Jasper yawned quietly into his hand as he stood beside Gon and- as he has been repeatedly reminded through that annoying use of the Nutty nickname- Killua as they waited for the head honcho to start the next trial. Behind him was Doctor Drab (who'd he'd been informed had his name upgraded from Mister to Doctor just recently) and to Killua's right stood Blondie (who was perfectly fine with their nicknames- why can't you be more like them, Killua?) while everyone else was scattered to both sides of them. Pinhead stood by his lonesome on Blondie's other side, while Baldie, Purple, and Clown stood to Gon's right. He'd tried to remember them without asking but it was no use.

The only thing he remembered from yesterday (which he was honestly surprised he had remembered anything) was a feeling of warmth that had settled in his chest. It had still been there when he'd woken up that morning. His confusion hadn't lessened any but just the sight of green clothes had ignited the embers still there and Jasper had been lost in the strange sensation. Until Killua had decided to roll over on top of him starting a whole squawk fest.

Yea… they hadn't gotten anywhere quickly that morning.

But now they stood in this wide room, with not just the applicants but also the examiners and a whole mob of suited men. This was all whispered in his ear courtesy of Gon hanging off his shoulder excitedly. At least this way he had some semblance of an idea of who was stuck in here with him. It had the added bonus of neatly sidestepping his possible panic attack.

Finally, after standing around for a few minutes and trying to figure out his possible opponents as discreetly as possible, the old man spoke up, one hand stroking his very strange beard. It looked like he dipped it in ink or something… Hm. That would be easy to remember. "The last phase will consist of one on one duels! The groups are the following-"

With no flourish at all, the man reached up and yanked a white cloth off the large board that had been stationed in front of them. They were all numbers which made him frown. He had no idea what the board was saying and those little black lines connecting the numbers had to mean something, he just wasn't getting it. Wait no… maybe the connections meant the two people with the corresponding number would fight? The old man did say duels, after all. Problem was, he didn't know his own number let alone anyone else's.

He glanced over at Gon who was staring contemplatively, then to Killua who looked shocked. They'd both probably explain it to him but Gon seemed safer considering all Killua did this morning was tease and wrestle with him.

"Now the rules for this trial." His attention snapped back to Ink Beard. "It's very simple! One victory and you pass the exam." One victory? He didn't have to fight a whole bunch of people one on one? He totally had this then. "In other words, winners quit the game one by one. The principle of the pyramid is to designate the loser, not the winner. Understand?"

Not really. But… he held onto the rule of one win, chanting it over and over in his mind.

"So, only one person loses," Baldie spoke up, a finger tapping at his chin.

"Exactly," Ink Beard responded, one finger pointing up. He shifted his feet, the weird sandals he was using making a clacking noise against the smooth stone flooring. "Consequently each person has at least two chances to win. Any questions?"

"Why are the pyramids so off," Doctor Drab huffed behind him.

"A fair question! These groups were chosen using the results from previous rounds. Simply, the ones who got better marks have more chances of passing."

"Pfft." Killua shifted as Jasper glanced over at him. He wondered why people were asking questions when they were literally told the rules already. You just needed one win, what else was there to know or care about? "I don't like it. Tell me how you judged these points!"

"Impossible."

It was such a flat response that he could feel Killua's irritation in his response. "'Scuse me!?"

Jasper snorted, ducking his head when narrowed blue eyes turned on him instead. Getting into a wrestling match here probably wouldn't be such a good showing. Besides he didn't want to show off before all these people before he had a chance to fight. So, avoiding the angry white haired child's wrath it was.

(And if he accomplished that by swapping spots with Gon, well… they were supposedly friends so it was fine, right?)

"The way we accomplish everything lies in absolute secrecy." Ink Beard recaptured both of their attentions as he gestured into the air, palm flat and facing the ceiling. A smirk crossed his wrinkled face as he continued, "But I can help you to understand some of our ways. First, the basis of our evaluation starts with three essential points. Strength, Mind, and Charisma. The explanation for each: Strength starts with strength, speed, suppleness, and use of the five evaluation of the mind looks at resistance, adaptation, appreciation, and creation.

But this only responds to referenced measures. What truly allowed you to reach the end was your charisma. It is hard to quantify that quality… that essential component of a hunter. The results come from all I just told you and all that you told me. That's all."

That… was so confusing. They based it off of measurable abilities but then… the most important point wasn't measurable? Then how did they measure it!?

And…

How did Jasper measure up?

"The fight rules are simple. Weapons are allowed and pushing your victim to quit signifies your victory. However, if you kill your adversary you will be disqualified! If that happens, the only 'loser' will be designated and the exam will end."

Wait.

He had to force someone to give up? He couldn't just knock them out and win?

Jasper shivered, his shoulders tensing. Okay. This might have been a bit more difficult than he thought it was going to be.

All he had on him was his satchel, which had a container with a few sliced fruits, and his pouch, which had his garrote wire, phone and charger, and an empty leather sheath. That really wasn't much. His wire was his best choice but if he couldn't use it to knock them out, what exactly was he left with?

He couldn't hold someone with superior strength and build… he couldn't bleed them too much… What was it that Uncle Lin had called that one thing? Debilitation?

"Let's start! First Round- Hanzo vs. Gon!"

Gon was first!? Wait...that meant he had to ask Killua. Urgh. Still this was important for him to know so he could plan!

With that in mind, he slowly inched over to the white haired boy. When he stood almost shoulder to shoulder with him, he quickly jabbed him in the ribs.

"Ack! That was dirty. Was it necessary!?"

"Revenge," was all he said, eyes forward so he could watch what Gon would do. Except they didn't start the match right away. Instead Baldie commented on the people that supposedly followed them during the exams. He knew absolutely nothing about that, so while they were chatting he actually turned his head to face the taller boy.

"Hey… where am I on the board?"

"And why should I tell you after jabbing me?"

"I already told you it was revenge. It's your own fault for kicking me in the cafeteria."

"I'm going to kick you again if you don't watch it."

Jasper responded by sticking out his tongue. "So, where am I?"

Killua scoffed, shoving his hands deeper in his pockets. "You did pretty terrible. You're one of the last fights on the left side."

"Last fight?"

Blue eyes glanced at him, white eyebrows inching up a pale forehead. "Do you not even know how this thing works?"

Jasper ducked his chin but it did nothing to stop the heat creeping into his cheeks. "No," he muttered. "I get we have to win one fight and everyone has at least two chances. That's it."

Unlike what he was expecting, there was no teasing forthcoming. Instead, Killua frowned thoughtfully. "I guess you've never seen a tournament bracket then, or don't remember if you did." He affirmed this with a small noise of confirmation. "Right. The people who did really well, like Gon, have at least five chances to win. Others, like you, only have two because their score was low in the previous tests supposedly."

Well… that wasn't the best feeling in the world. His stomach felt sour now and there was something burning in the back of his throat. He hadn't realized he'd done so poorly. "So, who am I up against then?"

"Don't know yet. Could be Gon if he doesn't win any of these matches. Could be someone else."

Helpful.

"Don't worry, Jasper. I can point out who you might have to face if you'd like," Blondie spoke up from behind.

"I'd appreciate it," he huffed, sticking his tongue out again at Killua. Much as he'd like to rely on himself for this, he had no idea who was who and what was going. Information was important, Daddy always told him. If you have knowledge of something, it can help you later.

"I think it's pretty craptastic that Hisoka is one of 'em," Doctor Drab muttered, leaning forward to squint at the board.

"BEGIN!"

He watched both opponents practically vanish on the spot. It took a moment of searching before his eyes adjusted and he found them again. It was just in time to see Gon receive a chop to the back of his neck that laid him out quickly. Baldie was not gentle in waking him, or from any point thereafter. But Gon wouldn't give up and Jasper admired his determination. He wondered if he could do something like that, if things got bad.

But as much as he wanted to cheer for his friend… he really needed to know about his own matches. "Hisoka?"

Blondie pursed his lips when Jasper looked at him. His eyes were focused on the fight but as soon as Jasper had spoken, his face had fallen into a grim visage. That probably wasn't a good sign. "Well, yes. Hisoka is one. I'm another, and either Gon or Hanzo, you could end up facing."

"Hisoka is over there," Killua muttered with a wave in the direction of the clown looking man. He took a moment to look him over. His clothes were flashy and well-tailored, a small smirk graced the corners of his mouth, and his eyes were a cruel gold focused intently on the match in front of them. Jasper immediately didn't like him.

There was something in his gut that was saying he would not be easy to fight, let alone force into doing anything. So he had Gon, who was his friend and he sort of really didn't want to fight; Hanzo, who, based on how Gon's fight was going, was way too fast for him to keep up; Blondie, who was a maybe friend who he didn't really want to fight either; and Hisoka, who gave him flight feelings from the get go. Those were just… really bad match-ups.

He bit his lips, furiously thinking over what he could while also keeping an eye on the match.

All three hours of it.

He winced as Baldie snapped Gon's arm like a crackly twig. Behind him, Doctor Drab was growling under his breath about fighting and Blondie was agreeing. Jasper felt… conflicted. On the one hand… that pain tolerance and determination was sort of scary but highly respectable. On the other, he also wanted to jump into the fight to make it stop. He hadn't realized what seeing his friend being tortured for a few hours would be like…

REDREDRED

He didn't want to hear it anymore. His hands inched up over his ears, chin ducking into his chest.

Useless, useless, useless-

He didn't want to see it anymore. His eyes clenched shut and he bit his tongue to keep from voicing his agreement with the other two in their group.

Gon had already made it this far. He would make it much farther.

But he didn't want to watch. (He saw everything.)

He didn't want to hear. (So many screams. They wouldn't stop screaming)

He couldn't let himself interfere. But he couldn't stop it. No one was allowed to stop it. Gon would get so angry. This was his fight and his alone.

He couldn't be disqualified. He couldn't interfere. Couldn'tcouldn'tcouldn't-

Why couldn't they just stop screaming?


Killua couldn't help but think and overthink about the situation. How did the atmosphere go from tense to- to almost casual? Literally nothing had changed. Gon was still refusing to admit defeat and the self-proclaimed ninja was still threatening (and mostly succeeding) in hurting him. He turned to look at Kurapika who was commenting on the change. Him and the old man seemed like they understood what happened so maybe if he-

He paused, eyes catching on the hands digging into Nutty's hair. The older boy had his eyes shut and there was a bit of blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth.

Not ideal.

"Hey."

No response, but it did attract attention from the other two. Pulled from their riveted attention on the match, they seemed to process the situation quickly. Leorio's mouth was twitching and his eyes were heavy with something that looked like worry. Kurapika, on the other hand, was frowning. It was the blonde that took the first move, stepping forward and brushing his knuckles across one of Nutty's hands.

Not even a single twitch. Now, even Killua was slightly worried. Nutty wasn't alright in the end. He knew this from day one but there was something about seeing him in this state that made his chest clench sharply. Honestly, if he hadn't seen the blood the boy might have just looked a little uncomfortable. Except he had seen the blood, so he could also see the sharp line of tension in his shoulders and the shaking in his hands.

"What's wrong with him," he muttered unconsciously.

At this point, Kurapika and Leorio had shifted. Leorio had planted his bulk between them and the other weirdos in the room and Kurapika had leaned forward to look around into Jasper's face.

"Jasper," the older teen said quietly. "Can you hear me?"

"Screaming," was the mumbled reply. "Make it stop. Stop. Stop screaming."

"Who's screaming?"

"All of them. All of them. I can't help them. I can't help…"

Kurapika seemed to hesitate a moment while Killua watched the proceedings with sharp eyes. He was still paying attention to the match (and Killua wasn't going to forget that knife to Gon's forehead) but Gon had gone this long and he believed in the brunette's stubbornness. Even if he wasn't sure why Gon didn't just quit against a superior opponent, he still believed.

So, he focused on the tiniest boy.

"No one is screaming Jasper," he said, cutting off any reply Kurapika was trying to formulate. "No one is screaming and it's just your tiny little nut brain. Got it?"

Leorio shifted his feet, eyes looking guilty and narrow, but he still didn't say anything. Killua wondered if he thought his own raised voice contributed to whatever this was. It sort of reminded him of the first phase actually. Except here Jasper was responding, he just wasn't responding coherently.

"I can't help them…"

"You don't have to," Kurapika cut in. "You don't have to help them, Jasper. You aren't there. You're here with us."

"But they're screaming!"

They all jolted at the loud words. It had attracted attention and he could see several other people focusing on them despite the monologuing ninja. Not good.

"Well, I'm gonna scream at you if you don't open your eyes, Nutcase," he hissed. Kurapika sucked in a breath and sent him a reproving look that he completely ignored. "So, why don't you wake up?"

It took a moment before there was a response. The hands in his hair tightened and his cheeks twitched as if under strain. His response was quiet but it seemed to echo loudly in the sudden void of noise. "If I wake up, they'll all be gone."

"But we're right here." Jasper's eyes opened as Gon's voice drifted across the room.

Their little group turned to Gon who was watching them curiously, the ninja frowning at them right next to him. Damn. They had attracted way too much attention and even interrupted the fight.

"You're okay, right?" Blue eyes stared at Gon for a long moment, before his hands finally fell from his hair and his shoulders relaxed. Killlua blew out a breath of relief. Jasper still seemed a little dazed but he was coherent enough to nod. "Awesome! So," the mountain child spun back around and continued where he left off. "Let's find another way to fight, okay?"

The ninja let out a sound akin to a boiling tea kettle and threw his hands up in the air. "I already said I lost!" Killua blinked. When exactly did that happen? There was no way this guy gave up just like that. His strength was way above Gon's level. Maybe Killua should have paid a bit more attention? He'd only focused enough to know that it was still ongoing and they were talking to each other. "Are you stupid!? Whatever the manner of fighting, I won't get you to admit to losing!"

"This way isn't good enough, though!"

"Hah!? Then how exactly do you want to fight?"

"Let's find a way together!"

Killua blinked at the comedy show that the two participants had devolved into. Then he turned back to Jasper who still looked half out of it. His eyes were hazily focused on the bickering duo, and there was a small smile on his lips. Yea. Nutty was going to be just fine now thankfully.

And somehow… somehow Gon had won against a superior opponent.

Despite the brutal knockout he was just delivered… he'd still won where it mattered.

He needed to know why and how.


"Leorio vs. Pokkle! Begin!"

Leorio was not feeling so great. Watching three hours of torture followed up by (what looked like) a nasty trauma flashback from two literal children, had set off his not only his temper but also a severe case of nausea. Honestly, he'd been surprised that he had ended up with so many chances. Much as he liked to boast his own talents, he wasn't really a fighter. He wanted to be a healer and the only reason he had learned to fight in the first place was his not so great childhood. Not to mention his less than stellar performances in the last phases (though getting to see that prisoner was still worth it. So worth it.). And now it was his turn to fight.

So, here he was, walking into combat at less than optimal. He was angry. He felt sick. And he just wanted this entire day to be over with.

His opponent was a smaller man with a purple head wrap over his light brown hair, with a matching purple belt over a deep red vest, and a yellow scarf around his neck. On his back was a bow and quiver, one of the arrows already in his hands. There was a cocky smirk on pale lips and Leorio could feel his pulse pounding against his forehead as he observed all of this. Pokkle didn't seem to be a strong close range fighter which would definitely work in his favor if he pushed that advantage.

Unfortunately, he absolutely wasn't in the mood for this. Moving just seemed like far too much work right now when he could be back over by Jasper keeping an eye on him after his worrying episode (that he was ninety percent positive he had helped set off).

So he decided to end this as quickly as possible.

"Look, I'm not much of a fighter, you're obviously a hunter blah, blah, blah. I don't really give a damn right now. See, one of my friends just ended up in the hospital and the other one is not in the right state of mind to be here. So, I'm going to tell you right here and now that I'm medically trained… to an extent. I know where your nerve clusters are, I know where to cut so you don't bleed out. In fact, I'm more than willing to show you but I have to warn you in advance that I might… make a mistake."

With his suitcase still clutched in his left hand, his right slipped into a pocket to whip out a small pocket knife. It wouldn't be ideal but it wouldn't be the first time he'd relied on his tiny, extremely sharp blade to assist him. It worked great in a back alley fight, and it worked great as a makeshift scalpel. Much as he didn't like hurting people, Leorio was old enough to know that sometimes it was necessary.

His opponent opened his mouth but Leorio wasn't having it, making a loud sharp noise. "I don't- Want. To. Hear. It. I don't." He wasn't about to let the other man get any leeway. He needed this angry steam to keep him going, otherwise he was going to collapse under the rising tide of messy emotions trapped in his chest. If he gave into that, Leorio knew he was done. He wouldn't win any battles.

So, he did what he had learned to do after many long, hard, hungry days. He took his anger and he sharpened it. Instead of letting it blow out and over quickly in the form of yelling and movement, he grabbed it, held it. Let it burn him as he forced it into a more dangerous form, one he promised himself he wouldn't use again unless it was absolutely needed. He was older and wiser now, more aware of himself as well. Honing his anger wouldn't end up with almost three dead people. No, this time it would end with a surrender.

Simple. Sweet.

"What I want, Pokkle, is your surrender. And right now, I'm high strung enough that I'm absolutely going to get it. Because if I don't this knife is going to be cutting a few important tendons. They can be fixed with surgery but, well, it's never quite the same afterwards, you know?"

Pokkle scoffed, a frown firmly set onto his face now. "You'd have to scratch me first, wouldn't you?"

His forehead pulsed again. His teeth ground together achingly in his mouth.

With more care than normal considering his raging temper right now, Leorio bent over at the waist to set his briefcase down. He chanced a glance to the side, taking in the curious expressions on his friends faces and the still half glazed look in Jasper's eyes.

His fingers twitched around the knife handle.

He eyed the bow slung across the other's back and the arrow still twirling in his hand. "I think those flexor tendons are calling for me," he growled, shifting his stance.

"Leorio wins!"

"Damn, old man… that was pretty vicious." Killua's blue eyes were tracking the brunette as he was assisted by a medic in the corner of the room. When Leorio got closer, the brat turned to him with an excited smirk on his face. "Maybe you're cooler than I thought."

"It was definitely surprising. I wasn't aware you could be so cold-blooded, Leorio." Kurapika was looking him over assessingly, as if he was being seen in his entirety. Leorio honestly wasn't sure how to feel about that look.

"What!? I was not- What are you- It's totally fixable! All I did was cut up his hands a little!" Of course, his hands were rather important in bow work but it got him to concede quickly. And Leorio was able to release some of his pent up aggression, even if he did end up with a nasty scratch across his jaw at the end and a few new bruises decorating his face and stomach. Pokkle, a long range hunter he may be, was a vicious striker with his punches when cornered.

"Where did you learn to use a knife like that Doctor Drab? I wanna learn that!"

He was startled when Jasper appeared in his personal space, taking a small step back. Sadly, he fell flat on his ass when his muscles gave out. There were two loud squawks as Leorio smashed his head into the floor and Jasper tumbled right on top of his chest, tugged down by Leorio's panicked grasp.

"Oh. Whoops. I forgot to mention my arrow was poisoned with a paralytic. You'll be able to move in ten or so days," Pokkle called across the room, his tone a little too pleased.

Leorio had the sudden urge to patch the archer up himself, sans local anesthetic. He still needed plenty of needle practice after all.


AN:

So... another Jasper episode and Leorio gets a little sprinkle of my headcanon fleshing! And I drew up the adjusted rankings! Which was a bitch to calculate... Leorio did much better this time around and it had everything to do with being able to handle Jasper and show off his already acquired medical skills (and how he dealt with Tonpa).

Unfortunately I can't put the picture in the chapter but I can tell you how the names are adjusted. In order from left to right: Left side has Hanzo, Gon, Kurapika, Hisoka, Jasper. The right side has Killua, Pokkle, Leorio, Gittarackur.

That means that first fights are

1. Hanzo vs Gon. Gon wins.

2. Leorio Vs. Pokkle. Leorio wins.

3. Hanzo vs Kurapika.

4. Killua Vs. Pokkle.

5. HvK loser vs. Hisoka

6. KvP loser vs. Gittarackur

7. -vH loser vs. Jasper

9. Left side loser vs. Right side loser

Shoutouts: KrixLight- Yes! The old guy is Bodoro and as you can see it made the rankings quite different. Hisoka is one of the people that Jasper could possibly face ;)

Bluepeony0- You're right. He did sort of have a bad day. As for fighting... When Netero asked the participants who they wanted to fight Hisoka did actually say Jasper specifically because he wants to see if he can draw the other personality out. None of the others were interested in fighting him, though. And... as you can see in this chapter he does not have a high score.

darknesslight13- Isn't Gon adorable? Don't worry Killua will get there eventually.

Drakality- Ooo hello new reader! Or possibly just new commenter! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment! You're definitely right that his wire isn't going to help him much. I guess you'll just have to see ;)