Hello again! Here is my newest chapter (obviously, or I won't be writing this would I?)

I must thank RandomGothicNinjaNerd for constant encouragement and my sister for beta-ing! And my reviewers! You have all made my day, since I like knowing people liking my stories!

And so, voila! Hope you enjoy… *bows grandiosely*

Dusky's point of view…

Standing next to Gon, I looked at the cave. Leorio had already gone in, telling us that if he hadn't come back in thirty minutes, we could go and get him. More like save him.

I leaned on a tree-trunk, tired of standing. Just as I gotten comfortable, there was a sudden shout.

'Gon! Kurapika! Dusk! Don't come in here!'

The other two immediately ran into the cave. I followed more cautiously.

Did I ever mention I have a phobia of snakes? But Leorio was inside, trapped, and he was a nice friend…

I gulped and stood in front of the entrance. I really didn't want to go in, but... I carefully stepped into the cave and looked around. There were three things I saw. Guess what?

Rocks, rocks and more rocks.

I walked deeper into the tunnel. As I walked, I looked around carefully for any sign of a flicker of a snake tail, or a bright yellow spotted rock. No such luck. Those snakes hide well. Maybe I could take lessons from them… after I got over my fear of snakes. Then I heard a yell.

'Dusk! Don't come all the way here! Stop where you are and turn back!'

I gaped. Kurapika was telling me to abandon them?

I looked forward from my rock-looking to see a wall of snakes facing me. I could see glimpses of Kurapika's and Gon's face between the slithering bodies. I took a step back involuntarily. I hate snakes.

Immediately, the snakes that were hidden before popped out from the walls and hissed in my face. I squeaked and immediately ran forward into the centre of the cave. The snakes parted silently to form a path for me. I looked around the room.

Ponzu was leaning against the wall, looking at us like we were idiots. We probably were. I looked to my left. The dead snake man was in a gloomy part of the cave, the dim light casting his corpse into an eerie blue shadow thing. I shuddered at him and looked down.

Leorio was there with snake bites all over him. Surprisingly, I was touched, even when I was calling him twenty types of idiot in my brain. He had been bitten because he wanted to save us?

Why didn't he yell from inside the cave? We would still have heard.

I shook my head at him and leaned against the wall. Ponzu, Gon and Kurapika were conferring quietly. My best idea? Sleep. My memory was hazy about this part, since the last thing I read about HunterxHunter was about the chimera ants. There was a big chance that Wind was sleeping.

…

I think.

I looked around the yellow-skied dimension Jeb always put us in. I looked around. Wind was always under that tree…

Sure enough, I found Wind snoring under the tree. I sweat-dropped.

She wants to sleep while sleeping? Sigh. I thought she'dhavehad enough of sleeping…

I shook her.

'Wind! Wake up!' She frowned, eyes still closed.

Uh oh.

A fist flew towards my face. I ducked it while jumping over her leg that she had swung into a kick. She jumped into position and punched again. Only then did she open her eyes blearily.

'Oh, hi, Dusky,' she yawned while rubbing her eyes. 'What are you doing here?'

I sat down used to her routine.

'Well… I'm in that snake trap that that snake man put up, and my memory's gone hazy. Tell me, please?' I gave her my best kicked -puppy-dog look.

She glared at me.

'What happened to 'Happy birthday, Wind! You've turned eleven!'? Some best friend you are.'

I widened my eyes and slapped my forehead.

'OMG, I'm so sorry! Happy birthday Wind! You've turned eleven!'

She sighed in response and patted the space next to her.

'I'll let you off this time. Now, in the snake trap…'

And this was the start of a looong explanation. I kind of feel sorry for Wind's voice box.

'Oh! So Gon gets the antidote but gets a lot of snake-bites in the process of getting the antidote, just to prove himself to himself!'

Wind slapped her forehead.

'That's what I'd been telling you for the past ten minutes…' she grumbled.

'And…' I started to flicker. Wind sighed. I think she looked kind of relieved.

'Looks like someone's waking you up. Bye.' I looked at her anxiously.

'Wait! I need to clarify this –'

And I woke up to Gon standing in front of the corpse with a determined expression on his face.

'There's always a plan B.'

And he walked straight towards the snake pit.

My respect for Gon rose a few notches. Heck, it rose a few kilometres. I don't think they even knew I was awake. I was sitting still, my mouth open at the absolutely crazy thing that Gon was going to do.

I heard Ponzu say something, but I didn't care. I dumbly watched as Gon slowly reached out his hand towards the snake guy's pouch. The moment he touched his pouch, the snakes immediately attacked.

Five snakes hung off his hand alone. The others were biting everywhere. I stared wide eyed and gulped. Then I closed my mouth. A question kept resounding in my mind.

Question: Will I ever do something like that for a friend?

Answer: I don't really know.

I held my breath as Gon finally found what he was looking for and stepped back. The snakes slithered off him as he collapsed. I sprung into motion immediately and started dragging Gon away from the snake-pit with Ponzu.

She was raving. I ignored her (like I had done for the past few hours/minutes/seconds). I stared at Gon, who was looking towards Leorio.

'Is he alright?'

I choked up. He cared for his friends so much.

'I swear, Gon,' I stifled my cracking voice with a cough, 'you are the craziest but bravest person I have ever known.' Something in Gon's eyes cleared.

'We would never have made it this far without you.' I said, without realising until later that these were the words that he had been trying to accept for a long time. And then I hugged him. In a big sister to little brother way. To me anyway. I think Gon felt the same.

Something flickered in Kurapika's eyes.

Wind's point of view…

I was bored. Dusky was off with Gon and others in the snake cave having awesome adventures while I was sitting in a bush waiting for the air-ship to start telling us to go back to the starting place. I slowly got up and stumbled my way through.

I was clean, I had nearly slept for two days straight, and I had nice food to eat. But it didn't change the fact that I was bored. The library needed a number lock to get into it.

Sigh.

I took off my pack to see if I could find something to try and relieve my boredom and winced as the pain started returning. I took out the dagger (I attached it to my thigh instead of my arm, because it's easier to reach), injecting the painkiller into my arm and waited it to take effect. Then I took out everything in my bag. My random pieces of junk and…

F.R.O.G!! It's a computer! It might have games!

And so, chuckling to myself, I twisted it and logged on.

Now, where is the games section...?

I had just found it when the hunter confederation ship blared out its message telling us all contestants to go to the starting area.

'IN A WHILE, THE FOURTH ROUND OF THE TRIALS WILL END. ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE INVITED TO COME BACK TO THE STARTING POINT OF THE TEST…'

I frowned in frustration. I had just found the games section for heaven's sake! Can't it wait a bit longer?

I closed it and untwisted it again. Then I slowly made my way towards the beach area we were told to go.

To my surprise, there were many tiny rafts floating in the bay. I don't remember this! The air-ship was supposed to land on this piece of beach/ rock to pick us up! I saw the air-ship was landing on the ship. I sighed in frustration. No games and now this!

I got into one and tried to work the oars.

Err… I don't know how to row.

I picked up the oars delicately, as if I was picking up a dirty sock. There was a sudden bump and something landed on the seat in front of me.

'Need help?'

I looked up to see Killua grinning at me. I smiled at him.

'Yeah. I've never rowed before.'

Killua started a bit, but then smiled again and while he was rowing, taught me the basics of it. I nodded and smiled.

'And remember, don't use more energy on one side or you would start turning in circles and…'

He suddenly stopped and stared at me. I stopped smiling and looked at him questioningly.

'Is there something wrong with the boat?' I checked it cautiously. No leaks? I could block it, but I was getting tired these days.

Killua shook his head and smiled.

'Nothing! Anyway, you must always push at the same time…'

I nodded again and slowly we reached the ship. There were people there to help us board. We showed our tags and they let us on. Then we went on to the air-ship. Hisoka, Hanzo, and the old guy were there too. Everyone that was supposed to be here passed, with three exceptions.

Me, of course, and Dusky. The really pudgy guy passed too, to my surprise.

That person would be one of our opponents huh?

I hope he wasn't strong. I wasn't particularly brave.

I waved at Dusky who was talking animatedly to Kurapika and stopped at the tea bar.

Oh gosh! They have pineapple flavoured tea here! I love this place!

Killua's view on things… (a.k.a Wind)

I was rowing and explaining things to Wind when he nodded and smiled at me. My eyes widened. I had never noticed this before.

Of course, I knew that when Dusk or Wind smiled, they looked like girls but what shocked me wasn't this, it was that Wind's eyes were the exact shade of brilliant green as the girl on the lake. Wind looked at me.

'Is there something wrong with the boat?' he asked me. I shook my head. His eyes seemed to dim now that I looked at them closely. And his hair was clearly short under the hood. Why does he always wear his cloak? I smiled and continued my explanation.

'Nothing! Anyway…'

I kept explaining, since, like always, when he stopped smiling I didn't feel anything anymore. We reached the boat, flashed our tags and boarded the air-ship there. Then, we waited for the others to come, although Kurapika and Dusk were already there, I noted.

Leorio and Gon came up on the next boat. I smiled at Gon. I haven't seen him for a whole week! I wonder if he had gotten Hisoka's tag…

I belatedly realised that Wind had disappeared.

Wind's point of view in the air-ship…

I looked out of the window sipping my twenty-first cup of pineapple tea with a cup of pineapple sherbet with deluxe pineapple flavoured yogurt with real pineapple chunks sitting in front of me.

Killua slid onto the seat across from me. I looked up at him, cradling my teacup in my hands.

'So, what's everyone doing up there?'

Killua shook his head.

'Nothing much. The old guy has a really believable theory about the final test being written test and all the people (Hanzo, Leorio and purple capped guy) are doing their best to cram as much into their heads.'

I nodded. How nice… I dug a huge spoonful of yogurt, sherbet and pineapple and stuffed it into my mouth. Killua raised his eyebrows, slurping his chocolate milkshake.

'What?' I spoke with my mouth full.

'You just don't seem like the type to stuff their faces childishly.'

I snorted.

'I am eleven you know, so imagine me as such.' I took another huge spoonful, and then sipped some tea.

After this meal, even if I go to heaven, I don't mind since my last meal was pineapple…

I smiled goofily at Killua. His face immediately took on a pinkish tinge. I chuckled at him.

'Hey Killua, your face is red. Does your milkshake have secret alcohol in it?' I grinned wickedly at him. He shook his head vehemently.

'Of course not!'

I chuckled anyway and lifted my cup to my lips and found it empty. I frowned down at it and stood up to get another cup when…

'…CANDIDATE 232, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE COME TO THE RECEPTION ROOM…'

I sighed. At least let me finish my twenty-second cup of tea first! I reluctantly put down my cup and told Killua to mind my stuff. Then I dragged myself to the office. Everyone was crowding around the office.

Oh… I'm the first one. Isn't Hisoka supposed to be the first one?

I shrugged, delicately stepped over the three idiots who were rolling around on the ground cat fighting. I knocked and went in.

Netero was waiting for me there with the poster for the Chinese 'heart' on it. He smiled at me.

'Ah! Wind-san, please sit down!'

I sat down. He put some pictures in front me.

'I think you know what's happening so I will get straight to the point. Among the other candidates, who catches your attention the most?'

I shrugged.

'I dunno really, Netero-san.' He smiled.

'No problem! Then, who don't you want to fight the most?'

'Killua, Gon, Dusky, Kurapika, Leorio.' Netero-san raised his eyebrows.

'That's a lot.'

'Well… They have become my friends.'

A flash of something came into the chairman's eyes. I didn't understand it. Was it pity? Regret? Sadness? I ignored it.

'Very good, Wind-san! You can go now!' He said to me smiling warmly. Then he took up a tablet. I stood up and hesitated.

'If I may cut in…' Netero-san looked up questioningly.

'It would do well if Dusky or I was paired up with this person.' I pointed to the picture of the pudgy squinty-eyed obese person.

His eyes widened, then became warm again.

'I will put that into consideration. Thank you for your time, hime-san.' I blushed.

'Please don't use that title before the others…' I squirmed uncomfortably. He nodded and smiled and then looked at his tablet again. I took this as a dismissal and went out. I was surprised to see my staff leaning outside with my pack slung on one of its branches supporting the orb.

I smiled and reached out to it. It flew towards my hand.

What?

I remembered something that Jeb had said to me once. I frowned in concentration. He said that when the staff had fully recognised you as its rightful master, it would follow you anywhere and expects you to use it well.

I patted it. So I had a wooden pet now huh?

To my pleasant surprise, it vibrated as if to tell me it was happy. I smiled to myself and walked away, walking as fast as possible to avoid the three people pushing each other to ask if it was the final test.

And of course, back to my cup of pineapple tea.

And Killua.

And so, the plot thickens! When will Killua realise that she's a girl? *smacks forehead*

Anyway, hope you all enjoyed it and review! I love writing and knowing that there are people out there that enjoy this fic!

… Nothing really to say, so SEE YOU NEXT TIME!