"Bye, captain!" I said as I landed from my backflip off the railings of the ship. A chorus of thanks could be heard from the gangplank, where gruff Leorio and formal Kurapika were stepping off, like the normal people they are.

Oh! Sweet, steady, unmoving ground! How I loved to be rid of the hateful swaying motion of the ship. I breathed in deeply – fresh air, salty but fresh air all the same. We were all waiting for the fourth member of our motley crew, Gon, who was currently receiving words of wisdom from the mouth of our glorious Captain. Finally, the aforementioned captain straightened, and waved at our Gon, who was doing screw jumps as he waved his arms in the air, calling, "Bye, captain! See you later!

We started down the trail to the centre of the town of Doles. Leorio was the only one who knew where the exam was held. He was boastful about it, honestly, such a simpleton. Going straight to Zaban City and wandering around for snatches of conversations is too unreliable, not to mention easy. No, the location of the Exam must be passed from ear to be confidential and not at all through public transportation.

Gon had not exchanged many words with me but we seemed to have developed a bond after nearly drowning together. Kurapika was a solo artist who did not speak much in general whilst Leorio had something to say about everything. I was reserved but I thought the blonde's quiet calm quite comforting.

We arrived at a giant map of the town. The older man efficiently began pointing out the different bus routes we could take to get to Zaban City. "I'm going to the cedar tree." Gon stated. Leorio peered down at the child over his round sunglasses. Said child leaned forward and balanced on his heel, grinning adorably up at Leorio, who told him exactly what he thought of going to 'a godforsaken tree' miles and miles out of our way. A man of his own mind and will, truly a freedom fighter. . .

"The captain told me to go to the cedar tree," Gon said, "I'm going to go to the cedar tree, we don't have any reason to doubt the captain."

"Gon, are you sure you heard right?" asked the ever logical Kurapika. The boy nodded his affirmative.

"You guys are crazy," Leorio yelled, "I'm going to go that way, it was nice knowing you guys." He waved and headed off away from us. He looked back. "What? Kurapika? Su?"

Kurpaika shook his head, "I'm more curious about Gon than I am of the tip." And with that he followed Gon. Leorio looked at me. It wasn't anything personal but Leorio is quite easily swayed and too nice to doubt. Going away from all civilisation to stake out a random tree didn't seem such a logical reason either. Oh the other hand, if I go with Leorio I would have to board a bus, or at least some mode of transport. If I follow Gon, I would be walking through a forest.

"Leorio, I hate transportation, so I'm going to wing it with Gon," I said, "It was fun meeting you."

Leorio rolled his eyes, "Yeah, whatever, take care."

And then there were four . . .

~oOo~

We trekked silently up the hill. Leorio was hardly the flower in our garden of thorns but it was awfully quiet without his boisterous complaints. A soft breeze swept through the air, carrying scents of damp earth and plants. I inhaled deeply. It was comforting to have a little bit of home. The sky was a cloudless blue, the sunshine warm and gentle and the trail lined with flowers lulled us into a comfortable silence.

But not enough for me to miss the presence following us. I shot a sidelong glance at Kurapika, who caught my eye and nodded. My hand traced the hilt of my twin scythes at my hip. Kurapika put a warning hand on my arm. Startled, I jerked away. "S-sorry." I said, softly. I felt guilty, the older teen meant well but I was too sensitive. The trail had widened into a grassy clearing.

A greyish brown rhino was chewing grass and eyeing us warily. With Gon as out leader, we walked slowly along the edge of the clearing, watching as the Rhino stiffened. Far too conscious of the blonde's presence, I shuffled away from him as I walked and closer to the rhino. The Rhino became agitated. Gon walked up to it. "Hey, Mr Rhino," He said, slowly raising his hand to stroke its horn, "we don't want to hurt you, we just want to pass through." The rhino visibly relaxed. Faint vibrations in the ground jolted us. It got heavier and heavier before the blue figure of Leorio could be seen charging up the track.

"Holy shit, guys!" He yelled, when he reached us "There's a bloomin' monster!" The idiot flicked out his knife and threw it at the rhino. The poor thing freaked out so much it charged at Leorio. Not that I blame it - I would too. The rhino chased him round and round before he clambered up a tree in sheer desperation. Kurapika sighed and dragged his hand down his face. Gon rushed to soothe the traumatised rhino. The boy had an amazing skill with animals.

Crazy but well-meaning Leorio doing idiotic but well-meaning things. And despite myself, I smiled.

~oOo~

A loud crash thundered behind us, followed by a flow of experienced swearing. A man in a pale blue shirt crawled out of the bushes, nursing the bump on his head. "Ouch," he grumbled, "hey guys, some help? I think I twisted my ankle." Gon, being the loving, gullible guy he is, spun right around and went to help the man up. "Thanks, dude," the man said, "the name's Matthew."

Gon probably knew Matthew was following us but he probably thought he had good reasons for keeping hidden because he didn't mention it once, and was even giving him a piggy-back. A piggy-back! He was a grown man, twisted ankle or not!

Me, on the other hand was not nearly so trusting. He had preferred sneaking behind us to simply walking behind us. He had the air of someone who thought they were much better than another, speaking to me and Kurapika with a pacifying tone. With Gon, not much better but seeing as he was the kid's mercy… He seemed to respect Leorio, but the formal attire may have helped. I could tell the blonde at my side didn't trust our new buddy either.

The trail widened into yet another clearing. This clearing was studded with neat rows of messy houses. It had a ghost town kind of feeling about it. Tumbleweed rolled past casually as we surveyed the seemingly empty town. The rustling of a thousand skirts and shuffling feet could be faintly heard.

"What? An empty town?" Leorio said, confidently, "Guys, let's get this over with."

"I can hear them breathing." The boy in green said softly, setting his baggage (Matthew) down. Listening to them breathe… just a tad bit creepy there, kiddo.

"I hear fabrics moving." Kurapika stated, and looked at Leorio like, how much more obvious could it be?

I put forth my observation: "Feet moving, we're being watched." Matthew chimed in with a boisterous "Yeah, yeah!" The eldest of us looked at us like we were freaks. Ahh simple, open book Leorio. We just had heightened senses, you ordinary human.

The rustling of fabrics increased in volume as masked figures glided from alleys into the street, a hunched figure on a float in the middle of them. "The exciting…" she whispered, her face shadowed by her hood, "the exciting…"

"The exciting…?" we echoed her, confused and wary.

"THE EXCITING TWO CHOICE QUIZ!" The figure screamed, throwing her hood back violently to reveal a shrunken old woman. We stared her like she sprouted three heads. "Now . . . who would like to go first?" We stared back blankly.

Well basically it was a hit-and-run test. We have five seconds to give either the answer 'one' or 'two' and if we mess this up we're out of the Exam. It seemed simple enough, I had a lot of useless general knowledge stored up.

"So if one of them gets it wrong, I fail too?" Leorio asked, pointing at us. I felt my blood bubbling, the chances of Loudmouth Leorio crapping up were much more favourable.

"As if that would happen," Kurapika huffed. Yeah, you tell it like it is Blondie!

"What did you –!" The former started.

"But you know," Gon interrupted, "that would mean only one of us has to know the answer, right? I'm not so good at quizzes… you see." There was a general hum of agreement, it was a good system. Then there as the off chance that none of us knew the answer.

Matthew, who had been silently watching our strange exchange, piped up. "I want to go first. I would hate to be dragged down by them." Huh, true colours.

My hand inched towards my scythes while Leorio yelled at Matthew. Who, had just carried you up a freaking mountain, sneaky two-faced little…? I thought. I felt Kurapika's hand on my arm and let my hand fall back to my side. Having someone go first to gauge the test will be helpful anyway. The older teen was logical and thoughtful, I chose to trust him.

"Well, then, step forward, young man." The old woman's voice cut through. "Here is your question: evil villains have captured your mother and your lover. You can only save one. Select one for your mother and two for our lover. Who will you save?"

I frowned. What kind of heartless question was that? Leorio began delivering his opinion of the test immediately. The woman began counting down. Who would I choose? Probably my non-existent lover, seeing as my mother is out of the picture but I doubt that's what they're looking for.

"One," Matthew said, confidently. The old woman raised her eyebrows.

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Because you can never replace your mother, but you can always get another lover." He said, smiling. Well guess who I'm never dating . . . if you can replace your lover you probably never loved her anyway. He definitely failed.

"You may pass," the old woman and masked figures moved aside. What the hell?

"That's bull!" Cried Leorio, "How is that the right answer? We're supposed to say what the old lady wants to hear? And it's considered correct? I'm not hanging around for this shit!" He whirled around and stomped away two steps before the old lady demanded his return. We can't even leave, unless we wanted to get automatically disqualified.

"That's ridiculous!" Leorio exploded in rage. "Different people would expect different answers! There is no right answer!" And the man has my full agreement.

"No real answer…"Kurapika said, under his breath, one hand rested on his chin thoughtfully. "I got it!" He exclaims, "Leorio, t-"

"Ah, not another word from you, boy!" The old woman cut in. "If you attempt to speak again you will be disqualified. The old biddy's just making up rules as she goes . . . it seems the blondie figured it out, but what exactly?

"Here is your question: your son and daughter have been kidnapped. Select one for your son, and two for your daughter." A question as cruel as the last. Who would I rescue? Say I had no children, or two daughters? Wouldn't they have been kidnapped by the same organisation and thus kept together so I could save them both?

"Five."

No, she couldn't possibly know what children I were to have. It was from point blank, it must rely on common sense.

"Four."

Leorio walked over to a pile of scrap metal and chose a pipe, hefting it in his hand. Common sense . . . but I have to choose one . . .

"Three."

The son or the daughter? The boy or the girl? Leorio was walking back to us, brandishing the iron pipe threateningly.

"Two."

But Kurapika figured it out? From what? There is no right answer! There is no right answer. Neither boy nor girl. Select one or two, but what do I select for neither?

"One." Oh my lord, you just had to shut up for nothing! I slapped a hand over my mouth for fear of blurting out my discovery and screwing our chances. I wonder if Gon knew, Leorio didn't.

"Time's up."

Which was why he charged and took a flying leap and swung the iron pipe down on the old woman, who stood there unfazed, as if people bashed her head in on a daily basis. Though when I thought about it, it would explain an awful lot.

I dashed in front of the old woman and used the chain connecting my scythes to block the pipe. But it wasn't enough, the pipe had all of the brunette's brute strength behind it. I felt Kurapika's body behind mine, and the weight lifting of my heart. Hahaha, just kidding, I felt the weight lifting off my scythes because he was supporting me with his wooden swords. "Don't stop me Kurapika, Su, I won't be satisfied until I've taught this old hag a lesson!"

"It's Risumi," I said, through gritted teeth.

"Calm down, Leorio!" Kurapika shouted.

"How can I calm down?" Leorio fired back. "Then why did you say your name was Su?"

"You'll waste our correct response!"

"It's short for Risumi!"

"Our correct response?" Leorio asked, bewildered.

"Yeah, the correct response was silence."

"Oh, my. Then what about the guy from before?"

"Heard 'im scream," I drawled.

"She never said he answered correctly, that was the wrong path." The blonde said, softly.

"She sent 'im along the road of death," I added. Kurapika gave me a strange look, I smiled sheepishly.

"You kids are sharp, the correct path is through here," the old woman gestured to two slabs of metal in the rock wall of one of the houses. She kicked one of the slabs. Oh, it's a door.

"So… what happened to the other guy?" Leorio wondered, aloud. The old woman smirked.

"Heh, the girl's right, monsters roam the streets, but they stay away from me."

"Old lady, I'm sorry about my earlier actions." Leorio said, bowing low and respectfully.

"Heh, don't worry about it," the old woman waved it off, "I do this to meet guys-"

Oh, my.

"-like you. Have fun in the Exam."

We had bid the woman goodbye and stepped into the tunnel when we realised the fourth of our party wasn't with us. "What if it really happens," Gon wondered, "which one would I save?" Kurapika smiled.

". . . You're still at it, Gon?" Leorio said.

"Don't worry, kiddo," I said, patting him on the shoulder, "I'll get one while you get the other." I watched as the child's face split into an adorable grin. Now that sounded a tad psychotic.

The old woman cackled, "Okay, folks," she said, "it'll take two hours to reach the end of the tunnel, after that follow the road until you get to a wooden cabin. The couple there will guide you to the Exam site." she instructed, "hopefully . . ." she added under her breath.

~oOo~

Whoa, reviews, views! I finally know what traffic graphs are.

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MaoisSleepy - Glad you like it. Doesn't hold a candle to Spirit raven, though. That one was tops. (Y)