Ruby vs Hanzo

Winter entered the office of her superior. She walked in front of his desk and stood straight, "General Ironwood, sir."

"At ease Winter," James said as he looked at her.

Technically, he was a retired general, but he did run his section like a military, so he was still called general.

"You wanted to see me sir?" Winter asked.

"I have a new assignment," the triple star Hunter passed Winter an envelope, "There have been a string of thefts in this area."

"What has been stolen?"

Was it the Phantom Troupe.

"Dust," Ironwood explained.

"Dust?" The Troupe did steal dust from time to time, but only enough to get by. This couldn't had been them. Winter opened the folder, there were pictures of dust stores that were clearly robbed, broken windows, empty vaults. Certainly, not the Troupe, whoever did this was far too sloppy.

"Can't the police handle this on their own?" She looked through some more photos, in one of them she spotted a certain building in the distance, Heaven's Arena.

"It doesn't appear so, they're asking for assistance from the association," Ironwood explained, "Winter, I wouldn't send you if it wasn't important."

Winter did owe the general a lot. He brought into his sector and gave her jobs. Important, different, good jobs that weren't assassinations.

Despite changing her last name, many knew Winter was from the Zoldyck family. Most of the association either stayed away from her or attacked her. Apparently, a lot of Hunters lost their colleagues when they tried to brave Kukuroo mountain or tried to go after their bounty.

Ironwood was one of the first Hunters to give Winter a chance and give her an important place. Not work in the shadows for the highest bidder. Honestly, Ironwood was more a father to her than her real one.

Plus he was strong, actually stronger than her. He'd probably be a Zodiac if he was part of Netero's faction instead of Ozpin's.

"Very well," Winter said, "But while I'm here sir, can I ask about my sister?"

Winter hoped that Ironwood would give Weiss a position in his sector as well. He had been good to Winter; he knew he'd be good to Weiss as well.

"You're very confident she'll pass the exam?" Ironwood smiled a bit, knowing full well Weiss could pass.

"I am," Winter said, "As I said, she's very skilled and capable."

"But lacking in field experience."

"That can be fixed with time," Winter urged.

"Winter don't worry," Ironwood said, "I've had Beans send me the updated progress of the exam. Your sister is doing well and is expected to pass. I'm certain we can have a good position here."

Winter internally released a sigh of relief. If Weiss had a strong position in the Hunter Association, it would make it difficult for anyone to go after, including their family.

"Also," Ironwood pulled out another folder with a smile, "I thought you'd like to see something."

Winter looked at him puzzled, as she took the folder. When she opened it, her eyes widened.

"Killua?"

Killua was taking the exam as well. There was a photo of him that he sent in with his application.

"It seems your family truly is skilled, he's also made it to the final phase of the exam," Ironwood complimented. Winter barely heard it though.

Killua was taking the exam? How? Their family wouldn't have allowed it, especially Illumi or their mother. Did Killua escape on his own?

Well… Killua was greatly skilled and gifted. He managed to pick up on their techniques even faster than her or Illumi. That was part of the reason their family delayed in teaching him Nen.

Wait did Weiss know?

Winter got that answer when she saw a picture of the two of them hugging. She couldn't help but run a finger over it. They looked so happy.

Weiss was constantly worried for their younger siblings. Always trying to get stronger for the day she'd go back for them.

And Killua. It must had been so difficult without them there. Winter hated that she could only take Weiss, but she didn't have a choice.

After Weiss failed to save Alluka, the manor had been stricter. Winter could only save Weiss at the time.

Seeing her two younger siblings together, happy. Winter couldn't help but release a little smile.

She took in a breath before slipping her professional mask back on, "Thank you for letting me know sir. I'll be going now."

"Good luck Winter."

As Winter left the office, she saw Ozpin, Glynda, and Qrow. All on their way to the general's office.

%%%%%%

The final phase of the exam, was a tournament. However it wasn't set up so that there would only be one winner to pass. Only the losers would advance. Only one person was going to fail and of course no one wanted to be that one.

Weiss was confident she was going to pass. She was certain she could get anyone to yield. However, her first opponent was... difficult. So, she was going to address it before their round.

The applicants were given a half an hour to prepare, so Weiss went to look for her opponent. Thankfully, she found her.

"Blake."

The black-haired girl looked at the white haired girl. Her expression was unreadable, "Weiss."

Weiss approached her, "I'd like to talk to you, about our match."

%%%%%%%

It was time for the first match. Killua stood on the side with the other applicants that weren't fighting yet. He was annoyed. Gon had more chances to win than him. According to the goofy old man, it was because Gon had more potential than him. How could that be? He was more skilled and stronger than him.

"What are you pouting about this time?" Weiss asked as she stood next to her brother.

"I'm not pouting," Killua scowled.

"You are," Weiss said. She remembered how Killua reacted when they showed the brackets, "Are you mad that Gon has more chances than you?"

Killua pouted, "I'm stronger than him," Gon said.

"Yeah," Weiss said, "Maybe that's why he has more chances. You're more likely to succeed so he needs more than you."

"What about you?" Killua asked annoyed, "You have more chances to win than me, your match is next after this one."

A part of Weiss wanted to tease him by saying that she was older, but it was obvious Killua was starting to get upset.

"Kil," Weiss used his nickname before looking at him, "Why does that matter?"

Killua just huffed.

Weiss wrapped an arm around him and pulled him close, "Look, we're going to pass. We're strong and skilled and we have what it takes… Especially you."

Killua calmed down at Weiss's words and touch. He couldn't help but rest his head on her shoulder.

"I don't want to be an assassin anymore Weiss," Killua said.

"Then you don't have to," Weiss said gently, "They have Illumi and Milluki and they're more than happy being assassins. They don't need us, they never did. What do you want to do?"

Killua sighed, "I don't know. I just know I'm sick of killing."

Weiss understood. Honestly, she wasn't sure she knew what she wanted to do either. But she remembered something Winter said. Maybe it was time for Killua to hear those words too, "It's okay if you don't know now," Weiss said, "I think you should get a license, and then explore the world, learn more about it and more about yourself," Weiss knew that was the opposite of what Illumi tried to drill into Killua. One of the things Killua needed to know was this, "Killua, Illumi was wrong," she turned him to face her, "You weren't born to be a killer and you decide what you're purpose is. You may not know what that is, but you get to decide."

Killua was silent for a minute. Then he reached forward and hugged Weiss, burying his face in her neck.

This was why Weiss was Killua's favorite older sibling. Milluki hated him, Illumi made him miserable. Winter wasn't bad, but she was distant and cold. Weiss was probably the only member of his family that was warm to him. Where Illumi always seemed to hold him back, Weiss built him up. Even if they did bicker and tease each other.

In that moment, Killua realized just how much he missed her.

Weiss felt Killua's grip tighten a bit. And she felt her guilt rise again.

"I never should have left you," she whispered as she hugged him.

"It's okay, I get it," Killua said.

Weiss remembered her talk with Ruby during the third exam.

"I swear I was coming back to get you and Kalluto," she said, "As soon as I got my license. I'd have more resources to pull a rescue."

"I said it's okay," Killua pulled back trying to lighten the mood, "I mean, I couldn't stand mom or Milluki either. When I said I wanted to leave they all flipped out and we started fighting," he grinned, "I slashed mom in the face and stabbed Milluki in the side."

Weiss sighed, "If we were normal, I guess I'd be horrified, but knowing those two they deserved it."

"Heh."

Weiss patted Killua's head, "After the exam, I'm going to show you something."

"What?" Killua asked.

"I can't tell you yet," Weiss explained, "Just know," she looked to the side, "It's something you should have learned a long time ago."

"It's not something lame and girly is it?" Killua asked.

Weiss pinched and stretched his cheeks, "If anything you'll beg me to teach you everything about it."

"Ow… Weiss let go…"

Weiss smiled, but she was still worried.

She had every intention of teaching Killua Nen. By all rights even by her family's stupid rules, Killua should have started learning Nen when he was five. However, she was worried about what his Nen class was. Was he like her? Was he a specialist too? She hoped not.

%%%%%%

"Round one," the referee called, "Hanzo vs Ruby."

Ruby was nervous. Her match was first and according to the rules she couldn't kill her opponent. Of course, she wasn't planning on it, but her opponent was Hanzo.

He was big and skilled and the only way Ruby was going to have any chance at winning was to use Crescent Rose. Her beloved weapon was designed mostly for killing monsters and magical beasts. A giant death scythe aside it was also a gun.

Ruby looked around at the room full of people.

I really, really, really need to be careful where I shoot.

If Ruby wanted to win, she'd have to make her opponent surrender. That was the rule of this phase. If she won, she'd pass and get her license. Hanzo would have to try again in the next match.

It's fine, it's fine, Ruby tried to assure herself, Uncle Qrow taught me how to fight a person without killing them.

Although Ruby didn't think shooting him was the best idea. Crescent Rose was a high impact sniper rifle. Shooting someone like Hanzo in the shoulder, would probably blow his whole arm off.

"Nice to see you again," Hanzo looked at the referee, "You were following me during the exam."

"Huh?"

"I assume that every applicant was given an observer. Thanks to you, my ranking went up."

"Uh…" Someone followed them during the exam? Ruby didn't notice at all.

"She didn't notice?" Weiss asked, "It was so obvious."

"I noticed, but didn't think it was worth mentioning," Kurapika said.

"Uh… yeah," Yang looked to the side. She didn't want to admit she didn't notice at all.

"So," Hanzo looked at the referee, "In order for me to pass, I need to get my opponent to surrender. No knockouts?"

"That's right," the referee confirmed.

Yang glared at Hanzo when he asked that question. It was obvious he was trying to intimidate Ruby into quitting. Of course, the threat went over Ruby's head, but still…

Yang looked at her sister, Come on Ruby.

"Um?" Ruby raised her hand.

"Yes?"

"Is… damaging the room against the rules?" Ruby asked.

"No, the association has agreed to cover all the repair costs."

"Oh good," Ruby sighed, "Well, not for the hotel, but…"

Ruby reached behind her and pulled her weapon into her arms. Hanzo looked at the strangely shaped gun.

"They said we could use weapons," Ruby reminded.

"They did," Hanzo conceded. He wasn't worried. Even if killing was allowed he could easily cross the distance between them. A sniper rifle wasn't a good close quarters weapon.

"Begin!"

Hanzo shot forward; he was now next to Ruby. She couldn't shoot her weapon at him when he was this close. He'd hit her neck and rattle her, that should scare her enough to-…

Ruby swung her rifle to the side. The impact actually knocked Hanzo away.

Once Hanzo was a good distance away Crescent Rose unfolded into its scythe form. Ruby couldn't help but show off a little by spinning the weapon around her, then slamming the sharpened tip into the ground.

Ruby did hear some murmurs. Not surprisingly, during most of the exam she kept her weapon folded in it's compact form. She rarely had to take it out, so hardly anyone knew that it was also a scythe.

"So," Hanzo said, "It's a hybrid weapon? I honestly didn't a little girl like you would use something so big."

Ruby just stuck out her tongue. Yang and Gon laughed at that.

Hanzo shot forward to attack Ruby. He just needed to get close enough for her to not use her weapon.

When he tried to punch her, Ruby rose into the air, using the pole of Crescent Rose like a gymnast on a high bar, before spinning around on her hands and delivered a kick to his face. Which actually sent the ninja flying.

"Yeah, Ruby," Yang cheered.

"Show him who's boss Ruby," Gon cheered.

"Kick his ass," Leorio called.

Hanzo stood up, his expression was still calm, but his nose was now bleeding, "That didn't hurt at all."

"You liar," Leorio shouted.

Ruby's feet reached the ground. She pulled out Crescent Rose and got into another fighting stance.

If she inflicted enough damage, he wouldn't be able to continue with the exam. Ruby was banking on that, but the same could be said for her. If Hanzo broke an arm or a leg, she wouldn't be able to continue the exam.

Hanzo shot forward. Ruby pointed Crescent Rose out a window and fired a shot. She used the recoil to spin her around at an incredible speed. She tried to hit Hanzo with the blunt edge of her scythe, but he managed to use his hand to leap over the scythe towards her. Ready to send a kick to her head.

Ruby shot Crescent Rose again, the recoil launched her back away from Hanzo's attack, causing Ruby to sail through the air.

She quickly stabbed Crescent Rose into the floor stopping her short flight. Just in time, Hanzo had chased after Ruby. Ruby managed to shift her weight, so that when Crescent Rose was stabbed into the ground, it would spin her around, delivering another kick to Hanzo's chest.

Killua whistled, "Ruby isn't bad."

"I know," Gon cheered, "She was trained by our uncle, and he helped her design her weapon."

"Go Ruby!" Yang cheered.

Ruby swung her scythe around, forcing Hanzo to jump back near a pillar. Ruby planted Crescent Rose in the floor again and aimed at him.

Hanzo managed to see where she was pointing and didn't move. She wasn't aiming at him.

"You're bluff didn't work," Ruby took a shot, "So- uh!" The pillar behind him was shattered and one of the rocks slammed into his head. Ruby shot forward and hit his chest with the blunt edge of Crescent Rose.

"That's why she asked if we could cause damage to the room," Kurapika realized. He didn't realize that Ruby was quite resourceful. She seemed like a carefree girl, but she was actually quite strong.

"That's it," Hanzo drew a blade from his wrist and charged Ruby.

"Ruby," Yang called worried.

Hanzo tried to stab and slice at Ruby, but Ruby managed to dodge them all. She leapt, duck, and backflipped away from the blade.

Finally, with a swing she caught Hanzo's blade with her own, she barrel rolled and leapt, the crescent blade circling around the shorter one as Ruby jumped into the air. Then with a pull of the trigger, Crescent Rose shot into the air, snapping the smaller blade in half.

"What?" Hanzo's shock was short lived as Crescent Rose's blunt edge slammed down on him, knocking him on his back. Before Hanzo could get up, Ruby's legs slammed down on his arm and leg, the barrel of Crescent Rose pointing down.

The ninja and girl looked at each other in a silent standoff.

"Sorry," Ruby said, "But I need to pass this exam."

Hanzo could see it in Ruby's eyes. She had no intention of giving up. Hanzo was positive he could win. If he could get the weapon away from the girl, she'd be at his mercy. But there was something in her eyes. Her eyes held no malice, greed, or arrogance. They were… genuine. It was just like during the last phase, when she offered to trade badges.

A beat of silence passed, and Hanzo sighed, "Fine, I can win the next one."

Ruby's expression became one of relief, "Thank you so much," she quickly got off him and put her weapon back and began to help him up, "I'm really sorry about your blade, it looked so cool. Oh…"

Hanzo sighed, "Don't worry I got another one."

"Oh, that's good," then Ruby's eyes became starry, "Can I see it?"

"No," Hanzo said. He was already regretting forfeiting this girl.

"Ruby!" Gon launched himself onto his older cousin's back.

"Gon, you almost knocked me over," Ruby complained as he climbed her back, he just laughed.

"Dog pile on Ruby," Yang suddenly knocked them all over. The next thing Ruby knew was, she was being smushed by her family.

Finally, the three went back to the side. Yang kept a smile on her face, but she made sure to keep Ruby out of Hisoka's sight. As Ruby fought Hanzo, Yang noticed the clown had a creepy expression on his face. It was a sick disturbing expression.

Yang made a mental note to not let Ruby be alone in that place… She didn't know what Hisoka would do to Ruby and she didn't want to know.

"Oh man, I can't believe it," Ruby smiled, "I'm the first to pass… I'm a Hunter."

"Way to go Ruby," Gon held his cousin's hand with a smile.

"Just you wait Rubes," Yang grinned, "We'll be joining you in the Hunter circle soon."

"You were awesome kid," Leorio said, "Seriously, that guy couldn't touch you. Who knew you were a speed demon."

"That was excellent Ruby," Kurapika said, "You're very resourceful. Your victory was well earned."

Ruby blushed at all the praise, "Oh, it was nothing, just shut your-… oh…" she couldn't help but be bashful.

"Alright, the next match will be, Weiss and Blake!" With that announcement, the air went still as Blake and Weiss walked onto the floor.

I tried to channel Monty as I wrote this chapter. But of course there's a reason why he's a genius