Friendship

"Come one guys! Don't look at me like that, I had no idea those cans had anything so sinister in them. You see I just bought them in bulk from the market place." Tonpa Explained while putting his hands up in defense.

"Tonpa, do you really take us to be such fools?" Asked Kurapika.

"O-of course not, but it's not like I'm lying. We are friends after all."

"Gon, Mary what do you think?" Asked Leorio, clearly restraining himself.

"Well I don't think he really had any bad intentions." said Gon. "If he did wouldn't he give himself away more easily?"

"G-Gon think about it, he's been here countless times before, there's no way he'd be so clueless as to buy a drink with poison in it. P-plus if this is his 35th attempt that means he would be experienced in doing things like this if he's done it before. Explained Mary.

"Cmon, there's no use in wasting time with him." Said Leorio while walking away angrily.

"W-wait up!" Said Mary.

Giving him a quick glare Kurapika turned away from Tonpa and began to walk with the other two.

"Bye!" Said Gon as he took his leave, as well.

———————

Tonpa's POV

[something is seriously off with this year's rookies. Number 294. Hanzo. At first he seemed pretty gullible, telling me to keep the fact that he's a ninja a secret. He even told me his dream to find something called the Ultimate Ninja Scroll. But when I offered him a can of juice he immediately turned serious, "I am a seasoned ninja, I make it a point to never drink anything offered to me by another. Understand?" I can tell he's no idiot, one wrong move and I'd have been in serious trouble. Speaking of trouble there's also number 301. That guy just oozes danger, I do know one thing; I'm not going anywhere near him. He's kind of like that girl, Mary when her hair was almost completely blonde, but even more so, if it weren't for my experience with the exam I might not have felt her bloodlust it was extremely deep, yet well hidden. Then there's one I completely abhor, Number 187, Nicholas. I went up to him to have a nice conversation and he almost immediately found out who I am from just my name, Tonpa, the rookie-crusher. They are all extremely strong competitors, but that'd make crushing them feel way more satisfying.]

"Hey! Mr. Tonpa, that juice was great got anymore?"

"You want more even knowing about the laxatives in it?" Asked Tonpa. "Besides at this pace you'll make me run out."

"Of course, besides I'm not the only one that's been trained to be immune to poisons am I? That girl you were talking to, she's the same as me, particularly the way she walks, she's getting pretty close to mastering the technique. Anyway, see ya!"

[ he knew about the poison from the beginning yet still chose to drink it, number 99 Killua. This year's rookies are completely insane, though I doubt number 187 will ever pass the test, no in fact I'll break him so badly he'll never attempt it ever again.]

——————

"Hey Mary are you sure you're alright?" Asked Gon. "That drink was poisoned after all."

"Y-yeah in fairytales aren't most princesses poisoned anyway?"

"You're a princess?! I thought you said you were abandoned!" Asked Gon.

"I-I'm not... I just thought I should make a joke to lighten the mood a bit." Explained Mary with a bright red face.

"But you are ok, right?" Asked Kurapika.

"Y-Yeah I am, thanks for worrying." Said Mary with a slight smile.

——————

After quite a bit of silence A bell rang loudly. As a man stopped it the wall that had been blocking the rest of the tunnel opened up. In the center of it stood the same man who had stopped the bell. he wore a purple tuxedo. He had violet curly hair and a curly black mustache, however his most noticeable feature was the lack of a mouth.

"I apologize for the delay, thank you all for waiting, now the entry period for the hunter applicants is officially closed. So, without further ado, the Hunter Exam will now begin! A few final words of advice... if you are short on luck or ability, keep in mind that there is a very real possibility of serious injury or even death. If you're willing to accept the risks involved, I'll ask you to follow me now, but for the rest of you, Kindly exit through the elevator behind you."

Despite his warning not a single person chose to leave. In fact most were more determined than ever.

"All right then, All 405 applicants will now participate in Phase one." As he said that he began to walk forwards in a strange manner with both arms and legs fully outstretched.

As everyone began to walk behind him in silence Leorio spoke up. "Of course no one was going to leave. It was difficult enough just to get here, who'd waste the opportunity like that?"

"Y-yeah, But you never know, some people may just be overestimating their abilities." Said Mary.

"I agree." Said Kurapika.

As they were talking the man had sped up drastically while still maintaining his strange walk. In the mean time the contestants began to run.

"What's going on?" Asked Leorio.

"I think the people up front started running." Said Gon.

"It's because the examiner is picking up the pace." Explained Kurapika.

"I-I hope we don't have to run too long." Said Mary with an awkward smile. "This tunnel is pretty boring.

From up front sounded the man's voice, "Pardon my rudeness from before, I realize that I had neglected to introduce myself. I am Satotz, your examiner for the First Phase of the Hunter Exam. It's my responsibility that I lead you all to the Second Phase of the exam.

"Second? What happened to the First Phase?" Asked applicant 294, Hanzo.

"The First Phase has already commenced." Answered Satotz. "It's quite simple really, all you have to do is follow me to the Second Phase."

"Follow you? That's it? So there's really nothing else?" Asked Hanzo.

"Yes, however I am forbidden from telling you where or when we must arrive. You need only to follow me." Answered Satotz.

"W-what a terrible exam." Whispered Mary.

"How so?" Asked Leorio. "It sounds like a basic endurance test."

"It's the fact that we don't know how far we need to run. It's mentally stressful." Said Kurapika.

"N-not to mention it's likely that we'll have to run extremely far, it would make sense for the exam to test us physically and mentally. But even then, that may just be part of the test, it could be over in the next 10 minutes even." Further elaborated Mary.

"I-I see." Said Leorio, beginning to get a bit nervous.

"Don't worry too much Leorio! After all we made it here together!" Said Gon with a smile.