Chapter 13

Kiyomi makes it to the second phase. She slowly walks towards a tree and slides down a little, leaning against it.

Wearing clothing like this makes my body feel grody... I'm starting to sweat... Kiyomi sighs and wipes her forehead. She closes her eyes a little as she waits for the next phase to begin. Not long later she sees Gon and the feminine guy making their way to the second phase. She rubs her eyes and stands up more and stretches. She looks around to see a bunch of the applicants laying on the ground or hunched over panting. 

"The Visca Forest Reserve is where the Second Phase will take place... I'll take my leave now... Good luck." Satotz says as he runs off like a stiff action figure. Kiyomi relaxes her eyes. A giant door to the wall begins to open causing the ground to rumble. Everyone looks towards the door.

"Those who have passed phase one, come on in..." A female voice from inside the walls say. "Welcome! I'm the examiner for phase two... Names Menchi." She says in a happy tone.

"I am the other examiner... My name is Buhara." A big guy says behind the woman. Kiyomi lifts an eyebrow when she sees them. Buhara is awfully big... She thinks to herself. Everyone stands quietly staring at the two examiners. Kiyomi looks around her wondering what will happen next. A loud growl makes everyone look towards the direction it was coming from. People begin to whisper and question what that was.

"You must be very hungry?" Menchi says with a smile on her face.

"Ugh... I'm so hungry..." Buhara replies. Menchi laughs and stands up causing everyone to look at her.

"Haha... well then- Hear that?" She chuckles. "Here's how the second phase is going to be... I hope you're prepared! The second phase will be... COOKING!" She shouts with a smile on her face. Everyone goes into shock.

"What are you talking about! This is the hunter exam... not some sort of cooking competition!" A heavy man says.

"EXACTLY! The second phase will be a challenge to make a delicious dish that will satisfy our needs." Menchi says smiling at everyone.

"But why? What use will that do for us?" A person questions.

"Why? Well... because the two of us are... Gourmet Hunters!" Menchi bubbles.

"Gourmet Hunters... that's a new one..." Kiyomi says to herself.

People begin to laugh and make fun of the fact that they're gourmet hunters.

"Haha... so you both are cooks huh? Well then... what is it that we have to make?" A guy chuckles. Menchi furrows her eyebrows and crosses her arms.

"The main ingredient for todays dish will be pork!" Buhara says as he stands up, causing the ground to shake a little.

"Ew... Pork... Meat from a sloppy animal..." Kiyomi gags.

"It can be any sort of pig that you find in this forest... Each station has a table full of tools and things you can use to prepare a dish for us that involves using pork... If we are both happy with the dish you prepare for us, then you pass the second phase." Buhara says in a happy tone.

"It's not just about taste... do not underestimate this test... or the properties of cooking. Do you understand?" Menchi calmly says. "The test will end when we are full."

"Welp... now the test will begin!" Buhara says pounding on his stomach, making a loud thump noise. Everyone begins to run out the doors to hunt for pig.

Kiyomi stands in a tree watching everyone below them searching for pigs. Kiyomi sits down with her legs crossed as she listens to her surroundings. She opens her eyes when she notices a big body moving around in the distance. She opens her eyes and stands up, reaching towards the direction of the pigs. She sees a bunch of pigs.

"Carnivores... They're eating bones..." Kiyomi softly says to herself. She flinches a bit and looks towards the distance to see Gon stopping inches from a pig. She watches as Gon's friends slide down behind him. The pigs scream and start to charge after them, causing them to run. Kiyomi's eyes slowly look towards a pig still chowing down on a bone. She jumps down from the tree and slowly approaches it, placing her hand on it. The pig doesn't feel her presence. She jumps up on top of it and holds her hand out.

"Pins of-" She pauses when she realizes something about the pig. It has a giant bump on its head. She moves forward a bit, stomping down on the bump and causing it to collapse. She raises an eyebrow in confusion. She jumps down beside the pig and tries to pick it up and it's too heavy. Something Kiyomi isn't great with is strength.

She pants as she continues to try and pick up the pig.

"Something wrong?" A voice says from beside her. She slowly looks up above the pig to see Hisoka smiling down at her. She furrows her eyebrows and sighs. 

"The pig is too heavy." Kiyomi sighs. Hisoka picks up the pig and helps her out. Kiyomi walks beside her feeling confused. "Why're you helping me?" Kiyomi questions. 

"Because I'm nice." Hisoka replies with a smile on his face.

"Funny... Really though... why are you helping me." Kiyomi asks again.

"You're the closest to Chrollo... Even if I were to challenge him head on... he won't take the challenge." Hisoka laughs. "Tell me baby spider... how do I get his attention?"

"Why're you asking me this?" Kiyomi sighs.

"You're the only one who knows the answer to this... so I thought you might be the only one who can fill me in." He calmly says. "I'm not asking about his weakness... I just want to know what- triggers him~" He soothes. Kiyomi stops walking causing Hisoka to stop walking. He turns to look at Kiyomi who is just staring at him.

"Why do you want to know that?" Kiyomi questions. Hisoka smiles a bit.

"Isn't it obvious... I want to fight him."

"You'll get yourself killed..." Kiyomi slowly says.

"Oh? So are you saying he's that strong?" Hisoka laughs.

"..." Kiyomi stares at him a while before sighing and rubbing her shoulder and looking off into the distance.

"Chrollo doesn't care about many things... but certain things will deeply bother him if you were to mess with it..." Kiyomi softly says as she looks back at Hisoka.

"Which are?" Hisoka's grin grows more.

"Hurting meteor city... or... hurting other phantom trope members."

"Is that all?" Hisoka questions Kiyomi in a tone that almost sounds like he knows there's more. Kiyomi furrows her eyebrows a bit and side eyes Hisoka. 

"... Or you can go against him... that will anger him too. Last time someone went against him... he murdered them."

"You mean number four." Hisoka asks with a smile on his face. Kiyomi relaxes her eyes and looks up at Hisoka.

"If you defy Chrollo... How do you plan on doing that?"

Hisoka smiles at Kiyomi after she asks that. He looks forward and continues to walk.

"You might not like my answer..." He chuckles.

"Hisoka..." Kiyomi softly says as she walks behind him.

"Killing the others." Hisoka says with a smile on his face. Kiyomi stops walking causing Hisoka to stop walking. He slowly looks at Kiyomi who has a blank and empty look in her eyes. Hisoka's smile disappears and his eyes relax. Kiyomi's eyes bore into Hisoka's.

"I will kill you if you hurt them..." Kiyomi says in an emotionless voice. Hisoka's smile grows again. He looks off into the distance feeling a chill.

"I see why you're Chrollo's successor... You and him are much alike... It's almost- scary~" He laughs. Kiyomi still stares at him, not moving. "You still care about them after you ran away..." Hisoka chuckles, continuing back to the venue of the second phase. Kiyomi walks behind him quietly. "If you still cared so much... baby spider... then why did you run away?" He continues to ask. Kiyomi doesn't reply.

Hisoka slowly looks behind him to see Kiyomi who has a tired expression on her face. She's looking down at the ground. Hisoka's smile disappears and looks forward and continues. He walks through the doors and places the pig down on one of the tables.

"Baby spider..." Hisoka softly says, causing Kiyomi to look up at him. "You have the tattoo on your back... so even if you run... you will forever be a spider." He calmly says. "You can't run from what you already are." He says walking away. Kiyomi watches as he disappears and looks back at the pig.

She looks around her to see a decent amount of people who have their pigs and are already roasting them. Kiyomi's eyes relax as she thinks about what Hisoka just said. She sighs and grabs the kitchen knife from off the table and begins to cut open the pig. 

I'm not really much of a cook. I do know how to make a decent amount of meals but not any with pork... Mainly just with beef and chicken. Kiyomi scratches her head as she tries to think up a dish that she enjoyed making. When she thinks of one, she begins to chop smaller pieces of the pork. She grabs a pot from under the table and fills it with water, throwing a bunch of the pig fat into the pot. She places it over the grill and begins to let it boil. 

She begins to cook the pork on a stove. After cooking it she throws a bunch of peppers and onions in. She cooks them until the onions are almost clear and the peppers are soft. 

After cooking a while, she believes the pot roast is done... but there's something wrong with what she made. 

"Usually pot roast is made with... Beef... will it even taste good with pork?" Kiyomi questions. She tilts her head and rubs the side of it. "I usually make dishes like this if I was trying to poison someone... Does it even taste good without the poison...?" Kiyomi bends down and looks underneath the table to see if she can find a spoon so she can taste her dish.

"The selection starts now!" Menchi says. Kiyomi flinches causing her head to bang against the table. She rubs her head after hitting her head. She slowly stands up and quickly pours most the stew in a bowl. After watching many people go up she prepares to go up too, completely forgetting to try her dish. 

She stops moving when she sees Gon go up with a pig covered in flowers, her eyes fixated on Gon. She tilts her head in disgust when she sees his dish. Someone bumps into Kiyomi causing her to stumble back a bit.

"Oof... sorry..." Tonpa says smiling at Kiyomi. She furrows her eyebrows at him and then looks back towards Gon. Menchi says his dish was horrible and yells out next. After a few more people walk up, so does Kiyomi. 

She places a bowl of stew in front of the examiners. 

"Woah!" Buhara gawks. 

"An actual dish..." Menchi says in shock. Kiyomi stares at the both of them and then down at her dish.

"Wasn't I supposed to make a dish?" Kiyomi questions.

"Yes yes... Yours looks like a dish compared to the others I've seen." She grabs a spoon and scoops the stew. Kiyomi watches as Menchi does. After scooping the food she gags and spits it out. Kiyomi's eyes widen. "Eugh... it's so salty..." She gags.

"Oh... I'm sorry- I forgot pork needs to be cooked differently." Kiyomi awkwardly laughs. 

"What were you trying to make?" Menchi questions. Buhara takes the bowl of stew and begins to chow it down.

"Beef stew... but with pork." Kiyomi softly says. Menchi slowly nods and then sighs.

"Well... the idea was good... and your presentation was good. It even smells good- but the taste is so strong... I'm sorry- that's a no for me." She calmly says. Kiyomi slowly nods and turns away. "But hey- number one hundred and eighty eight... you did good... I appreciate that you out of everyone actually listened..." She says with a small smile on her face. Kiyomi nods again and walks down to her station.

People were staring at her, causing her to furrow her eyebrows. She stares down at her dish and then back under the table, grabbing a spoon. She uses the spoon to scoop the stew to taste it. Her eyes widen when she tastes it. It doesn't taste as salty as Menchi said it did... so why did she say that...? Kiyomi questions. Her eyes slowly look towards Tonpa who is smiling at her. She narrows her eyes at him.

After a while, everyone finished presenting their meals. Buhara begins to hit his stomach which sounds an awful like a bouncy ball.

"Augh... I am soooo full." He says as he constantly pats on his stomach.

"Same... I'm also stuffed from all that annoyance..." Menchi sighs as she stands up and rests her fists on her sides. "Which means... no one passed... WE ARE DONE HERE!" She shouts. Everyone gasps in shock. Kiyomi sighs and pours the stew down the drain. 

"Looks like I'm not getting the hunter card..." Kiyomi laughs quietly to herself.

"WAIT WHAT!" Someone shouts.

"No one passed the test?"

"Did she really say that?"

"No freaking way."

"What the hell?"

"ENOUGH!" Someone shouts. The sound of someone banging down on a table and crushing it makes Kiyomi slowly turn towards the noise. The big guy from earlier who was the first to mock Menchi and Buhara. "No fucking way will I accept this bullshit!" He fumes.

"Number two fifty five..." Kiyomi repeats to herself.

"We will not change our minds about failing you... It is what it is... The test is over." Menchi says in a calm and annoyed tone.

"WHAT? YOU SAID YOU WANTED PORK! WE GAVE YOU PORK! WHAT BULLSHIT! WE RISKED OUR LIVES TO FEED YOU FUCKING PORK!" The man shouts.

"I said to make a dish using pork... A dish that will satisfy us... didn't I? But no one even tried to do that... well except one- but even that dish tasted disgusting" She fumes.

Kiyomi sighs and crosses her arms after being called out like that.

"No one even fucking tried to do any of that! SO ITS OBVIOUS THAT NONE OF YOU TOOK ANY OF THIS SERIOUSLY AND THAT YOU DESERVE TO FUCKING FAIL!" She yells.

"But... it doesn't matter... It's pork... no matter how you cook or prepare it- at the end of the day it's still pork..." Hanzo says with a cocky smirk on his face.

"HUH! THE HELL DID YOU SAY!" Menchi says grabbing at Hanzo's collar. "SAY THAT AGAIN! I DARE YOU!" She shouts. "FUCKING IDIOT! SAY IT! I PROMISE YOU ILL KICK YOU IN THE FUCKING BALLS AND DESTROY ANY CHANCE OF YOURS TO REPRODUCE!" She pushes him away and sits down, crossing her legs and looking away from anyone. "So at the end of the fucking day... you all fail..."

"OH SHUT UP!" Someone yells. "I'm not trying to be some fucking food critic! I came here to be a hunter!"

"EXACTLY!"

"THAT'S RIGHT!" 

"I want to be a bounty hunter... not some useless stupid food critic." The guy continues.

"Aw... boo hoo- I guess its too bad that these useless stupid food critics are your examiners this year..." Menchi huffs. "Better luck next year... you useless punk..."

"HUH! YOU STUPID BITCH!" The guy charges at Menchi, preparing to punch her but Buhara hits him, sending him flying across the venue and hitting the wall. 

"Buhara... don't interfere..." Menchi calmly says.

"Yeah... but if I hadn't stopped him... you would have killed him..." Buhara replies.

"Yeah... I guess..." She sighs. She stands up and pulls out two butcher knives. She slowly walks down the steps holding the knives out. "Listen to me clearly... we are chefs who come face to face with beasts that we cook and serve... And just because we are some 'stupid critics' we are still hunters... Every hunter has to master their fighting skills... even though it wasn't something we wanted to do in the first place." She sighs. 

"So just because you lack the interest in cooking doesn't mean any fucking thing... A hunter has to do what a hunter has to do... and if you aren't up to the task... even if you don't like it- then you aren't up for being a hunter." She says, pointing her knives at everyone.

That's true.

"WELL THAT'S TRUE! BUT ITS A BIT UNFAIR TO FAIL ALL THE CANDIDATES... DON'T YOU THINK!" A voice says from the sky. Kiyomi slowly looks up to see a blimp with the hunters symbol on it. A man jumps down from the blimp and lands down below, causing the ground to crumble under him. Dust flies everywhere and Kiyomi blocks her face to prevent rocks to fly in her face. After the dust clears up she looks to see who had jumped out. When she noticed her eyes narrow.

"Chairman Netero... The leader of the hunters committee..." Kiyomi quietly says.