A Death Penalty

Phase 1

I looked at the other two, expecting introductions as well. The blond spoke first, "I apologize for disturbing you, my name is kurapika." I shook his offered hand as well. He was what I would classify as easy on the eyes. I turned to the brunette. He refused to shake my hand but did introduce himself as "leorio".

"We'll I'm glad I have someone to talk to during this exam, other than that jerk hisoka." I smiled. Their eyes widened.

"You know Hisoka?" Gon sounded amazed.

"Uh.. Yeah. I came here with him. Why, do you guys know him somehow?" I asked curiously.

"No. We've heard he's dangerous and are trying to keep our distance." Kurapika said. I nodded.

"That's smart. Hisoka is a bit..... Psycho. Better to stick with me. Have you guys run into any other trouble yet?" I asked. They all looked at eachother. I raised an eyebrow, though I doubt they could see.

"Not really. There was this #16 tonpa guy. He seems weird." Gon said, keeping his wide smile on. Tonpa? I haven't heard of him before. Must not be too dangerous then. Before any of us could say anything else, a loud rumbling was heard throughout the tunnel. The end of the tunnel turned out to be a door, and was rising. We walked closer. A tall lavender/pink haired man in a suit stood on the other side. His style seemed.... Unique?

"I apologize for the wait. The registration period for this year's hunter exam has ended. Let the exam, begin!" He said in an echoing announcer voice. We exchanged looks. It's finally begun. "One final word of caution. The hunter exam committee will not be responsible for any injuries or deaths that occur during this year's exam. If you have any doubts, please leave using the elevator behind you." Only silence insued. I would have been extremely disappointed if someone already chickened out. Everyone already knew the risks when they got this far. "Alright then. I will lead you to the 2nd phase, please follow closely behind me."

"Huh? The 2nd phase? What about the first?" Someone ahead asked.

"It has already begun. Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier. I am Satotz, your examiner for the 1st phase of the exam." Satotz introduced.

"So we just have to follow you?" The same person for earlier asked.

"Correct."

"Oh. So an endurance test then? I'm fine with that." Leorio smirked. I frowned. What is he smiling about? He seems like the physically weakest one here. Unless... He has some hidden power?!? I should keep an eye on him.

We were almost 5 or maybe 6 hours in and it turned out I was wrong. Leorio was just an idiot. I did take a liking to a zoldyck boy named killua. Other than that the test was boring. I was currently gliding next to kurapika as he talked to leorio. I was using the wings of God to fly over the steps instead of running up them. I didn't feel the need to waste anymore energy on this stupidity. I made it look like I was running, for leorio and kurapika's sake.

"The scarlet eyes." I faltered. My wings disappeared and I almost tripped and fell on my face. Kurapika looked back at me with confused eyes.

"Ah- sorry, continue. I just lost my concentration." I said. He turned back to leorio. I continued running regularly to avoid any slip ups. I started carefully listening to their conversation.

"The scarlet eyes. That's why the kurta clan was targeted and slaughtered. Our eyes turn a vibrant scarlet when we experience powerful emotions. That color is considered one of the 7 most beautiful in the world." Kurapika explained.

"That's why the phantom troupe attacked?" Leorio asked. I turn away from them. I remember that night. That wretched night. The troupe killed so many innocent people and even went so far as to mutilate their corpses. That is one of their most memorable sins, to me at least. After that, we sold all the eyes except one pair. I kept a pair. To remind me further of the sins commited that night.

"Yes. They took all the eyes from my fallen brethrens corpses. I swear I will avenge them. I will capture the phantom troupe, and take back all of their eyes!" Kurapika exclaimed. A kurta, right next to me. A miracle to say the least. I pray for him. I pray that he become strong enough right the wrongs of the spider, and bring it to justice. He doesn't stand a chance as is.

"That's why I want to become a hunter. If I can find a wealthy client in the underground, I'll have access to information about the eyes." Kurapika finished. A determined gleam flashed in his eyes.

"So then what about you, Bell?" Leorio questioned. I turned to them.

"I'll explain when gon and killua get here." I said. Not even a second later, "Hey! We're right here, so explain!" Gon shouted, racing up with killua. I smiled at the two boys.

"I'm becoming a Hunter for access. There are a lot of places you can go when you're a hunter, and the information in the system is nothing to laugh at. If I'm going to continue in my line of work, it'll be useful to have a Hunter's license." I explained.

"What's your line of work?"
"Can't say. Maybe I'll tell you later."
"Alright, well me and gon are kind of in the middle of a race to the finish. Catch you later, bell, kurapika, old man!" Killua grinned, rushing up the stairs.

"Old man?! I'm a teenager just like you guys!" Leorio shouted. W-what? I though he was older than me! Everyone pretty much had the same reaction.

"What? I though you were even older than me leorio! That must make me the oldest." I said, slightly dissapointed. Everyone looked at me surprised.

"Well then how old are you?" Gon asked. I twitched. I bonked him on the head.

"Never ask a woman her age, especially if you know she's older than you!" I growled.

"Itai!" He whined, rubbing his head.

"Come on gon, before she beats both of us up!"  Killua shouted excitedly, grabbing gon's hand and running away.

"Brats." I mumbled. I caught kurapika's stare. "Still curious, boys?" I asked. The kurta blushed in embarrassment while leorio only looked in curiosity. "I'm 22, just for the record. I'll turn 23 in January." I said.

"Wha- really? I though you were a teenager too!" Leorio exclaimed.

"I'm flattered, leorio." I said, smiling. He looked away, "Don't think anything of it!" He almost shouted as we reached the top of the stairs. We were one of the last few people to enter. I saw a guy panting and crawling up the stairs. The door was closing. He was about halfway through. I grabbed his hand and pulled his face up to mine. "You'll thank me." I whispered. I pushed him back and he stumbled down the stairs. The door closed, leaving him behind.

"Wha-what was that for?!" Leorio screamed, enraged.

"He was already so out of shape, and we're only half way to the 2nd phase. This is the dangerous half. I just saved his life." I said. "From here, you will truly be tested. I fear if I stay with you two any longer, I may interfere with your test. You yourselves must earn the title of hunter." I said, my tone turning cold. Kurapika nodded in understanding, while leorio gaped like a fish. I walked through the crowd, to the front. I ignored to commontion with the monkey, and simply followed right behind satotz until the second phase. Somewhere near the end I felt hisoka's bloodlust, but I brushed it off. I waited for everyone to arrive, especially my new friends. I suppose you could say I was worried about them. It had been a while after all. I saw hisoka coming up the path, with.... Leorio? I ran over.

"Hisoka, what happened?" I ask as he put down leorio against the trunk of a tree.

"He passed." Hisoka replied, smirking. I glared at him.

"Although I'm not happy, I'm thankful you went easy on him. I assume you did on the others as well?" I asked, bringing out a soothing cream. I unscrewed the lid and began applying it to leorio's bruised and swelled up cheek.

"Of course. I'm sure they'll be here before long." He said, walking away. He was right. Within a few minutes, gon and the kurta jogged up to me. I eyed them from head to toe. Gon was forming discoloration around his neck, in the vague shape of a hand. This pissed me off. I applied some soothing cream to his neck too, with little complaint from him.

Well, as shitty as phase 1 has been, let phase 2 begin! Let's hope I don't kill hisoka in this next phase either.