Hey guys, Lunamon810. With the first chapter of the psychoticness Latina Shewolf and I came up with, Hunter X Trust. This isn't a crossover, but a Hunter X Hunter fanfiction using five of the OC's from Digimon: The Crest of Trust. Don't worry, you have to know absolutely nothing about the other story to understand this one. We just thought it would be fun to see our OC's from it in this world. So yeah. Also, I'm basing this on the 1999 anime, though I went ahead and made Hisoka's hair red for the sake of not having to have it randomly change to red in the story. So yeah.
Also sometimes I had to just kinda paraphrase, because if I honestly used all the dialogue, this would be a choppy mess. So yeah. Hope you enjoy~
Amber Reed and Clary Kitsune walked up to the tiny restaurant they'd been led to, being told it was the exam hall. A lady turned and smiled at the two girls, Amber having mid-back length brown hair, Clary shoulder length black. "Good afternoon." Amber and Clary smiled and nodded. Clary looked at Amber, who nodded and walked up to the man who was cooking. "Excuse me, sir?" The man raised his eyebrows. "We'll have the steak combo."
The man smirked just slightly. "How would you like it done?"
"Grilled over low flame." She turned to Clary to make sure she'd recited what she was told to say right, and Clary nodded.
"Alright, you can go ahead and take a seat." The two nodded, and the lady who greeted them led them to a small, empty room. A boy with white hair tagged in along behind them, Amber having heard him make the same order as them. Amber and Clary's navigator, who'd gotten hurt before, came in a moment later.
"Thank you for letting me rest, girls. Here." He tossed them their badges, Amber's 97 and Clary's 98. He looked at the boy, and tossed him 99. "Your navigator failed to make it?" He nodded, and then the navigator did too. The navigator nodded at Clary and Amber. "Good luck ladies. See you next year."
"Don't count on it." Amber said, and he smiled and closed the door. A moment later the floor started sinking down, catching Amber and Clary slightly off guard, but the boy just stood there. Amber blinked. He was wearing a long sleeved maroon turtleneck with a white vest-like shirt over it, and some type of shorts, with boots. How was he not burning up? The room kept sinking for a few minutes.
"So, have you been to the Hunter Exam before?" Amber asked, looking at the other boy, though she was getting an odd feeling from him. The boy looked at her and shook his head just slightly, then looked away, looking bored. Amber looked at Clary, who shrugged, smiling. A minute later, the floor stopped moving, and the wall opened up. The three walked out into the dark tunnel that it opened into. Many people stood around, looking quite serious about what they were doing. Most of them stared at the three newcomers, until the boy disappeared into the shadows.
"Jeeze, they aren't kiddin' about the exam, are they?" Amber said, looking at Clary, who shook her head.
"Well, the exam isn't a joke, it's quite dangerous. I'm Tompa, number 16." A man said, looking at them and smiling, sending chills down the two girls spines, but they smiled anyways.
"I'm Amber, and this is my best friend Clary."
"Nice to meet you. So, this is your first year, right?"
"Uh, yeah. How'd you know?" Amber asked, blinking.
"Eh, I just know. This is my 35th time in the Exam, so I'd know if you were here before. So if you have any questions, feel free to ask."
"Thirty-five times?" Clary asked, slightly shocked. "How come you haven't passed?"
"The exam isn't as easy as you think, very few people make it, though over a million applicants try each year. Most don't even make it to the first phase though, which is where we are right now. Though it hasn't started yet, and we have no idea what's coming."
"Shouldn't you know if you've been here so many times?" Amber asked, tilting her head curiously.
"No, the exam changes every year. It's never the same as last time. That would make it too easy for those who'd been in the exam before, and give them an unfair advantage against the rookies." The two girls nodded. Many, many more people came in. It ended at the 405th applicant, who came in with 403 and 404, and seemed to be friends with each them. He was a kid who looked about Amber's age, 12, with spikey black hair and brown eyes, wearing greed clothes trimmed in orange. Number 404 had blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing white training suit under a blue and orange tabard. He looked about 17. Then there was number 403, who wore a business suit with teashade sunglasses, having black spiked crew cut hair and brown eyes. He looked about Clary's age, 19.
After 403, 404, and 405 talked to Tompa for a few minutes, they all heard a scream. Amber and Clary looked over to see a man in some type of jester-like suit with bright red hair. When he turned they saw had face paint, a maroon star on his right cheek and a spring green teardrop on his left.. The man against the wall seemed freaked out, and the jester-man had a playing card in his hand. Standing close to Tompa and the new applicants, they could hear them talking. "Ugh, that maniac is back again this year."
"Maniac?" Amber asked.
"Again?" Clary said, looking at Amber.
"Number 44, Hisoka the magician. The rumor was last year that he already pretty much passed the exam until he was expelled for killing an examiner he didn't like.. On top of that he apparently took out 20 other applicants along the way. If I were you, I wouldn't go anywhere near him." Clary and Amber nodded, looking at each other.
"Then how is someone like that allowed back again this year?"
"Ah. They change the examiners every year, and they decide what the tests are like and who gets to take 'em. An examiner can pass anyone, no matter how evil they are. Even the devil. That's just the way things are." Amber whimpered slightly, suddenly scared. Number 405 looked over her and smiled.
"Hey, don't worry. Just don't go near him or get in his way, I'm sure you'll be fine!" The kid said, and Amber smiled slightly, and Clary patted her shoulder as a buzzer went off, causing Amber not to notice Hisoka look over at the group. They all looked to the source of the buzzer-bell-thing, and saw someone lowering from the ceiling, holding a crazy-faced thing that set off the noise. The man had purple hair and wore a purple suit, with a mustache.
"As of this moment the exam is closed to any further applicants." People stepped out of his way so his feet could make contact with the floor. "I would like to officially welcome everyone here to the Hunter Exam." Everyone stood staring at him.
"Alright! Finally, it's gonna get started!" 405 said, and Amber smiled just slightly.
403 adjusted his tye. "Ah man, I can't believe I'm actually getting nervous."
"Come with me." The man who'd came down from the ceiling said, turning and starting to walk away. "Let me take a moment to remind you all that the Hunter Exam is extremely demanding. If you're unprepared, or unlucky, you may be severely injured, or even killed." This sent chills down Amber's spine, not liking the idea of dying. But she was here for Clary, and she wouldn't be backing out.
"Ahh, somebody help me!" The man that Hisoka had been dealing with called, though 99 just walked away from him.
"If you are alright with accepting those risks, then you may continue following me. " Slowly the group of people Amber and Clary stood with started walking.. 99 turned back and looked at Gon, which made Amber wonder why, but she didn't say anything. Everybody followed who Amber and Clary assumed were the examiner. "Very well then, The number of applicants is four hundred and four. At least for now." The man in the wall was abandoned, Amber and Clary would have helped but didn't know how, and couldn't risk being left behind, nor messing with something Hisoka did.
Amber and Clary stuck close to the last three to come in, for reasons they did not know. Number 403 looked around. "I guess I should have expected it, but no one backed out yet. I'd hoped there might be a few." The examiner started walking faster.
"Hey what's-" 405 said, interrupted by Tompa.
"Figured it out yet?" Tompa asked, and the examiner got a good twenty or thirty feet ahead of the crowd, and everyone started running to keep up.
"So this is how it's starting this year." Tompa said. They all turned to look at him. "The first phase of the exam has just begun."
"Sorry for the delay, allow me to introduce myself." The examiner said, and they all turned to look forward again. "I'm Satotz, and I'm the examiner for the first phase. I am also the one who's leading you to the site of the second phase." Several somewhat shocked noises came from the other applicants, though Amber and Clary just kept going without making a noise other than their feet., though Amber's were becoming quieter by the second, especially as her speed increased. "Some of you may have already realized it. Keeping up with me until we reach the second phase, is in fact, the first phase."
"So we know the examiner's name, what's yours?" Amber asked, looking at 403.
"I'm Gon!" He said, grinning. "And these are my friends Leorio and Kurapika." 405 nodded at the first name, 404 at the second. "What's your name?"
"I'm Amber, and this is Clary," Amber said, motioning towards her friend, who smiled at them and nodded.
They ran for quite a bit. "How long do you think we've been running?" Gon asked.
"It's been about thirty minutes so far." Tompa replied, sounding slightly out of breath, though for reasons unexplained to anyone else, Amber was fine. And though she didn't know why, so was Clary.
"What a weird test." Gon said.
"Actually, it's designed to test our physical endurance." Kurapika said. "And more."
"You noticed that too huh?" Tompa responded.
"Noticed what?" Gon asked curiously.
"We have to keep running, and running. But we don't know how far or how long. It causes a lot of mental fatigue too. Just gotta keep going. This is a psychological test as much as it is a physical one. "
"Ah-ha!" Gon said.
"Mmm. That's fine by me. I can keep up with that guy all the way." Leorio said, clenching his fist confidently.
"Hey, uh, Tompa!" Gon said. Tompa wiped his eyesbrows and looked at Gon. "Since this is your thirty-fifth try at this, you must know a lot of these other guys by now.
Tompa smiled. "Kind of."
"Tell me about them. I bet they all must be really interesting!" Amber and Clary paid attention to Tompa's explanation of the guys around them. 103 was a snake charmer who never forgets an enemy. 76 was a martial artist who never loses. 255 was a strong, smart wrestler. 197, 198, and 199 were three brothers who fight together as a team. 384 was a huntsmen who could take down any creature with a blow gun and a club.
"Wow, they all sound so great."
"Don't worry about it, all that matters is you pass." Leorio said to Gon.
"Well, it's also important that we know their skills, because in dire situations you need to know who you should get help from, who you should leave alone, who you can risk making angry, who you need as an ally, etc." Amber said, looking over at them. "The Hunter Exam seems like the kind of place the lone wolf can work, but so can the wolf pack. Each way has it's ups and downs. For example, Hisoka. If you attacked by him, mostly likely you're going to need help, and being a lone wolf would be bad. However, if you were in an alliance with him and he backstabbed you, you're finished."
"Well yeah, but still." Leorio said, sounding slightly annoyed. A minute later number 99 passed them on his skateboard, as if they weren't even there.
"Wow, that's cool!" Gon said.
"Hey you, kid on the skateboard! That's not fair, you're cheating!" Leorio protested, and Amber's eye twitched at that.
"Hey, what's your name? How old are you?" Gon asked.
The boy ignored Gon's questions and somewhat glared at Leorio from the corner of his eye. "So what makes you think I'm cheating?"
"Well duh, it's an endurance test!"
"Not exactly. The examiner said to follow him, but he didn't say how." Gon said, and Amber nodded.
"That's right, there's no rule stated saying that he can't use his skateboard, suit-boy. You'd be fine with it if you had the skateboard, not that I think you could ride it."
"Gon! Who's your friend, me or him? And stay out of this, Amber!" Leorio said, angry.
"There friends." The boy said quietly, no one else seemed to noticed but Amber though.
"Quit yelling, you're only wasting energy." Kurapika said, then added. "And it's annoying. We're allowed to bring whatever we want to the exam. Tompa started to offer his help to Killua, but stopped seeing the look Killua was giving him. Killua slowed down to be at the same speed as them, going in between Gon and Amber.
"What's up?" Gon asked, smiling.
"You asked... what my name was?"
"Yeah! Well you don't have to tell me if you don't feel like it. I'm Gon, and I'm twelve." Amber blinked. So she was right, Gon was her age.
"Gon... twelve years old." Killua said, then bent down and brought his skateboard out from under him, easily transitioning to walking.
"Hey, you're not using that anymore?" Gon asked, but was once again brushed off by the boy.
"Hey mister, how old are you?"
"Mister!? I'm not that much older than you guys, I'll have you know!"
"No way!" Gon said, along with Tompa.
"Not you too Gon! Just for that I won't talk to you ever again." Leorio said, and Amber growled, rolling her eyes, then looking at Clary.
"Unbelievable." Kurapika said.
"He looks about your age, Clary. What do you think, his he 19?" Amber asked, and Clary nodded.
"I think so, he seems about the right height and all. Though he acts like a nine year old, ten years younger then his real age." Leorio growled annoyedly.
"Shut up you! Anyways, Amber, I'll have you know I can skateboard just fine! I bet you're the one around here who'd fall of and scrape herself up." Amber laughed, as did Clary.
"You wanna bet? Hey kid, can I see that, just for a second? I won't break it, I promise. I just need to show mister 'Lay here how wrong he is." Leorio growled, not pleased with his nickname, but the kid shrugged and handed her the skateboard. Amber grinned and carefully tossed it down in front of her, jumping on and skateboarding easilyfor a minute, then jumping off and flipping it into her hands, handing it back to the boy. "Thanks." She grinned satisfactorily at Leorio.
Soon, Amber noticed 187 falling behind. She shrugged it off and kept running for quite a while. Gon continued to wonder who number 99 was, and Leorio continued to express his discontent for him. Amber and Clary continued on, Clary noticing how their footsteps were silent, wondering how and why, but not questioning it allowed. She figured they just walked differently than everyone else and shrugged it off. Amber knew why hers were like that, but didn't tell anyone, and didn't question why Clary's were, knowing she didn't know. Tompa talked about how he thought the boy's eyes were scary, and Leorio didn't fail to try to convince them to forget about the boy.
There were two tunnels, and everyone went through the left one, though Amber and Gon both noticed a sweet scent coming from the one on the right. Neither of them could pinpoint what it was though, so they pretty much let it go. After about three hours the tunnel split again. Kurapika wondered how much longer they could keep running, and Amber looked at Clary, wondering the same thing. "You still doing alright?"
Clary nodded. "I'm fine. Are you?"
Amber grinned and nodded, giving her best friend a thumbs up. "Never better." She took a whiff of the air, wondering if the sweet smell was back with the oncoming second tunnel. "Hey, that sweet smell is back."
"She's right." Gon nodded. "I noticed it too."
"It smells like some kind of sap to me." Tompa said, and Clary nodded.
"I agree, it's that kind of sweet, not like a desert sweet, some type of sap." They turned and looked at Leorio, because he started panting hard.
"Are you okay?" Gon asked, and Clary looked worriedly at him. Leorio looked lost in thought, and slowed down quite a bit. He stopped and dropped his suitcase, bending over. "Leorio!" Gon stopped and ran back, Amber stopping to watch, though Clary ran over to help him, Amber not quite sure what to do, go on or help him.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" Killua asked. Gon looked at him. "He's finished, so just leave him behind."
"Come on, you don't know that! Besides, I can't just leave him. He's my friend!"
"You can't just leave your friends behind." Clary said quietly, putting a hand on Leorio's shoulder and bending over, starting to try to encourage him to go on, making sure he was okay.
"Your friend?" Killua asked, his eyes widening slightly.
"Uh-huh!" Gon said. "That's what I said."
"I'm not giving up." Leorio said, and Clary took a step back as he started straightening up. "I came here to become a hunter and that's what I'm gonna do!" Leorio said, charging forwards.
"Hey, take it easy, you need a break." Tompa said, he and Kurapika having joined them.
"Shut up!" Leorio said. "If you're just gonna stand around here I'll leave you... in my... dust." He said, panting and bending over again. "Aw great! Now my legs won't move."
"So you're not just in it for the money." Kurapika said.
"No, it's all about the money. There is no other reason." Leorio said, still panting hard.
"There's no time to argue about this, What do you think we should do now, Tompa?" Gon asked, looking at the man, who put his hand on his chin, holding his elbow in his other hand.
"Hmm... Wait a sec, that smell!" Everyone looked at him, Amber tilting her head slightly. "Do you remember? There was a sweet smell coming from that tunnel! Hey, I think it might help you recuperate!"
"Huh? What was that?" Leorio asked, turning his head to look at him. Amber looked at Clary and raised her eyebrows, wondering if she knew anything about it. Clary shrugged, shaking her head, confirming she didn't.. Amber blinked, since Clary knew so much about medicine and such.
"I thought I recognized the smell, I'm pretty sure it's the sap of the healing cedar tree."
"Yeah. The sap is used by hunters who become exhausted in the forest. All you have to do is smell the aroma for a while and you can recover enough strength to keep on going." Tompa had Leorio being stabilized by his shoulder, and started dragging him alone.
Kurapika stopped him. "Wait a minute. It could be a trap."
"Maybe. That is possible. But we can't just leave him behind now can we? It's just a chance we're gonna have to take."
"Yes but-"
"I'm king of the flunkies, do you know why I've failed the exam thirty-four times? I'm a sucker for anyone who needs my help." Kurapika, Gon, Amber, and Clary gasped.
"Tompa-" He cut Gon off.
"It's okay. Once Leorio recovers, we'll catch up to you. Promise."
"I'm sorry Tompa." Leorio said somewhat weakly, and Amber looked at Clary who was now standing next to her. "Gon, Kurapika, don't worry about me. Go for it!"
"Leorio, I can't-" Once again Gon was cut off.
"Didn't you hear what I said, get moving!" Gon's look saddened, and Amber put a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll go with them, I'll make sure he makes it back, I promise." Amber said, knowing that's what Clary wanted to do.
"Don't you worry, I'll take good care of him. It's not for nothing I've done this thirty-four times. I've learned how to avoid the usual traps and stuff. Now you should be going." Gon swung his fishing rod and hooked the hook around Leorio's handle, and reeled it back in, almost in one swift movement. Killua's mouth opened just slightly, though Amber wasn't sure if it was in amazement or not.
"Alright. Thanks, for helping him." Gon said, handing Tompa the briefcase.
"Yup." Tompa nodded, and started walking away. Amber and Clary nodded at the others, then each other, then followed him and Leorio, who Tompa was helping walk. They soon found themselves looking at the guy from before, Nicholas, with his laptop, in tears, going on about it not being possible that he would drop out. Amber recalled how he was a jerk to Tompa earlier, and was slightly shocked when he said he would help him without even being asked, but was glad Tompa did so, as was Clary.
Adriane Rosen and Demi Graves had noticed Tompa walking with Leorio, having stopped take a break since Adriane had a hurt ankle from before they got to the exam. Demi got an odd feeling, so they followed them, unnoticed. Demi crossed her arms and looked at Adriane. "What do you think?"
"I think something definitely doesn't seem right here. We should see what he's up to." Adriane said, nodding. The two followed as quietly as they could, determined to be unnoticed. They all eventually made it to a room, where the smell was strong, and trees grew along the walls.
Tompa sat Nicholas and Leorio down. "There. Now just stay here and rest for a little while. And in no time you'll be feeling a lot worse because you'll both have flunked out." He said and started backing up, grinning, Amber and Clary darting to the sides, scared of what he might do. Adriane and Demi pressed against parts of the wall where none of trees touched.
"What did you say!?" Leorio demanded.
"What's going on here!?" Nicholas demanded, both of them still very weak.
"You know, I have another nickname, and I've kinda taken a liking to it." He said, still backing up cautiously. "They call me Tompa the rookie crusher!"
"You creep! What have you done!?" Leorio demanded, his anger fueling him enough so his voice wasn't so weak. "What is this place!?"
"You'll find out soon enough, see ya!" He said and started running away, and though the two on the ground tried to stop him, they were too weak to stand up. Nicholas suddenly looked traumatized, and wouldn't respond to Leorio, Clary, or Amber, Demi and Adriane still hiding. Nicholas screamed, making the others stiffen a bit.
Amber looked at Clary. "What do we do now? What is this stuff?" Amber asked. "Have you figured it out?"
"No, I haven't. And we need to do something fast, but I don't think we can get them out of her quick enough ourselves." Clary said urgently, looking worriedly at the two. Amber bit her lip and started trying to figure a way out of the mess. Adriane bit her lip, and opened her mouth to say something, but Demi put a fingers to hers, motioning they needed to stay quiet for now. She wanted to be there to help in case Tompa came back, now determined to make sure he flunked again.