Disclaimer: I do not own Hunter x Hunter! It belonged to Yoshihiro Togashi! That would be so awesome if it is!

The Hunters 10th Hunt

The Last Phase X The Brother

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Gon, Killua, Samara, Leorio, Kurapika, Pokkle, Bodoro, Gittarackur, Hanzo and Hisoka. Ten applicants proceeded to the Final Stage, having passed the Fourth Phase of the Hunter Exam.

They were currently staying at a Hotel owned by the Hunter Association Committee to hold a one-on-one tournament.

The Chairman showcased a white board revealing a diagram sketch of who will face who. One win is all they need to pass. The winners will be removed from the competition, while the losers continue up the bracket until the remaining person who reached the top of the bracket will fail.

'So basically nine will pass as hunters and one will fail. That's a lot of pass for this year's batch. This old geezer is crazier than I thought.' Samara thought.

He then revealed the faces at the bottom bracket to show their respective opponents.

"Who am I going to fight?" Samara inquired her friends.

"Umm, whoever loses from Gon and Hanzo's fight, that person will be your opponent." Leorio answered. "Kurapika have terrible luck, huh."

This made Sam cock a brow. "Huh? Why is that?"

"He's going to fight Hisoka."

Samara shifted uncomfortably hearing that. Four heads turned to Kurapika, not even sure what words of encouragement they're going to say. The blonde only closed his eyes and remained calm as possible.

Upon running their eyes at the board, some candidates noticed that there are some who got more than two chances to fight (like Gon, Hanzo, Sam and Pokkle). This raised questions about the imbalance of the bracket.

Chairman Netero began to explain their concerns. The bracket is assembled based on their performances throughout the entire exam. Those who performed better received more chances.

First, they consider three major criteria: physical strength, mental strength and overall impression. For physical strength, the committee uses an aggregate of agility, flexibility, endurance and perception. For mental strength they use an aggregate of resilience, adaptability, judgement and creativity. However, this information is only used as a reference point. After all, the remaining candidates were strong enough to advance to the Final Phase. However, they are most concerned with their overall impression. This refers to any intangible factors not previously mentioned. It is considered an evaluation of their potential as a Hunter. And they also incorporate the opinions of their peers.

Still being left ignorant, Sam asked how many chances she had. To her surprise, she had four chances, with Kurapika having three chances, two for Killua and only one for Leorio. Gon and Hanzo had both five chances.

"So back to the duel, the rules are quite simple. Weapons are allowed. No cheating. If your opponent admits defeat, you win. If you kill your opponent, you will be immediately disqualified. All remaining applicants will pass, and the exam will end. You all got it right?" Netero asked for confirmation as he eyed their faces. No one objected nor made a sound. "Then, we shall begin the exam's Final Phase."

The first fight includes Hanzo and Gon. Both examinees moved to the center of the court while the rest took their respective areas on the sidelines to watch. No doubt, Hanzo is strong but they too were expecting the potentials Gon would perform in his fight. After all, some got the boys' interest. He must have something special in him.

Gon made the first move by putting some distance. But just right after the fight started Gon received a blow in his neck and fell down. He choked. This would have already be over if it were a normal fight.

Hanzo forced the boy to sit down and pressed a knee hardly against his backbone, forcing him to wake up and hit him in the head this time. "That should be hard enough to make your brain bounce around. You don't stand a chance. Got it? So just surrender."

"No way..."

That response earned him another slap in the head, feeling a lot more terrible than before. Gon coughed.

"Boy, if you surrender now, you'll still be in decent shape for your next fight. There's no reason to be stubborn. Just surrender."

Sam winced hearing another smack. And it went on like that for a while; Hanzo hitting Gon every refusal he's making.

"Gon don't be silly! You still have another chance! You should..."

"Leorio!" Kurapika stopped his sentence. "If you were in Gon's position, would you surrender?"

"Hell no!" Was his fast reply.

Sam being Kurapika's assistant in calming the oldest teen pressed about giving a little bit of consideration to Gon's feelings. "This is his fight. This is his own exam to become a Hunter. The rest of us should stay put." But who was she kidding? Deep inside she badly wants Gon to quit. Those words are not just meant for Leorio to understand, but also to remind herself.

Her blood would just rumble every time that bald ninja hits Gon. If she set herself loose, then who's going to help Kurapika stop Leorio? She just had to stand back like everyone else and hope for Gon to make a comeback.

"I know! I know that!" Leorio told the two. "But there isn't any other choice."

"You're contradicting yourself, but I understand how you feel." Kurapika said.

Another heavy blow made the three wince together and could only glare at the scene as Gon's body landed the hard polished floor like a blood stained rag.

'Gon, be reasonable for once. Surrender.' If only she could tell Gon that.

The boy stubbornly refused and became Hanzo's dummy for training to the point where it became unbearable to watch (hear for Sam).

"Enough already! I'm going to kill you! I'll fight you in his place!" Leorio warned, trying to step into the center but stopped by his two friends. Honestly, it's much harder stopping Leorio when the issue is all about the people he cared than being mad because someone is saying something bad against him or someone literally just pissed him off (like with Tonpa for example).

Hanzo looked back at Leorio. "If you can't take it, leave. It's only going to get worse."

"What was that?!" He made another step and by this time those goons in black suit stopped him. Damn Leorio. He will really get Gon's fight in trouble if it goes any further.

"No one may interfere in a one-on-one match. And if you step in, Gon will be the one disqualified." The referee informed the audience which soothed Leorio a bit.

"It's okay, Leorio..." Gon's voice called their attention, his face covered with bruises and some cuts to complete his not good state. "This is... nothing. I can still fight." Sam wants to cry hearing him.

Hanzo on the other hand started to get frustrated with the child's stubbornness. "If you don't give up, I'll break your arm." He warned. "I'm not joking around, so give up."

"Never!"

It was not a bluff. Hanzo held to his words about breaking his arm.

Sam squeezed her eyes shut as she heard Gon's ear piercing screams of pain. If there's no rule, teaming up with him would be a badass idea and punch that guy square in the face. But she could only close her fists tightly, making her nails dug into her skin.

For the last time Leorio surged forward. "Samara, Kurapika, don't stop me…" Leorio grumbled as his teeth seethed with anger. "If that guy goes any further… I'm sorry Gon, but I will kick his butt."

"Me? Stop you?" Kurapika looked beyond furious and his eyes already red. "Don't count on it. There's no chance of that happening."

Before those two could do something any further, Sam threw herself in front of them, barricading the two from stepping into the court. "Stop it." Sam firmly said in a low tone. "Gon would prefer it be this way than you two interfering his fight." She didn't want another of that episode of Gon crying because of Hisoka directly saying how helpless he was. "Step an inch and I will beat you two instead." Sam warned, her eyebrows deeply furrowed that she almost resembled like a raging ox on standby. But it wasn't for them. It was only reserved for that baldy bastard ninja.

While Gon was in too much pain Hanzo began talking about his past and his training as a ninja, how he already killed someone when he was at Gon's age. He was too absorbed in his own background story that Gon managed to kick him and face planted on the ground.

"Ow... My head's cleared a bit, after all the pain and that long explanation!"

With how Hanzo repeatedly beat Gon without pity, the crowd must have thought the boy won't be able to fight back. Well who cares about their stunned faces? It felt like Sam needed a victory lap!

"Yes!"

"Go Gon! Kick him while he's down! Kick him!" Sam yelled, her body more hyperly pumped, instigating Gon to do something more hurtful.

"If your 18, your only six years older than I am. Besides, this isn't a battle to see who's stronger. It's to see who's willing to surrender first." Gon pointed out while clutching his broken arm.

"Gon, stop blabbering! Kick him, punch him, grind him!"

Hanzo recovered from his attack and stood up like nothing happened though his nose all bloody completely ruins this cool act. "I let you kick me on purpose."

"LIAR!" Leorio and Samara accused.

Knowing how Gon's one heck of a stubborn kid he had no choice but to draw to his last resort. The ninja draw out his blade concealed under the bandages on his forearm. "I will get rid of your legs. You won't be able to use it again." Hanzo threatened, looking much intimidating as he held his sharp weapon.

But what Gon said after the threat completely ruined his ready-to-torture face.

"I won't accept that!"

What?

That one sentence made the people went stone hard. Not comprehending what the boy just said.

"I don't want my legs cut off, but I don't want to surrender so let's find a way to fight!"

What? What?

Hanzo's brow twitched before his face went all beast mode, vein almost bursting in his shiny bald head. "Hey! Do you understand your own situation?!"

"Nggg."

"Pffft."

"Kngg."

Gon totally cracked the heavy atmosphere inside the room. The girl herself wasn't able to block that one and laughed the loudest among the crowd. He thinks he can make demands in his situation? It's like trying to insult Hanzo! And Sam's liking it! "I'm seriously going to cut off your legs!"

With the atmosphere lightened, it wasn't much of a threat anymore. "But I will still not surrender. Besides, if you do that, I'll bleed to death." His smart response before peaking to the referee behind Hanzo. "He'll be disqualified if that happens, right?"

The referee nodded.

"See?"

Samara laughed even more, her body now shaking with too much laughter. "Ow, my stomach!" And she love that tone he's using like talking to a sibling, preventing him from doing things that might lead him to trouble. It was too innocent!

But that increased Hanzo's annoyance level meter. Hanzo points his blade, the tip touching Gon's forehead and gave one last warning.

Still the boy didn't budge.

Hanzo asked why he won't concede. It was an easy thing to do. He could still try again next year. "Do you value your pride more than your own life?!"

No, it's not like that. Samara knew what drives Gon's stubbornness.

"I am going to find my dad. My dad is a Hunter. So I'm going to become a Hunter to find him! I believe that I'll find him one day… But I have a feeling that if I give up now, I'll never find him!" Gon told the ninja. "So I won't surrender."

The ninja let out an exasperated noise inside his throat, "I give up! You won!" He can't kill him but he can't find ways to make him surrender. He had enough of Gon for the day and the fact that no matter what he do, Gon still won't surrender or at least bear a grudge against the ninja. That frustrates him a lot.

"I can't accept that! That's unfair!" Of course Gon won't like an easy win like that. He made protest about the two of them should think of a way to settle their fight. Hanzo pointed out his foolishness. There's no point, because he'll never surrender.

And now they're having a debate. With Gon insisting to work together to figure out how their fight would run just because he doesn't feel good with that kind of victory. If Sam was in Hanzo's shoes, she'll have a head ache how that boy acted so self-centered.

"You MORON!" Hanzo delivered one strong punch; totally knocking the boy out, then told the referee about his loss. If Gon wakes up, he'll refuse his passing judgement so the ninja requested the Executive Committee to do something about it. They witnessed how stubborn that boy after all. Gon's unconscious body was taken to the medical room to be treated. However, he was officially the first person to pass the Hunter Exam.

Kurapika was up next against the person whom most of the candidates avoid. He and Hisoka moved to the center of the court, waiting for their referee to announce the match to begin.

"Do your best Kurapika!" Sam cheered and Kurapika gave them a slight nod. He may have not conceived its double meaning but that actually meant, 'Do your best not to copy Gon.'

They took their positions and the match finally began.

Kurapika is Sam's friend, but for an obvious reason it was evident that Hisoka would have the upper hand even before the match started. Since it was Hisoka fighting, everyone around them paid close attention.

Kurapika didn't want to lose either. He had to win in order to gain one step towards his revenge.

It's to try or die trying. Like Gon, he also refused to give up. Tsk, stubborn boys.

It was like a child's play thing for Hisoka whom enjoyingly dodged the blonde's attack. Only Kurapika was having a receiving end from Hisoka's defense. Their duel went for a while before Hisoka leaned to Kurapika's ear, declaring his loss and moved back towards the watching examiners.

That whisper seemed to affect him judging by his expression but nonetheless, Kurapika finally managed to relax and headed back joining his friends.

Samara was dying to know what Hisoka told him but she still wants to give her friend a wide smile. "Congratulations Kurapika! You're finally a hunter!"

"Y-Yeah." Kurapika stammered and only gave them a halfhearted smile. Who says he's already fine? Nope, he wasn't relaxed at all. Somethings' bugging him, and that's because Hisoka whispered god-knows-what to him.

Now her curiosity will really kill her. What did that Hisoka tell him?

"Who's going to fight next?"

Sam's attention came back. "Oh me." Sam chirped and went striding towards the center.

"You can do it Sam!" It was Leorio who cheered for her this time and she gave him a kiss in the air.

The next match was between Sam and Hanzo. Thankfully, Gon won their fight or else they're having a duel instead. But damn... His previous fight with Gon just branded Hanzo a difficult one to spar. Will she pull it off?

"Ah, you're that girl who acted hostage with the Amori brothers." Hanzo lit up with recognition.

"Hostage?" Sam heard Kurapika and Leorio voiced out their curiosity.

Hanzo chuckled. "I'm not sure how good you are but don't think I'll admit defeat in this fight like my fight with your friend."

The spark plug in her brain seemed to work. Oh, so he's that person hiding up in the trees. Sam felt relief. It was a good thing she listened to Killua about giving up the other tag. She might not have reached this phase if it weren't, but… heeey destiny wants her to have a taste of getting tortured.

It's so touché. "Ouch..." Sam touched her chest. "Please don't do that. You'll hurt my feelings."

His interest spiked more. "Hmm, careful with that confidence of yours. It might bring you down."

Sam snorted, "It's your surrender I want, not the comments." And she rushed towards him. Being the expert in a combat, Hanzo stepped aside, expecting an obvious attack from her.

But who says Sam can't match his step? Sam followed his pace and aimed a hard kick to his side. With his fast reflexes, his left arm blocked it.

Sam recoiled at the contact. 'His arm's tough.'

Concealing his shock with her display of moves, Hanzo intended to grab her raised leg but Sam backed away as fast as she could. There's no way she'll let that Hanzo got a hold of her, not even a finger or locks of hair.

Seeing the situation reversed, the ninja kept on assaulting the girl, looking for a chance to capsize her. Their hand to hand combat went on. Samara could only evade or block a few but that doesn't mean she hasn't gained an elbow, a kick, a punch and don't forget the scratches to complete that. Now, she's the next punching dummy.

Well, isn't he a gentleman?

Her senses helped a lot. It took a lot of concentration to follow his movements but still managed to perform well.

Okay confession time: Hanzo's the very first strong opponent she fought (aside her master of course). Sam hasn't considered that game with the Chairman a form of a fight so… AND Hisoka too must have been her first and last if ever he decided to fight her back then at the Swindler's Swamp. She'll be as good as gone.

Ah, she remembered that time with some of those thugs she wants to clobber down. They say Sam predicted their moves but honestly it was just a perception of how they move around, hearing their actions and smelling what they've got in their sleeves. In short, it was all about using senses.

"I'm impressed. You're slippery as a slug." Hanzo praised. As a ninja, he has toys with him. He took out several shurikens and threw it at her.

Sam jumped to her right and rolled as far away as possible from those shurikens. She wasn't sure how much he had with him, but if he keeps on firing her with it, then Sam would just run away and roll around to duck. Yes, duck and roll. Not very cool at all. Some managed to cut her skin though.

The volley suddenly stopped, then at the same time noticed he disappeared from where he was before and later felt his presence behind her. Sam impulsively stepped back, missing a blow from him.

Whew…

"That was cl-"

It was too soon. How could she relax so soon! Sam failed to apprehend that she had been kicked in the head and just found herself sent away across the court. Samara blenched on her first attempt to get up. Only it made her feel worse. That badly hurt! If she has her vision, she might literally see bright flashes of light.

Of all the things to hit, it's her head!

"But not as good."

Sam casted so many curses to him. She ignored the pain and stood up, giving him a glare. She could hear her friends calling out her name. But she was too preoccupied in butchering Hanzo in her mind.

"Let's pin you down shall we so that you'll never slip away." Hanzo said, throwing another shurikens again.

Samara just smirked.

The shurikens he threw never came. Instead it landed on the floor together with the shurikens she threw to stop his blades.

"…What?"

"Hey, don't give your enemy her favorite kind of weapons. I'm quite resourceful you know." Did he really think she was just darting around? Sam's picking up the blessings he's been throwing away.

But that's when her condition started to crumble the cool conduct she made in front of everybody when she stumbled on the floor once again. Her head throbbed more, completely distracting her focus on the fight.

Tsk. So much for being a badass.

Hanzo, being the cruel guy as he is, didn't let the girl regain her focus. He used the opportunity while she's down, neared her and raised her body in the air with her hand. "Well, even after hitting you in the head, you still could move a bit. Impressive. You've got good aiming and timing."

Sam screwed her eyes shut; the pain blazing like someone's stabbing the same place in her head so many times. But she needs to give him a payback.

She slowed her breathing…

She concentrated…

She adjusted the frame of her mind…

She adapted…

She overcame…

She moved her feet swinging underneath her…

Sam will admit it for the very last time… and this time it's purely based on experience. Hanzo really is a strong opponent… Buuut… people always had this stupidity with them.

Before that guy could torture her like with Gon, in a span of seconds Sam thrust her foot to his middle area, completely caughting him off guard. The ninja made a weird scream. His grip loosened and curled down and clutched his V.I.A.

Very Important Area.

Sam skidded away from him.

"You little bitch." He said in between his struggle to breath.

Sam heavily puffed in and out like she was lacking air supply. "Yeah, I'm the bitch who smashed your d*." Sam told him off.

The girl could hear the cogs in his mind working, maybe thinking of worse ways to torture her. But Sam won't let that. She decided to step back and said, "I surrender."

That stopped Hanzo and stare at her, not agreeing with her decision at all. "What?"

"Well, you'll definitely beat me to pulp after that. I've just endured the fight to at least beat you once," All his attacks hurt and even gave her wounds there and there. Not to mention what he did to Gon. All she needed was a one good chance to strike back.

Sam ended up smiling. Now she felt a lot more satisfied.

"Hanzo wins!" The referee declared. But Hanzo was giving off this aura like murdering Sam in so many ways. He was so not satisfied at all.

The referee ran to get between them and held his hand on Hanzo's back and kept saying, "Just relax, relax, breath, just breath…"

Sam's face scrunched up. Was he actually having his sympathy with that guy? She's also injured!

The president asked someone to bring ice… lots and lots of ice. Well, he might have felt sympathy for him. All men in this room must have felt the same way.

And now Sam became the villain.

Without having the time to rest, Sam proceeded to her next match with Pokkle. He entered the center of the court as soon as the referee called his name.

Sam could feel his gaze. "Hey, look at you all beaten up." Pokkle started.

She rolled her eyes. "Duuh." Can't he state something she doesn't know?

"I see you cleared the hunt with flying colors."

"I see you're an idiot as ever. Would I be here if I wasn't?"

And he snorted. "I see you're sarcastic as ever."

Sam's face slowly turning sour. "And I don't see where this conversation is going."

He raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine… I was just curious how you dealt your pursuer."

Sam twirled the locks of her hair. "Oh you know… I am quite dazzling he passed out because of facing a charming girl like me." Then flicked her hair, acting cutesy. And they shared a chuckle no one understands, even her friends.

The girl was the first to become serious. "Pokkle, don't even dare hold back because I'm injured."

"Huh? After seeing your fight with Hanzo? Nope." Then Pokkle launch the first attack with Sam dodging it. The teen kept on pursuing Sam but she gradually grabbed his wrist and twisted it. Her body making a side flip, her legs finding its way entrapping his neck and dragged him down with her on the floor without letting go of his hand.

Pokkle found himself wrestled on the floor with his hand twist locked by Sam and her legs clamping his neck. He tried to squirm away but her grip tightened. The more he struggled the more his strength leaving and he started to choke.

"I-I lost!" Pokkle announced. Sam let him go in an instant. She heard the teen coughing up and massaged his neck. Maybe making sure if it's still intact.

Now she regretted doing that. "Sorry, I don't intend to lose this time." Sam said, a hand extending to help him up on his feet.

Pokkle looked up and gladly accepted the help. "I wouldn't want you to take me lightly as well." They smiled and went separate ways in the sidelines.

"Congratulations Sam." Kurapika greeted once the girl returned. The blonde gave her a pat on the back.

"Well that was not half bad." Killua said.

Leorio ruffled her hair. "Good job back there!" Sam wasn't sure if that meant her victory or he was talking about kicking Hanzo's groin.

Sam complained about not touching her head for a while because it's still not okay. Out of concern, Leorio tried to demand the girl to get treated. Of course Sam refused, prefer to observe the next fight.

The match between Hisoka and Bodoro was completely one sided but Bodoro refused to give up. Sam could applaud for his determination, but knows how pointless that is. While Bodoro was lying on the floor, Hisoka whispered something in his ear. And Bodoro surrendered.

What is up with him and his whispers?

The 6th match featured Killua and Pokkle. As soon as the fight began, Killua decided to walk away and confidently broadcasted, "Sorry, but I'm not interested in fighting you."

Sam just found herself scowling at his overweening attitude.

That would be really mortifying. He could have at least fought a little. Even Hisoka was actively participating (more like playing around). Doesn't he really care about having a license at all? Or maybe he must have felt that he could win his next match.

Leorio requested the 7th match to be postponed while Bodoro recovered from his injuries. He's a goody goody guy deep down. So Killua and that man named Gittarackur fought instead.

Sam wasn't sure if Leorio and Kurapika were exaggerating. A man with pins all over his body? What is happening to people these days?

"Begin!"

An unsettling feeling started to grow. She wasn't sure but she's not liking that guy the same thing as not liking Hisoka around.

Killua walked closer with ease to the pin man, aiming to finish him off just like he did back in the Trick Tower.

"It's been too long Kil."

Killua stopped. Gittarackur took off all the pins from his head, causing the weird guy to morph into someone much younger and well… good looking (According to Leorio). His purplish standing out hair now turned into very long jet black hair, combed behind his head (Oh oh, his hair is silky straight that Sam felt insecure by it) matching his large, black eyes. His grayish complexion turned into pale white rivaling Killua's skin tone.

"Brother…" Killua muttered in fear, his usual cool and calm face all gone together with his confidence. This was the first time Killua seemed frightened by something even Sam could sense it across the room.

While people were trying to comprehend the shock of the sudden revelation, they too were interested in their relationship.

"Killua's brother?"

On the other hand, Kurapika and Leorio's issue was about how he used those needles to change the shape of his face. Sam didn't care about that. Isn't the question was supposed to be why his big brother is in the exam as well and even hid his face? Is he going to take him home? He did run away after all.

"I heard that you cut up Mom and Milluki." His brother spoke in an emotionless tone.

"I guess."

Gittarackur tilted his head. "Mom was crying."

Ah, now Sam remembered their talk on the blimp. He confessed about stabbing his mother and sibling. So he's really here to take him home then? Is that why he changed his face so that Killua won't flee once he knew? Sam felt sorry for Killua's mom.

"Anyone would cry if their son did that to him." Leorio said beside her, feeling sympathetic with his mom too.

"Tears of joy." Gittarackur continued, making Leorio fall over in disbelief. It was more like correcting what his mother actually felt.

"She was so happy to see that you you'd grown up. But she was worried about you leaving home, so she asked to check up on you." He informed his little brother. Now Sam take back what she said seconds ago and relabeled Killua's family in her mind that they are indeed weirdos. "What a coincidence. I didn't know you want to be a Hunter. I'm trying to get a license for my next job."

"…I don't really want to be a Hunter. I just felt like taking the exam." Killua said in a soft tone, just like a normal kid carefully talking to someone who's older and held so much authority.

"I see… That's a relief." At that point, Gittarackur's voice became more expressionless, like the temperature getting more and more negative. But that's not all. There's something strange about his voice. His words held this brainwashing and manipulative kind of vibe in it that it gave Sam goosebumps, maybe her friends must have felt it too.

But they didn't know that Killua had it worse. The other Zoldyck told his brother not cut out to be a Hunter but was born to be a killer. That he's a puppet of darkness without passion. Killua doesn't want anything or wish for anything. As one who lives in the shadows, he can only feel pleasure when people die. That was how he and their dad raised Killua. "What would you accomplish by becoming a Hunter?"

"True, I don't desire to become a Hunter." He voiced in audible soft tone. "But… I do have something I want."

"You don't"

"I do!" He insisted. "I… want to become friends with Gon and everyone. I'm sick of killing people… I want to live a normal life."

"That's impossible. You'll never be able to make friends. Your only concern when you meet someone is whether you should kill them. That's how you were trained. You just didn't know how to classify Gon because he's too dazzling for your eyes. You don't actually want to become friends with him..." Blah blah blah… Sam doesn't want to interpret what that guy has been saying. She doesn't waste time on junks.

Thud.

That happened to wake Killua from the hellish nightmare his brother giving even though it's still daytime. Honestly, that boy needs a shoe to slap him. Everyone looked at Samara, her other feet shoeless.

"Miss, you can't interfere the fight." The goons told her. That was her first offense.

"They're just talking. What could a shoe do anyway?" Sam told them back. "Killua, if you want a normal life then get one! And if you want to be his friend…" She tried to calm herself down. Sam too, found herself in the same situation as Killua before.

'You already made everything worse. Now that you're blind, will you still pursue that pointless dream of yours?' The girl pushed back that memory. "Gon is already your friend you big idiot!"

"Samara's right, Killua!" Leorio decided to join. "Don't listen to him. What he's saying is a piece of crap! Just beat him like you always do!"

"Really? That's no good." Gittarackur thought out loud, his fingers below his lower lip, thinking of possible ways to solve the issue. "Okay, I'll kill Gon. A killer doesn't need any friends. They'll only slow you down." That snapped Killua from considering what Sam and Leorio said earlier and just helplessly watched his brother walking towards the door. The referee tried to convince him to get back because the fight is still on but Gittarackur just threw his pins to the poor man and asked Gon's room.

Leorio, Kurapika, Sam and even Hanzo who have a new found respect for Gon ignored Gittarackur's threat. They blocked the way.

"This won't do. I need a Hunter's license to do my job… But if I kill them, I'll fail and Kil will pass automatically. Oh, darn. The same thing will happen if I kill Gon."

Bastard. Sam scooped out her remaining shoe and threw it once again, this time Killua's brother caught it easily. "That's rude. I could kill you now if you keep on interrupting."

"Shoo! Outsiders should just step away!" Er… Okay, technically speaking, she was the outsider of their family. But it's not like that Gittarackur earned the right to be his brother anyway. "And you said it yourself smarty pants, if you kill me now, say goodbye to that job you keep on saying, the exam will be over and Killua wins." Sam was surprised to her spur of the moment bravery. She was too caught up with this! "I know that manipulative mind of yours. You're trying to use that twisted what you called logic to control your brother and intimidate us. Your reasoning won't work on me. So I suggest. Try. Harder!" She challenged.

Gittarackur thought for a while. "Try harder, huh?" he went on brainstorming once again. "Oh I know. I'll pass the exam before killing Gon." And looked back to the Chairman. "If I wait until after passing the exam, I can kill everyone here and still keep my license, right?"

"...Yes, according to the rules." Netero confirmed.

That immediately shut Samara up. This will be considered as one of the few times her words backfired. Now look what she had done? She just unconsciously helps him having more ideas. Maybe shutting her mouth was the best option.

"Kid, you just made everything worse." Hanzo said behind her.

'You already made everything worse.'

"I know that!" Samara snapped. Damn them and their stupid rules.

"Did you hear that Kil? You have to beat me if you want to save Gon. Will you fight me for your friend's sake? You can't do it. Because you're more worried about whether or not you can defeat me." He said as he walked back to where Killua stood. He was going to step back. Killua doesn't want his brother near him. "Don't move!" And that's when he pulled his ace against his little brother. "If you move an inch, I'll assume that the fight has begun. And the fight will also start if our bodies make contact. There's only one way to stop me but don't forget… If you don't fight me, your dear friends will die." He looked at his brother with those black, empty and serpent-like eyes of his. There was no escape.

"I-I surrender. I lose…" Killua said in an audible whisper and walked back with his head hung low, those silver locks casting shadow over his eyes.

They thought it was over and everything's going to be alright once Killua's away from his brother and calm down. The three tried to talk with him but he won't respond. Samara and Leorio can't take the silent treatment and was about to join forces to talk things through but Kurapika was being respectful for giving Killua his personal space. It's best to let him alone for a while.

The 8th match was finally Leorio and Bodoro's. Bodoro was in a better condition to fight with Leorio… But when the match began… In a flash, Killua was already behind Bodoro's back.

Samara could just stand there shocked. The scent of blood caught up in her nose. It was over in an instant. Killua killed Bodoro. The committee disqualified the young assassin.

She reached Killua just before he could open the doors. "You do realize that if Gon finds out you're gone, he'll definitely not like it, Killua." Just a little bit, she was hoping he'll listen to her.

"I don't care anymore, Samara." That was their last conversation and he left.

This ends the Final Phase of the Hunter Exam. But it wasn't worth the celebration. Leorio, Kurapika and Samara all had troubling thoughts in their minds.

How are they going to tell Gon?

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End of Tenth Hunt

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!