A/N: Hey Guys! Raijuuxo6 here! Once again, you've made my face smile and my heart jump. Thanks to everyone again! :]
You're all wondering what happened to Hisoka and Hakumi? I bet you didn't think about me… TT_TT I realized it was a very big mistake that I made Kumi ask Hisoka to teach her how to fight. I had a VERY hard time figuring out what to do with them! I had to change my mind several times deciding if I would make Hisoka teach Kumi or not...
Well, here it is… and I think it's not as good as before...
///By the River///Kumi's POV
I was lying on the ground exhausted and my short-long hair (hehe I don't know what to call it) has been revealed. I also had a few small cuts on my arm and face.
Hisoka was sitting next to me. He was holding a card in front of my neck. "I beat you." He said. Hisoka agreed to teach me because he said he doesn't have anything better to do. He taught me some moves but he said he'd kill me right before I can tell anyone about it. He said it'd ruin his reputation of being a killer. Hehe. It's a good thing I can tell lies much better than Gon. Hisoka can kill people but I think he's okay.
"Oh, man! I was close to beating you!" I shouted. Yes, we were just sparring and not fighting. Hisoka put the card away and stood up. "Thanks for teaching me but can I ask you something?" I said. "Why do you kill and why didn't you kill me before when I asked you to teach me?"
"That's a secret." He used his usual creepy smile. "I'm done teaching." He said and then sat by the river again… the same way when I followed him here.
"Okay. Thanks… and please don't tell anyone I'm a girl. See you later!" I said to him as I climbed up on a tree branch. "Ryuu, wanna train with me?" I asked him. He jumped up to the tree branch and followed me to another part of the forest. I saw a clearing, and Ryuu and I went there to spar.
///Half An Hour Later///
Even though Hisoka only taught me, Ryuu learned, too. He memorized every attack I learned from Hisoka. "You're a fast learner, Ryuu." I said as Ryuu and I lied down on the grass. I'm bushed! Suddenly, I heard a buzzing sound… and I saw a big airship in the sky. Hey, that's the Hunter Committee's mark! Looks like there's a problem in the Exam Center. I wonder… "Come on, Ryuu. Let's get back to the Exam Center." I got up and hid my hair inside my cap again. Then Ryuu and I ran to the 2nd Exam Center.
"But still, Menchi-kun. Isn't failing everyone a bit too harsh?" A voice from the airship said. Ryuu and I came there just in time. I saw Gon and the others were just coming out from the warehouse.
I ran to them. "Haku…" I said before anyone could call me Kumi. "What's the problem?" I whispered to Gon and Killua.
"Everyone failed the exam so the Hunter Committee is here to help us." Gon replied in a whisper.
There was a man who jumped from the airship. What? He jumped from the airship? Cool! How'd he do that? Everyone got amazed. Wait, he's not just a man… he's an old man. He had a long gray beard, long gray eyebrows and a… how could I describe this… long ponytailed bald head?
"Mr.… President…" Menchi gulped. The old guy walked towards Menchi.
"He jumped from a place that high. Amazing…" Gon said. I nodded in agreement.
"Yep." Killua agreed. "What are his legs made of?" People crowded over the place where the old guy landed.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, President Netero." Menchi bowed. The old guy named Netero, nodded.
"The Examination Committee President." Satotsu said as he walked to Netero. "He's that most important person in charge of the Hunter Exam."
"Ohh… so he's an important person." Gon said smiling :D.
"No wonder…" Killua added.
"Even if you say I'm in charge, I just work behind the scenes." Netero said to Satotsu. "I basically resolve troubled situations like these. Now Menchi-kun."
"Yes, sir!" She said.
"You, at the 2nd half of the 2nd Exam, tried to see if these people had the spirit to challenge the unknown by testing them through cooking."
"Yes! My purpose was solely based on that point. That's why I gave an especially difficult topic. But…"
"But…?"
"N-nothing."
"By examining the candidates on that purpose, everyone had a problem in their attitude. So, is that not the reason why you failed everyone?"
"No. One of the candidates criticized cooking so I lost my temper and at this time, I ran into trouble where all the candidates found out how to make the dish. While I was mad, I became full, and…"
"So you realized you didn't test them thoroughly enough?"
"Yes, sir. When it comes to cooking, lose myself." She faced down. "I'm not worthy of being an Examiner. I'm sorry."
Netero laughed. "You're an honest girl! As an Examiner, you do seem to have some problems. But as an Epicure Hunter with the Single hunter title, the situation was inevitable. It's proof that you're passionate about cooking." He said then he pointed his finger upward. "How's this, then… redo the test, and Menchi-kun will resume as the Examiner. But for the new topic, you'll have to give a demonstration for the test. How's that?" He asked. "That was, the candidates will be convinced of the pass or fail verdict."
"It's a retest." Gon said.
"Yeah, aren't you glad, Gon?" Killua asked.
"I hope it's gonna be fun." I said.
"What's the topic for the retest, Examiner?" Netero asked Menchi.
"Let's see." She rubbed her chin. "Then the topic is… Boiled Egg."
"Alright!" Gon and I high fived.
"Once again, this topic is quite unique." Killua said.
"Mr. President, could you take us to that mountain over there?" Menchi pointed to the mountain. It looked like a plateau.
"I see. That's an easy task." Netero replied.
…
We all rode the airship. I got surprised by how the airship managed to fly with all of us in there… because Buhara is included, too.
…
We got down from the airship. The mountain we were standing on had a cliff in the middle. "We're here." Menchi announced.
"What the heck is this? What's it like down there?" Todo asked.
Without him noticing, I crept behind him. "Do you wanna know what's it like? I'd be happy to help you." I smiled and pretended to push him. He closed his eyes and screamed which made other people look at him. I burst out laughing like there's no tomorrow. Todo grabbed me by the shirt but I really can't stop laughing.
"Don't worry." Menchi told him as she took her shoes off. "There's a deep river down there." She faced the cliff and looked at us over her shoulder. "I'll go ahead now." She jumped to the cliff.
"The Spider-Eagle that lives on Mt. Mafutatsu… she went to get its egg." Netero explained. "The Spider-Eagle extends a tough string between the valley and hangs its egg in order to protect it from predators. Get one Spider-Eagle's egg, and come back."
An arm appeared on the edge of a cliff and out came Menchi's upper body. She raised her other arm and showed to us a Spider-Eagle's egg. "You make a boiled egg with this." She shouted. "Be careful, though. The river below flows pretty fast. If you fall, you'll flow nonstop to the ocean… which is 20-30km away."
"Last one to go back is a rotten Spider-Eagle egg!" I shouted to them as I ran and somersaulted to the cliff. I hung upside down on a Spider-Eagle's string and took an egg. "Cool." I hid stored the egg to one of my arm warmers. I jumped from string to string and got back up to the top. I did all that before Leorio could jump. Hehe… I'm the second to finish!(Menchi is first.)
"Great job, kid." Menchi said to me.
"Thanks." I replied.
"What about everyone else?" Menchi asked the others. "Give up?"
"It takes courage to quit, too." Netero said. "The test isn't only this year."
"I'm going down there, too." Todo ran to the edge of the cliff and jumped down. You didn't need to say it though. I rolled my eyes.
I sat on the edge of the cliff and watched the others. Other people fell into the river and failed the exam; other people didn't go down the cliff and failed the exam. I watched Gon as he ran on a string and took an egg. Todo kicked Gon snatched the egg from him.
"Hey Todo! Give that back to Gon! I'll push you to the river if you don't!" I shouted. Then, Spider-Eagles flew and started to bug everyone in the cliff making them let go of the string.
"Help me!" Todo shouted as he fell down. 'Reckless Gon' came to the rescue! He jumped towards Todo and caught him. Then, he quickly used his rod to save them from falling to the rushing river.
"Gon! Are you okay?" I shouted to him.
"Yeah! I'm okay!" Gon shouted.
"That boy is one odd kid." Menchi said.
"You can say that again!" I said to Menchi and laughed.
///Later///
"It always happens, but you're reckless." Leorio said while Gon helped Todo get on the edge of the cliff.
"I'm alright." Gon said.
"Todo is a rotten Spider-Eagle's egg!" I shouted and laughed. "You're the last one to get back up."
"Time's up!" Menchi announced. "Show me the eggs you guys got."
Todo stood up and walked towards Menchi. He looked back at Gon. "Don't think badly of me. The egg is mine." He said with a smirk.
"That bastard." Leorio gritted his teeth.
"Don't worry. We're the one's who should be smirking right now." I said to Leorio, Kurapika, Killua, & Gon and pulled out two eggs from my arm warmers. I showed it to them and winked. "Don't ask. A thief never tells."
Gon took one egg from me and showed it to Menchi. "Here you go."
"You, when did you--?" Todo was shocked.
Menchi took the egg. "You're pretty smart little boy. But, why'd you feel like saving number 255 during the test?" She asked as she looked at the egg.
"Because… he asked for help." Gon answered.
"Just like that?" She asked. "Are you simple-minded or something?"
"He sure is!" I answered.
Leorio held Gon and rubbed his head with his knuckles. "You did it, you. Take that!"
"It's too early to celebrate!" Menchi shouted. "The test isn't over. Now, you guys will prepare the boiled egg." We gathered around the big pot (bigger than Buhara) filled with boiling water and put our eggs in it. "Let me tell you that a boiled egg is a dish as well. The time you boil it is the most important point. It doesn't necessarily mean that you can boil a Spider-Eagle egg the same way as a normal egg. If you boil it too much, I guess I don't have to tell you what it's gonna be like." She explained. Nets were handed to us which we are gonna use for picking the egg up from the water. "If it's soft-boiled, you'll fail of course."
"Maybe it's good about now." Leorio said.
"No, a little bit longer." Kurapika replied.
"I don't even know a normal egg's boiling time." Killua said.
Buhara suddenly groaned. "You just groaned." Gon said to Buhara.
"Which means…" Leorio said.
"Now!" People around the pot reached for an egg. "Now's the time!"
…
We just got done taking our eggs when they gave us each a chicken egg. Menchi showed to us her chicken egg. "This one's a normal egg." And she took out a Spider-Eagle egg. "And this one's a Spider-Eagle egg. Now compare the two." Each of us took a bite on both eggs.
"I like the Spider-Eagle egg better than chicken egg."
"It's rich in flavor, and has a deep taste that seems to melt on your tongue." Kuraika said. "It's as if the Spider-Eagle's life force is still active."
"Yeah. I've never tasted a boiled egg like this." Leorio said.
"It was worth risking our lives to get this." The bald ninja said.
"This one's much easier to notice." Gon said. "I didn't know if the mold rice was good."
"It's not mold; it's moss!" Menchi yelled at him. "Horn moss! I told you it's a delicacy."
Gon looked at Todo. "I'll give half to you, Todo-san." He said and gave the half-eaten Spider-Eagle egg to him.
"O-okay." Todo took a bite and chewed. His eyes widened. "It's delicious; it's seriously good. Something as good as this exists in this world?"
"When one discovers something delicious that no one has ever tried before, there's joy and excitement equivalent to capturing a famous wanted criminal or discovering a treasure." Menchi told him. "That's why we Epicure Hunters are proud of what we are."
"I'll be back next year…" Todo walked away.
"You were awesome!" Gon said to Menchi.
"Well, I'm known as the genius Epicure Hunter. I have to do something Examiner-like." She said to Gon and turned to Netero. "Now, President Netero." Netero nodded. "Second Exam, 42 people pass!" She announced. "Menchi's menu is now complete!"
Everyone who's left rejoiced. "Yeah!" All those who passed went inside the airship.
"I wonder what's the next exam…" I said to Gon and Killua.
"Hey, Haku…" Killua called me. "I just noticed…"
"What?" I asked.
"Your friends often seem to call you 'Kumi'. Why is that?" He asked.
"Don't answer, Gon. He asked me." I pointed at myself. "Well, my real name is Hakumi so Kumi could be used as my nickname. But I don't like Kumi because it sound like a girl's name." I explained. "They think I'm a girl because they said I look like one." I stopped and looked at him. "Do you think I'm a girl?" I narrowed my eyes on him.
"No, I don't." Killua said.
"Good." I smiled and turned to Gon. "I guess you, Leorio, and Kurapika would live after all."
A/N: Thanks for reading :] and also for revieweing.