I can't take all this madness, it's time to go,
I'm in the race.
Too many cities, Oh so bright,
I'm searchin' for the right one to keep me going' strong.
We were heading off the boat when a loud voice called out to us. "Just because I have taken an interest in you, I'll give you a hint to where the exam is at." Gon and I look at each other before nodding at the captain. "You see that cedar tree at the top of that hill, that's where it will be held."
I look at the hill before sighing 'Looks like we still have a long way to go,' I think, slightly depressed, but then thought of this as a chance to get to know the others better.
"Thank you!" Gon shouted as he waves to the captain. I only nod in approval. As I was walking towards Gon and the rest, I noticed a presence follow us.
I sighed once more before going to Gon and the others. When I saw them, they were staring at the map, and must I say that map looked extremely complicated. "This is where Zaban is, this is the cedar tree, and this is us," Blondie says pointing to the map. I look away to get less confused. Yes, I love books and stuff like that, but I hate stuff that has to do with a big area or something like that.
"But I heard there was a bus that takes you to Zaban city." Leorio says. '
'How much of a fool can he be, obviously if this hunter's exam is as hard as what Gon was telling me, then why would there be a bus to take you?' I wonder, thinking of how big an idiot this buffoon is.
"Hmm," I heard the blonde say.
"But I trust the captain, he wouldn't be lying to me, and I know it." I turn to see Gon heading in the direction of the cedar tree. I follow in suit, I am supposed to be going with him, plus this seems to be getting exciting. Then I remember the other two. "What about you?" I say in a monotone voice.
The blonde looked thoughtful then decided he would follow us claiming that he was interested in Gon. Leorio then starts going on at how our meet was short and he enjoyed it, lies. We then started going our separate ways, until I decided to speak up.
"Gon and Blondie, don't worry about him, he's going to be coming back with some random excuses as to 'how we will miss him'," I told them noticing the look of worry leave their faces until Blondie realized something. He pointed a finger to himself while looking at me.
"Blondie?" he says confused as to why I said that, thinking that I didn't know his name. I looked at him before at Gon, catching up to him. "Yeah, Blondie, cause I don't know your name," I say looking unfazed
I then look back at him only to see him sweat drop at this. "My name is Kur-" he says as if he was about to continue, only to get cut off by Leorio screaming at us to slow down. I looked at Gon only to see him smiling big about this. When he caught up with us he started going on and on about how he thought that we will miss him. I gave Blondie a look that stated 'see-I-told-you-so' only for him to look at me in amazement.
We have been walking for a while when suddenly we saw a town. I started walking around completely ignoring Leorio's protest for us to go back. I turned my head to the side observing the 'abandoned' house on my right, only it was not abandoned. It was filled with people. We couldn't see them but I smelt and heard them and it seemed as if Gon and Blondie did.
"What's up with this place, it's so empty," Leorio says looking around. I only shook my head to the side, indicating he was wrong.
"No, it's not empty don't you hear it?" Gon says looking around while Blondie only agrees with him.
A sudden creaking noise caught my attention. Out walked an old lady and a group of people in clothing that covered them completely beside their hands that held different instruments. "Doki….Doki" the old lady said.
I heard someone gulp and repeat her, Leorio. "The exciting single question quiz!" The people behind her began to make 'music'. It was really bad. Compared to them, Gajeel is a five-star singer. I couldn't take it anymore of this awful 'music'. I took out my music player, plugged in my earbuds, and start going over all my songs, choosing for the best one. Finding the right song for the mood, I plug my earbuds in and take a look up.
When I finally took notice of my surroundings, I see Gon thinking really hard about something, Blondie looks like he had just solved the world's greatest puzzle, and Leorio picking up a stick swinging it around violently. 'Wait..what?' I look at him and where he is heading, the old lady.
Before I can even move, he jumps up ready to hit her only for the stick to be broken by Blondies sheath swords. 'Thank god Blondie was watching him.' I look at them once more before pulling out one of my earbuds leaving the other one in while I still pay attention.
"Aha I give up, I can't think of an answer!" Gon says as he let out a breath I can only guess he was holding in.
"You don't have to think anymore, the quiz is over," Leorio says as he looks at Gon with a slight laugh.
"But what if that happened for real, who would you be able to choose?" Gon says quite seriously. 'What would happen in real life? What did I miss?' I think, completely confused.
I saw Gon walking into a tunnel and followed in suite. As we're walking, I keep thinking about it until I give up. I let out a sigh of frustration.
"What are you sighing about Rin?" I look up to see Gon talking to me, as we walked down the black hall.
"I have no idea what made you come up with an answer like that and what will happen in the future? I can't answer the question because I don't know it," I explained as they all stopped, dead in their tracks, before continuing.
Leorio was the first to speak up "You don't have to think about it anyways the quiz is over."
I look at him then at Blondie, then at Gon. Then let out a frustrated sigh ready to break something. "Yeah, I know that, but it won't leave my head."
Then Blondie said something that is what I was trying to get to them. "You mean you weren't paying attention as to what the question was"
I let out a sigh "Exactly." I look to Gon, getting tired of these people.
"Huh-wha- How were you not listening to the question, she was literally screaming all of her words." I look at Leorio, who is at a lost of words.
I let out another sigh of frustration, I then took out my music player, that was still playing, and pointed to the earbuds, that were still intact in my ear. "When those people started playing those awful sounds, I blocked them out with this," I say as I quickly covered my mouth as I let a yawn. 'This is getting boring,' I think.
"Can you just tell me the question. I'm getting bored just answering these irrelevant questions," I say, slightly annoyed. I look to Gon, hoping he would be the one to answer my question. As to my relief he was, but not before motioning for us that we are almost there.
"An evil villain has captured your son and daughters, you can only save one. One for your son and two for your daughter. Who would you choose." He said as if repeating the same word for word she said.
I gave them a blank look, "Isn't it obvious." I say looking at them as they gave me a look. "I would save both, if I can't save them both, then I would manipulate the evil villain into giving back my children, so three," I say, causing Leorio yells at me on how I could only save one of them.
"I would choose both and if I couldn't, then that would mean I wasn't strong enough. I'll leave them with the villain until I can beat him and get my children. Okay, maybe not leave them, but you get the point." I say as I looked up to the front. Not wanting to see their expression, I told them that we are there.
As we get out of the darkness, I took notice of my surroundings. Everywhere we passed, there were signs that said 'beware of magical beast'. I look to my side to ask what a magical beast was, only to get cut off by Leorio saying he sees a house. I look up and he was definitely right, there was a small house.
A Bone rattling scream pierces through the air, causing all of us to be on full alert. We all ran toward the house, the source of the scream, and banged open the house. My eyes land on a monstrous beast. The one thing I notice immediately is that they all have the same smell. 'Weird, everyone has a different scent, so why do they all have the same?' I think slightly confused. I look at the giant beast in front of my and in his hands were a 'woman'.
I couldn't shake off the feeling of something wrong. Gon and Blondie ran off to the beast that had taken the woman, and Leorio was taking care of the man and reassuring him that his 'wife' would be alright. I walk up to him cautiously.
"Who are you," I question the man, "and why do you smell like that beast and 'woman'?" Leorio gives me a confused look that soon turns into disgust.
The 'man' let out a laugh. "So you figured it out, huh. Well, let's go, I'm sure by now if your friends are as smart and perspective as you are, then they would be fine. Let's go." he says getting up as if he was not hurt in the slightest.
I look at the four 'people' in front of us. One of them, which I assumed is the husband, start going on about how long it's been since someone has been able to tell them apart.
"Hey, can you tell them apart?" I hear Leorio whisper to me and Blondie. Blondie only shook his head 'no' while I told them 'yes'. They looked at me surprised.
"They have the same or close scents." They both look confused at this piece of information.
"What I mean is everyone has a unique scent, like for example Leorio smells like strong cologne. Let's say a person has a child, most of the time that child has a mixture of the parents scent. So when I smelt them at the house they all had a similar scent, which was weird and that got us here." I told them pointing to the difference in them. They only gave me a shocked look while Gon agreed.
They told us that they are the secret examiners and they will take us to the exams location. Since there was four of us and four of them. Two carrying Leorio, because he was heavy, one carrying Blondie, while the wife was carrying me and Gon. I look at Gon, who has a huge smile on his face from what I can only guess this is his first time flying. Trust me the feeling of flying is just amazing. For now, this is the closest I can get to the sensation of actual flight.
We finally reached Zaban City, and, might I say, it's really big and lively. I go from stand to stand, looking at all the fake yet beautiful objects.
"Don't waste your time they are all fake," I turn to see the son, who was guiding us through the city. I pull my hand back towards me, which was outstretched to touch one of the swords. I turn to the next stall to see God reaching out to touch a necklace and pull away sheepishly.
We started walking towards a big tower. 'Man, I'm surprised it didn't fall yet, they never had anything like this in fiore, the closest thing was probably Lucy's mansion.' I think never seen a building this tall.
"This is the hunter's exam, huh? Well, I couldn't expect anything less from them." I turn to Leorio, the person who muttered to himself.
"No, no. That's not the hunter's exam, this is." The navigator told us pointing to a small, steak house on the side. We just stare in shock and followed him into the building. The navigator says something, but I'm not paying attention, just admiring the small building and its smell. I mean smell, it smells amazing. Like meat, and ramen….I want some ramen.
I see Gon and company walking toward, what I can assume, the back door. The navigators lead us inside to a small table with four chairs. I didn't wait for anyone and sat down, waiting for something to happen. grumble I heard something, then again. I look at everyone, as they stared back at me.
I rubbed my shoulder sheepishly while muttering a 'sorry'. I then remembered my bag and my snacks. I pulled my bag over my shoulder, ignoring the two bickering grown man. I start searching for a snack until I reach the jackpot. I pull out a bar of chocolate and start to open it.
When I finally put a piece into my mouth, I lifted my head only to see Blondie and Leorio in Gon's face as he looks anywhere but them. He then caught onto my gaze. His eyes were pleading for help, I looked at the two grown men and faked a cough. After I finished my first piece I shove a huge piece into my mouth leaving less than half left. The two said men looked at me as if forgetting I was there, then a look of determination crossed their faces.
"Rin, don't you think a hunter is all about honor!" Blondie says looking at me.
"NO! Don't listen to him, It's all about Money, Money!" Leorio says as if money appeared behind him. I only look at Gon with an unnoticeable eyebrow lifted. He seemed to be getting what I was pointing out and before either of us could reply, a 'ding' noise was heard.
I look at the source, only to see doors opening. I shoved the rest of my chocolate in my mouth and walk out. I take out my earbuds and put them in my ear leaving one out and my music player into my front pocket. I walked out with the rest, only to feel as if I was being sucked out of all the air in my body.
I then notice a green bean handing me, what I think is a pin. It had a number. '406' It read. I look to see Gon's number and he's 405.
"Wow, there are so many people here," Gon says without noticing the tension in the air. I chuckled silently to myself as I look at his innocent self.
"Hey, there I'm Tonpa," a squared nose guy shoved his hand in front of us.
"Hello, Tonpa, I'm Gon, and that's Leorio," he says pointing to the older man on my left. "That's Kurapika," he points to the very feminine looking boy on my right. 'Oh, his name is Kurapika, too long, Piku it is.' "and this is-" I cut him off by putting my hand on his mouth.
He looks at me weirdly before I whisper into his ear "I don't like the way this guy acts." He then questions as to what I meant, and I take my hand off his mouth. The square-nosed guy starts talking on and on about how this is his 35th try.
'What is this guy up to? No one will be this determined to do this exam, he is definitely up to something.' I suddenly smell that a scent that I hadn't smelled for a while. Strong iron. Blood.
I unconsciously licked my lips, realizing this action and stopped. I look around for the source, only to find a guy with his arms disappearing into flowers. I couldn't help but mumble 'pretty'. No one seemed to notice, which I was grateful for, but hey they were pretty.
"Not him again #44, Hisoka the magician. Last year he was close to becoming a hunter, but killed one of the examiners because he didn't like them" Square-nosed said.
"Why would they even let somebody like him enter?" I hear Leorio complain.
"It doesn't matter who enters, as long as they are qualified to take the exams, and the examiners give the ok, even the devil can sign up."
I laugh silently to myself. 'Oh the irony', I think. He then starts pointing all the people who took the exams over again. When he finishes, he says to have a toast to 'new friendship'. Before I can say anything, he abruptly shoves a can in my face.
"Here this is a sign as our new friendship," he says. I take it hesitantly, seeing as he was trying to try something.
I open the can but not before taking a whiff of it. 'So that's what he's trying to accomplish,' I think. I took the can away from my mouth and look up to see his eyes with mischievous in them. I can see he was trying to hide it but failed miserably, I then decided to try something.
"Hey, Tonpa-san," I say. "Why don't you try this first, I was always taught never to accept thing from strangers." I see him tense slightly and it takes a lot of inner strength not to smirk. "So why don't you drink it instead, to see, if i don't know, if it is poisoned or so," I continue as a smirk play on my lips as I watch him sweat bullets.
"H-huh? Oh no, I c-couldn't d-do that, i-it would be ru-rude to do that," he says as he tries not to look at my face. I take the can back.
"Okay then, if you insist," I say as I bring it up to my lips. "You know what, never mind I don't think I like poison, or should I say laxatives." As I say that Gon, who was completely oblivious of the situation, spits it out, saying that it tastes spoiled.
I spill it beside me and threw it into the crowd, hoping it would hit someone, and luckily it did because I heard a 'HEY' from someone. I chuckled silently and looked back at the room. Forgetting about the tension in the area from before. After staying in Fairy Tail, I've learned to check anything given to me for poison.
A memory begins to play in my head. I was in Fairy Tail for about two months during this time. I was in the guild talking with Levy about a god awful book Lucy gave me when a fight started up. Natsu supposedly drugged Gajeel's drink and the two dragon slayers were going mad it. After Master calmed everyone, we were able to get down to the source of the problem. The drink was meant for Gray and there was some kind of love potion in it. It didn't take much thought to figure out who did it. Levy told me she would have gone crazy if Gajeel started going gaga for Juvia, causing both Lucy and me to laugh hysterically.
I touch my right upper arm where my blue embalm is. I feel a wave of homesickness wash over me. I let out a sigh as I wonder how everyone is doing.
"Lililililililililililili." This sound brought me out of my thought as did to everyone else. A guy with purple hair, black mustache, and extremely long limbs came out from the rising wall, but that wasn't the weirdest thing, it was the fact that he…..has no mouth.
'What. What kind of guy doesn't have a mouth? How does he eat, it must be really hard considering the fact that he is still alive and well….hmm.' I shove the rest of my snack in my bag before I was abruptly pulled out of my thoughts. Gon takes my hand and started running. I look at him, utterly confused my the situation. I then notice the serious expression on his face. I slip my hand from his and run next to him instead of him pulling on me
Time skip~ 2 hrs
We were running for some time after that thing showed never explained anything, but I don't question him. We jogged in silence. Then we're startled by Leorio and his annoying big mouth.
"HEY! KID!" he shouted to somebody in the front, that's when I notice him. Electric blue eyes, pure snow white hair, riding on a skateboard. He looks back meeting my gaze for a split second then at Leorio.
"Huh?" he says clearly confused as to why he was getting yelled at.
"SHOW THE EXAMS SOME RESPECT!" Leorio shouts again slightly louder. I wince once again due to his loudness. I swear if you hit the only few nerves left I'll punch you in your mouth.
"What are you talking about?" he says innocently. I think he knows what he's talking about, he probably just wants to provoke him.
"THAT," he says pointing at the skateboard. "THAT'S CHEATING!" he screams at the kid again.
'Huh, is that true?' I think slightly confused but then replaced by a he's-over-reacting-again thought.
"THIS IS AN ENDURANCE TEST!" he screams even louder, if possible, my ears are ringing right now. I swear if he yells at him again, I'm going to murder at him.
"No, it is not," Gon says. "He just said to follow him"
'Oh, then that's not cheating if he didn't say how to follow him.' The silence received from the old man was perfect.
"GON WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON" I am literally vibrating. That's fucking it!
"LEORIO, SHUT THE HELL UP, WOULD YA. MY EARS ARE BLEEDING BECAUSE IF YOUR BIG YAP!" I exclaim with venom dripping from every word.
He shivers and nods. "Good," I say with a smile. This didn't go unnoticed by Kurapika, who only sweatdropped at this and started distancing himself from us. The white haired boy looked thoughtful and slowed down to match mine and Gon's pace, but I'm sure it was mainly for Gon. He looks at Gon for a second, then at me, then back at Gon.
"I'm, Killua," the albino boy says, looking at Gon. Gon had replies with a huge smile "I'm Gon" he says looking really happy, taking notice that he was the only one, other than me, who looked around his age, and seemed to be taking the exam.
"How old are you?" Killua asks Gon, as to which he replied with a huge smile.
"I'm twelve."
I heard him mumble, "Hmm the same as me." He then looks at me. I look back at the two boys who were staring at me. I pointing a finger to myself as him indicating that they wanted my answer, and they nod at my action.
"I'm Rin and I'm twelve, too." I say as we run in silence for a second when Killua says, "Guess I'll run too." Then he jumps off his board into the air doing a cool trick and catching his board under his shoulder. "Cool!" Gon and I say at the same time.
We start talking to each other like lost friends until I then hear a thump sound. I slow down before stopping completely. I look at Leorio who is leaning on the wall
"Leave him, he is done," Killua says.
'But that's not nice, we can't leave him. I'm really sure that not how you treat an acquaintance,' I think, slightly sadden by this thought.
"SCREW THIS ALL! I'M GOING TO BECOME A HUNTER! DAMMIT!" I look to see Leorio run past me leaving a trail of dust behind him. I then turned to the others and saw gone through a line and pick up Leorio's case.
"Cool" Killua and I say at the same time.
"You have to let me try that." Killua says looking at Gon amazed.
"Me too!" I say enthusiastically, well why not I never used a fishing rod before. Even in the numerous fishing trips I've been on with Happy, I never gave it a try.
"Sure! If you let me borrow your skateboard!" Gon says equally excited.
"Ehh! Why doesn't he have to let you try something too." He says slightly annoyed if I can tell.
"Hmm," I hum, thinking about something I can let them borrow. Then I snapped my finger, thinking of something.
I pointed to my neck, then made a shape with my hands. "I'll let you use that," I offer him knowing he would say yes.
"That?" he questions, not figuring out yet.
"That." I state and he finally figured it out.
"Really you'll let me use that," he says looking excited, I mean it's not every day you get to use that.
"Hey, hey what's that?" I hear a voice. I completely forgot about, Killua.
"Umm-" I get cut off by a wave of nausea hit me like a tsunami. "You'll see it soon, not now, but soon. Gon, I'm going to the back of the group, don't worry I'll still be following you." I leave before giving him a chance to protest.
I went behind to the back of the group and turned into a shadow; I quickly speed off to Gon and his shadow. I attached myself to his shadow and allowed the darkness to consume me.
I don't know how long I was out for, but when I came to I quickly, making sure no one was looking, got out of shadow form. I didn't notice a certain joker looking at me with interest. I notice Gon and Killua were running next to each other before they started talking about something. "So why do you want to become a hunter?" Gon asked him.
"Hmmmm," Killua hums. "I don't really want to become a hunter, I just heard that the Hunter's exam was famous for being a challenge, so I wanted to try it. But, it seems like I'm going to be disappointed by the look of things. What about you?" He says looking at Gon, not even noticing me right behind the both of them.
"My dad was a hunter, I want to be a hunter like him," he says without any bad feelings at all about the man you left him.
'Ging, when I see you again, I am going to punch the stupidness out of your head,' I think, suppressing a growl.
"What kind of hunter was he?" I look up to Killua then at Gon.
"I have no idea," he says enthusiastically.
"You want to be a hunter like your father but you don't know what kind of hunter he is, that's hilarious."
I looked at gon waiting for a reply "I don't know my father, I've only seen him in pictures, I was raised by Mito."
'Mito, why does that name ring a bell.' I know I heard that name somewhere, but where?
"Mito?" I heard killua ask.
"Yeah, Aunt Mito" Gon replies. 'that doesn't explain anything, Gon.'
"THE EXIT!" we hear a random person scream. Gon looks at Killua. "Race you the to the top."
"Loser buys dinner" Killua replies implying that he was okay for the race.
"3-2-1, GO!" They say. The two spirit to the top, but I stay behind. I craft a plan to scare them. I sprinted even faster to them, making sure they don't notice me I easily past them. I was right behind No Mouth, and past him as soon as he crossed the finish line.
Not even a second later, Gon and Killua come next screaming "GOAL". I then turned to see them argue about who was first. Gon turned back to no mouth asking who won.
"I believe you finished simultaneously, but that young man over there, finished first," he says, pointing towards me. Before they had a chance to look over, I was behind Killua, making sure only Gon can see me.
They started looking around for me. Gon stops once he spots my black and white hoodie. He looked as if he was about to scream my name, but I put my finger on my lips, indicating for him to be quiet. I pulled my hood back just so you can see my face and started making weird faces as Gon stifled his laugh.
I'm sure by now Killua was annoyed with Gon laughing at 'him'. So he started to turn, and quickly I pulled my hood over my face, and greet Killua shocked face.
"I thought you said you were going to the back of the group, So how are you here before us!" He exclaimed.
I only shrug, not wanting to give away my secret. "Hey Satotz, is this where the second phase is at?" Gon turns and asked no mouth, whose name is Satotz.
"No, we still have a long way to go." He says. 'Damn more running, even though most of the time I was sleep.' I sigh an annoyed breath and waited for him to continue.
Omake
"That riddle the lady had was tricky," Gon says.
"I guess," I mumble. "Hypothetical question like that can be very interesting."
"Yeah, you give me one."
"A what?"
"One of those hypo-something scenario things."
"'Kay. Um, you're fishing with a person and for hours, neither one of you catch a fish. Right before you leave, the person gives you the rest of their bait because you are out. using their bait, you catch a fish. Who gets the fish?"
"Hm." He places his hand on his chin. "I would split the fish, if it wasn't for the person, I wouldn't have it."
"That's good."
"What would you do?"
"I don't like fish. I would probably give it to my friend's cat."
"Okay, say it was cake."
An evil shadow crosses over my face and with a menacing glare I say, "It will be an all out battle, winner takes all. Those people can die, I'M GOING TO GET MY CAKE!" I pose in a victorious stance with a triumphant smile.
"Does it matter the flavor of the cake?"
"No...wait, if it is strawberry, keep me out of the battle."
"Why, do you not like strawberry cake?"
"No, just," a shiver runs up my spine, "I rather not get between a certain warrior and her cake."