Heya! I'm posting this one a little early, because why not?

This was originally going to be a short chapter, but since my last one was so late, I tacked the last part on. It was going to be a part of the next chapter, but hey. These two flowed so well together!

Beware: I'm a corny loser, and my symbolism is heavy handed.

The sun was out, and the light felt good on my face. There was a little bird chirping and I floated on a cloud. It seemed for once, everything felt right.

But wait.

No it didn't.

My abdomen was agony, my throat ached like I'd drank ten liters of acid and my head was pounding. I wanted to die.

I opened my eyes. The sky was cloudy and gray. The only sunshine came from a little boy in green and orange. He leaned close and concern poured from his big brown eyes. It was his voice that chirped in my ear, and he was relieved to see me awake. Even if I wasn't too enthused about it.

"Clearian, you're awake!" He gushed. He was leaning over me, and I sat against a tree. My reeling head decided he must have moved me. But why was I so tired? Why did I hurt so badly?

"Hisoka-" Gon said. And my eyes went wide.

Red hair, creepy smile, bulging muscles; he had strangled me.

I remembered. And wished I hadn't. My stomach churned and I covered my mouth. I should be dead...

Gon put his hand on my forehead, pushing my hair out of the way. Only then did I realize that Gon was still talking. I pushed aside the nausea and unsettling memories and listened to him.

"Eh? Clearian? Are you okay? You look sick...!" He said, and if I hadn't been so out of it I would have freaked out when he leaned his forehead on mine. Instead I sat there numbly as he closed his eyes, comparing my skin's warmth against his. He smelled like nature; like warm forest air, like a sunny day. It was nice. He pulled back, frowning. "You don't feel sick..."

I gingerly shook my head and tried to draw on my Nen, but it was cold and unresponsive. Then I remembered my failed Hatsu and frowned. Looks like I won't have any more help from my aura... you got your wish, Hisoka.

"... I'm fine." I cleared my throat and winced. I looked around slowly, trying not to strain my neck. Then, suddenly I jumped up. Gon held me down, and my aching neck instantly regretted it. I leaned back, flinching. "Where is Hisoka!? And where are Leorio and Kurapika?"

My heart sped in panic, but Gon looked relieved for a moment. Then he launched into his story, flailing his arms excitedly as he told me what happened. I held up my hands, trying to shield myself from his energy with a weak smile.

"Killua attacked Hisoka from behind, so Hisoka dropped us to punch him! He hit him so hard that he went flying and passed out...! Then Hisoka said I went too far, or something. Then he picked up Leorio and Kurapika and said we passed, and he'd see us at the finish line!"

My head spun in circles. He was talking too quickly, but I tried to grasp what he was saying. "Wait, wait, Killua passed out..? Then why are we still... didn't we fail his exam?"

"Nope! Heheh..." Gon stuck out his tongue, scratching the back of his head bashfully. "I hit Hisoka when you distracted him. Twice!"

As he mentioned it, the memory of Gon's strike to Hisoka's head bubbled to the surface. He'd hit him before Killua and I had passed out, saving us... thanks, Gon...

"Oh yeah..." It chilled me to remember what had happened just minutes before. Hisoka had been so intent on killing me that he let himself get hit... he must really hate me...

"So..." Gon began, pulling me from my thoughts. "... why did Hisoka attack you like that? He seemed pretty freaky... I mean, he was always freaky! But... why so suddenly...?"

I thought about that as he trailed off, my brow pinched together. I couldn't tell him about Nen. More importantly, couldn't I tell him my greatest secret. So I just shook my head.

"... I'm not sure..." I lied.

"Hmmm..." Gon said unconvinced. I refused to meet his innocent stare. "Well, we'd better get going! We have to carry Killua!"

"We what?"

"Yeah, he got hit pretty hard, but he should be fine. I'm just glad I didn't have to carry you too...!" Gon laughed innocently. I followed his stare to my right; Killua was leaned against the same tree as me. I'd only known him for a few days, but I'd never seen him sleep. He seemed so much nicer when he wasn't glaring, scowling or ruining my life.

"Well, I'm not sure if I'm in any condition to carry him..." I murmured, clearing my throat again. I didn't relish the thought of moving at all, let alone running through the forest with a boy on my back.

"Oh, I can do that if you carry my back pack!" Gon removed his bag, handed it to me and moved to squat in front of Killua. After putting my arms through the bag's straps, I helped him pull Killua's limp legs and arms around him. Gon hunched over and I pushed Killua's torso to lean on his back. "Heeeave ho! Ready to go!"

Gon rose as easily as if he wasn't carrying his weight in sleeping kid on his back. I was tired just watching him. I used the tree to help me stand. Luckily my legs were fine. It was just my head, my stomach and my throat that hurt. As we jogged through the misty field, I found Leorio's suitcase and his dagger. I put the dagger in my jacket pocket and hung the brief case over my shoulder as we ran.

Once we entered the forest, it was easy to see where we were supposed to go; the path was lined with dead things and cuts in the wood, left by Hisoka. I lost myself in my thoughts.

This is a disaster... I was nearly useless.. I thought that if I knew Nen, I'd be able to do anything...! But obviously, that wasn't the case... all I could do was serve as a distraction.

Beside me, Gon was staring resolutely ahead of him, obviously thinking deeply as well. I envied him.

This kid... he's at least a year younger than me... yet he's a better fighter... and that was probably his first real fight...!

Suddenly, Gon returned my stare and smiled. I stared wide at being caught, then gave an apologetic smile.

"So, Clearian-San... what's your relationship with that guy?" Gon asked awkwardly. I stared even more.

"Huh?"

Gon fluttered. "Uh, you know! That crazy clown guy!"

"O-oh... him..." I put dark emphasis on the word. I wasn't sure what to say. How many times would I have to tell this stupid story? "Hisoka."

Gon visibly tensed at the name. And I felt sorry for him. This poor boy... that crazy jester set his sights on him... it's only a matter of time, now...

I shook the thought from my head. "He um... he was my friend's... Sensei, I guess?"

Gon stared at me then. "Huh?! That guy?!"

I smiled bitterly. "Yeah.. obviously not a very good influence. But my friend... my friend wanted to get stronger. Because I kept getting into trouble. They wanted to protect me. And who's a better fighter than Hisoka? So... my friend did some pretty crazy things to get stronger..."

"Hmm... I guess I understand that... people get pretty crazy when they have something to protect!" He said brightly. But it didn't make me feel any better.

"Yeah... that was pretty insane, right..?"

"Like Killua, he must really care for you! He went crazy!" Gon laughed. I wheeled an incredulous look at him.

"Huuuuh?! That guy care for me?! No way! He treats me like the plague!" I said stoutly with a derisive laugh. "He's done nothing but cause me problems!"

Gon didn't seem convinced. "Huh? Of course he cares for you... didn't you see how hard he was fighting? For a second I thought he was going to beat that crazy clown guy all on his own! It was pretty amazing..."

I pouted at that. "... well... if you fight Hisoka, you HAVE to fight your hardest... I don't really think it has to do with me..."

My heart squeezed painfully remembering his cutting words... you're in the way..

"I don't think that it'." Gone said confidently. I looked at him sullenly. "Killua's a pretty cool guy and he never gets upset! But just when we'd gotten to the finish line, he started acting weird! It was like he sensed you were in trouble... so he started running back really fast, I could barely keep up! We'd almost passed the exam, but he wanted to go back! And his face was like this!" Gon made a big scowl.

Hm... maybe he sensed our auras... but from that far away...?

"... his face is always like that." I muttered, looking away.

Gon laughed weakly. "Hehe... not all the time..!"

"Hmph. Only most of it..." I said sullenly. Then I sighed, looking at the happy boy tenderly. "... anyhow, thank you for saving me... I know you were doing it for Kurapika and Leorio, too but... I really appreciate it..."

"Hehe, don't thank me, it was just a natural reaction..." Gon laughed bashfully. I smiled sadly. Not for me... I just stood there... wanting to run away...

"So what have you two been up to..? Did that brat tell you why he's been avoiding me..?" I muttered sourly.

"Hmmm... not exactly... He just says you're some annoying guy who won't leave him alone and kept changing the subject... how did you two meet, anyhow? You two act funny..."

I scowled. "Well.. it all goes back to that stupid clown... he's the one who led us to the exam. So in exchange for the info, we both have to play by his rules. So if one of us fails, then..."

The sudden memory of Hisoka's face creepily up at me, his hand around my neck consumed my thoughts. My chest tightened painfully.

"... then what?" Gon asked, sounding distant. I shook my head, clearing the fog.

"Then he's going to kill us."

We were silent. There was nothing but the sound of footsteps and the rustle of leaves in the wind.

"... that guy..." Gon was suddenly very serious. There was more silence.

Damn him... that stupid clown... how dare he play with us so casually... I looked at Gon's tense expression and frowned.... he soils everything he touches.

"... would it be weird to say... that I was excited?"

His words cut like a knife in my heart. I stared. He looked down as he ran, like he was embarrassed.

"... I... I was really scared... I've never met someone that strong! I grew up on a little island, so I don't have much experience with fighting... but I know he's super strong... part of me wanted to run away... but another part of me was thrilled!"

"... thrilled?" … you should be terrified...

"I really wanted to fight him!" Gon said smiling his hopelessly, blissfully innocent smile. My heart melted then. Why do all the cute ones get wrapped up in his web...? I guess opposites attract... I got him into this... I have to protect him.

"Heh... you're a good kid, Gon... a little crazy, but you're good..." I laughed, patting his shoulder. Just like my friend... "I think we'll be great friends!"

"Yeah! Then we can all play games; you, me and Killua!" He cheered. I gave him a look.

"Huuuuh? No wayyyy, leave that guy out of it! I still don't forgive him for abandoning me!"

"Whaaat, I thought you were chasing him, why don't you want him?"

"Hmph. If it's for business like the Hunter Exam, then yeah, we should work together. But if it's for play, then keep him away from me!"

"Ehhhh, you two are strange, Clearian..."

Gon's voice was bright and childish when he sang.

"Rain, rain, go away, come again, another day. Clea-rian, wants to play, so rain, rain, go away."

"Haha, you put my name in!" I laughed.

We'd been running for a while when it began to rain lightly. A light drizzle pattered on the tree leaves above us. The dark clouds had finally decided to release their water, but only a few drops made it to our heads as we ran. Through the bouncing, the rain and the singing, Killua still slept, his face tucked into Gon's neck.

"Of course!" Gon said. "The normal song says Daddy instead... but mine wasn't around. So my aunt would always put my name, in his place..."

"Oh..." I said quietly.

We were quiet for a while after that, listening to the rain and its rhythmless beat. After a while I forced myself to speak.

"I'm an orphan. So didn't have a family to sing me songs... But I had a friend. And they liked to be sang to; if someone didn't sing for them, they couldn't sleep!" I smiled bitterly at the memory. "So when we went to school and stayed in dorms, I sang for them."

"Wooah.. that was nice of you!" Gon said. "It's good to have friends when you're in strange new places."

"Heh, I guess. But I always sang the same song. It kind of had to do with rain, too."

"Well, my rain song didn't work very well..." He said up at the dripping canopy, embarrassed. "Maybe if you sang it, the rain would go away!"

I laughed. "I don't think it works that way, but we can try!"

I took a moment to feel the beat of the song, taking deep breaths to ready my lungs. When I finally opened my mouth, my voice was quiet. I could barely hear myself over the rain around us.

"... you are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are gray. You'll never know dear, how much I love you... please don't taaake my sunshine awaaaay."

I frowned as I finished, wiping a rain drop off my cheek, but Gon made a pleased noise.

"Uwaaaah... you sing well, Clearian..!" He said dreamily. "I see how your friend got to sleep every night..!"

I gave a weak smile. "Yeah... I guess..."

Then there was a small groan, and Gon stopped running. Killua was stirring.

"Killua!" He exclaimed, kneeling. Killua scowled and rubbed his eyes.

"... I disagree..." He muttered blearily, then glared up at me. "I don't see how anyone could sleep through that racket."

I glared and Gon laughed nervously. "Killua... be nice..."

"Well look who's finally awake." I snapped as Killua and Gon got to their feet. "And I thought you said I was the one who was weak."

Killua bared his teeth. "Hey! I'm not the one who got caught and strangled!"

"There, there, you two..." Gon said, standing between us and holding up his hands. "... you really shouldn't fight..."

His pleas went ignored. I still hadn't chewed this guy out for abandoning me, and he was really asking for it.

"Excuse me!? At least I didn't have to be carried by Gon for an hour while I took a nap!" I shouted. I felt heat rising in my chest and up my neck. "I guess that's your style, though; inconveniencing others!"

"Me?! I'm not the one who needed to be rescued!" He took an aggressive step forward. I mirrored it, clenching my fists.

"Well maybe I wouldn't need rescuing if you weren't an idiot!"

"I'm the idiot!?"

"YEAH, YOU'RE THE IDIOT! If you didn't keep leaving me, Hisoka wouldn't keep trying to kill me!"

"Well it's not MY fault I don't want to be around some WEAK IDIOT!"

"I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S WEAK!"

We lunged for each other. Fully intent on beating each others faces in. But Gon intervened.

"ENOUGH!" Gon shouted. Jumping up, he punched both of us on the top of our heads. We fell in a heap.

"Ooouch, Gon..!" I complained, rubbing my head.

"Ack... my head still hurts..." Killua muttered, but Gon didn't care. He planted his feet on the ground and his hands on his hips.

"That's enough you two! You're BOTH being stupid!" He scolded. Killua and I shrank away guiltily. "We have enough problems without you two trying to kill one another! So you two are going to behave, be nice, and work together to pass this exam!"

I pouted, looking away. "... it's his fault..."

"No, it's both of your faults!" Gon shouted. I recoiled when he pointed at me. "Clearian! You're being bossy and controlling; no one wants to listen if you're not nice!"

Killua snickered then stopped when Gon wheeled on him. "Killua! You're being unreasonable! Working together is the best way to pass this exam, and Clearian keeps getting in trouble with Hisoka because you keep leaving him! It doesn't make sense to keep running away from him!"

Gon huffed and put his hands back on his hips. "So you two need to stop blaming each other, apologize and just be friends already!"

I couldn't meet his gaze, hunched over like an ashamed puppy with my tail between my legs. I was sure Killua was in a similar state.

"WELL? Apologize!" Gon demanded, pushing us together. I held up my hands in alarm, trying to keep some personal space. Killua stared with round eyes and a scowl for a moment, before looking away with a pout.

"Uhhh..."I started, scratching my cheek. "I'm... sorry for being so bossy... I just didn't want Hisoka to get mad at me..."

When I glanced at him, he refused to meet my eyes. "Yeah... I just... don't like being told what to do... sorry. We really should work together..."

"Now shake!" Gon said firmly. I scowled, but held out my hand. Killua reluctantly took it. I gave him an apologetic smile which he mirrored. Gon put his hand on top of ours with a grin. "There! Now we're all friends!"

I gave Gon a startled look. But his smile was so bright, I couldn't help but share it.

"Sure, sure... and we'll live happily ever after." I said with a roll of my eyes, but Gon nodded.

"As Hunters!"

"Yeah, yeah, can we get going, now?" Killua said petulantly, taking his hand back and shoving it in his pocket. Gon and I nodded, suddenly serious. "We probably don't have much time before the first exam is over..."

"Yeah, we wasted a pretty good amount of time here..." I said critically, holding my chin.

"Let's race then! To the finish!" Gon said, eyes gleaming excitedly. I grinned.

"Sure."

"It's on."

I hadn't noticed, but the rain had stopped falling.