"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival."

~C. S. Lewis~

Burahara and Menchi were like night and day standing next to each other.

Despite the obvious visual differences there was the completely contradictory stances they had on their profession, as well as the comedic clash that was their personalities. One need only to glance at the two, however, to see they had chemistry.

Not romantically, or at least not that I knew of, but rather they worked well together.

I briefly wondered if they had worked jobs together in the past and tried to rack my brain to see if such a thing had been mentioned in the manga. With little success. Although I blame my pounding head-ache, it made all rational thought impossible. Unfortunately rational thought is exactly what I needed at that moment, as there was no-way I'd be able to take down a Great Stamp in my current condition.

Perhaps if I wasn't feeling sub-par I could have climbed a tree and dropped a rock on its head or drooped an axe-kick, whatever worked. But as things stood I didn't trust myself with walking let alone with anything that involved my feet leaving the ground.

Which left me with the rather un-tasteful (due to my headache) job of thinking my way through this exam.

Luckily the answer was rather simple; if I couldn't get the Great Stamp I could get some-one to do it for me. Unluckily, the only people who would be willing to help me out, as they sort-of owe me anyway, were the very same people I had been trying desperately to avoid for the past twenty-four hours.

I wonder if someone up there has it out for me.

Briefly I considered asking Hisoka for help, he might just be so surprised at my gall that he'd help me out. After all what stranger approaches their attacker for a favor right after being rendered unconscious by said attacker? (A person who understands that the motives behind said attack, however convoluted, were not malicious in intent. That's who.)

However, I ultimately disregarded the idea as the chances of Hisoka's interest increasing in me if I were to act so unaffected were too high to risk. Not when I had a little-boy who would help me out with minimal threat to my life.

"Go~n," I called waving the little boy over, and ignoring the suspicious look Killua sent my way. As if I was any real threat to his friend. Puh-lease Mr. Assassin, Gon could beat me in his sleep.

Gon just blinked before smiling and doing his weird skip-run-teleport thing that had him in front of me in no time, "yes Yuki-san?" Gon questioned politely and I had to stop myself from cracking some joke about "what? No, -sama?" Lest he take me seriously.

"Um..." I began, awkwardly, "just Yuki's fine," Gon nodded to show he understood and I fumbled around for a few more moments trying to think about how to word my request. Just how much emotional manipulation can one get away with in regards to a child before they break some moral taboo? Luckily, after a few more seconds of silence Gon gave me the opening I needed.

"Are you okay Yuki-sa...Yuki?"

Why, thank you Gon! You couldn't have given me a better in if I asked for it!

Kneeling down to Gon's level and shooting him a cross between a pain-ful grimace and a smile, that I didn't have to fake at all my stomach still freakin' hurt after Hisoka used it as a punching-bag. I laid my bait, "the truth?"

I began giving him a tired look, "I'm actually pretty far from 'okay'...Hisoka scr-messed me up pretty bad," I stumbled trying not to corrupt the poor kid, "and it stinks," I continued pouting, "because I know just how to kill those boars, but because I decided to play hero I'm gonna flunk out," carefully lay the guilt card a~nd..."ah, well at least Leorio's okay, that's what matters."

Make yourself out to be a saint.

Then, all that's left is to tie up any loose ends! "Anyway, I just called you over so that you could say good-bye to the others for me, seems like this is the end of my journey. I'd tell 'em myself, but, well...'not okay' and all that."

3...2...1...and

"I can help you get the boar, Yuki!"

Hook, line and sinker.

Sorry kid, I'll make it up to you one-day, maybe, if I remember.

"Really? A-are you sure? I mean, not that I wouldn't be extremely grateful, but I don't want you to get into any trouble on my behalf..." although technically as long as I 'present' the roasted boar to Burahara I've met the pass-requirements.

"Un!" Gon, exclaimed with certainty, "Aunt-Mito always says to help out friends in need, and if you really know how to beat the boars then its not like its cheating!" I just nodded along before paling at the word 'friends.'

"Good God, is this really all it takes for Gon to befriend you? When did this happen, I don't remember giving off any remotely friendly vibes! Then again..." I chanced a glance at the 'gang,' "A loner, an assassin, and a guy who watched his best friend die in front of him...I doubt they gave off very many 'friendly vibes' themselves."

Perhaps it was part of Gon's "natural instincts" to be able to by-pass what people projected and see what they actually wanted? Because those three were all un-approachable in their own ways, but also desperate for the companionship that Gon gave-would give them.

"Is that what he sees when he looks at me?" I questioned, "an un-approachable figure who secretly wants friends?"

I have no problem admitting I'm lonely. Who wouldn't be in a situation like mine? But I've hardly had time to dwell on my loneliness what with everything that's been going on. If I thought on it at all it was only to brush it away with "you can make friends after you have papers, money, and a place to call your own."

But here was Gon, casually offering a hand of friendship.

No.

Not offering, as far as he was concerned we already were friends.

"Well," I thought to myself, a small smile making its way on my face, "There is no accounting for stubbornness. I doubt he'd take 'no' for an answer at this point. I'll be his friend if he's so adamant, however," I let my eyes, once again, seek out the gang, "I refuse to join 'the group' not only do dragon's lie that way, but on a personal level I can not back them."

It's not like there's anything wrong with them, if I'm being honest there is only one reason I couldn't hang out, or become close to them...and he has bright blonde hair and red eyes.

I have a problem with Kurapika, and not a superficial one either.

No, if it were that simple we could talk it out and work together. I'm sure we could be great friends, the potential is right there. In fact, out of everyone in Gon's group he's the one I could most relate to, and I'm sure he would be more than willing to engage in scholarly debates with me. Unfortunately, the problem I have with him is at a base level.

I disagree with his very raison d'etre.

Whether it's due to shows like Naruto or just my own view on life matters not, the fact remains that I simply do NOT believe in revenge. Not only do I feel it gives your tormentors way too much power (they have your past, why give them your future?) But also, like a flame, it tends to consume everything in its path and pays no mind to who it burns along the way.

How many members of the Genrei Ryodan did he kill, how many did he even confirm had a hand in his clans slaughter? I know its often written off as 'justifiable' they were a part of a band of out-laws and all that jazz, but come-on Kurapika's power is literally to judge the lives of others!

If that's not a recipe for disaster, I don't know what is.

He's a slightly more grounded Light Yagami as far as I'm concerned, and while I would be willing to befriend him I would feel obligated to share my views so our bond wasn't formed on lies.

But something tells me that Kurapika wouldn't appreciate my honesty, especially not when I'd refuse to take a passive back-seat like Gon and Co. when he starts to go all dark in York New.

No, if I had a friend who started acting like that I'd haul his ass off to the nearest psychiatrist I could find, personal feelings be damned!

So yeah, I'd accept Gon's implied offer of friendship. I'd even help the little tyke out from time to time, circumstances permitting. But I drew the line at joining his group.

"..uki? Yuki!" Gon called, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Wha? Huh? Wha-d happened?"

"Wow," Gon called looking concerned, "you really aren't okay. You should sit down, I'll go get you that boar right away!"

Nodding I slowly lowered myself to the ground but not before mumbling, "a good knock to the head outta do it." Wouldn't do to have Gon think I lied about knowing how to take them out, I really would've done this myself if I wasn't in such a horrible condition.

Honestly, I haven't felt so bad since I had bronchitis two years ago.

It was rather surprising that it hurt this much, beat-down or not my body should be a bit better adjusted than this.

Determined not to waste the few precious moments Gon had given me I slowly began to stretch out my body. It was great having my gymnastics skills back but if I didn't continue to stretch out my muscles even when they were sore-especially when they were sore-I would quickly loose my flexibility, and with it most of my skills.

I'd gone through that once, the horrible realization that your body and mind remembered exactly what to do but physically could no longer pull it off-not anymore, and I'd be damned if I let myself go through it again.

Not when I could finally fly again. And anyone who's ever done a tumble run would agree that you fly across that floor, leaping from one corner to another and back again.

It was exhilarating.

All too soon Gon returned a Giant Boar thrown over his shoulder, I tried to ignore the impossibility of a kid his size carting around a boar that size and started making my way to the woods, slowly collecting dried twigs and leaves and carting them back to the boar-I probably should have done this before...oh well, too late now.

In no time I had my makeshift fire pit built, and digging through my bag I pulled out the matchbox I had bought last minute-what kind of survival kit would it be without a fire-starter?

If I remember correctly Burahara doesn't actually care whether the boar is cooked well or not, so it shouldn't matter to him whether the thing is burnt. Nodding to myself I quickly set the twigs on fire and slowly started to coax a flame into life.

Soon it was roaring quite nicely and I asked Gon to throw 'Porky' on to the flame. While it was cooking I went about trying to find a way to transport a giant inferno of pork without burning myself.

In the end I just found a really large stick, doused it in water (there was a convenient river down the way) and started poking Porky, rolling him to Burahara's side. If he was at all put-off by a burnt, dirt-covered, piglet he sure didn't show it, finishing the thing in one great 'Gulp!' before muttering a "you, pass."

Although at that point I couldn't care less that I had passed, as watching Burahara eat had reminded me of my own less-than full stomach. Grumbling to myself about how unfair it was that they get paid to eat while we have to suffer through ridiculous tasks, I made my way back to 'my tree' content to wait out the rest of this phase away from the delectable aroma of bacon.

Man, was I hungry.

YukikoxHisoka66: Aww, thank you! Hopefully you'll continue to enjoy it.

Wyvrel: I really enjoyed your review! It's true that Yuki is in that undesirable state of both loving Hisoka and being responsible enough to realize he's not okay! I feel that in most OCXHisoka fics one of two things happen, either Hisoka simply isn't creepy anymore (which is so incredibly OOC I can't even, I understand character development but certain things are an intrinsic part of WHO HE IS) or the OC conveniently over looks the fact that their "one true love" is freakin' creeping on a twelve year old boy! So yeah, poor Yuki's gonna have to deal with being one of 'down to earth' characters who doesn't get the luxury of just ignoring character flaws. Yes, Yuki is pretty adamntly against joining Gon and Co. so she'll need to go and have her own adventures at times, and there is definitly a plot brewing mwahahahaha! (*ehem* right...)

"Child. Child she is avoiding you. Chiiiiild" XD I laughed so hard when I read that! That was basically there interaction in a nut-shell. It'll only get harder for her now that Gon considers her a friend. Anywho, thank you again for your long and hilarious review, it made my day :)

Yoshisaki Asuka: Thank you!

Guest: Will do, and thanks :)

Lnyarg: XD I totally see that when they're further in their relationship. Yuki's got the perfect temperament to really get under Hisoka's skin. I really want to write an annoyed Hisoka now~! Ah, well, one of these days.