Yo! So I'm leaving to go on a trip and wont be able to update at all next week. I'm kinda sorry to leave you guys with another chapter of only story. Next chapter, I promise! T~T Please except this long chapter and this cookie as an apology.

Either way, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Lotus was getting bored.

After two more hours of running, Lotus wished something interesting would happen. They were just running. That was it. While there was a time when Gon's friend, Leorio, all most failed, that happened quickly. Then it was back to running.

Lotus wished she could talk to Gon. He seemed like someone who you could talk to for hours and not get bored. But she couldn't.

She sighed quietly, following slightly behind Gon and Killua. This is boring!

Just as she thought that, the applicants at the front started uphill. Lotus tilted her head slightly and looked up to see a long stair case. She smiled in relief. At least it was different than the last four hours.

Right before they started up the stairs, Killua suddenly asked, "Gon, wanna race to see who finishes first?"

Lotus grinned, she needed a change of pace.

"Sure," Gon responds, "The loser has to buy dinner."

Killua grinned, "Okay, you're on!"

"Ready... Go!" They shouted together, taking off.

Lotus giggled at them and followed behind, a small smile remaining on her lips.

Quickly the two boys caught up to Kurapika and Leorio.

Gon grinned and waved, "See you at the goal, Kurapika."

"Catch you later, old timer," Killua said.

Veins popped out on Leorio's head, "I'm not old! I'm a teenager, just like you guys!"

Everyone looked at Leorio, shocked. Even Lotus was shocked. When that faded, she started laughing. You can't judge a book by its cover, after all, but he looks old! How can you not laugh at that.

With out her noticing, Killua glanced back to look for the source of unknown laughter. When he noticed the cloaked girl, his eyes narrowed. He didn't trust the suspicious figure.

Killua turned back to Gon, "Let's go." Maybe they could outrun her.

As they continued their run, Killua said, "I'm impressed that you can keep up with me."

"Really?" Gon put a hand on the back of his head and grinned.

Killua looked at him skeptically, then looked forward, "Or maybe it's just that everyone else is too slow." He dropped his head, "Man... The Hunter Exam is gonna be a breeze. That's no fun."

Lotus smiled at his behavior.

"Hey, why do you want to become a Hunter?" Gon asked.

Killua looked up, "Me? I'm not really interested in becoming a Hunter."

Gon glanced at him, "Huh?"

"I heard the exam was supposed to be really hard," Killua said, "so I thought it'd be fun. But this is disappointing"

Lotus nodded slightly in agreement. You could say that again.

"What about you?" Killua asked. Lotus moved closer, as to not miss his answer.

"Well, my dad's a Hunter," Gon said.

Lotus' eyes widened slightly.

Gon continued, "So I want to become a hunter, like my dad."

Lotus smiled. You shouldn't have worried so much Ging.

"Hmm..." Killua mused, "What kind of Hunter is he?"

"I don't know," Gon said.

Lotus suddenly felt sorry for her spiky-haired brother. Ging was... well... probably not what he was expecting.

Killua started laughing, "That's kinda weird."

"Really?" Gon, you poor, protected child.

Killua was grinning, "You want to be like your dad, but you don't know anything about him?"

Lotus giggled with him.

Gon looked forward, "I was raised by Mito-san, so I've only seen my dad in pictures."

"Who's Mito-san?"

"Aunt Mito," Gon said.

Aunt Mito? I've never heard about her. Lotus thought.

"Oh."

"When he was twelve, my dad took the Hunter Exam," Gon continued, "He passed and became a Hunter. Then he left the island. I want to find out why he chose to be a Hunter over being with me."

Lotus' smile fell slightly.

"The Exit!" "Whew..." "Finally, I can get out of this dark tunnel!"

Lotus and the two boys looked up.

At the far end, light glowed brightly. Many of the applicants made a mad dash towards it.

Gon and Killua grinned and did the same. Lotus followed.

"Goal!" Gon and Killua jumped passed the examiner, right as he was turning. Lotus followed, slightly behind them.

She could hear the two arguing over who got there first.

"Yay! I win!"

"What are you talking about? I was faster..."

"I was."

"No, I was!"

"I was faster, so you have to buy dinner!"

"Nope! I was faster. So you buy me dinner."

"But I was faster."

They turned to Satotz. "Hey who was faster?"

"I believe that you crossed the finish line simultaneously," Satotz answered.

"Oh..." Gon said, "Then I'll buy you dinner."

"Huh?"

"Then you buy me dinner!"

"I don't get it."

Lotus sat down with her back to the building they exited and closed her eyes, listening to her brother.

Gon looked back at the purple-haired examiner, "Ne, Satotz-san. Is this where the Second Phase of the exam takes place?"

Satotz answered, "No, we still have quite a way to go."

Lotus sighed and leaned her head back against the wall. Killua glanced at her.

"Oh..." Gon looked just as disappointed.

Soon the misty clearing was filled with applicants.

"The Numere Wetlands, also known as Swindlers Swamp. We must cross these wetlands to reach Phase Two of the exam," Satotz spoke.

Lotus opened one eye, then stood up. Gon and Killua had sat down a few feet away, and their two other friends had joined them as well.

The examiner continued, "This place is home to many bizarre animals, many if them being cunning, insatiable creatures who deceive humans and prey upon them. Be very careful." He turned to look over the crowd, "If you let them fool you... you're dead."

A shiver of fear rushed through the crowd.

A grinding noise was heard behind them as the door to the tunnel closed. An applicant who wasn't very lucky, yelled, "Wait for me!" as the door fully closed.

Satotz continued as if nothing happened, "These wetland creatures will use every trick in the book to fool their prey. An ecosystem in which creatures obtain food through deceit... Hence the name Swindlers Swamp." He turned his back to the crowd, "Stay very close to me so you won't be deceived."

"What a joke," Leorio muttered, "How can they fool us, when we're expecting it?"

"Don't let them fool you!" A voice yelled.

Everyone turned to look at the beat up man who appeared from around the corner.

Leorio scowled "I just said they can't!"

"D-Don't fall for it..." The man said, "He's lying to you!" He pointed at Satotz, "He's an imposter! He isn't an examiner... I'm the real examiner."

Eh? Lotus thought, her eyes widening.

The crowd began to mutter uncertainties.

"Then who is he?"

"Look at this..." The man said, pulling out a creature with a head just like Satotz, but with the body of an ape.

The crowd gasped and talked to each other.

"It's a Man-Faced Ape, one of the creatures that dwell in Numere Wetlands!" The man explained, "Man-Faced Apes love the taste of fresh human flesh. However, their limbs are long and thin, so they're quite weak. That's why they disguise themselves as humans. They trick humans into following them into these wetlands, where they team up with other animals to kill and devour them. He intends to trap every single applicant!"

The unrest and uncertainty was so thick, Lotus was sure she could cut it like butter.

Suddenly, playing cards buried themselves into the newcomer. His body fell with a thud.

Everyone looked over towards Satotz. He held three cards in his hands.

Lotus looked over to the sound of cards being shuffled and shivered.

#44- The Clown- chuckled, "I see, I see... That settled it..." He looked at Satotz, "You're the real one."

Lotus shut her eyes, I'm so confused.

"Examiners are Hunters selected by the committee to preform this duty without pay." #44 said, "Any Hunter, bearing the title we seek, would have been able to block that attack."

"I shall take that as a compliment," Satotz said, "However, should you attack me again, for any reason, I will report you for turning on an examiner, and you will be immediately disqualified." He narrowed his eyes, "Are we clear?"

"Hai," #44 said with a smile.

"He was attempting to confuse the applicants, to lure some of them away," Satotz started walking through the crowd, toward the corpse of the fake examiner, "You will be encountering such deception on a regular basis. I believe that a number of you were fooled into suspecting my identity?"

Leorio laughed in embarrassment.

"Do you understand?" Satotz inquired, "If you lose sight of me in the Numere Wetlands fog, you will never reach the exam's Second Phase. Do bear that in mind."

Lotus gulped.

"Then let us be on our way," Satotz turned and walked into the forest, "Please follow me."

Lotus looked over at Gon. She planned to stay as close to him as possible. As much as she loved mind games and tricks, she was probably the most gullible person there.

She took a deep breath and followed Gon into the swamp.

Did you like this chapter which is basically the show all over again? :3 Ah! Lotus-chan! Come say hi to our readers!

Lotus: *casually stalking her brother*

*Sweat drop* Lotus-Chaaaaan...

Lotus: Huh? What?

Come say Hiiiiiiiiii.

Lotus: Oh, uh. Hi~ I hope you enjoyed reading!~

Gon: Ne, Killua. Who are they?

Killua: No one important.

Killua... T~T Don't be so cold.

Killua: *Sweat drop*

Gon: Bye, Mina! Leave a review! It makes Writer-chan happy.

*Tackles Gon* You're so sweet!~

Bye Bye!~ Happy reading!~