~.:[Vividus]:.~
"In here are twenty-five numbered cards. In other words, your ID numbers are on the cards. I need you to draw a card in the order by which you exited the tower. Your target's ID tag is worth three points. With that, your own ID is also worth three points. All other ID tags are worth one point. You need six points to advance to the final phase. So while on Zevil Island, you must gather enough tags to a total of six points. That is the condition for clearing the Hunter Exam's Fourth phase."
After the third examiner finished explaining the rules. Everyone has boarded the boat as it made it's way over to Zevil Island. Vividus decided to sit as far away as everyone as she could. She wasn't in the mood to listen to the guide, Vividus just wanted to get the last two exams over with.
Looking around, she can see that everyone has already taken off their badge and hidden it away. Majority of the applicants we're either just chilling or trying to scout out who is their target. Weirdly enough, others just didn't care and still wore their badge.
Decided to take a glance at Hisoka, she was surprised at how composed he is right now.
'I wonder who is his target...' Vividus thought to herself, looking glancing over at Kurapika and the others. 'It would suck if one of them ended up with Hisoka.'
Hearing the guide finishing her rules, she informed everyone that we have at least two hours to spare until we reach Zevil Island. Taking this time, she would walk away towards the end of the boat. Leaning against the edge and staring deep into the sea.
Feeling the wind brush against her face, Vividus couldn't stop thinking about what happened earlier with the Prisoner. She felt like she lost complete control earlier on how she ripped that man apart. Sure, he had it coming. However, Vividus felt like breaking his bones was going a tad bit too far. To make matters worse, she's snapped in front of Gittarackur. She is aware that he is a killer himself, but she still felt a small sense of shame.
At the same time, she felt nothing.
'What...was that?' Vividus thought to herself, 'I lost my cool. What would Kurapika and the others thought about me if they saw that?'
Imagine the look on their faces hearing what she's done. She felt a cold shiver spark down her spine. Vividus wasn't sure if she can handle the expression on their faces of disgust and fear. The Kurta woman wasn't sure why she snapped the way she did. To make matters worse, she wasn't sure if she should inform Kurapika about her encounter with Altair. About how their eyes are already being used for selfish purposes. It sickens her, knowing how far people are willing to go.
'What happens if I lose myself again?' Vividus questioned herself, narrowing her eyes towards the water. 'If I lose myself...will I end up hurting the others in the process? Will I be able to control myself? What happens if I-'
Feeling a hand placed on her shoulder, Vividus jumped in surprised. Looking over, she could see non-other than her baby brother, Kurapika.
"You ok?" Kurapika asked, now standing beside her. "We haven't had a chance to talk much since the Third Phase."
Letting out a small breath, she shook her head. "No...I'm not ok. Just didn't have a good time in Trick Tower. That's all."
Kurapika raised his eyebrow, "What happened?"
Vividus felt her mouth open. However, no words came out. She felt a sudden flash before her eyes when she snapped Altair's arms and her gauging his eyes out. Biting her lower lip, she would look away from Kurapika.
"I...just didn't ok?" Vividus mumbled. "Let's talk about this later, we should be focusing our energy on this exam. Not on how I'm feeling."
"Vividus," Kurapika said, staring at his Older Sister with a worried look. "I'm not a kid anymore, you can tell me what's on your mind."
The Older Kurta woman stayed silent, looking away from Kurapika and nervously started to play with the hem of her jacket.
"Vividus, please don't hide things from me." He said worriedly, "I know I want us to talk about our...family matters after the exam. But can you at least tell me this one thing?"
Vividus couldn't help but frown. She looked up at her baby brother, seeing nothing but a worried expression screaming at her. "We have two hours to spare. We have time."
Biting her lower, she felt conflicted. Trying to contemplate whether she should tell him or not. The temptation to talk to him was just itching to crawl out and expose everything about her battle against Altair. However, after feeling her brother's hand gently placed on her shoulder. A sudden flash of Altair flashed before her eyes. The sound of his bone snapping and his pleading ran into her ears. The image of his blood on her hands. She flinched away. "I'm sorry...but I can't. I'm not ready to say anything."
Gently placing his hand off her shoulder, she would reach out and poke the center of his forehead. Giving him a sad smile. "I promise we'll have our talk, right now...the last thing I want you to do is to worry about me. Focus on the exam ok?"
Hearing those words, Vividus knew that Kurapika was not ok with that response at all. He was about to say something else until she cut him off. "Passing this exam should be your number one priority. You do want to pass, don't you?"
She heard Kurapika tsked, crossing his arms over his chest. "Yeah...I do."
"Then focus on that."
Her baby brother rolled his grey eyes, "You're still stubborn as ever, you know that right?"
"I know," Vividus said, snickering, "Some things just don't change."
At that point, the topic finally became lighter between the two. They both looked out at the ocean in silence. Vividus decided to change the subject. "So, who's your target?"
"Not you, that's for sure." Kurapika said, "It's Tonpa."
Vividus whistled, "Damn you're lucky; you got an easy target~."
"I guess, but knowing him, he probably teamed up with someone," Kurapika said, letting out a massive sigh. "He's a coward like that. How about you?"
"I don't know her name, but shes applicant #80," Vividus replied, "She's the one with the Sniper."
Now it was Kurapika's turn to whistle, "Oh her? You might have a hard time hunting her down."
"Maybe," his sister replied, but soon grinning from ear to ear. "However, she has no idea who she's messing with."
"With that exact reason, I'm glad I'm not your target," Kurapika replied, chuckling softly.
~.:x_X_x:.~
'This...is just too easy.' Vividus thought to herself. Sweatdropping.
A few hours ago, Zhara would time each applicant two minutes to get themselves started. However, it was the order on who arrived in the gathering hub during the Third Phase. Considering she was placed in third, that gave her an easy opportunity to hunt down her target.
Using her zetsu, she concealed herself from her prey and everyone around her. Since she's been following her target: #80, for the last few hours, it was clear that she had no idea that Vividus was trailing closely behind. Finally making a stop, she watched her prey hide behind a tree and pointed her target towards someone. Looking forward, she raised an eyebrow to see her target: was Gittarackur.
'Why am I always running into this guy?' Vividus thought to herself, focusing her nen and started to control the water out of her waterskin.
Watching both the Sniper and Gittarackur, she noticed that the tall man removed one of the needles from his neck: and started to talk into the walky-talky.
"Hisoka, have you taken your target's tag?"
After hearing Gittarackur's voice, her eyes widen in shock. 'Wait, that's what his usual voice sounds like? I feel lied too.' Vividus thought to herself, continuing to listen to the conversation.
"No, not yet." Replied Hisoka.
"You don't even know who your target is, do you?" He asked, playing with the needle in his hand.
"Nope."
Vividus sweatdrop, 'Of course, he doesn't.'
Hearing them talk a bit more over the walky-talky, Vividus looked down to see that the Sniper was pointing her gun at Gittaruck. Looking back and forth between the twitchy and her, she finally put two and two together that this Gittarackur is the woman's target. As Gittaruck continues his conversation with Hisoka, Vividus felt a sudden urge to kill starting to seep out of the man.
Sniper has been compromised.
'If I don't act now, she's going to die.'
At that exact moment, Gittaruck suddenly threw his needle towards the Sniper. Using her water control, Vividus would control the water and block the needle with her ice-shield. Protecting the sniper as she watched the needle embed itself into the ice. Seeing the Sniper's eyes widen in shock, she suddenly fell back. Wasn't sure what shocked her more: Gittarackur caught her and tried to kill her, or a random ice shield protecting her out of the blue.
Before the Sniper could make another move, Vividus took that moment and quickly appear behind the applicant, hitting the side of her neck and knocked her out.
Watching the applicant's eyes closed, she watched the gun fell out of her hands while Vividus caught the Applicant's body.
"Oh? Vividus, is that you?" Gittarackur asked, making his way over to her ice-shield. "I'm impressed, I didn't even sense you there."
The Kurta woman rolled her eyes. She gently placed the Sniper on the ground and started to search for her tag. "That's the point. I was trying to hunt her down. However, when I realize it was you who she was hunting: I had to end it quickly."
Reaching into the applicant's pocket, she would take her tag and shoved it into her own pocket. Please with herself that she got what she needed. "Worse part is, if I didn't block your attack: you would've killed the poor applicant."
Vividus looked up at watch Gittaruck twitch a bit, poking her ice-shield with his sharp talons. "You know, you have an interesting ability."
Waving her hand around, the platinum blonde would focus her nen and turned her ice-shield back into the water. Controlling her water and summons it back into her waterskin. "You know, this is the most I've ever seen you talk.
"You should feel honoured, I don't talk to many people often," Gittarackur replied, spinning the needle in his hand.
"I noticed."
Out of the blue, she felt a presence nearby that was hiding in the bushes. Tilting her head to the side, she would look at the spot where the individual was hiding, then back up at the twitchy man. "We have a visitor."
Gittarackur twitched in response. "So it seems."
Swiftly taking the needle out of his body, she would watch the needle fly far. Hearing a sudden, painful scream from the bushes. Watching his victim stumble out from the bushes, Vividus and Gittarackur saw a tall man with a spear. He had a muscular built and wore a blue sleeveless shirt with an orange sash pairing the outfit with purple pants.
From what Vividus could gather, he seems like a weak opponent.
"H-How did you know?" The man gasped, taking his needle out of his back and panted heavily in pain.
"You weren't exactly good at hiding yourself," Gittarackur replied, now having a couple more needles in hand.
Before the poor man moved another muscle, Vividus watched the tall green man suddenly run towards him. The man let out a battle cry, he tried his best to fight off Gittarackur with this spear. Deflecting his needles so none would hit him more than it already did. He was holding up well. But not well enough.
'I would try and save him...' Vividus thought to herself, placing her hands on her hips and watch the battle unfold before her. 'But I rather not get in Gittarackur's way.'
After watching his short battle back in Phase Three, it was evident that the twitchy man was on her level. If not: above her. She knows that she is more than capable of handling herself against the man: however, she rather not make any enemies at this time. Especially if he is an acquaintance of Hisoka. Watching Gittarackur kicked the applicant, she watched the man fly into a tree. Hearing a loud gasp in pain, she couldn't help but winch in pain.
'Ouch...that gotta hurt.'
Seeing the indigent applicant getting his ass handed to him, the Kurta woman would watch Gittarackur approach the man. Having more needles appear in his hand as he was ready to make the final blow. As he raised his hand up, she watched the applicant raised his hand up. "W-What, please don't kill me!"
Gittarackur twitched in response, "Why not?"
The applicant slowly rises up to his feet, he stared at the twitchy man in confidence. "P-Please...I want my final battle to be against Hisoka," He started, reaching into his pocket. Taking out his badge, he tossed it over to Gittarackur's feet. "I'll give you my tag, but please all I ask if you spare me so I can fight him, that's all I want!"
Blinking a few times, Vividus couldn't believe her ears. 'Is this man for real?'
Hearing a loud sigh escape Gittarackur's lips, he would slowly raise his hand down. "Is that really what you want?"
"That is my dying wish." The applicant said, "Please, let me go so I can fight him."
Watching the conversation bounced back and forth, I looked up at Gittarackur to see what he was going to do. 'Is he really going to let him go?'
That indeed was the case.
Watching the man in green wave his hand, he would reach down and pick up the back. Inspecting it and looked back towards the applicant. "Go." Without looking back, the applicant nodded his head and started to run. Vividus couldn't help but let out a whistle, impressed that the tall man in green actually let him go.
Making her way towards Gittarackur, she would tilt her head to the side. Curious. "Why did you let him go? From what I could tell: you always kill your opponents."
Gittarackur shrugged his shoulders. Placing the badge back in his pocket. "I pitied him, besides he's going to die soon anyway. Might as well indulge the man's last dying wish."
For some reason, Vividus felt a small grin spread across her lips. "Awe, you're not so bad after all."
Watching the man's red eyes bore into her hazel-grey ones. He gave her a small glare. "Shut up."
~.:x_X_x:.~
It was almost nightfall here at Zevil Island. Vividus wasn't sure what her plan was now that she obtained the target she needed. Letting out a small sigh, she would look up at Gittarackur, who was walking alongside her.
"I'm surprised you decided to let me tag along," Vividus stated, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm starting to enjoy your company." He replied, "Besides, I'm sure Hisoka would be delighted to see you."
"Urgh, Seriously?" She groaned,
Gittarackur nodded his head in response.
After getting to know the tall twitchy man, he wasn't as bad as she thought he was. However, the silence between them is a bit unnerving. Being around this man is making her feel anxious. Gittarackur witnessed her mad side of herself and torturing the prisoner back in the Third Phase. Vividus wanted to talk to him about it, but how does one bring it up?
By witnessing him for that quick moment, Vividus could tell that the twitchy man was a formidable fighter. Not as insane as Hisoka, who takes pleasure into killing his prey, but more so just to get the job done. She felt like if talking about this topic could be with anyone, it would be Gittarackur.
'But...' Vividus paused for a minute in thought, 'What about Killua? He's an assassin, maybe I should talk about it with him as well?'
She bit her lower lip in frustration, being consumed by her thoughts again. Not realizing that the twitchy man is watching her every movement. 'No, I can't talk about it with Killua. He's just a kid, I'm sure he doesn't find joy in killing others. He only does it because he has too.'
Gittarackur's voice snapped Vividus out of her thoughts."You know, you look ridiculous when you have that look on your face,"
"What do you mean?" She asked, confused.
"The look on your face when you're in deep thought." He replied, "Whatever is on your mind, it looks like its the end of the world for you."
Vividus felt her eye twitch, "Hey! I didn't ask you to read me."
"Your aura is wavering. I feel nothing but worry and anxiety. It feels a bit suffocating if you ask me."
Blinking a few times, Vividus was about to protest against the man. However, looking down at her self, she saw her aura weaving a bit. It wasn't as composed as it was earlier. It seemed all shaky and out of control.
"Ah... you're right." She admitted, sighing a bit. "Sorry."
Deep down, Vividus wanted to talk to Gittarackur about what happened in Phase Three. Bur considering he was a close acquaintance with the Jester: She felt like she couldn't really trust the man completely. In all honestly, the woman doesn't exactly understand why Gittarackur suddenly enjoyed her company. Was it because of what happened back in Trick Tower? Clearly, he has no interest in her at all from the very beginning. If anything she figured he hated her for being so close to Killua.
Walking through the forest, it was quiet again. This time Vividus focused on her aura and tried to conceal herself in zetsu. She's so used to hiding herself from the public eye: this is just second nature for her. Weirdly enough, he decided to pick up the conversation with her.
"Why we're you feeling off earlier?"
The woman was quiet, unsure of what to say. The man ended up rereading her and pressed a bit more. "Was it because of what happened in the Third Phase?"
Vividus shot a small glare towards the man, "You seriously need to stop reading me."
"Then stop making it easy." He replied in his usual raspy tone. "We got time before we reach Hisoka."
She clicked her tongue in annoyance, "It depends, are you going to expose me to the Jester? You two seem to be all buddy like from what I gathered."
"If you don't want me too, then I won't." He replied. "Besides, I'm curious to know. You don't seem like the type of individual who kills, let alone torture someone like that."
Hearing that comment made her flinch. The poor woman couldn't help but frown because a stranger such as himself is already reading her well. She hates it. Maybe talking about it with a stranger isn't so bad? After this Exam, the chances of her running into Gittarackur is extremely low.
'No, I can't take any chances,' Vividus reasoned with herself, looking up at Gittarackur who was waiting on her answer. 'Yeah...maybe it's best not to open up to him.'
Despite him trying to be somewhat nice, by the end of the day he is still closely acquainted with Hisoka. She didn't want to take that chance and he relays any information about her back to him. Knowing the Jester, she felt like he can use these feelings she has against her. "Thank you for the offer, Gittarackur," Vividus said politely, "But I rather not talk about it."
The twitchy man nodded his head, now looking away from Vividus and shrugged his shoulders. "If you insist."
~.:NO POV:.~
It is now dawn. Vividus and Gittarackur finally close to a nearby clearing. The moment they arrived, they watched the Applicant the man decided to spare, running toward Hisoka in a craze. Watching him lift his needles, he would throw one needle at the Applicant's throat, following with a bunch more that spread across his face. Watching the Applicant's body fell, Vividus let out a loud whistle as she was impressed.
"Sorry about that, I carelessly let him escape."
Vividus clicked her tongue, looking up at Gittarackur. "Liar."
"Ah, Vivi-chan too the words right out of my mouth~," Hisoka said, glancing back at the two. "Let me guess, he probably begged you to grant him one final wish, yes?"
The woman blinked in surprise, pointing at the man. "How did you know?"
"Il- I mean, Gittarackur doesn't usually leave his prey alive", Hisoka explained. Looking at the man beside Vividus. "Am I wrong?"
"Well, I felt sorry for the guy. Given that he was dead either way."
Hisoka smirked, "You should cease pitying enemies who serve no purpose."
Gittarackur placed his hand on his hips. "You've done it before, haven't you? You've walked away from opponents before finishing them."
Hisoka looked over at Vividus, smirking even more. "I have standards. I'm not interested in people who serve no purpose. I only spare those whose deaths would go to waste. Did you take his tag, at least?"
"Yeah, I have six points now." He explained, then looking over at Vividus with his eyebrow-raising. "I was going to get another tag from someone who tried to snipe me. However, this woman interfered with my kill."
Vividus felt her cheeks puff out. Crossing her arms over her chest. "I did what I had to do. Number 80 was my target. Plus, if I didn't interfere, she would've died."
Hisoka looked back at Vividus with a perverted grin. "Oh? Vivi-chan, what did I say about interfering with people's hunt."
Feeling a sudden shudder down her spine, the poor Kurta woman thought of Hisoka's Punishment a few days ago. As Hisoka saw her unexpected reaction, he couldn't help but let out a dark chuckle. The Kurta woman felt her cheeks flushed a bit. Looking away from the man's golden hues. "Shut up, you said your kill. You didn't say anything about others."
He chuckled once more, nodding his head in understanding. "Touche."
Gittarackur nodded his head, starting to remove the needles off his face. "Now then."
At that moment, both Vividus and Hisoka both watched the man removing his needles. Catching the woman off guard, she watched Gittarackur's face started to change the moment he lifted the needles.
"Hm, this is always so fascinating to watch," Hisoka said smoothly.
After what she witnessed, Vividus doesn't think that calling twitchy anymore isn't a proper name. His skin tone changed from a purpose colour to a snow-like skin tone. His spiky purple hair suddenly became long, silky black, and his eyes were dark and void. His voice was no longer raspy but more soothing and calm.
"Holy shit," Vividus swore, eyes widen. "I didn't realize you were an attractive individual."
Hearing her comment, Gittarackur looked at Vividus with a small smirk but didn't say anything. While Hisoka starred at her with a slight glare. Not liking how his flower complements another man.
'Wait a minute,' Vividus thought to herself. 'If Gittarackur even his real name?'
Out of nowhere, she would watch the man starting to dig a hole. Large enough for him to sleep in. Vividus sweatdrop, not believing the sight that's playing out in front of her. "Well, I'm just going to sleep here until the final day!" Gittarackur exclaimed. Looking at both Vividus and Hisoka. "Good luck."
With that, he buried the whole ontop of him. Now leaving Vividus and Hisoka alone.
Glancing down towards Hisoka, the Jester had his eyes focused in front of him. Now that she was alone with Hisoka. Her stomach was suddenly filled with butterflies, but not in a good way. She hasn't talked to him since the airship, her mind was occupied about what happened with Altair: she never thought of Hisoka once. Being around Hisoka right now is making her nervous and she doesn't like it.
Her instincts are telling her to leave.
Vividus was about to walk away from Hisoka. But suddenly, she felt a sudden grip on her wrist. Blinking a few times, Vividus looked down to see non-other than Hisoka's hand. "Hisoka, what do you want?"
"Keep me company, my crimson flower," Hisoka said, slowly standing up from his seat. "I am dying to know about your experience during phase three~."
Vividus felt her heart drop. Gittarackur told Hisoka about what happened.
"No," She said, trying to rip her grip away, "I don't want to talk about it, especially not with you."
With a hard tug, she felt Hisoka pulling her body close to his own. Using his free hand to snake his arms around her waist. "Come now, I want to hear everything. What you felt when you tortured the poor man must've been an accelerating feeling."
Vividus growled in response. She pressed her hands against his chest and tried to push away from him. "You know nothing about how I felt!"
"Oh but I do Vivi-chan," he cooed. "Holding someone's life in your hands, being the one who holds judgement whether that person deserves to live or not...it''s pure ecstasy."
Hisoka can feel her shaking underneath him. He looked down to see that she was vulnerable. Her expression was confused and unsure of how to feel. He decided to push her a bit more. Leaning in, Vividus felt his hot breath brush against her skin, sending shivers down her spine. "You're a monster, just like me~."
Monster
Her head started to ring, her mind started to suddenly fly all over the place. Hearing those simples words was echoing in her mind. So many thoughts started to run wild as she started to question herself. Who is she becoming? Is she becoming a monster like Chrollo? Merciless like Hisoka? What would Kurapika think of her?
Slowly lifting her head up, she looked at Hisoka with a sad expression on her face, her lips quivering as she spoke. "Am I really becoming a monster?"
Hisoka was taken by surprise, he didn't realize what he said to Vividus is really impacting her. His golden hues examining the woman before him, trying his best to read her like he always has. Misery and sadness is an expression that does not suite Vividus well, not one bit. He wanted to break her as that was his original intention, but this isn't what he was expecting. Seeing her like this is now making him feel...
Awful.
Hisoka was no longer had a positive expression on his face. Instead, it was serious. He felt negative butterflies starting to flutter around in his stomach. The Jester was now trying to understand himself better on why seeing her like this is making him feel such trivial emotions. He never felt this way towards anyone before, not even towards Illumi or Machi. He doesn't understand it himself on why he is starting to feel bad. This was starting to frustrate him.
Unhooking one of his arms around her waist, he would use his hand to lift Vividus's chin up. Looking at her with questionable eyes. This was throwing the Kurta woman off as she doesn't understand what Hisoka is doing anymore.
"I don't know, my crimson flower...are you a monster?" He asked softly.
Vividus was taking in Hisoka's sudden genuine voice. A tone she's never heard Hisoka spoke in before. She looked up at the Jester as it was her turn on trying to figure out what the man is feeling. But due to his serious expression on his face: she couldn't have a proper read on the man.
Hearing a quiet gasp, her eyes widen in shock. Looking past Hisoka's shoulder, she noticed a particular pair of innocent golden-brown eyes. Staring at the two applicants before him. Realizing who it was, she couldn't believe that she is being watched by Gon. She was baffled that she didn't sense him, how long was he there? How much did he hear? Is Hisoka his target?
Shaking her head, Vividus felt herself now snapping back to reality.
Hisoka no longer felt Vividus shake in his arms. Instead, she pushes Hisoka off her. Seeing the Jester stumble backwards in surprise. "I am not a monster, Hisoka." She started, "Right now, you still have to collect other Applicant's badges to pass. If you can't find the one, then three if you get lucky." She would turn her body around and started to walk away from Hisoka. "You should focus on passing the Exam. It would be extremely embarrassing to see you fail just because you couldn't restrain yourself."
As she walked away, Vividus could hear Hisoka pouting from behind. "But Vivi-chan-"
Whipping her head around, she would look back and sent him a glare. "No buts, focus."
Wasting no time, she disappeared out of Hisoka's sight. Trying her best to get as far away from him as possible. As she jumped through the forest, she gripped onto her shirt. Trying to understand what just happened between Hisoka and her. But one thing is for certain, is when she heard Hisoka's soft tone:
It made her heartbeat.