Trade

Yang woke up when the sun rose.

"Was I out here all night?"

Yang was curled up under a tree. After she ran away from Kurapika and Leorio she found a spot to hide and well…

"Ruby would laugh if she saw this," Yang stood up and stretched. Then she looked up at the sky, "What a mess."

She got upset last night, that made her eyes turn red and then Kurapika saw it. He knew and…

"Why did I run away?"

Yang didn't usually run from her problems. She didn't know why she ran, but when Kurapika saw her. Saw her eyes. She just panicked.

Only a few people knew about her eyes, and they were usually family.

Yang wanted to tell Kurapika she was a Kurta, she wanted him to know but not like this.

"Now what?"

%%%%%%%

Ruby wandered through the forest alone. She thought back to the conversation she had with everyone.

"Are you sure?" Weiss asked.

"Yeah," Ruby nodded, "Gon's safe, you should go make sure Killua is safe too."

"What about your badge?" Weiss asked.

"Eh, I'll… I'll figure it out."

"Alright then, good luck," Weiss disappeared into the forest to look for her brother.

That made Ruby think about Gon next.

"Yang's missing?" Gon asked worried.

"Yeah," Ruby nodded, "Leorio and Kurapika are looking for her, but I'm worried."

"Well, let's split up," Gon said, "We're bound to find her," Gon then looked at Blake, "Blake will you help us?"

"Sure, I owe her," Blake remembered, "She helped me pass the last phase," she looked at Ruby, "How about I search with Gon," it was obvious Ruby was worried for her younger cousin, "I'll make sure he stays out of trouble."

"Thank you."

Ruby did want to find Yang more than anything, but she was still worried about the exam. She didn't have her target's badge.

Honestly, she had no idea how to look for targets like that. She didn't want to steal anything, that's what bad guys did.

She groaned in annoyance, "Why do I have to take anything?" Then she looked up and shouted at the sky, "Can't you cut me some slack just this once?"

Ruby fell over when something flew into the back of her head.

"Ow," she sat up, "What was that?" She looked where she heard a clatter on the ground. A white badge had just fallen from the sky, "Huh?" Ruby quickly scrambled over to it and picked it up.

It was badge 197.

Ruby looked up at the sky again, "Hey, this is the wrong badge. I need 198!"

Why did the badge gods give her the wrong one?

%%%%%%

Blake and Gon sat on top of the tree near the location where they were dropped off. Partially to find Yang and partially to find Blake's target.

Blake realized she still hadn't gotten her target's badge.

"I don't see her," Gon sighed.

"Neither do I," Blake said.

Gon looked at Blake, he felt bad. Blake was still missing three points. He felt like she didn't get them, because she helped him.

"I'm… sure we can find your target too," Gon said.

"Don't worry about it Gon," Blake said, "If I fail, I'll retake the test next year."

"But you shouldn't have to," Gon said, "You're good at this," Gon then wondered, "Are you an assassin?"

Blake looked at Gon shocked, "What?"

"Well, Killua's good at this because he used to be an assassin," Gon explained, "I was wondering if you were one too."

"No I…" Blake trailed off, "That kid's was an assassin?"

"Yeah," Gon nodded, "During the last phase, he took out a serial killers heart," Gon held up his hand, "He said he just reached in and took it out."

Blake went pale at the imagery. That little kid killed someone with his bare hands?

"Well, no I'm… I wasn't a…" Blake had no idea how to say it, "I wasn't paid to kill anyone no," that was the best way to say it.

Gon looked at her, "But you were trained to fight?"

"R-right," Blake said, "My… old profession did require me to fight… but I…" Blake just didn't know what to say. Gon seemed like a sweet kid. How was she supposed to explain that she used to be a terrorist.

"Well," Gon decided to change the subject, "How did you do that trick with the dust? I never saw anyone use dust like that before."

Gon saw on TV how people used dust. Clean energy, ammo for magical beast hunts. He never saw someone use ice dust to make a statue.

Blake smiled a bit, "That's… a secret."

"Aw, come on," Gon whined.

Blake patted his head, "If you pass the exam, I promise you'll learn all about my trick."

Discussing Nen was forbidden. Blake knew that most Nen users learned Nen after passing the Hunter Exam. Except for some oddities like her, who managed to find someone who was willing to teach her despite not being a Hunter… or human.

Although Blake couldn't help but wonder, "Killua used to be an assassin?"

"Yeah, he said his whole family are assassins," Gon said.

"Even Weiss?"

"Well, except her, for some reason they didn't want Weiss to leave home," Gon said.

That made Blake a little curious. A family of assassins. Wait were Killua and Weiss…?

That's impossible. No one in that family would become Hunters.

Gon sniffed the air, "I can smell Leorio's cologne."

%%%%%%

"I hate this," Ruby groaned, "This is so boring…"

Ruby stopped talking when she heard a thud. She quickly looked through the trees to see an applicant had fallen over. Worried Ruby began to run towards them.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Don't worry," suddenly the bald applicant appeared in front of her, "I only knocked him out," the man then went over and searched him, "He's the final one."

Ruby saw him pull out the unconscious applicant's badge. Badge 89, wait a minute.

"That's not your target," Ruby said.

The bald man looked at Ruby, "And how would you know that?"

"Because that number is my sister's target," Ruby said.

"Well, too bad," the man shrugged, "Time's almost up and I need this badge."

Ruby was beginning to panic. Yang needed that badge to pass.

"Wait, who's your target?" Ruby wasn't sure she could find his target but maybe she could come to some understanding.

"It doesn't matter anymore," the man said.

"Come on," Ruby whined, "Don't be a jerk, just because you're a ninja."

Hanzo was comically shocked as he looked at Ruby, "How do you know I'm a ninja?"

He seriously thinks no one would figure it out? He's dressed like a ninja.

He was so shocked, he caused two more badges to fall to the ground. Ruby gasped. Number 362 and her target's 198.

"That's my target's badge and Blake's."

The ninja quickly gathered them up, "I'm not giving these up."

"Wait please," Ruby begged, "Tell me who your target is?"

He'd humor her, it wasn't like she could give him his target's badge anyway.

"My target was 197," Hanzo explained, "I did want that badge, but that kid threw it away."

Kid… wait 197?

"Okay," Ruby looked at the weird ninja, "I only have one thing to ask."

"What?"

Ruby pulled out badge 197, "Wanna trade?"

Hanzo's jaw fell. She had his target's badge?

"If you give me, 198, 89, and 362, I'll give you this badge," Ruby said, "That's my target and my friend and sister's. If we have them we can pass together," Ruby held out her hand, "Please."

Hanzo looked at the young girl. Hanzo didn't try to be cruel, but the exam was kind of a competition. The less rivals the better… but it was hard to say no to a little girl who looked like she was about to cry.

"Alright fine," he sighed.

He was suddenly tackled with a hug, "Thank you so much!"

"Air…"

%%%%%%

"So, Ponzu uses chemical weapons?" Blake asked.

"I think I can smell that," Gon said.

"Are you sure?" Blake asked, "It isn't safe to smell certain chemicals."

"If they faded, then it will only be the odor that's left," Kurapika said, "That's harmless."

After finding Kurapika and Leorio, Blake and Gon agreed to help them look for Leorio's target.

"Alright let's go," Leorio said.

They began to wonder the island, "So, you two still haven't found Yang?"

Gon was still worried for his oldest cousin.

"No, sorry," Leorio said, "Look, I'm sure she's okay, she probably found her badge already."

Kurapika looked down. He was also worried for Yang. He wanted to talk to her so badly. Ruby explained Yang's heritage to him. Ruby did tell him Yang tried to tell him herself. Now that Kurapika thought about, Yang did seem like she tried to tell him something, but every single time, something interrupted them.

Yang…

%%%%%%

Ruby searched the entire island over and over again. She was going to find them no matter what.

Although she was starting to get tired. Night had fallen again. She was getting worried. Tomorrow was the deadline.

"This is bad," Ruby began to mutter, "If I don't get Yang her badge she won't pass. Well, neither will Blake. This is so, so… Oh my gosh I can't believe I forgot it."

Ruby began to dig through her bag and pulled them out. Special red flare bullets for Crescent Rose. She had these made. Both Yang and Gon knew what they were, they'd see the flare and come to her.

Ruby loaded the ammo and aimed her gun at the sky.

Wait… everyone will see it. What if an enemy applicant comes instead?

Ruby shook her head. This was no time to second guess herself.

She aimed Crescent Rose into the air and pulled the trigger. Like a flaring rocket the flare shot up into the sky, then went off like a firework.

"Well, now I wait…"

Ruby did believe in her family but was still cautious. She jumped into some bushes and waited.

She closed her eyes, trying to be as still as possible. The exhaustion from the current phase began to weigh on her, and she unintentionally drifted.

"Ruby…"

A cloaked figure stood at the cliff, watching the sun set over the horizon.

The cloak was long and white, like snow. It looked so gentle. The figure turned and took off her hood. She had silver eyes, chin length dark hair, some pulled into a braided crown. She had a warm gentle smile that made Ruby feel safe.

"Ruby!" Ruby jolted awake when she heard her name, "Ruby where are you?" Yang ran into the clearing, her eyes were red with worry, her gauntlets activated, ready to fight whatever threat to her family.

"Yang," Ruby quickly called before jumping out of the bushes and into her sisters arms.

Yang sighed as she hugged Ruby, "Are you okay," she looked at her, "You sent up a flare."

"Sorry, deadline's almost up and I didn't know what else to do," Ruby quickly pulled out badge 89, "I managed to get your target's badge."

Yang's eyes lightened up when she saw her target's badge, "No way," she quickly took the badge, "I finally got my six points, I…" Yang looked at Ruby, "Wait, what about your target?"

Ruby held up her badge and her targets, then gave a sheepish smile, "I got really lucky. I- ah-…"

Yang suddenly threw Ruby over her shoulder and spun around in celebration, "Oh yeah! Hunter license here we come!"

Ruby squealed and laughed as Yang celebrated, "Yeah! We're gonna be Hunters~ We're gonna be Hunters~… What should we do first as Hunters?"

"I say, we go to every big city first and party," Yang said, "But first… Where's Gon?"

Yang put Ruby down.

"He got his target's badge…" Ruby trailed off when she remembered that Gon got hurt by Hisoka.

"Did something happen?" Yang asked.

"I… He's okay, I think. He's with Blake," Ruby said, "Oh, that reminds me, I also got her target's badge," Ruby looked around, "Yang, how long ago did that flare go up?"

"About ten minutes," Yang answered.

That made Ruby worry, "Gon should have seen it and came here by now. He might know where Blake is."

That made Yang worry too, "Let's look for him."

As the two sisters searched, the spotted some smoke in the distance, "You see that?" Yang asked.

The two ran towards it, and found a cave. The smoke was coming from it.

"Is someone having a bond fire party?" Yang asked.

"Gon?"

Gon suddenly came out, carrying a pile of bodies on his back. The two immediately ran to help him. Gon released his breath and yelled, "The cave's filled with sleeping gas, wait there."

The two stopped as their cousin brought over the sleeping people.

"Leorio?" Ruby panicked when she saw he was covered in bandages.

"He's okay," Gon said, "He took the antidote."

"Antidote?" Both sisters asked.

"I'll explain in a minute, but first," Gon placed Ponzu against a tree and placed a badge on her lap, "This is so that the association will find you," then he dug into her bag and took her badge, "And this will help Leorio pass, call it a fee for saving you."

"You're mean Gon," Ruby said.

"Great job?" Yang held up her thumb.

"Yang, don't encourage this!"

The three family members carried their friends to safety. Gon carried Leorio, Ruby carried Blake, and Yang carried Kurapika.

"Um, Yang," Ruby called.

"Yeah?"

"I ran into Kurapika earlier," Ruby began, "And… I had to tell him a little about… your mom."

Yang sighed, "Okay, why?"

"Well, he was looking at my eyes earlier, then Leorio asked if they turned red and I had to explain why," Ruby said.

"It's fine," Yang said.

"Are you sure?" Gon asked.

"Yeah, I'll handle this."

%%%%%%

Kurapika woke up when he felt sunlight starting to shine. He sat up, the last thing he remembered was Gon telling them to release the gas then…

"Morning."

Kurapika turned his head. Yang was sitting on a rock, eating some beef jerky.

"Yang?" Kurapika asked. Was it her or was he dreaming?

"How was you nap sleeping beauty?" It was her.

"Yang," Kurapika stood up, "I've been searching this island for you, are you okay?"

Yang gave a half-hearted smile, "I'm great. Got my six points and everything."

"Where are the others?"

Yang pointed next to them, "I'm keeping watch," Everyone was asleep. Ruby, Gon, Blake, and Leorio.

Kurapika sighed in relief before looking at Yang.

Yang released a sigh of her own, "You got questions."

Kurapika nodded. He didn't know what to say.

"Ruby told me that she told you a little bit about our mixed up family tree," Yang said.

"She did," Kurapika said.

"Well, it goes without saying," Yang began, "I wasn't born in the Kurta's village."

"I know," Kurapika stated, "I would've remembered if someone like you were there."

Yang gave a playful smirk, "Yep, I'm unforgettable," then she got a bit serious, "My mom's name was Raven, my uncle's name is Qrow. They were part of the Kurta clan," Yang looked up at the sky, watching a bird fly by, "My uncle told me, that he and my mom ran away in secret. He said, there was supposed to be a special test that members could take to leave for the outside world."

"There was," Kurapika said, "I took and pass the test myself," he looked at Yang confused, "They ran away in secret?"

"They weren't eligible to take the test," Yang said, "Uncle Qrow said they were…" Yang struggled to remember the word, "Per… Peren…"

"Perennials?" Kurapika finished.

"Yeah, that's the word," Yang said.

Kurapika's eyes widened. Perennials were Kurta who always had red eyes. Normally their eyes were brown, or purple in Yang's case, but Perennials had red eyes no matter what their emotion. Red or shades of red.

"That makes sense, Perennials were never meant to leave the village," Kurapika said.

"Well, they did," Yang said, "My mom and uncle became Hunters, they formed a team with my dad, and Ruby's mom Summer. They worked together for a long time, my mom got close with my dad, then… left me with him right after I was born," Yang admitted sadly, "No one had seen her since."

"I'm sorry," Kurapika said.

Yang sighed, "Growing up, my uncle used to say, he'd take me to see the Kurta village when I was older. That he was to cool and strong for them to capture him, but…"

"The Troupe," Kurapika growled, his eyes flashed red.

"I…" Yang stood up, "Kurapika I wasn't trying to hide this from you, I just… I was told Me, my uncle, my mom were the only survivors. And when I met you I… I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how you'd react to… someone like me…" Yang ran her fingers through her hair, "I must look like a joke to you."

"That's not true," Kurapika said, "I mean, yes, you're not like the women from our clan, but Yang you're amazing. You're strong, confident, and not afraid to be yourself…" Kurapika felt his cheeks turn red a bit. He didn't know why he felt embarrassed, "I've… I never met a Kurta like you."

Yang looked down. Her own cheeks red.

"I… never met a Kurta my own age… It's nice," she gave him a smile. He smiled back.

%%%%%%

"Thanks again Ruby," Blake said as they rode the airship.

"We will now being interviewing the remaining applicants," Beans' voice spoke, "Will number 407. Miss Ruby Rose please come to room 3 and Mister Hisoka come to room 5?"

Ruby went to the room. And found Netero sitting down, "Please have a seat."

"Um, okay," Ruby walked in and sat on the cushion in front of him, "So… is this interview the final phase?"

"No, this is just something personal," Netero explained as he picked up a scroll and brush, "For starters, why do you want to become a Hunter?"

"Well," Ruby began, "I want to be a hero and help people."

"I see," Netero said, "Among the remaining applicants, who are you keeping your eye on the most?"

"Well," Ruby thought about it, "Gon, he's my little cousin. Well, he's more like a little brother. He's loud and gets into a lot of trouble so, I have to make sure he stays out of trouble."

Netero chuckled, "It must be nice, being a bit sister. Oh sorry, cousin."

Ruby gave a sheepish smile.

"Out of the remaining applicants, who's the one you least want to fight?" Netero asked.

"Oh, well, there's a list," Ruby began to recall, "I don't want to fight Gon or Yang. I don't want to fight Weiss or Killua. I also don't want to fight Leorio, Kurapika, or Blake."

Netero chuckled, "I see. Well that's all I wanted to know, thank you."

Ruby got up and left, that was weird. As Ruby walked down the hall, Hisoka turned the corner, she almost stopped, but kept walking eyes forward.

When the passed each other, Ruby shot a glare at the man. Hisoka just smirked.

%%%%%

Hisoka entered the room. Ozpin was sitting at a desk.

"Hello," Ozpin introduced, "Please have a seat."

"Don't tell me this is the final phase," Hisoka said.

"No," Ozpin took a clipboard, "We're just trying to gather some information, by asking questions."

Hisoka took a seat, crossing his leg as he did.

"First, I'd like to know why you want to become a Hunter?"

"To be frank I don't," Hisoka answered, "But having a license can be useful."

"Indeed," Ozpin said, "The health benefits and business are tempting."

"Yes, but," Hisoka had a dark look, "Hunters can also often kill without prosecution."

Ozpin was silent for a minute before writing something down, "You know that doesn't mean you'd be above the law. Hunter's will still be arrested for attacking civilians."

Hisoka chuckled, "But of course. I wouldn't attack just anyone. There's hardly anyone worth killing among the common masses."

Ozpin hummed.

"Well, there are still some thing's we'd like to know," Ozpin said, "First, who's the applicant you're paying the most attention to?"

Hisoka hummed, "That would be 312 and 163," Weiss and Blake.

"Oh?"

"Numbers 99, 405 also caught my eyes as well, but 312 and 163 are my personal favorites at the moment. I'd love to challenge them one day."

"I see. Which applicant do you not want to fight?"

"That would be 407," Ruby, "The timing just isn't right. But her spirit and her eyes… she reminds me of someone. Something tells me that she'll be just as powerful as him."

Ozpin wrote down Hisoka's answer, "I see."

He also made a mental note to watch Hisoka. A man like him could not be free.

"But, the person I want to fight most right now," Hisoka looked at Ozpin, "Would have to be you."

"I'm flattered," Ozpin said, "But I'm busy."

Killua

"Well, Gon, we're the same age."

"Who I don't want to fight? Well, I don't want to fight number 53. I don't think it would be a lot of fun.

Weiss

"I'm watching Killua. He's my little brother."

"As for who I don't want to fight? Hisoka, I'm not there yet."

301

"Number 99 and 312."

"Number 44."

Gon

"Who am I keeping an eye on? 44, he's on my mind the most recently."

"But there's no way, I'd pick number 99, 406, 407, 312, 163, 403, or number 404."

Blake

"I'm keeping an eye on Hisoka. He's clearly the most dangerous."

"I also don't want to fight Hisoka."

Yang

"I'm keeping an eye on Ruby and Gon. Everytime I look away I think they're gonna get killed... and maybe I'm keeping an eye on Kurapika too."

There the ones I don't want to fight the most."

Kurapika

"I'm watching 405 and 406 for purely positive reasons. 44 for negative reasons."

"I'll fight anyone if there's a reason, otherwise I'd rather not fight at all.

Leorio

"Number 405 I owe em. So, I hope he pass."

"That's why, he's the one I really don't want to fight."

"This is more lopsided than I thought," Netero said as he looked over both their notes in the closed off space.

"We do have some… interesting characters in this exam," Ozpin agreed, "Perhaps we should-…" Ozpin was interrupted by his phone.

He pulled it out and checked the message.

"Who's it from?" Netero asked.

"It's from Qrow," Ozpin confirmed.

We need to talk. The Queen has pawns.

Ozpin frowned.

Netero raised an eyebrow, "I know that look."

"Qrow believes that the Queen has pawns," Ozpin chose his words carefully. He had no idea who could be listening, "He wants to meet in person."

"I see," Netero said with a calm demeanor, "Go check it out. I can handle things here."

"Are you certain," Ozpin asked.

Netero laughed, "I think even an old man such as myself can handle an important task."

"It's not you I'm worried about," Ozpin said, "If I'm not here, you might take things too far… again."

Netero laughed, "Don't worry. My plan is perfectly within reason."

Ozpin sighed, "Thank you my old friend," Ozpin placed a hand on his shoulder, "I trust you with this."

With that Ozpin left the room.

Netero couldn't help but laugh at himself, "An old man… All things considered," he glanced at the door Ozpin left, "I'm young in the grand scheme of things."

I got bored and cut out the cave scene entirely.