There you were, lying on your back with your arms spread wide, drenched in your own sweat. Quick and heavy pants were all that can be heard from you as you laid in the grass, staring at the orange-red sky.

'Wait... didn't this kind of situation happen already??' You frowned, wiping your sweat with the back of your hand as you struggled to get up. 'But nevermind that! Ryu and Senka weren't kidding! They're–'

"(Y/N)! We've been waiting!" Senka seemingly popped out of nowhere, looming over your tired form with that same cheery grin.

Was it just you, or does she seem way too happy considering you're about to pass out from exhaustion?

'–monsters...'

Taking in deep breaths to steady your heartbeat, you sat up. "I've... reached my limit," you breathe out.

"Huh? Already?? So was Killua the only one able to catch up with us then?" Senka put a finger to her chin.

As she said that, you see Killua appear from behind some trees, carrying an unconscious Alluka on his back.

"Oh, Killua! You found her!" Senka grinned once more, putting her hands by her hips. "You still have that much strength? As expected of a Zoldyck," she says, laughing to herself.

You sigh. 'Of course, he'd be the only one able to survive that...'

"But I don't get it, though..." Senka furrowed her brows. "Alluka's a Zoldyck as well, so why is her overall strength way lower than yours?" She asked, gazing at the sleeping Alluka on Killua's back.

He merely sighs. "It's a long story. You'll get bored." He looks away from her, turning to you. "Oh (Y/N), you seem pretty beat up, too. Don't tell me you gave up," he says, approaching you with a smirk.

You rolled your eyes, crossing your arms to your chest. "I almost got through it!"

"No, you didn't."

"Well!" You quickly stood up despite the exhaustion you were feeling. "Just you wait, Killua! I'll catch up to you someday!" You point at him with a fierce determination in your eyes, before you stomped off into the thick forest with a visible irk mark on your head.

Killua broke into a crooked grin. "Ha! Like you ever will!" He exclaimed in a confident tone. There was no mistaking the warmth in his eyes as he watched you walk farther, though.

Senka laughed at yours and Killua's banter. "Despite the crazy stuff you're planning to do, you guys really are just kids, huh?" She looked at Killua and the sleeping Alluka with a grin, then at the patch of trees you disappeared to. "Where's (Y/N) going, though? That's the wrong way..."

Just as she said that, you came stomping back in a rush, looking down at your feet to hide the flustered look on your face. "That was a dead end..."

At that, Killua burst out laughing. If only he wasn't carrying Alluka, he would be clutching his stomach and pointing at you, probably.

"Hey! Stop that!" You exclaimed, your annoyance giving you the energy to argue back somehow.

"(Y/N), you weirdo," he says in between laughs. "You're so idiotic it's actually adorable, geez."

"Killua!" You were about to clap back when you suddenly paused, processing what he said. "Wait, Killua. What did you just say?!" You exclaimed, feeling intense heat rush to your cheeks as your eyes widened.

"Oh! That was pretty straightforward of you, Killua!" Senka teased, as she began to laugh incessantly.

Realizing what he just said, Killua's cheeks began to turn into a deep red as his eyes significantly widened. He looked down on the grass, avoiding eye contact with anyone. "W-What?! I never said a-anything, you idiots!" He exclaimed, turning his back on both you and Senka. "And tone it down, would you?! What are you guys gonna do if Alluka wakes up from all the noise?!" He added, gazing at Alluka's exhausted, but peaceful sleeping face.

"Ehhh, she's not even flinching, though," Senka argued, tilting her head with that same teasing smile.

Meanwhile, you still couldn't shake what he just said. 'Killua never calls anyone adorable. Not even Alluka, despite how much he thinks that way! So wha–'

"Oi, Senka!" Killua called, giving Senka a threatening glare. "Let's go. We're done for the day, right?"

Senka smirked. "Oh, I'll go alright. I'll leave you alone with your adorable (Y/N)," she teases, bursting into laughter once more.

"H-hey, Senka! Stop that!" You exclaimed, the redness never leaving your cheeks.

"Alright, alright." Senka waves a hand, wiping away her tears with the other while attempting to calm herself down. "Ryu went ahead to the house we have in the center of the island. He's waiting for us there."

"Great. Let's go then," Killua said, rushing ahead while avoiding any eye contact.

"Ah wait, Killua! We should wait for Senka!" You exclaim, going after him.

'But seriously, Killua. I'm not the adorable one, you are.' You thought to yourself, smiling despite the redness still lingering on your cheeks.

_ _ _

"Ryu? Ryu! We're back!" Senka knocked on the door of an old, rustic-looking house. It had two floors, though the second floor looked way older and beat up for some reason.

After a few seconds and some shuffling sounds from the other side, the door opened, revealing a sleepy-looking Ryu, his short hair looking messier than usual.

"Ah, it's you guys. Took you long enough, I was seriously starting to fall asleep," Ryu said, letting out a wide yawn.

"Well, it's a good thing you didn't!" Senka smiled, ruffling Ryu's hair.

"Hey."

"Anyway guys, come in," Senka said, stepping aside to show you the place. "We don't really come here that often. Sorry if it's really dusty and stuff."

Stepping inside with Killua and Alluka, you see wooden furniture decorating the inside. There was a small dining table with some chairs on one side, and a couple of couches on the other side.

Spotting the couches, Killua approaches them "I'll let Alluka rest here, then," he says, placing the sleeping Alluka on one of the couches, before sitting right next to her.

"Great! We can discuss things here!" Senka goes over to the other couch and plops down, dragging Ryu with her. You nod, taking a seat next to Ryu.

Senka then rests her chin on her hands, looking at you and Killua. "So, how did you like the little test we set up?"

A shiver went down your spine as you remembered yourself lying on the grass in exhaustion.

--A few hours ago--

"If we're working together. You need to be able to keep up with us," Senka starts.

Killua raised a hand. "You won't have a problem with that. We all had Nen and physical training."

"Oh? I wonder about that." Senka smirked, nodding at Ryu. "Let's test it out, shall we?"

"Test? How?" Alluka tilted her head, putting a finger to her chin.

Senka smiles. "Follow us," she says, beckoning you guys as she walks ahead with Ryu.

You and Killua made brief eye contact, before following both Hunters with Alluka.

It took some time, but Ryu and Senka eventually led you to the edge of the forest, right where you could see the shore again. "The goal here is to get to the other side of this forest by sundown. How's that?"

"Is that it?" Killua raised an eyebrow, staring at the patch of trees ahead.

"Well, you'll have to see!" Senka smiled. "Ryu and I are going ahead. We'll see you guys later!" She said, dragging Ryu with her into the forest.

"Get through the edge of the forest by sundown? Doesn't seem that hard." You shrug. "What do you think, Killua?"

Killua looked around. "Doesn't seem like it'll be that simple. Senka's Wandering Eyes are here. She's watching," he said, his eyes infused with Gyo.

"Really?" You activated Gyo as well, seeing the pale yellow orbs of Nen appear nearby. "Hmm. If that's the case. Let's go through it together. What do you think, Alluka?"

"Sure!"

The three of you stepped into the forest, casually walking through the trees. A few minutes pass by in silence before you decide to speak up once more. "How about we pick up the pace a little? We don't know where the other side is, after all, and we only have until sundown," you say, turning to Killua.

At least, where Killua used to be.

"Huh?!" A look of confusion crossed your features.

"Alluka? Are you here?!" You turn to the other side where Alluka was supposed to be, only to find no one there.

--Now--

"Who could've known you've set traps all over the island?! There was every type imaginable! I was knocked out by random things flying my way, and I even fell below the ground at least 50 times! There were even traps infused with Nen!" You sighed, resting your face in your hands.

Senka giggled. "Well, you're welcome!" she said. "Despite how Ryu looks, he set up most of the traps." She clasped Ryu's shoulder. "I didn't know it would tire you and Alluka that much, (Y/N). Though of course, I expected Killua to get through it at least."

You sighed once more. "Single Star Hunters must be really strong..." you mumbled, looking up.

"Yup! It'll take at least that much to keep up with us!" Senka smiled. "That's not all though." Her gaze turned serious. "If you can't at least get through that. You can't expect to capture Sanguis."

Your eyes widened slightly, as you turned to Senka and Ryu, who now had stern looks on their faces.

Killua frowned as well. "I can see why. Sanguis seems like he's hiding way more up his sleeve than what we've seen in Heavens Arena."

"Exactly! He deceives people into thinking a certain way about him. It's like a trap of some sort." Senka adds.

You look down at your feet, remembering what Sanguis said to you before you left Heavens Arena.

"Let's fight again next time. In the real world," he says, lowering his voice so only you could hear. "And when we do, entertain me just as much as last time, okay?"

"So then..." you mutter. "How will we ever find him?"