"Wow! So cool!" Gon oohed as he, Kurapika and Leorio Followed the young, male Kirito through the streets of Zaban City.
"This city sure seems to attract some unsavory types…" Leorio commented as he looked around to Kurapika.
"It is a popular tourist location, so it's no real surprise that they get a host of conn artists as well. We would be wise to stay close to each oth- Gon!" Kurapika cried out grabbing his little brother by the collar just in time to drag him safely away from the shady stalls the boy had been wandering towards.
"Don't worry Kura-nii I wasn't going to buy anything, I just wanted to look."
"I know, and I know you can take care of yourself. But still, this isn't exactly the best place to go wandering off in strong or otherwise."
"Okay Kura-nii." Gon agreed with a sigh, and settled for walking next to Kurapika for the rest of the way.
"This should be it." The young Kirito announced, vaguely gesturing in front of them.
"Wow! It's huge!" Gon told Kurapika with a wide smile as he and Leorio stared up at the very tall and fancy building before them.
"Yeah, it has a real look of importance." Leorio agreed with a confidant nod.
"Oh not there, that one." They all (minus Kurapika of course) adjusted their focus to where their guide was pointing more specifically this time. It was a smalltime restaurant that was built right next the huge, fancy building.
"There?!" Leorio exclaimed in disbelief as he observed the small eating establishment very skeptically.
"Yes, think about it. Why would the Association hold the exam in a obvious place? It's meant to be low-key." The guide explained good-naturedly before leading the way into the restaurant.
"Is the back room free? We would like steak dinners for three." He announced to the chef who was behind the counter of the restaurant and it seemed to catch the chef's attention instantly.
"For three? And how would you like the steaks?"
"Grilled slowly over medium heat fire."
"Got it. Go on ahead." And without another word their guide lead them to a small room at the back of restaurant.
"Just wait here." He told them with a kind smile.
"So when do we get our steaks?" Gon asked looking very excited at the idea of food.
"That defiantly would have been nice, but Gon that was just a password, I don't think we're getting any steak dinners." Kurapika explained with a small chuckle.
"Aw that sucks… Oh well!" And just like that Gon was over his disappointment, defiantly a skill to be envious of.
"Well, good luck to you three, I hope you all succeed." The male Kirito said with a respectful nod to them and turned to leave.
"Thanks for everything Mister."
"And thank you as well Gon, it would be my pleasure to be you three's Navigator next year as well." And with another nod and warm smile the Kirito made his exit from the small room.
"Well that's rude, it's like he doesn't expect us to pass this year!" Leorio huffed indigently as he dropped into one of unoccupied chairs.
"One every three years."
"What?" Leorio turned to look at the Blonde Kurta who had spoken.
"One every three years, that's how often a rookie passes the Hunter Exams." The Kurta clarified. Leorio looked like he was going to give a response of his own but suddenly the whole room began to shake then with a groan the room seemed to be moving downward. "This room must be a elevator." Gon nodded eyeing the digital panel above the door which was rapidly increasing the farther down they went.
"Since we seem to have some time… Gon, what kind of hunter do you want to be?" Leorio asked the boy abruptly.
"I-um…" Gon stumbled, unprepared to answer his sudden question.
"Don't worry about it Gon it's not like you have to decide anything right away, we still have time to decide that." Kurapika comforted, seeing his brother's distress on the matter. However, none of them were able to continue the conversation as with a ding and sudden jolt the room/elevator came to a stop, the digital panel now displaying the number 100.
So with only a brief hesitation the small party of three exited the elevator into the underground cavern filled with people of all kinds. As soon as they entered they were greeted my a small grren man who handed them each a button with a number on it. Leorio was 403, Kurapika was 404, and Gon was 405. Once he had fastened his button to his clothing Kurapika moved him hands to pull the cowl of his cloak up to hide his eyes from view again but both Gon and Leorio stopped him.
"Don't worry Kura-nii I don't think anyone will judge you, you've already gotten this far so that defiantly says something, right?" Gon whispered to Kurapika with a bright smile and gave his brother's hand a comforting squeeze.
"And I doubt anyone here is going to care if you can't see anyway. Besides, it's better if you let them underestimate you." Leorio whispered to him as well but released his hold once he knew that the Kurta had heard him.
"You are both right… I am being ridiculous, the loss of my sight hardly matters here." And he took off the cloak completely, folded and stowed it safely away in his satchel bag. "Just habit I suppose." He said with a small, sheepish smile as they turned to get a better assessment of their fellow exam takers.
It wasn't hard to tell that the cavernous room held people who were all masters in their own right, potentially dangerous people. Kurapika didn't need his sight to recognize that he needed to very ware of those who had gathered with them here. There was sure to be some particularly nasty ones among them. So Kurapika found himself making the judgment to use his nen to asses the competition. He moved and weaved his presence through the crowd of strangers testing for ill-intent and strong talent. There were of course many, but there was four in particular that stood out to him, and all for different reasons. The first was a man who felt very talented, mostly from training not talent and posses a very strong metal fortitude. It was so strong Kurapika was worried for a moment that the man would notice his attention on him, but it appeared he did not. The second one that stood out was a boy, which alone would stand out to him, but the boy was very skilled as well, through training and talent but no ill-intent or malice to go along. It was the third man that Kurapika drew back from the instant he became aware of him. The malice and bloodlust coming from him was so thick that he almost feared he would drown in it if he didn't move away but he could also recognize talent there as well even as terrifying as the man was. Th fourth one who caught his attention was actually approaching them as it turned out. The man possessed not a single ounce of of skill or talent but his ill-intent and cruelty were only outstripped by the terrifying man. "Stay back." Kurapika snarled, drawing his sword in a singe motion to point them menacingly at the stranger who was close enough for his nose to touch the tips of the Kurta's wooden blades.
"Woah! Kurapika! What's the deal?!" Leorio exclaimed in confusion clearly not understanding why his the blonde had suddenly decided to point his weapon at a complete stranger.
"Kura-nii… did you 'feel' something?" Gon whispered to his brother questioningly. Kurapika just nodded subtle, still keeping his swords raised and Gon frowned, tensing ever so slightly.
"N-now hold it now…" The stranger stuttered nervously. "I-I haven't even introduced myself… I'm Tompa. Now why don't you put down those swords and we talk like normal people, okay?" The stranger bargained, nervously eyeing Kurapika and his swords. Kurapika did not look pleased but lowered his weapons, though not before giving Tompa a nasty look. And Gon didn't cheerily greet Tompa like he normal would but gave him a simple almost stiff greeting instead.
"I'm Gon and this is my Onii-san Kurapika and our friend Leorio."
"Haha…nice to meet you all." Tompa responded, slightly calmer then before but still nervous and wary of Kurapika and Gon a little as well, who was lacking his usual welcoming and cheery demeanor. "What's with the violent actions? Did I offend you somehow?" Tompa ventured to question, though very tentatively, curious if the blind blonde somehow knew of his past exploits.
"Kura-nii is very good at judging a person's character." Gon told Tompa just as flatly as he had greeted him. "I trust Kura-nii judgement and if he thinks he needs to raise his swords at you it's probably for a good reason."
"Ah well, don't worry! I'm not a dangerous person at all, I promise. Here, have a juice on me. Think of it as an apology." He offered handing them each a can of juice, all laced heavily with a laxative. Kurapika didn't touch the drink but Leorio and Gon both ventured to try it. Kurapika couldn't resist as tiny grin when Gon spat out the juice saying it tasted like it had gone bad, leading to Leorio spitting it out in time as well.
"Gon and I tasted lots of grasses and plants when we went into the woods, so both of us can fairly easily tell when something has gone bad." Kurapika explained giving Tompa a knowing smirking as he handed his unopened can of juice back.
"Ehehe… gomen, I had no idea." Tompa apologized with a deep bow to them. Crazy mountain kids… what is with the rookies this year? He wonder to himself as he returned to the main crowd of participants. There's that white haired boy who just downed the laxative juice like it was nothing, saying he had immunity to poisons or something and then there is the ninja who looked totally gullible but is actually pretty dangerous and lastly, that one with strange needles all over him who is just downright creepy, I don't even want to get near him.
-x-
Meanwhile Gon, Kurapika and Leorio were discussing the events that had transpired.
"What the heck Kurapika! Why did you threaten that guy, he didn't do anything to us!" Leorio growled but Kurapika already had a response ready.
"He almost did actually, but never mind that. You just need to know that he is dangerous, maybe not physically speaking… no, defiantly not physically, but mentally he is very cruel. I recommend keeping your distance from him whenever possible." he paused for a moment before continuing on. "And there is one other person I recommend staying away from too, even more so then Tompa. I can't give you a face but I am pretty sure you'll know who I am talking about when you do see him…" A horrified scream filled the cavern as a man was kneeling on the ground as his arms disintegrated into pink flower petals. And standing over him was a man dressed in bright colored and oddly shaped clothing and had a terrifying smile on his face. Right away Leorio and Gon knew this was the man Kurapika had been talking about.
"Hisoka… the psycho's back again…" Kurapika heard someone muttered almost fearfully at the horrible display.
"You really should always apologize when you bump into someone." The clown-like man, Hisoka, said with chilling smile then suddenly turned to stare right at Kurapika, licking his lips almost perversely. Luckily no one caught the momentary stare but Kurapika still had felt it, that sickening stare, with a shutter, no nen was needed for that.
"Kura-nii?" Gon asked his brother sensing his unease.
"It's fine Gon, I'm fine…" He said with a confidence that he did not actually have.
"Buuuuuuuzzz." Somewhere a timer sounded and the back wall of the cavernous room shuttered then slowly began to crawl upward until a longer tunnel was made visible to the applicants and also a tall thin man with curly mustache for a mouth who standing before them.
"Welcome to this year's Hunter Exam. I will warn you that tests that are to follow may lead to injury or death, should you be lacking in skill or luck I recommend that you take your leave. If anyone wishes to withdraw now is the time, you may exit through the door behind you." No one moved in the slightest. "Very well, all 404 remaining applicants will be participating. This year's Hunter Exam will now commence!"
A/N- Woah! I think this is my longest chapter yet! For any of my stories! I apologize to all of you who were hoping for a Killua meeting... I know some of you have been wait for that but don't worry it'll happen, Killua is defiantly in my top three favorite characters. It's gonna be in the next chapter, I swear! (Though, fair warning, my school life is taking over right now so it might be a while before the next chapter, sorry!) But thank you for reading my story and please leave reviews! I love them! Thanks! :)