AN: Someone on SB convinced me to keep working on this.

I stared at the watch on my wrist as it counted down. 573 day's, 3 hours, 39 minutes, and . . . 33 seconds. That's what the countdown timer on my watch says. That would be a lot of time in most circumstances, but considering my own situation, it's questionable if it's even a fraction of what I need.

Meruem had managed to defeat one of the most powerful Nen users of all time without taking any noticeable damage, and I only had a year to get to that level . . . or at least a point were I can react to him attacking me. 'Meeting him is supposedly inevitable, but after that I have free reign on what I can do.'

I sigh loudly, before stuffing a mini-doughnut into my mouth.

I hadn't been able to fall back asleep after I spoke to Dazai(just hearing his voice made me angry now) and had thus gotten up early enough to beat the breakfast rush. I had found a Tim Hortons Expy that opened really early and was now stuffing my face while guzzling milk every other bite. I didn't really care that it was stress eating. Better this than I wind up getting really stressed out and go throw up.

My relationship with Dazai is, to put it lightly, rocky. Dazai is an unrepentant troll who's way, way to good at pushing people's buttons for my comfort. And while he was never actively malicious in his "pranks", I had seen, and herd, of them going into territory that downright disgusted me. I, personally, hadn't really been to big of a victim of Dazai's pranks, but he had figured out pretty quickly that I could become very indignant on other people's behalf, and used that to get a rise out of me whenever he got the chance.

That said, while I hate Dazai's guts, he's not really a bad guy(anymore . . .) and is a pretty good ally to have when the going gets tough. That also said . . . I'd much prefer the company of basically anyone else at the agency. Especially Kunikida. It's nice to be able to argue philosophy with someone, even if that someone is a little bit too passionate about their notebooks.

"Speaking of Doppo," I mutter, and pull out my cell-phone. I have Kunikida's number on speed dial, so it only takes a moment for me to have the phone auto-dialing.

Kunikida, true to form only takes a moment to answer the phone. "Hello? This is Kunikida Doppo speaking, how can I help you?" He asked. Apparently he hasn't customized a ring-tone for me yet. That or Dazai changed all of them on him. Again.

"Hey, Kunikida, it's me." I smile into the phone, not that he could see, and take a bite of another doughnut before he responds.

"Oh! Russet. Have you arrived at Zaban City yet? Do you require assitance?" He asked, sounding serious, curious and concerned in equal measure.

"No, I'm fine at the moment." I assure him. "I haven't reached Zaban yet though, still looking for a way. The thing is, Dazai called me earlier and told me to go searching the sewers. Now I'm sitting in a doughnut shop stuffing my face and wondering about weather or not he's trying to prank me or not." I explain to the detective, before biting into another doughnut.

For several seconds Kunikida says nothing, most likely thinking. "Dazai is well aware that your sense of smell is poor at the best of times, and that you would take precautions to avoid letting any of your equipment become sullied by sewage and the like. I doubt he's trying to trick you in any way. Am I right to assume that the actual problem is that you don't want to feel like your cheating from getting outside help?" He asked.

I smiled wryly, taking a swig of my milk-bottle before answering. "Got it in one Doppo. I just don't know how to feel about this. Literal tens of thousands of people try to take the Hunters Exam every year, but only a handful of people ever actually get there. It just seems disrespectful to take a shortcut, you know?"

I hear Kunikida hum, likely thinking. "I believe that luck is just as important as skill in these circumstances, Russet. Many of the other examines received advice from the people who delivered them to the harbour. You only got the bare bones advice of "keep your eye's open". I don't think you accepting Dazai's help here is the wrong choice. You should use every resource you have available. Don't you agree?"

I sigh. "Yeah, you're right. I'll go check around the sewers in a bit . . . Hey, I know this probably isn't the time, but . . . how's Slen doing?"

Kunikida doesn't respond for several seconds, leaving us in an uncomfortable silence, and I can make out the voices of people in the background (Atsushi and Yosano if I'm right). "He's . . . not doing well." he eventually says in a diplomatic tone.

I frown and let my shoulders slump. "Can't say I'm surprised . . . have they contacted his family yet or . . . ?"

"No, he requested that they not be contacted before he went under. They won't be contacted unless the doctors need permission from next of kin to do something, and at the moment they're as lost as we are." Kunikida answered.

"And Yosano can't do anything." it's not a question.

"No. "Thou Shalt not Die", while an incredible ability, is next to useless against non-physical injuries, and unfortunately withdrawal doesn't fall into it's range. About the only hope now is that he pulls through on his own, or that we find whatever drug they were using to keep him under thumb." I can here Doppo's aggravation. "We've been looking, but thus far every lead we've had lead us to a dead-end. I'm sorry."

For several seconds I don't respond, my head resting on one hand and my fingers tapping the side of my head nervously as I take it all in. "It's fine." I manage to force out through my clenched teeth. "Your doing everything you can. All we can do at this point is pray for the best." I sigh. "Well, thanks for the talk Doppo, I'll call you again next chance I get." I go to hang up . . .

"Wait, I have a favour to ask you."

. . . only to stop at Kunikida's exclamation.

"What kind of favour?" I ask, sipping my milk.

"An acquaintance of mine, a young girl by the name of Aya Koda, is trying to enter the exam this year. While I doubt she'll be able to reach the exam site, but if you see her, I'd ask that you keep an eye on her and keep her out of trouble."

" . . . Isn't that the same girl who once blackmailed you into helper her hunt down a terrorist with threats of trumped up sexual harassment charges?" I asked snidely, getting an embarrassed cough in response.

"Yes, that's the one." He confirms, as I notice laughter in the background.

"Ah. Just making sure I was right about were I'd heard the name. And sure, I'll keep an eye out. What does she look like?"

"She's a girl with short red hair who stands under five feet tall. She also seems to use a large number of hair-pins. It shouldn't be to hard to identify her."

"Well I'll keep an eye out for her. Anything else?"

"Thank you, and no, that's everything." Kunikida sounds relieved as he thanks me. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Kunikida, talk to you later." I end the call and put the phone away. I sit in silence for several seconds before getting up and walking over to the doughnut shops counter. "I'd like to buy another bottle of milk, this one is almost empty."

AN: I feel like it would be messy to add any more to this chapter, so I'll leave it short. Until next time.