"Critical hit and knockdown! Three points! Knockout!" The referee counted up, directing his hand towards her, "The winner is Rukei!"

Her match in the 190s wasn't any different than the her last few, even when her opponent claimed that her throw wouldn't work due to his weight and size. He made a nice crater on the floor.

"What's the 200th floor like?" Gon asked, standing on his toes, obviously jumpy with excitement.

Killua shrugged, his eyes not moving from the monitor. He seemed to be trying very hard to look like he didn't care. "Beats me. I've never been up here before."

They stepped out of the elevator onto the rather expensive looking carpet; her surroundings looked similar to a very nice hotel. "Wow, the 200th floor is so fancy!" Gon exclaimed loudly, earning an odd look or two from those around him; Killua was more occupied with finding the receptionist.

Rukei gave a gesture towards the sign, and they followed her, "I wonder if the opponents here are any different than those below," she stated offhandedly as they turned, towards a darker hallway, only to jump back.

Rukei wasn't afraid of the dark; she used to be, like most young children were, but the Zakuya made her hammer that out very quickly. But this hallway brought back that tense, prickly feeling that caused her feet to stay planted in the lit corridor.

"Let's go," Killua growled, "We can do this."

She followed him very hesitantly, stepping in after them, but the further they got the more she wanted to run back to the light. Fear was starting to take control of her body; it was a fight between two parts of her mind that was pulling on her.

"It's murderous intent," Gon told them, in a similar situation, "Aimed at us."

"I think it's a little more than that," Rukei returned, trying to get herself to inch forward. Murderous intent? This wasn't the first time that someone wanted her dead, so why was this so different?

Killua had just about enough of the set up, "Hey! Who's there?! Show yourself!"

And as a response to his yell, a lady stepped out from behind the corner, very calm and she spoke with an eerily quiet voice, "Killua-sama, Gon-sama, and Rukei-sama, correct? The reception's desk is over here," she stated, with a lift of her hand, "so please register for a 200s match today. You won't be able to register after midnight, so please be careful."

"Was she the source of that?" Gon whispered to his companions.

"I can't tell..."

Could Shichi beat this woman? Well, yes, Rukei concluded very quickly, Shichi could very well do so. But Killua's statement echoed in her mind; the stronger the opponent, the better that opponent would be at hiding that strength. But what did this woman have against them in that case?

She was undisturbed by their muttering, continuing on softly, "By the way, there are currently one hundred, seventy-three contestants in the 200s class. And starting from the 200s, all weapons are allowed in matches, so please use whatever you have. Also, you will no longer be receiving prize money in the 200s class. You will only fight for glory, so please understand that if you're going to participate."

A small, thin string by the woman's head distracted her. It wasn't a spider web, more like the kind used in magic tricks. As if to prove her thought, a card flipped itself into existence beside her head and found it's way in front of them.

Behind her stood a much taller figure, distinct red hair and jester-like costume was more clear as she moved out of the way, startled.

What was he doing here?

"H-hisoka..." Killua stuttered, the first to find his voice, "Why are you here?"

"It's hardly that strange," he answered, dispelling the thought (rather hope) that it was some illusion her mind conjured up, "I love to fight, and this is a temple to fighting. And why are you here? Just kidding," he smiled at them, "Of course, this is no coincidence. I've been waiting for you. Remember how you ordered tickets over the cybernet? With a little effort, it's possible to determine where and when someone will arrive."

Rukei knew this, they had specialists in the Alliance to do this all the time, but she hadn't considered the idea of Hisoka stalking them all the way to Heaven's Arena. She should have considered it. If this man would just leave them alone.

"Well, I knew you would come here eventually," he brushed off cooly, "And so, as a veteran, I have a warning for you. It's still too early for you to step on this floor." With a flick of his hand, they were tossed backwards, "How early depends on your efforts," he announced while turning around and leaning against the wall, "Leave for now. It's too early."

Killua countered, the first again, "That's stupid! We just got up here-" he froze as the jester lifted his hand again; fear gripped at her again, begging for her to stay back.

"I won't let you pass. Not that you could, anyway."

Hisoka was doing nothing, nothing that she could see, but something incredible, something even stronger than fear kept her from moving forward. She ran through her memories quickly looking for its identity and a way to counter it but for some reason she can't think she's scared

"Don't be reckless!"

The invisible onslaught had come to a stop at the sound of the voice and familiar footsteps. "Wing-san!"

"You have no defense against his Nen," he stated sternly, and she knew he was finally going to come out with the truth, "Right now, you are like somehow standing naked in a blizzard and wondering why it's cold. If you continue to strain your body, you may die."

"This is Nen?!" Killua demanded, "He can stop us from moving with his willpower?! Don't lie!"

Wing smiled as he complied, "Yes. I was lying. Though technically, I wasn't lying completely. I will teach you about Nen. So retreat for now."

Gon turned to the receptionist lady who seemed lost, worried as well, and forgotten in the confusion, "Yes?"

"What happens if we don't register for a fight today?"

"Gon-sama and Rukei-sama, you would have to start again from the first floor. However, Killua-sama refused to enter once before, so if he fails to register again, his commitment would be questioned and he will be banned from participating."

Killua looked away before calling out to the man, "Hey, Wing-san. If we back away now, would we be able to return here by midnight?"

"That depends on you."

She quickly checked the clock. Three and a half hours left.

"Simply put," the man summed up as she stared at the vase pierced with several flowers, "This is Nen. Nen refers to the ability to manipulate your aura also known as life energy. Every person posses a small amount of life energy. But in most cases, it's generally discharged. The ability to build up a shroud of life energy is known as Ten."

The character written on the board was different than the last, though Wing still pronounced it the same way. Ten was meant to make the body tougher and considerably slow the effects of aging. Zetsu, rather than meaning to express in words, meant to nullify aura, effective for concealing presence or reserving energy.

"Then comes Ren, a technique to create an especially strong aura," and when he finishing the statement, she jolted in surprise, "Can you feel that?"

It was warmer somehow, not chilling or frightening like the former experiences under Ren due to Wing not having any hostile intent.

"Aura is an energy that comes from within humans which makes it very effective against other humans. For better or for worse. If you attack a helpless person with ill intent, you can use aura to kill," he told them strictly, before he crossed them over to the wall, "Only one thing can protect you from someone who uses Nen. You must also learn to use Nen. You must use Ten for defense, block your opponent's aura with your own. Otherwise..."

Their instructor trailed off, placing his hand against the wall gently and she could sense Ren reenter the room. Within a second of release, the wall caved inward, cracks spreading all across the sides like a web as the response of Wing's slight tap.

"Your body will be crushed."

She would have to thank Wing later. If it wasn't for him, she could have very well ended up like the wall behind him.

"Nen is a power that dwells within every person. However, at the present, there are only a few capable of using this power. They are treated geniuses, leaders, psychics, mystics, or super humans."

"A power that everyone has..."

"Yes," Wing nodded, "And there a two means by which to awaken this power. The deliberate way and the aggressive way. Zushi underwent the deliberate method. He was a quick learner and he trained hard," Wing announced, gesturing to his proudly smiling student, "So he was able to master Ten in a very short time. In about six months."

Killua immediately objected upon hearing the amount of time it had taken, "That's too long! We need to learn Ten and pass Hisoka's Nen barrier before midnight!"

Rukei knew it was probably not Wing's favorite way of doing things, but they weren't too free on choices at the moment. "How long does the aggressive way take?"

"That will depend on you," Wing repeated,"Can you learn to hold your aura within your body before time runs out? That is the key. I will now direct my aura towards you," Wing stated, holding out his hand, "This is known as Hatsu which I demonstrated earlier."

She quickly glanced at the wall again at the thought. 'Aggressive' might have been too light of a word for it.

"Naturally, I will restrain myself since my objective is not to destroy your bodies," he assured, "However, this way is still perilous. In other words, I will attempt to shock you into awakening. I will give your sleeping body a jolt so you can learn Ten more easily. I say sleep because your body's micropyles, are closed, meaning that your flow of movement is stunted. Therefore, I will send my aura into your bodies, to open your micropyles."

She gave a quick glance over her hands and arms; she knew she probably couldn't see them but it was almost an unconscious effort to check if they were really there.

"Under normal circumstances, you would spend a long time meditating and discovering your own auras while slowing opening the apertures. Even Zushi, a natural talent, required three months. However, you two could do it in a week. Or even sooner."

Rukei was surprised at this of course, in the first place, how could Wing even tell?

"Which is why I find it unfortunate that we have such short time to work with."

Killua folded his arms behind his head, a familar bored drawl returning, "I don't really get it. But quick and dirty is always better."

"As much as we'd like to study it properly, we don't have a week."

"This is a shady, highly-frowned upon method. You will be ignoring the correct procedure. You could even die if the person using this method were weak or evil."

"But you aren't weak, and you aren't evil," Gon replied immediately, "Right?"

Wing sighed at the boy's response while Killua shifted his eyes towards the board, "That's why I'd like to know; why would you suddenly want to teach us the true major principles?"

"Because I did not want to squander this opportunity," Wing responded honestly, "If you were to challenge the 200s, with none of this knowledge, you would have suffered greatly. Up there, everyone knows how to manipulate Nen. And they have a special greeting for any newcomer ignorant of Nen, or in other words, a Nen attack," he summed up, "In other words, they do what I am about to but without any restraint. They don't care, even if people die..."

Wing held strict regulations around the use of Nen, she could tell, but she was glad that someone disciplined like that was the one telling them about this.

"Only those who survive are allowed to pass. They are the chosen. However, they pay a steep price. That's why I wanted you to be prepared," Wing raised his hand again and she could sense the aura strengthening, "Now despite my attempts to scare you, I have confidence that this will awaken your power! You have the potential as well as ability. Put down your belongings, take off your shirt, and turn your backs towards me," he instructed.

She followed them and waiting for Wing to finish transferring his Hatsu to Gon and Killua, before he moved his hand towards her. A warm feeling became a burning one, one that was scalding even as it spread throughout her body. She grit her teeth to force back a yell of pain.

"Every micropyle on your body has been opened," she heard Wing's voice behind her despite how occupied she was from what she was seeing.

White, nearly translucent wisps was rising from her hands and arms at a rapid pace; at first she thought it was the remnants of Wing's but seeing that it didn't stop, she knew that wasn't it.

"That is your aura, or life energy," Wing affirmed, "You can see it now because the micropyles in your eyes were also opened."

Gon lifted his palms to take a better look at the aura he was seeing for the first time, "It's like smoke. Like steam, rising from the spout of a kettle."

"It's rushing out from every part of my body," Killua muttered, and that's when it hit her.

"This is our life energy, correct?" Rukei questioned hurriedly, glancing at the other two.

Killua got where she was jabbing at, "Wait, isn't this dangerous?"

"You are correct, Rukei. Because this is your life energy, you will grow tired if it continues to escape. If you expend all your aura, you will collapse from fatigue," the man clapped his hands together, "Listen to me. You must concentrate your aura within your body. Close your eyes!"

She payed strict attention on his words through shut eyes.

"Use any stance that helps you focus. Then visualize your aura flowing like blood through your body. From the top of your head to your right shoulder."

She needed to change the state of her aura then. If her aura was steam, then in another state it could also be water.

"To your hand before passing through your legs, to the left side."

The gentle patter of rain on a summer's night filled her mind.

"Now visualize that flow beginning to ebb and hovering around your body."

Cooling and kind on the one that stood out there on her own, surrounding her with itself to provide her comfort and relief. A light layer of mist enveloping her body.

"Slowly open your eyes. How do you feel?"

The first thing she wanted to check was the state of her aura; it felt very different then what she felt before. Instead of it rushing out, it had gathered around her almost like a light bubble.

Gon was the first to reply, "I feel like I'm surrounded by some kind of warm mucus."

"It's gentle," Rukei murmured, "But it has substance to it."

"Yeah, like I'm wearing weightless clothes."

Wing nodded in approval, "Continue to maintain those images. Once you've assimilated them, you'll be able to use Ten while asleep," he informed and she stepped back upon sensing the former aura, similar to that of Hisoka and the first time he demonstrated Ren to them, "Next, I will use hostile Nen against you!"

-

Hisoka still sat there at the end of the hallway; he hadn't moved an inch from where he first stopped. The bored expression turned to an amused smile as he released the chilling aura to block them again.

But properly armored and equipped, they broke through the aura and darkness of the corridor.

"Welcome to the 200s," Hisoka chimed, "It seems like I needn't bother with the traditional greeting. I can guess why you've come to Heaven's Arena. You intend to train before challenging me..."

Gon finally spoke to the jester, confidence held throughout his words, "Yeah, but I didn't expect to find you here. That saves me time."

Hisoka chuckled at the boy's statement, "You should avoid being overconfident in your ability to use Ten. There is much to learn about Nen," he advised, and to prove, he brought both of hands up, creating shapes between two fingers, crossing from between a spade to a skull, "To be honest, I feel no urge to fight you."

Rukei blinked as the skull disappeared; was that also Nen? How much could aura do?

"If you manage to win a single match in the 200s, I shall accept your challenge," he finished, leaving his blockade point and allowing them to the receptionist's office.

The lady behind the window was much more animated and energetic than the woman they had met before despite the hour but was getting more discouraged by every sentence the children said. In the end, she completely gave up on getting them hyped on Battle Olympia or challenging the Floor Masters.

"No...," Gon went on strongly, "I'm doing this! I have to find out how different his opponents are."

"Wait, that's a bad idea," Rukei put in as Gon began filling out a form, "Wing-san told us-"

Killua shook his head at her attempt to convince the spiky-haired boy otherwise, "He's not going to change his mind, Rukei."

"But-"

Whirring and clacking sounded from behind them, and she glance back to look at three figures. From the looks of it, they were the 'chosen ones' that survived the attacks from others when they first arrived.

Killua's voice, thought it was nonchalant as always, had a bit of an edge to it, "You want something?"

"No, not really," one of them stated, a man in a wheelchair, the one next to him, a taller fellow excused that they were simply in line to register for a fight.

Killua sighed, "Okay, I see... Gon, these guys want to fight on the same day that you do."

Rukei gave a huff at the quiet snickering from the trio turning to the boy, telling him off in a hushed tone, "I told you this was a bad idea."

But no words reached him as Gon checked a box and she dragged a palm across her expressionless face.

"I'm ready to go whenever!"

This is a really bad idea...

-

Shichi yawned, she hadn't gotten much sleep over the passing days, and when she did, they were plagued with nightmares of worst case scenarios. Therefore, the best option was to stay awake and do something at least half-productive. This case was really taking it out of her, and that argument she had with Rukei didn't make it any better. She slumped down onto the table, propping her head up with one arm, "Hey Glass, what's for dinner?"

"Wow, you sound like a completely normal seventeen year old when you say that," a redhead woman laughed, walking into the room cheerfully with a couple papers in hand. Crimson wasn't really one for paperwork, actually Shichi hardly trusted Crimson with them, but Shichi needed as much help as she could get and while Glass wasn't as robust and loud as Crimson, he definitely wasn't detail-oriented in any sense. It was time like these when Rukei would-

Shichi wondered what the weather was like outside (what a pathetic attempt to push her thoughts away).

Shichi gave Glass the most incredulous, angry, what-is-the-meaning-of-this look when he lay down a full plate of greens, and only greens, in front of her. She hated asparagus, she couldn't explain why but the texture was funny and the taste was weird, and she just hated it.

When everyone learned that, Shichi found a lot of people getting revenge on her for snide comments or uncooperative behavior. "Glass," her only response was a 'take it or leave it' look and she stood up with a huff, throwing on the tattered black coat, "Okay. I'll go grab something else to eat."

The blonde gave her a sort of smile, the annoying, knowing smile that made Shichi feel like a child. "It's from Rukei. She texted me yesterday."

The woman froze, before letting out a deep sigh and sitting back down at the table. She grabbed the fork that Glass had handed her, and no matter how much she wanted to spit it back out, ate in silence. The least Shichi could do was take on Rukei's revenge at full force.

And so take it she did while Glass and Crimson looked on with an approving fondness like the parents they were.

。。。

The actual Heaven's Arena shows up and the infamous, misunderstood 'osu' that even I'm not sure if I understand completely and I took martial arts for a couple years. Then again, a lot of American dojo don't always properly use words (my own included, you should hear everyone try to count) but I wouldn't put too much blame on them. I tried doing some research but I'm not too sure how reliable the articles are.

From what I gather in HUNTER x HUNTER, 'osu' seems to be used as a response for 'yes' or 'I understand' or a greeting between students. But a certain website tells me that 'osu' does not mean 'yes' or 'I understand' and definitely should not be used to those older than you, but I really don't know how accurate this is. But I'll stick to the HUNTER x HUNTER version to make things easier. Well anyhow, if you've got more information on the 'osu' thing, I'd really like to know!

*Also, I'm not sure, would it be more appropriate for Wing to say 'Rukei-san' or 'Rukei-kun'? Because the suffix is sometimes used for girls too but usually a teacher would address a female student with their last name and 'san' while guys would be addressed with their last name and 'kun' but since Wing doesn't know their last names, this is about right, right?

This didn't steer off much from the original plot but fear not dear readers, many new things shall be coming about in the very near future. Please, look forward to it! Also, have a gif.