Disclaimer: I don't own Hunter x Hunter, all I own are my OCs and original ideas

Chapter 1

"The Examinees"

The Hunter Exam was a long, arduous task, capable of breaking even the strongest of men, while shaping and molding others into dangerous predators. It brought together the best and the worst that the world had to offer, throwing them together into a hungry lion's den to see who would falter, who would cower and who would survive, who would thrive. Hundreds participated in this deadly test, yet only a handful passed the Exam every year, and those that did were welcomed into the elite circle of Hunters- the people that stood leaps and bounds above the rest, never to be touched by those below them. Hunters were both feared and revered. They held power that the common person could never understand. Laws and rules did not apply to them. They were given the key to the world and told to run with it.

Illuru Zoldyck knew all of this and more. But she was not impressed.

Her father and grandfather were not Hunters, nor were she and Illumi. Yet were they not lethal fighters and strategists in their own right, capable of taking down any who crossed their path? Were they and their profession not also feared and admired? Did they not also bend and twist rules to fit their desires?

It seemed to her that the only thing separating them was a piece of plastic.

So no, she was not fascinated by Hunters in the way everyone else appeared to be. Nor was she interested in those aspiring to become one. In fact, she was rather disappointed- and perhaps a bit irked- by the lack of talent and power among the examinees. How most of these people thought they stood even a fraction of a chance at success was beyond her. They either were clearly underestimating the Exam or overestimating themselves- or both. Granted, so far only roughly forty people had arrived at the Exam site, and she knew several hundred were to be expected. There were bound to be at least a couple of promising applicants. At least she hoped so. Otherwise, this would prove to be a rather boring event.

Sighing softly, she leaned further into the concrete wall behind her, unconcerned by the cold seeping into her skin the longer she remained. From her place sitting amid the large pipes that connected to and ran across the ceiling, she could see perfectly every person that stepped off of the elevator and that stood in the spacious tunnel. She absentmindedly took note of their faces, numbers, and names before writing them off, uncaring of any who would not pose a threat, which as of now was all of them. They remained ignorant of the passive eyes that scanned them lazily.

So much animosity, she thought, resting her arms on her bent knees. It isn't even close to beginning, and they're already ready to rip each other's throats out at the slightest provocation. Are they even aware of what they're doing? Of how they're displaying their emotions and anxieties like a song for all to hear? So focused on their opponents... are they all lacking that much confidence in themselves?

She had learned from a young age that obsessing and fretting over others' strengths and talents was a clear sign of your own weakness and unreadiness.

None of them will make it until the end. Many won't even make it past the First Phase.

Her back stiffened suddenly, eyes locking onto the elevator doors as she waited for them to open.

I shouldn't be surprised that he's participating. It's right up his alley after all. However...

Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, her blank features giving way to the barest hint of resolve.

This could be troublesome for Killua should he grab his attention, which is sure to happen at some point. But if he even thinks of touching so much as one hair on his head, it won't matter his connection to Illumi. I will dispose of him immediately.

Despite her dark thoughts, no bloodlust leaked from her. She kept it well contained as a ping! echoed inside the tunnel, and the elevator doors opened, revealing the first true competitor and threat in this Exam.

Hisoka stepped out of the elevator, a light smirk planted firmly on his face, no doubt sensing the obvious fear that permeated the air the moment everyone laid eyes on him. Even those who weren't aware of who he was knew to be afraid of him, the same way one knew to be afraid of a wild beast. For that's what he was. A predator whose life was devoted to seeking out those of equal or greater strength, to either best them or die by their hand. Illuru had seen him fight a handful of times, and the pleasure he appeared to receive from fighting was something she had never seen in someone before. It seemed to her that the greater the excitement that he felt, the stronger he became, and yet, it also struck her that it would very well be the cause of his downfall one day. It was true that that level of emotion could make you see clearer, but it could also blind you just as easily. Between that and Hisoka's overconfidence, he was almost guaranteed death. The only question was when and by whose hand.

She hoped it would not be hers.

Don't give me a reason to do it, she thought, watching as his golden eyes took in the contestants before him, and the way they darkened in disappointment as he too noticed the severe difference in power between them. He leaned onto the wall behind him with one foot pressed against it and closed his eyes, his aura shifting to hover calmly around his body.

She wasn't sure how she would feel if she was forced to put an end to the magician's life. She wouldn't take any pleasure from it, that was for sure. After all, he was a good acquaintance of Illumi's, and she didn't dislike the man. But she wasn't nearly as close to him as her brother was either, had only spoken to him on a few occasions. And nor did she trust him. When his goals aligned with yours, he was a useful ally to have; however, the moment his interests deviated from yours, he would just as soon stab you in the back. She supposed she was fortunate that both she and Illumi seemed to peak his interest- and keep it. For the time being at least, it made him refrain from ever turning his bloodlust onto them. For that would be an unfortunate day indeed. She couldn't say for certain who would survive that fight. Perhaps none of them would. Perhaps they would all go out together, forever equals in power.

The elevator opened once more, prying her from her thoughts, and she added the newcomers to her mental list before closing her own eyes and resting her head on the wall.

There's no use in thinking about it. Unless he harms Killua, I won't touch him. But if he does... I will kill him. Even if it kills me too.

If this was any indication of how the Exam was going to be, Illuru was greatly underwhelmed.

Tension between the contestants, petty bickering and ridiculous threats, underhanded sabotage, boastful words... it all filtered in one ear and out the other. She had yet to move from her position in the rafters and wasn't planning on it until the First Phase began. Luckily, as an assassin, she knew how to be patient. There had been countless jobs where she had had to wait hours, days, sometimes even weeks, for her target to appear. So this was nothing new to her.

She sharpened her knives idly, the blanket of silence around her preventing anyone from hearing the twang of metal sliding along the whetstone. She went through the motions, muscle memory taking over, as her attention remained solely on the individual sitting cross-legged by the wall down below, chin resting in his hand, brows furrowed and lips pursed in a pout.

Killua's expression was one of complete and utter boredom.

He's barely been here an hour, she thought, hands never ceasing their movements, and he already looks like he wants to leave. Not that I blame him. This is proving to be a rather dull affair.

She spared Hisoka a glance, and, satisfied that he also had yet to move, went back to observing her younger brother.

She had watched the magician closely when Killua arrived and hadn't been surprised when he opened his eyes to look at him curiously. She had known that Hisoka would sense the power and potential in Killua; it was inevitable. But the man had simply smirked and returned to his relaxed position. He would be keeping an eye on Killua, no doubt, but he didn't seem overly interested in him.

And as long as it stays that way, it'll be fine.

A shadow fell over Killua's form, and she continued sharpening her blades as contestant number sixteen held out a hand for him to shake.

Number sixteen, Tonpa the Rookie Crusher, who is currently participating in his thirty-fifth Hunter Exam. He purposely fails each time- not that he would ever pass even if he tried- and instead makes it his goal to sabotage the rookies and make them fail. He seems to find enjoyment in doing so. Perhaps to make himself feel better about his own failures, she mused, watching with some curiosity as he interacted with an overly innocent acting Killua.

Using his appearance to his advantage is one of the many things he excels at. Show them a naive, harmless child, and that's all they'll see. They won't bother to look any closer.

"How about a toast to newfound friendship?"

Tonpa's voice drifted up to her ears, and she could hear the false kindness in it as plainly as she could the false innocence in Killua's.

"A toast?" Wide blue eyes looked up at Tonpa inquiringly.

"That's right!" he said, fishing out two cans from his bag and handing one to Killua.

He took it without hesitation, popping it open, and grinned at the man.

"Thank you!" he chirped before taking a long swig of the drink.

Tonpa's grin widened, satisfaction forming in his eyes.

"Of course!" He raised his own can. "Good luck in the Exam!"

The Rookie Crusher strolled away, never having taken a sip of the drink. Killua stared after him before snorting in amusement and finishing the drink laced with drugs. Tossing the empty can aside, he went back to his former position, looking a bit more lively, but still bored.

Illuru tucked her blades and stone away and stretched her legs out before her.

Tonpa would be in for a surprise later when he saw that the drugs had no affect on Killua, who would surely poke fun at the situation. The thought crossed her mind to deal with Tonpa now and keep him from interfering anymore with her brother, but she brushed it aside. The man posed no true threat and wasn't worth the trouble.

She turned her attention back to Killua and felt a twinge of sadness. She wanted so badly to go down there and be with him, to have fun just like they used to. But their relationship was not what it used to be, and she wasn't sure how he would feel about her having followed him here.

Would he be angry with me? Annoyed?

She didn't want to find out, didn't know if she could handle him feeling that way toward her- if she could handle him rejecting her.

You got it, Rue.

Her body jolted, and if she hadn't had such a tight hold on her aura, it surely would have exposed her just then. Her eyes darted to Hisoka, just to be sure, but the man remained as oblivious to her presence as before.

She let out a quiet breath, willing her muscles to relax.

She still didn't understand it. What had made him call her by the nickname that he hadn't used in years, what had made his eyes light up so happily.

Was it because I didn't stop him from leaving home? Did it remind him of how things used to be? How I wish they could be...

She rested her cheek in her hand, black eyes wavering ever so slightly.

Did it mean he was willing to give her a chance again?

Illuru knew he was here before even Hisoka became aware his presence.

Perhaps it was because they were twins, but her senses had always been finely tuned when it came to Illumi, capable of finding him even when he concealed himself, and vice versa. So it came as no surprise to her when the elevator doors opened once more, revealing him- or rather, revealing Gittarackur. The familiar clicking sound of her brother's disguise filled the room as most everyone stopped what they were doing to look at the man. Much like with Hisoka, the contestants knew better than to mess with him and went back to whatever they were doing.

She leaned forward, watching carefully to see what he would do, but Illumi ignored Killua entirely and began making his way through the crowd. She looked back at her younger brother and was relieved to see that while he glanced warily at Gittarackur, there was no recognition in his eyes. Turning back to Illumi, she watched as he came to a sudden stop in the middle of the room and looked up directly at her. She was surprised that it took him so long to notice her. His face remained blank as he tilted his head to the side, indicating for her to come down.

She rose to her feet and between one heartbeat and the next, she was at her brother's side, hood pulled over her head, shielding her face. He started easing his way through the crowd, toward the wall where it was more secluded, and she followed silently behind him. Only when they were out of earshot did he speak.

"Illuru," he said, his distorted voice low.

"Illumi," she greeted just as quietly.

He faced her then, his giant body towering over her small frame. She had to look up to see his face.

"You never mentioned anything about taking the Hunter Exam yourself."

"To be honest, I never even considered it before," she said, her face free of any emotion.

"And yet here you are." He paused. "Why?"

"Do I need to say it?" she asked calmly.

He kept his gaze pinned on her. "You know you cannot prevent it from happening. Kil will be brought home at the end of the Exam, no matter what you do."

Her chin lifted imperceptibly, and Illumi's eyes narrowed at the small sign of rebellion.

"That doesn't mean I can't make what time he does have as good and carefree as possible," she stated. "I'll watch over him and make sure you don't cut his time short."

"You realize that what you're doing will not go unpunished." Illumi's voice held a slight edge. "Father will find out that you're aiding Killua. He will not be happy. Or have you forgotten what happens when you encourage his defiance?"

She gave no room for her fear. "Seeing as I am the one who is on the receiving end of it, no, I have not forgotten. I am well aware of the consequences."

They stared at each other for several long minutes, and when it became clear neither of them would back down, Illumi sighed.

"Very well," he said, moving away from her. "I hope it's worth it."

"Killua is always worth it," she countered firmly.

He stopped but did not turn around.

"If you continue down this path, there will come a point when Father will no longer be willing to put up with your disobedience, and you will find yourself locked up like our brother, unable to do anything other than wither away. Will it have all been worth it then? Think long and hard about what you are doing, Illuru."

And with that, he continued on, making his way toward Hisoka. She stared after him for a moment, eyes carefully blank, before maneuvering her way back through the crowd.

If it means that Killua can be free of our world even if only for a short time, then yes. It will have been worth it.

For the remaining time, Illuru stayed on the ground, leaning against the wall, surrounded by her fellow examinees, who paid her no attention, as if she were invisible. She stretched her neck from one side to the other, wondering when the Exam would begin. It had to be getting close. There were currently four hundred and two people crammed into the tunnel, waiting anxiously for the First Phase to begin. She couldn't imagine that there would be many people left to arrive, and the cut off point had to be getting closer.

No sooner did she think that when the elevator opened once more and out stepped three more contestants. The little green creature, Mr. Beans, handed them their badges, and she watched as they pinned them in place, already memorizing their faces and numbers, and waiting for them to introduce themselves to someone so that she could learn their names as well.

Number four hundred and three. Not trained in any sort of fighting but more than likely his only experience is fights in bars and gambling halls, she thought, taking in his lanky, unimpressive figure. Not a threat. Her eyes shifted to the person next to him. The blond was skinny, baggy clothes hiding what muscles he had. Number four hundred and four. He's clearly had training, and I'm sure the wooden swords he's carrying are quite an effective weapon in his hand. He has intelligent eyes, she noted, watching the way they took in everything before him calmly and cautiously. His mind is sharp, and he has potential. But he's no threat either.

Lastly, she turned to the person that had grabbed her attention from the beginning. Number four hundred and five. He's no older than Killua and certainly has that childlike innocence about him, but unlike Killua, his is genuine. His wide brown eyes were full of wonder as he looked around. A small town boy. Most likely, this is his first time ever venturing outside of his home. He practically screams pure and naive, yet he made it this far which means he's more clever than he looks. There's potential in him also, but he's far from ever being a threat.

"Don't think I've seen you boys before!"

Tonpa's voice echoed throughout the quiet tunnel, and the newcomers looked up in surprise.

"You can tell it's our first time here?" the young boy asked.

"More or less," Tonpa answered, jumping down from the pipe he had been sitting on. "It's getting easier. It's my thirty-fifth attempt, so it comes with the territory."

"You've tried thirty-five times?!"

They spoke at once, shock clear on their faces.

Tonpa chuckled. "I guess you could say that I'm a Hunter Exam veteran."

"Not really something to brag about," number four hundred and three muttered.

The blond nodded. "Indeed."

"Anyway, if you have any more questions, I'd be happy to help." He stuck out his hand. "Oh, by the way, the name's Tonpa."

The young boy shook it and smiled happily. "Hi, I'm Gon." He gestured to the blond. "This is Kurapika," he turned to the lanky one, "and this is Leorio. Say, you've taken the Exam..."

Illuru tuned him out, content now that she knew their names, and scanned the crowd absentmindedly. She was searching for the familiar shock of white hair when the air shifted, bloodlust slowly leaking into it before thickening suddenly. She straightened, eyes locking onto Hisoka seconds before the man next to him began to scream.

Everyone flinched, staring with wide eyed shock as the man's arms dissolved into what looked like petals. The only sound to be heard was the thump of his body as it fell to the floor.

"My, how unusual," came Hisoka's drawling voice, "Seems this poor man's arms have turned into flower petals." He splayed his arms wide. "Now you see them, now you don't. You should be more careful, and do apologize if you bump into someone."

Murmurs filled the room as Hisoka turned away casually, his bloodlust receding like a wild animal satiated after a kill. The tension left almost as quickly as it appeared, the examinees scared by the magician's show of strength, but also not upset about there being one less competitor. Such was the way of the Exam after all; death was almost a guarantee.

With nothing else to do, Illuru watched as Tonpa handed over his drug laced drinks to the unsuspecting trio.

"I was dying of thirst! Thanks a lot, buddy!" Leorio exclaimed.

Gon grinned. "Yeah, thank you."

"Thank you," Kurapika said quietly.

"There he goes again," she heard someone murmur, "Playing the nice guy when he's the nastiest one here."

Nastiest? she thought, thinking of the display that Hisoka had just put on, and she nearly rolled her eyes. They think much too highly of Tonpa. He's committed his life to making other people fail at the very same thing he has failed at time and time again. He's nothing but a pathetic nuisance.

"Here's to new friends and good fortune!" Tonpa said, raising his drink, "Cheers!"

Their cans clinked together, joining in on the toast, before popping them open. She was about to turn away, uncaring to see yet more people fall for Tonpa's obvious tricks, when Gon paused and slowly spit out the drink he had been about to swallow.

"I think this juice might've gone bad, Mr. Tonpa," he explained, unaware of the man's inner panic. "It tastes funny."

Leorio immediately spit his out. "Seriously? That was a close call."

"Huh? That's odd," Tonpa said nervously, sweat dripping down his face. "Real sorry about that, fellas." Clasping his hands together, he bowed. "Forgive me! I had no idea the juice was bad!"

"You don't have to apologize," Gon said. "What about you? Is your stomach okay?"

"I'm alright. I'm totally fine."

"Oh, good," Gon smiled. "I've tried all kinds of plants and grasses on the mountain back home. So, I can usually taste when something's bad."

So, that's how he's gotten this far, she thought, watching him with vague interest, It's not that he's clever, in fact, he seems quite simple-minded. However, he has excellent instincts and knows to listen to them.

"Hey! Mr. Tonpa!"

She moved her attention from Gon when she heard Killua's voice. He was waving his arm animatedly while walking toward an astonished looking Tonpa.

"That juice was great," he said, smiling broadly. "Got any more? I don't know if I'm just nervous, but I really am thirsty!"

"Oh! O-Of course!" He handed over three cans to him, and Killua shifted his skateboard under his arm to open one.

Though her face remained blank, amusement coursed through her veins as Killua drank the juice like it was nothing, causing Tonpa to grow more and more nervous.

"Worried?" Killua asked lowly. "Well, don't be. I'll be fine. I've trained for this." He smirked lightly. "Poisons don't hurt me."

He walked away, leaving Tonpa to gawk after him. Illuru pushed herself off of the wall, slowly making her way toward the very back of the crowd. She caught Illumi's- Gittarackur's- eye along way, nodding to him silently, and he did the same.

Good luck.

Not that either of them needed it.

A bell pierced the air, and everyone shifted forward as the wall sealing off the tunnel slowly lifted open, revealing the tall, long limbed man standing behind it.

"I apologize for the delay," he said loudly to be heard by the large group of people. "Thank you for waiting. The entry period for Hunter applicants is officially closed. So, with no further ado, the Hunter Exam will now begin!"

Excitement and nerves permeated the air. She reached the back of the room and came to a stop, tuning him out as he gave a warning and offered for anyone to leave now should they wish.

When no one moved, he nodded. "Right, then. Very well. All four hundred and four applicants will now participate in Phase One."

He spun around and began making his way down the tunnel with an odd walk, and everyone followed closely behind. They walked for a few minutes before she noticed the people up ahead beginning to pick up the pace. Soon enough, she was jogging lightly. People were throwing confused glances at each other, wondering why they were running.

"How rude of me," the man began. "I neglected to introduce myself. I am Satotz, your Examiner for the First Phase of the Exam. It's my responsibility to lead all of you to the Second Phase."

"Second? Whatever happened to the First?"

"The First Phase is already underway," he informed. "It is quite simple. All you have to do is follow me to the Second Phase. So, try to keep up."

So, that's all it is? she thought, running with ease. A simple endurance and mental fortitude test?

She hummed softly.

Hopefully the Second Phase will be more exciting.

Author's Note

Thank you to everyone who has followed or favorited this story! I really appreciate it, and hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Not much happened in this one, just some set up, but the next chapter will be the start of the First Phase, and we'll see Illuru interact with some of the other characters!

Don't be afraid to follow or favorite this story if you enjoy it, and reviews are always much appreciated!

Until next time:)

~Dreamer