"Oiiii, Eiiiir" I moaned in boredom, Eir paused and tilted her head to stare at me with bright hazel eyes questioningly. "Hm?"

"Is this thing ever going to start?" I huffed in annoyance and plopped down beside her, "I mean, honestly." Eir sighed gently and casted a bland look my way, "Patience. What are you in such a hurry for?"

Oooooh what WASN'T I in a hurry for?

My pupils contracted and I could feel my skin tighten in anticipation but I managed to keep my raging Nen at bay. The muscles in my upper arms and thighs tensed with delight, pale eyelids dipped low over coal black eyes that glowed beneath my lashes. A grin twisted my mouth in a macabre way.

"Kel."

Instantly, I snapped back to reality, relaxing myself in the process. A small wave of shame and guilt tided over me.

A sigh, "Sorry."

A cool, thin hand placed itself on my shoulder, "You must maintain composure, Kel." Eir muttered with concern eyes. I nodded in understanding.

"So…you and Old Man, huh?" I grinned cheekily.

The tense atmosphere was gone with the red that splashed on Eir's tan cheeks making her look like a carmel dipped apple…mmmmm~.

"So cute" I giggled pressing a gloved finger to her flaming hot cheek, "S-shut up!".

"LISTEN UP!" A voice yelled in the crowd.

"Hm?" I looked to the direction of the yell.

"The exam is beginning. Any that wish to leave must do so now." A calmer voice called out to us. I blinked and stood up, tiptoeing so I could see of the ocean of people crowded at the entrance of the room.

A man with purple hair that flipped out at the end in a business suit was talking…HE DIDN'T HAVE A MOUTH.

"Eir, do you see what I see?" I twitched as the mustache he had moved as a mouth whenever he spoke. An amused hum sounded beside me.

"If any of you are short on luck or experience you could very well end up seriously injured or could possibly even die." He continued on, an uneasiness moved through the crowd at his words, shuffling feet and muttering could be heard. But no one left.

Alert black orbs darted through the crowd, taking their measure and weighting their chances of survival. I arched an eyebrow at the lack of completion.

Pity. I begrudgingly thought.

Flicking my gaze to the group we had ventured here with, I quietly observed them with pursed lips.

Gon seems like he might could preserve through this….Kurapika looks to be alright, he might live to see himself through the exam. Leorio on the other hand…

My gaze danced back to Eir, who was standing beside me with her arms crossed. A ping of disappointment rang through my chest.

I am not so sure….

Eir was going to be okay. She wasn't much a fighter, proving herself to be exactly what her namesake meant. But she would if it came down to it, and unfortunately for her. It would.

I, myself, was more than qualified for this exam having honed my Nen at a young age, I was more than certain that I could finish this exam. It seemed almost none of the examinees have discovered what Nen was based on their pathetic signatures.

But even still….

Shifting my sight slightly to the murder clown standing about 7 people in front of us, my eyes roved over the back of his head taking in the gelled red hair.

Almost as if he could sense a stare of him, he turned just a little so that his left eye could be shown and immediately zeroed in on me.

I stiffened, Shit.

He gave me a very sly smirk that curled the edges of thin mouth deviously and then turned back around.

"All those that are willing to take this risk…please follow me." The Examiner stated and then turned to face the tunnel.

"The Hunter Exam will begin. All 404 applicants will participant in Phase One." And started walking.

Wow, he walked funny.

"He walks like a toy soldier" I snickered, Eir giggled quietly under her breath and we started off behind Gon and the group.

"Of course, no one turned around and left." Leorio said twisting his head around to look at the other people, he blinked in surprise when he realized we were behind him.

"You two are really going through this?" He questioned. "There isn't many girls in the Exam."

So he wanted to be sexist about this, hm?

My eyebrow twitched in annoyance, "Of course, we wouldn't have come all this way for nothing."

"We have trained for a quite a while for this so I think Kel and myself would like you not to doubt us." Eir reprimanded him softly with steel in her gaze.

Leorio stiffened slightly and sheepishly looked away with a nod and a faint blush.

Before he apologize, the Examiner suddenly started to pick up his once leisurely pace.

We were now all jogging quickly behind him so we could keep up,

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion, he looked to be still walking but we all had to run so we would not fall behind.

What is this? An illusion?

I saw out of the corner of my eye, Eir glance my way behind reaching up to tie back her shoulder length brown hair.

"W-what?" Leorio stuttered out when he saw the people in front of us start jogging quicker.

"The people in front started running…" Gon told him, reaching up hook his thumbs underneath the straps of his backpack.

Is that a fishing pole..?

"He picked up the pace," Kurapika observed quietly.

The Examiner called out from the front, "I neglected to introduce myself. I am Satotz, the Phase One examiner. I shall lead you to the exam's Second Phase."

We were all now almost running trying to get up with him.

"Second Phase?" The bald ninja with funny eyebrows questioned harshly, "What about Phase One?"

"It has already commenced." Satotz commented dryly.

Startled grunts and worried whispered broke out in the sea of applicants.

"I fucking knew it." I voiced with a lazy sigh. "Dammit, I hate running."

"WHAT? YOU KNEW?" Leorio barked at me and Kurapika glanced back with surprised eyes.

Satotz continued talking, "You all must follow me to the Second Phase. This is the exam's First Phase."

The bald ninja scoffed haughtily, "Follow you? That's it?"

"Yes." Satotz answered easily, "I cannot tell you where or when you must arrive. You need to follow me."

Kurapika gave a 'tch'. "I see how it is."

"This test is weird…" Gon complained.

"Running sucks. I hate this exam already. I thought this was supposed to fun and exciting." I whined pathetically.

"FUN?! ARE YOU INSANE, BAKA!?" Leorio snapped at me, a vein pulsing in his forehead.

A scoff escaped me, "Killjoy" I muttered with a pout.

"I expect this is an endurance test. Fine by me." Leorio ignored my comment and grinned big.

But I was worried. This didn't seem to be just an endurance test, he had to us…

He couldn't tell us when or where we would arrive. So that there was a mental strain, not knowing how long we would have to run like this. By this point all of us were now in a full blown sprint. Some wouldn't make it through this Phase, I knew.

I glanced at Eir in the corner of my eye and took note of her calm, composed breathing. She will be fine. Then I looked to Leorio, who was exerting too much energy now when he would need it for later.

Shit. He needs to calm down. Working himself like this is not going to benefit him in the long run, his stamina will run out.

.

.

.

.

FUCK.

Two whole hours have passed since we have started running, I could feel the burn in the muscles of my calves. I wasn't tired by any means but running this long for this hard would eventually put a dent in my skill. I knew this

"Goddamit. How long will this go one?" I hissed angrily, Eir was doing well. I could see the faint glimmers of sweat starting to form pearls at her hairline.

I casted a look behind me and saw that a number of examines had dropped out. Then I turned my gaze forward.

Don't look what is behind you.

I caught sight of Leorio, who had a snarl on his face and was sweating buckets.

I hope he can prevail through this….

I blinked when I heard the sound of rolling wheels, hm?

Riding beside me was a kid about Gon's age with snow white hair…and he was on a skateboard.

"Damn…that's smart." I grouched underneath my breath, why hadn't I thought of that?

Leorio didn't agree with me.

"Hey! Wait up, kid!" He yelled with a fist held high in anger.

The boy hummed and turned to look at Leorio in confusion.

Leorio huffed in irritation, "Show the Hunter Exam some respect!"

"What do you mean?" The kid asked him with a tilt of his head. I mean, I don't blame the kid. No one even said you couldn't bring your own way of transportation.

"Why are you using a skateboard?!" Leorio sure was angry…not sure if it was because obviously the kid was smarter than all of us or what.

I rolled dull coal eyes, "What's got your panties in a knot? It was a good idea. I'm just mad I didn't think of it myself." I sighed.

Leorio snapped his head around to give me a scathing glare, "IT'S CHEATING!"

"Why?"

"THIS IS AN ENDURANCE TEST!"

Blink.

"No, it isn't!" A small voice from beside me piped up.

It was Gon. I had forgotten he was there, he hadn't said much since the beginning.

"HA?! What are you talking about?!" Leorio was really about to blow a gasket now.

"The examiner only told us to follow me." Gon stated calmly.

"He never said hoooooow~" I sang tauntingly, a quick shove from Eir stopped that.

As Leorio continued to grumble and complain, the kid slowed down so he could ride along between us.

"Hey, how old are you?" He asked Gon curiously.

"I'm 12." Gon blinked back at him.

The kid observed Gon for about a second and then I could see a decision being made in his eyes. He jumped off the board and caught it in his left hand before smoothly running along with us now.

"That takes some serious hand-eye, kid." I commented with raised eyebrows.

"Hm? I just thought I'd run now too." He shrugged half-heartedly. "Wow!" Gon appeared to be amazed by the simple trick.

"I'm Killua." The kid now dubbed, 'Killua", informed us with a side-eye.

Gon blinked in surprise at the abrupt introduction but smiled back anyway, "I'm Gon!"

I smiled gently at the start of a beautiful friendship….

Killua nodded back at him then flicked electric blue optics my way, "Oi, Blondie." I could feel a vein in my forehead pulse in annoyance.

Fucking brat.

"Names Kel."

Killua blinked slowly before nodding again, "I'm just going to call you, Blondie." Cue the smirk. "Aren't blondes supposed to be dumb?"

"Why you…" I lifted an angry fist before a sharp pinch on my side made me squeal and flinch away from the biting touch. "Eir! That stung!"

"He is 12 and you are 20…." Eir explained calmly before turning a stern eye on me, "Act like it."

"But-!"

"I CAN'T ACCEPT THAT!"

In the midst of our little…ahem…disagreement….somebody started to yell. "Hm?"

It was the short fellow with the white button up blouse and overalls tied together with a neat little red bow. Poor thing, he honestly did stand a chance. He had let his laptop clank to the concert floor and was now staggering along within the group to try and keep up.

But that wasn't what bothered me. What bothered me was now the three brothers that I had seen earlier were now taunting and jeering at him.

…"People like you are doomed to fail the Hunter Exam!"

"So don't come back, Snotrag!"

"OI!" I had had enough!

"Don't let them psyche you out!" But the damaged had already been done. The little guy had fell to his knees with chubby hands clamping over his ears to block out the negative comments.

I could feel the tell-tell signs of my anger snaking up my spinal cord and tinting the edges of my vision a murky red. What pathetic losers!

Eir tossed a concerned look my way but I managed to bottle up the rest of my ire…that was until I saw Tonpa-Fatass give those three brothers money.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!"

Tonpa swiveled his head to locate the sound of the angry scream but just shrugged when he couldn't find it.

I was currently choking underneath Eir's bicep that she had locked me in a choke hold with. Honestly, I'm glad she did that. I would have killed him otherwise. I took a few calming breathing and continued with my fast paced running.

"This blows….it's been at least four hours….This Exam is a joke." I hissed sourly, I was now in a bad mood. Black mood really. I hated bullies, loathed them.

"Patience." Eir just muttered back serenely. I jerked my head around to look at her and nearly lost my jaw.

SHE WASN'T EVEN SWEATING.

I turned back around with a scowl on my face, she had always been the more endurable one.

But I slowed down with I heard her give a little gasp and the sound of her tennis shoes hitting the floor stopped. I looked over my shoulder and saw her looking at Leorio, who had fallen behind and was panting rather harshly.

"Leorio…."

Damn. Eir is going to be crushed if he doesn't make it.

I almost completely went into a light jog when I realized she wasn't going to move unless he did.

Damn her compassionate heart!

Growling quietly, I came to a stop and walked back to where she stood.

"Oi, forget him." Killua drly commented when I passed by him, Gon blinked and then he too, slowed to a stop which Killua followed suit.

Leorio was looking up at all of us with tired, dull eyes. He was done, I could see it. If he didn't want it for himself, we could not help him. I turned to Eir and paused at the look on her face. Then she looked to me with large, watery orbs. I could hear what they were saying. What they had once said to me.

Taku-baka had just came by with his gang and had once again surrounded me. Typical, really. Beat me, spit at me. Anything they could do. And I had ultimately passed out from a hard blow to the temple.

"Hello…Do you want some help?" A small voice came from above me.

Cracking open sore eyelids, I noticed a blurry figure in front of me. A girl my age it seemed.

She was taller than I was, but she was frail looking. Sickly. Long brown spirals of hair cascaded down her shoulders and blanketed her back in snarls and knots. Ashen skin stretched thin across her cheekbones, hollowing them out and forcing the shadows to carve her face sharply. Bones poked hazardously from her joints making them look gangly and weak. She sported a ripped floral dress that had a stain on it that looked curiously like blood, no shoes. Pink toes peeked out from the hem of her dress, they too were dirty and the nails were jagged.

She was an orphan.

Just like me.

"What do you want?" My voice was scratchy from my nap.

"…" No reply but those owl-like eyes staring down at me, silently taking my measure.

I hissed, "Well, brat?"

"You are Akeladama…are you not?" She asked in that tiny voice of hers. All gentle and soft tones. Nothing to betray her lifestyle.

My eyes hardened at the name, "Yes, I am. Why?"

"I am called Eir."

….

"I wish to become your friend."

My heart almost sputtered to a stop. Friend?

A pink tongue darted out to wet cracked lips, "Why would you want to be a monsters friend..?" I asked quietly, suspiciously.

"You are no monster."

My neck nearly snapped at her words, looking up so quickly to search her wide eyes franticly. Looking for any hint of a lie, when I found none, I sighed.

Those hazelnut eyes had seen right through me, slicing me open to see my bleeding core. And she didn't care. I knew she had heard who and what I apparently was. She didn't care. But she knew what she was getting into, I could see it in her expression.

So be it.

"Hello, Eir. I'm Kel."

I snapped back from that flashback with a small gasp.

"Leorio. Come on. You have to do this. You can do this."

He shook his head faintly, "N-no….I'm too weak….I'll never make it."

Eyebrows angrily furrowed at his word and a spark sprang to life in my chest, "Don't be a coward. Do not pity yourself."

My words were harsh and Leorio looked up at me. My gaze was hard and stern.

Leorio paused for a second and then jerkily nodded, He stood up with a cry, "I'M NOT GOING TO FAIL THIS EXAM! I'M GONNA BECOME A HUNTER!"

And took off.

"DAMN IT ALL!"

A grin light up my once grim features as he dusted past Killua and Gon.

.

.

.

A few minutes later and the boys had settled on a race to the finish. Leorio was still hauling some major ass up these stairs.

I, myself, was totally bored.

"Dammit…I thought this was supposed to be fun…" I whined quietly.

"Hm~ Talking to yourself is a sign of insanity, Rini-chan~"

That voice!

Stiffly turning my head to cast a glance over my left shoulder, I faltered in my steps and stumbled only for a pale fingered hand to catch me underneath the elbow to steady my pace.

"Now, now. No need to get all over yourself." The Magician stated, his golden irises lighting up in glee at the shocked look on my face and removed his hand from my person.

I shook it off quickly enough, "I-I'm not all over myself! Baka!" I snapped back.

A chuckle answered me, "Temper, temper~"

Snorting, I turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow, "What do you want?"

"I can't visit my favorite little pet?~" He asked innocently, fluttering honey gold orbs in my direction with a small pout.

Instantly, heat exploded across my cheeks, "P-pet!?" I choked out with a twisted expression.

IS THIS GUY INSANE?! HELL NO.

Steeling myself, I snapped my head away from him with an irritated huff, "I am no one's pet." I side-eyed him in distain, "Especially a clowns."

I regretted my words as soon as they passed through my lips.

He chuckled underneath his breath eerily, "Little Rini-chan…so very small." (Cue pulsing vein mark) "And so very, very…naïve."

My tongue turned to lead in my mouth when I felt the icy chill of his aura seep seemingly into my bones, I was running but I felt like it was in slow motion. Going nowhere.

I needed to pick up my speed so I could get this crazy clown away from me but before I could catapult away, a firm hand snared my wrist and jerked me so that the flesh of my wrist was barely touching The Magician's pale lips.

"Listen well, Rini-chan~, because I will not say this twice." He muttered against my pulse point that was now throbbing in fear, "Do not make a spectacle of yourself, I wish to be the only one knowing what power really courses through this betraying body. I do not share."

I tried to swallow but my mouth was cotton dry and my tongue was sticking to the roof of my tongue, all muscles tensed in fright. I was scared.

It had been a long time since I had come across someone like The Magician. Somebody stronger than me. And I did not like the reality check.

Not one bit.

Jerking my limb away from him and his mouth, I snarled at him. "Do not presume to command me. You know nothing."

But I knew he knew, he was the same as I. Well, not exactly. I could turn off my crazy…he however, could not.

I sped up, trying to distance myself away from this clown and his sly tongue, "Take care, Rini-chan~ I'll be watching. Don't disappoint."

A trickle of fear raced up my spine at the thinly veiled threat.

What have I gotten myself into now?