Gon peered at the screen of Jasper's phone curiously. It was a rather nice phone and seemed pretty high tech compared to what most people carried from what he had seen. He wondered where his friend had gotten it from.
"Oh, you should add Kurapika and Leorio on here too," Gon hummed as he scanned the writing. It was nice to see he and Killua had an entire entry but Jas should know that he could trust the older teens in their group as well! Kurapika was really kind and smart and Leorio was nice and had some medical training.
"Who are they?"
Gon laughed and pointed at Leorio who was currently organizing his briefcase and stuffing his jacket inside of it. "That's Leorio! He wrapped your wrist and he's really nice. And Kurapika is out getting something to eat."
Jasper fidgeted next to him, fingers clenching on his phone. Honestly, Gon wished he could help him more than he was already doing. It was a bit of a repetitive job to keep reminding Jas about…. pretty much everything, but there was just something there that he really liked about the boy. He was sweet and funny and bright and-
Lonely.
He was seeing it more and more in the little things. And it was a very uncomfortable reminder of how, despite his excitement for adventure, Gon felt when he had left Whale Island. There'd been nothing wrong with his home and he loved Aunt Mito and Grandma very much (and everyone was very kind but there really weren't many people who actually lived there) but- It was like he was missing something. He wanted more. And he hadn't even realized that until he'd met Killua. Well… no… he'd sort of felt it when Kurapika and Leorio had tagged along with him- a kind of bubbly happy feeling- but he hadn't really identified it until he was talking with Killua and Jas. They made him happy. All of them did. And that tiny part of him that felt like he was missing something soothed over.
He wanted to keep them all close.
It was different for Jasper, though. He seemed to be on his own for a long time now… or maybe he had been with someone but if he had, the boy certainly didn't remember. And Gon did notice that Jasper tended to avoid everyone except for him and Killua. He couldn't be sure but he thought it had to do with their ages. If so… Gon was glad he was at an age that Jasper felt comfortable with because he could be friends with him. They both wouldn't be lonely this way!
Jasper talking snapped him back to the present. "But… that's an adult Gon."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
The cloaked boy's finger pointed at Leorio who was now standing up to greet Kurapika who had appeared at the edge of their makeshift clearing. "Adult."
So… age actually was a factor? Gon wasn't sure why being an adult would be a problem. But if that was the issue then it was an easy fix! "Well, actually he's a teenager."
"EH!?"
He couldn't help but laugh at the response. It did seem pretty unbelievable but Leorio hadn't lied. And Jasper's jaw hanging so low it was visible was pretty funny.
He knew everyone was watching them now, but kept his attention on Jas. The boy's guard was down and it would be nice if it stayed that way. "He definitely doesn't look like it! But he is! So, it should be okay to put him in your phone, right?"
Jasper's mouth visibly opened and closed before he cleared his throat and answered, "I-I guess. Why am I putting him in my phone?"
"Because he can help! Kurapika will too! You should put their descriptions in your phone like you did for me and Killua."
"O-oh. Okay."
And despite sounding rather dazed he did turn back to his screen and start typing. Gon peered over his shoulder to watch.
Though, he was still rather worried about Jasper and his exhausted state- and he couldn't forget how they'd found him terrified hours earlier- Gon was rather satisfied with how things were turning out. He was making really cool friends and all of his friends were helping each other.
Everything was going great!
Kurapika sighed as he brushed off the dirt on his tabard before storing the root in his bag. He really shouldn't be going this far for another examinee, should just let the boy fail-
But… Jasper was only a child. A child that needed help and Kurapika wasn't- he wasn't cold-hearted. He knew he should be. He had to be to go after the lives of the Phantom Troupe… He didn't want to be, though. It wasn't Jasper that hurt his clan. So, there was no reason- especially if it wasn't going to hurt his chances to pass the exam- for him not to extend help.
And… he couldn't help but hate himself for even hesitating in the first place. Kurapika wanted to avenge his clan. He did not want to become callous like their murderers.
For a moment he had forgotten that.
He double checked his bag, looking over the collection of berries and roots he'd been able to gather. It wasn't as much as he'd like but he wasn't familiar with most plants in this forest and he didn't want to accidentally poison the kid. Still, he'd been gone for long enough and this would have to suffice. With that thought in mind, he turned back to the area they'd set up the fire pits for roasting the giant pigs they'd caught.
It wasn't very far, only a few minutes away as he'd just been circling, but it still left plenty of time for him to reflect.
He didn't regret following Gon but he was a bit chagrined to admit to himself that it might have been easier if he hadn't. He would not have grown attached and he would not be having a mini crisis over his humanity and kindness. Then, of course, he would not have met the intriguing puzzle of Gon nor the kind hearted doctor, Leorio. He had no idea how he would act around Jasper if things had gone differently. Would he have truly sunk low enough to ignore an obvious child in need?
Kurapika sighed. It was better not to think of what ifs. He had enough problems with that as it was. He knew if he pursued that line of thought he'd only fall back into old thoughts of his clan. And while he would never let his rage go, he didn't exactly want to fall back into the heavy despair of the first year after the massacre either.
For now he would focus on what he could do; what he was currently doing to help, and that was feeding the resident amnesiac.
He found his way to the rest of the group quickly enough. They were settled around the area, Killua settled by the large pile of roast pigs, Gon hovering over Jasper's shoulder, and Leorio fiddling with the contents of his briefcase. The latter was the closest and so he made his way over to the aspiring doctor.
"How did it go?"
The brunette glanced up with a grimace before closing his briefcase with a sigh. Well, that wasn't exactly an inspiring reaction.
"Well, good news is I got his wrist wrapped. It really wasn't that bad but it could have been if it hadn't been addressed. Bad news is- well… hard to come to terms with." Leorio scrubbed a hand through his hair, a frown on his lips, and shoulders sagging.
Kurapika found himself frowning too. "Was it truly that bad?"
"Worse. Probably. I haven't seen someone so thin in- in years. It's not- good memories," the man said haltingly. "And he's got other injuries. Most old, some healing. I don't know all of what the kids saw but they haven't said anything yet. I just… that kid- ugh! I hate that I had to use his own head against him! And the connotations of not trusting adults-! There's just-!"
"Leorio," Kurapika cut in low and sharp.
"Sorry. Sorry…"
"You're a good guy," he hummed. "It's a good thing you're able to help him, right?"
There was that grimace again. A hand came up to rub tiredly at the eye opposite of the still swollen flesh on Leorio's face. "Yeah. Better than what he had before obviously. Doesn't mean it doesn't make me angry, though."
"That is fair. But it's probably best not to let Jasper know that."
Most kids who avoided adults did so with very good reason. It was a hard learned lesson for Kurapika himself. Adults were supposed to help kids. Children had an innate trust for their guides in life… but there were always those that had their trust broken. Some more harshly than others.
"Probably," the brunette agreed. With a short sigh, Leorio leaned down to scoop up his briefcase. "Times a wastin'. Best get a move on. We don't know how many have passed yet."
"Agreed. Let us move on. Oh," he paused, glancing at the bandages he could see peeking out from Jasper's wrist. "Can he carry his own pig? Will he be disqualified if he doesn't?"
It was a fair question to ask. The pigs were not what one would call light in any form of the word. Gon and Killua seemed a few steps above normal children in the strength department but he hadn't seen much from Jasper. Besides keeping up during the run (which was a feat in itself he could admit) the boy hadn't really displayed any signs of being like the other two kids. He hadn't really had the chance, either, but it still left his questions unanswered.
And now Leorio looked as hesitant as he did. "He definitely can't use his wrist. I don't know if he'll be able to carry it with one arm. And he'd have to at least present it by himself, right?"
"I suppose all we can do is ask?"
It turned out that Jasper could, in fact, carry the pig one handed, though there was a bit of a struggle to get it situated since he couldn't pick it up easily. It eventually ended up with Kurapika hauling it into the air and settling it over the small boy's shoulder until the kid had a good hold on it.
"Cool. Can we finally get this over with," Killua huffed, boredom practically seeping from his pores.
"Right! Let's go pass the second phase," Gon cheered.
Killua smirked. "Race ya!" Then he took off with Gon chasing after him with a startled shout of, "Cheater!"
Jasper squeaked a breathy laugh and followed behind, somehow keeping pace even though his run didn't look quite as effortless.
Kurapika watched them with a smile. The kids sure were energetic. It made his chest warm as he followed after, Leorio on his heels with a half-hearted complaint.
Menchi watched the applicants wander around the cooking stations in confusion. It was rather sad really how pitiful they all looked but she'd given them lots of hints already! And she really had a craving for sushi, so the Gourmet Hunter was looking forward to what would be presented. There had to be at least one person here that could make sushi.
Her stomach growled quietly.
Ugh. Menchi was hungry, dammit. Couldn't they hurry up?
She scanned the crowd again but this time her gaze snagged on a few oddities. First, the very Japponese looking man trying to hide his laughter. He probably knew how to make sushi and was laughing at all the others. Good news for her stomach. Second was the clown who was looking equal parts interested, confused, and murderous. Of course, it didn't show on his face but he was practically blasting it with his nen. He was either unaware that he was doing so, or more likely, didn't care.
Third, and most interesting was an actual group. Unlike most everyone else who was only semi-clustered, trying to spy on each other, there were five applicants that were actually closed in on themselves to block everyone else out. Well, mostly. The white haired brat was a bit more distant but he was still in the group's orbit and the tiny robed thing was more inside the circle than a part of it-
Were they giving him food?
Menchi blinked, tapping her gong mallet against the back of the couch in interest.
They definitely were.
The blonde one seemed to be quietly discussing something with the rest while also sneaking food over to the robed one every now and then. So far she'd seen a handful of berries and something that looked like a root disappear under the hood.
Weird.
Interesting.
She'd have to keep an eye on that.
A few minutes later, she watched as they all scrambled for fish. She watched as they all absolutely butchered the art of making sushi. She watched and got more and more annoyed at each pitiful attempt.
So, when the tiny robed applicant appeared in front of her muttering, "Deliver the food, deliver the food," she almost didn't notice how thin his fingers and wrists were (one of them wrapped in a thick, stiff bandage that did little to help it look bigger) when he set the platter down in front of her. Unfortunately, she did notice and it made her heart seize in her chest because if there was one thing Menchi absolutely couldn't stand (besides people making fun of Gourmet Hunters, of course) it was children going hungry. And this level of thinness usually indicated starvation.
She pursed her lips. Not much she could do about it right now… but it made a lot more sense why blondie had been subtly feeding this one.
With a sigh (and a mental promise to revisit this later), she pulled the lid off to gaze at the next, probably disgusting, attempt. It was shaped alright, kind of wonky but better than a lot of the other ones she'd seen so far. There was a thin cutting of fish on top and it was wrapped (or it was an attempt to look like a wrap, she couldn't tell) with a small piece of freshwater seaweed. An… okay attempt at visual, definitely not up to her standards but better than most.
Next she picked up the small piece of sushi in her chopsticks and dipped one end into the sauce dish. Then she plopped it in her mouth.
"Urgh, too much vinegar! Fail," she barked, completely overwhelmed with that all consuming disappointment that fed into her anger. The flavor was too overpowering, the rice harder than it needed to be, and the fish was definitely not a good pick for a sushi topping!
She looked up and frowned at the applicant still in front of her. "Well? Get out of my sight! You failed."
"Failed what?"
Her mouth popped open in surprise. Failed what!? "You failed to live up to the taste of sushi," she growled, reaching forward to snag the robe so she could drag them up to her face, so she could look them in the eye. Nails immediately dug into her wrist but she wasn't really worried about that… No, it was the gaunt cheeks and sunken eyes that made her pause.
Thin. So very very thin.
Menchi slowly closed her mouth, cutting off her rant as her anger slowly died back down. Instead she huffed and muttered, "You're too thin kid. Go back to your little friends, alright?"
She set him back on his feet and released his robe. The kid wobbled for a moment before he turned around muttering, "Friends? Friends. Okay…"
"Buhara… He's so small," she whispered, watching him wander for a moment before the tiny green kid ran over and dragged him back to their sullen group.
"You can't do anything right now, Menchi," the giant man rumbled pointedly. "You're an examiner, after all."
She groaned. Right. It was an honor to be chosen as an examiner but none of it was living up to her expectations! All of these examinees were worthless when it came to sushi! At this rate none of them were going to pass. Oh well, when it was all over and done with then she could track down the tiny boy to try to get him some nutritional help. Even if she had to try to apprentice him to get him away from whatever lifestyle he was living.
Thankfully, she didn't have to wait much longer before she was full… or more like her stomach didn't want to take anymore failed attempts at what she'd been craving.
She hit the gong with her mallet giving a cheerful, "Sorry! I'm not hungry anymore!"
Buhara frowned down at her. "Menchi," his tone was quiet but reproachful and only made her throw her nose in the air. "This wasn't what was agreed upon."
"I'm not changing my mind! We agreed that if it tasted good it was a pass and if it didn't then it was a fail," she huffed. Besides, the quicker this was over with, the quicker she could get a better look at the disaster that was the robed kid. He didn't seem to be all there in the head, he was stick thin, and he was being helped by other examinees! He shouldn't pass this exam! She'd train him up and then he could pass a later one.
"Second trial of the second phase, Cooking: None Qualified," she announced loudly, cutting off whatever else Buhara was going to try to nag her about.
The larger man shook his head but turned his attention to the applicants when one of them smashed his station. Menchi frowned. Just because they could easily replace those, didn't mean they didn't cost a bit of money; they were state of the art, after all. She wouldn't have anything less for people trying to cook for her.
"I didn't come here to be a pathetic Gourmet Hunter. I'm going to be a blacklist hunter and no gourmet will stop me!"
This uppity little prick had the nerve to make fun of Gourmet Hunters in front of her too. A brat with no nen talent, latent or otherwise, and he thought she'd let him get away with this?
"Well, that's too bad," she purred. "How unlucky that you were tested by two Gourmet Hunters then. Better luck next year!"
"Are you mocking me!?"
Oho. This prick really wanted to die.
Before she could do more than grasp her knives that had been tucked into the back of the couch she'd been perched on, Buhara had already smacked the man away. She twitched and turned to her Examiner partner.
"I don't recall asking for your help," she bit out.
"Maybe not. But if I didn't, you would have killed him, right?"
"Maybe," she hummed. More like most definitely. No one looks down on Gourmet Hunters in front of her after all. So before anyone else could make such a drastic mistake, she graciously decided to explain things to the rest of the pathetic whelps. "It doesn't matter what Hunter you want to be, all Hunters need to have perfect knowledge in the art of fighting." She started juggling her knives, paying only half attention to what her hands were doing. It was a pretty display and a heavy warning not to mess with her. "Gourmet Hunters, for example, constantly delve into dangerous territories and fight many beasts to seek out new and amazing ingredients. And it's common to run into poachers and stop them. So despite what Hunter you want to be, you need to know how to fight! Will you be able to take on any challenge, even in a domain you don't know?"
And then Netero himself decided to drop in and Menchi felt… well, a little bit sheepish. At his not quite scolding tone she couldn't help but admit that she'd lost her temper. And maybe made it a bit too difficult.
Netero smiled at her when she offered to step down as judge. "Now, now. It would be too much trouble to replace you now. How about… as compensation for such a difficult menu, you'll have to participate in the next test alongside all the other applicants!"
She could accept that.
After asking for a ride from the president (because she had the best idea of what to do next!) Menchi allowed herself to look around for the robed kid again. She was still an examiner so she couldn't just go up to him and start trying to stuff him full of food, but she could at least start trying to work out what needed to be fixed and where she could help him improve. After all, though his sushi wasn't up to her standards, it was still one of the better ones so he wasn't completely hopeless.
On the Association Blimp, Menchi discreetly watched as the green kid started handing over some berries. Then the business looking man (Failed dish numero uno, the fish was still moving for goodness sake!) accepted another handful of berries from blondie that was then passed to the green one. A tangle of roots was handed to the white haired kid, who looked at it for a moment before stuffing it in his pocket.
So… they were all working together to feed the kid then. Huh. She had a feeling the skinny brat wasn't good at accepting help, but that was fine. She could work with stubborn.
Unfortunately, her time for studying was cut short all too quickly when they arrived at Split Mountain.
"Here it is," she said, pointing to the gaping chasm as the applicants followed behind her. She stripped her boots, dropping them to the floor without preamble (because the whelps wouldn't dare touch her stuff) before going to stand right on the edge. It took a moment of waiting but they'd come at a pretty good time, the breeze was already starting to kick up. Time to go then.
"Alright and hup!"
She could hear the exclamations above her before they were drowned out by the wind rushing in her ears and it put a smile on her lips. The egg retrieval went off without a hitch, the wind carrying her back up (it was always such a rush!). She grinned at the looks of stunned amazement on everyone's faces.
"Now that's more like!"
"Alright! This is gonna be so cool!"
"Action over cooking, heck yea!"
And suddenly that group of five, three of which had shouted in excitement, were launching themselves off the cliff. Menchi stared before blurting out in a panic, "I haven't finished my explanation yet!"
But it was too late. She was left up here with the contestants that refused to go, and an amused Chairman.
Menchi bit her lip and crouched down near the ledge to look at what was going on. Everyone was hanging onto the string of the webs but she could already tell it was too much weight. The connections to the cliff face were started to strain and-
The little robed boy was… not among the members on the web strings? Had he already fallen? If he hit the river there was a chance of survival but- Dammit! She knew he wasn't ready for the exam. He was tiny, starved, and if she remembered correctly, one of his wrists had been wrapped for support, so it was likely injured. She chewed on her lip. She couldn't leave until the exam was over and they had different examiners that were set for retrieval but-
Wait.
She squinted, clutching her egg to her chest as she tried to see around the other applicants. From her angle, he'd been hidden because he was so small but- Yes! He was there! He was also not clinging like everyone else but was cautiously walking on top of the web line, stepping over people's hands.
That was… actually some really impressive balance considering the constant breeze that made the webs sway. It was hard to track him despite the fluttery robe because he kept disappearing under applicants that were on higher lines than him. Still, Menchi managed because she had a keen eye after years of being a Hunter. He made steady but slow progress until he was above one of the lower lines. Then he jumped and landed neatly, both feet on the corded silk swaying in time with the web.
The proud feeling welling up in her chest when the kid got to a nest before anyone else was a bit of a surprise. It made sense if she thought about it, this kid had so many odds stacked against him and he still did better than most others. So, when the high wind kicked up, Menchi was not surprised that he was the first back, and with an armful of eggs instead of just one.
He needed all that protein so it was a good thing anyway.
AN: I love your comments guys! I'm curious to see what you think about this chapter! No Jasper POV even though he's earning pity points left and right.
Q&A: KrixLight- It wasn't necessarily a question but I thought I'd address it anyway! Yes, Jasper is definitely carving his own space and worming into the hearts of important characters! And the idea of Jasper and Killua... I admit there's a cuteness appeal there. You're probably going to love chapter six if you want to ship them ;)
