Me: Starting another story when I already have a bunch I need to do? Not the best choice. HOWEVER, this story has been in my mind for ages and I just can't hold it back anymore. I need to get it out before it explodes. Therefore, this chapter was born. Please don't be mad! *dying from tomatoes being thrown at me*

Disclaimer: Hunter X Hunter and its 2011 adaptation belong to Yoshihiro Togashi. I only own my OCs, sub-plots and anything not included in the original series. Enjoy.

Chapter 1: The X Games X Begin

"I don't want to be here."

Hunter applicants from all over the world were crowded in this large underground area. There had to be almost 400 applicants down here. Everyone was minding their own business, giving off the aura of "stay out of my way".

"Don't look at me. Stay away."

If our eyes crossed, a glare would be thrown my way and the other person would move on. Everyone was tense and obviously unforgiving. If I made the wrong move, who knew what the others would do.

"Why is someone like me here? I can't handle this pressure."

On the outside, I was keeping a neutral face. I wasn't outwardly intimidating but I definitely didn't give off a friendly vibe either. I obviously wanted to be left alone. If the people in this room decided to swarm me, I'd have no chance.

"It's too crowded and hot. I can feel people staring. Are the walls closing in?"

I made sure to keep my insecurities and personal issues to myself. Sure, I had trained for this moment. I wasn't an idiot, I was definitely prepared for this exam. But being physically prepared and being mentally prepared were two different things. Being here in person was not what I expected and it was making my anxiety go nuts. [1]

"Everyone's hostile. I'm the odd one out. I can fight sure but these people are way tougher than expected…"

I had moved myself to a corner, leaning against the wall. Though I glanced up and scanned the grounds occasionally, I didn't make any move to get closer to people. I was here to pass the exam. Nothing more. Nothing less. I wanted nothing to do with these people.

"Is it my appearance? Or the fact that I'm probably one of the youngest people here? Don't notice me, keep doing what you're doing."

I had tucked all of my hair away into my hood, my bangs being the only thing hanging free. My baggy coat and hood managed to hide away any and all femineity and youth I had. I didn't want people to see a young girl unprepared to fight if I ever had to spar anyone. The only thing making me stand out from the wall was the shining white badge pinned to the front of my attire.

"Hunter applicant #355, Chu Reiki. That's all people need to know. They shouldn't even be curious enough to want to know my name…"

"Yo! You're a rookie right? What's your name?"

"…Or not?"

A chubby man had walked up to me. He seemed relatively harmless. A slightly short height, a box nose, a wide smile. He didn't seem overall intimidating. His appearance isn't what put me off. It was that fact that, though others might be fooled by it, it was obvious that his smile was fake. And the vibe coming off of him was the same as others in the room: "Get in my way and I'll get in yours. Do as I want and don't bother me."

"May I ask for your name first?" I asked quietly, lowering my voice slightly to further hide my gender. I didn't want this strange man to get any info about me.

"Oh, pardon me for not introducing myself! My name's Tonpa! This is my thirty-fifth attempt so I can tell you haven't been here before. I take it upon myself to make friends with the rookies and help them out!"

I kept my face neutral, not letting my suspiciousness show. Even his voice sounded fake.

"There can't be that many rookies this year and I have been here awhile. Did he only just now notice me? No, I think I spotted him watching me before. Was he observing me to see if I was an easy target?"

"That's very nice of you, Tonpa-san."

He smile widened. He didn't even seem to notice that I haven't given him my name. He probably thought I was warming up to him. In all honesty, I was just being polite so that he'd leave me alone sooner.

"Well, to celebrate our new friendship…" he dug around in bag and pulled out a strange orange can "… you can have one of these! My treat!"

I took the can and shook it slightly, hearing the liquid inside of it swoosh around. It didn't have any labels or writing on it and seemed too cold considering it's probably been in his bag for awhile. Overall, I didn't trust it. Placing it in my bag, I nodded politely and came up with an excuse for not drinking it up straight away.

"Thank you. I'll save it for later, when I'm thirsty, if you don't mind?"

His grin faded slightly but remained there. Laughing nervously, he responded with a "Sure! Better drink it soon before it gets warm though! I'll see you later!" and left. He wanted me to drink it before the exam.

"No way in hell. I don't trust you." I thought as he resumed sitting where he was before. He didn't go and give his juice to anyone else. Was his trick just for me?

"Excuse me…!"

Looking over, I spotted three more people walking into the area. A young boy wearing green, a blond boy wearing a traditional sort of outfit and a man in a suit with a briefcase. The youngest one, the green boy with the spiky hair, seemed to have been the one to speak. Trying to get someone's attention? The trio were probably rookies as well, only just noticing the tenseness in the air. If the green boy was hoping to make friends, he wasn't gonna get any.

Everyone turned away from the newcomers, including me. I didn't want to get involved with anyone. I only talked to Tonpa because he came up to me first.

"Haven't seen you guys around before." Tonpa's voice echoed through the tense silence that had resumed after the boy's outburst. Glancing over, I saw the boy respond to Tonpa and said man jumping down. He was obviously going to try his 'juice' trick with them as well.

"Good luck to them." I thought, turning my head away, "I wonder if they're smart enough to fall for it?"

Before I could get my answer, a yell erupted from a few meters away. Turning to look, genuinely surprised at the sudden yell, I saw one of the applicants on his knees. He was holding his arms in the air, or what was left of his arms. Everything from his elbows down was disintegrating into red flowers and it wasn't stopping anytime soon. He was in obvious pain. Just next to him was another applicant.

"#44, Hisoka. I've heard people murmuring about him. Why do I suspect he did it?"

Hisoka very quickly started speaking, a smirk on his face.

"Oh, how peculiar… His arms seem to have become flower petals."

Just his voice alone creeped me out. It was obvious he was the cause of this guy's pain.

Throwing his arms out in a "look here" motion, he continued speaking ominously.

"No smoke and mirrors here."

I saw out of the corner of my eye the green boy gasp. He seemed genuinely confused and creeped out. A guy losing his arms because of a creepy clown isn't exactly the best thing for a kid to see.

Hisoka continued talking, directing it to the guy in pain specifically.

"Do take care. When you bump into someone, you should apologise."

"That's what this is about?" I sighed and looked away, not wanting to see anymore, "Figures. People were bound to turn against each other eventually. It's what comes with this hostile environment."

It was the first eventful thing to happen today. I found the exam site with ease thanks to some nearby magical beasts and nothing had happened since I had arrived. It had started to get boring. However, I would've rather it stay boring. Meeting Tonpa and seeing a guy lose his arms isn't exactly what I wanted to happen today.

I heard a faint dripping sound and looked over. It seems Tonpa had given his cans to the newcomers and the green boy was letting the juice flow out of his mouth and onto the ground with a grossed out look on his face.

"Tonpa-san, this juice must have expired. It tastes funny."

The suit guy instantly spitted out the juice in his mouth and started complaining. The blond simply tipped the can over and poured out the orange juice while Tonpa started rambling excuses.

Pulling my own can out of my pocket, I examined it one more time. "It expired? I expected worse than that. That can't be it." I thought as I cracked open the can and took a hesitant sip. My eye widened and I instantly coughed up the juice, causing people to look over at me to see what was up.

"Laxatives. Strong ones too."

In the past, I have been forced to endure laxatives. [2] Strong ones. The "no scent or taste" kind. After awhile, you can tell when something has laxatives in it just by experience. It may be hard to tell but laxatives DO have a taste, just a very faint taste. I was beyond relieved that I didn't drink it all in one gulp.

The trio and Tonpa had looked over at me as well as I upheaved the juice. Tonpa instantly got their attention, said something and speed-walked away hurriedly. It was obvious he was caught from their and my reactions alone.

Grabbing out a water bottle, I chugged down some water. Being used to laxatives and being immune to them were two different things. If any of it remained in my system, which I doubted cause I just coughed it all up, I needed to dilute it so it wouldn't have as bad as an effect.

A loud ring sounded throughout the room. A wall started to rise up, creating a loud rumble. Having satisfied myself with my water intake, I quickly put the bottle back into my bag and threw away the can, watching the wall rise. A man dressed in a purple suit stood there, holding a weird-looking alarm.

Everyone watched in silence as the wall completely rose and the purple man started to speak.

"I apologise for the wait. The entry period for Hunter applicants has passed. The Hunter Exam will now begin!"

I felt happiness grow as I listening to him talk. Things should start getting interesting now.

"Let the games begin."

Omake:

I heard a faint dripping sound and looked over. It seems Tonpa had given his cans to the newcomers and the green boy was letting the juice flow out of his mouth and onto the ground with a grossed out look on his face.

"Tonpa-san, this juice must have expired. It tastes funny."

The suit guy instantly spitted out the juice in his mouth and started complaining. The blond simply tipped the can over and poured out the orange juice while Tonpa started rambling excuses.

His excuses were quickly cut off when the green boy started talking. Except his voice was deeper and seemed to be multiplying.

"By the darkest sun that casts its menacing rays on the furthest madness, we sense your intentions - Tonpa the Rooker Crusher."

Tonpa was confused and so was I. Time seemed to stand still. No one was moving or reacting in any way to this strange boy. His eyes rolled to the back of his head.

"Is anyone else currently seeing this?"

"The jabbering of mad cultists whisper wicked words on the temporal winds."

His eyes blackened and red dot-like pupils rolled forward.

"Anyone? Any of the two people right next to me?

The blond and the suit man stayed frozen in time. A red pentagram formed on the boy's forehead.

"They inform us that you are not to be trusted. Usurper. Usurper."

Time seemed to go on again as the boy's markings disappeared, his eyes reverted to normal and the scene played out as usual. Tonpa seemed like he was about to wet himself.

I turned and looked at anything but the weird boy. My mind was racing and I felt sick.

"I should not have watched 50% Off [3] last night before I went to bed. I know omakes never make sense but DAMN was that weird."

[1] – Chu has anxiety issues which will be explained later.

[2] – This is related to her anxiety issues and will be explained later.

[3] – Which is true! I really should NOT have watched 50% Off (A Free! parody on youtube) before bed. The whole omake is a parody of Episode 10. I got the idea for it when I paused the HxH episode to write part of this chapter and the moment I paused it on made Gon look evil. It reminded me of demon Haru to the point where I couldn't resist an omake.

Me: This has got to be one of the best first chapters I've ever witten. Like, holy crap, this is such a good chapter. And I just bet chapters in the future will be better and much longer than this! I promise my other stories will get done but I'll also be working on this as well! I hope you enjoyed and stay cool!