A sigh escaped a hooded figure's mouth as they rested against the stiff wall.

Too many people...

Bright green eyes scanned around the room. Watching for anything threatening, then shut once more as the defining sounds brought a headache to the figure's brain.

The hunter exams. It was said this was a hard place. It was difficult... Rough. But it was worth it. At least goals could be met. People could be helped.

The figure's eyes snapped open and glanced at someone heading over to them. "Hello, you must be a rookie applicant," came a male voice. The cloaked figure just glanced up at him. His words meant nothing.

"I do not understand."

"Huh?" The male just stared down, frozen in confusion. "Oh, you're a girl. What I mean is, you're new, right?" The figure nodded her head. "You must be wondering how I know that, right? Well actually, this is my 35th time taking the Hunter Exam, so I guess you could say that I'm a veteran." He laughed in a sheepish way and rubbed the back of his head, "Though I've never actually passed it as you can tell."

"So it is that hard?"

"Uh, yeah. I guess. Hey, you thirsty? I have some extra juice if you want." The boy handed the girl a can of orange juice. The girl looked up, then hesitantly took the can. She stared at it for a couple seconds, then brought it to her lips. Once she had, though, she stopped. The tension and anticipation was just seeping from the boy's body. She sniffed the can, then cringed in spite of herself. There was something in it.

She placed the can down next to her and closed her eyes, keeping a mental note on who was around her and how threatening they were. "A-are you gonna drink it?" The girl paused for a second.

"Your name. What is your name?"

"Er, Tonpa."

"I do not drink poison, Tonpa." The girl glared up at him. He grit his teeth in slight hesitation, then quickly left. The girl sighed once more as she glanced down at her tag, which had been hidden underneath her hood. 1. She always got what she aimed for. She was number 1. Getting there as early as she did was no deal. It kept her away from others until they piled in, and she was able to see everyone who came in and memorize their face, scent, and number. Although she had to wait, she was quite OK with it. It meant she had more of an advantage.

Her hands immediately flew to her ears as an obnoxiously loud ringing noise like a scream rang throughout the room. A man appeared, sitting on a ledge, holding... Well, something. She did not know.

"The Hunter Exam will now begin," the man announced. After a pause he hopped down. "I am Satotsu, the Phase One examiner," he introduced himself as he began to... Walk. "You must follow me to Phase Two." People started up and headed after him. The girl followed afterwards, jogging slowly after everyone. Rather to be behind than in front. "This is the Exam's First Phase," Satotsu announced. He said nothing after.

The girl sighed. It had been around two hours. She had a very keen sense of time, however being indoors screwed with her internal clock. She made sure to reserve her energy, which had been hardly spent, for the end. There was many behind her, but she knew they would not make it. She tended to stay close to the ones who knew where they were going, and who would make it.

She moved to the outside to stay near the wall. So far, this wasn't too bad. It was actually really easy.

"HEY! Wait up, brat! You should show the Hunter Exam some respect!" Someone yelled from the front. The girl didn't bother to look up. It sounded like the tall one with glasses, but she didn't care. It was not her conversation.

"What do you mean?" She heard another reply. How she longed to be away from these people. These loud people who annoyed her so much.

"Why are you using a skateboard? That's cheating." So that's what the rolling sound was.

"Why?" The one being accused questioned calmly.

"Why? This is an endurance test!" The first man yelled. The girl hesitated to place her hands over her ears.

"No it isn't." Someone new had joined the conversation.

"Huh? Gon, what are you saying?" the tall man questioned.

The boy labeled as Gon replied, "The examiner only told us to follow him."

"Who's side are you on?"

The girl smirked. The kid had a point. He never said how. They could teleport if they wanted. It didn't matter how.

The talking quieted. She could hear a word every now and then but she didn't care.

She flinched as she heard what sounded somewhat like clattering. She glanced up to see the ending result of a trick a little white haired kid had done on his skateboard. The kid started to run alongside the other one which had spikey dark green hair. He looked awestruck.

Once again she sighed as she let her pace drop, realizing she had gained some speed. How much longer, I wonder.

It had been around four hours already. Many had fallen too far behind or had gotten too tired to continue. Even the two boys were behind her now.

How many would pass this first bit? Surely not even half... They were weak.

"I'm gonna become a Hunter! Damn it all!" The girl smirked as she heard those words in the distance. Up in front was the end, at the top of the stairs. She heard running behind her and moved to the far side as the taller man can rushing by. He will not beat me to the top... The girl started running at a pace she knew would get her to the top first. However, she spotted the two boys racing in the middle of the stairs, trying to be the first up. Ah, finally, a challenge. Or at least as good of a challenge as I'll get. She quickened her pace and raced to the top. Hm. Those boys are fast. They didn't notice her, but they were able to stay neck in neck with her. The girl grinned. However... She focused her mind on her feet while running. It felt like she was faster than the wind. Within a couple seconds she was at the top and sat down, leaning against the wall. Satotsu arrived within a second after her, and the two boys instantly after him. The girl took a deep breath, but she was only barely tired.

"Goal!"

"Yay! I win!"

"What are you talking about! I was faster!"

"I was!"

"No, I was!"

The cloaked girl glanced at the childness of the kids. She was around there age, yes, but that didn't mean she had to act like that.

"Then!" Gon to Satotz. "Hey, who was faster?" Gon asked him.

"I believe that that one beat you by a couple seconds." She could feel him motioning to her, but she didn't flinch.

"Huh?!" Both the boys exclaimed. The girl grinned, keeping her face hidden.

"I believe you said something about dinner, ne? I like steak." She said matter-of-factly.

She felt her statement being ignored as the boy labeled Gon asked, "Satotz-san, is this where the Second Phase of the exam takes place?" He asked.

"No, we still have quite a way to go." The examiner replied, answering the question.

"Oh..." Gon said, disappointed.

First chapter completed! Now onto the second!