Tenulan's muscles clenched as the floor rocked under his feet again. He, as well as the other applicants that had passed the Second Phase, had been herded back onto the airship to travel to the location of the Third Phase. As the sun set, the applicants were funneled back into the observatory room that they waited in to reach Split-in-Half Mountain earlier that day.

The applicants crowded around the center of the room, facing the Chairman and the strange green… thing that had distributed the badges to everyone before the Exam began. Tenulan noted the lights of the room reflected slightly off of the polished wooden floor as he tried to keep his focus on something that wouldn't make his heart jump into his throat.

The Chairman cleared his throat before addressing the small crowd. "I will now take the opportunity to formally introduce myself to the remaining 53 applicants. I am Isaac Netero, Chairman of the Selection Committee for this year's Hunter Exam. A pleasure to meet all of you."

"And I'm his secretary, Beans!" the green humanoid cheerfully added.

"I had originally planned to make my entrance during the Final Phase, but, well, seeing as I am already here due to the… extraordinary circumstances of the Second Phase," Netero paused, staring down the applicants for a second. "I think I'll stick around for the remainder of the trip. I love this tension in the air, after all."

Tension was certainly an apt description of the mood. Tenulan had fixed his gaze on the Chairman when he first began speaking and had felt numerous looks from other applicants in the past few minutes. While the weight in the room was certainly getting to the young man, not everyone reacted the same way. Namely, the silver-haired boy standing in front of him. Killua let out a yawn, apparently unbothered.

Netero apparently noticed the boy's casual demeanor and chuckled. Beans then took over and explained, "We are scheduled to arrive at our destination tomorrow morning at 8 A.M. sharp. Food has been prepared in the dining hall for you all. You are also welcome to get some rest, of course. You are free to do as you please until we contact you. The evening is yours."

Tenulan nodded. Free to do as I please? Ah, yes, this 'Beans' is saying that I can choose what to do tonight. Rest will be good. I have not been able to do so since this Exam began.

"Hey, Gon, let's go explore the airship," Killua said with a grin. "Orin, you're coming too."

"Yeah!" Gon happily agreed.

"Uh, sure," Orin tentatively replied as he eyed Tenulan, raising his eyebrows and tilting his head towards the other boys.

Tenulan stared back blankly. I do not understand. Orin, do you want me to join as well? If that is the case, I will have to decline. I must rest while I can. After a second, he held up a hand near his chest, palm facing outward. "Go with them. I will be resting."

Orin nodded with a hum before pivoting and chasing after Gon and Killua, a smile spreading across his lips. The other boys had already started to run out of the room, and Orin was quick to follow them out the door.

"I'm with you on that one, Tenulan," Leorio sighed as he watched the boys leave. "I just don't get how those three can still have so much energy. Kids, man."

Kurapika nodded. "Yes, I think rest is our best option. However, there's something that worries me."

Tenulan's eyes widened for a second before he stared at the blond as the three of them exited the room behind some of the other applicants. Kurapika. Please, do not tell him.

"What is it?" Leorio asked obliviously.

"How many more phases are there in the Exam?"

Tenulan blinked before turning his head forward. Ah.

Leorio stopped, tilting his head up in thought. "Huh. Now that you mention it, they haven't said, have they?"

"Five or six phases," a voice Tenulan had not heard since before the Hunter Exam began answered from behind them. "At least, that's how long it usually is since I've been around."

Tonpa. Tenulan glanced back at the stocky man alongside Kurapika and Leorio. Five or six phases. Ah, but Orin had said that man was the 'Rookie Crusher.' I still do not understand the name, but it is clear that he is not trustworthy. So, will there be more than six phases? Or perhaps less than five?

"Five or six?" Leorio repeated. "That means we've still got three or four phases left to go…"

"In that case, we should get some rest now, while we still have the chance," Kurapika concluded as he turned back towards the door.

"Okay, but I'd be careful if I were you," Tonpa warned as the three neared the door. Kurapika and Leorio stopped, glancing back. Tenulan begrudgingly stood alongside them. I do not think we should listen to this man.

"You heard the secretary, right?" The short man began. "He only told us when we'd be arriving. But he didn't say where the Third Phase will be. It could happen right here, on the airship itself. Not to mention that while we will be notified, it might not be at 8 A.M. at all!"

Leorio turned fully around now, brow knit in worry. "Hold on. Are you serious?"

"I… suppose that makes sense," Kurapika said as he brought a hand to his chin.

Tenulan rolled his eyes before joining the pair in facing Tonpa. He let out a humph as he stared at the man in blue.

"Who knows? You might wake up to find that the Exam already took place! And you slept right through it! If you want to get to the next phase, you'd better not let your guard down while you're here," Tonpa elaborated. "Understand?"

"Really? Gimme a break," Leorio muttered before straightening up with a wave. "Well, thanks for the advice. Later."

Tenulan clenched his jaw as he turned away. "Right."

"We'll be sure to keep that in mind," Kurapika added before the three finally were able to leave the room.

"And best of luck to all of us, eh?" Tonpa called out from the room as they turned the corner.

Tenulan let out a breath through his nose once they had walked out of earshot from the room. "I do not think the Third Phase will happen on this airship."

"I agree," Kurapika said with a nod. "If that was the Exam Committee's intention, they wouldn't have told us that the evening was ours. Rather, they'd tell us to stand by and await our next orders."

Leorio practically fell over in relief. "Thank God! I'm already tired enough as is. I probably would've fallen asleep during the Third Phase if it happened now."

Tenulan chuckled. Does he not know that Tonpa is the Rookie Crusher? It certainly does not appear to be the case. "I do not believe I could complete another phase on this ship, either."

Wandering down the hallways of the airship, the three eventually found the rooms designated for applicants to sleep in. The first few they had checked were already mostly filled, so they kept walking further.

Sliding open the next door, Leorio grinned as he found no other applicants inside. "Finally! Alright, let's hit the sack."

Kurapika, who was standing next to Tenulan as they waited for Leorio to clear the doorway, shot the taller applicant a look. Tenulan's brow furrowed as he glanced at the blond. I see. You are still wary that I may betray you in some way. I understand. Such a thing would be easier to accomplish if you were asleep.

Tenulan pivoted away and began to walk to the next room. The door behind him began to slide shut but was quickly slammed open again as the sound of footsteps quickly caught up to him.

"Where do you think you're going?" Leorio asked as he put a hand on Tenulan's shoulder.

Tenulan slowly turned, looking the other applicant in the eye. "I was going to find another room to rest in."

Leorio let out a noise as his mouth hung open. "What? Why? We already have a room. There's plenty of room for the three of us."

Tenulan pressed his lips into a thin line, looking past the other young man to eye the still-open door. "Ah, I see. Well, it seemed to me that Kurapika—"

"Eh, don't worry about him," Leorio put up his free hand as he interrupted. "Kurapika's a bit uptight, sure, but it's nothing to worry about. He's a good guy. I'm sure he trusts you, too."

"I… disagree."

"You think so? He'll come around, then. At any rate, you're coming with me," Leorio concluded as he swung around Tenulan. The lanky man placed his hands against the larger applicant's back and began to push. I suppose I have no other choice now.

Sighing, Tenulan walked the short distance back to the doorway. He locked eyes for a brief moment with Kurapika as he entered the room, but quickly looked away. A slight grimace was on the young man's face.

He was grateful that Kurapika didn't say anything, though the blond did breathe in sharply through his nose upon seeing his new roommate. Leorio sat down along the back wall next to Kurapika. Barely a second passed before he was fast asleep.

Tenulan avoided Kurapika's gaze as he set his bag on Leorio's other side before sliding his back down the wall into a sitting position.

For a moment, the room was silent. Should I reassure him? Or perhaps tell him what Leorio told me? Before Tenulan could make a decision, though, Leorio began snoring.

"Don't try anything stupid," Kurapika said quietly as he pulled a blanket out from his own bag.

Tenulan leaned forward, nodding silently. That will have to do, for now.

After the blond went silent, Tenulan leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes. Being so far within the airship, there were no windows near. Of course, he preferred it that way, as that made it easier for him to forget how high in the air he was. The room slowly melted away around him as he drifted off to sleep, aided by the gentle rocking of the airship.

/\/\/\

Orin, Gon, and Killua had quickly covered just about every room they were allowed to enter on the airship as they ran up and down the halls from the front of the ship to the back, and then back to the front again for good measure. Gon and Killua were raring to go another lap, but Orin tried to steer the other boys towards the dining hall. The egg he had eaten an hour or two ago was long gone by then, so Orin was more than eager to get a full meal.

He had nearly succeeded when they passed the doors to the kitchen. The smells from within drew Gon right up to the door, Killua not far behind.

"What're you doing?" Orin asked, standing a few feet back. "The dining hall's farther down."

"Going to get something to eat," Gon replied simply as he pulled the door open slowly.

What? Orin blinked. "You don't have to take it from the kitchen, though. They probably don't want you to take it from the kitchen."

Killua looked over his shoulder at the boy with a sly grin. "Exactly. It'll taste better this way."

"Sure, fine. I'll settle for the dining hall food."

Orin leaned against the wall opposite the door as the other two boys slipped through it. They better not take too long. A few seconds passed in silence as he glanced out into the night sky from the window at the end of the hall.

The silence was abruptly broken by the crashing sounds of dishes being scattered about the kitchen, muffled by the door.

"Hey!" A gruff voice yelled from within, similarly muffled. "You kids stay outta the kitchen!"

The door swung open as Gon and Killua were tossed out of the kitchen, courtesy of the chef standing in the doorway. "Get your asses down to the dining hall like everyone else!" The man slammed the door shut as the boys got back to their feet.

Orin raised an eyebrow at the two. "I warned you."

"Maybe," Killua replied, a grin still on his face. "But we didn't leave empty handed."

That much was true. The boys had managed to swipe some cuts of a meat of some sort. And they put it right into their mouths so the chef wouldn't take it back. Clever. The brown-haired boy sighed as he began to walk away from the kitchen. "Okay, now we go to the dining hall like we're supposed to."

Killua may have only begrudgingly followed, but Gon was more than happy to get more food. The three boys each filled a plate with food as they went through the options set out for the applicants. After that, they took the food and went back into the halls, walking along the outer ring of the airship.

Glancing out a window to his right, Killua hopped across the hall to press his face against the glass. "Woah. This view's awesome. Take a look, guys."

Gon and Orin stood on either side of the silver-haired boy, setting their plates down on the windowsill. The world outside was dark, with mountains along the horizon cutting black silhouettes against the sky. Spread across the ground far below, the lights of a city formed a glittering web against the night.

Orin had seen his fair share of nights in the city, but this was different. Seeing everything from so high up, the individual streetlamps and buildings started to blend together. Huh. This is pretty cool.

"It's like its covered in jewels!" Gon said in wonder. The other two boys nodded in agreement. Eyes fixed on the lights below, all three settled down on a bench that ran along the windowsill, finishing their food.

They watched the city roll by underneath them in silence for a while, admiring the scenery. I wonder how Mikaunee would look from up here. Maybe there's snow there. It is January now.

"Hey, so, I've been wondering," Gon piped up suddenly. "About both of you. Are your parents… I mean, where are they?"

Killua hummed in thought as Orin pouted. Well, that ruined my mood.

"They're alive," Killua replied before quickly adding, "Probably."

"Probably? What do they do?"

"They're assassins," the silver-haired boy answered casually.

Orin blinked. Did I hear him right? Assassins? He propped up an arm on the windowsill, setting his head in his hand. The boy looked Killua over, searching for some sign that the silver-haired boy had lied. I mean, why lie about it? Nothing to gain from it.

Gon similarly turned to face Killua, his hazel eyes wide. "Both of them?"

Killua's blue eyes widened in a similar way before they closed as he leaned back with a laugh. "That's it? You really are something, you know that?"

Gon had a look of confusion on his face as Killua mimicked Orin's pose to face Gon fully. The silver-haired boy elaborated, "I've told other people about my parents before, but you're the first to take it seriously."

"But… it's true, right?" Gon asked as his eyebrows knit together.

"Why do you think that?"

"Because you'd be stupid to lie about something like that?" Orin offered.

Gon shook his head. "It's just a hunch."

"Weirdo," the other two boys said in unison. Orin winced as Killua turned to shoot him a look before laying his head onto the windowsill.

"Most people say they can't tell if I'm being serious or not, you know," Killua said.

"Really?" Gon tilted his head.

Orin shrugged. "I can get where they're coming from."

"I didn't ask for your opinion," Killua sighed as he slouched further against the windowsill. "But if you want to keep talking, Orin, how about you answer the question, too?"

Shit.

"Which one?" Orin stalled.

"Where are your parents?" Gon repeated his first question obliviously.

The brown-haired boy leaned back on the bench with a groan. "I already told you that, remember?"

Killua rolled his head to face Orin, a sly grin now on his face. "You're stalling again."

Orin felt his ears grow hot. "No, I definitely already said it."

"You did?" Gon asked. "Oh yeah! Your parents abandoned you, too!"

"You don't have to sound so happy about it."

Gon frowned. "So why don't you want to talk about them?"

"Because they're assholes who just left me behind," Orin replied, trying to keep his voice level. "And unlike you, I actually remember them. I was seven when it happened."

"You were seven," Killua repeated. "That's, what, five years ago?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, next question. Why'd they leave you?"

"Dunno."

"Liar."

"Am not. I don't know," Orin asserted as he looked out the window, away from the other boys. He added under his breath, "I have some guesses, though."

"Like what?" Gon asked, his voice still holding that damnable curious tone from earlier.

"I think they did it to get out of paying back some debt," Orin explained. "My dad took a loan to prepare himself for the Hunter Exam. He had to. But the bank wouldn't give him the loan since the odds of him dying in the Exam were too high. So where does someone go to get money in this kind of situation?"

Gon hummed in thought, and Orin could nearly hear the steam blowing out of the other boy's head. Killua, on the other hand, answered, "Loan sharks."

"Right. He went to some loan shark to get the money. Of course, the loan had some ridiculous interest rate on it. My mom was worried, but he said it wouldn't matter after he got a Hunter License. But wouldn't you know it, my dad failed the Exam in the First Phase."

Orin's voice was slowly rising. "He was an idiot to take the loan in the first place, and then he comes home with his leg in a cast. And then he decided to mention that the loan shark he went to had ties with some mafia family. Oh, my mom was not happy that night. The next morning, they were gone. Apparently, they never thought to bring their kid with them.

"At this point, I hope they're dead in a ditch somewhere," the boy spat. "Does that answer your question?"

Gon nodded silently. Killua remained motionless. The three sat in silence for what felt like an eternity before the silver-haired boy finally spoke up. "I'm from a family of assassins. Every one of us is in the business of murder."

Orin glanced to his left, seeing that Killua had straightened back up, resting his chin in his hand as he looked out the window.

"And my entire family?" Killua's eyes narrowed. "They've got high hopes I'll take over the family business one day. But you know what? I can't stand it. Who would want their whole life mapped out by someone else?"

The silver-haired boy suddenly turned to face Gon as annoyance crept into his voice. "When I told them I wanted to decide my own future, they all flipped out! It was crazy. My mom was all in tears, telling me I had the potential to be a top assassin."

Gon chuckled as Killua turned around to face the other boy. "So I know a thing or two about horrible parents. Anyways, after that, we got into a big fight. I slashed my mom in the face, stabbed my brother in the side, and ran away from home."

Can't say I blame you for that, but at least your parents actually care a little bit.

"They're probably pissed now, but if they come after me, I'll kick their asses. Actually, no. I'll kill them," Killua said with a smug expression. "When I get my license, the first thing I'm going to do is bring in all of their heads. I'm sure they've all got huge bounties on their heads."

Gon was laughing along while Orin sat in stunned silence. Well, shit. I'm starting to think they don't care. A light breeze brushed against the back of his neck.

Suddenly, Gon and Killua shot up from the bench, their eyes fixed on the hallway to their left. What?

"Something wrong?" A familiar voice asked from the opposite direction. Orin pivoted in his seat as the other two turned to see Netero walking down the hallway, his sandals clacking against the floor. He stopped a few feet from the boys.

After a second, Gon asked as he pointed a finger to his right, "Mr. Netero, did someone walk by just now?"

The Chairman shook his head. "No, I don't think so."

What's going on?

"You're pretty fast for an old timer," Killua commented.

Orin blinked. Fast? Was that breeze from Netero?

"Oh, that little trick?" Netero grinned. "I barely moved, that's all."

What kind of old man can move like that?

Netero and Killua locked eyes for a second as the boy's face scrunched up in annoyance. "What do you want? You don't have anything to do until the last phase, right?"

The old man remained unfazed. "Now, now, no need to get so apprehensive. I just got a little bored, so I decided to look for some company."

Killua's expression didn't change as Orin stood, not wanting to be the odd one out.

"By the way," Netero began as a smile returned to his lips. "I've been meaning to ask you three. Any thoughts on your first attempt at the Hunter Exam?"

"Yeah, it's been a lot of fun!" Gon nodded happily. "There haven't been any written tests yet, and I was kinda worried about that."

Killua tilted his head forward slightly. "I'm disappointed, honestly. I was expecting something more challenging."

"Maybe it was easy for you," Orin cut in. "I think the Exam's lived up to its infamy so far. Especially the First Phase. That was hell."

"Well, hopefully the next phase will be more interesting."

I, for one, hope it isn't.

Netero tilted his head to the side with a light shrug. "We'll see, I suppose."

A scowl crept onto Killua's face as he turned on his heel. "Gon, Orin, let's go."

The silver-haired boy had yet to take a second step when Netero called out, "Wait just a moment."

Killua stopped in place, still facing away from the old man.

"Would you care to play a little game with me?"

"Game?" Gon echoed.

Orin stuck his hands into his pockets. "Depends what the game is, I guess."

"And, just to keep things interesting, if you three can beat me, I'll make you Hunters on the spot," The Chairman offered. Orin raised an eyebrow. Hunters? On the spot? Mr. Netero, you should've played your cards more carefully. That's too good to be true. There's got to be some kind of catch here.

"Really?" Gon didn't seem to reach the same conclusion. "Count me in!"

Orin turned to the dark-haired boy with a frown on his face. Gon, you idiot. With something like that on the line, there's not a chance any of us will win.

"How about you two?" Netero eyed Killua and Orin with a playful expression. "Are you in?"

Killua's eyes narrowed for a second as turned again to face the Chairman. "Sure, old man. I'll play."

Both of you? Orin hummed in thought. Well, I guess there's nothing to lose in seeing what the game is. "Eh, what the hell? If those two'll play, I'll at least tag along for a bit."

Netero's expression brightened. "Excellent! Now, follow me."

/\/\/\

Tonpa awoke in one of the designated sleeping rooms. As he opened his eyes, he quickly scanned the dark room, making sure the other applicants inside were still asleep. A smirk grew on his round face as he got up off the ground. By the looks of things, he hadn't been asleep for long.

No better time than the present to make the rounds. The smirk had grown to a toothy grin as he stepped out into the light of the hallway. He'd been sure to spook some of the rookies just after Netero had briefed all of the applicants. If his plan was working smoothly, which it must have been, Tonpa figured the rookies would still be wide awake.

He quickly reached the room he had seen one of the groups of rookies enter. There were three in this particular group: Kurapika, the blond that seemed wise to all of Tonpa's previous sabotage attempts; Leorio, the beanpole that should have been eliminated by now (Tonpa was still quite bitter about that); and Tenulan, the man who must have been frozen in an iceberg or something for the past 300 years or so.

There was a glint in Tonpa's eyes as he slid the door open. Tenulan was also on edge before anyone said a word to him on the airship. It seemed that he had a very unfortunate fear of heights. Of course, that would only make things easier for Tonpa. And after what he told those three, they shouldn't have been able to sleep a wink from the wor—

Snoring. They were snoring. The three were sat up against the far wall of the room, fast asleep. Well, at least until the light now creeping into the room roused one of them from their slumber. Fortunately for Tonpa, it was one of the easier marks. Tenulan, bleary-eyed, stretched his limbs before getting to his feet.

The large man silently crept over the sleeping bodies of the other applicants strewn about to reach the doorway. He set a hand on Tonpa's shoulder.

"Ah, Tonpa. I see you are checking in on us," Tenulan said as he pushed lightly on the portly man's shoulder. Tonpa's mouth hung open as he stepped back to let him through.

Tonpa quickly regained his composure. Now was not the time to slip up. "Uh, yeah! I wanted to make sure you guys wouldn't miss the next phase. Looks like we could get a little bit of rest after all, though, huh?"

Tenulan slid the door shut, leaving the two applicants alone in the hallway. "I see."

"So, uh, where are you headed now?"

"Since I am awake now, I think I will get something to eat."

"Good plan!" A lightbulb flashed in Tonpa's head. "Oh, but be careful with how much you eat."

"And why would that be so?"

"Well, we still don't know for sure if the Examiners have something planned for us on this airship. So, if you end up eating too much, you won't be able to move around easily!"

That should do the trick. Tonpa put on a kind face as he tilted his head up to meet Tenulan's gaze.

He wished he hadn't. His breath caught in his throat as the other applicant's dark eyes burned holes into him. Tenulan's whole demeanor had shifted quickly, and his intimidating posture was aided by the notable height difference between the two of them.

"Tonpa, why are you still trying to trick me?"

"W-what do you mean? Trick you? I would never!"

Steel flashed in the light of the hallway as a knife appeared in the bottom of Tonpa's vision. "Do not continue with this act. I am aware of your deceptions, as are my allies."

Tonpa held up his hands, shaky palms facing outwards. "Woah, let's not try anything stupid here."

"I am doing no such thing. I am instead giving you a warning. Do not attempt to trick me or my allies again."

"A-and what if I do?" Tonpa challenged, trying to sound brave. "What'll you do then? Kill me?"

The knife mercifully drifted down, away from Tonpa's face. "No. I will do worse than that. I am more than capable of permanently damaging your body without resorting to a rash measure such as killing."

Tonpa swallowed hard. He might've said it in a different way, but the point still got across perfectly fine. He pictured the kinds of things Tenulan probably had in mind. Amputation? That was an easy one. Painful, too. Or maybe whatever cavemen he was raised by had more ancient forms of torture at their disposal?

Needless to say, the stocky man didn't want to find out. "Got it! You won't hear another word from me!"

Tonpa quickly turned on his heel and scrambled down the hallway, not caring that his room was in the opposite direction.

So much for this year's rookies.

/\/\/\

Tenulan sighed through his nose as he watched the back of Tonpa's head slip around the corner at the end of the hall. I hope that will be enough. I do not wish to fulfill the threat. He looked around the now empty hallway. I believe Tonpa is far from worthy of being a Hunter, but that is not my choice to make. Hopefully, he will be eliminated soon. I fear he may still attempt to sabotage other applicants.

Taking a step, Tenulan stopped himself. Perhaps not all of Tonpa's advice is incorrect. This Exam may very well continue for some time. If that is to be the case, then perhaps I should prepare accordingly. He backpedaled to the door he had exited just a minute ago. A second later, the door silently slid open as Tenulan entered the room to grab his bag.

He began to wander the halls of the airship, trying to find the dining hall. When the spirits gift us with plentiful food, we must preserve what we can for the times when they cannot spare us any.

Tenulan checked the inside of his bag as he finally neared the dining hall. He still had plenty of empty space inside. In other words, I shall eat now, and take more food for when it is needed later.

Stepping inside, he found that the room was largely empty. Tables were spread out around the space, but there were only a few applicants to take up the available seats. The room was sparsely decorated, much like the rest of the airship.

Tenulan crossed the room to reach a table that had the available food spread out on it. The offerings were relatively light, featuring a large quantity of fruit. He picked up one of the red fruits, one that he had seen very frequently since leaving Aljanin. These fruits were sweet, but not to the point of being overbearing. He believed that he had heard other people call these fruits "apples."

He placed the apple in his bag before grabbing one or two of every other option available. Tenulan slung his bag, now a few pounds heavier, across his shoulder. Then, he grabbed more food to eat right then and there. I give thanks to the Great Sky above for these gifts. And to the spirits, for guiding me thus far. It may be unwise of me to ask for further aid, but I may yet need them to watch over me. The large applicant nodded to himself as he sat at a table away from the others.

Whatever trials the Hunter Exam still had in store for him, he would be ready.


Hey, it's Glaive, the author! Thanks for reading!

I don't really have much extra to say this time. Hmm.

Yeah, nothing from me. Oh, well.

"See you next time!"Dolce Kamiya, Yakuza 0