I did it again, didn't I? It seems I have a habit of disappearing.

'Blue...do me a favor. Go watch as many episodes as you can in the next 2 hours. At least finish this arc, ok?"

'Um...why? Does it matter right now? I'll watch the next episodes once I get to those parts.'

'Blue, trust me. You'll want to watch at least until the end of this arc.'

'But-'

'No buts. Go watch! Or I'll stop running and fail this phase!'

'You can't do that!'

'Watch me!'

'Ugh! Fine! But you better go back to them by the time I'm back! See ya in 2 hours.'

I sighed in relief, though that was very short lived. Not even a minute after that conversation, I heard a shout echo throughout the tunnle.

"DAMMIT ALL! I WILL BECOME A HUNTER!"

I couldn't help but smile a little at this. This has always been one of my favorite moments in the series, regardless of the version I was watching.

As intimidating (hardly, though, compared to his friends) as Leorio is in real life, he's always been my favorite character. How could you not love him? Sure, he is a pervert and not the brightest of people (street wise, anyways), but you cannot deny that he has a heart of gold. From what I've heard of the later series, he's one of the only characters that has yet to be on his way to self-destruction.

I just wished that he was appreciated more by the fandom. I know damn well that the others wouldn't have been able to pass or accomplish half of their achievments without Leorio, regardless what people say. Even with his faults, he's by far the best character in this series.

But now I'm ranting, so I'll stop my praise there.

"Now, let's pick up the pace a bit." A sudden voice made me jump.

Oh crap! I forgot Satotz existed until now!

I inwardly groaned as I saw the stairs, thousands of them at least, come to view. My everything hurts just looking at them. Judging from the complaints around me, people are feeling the same way as me.

People were beginning to drop like flies, making it easier and easier to see al the main characters. They were also making it hard to run straight with their bodies plastered all over the stairs. I actually had to jump over them to avoid stepping on them.

Leorio, that sweetheart of a person, ran passed me at fast pace, panting and sweating, but otherwise alright. Wait, what is he doing?

I turned away, my cheeks turning a bit pink. I completely forgot that he strips down in this phase. I got to admit, he does have a nice chest, or at least better than most people I know. He's fit, but not overy muscular like many characters in shonen fighting series.

What? Don't look at me like that! I may be in a child's body, but my brain is still technically 17.

I peeked back at him, finding him tying his tie around his head, his suit jacket tied around his waist and his shirt gone somewhere. Probably in his breif case or somewhere in anime logic land.

Now that I think about it, who the fuck wears a suit to the Hunter Exam, or anywhere that isn't work or a fancy event? That's like wearing a ballgown to a game of football. I'm not surprised that he's tired out from running in that thing.

And those shoes. Those shoes hurt to just walk, let alone run an entire 80k marathon with them. His poor feet are probably killing him by now. I know mine are, so I don't even want to imagine his.

Hell, no one else's wardrobe here is any better. Have you noticed how every important charater here has such a weird attire, while all the dropouts are all just in pants and a t-shirt? I know that's done for character and story purposes in the series, but actually watching it in universe seems so...strange, I guess.

I unconsiously glanced down at my own, stupid doll clothes. If I was going off of design alone, not to mention the very nature of this fanfiction, I was going to make it to at least the 4th phase. And since I already have spoken to the MCs, the final phase is just a given.

Great.

Looking back at the group, I saw Kurapika had stripped down to his white clothes and was running along with Leorio. They weren't talking yet, but it was only a matter of moments before they started sharing their tragic backstories with each other and bond.

Oh right...I gotta go back to them...Damn...

I sighed, starting to inch my way closer to them. I'm going to regret this, aren't I?

This is like the third time I went back to them, isn't it? I really have to stop running away from them at some point or they'll get annoyed with me. I know I would be angry if a little girl kept bugging me.

I ran to their side.

"The Scarlet Eyes."

Then ran back away from them.

I shook my head. This was a moment that I wasn't going to intrude on. They're sharing something personal with each other, not with me. Even if I already know it, it's not my place to eavesdrop. That's just fucked up if I do.

I'll wait until they're done to go apologize.

"IF I HAD MONEY, MY FRIEND WOULD STILL BE ALIVE!"

I bit my lip, looking down a bit. You know, I never really realized how selfless his reasons are until I heard them in person. Now that I actually think about it, Leorio was the only character here that took the exam for a completely selfless reason, despite what he was initailly thought to be.

Kurapika was out for petty revenge, even if it destroyed him. Gon was searching for a man who he never met just to meet him. Killua was here for the hell of it. Leorio was out to help people so that they wouldn't suffer like he did...

Though, I can't really critize any of them. They actually have reasons to be here. I was just forced here without a cause.

What am I going to tell them if they ask why I'm here? They are bound to ask eventually, especially Gon...

I gulped.

Maybe Blue might know. She came up with the (poorly thought out) backstory of this character, after all.

Oh, who am I kidding? She doesn't even know how this world works, much less why I would take the exam!

Ok. Ok, I got to think of something quickly. Preferrably, something that isn't just a carbon copy of reasons why the main cast is taking the exam. Let's see, let's see...

I got nothing.

'You need money, hun.'

'EEEP!' I screamed, both in my head and outloud. The sudden shock made me trip over my own feet and sent me face first on the ground.

Ow, my face.

'BLUE, WHAT THE FUCK? I THOUGHT YOU WERE WATCHING ANIME!' I shouted, in my head this time, as I peeled myself off of the ground to continue this rather boring run.

'I was. There's an ad playing, so I popped in to check up on ya.'

'At least warn me next time.' I said, rubbing my sore nose. 'And what do you mean that she's after money?'

'Don't you remember? Her tribe was destroyed by Rouge Hunters.'

'Yeah, and? Why is she after money?'

'She's after a Hunter's license so that she can sell it. She's a princess, so her life revolves around her people. It's expensive to rebuild cities and a clan in refugee camps doesn't have the access to that much money. Since the Yato clan is extremely powerful and the strongest in the world, she knew that she had a high chance of passing the exam.'

Woah. That actually makes sense. Blue is actually making some sense here.

'She also knew a license is worth a lot of money if she sells it, so she's planning on auctioning it off and using the money she gets to rebuild the Yato Clan back up to its former glory. That's why she's taking the exam.'

Oh damn. I'm a badass princess who actually does something for her kingdom?

There's just one problem...

'Hey Blue?'

'Yeah?'

'You know how I'm a princess, right?'

'Yeah? What about it?'

'Aren't royal family members supposed to be protected? Why didn't I just sent a more trained guard or warrior to take the exam in my place, since it could kill me? Wouldn't that be better since the clan would still get the money, but the royal family would still be safe to rule over them?'

A silence.

'Well...um...your...AHA! Your father disapproved of your idea because they hate Hunters with a passion and are too prideful to ask for help from them! That's why you suck out to take the exam yourself!'

That also makes sense. She's getting good at this.

'You came up with that just now, didn't you?'

'SHUT UP! YOU ALWAYS KILL MY VIBE HERE!'

I laughed.

"UGH!"

Oh shoot. I accidentally stepped on someone's stomach. Oh well, their fault for deciding to collaspe here.

I ran a bit faster. Going slowly makes you tire out more, I think Killua said. I don't feel like becoming part of these dropouts and risk being stepped on my these body builders on men.

"Oh hey! Natsuki, over here!" I jumped again.

Gon, I love ya, but you nearly gave me a heart attack here! I think I felt my soul leave my body just now!

I gulped, looking at the kid that was still screaming my 'name'. Of course, he was at the very front with Killua, who looked as bored as bored could get.

I sighed, shyly waving at him with a small nod. He was gesturing me over to join them, despite only talking to me like...twice since we've met.

Well, Blue did say to go back and make friends. Might as well get to know Killua if I'm going to be stuck with Gon and them for the rest of the exam.

I gluped, then ran to the boys.