Author's Note: Yuki is special and a bit demented (maybe not only a bit because of her upbringing) but thanks for your opinions, Ava and Guest. Baby steps, bitches, baby steps! Fuck yeah!
Miwaku: I don't own Hunter x Hunter.
Chapter 3: Run Until You Drop
Gon, Yuki, Kurapika, and Leorio finally arrived at Zaban City where the Hunter Exams site is. Finally, they could get started. The son of the Kirikos was left behind to direct them to the site. While the son was explaining some things about Navigators, Gon was looking around the different stores.
Apparently, Zaban City was having a bazaar. Gon was amazed on the different kinds of things that the city was selling, from exotic food to expensive jewelry. It was the first time he saw those kinds of knick-knacks since he never left Whale Island before. Yuki was behind him all the time, kicking away some pickpockets and perverts.
"You know, this Zaban City sure is shady." Leorio grimaced when he saw a man selling some kind of potion.
"Prosperous cities are always targets of shady people." Kurapika told him. Leorio nodded in agreement.
Despite that, Gon was still amazed. Yuki smiled at the boy's big, brown eyes filled with wonder and joy. 'He really is Ging's son, always the curious one.' She then sighed, having thought again of how Ging just threw her into the babysitting job. 'Damn that man and his stupidity.'
"Yuki, let's go." Gon tugged on her sleeve, snapping her out of her thoughts. "We're gonna be left behind."
Yuki snorted and ruffled his hair. "That's because you're always stopping at every little shop we pass by."
Gon pouted but laughed. "But it's amazing! I didn't even know that there would be so much unique things."
"Yes, yes. Now, come along." Yuki pulled Gon towards Leorio, Kurapika, and the son of the Kirikos.
When the son stopped and pointed forward, they were amazed to see a very nice building that looked like a fancy hotel.
"Wow! It's so tall!" Gon exclaimed in astonishment.
"So this is where the exam site is, huh?" Leorio muttered with a small smile.
"And this is where all Hunter applicants go to." Kurapika said and clenched his fists.
"Our first shot in the Hunter Exams." Yuki smiled at Gon's determined face. 'Ging probably had the same face. Ugh, again with Ging? What is this? Remembering-assholes-and-regretting-shits day?'
"Oi, that's not the place." The son of the Kirikos called out laughingly. "It's this one."
The four saw the rundown restaurant and they were really not expecting that.
"Hey, are you telling us to fucking believe that this ordinary restaurant is where the Hunter applicants go to for this year's exams?" Leorio grumbled.
"Yeah, I do." The son huffed. "Have some faith in me. I'm a Navigator after all. This is my job."
Yuki coughed slyly. "And probably don't get enough pay."
"Oh don't get started on that or we'll never stop, please." The son waved his hand. "Anyway, let's go inside. No one would suspect this restaurant to be the exam site, right?"
"That's true." Kurapika nodded in agreement.
They went in and they were greeted the customary 'welcome' from the chef. The restaurant really looked normal and the smell of food made them a bit hungry.
"Is the back room open?" The son of the Kirikos asked the chef.
The chef barely glanced at their direction. "What will you have?"
"The steak combo that opens the eyes to the light."
"For how many?"
"Four people."
"Oh, four people, huh?" The chef's eyes narrowed. "How would you like them?"
The son just smirked. "Grilled on low flame until it's cooked."
"Okay. Just go right in."
The four followed the son into the back room which was just a normal room with a circular table and four chairs. No people were around. However, the son just stayed by the doorway. "Alright, you guys wait here."
"Wait here? What about the others?" Leorio questioned.
"I can't wait to taste the steak combo!" Gon said with a wide smile.
"Gon, that's just the password to get us in here." Kurapika explained.
"Eh? So we won't eat then?"
"We went in a restaurant, ordered food, but we won't get it." Yuki sighed angrily. "Damn the Hunter Exams and their formalities for this shit."
"One in every ten thousand." The four looked at the son in curiosity. "That's the number of people who can make it this far in the Hunter Exams. You've done well for your first time."
Yuki nodded. "Thanks for your help."
"Yuki's right. Thank you." Gon stuck out his hand to the son who was flabbergasted but shook it nonetheless.
"I would be happy to serve as your Navigator next year as well." With a dip of his head, the son of the Kirikos left the room and closed the door behind him.
The room shook slightly and then started moving downwards.
"It would seem that this room is an elevator." Kurapika told them.
"Well, that man is a fucking bastard." Leorio growled out as he plopped down a chair. "He's practically expecting us to fail this year!"
"Once every three years."
"What is?"
"That a rookie passes the Hunter Exams."
Yuki also sat down and crossed her arms on her breasts. "The Hunter Exams vary every year, from their examiners to the things you're gonna do. It's pretty complicated and at the same time, unpredictable. Even if you ask veterans, you wouldn't get one straight answer. But one thing for sure: it's difficult as hell, no matter what."
'Seems like she knows what she's talking about.' Kurapika continued after nodding. "Some people can't handle the physical and mental strain of the exams. And also, the veterans break the rookies so that they won't be able to retake the exam again."
"I see." Gon frowned as he sat down, too. "I guess every applicant would do everything to become a Hunter."
"Of course, my friend!" Leorio shouted with a grin. "Hunters make the most money in the whole world."
"Nicely said, Leorio!" Yuki gave him a thumbs-up. "Imagine having that much money in you!"
"The best damn thing ever!" The two exclaimed together and high-fived.
Kurapika's eyebrow twitched in annoyance and broke the happy atmosphere. "Hunters are the most noble in the world! Money doesn't even count!"
Leorio hissed. "Glory hog!"
Kurapika hissed back. "Money grubbers! Both of you!"
Yuki gawked at that. "And you're an honor whore!"
Kurapika, Leorio, and Yuki glared daggers at each other, leaving Gon staring up at them with a bewildered expression.
"Gon, listen to me." Leorio leaned at his face. "Every year, more than half of the world's wealthiest people are Hunters."
Kurapika poked him away, gaining Gon's attention. "Second-rate Hunters only go for treasure and the hunting. True Hunters protect people and the natural order."
"No, that's not true." Yuki smacked her hand on the table, shaking it. "There are different kinds of Hunters and they have their own fields of expertise. Also, they are still human and have different attitudes in being Hunters." 'What Kurapika just described as second-rate is practically one of the greatest Hunters of all time. Goddamn it, not again.' "And most of all, you can buy almost anything with your Hunter License! Either free pass to different countries or free public transport!"
Kurapika huffed at that. "Hunters have many difficult and important responsibilities that ordinary and average people can't possibly do!"
"The fame and money! Those are the reasons why people want to become Hunters!" Leorio stated.
"Profound knowledge, a healthy state, and unyielding determination! Those are what Hunters pride themselves for!" Kurapika said.
"All of those above are reasons for people to be Hunters, god!" Yuki yelled out and flipped the table so suddenly that Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio stepped back and rammed to the wall. The table, as if in slow motion, back-flipped and landed on the floor in pieces.
After a short silence, Gon chuckled a bit awkwardly. He was used to Yuki's sudden explosiveness but it was still surprising. "Yuki, calm down. It was just a friendly argument."
"Ah fuck." Yuki groaned and fell down to her knees, what she did finally processing in her head. "Now I have to pay this shit."
"Are you an idiot? Why the hell did you do that?" Leorio went to her and smacked her on the head. Inside, he was still shocked at how the blonde girl easily flipped a table to make it break on the fall. 'She looks like a sixteen-year old girl and she's pretty slim. How strong is she?'
Yuki pouted and rubbed her head. "Well, it's because I'm being contradictory and it sucks so I just had to say that." Then, she laughed. "Sorry about the outburst."
"It's alright." Kurapika shook his head wryly. He really didn't mind but he was surprised at how much strength Yuki has.
The elevator room dinged, making Leorio sigh and stand up. "We'll continue this argument next time."
"Alright." Kurapika said amicably. Gon and Yuki sighed in relief at that.
The door opened automatically and revealed what looked like an underground tunnel with pipes at the walls. Most of the people there turned to look at the four newcomers.
"Weird atmosphere here." Leorio noted as he eyed the other people.
"They are definitely different from the applicants we've encountered so far." Kurapika murmured. "Each of them have their own strength to use in the exams."
"Excuse me...um..." Gon wanted to ask something but the faces of the examinees were full of determination-to do anything just to become a Hunter-and they see everyone else as obstacles and enemy. He was intimidated but it excited him to experience the adventure.
"Everyone's tense as fuck." Yuki wasn't fazed by it at all. She experienced worse, much worse than some death glares.
Suddenly, a green jellybean anthromorphic being appeared out of nowhere in front of Leorio, holding out a white circle with the number 403 on it. "Hello. Please take this number."
Taking it, Leorio watched the small bean-man give out 404 to Kurapika and 405 to Gon. What shocked him more was not just the appearance of the small bean-man, but at Yuki's surprised gasp.
Yuki couldn't stop herself from gasping in happiness. Beans was in front of her, holding out the number 406 and saying with a smile, "Be sure to wear this on your chest and be careful not to not lose it..Yuki Kura."
"Beans! My favorite green jellybean anthromorphic being!"
"I'm the only green jellybean anthromorphic being in the world." Beans said jokingly.
"What about your siblings?"
"They're color blue and yellow, same as my parents."
"You did not just use sass on me, Beans."
"I learned some things through the years."
Yuki smiled widely and hugged Beans tightly. "I missed you, Beans."
"It's been a while, huh?" Beans hugged her back as tightly. The once little blonde girl was now close to being an adult. To him, it felt like the years just breezed by but he knew that Yuki was still the same Yuki he knew since the girl was just a baby. "I didn't expect to see you here. I thought you're still travelling?"
Yuki stepped out of the hug with a grimace on her face. "Let's not talk about travelling and anything else about that."
'Ging-san probably did something to her or the other way around.' Beans sighed at that but smiled. "But still, I'm glad you're alright."
"Same here." Yuki let out a giggle.
"Hey, I saw what you did in the elevator. I'm gonna take that out of your account." At Yuki's wince, Beans chuckled. "See you next time." He waved and walked away.
Gon was the first to approach. He was surprised at first but then, he shrugged mentally. 'Before I knew Yuki, she was already travelling with my father. She probably knows a lot of people from that.' "Yuki, you know him?"
"Ah yeah." Yuki scratched her cheek sheepishly. "Just someone I know."
"Is that so?" Kurapika asked. 'She's really hiding something, I swear.'
"You two seem close." Leorio teased and bumped his arm to hers.
Yuki elbowed him lightly on the side. "Don't even go there. I don't even know if he has a dick."
"Yeah, let's not go there." Leorio didn't even know if the Beans guy was human or not.
"Hey! Haven't seen you guys here!" A short, fat guy called out from above. The four turned to him who was sitting on a large pipe. "Yo!"
"You can tell that we're new?" Gon asked.
"Well, so-so." The guy fell on his feet and walked towards them. "After all, I've been participating in the Hunter Exams for thirty-five years."
"Thirty-five fucking years?!" Leorio gawked at the number.
"Yup! You could say that I'm a veteran."
Yuki huffed out a small laugh and muttered to the three, "He just said that with a huge smile on his face. It's not really brag-worthy, to be honest."
"Indeed." Kurapika had to agree on that.
The short, fat guy just continued smiling. "If you have any questions, just ask. I'm Tonpa."
"Thanks, Tonpa-san." Gon smiled. "I'm Gon and these are Yuki, Kurapika, and Leorio. By the way, are there other examinees here who participated in the exams for a long time like you?"
"Well, I have the most experience here but there are other veterans here. There's number 255, Todo, who is a wrestler with brains and brawn. Then there's number 103, Bourbon, who is a snake charmer and tends to hold grudges for some reason. Oh, we also have number 191, Bodoro, who's getting old but still a great martial arts master. Don't forget the three brothers with amazing teamwork, Amori, Imori, and Umori. Also, number 384, Gerreta who is a huntsman. There are others but those are the more prominent veterans."
"Ah, I see." Gon and Tonpa continued talking about other things when suddenly, a scream was heard throughout the tunnel. It came from a man whose arms are suddenly turning into red flowers.
A red-haired man with a smirk was there, tapping a finger to his lip. "Oh, how odd. His arms became flowers." He eyed the watching audience as if daring them to do something. "No magic here so do take care. If someone bumps into you, apologize immediately."
Gon gulped as he felt a sinister aura from the red-haired man. The man was no ordinary man. He looked like he wanted entertainment...and not the clean and funny type.
"Damn, that psychopath is here again." Tonpa muttered with a shake of his head.
"Does that mean he was here last year?" Kurapika asked.
"Number 44, Hisoka, who is a magician. He could pass the Hunter Exams last year easily until he killed an examiner he didn't like."
"And they're still letting him join the Hunter Exams this year?" Leorio gawked.
"Of course." Yuki was the one who answered. "Remember? The Hunter Exams are unpredictable. Every year, the examiners and the exam content change. It depends on the examiners if they want the examinee to pass that's why even the worst criminals can be Hunters as long as the examiners deem them so."
Tonpa shrugged. "That's how it is. Well, no one likes Hisoka anyway. Stay away from him."
"He's pretty dangerous." Leorio murmured. He would definitely stay away from the guy if he didn't want to die.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Tonpa took out cans of orange juice out of his shoulder bag. "Here, a welcoming gift and remembrance of our acquaintance."
The four perked up at that and received the orange juice happily. They were thirsty after all.
From nearby, a group of examinees were muttering and snickering.
"There goes that guy."
"Playing the kind persona despite being the nastiest guy in the Hunter Exams."
"Tonpa a.k.a the Rookie Crusher."
Tonpa raised his own can of orange juice with a grin. "Best of luck to all of us." Altogether, they clicked their cans and opened the tabs. Inwardly, the so-called Rookie Crusher was laughing maniacally. 'That juice has a really strong laxative that can make you shit your guts out for three days. One sip is all it takes.'
Once Gon tipped his can to let some juice in his mouth, he let it flow out of his mouth immediately. "Tonpa-san, I think your juice is expired. It tastes a little funny."
Leorio spewed it out of his mouth before he could swallow. "What the fuck?! Are you serious?!"
"A-Ah, is that so?" Tonpa stuttered out. 'Fucking impossible. That laxative is tasteless and odorless.'
While Kurapika just calmly poured out the orange juice, Yuki continued drinking until the can was empty and then said, "It tastes fine to me. It would be better if it's cold."
'Another monster!' Tonpa couldn't help but think as he stared at the blonde girl. He saw the interaction between her and the green jellybean whatever and should've figured that the girl has some wicked connections. He decided to act innocent and bowed down. "I'm very sorry about that. I didn't know the juice was expired."
"You don't have to apologize, Tonpa-san." Gon forgave him quickly. "Is your stomach okay though?"
"Oh, I'm fine...thanks."
Gon continued smiling. "I've tried different kinds of plants since I lived by the mountains and forest so I can taste if it's particularly bad."
"And I'm pretty much immune to poison and laxatives from all the shit I've went through since I was a kid." Yuki added. 'Never let anyone else taste the old man's, Ging's, or my cooking...ever again.'
"Really? That's quite amazing!" Tonpa chuckled as he rubbed his nape. 'Damn it, three monsters and those three are fucking Rookies for god's sake. What's more shitty is that they're only kids!' "I better go now. Sorry again." And he walked away from them. 'But still, this year's rookies are just too much. That number 294 ninja Hanzo seemed gullible but I saw in his eyes that he's no fool.' Hearing some clacking sounds, he flinched. 'That number 301...he's practically oozing of danger that I can't go near him. Not to mention, he's creepy as hell.' What purple-skinned human with pins all over his body isn't creepy? 'But then there's that fatty number 187. I don't even want to think about that annoying little shithead with his stupid data and laptop.'
"Tonpa-san!"
He winced when he heard the innocent call of a young boy with silver-white hair and blue cat eyes. 'The other monster aside from that blondie and mountain boy.'
The young boy waved at him. "Can I have some more of that juice? I'm feeling quite thirsty."
"O-Oh, sure! Here..." Taking out another can of orange juice, Tonpa watched the boy take it and drink it. 'That laxative should be working but no, it's not fucking working.'
"Worried?" The boy suddenly smirked. "You shouldn't. Poisons don't work on me." And he walked away nonchalantly.
'Just like blondie number 406 Yuki Kura.' Tonpa just gritted his teeth. 'Number 99, Killua. The rookies these year are just too much!'
A ringing alarm clock was abruptly heard throughout the tunnel. When it stopped, the wall in front rose up until it showed an even deeper tunnel and a tall man with a moustache, wearing a suit.
"Sorry for the wait, everyone." The man with the moustache announced. "The entry period for the Hunter applicants has officially ended. And now, the Hunter Exams are about to begin!" He noticed how some of the examinees were brimming in excitement. "If you lack luck and ability, I can say that you'll either get seriously injured...or end up dead in which the Hunter Association will not pay for the funeral." He heard someone cover up a snort of laughter. If he had a mouth, it would probably be in a smile now. "Those who want to take the risks, follow me. Those who do not, exit to the elevator and go home." When no one moved, he just nodded. "Alright, all 405 examinees will participate in Phase One of the Hunter Exams. Let's go!" He turned and started walking.
Leorio sighed as he and the others started walking after the man with the moustache. "Of course no one backed down. And here I'm hoping to lose some opponents."
"Look around, guys, and start running." Yuki told them as they started to go into a light run.
"The guys in the front started running." Gon noted.
"And the man picked up his pace." Kurapika added.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself." The man with the moustache said. "I'm Satotz, the Phase One Examiner of this year's Hunter Exams. I will lead you all to the Phase Two location."
"What about Phase One?" Hanzo, number 294 ninja, asked out loud.
"It's already starting. You must follow me to the Phase Two location."
"Just follow you?"
"Yes. I will not tell how long or how far until we get there. You just need to follow me."
Kurapika hummed thoughtfully. "I see. So this is how Phase One will be."
"The Hunter Exams are weird." Gon pouted.
Yuki laughed at that. "It's a good thing that I'm wearing my awesome boots." She pointed at her knee-high black leather boots with high stilleto heels.
"I suspect this is an endurance test. It'll be fine. But..." Leorio eyed Yuki's boots in distaste. "...how the hell can you run in those kind of shoes? Don't they hurt? I thought women don't like high heels. But your legs look good on them. Very sexy."
"I know my legs look sexy in these that's why I have them. I'm more comfortable with high heels. And these boots are awesome and special. They are specialized in comfort, combat, and even communication."
"I didn't know your boots can be a weapon, Yuki." Gon stated.
"See these killer stilleto heels? They can pierce through bone." 'With a little help.' Yuki snickered. "So they're not just for design."
"No, they're for you since you're so short, we probably won't see you without your heels." Leorio laughed out loud at his own joke.
"Rude much, Leorio! I'm a bit taller than Gon!" Yuki stuck her tongue out at him. Leorio retaliated by doing the same. Gon just giggled at their antics.
Kurapika let out a weary sigh. 'They really need to take this seriously.' He then eyed the man with the moustache, Satotz. 'Still, there's the mental stress of not knowing when or where we'll get to the Phase Two location. They're testing our mental endurance as well, not just the physical endurance.'
And finally, the Hunter Exams begin with Phase One a.k.a the Run Until You Drop Phase.
ε===(っ≧ω≦)っ TO BE CONTINUED ε===(っ≧ω≦)っ
Author's Note: Not much emoticons here since I didn't deem anything here page-break-worthy. And not enough wit in the next chapter title...sadly. But still, quite early update, right, bitches?
Next Chapter: Chapter 4: Friendship
Expectations on Chapter 4: Ages, Sweat, Skateboard
See you next time! ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ