Disclaimer:I do not own Hunter x hunter or my hero academia. Those rights go to the legends Togashi and Horikoshi.
Sorry for the long wait! Thanks for sticking around ^_^
Edited: 23/03/2020
Izuku POV
Clear. Footsteps. One. At. A. Time.
Time paused to a halt as the tension grew thick.
'He's planning to kill Kacchan! And after that Gon!'
I abandoned fear in the hope of protecting my friends. (Which just meant I didn't stutter...)
"If you kill anyone, you you'll be disqualified! Don't you need a hunter's licence for something?"
"Ah! Darn. Mmm... I know! I can kill you three after I become a hunter."
After initially being surprised from the ease of dissuading him, the already crushing atmosphere grew heavier. There seemed to be some sort of... aura... emanating from Illumi, an aura that felt similar to Hisoka's in the forest.
"If I pass the exam, I can kill everyone here and still receive my licence, right?"
"Yes, according to the rules."
'A dark world. The chairman can't allow this... Sure it abides by the rules however in terms of morality... It pains me to think a hunter can sometimes be the same as a villain... I'll become a great hunter and change this!'
"Hear that Kil? Will you fight me-"
"You don't have to fight him!" I wasn't going to let Illumi win this battle of psychology.
"I won't simply give up. Kil, will you beat me in order to save your friends? You can't." With every word, he stepped closer to Killua, and the air grew suffocating.
"Killua! You do not have to fight him! He is testing you mentally! He is trying to control you! He is trying to manipulate you!"
"Never fight an enemy you can't beat." Illumi lifted his hand, unfazed by my shouts.
I could see sweat rolling down every inch of Killua's face. He had always been laid back and calm, never breaking a sweat...
"Killua! You don't have to fight him!" It is not a battle of who is stronger. It is a battle of who won't give up. "Think of how many battles have been won with words!" Understand me. "This is another one! Don't give up! Don't fight! Persist!" Understand me.
But wasn't hearing me. His eyes remained fixated on his older brother, full of terror, like eyes of prey that know they are about to be killed.
"Don't move. If you move, I'll assume the fight has started. And if our bodies make contact, I'll also assume the fight has started." Illumi put Killua on a time limit, gliding his hand over to Killua's head steadily.
They were in their own world. I just had to take Killua out of that world.
Leorio was also shouting motivation, but it fell on deaf ears.
I couldn't interfere with the match favouring Killua, lest he would be disqualified.
I decided to put my trust in Killua's reflexes.
I launched the knife I had kept in my belt earlier directly at Killua.
Obviously he dodged.
"Huh? Is your friend trying to kill you? I guess since your true natu-"
"KILLUA! THIS IS A BATTLE OF THE MIND!" I had pulled him out of his trance, albeit, in not the most peaceful way, but it was the best thing I could think of in a few seconds.
"It's your life not his!"
Something shifted in Killua's eyes, and the atmosphere.
As Illumi's eyes narrowed, he continued his reaching towards Killua.
And soon made contact.
Killua's new feeble confidence was wavering, but I made him hold my gaze. As if to say I was there for him.
Something about Illumi's black wells for eyes unsettled me.
"Ah. This isn't good. Why isn't it working?... Well. Kil, I lost. I got my answer. Your friends don't deserve you."
"Why isn't it working? What does that mean... what is this feeling... There must be something deeper here, I mean, 'it'? That wording suggests that there is something physical he is using to attempt to manipulate him, but manipulation is mental... I guess one could say 'why isn't it working' with it referring to the act of manipulation, but there was something..."
"Izuku... Thank you."
What brought me to my senses was a bashful Killua, not an angry Kacchan as I was expecting. In fact Kacchan looked to be thinking the same thing as me (but without muttering aloud).
"Ah! N-no there's no need to th-thank me!" With no more obvious threat I reverted to my usual demeanour.
But in the corner of my eye, I noticed a certain sleekly haired man gazing at me intently.
With the intent to kill.
/
There were only 3 applicants left yet to pass: Leorio, Bodoro, and Illumi
"Leorio vs Bodoro. Begin!"
I wanted to pay attention to the match, however I could feel three distinct pressures:
Although Killua had won his match, there was still something not right. He had become a shell of himself.
I also didn't feel worthy to be a hunter. I only passed out of default, since Bodoro surrendered immediately.
And finally, Illumi was glaring at me with his deep, empty black eyes.
But it was Leorio's first match of his 2.
I observed Leorio and Bodoro's match with a wary eye on the two Zoldycks.
Every other attack I glanced over at Killua, and the more time passed, the further his soul seemed to drift away.
Leorio threw a heavy punch at Bodoro, but Bodoro skilfully parried.
'I wonder what would've happened if Bodoro didn't immediately surrender... Looking at his display of skill I would likely not win... Perhaps it was good he gave up? No! If I have win by a matter of luck then I don't deserve to be a hunter. I should resign and be the failing competitor so everyone else can pass. They all deserve it far more than me...'
Once again, my thoughts meandered, preventing me on focusing on what was important.
Killua.
I decided to comfort him as I caught him shaking.
"It's ok. I am here." He didn't hear me.
I could feel it again, that same... aura. Sure enough, Illumi's gaze had penetrated Killua.
Once again, they were in their own world.
But then that connection was shattered.
'Wait... what? Kacchan! What are you doing?'
Kacchan was stepping closer to Illumi, ignoring the atmosphere around him. Just like in the forest.
'"There must be something here I can't see. Some strange force? How many times has Kacchan shown this... power? Once in the forest. Maybe in the third phase as well? How else did he know the wall was going to collapse when it seemed to not be affected? As a matter of fact he dealt the final blow, maybe this... force helped him? What is this force though? Did he use it in the second phase? Or maybe in the first phase...? Ah! When we were running through the forest and there was that monster, he somehow knew it was there? Or even before the exam! Maybe he knew Tonpa's drink was spiked! Although I'm assuming the drink was spiked since it made that monster spit us out... Wait...but how these all even would be linked? Am I linking unconnected things? Maybe they were coincidences... or mere instinct? Or maybe he noticed something physical which I didn't..."
Somehow I managed to catch myself mumbling and thus halted, but to my surprise no one had even noticed.
Everyone had stopped to observe this... unobservable force... between Kacchan and Illumi. Even Bodoro and Leorio had ceased fighting, interested in this non-physical, non-verbal conflict.
All the applicants apart from Hisoka watched bewildered. Hisoka watched with contempt. However all the examiners were surprised, but not confused.
Leorio ceased this opportunity to land a powerful blow on Bodoro, and pinned him to the ground. Bodoro was too concerned however to care.
They exchanged a few whispers and Bodoro admitted defeat.
"Ahem. Then it is time for the final match: Illumi vs Bodoro."
The chairman's words gathered everyone's attention and the tension in the atmosphere dropped.
At least the physical yet intangible weight did. The true mental tension did not.
"Illumi vs Bodoro begin!"
But before the referee could finish his final word, Illumi shot a dead accurate needle directly at Bodoro. It pierced his forehead and as his face contorted disorderly, it seemed he was dying, but then from his mouth came the words:
"I surrender."
And just like that, Bodoro failed the exam.
'What in the... W-wait how? How did that needle not kill Bodoro? Why did Bodoro admit defeat so quickly? Or rather, how did Illumi get him to surrender so quickly? '
"Oi! Bodoro what are you doing? Did we not discuss this? Why would you back out now!" Leorio called, aggravated.
'Discuss this?... When they exchanged whispers? What did they discuss?
I did not mutter aloud, for I was speechless, my mouth agape.
"Good. I believe, as now I have passed the hunter exam, I am allowed to kill whoever I want yes?" Illumi's menacing words interjected my inner thoughts.
"Yes, indeed, however please wait until after orientation."
"There is no need to worry, I do not plan on killing anyone yet."
Killua tensed up at his final word. Yet.
Gon had still not turned up.
/
As we sat, patiently waiting for the final passed applicant to arrive, the doors flew open. He seemed to have been informed of the situation, as his face was determined and vexed. Every applicant turned their head towards Gon, except for Killua, who lowered his head.
He strode towards the 5 of us on one row.
"Thank you Izuku!"
"A-ah! It's nothing!" I could only sheepishly reply. For it was true, I did nothing, Killua was the one who resisted after my physical intervention.
Suddenly his cheerful demeanour transformed into a serious one, arriving next to his target, Illumi.
"Apologise to Killua!"
"Apologise? For what?" To Gon's passionate demand, Illumi replied nonchalantly.
"You don't deserve to be his brother."
"Must I earn the right to be his brother?"
Gon grabbed Illumi's forearm and violently flung him over his head, however he landed gracefully on his feet.
"He doesn't need to earn the right to be my friend!"
His grip tightened. I felt as I should intervene, but the quivering boy who sat beside me changed my thoughts. Previously he seemed invincible, powerful, unstoppable, but now he was as vulnerable as a normal 12 year old boy.
"If you've been forcing Killua to kill all this time, against his will, I'll make you pay!"
"Make me pay? What exactly will you do?"
"I won't do anything. Only make sure that you never see him again!"
Mirroring his motion towards Killua in their match, he lifted his free arm to Gon's forehead. Wisely, Gon jumped back to what I presumed was a safe distance at this near attack.
I could only imagine what Killua felt at this heated discussion, if you could call it that. I decided to finally interject and change the subject.
"W-wait! The one who failed this exam was Bodoro. He gave up without either of us putting up a fight. I believe if he did not do that, I would've been the failing applicant, so I would like to resign from my hunter status and give the pass to him, so I may take the exam again."
"There was some other funny business, like when you fought Hisoka. What did he say to you? He whispered something into your ear before conceding. That's pretty strange. I understand surrendering after your opponent whispers something to you, as with Hanzo and me, or Bodoro and Hisoka. But in your case the opposite happened. I had to wonder if you struck some sort of bargain. Your own victory was quite odd indeed. If you have nothing to hide, tell us what he said." Following my idea, Pokkle directed a questioning comment at Kurapika.
None of them seemed to care that I had won from mere luck.
"I have no obligation to. If you believe my victory was odd, then, as Izuku was stating, a victory by default would be equally odd," answered Kurapika.
"What? I believe you owe it to us. Oh, and Leorio, your victory was also strange. You whispered something to Bodoro, but he did not surrender, he whispered back. That's clearly a bargain! You both owe to tell us what was said."
"If you wanna know then I'll tell you! I asked why he gave up in his match against Izuku, he told me he doesn't like to fight children! So I said one of us should surrender before either of us gets hurt so we can take down Illumi. After all he said he was going to kill people!"
"Come on... I wanna get this lecture over with so I can leave." Hanzo was exasperated at this conflict, and although my words were the cause of the rift, I agreed.
"Ahem... Is everyone finished? You may complain about the results all you like, but we will not change our minds. Bodoro has failed, and the rest of you have passed the exam."
'But I... I don't deserve this! Had Bodoro not given up in our match, I would've been the one to fail! I don't deserve this... Being a hunter has always been my dream but... not like this...'
"Ok, I shall continue the orientation." And with that, Beans delivered his inspiring speech about being a hunter. Almost taking my mind off my immense guilt. Almost. Yet it was strange to hear all the privileges hunters had after passing the test. Although it wasn't quite easy, it was underwhelming for me to pass on my first try.
Like I didn't deserve it...
I knew the statistics - out of the over 400 applicants that took the exam, only 10 passed, and that's not even including those who couldn't make it to the exam site, but they didn't register.
/
Killua's previous embarrassment was short-lived and had disappeared.
As every applicant (just Hanzo and Pokkle really) left saying their goodbyes to the 6 of us, Gon requested Pokkle to search up Ging Freecss on his device.
'Ging freecss? Why would he... WAIT- NO WAY?!'
"Gon! Is Ging Freecss your d-dad?"
"Yep!"
"Ohmygodohmygodohmygod Ging, the boar member of the Zodiacs, double-star ruins hunter is your dad?! That's so cool! I met a world famous assassin AND the son of one of the ZODIACS!" I couldn't prevent from my inner fanboy coming out. Fortunately Satotz, the first phase examiner interrupted me in request to talk to Gon alone.
/
After Gon returned to us, we discussed our plans.
"I'm going to return Hisoka's tag after punching him in the face. Until then I wont use my hunter license or return to whale Island."
"Whale island?"
"Oh yeah, You two weren't with us in the 3rd phase. I live in Whale Island, Leorio wants to be a doctor, Kurapika is from the Kurta clan. Killua's an assassin but you already knew that."
'Kurta? The scarlet eyes clan! But they were all killed by the Phantom troupe! Is Kurapika the sole survivor? I can't believe I met a member of the Kurta clan, a member of the Zolydkc family and a son of one of the Zodiacs! How am I so lucky?'
"Kurapika, you're a Kurta? But they were massacred by the Phantom troupe!"
Oops.
"A-ah! Sorry... I shouldn't have been so insensitive..."
"Izuku, how come you know so much stuff about us? It's almost creepy..." Killua managed to save the awkward silence I had created.
"Ah... well you all have famous families... r-right... Anyway! Gon, do you know where Hisoka is?"
In response to Gon's silence, Kurapika replied instead. "I know where he is, Gon. He told me."
"So that's what he said..." I muttered.
"No, this was after orientation," Kurapika countered.
"But it's still related."
"I suppose so."
"What did Hisoka say to you that time?" Gon asked.
"He told me 'I have some information for you regarding the spider.' I do not recall mentioning the Phantom Troupe to Hisoka, so he either overheard our conversation in the first stage, or heard it from another. I was interested in his information. He said he would await me in Yorknew city, September 1st." There was a relentless glow in Kurapika's eyes.
"That's where the worlds largest auction is. September 1st to 10th, right?"
"Correct. Izuku, you really know a lot about hunters huh. The auction attracts all manners of nasty folk who come to satisfy their greed."
"Of course the Phantom Troupe would be there."
"Yes, they are a group of bandits after all, they won't let this opportunity escape. Then, I shall depart. I'll search for a patron to employ me as a hunter, I need money for the auction."
"Then, I'll be leaving too, I can now pay for the ridiculous medical school fees so I can become a doctor," said Leorio.
"Me too, I think I'm gonna go home because I need to find out something..." I said determinedly.
"And I'm going with Deku." After being silent almost all of our conversation, Kacchan spoke up. He was usually so loud...
"Ok, until we meet again, September 1st, Yorknew city." We all announced together and parted ways.
"Deku," Kacchan called once we were alone. He turned to look at me. "You didn't pass the Hunter exam from sheer luck."
I was surprised to hear this coming from him. "B-but I-"
"No, stop. You helped me in Zevil Island. We worked together on the tower. You got that egg by yourself, and you were the one who remembered the weakness of the Great Stamp in phase 2. You didn't pass from a fluke."
"But the last phase-"
"Pokkle also passed by default. I'm not gonna say this again, so listen. You didn't pass by sheer luck."
"I-" I cut myself off. He was right. My doubts weren't entirely dispelled, but having them weakened by one of the people I looked up to the most certainly helped.
"C'mon, nerd, let's go."
Together, Kacchan and I were going back home, and I had to ask my mother something.
That's an entire (mini) arc skipped! Woah. Now things are beginning to change. Not much so far though...
Thanks for all the likes, favourites and reviews!
Replies to reviews:
Guest: Thank you! :) Thanks for reading and reviewing as well.
D3lph0xL0v3r: THANK YOU AGAIN! I know right! I guess the hunter x hunter universe is actually quite similar to our own in that way... Yup, Bakugo must have explosions otherwise it wouldn't really be him. I'm excited to add nen into the story, especially since it makes combat much more interesting. And I stuck to my deadline!
AutumnNightStars: That's fine! Thanks for reviewing now! Thanks, I was a bit unsure if I made it too dramatic lol.
Nate Silver: Yup! Things aren't (weren't I guess now lol) looking too great for him.