Harukami

"Shu…Mimimimi…" Kusana slept on his stomach, laid out like someone had knocked him out. He had hung out a hammock in the passenger's quarters while a storm raged outside. In actuality, Kusana couldn't sleep because of the constant interruptions.

Almost everyone around him had sea sickness. The boat lurched back and forth, making his hammock swing around multiple times. Due to some kind of physics reason, Kusana didn't fall out. Or it was because he desperately held onto the sides of the cloth.

A young boy wearing all green and extremely dark green hair dashed all around. He served medicine and water to everyone who needed it, which was almost everyone on board. All of the "tough guys" from earlier couldn't even handle a small storm.

Kusana chuckled in his fake slumber, but accidentally fell out of the hammock. He expertly dodged the remains of someone's dinner on the floor while he was rolling around. Every time the ship was hit by a wave, all of the passengers went flying.

After a long time, the storm finally faded and Kusana was able to get his rest. Kusana peeked out of his "war-hole" where he shielded himself from the ragdolling bodies.

A light spilled out from the front of the room. The captain of the ship and one of his crew members had entered the passenger's quarters. Kusana could hear the captain's voice from his small area and got on top of a crate.

"Pitiful dregs, this lot. And they're out t' become hunters? What a laugh." Kusana looked around the room. Not including him and the crew, there were only 3 "survivors" of the storm.

The first was the green boy who was delivering medicine to all of the sick people. He had some herbal products and was feeding them to a man in a sweater. The second was a man in a business suit. He was reading a por- A magazine. The third and final one was a blonde boy with some kind of clan garment on him.

Kusana heard the captain mumble something, before the captain left with the green boy. He shrugged, pulled out a book about Buddhist mythology, and began reading.

-----

"Attention! There's another storm ahead, and it's a doozy! We have spare lifeboats! Anyone who's already had his fill can use 'em to try and reach the closest island!" Kusana was woken up from his midday nap from the announcement.

Kusana knew he wasn't gonna get any more sleep once all of the people on the boat started yelling things like "No more!" and "Aargh!". He just laid on his side and watched all of the men on the ship scramble for the lifeboats.

The "tough men" on the boat immediately rowed away from the ship. Kusana sighed, thinking "Man, if they get sick from some storm, they do not want to meet a Rake." Kusana mumbled under his breath as he swung his legs off the side of the ship.

After all of them left, it was just the notable four and the rest of the crew on the ship. The captain rounded them up, "So, it's down to you four, eh? Gimme yer names."

"The name's Leorio." The man with the black suit, glasses and hair replied.

"Call me Kurapika." Said the boy with blonde hair, clan garments and grey-brown eyes.

"I'm Gon!" The child wearing all green exclaimed. He also had a fishing rod in his hands.

"… Oh, I'm next? People call me… Harukami." Kusana gave his last name instead of his first.

"And you want to be hunters? Why?" The captain asked politely. Kusana already had made up a story for this.

"It all started when I was-"

"Hey, what business is it of yours? You're just driving the bus." Leorio had interrupted him, irritating Kusana. Both the captain and Leorio went back and forth for a small bit before Kurapika intervened.

"I concur with Rioleo-"

"Hey! Get my name right!"

"-One could simply dodge the question with a plausible lie." Kusana felt the hairs on his back stand up slightly.

"But I consider lying a sin equal to greed, and as dishonorable." Leorio kept attempting to interject during Kurapika's speech. "Yet, to give an honest answer to someone I don't know, is not, to me, a reasonable alternative. The matter is simply too personal."

"That's yer view, eh? Then both of you can just get off my ship." In the small silence, Kusana tried to say what he was going to say. Except, he was spoken over again as both Leorio and Kurapika exclaimed "What?" in confusion.

"I see it still hasn't sunk in, so listen up! The hunter qualification exam has begun!" All four of the boys were suddenly surprised. All you could hear was the harsh wind of a storm approaching rapidly and the gentle creaking of the ship.

"… As many people want a hunter's license as there are stars in the sky. You think there're enough examiners with enough time to judge 'em all? Not hardly!" That's why there are people like me, who not only "drive the bus," but also screen the applicants."

"The other passengers are all dropouts, and have been reported as such to the committee. If any of them reach the site of the exam by different routes, they'll be turned away. Whether you three qualify is my call too. Best you keep that in mind. Now about my question…"

Kusana finally had a chance to speak, "I am Harukami. The reason I want to take the Hunter's Exam is purely for my excitement!" A wide grin spread across Kusana's face. Everyone else was confused by him, except the captain, who held an indifferent expression.

"Let me elaborate. I used to work a boring 9 to 5 office job. So I decided, why not shoot for more? I tried many things to satiate my hunger for excitement, I really did. I left my job, and went out to search for something better. Something to live for.

"I had picked up many skills along the way. One day, I was talking to an old man who said he was a hunter. He told me tales of his adventures. While every other person went by without paying him any mind, I listened. And now, here I am.

"I hope you can understand my craving for a great adventure." Kusana's lie was mixed halfway into the truth.

This new life was more exciting than pressing the same button over and over, waiting for the hours to pass just to have to go back to the same, boring job in the morning. Just because it paid well didn't mean it was great.

A long silence ensued after his speech. Kurapika gripped his hands tightly in anger, but kept it in. Gon was confused with Kusana's throes of the average life. Leorio nodded in agreement, he saw many people like that.

"I'm… The last of the Kurta clan." Kurapika stepped forward, his hands were still tightly gripped. "I want to be a hunter so I can capture the Phantom Troupe! That gang of robbers killed my brethren four years ago!"

Kusana listened intently while Kurapika explained the shortened version of his backstory. But, Leorio said, "So you're out for revenge? You don't have to be a hunter to do that." Leorio was still a bit angry from Kurapika's mispronunciation of his name.

"Don't be as stupid as you look, Rioleo." Kurapika was explaining the benefits of being a hunter, but Kusana couldn't care less. His objective was to finish the hunter's exam, and nothing else. Leorio suddenly yelling caught his attention.

"Me? As it appears our business is your business—captain, I'll cut to the chase! I want money—Lots of money!! Money gets you anything! A big house!! A cool car!! Top-grade booze!!" Leorio explained. Kusana didn't necessarily agree with his motives, but what could he say? He would be a hypocrite if he did.

"And not a lick of class." Kurapika backhandedly commented.

"Step outside, Kurapika. I'll make sure you're the last of the Kurtas."