Out of Touch

Chapter 2

Some hours later

We are still running but now up stairs instead. I end up running with Gon after talking with Kurapika and Leorio about why they're here. 'Damn! I didn't expect Kurapika's backstory or think Leorio was still a teen'. They asked me why I was here but I dodged the question, not really wanting to tell them my past and ran away to where Gon was.

The kid with issues is now also running with us. Apparently, his name is Killua. They are both 12 so they're younger than me. "Are you kidlettes tired?" I ask them. They both give me weird looks.

"Kidlettes?" They say in unison, "Yes. Kidlettes, since I am 13 and you guys are 12, I am older. That makes you kids to me" I say smirking feeling a bit superior.

"But why kidlettes?" Gon asks.

"I honestly don't know. That's just what I call kids" I say shrugging. Killua looks annoyed.

"I'm not a kid!" He says with anger.

"Oh yes you are" I say back.

"Ok then prove it" he retorts.

"Ok well I'm 13 and the word 'thir-TEEN' has the word 'teen' in it and the word 'twelve' doesn't, therefore, I'm a teen and you're not. And that makes me not a kid! Ergo, you're a bratty child" I say giggling.

Killua glares daggers at me and I glare right back at him. "You wanna go snowball?" I say taunting him.

"Well do you wanna go tomato?" He shot back in return. I put my hands into tight fists.

My anger was slowly building as I mumbled, "who the f*ck are you calling a tomato". Luckily, Gon jumps in just in time.

I take deep breaths to calm down and try to get a grip on my anger.

*flashback*

"Hey stop that!" I yelled at the teens throwing rocks at us.

"Or what?" The main jerk said laughing with his buddies. My anger built up inside until I could barely contain myself. The hood of my cloak fell off my head as I stared at them furiously my friend standing calmly next to me.

They started to look a bit scared from the facial expression I had on which had murder intent written all over it.

"Oh look she's getting mad" one laughed, a bit uneasily. I was about to charge when my friend grabbed my wrist.

"Don't do it Akari they aren't worth it, you will only regret it, violence isn't the answer" she said looking at me with a soft comforting smile on her face. I unclenched my fists as she grabs my hand. we calmly walked away from the fight.

*end flashback*

But that was before.. I don't have anyone to help me when my judgement is clouded anymore ... I have to work it out on my own because that's how I am now, on my own.

I had calmed down now focusing on my breathing. Killua had suggested we race. So we were racing each other to the end of the tunnel at full speed. I was surprised at how fast I was going.

"Hey guys" I yell to them as they look at me. "There's the finish line!" I say pointing to the bright light at the top of the stairs, we all start running faster if that was possible and ran right past the first examiner at the top.

"Ha, I win" Gon says in a singsong voice.

"No you didn't, I did!" Killua says pouting and crossing his arms.

"Guys let's cut the crap it's pretty clear that I won" I say shaking my head at them.

Gon turns to the examiner and asks, "Hey, can u tell us who won?"

The examiner pauses and then says, "Well I think you all passed simultaneously".

"Aww, really? I thought for sure I won" I whine pouting.

"Are you sure we are the kidletts?" Killua says mockingly.

"Hey Snow White do me a favor and shut up" I say glaring at as he glares back clicking his tongue at me. Gon can't help but giggle at the nickname.

"Hey Gon I thought u were on my side!" Killua shouts frowning. Now I can't even contain my laughter.

"It's not that funny" he says as I almost fall to the ground laughing at how flustered he is.

"Ok sorry I'm done" I say getting up as Leorio and Kurapika make it to the finish of the tunnel

"We made it!" Leorio says out of breath.

"Is this the end?" Kurapika asks.

"Nah there is still more" I say to him. The tunnel finish starts closing as I watch a man yell for the examiner to wait for him but the door closes before he can make it. 'That was pretty cold'.

The examiner starts explaining the swamp ahead is called Swindlers Swamp and that we shouldn't let it trick us. As he was explaining the dangers we hear a man yell from the back of the crowd. "Wait! he is trying to fool you. I'm the real examiner this man is a man faced ape" the man says and he explains that man faced apes are weak but love the taste of human flesh so they disguise themselves as humans to trick you.

The other contestants start getting confused and accuse the examiner we have had this far. 'This isn't how they should figure out who the real examiner is. They should find a better method to figure it out.'

I am in mid thought when cards fly at both of the accused examiners. Our original examiner catches it gracefully whereas the other is barraged with cards in his chest. 'Well that is a pretty effective way to figure it out, so this creepy clown is smart... I guess.' I zone out as he explains his decision to throw the cards.

We all start to run again but this time in the swamp, so it's a lot harder to keep up with the examiner. I'm running with Kurapika and Leorio so I can catch my breath for a bit. 'Man those two boys can run' I think.

The fog starts to thicken to the point where I can't see anyone but Leorio and Kurapika. We hear Gon shout for us to come to the front of the group but Leorio states that we would already be there if we could. I decide to stay with Leorio and Kurapika despite his offer.

We continue to run but as I think about what might be out here I trip and fall flat on my face. "Ow" I say rubbing my now red forehead. I look up and realize that Leorio and Kurapika left 'they must have not realized I've fallen.'

"And then there was one" I mumble to myself as I try to figure out which way is the right way. I hear screams coming from my left so I decide it would probably be better to turn right. I was wandering around. "Leorio, Kurapika, where did you guys go?" I yell.

'This is getting me nowhere.' As I think of what to do I look around and notice everything is getting taller. 'What the hell?' I look down and I notice I'm up to my ankles in mud. I only sink deeper when I try to get my feet out. 'Shit shit shit.'

I must look like a crazy person flailing around attempting to get my feet out, an attempt that is only making me sink faster. 'Oh god, I'm gonna die here. No I'm not. I just need a way out.' I look around frantically the mud is now up to my waist.

I see a vine about a foot in front of me and lean over, reaching forward as far as I can. I can just barely touch it with my middle finger. "Come on just a little closer" I mumble to myself using all my strength to reach for the vine until my hand clasps around it.

The mud is now up to my underarms. I slowly begin to wrench myself out of the mud until I'm out lying and panting on the ground. "Yay I did it!" I whisper, winded from the effort.

I get up and continue walking in the same direction I was going in before, this time more cautiously. I finally arrive at the next stage just in time. "Ne, Akari, why are you all muddy?" Gon asks.

"Oh just took a casual mud bath on the way here." I say sarcastically.

-Authors Note: I don't really want to do the second phase of the hunter exam because I feel you can only do 2 things with that. 1. Make her the only one that passed or 2. Make her fail. So what happens is she sucks at cooking and fails like everyone else and jumped and got the spider eagle eggs with Gon and Killua. Now she is on her way to Trick Tower in the blimp. See you next weekend!!

But-I'm-Special