Chapter Four

The Hunter's Examination Begins

John finished his application first, but instead of going without me he just sat in silent thought. Although I was curious what was on his mind I kept working on the application.

Finally, I was done. Before I even spoke John stood up, application in hand, "Come on Kurako, lets get this done." Damn it, I hated when he did that. He seemed to be able to read people's minds at times. I grabbed my application and got up. I walked over to the door. With no bell, handle, or button I just sighed and knocked.

The door opened to a small corridor. There was a door to the left and one directly on the other side of the hall. A HUcastel (android female hunter of the Hunter class) greeted us. "Can I help you?" she asked. John silently held up his application, logo on the top showing. I followed suit.

The android looked from one application to another. "In here please," she said as she pushed a button on the wall. The door opposite us opened and we were led inside. I was kind of disappointed; it was just a room with six desks in it.

"Please take a seat," the android said and she went to get some papers. John and I sat on opposite ends of the room, and from the look on his face you'd think he was simply going to be reading the newspaper. I'm as nervous as anything about this. The android returned, carrying two lengthy papers. "This is the written portion of the hunter's examination. I will take your applications and look over them while you are taking the test. If your applications are unacceptable you will be removed during the test."

I give John a weak grin before getting to work. The android took my application and John's before going to the back wall to examine them. Sweating bullets, I flip over the cover paper and get to work.

…

An hour after the test began I put my pen down. I was pretty sure I had answered all the general questions good enough. I know I failed the gun part of the exam, I just wasn't to good with them. I knew many things about the techniques, as my father had taught me much. One thing I will never forget this the feeling I had about the blade section, I knew I had aced that one perfectly.

The android must have seen me sitting idly, John too for that matter. "Please hand me your papers and proceed through this door."

The door opposite that which we had come in opened. As we stood up John said to me, "Stop worrying Kurako, you probably did very well on the written exam."
Damn it, there he goes again. How does he read minds? "Oh well," I thought, "I'll figure it out someday." The next room had three other doors and a medical scanner unit. One door was the normal, dull gray color. The other doors however were very different colors, namely one was red and one was green.

"This test is taken one at a time, you will allowed to use either a wooden saber or a laser handgun for this test. Techniques are not allowed."

I started to take a step forward; to volunteer to go first, then John spoke up, "I'll go first." He then turned to me and looked at me, "Know you Kurako, you'll probably destroy the place. I'd just like to be able to get my chance in today, instead of after they repair the place." John walked over to the rack next to the android and pulled out a wooden saber, "I'll be as quick as I can, then you can have your fun." John walked into the open red door. The door closed behind John as I just stared. The shock of what had just happened had me motionless for a while.

John has a gentle voice that is always peaceful and calm. You rarely hear his voice though because he doesn't often speak. Whenever he does speak he usually says just one or two short sentences. I had never heard John speak so many words in one sitting. The android walked past me to a control booth, "Would you shut your mouth, you're looking very stupid with it hanging open like that."

After five minutes or so the green door opened and John came out, his long red hair drenched in sweat. "Be careful Kurako," he said, speaking his usual amount.

I took the saber from John as I said, "How bad can it be? If it got you to do such a workout then I'm defiantly going to have a good time. The only other times I've seen you look so tired is after one of our all out sparring matches."

I walked through the now open red doors. They closed behind me. Now the real fun would begin.