"Leorio are you alright?" Kurapika asked the bearded teenager. Leorio was running half nakedly and sweating buckets. His eyes were bulging and he seemed as if he was going to have a seizure and collapse. Whether it was out of horror, spite, or amusant, Valeria just had to snarkily add: "Do you mean if he's physically or mentally alright? Or both?"
"Shut up Gorilla! As you can see...I realized I can keep going as long as I don't care about appearances!" Leorio shouted at her, gritting his teeth as he attempted to control his breathing and ignore the discomfort he had. He seemed too focused on running and not passing out that he had forgotten gorilla was a trigger word for the girl.
"Hmmm...you sure don't care about calling me gorilla. Be thankful that I'm such a considerate person that I won't bash you into the wall right now because we're doing a marathon and you look like a fish that flew out of the ocean." Valeria smiled threateningly at Leorio, sending a shiver down his spine. He averted his gaze while Kurapika remained silent and took off his poncho as he tried to lighten the weight of clothes. As he ran straight, he asked them both a question.
Can I ask you both something?" Kurapika asked.
"I don't want to waste my stamina talking." Leorio responded curtly, awkwardly distancing himself from them. Valeria, not necessarily trying to prompt Leorio to talk, retorted:
"If you're so concerned about stamina, just take off your pants like you did with your top. It's not like you care about appearances and you don't have anything to lose. It's probably not as shocking as you being a teenager. Besides you'll gain things instead: Speed and attention."
"You...really have a nasty personality. No normal girl would tell a man to strip his pants off in the middle of a marathon threateningly." Leorio paled, instinctively raising his arms over his chest. Annoyed and disgusted with his reaction she rolled up her sleeves and was ready to fling him back to the starting line. However, Kurapika interrupted the two: "Leorio, are you really trying to become a hunter only for money? From what I've seen, you aren't like the greedy people that I have met before."
"Oh yeah, no shit Sherlock, he ain't like no teenager boy I've seen before." Valeria muttered underneath her breath. Kurapika simply chose to ignore her side comment, already developing an immunity towards her peculiar behaviour and speech habits during the short time they've met. Leorio on the other hand, was still easily provoked and couldn't help but answer her first.
"You sure don't ever shut up." Leorio scowled at Valeria who stuck her tongue out. He then responded to Kurapika's observation, showing blatant displeasure. "You sure like arguing with logic."
Seeing that Leorio was unwilling to share more of his story, Kurapika decided to spill his own backstory. Valeria didn't take him for the person to be willing to share whatever tragic story it was.
"Scarlet eyes were the reason why the Kuruta tribe was targeted. Our tribe was the only people who have that unique trait. If our emotions become intense or excited, or pupils turn scarlet. If we die in that state, the colour remains. The colour of the eyes is one of the seven most beautiful colours in the world."
"So you're saying that's why the Phantom Troupe massacred your tribe?" Leorio asked.
"I will reclaim the eyes of my people and avenge them." Kurapika clenched his fists, his teeth grinding into one another.
"They're probably sold in the black market- ah. So that's why you want to become a Hunter, the privileges." Valeria commented.
Leorio stared at Kurapika briefly before choosing to explain his purpose. He was far more sympathetic than he made himself out to be."Too bad….I don't have a noble reason like yours. My goal is simply money."
"What? You honestly think you can buy everything with money-" Kurapika looked like he was ready to start an argument or possibly a fight. But before he was given a chance to, Leorio shouted the reason behind his motive. A very honest person. "Because with money, I could afford surgery for my friend. I could have afforded medication for my friend. I could have allowed my friend to continue living!"
Silence descended onto them and Valeria attempted to break the stifling silence. She picked her nose before sneezing and grunted her respect for them. "You're both pretty respectable. It isn't often you run into righteous people. I don't think I've ever known anyone before who had a motive driven by others' suffering."
Kurapika and Leorio exchanged glances. Frankly, they were curious about her purpose ever since the trivia. Valeria lacked will or any resolution during the whole trip and seemed nonchalant about everything. She had told them that she just tried to run away from home, but there could be easier ways to do that than to take the exam. "What about you Valeria…Member of the Lavine clan?" Kurapika asked. "I heard that the clan was rather strict, but there isn't much intel on it. In fact, I've heard that even on the Hunter resources, there's only one article with facts about them and it's written by someone in the clan."
Valeria blew on her finger, and dusted it. "Ah that...that's probably because either Papa blackmailed nosy and curious journalists, or the past chief ordered them not to or just killed them off. Most likely the latter." She paused, studying the atmosphere around her. A suffocating air hung around the three as the two boys were unsure what to say. A little bit amused about the blatant disbelief and slight disgust on their faces, she continued. "The clan isn't really a fan of outsiders. They just see other people as inferior beings of course there are always rare exceptions. And unlike you two, fighting for your own justice and whatever, I was sent to this exam to test my worthiness of taking over my family. This is just a game to my tribe for them to get rid of the failures." Valeria shrugged.
"Wait, but I thought you were running away? Leorio asked while Kurapika contemplated her words.
"A game to your tribe," Kurapika repeated. "Then what is this exam to you?"
"A game." Valeria grinned. Her eyes didn't reflect her words or smile, it seemed as if it was more dead than her dead fish eyes looked initially. "A game to see if I can defend my little bro from being buried alive as a clan failure and to see if I can take away his burden. I'm not joking about running away though, I plan on taking my younger brother with me after I measure my own abilities in the exam. Sorry Kurapika, not all clans are close and tight to the point where a single child will avenge his own clan. I could care less if my clan was massacred just like how Papa would care less if my brother died."
Kurapika opened his mouth but closed again and looked forward.
Leorio sighed. "I guess everyone here has their personal reasons."
The trio, without speaking, somehow agreed to focus on their marathon. Although it was a heavy subject for them and it did put a more serious atmosphere around them compared to what they were used to, it brought them closer. As they continued to proceed upwards, they reached a clear opening with a crystal clear sky and a large marsh beneath them. Gon and Killua skipped over to the trio and greeted them, their endless energy because of their youth, irritated and blinded Leorio's eyes. However the girl was distracted. Valeria's eyes brightened up as her eyes swept over the marsh, pleased with the ridiculously high number of species she has never seen. She didn't show a hint of fear or hesitation even when the examiner said that they were extremely dangerous and people would most likely die.
"Well then please take precautions and follow me. "Oh and another thing! The species that live in the marsh stops at nothing to gain food. The ecosystem tricks and eats their target is the very reason why this place is called swindler's nest. Now then, please follow me closely." Satotsu was about to take a step towards the direction of the marsh. However, the group was interrupted by an injured man, climbing out from behind the walls of the exit. He raised a bloody finger, pointing at a dead monkey in his hands and exclaimed: "Stop! Don't be tricked! I'm the real examiner! He's fake, to be more exact he's a human faced monkey that lives in the marsh. They like to eat fresh humans but they're too thin to fight so they disguise themselves as humans, lure their prey into the marsh, and band with other species to eat them."
Valeria scratched her head in confusion. "Were there other exits other than this in the tunnel?"
Kurapika shook his head. "I don't think so."
"There wasn't. Why?" Killua confirmed. Valeria then tilted her head, confusion in her eyes. "I mean yeah, our 'fake examiner' is kinda freaky with the way he walks but like, I don't think there's any way for the marsh species to enter and replace the real one."
Kurapika smiled and answered what was causing her to be confused. "It's because the injured one is fake."
"You're kinda slow aren't you?" Killua crossed his arms behind his back, which led to Valeria's vein popping and Gon having to stand between them to calm the girl down. Before Leorio could ask what Kurapika meant, there were suddenly cards embedded within the newcomer's head. The whole group turned their head to see the most dangerous looking examinee in the group: Hisoka. A red haired clown with a snatched waist. Valeria stared at his waist with envy, a little bit peeved that a clown had a better figure than she did. Meanwhile, the one who was accused of being a fake, caught all of the cards. Hisoka merely chuckled and shuffled his cards as the dead "examiner" slowly reverted into a monkey. The monkey it held was playing dead, but now that the monkey it was working with actually died, it tried to run away - only to be killed by Hisoka.
"He's the real one." Hisoka looked at Satotsu. "Examiners are chosen by the judging committee. It wouldn't make sense for a person who holds the occupation to not be able to fend for themselves with an attack like this."
"I'll take that as a compliment. But any attack whatsoever will be disqualified immediately. Understood?" Satotsu returned Hisoka's cards nonchalantly and the clown simply shrugged dismissively. A flock of birds emerged and began to peck away at the dead monkeys, causing Leorio to gag in disgust.
"That's the natural ecosystem here. The fake was going to lead some examinees astray and eat them. Life and death tricheries occur here all the time. Now then...time to continue." Satotsu proceeded into the marsh and the rest of them started to go after him. Leorio felt a shudder. Even if Valeria did fall for the monkey's claim, she still found the situation strange and most likely would've done the same as Hisoka - which was to attack both. But Leorio would have followed the monkey if it wasn't for Hisoka's little experiment.
"But honestly I hated how calm and testy that Hisoka was. I hate those kinds of people though I don't have the right to say that." Valeria sneezed. An image popped up in her head but she shook her head, trying to focus on the people in front of her. The fog thickened and of course, Leorio had to comment on it.
"Hey...isn't the fog getting thicker?" He asked.
"I'm starting to hear screaming." Kurapika looked around.
"Hey Valeria, you might as well just strangle your brother with your own hands." Valeria paused and instinctively kicked whatever was behind her, which happened to be a Kirihit Onosesame. She sent it flying into another fog turtle and both crashed into numerous trees before they were out of sight. Leorio and Kurapika's eyes widened in shock, one was in a state of fear and the other was thoroughly impressed. Both creatures were presumably dead as the flock of birds they had seen before dove down. They knew Valeria was strong but not this strong. They looked back at her only to see herself staring at the direction she had sent the frogs with slight confusion. But she was also breathing more heavily, not her usual calm and careless attitude. "Huh? I thought...did you guys hear someone say something just now?"
Kurapika glanced at Leorio who shook his head. "No, neither of us did. Unless you meant my comment about people screaming." Valeria rubbed her eyes before inhaling deeply. She exhaled and noticed the two boy's concerned looks. She shook her hand dismissively, reassuring them. "Don't worry, I'm still sane. I thought I just heard something weird. I guess I'm not as big of a fan of slimy reptiles as I am of plants."
Suddenly, she turned her head sharply, looking around in all directions. Leorio, a little bit freaked out by the consistent weird behaviours she was showing, muttered: "I don't think that's she's sane. Maybe we should just knock her out and carry her to the exam location? Get her treated?"
"Shh! Be on guard. There's an intent to kill here." She placed her hand on his mouth. After a brief pause, she pushed Leorio and dodged the incoming objects, catching the last one with her fingers. Kurapika also acted instantly and defended himself with his two swords. Fortunately for Leorio, Valeria was able to keep him out of the attack range and didn't sustain any injuries. Actually, maybe when he hit the ground hard, due to her "light push" he felt his entire right side ache but nothing more than bruises and scratches.
"Are you two okay?" Valeria asked, finally seeing dead bodies all around them. The other two nodded. Kurapika growled at the emerging figure and shouted: "Bastard what's the deal?"
"Wait...that snatched waist-" Valeria placed one foot back, bending her knees slightly and lifted her arms in a defensive stance. Leorio stared at her quizzically, puzzled by what she meant before Hisoka revealed his face. The man smiled craftily and calmly replied: "I'm playing examiner. I was going to behave myself until the second exam but the first has been incredibly boring. So I thought I'd help with the selection process. By judging every one of you."
The three watched as the other examinees tried to attack Hisoka, only to see them all end up dead, with cards impaled in each of them.
"You four are the last ones." Hisoka looked at the trio and another examinee with them. Grimacing, the side character signaled them to run and scatter when he gave a sign. They all nodded and steadied themselves before running when he gave the command. Except the only thing is Valeria didn't run. Hisoka smirked and looked at her with mild interest.
"Your friends made a smart move - choosing to run. Are you trying to buy time for them? Or are you trying to injure or kill me so they don't have to go through the effort? Or are you scared stiff that you can't move?" He licked his lips.
"None of the above, clown. I'm pissed that you tried to target us and that you have an absurdly good body." Valeria leapt up and swung her arm, to which he dodged but sustained a scratch to his cheek from the air current caused by the speed and strength of her swing. She quickly leapt away from him and landed on the ground. She flung herself to the side, once she sensed flying inanimate objects again, presumably his cards. She then swiftly delivered a kick towards his legs once he came closer, leading him to leap up. Using her kick as bait, she grabbed his ankle and swung him back into the ground. Even with his face bashed into the ground, he stumbled and stood up, laughing as he wiped the blood from his nose. Unnerved, but trying to continue to remain calm, Valeria spoke up again.
"You're pretty strong. For someone outside of the Lavine Clan." Valeria dropped her hand, losing her will to attack him. She felt her mouth twitch into a smile, not out of happiness but out of slight fear. "Let me phrase this better. If this was simply a physical battle, I'd win. But my guts tell me I won't. And I don't assume it's because you're simply smarter."
Hisoka smiled cryptically before clapping his hands, licking his blood off of his cheek "You pass, little lioness of the Lavine clan."
Valeria was about to beg him to stop creepily licking his lips when Leorio appeared out of nowhere, swinging a twig. She felt her soul almost slip out because of the unexpected appearance. What could this money obsessed, middle aged looking teenager expect to do with a twig?
"You weren't the only one who wasn't going to run, Valeria." Leorio swung his twig, lunging towards Hisoka.
"Leorio!" Valeria shouted. "Stop, you won't win!"
Ignoring Valeria's warning, Leorio aimed for Hisoka's head but missed. Before Hisoka could attack, Valeria kicked up dirt into his face simultaneously when Gon threw his bait at Hisoka with his fishing rod. Valeria's face blanked out, her dead and lazy expression becoming more slack. "We might as well all just die here."
"Gon!" Leorio shouted in surprise.
"Not bad little boy. A fishing rod? Interesting weapon...can I see it?" Hisoka approached Gon. Out of defensiveness for Gon, Leorio tried to attack once more but was knocked out by Hisoka. Gon saw his opportunity and attempted another hit but Hisoka disappeared and reappeared again to wrap his hand around Gon's neck.
"Did you come to help your friend?" Hisoka licked his lips, for the hundredth time, in the creepiest way Valeria has ever seen.
"What a good boy-" He was cut off by Valeria who grabbed his wrist and yanked his hand away. Both could hear tiny cracks in his wrist from Valeria's "light" yank and her tightening grip. There was a crazed yet disgusted look in her dead fish eyes as she lost all sense of caution the moment the clown stared at Gon and punched Leorio. "Oi, don't fucking touch him with your perverted and creepy smile. You ain't being a pedophile on my watch, clown." Valeria picked her nose with her other hand and dug it into his hair. "And this is for punching Leorio. Ain't nobody bullying him other than me, okay? Actually...I'm fine with Kurapika bullying him. But that's beside the point."
She released him and Hisoka rubbed his wrist, seemingly pleased with his injury. At this, Valeria immediately pulled Gon behind her as she stared at him with absolute disgust. Hisoka disregarded that and laughed. "Haha normally, I would've killed you but since you passed and you have potential, I'll let you go." Hisoka looked at Gon. "Okay! You passed too! Become a good hunter."
Hisoka pulled out a walkie talkie since it was beeping. A voice rang out: "Hisoka you should come back now. I think we're about to reach the second exam site."
The clown nodded. "Okay I'll be right there." He picks up the unconscious Leorio. "Are you able to make it back yourself?"
Gon nodded, but Valeria outstretched her arm. "If you already guessed that I'm a Lavine, I don't need to answer that. Pass Leorio back, I can carry him." She spitefully spat on the ground. Hisoka smiled and walked away in approval. "It's fine. I'll get there faster than all of you anyways. Consider it as my apology for bothering you."
"Gon! Valeria! What happened?" Kurapika ran up to them, distracting Valeria and causing her to lose sight of Hisoka. She ruffled her hair in annoyance. "A pedophile."
She noticed Kurapika's confusion but didn't bother explaining. Instead, she stuck a lollipop into her mouth and glanced around. Pinpointing the direction they needed to travel in, she guided Kurapika and Gon through the forest. Gon and Kurapika watched her grumble and complain bitterly to herself. "Why do I have to do so much work? I just want to lie down and talk with the plants."
"I think a lot of people would wish for your personality." Kurapika contemplated. Gon nodded in agreement. He smiled and added: "You never seem to feel tension and you have a short tongue."
"You think so? Then why does Papa always tie me up and hang me upside down from a tree when I talk back…" Valeria asked.
"Maybe that's why your dad must have punished you. Maybe he has a short temper like Leorio and they both cannot handle your cheeky wits."
Valeria sighed and the group began to run, in hope of joining back with the examiner sooner. "Give me a break. Everyone in my clan is so intense and their bad temper makes Papa pay an additional fee every month for repairments.I just want to relax."
Gon and Kurapika exchanged smiles before raising their hands. "It's okay, Valeria…" Gon grinned.
"You have us to be relaxed around." Kurapika finished.
Valeria smiled the brightest smile a dead fish eyed gorilla could ever do and hung her arms around their neck. "Sorry but I don't think I can. I have three idiots to take care of."
"Four." Gon corrected her.
"What? I'm pretty sure it's three...I know I've always been cruddy at anything that requires brain power but-"
"Killua is our new friend."
"Oh. That kid." Silence filled the air. "But more importantly...I think my math is pretty good."
Kurapika sighed exasperatedly. "More importantly, she says. In the middle of nowhere, in constant danger, she thinks her math skills are more important."