Inner Conflicts
Kassari spent the remaining time of the exam recuperating from her injuries and reflecting on her situation. During this time, she had felt the occasional flickers of aura in different areas near her position; however, no one had approached her.
I am healing quickly, but my broken ribs are going to put me at a disadvantage in the remaining test. She considered as she began moving back to the start point. Hitching her backpack onto her shoulder, she felt a shooting pain through her ribs. Damn, Hisoka, he doesn't do anything in moderation. Kassari's pace was slower that usual, her head down, mirroring her inner conflict.
Hisoka had periodically patrolled an area around her camp for the remaining two days. Being careful not to reveal his presence. He did not do so out of concern for her injuries as much as out of concern for his investment.
I sense her reluctance to kill. This is going to be an obstacle that I will teach her to overcome, despite herself. Hisoka mused as he formed plans for the next 60 days.
Kassari arrived at the start area and sat at the edge of the tree line, partially concealed from view. Just off shore she could make out a ship approaching. When it was approximately half a mile from the beach a cannon was fired and the end of the test was announced.
"Participants have one hour to return to the start point. From this time on, no more number sheets may be taken. Sheets will be tracked and verified and candidates who disregard this will be disqualified."
Gradually, the remaining participants filtered through the trees and onto the beach. A group of three chatted on their way to the beach; a boy, a teenager and a young man. The boy spotted another competitor his age and ran towards him calling, "Hey Killua! Looks like we all made it." He laughed.
"Gon." The boy named Killua smiled in greeting and they broke apart from the other two to talk about their adventures/
The tall young man with black hair and sunglasses glanced around checking out the survivors. Noticing Kassari, he said something to his companion and walked towards her, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
Looking over the top of his small, round sunglasses, he stared at Kassari sitting on the ground. "Um, hello, I'm sorry but I do not recognize you and I thought I knew the rest of the candidates." His tone conveyed confusion. "I'm Leorio, #403." He held out his hand.
"Hello Leorio. I'm Kassari, #346. I've seen you around but we haven't had a chance to talk." Kassari grasped his hand and shook it hesitantly, blushing at his overt stare.
"Hey, #346. . . I remember now, that was some guy wearing a black ninja costume."
"Well, as you can see, I am not a guy. I wore that uniform because I hate being stared at." She said pointedly.
"Oh . . . uh . . . sorry about that." Leorio looked away with flushed cheeks, embarrassed. Glancing back over his shoulder, he noticed that a small boat had pulled up to take everyone to the ship. Gon, Killua and the other young man were standing in a group waiting for him. "Time to leave this battlefield." He turned back to Kassari and offered her a hand to help her off the ground.
She took his assistance and was immediately sorry she did, as her healing ribs protested. Wincing, she picked up her backpack.
Leorio saw her bandages and realized that she was injured. "Will you let me carry that for you? I can tell your hurt pretty badly." He gestured towards the pack, his face showing his concern.
Kassari felt it then, suddenly, the dangerous aura that Hisoka radiated when he became angry. She spotted him quickly about 20 yards away. He was intently watching Leorio and her, a small frown on his face.
"No, it's ok. Really. I can carry it myself." She hurriedly waved off his assistance, smiling nervously. Great if Hisoka thinks I'm flirting with this guy, he might decide to kill him. "You had better go and catch up with your friends, they are waiting." She nodded towards the small group; bout could not look him in the eye.
"Sure. Come with me and meet them." Leorio invited.
Glancing towards Hisoka she saw that he had turned away and was striding towards the boat. "Alright, I have only met a couple of other candidates," she agreed.
Leorio led her over to the others and introduced her. "Kassari, this is Gon, Killua and Kurapika." He pointed out each as he said there name.
Killua and Kurapika returned a reserved hello. While Gon bubbled over in eagerness, "Hi! Gee, we better go, the boat is waiting."
Kassari followed them to the boat and sat next to Leorio. Gon chattered nonstop about his week, his spiky black hair moving animatedly. Killua and Kurapika listened to him making occasional comments.
Killua also about 12 years old, had messy white hair to the length of his chin, large dark eyes, almost too big for his pixie shaped face and a serious expression.
Kurapika was an athletic young man with a girlish look, blond hair down to his shoulders and a small smile on his lips as if amused by Gon's tale. Kassari imagined that he was often mistaken for a girl.
Hisoka sat at the other end of the boat, gazing at the ship. A pensive look, eyes half-closed in thought, lips slightly pouting.
Leorio tried not to be obvious, but he still caught himself staring at Kassari. "Would you like to go on a date with me sometime?" His face turned bright red as he stammered out his question.
Kassari was not sure how to answer, Leorio seemed to be a really nice guy, however, she was not in the position to accept and she could feel that Hisoka had heard the question and was very displeased. "I'm sorry, Leorio. I would like to sometime, I do not know when that would be possible." She heard a faint NEVER, from Hisoka in her mind. She could not meet Leorio's eyes, afraid that he might see something that she did not intend for him to see, regret. I do not want to endanger Leorio or deal with that diabolical mood of his right now.
When the boat finally docked with the ship, Kassari was dismayed to see that the only way aboard was a thick, irregular rope net. The sides of the ship were at least 20 feet high. Shit, this is not going to be easy with my ribs. I can manipulate microscopic cells, but this is impossible.
Hisoka had already climbed up the ladder and disappeared over the side.
Gon proved to be a very observant lad, he looked at Kassari and then at the ship. "I don't think you can climb that very well. Not with broken bones." A thoughtful expression on his face. "I know, I can jump onto the boat and carry you and your stuff. What do you think?"
"Gon, I think you're brilliant."
Gon tossed the pack over his shoulder and picked up Kassari as if she weighed nothing. Springing into the air, he lightly landed on the deck and set her down.
"Thanks, Gon. It would have been very painful to climb that net." She shot him a glowing smile.
Gon got starry eyed and stuttered, "Yourrr welcome. I need to go now. See you later." He ran to catch up with his friend Killua.
Kassari moved to the prow of the ship, she had never been comfortable around people out side of her own family. Being a princess was not conducive to having friends. People saw her as a social stepping stone or as something to stare at like a zoo animal. She hated it. Hated being judged as a pretty face with no brain, hated not being able to trust what others wanted of her; never really knowing if they were acting or if they genuinely like her or if maybe they just pretended friendship to meet her brother, the future monarch. In many ways that was part of the draw she felt towards Hisoka. If anything, he seemed to hold her title and social position in contempt. He put the faintest emphasis on the word princess, when he would say it, it was the way someone else would say bitch.
My family would definitely not like Hisoka. She slid down the rail sitting on the deck. Her skin felt chilled by the wind even as the sun warmed the wood under her. I do not know that I like Hisoka either, for that matter. She held onto the bottom rung of the rail and watched the open sea.
Earlier, Hisoka had seen Kassari as soon as he walked onto the beach. She sat stiffly, obviously uncomfortable from her injuries, her violet dress clinging to her, bandages visible from under her arms. With a large bruise on her temple and small cuts over her face and neck, it would be apparent to all that she had been in a nasty fight. Poor little princess, did the bad man hurt you? He laughed to himself.
When Leorio approached her and started to flirt, Hisoka was not pleased. I would have to pick a toy all the other boys want, wouldn't I? Hearing Leorio offer to help carry her pack almost caused him to start taking out his deck of cards. He barely controlled the impulse and quickly turned away when Kassari declined.
He studiously ignored her on the way to the ship, until he heard Leorio ask for a date. Hisoka gripped the side of the boat so hard he left dents in the wood. He waited for her answer, his entire body tense. You had better not even consider it Kassari. Hisoka was not ready to kill Leorio yet; he planned to save him until Leorio was strong enough to be a challenge for him. Its not the right time, he reminded himself, calming down slowly.
As soon as the boat reached the ship, he climbed the ladder and went to find some helpless crew member to relieve his frustration on.
Hours had passed and Kassari continued to sit at the rail. She did not register what was going on around the ship. Her thoughts were focused on her family's strict training and its simple rules.
"Do what is necessary; do not make commitments you can't keep, because you must abide by your word. Do not persecute the helpless and loyalty to family and the sovereign nation is an absolute demand." These are the few simple laws that govern the Moslou family. Do what is necessary. I think I have finally come to understand how that applies here.
The hunter exam was not just a tradition for her family, it was a requirement. The purpose being a trial by fire, a ritual coming of age ceremony; with the secondary goal of identifying areas of each young adult's skills that needed further training.
Training had started as a toddler, learning how to open the charkas and control the energy flow. The different ways the body manipulated the energy would result in different abilities.
Learning to send and receive the spirit energy allowed for aura perception. With refinement, this would progress to telepathy and mind reading, as well as the skill of manipulating the energy of another's mind and charkas.
Learning how to send and control large bursts of spirit energy allowed telekinesis. This had been very difficult for Kassari to master. She was capable of moving microscopic parts and chemicals in the body and triggering the nervous center to stimulate the body, but she could not sustain the incredible amount of energy needed to move objects larger than a paint brush. However, her skill in the micro telekinesis was unparalleled.
Astral projection was not taught until Kassari had reached the age of eight. It requires the person to push his/her consciousness and spirit out of the body using the solar plexus charka as a door. People can easily become disoriented when performing this. It had taken her four years to completely master this technique.
The weapon training and martial arts training Kassari received had been very extensive and she was considered very good. Well, above average, but not excellent or extraordinary by her family's standards. Her metaphysical talents were considered her greatest strength. In these she was considered something of a prodigy.
Kassari's thoughts lingered on long lectures she had to listen to on ethics and the use of her talents. She could still remember her aunt's speeches word for word.
"Do what is necessary kasseri. If you must use telepathy and read someone's thoughts for a genuine reason that is one matter, however, prying into someone's private thoughts out of curiosity or to learn some juicy tidbits to gossip about is greatly frowned upon and if discovered would most certainly be punished.
Her final talk with her mentor before leaving for the exam had seemed easy enough to follow. "Kassari, do your best, do what is necessary to survive and complete as much of the exam as possible. If you pass, you will be considered an adult with full rights and privileges, as well as responsibilities. You will be allowed to pursue your own path, decide your own goals and do as you wish with your personal life. The family may from time to time require your assistance, at which time you are obligated to do as requested." Her aunt's usually happy expression was serious. "If you should fail, you will remain as a child and will undergo extensive training in order to retake the exam the following year."
Kassari sighed. It was starting to get dark and they would be in port soon. Yet another test to finish, or fail. To go back home and live under strict rules and 8 hours of grueling training sessions each day or to be free to determine her own life. Failure was not an option. This long reflection had cemented Kassari's will to complete her goals.
"Were the hell is that girl." Hisoka mumbled. "I have not seen her all day." Strolling around the deck, he almost did not see her. A small lump, melting into the rail, blending into the shadows; head down, hair blowing into unheeded knots. "Pull yourself together princess. Two months with me is not the end of the world." Hisoka's voice carried to her.
"I am fine." Kassari turned her head to look at him. "However, I am not upset about the wager. Your conceit is showing. I was just thinking."
"Thinking about what?"
She knew that telling him would play into his hands and give him ammunition to use when she least expected it. "Personal things." She pulled herself up, her muscles stiff from sitting for so long.
Hisoka pinned her against the rail, one arm on either side, her back to him. "You weren't thinking of another man were you?" A faint hint of malice colored his voice. "You weren't thinking of Leorio, were you?"
No. Damn you!" Kassari exploded, slamming her hand against the rail. "My life does not revolve around you or some other man! I have real concerns and goals and dreams and they do not involve men! Just because I am attracted to you and find you beautiful and sensuous does not mean that you are the only this I think about!" She pushed him aside and stomped towards the bow of the ship. Hisoka's face lit up, a Cheshire cat smile on his lips. "So, you are attracted to me and think I am sexy? Well then that's different."
"I can not believe I said that." Kassari moaned. "He made me so mad and I stupidly blurt out what I think of him." She ran down the companionway stairs, to her small cabin and locked the door.
Kassari spent the remaining time of the exam recuperating from her injuries and reflecting on her situation. During this time, she had felt the occasional flickers of aura in different areas near her position; however, no one had approached her.
I am healing quickly, but my broken ribs are going to put me at a disadvantage in the remaining test. She considered as she began moving back to the start point. Hitching her backpack onto her shoulder, she felt a shooting pain through her ribs. Damn, Hisoka, he doesn't do anything in moderation. Kassari's pace was slower that usual, her head down, mirroring her inner conflict.
Hisoka had periodically patrolled an area around her camp for the remaining two days. Being careful not to reveal his presence. He did not do so out of concern for her injuries as much as out of concern for his investment.
I sense her reluctance to kill. This is going to be an obstacle that I will teach her to overcome, despite herself. Hisoka mused as he formed plans for the next 60 days.
Kassari arrived at the start area and sat at the edge of the tree line, partially concealed from view. Just off shore she could make out a ship approaching. When it was approximately half a mile from the beach a cannon was fired and the end of the test was announced.
"Participants have one hour to return to the start point. From this time on, no more number sheets may be taken. Sheets will be tracked and verified and candidates who disregard this will be disqualified."
Gradually, the remaining participants filtered through the trees and onto the beach. A group of three chatted on their way to the beach; a boy, a teenager and a young man. The boy spotted another competitor his age and ran towards him calling, "Hey Killua! Looks like we all made it." He laughed.
"Gon." The boy named Killua smiled in greeting and they broke apart from the other two to talk about their adventures/
The tall young man with black hair and sunglasses glanced around checking out the survivors. Noticing Kassari, he said something to his companion and walked towards her, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
Looking over the top of his small, round sunglasses, he stared at Kassari sitting on the ground. "Um, hello, I'm sorry but I do not recognize you and I thought I knew the rest of the candidates." His tone conveyed confusion. "I'm Leorio, #403." He held out his hand.
"Hello Leorio. I'm Kassari, #346. I've seen you around but we haven't had a chance to talk." Kassari grasped his hand and shook it hesitantly, blushing at his overt stare.
"Hey, #346. . . I remember now, that was some guy wearing a black ninja costume."
"Well, as you can see, I am not a guy. I wore that uniform because I hate being stared at." She said pointedly.
"Oh . . . uh . . . sorry about that." Leorio looked away with flushed cheeks, embarrassed. Glancing back over his shoulder, he noticed that a small boat had pulled up to take everyone to the ship. Gon, Killua and the other young man were standing in a group waiting for him. "Time to leave this battlefield." He turned back to Kassari and offered her a hand to help her off the ground.
She took his assistance and was immediately sorry she did, as her healing ribs protested. Wincing, she picked up her backpack.
Leorio saw her bandages and realized that she was injured. "Will you let me carry that for you? I can tell your hurt pretty badly." He gestured towards the pack, his face showing his concern.
Kassari felt it then, suddenly, the dangerous aura that Hisoka radiated when he became angry. She spotted him quickly about 20 yards away. He was intently watching Leorio and her, a small frown on his face.
"No, it's ok. Really. I can carry it myself." She hurriedly waved off his assistance, smiling nervously. Great if Hisoka thinks I'm flirting with this guy, he might decide to kill him. "You had better go and catch up with your friends, they are waiting." She nodded towards the small group; bout could not look him in the eye.
"Sure. Come with me and meet them." Leorio invited.
Glancing towards Hisoka she saw that he had turned away and was striding towards the boat. "Alright, I have only met a couple of other candidates," she agreed.
Leorio led her over to the others and introduced her. "Kassari, this is Gon, Killua and Kurapika." He pointed out each as he said there name.
Killua and Kurapika returned a reserved hello. While Gon bubbled over in eagerness, "Hi! Gee, we better go, the boat is waiting."
Kassari followed them to the boat and sat next to Leorio. Gon chattered nonstop about his week, his spiky black hair moving animatedly. Killua and Kurapika listened to him making occasional comments.
Killua also about 12 years old, had messy white hair to the length of his chin, large dark eyes, almost too big for his pixie shaped face and a serious expression.
Kurapika was an athletic young man with a girlish look, blond hair down to his shoulders and a small smile on his lips as if amused by Gon's tale. Kassari imagined that he was often mistaken for a girl.
Hisoka sat at the other end of the boat, gazing at the ship. A pensive look, eyes half-closed in thought, lips slightly pouting.
Leorio tried not to be obvious, but he still caught himself staring at Kassari. "Would you like to go on a date with me sometime?" His face turned bright red as he stammered out his question.
Kassari was not sure how to answer, Leorio seemed to be a really nice guy, however, she was not in the position to accept and she could feel that Hisoka had heard the question and was very displeased. "I'm sorry, Leorio. I would like to sometime, I do not know when that would be possible." She heard a faint NEVER, from Hisoka in her mind. She could not meet Leorio's eyes, afraid that he might see something that she did not intend for him to see, regret. I do not want to endanger Leorio or deal with that diabolical mood of his right now.
When the boat finally docked with the ship, Kassari was dismayed to see that the only way aboard was a thick, irregular rope net. The sides of the ship were at least 20 feet high. Shit, this is not going to be easy with my ribs. I can manipulate microscopic cells, but this is impossible.
Hisoka had already climbed up the ladder and disappeared over the side.
Gon proved to be a very observant lad, he looked at Kassari and then at the ship. "I don't think you can climb that very well. Not with broken bones." A thoughtful expression on his face. "I know, I can jump onto the boat and carry you and your stuff. What do you think?"
"Gon, I think you're brilliant."
Gon tossed the pack over his shoulder and picked up Kassari as if she weighed nothing. Springing into the air, he lightly landed on the deck and set her down.
"Thanks, Gon. It would have been very painful to climb that net." She shot him a glowing smile.
Gon got starry eyed and stuttered, "Yourrr welcome. I need to go now. See you later." He ran to catch up with his friend Killua.
Kassari moved to the prow of the ship, she had never been comfortable around people out side of her own family. Being a princess was not conducive to having friends. People saw her as a social stepping stone or as something to stare at like a zoo animal. She hated it. Hated being judged as a pretty face with no brain, hated not being able to trust what others wanted of her; never really knowing if they were acting or if they genuinely like her or if maybe they just pretended friendship to meet her brother, the future monarch. In many ways that was part of the draw she felt towards Hisoka. If anything, he seemed to hold her title and social position in contempt. He put the faintest emphasis on the word princess, when he would say it, it was the way someone else would say bitch.
My family would definitely not like Hisoka. She slid down the rail sitting on the deck. Her skin felt chilled by the wind even as the sun warmed the wood under her. I do not know that I like Hisoka either, for that matter. She held onto the bottom rung of the rail and watched the open sea.
Earlier, Hisoka had seen Kassari as soon as he walked onto the beach. She sat stiffly, obviously uncomfortable from her injuries, her violet dress clinging to her, bandages visible from under her arms. With a large bruise on her temple and small cuts over her face and neck, it would be apparent to all that she had been in a nasty fight. Poor little princess, did the bad man hurt you? He laughed to himself.
When Leorio approached her and started to flirt, Hisoka was not pleased. I would have to pick a toy all the other boys want, wouldn't I? Hearing Leorio offer to help carry her pack almost caused him to start taking out his deck of cards. He barely controlled the impulse and quickly turned away when Kassari declined.
He studiously ignored her on the way to the ship, until he heard Leorio ask for a date. Hisoka gripped the side of the boat so hard he left dents in the wood. He waited for her answer, his entire body tense. You had better not even consider it Kassari. Hisoka was not ready to kill Leorio yet; he planned to save him until Leorio was strong enough to be a challenge for him. Its not the right time, he reminded himself, calming down slowly.
As soon as the boat reached the ship, he climbed the ladder and went to find some helpless crew member to relieve his frustration on.
Hours had passed and Kassari continued to sit at the rail. She did not register what was going on around the ship. Her thoughts were focused on her family's strict training and its simple rules.
"Do what is necessary; do not make commitments you can't keep, because you must abide by your word. Do not persecute the helpless and loyalty to family and the sovereign nation is an absolute demand." These are the few simple laws that govern the Moslou family. Do what is necessary. I think I have finally come to understand how that applies here.
The hunter exam was not just a tradition for her family, it was a requirement. The purpose being a trial by fire, a ritual coming of age ceremony; with the secondary goal of identifying areas of each young adult's skills that needed further training.
Training had started as a toddler, learning how to open the charkas and control the energy flow. The different ways the body manipulated the energy would result in different abilities.
Learning to send and receive the spirit energy allowed for aura perception. With refinement, this would progress to telepathy and mind reading, as well as the skill of manipulating the energy of another's mind and charkas.
Learning how to send and control large bursts of spirit energy allowed telekinesis. This had been very difficult for Kassari to master. She was capable of moving microscopic parts and chemicals in the body and triggering the nervous center to stimulate the body, but she could not sustain the incredible amount of energy needed to move objects larger than a paint brush. However, her skill in the micro telekinesis was unparalleled.
Astral projection was not taught until Kassari had reached the age of eight. It requires the person to push his/her consciousness and spirit out of the body using the solar plexus charka as a door. People can easily become disoriented when performing this. It had taken her four years to completely master this technique.
The weapon training and martial arts training Kassari received had been very extensive and she was considered very good. Well, above average, but not excellent or extraordinary by her family's standards. Her metaphysical talents were considered her greatest strength. In these she was considered something of a prodigy.
Kassari's thoughts lingered on long lectures she had to listen to on ethics and the use of her talents. She could still remember her aunt's speeches word for word.
"Do what is necessary kasseri. If you must use telepathy and read someone's thoughts for a genuine reason that is one matter, however, prying into someone's private thoughts out of curiosity or to learn some juicy tidbits to gossip about is greatly frowned upon and if discovered would most certainly be punished.
Her final talk with her mentor before leaving for the exam had seemed easy enough to follow. "Kassari, do your best, do what is necessary to survive and complete as much of the exam as possible. If you pass, you will be considered an adult with full rights and privileges, as well as responsibilities. You will be allowed to pursue your own path, decide your own goals and do as you wish with your personal life. The family may from time to time require your assistance, at which time you are obligated to do as requested." Her aunt's usually happy expression was serious. "If you should fail, you will remain as a child and will undergo extensive training in order to retake the exam the following year."
Kassari sighed. It was starting to get dark and they would be in port soon. Yet another test to finish, or fail. To go back home and live under strict rules and 8 hours of grueling training sessions each day or to be free to determine her own life. Failure was not an option. This long reflection had cemented Kassari's will to complete her goals.
"Were the hell is that girl." Hisoka mumbled. "I have not seen her all day." Strolling around the deck, he almost did not see her. A small lump, melting into the rail, blending into the shadows; head down, hair blowing into unheeded knots. "Pull yourself together princess. Two months with me is not the end of the world." Hisoka's voice carried to her.
"I am fine." Kassari turned her head to look at him. "However, I am not upset about the wager. Your conceit is showing. I was just thinking."
"Thinking about what?"
She knew that telling him would play into his hands and give him ammunition to use when she least expected it. "Personal things." She pulled herself up, her muscles stiff from sitting for so long.
Hisoka pinned her against the rail, one arm on either side, her back to him. "You weren't thinking of another man were you?" A faint hint of malice colored his voice. "You weren't thinking of Leorio, were you?"
No. Damn you!" Kassari exploded, slamming her hand against the rail. "My life does not revolve around you or some other man! I have real concerns and goals and dreams and they do not involve men! Just because I am attracted to you and find you beautiful and sensuous does not mean that you are the only this I think about!" She pushed him aside and stomped towards the bow of the ship. Hisoka's face lit up, a Cheshire cat smile on his lips. "So, you are attracted to me and think I am sexy? Well then that's different."
"I can not believe I said that." Kassari moaned. "He made me so mad and I stupidly blurt out what I think of him." She ran down the companionway stairs, to her small cabin and locked the door.