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-Hunter Exam Game at Midnight-

-Renka's POV-

We were gathered in a central room of the airship. Netero-san introduced himself. "It might be time for the remaining 42 contestants to know who I am. My name is Netero and I'm responsible for the trials and a member of the organization committee. I wasn't supposed to show myself until the final phase of the trials, but I came sooner than expected... Your anxiety is comprehensible, but I believe it's a good thing. So if you'll allow me among you for the time being..."

The green blob head was there too. He made an announcement. "We should arrive tomorrow around 8 at the next trial ground. We are waiting for them to contact us. You are free to do whatever you want until we arrive."

"Hey, Gon, Ren-chan! How about a tour of the vessel?!" Killua was still as energetic as ever.

"YEAH!" Gon yelled in excitement.

"Sure!" We explored the ship together. It was lots of fun. I really enjoyed hanging out with the guys.

After sunset we looked out of one of the windows at the lights of the city below. It was rather pretty.

"Great! It looks like a diamond!" Gon said, amazed by the view. He then turned to Killua. "Killua...?"

"Yes?"

"Have you got parents?"

"Huh? Yes! Of course."

"What do they do?"

"Assassins." So Killua was from an assassin family, huh? That would explain the weird air around him...

"Both of them?" Gon asked.

Killua burst out laughing. "Ahahaha! You really got me going! That's the first time someone's listened to me seriously and asked me that afterwards!"

"Why? It's true, isn't it?" Gon was so simple-minded and gullible... But I guess that was one of the reasons he was so much fun to be around.

What makes you say that?" Killua asked.

"Nothing really..."

"You're really strange... You can never tell if you're serious or if you're joking. That's what gives you your charm."

"Oh?"

"He's right though," I said. "You weren't lying. I can tell when people lie."

Killua smirked. "The reason you can tell when people lie is because you lie a lot yourself, right?"

"But I only lie when needed," I grinned sheepishly.

"At my place the main activity is assassination," Killua explained. "For everyone. And I'm not telling you how much pressure my family puts on me, but I don't like the idea of others deciding what I'll do with my life. When I told them 'I'll decide my own future by myself!' they all got mad. My mother started crying, telling me I had a gift for this job. It's horrible, parents like that. I can only be considered evil... To make a long story short, I beat up my mom and dad and ran away! They probably haven't healed up yet! If they come here I'll be in a lot of trouble but..." He smiled. "If I become a hunter, the first thing I'll do is arrest all my family! I'm certain to get a good reward!"

The way he said it so seriously made me chuckle. Gon sweatdropped.

A family of assassins, hm? Then he must be... "You're a Zaoldyck, aren't you?" I asked with a smile.

"Yes."

"Thought so. Your family is quite famous after all"

"I guess. What about your family?" Killua asked me.

"My mother is an opera singer. My dad trains people, including me, to become hunters. My two brothers have their own rock band. That's pretty much it."

"A rock band? That's cool."

"Yeah, they are pretty good too. I find it far more enjoyable than my mother's opera, anyway. I really hate it when she hits those extremely high notes. They buzz in my ears."

"So why did you want to be a Treasure Hunter?" Gon asked.

"As a child I used to collect Meiun Dolls, also known as No-Face Dolls. They were very rare. There were 24 kinds total. Only a few of each kind were sold worldwide. I managed to collect one of each. I was so proud of my collection! When I look at them I really feel like I've accomplished something! Nyaaa~, I've loved collecting rare items ever since. I also have a one-of-a-kind jade dragon teapot and a rare vampire kitty soap dispenser! But I'll be able to collect much more interesting things once I become a hunter! Unyaa~!"

"A teapot and a soap dispenser? That's treasure to you?" Killua looked at me like I was crazy.

"Yes! Not only are they rare, they are actually useful! But it's just minor treasure of course. What I really want is old manuscripts and scrolls and special mystical items!"

I whipped my head around when I felt a strong killer aura from behind me. Gon and Killua did the same. But there was no one in the corridor behind us.

"What's happening?" We heard a voice from the left.

We turned around to see Netero-san. That malicious intent just now. It must have been him.

"Well? Netero-san, didn't you have the sensation somebody was closing in from there?" Gon pointed at the corridor to the right.

"No..."

"You're really fast for your age..." Killua remarked.

"You think? I was just walking, without haste..." He might have been old, but Netero-san was certainly not to be taken lightly.

Killua stared at him. He had a dangerous look in his blue eyes. "What do you want? Got nothing to do until the finals?"

"Such coldness! I'm bored, so I was looking for someone to play with," said the old man. "It's your first participation in the trials, right? You like it?"

"Yes! It's fun!" That answer was to be expected from Gon. "It's different than what I expected! There are no written exams, for instance..." I repressed a chuckle. He had been worried about that?

"I don't feel challenged," I said. "The tests up 'till now weren't very entertaining. I got to know new people, though. I guess that was fun."

"Me, I'm disappointed," said Killua. "I thought the trials would be harder. Will we finally have fun during the next tests?"

"Well... You'll see..." Netero-san was being vague.

Killua turned around and started to walk away, dragging me and Gon along. "Come! We're losing our time."

"Wait!" Netero-san called after us. "Don't you want to play with me? If you win, I'll give you the title of hunter!"

And that's how we found ourselves in a gym with Netero-san balancing a ball on his forehead.

"We've still got time before we reach the next trial ground. If you can take this ball, you win. You're free to attack me any way you'd like. I won't hit back."

"We just have to take the ball, right? Alright, I'll start." Killua stepped forward.

"Go ahead."

The look on Killua's face changed. He circled Netero-san. He used some kind of technique and suddenly Netero-san was surrounded by multiple Killuas! I couldn't tell which one was real. That technique looked very difficult. I was impressed. It must have been some assassination technique.

One of the Killuas charged towards Netero-san. That was the real one. The others disappeared. He was fast, as I had suspected, but Netero-san was faster! Netero-san easily dodged. Killua kept diving after the ball, but Netero-san blocked and dodged every time. Then Killua crouched down and performed a powerful roundhouse kick right against Netero-san's right leg! It should have been powerful enough to shatter Netero's bones! But Netero-san seemed unaffected. Instead, Killua was the one who had gotten hurt. He clutched his leg in pain and hopped around on his other leg. Netero-san was just fine.

Killua hopped back with tears of pain in his eyes. "His leg is as hard as a rock!"

Gon stretched. "Alright! My turn! GO!" He charged Netero-san in a frontal attack. Right in front of him he disappeared. Gon was fast too! He had jumped and... He hit his head on the ceiling... He fell to the ground and clutched his head.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!"

"Well, you can jump really high, but try and calculate your hit better next time!" Killua said. "Especially since he wasn't focused!"

Alright. I guess it was my turn.

Netero-san was balancing the ball on his left index finger. I charged from his left side. I reached out for the ball. He simply stepped backwards and dodged. I kept lunging from each side, but he dodged every time. I tried to kick the ball away, tried to punch it away, tried to grab it, but I never got it. I wasn't stupid enough to try and hit him. I'd seen what had happened to Killua. That old man had muscles of steel! I was very fast, but I seemed so slow compared to Netero-san. The old man had some speed! My turn was over rather quickly. I feigned an attack, but he saw through me. He simply stepped aside and I tripped over his leg. I fell right on my face!

"Ow..." I got back on my feet and rubbed my sore nose. I returned to the sideline.

"Wow, you're really fast, Ren-chan!" Gon complimented me.

"Thanks, Gon! Killua, it's your turn."

We went on for hours. I was starting to get tired and sweaty.

"We'll get nowhere like that!" Netero-san exclaimed. "I'll let the three of you attack me at the same time."

But even with the three of us attacking together, we didn't stand a chance.

"Pff. I'm done here."

"You're going?" Gon asked me.

"Yeah, we're not gonna defeat him anyway. I'm gonna get cleaned up and rest for a bit. You can go on if you want."

"Okay. I'm staying," Gon said.

"Yeah, I'm gonna stay for a bit too," Killua agreed.

"Good luck." They were gonna need it against that old fox.

I was on my way back from the bathroom when I spotted a hard-to-miss bloody mess in the corridor I was passing through. Someone had killed two contestants. Oh well. Less competition, I guess. I walked through the corridor, taking care not to step in any blood or guts. When I rounded the corner I came face to face with Killua. I almost jumped in surprise.

"Ah, Killua. Someone made a mess around the-" I stopped mid-sentence. He was shirtless. And he looked really good! "Ooh. Nyaa~!" I had a major nosebleed that made me feel like some kind of pervert. I gave him a thumbs up. "Nice body!" I said while I searched my pockets for a tissue against the nosebleed.

"Eh?" Killua blushed like mad. He quickly put on his turtleneck and shirt again. While doing so, I noticed he had blood on his left arm. It wasn't from my nosebleed. It looked older. Like the blood stains around the corner. Then the one who'd killed those guys was...

"So you made that bloody mess, huh?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Eh..." He looked like he wanted to deny it. His eyes showed conflicting emotions. I was sure he was the one who'd killed those guys. I assumed he was afraid I wouldn't want to hang out with him anymore if I knew the truth.

"I knew it! I was right!" I smiled at him. "Don't worry, the cleaning service will take care of that mess, so let's go." I started to walk.

He gawked at me.

"What?"

"You're not mad about-?"

"You killing those people? No."

He stared at me like I was mad.

"Shall we go?"

-Killua's POV-

What a remarkable girl. People didn't usually react this way when someone they knew had just slaughtered two men. She was something special alright.

I followed her to one of the rooms aboard the ship. There were some other contestants in there. Most of them asleep. She settled down on the floor against the wall. I sat down next to her.

"So, did you ever get that ball?" she asked.

"No, it's just impossible! That old bag! He didn't even use his left arm or right leg! Gon's still at it, though. I wonder how he's doing." That old geezer was tough. I didn't like him. He made me feel so agitated!

"Aren't you going to sleep?" Ren-chan asked suddenly.

"Huh? No. I can go three days without sleep." Talking to Ren-chan somehow calmed me down. It was weird. She just made me feel more at ease.

"Three days, huh? Say, would you mind watching over me while I get some sleep?"

"What? Why?" Did she sleepwalk or something?

"I don't feel comfortable sleeping in a public area surrounded by strange men."

"Oh." I understood. "Sure, I'll watch over you."

"Thank you." She leaned back and closed her mint green eyes.

As promised I watched over her while she slept. She looked so peaceful. She was actually kinda cute... Wait, what? Was I starting to like her? No. Of course not. That was ridiculous. Right?

-Renka's POV-

I awoke a few minutes before arrival. I was still half asleep. And I had had such a weird dream! It took me a second to remember I was on the airship on my way to the next stage of the hunter exam.

"Ah, you're awake?"

I almost jumped when I heard his voice. "Killua, you surprised me!"

He chuckled. "We're almost there."

"Really? Oh, nyaa~! Can I tell you about my weird dream?" I had this urge to tell someone.

"Go ahead."

"I was walking next to a cookie. And I kept telling the cookie how much I loved chocolate, so then the cookie invited me to a tea party. And when I arrived there were all kinds of chocolate cakes! And they looked so delicious! So I ate them, but then that cookie came back and he was angry because I had eaten all of his guests. He threatened me with a candy cane. Then I woke up."

"Do you have these kinds of dreams often?" He asked with a puzzled expression on his face. He must have been wondering if I was mental.

"I usually have dreams about food, treasure or very dark dreams."

"Dark dreams?"

"Yeah. Not nightmares, though. Just dark dreams. Like one time, I had this dream about a man whose face melted off. But those dreams don't scare me, so you can't call them nightmares."

He smiled. "Me, I dream of choco-robots. Most of the time, anyway."

"You like choco-robots too?" I asked with enthusiasm.

"They're my favourite!" He grinned.

"Nyaa~!"

That's when we heard an announcement over the intercom. "To all passengers. We are ready to land." Looked like the next test was about to start.