It was noon on the seventh day.

Khara stood on deck with a smile on her face and a small microphone in her hands. She took a breath before pulling the microphone to her mouth and speaking. Her voice echoed through the forest. Amplified by the sound system on the steamboat. She bubbled with excitement.

"Phase Four of the Hunter Exam is now officially over! All remaining applicants, please return to the starting point at once! You will be given one additional hour to make your way back. If you still haven't returned by the time that hour is up, you will fail the Exam."

She paused appropriately, took a breath, and continued seamlessly; all without missing a beat. Her cheery, articulate, and professional voice echoed out once more.

"Furthermore, exchanging badges at the starting point is prohibited. Any attempt to do so will result in immediate disqualification."

The forest came to life as shapes moved out from behind objects and out from foliage. The invisible became visible as humans melted out of bushes and glided down trees.

Or, in the case of Hisoka, simply walk down the path to the starting point...

They gathered. The victors of the Fourth Phase. They moved toward the waiting boat as if pilgrims to the promised land.

The starting point was a stepped landscape of rock, dirt, and green grass. Nine people had arrived before the boat. They stood there in their tiny territories, scattered about as the gangplank landed on the ground. The wooden beam hitting the edge of the sheer cliff drop with a 'clank'.

Triumphant trumpets played fanfare from the steamboat's speakers as Khara walked down the plank. Her choice of music. The air was thick with tension and excitement. Victory.

When the Examiner crossed onto solid land and stopped, the music stopped. A bright smile on Khara's face as her orange hair swayed slightly in the sea wind. In her hands, she held a clipboard and pen to mark off the victors.

Khara's bright yellow eyes passed over the remaining applicants before addressing them. Her voice was cheery as always.

"Now we will check the badges of everyone present here."

She turned to Hisoka. He held up four badges with his ever-present soft, amused smile.

"Number forty-four, Mr. Hisoka," Khara said before turning down to her notepad.

She wrote down the number of badges and the point total onto her clipboard and continued. She did this with the rest of the applicants as well.

"Number fifty-eight, Mr. Pokkle." Pokkle held his two badges up, face serious. This was the first time he passed the fourth phase. He felt the pressure.

"Number eighty, Ms. Siper." The red-haired, sunglasses clad sniper held up her badges like she was presenting a bounty. Her face was as stoic as a statue.

"Number three-oh-one, Mr. Gittarackur." Gittarackur held up his badges without even looking at the woman.

"Number two-forty-six, Ms. Ponzu." Ponzu held up her badges by pinching them with her thumb and forefinger. A pleased smile stretching up the left side of her face.

"Number two-ninety-four, Mr. Hanzo." Hanzo held his two badges up with a confident smirk.

"Number one-hundred and eleven, Ms. Anita." Anita held up her badges in each hand, her face intense. She never thought she'd make it this far.

"Number four-oh-four, Mr. Kurapika." Kurapika held his badges as if though he were presenting a piece of evidence. His face was serious.

"Number four-oh-three, Mr. Leorio," Leorio smirked as he held his badged with feigned confidence.

Khara finished jotting down the numbers and applicants' names on her clipboard. She looked up with a smile, "Wow, nine applicants have passed the Fourth phase!"

Kurapika and Leorio looked at each other. Concern was etched on their faces.

The orange-haired Examiner suddenly looked above all the applicants, to the small cliff surrounding them. Her face brightened with surprise and excitement.

"Oh, wait!"

Everyone followed her gaze. Three people came out of the bushes.

Leorio and Kurapika sighed in relief. They smiled.

Khara smiled and spoke, "Now the last three! They are..."

"Number ninety-nine, Mr. Killua." Killua held his badges out in front of him. His body was covered in scratches from head to toe. The Zoldyck heir glared.

"Number one-hundred, Mr. James." James snarled, a piece of wood as a splint on his nose with pink bandages over it. He held his badges in front of him. One hundred and two-eighty-one. The Mafia prince glared.

"And Number four-oh-five, Mr. Gon!" Gon held out his two badges. The son of Ging's eyes were intense.

All three looked down at one person...

He smiled back.

"So, these nine applicants have passed the Fourth Phase of the Exam!" Khara said with brightness. She threw a hand up toward the airship above them as everyone's eyes followed up...

...

Isaac Netero laughed in the lounge the Hunter Examiners were resting in. A large amount of food, as well as several bottles of wine, were on the black coffee table in front of them.

Netero took a couch by himself. Cross-legged in the center. His status as a Hunter allowing him to take the furniture to himself.

Buhara was to his right. He took up a couch by himself by virtue of being the size of a rhino on two legs. He made a that would fit three people only fit one. The chair sagged against his weight as the giant was eating food as if it were about to disappear at any moment.

Three people took up the couch across from Netero. Menchi sat at the edge of the couch, left arm over the armrest. She was relaxed and was enjoying the company. Beans sat in the center of the couch; tiny arms on his lap, tiny legs dangling over the lip of the couch. Satotz took up the other side of the couch where he enjoyed a pastry with his fork.

Lippo sat on the last sofa, taking up the right side of his sole couch. His soft smile always on his face.

Netero paused his laughter to speak, "Twelve applicants have reached the final phase? And Eight of the twelve applicants are rookies?! Marvelous, marvelous!"

Buhara looked down at Netero, his size the only reason he ever looked down on anyone. The fork held in his fingers practically children's eating utensils in his massive hands. Even though he was eating, his words were as clear as day as he replied to the elder.

"Has this ever happened before?" The giant said with surprise. He followed this statement by nearly swallowing his steak tipped fork.

Netero closed his eyes and nodded. He gave a content sigh before speaking.

"Ah. Well, there has been a trend lately. We'll sometimes go several years in a row without a single rookie worthy of qualifying."

The rest of the Hunters stared at him, enraptured by his words.

Netero held his hands up and continued, "And then we'll suddenly have a whole bunch of promising newbies apply," he finished by gesturing an explosion.

"This makes four times since I became a Chairman," Netero said with a smile.

Lippo smiled before speaking, "It seems the mafia member had a hand in that. He has been helping four other applicants. Inadvertently helping several more as a result."

Menchi looked surprised, "Wow. I thought he had potential, but I didn't think he'd get this far in the Exam. He got really emotional when he passed my phase," she said with a shrug.

Buhara turned his eyes at his friend and frowned.

"Can you blame him? You were really tough. You barely passed him in the first place."

She closed her eyes and frowned, "Yeah, yeah. I know," she said with a sigh. The Gourmet Hunter didn't want to repeat that discussion a second time.

Satotz interrupted, politeness his forte, and spoke to the Chairman, "By the way, sir, what will we be doing for the Final Phase?"

The yellow-shirted behemoth leaned over in surprise, metaphorically blocking out the sun, and replied to the nigh-mouthless man, "Oh yeah, that's right! You haven't told us what you have planned yet!"

Netero nodded and said, "Ah yes. Well, about that..." Netero smiled and looked at the rest of the Hunters with half-lidded eyes. He continued, "They'll be participating in a rather peculiar fight."

Satotz lowered his food to his plate, his interest piqued.

"Hmm? a 'peculiar fight', you say?" the mustachioed man said.

Lippo frowned, "This may be an issue then…" as the rest of the Hunters turned to Lippo, he continued, "Pardon me if I'm wrong, but is there something in place to stop the Tao Long from continuing to teach the other applicants Nen? He has already unlocked and taught applicants four-oh-five and applicant one hundred Nen..."

The other Hunters' looked on in surprise. They murmured to themselves. Netero sighed. He had wanted to avoid that if he could. The Prison just warden had to ruin his fun…

"Gather the twelve remaining applicants. I'd like to speak with each of them alone," he turned to Lippo, "I will also resolve that particular issue at that time..."


The five of us plus Anita (for some reason?) were hanging out in the airship hallway. I was sitting on a nearby bench. Kurapika, Gon, Killua were between Leorio and me; up against a window. Anita was across from everyone, leaning on a wall. All of us were silent. Stirring in a quiet funk. It's been like that ever since we arrived on the boat.

Leorio broke the silence, eyes closed as he spoke in annoyance, "Damnit, I'm so pathetic. I relied on everyone else to do everything for me."

He looked over to me, then Kurapika and Gon.

"So far, I haven't done anything this exam. But I promise I'll return the favor," he turned away, his face slightly red, "So, uh, well... thanks, you guys."

All of us smiled. But our mood dropped back to zero.

Gon and I were in various stages of… feeling like crap. Both of us did not feel like we deserved to pass the last phase. Killua, on the other hand, was brighter than he normally was. He was still pissed off from losing yesterday, yeah, but he was livelier without the needle in his head. It wasn't a drastic, drastic change, but it was noticeable.

It was in his body language. The way he walked and moved, and the shift in the tone of his voice, how he looked at things…

I smiled for a moment before I turned away and opened my mouth to tell Leorio something, but the airship speakers cut me off.

Beans spoke over the airwaves, "Attention, all applicants. The Chairman wishes to interview you."

Leorio looked at the rest of us, "Really?"

"When you hear your number, come to the reception room on the second floor. We'll be calling you in ascending order. We'll start with number forty-four, Mr. Hisoka."

Gon looked out the window, eyes intense and focused. Killua just made a small, 'Tch' noise and looked down slightly. I snarled at the name. I could still remember his hand around my throat and his other hand digging into my back.

All three of us felt humiliated and powerless. We only passed from sheer pity. In my case, sheer dumb luck. Hisoka gave Gon my target badge along with his own. As a consolation prize...

The fact I passed by a quirk of fate made me...

I sighed and looked down at my shoes.

"Thank you for your cooperation."

Kurapika was the first to notice our behavior. But he didn't comment as we waited. No one wanted to ask us what happened or why we looked like fell down the stairs of a skyscraper. We went back to our oppressive silence.

After ten minutes, they called Siper. Another ten minutes and it was Killua's turn.

When his name was called, he shrugged and spoke up, "Well, that's me."

I stood up, nodded towards him, and replied, "I'll come with you. I'm next anyways."

He shrugged but nodded. We walked in silence down the hall and up the stairs. Killua spoke when we were halfway up the stairs.

"I... feel a lot better," he said without looking, strangely focused on the stairs.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. It's like my head isn't cloudy anymore. I can think without worrying or doubting myself."

"Oh boy, can't wait for the Killua with even more confidence. Jeez..." I said with a smirk. Half sarcastic, half playful. Completely honest.

Killua shook his head with a grin as we reached the top of the stairs. We made a turn and walked down the hall.

"I'm serious. The entire time away from home there's been this nagging in my head. Doubts: 'Go home', 'There's no reason to do this,', 'You don't need them. You're better than them...'" he said that last one with guilt. I frowned.

"And now?" I asked.

We stopped in front of the door to the reception room. He turned to me and gave me a genuine, bright smile. Like he was free for the first time in his life. An enormous sense of gratitude was in his eyes and body language. He was acting like he was saved.

I shook my head and shrugged. I didn't do shit. He did it himself.

Killua opened the sliding door and walked in. I leaned against the wall next to the door and instantly regretted it as I hissed in pain. Hisoka was as careful as a surgeon. He stabbed me in the back but avoided doing any actual damage. Having fingers dig between the layers of muscle and skin… A hell of a lot of pain...

Killua said it looked like the wound was deeper and looked bloodier at the time. But when we looked to check, it was basically a flesh wound with a few holes in my jacket and shirt. From where he had buried his fingers. We still have no clue how he made it look worse than it was…

I'd bet it was Nen. Magician my ass...

I sighed, crossed my arms, and stood up straight as I waited...

After five minutes, Killua exited. With hands in his pocket, he turned to me with a shrug. I looked at him expectantly.

"I'd thought it'd there'd be more. He was just asking us who we wanted to fight and stuff," Killua said with a sigh.

"Not everything in the Exam gonna be exciting," I said with a snort. I rubbed his head. He swatted my hand away, annoyed as any child would.

"Cut it out, jeez. He said you can go in," he said with a frown and blush.

"Yeah? Alright then..." I said, before walking past Cotton Ball and slid the door open.

I entered to see a Japanese style room with a small brown coffee table at sitting height. On my side of the table was a pillow on the floor. Across from it sat Netero. A small stool was to his right, and in the far corner of the room was a weird urn or pot. On the wall behind Netero was a picture of a large brush painted symbol.

"Please sit. Make yourself comfortable," Netero said with a genial smile.

I nodded and did just that. I sat down on the pillow with my right arm over my right knee and a left hand against the floor propping me up. Damn, this pillow was comfortable.

My eyes glided over Netero. The Chairman of the Hunter Association.

He looked like a regular old man. Well, except for the enormous earlobes. Or the paintbrush looking beard that was so long and dense you couldn't even see his lips. Let's not even talk about the crazy long eyebrows that flew off either side of his head like sagging birth feathers…

And... he was so strong I couldn't even feel his strength. He legit looked, felt, and acted like a harmless old man. I was in Zetsu, but I couldn't even feel his Aura. Or I could. But it was like his Aura was silent. As if he was there, but he wasn't, but he was...

Yup. A completely regular old man... fuck my traitorous eyes and senses. My knowledge told me he was dangerous, but my body and mind didn't even consider him dangerous...

All I know is there are levels to this shit. And he's so high up he somehow looped back around and came across as completely harmless.

Netero picked up a paintbrush a notepad.

"For the next phase of the Exam, I need to ask a few questions. To satisfy my curiosity, nothing more." Netero said.

I scratched my chin as I thought. I nodded my head and replied.

"Will these questions have anything to do with the next phase of the exam?"

"Hmm. They might," he said as he scribbled something down on the pad as he moved his brush with precision and experience.

I rolled my eyes and gestured with my left hand to proceed.

"To begin with, why do you want to become a Hunter?" Netero said. He stared at me like Clark Kent jotting down notes.

My eyes closed by themselves and I sighed, "For two reasons."

"Oh?"

"First, are you aware I'm from the Tao Long?"

"I am."

"You don't care?" I said, opening my eyes in surprise.

He shook his head, "No. The Hunter Exam is not limited to only upstanding citizens. Anyone can be a Hunter, provided they have the ability and the will. Whatever morals or motives they have are irrelevant," Netero said.

I rubbed my chin, "Why?"

"That is for a different conversation. You said you have two reasons?" Netero said without annoyance or heat. Simply stating facts.

I sighed and nodded.

"Fair enough. First: if I don't pass I'll die. That's the unique situation I'm in as heir to the Tao Long. Second: I want to be a Hunter because..." I said as I stared intensely at Netero.

My mouth hung open as I thought over what I wanted to say. It lasted all of a second before the words came out on their own.

"I... for the first time, I feel like I have a purpose in life. Heh. Even if I'm being forced into this... I've never felt more alive. I've cursed every step of the way... hated every danger… and now that I'm close to the end... I can't help but say I feel fulfilled and happy. I feel like I'm something as opposed to nothing..."

I closed my eyes and sighed. I still felt like garbage... but thinking about how far I've grown... I remembered being in the White Deaths and sitting on the three hundred-foot trees, staring at the sun across the mountain range. The cold wind against my skin and the infinite expanse in front of me.

I smiled.

It felt like freedom.

I continued, "From what I've been told, it sounds like a Hunter can do almost anything. I want to be a Hunter so I can experience everything this world has to offer. Without regret."

I opened my eyes to find Netero nodding his head and jotting down notes with his brush.

"I see," he looked up from his notepad and chuckled, "a Hunter can lead quite an interesting life."

I mirrored his chuckle, "I can see that."

"Moving on to the next question. Out of the twelve other applicants, which one are you keeping a close eye on?"

My eyes turned up and scanned the ceiling as I thought the question over. I answered it with another question for clarification.

"What do you mean, 'keeping a close eye on?'"

"Oh, it can mean anything you want," Netero said with a small shrug. Nothing in his facial face or body language…

This fucking...

I sighed, looked back to Netero, and replied honestly, "Ninety-nine, four-oh-five, four-oh-four, four-oh-three. Because they're my friends."

He nodded.

"One last question: Which of the other twelve remaining applicants would you least want to fight?"

I didn't even hesitate. My voice barely hiding my rage as my hands tightened into fists by themselves.

"Hisoka... I'm not strong enough to beat him."

"Understood," he said with a stroke of his brush. He stared at his notepad before nodding and putting it down.

Netero placed his hands on the table and wrapped his fingers together. He leaned forward and stared at me, business plain on his face.

"Normally we would be done with the interview, but it has come to my attention that you have learned Nen. More than that, you have unlocked and taught other people Nen."

Ah shit. He read the face I made and shook his head.

"No worries. You're not in trouble. You really can't since you didn't know the rules. Or, if you did, it wasn't properly explained."

"Rules? I know Nen is taboo, but I didn't know there was a 'masquerade'," I said.

Netero stroked his beard and laughed, "Ahahaha, taboo?! No, nothing of the sort. But I do like the phrase, 'masquerade'. That explains things nicely."

He stopped laughing and looked at me with sincerity and understanding.

"Using Nen during the Exam is not against the rules. Very little is against the rules because I made the rules to be that way. Unlocking and teaching people Nen is not against any rules or laws. But the Hunter Association keeps a watchful eye on anyone who teaches Nen, as well as their 'students'."

I stared at Netero, my eyes half-lidded. I didn't have a shred of guilt or regret in my heart.

Netero sighed and put his arms inside his sleeves. He continued his tone patient and lecturing.

"Many years ago I codified Nen into what it is today. I searched the world and found the many, disparate techniques used to manipulate one's Aura. I trained under countless masters and defeated countless opponents to learn Nen. As a result, I created Shingen-ryu. In doing so, I allowed humanity another way to fight back against the world that seems so ready to wipe us out. Not for entirely selfless reasons. I would be the first to admit that," he said with the stroking of his beard.

I raised an eyebrow. He closed his eyes and continued.

"But I gave man fire. I gave them fire without control. I gave power without understanding. Strength without heart. That is why I developed Nen of the Flames. This was, among many reasons, why I became Chairman. I do not regret spreading Shingen-ryu to the world, and with that a more complete understanding of Nen, but I still understand my responsibility. And in understanding my responsibility, I took accountability for my actions."

Netero rubbed his chin and opened his eyes.

"When a Nen user commits a crime, that user is punished as well as the person who taught them. Do you understand?"

I slowly nodded. I looked away for a second before looking at the Chairman again.

"So... if Killua and Gon committed a crime with Nen, and it was proven, I'd get in trouble? Same applies to Mayer?" I said seriously.

Netero laughed like an old coot before responding, "Oh, so you are Mayer's student?!"

"FUCK!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

ARGH!

He laughed even harder at my face, which was no doubt bright red from how hot it felt. FUCK THIS OLD MAN!

He laughed as I simmered.

Netero nodded and smiled, almost as if reading my mind. He spoke, "There's no reason to worry. I've met the two young boys you taught. And I doubt Mayer has anything to worry about."

He became serious and gave me a commanding stare, "But I must ask you not to teach any more applicants for the remainder of the Hunter Exam. If you do, I will be forced to disqualify you from this year's exam. Is that clear?"

"Can I ask why?" I said with a raised eyebrow.

Netero closed his eyes and shook his head.

"I cannot say."

I sighed and clicked my tongue in annoyance. I rubbed the back of my neck.

"Well, can you not tell Mayer I told you?" I asked, sheepishly.

"That's impossible. I'll be giving him a call as soon as possible," Netero said. He winked and held up a peace sign. His eyes danced with mischief.

"DAMN YOU OLD MAN! HE'S GOING TO KICK MY ASS!" he laughed! The old bastard! "I CAN SEE WHY HE HATES YOU!" I said.

I realized I was suddenly standing up and pointing down at the Chairman of the Hunter Association.

I felt my face turn red from indignation. I turned around and walked out.

Netero laughed behind me. His voice was full of mirth.


It was sunset. I was in the Japanese style room I found on the airship. In the dark trying to sleep. Laying on the left side of my body to make sure the stitches Leorio gave me don't open. Head bandaged up again. Wrapped in a billion blanket cocoon. Feeling blah…

Killua and I split up after Netero's questioning. Killua wanted to be alone after the interview and so do did I.

Mostly because I wanted to mope.

Mopity, mope. Mope-mope-mope. Get on my moped and just mope around.

Moooooooooooope.

I stared at the wall across from me, lethargic. I felt numb and tired. Yet sleep didn't come.

It'd take three days to get to the next phase. I was trapped on this airship with my thoughts:

I still haven't apologized to Kurapika and Leorio. Don't know why they're still hanging out with Anita. I nearly cut off Todo's leg via blunt force bokken, probably maiming him for life. I still see flashes of Kyu and Kenmi's corpses every so often.. I got betrayed a second time after extending good faith. Shit, every time I see Pokkle I want to toss him off the airship from pure rage.

I learned how to unlock Nen and I can't even teach Leorio and Kurapika Nen. Worse, I was on the hook for unlocking Gon and Killua's Nen.

But worse than all that was the three of us got fucking annihilated by Hisoka. For a second time. Even with Nen, Killua's needle removed, a plan... it wasn't even a contest. Hell, I'm positive he set the whole thing up so that Killua would remove his needle. When I think back to everything... I felt like a puppet.

Gon and I didn't feel like we passed. Especially after what Gon told us he said about us, 'becoming truly worthy of killing'. In a strange way it made it far more... ego destroying.

Seeing Gon fight back tears and console him back on the island hurt... Even after we purged the poison from him with Blue Priest... he barely spoke.

Killua's pride was kicked in the nuts, but he was taking it better than either of us. He had gained the most out of it. I'm happy for him...

I... I felt... empty. Depressed is probably the best word.

I got lucky so many times during the Exam. And pure fucking luck was all that made Hisoka drop Agon's badge, along with his, next to Gon. If he dropped any other badge, that'd be it. Game over. End of Line.

I felt miserable. Even sleep wanted nothing to do with me. I kept reliving things in my head. The panic of Killing Intent at night from Pokkle. The weird taste of metal and teeth from getting smacked in the face by Todo and Goz. The violent shaking and vertigo feeling of being sent tumbling against the ground like a bowling ball. The thudding sensations of my head hitting rocks and roots...

Worst was the alertness from adrenaline surging through me. I kept getting sent into flight or fight mode; I couldn't relax. I had my guard up at all times. Tense as a bowstring ready to be released…

I just wanted to turn off my thoughts... and yet...

My mind thought back to yesterday and early this morning.

After Hisoka handed us our asses, the three of us just focused on practicing Nen. Throwing ourselves into it to distract our minds. We didn't get very far since we don't know what we're doing, but we did learn stuff. Like that Gon was roughly twice as strong, fast, tough, and, frankly, everything with his Aura. I was actually physically weaker than Gon now. That was disheartening and didn't help my ego.

Killua was even more Killua. I doubt anyone weaker than Hisoka could beat him,. Basically, only Gittarackur from Killua's estimates.

I was so fucked up by back-to-back ass-whoopings that I could only oversee their training. So I couldn't train...

Well, at least they hadn't been able to do the sword trick I can do. Or move their Aura as easily as I could. So, while I'm now weaker than eleven-year-old children, I have better 'aura flow'? Yay?

I heard footsteps coming towards my door. I sat up like an alert, lethargic mummy...

The sliding door to my right opened. I turned to see Leorio in the hallway, the giant squinting into the darkness of my room.

He turned on the lights. I hissed like at the evil light as a vampire should.

"Oh. Here's where you've been hiding," he asked. He stuck his head in the room and peered around, "Were you jacking off or something?"

I squinted at him in confusion.

"Leorio... what? Why would you think that? I'm trying to sleep..."

He chuckled and slid the door closed behind him, cool and casual with his hands in his pocket.

"It's only eight," he said with a shrug as walked slowly.

He looked like he took a shower and had cleaned his suit jacket. He was no longer just in slacks and an untucked button-up. Back to his regular clothing it was.

I, on the other hand, laid in my filth like a slob. I didn't want to do anything right now.

He sat down against the wall above me. I laid back on the floor, going back onto my side. If he wants to be in my misery, let him. As long as he was qui-

"So... what's got you, Gon, and Killua all depressed?" he said with sympathy.

I sighed and answered him. I stared at the wall while doing so.

"Hisoka beat the shit out of us. This is the second time in one Exam. It wasn't even close. We only passed because he allowed us to," I said to the wall.

"Damn... no wonder…"

"That's not really it for me... I nearly lost on the Zevil. My plan worked too well. If Killua and Gon hadn't found me I'd have lost one hundred percent."

I turned my head up to Leorio, "That reminds me, I'm sorry for not including you and Kurapika in my schemes. Please slap me when my nose heals."

He smirked, "I think Zevil Island did enough of that for me."

I chuckled humorlessly. We stayed in silence for a bit.

"You're a weird guy, James."

I turned up to see Leorio staring down at me with a questioning look in his eyes.

"While everyone else was thinking about themselves, you were thinking about keeping us safe. Why?"

I sighed and looked back at the wall.

"If I have to throw everyone under the bus to get to the top, what kind of Hunter would I be? Besides, it wasn't an entirely noble cause. I wanted to practice Nen and do my own thing without having to worry about you guys."

He shifted before replying, "But you still worried about us. You didn't have to help us. Why?"

I turned up to Leorio and stared at him. I didn't understand his question at all.

"I did it because I wanted to. Why do I need a reason to care about my friends? What kind of Hunter would I be if I can't even protect people I care for?"

Leorio stared at me for a long time, before nodding and giving a sigh, "Yeah. Guess you got a point..."

I went back to my conversation with the wall, glaring at it, "Don't get me wrong. If I'm forced to fight you guys, I'll do it. But if I don't have to, I won't."

Someone slid the door open to reveal Killua. We didn't even hear him walk up to the door. Little cat-human, jeez.

Killua looked at us with curiosity before speaking, "Huh. So this is where you've been," he said to me before turning to Leorio, "And... Reorio, right?"

"It's Leorio, you brat! Remember the name!" Reorio said with a shake of his fist. I chuckled.

Killua shrugged, closed the door behind him, and walked in. I raised my hand in the air like a wet noodle.

"Why don't you all make yourselves at home. I don't mind! I'm just trying to sleep..." I said, exasperated. Wall, you are my only frien-

"Thanks, I will," Killua said without a hint of shame or really giving a fuck. He sat right against the wall I was conversing with. How dare he be so rude...

Leorio moved in my peripheral vision, before speaking softly, "So... James said you three had a run-in with Hisoka? You doing okay?"

Killua looked at me and frowned, "I'm doing better than Gon and James, so yeah. I'm okay."

I gave him a flat look as I stared out of the window of my blanket pupa.

"Yeah," I said as stared at the ceiling, "he actually got his badge without a problem. Gon and I got ours from pity. And mine from dumb luck on top of it."

Leorio frowned, "Really? Gee, no wonder you and Gon are so out of it."

I sighed. I glared at Killua, willing him to move away so I could continue conversing with the Wall. Cottonball shrugged and disobeyed my godly will. I turned up and met Leorio's stare with my own annoyed glare.

"I'll be honest, Gon and I were both worse on Zevil. We're all equally pissed. I'm just more, 'blah', then Gon is. But Killua should be embarrassed since he was beaten by me."

Both of them looked at me with bewilderment. But Killua's was pure pissed off-ness. He started shouting as he slapped one of his bent knees in a rage.

"What are you talking about?! We never fought! Not even once!"

I glanced sideways towards the ceiling with a shit-eating grin. He hates when I look away like this and talked shit, "I mean... Hisoka beat you over the head with me. Then he attached you to my back... I will gladly take that as a victory. I beat the fuck out of you."

They both glared at my audacity. Killua looked volcanic. Before he could rebuttal, we heard footsteps.

All three of us turned to the door as whoever it was stopped right at the door. They paced outside the entrance to the room. They hesitated for a moment, before sliding the door and revealing themselves to be Anita.

Killua and I stared at her with disbelief. Killua's eyes looking like 'T's', while mine probably were the same.

"What's she doing here?" Killua answered for both of us with a point at Anita and a sneer at Leorio. I nodded with my entire blanket body.

"Lay off guys. She helped us get our badges," Leorio said. Anita nodded.

"Why is everyone in my room!? And I helped you guys get your badges! " I said with a raised noodly arm in disbelief.

Leorio shrugged and replied, "Potayto, potayto"

All three of us looked at Leorio in confusion. Killua spoke, disbelief in his voice.

"You just said potato twice. You do know the saying is potayto, potahto... not potayto, potayto? Right?"

Leorio looked confused as he scratched his chin, "Really? Hrm... that does make a lot more sense..."

I stared at both Killua and Anita in confusion. The two of them looking at me the same way.

For some inexplicable reason, something cracked in the atmosphere. We laughed. Something about the absurdity of it made us laugh uncontrollably. The more I laughed, the better I felt.

We laughed for a minute as Leorio glared at us. We almost didn't hear the two pairs of footsteps before the sliding door opened to reveal Gon and Kurapika. We smiled at them while Leorio frowned. He knew what would happen next.

I sat up, shook off my zillion blankets, and waved them in. A grin on my face, "Hey, you won't believe what Leorio said."

After that... I didn't mind not being alone. We talked until late at night, chatting about whatever was on our minds. Nothing serious.

One by one we fell asleep. Completely at ease.


"What do you mean you can't unlock our Nen?! Come on! How come you unlocked Gon and Killua's?!" Leorio whined with slumped shoulders as I wiped my face of his saliva.

It was day two on World Cruise Airship Hunter Exam. Even though I felt better a little better mental wise, things were off to an annoying start. All five of us were in my room because I had to tell Muscles Glasses and blondie over here about Gon and Killua. We explained to Anita we had to discuss something serious, which she understood and let us be.

After cleaning my face of spittle, I stood there with a frown and my arms crossed.

Leorio was speaking to me. To everyone else, it would sound like he was yelling. Considering my normal speaking tone and word choices sounded like I had a problem with people when I didn't... I understood that Leorio's 'normal' was everyone else's annoyed voice. We were both such misunderstood creatures.

Kurapika stood next to Leorio and looked at him with incredulity. His tone was a mixture of disapproving and disbelief.

"That's the issue here? Not that he went behind our backs and endangered their lives?" Kurapika said as presented Exhibit G and K with his arms.

Leorio gave Kurapika a squinting sideway glance and a wave of his hand, "They're fine, aren't they?"

Gon rubbed the back of his head sheepishly while Killua shrugged and sighed. Cottonball replied, "You two don't have to act like you're concerned about my well-being. It's Gon you care about."

Kurapika turned around and looked at Killua. He shook his head, much to Killua's surprise.

"While it is true Gon was the person we met first... I still consider you an ally-"

Leorio cut him off and held a fist up, "What Kurapika really means is, you're still our friend ya' idiot!"

Killua's eyes softened as he back looked in surprise at that. Gon smiled at Killua and even Kurapika couldn't deny a soft smile. That heart-touching moment was ruined when Leorio spun around and pointed a finger in my face and logged a formal complaint.

"That's why you gotta' teach us! 'Cause it ain't fair to teach one friend and not another!" he said, his face long and sneering.

Everyone faltered on the spot as we looked at Leorio blankly. This guy's audacity gave me a run for my money.

I recovered and looked at Leorio with (what I imagined was) a sheer incredulous look on my face.

"You didn't seem interested in it before. Besides, it's an order from Netero. If I unlock your Nen I'm gonna' be kicked out of the exam."

He looked at me blankly, "Oh. Hrm... Damn! I was only skeptical before because you nearly died. But if you can unlock it safely, that meant we'd be set to pass!" Leorio said with a snap of his fingers and a frown. Now I know why he asked me that question yesterday, Jesus... he's weirdly selfish.

I gently rubbed my forehead, above where Goz proverbially hit me through space and time, "You'd be surprised..."

Kurapika nodded then grabbed his chin, "Leorio has a point. It would have given us an advantage. But if Netero doesn't want you to teach us..." Kurapika said as he looked down in thought.

Killua shrugged and raised a finger, "Probably means the next phase will have us fight each other again."

Gon tilted his head looked at him, "But didn't we fight each other during the last phase?"

Kurapika shook his head, "Not necessarily. We were only required to take another applicant's badge. It was a test designed to see how capable we were as hunters. We didn't need to fight anyone, though it very was likely outcome."

I nodded and replied, "Yeah. Pokkle and Ponzu were harassing me all night to wear me down. Then Ponzu gassed the entire area. I never had a straight one-on-one fight, without interference that is. Everything was 'ambush-ambush-ambush'!"

Gon perked up, "Oh! The person throwing rocks at you wasn't Ponzu, it was that monkey guy. He even threw p-"

Killua grabbed Gon's mouth and started laughing. Gon's eyes widened and rubbed the back of his head. The three us that were tall enough to ride roller coasters looked at them flatly.

I pointed at Killua, nodding at him with a grin, 'I will figure out what happened.' Killua sneered, 'Over your dead body.'

Killua let go of Gon's mouth and Gon continued, smiling sheepishly, "A-anyway. I get your point. So what does that mean?"

Kurapika looked at us before sighing and answering, "From the questions the Chairman asked, it's obvious we will fight each other in some test of combat. What format is still a mystery."

I sighed and shrugged, "Well, that sucks. It'd make sense why he wouldn't want me to unlock people's Aura. It'd be a huge advantage for us and a huge disadvantage for them. That, and the fact that we might unlock someone's Aura by accident. Maybe." I said with a frown. I still have no idea how that works.

Leorio slumped while Kurapika nodded. Leorio snapped his fingers and pointed at the boys.

"What if they unlock our Aura? Then we'd be able to use it and you wouldn't be in trouble."

I shook my head, "Bending the rules only works so much until it snaps back and smacks you in the face. He says that people who unlock other people's Nen are on the hook for whatever they do. So if Killua and Gon unlock both of your Aura, I'll fail so fast my head will spin."

Leorio looked at me with a furrowing of his eyebrows. That was grifter's look...

"He said that?" Leorio said, squinting.

"Eh, not in so many words?"

"So it's not illegal."

"What?! Are you trying to get me failed?!"

Leorio shrugged with a playful smirk as the rest of our group looked at our exchange like ping pong match spectators.

Gon was the one to answer Leorio, "The thing is, neither of us knows how to unlock Aura. James has better control of his Aura than we do."

Killua nodded. I smiled smugly, looked away, and leaned my head back, "Yeah, I'm way better than these two, pfft..."

Hehehe...

Killua frowned. Killua maaad. Killua smaaash.

"You bastard! We're better than you in Ren and Ten!" Cottonball said with a point of his finger. Gon nodded with a pout and sending me a childish glare.

I whipped my finger into the air like a mad scientist. Everyone stared at me, bewildered.

"I AM THE MASTER! YOU TWO ARE MERELY THE APPRENTI- Gah! Don't throw Stick at me, dick!" I said, catching Stick in my right hand like I was swatting something.

"You're the dick, dick! Let's see if who'd win in a real fight..." Killua said with a huge vein on his forehead and a vicious grin, before stalking forward and rolling up his sleeves.

Aah shit! Run!

Before I could even leave the door, he grabbed me in a headlock...


Three days went by in almost a blink. Other than Killua nearly choking me into the Shadow Realm (it took everyone to peel him off me), I apologized to Kurapika. He actually took it better than I expected. He just told me not to do that again and to keep him informed on any plans. That's fine with me. I don't intend to go solo like that again unless I have to.

He also said thank you. I thought it was for helping him, which he said it was. But also for something else. He wouldn't tell me why either. Whatever, I'll take anything at this point. Even unwarranted thanks. Anything to boost my ego at this point.

Outside that, it was boring. I mean, I took a shower. Got my clothes cleaned. I feel better, mentally and physically. I'm still discouraged, sore, and bruised... but we can only heal so much.

Leorio, Kurapika, and Anita became friends during the time in the forest. Anita is cool, if hesitant around me. I think she still half expects me to be a raging psychopath or something. She found it weird how mostly cordial and mostly quiet I was around her. Mostly.

On the other hand, Killua and Anita were like cats and dogs. We knew where she stood with Killua when he called her 'Anteater'.

The three of us didn't train in Nen at all. We stayed in Zetsu and rested. No reason to burn ourselves out. Especially if we might be fighting each other. And I needed the rest.

But that was on the airship... we were now on the ground in a swanky hotel.

The twelve of us stood in a line in a gigantic room. Massive tiles on the floor that could fit several people in its area. Netero stood in front of us. To our far left were the Examiners from each of the previous phases of the Exam. Satotz, Buhara, Menchi, Beans, Lippo, Khara. They stood there watching the proceedings.

To our right were a bunch of guys in suits and glasses. They looked like the Men in Black, er, if they didn't have bowties. Bad choice of attire if you want to look badass. They all looked like a bunch of living ventriloquist dummies.

Netero stared at all of us, arms behind his back. When he spoke, it was with an easy authority.

"Everyone rested up? Good. Now then. The Hunter Exam Committee runs this hotel. So, I want all of you to make yourselves at home until the battles have concluded."

One of the suits rolled a chalkboard or whiteboard covered in cloth next to Netero's right. Netero continued.

"For the Final Phase of the Hunter Exam you'll be competing in a one-on-one tournament."

Netero pulled the cloth away to reveal a tournament bracket. But a piece of paper covered the bottom and blocked the identity of the fighters. The moment I saw the tournament brackets, I knew something was wrong. If only one person could pass... no... what if the opposite...

Leorio pointed his chin towards the board and spoke, "Hold on a second. So only the last person standing passes?"

I shook my head slightly in disagreement, but I said nothing. Netero's eyes glanced at me for a second before falling back onto Leorio. The old man extended a index finger in front of himself and answered.

"No. You only need one win to pass this phase."

Gon replied in surprise, "Just one?"

I glared at the brackets and nodded. I answered Gon, everyone turning to me.

"This is the opposite of a regular tournament. The winners are taken out while the losers continue on."

"Precisely," Netero said with a nod before walking over and placing a finger at the top of the bracket, "Only one person will fail this round. The person who finishes at the top. Makes sense to everyone?

When no one answered, Netero nodded and moved back to the side of the board. He grabbed the piece of cloth at the bottom of the bracket.

"Here is the bracket we've put together," Netero said with a pull of his hand.

My eyes took in the tournament in front of me. It was broken into two stems, both descending like stairs from the top in either direction. Like an upside-down, blocky goblet.

In order: Gon, Hanzo, Me, Killua, Pokkle, Siper, Gittarackur for one side of the bracket.

On the other was Ponzu, Leorio, Anita, Kurapika, Hisoka. In descending order the opposite way.

Everyone stared at each other, looking over their opponents. Instead, I looked over the board and strategized...

I was with Gon and Killua... damn, was it because we knew Nen? Damn it...

Netero continued, "Impressive, yes? You see under this format, every competitor has at least two chances to win a round."

Pokkle spoke up, asking the obvious question, "Yeah but some people get seven chances to win, like numbers two-ninety-four and four-oh-five."

Ponzu raised her hand and said, "One side of the brackets is lopsided compared to the other. The left side has seven while the right has five. Wouldn't it be fair to have them even?"

Netero closed his eyes and grunt thoughtfully, then answered, "Now, those are fair questions."

He opened his eyes and looked at us all and continued, "This bracket was carefully assembled based on each of your individual performances throughout the Hunter Exam. To put it simply, those whose performances were rated highly will have the most chances to win."

Killua, Kurapika, Gon, and I were calm and focused. We all had at least five chances to win, with Gon having the most.

Leorio, on the other hand, was grabbing his head in terror. Sweat was coming off his face without pause. He only had three chances to win.

Siper spoke up, "How did you score our performances? What were the criteria and metrics used?"

"I cannot tell you that. Your scores are classified. I can't reveal your actual scores. However, I can explain the criteria we used," Netero said.

He gave us a hard stare and explained.

"We start with the basics. There are three categories. There's physical strength, mental acuity, and lastly, overall impression. When judging physical strength, we rely on an aggregate of agility, flexibility, endurance, and perception."

"For mental acuity, the aggregate consists of resilience, adaptability, judgment, and of course, creativity. But these are only reference points. After all, every last one of you was strong enough in mind and body to reach the Final Phase," he said, pausing for effect.

We all stared at him. Most of us were hanging on every word. I noticed most people were leaning in slightly with anticipation. I won't lie, I was as well.

"We're most concerned with your overall impression. This refers to any intangible factors that defy basic categorization," he chuckled for a moment then continued, "Think of it as our way of assessing your potential as a Hunter. We round out our assessment by incorporating the opinions of your peers. There you have it."

I turned to Killua who looked bored. I was surprised. Normally Killua had an inferiority complex a mile high. Instead, he didn't care. More like he just wanted to get this over with...

Did the needle influence him that much?

My eyes turned away from him and to his brother. It took a lot not to glare hatefully at him. He was glancing at Killua as well. His head twitching and shaking.

Netero broke me out of my thoughts as he continued explaining the phase.

"The rules of the battle are really quite simple. Weapons are allowed, cheating is forbidden, and if your opponent admits defeat, you win," he said before suddenly shouting, his tone brokering no arguments, "However! If you kill your opponent you will be disqualified without hesitation. And if that happens, the Exam ends and the remaining applicants pass. Got it?!"

No one said anything. Taking that as tacit agreement, the suited guy to the left of the board shouted.

"Let the Final Phase of the Exam begin!"


Hello dear readers! I hope you are doing well and continue to do well!

We are in the final stretch of the Hunter Exam! May the odds ever be in your fav- wait, that's the wrong series.

Anyhoo. Netero is kinda like a Prometheus figure in my story. Mayer will explain it more later, but basically he made Nen what it is today with Shingen-ryu. Like the Hoyce or MMA of Nen.

Don't worry. Kurapika and Leorio will get their Nen unlocked. We're not long for York New City.

Thank you for reading and as always for thank you for the reviews! They mean a lot!

See you next time. Stay healthy and happy! Rondo out.