The x Hunter x Games
Author: Hikari Sorayume
Chapter Summary: Hisoka switches up the rules
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Hunter x Hunter
Word count: 1,497
Warnings: Should be character death, rules have changed, "Victors" are also referred to as "Hunters", Inaccurate recount of the time before the HG, President Snow will be the only HG character mentioned, Alluka will be identified as a girl by Killua, but as a boy by everyone else, last time I read HG was probably about 2 years ago, possible OOCness, not-my-forte,
Notes: I love Alluka and Killua. I love them so much that now the ages are now 10 - 16 rather than what they were previously, which I think was either 12-16 or 12-18. I've done this so I can keep Gon and Killua 12 while still having Alluka at risk of being chosen. I wasn't sure if I should actually have her be chosen though...
edited: 7/4/2016 (2 hours after it was written...)
A man with flaming hair walked up the podium, his hips swinging wildly with each and every step, the expression on his face one of great amusement. All Killua could do was grasp tightly the hand of Alluka, hoping and praying against hope that neither of them would be selected. Killua was glad she was with him now, even if Alluka herself was slightly miffed by it, as she identified herself as a girl but was sent into line with the rest of the boys anyway. However, Alluka did not complain to this, as it meant she was closer to her brother, however slightly. It was not long before Killua had to let go of his hold on his sister, and release her so that he could join the older boys' division. Terrified, Alluka silently made her way to the back of the group, along with the other twelve year olds who old served to block her from Killua's view. Unsure of wether his voice could be heard, Killua whispered soft encouragement to Alluka, reminding her that all the odds in the world were in her favour.
The hunter games had only been established in quite recent years, making this the 25th to be exact. Before the hunter games, there had been a war. A great war. A war which had divided colonies, destroyed civilisations, and introduced corrupted nations. In short, it had torn the country of Panem apart. Killua knew greatly of this story. In fact, his family had been major contenders of said war, especially his father and grandfather. Killua had never particularly been on good terms with his father, so most recounts of the war had come from his grandfather Zeno, who greatly held Killua in his favour. He told Killua of many fights he had gone into, most of them being with very few men, about 100 at the most, and sometimes had even gone in alone, with only the help of Killua's father. Zeno would tell him of how much fun the war had been – except for when he had to fight people who took up too much of his time. "We're not getting paid enough for this." He would often say, referring to Silva – Killua's father – and he. Of course, Zeno had not been paid at all for some battles of which he had indulged in merely for fun. Because of said battles, Killua's family, the Zoldycks, were greatly feared all throughout the nation of Panem. And when the war finally came to an end, with President Snow on top, the Zoldycks had become quite favour some to him, and as such were allowed position ship within the wealthiest of districts. However, the Zoldycks (A.K.A Kikyo, Killua's mother) decided they'd rather live in the poorest district, where all were frightened and weak, lest anyone steal their glory of entering the hunter games, a sick and twisted "game" of sorts not only invented for the viewers of the Capitals pleasure, but also to oppress any possible rebellions. And so now here was Killua, not looking forward in the least to said hunter games.
The red haired man on stage took position in front of a podium, and began to speak. His lips twisted into a sick imitation of a smile, his eyes holding absolutely no light, other than his own twisted amusement. "Now then, shall we begin?" His voice held a weird tilt to it, like he was dancing with his own satisfaction, and he watched the crowd carefully as though thoroughly gauging there reaction. "Before anything else, let me first introduce myself as Hisoka." There were a few murmurs at this. The name "Hisoka" was incredibly familiar to everyone present, and it came as a complete and utter surprise that no one had recognised him earlier – it was obvious, when one were to study his weird strait combined with his odd choice of clothes and hair. But perhaps it was the change in hair colour that had thrown people off, having been previously blue. "Now, now, hush everyone." Everyone settled down. "I'm here today, as the previous examiner has mysteriously… vanished." If the gleam in his eyes and happy expression was anything to go by, the previous examiner had not simply "vanished."
"And as he can no longer perform the selection of candidates thanks to his disappearance, it is up to me as last year's victor to do the selection of candidates myself." He paused here, clearly waiting for some kind of reaction, probably that of an eruption of whispers. If that were the case, than he was in for disappointment, as everyone looked on waiting for him to continue.
"Now, normally one would pick out a name from each of these here bowls but personally… I think this system needs to be shaken up." This comment warried better results. People began soft mutters under their breaths as they looked around at one another in askance. All hung on to his next words.
"I think instead I shall pick up three names from each bowl, and decide through certain… methods which of the three is most worthy of trying for the title of 'Hunter'." Rage and indignation rang out at this. Killua was shocked by this too. He could understand the crowds dissatisfaction with this claim, but also, quite possibly, wasn't this a good suggestion? It meant more people would be unlucky enough to be selected and who knew what this madman's "methods" would include but… in the end, whoever was left had a significantly better chance of actually beating the system to come out on top, didn't they?
"Now, now, I understand you're conviction, but you people really need to step your game up. You live in the poorest district and in all the 25 years this program has been running, have only ever had one victor. Isn't that rather pitiful?" Killua knew who he was referring to. Everyone knew who he was referring to, how could they not? But to say Killua hated this fact the most, would not be a far off assumption. The only person from district 12 to have ever emerged a victor of the hunter games and actually earned the title of "hunter" was none other than Killua's older brother Illumi, who he just so happened to despise. It had been his idea to keep his precious younger sister locked away within their household, and it had only been the previous year when she had been set free from her confinement, and that was only so that she could one day compete within the hunter games. Killua would have none of it! He would never let his sister enter the hunter games, he would take her place before she could even set foot upon the stage! Killua was not necessarily afraid of the hunter exams. His father along with Illumi had taken all necessary precautions to ensure that when Killua finally got his big chance – one that he did not want nor had need of – he would be perfectly safe and be able to hold true to the name "Zoldyck". But… with Hisoka's new rules, wouldn't this mean that even if he volunteered for Alluka she could still get elected again anyway? Or what if he was elected first and she afterward? What if Hisoka "methods" included death for the other two candidates? There was too much to think about… Killua's head nearly exploded from over stimulation.
"Ladies first then." Hisoka proceeded to call out the names of three very unfortunate ladies, none of which Killua gave the slightest thought to. He was lost in worry over all the possible scenarios that could happen, all the little things that could go wrong to ruin the very few happy months he had been allowed to spend with Alluka. Was it too late to grab Alluka and make a break for it? Would he be able to escape? Where could he escape to? He was so enwrapped within his thoughts that he nearly missed Hisoka continuing onward.
"Now the boys." Killua could feel his heart beating into his throat with every beat, his breath came choked and strangled and he could barely register anything around him other than the man in front of him. Honestly, Killua had never prayed before. He had never believed in some higher power, who stood idly by watching his followers and checking for anything that might be amiss. If there really were some high divinity, than was he blind or did he simply not care? The white haired Zoldyck figured that if there ever were a time to pray, then now sure as hell was a good as any. 'God, Satan, fish-Jesus, Joe from the supermarket, if any of you are registering this, than please don't let my sister die.' Okay so maybe he wasn't being all serious.
And with his stupid antics he had missed the first person being called. 'One down two to go.'
"Alluka Zoldyck." And that was it.