As the Fruit Ripens (Hisoka X Reader)

Who Are You?

You crack an eye open, feeling a new presence enter the dark tunnel. Squinting, you can barely make out the outline of a man. Beans greets the man with a smile, he extends his arm and says, "Welcome! Here's your number! Please wait patiently for the others to arrive!"

You watch as the man inspects the badge and you look down at your own: number 35. The man chuckles to himself and walks towards you. The aura that sorunds him turns your blood cold. I don't want that man anywhere near me.

You decide that concealing your presence would keep him far away. You chose a spot up high and in the dark shadows of the tunnel, to scope out the candidates as they arrive. He  probably can't even see you, but it'sbetter to be safe than sorry.

The man stops several feet away with a wicked grin. You lean back further in the shadows, attempting to conceal yourself. It is no use; golden irises flick in your direction, his face contorting in a sickening way.

You feel his eyes boring into your soul, penetrating deep. You will not let him intimidate you so you close your eyes and turn the volume up on your headphones, getting lost in the rhythm of the music.

As the song ends, you dare to sneak a peak. Cracking open one eye you see that the man made himself comfortable. Leaning against the wall directly across from you, arms crossed and one foot propped up behind him.

You shutter as a prickly cold wave constricts your throat. The bloodlust dripping from this man is entirely too much to heavy. You lean back against the damp wall, hoping the cold will calm your clammy skin. This is going to be a long few days.

---

January 7th, the first day of the hunter exam finally arrives. The tunnel is now bustling with excitement. Out of the hundreds of people in here, why am I his prey?

Number 44 had not moved from his spot across from you since he arrived, or so you could tell. Your music blared loudly, trying to signal that you want nothing to do with him. His smirk only grows.

In the blink of an eye his attention was diverted elsewhere. You breath a sigh of relief and glance in the direction he is staring. A group of rowdy teens had recently entered the cave.

You sigh and shake your head, Tompa, at it again. I wish they would ban him already. Tompa hands a can to each of the teens, poor kids.

You perk up as the ominous presence of number 44 disappears. He found new prey, you feel guilty, but now that his attention is elsewhere, you can properly meditate before the exam.

As you focus your nen you hear a blood curdling scream.

"My arms!"

Number 44 stands before the man, scolding him. "You must learn to be more careful. And don't forget to apologize to someone when you bump into them."

You remove your headphones and focus in on what Tompa explains to the teens. "Number 44: Hisoka, the magician. He was disqualified last year for killing a judge. He also mutilated 20 other examinees."

You take a shaky breath in, placing your headphones once more over your ears. They did well to dampen the sound around you. Your nen amplifies your hearing and you haven't yet learned how to balance it.

You glance at the now dead man bleeding onto the floor. Will I be next? How did I not notice Hisoka last year? Was I really that blind?

Your thoughts are interrupted by a shrill scream. You press your headphones tight against your ears. The noise is unbearable, finally it stops. A purple haired man hops from his ledge and says, "Now the exam may begin, this way please."