That sick, sick bastard.

Kiri leapt from branch to branch to keep up with Gon's running through the thicket of bushes below. That boy sure was fast but luckily Kiri wouldn't lose in terms of speed.

The next phase of the hunter exam had already started. Netero's words were still ringing through her ears.

"The next hunter exam is very simple. Everyone will be given a card in which a number will be written on it. That number is the badge of the contestant that they must obtain in order to pass to the next round. Well, there are other rules but that's the main gist of it. What I want you to do, is take this card, the number which even I do not know, and this will be the badge that you must obtain. Simple, no?"

That old man already knew what number he was going to give me! She thought to herself angrily. 'Even I do not know' my ass! He had it all planned.

The card that read '405' was now crumpled inside Kiri's fist.

Gon, I hope you won't think badly of me...I'm just trying to do what is best.

Kiri stopped abruptly and landed softly on the branch of an oak tree as the boy had now paused by a river to take a drink of water. It was already the last day of the contest and Kiri had been waiting for an opening to take the boy's badge but he had been more tense than ever. Before the contest, Gon had happened to tell her and Killua that he had had the misfortune of drawing number 44, in other words, basically the equivalent of a joker card. Just like Kiri has been following him secretly, he had been following the magician for days now, and doing a rather good job of it.

He wouldn't make a bad assassin himself, Kiri mused.

Suddenly, a sharp, foreboding sensation pierced through Kiri senses. Kiri noticed that Gon felt it too as he now stood rigid and fists clenched.

It's the urge to kill...Hisoka's...!

Gon turned around sharply and dashed towards the direction of the magician with Kiri in hot pursuit.

What has happened within these few seconds that has flipped his switch?! Kiri racked her brains. Did he see another contestant?

Kiri's intuition was right as the pair stopped. With Gon camouflaged behind some dark green ferns and Kiri perched on a branch, they watched with their breath held as Hisoka was stood a few metres away, facing another applicant who Kiri had no recollection of.

With slightly dishevelled hair and wild eyes, Hisoka had the atmosphere and appearance of a madman. The whites of his eyes brighter than ever and this hands were stretching and flexing in anticipation.

Without warning, Hisoka moved. He sprung at the helpless individual who looked completely bewildered...And that's when Gon struck.

His rod collided with Hisoka's chest, not with the aim to inflict damage, but rather, to take his number plate.

"Gotcha!" Gon whispered excitedly. Without even stopping for a victory air punch or to watch his target's expression, Gon started pelting away at full speed.

Oh no Gon, he's going to get you for that. A sickening feeling at the bottom of Kiri's stomach started to rise in her throat. Just before she started to pursue Gon, she turned around to watch Hisoka. To her surprise, instead of following Gon, he was now clutching his stomach and laughing. It wasn't a hearty, happy-filled laughter either, it started off as a quiet chuckling, his shoulders shaking, and then he threw his head back and his laughter filled the forest. The other contestant was now weak at the knees and fell to the floor, sweating profusely and trying to quietly shuffle backwards, away from the crazy magician.

Better leave him to it, she thought, and ran after Gon.

Having slightly lost the young boy, it took her a few moments to re-locate him. She found him collapsed under a huge tree, its branches hung heavy with thick green leaves. The sun was setting now and the sunlight streamed through the leaves, bathing the boy in a warm, orange light.

"I DID IT!" He shouted, punching the air with a fist. "I got Hisoka's badge!"

Kiri watched at the boy stretched out a hand towards the sky, the hand holding badge 44. "All that waiting and training was worth it!"

Now is that perfect moment, I just need to get close to him. I just need his badge.

Kiri dropped down onto the forest floor from a nearby tree and crouched low. Gon's guard was completely down now, the boy laid with his eyes closed, resting. Shouldn't he be more worried about Hisoka coming for revenge? The boy was as silly as he looked. She crept closer, her heartbeat and breathing were calm. This was easy for her, it was what she was taught. A few more steps and she would reach him. Should she knock him out first before taking his badge? Or just take it and run?

I wonder what Killua would do. The thought suddenly occurred to her. Killua.

What would he think when he realises that his new friend didn't make it to the next round? What would he think if it realises it was about of her? A decision that she didn't even bother to tell him or discuss together. Would he get angry?

Mid-thought, Kiri misplaced her foot and trod on a twig. It snapped. Gon's eyes snapped open.

"Who's there?!...Oh Kiri! You scared me! You should've said something!" Gon sat up, not a doubt was in his eyes at all as he welcomed Kiri to come over and join him. "What's the matter? Come over! Huh? Aren't you with Killua?"

Kiri dropped her stance. Dammit, I let my guard down. "I was but I lost him. I heard noise over here and thought you were him...Have you seen him anywhere?" Kiri lied smoothly as she moved over to his side, cleared away the stray leaves and sat down.

"Nope! I hope he is okay though!" He flopped back down on his back, arms bent behind his head. The boy had no suspicion at all. How naive.

"I want to tell you all that just happened Kiri! But I will wait until Killua and the others are around", he yawned. "With this I'm another step closer to seeing Ging".

"Ging...?"

Kiri just noticed she had never fully heard of Gon's reason to become a Hunter. If Killua knew anything about it he surely hadn't told her.

"Ging is my Dad, he is a hunter you see. Although I haven't seen him before". Kiri looked over at Gon, his eyes were now open and had a faraway expression. "My goal to become a hunter is to see him".

"Do you ever miss him...? Or wished that he was around?"

Gon laughed lightly. "Well, I'm not sure. I don't think it's any use wishing for something that is in the past, you know? I grew up with my Aunt Mito and she looked after me, I don't think I would like that to change. I don't know what it would've been like if he had looked after me".

"I wonder what it would've been like too. If mine had looked after me," Kiri said quietly, too quietly for Gon to hear.

She looked over at Gon. She could do it now. He was mid-falling asleep. She could take it, then Gon would be disqualified but at least she could stay in the game. Killua would be in the game too. They wouldn't have to go back to Kukuroo Mountain, where the family would be waiting with punishment in hand.

Kiri stretched out a hand. It hovered above the number plate which was on Gon's chest, now rising and falling in steady rhythm as he slowly fell into slumber.

Almost...

"Gon! And..Kiri?!"

Kiri's hand snapped back as she watched her white-haired brother approach. "Hey!"

"Killua! How did it go?" Gon was now fully alert and bounced over to his companion's side. "Did you get them?"

In response, Killua whipped out three number plates. "Safe as can be, did you?" Gon replied with a thumbs up and the boys exchanged a high five.

"You must tell me the story! How on earth did you manage to get it off that crazy dude?!" Killua turned to face Kiri and said in mock anger, "And you! I was looking for you. Where did you go?"

Seeing the two being so friendly, a strange feeling rose in Kiri's chest and stuck. When did they get so close? Is this feeling what they call guilt? She faltered backwards a few steps and placed a hand on the trunk of a tree to steady herself.

"I...I..." Without further explanation Kiri turned. And she ran.

I was just thinking of myself. I was just thinking of myself. Stop acting like the hero and that you're thinking you're doing things for Killua's sake, you're just a liar! Anger and confusion raced through Kiri's mind as she ran. She stumbled but quickly steadied herself. 'When did they get so close?' To hell with that! You, of all people, always knew. You're jealous. He'll take your place sooner than you think. She didn't know where she was running to but she knew she had to get away. She squeezed her eyes shut as though she could squeeze the thoughts and feelings away from her. This test...What are these feelings? How can leaving home for such a short period of time turn me into something like this!

A particularly thick bundle of vines and leaves obscured her vision for a moment and she brought up a hand to bat her path clear. As it cleared, Kiri collided with something solid and fell to the floor.

"What...?" She looked up to see the blonde Kurta.

"Kiri?" Kurapika bent down and held out a hand to her. "Why in such a hurry? There's still a few hours till the meet-up".

Suddenly, seeing the Kurta's face, she felt her feelings that had been rising and twisting together inside of her, come loose. This guy who she had known for only a short period of time always had the right timing to see her when she was weak. As thought he always knew at what timing to pop up. A hot sensation was brought to her eyes and she knew she was about to cry. But she held it in, determined not to let him see.

"Kiri, right now you are pulling the weirdest face," said Kurapika, amused. "Let's get you off the ground." He wrapped him arms around her shoulders and pulled her up. "What happened?"

Knowing that if she faced him, he would see her tears, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head in the crook of his neck.

"Kiri..."

"Please. Let me stay like this for a while."

Kurapika felt her shoulders tremble and he placed his hands on them.

"I...I always thought I was the older one so I should be doing the protecting. But who am I lying to? Everyone knows. From young he has always been the one protecting me. I want to do something for him but I almost ended up ruining everything...Am I worthy to be called his sister?"

Kurapika was silent. But it was okay because Kiri didn't want empty words that were just meant to be comforting. "I just want...To be someone dependable." She reached to her eyes to wipe away her tears that had not yet spilled yet. Angry tears that were aimed at herself. "Netero was right. I'm not made out to be a hunter. I can't even be independent".

"Come here". Kurapika pushed Kiri gently away by the shoulders and took her hands in his. "You're holding your fists so tightly you're going to hurt yourself."

It was true, Kiri looked down to see her balled up hands and allowed the Kurta to gently pry open her fingers to reveal red crescent marks on her palm. His fingers were soft and his touch was comforting.

Kurapika placed a hand on her head and started patting her. "It's okay. Even if no one else knows. I know how hard you have tried. I know". He stroked her hair. "What is wrong with being dependent? You can lean on me. I want to take care of you, Kiri".

The Kurta said the last part so softly, Kiri almost thought she misheard it if not for the small, slightly abashed grin on his face. Red-faced, she looked up at him through her tears. "I almost made Gon fail."

The Kurta looked at her. His gaze unfaltering. His eyes were so warm without a hint of suspicious or accusation. She felt something flutter in her stomach.

"I don't believe in people's decisions. But I believe in actions. And I think you would never do something that would hurt someone."

Kiri felt something a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. He believed in her. Even she didn't believe in herself. At that moment she wanted to do something big to thank him. Something to show her gratitude that she had felt so immensely at the time.

However, all she could do was clutch the front of his chest, lean in and whisper a set of words that she rarely used.

"Thank you."