I'm having too much fun with writing about this and that, and now we're in the fourth chapter but Kurapika has not even been introduced yet. -cry- This has gone on for too long, he shall come in next chapter! -thunder crashes in background-

Killua flipped his number plate absent-mindedly between his fingers. "Number 99, huh? Everyone sure is taking their time."

Or maybe we're too early for them. Replied Kiri.

"Kiri, remind me again why you don't want to join this?" Killua gave the black cat on his shoulder a little scratch under the chin and Kiri purred contently. The cat DNA that was inserted into Kiri had allowed her to morph into a cat for as long as she could remember. The early memories of the struggle to control when she could change and when she couldn't had been excruciating, but with the discipline of Illumi (and a good few months of being locked in a dungeon with little food and plenty of punishment upon failure), she managed to grasp the ability of changing whenever she wished.

The fact that Kiri could change, was a secret which only the Zoldycks and a handful of outsiders knew about. With less people knowing, the better is it for business. Purely because, who would suspect an innocent kitty, stretched out lazily on a wall to be a spy? Or who would remember that cat crouched in the corner of the room, as dark plans were being discussed?

Kiri didn't dislike being in cat form, but it was nowhere near as enjoyable as being a human. The senses, tastes and feelings…They all multiplied when she changed back into her original form. Being in cat form made her forget those feelings, but still, she didn't dislike it.

Because I don't want to. Watching is enough for me, Kiri responded, giving Killua's fingers a playful nip. This was partly the case, but she also didn't want to face the wrath of the older Zoldycks for doing something she wasn't supposed to. It was okay for Killua, the family dotes on him since he is the heir, but since Kiri isn't even related by blood, she probably wouldn't be let off with just a spank. Well, not that she would be let off with just a spank for escaping with Killua anyways.

She scanned her surroundings with a lack of interest, flicking her tail sideways. It had been almost an hour since the Zoldycks had arrived and with each second, the room was getting more and more crowded. From what Kiri took in, they appeared to be in an underground room and the dark dank confined space was filling up rapidly with the sounds of hushed whispers and the unpleasant smells of body odours.

I'm going to go and check out any potential competition, Kiri purred and leapt off of her brother's shoulders. Although there doesn't seem to be much.

Killua nodded but his attention seemed to be elsewhere. "Alright, I may have melted in a puddle from boredom by the time you have come back though."

Kiri sighed at her brother's comment and began making her way through the crowds, slipping between people's legs deftly. She noted that many of the people seem like first-timers, clueless and scared. She could almost smell their fear. As she drew near to the end of the room, she noticed a strange looking man sitting against the wall. Well, she wouldn't use the word man exactly, but he seemed to have the body of a man but his somewhat deformed head had neat rows of pins sticking out. When she approached him, as silently as she could without being noticed, she could hear a faint, constant chattering of his teeth. She edged nearer, hidden in the shadows next to him and began thinking of how this creature reminded him of a certain someone…When his head turned at a hideous, inhumane angle to peer at her. Kiri stayed calm. Lesson 1, act like a cat. Cats don't get tense when someone is looking at them. At least, not a Zoldyck cat.

The pin headed man reached out a hand and Kiri padded towards it cautiously. As soon as his fingers touched her head, she recognised him. From the way his fingers moved to stroke her back, to the gentle tickling behind her ears, she had no doubt. Appearances may lie, but habits stay the same.

Illumi, she purred. What are you doing here?

"What a surprise it is seeing you here, dear sister," Illumi answered. "I heard of the escape from Mother, it does seem like she's not too pleased, but she's not unhappy. She's rather excited at Killua's progress. I think 'he grows up so fast,' were her exact words."

Are you here to take us back? Because if you are, I don't thin-

"No," he said interrupted, "I'm only here for a license I require. I never thought in a million years that you two would pick here of all places to come to."He leaned in closer to face Kiri. "Don't tell Killua this little meeting we had, I'm sure it will do us much better for him not to know. Well, at least for now." He reached his hand to Kiri again and gave her a little pat on the head. "Now run along."

Kiri bit back a retort to Illumi's patronising behaviour, gave him one final look and sulked off. Her relationship with Illumi wasn't bad. He treated her as well as he ever would, taught her what she needed to know about the arts of spying and even occasionally let her nap on his bed. Much nicer than how Milluki treats me anyways, Kiri though bitterly.

Shaking off the memory of the encounter with Illumi, she hurried off to look for her white-haired companion and found him talking cheerily to a middle aged man with a bulbous nose.

"Thanks old man, these will keep me going for a while," grinned Killua, and he threw his head back and glugged down a couple of (what seemed like to Kiri) soft drinks. When Kiri neared, she sniffed at the few drops of spilled soda near their feet and growled at the man. The smell would seem normal and sweet to a normal human, but Kiri could detect the traces of sour poison lying underneath.

"Oh, you're back Kiri, want some?" Killua offered a can to Kiri with a smirk. "This thing is laced with so much laxatives it's a joke."

The man looked bewildered. "Excuse me? I-I..Th-There's.."

"But I'm pretty tough so I'll be okay, thanks for the drinks old man," Killua handed the empty cans back to the man and held out his arm for Kiri to run up on.
I don't like that guy, he's too fishy. What's the fun in trying to catch people out before the game has even begun? Commented Kiri when they began walking away and she was more comfortably settled again on his shoulder.

"Well we can hardly speak," Killua reply. "There's probably many of these guys around. Did you see that other guy over there with the cards? He was cutting off someone's arms for bumping into him."

Kiri did vaguely remember someone crying out loud and the sharp, tangy smell of blood, but due to her intense conversation with Illumi, she didn't pay much attention.

I think it's best if we stay away from him, he doesn't sound like good news. Kiri just began to contemplate whether or not to tell Killua about the seeing Illumi, when the shrill voice of a bell rang.

"As of now, registration is now closed. The hunter exam will now begin."

Quietly, she heard Killua mutter under his breath. "Well thank God for that."