I hope Kurapika is "in character". Let me know if something seems far-fetched or anybody is out of character! As always, please let me know if there are ANY errors!

The blue tabard shifted beneath my body as I stretched in the early morning sunlight.

How was Kurapika? Where was Kurapika? After sitting up, I glanced around Kurapika's room…no Kurapika.

I sighed and threw the tabard on Kurapika's bag. There. Or maybe I should keep it and sell it on the market…? I smiled, yes! This Kurta tabard was now mine to sell!

With the tabard tucked under my arm, I walked towards the door and pushed it open only to run into a hard chest.

"Hey!" Kurapika grunted, "What are…"

He paused, clearly confused by the sight of me trying to sneak out of his room with his tabard.

He smirked knowingly. "Slept with me once and now you're going to keep a souvenir?"

I flinched. Busted. Then I realized what Kurapika said. "Hey", I protested, "No! We didn't...screw you and your implications! This isn't what it looks like! I was only going to sell it!"

Kurapika's face froze. "I only have four left", he growled as he ripped the tabard away from me. "What the fuck is with you? One moment you care and the next you're stealing my clothes to sell them? You're unbelievable!"

I shrugged. "Merchant's daughter", I said with a smirk. Ha. As if being a merchant's daughter gave me a right to steal everything, but still…

Kurapika paused thoughtfully. "Merchants have connections to the black market and the Mafia! So you should know where some of the scarlet eyes are!"

I jumped back…Kurapika's gray-brown eyes had taken on an unhealthy sheen as he advanced towards me. Kurapika was weirdly emotional today.

"Kurapika", I said warningly as I called my nen into my switchblade. I focused on the edge like Hisoka had taught me.

'Imagine this layer over your weapon, sharpening it, or better yet, infusing it into whatever material or shape you want. Oh wait. Wrong nen type. Whatever, as a manipulator, the first thing to learn is how to manipulate inanimate objects. A switchblade should be basic enough for a neophyte such as yourself. I guess for you, imagine...why not shift the pieces of metal the knife consists of into a different shape?', Hisoka had taught me.

I was thankful for Hisoka's creativity as he had made me think of ways to apply my nen to the existing environment. Hisoka was extremely creative, I'll give him that.

Strangely enough, even though Illumi was another manipulator, Illumi refused to teach me how to use nen but opted to teach me basic hand-to-hand combat. At first I thought this was strange but I gradually realized that if I ever fought against Illumi with my nen, his would fall into assassin battle mode and kill me, whereas Hisoka…I think Hisoka kept me around for his own amusement.

Kurapika's voice jarred me out of my thoughts. "You can help me find my brethren's eyes. I must avenge them. Last night, last night I thank you for helping me through a moment of weakness…but I need your help once more. Help me Avi". Kurapika took a step forward.

I shivered and swiftly moved around Kurapika. Who was this ardent maniac? This person who seemed so obsessed with locating his kin's eyes that he would throw all logic and emotion aside? The words that first came to mind when I thought about Kurapika were: detached and logical.

"Kurapika", I slowly said, "I'm only a merchant's daughter. I don't have access to that information". Of course I was lying, but I didn't want Kurapika to use my family to find his kin's eyes. That would smear our family name in the mud. We were known as people who 'sold and share the identities of customers. However, if we were to supply information to someone who would kill our customers…well, with the politics among the powerful black market families and the mafia (our main customers), the aspersions on my family would be inordinate. This would irreparably damage our business.

Kurapika's hand shot out to my shoulder as he gripped it tightly. "You don't know anything?" he coldly questioned.

I gulped and looked at his emotionless, icy eyes. This was not the warm, friendly Kurapika who had helped me and still treated me like a person even after my suspicious behavior. This was not the Kurapika who joked with Leorio, Gon, and Killua. This was a different Kurapika, one scarred by the mass-murder of his people, one that had been broken last night, one possessed by revenge.

My polite façade masked my fear. "I have access to none of that". Maybe I could appeal to his logical side? "Besides, we're at the Hunter Exam. It would be foolish to throw away an opportunity to have access to the vast amount of information available on the Hunter website. That's why both of us must pass".

An idea struck me as I glanced slyly at Kurapika. "We should work together", I began. "My family knows other families who might have information regarding the scarlet eyes. If you help me train in hand-to-hand combat, then I will take you to the more powerful merchant families so you can question them regarding the whereabouts of the scarlet eyes".

Kurapika's gripped loosened and I watched his calm logic stamp the violent anger that had darkened his eyes.

He blinked. "How do I know the information the families have is useful?"

I smiled. "You don't. But it's a lead and the merchant families are notorious for selling…illegal and rare objects. If anybody has information on the clientele who purchased the eyes, it will be the merchant families."

What I wasn't telling Kurapika was that I was going to use him to destroy my family's main competition. I will lead him to every single competitor and help him ruin them. But I was playing with fire. I had to make sure nobody recognized me and that Kurapika didn't search for my family. But if I was with him all the time…it shouldn't be a problem.

At the same time I'm certain Kurapika could locate…maybe four or five of his kin's eyes…since my family has the information on the whereabouts of every single other pair of scarlet eyes. Not that I was going to tell Kurapika that.

I halted and stared at the coldness in Kurapika's eyes. Did I want to play this game? I narrowed my eyes…why not use Kurapika to help save my sister too? With his knowledge and cold intelligence he could be useful. But I didn't want to overload him and make it seem like I would be getting more out of our deal…if he agreed. I recalled how I attempted to make a deal with Gon during the phase with Menchi and the pigs…but Gon refused.

Kurapika nodded. "Fine", he coolly stated as he removed his hand from my shoulder. He grabbed my hand, and shook it.

I felt my nen shoot from the center of my body to my hand and watched as my aura floated around our hands.

"What!" I gasped.

Kurapika glanced at me in confusion. "What's wrong Avi?"

I blinked. Nice and friendly Kurapika was back. And he did not see the nen smoking around our hands, which were still touching.

I practically shook his hand off mine. "We need to pass the last phase", I said," I need to practice hand-to-hand combat. The last phase begins in about six hours. Then afterwards, we'll be able to leave for the different merchant families' houses or the black markets themselves."

Kurapika blinked. "I was actually planning on working for the mafia. I figured they would be the main clients who would purchase scarlet eyes."

I blinked. If only Kurapika knew. Poor kid, he really had no idea what kind of people he was going to deal with.

I smiled. "The mafia is a great place to start and with me introducing you to the black markets and letting you know who's who and what's what, we'll find your eyes in no time".

This was perfect. I wouldn't have to kill Kurapika-though I was beginning to realize I couldn't-I could snag a pair of eyes, or maybe...twenty rare artifacts from the other merchant families, and free my sister! The ransom was so high that the group had given my family two months to collect the money. But why would the group keep her alive for so long?

By amortizing the payment as I collected random, expensive antiques and finally a pair of the scarlet eyes, my sister would be returned and I could hire better security for my family! It was perfect! As far as I knew, I could see no flaws! And with my parents also working on collecting money for the ransom, my sister would be returned in no time!

Kurapika glanced at me shrewdly and fear sprouted inside of me. There was one external factor who could fuck up all my plans: Kurapika himself.