Inner and Outer Strength

by sakurai-pyon

Akane has completed her training so now she is set out on a new challenge: the Hunter Exam. There, she meets Killua. She soon learns that Killua is as competitive as she is and the two are always fighting against each other. Killua learns what losing feels like because, Akane is no ordinary girl. Where will their story take us? KilluaXOC Please read and review

1. Chapter 1

Sakurai: WELCOME TO THE NEW STORY! INNER AND OUTER STRENGTH!

Killua: Welcome!

Gon: I hope you enjoy it!

Sakurai: I do not own HxH or any of the characters!

Gon: Time for the story!

Akane's PoV

"BYE MOM! LOVE YOU!" I called to my mom as I threw my jacket on and ran out the door. "Love you too!" I heard her respond as I was halfway down the dirt pathway leading to the village.

I walked about two miles before a knife came whizzing past me and stuck into a tree about three inches from my face. I let out a small sigh before turning to the direction that the knife came from. "You're getting more predictable, Kai." I said to the boy emerging from behind the trees.

"No I'm not." Kai said, grabbing the knife and replacing it in his pocket. "You just know me too well."

I rolled my eyes and continued walking towards the village. Kai skipped next to me, examining a smaller knife that he pulled from his shoe. "So, are you happy that Master said you were finished with training?"

'Sigh, I guess."

"That's it? If it were me I would be jumping for joy. I mean all that hard work, all those early mornings, to be finished with it all would be great."

"Yeah, being able to sleep in is fantastic, but now that I'm finished with training, I feel like I have nothing to do with my life."

"Maybe you can start to go on missions!"

"No, I already asked Master about that, but you have to be at least 15 years old to start going on missions."

"So… you have three years till then. What do you think you can do?"

"I don't really know."

We reached the village, where Kai found a group of friends then waved me goodbye, and I went straight for the meat cart; they always sell out first. I was looking at a chicken walking around a small wooden pen when I felt someone tap on my shoulder.

I turned around to see an extremely tall, wrinkly man in a Kimono and with a long head of thick orange hair that reached his ankles. In short, he was a pretty hard to miss figure. "Master!" I exclaimed.

"Hello, Akane. How are you?" He said with a smile. He joined me at the meat cart and told the man that he wanted a pound of the pig hanging above us.

"I'm good." I said, handing the meat-cart-man the money for the chicken. "Pretty bored."

"Hmm… I thought you might say that." He said with an I-know-something-you-don't smile. "Come to the temple at noon."

I stood there confused as he walked away. The man gave me the beheaded chicken in a bag and I continued with the rest of my errands. I got the spices and paper and a new pair of hiking boots. They were black and leathery with buckles on the outsides. There was a small pocket on the inside of each that I knew would come in handy in the future.

By the time I had bought everything I needed to and walked the two and a half miles back home, it was almost noon. I handed the groceries to mom and started up the mountain leading to the temple.

I learned everything I needed to know about life, fighting, and survival from Master in the Temple. I was hard work, but it was also very fun. Completing the training also gave pride to my shamed family name.

"Hey Akane!" I heard a voice from my left shout. "What are you doing here? Miss me that much?"

I turned to see Kai hanging upside down from a tree with pots full of water under him and above him. His feet were tied to the top to prevent him from falling. I remember this training exercise. You had to take the water from the pots under you and put it in the pots over you. Once you had completed that, you had to get the water back to the pots under you. The only thing you could use to transport the water was a small teaspoon and the pots were at least four of five gallons.

"Hey Kai." I responded with a wave. "Master said he wanted to talk to me about something."

Kai nodded and then went back to transporting the water. "Good Luck!" I called as I continued up the mountain. I looked at the familiar scenery. It had only been a week since I was the one doing the training exercises on this mountain, on these trees.

I reached the Temple and called out for Master. "I'm in the meditation room." Came a soft reply. "And please Akane, will you learn to keep your voice down?"

I smiled at Master's usual request as I walked into the room and sat down. "You wanted to talk to me Master?"

"Yes, I have something for you to occupy your time with."

"Really? Is it a mission?"

"Not quite."

"Then what is it?"

"An examina-"

"NO THANK YOU!"

"You didn't let me finish Akane. And keep your voice down."

"But Master, I hate tests!"

"This is a different kind of test than you think. It will be fun."

"What kind of test is fun!"

"The Hunter exam."

"Hunter exam… I think I've heard of that."

Master stood up and picked up a flyer off a nearby dresser. He put it on the floor in front of me and I studied it curiously. It told about an airship to the hunter exam site. From what I know, hunters are like warriors that can be specialized with a special skill.

"So, are you interested?" Master asked folding his arms over his chest.

"Do you think I'm good enough to be a hunter?"

"Absolutely. You are the strongest fighter in our village Akane. Someday soon, with more experience, you will surpass even me."

"But Master,"

"Akane. I am not one to give out unearned praises. When I say you are strong enough, you are strong enough."

"I'll take the Hunter exam Master."

~~~ A FEW DAYS LATER~~~

"Be safe Akane. Please be safe." My mother said, hovering over me as I put on my boots.

"Don't worry about me mom." I said, giving her a hug goodbye. "Worry more about yourself. Don't let anyone push you around okay."

"I'll do my best. Good Luck."

I was almost out the door when mom pushed something into my hand. "It was your grandmothers." She said as she closed the door. "Wear it with pride."

I turned away from the closed door which my mother was no doubt crying behind and opened my palm. In it I saw a note and small blue pendant, in the shape of a teardrop. It was made of a shiny metal-like substance. I put it around my neck then turned to the letter. On the outside I read," Do not open until in times of trouble."

I shrugged and put the letter in my pocket, unhappy that I wasn't supposed to open the letter. I started walking down the street.

I wore my black hiking boots and black shorts. I wore a plain blue T-Shirt and a faded black zippered hoodie over it. On the inside of the hoodie were a few pockets that I had filled to the brim with money, snacks, and a few other necessary items.

I reached the village and was about to board a taxi carriage before a voice stopped me. "Good Luck Akane." Master said behind me. I turned to him and nodded with a smile before getting in the carriage.

I sat down in the seat, tolf the driver where I was headed, and smiled out the window. I started to shake a little with aniticipation. "Here I come, Hunter Exam!"

~~~A few hours later~~~

I stepped off of the carriage, thanked and paid the driver, and looked at the sign ahead of me.

"TO ALL HUNTER EXAM PARTICIPANTS: Welcome! Please make your way to the airship. First, please find your way to the end of this maze. Please note that if you make a wrong turn, you will have to start the maze over again. You have 20 tries. The airship will depart without you if you have not completed the maze in time. Good Luck."

I looked at the Brick tunnel-like thing in front of me. And took in a small breath. 'piece of cake.' I thought to myself before entering.

Sakurai: End of Chapter 1.

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