As the trio of friends arrive at what seems like a deserted town, a stage pops from out in the open. With people wearing masks and an old lady.

"And what is this supposed to be?!" Said Leorio. "I thought we were going to the cedar tree. Not a ghost town."

"Silence, Leorio." Kurapika grabbed his suit.

"Tch." Leorio pulled his hand away.

"Exciting… Exciting…" Leorio would not respond to this like before.

"TIME FOR THE EXCITING 2 CHOICE QUIZ!" shouted the old lady. With the people in masks playing instruments in hand as a celebration.

"A quiz?" Leorio scratched his head with Kurapika in shock, and Gon with a grin.

"We were going to the cedar tree, would you know where to go?" Gon raised his hand and asked before the lady could say her line.

"You have to go through this town to pass. But you have to answer this 2 choice quiz. If you fail, you must forfeit the Hunter Exam." Answered the woman.

"Heh, so this is part of the Hunter Exam too? Figures." Kurapika said with his hand on his forehead.

"You must answer within 5 seconds or you are disqualified." Said the old lady.

"Geez guys hurry up." A man appeared from the back.

"Who is this guy?" Leorio backed away.

"He was following us since Dolle Harbor." Said Gon with his finger up.

"Really?" Kurapika and Leorio were in a little shock.

"I couldn't help but listen in on your conversation. If you don't mind, I'd like to go first."

"What should we do?" Leorio grouped the three into a circle.

"I say we let him go first, so that we have an idea of what is to come." Gon replied.

"Agreed." Kurapika nodded.

"Welp, I'm going first." The man walked up to the stage.

"Here is your one question of this quiz." The lady started.

"Wait, one question!?" Leorio shouted.

"Shh." Gon and Kurapika both gave Leorio a 'shh'.

"Rouges have captured your mother and your lover, you may only save one. 1. Your mother. 2. Your lover. Who will you save?"

Leorio remained silent.

"Easy, the answer is number 1."

"Hoh? And why do you say that?"

"A mother is irreplaceable, but you can always find another lover." The man shrugged.

"You may go."

Leorio, Kurapika and Gon gave the man a look as he walked away, knowing he went the wrong way.

"Hmm…" The lady looked at the three with skepticism.

"You pass the quiz. You may go to the cedar tree." The lady points at the door they came from earlier.

"Wait, we haven't even answered yet!" Leorio shouted.

"It's clear you knew the answer since the very beginning. You may go to the cedar tree."

A few minutes before.

"Hey, Leorio, wanna do some trivia?" Gon looks back while walking.

"Yeah, sure. This is a long-ass walk anyway. I'm down."

"No objections here." Kurapika joins in the conversation.

"Well, some people kidnapped your daughter and your son. Who do you save?" Gon asks the two.

"Well Gon, that's extremely subjective and there is no right answer. I'm gonna pick the son." Leorio hanged his suitcase on his back and yawned.

"Then I'll choose the daughter." Kurapika answered.

"Bzzt! You're wrong, both of you!" Gon made an X with his arms.

"What do you mean? We both answered on either one."

"Actually, Leorio was right when he said that there is no answer. The correct answer is non-existent. So it's just best to not answer at all! It's a trick question, see?" Gon continues walking.

"I suppose you are right." Kurapika placed his fingers on his chin while he thought about it.

"Gon! Haha! It's almost like you knew we were taking that quiz. Haha!" Leorio pats his hand on Gon's head.

"Let's go, wouldn't wanna keep your friend waiting for you."

"Oh?" Truly what an interesting trio. They handle their teamwork impressively. I would hope they would become amazing Hunters. The lady thought.

" ahem, You would need to walk 2 hours to reach the tree. There is also a couple in a cabin that lives under that same tree. They serve as Navigators. If you meet their standards. They may lead you to the exam site." The old lady walked up close behind them.

"Now go, wouldn't want to keep your friend waiting, young man. I hope you realized the lesson in this quiz."

"I did, now let's go Leorio, Kurapika!" Gon ran straight ahead of them.

"Hey! Gon, you little- Wait for us!" Leorio shouted and chased after Gon while Kurapika followed.

The lady was in shock, after hearing what Gon said. She finally stared to look deep into Gon. His expression, the way he moves, talks. He's trying to cherish each and every moment he spends with them. And the way he acts is different than the others.. don't tell me… He's been there. I'll have to let him know. The lady pulled out her phone, and dialed a number.

"Hey, I've met the kid that the Captain described. I also found out one thing. He's been to the…"

"I see.. I see.." Netero hangs up and sits down on his chair, a bit shocked.

"Truly what a horrible fate to be met."

"Are you all right, Chairman?" Beans asks Netero.

"I'm fine, I just… received a few interesting calls."

4 hours later.

"Hey, when are we going to get there. The hag said 2 hours. Well it's already been 4 hours! Jeez." Leorio stretched out his arms. "Hm? Another 'Beware of Magical Beasts' sign, huh?"

"Look, there's the tree."Kurapika pointed to a large cedar tree on top of a hill.

"Let's go!" Gon started sprinting to the cabin.

"Gon! Hold up!" Leorio stumbled towards the cabin.

Knock Knock.

Leorio knocks on the door. "Huh, is anybody home? We're coming in."

Inside was a Kiriko holding a woman in it's arms.

"Hey! It's a magical beast." Leorio exclaimed, panicking.

"A Kiriko." Answered Kurapika.

"A Kiri-what?" Leorio looked at Kurapika.

"It's a Kiriko, a magical beast that can shapeshift into a human. It's even intelligent enough to understand human speech."

The Kiriko jumps out the broken window.

A man was behind the Kiriko, severely wounded.

"Leorio, take care of the man. Me and Kurapika will go after the Kiriko." Gon said as he jumped out the window.

"Gotcha." Leorio opened his suitcase and pulled out medical equipment.

Kurapika jumped out the window, almost losing sight of Gon as his speed was much faster than his last life.

"Damn, he's fast." Kurapika smiled as he jumped up the tree branches to follow Gon.

"Hey, Kiriko!" Shouted Gon as he gained on the beast.

"Huh?" The Kiriko turned around. Gon wasn't there. And the next thing it knew, it had felt extreme pain on it's right shoulder.

The Kiriko fell to a branch below, barely catching itself before it hit the ground.

Maybe I put a little bit too much oomph into that hit. Gon thought while Kurapika caught the woman that fell from the creatures grasp.

"You filthy brat, you'll pay for this!" The Kiriko fled deeper into the forest.

Gon followed the beast, activating Zetsu and remaining as silent as possible. His presence completely hidden.

Gon lured the Kiriko into a false sense of security, keeping up and not losing sight until they reached the cliff-side.

The Kiriko dived into a tree, Gon not following as it led to the end of the cliff. Instead, he jumped up over the tree, and barely missed the Kiriko just after it had swapped places, he knew this and stopped, right beside it the other one on top of the tree branch.

"Hey." Gon tapped it's shoulder, being caught off guard. "Have you seen the other one?"

Being caught off guard, the creature asked.

"What other one?"

"The other Kiriko." Gon looked it into the eyes.

"Heh… Heheheh… HUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The Kiriko burst into laughter upon hearing this. Knowing that it had been outplayed by the boy.

"Did I say something funny?" Gon attempted to play this out like before.

"Hey, Honey, come over here, you gotta see this!" the Kiriko exclaimed.

Back at the cabin, with the two Kiriko squatting on the forest floor.

"It's been ages since someone has been able to tell us apart!" The Kiriko continue laughing.

"Can you tell them apart?" Leorio whispers to Kurapika. "Not a difference."

"And that hit, too! This kid's strength and speed is off the hooks!" They continue laughing and having the same exchange with the characters as Gon's last life.

"See, the one Kurapika and I beat is…"

"The Hunter Exam location changes every…"

"We test to see if they're qualified…"

"Mr. Kurapika, you successfully…"

"Mr. Leorio, you never found out…"

"Mr. Gon, your superhuman physique and…"

The Kiriko then fly them to the location of the Hunter Exam. A restaurant in Zaban City.

"So you mean that all the Aspiring Hunters in the world will gather here. At a restaurant?!" Leorio complained to the Navigator.

"Exactly." The Navigator said, leaving the two people in surprise. Gon was just there, restless to see Killua once more.

"No-one would expect a restaurant to be the location of a Hunter Exam."

"I guess, you're right."

They enter the restaurant, being greeted by a chef who asks them what they want.

"Is the back room open?" The Navigator asks.

"What for?" The Chef asks too.

"I want the steak combo that will let me see the light. For three, please."

The Chef paused, then said.

"For three… eh? How do you want them?"

"Grilled under a low flame until done."

"Got it, please seat yourself in the back room."

They enter the room, three seats prepared for them, and the Navigator telling them to wait.

Leorio asks why they need to wait, while Gon is waiting for the room to reveal the Exam. So he can finally reunite with an old comrade.

The room lowers 100 stories down to the Exam site after the Navigator left the room.

Kurapika comments, "It seems that this room is an elevator."

Leorio is a little irritated at what the Navigator said, as if he meant that they will most likely fail this years Exam.

"1 in 3."

"Huh?" Leorio looks at Kurapika.

"Those are the chances that a rookie will pass the Exam. Some are mentally damaged due to the demands of the test. And some are discouraged by veteran candidates and never take a crack at it again."

"So people are really willing to risk everything to become a Hunter?" asked Gon, knowing this beforehand but wanted to make conversation.

Leorio slams his hand on the table.

"Of course they do! Hunters make the most money in this world!"

Sparking an argument between Kurapika and Leorio about the importance of a Hunter.

Gon giggles in amusement while the two fight like they did in old times. Before everything.

"Gon! Which Hunter do you strive to be?!"

As the two said that, they had arrived to the Exam location. Gon was excited to meet Killua again. To see Killua alive again.

The door opens, revealing a tunnel with hundreds of other candidates inside.

They exit, sensing an incredibly tense atmosphere in the area. A person who seems like a green bean, handed each of them a badge, each with a number on it. 403 on one, 404 on the second, and 405 on the third.

Leorio takes the one labeled 403.

Kurapika takes 404.

And Gon takes badge 405. And in doing so, a flow of nostalgia flew through him as the texture, number and scent of the badge reminds him of the time he spent here.

He happily puts on the badge, and thanks the person. He now begins to scout out the area for Killua, until he is interrupted by a man sitting on a high ledge. He introduces himself as Tonpa. Gon remembers this man as an infamous rookie crusher, but tries to ignore the fact and start conversation. He gives the trio a tour of all the candidates who have attended the Exam multiple times. A particular person caught Gon's eyes. He was wearing white, his physique being a large upper chest and a lower torso. Spiky hair with makeup on his face. He knew this person well. A Phantom Troupe member as well as a rival. Hisoka. He reminds himself to be wary of him. While Tonpa is still giving his introductions, a man starts to disappear into flower petals, screaming in agony as that happens. Tonpa then introduces them to Hisoka, the most dangerous of the bunch. After that, he gave each of them a drink, infused with heavy laxatives. Gon once again knew this, but pretended that it had gotten bad and gave the juice back. Once that mess had been over, Gon finally started looking for Killua, spotting him drinking the very same laxative-infused juice. He ran up to him, trying to hold back his tears and sentimentality, and greeted Killua.

"Yo, I didn't think that there would be other kids taking the exam!" Gon runs up to Killua, holding his hands at his backpack.

"Oh hey, Gon." Replied Killua.

"What did you just say?" Gon was unable to process what he just said.

"I… don't know… it just came to me.."

"Well, I'm Gon, who are you?"

"Killua, nice to meet you."

AN: Just couldn't wait for it so I just decided to make the next chapter in a day. :O. Also, I stand corrected when I say that the pine tree is actually a cedar tree. I know that they are virtually the same in the different translations but I just wanted to point it out, as people may ask. Again, thank you for reading this! Please do check out Trip x Through x Time if you have the chance. Please leave a review! This is Cake, signing off.