The cavern is filled with the sound of feet hitting the ground and heavy breathing. None of it registers to Rook. The only sound that reaches her ears is her own footsteps, which she matches to the person in front of her.
Step for step.
Breath for breath.
The world around her is in black and white. The colors of her target are muted, dull. The orange of her scarves in her peripheral is the brightest thing she sees.
Slowly, she reaches out her hand. As soon as her fingers close around the needle, it's color returns. She quickly withdraws.
With her prize in hand, she shortens her strides. Soon the crowd has separated her from her target. She lets out a sigh of relief and begins to run at her own pace rather than someone else's. In the blink of an eye, the world returns to normal and the sound descends upon her.
She smirks as she puts the needle in her bag. It's the fifth one she has managed to get since they started running. She's not sure how much time has actually passed, but they haven't got to the stairs yet. She looks around to see if anyone has dropped out.
I should really apologize to Leorio, she thinks. It will be easiest when we have the break, she decides.
She spots a familiar blond just ahead of her. Well some conversation would be nice, and Kurapika was always my favorite.
Smiling, the colors and sounds fade around her.
We've been going for 4 hours now. We must have covered at least sixty kilometers, Kurapika thinks. He glances over his shoulder, trying to get a glimpse of Gon or Leorio.
"Hi," a voice on his other side startles him and he wips his head around. Rook is running beside him. When did she get so close?
Kurapika doesn't reply as he turns his gaze ahead. Rook gets a few feet ahead of him before turning to face him, running backwards. She stays slightly to his left, so he's able to avoid eye contact.
"Where's your friends?" She asks. He doesn't bother responding. She lets out a sign of, what he assumes is, exasperation. "I'm sorry okay. I wasn't trying to hurt him." Kurapika focuses on her to try and gage her sincerity. It's an impossible task with the scarf covering half of her face. Her hair obscures the rest, allowing only her eyes to be seen.
"I'm not the one you should apologize to," he says as he looks away. There is a sharpness to his voice that surprises him.
"I know. I plan to." The easy confession has him looking at her again. Again her covered face reveals nothing of her true intentions.
"Why did you do it?" He finally decides to ask.
Rook shrugs and turns back around. She runs beside him in silence for almost half an hour. Kurapika has almost forgotten she's there when she speaks again.
"I can't handle people getting into my personal space," she says quietly. "It usually means a fight."
Kurapika isn't sure what to say to that, so he lets the subject drop. After another few minutes, he decided to ask another question.
"I know this may be a bit personal," Kurapika starts, glancing to the side to look at her. "But why do you want to be Hunter?"
"I don't." Her prompt reply catches him off guard.
"Eh?" He snaps his head around to look at her fully.
"Heh. Surprised?" Kurapika gets a strong feeling she's smirking even though he can't see it. "I don't take the Exam to be a Hunter. I like to people watch. The exam always attracts the most interesting people." She glances at him. "I also like to see how far I can go." A shrug. "But I always quit when I feel like it's gotten too dangerous." He stares at her for a few seconds. "Disappointed?"
Before Kurapika can answer, she picks up her pace and disappears in the crowd.
These guys *huff huff* are all monsters! Leorio thinks. He trails behind the group by several yards. His lungs are on fire and he's covered in sweat. They've been running for hours and he hasn't seen anyone drop out. Words from earlier echo in his head.
"One in every 10,000 make it to the exam site."
He stumbles a few steps, dropping his case.
"One every three years. That's how often someone passes on their first try," Kurapika had said.
He comes to a stop, bracing himself with his hands on his knees. He sees Gon stop ahead, waiting for him.
What do you expect from me! I'm just a normal person.
The white haired kid, Killua, stops a second later. He says something to Gon, but it doesn't reach Leorio's ears.
"If you can't get past Tonpa on your own, you're not going to last long."
"ARGH!" With a shout, Leorio takes off in a sprint. "Screw that! I'm gonna pass this test no matter what!" He races past Gon and Killua with renewed vigor.
Rook stops at the bottom of the stairs to stretch. No one pays her any attention as they run past. She'd manage to entertain herself thus far, but she has no clue how long they'll be on the stairs. She doesn't want to intrude on any of the conversations that'll happen during this stretch.
She sighs and starts up the stairs, resigned to her boredom.
