The next morning was a beautiful morning, clear sky, birds chirping and a nice ocean breeze at that. Kagero was feeling like she wasn't going to get any more exciting encounters until the exam was over—it was a gut feeling but she couldn't be too sure—so it would be best for her to train in the meantime. It wouldn't hurt.
Walking around, Kagero found a huge tree in a condensed part of the forest just a little ways away from the lake. She would continue her jump training. She had her new weights on for about a week now—time seemed to be going by quickly through the exam— and she hadn't really done much with them since. As in training, not the examination—it didn't count as training. Besides, all she had done was running so far and the sparing with Netero. Other than that she didn't get any training in for a week.
It was outrageous.
After getting ready for the exercise, she jumped as high as she could and reached about a third of the trees height, and just sayin' that this tree was fairly large. She was high enough to land on one of the few actually thick branches on the tree. She tried again and went a bit higher and grabbed onto a thinner branch, she did ten pull ups with one arm and ten with the other and let go. She plummeted to the ground and landed as softly and quietly as she could.
She wouldn't want to leave a huge crater in the ground like Netero and how she had in a previous phase. She had to control how her body buckled when landing to adsorb the force properly. Like when you're on a trampoline and someone double bounces you and you go flying. You land and use your knees to adsorb the force so you don't fly off the damn trampoline into the freakin' wall.
After an hour of two of doing this she felt someone's presence getting closer. She jumped to the highest part of the tree and saw that it was Bodoro. Deciding that he wasn't a threat she continued training unless he got closer.
He did indeed get closer and she ran off to another spot around the lake. This area was open and had a flat surface. It would be a good place to practice on her rollerblades. The ground was flat and smooth, but there was enough loose dirt that it would make it difficult.
Kagero cleared the area of debris, such as sticks and larger rocks, and started rollerblading in a circle at a moderate speed. She slipped a few times, but recovered in a breakdancing type of move, legs spinning with enough momentum for a painful kick. After getting the footing right she went and tried spinning and combat forms with them on. Frankly, it was difficult—she had expected as much. It was hard to get a secure footing since they were, well... wheels and that the ground was loose dirt. But soon she found out that it was impossible to move right or left without moving forward unless she side stepped. The only other option was to point the foot that she was going to move on in that direction, it hurt pointing them to 90°. That would require the turnout of a dancer and she was not a dancer despite her elasticity. She overturned and hell it hurt her thighs. She was going to be sore since she pulled it too hard.
Soon after finding an alternative to the painful turnout, she got used to spinning on one foot with one wheel. This meant going on your tip toes to lean on the front wheel to have a pivot point. Without that she wouldn't be able twirl on that axis. Like a ballerina. Though it's extremely difficult, if she leaned forwards or backwards Kagero would fall immediately. Kagero found out that she can spin while moving, but the hard part was constantly shifting the center of gravity to move as she spun around.
By the time she got the basics of that down the sun was starting to set. But she wanted to get more hours of training in—she wanted to get some exercise before going back on that blimp—so she hunted. She chased deer and rabbits around, but not by touching the ground. She wasn't floating—it would be amazing if she was— she was jumping off the sides of the trees with her roller-shoes.
Once she caught her food after a tiring game of tag she ate and meditated. Then the moon was up and shining so she went to bed after doing flexibility stretches.
The next few days went on like this until she was training in the trees and caught up so someone. Killua, someone was following him, one of those Amori brothers. Deciding to be the nice guy—girl actually, eh-hem—and seeing that he was all alone, she walked on up to him.
"Hey, Killua."
"Kagero?"
"You know someone's following you right."
"Of course, the idiots stubborn and won't come out." Killua furrowed his brow.
"You shouldn't make that face," She poked the center of his eyebrows and Killua looked up, "Or it'll stick."
"He's getting on my nerves though..." Killua mumbled and sulked oh-so-very-slightly and looked towards the stalker. "Well if you're not coming out, I'll come to you." Killua walked towards the bush that he was hiding in. Kagero followed when two other people appeared. They appeared to be his brothers.
"Oh."
"We ran into a bit of trouble."
"You're done, right?" The two were in their own little world not noticing Kagero and Killua. They looked up to notice them and there was a silence—until they started beating on their own little brother that is.
"You Idiot!" The red one kicked him.
"You can't even beat a little kid?" The yellow one tackled him.
Apparently the one stalking Killua didn't want to hurt a little kid. So he would take it when Killua fell asleep. Pfft like an assassin wouldn't be alert when they slept. They finished their squabble and went to circle Killua. It seemed like they hadn't noticed Kagero until they walked right up to Killua to taunt him. Or they pointedly ignored her and that quite frankly irritated her. She frowned and Killua brushed off his taunt nonchalantly and got sent flying with a kick to the gut.
Kagero whistled. "Killua, that couldn't have hurt, coming from a person like him." Personally... she didn't quite like the brothers that much. She had seen them helping Tonpa 'crushing' a rookie in the first phase.
"Now," the red one started, looking to Kagero with a sneer, "if you don't want the same happening to y—" They were surprised when Killua jumped up from his back and landed on his feet, hands still in pockets. He didn't even feel any pain with that wimpy kick. "Oh, did you go easy on him?" Red bro asked his wimpy blue brother.
Kagero ignored the current situation at hand since she sensed a presence nearby. She looked to the trees to see that ninja guy hidden quite effectively, but that scarf gave him away in the green. She shouldn't be talking, it was hypocritical with her own choice of clothing, but she wasn't going for the stealthy ninja type. Hanzo looked to her and she secretly waved her hand to him with a small smile. He was surprised but waited for his chance to get his tag.
The brothers circled around Killua and he flashed to the back of the red one and took his tag. His nailed sharpened to the point of knives on his neck. "Che soo close! Since it's only a number off from the one I need, maybe number 199 is one of your buddies?" He looked to the yellow one. "Ne, are you number 199?"
Down the side of his face you could see a cold sweat forming. "Yea..."
"Hand it over." Killua put simply. His skillset terrified them into submission.
He tossed the tag over to him." Now for the numbers I don't need." Killua had both tags in one hand and started a throwing motion. Then he switched the numbers and threw it so hard you could hear it make a booming noise after being thrown. Someone in the bushed ran after it. Killua threw the other one the other way.
"Well you guys have two days left until the end. Good luck on finding them!" With that, Killua vanished with pure speed.
"I guess I'll go too." Kagero also vanished.
"Hmmm, what to do, what to do..." Kagero wandered around. "I guess I'll continue training."
Kagero went back to the campsite she made to continue training. She thought that her balance would need work if she was going to use her rollerblades in combat. So she did one legged squats with them on. Once every 20 squats she would switch legs. Then she gave her legs a break and did one handed handstand push ups. She decided that she would add this to her daily training regimen since it was effective. Then, she meditated.
The rest of the day went by normally, no odd encounters and she hunter for food as per usual.
The next day was the last day on the island, the weather was windy and there weren't any clouds in the sky, the sun's light blinding people who looked up to it.
Kagero slept in and got up around noon, ten at the earliest. She hid her presence and went to the starting point. She found Leorio and Kurapika but decided to stay hidden, until Gon showed up.
They were talking about Leorio's target, and how Gon would be able to track her down by scent. The girl Ponzu used chemicals in battle and those have strong scents. Kagero didn't want to get caught up in this, but she wanted to say hi before they left. So she jumped down.
"Mirage!?" Kurapika and Leorio were both surprised.
"I overheard you, so, you didn't get your tag yet Leorio?" She teased him, getting something like a growl in return.
"You got yours Mirage?" Gon asked.
Kagero nodded. "Quite a while ago." She looked to the boat. "Off to find Leorio's target?"
"Un!"
The three left leaving Kagero by herself. She wandered further in the forest so she could find a resting spot that no one would find easily. Relaxing in a tree she started to doze off. About an hour later she jolted awake, why? Because she sensed a dangerous aura in the area. She could bet on whom it was, Hisoka and Gittarakur. She thought Hisoka wasn't that bad but Gittarakur oozed peril. She didn't bother hiding her presence because it would only alert the two. So she just waited and hoped that they would ignore her. Well, nope. They took note of her presence and before they decided to kill her she came out from the hidden compartment in the tree tops.
Jumping down she said. "It's just me." She looked to the two. "I'm not here for your tags, and I'm sure you both have yours."
"Hisoka...Who...is this?" Gittarakur's head shook as he moved. Frankly, it was creepy.
"Well, well, if it isn't Mirage." He put a hand on his hip and a hand to his chin. "Why are you here?"
"Well I was here to take a nap. But then you guys came along." Kagero faked a smile. "Good timing though, they're about to end the phase." Just as she finished her sentence the announcement came on.
Kagero started walking back to the part of the island where they started off at, Gittarakur and Hisoka following her. With the three of them there was an uncomfortable silence.
"Hisoka, please stop staring at me." Kagero turned around and walked backwards. She could feel his eyes burning her back. "This is why Gon and Killua view you as a pedophile." Hisoka started laughing. Gittarakur just stared at her too—probably thinking that Kagero has to be insane or mentally ill, probably both, to talk with them nonchalantly.
"Also you, Gittarakur." Hisoka stopped laughing to hear what she had to say. "You aren't as bad as Hisoka, but that costume... It's plain creepy." Kagero's eyes widened as her sixth sense picked up slight malice. She vanished away in the trees running as fast as she could since she could tell he was strong. Wouldn't want to pick a fight with him.
Even though she just did.
"Aww~, Illumi, you scared Kagero"
"Why did he get so agitated..." Kagero pouted internally as she ran. She was almost to the site and was one of the first ones there. Hanzo and Pokkel were there. She laid on the grass until more people showed up. Then Killua showed up and sat down beside Kagero. Then came Bodoro , Hisoka and Gittarakur.
The women came out to check the tags of everyone who has arrived.
#410, Kagero. #410, #191.
#44 Hisoka. #334, #80, #281, #118.
#53, Pokkle. #53, #105
#99, Killua. #99, #199.
#301, Gittarakur. #301, #371.
#191, Bodoro. #34, #37, #59, #153, #408, #270.
#294, Hanzo. #294, #198, #362, #89.
The lady announced those who passed when three other people came out from the bushes. Killua looked ecstatic to see a slightly tattered Gon. Kurapika and Leorio were in tatters too. Killua gave Gon a thumbs up, and Kagero just waved to them from her spot laying on the ground.
#404, Kurapika. #404, #16.
#403, Leorio. #403, #246.
#405, Gon. #405, #44.
The lady tallied their tags. "These ten applicants have passed the fourth phase of the exam!" She rose her arm up to the blimp up in the air.
Everyone got on to the airship and had dinner.
Meanwhile Netero and the other examiners were having dinner and were talking about the trend that a whole bunch of rookies would pass the exam, it happened once every few years. Then they talked about the next phase, though Netero was thoroughly vague with it.
Kagero was in the dining room with Killua eating when an announcement came on.
"The chairman wished to interview the remaining candidates. When your number is called, please cone to the first reception room, on the second floor. Then we will start with #410, Kagero-sama."
"Oh, you were fist to get to the starting point?"
"Mmmhmm." She nodded. It was only because she bolted the hell away from the dynamic duo that she did, but whatever. Kagero got up and put the last of her food in her mouth. She walked off waving.
Walking into the room the first thing she saw was an old man with weird facial hair and eyebrows. "Well, what do you have planned now?"
He chuckled. "Well, have a seat first."
"Question and answer time?"
"Precisely. Now, first, why do you want to become a Hunter?"
"Honestly?" She sighed. "I didn't come here on my own free will, I just sort of joined. But I soon found my resolve of finding my mother. I'm happy that I came here, as I have made good friends... So... I'll get to experience new things, I guess." She scratched the back of her head sheepishly.
"Which of the other eight applicants are you keeping an eye on?"
"Hmm, a lot of people actually." Kagero held her chin thinking and rested her elbow on the table. "Number 405, 404, 403 and 99 because they're my first friends. And number 44 and 301 because there interesting... Oh and number 191, he's a talented martial artist."
"Which of the other applicants would you least want to fight?"
"Who I don't want to fight? No one in particular. Though number 44 and 301 I don't think I would be able to beat. I feel that I'm lacking something compared to them. Not in physical ability but... I can't explain it..."
"Ok, good job, you may leave now."
Kagero got up and walked down the halls to go to the lobby, or anywhere with a couch and crashed on it. It was already evening and she desperately wanted to sleep on something that was actually comfortable. She had no idea why she hadn't thought of this on the ride to the trick tower. Those rooms were cramped and uncomfortable, crashing on the couch in the lounge was much better.
By this time everyone has been taken in for the question taking. The group was walking down the hall when they walked into a lounge to see Kagero sleeping away. She was curled up on the couch curled up into a ball and hugging a pillow.
Leorio was trying his best to not laugh and was doing well. Then Killua started poking her face and she burrowed her face into the pillow. They decided to follow her lead and lay on the other couches around. Heck it beat the hard floor in the rooms they had before.
The next day the airship landed at a fancy hotel and everyone was called down to a huge room in the hotel.
"This hotel is owned by the Hunter Exam Selection Committee. The place is all yours until the battles have concluded." Someone rolled something like a chalk board on wheels and was covered by a cloth. "For the Final Phase, we will be holding a one-on-one tournament." He pulled the cloth off of the board.
"So the last person standing passes?"
"No. One win is all you need to pass. The winners are removed from competition, while the losers continue up the bracket. In other words, the person who finishes at the top will not pass. Does everyone understand now?"
"So you're saying that only one person will fail." Hanzo said for confirmation.
"Exactly." There was a bit of a silence. "And here is the bracket." He pulled off the taping that blocked the bottom to let them see the standings. "Impressive, right? After all, everyone has at least two chances to win."
"But some people, like #294 and #410 get six chances."
"Why didn't you use a balanced bracket?"
"A question that must be on everyone's mind. This bracket was assembled based on your performances throughout the entire exam. Those who performed better received more chances."
This seemed to strike a nerve in Killua. "That doesn't sound right. Can you explain how you scored out performances?"
"Hmm... Nooooo!" Netero yelled effectively ticking Killua off.
"Why not!" Killua hissed.
Netero laughed. "Your scores are classified information. So I can't tell you everything, but I can explain our methods." The room's atmosphere intensified. "First, we consider three major criteria: physical strength, mental strength, and overall impression. For physical strength, we use an aggregate of agility, flexibility, endurance, and perception. For mental strength, we use an aggregate of resilience, adaptability, judgment, and creativity. However, this information in only used as a reference point. After all, you were strong enough to advance to the Final Phase. However, we are most concerned with your overall impression. This refers to any intangible factors not previously mentioned." He laughed. "You could consider this an evaluation of your potential as a hunter. And we also incorporate the opinions of your peers. That was our process."
Halfway through the speech Kagero sat down on the floor. By the end of it she her head was on her arm that was on her knee and was relaxing. She yawned multiple times during the explanation and was still yawning.
"The battle rules are quite simple. Weapons are allowed. No cheating. If your opponent admits defeat, you win. However! If you kill your opponent, you will be immediately disqualified. All remaining applicants will pass, and the exam will end. Are we clear?"
Kagero was the only one who replied. "Crystal."
"Then, we shall begin the exam's Final Phase."
Kagero was warming up for the fight as she stretched doing the splits and pulled he leg up while doing them. Hanzo just cracked his wrist.
"The first match is Hanzo versus Kagero. Please step forward." The two came forward and had a small stare down, nothing too intimidating. "I will serve as the referee. My name is Masta. Best of luck."
"Hey, good to see you again." Hanzo surprised the man with his casual talk, "You were tailing me during the Fourth Phase."
"You noticed?"
"Naturally..."
"Ah, that reminds me." Kagero looked to one of the people in black, specifically to the man who was tailing her. "Thanks for not peaking on me. Also I'm sorry I forgot to tell you when I was done." Kagero smiled hoping to get the guys forgiveness.
"I noticed you were done after a while, no worries."
After their little conversation Hanzo was still talking to Masta.
"Well, shall we start Hanzo-san?"
"Yes, but first, I have a question. We only win if our opponent surrenders, correct?"
"Yes, that is correct."
Kagero was thinking that they weren't that different in physical ability. It would come down to how creative they were.
"Then, it's time."
Hanzo got into a slight stance and Kagero just stood normally. The room was tense as the spectators were in their own little worlds trying to figure out who would win.
"Begin!"
(Omake 1)
"I overheard you, so, you didn't get your tag yet Leorio?" She teased him, getting something like a growl in return.
"You got yours Mirage?" Gon asked.
Kagero nodded. "Quite a while ago." She looked to the boat. "Off to find Leorio's target?"
"Un!"
"Well then Leorio, I guess you'll just have to charm your way into his heart!" She cackled as she ran away from Leorio.
(Omake 1 End)
P.s: If you guys don't remember, the snake charmer was Leorio's target, thus the pun. I just remembered that Ponzu was Leorio's target—I wrote the friggen thing, so how could I forget? Anywho—I'm gonna keep the Omake anyways because I like the pun.
(Omake 2)
"Ah, that reminds me." Kagero looked to one of the people in black, specifically to the man who was tailing her. "Thanks for not peeking on me."
"I noticed you were done after a while, no worries."
"Thank God, because I couldn't have the fact that I'm a girl out yet..." She blinked at the absurd reactions she was getting. "Well the cats out of the bag, Killua would you be a darling and cat-ch it for me? Haha."
"Don't just play it off with a double pun!" People yelled as they anime fell.
She must have planned that, Hisoka thought absently, chuckling.
(Omake 2 End)
Hey guys! Sorry for the late update, I've been focused on The Musician—another story of mine—and I've been having some trouble editing this for some reason.
I'll try to update again in a week or two.
Taa taa,
and please,
don't forget to review~
