Chapter 17: So We're Doing What?

(General POV)

Leorio and Kurapika set me down, so Yumis supported by a tree with eyes full of worry. Kurapika, not even willing to look at her, gave Yumi a grave expression while Leorio wore a wry smile.

"How did you even get yourself like this, Yumi?" Leorio asks as he opens up his briefcase.

"I'm not even sure where I should start treating you."

Yumi gives a faint smile, beads of sweat trickling down her already pale face.

"Oh, you know. I was just fooling around."

To this Kurapika looks up at her, revealing his iconic Ruby eyes, obviously angry.

"Why! Why do you treat your life so carelessly? Fooling around! Really!" With this Kurapika gets up with a pained expression.

"Yumi. I want you to tell the truth. Don't lie. What did you do for you to get hurt like this? We all know that you're no pushover by now. So please just explain who it was to us."

At this, Yumi was very apprehensive, but looking at Leorios expression, who was patching her up, she understood that they both wanted an answer. 

Looking at this situation, she couldn't help but sigh while looking away guiltily.

"I really don't want to explain myself to you guys. It really wouldn't help anyone in this situation. And I hate lying to you guys even more, so please." Yumi looks up at Kurapika, tears building in his eyes.

"Can you just let it go? If it takes a promise, I'll make it. Just know that I did this with you guys's well-being in mind."

This infuriated Kurapika. He didn't train this hard this diligently for revenge for his clan just for his friends to go and die like them! He really couldn't take any of this anymore and subsequently stormed away.

Now it was just Yumi and Leorio as he cleaned and fixed up her wounds, silence filling the air.

"You know we all care about you." Leorio says quietly.

"I do," Yumi says, nodding. 'It's why I work harder. I'm fortunate enough to be cared about by you four. It's only what I've experienced in dreams. And because it's reality, I'll do anything to keep it like this. So blissful and without worry.'

"Yumi. Be honest. Would you have just continued wandering in the forest without looking for help if you didn't stumble upon us back there? Even if it meant failing the exam, you could've gotten treated at the boat on the edge of the island and even survived."

Yumi looks deep into Leorios eyes and decides to reply to him through her own. Because she would've. She would have died if it meant being useful to them.

Leorio sighs. 

"You know I used to have a friend growing up. He was sick. Like really sick. And our living situation wasn't the best, so even a curable disease made his life like a living hell. But even at all that." Leorio clenched his equipment harder.

"He always found a way to smile at me. He was still a great friend and still saw the world as a colorful place even after knowing that for many people, giving him a real life by curing his disease wouldn't be difficult at all."

Lerorio takes deep breaths, trying to regulate his emotions.

"I wanted to become a doctor. Because of him. So more genuine people like him can bless the world with their smile for longer. So Yumi. I really have no idea what you've gone through. None of us do. And we won't pry. But just. Just stay alive. If not for yourself but for us."

Yumi wasn't very sure she could keep this promise. Because a big part of her master plan is to do just that. Even if it's far in the future, she knew she couldn't stay with these people forever. So as much as it pained her. She lied right to his face. Right in the eyes.

"Okay. I won't die. For you guys"

And with that, the matter was closed, with Leorio giving her a weak smile while continuing to tend to her wounds. 

Not much happened afterwards for a very long time. Yumi really wanted to go check on Gon to see if he still got hurt by the pedophilic clown, but Leorio and Kurapika never let her out of their sights, and even when they did, Yumi didn't have the heart to run away as they truly and diligently took care of her and nursed her back to full health. She was a bit disappointed when they didn't let her train, at least, but she couldn't say no to them when they told her to relax, so she had no choice.

So just like that, the sixth day arrived. The two boys fussed over Yumi, asking a million different times if she was up to walking all the way back to the shore where they started from, and after reassuring them a million times, they started their journey.

(Time Skip)

"So is there anyone here?" Leorio asked as they hid in the bushes close to the shore.

"Not anyone that could be easily spotted."

"That's a relief. We wouldn't want any trouble," Leorio says, looking at Yumi, who looks much better but also has matching makeshift left arm and right leg casts.

"That's good. We should find a place close by that we can temporarily set up camp without too much worry about uninvited guests."

"Can I be invited then?" A voice suddenly adds as the three turn around, only to be met by Gon, who leapt down from a nearby tree.

"Gon," Kurapika and Leorio say in unison while Yumi just smiles at the boy.

"It looks like you came here too," Yumi says, spotting the bruise on his left cheek, her anger rising yet keeping it in check.

"What happened to your cheek, Gon? You look horrible! Leorio, do you have some cream that we can apply to it? How long have you been injured?"

Yumi's nagging stuns the group as they all sweat drop at the girl in that moment, their thoughts syncing up.

'You're in an even worse shape! Why are you still the one fussing?'

"Anyway. I'm really fine, Yumi, you don't have to worry. But are you sure you're alright? How did you even get injured like that?"

"Oh, this is nothing major, plus Leorio fixed me good as new. But the only reason you'd be here is if you have all the points you need, right?" 

Gon nods a bit grateful that Yumi seemed to know that he didn't really want to go deep into the topic as she quickly switched it.

"Okay, so that means we are all set. Plus, I'm sure Killua is doing fine, so that means we just have to set up camp and protect our badges."

"I guess so," Kurapika says, affirming Yumis statement as the rest just nod.

"Oh, I think while I was observing everyone from above, I saw a suitable resting place, and not many people were around that area. The only thing is that it's a kind of hard clearing to get to as the shurberry around it was especially dense."

They all look at Yumi, who smiles.

"Don't worry guys, I'll be fine. Only this isn't enough to stop me."

With that, they all make their way to the clearing.

"Aaaaah!!!" Everybody looks back at Leorio, who had brought out his knife, but even in a cast, Yumi is already there.

"What's wrong?" Yumi says, looking around frantically.

Leorio tries to hide his knife, shaking hands behind his back. "Nothing; I just thought I heard something over there."

Leorio shakely points to something to the left of him. Yumi brought out her knife with a murderous gaze in her eyes before Gon lowerd it.

"It's okay," Gon says, walking towards the bushes. He then bends down, opening his outstretched arms.

"Come here," he said. Soon a rabbit jumped out of the bushes and into the boys arms, causing Kurapika to barely hold back a laugh.

Now Leorio, instead of shaking with fear, now shook with embarrassment, the top of his ears bright red as he stomped ahead of the group.

"Hey Leorio," Gon said, letting the horse jump out of his arms as he raced after the man. 

"Hey (chuckle), don't be like that, Leorio," Kurapika said, running after the two.

"Wow, they actually left me," Yumi said as she hobbled along the path, shrugging.

"I'll be fine." She says as she starts to make her way to where she thinks those guys went. 

After awhile she then hears a russle in the leaves. She turns to the bush, her arm hovering around the knife in her pocket.

"Yumi?" 

"Oh, hey Killua," Yumi says, waving at him.

Killua just looked at the girl up and down, stunned.

"Who? Who did this?"

"Oh, they're dead."

"And you're not?" 

"Well, do I look dead to you?"

Killua just shakes his head, not fully understanding the situation.

"Well anyway, the others are up ahead looking for a clearingGon spotted. You should go join them. I'll be right, beh-"

Yumi paused.

"Killua! What! What are you doing?" Yumi says, flustered as the boy squats in front of her.

"Get on"

"Really! I can"

'But I couldn't do that, Killua. I'm probably heavy.'

Killua gets up as he burst out laughing. "I think you meant to say that in your head."

This makes Yumi even more flustered, but this time it's genuine.

"Whopse. Well, I hope the offer is still valid because it's annoying going this slow."

"Yeah, it's still good. Get on."

And so Yumi did get on, and with that, Killua started dashing towards the camp, following the three's foot prints. As they got there, they saw the three, a clear face of relief evident on Leorio and Kurapika's countenance.

"Hey!" Gon says, rushing towards the two.

"Hey," Killua says as he puts Yumi down a bit to her disappointment, but she hid it well. At least she thought she did, as Killua, seeing this at the corner of his eye, couldn't help but chuckle internally.

"We were looking for you everywhere!" Leorio says annoyed.

"No? You guys didn't ask for my help at all. You and Kurapika just started freaking out and searching," Gon says, busting the two boys. This, of course, angers Leorio, but this just makes Kurapika sigh.

"That's a good point. We have to be more calm if something like were to happen again." 

"Well, I'm fine, and I'm not going anywhere, so you guys shouldn't worry."

"Says the one in the cast," Killua mumbles.

"Two casts!" Gon corrects enthusiastically.

"Oh, come on guys!" Yumi says, feigning irritation before quickly dropping the act instead of choosing to be dramatic.

"How could you all wound me so with your words?"

"You'll be fine," Kurapika says, rolling his eyes.

After that, they kind of just stod around for a moment before Gon finally said the obvious.

"So what are we going to do now?"

"Well, probably make a fire, right?" Kurapika says slowly Yumi soon speaks up after him.

"Well, you guys shouldn't look at me because I've never gone camping before, so..."

This makes some head turn.

"You've NEVER gone camping!" Gon says as if Yumi said something so unbelievable.

"Yumi shakes her head, causing Killua to speak up.

"Is that such a big deal? I haven't either."

"Wow, I didn't know you guys had such horrible childhoods that you guys haven't even gone camping," Kurapika says, shaking his head sadly. 

Now this turns Yumis head.

'Didn't your entire clan get massacred when you were a child?'

Leorio then also begins shaking his head. "That's really such a shame indeed, isn't it?"

Yumi is surprised once again.

'Didn't you have like no food growing up? How would you even get the marshmallows?'

Then even Gon joins in!

"That must be really sad! I even went camping with Aunt Mito once!"

Yumi didn't even know what to say. She just sighed.

'And you only went with her because your dad left you! At least in the anime he did. In the manga, didn't Aunt Mito kidnap you or something? Whatever you familyis a mess either way.'

"What should we do about this saddening situation?" Kurapika says, finger on his chin thinking deeply.

"I know what we do!" Leorio shouts as he pumps his fist in the air. "We'll make their first camping trip the best one ever!"

Soon both Kurapika and Gon also pump their fists as they all cry out YEAH, which only causes Killua and Yumi to sweat drop.

"This isn't going to end up well, is it?" Killua asks Yumi.

"I believe in them!" Yumi says, starry-eyed, as she also pumps her fist.

"CHA!!!"

-----------------------------------------------------

SeekerofLight: Hey everyone! Schools starting soon! Who's excited! Because I'm not! But it's fine; we'll, figure it out. Obviously, because of school updates will probably be either really rare or super frequent (if the latter know that I'm probably procrastinating on finishing up an assignment). Anyway, I felt like my fanfic had been talking itself way too seriously, so here is a lighter segment. Camping! Okay, time to be real. I've never gone camping before, so I was thinking you guys could help me. Type down in the comments what you love to do when you camp and maybe even some of your best memories. When I feel like I have enough content, I'll make a whole chapter filled with your peoples suggestions! Also, you don't have to have personally done this stuff before. If you want to just see Yumi do something fun/crazy/funny, also say so and I'll add it in! 

Oh, by the way, the Hunter exam is almost finished! There are definitely fewer contestants (like Hanzo) because of Yumi, so we'll see what happens. But again, I'm at a bit of a writers block, so again, just put in the comments some ideas or just how much you might like the story, because that'll really motivate me!

Oh, and finally, if you guys have any tips for my writing, lay them on me! I'd love to hear it to hopefully get better one day, as I have another fanfic I'm writing with my brothers that I might upload one day. I just need to get my writing up to par! 

Anyway, I hope you guys continue to like my story and continue to add it to your libraries!

Seeker OUT! 

(To be put right back into school 😭)