Thank you to everyone for the reviews, especially to Arcana The Wolf for being such a loyal reviewer! I appreciate it!
I scowled as I gathered my pride off of the floor were Hisoka had left me in shambles... how degrading...
I dusted off my knees. This had better not become a regular thing... that freaky clown is getting too used to tormenting me with that freaky aura of his...
I ruffled my hair as I exited the depressing little nook that Hisoka had cornered me in. I think I'd die if anyone saw that..
"H-hey." A voice said to my right. A boy was there, in sunglasses and a baseball cap. My cheeks warmed. HE SAW. The boy scratched the back of his head, his cheeks were just as red as mine probably were. "I, uh... thanks."
I stared at him. Is this guy okay in the head...? I gritted my teeth. "What, did you enjoy the show?"
He was red as a beet all the way to his sunglasses and up to his hat. He waves his hands wildly. "No, no, no! Of course not!"
I glared, seething... does he get off on old men molesting kids...?! What a kinky pervert...
"It's just!" The boy started, then sighed. "Tonpa hurt my friend last year. So thanks for... I don't know, getting revenge on him..."
I blinked a bit. I wasn't sure what to say to that. "Oh, uh... you'rrrrre welllllcooome?"
The guy scratched the back of his head. "Hehe... it's kind of weird to say, but yeah... I'm just glad someone did it!"
With that he began jogging, catching up to the rest of the examinees. I watched him for a moment. Tonpa was still making gross noises to my right.
… somehow I feel worse about this, now...
I shrugged and began jogging.
… I know Hisoka said that I need to keep up with Killua and his friend, but... they're all the way at the front! I scowled. Without aura, I'm never going to catch up...
Hisoka was already no where in sight, but I could see Kurapika's blond head, bobbing in the dim light ahead. Hmph. That crazy clown is going to have to suck it up. I'll catch up in the next exam!
On a side note, how did those two old men leave me behind..?! I thought irritably. You'd think they'd pay attention after all the fuss they made about me chasing Killua...
Then I noticed Leorio up ahead, he wasn't running. Oh, they did remember!
"Hey, old man, how could you leave me behind...!?" I shouted over at him as I approached, running faster. But as I got closer, I noticed he was hunched over and breathing heavily. Too heavily. Kurapika stood not too far ahead, just watching. I came to a stop, puzzled. "... what's going on?"
Leorio's brow was drenched in sweat, and his suitcase was tossed aside. He shook his head. "... I should have.. known I wasn't... cut out to be a hunter... this is too much...!"
My expression fell. I felt cold as I looked a Kurapika. These two are friends, aren't they...? And yet it looks like Kurapika is willing to leave him behind.
Leorio was huffing and puffing like a nearly drowned man. To see such proud guy reduce to this... it's just pathetic... I've got to do something...
I flexed my hands. Well, I can't use my Nen... I sighed and closed my eyes. Geeze... time for the old fashioned method... I squatted and looked up at Leorio with a mischievous smile. "Man, that's too bad."
The older teen growled in frustration. I shrugged. "I thought you were better than that, Leorio."
He wiped his brow. "Yeah.. me too..."
I rose, taking his suitcase as I walked away. "Hah, then I guess I'll take this! And if you're not there to stop me, I guess I'm going to go pester Gon and Killua until the end of time! You'd better stop me, Old-Man-Le-O-Re-oooo!"
There was a moment of silence. And then he sprang to life.
"LIKE HELL!" He roared, both arms pumping as he chased after me. I screamed.
"IT'S ALIVE" I cried as I sprinted. Kurapika smiled and began running again.
"I'M NOT GIVING UP YET, LEAVE THOSE KIDS ALOOOONE!"
When we caught up to Kurapika, Leorio had taken off his shirt and blazer and was glistening grossly. I was almost embarrassed to be seen with him, until Kurapika stripped off his tunic. I regarded them at a distance with a disturbed smile. Well, if two of them do it, I guess it's not so weird... still... shirtless men... I shuddered.
"Why don't you take off your jacket, too, Clearian?" Kurapika asked. He was beginning to sound winded, but not nearly as exhausted as Leorio. I laughed awkwardly.
"YEAH! It's REALLY liberating!" Leorio said, huffing and puffing. I held up my hands.
"Aaahaha, nah, I'm fine... I'm not even tired yet!" I said, giving a corny flex of my right arm. Kurapika gave me an appraising look.
"Wow... where did you get such stamina?" He asked. I shrugged.
"Uhh... the academy, I guess." I lied. Running for long periods of time was sometimes necessary when evading police. Thieves got plenty of cardio.
"HMPH! Lucky brat...!" Leorio said stoutly. I scowled. "Rich kids like you get everything handed to them, while poor guys like me have to work hard!"
I really scowled at that. "Hey! Just because I went to a fancy academy doesn't mean I was rich!"
"Really?! Cause I think it does!"
"Leorio, he already said he was an orphan...!" Kurapika scolded.
"Yeah, and probably adopted by some stupid rich people! They probably wanted to show some poor brat what a decent life was, so they could feel good about themselves!"
I clenched my fists.
"I HAD A SCHOLARSHIP!" I shouted. "I earned the top grades in the ENTIRE school so I could keep it! You don't know ANYTHING about me, so don't you DARE say I had it given to me!"
They were silent at that, watching me. And I realized that I'd stopped running. I shook my head and resumed my run. "... and I was never adopted."
They were silent a little while longer, and then Leorio made a pained noise. I assumed Kurapika elbowed him.
"I uh... sorry, Clearian..." Leorio said, pouting and embarrassed. I shook my head and gave a long sigh.
"Whatever... it's not like I like rich people either..." I muttered. Unless I'm picking their pockets..
Kurapika cleared his throat. "Anyhow. Surely money isn't the only thing you're interested in then, Leorio. Seeing how you hate people with wealth."
Leorio focused on his running with a scowl. "Yeah right, money is amazing! I just hate people who use it wrong!"
"Hmph. And you think you'd use it right?" Kurapika chided. I arched a brow at the thought as well. "Because cars, women and booze are great uses."
"It's not just that!" Leorio shouted defensively.
"Uhuh? Luxury homes and yachts are important uses as well!" I scoffed. "Tell me, do you know which island you're going to buy first? Or would you rather build a sweat shop in Azia?"
"SHUT UP!" He shouted. And the tone of his voice shook me. Kurapika and I stared at him. "I... lost a friend, okay?! It was a curable illness, but the cost to cure it was too damn high! So he died!
"No kid should die like that... no one should die because they born poor!" I thought I saw tears in his eyes, but that may have been sweat. "... I'm going get filthy rich and open a clinic where no one has to pay for their treatment! Poor, rich, young, old, everyone deserves treatment!"
There was silence. Sweat was dripping down his cheeks. Well, well, well... a heart of gold under that ego...?
"That's..." I started but lost what I wanted to say and looked down. He tried to save a friend... I hope I can save mine...
"Very noble of you." Kurapika finished, smiling. Then that smile faded. "My family..."
My eyes widened. He said he didn't want to...
"My clan." He corrected. "The Kurta Clan. Was annihilated."
…. oh.
"My clan is famed for having beautiful scarlet eyes... one of the seven most beautiful colors of the world... a group of vile thieves sought those eyes..." He said, sounding distant. "Like exotic animals to poachers, my clan was slaughtered... and their eyes harvested.
"It is my goal to rid the world of the scum that destroyed my clan... and to find all of the eyes of my clansmen.
"I am not afraid to die for this cause. I probably will... but I only fear that my hatred will fade over time."
I swallowed hard. Okay, that was waaaaay too much to handle... what do I say to that...?! Oh man... I really AM a spoiled brat compared to these guys...! Shit, shit, shit...!
But I didn't have to say anything. Leorio threw his sweaty arms around the two of us. I stared in disgust. GROOOOOOSS!
"Alright, it's decided then! We're gonna get through this stupid exam and achieve our dreams! No matter what!" Leorio shouted, sweat was profusely running down his cheeks and his nose was dripping grotesquely. Kurapika and I pushed him off.
"GET OFF OF ME!"
"YOU STINK OLD MAN!"
When we exited the tunnel other examinees were milling about, awaiting the next phase. Leorio flopped down on the ground, completely drenched in slimy sweat, his chest heaving loudly. I eyed him, holding his suitcase over my shoulder, unimpressed.
I toed his cheek lightly. "Hey, get it together, old man. It's unhealthy to lay down after a run."
"He's right, Leorio. If you lay down your heart rate is going to slow too quickly." Kurapika said disapprovingly. "You need to walk around to cool off."
Leorio groaned and swatted my foot away. I pouted and shrugged. "Your funeral! You're pretty close to dying of old age, anyhow!"
He grabbed my ankle as I walked away and pulled it out from under me. Shit- I fell on my face, still clutching his stupid suitcase.
"HEY! Don't bring me down to your level, OLD MAN!" I shouted, kicking at his fingers around my ankle. He grinned.
"Now we're both laying down after a run, you're going to die WITH me, brat!" He growled, pouncing and holding down my arms. Kurapika was tiredly pinching the bridge of his nose.
"UGH! Get off of me, you monster! THIS IS RAPE!" I shouted, flailing.
"Woooow, I didn't know you were into guys, let alone older men, Clearian." A voice above me drawled. His shadow fell on me, and I knew exactly who it belonged to.
"KILLLUUUUAAAA!" I roared, struggling even harder. The white haired boy grinned maliciously down at me, his face darkened by shadow. The black haired boy was with him and acknowledged Leorio and Kurapika excitedly. "You brat, I'm going to strangle you!"
"Hey, hey, hey, no strangling!" Leorio's stupid voice grated on my nerves.
"GET OFF ME, PERVERT!" I swiftly kicked him in the groin and shoved him away. Killua scowled and used Gon as a shield, who held up his hands and laughed nervously.
"Now, now.." The younger boy said. "No need for violence..."
"How dare you leave me behind...?!" I demanded, lunging for the two of them. Gon's eyes went round and his smile twitched. But I stopped short. Stupid Leorio had my ankle again! Even curled in a ball, one hand on his damaged goods, he still got in my way.
"Hold it-" He said, obviously pained.
"Hurry up and DIE old man!" I shouted, stomping on his hand, but he refused to let go even as his eyes filled with tears. Killua stuck out his tongue, making a noise and dragged Gon into the crowd.
"Come on, Gon! We've got to hide!" He said as the boy ran willingly.
"Oh, are we playing Hide and go Seek, now?!" He said excitedly.
"GET BACK HERE!" I wailed. Hisoka's going to murder me, if you don't...! I spied said joker out of the corner of my eye, arms crossed as he watched us smiling with his freaky needle friend. I felt myself start sweating. Then an arm was draped around my shoulder, and the joker disappeared behind it. It was Kurapika's.
"Why don't you just hang out with us, Clearian?" He asked genially. He winked. "We don't mind having you around."
I stared, jaw slack, then pouted and crossed my arms. "Whatever... it's not like I hate being around you, either... I just have something I need to do!"
Leorio then rose from the ground and slumped over both of us. I glared at him. He recovers quickly... "But hanging out with us is way more important! Right Kurapika?"
"Get off of me, you reek." Kurapika monotoned.
"YOU STINK TOO!" He complained.
"Not as badly as you do, old man...!" I pinched my nose at his disgusting man stink.
Then, to my alarm, Kurapika sniffed me. "Hmm, you don't smell bad at all!"
I didn't know how to respond. "U-uhh.."
Next Leorio took a big whiff. "Waaaa, you smell good! How!?"
"Aaaah – I have a special diet!" I said nervously, holding up my hands. "G-get away from me!"
Slipping out from under their arms, I ran away, but they were close behind. Why is this happening..!? Is this how Killua feels..!?
"Oi! Tell me your secret, Clearian!" Leorio shouted, arms pumping fiercely.
"You can't keep that kind of secret from us!" Kurapika yelled. And there must have been sweat in my eyes, because they were watering.
"Stay awa-" I almost shouted. But a conveniently placed foot tripped me. I already knew whom it belonged to.
"KILLUA!" I shouted at the boy's catlike smile. He darted back into the crowd before I could grab him, and Kurapika and Leorio quickly scooped me up into their tight clutches. Tugging on my arms, they sniffed at me like some exotic flower. My pride was crushed flat.
Between crazy clowns and these average clowns… I'm never going to survive this exam... someone help me...
