DISCLAIMER: I do not own Hunter X Hunter

Chapter Three: The Marathon

397.

That was the number pinned to her loose gray sweatshirt the moment she stepped into the underground passage. The 287th Hunter Exam had officially begun.

Morgan clutched the tag, weaving through the crowd—no, her rivals. Her olive-green eyes flicked over the examinees, sizing them up as they did the same.

The atmosphere hit her first. Heavy. Unwelcoming.

Men stared at her like she didn't belong. Like they'd never expected to see someone like her here.

Well, fair enough. Even she wouldn't have bet on herself ending up in a place like this. The Hunter Exam. A glorified suicide mission.

She exhaled sharply. "What have I gotten myself into?"

The exam hadn't even started, and she'd already had a week's worth of trouble—chased by thugs, nearly drowned, and survived a ship exploding under her feet.

Keeping her gaze on her scuffed combat boots, she ignored the stares, her sword within reach. If someone tried anything, she was ready.

"Rookie, huh?"

A voice cut through the murmur of the crowd.

Morgan glanced up at the round, chubby old man wearing a tag marked 16.

She nodded.

He chuckled. "Figures. Didn't see you last year. Name's Tonpa."

Was the kindness genuine? Hard to say. He looked harmless enough… Maybe not everyone here was as bad as she expected.

"Nice meeting you, Tonpa. I'm Morgan," she said. "You took the exam last year?"

He nodded with a sheepish grin. "Yeah… well… actually, this is my 36th time."

Morgan blinked. "What?"

He chuckled. "Yeah, I know. It sounds bad when you say it out loud."

She was still processing that when he pulled a can from his bag. "Here, have a drink. Brought too many, and my bag's killing me."

Morgan eyed the can, then Tonpa.

She shook her head. "No thanks. You'll need it more than me."

"Nah, I really don't want them all. Think of it as a token of our new friendship."

She sighed. "I know it's poisoned."

Tonpa stiffened, sweat forming at his temples.

"But don't worry," she added. "I won't call you out on it. Like I said—you'll need it more."

His shoulders relaxed. "Seriously?"

Morgan smirked. "Oh, so it really was poisoned, huh?"

Tonpa couldn't believe it. He'd actually fallen for such an obvious trick. The smug grin on the girl's face sent a chill down his spine.

"You know," Morgan mused, tapping the can against her palm, "I really hate it when people like you prey on the weak. And coming from a guy who tries to trick girls like me?" She shook her head in mock disappointment. Then, with an exaggeratedly sweet smile, she added, "But still… thanks for this."

She turned to leave but paused, glancing over her shoulder. "Oh, and Tonpa? Don't drag me into your little games. If you do… I'll stab that bulging stomach of yours a hundred times."

She didn't wait for a reaction. No need. He got the message.

'So, what am I even supposed to do with this?'

"Ne, onee-chan."

Morgan stopped as a small hand tugged at her sleeve. She glanced down to find a silver-haired boy, skateboard tucked under his arm, looking up at her expectantly.

"Can I have that?"

She hesitated. "No, actually, it's—"

Before she could finish, he swiped the can from her hand and chugged it down like he hadn't had a drink in days.

Morgan just stood there, stunned.

"Ahhh! Man, I was thirsty!" the boy sighed in satisfaction, wiping his mouth.

In a panic, Morgan slapped the boy's back—hard.

"What the hell are you doing?!" she snapped. "Spit it out! Spit it out!"

The boy winced. "Are you a spiker or something? You've got a killer slap."

"You idiot! That was poisoned!"

"I know."

She froze. "...Huh?"

"You knew? About the can?"

The boy pushed her hands away, looking more annoyed than concerned. "Yeah. That fat guy gave me one earlier. I could tell something was off."

Morgan's eye twitched. "Then why did you drink it?!"

'What kind of suicidal maniac—'

He just shrugged. "I'm immune to poisons. It won't do anything."

Morgan stared. "...Immune?"

Like that was a thing? That was possible?

He looked completely unfazed. Meanwhile, she was still reeling from watching this silver-haired brat casually down something that should've killed him.

That was embarrassing.

Morgan clicked her tongue. "I worried for nothing," she muttered.

"You looked like a concerned old grandma back there," the boy teased, barely suppressing a grin.

Her eye twitched. "This brat..." she muttered under her breath, irritation creeping into her tone.

"Killua."

She blinked. "Huh?"

"You're kinda slow, onee-chan. I said my name is Killua."

Morgan raised an eyebrow. "I didn't ask, and I don't care," she shot back. "Brat."

Killua smirked. "But now you know it, big sis."

She rolled her eyes. "Why the sudden introduction?"

He shrugged. "Dunno. Maybe for the juice?"

Morgan exhaled through her nose. She was too tired for this.

"Morgan," she said flatly. "And I'm not pleased to meet you."

Killua just shrugged. "Not that it matters."

Morgan's irritation flared. Maybe it was time to find another spot. "Well then, I'll be going." She turned away without waiting for a response.

As she wove through the crowd, the elevator doors slid open. A new candidate, probably. Not that she cared. She focused on avoiding unnecessary collisions, scanning for a quieter corner.

"Planning to tour the whole place?"

She flinched. His voice was too close. Had he been behind her the whole time? She hadn't even heard his footsteps. Or maybe the noise drowned him out.

She shot him a glare. "Why the hell are you following me?"

"I'm not. You just happen to be going the same way I am," Killua said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Morgan scowled, made a sharp U-turn, and strode back the way she came. "Wrong way," she muttered.

Killua, apparently unfazed, kept pace with her like a shadow. "Nothing interesting over there anyway. I'll tag along. I'm bored."

Morgan stopped dead in her tracks, clenching her jaw as she turned to face him. He grinned back, all wide-eyed innocence.

She wasn't buying it.

"Look, brat…" Morgan hissed, barely holding back her frustration. "If you're bored, following me is a terrible idea. I'm boring. If you're looking for fun, go play scotch hop with the other kids."

"Now that's boring."

"Then go bother someone else!" she snapped.

She'd always gotten along with kids—liked them, even. But this one? This one was unbearable.

Before Killua could respond, a scream tore through the air, raw and agonized. The entire room fell silent.

Morgan's gaze snapped to the source—a man with fiery red hair, a crimson star on one cheek, a teardrop on the other. Candidate 44.

Dressed like a deranged jester, he stood with arms crossed, a smile carved onto his face. Not the friendly kind.

The man writhing before him clutched his arms—or what was left of them. Flower petals fluttered where flesh should have been.

'Oh. A killer magician. Great.'

Morgan's stomach twisted, but she kept her face neutral. One glance at this guy, and it was obvious—he wasn't just dangerous. He was death, waiting for an excuse.

"That guy is dangerous," Killua muttered beside her.

Morgan nearly jumped. 'When is this boy going to stop sneaking up on me?'

She shot him a glare. "I could be dangerous too if you keep pissing me off."

Killua snorted. "My mom doesn't even scare me, and she looks like she escaped from a horror house."

Morgan blinked. 'What the hell does that even mean?'

BRIIIIIIING!

All eyes turned towards the screeching sound as the examiner entered. He was tall, slim, with lavender-colored hair and a thin, curly mustache. His dark suit and red tie made him look out of place in the dim light.

"My name is Satotz. I'm your examiner for the first phase. The Hunter Exam will now officially begin," he said, his voice steady. He then turned and walked toward a long, dark tunnel. "Follow me."

The candidates moved as one, and Morgan followed, her pace steady, but her heart raced.

'No turning back,' she thought, squashing the unease creeping up on her.

"It's a good thing I brought this," came the brat's voice.

Morgan glanced over. His skateboard was already rolling beneath him.

A show-off.

"You're still here? Go on. You have a skateboard. Shoo," Morgan said, dismissing him rudely.

"Did your mom crave something bad? Because you look cranky all the time," the boy shot back.

"Did your mom crave something annoying? You've been on my case since we met," Morgan retorted, clearly irritated.

"Studies say you'll look old being cranky. Not much of a difference if you stopped," he quipped, a teasing grin on his face.

Do kids everywhere talk like this? Morgan thought, biting back a frustrated sigh.

"I'll be ahead. See you at the finish line. If you can reach it. Can't skateboard at a low speed," he added before skating off.

Morgan shook her head. "Cocky little brat."

Good riddance, though. At least he was out of her hair.

An hour passed. Then two. Some of the examinees had dropped out, but many kept running, still behind Satotz, who was as unbothered as ever.

Morgan felt no fatigue yet, but she knew better than to get cocky. She needed to pace herself—no telling how long this would go.

Everything was going fine when her eyes caught something ahead. At first, she thought it was the silver-haired brat again, but no. It was a different boy.

Up ahead, a boy with spiky black hair was running along with the others. He wore a green jacket and matching shorts, a fishing rod slung over his back.

"Is this the Hunter Exam or a playground for kids?" Morgan thought, raising an eyebrow.

And, of course, there was Killua—carrying his skateboard again. He was talking with the boy in green. She could practically see his relief at finally finding someone he could play around with.

Scanning the rest of the group, Morgan's eyes landed on the tall man in a business suit, clutching a suitcase in one hand. He was arguing with the younger teens, his posture stiff.

Then her gaze shifted to the last member: a blonde-haired boy, dressed in bizarre blue-patterned clothes.

Something about him felt… familiar.

Her heart skipped a beat as recognition hit her. 'Wait... that's the guy I knocked down!'

He must've been so mad because of what she did.

Well, he almost stopped her from running, and she was almost captured. And it was because of him that she ended up involved in that crazy captain's scheme. Morgan had originally planned to ride on the boat heading to Whale Island.

Morgan was supposed to put a good distance between them when she noticed Killua looking around as if he were searching for something or someone.

When he looked back, their eyes met, and he grinned.

'I don't like that grin',Morgan thought, instinctively tensing up.

"Onee-chan!"

'Shit. I thought so,' Morgan cursed inwardly as she realized Killua was calling out to her.

"Hey, are you deaf? Or pretending to be?" Killua's voice rang out again.

His loud, persistent calls made the other candidates turn around, especially the blonde guy. Morgan quickly looked down, letting her bangs and fringes fall over her face, hoping to blend in. She was grateful for her long hair in that moment.

'That kid brings trouble!'

She was now practically running with her head lowered like some fool.

It didn't take long before she heard footsteps closing in. Two of the boys slowed their pace to match hers.

Morgan didn't look up.

"Are you Killua's friend?" a young, unfamiliar voice asked. Definitely the boy in the green jacket.

"No," was her simple reply.

"My name's Gon," he introduced himself, unfazed.

Morgan didn't feel like indulging in a conversation. She wasn't obligated to share her name, especially with a pair of annoying kids trailing her.

But, of course, there was the pest. "Her name is Morgan," the other boy piped up.

"I wasn't aware my mouth transferred to you," she snarled, irritation creeping into her voice.

The boy—Gon—just smiled. "I'm pleased to meet you, Morgan."

Morgan didn't look up, instead offering a brief nod. The less reaction she gave them, the better.

"Just noticed; do you have a stiff neck? Why's your head like that when we're trying to talk to you? Or does the floor interest you that much?" Killua quipped, sounding amused.

"I talk this way," Morgan replied flatly.

"Huh? You weren't like that earlier," Killua remarked, confused.

'Unbelievable. Can't he just shut up for once?' Morgan clenched her jaw. "You just didn't notice," she shot back, trying to keep her cool.

"Hey, Gon! Why are you over there? We can't be further away from the examiner!" a voice shouted from the front.

"This isn't a race to begin with," came a familiar voice—one that Morgan had heard back at the pier. She tensed when she realized they were closing in on her.

Her grip on her composure tightened, and she instinctively lowered her head even further, throwing a quick sideways glance to confirm the blonde guy was out of sight. She must've looked ridiculous, running like this.

Why was she so tense?

"Why do you seem so antagonistic about everything I said?" the tall guy asked, his tone sharp, irritated.

"Because the examiner didn't mention that using a skateboard is not allowed, nor was this a race," Gon explained quickly, almost defensively. "He just said to follow him."

"Then you're the smart ones," the tall guy mocked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Can't you just stop? You're wasting your strength by arguing alone," the blonde interjected, sounding slightly annoyed.

While the three continued bickering, Morgan kept her gaze fixed on the ground, deliberately keeping her distance from the blonde.

"Did you break your neck? You're getting weird, onee-chan," Killua's voice cut through the air again, making sure everyone noticed her now.

'Should I stitch his mouth shut?' Morgan thought, her irritation rising.

"Oh, right. This is Morgan, Killua's acquaintance," Gon said, his voice full of cheer, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Morgan's eyes remained on the floor, but she gave a quick nod to acknowledge them.

The taller guy chuckled lightly. "She seems to be a shy type of person."

Killua snorted. "Huh? Nah, not really. But I wonder why she's been acting like she's hiding from someone—" He stopped abruptly. "Ah."

Morgan's head snapped up, her gaze hardening. 'That tone.' If this brat said anything more, she'd yank that silver hair right out of his head!

"Did you know someone from these three?" Killua asked with a hint of amusement, his gaze flicking between them. "Wait, wrong... Does anyone know this girl?" he directed the question to the others.

Morgan cursed inwardly. "I don't know them."

"We can't confirm your question if we can't even see her face," the older man pointed out, his tone dry.

"Wait..." The blonde cut in, and Morgan felt her anxiety spike. "You... You look like the girl I met before Whale Island. The one who knocked me down near the garbage bins."

'Garbage bins?'

"Huh? There were no garbage bins back there!" Morgan snapped, instantly regretting the words that slipped out.

Their gazes locked. "So, it was really you. Who would've thought you'd also take the Hunter Exam," the blonde remarked, a bit of disbelief in his voice.

'Garbage bins? Was I even paying attention back then?' "I didn't know they put trash cans there. And if you hadn't stopped me, I wouldn't have tripped you." Morgan's voice was sharp, defensive. "Did you know because of you, I missed the boat to Whale Island?" She couldn't stop herself from adding, 'And nearly got burned alive in the process.'

"It wasn't my fault you were being chased," the blonde replied, tone dismissive.

"If you had just let me go, I would've made it on time!" Morgan's words were clipped, frustration bubbling up again.

"What are you still grumbling about? You're already at the Exam site, right?" he said with a shrug, clearly unimpressed.

Morgan fell silent, glaring at him. The irritation was obvious on her face.

"Ignore Kurapika. He tends to be rude in the first meeting. It happened to me as well. I'm Leorio," he introduced.

'So, his name is Kurapika… Tsk. Even his name sounds girly.'

Morgan shot Kurapika a sour look but held back from arguing. He had a point—she was already at the exam site. And sure, she'd been a jerk at first. But something about him just irked her.

"So that explains the stiff neck. You were avoiding someone," Killua chimed in, his tone laced with amusement.

Morgan exhaled sharply, then glanced at Gon and Leorio. "Morgan."

"Ah! How come you said your name immediately? You were acting like you wanted to shave my head," Killua complained.

Morgan narrowed her eyes at him, and Killua only grinned wider. Was he enjoying making her mood worse? She hadn't even done anything to him.

.

.

.

The marathon continued relentlessly. It had been four hours since they started. They must have covered at least sixty kilometers. How much farther did they need to run? The population was rapidly decreasing due to excessive fatigue, and more of them were already reaching their limits.

Leorio was one of them. He almost collapsed and gave up due to overwhelming tiredness. However, he managed to strengthen his will and was determined to continue the marathon.

During the long marathon, their little group had separated. Leaving Morgan, Leorio and Kurapika together. They didn't realize that the two boys weren't running alongside them anymore; they were engrossed in a conversation.

They reached the 80-kilometer mark, and a long stairway lay ahead. The examiner quickened his stride even more as soon as he reached the stairs.

The walls narrowed in the tunnel when they reached the stairs, causing the three to run near each other.

Leorio, on the other hand, despite his body being covered in sweat, seemed to be a lot more energetic. You wouldn't think his strength left his system a while ago.

Morgan was curious why these four wanted to be hunters. All of them. She wanted to ask why.

Money? Fame? Glory?

Morgan has a different perspective.

She valued her simple life in her town.

She valued her life that she couldn't just waste it on this kind of activity that didn't even guarantee whether she'd live or not. But here she was, doing the same as the rest.

"Is money really your reason for entering the exam?" A sudden question from Kurapika.

Morgan immediately got interested; Kurapika's question had perfect timing.

"I'm sure it's not. We only met each other a few days ago, but I've understood this at least. You certainly don't have a rigorous attitude, and you're not clever, but…I don't think you're a shallow person. I've seen a lot of people who only lived for money, and you're not that kind of person," Kurapika described.

So, his reasons were money? It didn't look like it.

"You're the king of logic," Leorio mockingly said.

"Scarlet eyes…"

Morgan's attention shifted to Kurapika. Now she was hearing an unfamiliar word.

"Scarlet eyes are the distinctive sign of the Kuruta. When we are overcome by a violent feeling, our eyes become scarlet, as if they were on fire. If we die in this state, our eyes never return to normal and stay in that color. That's why it's considered one of the seven most beautiful colors in the world. They command high prices on the black market. It's the reason my clan has been massacred," Kurapika explained.

"Massacred?!" Morgan gasped in shock, making the two look at her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop."

Leorio cut in, "That's right, you're new. Kurapika is a member of the Kuruta Clan, and they were murdered by an infamous gang of thieves, the Phantom Brigade. And he's aiming to be a Blacklist Hunter."

Still in shock, she looked at Kurapika's expression, filled with hatred as Leorio mentioned the name of the gang. He bore the face of someone seeking vengeance. "Is it okay for you to tell blonde's story? I don't think he does."

Kurapika closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. "What's the point in asking that now? You already know. Besides, you don't look like someone who babbles things."

Morgan nodded, respecting the privacy of his story just as much as she wanted the same respect. "So, um, do you mean like your brethren's eyes were gouged out?" She wasn't supposed to ask it, and she wasn't being rude by asking.

"Their bodies were left with their eye sockets empty. Even in darkness, I can see their eyes seeking revenge... Whatever happens, I'll capture the Phantom Brigade, and I'll have my companions' eyes back." There was deep hatred in his voice, recalling that dreadful scene. "If I become a Hunter under contract, I'll become rich and I'll have access to many things."

"Under contract…?" Leorio looked at him like he's being crazy. "I thought you hate that type of Hunter? It's like you're ready to sell your soul and lose your dignity."

"What is my dignity… In comparison with the pain of my companions."

Morgan understood where his anger and motivation were coming from, but she wondered how he knew that his companions really wanted him to seek vengeance. His family might not want him to take that dark path. No family would want their child to do that…

But the bottom line is, will he be satisfied after?

She just wanted to scold herself. It's his life.

Leorio looked up the stairs, his eyes wandering afar. "Sorry, but I have no noble cause. I'm just after money."

"Liar!"

"I'm not lying! For the right price, you can buy not only treasures but dreams, hearts, and even people's lives!" Leorio blurted. "Because if I had money, my friend wouldn't have died! It was a treatable disease… The problem was that the operation costs a fortune. I was naïve. I thought I could become a doctor…" Tears formed at the corner of his eyes, and his voice faltered. "I wanted to cure kids who have the same disease and be able to tell them it was free of charge! That was my dream… What a joke!" He spat. "Turns out that to become a doctor, you need even more money, got it?! The world runs on money, so I want money!"

Morgan looked at Leorio with newfound respect and admiration. He claimed to be greedy and ambitious, but he had his reason. She ended up smiling upon hearing that.

"Say something, Morgan. Money is vital. You think so, right?" Leorio prompted.

She made a ghost of a smile. "I agree. Money runs the world now," Morgan replied, acknowledging the truth of his statement.

Kurapika, on the other hand, seemed to disagree with the idea. "Are you saying you also want to become a Hunter because of money?" he questioned.

"Yup," she affirmed, popping the word. 'Something like that.'

Leorio cheered. "Hear that, Kurapika? It's all about money!"

"Unbelievable. Why don't you just make your own company?" Kurapika suggested, clearly not approving of Morgan's reasoning.

Morgan scoffed. "Business needs money to start. You mentioned it seconds ago: you also need money to achieve your goal. Everything has its own price tag," she retorted, reflecting on the reality of the world.

'Because money and status enslave everyone, even the richest people in the world or criminals,' Morgan thought to herself, feeling the weight of this truth.

The blonde looked annoyed, but Leorio laughed. "It's good to know I have someone who thinks like me! Good going, Morgan. You silenced him," he said, giving her a thumbs up.

She released a lighthearted chuckle.

'Different paths, different goals, but they both have a noble cause for becoming a Hunter,' Morgan reflected silently, finding common ground amidst their differences.

HOPE YOU ENJOY!