I would like to say a big thank you to SpadesPirates4Eva, MCRDanime and Blue for reviewing. SpadesPirates4Eva, I'm glad you like the way I've portrayed Kurapika as a brother; I have to be honest I'm not even sure if I hit it head on. I'm just going by how he acts in the anime. Blue, I'm not entirely sure how to make the spacing better without making it look awful. If you have any suggestions please feel free to message me. Glad you like the cat part!

Let's get the legal stuff out of the way first. I do not own Hunter x Hunter or Hunter x Hunter 2011. All rights and ownership go to the following: Yoshihiro Togashi, Shueisha, Shonen, Kazuhiro Furuhashi, Nobuaki Kishima, Nippon Animation, Viz Media, Fuji TV, Funimation Channel, Satoshi Saga, Yukihiro Matsushite, Makoto Sato, Hiroshi Kojina, Atsushi Maekawa, Tsutomu Kamishiro, Madhouse, NTV, Yuzo Sato, Shoji Yonemura and last but not least Keiichiro Kawaguchi. Whew.

I have made two friends since I been here that are my age, Gon and Killua. Killua comes off a really strange though and slightly cocky but he seems really cool too! He can use a skateboard and stuff and I'm even allowed to try it with Gon! Oh we even raced to the exit of the tunnel! I like this feeling of being a child again with no worries, I've missed it and if I'm honest it makes me really happy. I wonder though if my big brother is OK with it.

But the first Phase isn't even over yet and I don't know how long it has to go. I can only hope it ends soon, really soon; before my lungs jump out from my body.

We continued running through the wetlands, the ground came up with our feet. Everybody was huffing and puffing once more and I began to feel warm again even though my arms were uncovered. The fog was so thick I could barely see my hands in front of me and even with all this fog around and my arms bare I still didn't feel very cold. My bag continuously swung against my leg as we ran. We continued to follow Satotz closely so that no animals would come and try to take us away to wherever they lived to eat us. I didn't want that to happen anyway.
"Pay attention now. Be sure to stay close behind me." Satotz said, reminding everyone to stay behind him and believe me I wouldn't even think about not doing so. I decided to run with Kurapika once the fog got heavier, as much as it was cool hanging out with Gon and Killua, I really wanted to stay by my brother with all the fog about. Leorio was still running with his jacket and shirt off and Kurapika was still running without his tabard. I could hear a crow overhead, but when I looked up to try and find it, I couldn't see anything. The fog must have covered it.

"The fog is getting thicker." Kurapika said as I nodded my head.
"I can't even see my hand in front of me anymore." I said to him putting my hand outstretched in front of me. It started to disappear at my wrist. I furrowed my brows slightly as I brought it back to me again to run probably. I looked at Leorio; he was making strange noises and pulling a funny face making me smile to myself and supress a small giggle. We all looked strange, Leorio with no shirt, Kurapika with only his training clothes and my with my sleeves tied behind my back to keep my dress up; but it was working to keep us cool so I didn't feel odd about it.
"Leorio! Kurapika! Mishka! Killua says that we should move up!" Gon shouted over making me look over to him. I looked up at Leorio as he began speaking.
"Moron! If I had the strength, I'd be there already!" He said as he continued running.
"I'm going to stay back here to try and catch my breath a little. I'll catch up I promise!" I shouted back over to him, furrowing my brows with an apologetic smile on my face.
"Don't worry about us!" Kurapika shouted back. I saw Gon furrow his brows as he looked at us.
"What?" he said back.
"Sorry I'll catch up I promise!" I shouted back over as he looked at Killua before looking back at me and nodding.
"OK! But if you're last you're buying dinner for me and Killua!" He shouted back making me glare at him, well, my best attempt at glaring. This was only puffing out my cheeks and trying to look angry.
"That's not fair!" I shouted back before him and Killua were out of sight.

I felt eyes on my and looked up to see my brother looking at my questionably.
"What was that about?" He asked me as I looked at him quite innocently.
"We were racing earlier and we all finished at the same time. We couldn't decide who was buying dinner though." I said back to him as he sighed slightly and shook his head. He smiled afterwards though, a genuine soft smile, like the ones he used to do a lot when we were little. Well, when he was little; he still said I was little compared to him.
"It's nice to see you making friends." He said as I nodded my head quickly agreeing with him. I still didn't lose sight as to why I was here though, and that was to be a hunter with my brother so we could track down the people who killed our clan.

Me, Kurapika and Leorio has spent a lot of time running. I wasn't even too sure where we were heading towards anymore, or if we were even going to right way. I looked around as I continued running between my brother and Leorio, feeling safer between the two.
"We can't even tell which way we're going." Kurapika said slightly annoyed making me look up to him before looking forward again.
"I hope it's the right way. I don't want to come across a Man-faced Ape." I said shaking my head quickly at the thought of seeing one of those again.
"It's OK. As long as we don't lose sight of the guys ahead of us…" Leorio said when suddenly their heads started coming off. My eyes widened as I watched every single one of their heads come off, as if they weren't on their shoulders probably. I wanted to hold onto my brother, but I knew if I did that he wouldn't be able to run probably and neither would I. So I couldn't. I could feel myself shake out of fear.

We all stopped as Leorio was the first to speak. I took the opportunity to hide behind my brother slightly, holding on tightly to his training clothes.
"What's going on?" He said. Strawberries started raising and coming through the fog. I looked at them oddly, coming out a little bit from my hidey hole to try and get a better look. Strawberries floated all around us, making me look around at them from the spot. We were stuck with a bunch of other guys who had been following us.
"Wh-what?" Leorio stuttered out as we kept our eyes on the floating fruit. One guy started walking forward and then fell over gurgling and screaming in pain. I watched as the man was being lifted into the air by a giant animal that looked like a turtle but with a really long neck. It was yellow in colour and had a brown shell with pointy teeth. Kurapika turned slightly, pushing me behind him with his arm as I watched in both amazement and shock as to what was happening.

Everybody started running around, Kurapika was keeping me guarded behind him as Leorio's back faced mine. We watched as the people ran in all directions, screaming, as the giant turtle like creature came down and picked up more people.
"This looks bad…" Kurapika said as he pushed me back a little more and took a step back himself. Leorio did the same and bumped into my back slightly. He also put out his arm as if guarding on my other side as more of those creatures started coming around us. One of them roared at us as a few more poked its head out through the fog. I couldn't help but let go of my brothers clothing and turn in a slightly circle to try and find a way out, but I couldn't see any.
"A-Are they g-going to eat us?" I couldn't help but ask, struggling to get my words out as I looked at the turtle things. Neither Kurapika, nor Leorio answered me as we watched the creatures.

Leorio had grabbed a nearby log and just in time to; as one of the turtle swept down and tried to take him away. He turned the log and used it to keep his mouth open and was brought up into the air because of it.
"Leorio!" I shouted with Kurapika watching, my face showing all the signs of. Kurapika looked angry but I couldn't tell if he was angry at Leorio or the turtle that was trying to eat him. The turtle kept crushing down onto the log and swung it around with Leorio hanging on for dear life, it looked down it was going to split into pieces at any given moment. Kurapika jumped into the air and draw his weapons; when he landed he jammed them into the turtle's eye. It roared in pain letting go of the log. Leorio landed on the ground with a thump. I ran over to him as my brother landed on the ground on his feet.
"Are you OK?" I asked him panicked as he nodded his head and looked at Kurapika when he began speaking.
"Leorio, Mishka, here's our opportunity." Kurapika said as he placed his weapons in one hand and quickly ran over, grabbed my wrist firmly and pulled me with him. I could see Leorio nod his head and get up to follow us. It was hard keeping up with my brother when he was running for his life; his legs were much longer than mine.

We had managed to get away from the turtle, Kurapika kept his firm grip on my wrist to make sure I kept up with him until we reached the other runners. It looked like we were in a heavy, thick forest, but I knew we weren't; we were still in the swamp.
"We've lost sight of the front-runners." Kurapika said as Leorio began looking around.
"Which way should we go?" He asked looking around for a way to go. I looked around myself and saw figures in the fog. I couldn't see who they were, but it was better than nothing and with any luck it was the rest of the running group. I pointed in that direction.
"We could try over there. It looks like there are people there." I said looking up at both Kurapika and
Leorio. Leorio looked over himself as we got closer and stopped, putting his hand out to stop my brother and me from running.
"Stop! Over there…" Leorio whispered making me and Kurapika look over. The figures I saw earlier was Hisoka, and these people circling him. Instinctively, I hid behind my brother, grabbing a hold of his training clothes tightly. I felt him put a hand onto my back bringing me slightly closer as he stood defensively. Leorio continued to watch with interest.

I couldn't hear what was being said, but I could make out that they were all holding weapons apart from Hisoka. It looked like they were going to try and fight him, possibly get rid of him. I tried reading their lips, but it was turning out impossible for me. I couldn't help but furrow my brows slightly. Hisoka had said something and drew out a card. Whatever he said had made them mad, as they all screamed and started running at him. The screaming was all I could hear from them. Hisoka simply spun in a circle with his card in his hand and everybody stopped. Moment later, they all fell to the ground, apart from one. The only one who hadn't fell down went onto his hands and knees and started crawling away with Hisoka following him. With one movement of the magicians arm, the man fell to the floor with a card in the back of his head. I watched in horror at the magicians' movements and actions. It was like something from a horror story. My brother and Leorio watched quietly and in shock as well as Hisoka walked over to the card and pulled it down from the man's dead body.

He turned to look at us slightly and began speaking. I hadn't realised how close he had gotten.
"Well… Care to participate, in my little game of examiner?" He said to us making us freeze. I could feel Kurapika's breathing through his clothing, mine wasn't any better as I watched him in horror. In instinct I shook my head and hid behind my brother some more. I could feel my brothers hand press against my back a little harder keeping me as close to him as psychically possible without hurting me intentionally.

Hisoka began walking towards us, a stern but small smirk on his face. I began trembling, I wanted to get away; that's what Kurapika said "don't fight him on your own, just run". I really wanted to, but I couldn't, my legs around let me. I couldn't leave Kurapika and Leorio behind either. I breathed heavily and felt Kurapika rub my back slightly.
"Leorio, Mishka. On my signal, we run in opposite directions. He is vastly more experienced in real combat. The three of us won't stand a chance against him. We cannot afford to squander time in a pointless fight!" Kurapika whispered to us. I nodded my head, I knew was I was going with Kurapika, I just hoped Leorio would be safe. I looked at the bodies on the ground and then back to Hisoka with my eyes wide. I watched his hand closely, a small flick and a card was in between his fingers as he walked towards us. I gripped my brothers training clothes tighter keeping my eyes on Hisoka the whole time. He stopped in front of us and pointed the card at us. I felt Kurapika's hand leave my back and grab my wrist instantly.
"Now!" He shouted as we sped off in opposite directions. Me with Kurapika and Leorio on his own. I couldn't help but watch as Leorio started fading into the fog and as much as I wanted to shout over to him to be careful I knew I couldn't.

I and my brother heard shouting making us turn her heads. It sounded like someone was saying something and it sounded like Leorio.
"That's Leorio!" I shouted as my brother looked angrily at the fog.
"Leorio!?" Kurapika shouted into the fog. I couldn't help but try to stop as to what heard like Gon shouting as well.
"Mishka come on! We don't have time for this!" Kurapika said as he tried to pull me along. I looked at him furrowing looking at him seriously, although my brows were furrowed at the same time as if I was upset about something.
"I think Gon's there to!" I said to him making Kurapika stop and look at me questionably. He looked through the fog, or at least tried to and listened for any sounds. He perked up his head once he heard shouting as well and looked at me.
"I'll go get him. You wait here." Kurapika told me letting go of my wrist and running off into the fog. I started jogging forward myself until I heard another yell.
"Stay there! I'll be fine." I heard Kurapika yell back as I watched his back retreat into the fog. I looked down at the ground slightly before curling my hands up, angry at myself for being like I was, afraid of everything. I shook my head and ran after my brother, determined to show him I wasn't afraid, determined to show everybody I wasn't afraid.

I was slightly behind my brother when I heard him yelling.
"Gon! Are you all alright?" Kurapika yelled as we got closer to the figure that was on the floor on all fours. The fog started clearing up as we got closer to Gon. I couldn't help but run a little faster to catch up to my brother. I managed to catch a glimpse, he looked angry at me for following when he told me to stay put. I couldn't help but flinch slightly and averted my gaze back to Gon, hoping that he was alright.

All three of us ran through the forest. Gon was first, Kurapika was second and I was third. My brother was angry at me for not listening to him; I wanted to avoid his look. I avoided talking, in case I said something that made him even madder at me. If anything, it made me fidget with my fingers in the palm of my hands uncomfortably.
"This way." Gon said as he turned the corner with us following him closely behind. We sped up a little so that we were only a few inches away from Gon.
"You can really tell?" Kurapika asked him as I looked at Gon in question as well.
"Uh-huh. Leorios cologne is very unique. I can smell him from a few kilometres away." Gon said making my brother look at him seriously. I looked at him in amazement; he was like a blood hound, only he didn't run about on all fours.
"Hey Kurapika… What did Hisoka mean when he said that we passed?" Gon asked making me look at my brother for the answer. Kurapika thought about it for a second before looking forward once more.
"Hisoka was acting as a judge." He said.
"A judge?" I blurted out with Gon and quickly looked away to avoid eye contact once I saw my brother turn his head slightly.
"Yes. He must have his own benchmarks for evaluating power. It's possible he was ascertaining each applicant's strength. Apparently, you and Leorio must have met his standards." Kurapika finished as I looked ahead once more.

Of course he would pass them, all I did was do what I was get pulled along by my brother to keep out of trouble. If I had met Hisoka one on one myself, I would have either end up dead or not passed and dead. Either way I would have been dead.
"I see. But I was powerless to do anything against him." Gon said as we continued running the way that Gon led.
"Didn't you land your first hit on him?" Kurapika asked him as I watched the conversation between the two quietly.
"Only because I surprised him. Besides, Leorio passed, even though he lost…" Gon said, sending my brother into thought.
"Hmm. Perhaps he sensed that you were kindred spirits." Kurapika said making me and Gon both look at him in question. I didn't know what my brother meant either, even though he used the term many times.
"Kindred spirits?" I blurted out with Gon again and looked away once more not wanting to make eye contact. This run, was turning out much longer than the previous ones, I hated this one the most.
"I seriously doubt that Hisoka could qualify as a Hunter. However, I must admit that he did impress me with his superhuman agility and graceful technique. It's quite common that those possessing special talents are drawn to those with unique gifts. Most likely, Hisokas instinct and experience told him that you had the skill and potential to become Hunters." Kurapika said taking a pause in his sentence. I watched him with pure interest taking in every word he was saying. Special talents and unique gifts, neither of those I had. I would have never of past his test if it was me.
"Killing you now would have been a waste… That was his perspective." Kurapika finished as I looked down to try and think to myself.

Gon had stayed quiet after Kurapika's little speech making Kurapika look at him worried.
"I'm sorry. Was that insensitive on my part?" Kurapika asked him, worry evident in his voice.
"No. But I was really excited, as well. I was so scared, I wanted to run away. But I couldn't. And at the same time, I was excited. Isn't that strange?" Gon said and asked turning to face my brother as I continued running quietly. Kurapika looked at him in question before closing his mouth and keeping the stern look on his face as we continued running to the next phase; hoping we would be on time.

So much shorter than my other chapters, I'm so sorry!