AN: Read the comic outtakes and behind the scenes on Deviant Art: AComicOfLies!


The Needle-Man chattered out of the room after the jester's cutting words. My breath stuck in throat as I looked down, ashamed. I won't be weak this time... I can't be.

I felt Killua's eyes on me and glanced at him. Big, blue and piercing, I couldn't hold his intense eye contact. "Sorry for getting you into this, Fluffy..."

He made an indifferent noise with a shrug. "You said it would be dangerous."

I couldn't help but smile as we exited the room with a mixture of apprehension and wonder.

Leaving the cozy, well lit room, we found an entirely different setting. An enormous, dingy tunnel stretched on and on into the darkness. Tired florescent lights winked eerily at odd intervals, illuminating only the first fifty feet. But more importantly... There were people.

A great crowd of four-hundred or so stood waiting in the dim light. They were tense and well armed, but I wasn't impressed. I could only sense a handful of aura in the immense crowd. And half of said auras had come on the same elevator as I did. I almost felt guilty for already knowing Nen, it was like taking college course when you already have a doctorate in it.

A familiar small green man approached Killua and I. I stifled a chuckle at Killua's alarm at his weird appearance; Mr. Bean was aptly named for his wide, oblong head. I'd had the same reaction to the strange little man last year, but Mr. Bean was nothing if not polite.

"Take a badge please!" Mr. Bean said cheerily. I took one with a wink. "And take care not to lose it, please."

"Yes sir." I said, distracted as I fastened it to my hoodie. It read 396. Killua reluctantly took his button from the odd, short man and pinned 397 to his shirt. Hands in our pockets, Killua and I submerged ourselves in the quietly talking throng of examinees. He slowed his pace. I paused and looked him in the eye, he avoided my gaze.

"So what's your connection with that freaky clown?" Killua asked quietly, subtly glancing at the man in question. I hesitated at that. The thought churned my stomach, but I swallowed down the anxiety.

"He... was a friend of a friend." I said quietly, turning away and fussing with my pin. Killua made an alarmed noise.

"Haaaaa? Someone was friends with that guy?!" Killua whispered. I didn't meet his eyes and shrugged.

"It was... complicated." I said, shifting uneasily. Killua made an unsatisfied noise, but let it go. I shook away the unpleasant memory and pointed to him, giving him a stern glare. "Anyhow! You are going to stay with me during this exam!"

Killua raised a brow, crossing his arms, unimpressed. "Whaaaaat? You really believe I'm going to do that?"

I set my hands on my hips. "Yes. That's the only way I can guarantee you'll pass!" I inspected my nails. "There's no way I'm going to be murdered because some lame twelve year old failed the Hunter Exam."

He bristled with anger, growling through his teeth, fists bunched at his side. "I won't be the one who gets us failed...!"

"I've taken this exam once before." I crossed my arms. "So I'm going to make sure we pass."

"Like hell! We'll see if you can even keep up!" He said angrily, backing away. I stared in disbelief as he spun and sprinted into the throng of intimidating Hunter examinees. "Try not to die!"

"You're going to run from me?!" I shouted in outrage, feeling furious scarlet bloom in my cheeks. There was no response; he was probably being a stupid shadow again. I ground my heel into the stone floor, clenching my teeth. "... you're such a brat!"

I carefully sped through the crowd, dodging around the irritable contenders, eyes peeled for a familiar tuft of white hair. How dare he play around like this – our lives are at stake!

To my left, I heard the shout of a familiar voice. There he is! He and another boy were on the ground, rubbing their heads after what looked like a collision. I growled in frustration. "Hey, get over here! You're gonna get us in trouble!"

Killua glowered over his shoulder at me. Jumping up, he pulled the other boy to his feet. Said boy was dressed in green and and orange with spiky black hair, and he was wide eyed and confused.

"Come on, run from that guy, he's it!" Killua told him, pulling him away from me and into the crowd. The boy brightened excitedly and followed.

"Oh, we're playing tag?" The green clad boy exclaimed.

"What?! THIS ISN'T A GAME!" I shouted, chasing after the two boys. But immediately, I was yanked to a stop; my hood was snagged, pulling free of my head. Not good.

I grabbed at my hood, tugging at it. "HEY! Let go of me!"

"Not a chance, pipsqueak!" An obnoxious voice declared. I glared up at the man who had a hold of my hood. He was tall and dressed in a stupid suit. Who wears a suit to the Hunter Exam? "Why are you chasing after that boy?!"

I growled. Hisoka won't be happy if I go around telling people he's threatening our lives... or maybe he'd even be pleased. I suppressed a shudder. Either way it's better to keep it a secret.

"He's my partner for this exam! We have to pass together!" I said irritably. "So let me go, old man! I need to catch up!"

The man's temper was freely showing on his dumb face. "Hey, I'm not old!"

"Hmph. Maybe you should let him go, Leorio." Said a cool voice from behind the big dude. A pretty blonde woman stepped into view, arms crossed and smiling. "It's none of our business what he needs."

"Yeah! Listen to the pretty lady, I have things I need to do!" I said, glad to have someone support me. But suddenly, the woman's face didn't seem as friendly. And the big guy, Leorio was hiding laughter. I was confused.

"I'm. A boy." The blonde... boy said. I felt my cheeks get hot. I called him pretty.

"Uhhhhh, sorryyyy!" I said, busying myself with trying to free my hood to disguise my embarrassment. "Uh... Your hair is pretty..."

"Maybe we shouldn't let him go." The shorter boy considered, unimpressed.

"Nooo, please!" I wailed. Then, there was an ear splitting scream. I plugged my ears, and so did Leorio, so my hood was free. I dodged free, but the blonde boy secured a hand on my elbow with a stern look. I sighed in exasperation.

There was a freakishly thin man with white hair and a mustache; he stopped a small item in his hand from screaming. He explained the first exam to us.

"So it's an endurance and speed test..." The blonde boy said thoughtfully. He was only a few years older than me by his looks. And he was probably smarter than the much older guy, Leorio.

"Yeah, so I need to go catch up to my partner, if you would let me go!" I said, shaking my arm in the blond boy's grip. He refused to let go, but his grip wasn't rough.

"Your partner is with our friend. Gon won't be letting him fail so soon, so don't worry about him." Leorio said stoutly, roughly grabbing my other elbow. I scowled fiercely. I hate being touched...!

"Ugh, let me go!" The crowd began jogging down the tunnel. "Hey, the exam is starting, we can't run like this!"

The blond released my elbow with a displeased pout. His attitude seemed out of character for his cool demeanor. Just my luck...His ego is probably stung by that woman comment... I decided.

"Fine!" Leorio released my other elbow, which I rubbed gratefully. "But we're not letting you chase after that kid!"

I growled. "You're being so stubborn! This is important, I need to make sure we both pass!"

"The other boy will be fine. Like Leorio said." The blond said, regaining his cool demeanor. We began jogging with the rest of the crowd. "Everyone deserves their space. If he doesn't want you hanging around him, then you should grant him is freedom."

I sulked at that... "Maybe you're right..."

"Of course we're right!" Leorio proclaimed, nose in the air. I sulked even more at his preening. "So for now, why don't you tell us your name, you little brat."

I pouted at that. "Hmph. My name is Clearian."

"You can call me Leorio-San, little guy!" He said proudly, roughly rubbing my hood, messing up my hair underneath. I batted his hand away, scowling.

"I already knew your name, you oaf... Le-Oreo, like the cookie?" I said with a grin. He was confused.

"... what cookie?"

I waved the comment away. "Don't worry about it... Oh, and uh... sorry for calling you a girl, haha..." I laughed nervously over to the blond to my right. "Um... your dress had me fooled."

"Uh... it's a tribal garb... and you can call me Kurapika, Clearian." Kurapika said, giving me a weird look. I stared back.

"... like Pikachu?"

"... what?"

"Nothing, nothing..."