Chapter 3: Reunion x Among x Strangers

"Yatta!" Gon hopped out of the boat and onto solid land. After the storm, it didn't take too long to arrive onto Dolle Harbor. He took out his scanner to check for Nen users, but more importantly, check on his status to see if he unlocked more abilities.

"Name: Gon Freeccs

Age: 12 (56)

Nen type: Specialist

Nen Abilities: Lightning, Bungee Gum, Texture Surprise"

That was interesting. Gon never expected to get Hisoka's abilities so early. He was hoping for Leorio's teleportation ability, but he couldn't deny the fact that Bungee Gum was a very useful and versatile ability. He scrolled down and saw another name, though.

"Name: Jaymin Anchor

Age: 72

Nen type: Conjurer

Nen Abilities: Wave, Surf"

Surprisingly, Gon didn't pale. He should have expected that there was a Nen user around. Gon used his context clues to determine that the Nen user was the captain. Of course the captain was a Nen user, though he must be very experienced in Zetsu for Gon not to detect it. The time traveler internally chastised himself for letting his guard down, even for a little bit.

"Well, I'm going to take the bus!" Gon heard Leorio shout at Kurapika.

"Ano, I don't think that's a good idea," Gon said with a sugary sweet, innocent voice. "The Hunter Exam would probably be harder than just taking a bus."

"Oh please, Gon! Not you too!" Leorio threw his hands up in exasperation. "Whatever! I'll just go without you two!"

-

The captain, now named Jaymin Anchor stared at the device in Gon's hands with skepticism. He had subtly let out a bit of his Nen to concentrate on his eyes when he sensed Gon's aura raise and saw it was concentrated on said device. Whenever he saw devices like that, it was usually conjured up as part of a Nen ability. As he saw the one named Leorio turn around and run after his new friends, Jaymin walked into his quarters and picked up his cell phone, dialing a number.

"Hello?" He asked, waiting for a response. When the response came, he sighed in exasperation. "There's a particularly interesting one this year. If there's a small kid, keep an eye on him. Yeah. His name is Gon."

-

"Why is there no one here?" Leorio asked as he looked around warily at the deserted town. "It's kind of creepy."

"You can't notice?" Gon asked curiously, momentarily forgetting that Leorio wasn't the hardened leader he was in his past life.

Kurapika nodded. "Even I can notice, Leorio."

"Oi-" Leorio was about to tell the Kurta before being cut off by the appearance of several masked men appeared, blocking their path with a stage with an old woman sitting on it.

Gon's eyes widened slightly in shock as he saw the blank stare that he recognized all too well when those of weak will succumbed to the insanity of the Dark Continent. "You must pass our quiz if you want to access to the cedar tree."

Before anyone could speak, Gon looked at the woman with pity and sorrow. "So you've been there too, huh?" He whispered, the words coming out before he could react. He knew the look in his eyes was enough for the elderly woman to register what he was talking about.

The woman paused, giving him the same blank stare, but Gon knew the amount of terror washing through her at the mention of that accursed place. "You may pass."

"A-are you sure?" One of the masked people asked, a large amount of whispering from the masked people.

"Let them pass," the woman said again, her quiet and unwavering voice unchanging. "I… need time to think."

"As you wish," the masked people opened the gate. "You have been deemed worthy by Lady Quizzer. You may pass."

"What was that?" Kurapika and Leorio asked in unison.

"Please," Gon shot them a look, showing enough sadness and grief for even Leorio to register. "I don't want to talk about it."

-

Isaac Netero put down the phone, a serious expression on his face. He would usually laugh dangerous and weird situations off, but this time was different. He waved it off when his old friend Jaymin told him that there was a boy with an unidentified Nen device, but when one of Linne's weird cultists called him saying that Linne wanted to tell him that one of the participants matching the description of the boy who Jaymin had described has been to the Dark Continent.

Such a pitiful fate for someone so young, Netero sighed back into his seat. This will be most interesting.

"Netero-san?" Beans asked, walking up to him with a stack of papers. "Here are the first people to reach it to the exam. Is everything alright? You never make that face."

"Oh, I'm fine," Netero chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. "Just got a couple interesting phone calls, that's all."

"Whatever you say," Beans said as he placed the stack on Netero's desk and walked away, leaving the chairman to his thoughts.

-

"Stop complaining!" Kurapika barked at Leorio, who was complaining about the distance to the tree.

"But why does it have to be so long?" Leorio whined.

"Gon's not tired!"

"But he's Gon!"

"Fair enough."

"Guys!" Gon caught the attention of his bickering friends, pointing at two people being attacked by two monsters.

"What the hell?!" Leorio shouted.

"Kurapika! We'll each take one!" Gon shouted, prepping himself to dash. "Leorio! We'll create a diversion. When we do, tend to the wounded."

The two nodded, not enough time for banter. Gon dashed, a small amount of aura forming around his hand. As he punched one of the monsters, he tagged it with Bungee Gum. The Kiriko was sent flying, Gon dashing after him.

-

Gon had lost sight of the Kiriko, but he only let it go because he had already tagged it. "Oi, Gon!" Leorio walked over to him. "I gave the wounded people painkillers. They'll be fine"."

Gon gave the man a confused expression. Wasn't the fake supposed to go to Kurapika? 'Whatever,' he thought. 'What's wrong with a little change?'

He looked at the fake man. "You're not Leorio-san," he said with childlike bluntness. "He wants to be a doctor. Doctors don't leave injured people alone."

"I guess you caught me," Leorio's form twisted and mutilated until it turned into a Kiriko. "Well? Aren't we going to fight?"

"Why?" Gon asked, tilting his head. "I don't really want to."

"What?!" The Kiriko facefaulted. "What do you mean?"

"My friends have probably figured out they're being tricked already, Plus," Gon said. The boy flicked his wrist, causing the Kiriko's partner to fall off the tree towards Gon. "I've already won."

"Wow, kid!" The Kiriko that was standing started to laugh. "You're an interesting one! Come on, let's go back to the cabin."

-

Gon walked back to see Leorio and Kurapika conversing with the other to Kiriko. "Guys!" He called over.

"Gon!" Leorio shouted. "Those people were actually those weird monster things! Isn't that crazy?"

"Actually," one of the Kiriko piped up. "I think the real monster here is this kid. He had me wrapped around his finger. Literally."

"Don't ask," the other Kiriko waved his hand dismissively as Kurapika and Leorio shot Gon a look.

"Anyways," the Kiriko behind Kurapika chirped. "I would think these three pass. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

"Yeah."

"Sounds fair."

"Great!" The Kiriko chirped. "You should stay for the night. We'll fly you to the exam area tomorrow."

-

As they landed in Zaban City, Gon couldn't help but feel a bit of nostalgia. Every now and again, he Leorio, Kurapika, and Killua would stop by here in his past life to reunite and catch up on the adventures each of them had been going through before Beyond Netero showed up. It was a sentimental place to them, that being the location of the exam that had brought the four friends together. With a sad smile on his face, Gon set off with his friends to the exam site.

-

"We're off!" The three soon-to-be participants call to the Kiriko, waving happily.

"Bye, Gon! Don't forget to stop by!"

"Thank you for the bandages, Leorio!"

"I won't forget that punch next time we meet, Kurapika!"

"We'll be seeing you!"

The three stare at the exit to the ramen store as the four of them exit the buiding. "Are you guys ready?" Kurapika asked.

"Hell yeah!" Leorio holds his fist in front of him. "We're going to crush that exam!"

"I'm so excited!" Gon squealed, his childlike façade strong, but not completely fake. He genuinely felt happy again. He felt like a kid again, and it was the best Gon had felt in decades.

-

The three sat down at the table in the back room in anticipation. Leorio and Kurapika were anticipating the exam, but Gon was anticipating something completely different. Gon was anticipating the reunion between him and his lifelong friend. Gon knew he wouldn't do something as dramatic as bursting into tears, but that didn't mean that it wouldn't be an emotional moment for him.

As the door opened to reveal a tunnel, the three of them stood up and walked out. "Hello!" A small, green man in a suit waddled up to them as they reached the end of the tunnel. The man handed out three tags with the numbers 403, 404, and 405 respectively. "Here are your tags for the exam."

"Thanks, Beans-san!" Gon chirped as he took the tag numbered 405 before realizing that he wasn't supposed to know the chibi's name.

"How do you know my name?" Beans asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Ah! My hunter friend told me about you!" Gon said, thinking fast.

"And what was this hunter's name?" At this point, Leorio and Kurapika were also looking at Gon, albeit more confused than suspicious.

"Ano," Gon made a thinking pose before looking up again, his index finger up as if he just remembered something. "Her name was Bisky-chan!"

"Ah, Biscuit Kruger," Beans nodded. "She is a strong hunter. If you were able to befriend such a mon- I mean formidable hunter, then I'm sure you will have no problems passing the exam."

"Thanks, Beans-san!" Gon chirped before turning back to his friends. "Let's go! I want to make some friends before the exam begins!"

"Oh, thanks for the drink," Killua said as he took the pop from the man, Tonpa as he remembered.

"No problem!" The man said, smiling and rubbing his hands. "It's always nice to make friends out here."

'Poison,' Killua thought as the slight tang of laxatives spread throughout his tongue. Of course, it was no problem for him. Laxatives five times stronger than the one Tonpa had given him were used on him for "training" when he was only three years old. 'Figures as much.'

"Oiii!" A childish call caught Killua's attention. He turned to see a boy, around his age bounding towards him with two people walking behind him, soft smiles on their faces. That was weird. Killua was sure that he was the only kid to enter the exam. He didn't even know that kids outside the Zoldyck family had the capabilities of entering the exam at such a young age.

"I didn't know there was someone my age here!" The boy chirped, a gleeful smile on his face. "You must be really strong! My name is Gon!"

"Killua," the assassin introduced himself. He wasn't really one for emotions, but the boy's infectious smile got to him, a small grin forming on his face. "Nice to meet you, Gon."

"You too!" Gon said, his smile only widening. "Want to be friends?"

"Friends?" Killua asked. Killua has never had a friend before, but memories of him playing with Alluka flashed through his head. As far as he knew, friends got to play and do fun stuff together, much like he and Alluka did.

'If that's the case,' Killua said to himself, his grin widening slightly. He made sure to vocalize the second part of his thoughts. "I would love to be your friend, Gon."