Usagi looked disgusted as candidate #16 introduced himself to Gon, and
again reminded herself to talk with the boy later when it came to
strangers. After a quick 'tour' of the other candidates Toma, as he had
introduced himself, merrily forced cans of juice on them, before downing a
fourth can himself and looking at them expectantly. Usagi mentally sighed
to herself - as if she hadn't had enough laxative- or something worse - put
in her drinks by Sammy not to know better. She panicked when she saw Gon
begin to drink.
.only to spit it out again immediately.
"Oi! Tompa! I think your juice is bad!" Tompa looked taken back, as Leorio
too tipped out his juice distastefully.
"Eh.. oh. I'm so sorry. I don't know how.." Tompa laughed nervously.
"It's okay!" Smiled Gon reassuringly. "I'm just glad I drank it first, I
often ate plants and buds in the mountains so I'm used to detecting weird
tastes!"
Tompa nervously backed off under Usagi's and Leorio's disapproving glares.
"You shouldn't trust that guy Gon." Nagged Usagi as soon as Tompa was out
of earshot.
"You shouldn't trust any of these guys!" Indicated Leorio with a wave of
his arm. "The navi said only 1 in 10,000 make it this far and only a few
make it to the end of the test."
"You think the other candidates might try to eliminate us before the final
test?" Asked Gon wide eyed. A few feet away #41 disarmed (for wont of a
better expression) #58.
"Yeah. I would think that's fairly likely." Shivered Usagi.
Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li
The time for the reception is over.
Announced a voice.
I am here.
The voice again.
Now the exam can begin. Follow me please.
The voice. no longer disembodied indicated to an open passage. As indicated, the assembled candidates started following the man Usagi had mentally dubbed 'the waiter'. As they walked he spoke of the difficulty of the test and the likelihood they'd probably all end up hurt or dead. Despite these warnings nobody (except the disarmed man) chose to abandon.
"I forgot one thing." Added the waiter as he started to increase his pace. "My name is Satotsu. I am in charge of the first test and it is my job to lead you to the place of the second test. If you are able to follow me to the place of the second test, you will pass." By this point the contestants were running. Well almost all. except that kid on a skateboard. Usagi watched amused as Gon met up with another kid taking the test about his own age. She frowned thoughtfully before turning to Leorio. "Don't you think they're way too young for a test like this?" "They decided on their own." He shrugged nonchalant. "But they're just kids! They could get hurt!" "Oh. and you're old enough to say that?" Usagi scowled at him. "that's right. I forgot you're a thousand years old. comparatively we're all kids, right?" Scowl. Gon bought his newfound friend over to meet them. "What's your name Ojisan?" Asked the kid with a malicious grin. "O-ji-san?" Demanded Leorio. "I'm too young! I'm from the same generation as you!" "Are you sure Leorio?" Asked Gon cutely. "Argh!! It's over Gon I'm never talking to you again!" Leorio swore. Usagi couldn't help laughing. "Who's your girlfriend ojisan?" Asked Killua noticing Usagi. Usagi decided now was a good time to check what was happening further up the line. Especially since Leorio had started sporting a feral grin which would no doubt result in abject humiliation.
Over 4 hours running before the stairs began. Lots of 'em. All up. "Ne.. Leorio?" Usagi asked finding themselves alone together (comparatively considering the other candidates). "You're not really just becoming a hunter for the money are you?" Under his questioning gaze, she added. "I mean. I've known you for a couple of days. almost. you're not that clever or strong. but I don't think you have a bad soul. you don't seem to be the type of person to just be interested in wealth or power." She finished lamely. Leorio was somewhere between trying to decide if not having a bad soul balanced out weak and stupid when it came to trying decipher if this was a compliment or insult. Usagi took the silence to mean he had no intention of justifying himself. "My mother was. extremely beautiful. She was killed and her body taken for trophies by mercenaries. I want to give her her dignity back." Usagi explained, trying to keep the emotion from her voice. "Even if that's true, if it happened a thousand years ago you'll never find her." "I have to try. I have leads to some private collectors of.. body parts." "Still they may be sick bastards, but they didn't kill her." "I know.. but if I become a hunter under contract I can meet a lot of people in the right places, make a lot of money! If I can locate and buy them back. or get them back another way." "Oh this is just perfect. you want to become a mercenary and a thief in the memory of your dead mother, and you're lecturing me on my morals?" Commented Leorio. "You don't understand!" Remarked Usagi bitterly, turning away to hide her welling tears. "Some of the original mercenaries are still alive!" Leorio looked at her disbeleivingly. "Well. I can't say I have such an interesting logic behind my decision. I really just want the money." "Don't say that!" Begged Usagi. "Money can only buy things." "That's where you're wrong! Money can also buy dreams." Leorio thought for a moment before deciding to continue. "My friend died would be alive if I had more money." "He died from a disease?" "It wasn't incurable! We couldn't afford the operation and he died." "." "My dream is to become a doctor so when someone else's friend or child or whatever is dying, I can say 'That's okay, I won't charge you any money. But I was naïve. Medical school is really expensive. and setting up any sort of clinic? That needs money. I need money." "So." Leorio said into the ensuing silence. "Why after 1000 years are you suddenly so obsessed with burying your mother?" "I only found out recently. How come you haven't tried to get a scholarship or something?" "Well." Laughed Leorio, the tension broken. "You know that part about me not being particularly clever."
Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li
The time for the reception is over.
Announced a voice.
I am here.
The voice again.
Now the exam can begin. Follow me please.
The voice. no longer disembodied indicated to an open passage. As indicated, the assembled candidates started following the man Usagi had mentally dubbed 'the waiter'. As they walked he spoke of the difficulty of the test and the likelihood they'd probably all end up hurt or dead. Despite these warnings nobody (except the disarmed man) chose to abandon.
"I forgot one thing." Added the waiter as he started to increase his pace. "My name is Satotsu. I am in charge of the first test and it is my job to lead you to the place of the second test. If you are able to follow me to the place of the second test, you will pass." By this point the contestants were running. Well almost all. except that kid on a skateboard. Usagi watched amused as Gon met up with another kid taking the test about his own age. She frowned thoughtfully before turning to Leorio. "Don't you think they're way too young for a test like this?" "They decided on their own." He shrugged nonchalant. "But they're just kids! They could get hurt!" "Oh. and you're old enough to say that?" Usagi scowled at him. "that's right. I forgot you're a thousand years old. comparatively we're all kids, right?" Scowl. Gon bought his newfound friend over to meet them. "What's your name Ojisan?" Asked the kid with a malicious grin. "O-ji-san?" Demanded Leorio. "I'm too young! I'm from the same generation as you!" "Are you sure Leorio?" Asked Gon cutely. "Argh!! It's over Gon I'm never talking to you again!" Leorio swore. Usagi couldn't help laughing. "Who's your girlfriend ojisan?" Asked Killua noticing Usagi. Usagi decided now was a good time to check what was happening further up the line. Especially since Leorio had started sporting a feral grin which would no doubt result in abject humiliation.
Over 4 hours running before the stairs began. Lots of 'em. All up. "Ne.. Leorio?" Usagi asked finding themselves alone together (comparatively considering the other candidates). "You're not really just becoming a hunter for the money are you?" Under his questioning gaze, she added. "I mean. I've known you for a couple of days. almost. you're not that clever or strong. but I don't think you have a bad soul. you don't seem to be the type of person to just be interested in wealth or power." She finished lamely. Leorio was somewhere between trying to decide if not having a bad soul balanced out weak and stupid when it came to trying decipher if this was a compliment or insult. Usagi took the silence to mean he had no intention of justifying himself. "My mother was. extremely beautiful. She was killed and her body taken for trophies by mercenaries. I want to give her her dignity back." Usagi explained, trying to keep the emotion from her voice. "Even if that's true, if it happened a thousand years ago you'll never find her." "I have to try. I have leads to some private collectors of.. body parts." "Still they may be sick bastards, but they didn't kill her." "I know.. but if I become a hunter under contract I can meet a lot of people in the right places, make a lot of money! If I can locate and buy them back. or get them back another way." "Oh this is just perfect. you want to become a mercenary and a thief in the memory of your dead mother, and you're lecturing me on my morals?" Commented Leorio. "You don't understand!" Remarked Usagi bitterly, turning away to hide her welling tears. "Some of the original mercenaries are still alive!" Leorio looked at her disbeleivingly. "Well. I can't say I have such an interesting logic behind my decision. I really just want the money." "Don't say that!" Begged Usagi. "Money can only buy things." "That's where you're wrong! Money can also buy dreams." Leorio thought for a moment before deciding to continue. "My friend died would be alive if I had more money." "He died from a disease?" "It wasn't incurable! We couldn't afford the operation and he died." "." "My dream is to become a doctor so when someone else's friend or child or whatever is dying, I can say 'That's okay, I won't charge you any money. But I was naïve. Medical school is really expensive. and setting up any sort of clinic? That needs money. I need money." "So." Leorio said into the ensuing silence. "Why after 1000 years are you suddenly so obsessed with burying your mother?" "I only found out recently. How come you haven't tried to get a scholarship or something?" "Well." Laughed Leorio, the tension broken. "You know that part about me not being particularly clever."