A/N: Yeay! Fluffyness. But not romance, though.
Seems Kurapika knows something about the past Akane's searching for! What may it be?

Disclaimer Yoshihiro Togashi owns HxH. If he does not continue it I will... I don't really know. Freak out, maybe?

Akane and Killua roamed the forest together, Akane helping Killua find his target – no, actually, she merely watched Killua. While she was watching, she was awed and scared at the same time; when she was twelve, she couldn't have imagined doing what he did professionally. She shuddered, remembering what he did in trap tower. She was right, and she was now confirming it – she was really an amateur compared to him. He did all things right, and when he did catch his prey, there were still a few days to the end of the week.

"What do we do now?" Akane asked. She was below the tree where Killua was resting. It was the third day.

"Head to the shore?" Killua suggested, and he jumped down the tree.

"Mm, why not?" Akane said, and started to walk the direction of the shore.

They walked and talked, had some laughs – especially Killua as Akane freaked out every few seconds with the sudden insects and leeches that got to her. There was one time, though, Akane got stung by a poisonous spider – Of all insects, spiders, huh? Killua thought, pure irony – and Killua had to suck the poison right out of her ankle. It swelled for a few hours but it healed soon enough to start walking. Before it did, though, Killua had to carry her; not that it was really much of a problem.

By the time the announcers rung 'In a while the fourth round of the trials will end; all the participants are invited back to the starting point of the test…', they were already on the shore, Akane falling to the sand. Killua at first was alarmed, but when he saw Akane grinning childishly he relaxed and let a smile slip his face.

"Ahh! Nice sand, nice sand…"

Killua rolled his eyes. "Akane, that's just sand."

"It's sand," Akane said, shooting a hateful glare at him, "not mucky mud or quicksand. Nothing special, just heavenly sand."

"Sand does not fall from heaven, Akane," a voice said, and there was a pair of blue shoes in front of where Akane lay on the sand.

She looked up. "Na~~! Pika-chan!" Akane squealed and jumped over Kurapika. They fell on the sand, rolling.

While Gon, Leorio, and Killua looked over laughing, Kurapika asked with a faint blush over his dirty face, "What the hell?"

"Killua told me it would be cute," Akane said, and Kurapika immediately sent an icy glare to Killua who was grinning a 'Don't kill me, it's a joke; you know Akane loves jokes right?' But Akane didn't stop, and continued to tattle excitedly. "Besides it's like Pikachu! Haven't you ever watched Pokemon? Your name is so connectable! Kurapikachu!" Akane started to laugh and holler.

Kurapika started to help her up, and Akane leaned on his shoulder. "Boy, that was one hell of a joke… and one hell of a week, too, sheesh." She started to dust herself, and looked up at him. "How was your week?"

"Tiring," Kurapika sighed. "With Hisoka, it was even worse."

Akane shuddered. She'd had enough troubles with Hisoka, she wouldn't want her friends to be in trouble with him, too. Maybe she could do something about it… "I think… Hisoka has taken a liking on us."

"What?" the other four looked at her.

"Hisoka has taken a liking to us, or you, or maybe yeah, just literally all of us. Not every day you come up to him and get out safe, right?" Akane said. "I mean, that's HISOKA we're talking about! Facing Hisoka is instant death if you—"

"Hisoka whacked Gon in the face!" Leorio said. "Is that not enough?"

Akane shook her head, and told her companions to go closer to her. Hisoka could hear them if they don't stick close. Hisoka had that questioning look on his grinning face cocked to the side. "We'd be dead by now if Hisoka isn't taking interest. Hisoka is Hisoka, after all."

"That explains much," Killua said. "So we stick together from now on."

"That is…" Akane said, "If the exam allows it." She sighed as they all sent her curious gazes. "I think they're trying to peel us away already… this is the first step. The last round would mean it. Hunters can survive without others to help him. That's what they're trying to check at," Akane said. "I guess I'm not that capable, am I, Killua?"

All eyes went to Killua, and he laughed. "Ah… he-he… not much…"

"Anyway," Kurapika said, "How many are we left here?"

"One, two, three…" Akane counted, "Nine, all in all. Us five, Hisoka, Hanzo, that pin-man, and Ponzu, I think… or was the name Pokkle…"

"Well, whatever," Leorio said. "We just have to be on guard from now on."

Killua nodded. "Seems to me the Hunter Organizations have some pretty games fixed up for us."

Later, they were asked to climb up the airship. Akane lay around in the cafeteria, drinking some soda with Killua. Gon went up watching the clouds pass by. Leorio was asleep in a corner.

Kurapika went near Gon. "Thanks, Gon. It's your interference that made me still be here, this far."

"Nah, that's nothing," Gon said.

"Gon…" Kurapika started. "Did something happen in the fourth round?" He paused, watching as Gon flinched a little. "You seemed well shaken up when we met." He looked at Gon. "It's worrying me." He knew he was acting like a mother again, and Killua's gonna tease him about it soon, but it didn't matter. Gon was troubled, and this was the least he could do.

Gon sighed. "My target was Hisoka." He looked outside the window, eyes getting cloudy. It was obvious he didn't want to return to those moments, that he wanted to leave them, but since his friend was… "I followed him around. I trained. At some point, a managed to get his tag, but I was being followed too. I was held immobile by a poison dart. The guy… he didn't have a problem getting my tag. After that, Hisoka took his tag and my tag back and killed the other guy. He came up to me and gave me his tag and my tag… he said he was lending it to me. I said I didn't want it, that I'd want to get it by myself but… he hit me on the face, hard. It didn't feel right and I didn't like it, how I couldn't hit back. How I was so helpless." He sighed, and Kurapika looked at him with understanding eyes, watching as the tears well in his brown eyes. "I was about to give in to my weakness, about to be sure I was really so dumb. So I wanted to have somebody with me, to prove it wrong. I was battling with myself, that's why I was looking for you both."

"Gon," Kurapika said, and Gon looked at him with inquisitive eyes. "Leorio and I got here because of you."

"Hehe…." Gon laughed. "No, I'm the one supposed to be thanking you."

In a while, the president will receive you for a conversation. When you're called, please come to the first reception room of the first floor. Candidate # 44, we ask that you please come to the reception room.

"Now that's weird, the chairman's taking the candidates to talk to," Akane said to Leorio who she hung around with. They were in the cafeteria, where Akane was still reflectively sipping on her soda. "You don't suppose this is the last round? Our verbal capability?"

"Maybe," Leorio said. "But I don't think so. Maybe it's about the last round, but not exactly the last round. Some kind of preparation to it, maybe."

"Maybe," Akane said. "Maybe."

The candidates were called by number, it was soon enough when Akane was called. "Candidate #98!"

Akane walked from the cafeteria and made her way. She kind of got lost on her way to the reception room, but after around five minutes of walking, she found it. She popped her head into the door and grinned sheepishly. "Gomen, Chairman-san. I got kinda lost." Then she got in and closed the door.

"Oh, you're not the first," Chairman Netero said. "But you're the first girl, brave soul."

"I am?" Akane asked, and started to think. Oh yeah, I haven't seen a girl around here yet. "Hmm. What are we going to do today, Chairman-san?"

"Please, call me Netero," the Chairman said. "I would just like to ask some questions, that's all."

"Okay, Netero-san," Akane nodded, sitting on the sheet that was on the floor.

"Above all, why do you want to become a hunter?" he asked.

"Well, you see, Netero-san," Akane said, "I was raised in southern Rome and my family doesn't really seem like my family. I understand being a hunter gives you certain privileges in research. Besides, being a hunter puts up a person's status, and I'm also in for the extra training." She laughed. "I've been having a good time."

"Okay," Netero said. "Among the eight other candidates, who takes the most of your attention?"

Akane rubbed her chin, thinking. "Negatively, it would be Hisoka, #44; he's really powerful and scary, I have seen that myself. Positively, it would be #404, Kurapika. There's this air around him, I don't know; he also seems to know something related to what I'm after."

"Second-to-the-last question," Netero said. "Who do you want to fight with the least?"

"Oh, there's a lot," Akane said. "There's Killua, Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio. I would also say I don't want to have to cross ways with Hisoka."

"Okay, last one," Netero said. "Who do you want to fight with the most?"

"Oh, I don't know," Akane said. "Maybe Hanzo? He's like, the only choice remaining." Akane scratched her head. "Aah, throughout the exam, Netero-san, I've learned to be more humble. I'm not the best in my field, I guess, and I will never be."

"Okay, thank you," Netero said. "You may leave now, enjoy your rest."

Akane bowed slightly, and went out the room.

Now what in the name of Allah is that for?

Akane listened as Netero finished the rest of the candidates for the little 'chat.' Leorio watched curiously as Akane's ears pricked up whenever another candidate would be called out to the reception room. Killua and Gon went to the cafeteria, and later Kurapika, too. They all sat there, quietly, sipping on sodas, hot chocolate, coffee, tea.

"Candidate #405!" Akane heard, and she watched as Gon stood up and went on his way. Gon was kinda jittery, like a kid about to be reprimanded for breaking his mom's favourite vase. She wanted to say, Gon, don't worry, Netero-san is really nice and he won't hurt you, he's actually very polite, and he just wants to talk to you about the people you favour or not but she thought, hey, what the hell, this would be spoiling him all the thrill.

"Who did you answer, Akane?" Kurapika asked as he put down his can of soda.

Akane, suddenly cut off from her reverie, looked up at Kurapika with curious blue eyes. "Hmm?"

"Why do you want to become a hunter?" he said, eyes distant as he looked faraway. Apparently he's deeply thinking, and Akane got into her head not to ask him, since it seems to be so personal. Then why… was he asking? He does know asking also means a bring back, and that he has to answer back, right?"

Oh, but hell. She just answered the question. "I told Netero-san that I wanted to become a hunter because I wanted to do some research, and I do know the privileges… also to train." She left her voice a note higher to leave the unsaid question, You?

"Research on what?" Kurapika asked. It was either he was ignoring the hanging question, or he just really didn't notice. No, that would be stupid. He was the kind of person who saw through everything and thought through everything. He was definitely ignoring it.

Akane chewed on her lip. Should she tell him? No, maybe not, since it's personal and he could be related to him. Or maybe, yes, because he could help. She turned her eyesight to diferent things to not meet Kurapika's eyes full of question. Then she faced him. She decided.

"My family."

Kurapika raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

Akane sighed. Here come the story of her life again. "You see… back in my hometown, most people have black hair and dark eyes; well, I'm not really that kind of type. My parents swear they are my parents, but I can see through them and see there's a lie behind them all. I just wanted to look around, you know; maybe I can really find the truth, or be left out the blue. Is there a hunter like that? An answer hunter?" She gave her time to laugh light heartedly. "Oh, but the privileges are privileges. So here I am." She raised her eyebrows to add effect, and of course to say, and you? But it was left nonverbal.

"Akane, I think I know—"

"NOTE TO CANDIDATES! THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WE'LL ARRIVE IN A WHILE AT THE PLACE WHERE THE LAST ROUND WILL BE EXECUTED."

The sudden loud shout from the speaker broke Kurapika's sentence. Suddenly, he lost all gut to say it again. What he knew. How maybe, just maybe, she was also like him. From the same origin. But she didn't know.

It ached him how here he was, trying to avenge the reality that was taken from him, and here she was, ignorant, unknowing.

How he could do something, but he didn't have the courage to do so. And that was the thing his father last told him. Yūki o dashite, Kurapika (have courage, Kurapika). Kurapika felt the tears coming, so he excused himself and abruptly left the cafeteria, away from eyes which would judge him. He leaned on a wall by the corrider. Watashi-tachi wa itsumo anata to issho ni sa remasu. (We will always be here for you.) He tried to stop a sob, since he needed to be strong. Always. Ato hitoiki.(You can do it.)

Then, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and in front of him was Akane; not with questioning eyes, but with understanding ones. He needed someone, and he immediately fell into her embrace, and they stayed like that. Interlocked in a comforting embrace. It was a long time before since he felt weak. And he didn't want to be weak, but sometimes it just comes naturally.

"Don't worry, Kurapika," Akane said. "We will always be here for you."