366…

367…

368.

Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I shook my head solemnly. Pity.

My black converse were currently sinking into the muddy grass as we all run through this god forsaken swamp. I hated being dirty. I could feel where the clay was being kicked up and was now sticking to the skin of my ankles, crusting over.

Peering down, I scowled but snapped my head back up to see that Tonpa had made it through.

Wow, never would have thought he'd make it with all that running…

My ears perked at the sounds of Leorio's determined grunting.

A small smile graced its way across my face, I was proud of him if I was honest with myself. A sudden frowned marred my features.

"Eir." I barked.

She nodded sharply and slowing down to run alongside Leorio and Kurapika.

The fog….

It was thickening.

I had kept the red haired Magician in front of me since our little…..encounter.

My plan was to keep him in my sights, I could not let him best me. I wouldn't allow it.

"All right."

Hm?

My eyesight trained onto the six men that were pacing just behind him, their faces set in glares onto the Magician's back, mouths tight with anger.

"This is our chance. We'll take advantage of the fog and get rid of him, once and for all!" The man in the middle hissed.

A sharp intake of breath.

What? Where these guys idiots? They'll be slaughtered!

Killua noticed the sudden tensing of my limbs and casted a sharp look in my direction before we made eye contact.

He had heard them too.

The decision was made with a curt nod.

Killua turned back, "Gon."

The little black haired boy blinked, "Hm?"

"Let's move up." Killua stated.

"Oh, okay! It'll be good to keep sight of the group." Gon grinned back at him.

Killua didn't even acknowledge the smile, instead he had a stony look on his face. "I'm more worried about increasing the distance between ourselves and Hisoka. Staying to close to him is dangerous."

Hisoka? Sneaky? Why am I not surprised that's the shady clowns name?

A weary look crossed Killua's pale face, "I can smell it."

Gon jerked in surprise, "Smell?"

"I can't smell him."

I faltered a bit in my running with a snort, causing Gon to peer at me over his shoulder with a questioning look.

Gon shrugged before yelling, "Leorio! Kurapika! Eir! Killua says we should move up!"

Killua coughed in shock, "OI! Can't you sense the tension around us?"

"MORON!" I heard Leorio yell from behind us, "If I could, I'd already be up there!"

A tick mark pulsed on my forehead, I spoke to soon about the pride.

"OI OI! Don't go yelling at him, Old Man!" I scoffed back with a prideful toss of my hair, I heard Leorio stammering in indignation.

"OLD MAN!? YOU'RE OLDER THAN ME!"

A yelp was heard before Kurapika yelled back, "Don't worry about us! You guys go ahead!"

I blinked before looking back at Eir, who nodded in return.

"What? Kel, you're just gonna leave Eir behind?" Gon asked me with a small pout.

"Eir will be fine. If something happens, I will know." I reassured Gon.

"Let's go, Gon. Kel." Killua took off in front of us.

"Oi, wait!" Gon demeaned before we both took off behind the white haired boy.

"Kel, how will you know if something happens with them? Are you and Eir that close?" Gon asked with a curious tilt of his spiky head.

I looked up for a second in pondering before looking back down at him, "Ah. Eir and I have had a bond for a very long time. We have had each other's back since we were young. Younger than you and Killua, actually." I gave him a wistful smile.

"Really? Wow! You two must be like…sisters, then!" Gon gave me a glittering smile, the brown of his iris gleaming in joy.

Nodding once I spoke again, "Eir is…special to me. She saved me when no one else would…." I looked down, "Or wanted too."

Gon furrowed his brows, "Wanted too?"

"Mm. Yes, Gon. People are not always what they seem." I gave my advice to him with a stern look to which he nodded jerkily.

Then the screams started.

"Wha?" Gon gasped, turning his head left and right.

"There are people screaming all around us!"

"Just stay on your guard, Gon." Killua panted back to him, blue orbs straight ahead.

Gon paused before looking over to me.

"Kel…I thought you said you could tell…"

"I said I could tell if something happened to her. As it is now, nothing is physically wrong. But emotionally and mentally. I am not certain." I told him blandly.

Then a jolt ran up my leg, I grimaced.

DAMN! Too late!

All three of us were dropped down as two huge lips drew up from the sides of the hole, then snapped closed.

Steeling myself, I narrowed my eyes and quickly took in my surroundings.

The inside was moist and salvia was dripping off the pink walls but….no teeth.

Amphibian then. Toad, maybe?

"We have to get out of this thing before we are slowly ate away at from the digestive juices in here." I noted, I looked over to Gon, who was pulling at his hair muttering something like 'Can't die in a frog!'

I turned my gaze onto Killua.

"I'm on it." Killua said, reaching behind him and pulling out the orange soda can Tonpa and gave out before the exam.

I blinked, then slammed my fist onto my open palm, "Good idea. Use that poisoned soda so it'll throw us up."

That's the plan, Blondie-obaa"

Tick mark.

Fucking brat.

Killua dumped the whole can onto the tongue and before we know it, we were being spewed up in a rush of liquid.

I plopped out onto my stomach, "Ewwww. Frog throw up." I whined, wiping a hand down my arm then shaking off some suspicious looking chunk.

Gon looked worriedly behind us, "I'm still worried about the others…"

Killua sniffed in distain, "Forget them. Let's get going." And took off into the mist.

"Kel." Gon called out.

"Ah. I'm going to find Eir. I have inkling something is happening. I'm not sure what." I paused,

"But I don't like it."

Gon shuffled for a few seconds before he turned those sharping eyes on me, "I'm going with you."

I halted in my steps before turning back to stare down at Gon, who was determinedly standing there with his little fists balled up tight and a serious expression. I relaxed a little.

"Ah." Then we took off from where we came.

We ran in silence for a few minutes before Gon spoke up.

"Kel…I have a question."

Curiously, I titled my head down to look at him, "Hm?"

"Earlier….I saw Hisoka grab you….Do you know each other?" Gon asked innocently.

The air around was suddenly thick, and I couldn't breathe. Heavy with tension. I could feel almost all the cells in my body slowly freeze at the question. Outwardly, I had managed to keep face.

"…No. I do not know him." I answered with a blank look.

Gon seemed to chew this over before nodding begrudgingly, then a cheeky grin snaked its way over his mouth. "So, have you seen how Leorio and Eir act towards each other?"

The weight was instantly lifted off my person with the flash of Gon's grin, I snorted, "Yes, I have. And I'm going to give them hell about it later on."

Gon laughed loudly, and it was contagious because soon I was cackling right along beside him. The tension before had dispersed, despite the seriousness of the Exam looming over our heads.

But our joy was soon cut off when I felt Eir's Nen spike in fear.

My heart immediately took off, "Eir."

I had been curbing my running so I could match Gon but now, with the threat of Eir's safety, I was not going to pussy-foot around any longer.

"Gon. Get on my back."

Said boy blinked in surprise, "B-but Kel…I'm heavy and you…"

Razor sharp orbs zeroed in on Gon, "Now. Or be left behind."

Gon jumped at the tone of voice and gulped before hopping up, locking his thin legs over my hips and grasping tightly onto my shoulders.

"Hold tight. And close your eyes." I whispered in a softer tone.

"K-kel, you can't be that fast…" Gon stammered before yelping and closing those honey brown eyes tightly at my look.

I clasped my hands underneath Gon's knees, took a breath…..and darted.

Gon took in a shocked breath, tiny fingers curling into my shirt tighter.

"Gon, we are almost there. Take out your fishing pole. Get it ready." I ordered.

He jumped in surprise before nodding shakenly, unclenching one hand so he could reach back and grab hold of the pole.

"Ready." He voiced.

The clearing was becoming more and more visible as we got closer.

I could see Leorio's naked back facing in our direction and charging at…at…

Tips of wavy red hair spooked me.

Hisoka.

The rage was bubbling and spewing inside of me now…this…this man was threatening the safety of my friends….of my Eir. He would not make it out of this unscathed.

I would be make sure of it.

Gon tightened his grip of the pole with clammy palms, soft rapid breaths in my ear. Muscles tense and coiled to spring at the say so.

"Now, Gon." I seethed at him.

The boy casted out his rod, the fishing line soaring, the small red bobber streaked through the air.

And it met its target. Spot on.

Hisoka's head snapped to the side, his entire stance freezing in place.

Leorio was crouched on the ground in fear, a look of awe on his face.

"Kel! Gon!" He yelled.

A soft hum escaped Hisoka, who turned back to pin us with those evil, evil eyes of his.

As soon as they spotted me, a flame was lit in them.

Gon was shaking on my back now, pent up energy and fright bottled up in his body.

"W-we made it in time…" Gon stuttered.

"Not bad…little boy." Hisoka purred at Gon, a sudden interest flickering in his gaze at the sight of the fishing pole.

A small chuckle escaped him, "Is that a fishing pole? What an interesting choice of weapon."

Then Hisoka started walking towards us, lifted his hand up.

"Let me have a closer look."

My heart rate soared when I saw Leorio stand up, "Your fight is….WITH ME!" Then charged right at Hisoka.

It didn't take 5 seconds before Hisoka turned and delivered a strong punch to Leorio's face, ultimately knocking him unconscious.

Gon tensed in anger before leaping from my back in a solid jump, a strangled war cry forcing itself out from his throat. Two hands gripped the fishing pole tightly and swung downwards, straight for Hisoka's turned head.

I felt myself tighten in response to the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

He got him..!

POOF.

My chest expanded sharply as the bobber passed right through the red hair.

WHAT! Where'd he go?

Hisoka's body had disappeared in a cloud of white leaving Gon, and myself, stumped.

That was before I saw the shadow of a large body crouching behind Gon.

"You came to save your friends?" A lilting voice asked.

Gon sprang backwards in fright, the heels on his green boots skidding across the wet plain.

I couldn't keep track of Hisoka. My body was frozen in fear, the muscles in my neck straining so I could look over to Gon. I was angry at the same time, my teeth gritted together. I didn't understand! Why couldn't I keep an eye on this…this...CLOWN. I had trained myself for things like this, hours on hours of it. I could feel the blood vessels in my eyes start to gather and turn the sclera of my eyes a dingy red shade.

What kind of monster is this?

"Such a good boy." Hisoka sighed, now behind Gon again, his chin held delicately in his palm.

Gon whipped around and sliced through Hisoka, once again making the body poof into thin air.

"And that expression…."

Hisoka had materialized a few spaces in front of Gon, which in turn and brought him closer to me than he had been.

Gon grunted and leaped backwards, casting his rod over and over.

Hisoka merely walked forward with his eyes closed, arms crossed over his chest. His head slightly moving to dodge the bobber.

"Nice…" Hisoka praised.

"Very nice." Sun gold orbs opened. "I'm getting excited now."

Gon gawked in awe before his brows furrowed, "Okay."

I had to help.

I lifted a foot and plunged it down into the muddy grass, listening to the squelch that rang loud in this clearing. My teeth were now digging into my lower lip, tearing open the fragile skin there without much effort.

I have to help Gon..!

Said boy drew back the pole, raising it up high in the air and casted the hardest I had seen him.

I watch the little red bobber soar through the fog….and landed right in front of Hisoka.

My eyes widened as I saw Gon dart from his position, and behind the clown.

Another cry tore itself from Gon's mouth, the fishing pole held high above the boys head in an attack style.

I knew what was going to happen. The breath caught in my throat. I had to help Gon.

Coward…..

NO!

A thud of my heart shook me from whatever stupor I had been in. Instantly, the tense muscles loosened and I fell into a more familiar stance.

Inhale.

A flash of a white hand.

Seething black iris snapped back open as I heard the air whistle through Hisoka's fingers.

I pounced.

Reaching a hand out toward the little green boy, I knocked Gon out of the path of Hisoka's hand. I heard the rough impact of his body hitting the ground and the small cry he made but took little note of it, instead I had snatched a palm out and enclosed Hisoka's wrist, pulling sharply downward so the clown stepped forward a bit in surprise. That made his head tip down just a faction, but it was enough.

I saw Hisoka's shocked face and that sent a zing of pleasure through me.

Bending my knees just a little, I brought my right knee and smashed my patella right into Hisoka's cheekbone. I had used Ko in my attack making the bone of his face cracked underneath my hit.

Hisoka flew backwards in a flurry of white and pink, gathering his wits sooner than I expected. He stuck a clawed hand out and drug it into the grass to slow his momentum.

My heart was pounding in my chest, an insane smile wiggling itself way on my face. I straightened up and cracked my neck sideways, keeping my eyesight on Hisoka, who had yet to lift his face up.

Then I saw his shoulders shaking.

The grin faltered and my eyes narrowed dangerously.

A slow, manic chuckle met my ears. "How wonderful…."

He lifted his head just enough so that the slits of his eyes could be seen, the shadows looming over them making them glitter like topaz. But his face was not as injured as it should be. His right cheek was blooming purple and I could see were my knee had splintered some of the blood vessels there but there was no shattered bone or gory sight.

Impossible.

Then I saw it.

His aura.

I scowled darkly. "Damn you."

"I was wondering when my little Rini-chan would make her debut. I was not disappointed…" The purr came, a long tongue swiping out along his thin lips. He stood straight to his full height.

The rage was back.

The familiar prickle of hot anger spiced my blood now, I could feel my heart working overtime, sending massive waves of blood through my body. Loosening my muscles and my joints expanded to keep them from locking up in battle.

My lips pulled back into a furious snarl, "What is this? You think to make me out as a fool?" I spat at him.

His mouth curled up high, I could see where the impact of my attack had busted his lip and was oozing red.

The grin that was now on his face made my blood boil hotter, I clenched my hands into white knuckled fists, my fingernails digging deep and drawing blood from the entry sights.

I looked to my left.

Pang.

My mouth fell open in shock as I laid sights on Gon's body sprawled out, unconscious.

Gon…

I looked to my right.

Leorio...

Then I looked back to…

Where'd he go?

Before I could turn around to observe my surroundings, he was there.

Hisoka stretched out a hand and curled in underneath my chin, and lifted.

The bone of jaw strained underneath my weight and I could feel the pull of muscles in my neck shrieking at the unnatural angle. My mouth dropped open in fear induced surprise then I started to twist. Moving every which of way trying to undo the hold that Hisoka had snagged me in.

A choked cry ripped past my lips when he jerked me forward so that there was barely an inch between our mouths. My mouth sudden went dry and all my yelps clammed up.

A new kind of fear found a home inside of me.

"N-no…" I gasped out, my throat raw. My world was starting to blacken.

Damn….no more oxygen.

"Oh dear Rini-chan, whatever is the matter? I thought you liked to play rough~" Hisoka drawled, his eyes now cooled and half lidded as he stared into my own distraught orbs. A small giggle tore itself from him, "Do not fear, little Rabbit. I will not hurt you or your friends. You passed."

A self-satisfied smirk lit up his features at the dumb struck expression on my face.

"But…I'd say I've won this round. Don't you? And as they say…"

Before I could choke out a protest, Hisoka dipped his head and got close enough to touch his lips onto mine with the barest hint of a touch. He paused for a second to peer into my widened eyes with curious yellow iris's then I saw the monster behind those eyes soften, just a little bit so that his eyes turned a honey gold.

In a flash of a movement, he had leaned forward and pushed his mouth ever so softly onto my slightly parted lips.

A chaste kiss.

Then he pulled away just as my world was fading, the black at the edges of my vision pulling my under.

"To the victor….go the spoils."