"You smell like blood", Killua commented.

I shot the teen a glare. Did he have to be so loud?

Leorio gave Killua a look. "Killua", he began while stretching a hand out to the white-haired teen, "We can't fight amongst ourselves. Avi looks the same…maybe slightly tanner-hahaha, kidding". He poked me in the arm. "You're still as pale as Killua".

Killua and I glared at Leorio, then at one another. Leorio's attempt at placating my tenseness and Killua's suspicions did not work.

Kurapika walked over and I groaned. Great.

"You're covered in bruises, cuts, and scars", Kurapika said as he analyzed me,"Gon said you and he attacked Hisoka together."

He was fishing for info. I wouldn't give that Kurta any. I owed him nothing.

Kurapika glanced down at me in surprise. "You have lost weight...and you're making a fist correctly now."

I gripped the switchblade tighter. Kurapika was analyzing my reactions. Those tan eyes were scrutinizing me.

I glanced at Leorio who was rolling his eyes. He really did want all of us to get along…didn't he?

Kurapika's tan eyes held my angry gaze.

I glanced at Leorio to avoid Kurapika's stony gaze. "So how was the Fourth Phase for you?"

Leorio's countenance seemed to darken. "Pathetic", he spat," I needed Kurapika and Gon to do everything for me! I promise I'll return the favor. So…thanks."

I blinked and recalled what my robot friend, well, Illumi, had taught me: isolate your target physically and emotionally, that's the best time to strike.

I glanced at Kurapika. So it appeared he had bonded with Leorio and Gon. That meant he would be likely to hang around them. That would not do as I would possibly have to kill three people, rather than only one Kurta.

My eyes narrowed as I took in Kurapika's appearance. He was tall-about 6 feet, muscular yet lean, had no visible wounds or scars, no limps, ambidextrous, and was very agile. He would be a tough opponent for me to defeat.

But, with my new training on both offensive and defensive moves, brains, weapons, and quickness, I think I could kill him.

'Do not waste my time or embarrass me. If you go in for the kill, do not hesitate. The moment of hesitation leaves you vulnerable', Illumi had taught me.

I shuddered. He had freaked me out more once he changed to human form because I could see the blankness in his eyes along with the thick, dark nen surrounding him.

Kurapika was not a nen user, I knew that much. I glanced at the Kurta. No, I would definitely win if I used my nen.

I glanced down. All I knew how to do now was to see auras, and hide my own. Then again…I still had to figure out my own personalized nen offense and defense.

"I have an announcement for all applicants", Beans' voice over the loudspeaker broke my thoughts, and "The chairman wishes to interview the remaining candidates. When your number is called, please come to the first reception room, on the second floor. Then, we will start with #44, Hisoka".

Gon noticeably stiffened and I looked at him. Kurapika did too.

My cell phone rang and I jumped and looked down…it was…Brec was calling. I had to talk to my little brother.

"Ohhh", Leorio drawled, "Is that your boyfriend Avi? Why so tense?" He waggled his eyebrows teasingly.

I smirked back at Leorio and waved my phone at him. "My brother."

"Do you feel as awkward as you look, Leorio?", I joked.

Even Kurapika snickered.

"But Sabie fought them too-you know she has been training since she was five but you-you never trained-you never cared!" Brec angrily shouted. "You'll never be able to fend them off-

"Brec", I interrupted," I can't come home. I have to pass the Hunter Exam because I'm so close. This IS the Final Phase! Besides…I met some customers who have been giving me training…"

"I don't want to lose you too", Brec nearly sobbed. I flinched. To drive my little brother to the point of sobbing was…difficult, near impossible. "They'll kidnap you like they did to Sabie! She's goooone because the Mafia wants the money now!"

"Mom and Dad can't come home because they are being followed and want to protect me. I can't contact them! I'm just here with the tutors and teachers at the new safe house because I was automatically moved when Sabie was kidnapped. Don't leave me alone, Avi!" Brec shouted.

I was stunned. "I promise", I whispered to my brother," I promise I'll come home as soon as the Hunter Exam is over and I will take you with me…away from the house, away from danger."

Brec was harshly breathing into the phone. "Brec", I teasingly said," I can hear you awkwardly panting into the phone."

"I'll hold you to that promise", my brother deadpanned before he hung up.

I leaned against the wall of the airship and covered my face with my hands.

Light footsteps approached. "Family troubles?" Kurapika's intrusive voice asked.

I peeked at him from in-between the cracks of my fingers. Kurapika was staring curiously at me.

I raised my eyebrows. "And you care because…?"

Kurapika rolled his eyes and handed me some fruit. "You weren't at dinner and Gon was worried…I figured I'd make sure you're fine so Gon doesn't worry too much. He becomes extremely irritating when he's worried."

I blinked and smiled at Kurapika, the smile coming too easily. "It's almost like you care about my problems."

Kurapika blinked and that's when I noticed the exhaustion in them. I cocked my head to the side. "Why do you look like shit, Kurapika?" I questioned.

Kurapika bowed his head so his shaggy hair hid his eyes. He cleared his throat. "Protect your family because they're irreplaceable", he muttered as he walked away.

Moonlight streamed in through the windows, allowing me to easily coat my switchblade with toxic poison that I had brought with me. There was no antidote.

I was going to kill Kurapika tonight. He was never without the company of either Gon, Leorio, or Killua, unfortunately.

Luckily, I had tracked Kurapika and knew where he would be sleeping tonight, alone. I smirked. That was Kurapika's first mistake, staying away from others. Just as Illumi said when I should strike: when the target was isolated.

I silently padded through the halls until I reached room 32's door. I turned the handle and noticed that Kurta bastard fucking locked it. I sighed. Well, time to pick yet another lock.

Kurapika was a thrashing lump in his bed. I stared. How the fuck was I supposed to slit his throat if he was constantly moving. Damn it! Normal people don't move this much when they sleep!

Kurapika shouted and sat up, scarlet eyes wide open.

I locked eyes with him. Well, this was awkward. Kurapika blinked, scarlet eyes fading to dark purple, and finally to the normal brownish-gray.

"Hi?" I squeaked nervously as I focused on using my nen to focus on what Kurapika's nen was doing. His nen would let me know what he was emotionally feeling, because Kurapika didn't know how to hide the nen yet.

Kurapika blinked, as if he was in a daze, caught sight of his tan eyes, which were changing to scarlet red again, and began to shake.

I stiffened in confusion. What? Was Kurapika having a seizure?

Something inside me hated the thought of Kurapika, who had helped me throughout the exam, looking like this. Pathetic.

Maybe…maybe I could kill him while he was…shaking?

So I approached the Kurta whose stupid shaggy, golden-blonde hair hid his face.

"It'll be fine, Kurapika", I gently said. I placed my hand on Kurapika's shoulder and left it there. I felt him shudder under my touch.

Kurapika continued to shake. With sadness, frustration, or rage, I didn't know. I looked at my switchblade and at a defenseless Kurapika. He had underestimated me before, but that was his mistake. I removed my hand, gripped the switchblade, and drew it back to stab Kurapika.

"Don't leave", Kurapika muttered brokenly through his hands which covered his face. He had mistakenly thought I was removing my hand to leave, when in reality I had removed it so I could cut into his flesh more easily.

I jerked back at the same words my brother had told me earlier.

'A moment of hesitation is a moment of vulnerability', Illumi's voice had decided to pipe up in my mind.

'Always on guard. Never forget about your nen. In your case, you'll use it more than a physically stronger opponent. Your nen, as a Manipulator, is your greatest weapon', Hisoka's obnoxious voice added.

I blinked and refocused on Kurapika. He had helped me…and I could let my parents collect the ransom money. They were great at finding valuable objects, they could pay off the debt? But what if they couldn't…what if this time they failed…with Kurapika's eyes, I'd have the ransom money and more…but killing Kurapika felt…wrong. Why?

Then, it clicked. It was because I enjoyed Kurapika's presence, when I wasn't trying to kill him, and because even I could tell that he was a good person.

Suddenly my train of thought was broken by two arms wrapping around me and pulling me to a muscular body.

My hands pushed against his chest.

"What are you playing at?" I snapped at Kurapika.

Kurapika gave me an inscrutable look. "I thought perhaps you were slightly intelligent, but once again, you continue to disprove my assumptions." He always had to act holier-than-thou, didn't he? I grabbed my switchblade, about to hit him with the butt of the knife when he placed a hand on my cheek. I froze. Vulnerability shone in Kurapika's eyes. He had been acting, attempting to hide the pain.

He blinked and stared at the floor. I continued to stare at him, willing myself to act, but too conflicted to move.

He continued to stroke my shoulder down to my wrist, where he gently, but firmly grabbed my wrist. I stared at him. Was Kurapika okay? I looked into his eyes. No. No he was not. He was using me to distract himself from...something.

Since when did I care about his feelings? I blinked. Kurapika was staring at me now.

"I…I just", Kurapika stammered as fear began to surface, "It's tonight." I felt him shake.

I continued to hold him. His hand dropped from my cheek and he buried his face in my long, thick hair. I said nothing because I knew people naturally wanted to fill awkward silence and I figured as insecure as Kurapika is now, he would want to fill the silence and probably tell me what is bothering him.

I felt slightly embarrassed because I had no clue what the fuck he was talking about. All I knew was that he, my…friend, enemy, person who I could kill to help my family was sitting in front of me. Weaponless, broken, and vulnerable.

All I did was hold him as he shook. "The massacre of the Kurta Clan. Of my people. I-I can't sleep. I see them…and h-hear them screaming. And I remember the mockery, the loneliness, what I had to do on my own to survive" He swallowed and stopped talking. He was shaking even harder now. "

I ran my hand up and down his back in what I hoped was a comforting gesture. I held Kurapika tighter as he broke down and cried in rage, sadness, and loneliness.

That moonless harsh night, I held Kurapika until he slept and continued to do so until the sun began to rise.