Author notes: I don't own hunter x hunter characters. This is a HxH fic, but some characters from other fandoms may appear. Killua, Gon, and Kurapika are ten years old. (But of course, Killua and Kurapika act older than they are). It's AU so here are the differences with the original world:

- No supernatural things (Nen, Kimera ants, and stuff like that)

- Hunters exist, but not everyone knows about them, and the exam is different.

So, less fantasy and more crime. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the story :)

"Killua, are you paying attention at all? Killua?"

Killua stared at his stupid English teacher. What the hell was he supposed to answer to that question? No, I'm too busy thinking of what my parents told me last night. You will soon be old enough for this, Killua. It is time for you to make a decision. What a load of crap.

"Killua?"

"What?" he said.

"What was I saying?"

"You were asking me a question."

The teacher sighed. "Killua, I have to talk to you. Come to me by the end of the lesson."

"Alright."

Not alright at all. He was not in the mood for the typical "being a teenager is really hard, and you have to express your feelings about it" speech. Not only did this sound stupid, it sounded even worse with this teacher. It sounded genuine, and made him believe in it. It made him want to talk about his feelings, and he didn't want that. Sometimes he wondered if there was anything that he actually wanted. Getting away from his family would be nice. But he was not sure about this. He had never really done anything for himself. All he had ever been taught by his parents was how to be silent, how to manipulate other people, how to steal stuff without getting caught. He was getting bored.

His parents wanted to know whether he wanted to work for them or stay in school. He thought the first option to be the right one. There was nothing he could ever be able to do better than killing people anyway. He had no skills, was far from being a genius - though he had skipped a grade at school -, and had no artistic talent. He didn't have any kind of social skills either. Most people viewed him as the creepy gray-haired kid. Not that he disagreed with them, he still thought there was a little bit more to him than that. But would taking the same path his brothers Illumi and Milluki had taken be the best choice?

He tried to focus on what the teacher was saying, but he couldn't.

About ten minutes later, the bell rang, and the teacher dismissed the class. Killua walked towards him reluctantly, wondering if just getting out wouldn't have been a better thing to do.

"Is there anything you need to talk about, Killua?" his teacher asked.

"No."

"Really? You seem worried. You're not the anxious type, though."

"Well, I didn't study much yesterday, and I'm afraid I'm gonna fail that math test coming up," Killua lied. He was a good liar

The teacher frowned. "Killua, here's one thing you have to know about me. Kids not paying attention to my lessons never really bothered me, kids insulting me never really bothered me either. There's just this one thing that I cannot stand, and it's kids lying to me."

"I'm not lying. Can I go now, I'm getting late."

"Yes you can."

What a weird teacher, Killua thought.

"Kiru," Illumi called him. "Come here, I have to talk to you."

"What do you want?" Why did everyone want to talk to him?

"I have a mission for you."

"What kind of mission."

"Assassination."

Killua grimaced. He had seen that coming. "Do I really have to do this?"

"Yes."

"Our parents said I had the right to choose."

"Yes."

"Then why do I have to do this?" Killua shouted. Illumi punched him in the stomach, Killua gasped for air.

"To prove that you have the guts to do it."

"Hey, did you hear about the two new guys?"

"No. What are their names?"

"Gon Freecss and Kurapika Kuruta."

"Weirdest names ever. Even weirder than Killua Zoaldyeck."

Killua tried to ignore the constant chattering of the girls behind him, but for once their gossip sounded interesting. Maybe the two boys had an interesting personality.

For most of his life, Killua had only hung out with people he found interesting. He had never actually befriended anyone; although he had already pretended to be friends with someone.

But who knew, maybe these guys would be different?

A/N: Thank you for reading :) Please review :)