Disclaimer: I do not own Hunter x Hunter.

CHAPTER 9

They were running through the forest, their eyes darting around for any signs of movement.

Gon saw a shadow pass by and immediately climbed a tree to be able to hop from branch to branch while Kurapika and Renée continued running on the ground.

The blonde wondered how the boy was able to see the Kiriko despite the dark. "It's darker in Whale Island at night."

He turned to the girl that was running alongside him, curiosity evident in his features.

"He can see well because we used to explore Whale Island at night. It's darker there than here, as well as denser." she smiled.

Suddenly, Gon fell because he missed a branch and they avoided colliding with him.

"It talked!" he said, standing up and catching up to them.

"Well it is a magical beast Gon." Kurapika explained.

"Really? Then that makes it easier!" He jumped on a branch once more and called out to the Kiriko. The beast let its guard down and this mistake earned it a hit from Gon's rod.

The Kiriko dropped the woman instinctively so that it can recover from the pain.

"Kurapika!"

The said boy leapt to catch her halfway so as to prevent a major fall.

"You'll pay for that." the Kiriko seethed, then it disappeared.

Gon and Renée looked surprised when it vanished.

He saw a shadow move towards his right and wasted no time in going after it.

She, however, saw something shift the other way and followed it.

"Hey, where are you going?" the Kurta asked. He received no reply as the red-head had already bolted off.

He sighed and turned to the woman beside him instead. "Are you okay miss?"

She snapped out of her stupor and grabbed his shirt desperately. "My husband! Please take me to my husband!"

Kurapika's eyes flitted towards her hands for a moment and saw something that boggled him.

Noticing that he was looking at her weirdly, she quickly withdrew her hands and clutched them tightly against her chest.

"Who are you?" he asked, drawing his tonfas.

She grinned mischievously at his question.

Renée was lost.

She scolded herself once again for being careless and losing sight of the creature.

It's not like it was too dark that she couldn't see, but it was because she was tired.

The Kiriko moved too fast and her fatigue-induced eyes were drooping.

'Calm down.' she told herself.

Taking a deep breath, she looked around once again. Her senses were heightened and she was suddenly aware of everything around her. The trees rustled as the wind passed by. An owl hooting from somewhere far away. Some squirrels scurrying up their nest. She felt every lump and crevice the clearing had. Her senses stretched farther until she was at her limit.

'Behind!'

Renée rolled to the right just before the claws of the creature pierced her. It chuckled darkly. "You're very sharp, little girl."

The red-head turned to face the Kiriko and, in one swift movement, she pointed her blade against his throat.

The beast was shocked but it was quickly replaced by mirth as it laughed gallantly.

"Tell me, Kiriko, why did you exchange with your friend back then? It was to purposely separate us four right?" she asked, gripping the blade loosely.

The creature looked at her with tears in its eyes and she saw it fit to withdraw her sword.

"You're very clever! You are correct. I made sure that I moved in a manner that you will see me. So that I can have you all for myself!"it growled.

Renée scoffed at its explanation and placed her hands on her hips. "Stop trying to act ferocious. This is all a test right? You guys are actually the navigators."

The Kiriko stared at her blankly before throwing his head back in laughter once more. She bit the inside of her cheeks in annoyance as the creature continued barking at her.

'This bastard is mocking me. Is he doubting my intelligence? No. I'm certain that I am right.'

Once the Kiriko's laughter died down, he looked at her somewhat proudly. "Let's go back. Your friends are probably already waiting."

"What took you so long?" Gon asked after Renée had rejoined them.

"We wandered off too far, I think." she chuckled sheepishly.

"Maybe you just got lost." Leorio said nonchalantly.

She glared at the man and scoffed. "I'm not as dumb as you."

"What was that!? You little brat!"

"That's enough you two." Kurapika scolded them. Leorio clicked his tongue in annoyance but stayed silent anyway.

One of the Kirikos cleared its throat and eyed them all carefully. "In any case it's just as the little girl deduced. We are the navigators that are responsible of taking you to the Hunter Exam."

"However, we don't just take everyone that reaches this point. We provide a little test and assess the examinee ourselves to deem whether or not he is worthy. Kurapika found out that I am actually not married just by seeing this tattoo on my arm. I am actually the daughter and my 'husband' is my brother. His extensive knowledge shows that he is worthy to take the exam and so he passes." the woman that was used as a 'hostage' explained.

The blonde sighed in relief and smiled at his friends when they patted him at the back.

"Leorio did not find out that my wounds were fake and so he did not know of my identity as the son." the man began seriously.

Renée snickered as the said male gulped nervously, thinking he might fail.

"However, he tended to my wounds faster and better than any doctor I have met and kept reassuring me that everything would be alright. His kindness and quick actions earned him a pass to take the Exam."

Leorio grinned at his verdict, relieved that he was able to pass.

"As for Renée, she was able to keep up with me when I exchanged places with my wife. It was because of this that she had come to the correct conclusion that this was all a test. Her above average mental and physical capabilities earn her a passing mark from me." one of the Kirikos chuckled.

Gon held her hand and squeezed it reassuringly as she smiled at him, knowing that she can continue being with him.

"And lastly, Gon. He showed his superhuman abilities and was able to distinguish the difference between me and my husband. That alone passes him." the other Kiriko stated joyously.

Renée furrowed her brows and looked from one Kiriko to another.

"Can you also tell them apart?" Leorio whispered to her. She shook her head no and said, "I can't even tell which one was judging me just now. Gon sure is weird."

Kurapika and Leorio looked back at the said boy and nodded dumbly at her statement.

"Without further delay, let us take you to the Hunter Exam." The family of Kirikos opened their wings and grabbed one applicant each.

Soon, they were high above the ground towards the Hunter Exam.

Though she was starting to fret over what the Exam would be like, Renée found herself getting sleepier at the thought. In an instant, the red-head was asleep.

Gon softly called out to the Kiriko holding her. "Can you please make sure she doesn't fall off? Ren moves a lot in her sleep."

The creature and the others chuckled lightly at her sleeping form but it obliged anyway and made sure it had a tight hold on her.

The ride towards Zaban was silent and peaceful, despite knowing of the obstacles that may come.

END OF 9.

A/N: Next time, the Hunter Exam's first phase. Please review!