Rafie: Hmmm, my chapters are getting shorter and shorter.

Valenia: That's less torture for me.

Rafie: Shush, I'm thinking of more ways on how to torture you.

Valenia: -glares-

It was already the second day of the fourth phase of the exam and I was still wandering aimlessly through the forest in search of candidates. Why did I have to be the unfortunate one to get the joker card?

The bushes rustle behind me. I took my boomerang and threw it at them. It cut through the leaves cleanly, revealing Leorio.

"You scared me." I said, catching my boomerang.

"I scared YOU?" he asked in disbelief, "You threw the boomerang!"

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry." I said, laughing.

"Oh, yeah, whose number did you get?"

I took the joker card from my pocket and showed it to him. "Can you believe my luck?"

"I don't even know who I got." he said, showing me his card. Written on it was the number 246.

"Guess I'll have to steal three number plates." I mused, staring at Leorio.

"Don't even think about it."

I laughed. "Just kidding. Well, since you're here. Wanna team up?"

"Team up?" he asked.

"Yeah, why not? I'll watch your back. You watch mine. I'll help you get the number plate you need. You help me get at least one number plate. Sounds fair right?" I explained.

"I suppose... alright then."

"Partners?" I asked, extending my hand.

He took my hand and shook it. "Partners,"

The bushes behind us rustled. I took my boomerang again and threw it, revealing Tonpa. "What do you want?"

"Scram, Tonpa."

"Hey, hey, I'm just wondering if any of you had medicine for-" Tonpa's stomach grumbled and he held onto it, seething in pain. "Gah! I need to go!"

"I've got the medicine for that." said Leorio. "But, first, give me some information."

"Anything!"

"Tell me about number 246."

"Number 246 is a girl."

"A girl?" Leorio repeated.

"Yeah, Ponzu," said Tonpa, drawing her image on the ground with a stick. "She has a giant hat and, like most candidates, she makes use of drugs to overpower opponents."

"Drugs, huh?"

"She's not good with one-on-one combat, but she's great at setting traps. That's it, nothing special about her, really."

Leorio nodded and opened his suitcase.

"Gaaahhhh!" came a scream from above. A man with a stick jumped down, aiming the stick at Leorio. He dodged the blow, but toppled over his suitcase. Inside it was his number plate. A monkey came out of nowhere and took Leorio's number plate.

"Damn it." I threw my boomerang at the monkey. It missed the chimp by inches.

"I can't believe you were fooled by that." said Tonpa.

"Scum," I muttered, glaring at him. "I'm going after the monkey." I said to Leorio. He nodded and charged at Tonpa.

"Get back here!" I screamed, trying to keep up with the man and his monkey, who were both hopping through the trees. I threw the boomerang at the two thieves and missed. I threw it a few more times, missing every single time. I cursed and took a deep breathe. As I exhaled, I dashed forward, overtaking the two. Grinning sinisterly, I jumped up and snatched the monkey from the man's shoulder and started to strangle him.

"No!" screamed the man.

"You want him?" I asked and beckoned him to come down with my finger. "Then get down here."

I went back to the place where I saw Leorio, dragging the fainted monkey man and chimp with me.

"Hey, Valenia." Leorio called out. "Whoa,"

"That's four points for me."

"And my target was Tonpa." said Kurapika, emerging behind some bushes. "So I've got six points already."

"Lucky," murmured Leorio.

"Anything's better than a joker card, Leorio." I told him.

Leorio sighed. "Atleast I've got my number plate back."

Rafie: Too bad, I liked that little chimp. Review please!