to escape from a life you didn't want. And in the way you can still smile and laugh, as if you haven't been through hell."

"What do you mean by 'hell'?" Killua asked nervously.

"What I mean when I say 'hell' refers to the training you went through." Killua looked surprised at that and Aala explained, "As I've said before, I have read many adventure books. More often than not, a character pops up with amazing abilities and a dark back ground. The abilities they have are almost always gained through truly torturous training or horrible experiences. If even half of what I've read comes close to the truth, your training must have been hell."

"W-whatever." Killua said, looking away. "Let's just go find the cafeteria." Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he took off down the hall.

"Hey, Killua!" Gon called as he and Aala chased after him. He was looking at something in his hands when they got to him. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"It's nothing." Killua said, closing his fingers around what he held in his hand. "Let's get something to drink.

As the two started walking away, Aala frowned. It certainly wasn't nothing she knew. It was Anita, the girl who stowed away to get revenge for her father, who was killed by a Zoldyck.

She opted to sit next to Killua when they got their drinks. He had adopted a cold expression and tone of voice. Gon was trying to get him to talk, but failing miserably.

Eventually, Aala couldn't just watch anymore. "Can you just tell us what's wrong, Killua?" she asked in an exasperated tone.

"Nothing's wrong." Killua bluntly answered. Aala put her cup down and gave Killua a one armed hug. At her touch, he sat ramrod straight. "W-what was that for?" he asked, shaking off her arm.

"Don't lie Killua." she said with a concerned look on her face.

Killua looked away and seemed like he was about to tell them, but that was when Anita came. "Is it alright if I sit here?" she asked.

Once she was seated, Aala wished she was sitting between Killua and Anita, but the switch in seats would have been awkward. She listened to what Anita had to say about her father and why she was here.

Leorio and Kurapika arrived, but that didn't deter her. "I heard that a young Zoldyck would be taking the exam." she said.

"You've got me, I'm a Zoldyck." Killua admitted. Anita grabbed the hilt of her knife, but froze when she saw his eyes. "If your father was assassinated, then he must have done something to deserve it."

It all happened faster than Aala expected. "Take it back!" Anita shouted, drawing her knife. She flipped the table, blocking Gon and Leorio from helping. Kurapika was on her back, but she threw him off easily.

Aala was on her feet then, but Anita was already lunging for where Killua was. He disappeared, leaving the knife to plunge into the seat. Aala stood in between Anita and Killua now was, so Anita slashed her knife at her, in an attempt to get her to move. Aala didn't move from her position defending Killua, only raising her right arm to take the blow.

Aala felt the knife cut into her and the blood running down her arm, but she ignored it. She used her hands to grab Anita's wrists and twisted the hand holding the knife in an attempt to get her to drop it.

Before she could though, Aala felt a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back. "Enough!" Aala heard Netero shout as he pulled the two girls apart.

"Chairman Netero, what are you doing here?" Gon asked.

"Usually a fight between applicants doesn't concern me but in this case, applicant # 111 has already failed the exam." he explained. "She chose to stow away, a foolish choice seeing how an applicant who failed will never be able to defeat one who passed."

Two other people came and took Anita away, and Gon yelled, "Aala, you're bleeding!" surprised.

Aala looked down at her injured arm, barely feeling it. She watched with morbid fascination as Leorio cleaned her wound. She'd been cut before, but never past the skin. The cut was fairly shallow, only a quarter of an inch deep, but still farther that she'd ever been cut before.

She winced slightly when Leorio disinfected the cut, but the pressure from the bandages made it feel better. "Are you okay?" Killua asked when Leorio was done.

"I'm fine, but what about you?" she asked in return.

Killua merely nodded and walked away. "Where are you going?" Gon asked, but Killua just kept walking. Gon and Aala followed him until he came to a stop in front of a window.

They both waited for Killua to notice them. When he did, he asked, "Why are you here? Don't you see? I'm not a good person to be around."

"But you didn't kill her father." Gon said.

"What makes you so sure of that?" Killua asked.

"I can just tell. Aunt Mito told me to get to know a person, you should understand what upsets them. And we both want to get to know you, Killua." Aala nodded in agreement with what Gon said.

Killua looked at them both through the window and said, "You should leave now." When they didn't move, he continued. "Just go away already! I told you to leave!" Killua turned and moved to strike Gon. He stopped his hand just before he hit him. Gon didn't even blink when he saw the blow coming and Aala didn't so much as twitch to stop it.

He looked from Gon to Aala. Killua lowered his head and turned back around. "Fine, stay if you want."

Gon responded with a cheery "Okay!" before they were interrupted by chairman Netero.

"Oh, my butt is so itchy, I have to scratch it." All three of them just stared at him. "Anita filled me in on the current situation. So you come from a family of assassins, eh?"

"What does it matter to you?" Killua snapped.

"No need to be so hostile." Netero chided.

"You're the one trying to start something!" Killua retorted.

"Can you tell us what's going to happen to Anita?" Gon asked changing the subject.

"She'll certainly be punished for what she did. It's possible her eligibility fit the Hunter exam will be suspended." Netero answered.

"But you can stop that right?" Gon asked

"Humm..." Netero pretended to think about it. "On one condition: you have to beat me in a little game."

"A game?" Gon and Killua questioned.

XXXXXXXX

They watched as the chairman bounced the ball and explained the rules. "All you have to do is get the ball before we land. You can attack me any way you like as often as you like and I won't retaliate."

Aala had decided not to play, she knew they were never going to so much as touch the ball so she would just watch. With her luck playing hopeless games, she'd probably get hurt again.

Anita was standing on the opposite side of the door from her with her guards and even though Aala knew she wouldn't try anything, she still kept an eye on her.

"Why would I want to play this game? I don't have any reason to help her." Killua asked.

"And I wouldn't want any help you'd give!" Anita shouted.

"Well, how about this, if you win, I'll give you each a Hunter license." Gon and Killua both stared at him before looking at each other then back again.

"What's this old man's deal?" they asked simultaneously.

"Well it might seem this game is worth playing after all." With that, Killua launched himself into the game.

Aala watched as he tried again and again, to no avail. She tried to keep her eyes on the game, but she kept looking at her bandaged arm. Weren't you supposed to wake up if you get hurt in a dream? Maybe it's the shock that wakes you up? She kept on looking at her arm and felt a prickle of doubt. Then she shook her head. No that's impossible. This is all just an extremely vivid dream. But then again, all her dreams before this had only seemed to last a few seconds and they'd never been this constant before...

"Why didn't you move?" The question startled Aala out of the thoughts. She turned to Anita, who had asked.

"What do you mean?" Aala responded.

"You could have dogged the knife. I only slashed at you to get you to move. So why didn't you? Why protect that murderer?" Anita had a small flame of fury in her eyes. "Is it your job or something?"

"In a way, it is my job to defend Killua, but not in the way you think." Aala answered, looking her straight in the eye. "Killua isn't a murderer to me, he's my friend. And as his friend, I feel it is my job to defend him when someone is trying to kill him." Aala eyes were cold and the flame dimmed a bit. Anita was the one who broke eye contact.

It was about 15 minutes later that Killua ran out, looking terrified. Aala followed him out the door. Gon watched his two friends go. He was sure Aala could help Killua with whatever was troubling him. "You're all alone now, do you want to call off the game?" Netero asked.

"Nope, I got close last time and I'd feel bad not helping Anita. We've got the time anyways, so I want to continue." Gon said.

"You're never going to get that ball." Anita told him. "Chairman Netero hasn't even used his right arm or left leg, and you're still struggling." Gon stared dumbly at Netero as he realized this. "I'd rather go back to my cell than watch this." Anita left with the two guards.

"Are you still up for it, humm?" Netero teased.

"Of course! Even if I can't get the ball away from you, I can still true to get you to use your right arm and left leg." Gon blinked, remembering something. "Do you know the ability that Killua used against you in the beginning, the one where there seemed to be a lot of him?"

"Ah, yes, I know it. It's only used by those committing the darkest of deeds. You shouldn't try to learn it. It is impressive though. He must have put himself through some grueling training to perfect it." Netero told Gon.

Gon nodded and recalled what Aala said earlier, 'If even half of what I've read comes close to the truth, your training must have been hell.' He hoped Killua was okay. Then he saw the ball and lunged for it.

Netero snatched the ball away easily. "Nice try." he said. Gon smiled and launched himself into the game

XXXXXXXX

It took Aala a few minutes to find Killua. He was already leaning his arm against the window. She approached him and called him. His only response was tensing up.

"Killua, talk to me, please. Tell me what's wrong. I want to help you." she pleaded. "I'm worried about you."

He twitched at that, but he still didn't turn around. "Something's bothering you, I can tell. It's not just Anita either. So please, just turn around and talk to me."

Killua stayed as he was, silent. "Oh, come on, just turn around." Aala took him by the shoulders and turned him towards her. He didn't resist, but his eyes were downcast.

Aala didn't know what else to do or say, so she played her last card. "I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong." she said firmly. "You are not the heartless killer your family raised you to be."

Killua looked at her then, eyes wide with surprise. She thought it was a good sign, so she continued. "I may have met you only just today, but I know you better than that. No killer would try to comfort a girl going out of her mind with worry." Aala smiled reassuringly at him.

He looked like he was about to say something, but then there was someone who came and started to yell at her. "Hey, girly, quit your yapping. If I fail the third phase because I couldn't get enough sleep, you're gonna get it!"

Before Aala could so much as turn around, Killua acted for her. "You want sleep?" he asked. "Well I'll give you some." And just like that, he broke out of her grip and struck the man with a chop to the back of the neck. The man crumpled like a rag doll.

"Thanks." Aala said. "What did you do to him?" she asked, not even a hint of fear or disgust in her voice.

Killua shrugged,"Knocked him out, nothing fancy. He'll be out for a few hours and when he wakes up, he won't be in any shape to continue the exam." Aala nodded.

But, of course, that was when Anita found them. Seeing Killua standing over the unconscious man, she immediately assumed the worst. "You've killed him." she said horrified. She shot a venomous look at Aala. "And you say he isn't a murderer."

Aala stepped between the two. "And it's true. Take a closer look at the man, he's still breathing. He was saying some rude things to me so Killua knocked him out."

Anita just shook her head and drew her knife. "Like that makes any difference! He still killed my father! And if you insist on defending him, I'll take you out with him!"

Aala was about to attack, but then she felt a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back. This time it was Killua. "Aala, please, get out of the way." Before she could refuse, Killua silenced her with his eyes. They were pleading. "I'll settle this myself. You already got hurt once because of me. Please, just let me do this myself."

She hesitated for a moment. "Fine. But I'll be right here." Aala moved and sat on a nearby bench.

Killua sighed with relief. He had been more worried than he'd ever be willing to admit when Anita slashed at Aala. He had feared the worst when he saw the blood and incredibly relieved when he saw it was just her arm.

It made him feel bad for the way he reacted to her hug, when she was only trying to help him. Well, he could make up for that now.

Anita lunged for him and Killua was easily able to dodge the blow. She kept coming at him from all angles and sides. She was good, but Killua was able to counter her effortlessly. He could have melded into the shadows, but he didn't want to win like that.

Eventually, Killua broke the blade of her knife. She lunged for him one more time with the broken blade before he tripped her and she fell on her back. He put a hand to her throat, just to make a point. Anita's eyes were full of fear, she really thought he'd kill her.

"Now do you get it?" Killua asked, removing his hand from her throat. Then something made him turn his head. "Oh no." he muttered.

Aala was already by the window where they could see Gon as he continued his game with Netero on the airship's balcony. Killua stood beside her, watching as he tried fruitlessly to get that stupid ball.

"What does he think he's doing?" he asked to no one in particular.

"He really is stubborn..." was Aala answer.

"Why didn't you kill me?" Anita asked coming in behind them. "What's going on?"

"Just look at him out there, still playing the game. It's all for you, you know." Killua told Anita.

"And what do you care?" Killua turned and punched her in the stomach, knocking her out instantly. Because Gon and Aala wouldn't want me to, that's what.

He returned to watching Gon with Aala. He'd started using his fishing rod, and he was getting close. Both he and Aala simultaneously screamed, "GON!" when he went over the edge of the railing, and rushed out to help.

By the time they go out there, Gon had already pulled himself up and even managed to make Netero to use all of his limbs. He fell back and cheered. When they got to him, Gon said, "I got Netero to use all of his limbs. Did you see that Killua, Aala?" before he fell asleep.

"Yeah, we saw it Gon." Aala said as she picked him up and transferred him on to her back. She then turned to Leorio and Kurapika, who had gotten there when they did. "Can you lead us to where we're supposed to sleep?" she asked.

As they lead them towards the sleeping area, Killua looked sideways at Aala. He had been more touched than he'd ever felt in his life when she went after him. He remembered the warmth in her eyes when she spoke to him and felt more at home than he'd ever felt before.

Killua whispered "Thank you." to her but he wasn't entirely sure what he was thanking her for.

She didn't seem to mind. "No problem." she whispered back and lightly bumped his arm.

When they reached the sleeping area, it was so full, they had to split up. Leorio and Kurapika took one spot a quarter of the room away while Killua, Aala, and the sleeping Gon took the spot closest to the door.

Aala gently slid Gon from her back and laid him on the floor. They didn't have anything to use for a pillow, so she put his head on her lap.

Killua settled down next to her. They stayed like that for a little while, but then Killua asked, "Why did you come after me?"

Aala chuckled. "Isn't it obvious? You ran out of that game like you were being chased. I thought you could use a friend, so I went to help you in anyway I could." She reached out her arm and pulled Killua into another one armed hug. "That's what friends are for. I don't care if you were an assassin, all I care about is that you left that life of your own free will. You are my friend and that's all that matters to me."

"But aren't you afraid of what I can do?" Killua asked hesitantly.

Aala laughed again and Killua could feel the vibrations of her body. "Oh, Killua. It'll take a lot more than that to scare me away." To prove her point, she pulled him deeper into the hug.

Killua's eyes widened and he finally let himself melt in to her hold. It really did feel nice. No one had ever hugged lim like this before, so warmly and tenderly. It was even better than a blanket. He placed his head on her shoulder and before he knew it, he was asleep.

Aala looked at the sleeping Killua on her shoulder and down at the sleeping Gon in her lap. She sighed happily and let her head rest on Killua's. She felt a small prickle of doubt and unease. She wasn't sure if it was alright interfering like this, but she couldn't just stand back and watch.

Aala had always been one to care about characters more than she probably should. Her parents and little sister would all try to calm her down by telling her it was just a story, but that just made her go off more. She truly loved both Gon and Killua even before she met them, but now it was even more personal. Aala couldn't just let Killua run out of there without at least trying to help him.

She contented herself with the fact that all she did really did help him and closed her eyes, letting all those other thoughts slip away. Killua's hair really is soft she thought as she started drifting off to sleep. Just before she went she thought, This would be a good time to wake up...

So... how did I do? (Fearing crickets) I wrote most of the airship part close to 1am. I always write more freely late at night, which is why I write before bed.

Was it too much? I can be a sap at times so please tell me if it's too much so I can fix it. Just please tell me what you thought via the box below. (Ducks behind stage, fearing fling tomatoes)