Love of Big Sisters
So far, the test was easy. Just running for a long time, wasn't hard for Weiss, she could run for days without a break. She figured they would start out with something relatively easy and then the trials would get harder. Not that Weiss would complain, it was nice to ease into something.
"Hey Weiss," Killua whispered next to her, on his skateboard, "Look behind us."
Weiss glanced behind her. She spotted the girl in the red hood again and frowned. Then she saw a kid running next to her. He looked about Killua's age.
"There's another kid here, taking the exam," Killua sounded intrigued.
Weiss looked back at Killua. Killua never had any friends growing up. Their family wouldn't allow it.
When they left, Winter actually encouraged it. Whenever Weiss went out to go shopping and came back, Winter would ask her if she made any friends. Honestly, Weiss wasn't sure if she could have any friends. Yes, she did want some, but her past wasn't exactly... ideal. Killua had it worse. And odds where this boy would drop out of the exam, probably during this first phase.
"Why don't you go talk to him?" Weiss asked.
Killua looked back at her surprised, "You sure?"
"Yeah," Weiss said, "I know you want to, go ahead."
"But-..."
"What?" Weiss pinched his cheek, "Did you miss me so much you wanted to spend more time with me?"
Killua's face went red as he batted her hand away, "No!"
"Then go talk to him," Weiss said, "I'll see you later Killua. I'm no going anywhere."
"Alright," with a sigh Killua slowed down to approach the other boy. Weiss heard someone yelling behind her about how he was cheating at the exam.
"How's that?" Killua asked how he was cheating.
"How?" Leorio snapped, "This is an endurance test, that's how."
"No it's not," Gon said.
"What are you babbling about now Gon?" Leorio said.
"The exam guy said we had to follow him," Ruby pointed out, "He never said it was an endurance test."
"Yeah," Yang agrees, "I sure as hell ain't gonna bitch about it."
"Whose side are you guys on anyway?" Leorio asked.
"Who said anything about sides?" Ruby asked.
Killua just passed the loud guy to talk to the other kid, "Hey, how old are you?"
"Twelve years old."
The same age as me. Killua glanced back at Weiss, she was still ahead, still insight. Weiss should be able to pass the exam just as easily as him. He wasn't worried about that. He was worried she'd disappear... again.
"What do you mean, you don't know where Weiss and Winter went?"
Killua quickly came back to the present. He didn't need to worry. Weiss was there to pass the exam... She was there. He'd see her again later. Besides, he wanted to talk to this kid.
He kickflipped his skateboard into the air before catching it, running next to him, "I think I'll run for a little while."
"Whoa, cool!"
"My names Killua."
"Hi, I'm Gon."
"And I'm Yang," Yang declared, "and this is my sister Ruby."
Killua looked at Gon, "Are they your sister's?"
"Cousins," Gon corrected.
Ruby remembered Killua, "Isn't that mean girl- I mean that girl your sister?"
Killua snickered, "Yeah, sorry about Weiss. She can be a prissy princess sometimes."
"Your sister's here?" Gon asked.
"Yeah," Killua pointed ahead, "The girl in the ponytail."
"Mean girl?" Yang asked.
Ruby groaned, "I just wanted to look at her sword," Ruby whined, "It's a multi-action dust rapier."
"Yeah, Weiss won't let me play with Myrtenaster either," Killua complained, "She keeps saying I'll break it."
Gon laughed, "I know how you feel. Ruby won't let me try Crescent Rose, and Yang won't let me try on Ember Celica."
"That's because you refused to listen to dad's gun lesson's," Yang called.
"What are those?" Killua asked.
"Ruby and Yang's hybrid weapons. Crescent Rose is a scythe that's also a sniper rifle and Ember Celica are shot gun gauntlets."
"What do you have?"
"This fishing pole."
"Still not a weapon."
"Ruby, come on," Gon complained embarrassed.
The sisters laughed, happy to see their cousin making a friend.
Weiss glanced back to check on her little brother. Killua looked like he was getting along with the boy. She smiled as she looked ahead. She was glad. Killua deserved to have at least one friend. Weiss sighed, when she still didn't sense any Nen from Killua. She thought they'd finally start his Nen training when she left, but clearly they didn't.
"This will make Kill strong."
"He will be taught Nen, Weiss, just be patient."
Strong? What a laugh. It took Weiss a while to finally understand. They didn't teach him Nen, because they were afraid of him.
Everyone said, her younger brother gifted. It didn't make sense that they never taught him Nen when she and the rest of her siblings were taught at a young age. Now Weiss understood. They weren't confident in their ability to control Killua, and if he learned Nen, they certainly wouldn't be able to reign him in.
Weiss clenched her jaw at the thought. No! They wanted him to be dangerous. They just couldn't stand that Killua was also a good kid.
When this exam is over, I'll teach him Nen. Maybe he's like me and Winter. Weiss smiled at the thought. I should also call Winter and let her know, that Killua got away. She'll be so happy to know he's alright.
Leorio was gasping, he slowed down, "I'm just a regular guy. I don't stand a chance... what the hell was I thinking?" Leorio dropped his briefcase and hunched over gasping. That caused Gon, Killua, Yang, and Ruby to stop.
Ruby ran back to Leorio, "Leorio, come on, we're not done yet."
Leorio didn't respond, he just kept gasping. Ruby looked worried, "Come on, we got this far. Don't give up now. We're here."
"Hey, Ruby," Killua called, "Leave him. Just come on."
Ruby ignored Killua, "Leorio, I know you can do this."
"Screw this," Leorio growled. A second later, he sprinted forward after the pack, "I'm becoming a Hunter no matter what!"
"Woo, go Leorio," Yang cheered as he ran past them.
"Damn it all!" Leorio yelled as he ran.
Ruby appeared next to Yang, running with Leorio's briefcase, "Let's go, we don't want to get left behind!"
"Yeah," Yang cheered, "Onwards and upwards men."
Eventually the applicants reached a set of stairs.
"Looks like we're going up," Yang said.
"Hey, I got an idea," Killua looked at Gon, "Let's race to the finish, see who's faster."
"Okay, but the loser has to buy dinner," Gon wagered.
"You're on," Killua agreed eagerly.
"Ready," they both said, "Go!" The two kids raced up the stairs.
Yang grinned and looked at Ruby, "Maybe we should race too."
"Yang come on, this is already hard," Ruby whined.
Yang just grinned before grabbing Crescent Rose off her back and running ahead.
"Hey, come back here with my sweetheart!" Ruby shouted.
Yang laughed as she ran up the stairs. She spotted Leorio... who was shirtless. His blazer was tied around his waist, but his tie was still on his neck.
It was too easy.
"Wow, nice abs muscle man," Yang teased.
"Shut up Yang," Leorio barked, "I know I look stupid, I don't need the commentary."
"Are you certain?" Kurapika appeared, causing Yang to look away.
"If I forget how stupid I look, it's a whole lot easier to keep going," Leorio charged ahead.
That left Yang alone with Kurapika for a moment. She bit the inside of her cheek for a second. She wasn't avoiding him on purpose, she just didn't know what to say.
"Yang?" Kurapika asked.
"Uh... Yeah?"
"Did I do something to make you upset?" Kurapika asked.
"Uh... no, you didn't," Yang said, "I just..."
"You get along with Leorio pretty well," Kurapika said, "You get along with a lot of people well, but you seem to avoid me."
Yang didn't know why she was surprised. They hadn't spent a lot of time together, but she knew Kurapika was really smart and observant.
"I'm sorry," Yang said, "I promise, it's not anything you did... it's..." Yang took in a deep breath, "You're..." Yang whispered, "You're not... the sole survivor of your clan."
"What?" Kurapika looked at Yang. Who quickly put a finger to her mouth.
"I... I can't tell you everything yet, but... I know someone. He left the clan when he was a kid," Yang whispered, "He's old, so I doubt you'd know him. I promised I wouldn't give his identity away," for the most that was true. Her Uncle Qrow was a Kurta, who left when he was a kid. And Yang did promise to keep his identity a secret.
"I... I just didn't know how to talk to you when I knew that," Yang explained.
Kurapika nodded, "I understand. After what happened, he was wise to make you promise that. Are you in contact with him?"
"I am."
"When this is over," Kurapika asked, "Will you tell him about me?"
"I will. I was going to anyway," Yang explained.
"Thank you, Yang," Kurapika said. He seemed, just a little bit relieved.
Yang didn't feel like she deserved his thanks. He still didn't know that she, was a Kurta as well. But now she could tell him what she wanted to say when she first saw him, "You're not alone, Kurapika. Remember that."
"I will, thank you."
Yang swallowed.
Somehow, I have to tell him I'm a Kurta too. Before this test is over.
"Anyway," Kurapika took off his poncho, "I feel I need to give this my all too."
Yang looked at Kurapika, he was completely in white, "Don't take this the wrong way, but you like you're running in your pajamas.
Kurapika laughed a little, "Well, do I look more respectable than Leorio?"
"Oh definitely," Yang laughed.
"Get a room!" Leorio snapped at the two blonds.
How about you shut up! Weiss was irritated by the man's shouting. She didn't mean to, but she started to overhear their conversation about the Kurta clan and their eyes. Weiss heard about the destroyed clan. It was a real tragedy.
"If I become a blacklist hunter, I'll be able to hunt the Phantom Troupe."
Weiss glanced back at the blonde boy. He's hunting the Phantom Troupe too?
"Well, sorry, I don't have some big noble cause like you do," Leorio said, "The only thing I'm after is money. Money can buy anything, treasures, dreams, and even lives."
Yang looked at Leorio shocked, "I know you don't believe that. You care about people, you don't see them as, things to buy."
"But it's true," Leorio declared, "If I had money, my friend would still be alive today!"
That made Yang and Kurapika gasp. Leorio went quiet and looked ahead as they continued to run.
"Leorio," Yang said worried.
"Was he ill?" Kurapika asked.
"Yeah, he was ill and a faunus. It was curable disease, but the surgery cost a fortune. I was naive, I figured I could become a doctor, so I could cure kids with the same disease, human or faunus... And tell their parents they owed me nothing! It was free of charge. That was my dream, pretty good joke, right? Turns out to become a doctor, you already have to have an obscene amount of money. Get it now? The whole world runs on money, so I'll get as much as I can!"
Yang and Kurapika could only smile.
"Leorio."
"What Yang?"
"You're sweet," Yang smiled.
Leorio faltered a little but quickly steadied himself. His face was red, but not from exhaustion.
"Yang!" Ruby shouted as she started to approach them, "Give me my Crescent Rose!"
Right behind her was Gon and Killua. The two boys were passing on Leorio's right when they teased him.
"See you at the finish line."
"Yeah, catch you later old man."
"Hey, I'm not old, can't you see I'm a teenager like you?"
The world seemed to stop, when Leorio revealed his age.
"Huh?"
"Wait, you're not a twenty something year old dude?" Yang asked.
They're so noisy. Blake thought as she ran. And that was saying something for someone who had four ears. Still their energy was infectious. It was nice to have some lighthearted air, especially after seeing a poor man lose his arms for no good reason.
Blake glanced ahead at number 44. He wasn't just dangerous, but crazy. Blake briefly wondered if every red-haired man was dangerous, or just the ones she knew?
This first part of the exam wasn't too hard. Blake went through harder exercises when she was in the White Fang. But running without knowing when she was going to stop, wasn't fun to think about. She decided to try and think about something else. Let her body run on autopilot while her mind entertained itself, right now, she was safe to do that.
The Phantom Troupe. She couldn't help but overhear the Kurta boy. It was horrible, what happened. The Phantom Troupe was seriously dangerous. Every member of the White Fang had clear instructions: Never engage them, run if you see them.
Blake wondered what she would do, if she ever came across the dreaded spiders? She sighed, who was she kidding, she'd run. She didn't want to. She didn't want to keep running. She ran away from her parents, she ran away from Adam, the White Fang. She was taking the exam, because she wanted to stop the wrong of the world and she hoped becoming a Hunter would help her do that.
All Blake ever wanted; was to make the world a better place, not just for Faunus, but for humans too. She wanted equality and peace, not supremacy and violence. When Blake left the White Fang, she briefly thought about reaching out to her parents again. She decided against it. After everything she did, there was no way they'd want anything to do with her and she wouldn't blame them. The White Fang changed for the worse, and for a while, she was too stubborn to admit it. They were no better than the Phantom Troupe... She was no better than the Phantom Troupe.
I have to make it right. Somehow.
Gon and Killua ran past the applicants that were dropping like flies.
"Man, I thought the Hunter Exam was going to be more of a challenge," Killua complained, "This is boring."
"Hey," Gon said, "Why do you want to be a Hunter anyway."
Killua looked ahead at Weiss, "Hm... I'll tell ya if you win."
"Okay."
"What about you?" Killua asked.
"Well, my dad's a Hunter, so are my uncle's. Well, Uncle Qrow is still a Hunter. Uncle Tai retired. But I decided I wanted to be a Hunter just like them, no matter what."
"So, what kind of Hunters are they?"
"Uncle Qrow is a Blacklist Hunter; I don't know what my dad does."
Killua just laughed at that, "It's the weirdest thing I've ever heard. You don't know anything about your dad? That's nuts."
"Aunt Mito and Uncle Tai raised me. They told me about him a little, but I've only seen him in old pictures they showed me a long time ago."
"Wait, so are they Ruby and Yang's mom and dad?"
"Uncle Tai is their dad. Mito is his sister," Gon explained, "Yang's mom left her when she was a baby, and Aunt Summer, Ruby's Mom died. Yang wants to find her mom and I want to help her find her, and she's going to help me find my dad. I want to know why he chose being a Hunter instead of staying home with me."
A light ahead began to shine.
"The exit!"
"Finally, we're getting out of this tunnel."
Gon and Killua smiled, they shot forward, ready to win their race. They quickly passed Weiss.
"See you later flatty!" Killua shot.
"Killua!" Weiss snapped.
Satotz reached the top first, "Now then. Let's see how many applicants made it this far," just as he turned his head. The two boys jumped past him.
"Goal!"
They had carefree smiles as they reached the top.
"I did it," Gon said, "I reached it first."
"What are you talking about, I totally-..." A white streak shot out of the tunnel and tackled Killua. Causing Gon to jump in panic.
A brief struggle later, and Killua was trapped in a headlock by Weiss, "Who were you calling flatty, you little pest?"
"Uncle," Killua flapped his arms trying to get free.
Yang carrying Crescent Rose finally came out, "Whew, we made it. Hey Gon, where's..." she trailed off when she saw Killua being man handled by a girl.
Finally, Weiss was satisfied with her revenge, and released Killua on the ground, with a, "Hmph!" She noticed Gon, "Well, I see you made it this far."
"I'm Gon," Gon smiled.
"I'm Weiss, Killua's sister."
"Yeah, you're the mean girl Ruby mentioned," Gon said.
"Excuse me, who's-..."
A red blur then slammed into Yang. Seconds later, Ruby rose from the dust cloud holding her weapon, "Oh, sweet Crescent Rose, how I've missed you."
Weiss rolled her eyes before looking back at Gon. She was sure he'd drop out during the first phase.
"Hey," Gon looked to Satotz, "Which of us was faster, me or Killua?"
"You both arrived at the same time," Satotz answered.
"Aw man."
Weiss ignored them as she approached Satotz, "Is this the sight for the second phase?"
They were currently on a hill surrounded by fog.
"No it is not," Satotz said, "This is the halfway point."
Slowly the other applicants joined them. While they waited, Gon and Killua sat down. Ruby and Yang sat next to Gon. Weiss sat next to Killua.
"Snack break," Yang pulled out some chocolate bars and passed them to Ruby and Gon.
"Yay, chocolate," Ruby squealed.
Yang pulled out an extra candy bar and held it out to Killua, "You want one too, Killua?"
Killua looked at Yang surprised, but he accepted the candy. Weiss watched them. The candy didn't look poisonous, so she let him have it.
Eventually, Leorio finally climbed the stairs to the top, and nearly fell over. Kurapika joined them, "Are we at our destination?"
"No, Mr. Satotz said this is the halfway point," Yang explained.
"I see."
"Rest while you can," Yang suggested, "We don't know how long we'll have to run again."
"I agree," Kurapika sat next to Yang, "It looks like the fog is lifting."
Indeed, the fog did lift. Soon, everyone could see what was at the bottom of the hill, marshland.
"This area, is known as Swindlers Swamp," Satotz began, "We must pass it to reach the sight of the second phase of the exam. This place is home to a variety of truly bizarre animals. Any of which are crafty, veracious creatures, who deceive and feast on human prey. So, please be very careful," Satotz turned around, "If you're deceived you'll surly die."
Weiss frowned as she and the group she was with, stood up. So, it was starting to get harder. She glanced down to Killua. She did think he'd be fine, but she was still worried.
"Gon," Ruby whispered as she took his hand, "Stay near me and Yang when we go through, okay?"
"Okay, Ruby."
"These wetland creatures are not to be underestimated, for they will use every trick in the book to fool their prey. This is an ecosystem which all creatures hunt by the art of deception. And that is why it is known as Swindlers Swamp. Now then, please follow me closely so you won't be deceived."
Leorio stood up and scoffed, "Is he messing with us, if we know they're going to try to deceive us, who's going to fall for it?"
"Don't fall for it!"
"Listen, didn't I just say that we won't?" Leorio asked as everyone looked toward the direction of the voice. A man covered in injures appeared from the side of the tunnel.
"Don't let them fool you. That man is lying to you," he pointed to Satotz, "He's an imposter, a total fraud, I'm the real examiner!"
That lead the group of candidates in a state of confusion.
"Imposter? What's going on here?" Leorio asked.
"How can he be an imposter?" Yang asked.
"Then who is he really?"
"I'll prove it, look at this," the injured man pulled out a creature, that looked like Satotz. Everyone gasped.
"Oh wow, he looks like Mr. Satotz," Gon observed.
"This is a man faced ape from Swindlers Swamp," the newcomer said, "The man faced ape, loves the taste of human flesh, but their limbs are really long and thin, so they're actually weak. That's why they disguise themselves as humans, to trick us into following them into the wetlands, where they work together with other creatures to kill and eat us. That's what he wants," he pointed to Satotz, "To trick the entire applicant pool and feast on everyone of you."
"Bastard," Leorio growled.
"Nice try," Yang raised her fists.
"That explains why he doesn't run like a normal human."
A second later, cards flew through the air. They buried themselves into the chest and forehead of the newcomer. Another set was thrown at Satotz who caught the cards easily as the newcomer fell on his back, dead.
Everyone looked to where the cards came from; Hisoka. He simply shuffled his cards chuckling, "I see, I see, that settles it then. So, you are the real one."
This made everyone whisper among themselves again.
Then the man faced ape that was dragged out, suddenly got up and ran off screaming.
"The examiners are Hunters," Hisoka reminded, "Each is hand picked by the exam committee, to do this job without pay. Anyone who holds the title we're vying for ourselves, could have deflected that attack, and quite easily I might add."
Ruby frowned as she pulled Gon back, trying to keep him away from Hisoka. Yang forgot all about the newcomer and was now standing in front of them. Between Hisoka and her family, "Guys," Yang whispered behind her, "Stay away from that guy, got it?"
"Yeah," Ruby whispered. She wasn't going to let Gon near that man.
"Kill," Weiss whispered, "Stay away from him."
"Huh?"
"He's as strong as Illumi," Weiss said, "And... he might actually be crazier than him."
Killua looked at Hisoka. He could see what Weiss was talking about, "Don't worry I won't."
Soon, everyone began running again. This time into a swamp. As they ran, the fog seemed to reappear around them.
That wasn't good. Ruby was worried, the fog was going to make it easier for the creatures to deceive everyone. She thought that as she ran just a few feet ahead of her family.
"Ruby wait," Yang called as she ran after her. Ruby slowed down a bit so Yang could catch up to her, "We really, really need to stay together during this part of the exam."
"Sorry," Ruby said, "I know, we really need to get out of here. Gon, did you see which way they went?" Ruby was met with silence, "Gon?"
They looked behind them to see that Gon and Killua had vanished.
"Gon?" Yang called.
"Oh no!" Ruby cried, "We lost Gon! Oh man, if the monsters don't kill us, dad and Aunt Mito will!"
Leorio and Kurapika ran through the fog. Not knowing where they were going.
"This is bad," Kurapika realized, with this fog, we can't tell where we're going."
"It's okay," Leorio assured, "As long as we don't lose sight of the guys ahead of us."
The silhouettes of the runners could be seen in the fog in front of them, but suddenly, their heads fell off. All of them.
Leorio screamed, "What the hell is going on no?"
Suddenly, giant strawberries appeared in the fog. Some of the other applicants got closer, but were suddenly yanked in screaming. It was revealed he was in the mouth of a giant turtle like monster, with strawberries growing out of it's shell.
In fact they were surrounded by a group of those giant turtle monsters. The applicants panicked as they were being eaten. Leorio and Kurapika looked around trying to figure out what to do.
However, they were noticed. One of the giant monsters when for Leorio. Luckily he found a giant log and wedged it into the monsters mouth. They kept it from biting him, but as it raised it's head, Leorio forgot to let go and was raised into the air.
"Leorio," Kurapika called.
Before he could do anything, a boom resounded through the air. Kurapika looked behind him. A gunshot?
One of the monsters fell over, as a black figure soared through the fog.
A small black sickly lodged into the eye of the monster Leorio was dangling from. The creature roared in pain as it shook it's head. That caused Leorio to lose his grip and fall.
As he fell, something grabbed his hand. He looked up to see one of the applicants. A girl with a black bow. She was swinging from a ribbon attached to the sickle. When they close to the ground she dropped him, safely. Kurapika quickly helped him up.
Blake swung up into the air and pulled her ribbon. Gambol shroud went off, slicing the creatures head.
She could still see the other monsters in the fog. She wasn't done yet. She activated her Nen and used her ability to push her through the air. She grabbed the bladed scabbard, before stabbing it into the head of one of the giant turtles. She, then back flipped into the air. Her chain sickle then swung around her slicing into the rest of them, killing them all.
She landed next to the two boys she saved with a gasp.
She looked at them, "Are you two, okay?"
"Yeah," Leorio stood, "Thanks."
"Yes," Kurapika said, "Thank you."
Blake put Gambol shroud on her back as she approached them, helping Leorio stand.
"I'm Leorio," he introduced.
"I'm Kurapika."
"Blake," she introduced. She pointed in a direction, "When I was in the air, I could see the pack, they went that way."
"Thank you, Blake," Kurapika said, "Will you travel with us? You're able to fight monsters with great skill."
"No need for flattery," Blake said, "I was going to anyway."
"Where are you?" Weiss looked for Killua. She just took her eyes off him for a second and he vanished. He couldn't have gotten far.
Thankfully, Weiss spotted him again after a few seconds of running. He was still with Gon. Weiss sighed; he was alright.
Her relieve was short lived, when a hold suddenly opened beneath the two boys, and a giant frog shot up swallowing them whole.
Weiss felt her heart stop, "Killua!"
The giant frog started walking away.
"No, you don't!" Weiss pulled out Myrtenaster and activated her Nen.
Glyph: Vector manipulation
The trail of Glyph's appeared, and Weiss glided across them, like a high-speed figure skater. She was in front of the frog in seconds as she jumped on a glyph that was facing it. Then she shot off the glyph, kicking the creature in the stomach with the force of a cannon ball. That made it, puke out the boys; but Weiss was still mad. With a few strokes from her sword, the frog was slicked into cubed meat.
She managed to not get a speck of blood on her dress, but she still had to flick the blood off her blade before settling it back on her hip. She turned and walked back to the boys.
Killua pouted, "I could have gotten out on my own, Weiss."
"Do you ever say thank you?" Weiss asked as she helped them up.
"Thank you, Weiss," Gon said with a smile.
She patted both their heads.
Gon looked around, "I'm still worried about Ruby and Yang. And Leorio and Kurapika."
"I'm pretty sure Ruby and Yang will be fine," Killua said, "They kept up with us during the first part."
"Yeah but still..."
"They need to prove they have what it takes," Weiss began leading Killua away, "This is the Hunter's Exam after all. Let's go."
The three began running, but Gon looked back.
Blake, Leorio, and Kurapika ran through the fog. As they ran Leorio saw something.
"Hold on," Leorio stopped them.
"What?" Blake asked.
"Look over there."
Standing in a clearing was Hisoka. Surrounded by a group of applicants with weapons.
"You're not Hunter material," one of them said, "I've been thinking that ever since we met last year."
"We'll spare your life if you promise to never take the Hunter exam again," another one of them said.
"Sure why not," Hisoka said, "I intend to pass, so there's no need to retake it."
"Oh yeah? You idiot, just look at this fog."
"Do you really think you can figure out where the main pack went in all this?"
"He's right they all failed this year. No way we can catch up with everyone else."
Hisoka just chuckled. The sound sent a chill down Blake's spine. This feeling, it was the same one she felt whenever Adam was about to kill someone.
"That's it then? You failed so you want to play examiner?" Hisoka asked, "Hunters require prey, so why don't I play the examiner. All you gentlemen claim to be Hunter material, but I will be the judge of that," he held up a single card. The four of spades.
The group of men charged at him, but in a single stroke of his card, Hisoka stopped them all. When he held it up again, all the men fell over dead. Except for one that stayed behind, he was the leader.
Blake watched as the poor man fell over in fear as Hisoka approached him. Clearly ready to kill. It reminded her of Adam. All the times he advanced on a defenseless human, just for the satisfaction of killing.
No, not again.
"Leorio, Kurapika," Blake whispered, "Run. Get out of here while you can."
"Wait, what are you-..."
Blake didn't wait to listen to Leorio's question as she shot forward, pulling Gambol Shroud out.
"Hm..." Hisoka hummed, "I was wondering how long you were going to stand there."
Hisoka quickly blocked the sword with his card. Damn, he was really good with Nen. But Blake wasn't trying to win, she was trying to keep Hisoka's attention on her and give the others time to escape.
Blake grabbed her bladed scabbard and started to use both blades. Blake didn't want to use the gun aspect, there were people around, she didn't want anyone to die from friendly fire.
Blake released one swing after another, but Hisoka dodged it all. While it was terrifying, Blakes distraction worked.
The man had disappeared, he ran, and Leorio and Kurapika was gone. Now was the time. Blake charged forward swords drawn.
Hisoka grinned. She must had been getting desperate. Such a shameful waste. With a single stroke, his card sliced through her neck.
Then she blurred away. That surprised Hisoka. He looked to see her fading figure running into the fog. He couldn't sense her; she must had been using Zetsu.
An ability to leave behind a double to die in your place. How interesting. Perhaps she'll be more fun later.
Hisoka couldn't stop himself from laughing. It was always so fun to find a new toy.
His musings were interrupted when he heard footsteps.
"I couldn't do it," one of the boys, the tall shirtless one, approached him, holding a stick, "This may not be my fight, but I can't just sit back and pretend nothing happened. That's not my style. See the thing is, I can't run away!"
"Leorio," Kurapika called.
Leorio charged with the stick Hisoka just hummed, "I adore that look."
Leorio swung the stick, but Hisoka dodged it easily. He moved behind Leorio and reached towards him. But something hit him in the face. He was so preoccupied with Leorio he didn't noticed the fishing bob coming towards him.
"Gon? Yang?" Ruby called. First she lost Gon, now she lost Yang. This was just getting worse by the minute. There were so many things that could go bad, dying would be one of them. The other was failing and never having a chance to become a Hunter again. She couldn't let that happen.
"Gon!"
Ruby heard Leorio's voice shout. She took in a deep breath and walked toward the sound. She was in Swindlers Swamp. Some creature could have mimicked Leorio's voice. She pulled out Crescent Rose just to be safe.
When she got closer, the sight she saw was worse than any monster. Hisoka was holding Gon in the air, by his neck. He was strangling her cousin, whom she loved like a little brother.
Ruby spun Crescent Rose around her, pulled the trigger, and used the velocity to shoot her forward. When she got closer, she raised the scythe above her, ready to cut Hisoka's arm off; but she hit nothing.
Hisoka released Gon and jumped back. Ruby landed standing between Gon and Hisoka, "Leave him alone!"
Hisoka just grinned. Ruby was sick of him. She attacked him. Spinning Crescent Rose around her as she swung it around. Releasing shots as the barrel was aimed at the stupid clown. But Hisoka, dodged all of it. It surprised Ruby that someone was this fast. When she thought she finally had him, Hisoka just turned to fog when her blade went through him.
"Are you here to help your friends?" Ruby heard him aske behind her. Ruby swung Crescent Rose around her, but she hit nothing. She looked around, where was he, "Such a good girl." Ruby jumped back and tried to fire a few rounds, but Hisoka appeared and kicked her in the stomach. The pain caused Ruby to release her weapon. A second later she was on her back, Hisoka's hand closed around her neck. Ruby struggled to breathe as she clawed at his hands. Was this it?
"Ruby!" More gunshots were heard, and Hisoka released his hold on Ruby and jumped back, "You want to dance clown, dance with me!"
Blonde hair, and red eyes shot towards Hisoka, as Yang punched him in the gut. But he turned into fog. Yang looked around, where was that bastard?
Yang heard clapping and she looked ahead. He was just standing there grinning, "Don't worry. I didn't kill your friends. They'll be just fine."
"Ruby!"
Yang heard Gon run to Ruby, while she was coughing.
"You all passed," Hisoka said.
"Funny," Yang narrowed her scarlet eyes, "You don't look like an examiner."
"Well, we were playing," Hisoka said.
"Your games suck," Yang snapped, "Let's play mine. Fire tag." Yang shot several rounds at Hisoka in anger, but he dodged.
"While I adore that look, I think we're pressed for time," he easily closed the gap and punched Yang, sending her flying backwards.
"Yang!" Ruby and Gon barely caught her. Helping her stand.
Something on Hisoka rang, he pulled out what looked like a military radio.
"Hisoka, you should get back here," a garbled voice said, "We've almost reached the sight of the second phase."
Hisoka looked bored as he answered, "Okay, be right there."
"Leorio," Ruby panicked when Hisoka picked him up.
"Ruby," Gon said, "I don't think he'll hurt him."
"Can you look out for each other?" Hisoka asked.
"We don't..." Yang was still disoriented but she still shot him a glare, "We don't need you to tell us that."
Hisoka just chuckled, "Such good girls," with that he vanished into the fog.
"Next time clown, I'll wipe that grin off along with that tacky makeup," Yang shouted.
"Yang, calm down," Ruby begged.
Yang sighed as she hugged them both close. Her family was safe, that was all that mattered. As she calmed down, she felt her scarlet eyes turn purple again.
"Are you guys okay?"
Yang jolted at Kurapika's voice, did he see...
"We're okay," Ruby said as she pulled away.
Kurapika ran towards them, with him was a girl with long black hair and a bow.
"Who are you?" Gon asked.
"Blake," the girl answered.
"She helped us earlier," Kurapika explained.
"Well, any friend of Kurapika and Leorio, is a friend of ours," Yang said.
The group ran again, following Gon. He always had a sharp nose. Ruby was convinced he was part Zwei.
Yang kept glancing at Kurapika. He wasn't looking at her funny or asking anything. Maybe he didn't see her eyes afterall.
Ruby sighed, "We need to be careful around Hisoka. If later down the line we'll have to fight him, there's no way we'll win."
"I agree," Kurapika said.
"Right now," Blake added, "The best we can do is avoid him. Hopefully, if it does come to that, we'll think of a plan."
"What a sick freak," Yang said.
They ran all the way, until they found the applicants and the sight of the second phase.
Writing this was so painful. Know this, if Hisoka ever really hurt my girl, nothing, not Grim, not the Zoldyck's or their army of super butlers, the Phantom Troupe, The entirety of the Chimera Ant race, or even Salem herself. Nothing would stop me from hunting down Hisoka and sending him to hell...! And you too Illumi!
I feel I need to explain the ages of the Zoldyck children in this fic.
Illumi – age 24
Winter – age 24
Yes they're twins, Illumi being older.
Miluki – age 19
Weiss – age 17
Killua- age 12
Alluka – age 11
Kalluto- age 10
Weiss is the middle child of this dysfunctional family
