Sure enough, you and the others arrived at the city near Sanguis' whereabouts just a few days later.

Sitting down on a patch of grass, you looked around, noticing the abundance of trees and the lack of high-rise buildings you've grown used to. "This city reminds me of a forest somehow..." the corner of your lips tugged upwards into a small smile as you inhaled the fresh air.

Senka, who was sitting on a nearby park bench with Ryu, looked up from her laptop. "Hm? Oh yeah. This city is pretty known for incorporating greenery into everything. I mean, it is pretty near to an actual forest, where the abandoned warehouse is..." She sighed in frustration. "But seriously, why did Sanguis go to a place like this? I still don't get it! Even after digging and researching with Ryu–"

"That's why I was saying we should have waited a little longer to come here." Ryu sighs, cutting Senka off. "You're way too impatient."

At that, an irk mark appears on Senka's forehead. "Well, we couldn't just sit there digging up info all day! We had to come here sooner or later!" She argued back, much to Ryu's subtle annoyance.

Thus, their usual arguing commences.

You sweatdropped at Ryu and Senka's continuous bickering, before turning to Killua and Alluka, who were sitting right next to you. "We're so close to facing Sanguis again..." you sigh, a faraway look in your eyes. "...yet I still don't have a proper Hatsu technique!" Frustration was evident in your voice as you leaned backward, letting yourself lie on the soft grass.

Killua gazed at your troubled expression through the corner of his eye. "You and Alluka only trained for a few days back at the island. Of course, you still wouldn't have anything."

"Well... yeah, but it's weird how I don't seem to be making any progress. Alluka seems to be developing something at least." You furrowed your brows, staring up at the cloudless sky and the tall trees.

Killua sighed. "Stop freaking out over it. It also took me a while to develop my Hatsu too, you know?"

Alluka looked at her older brother with a raised eyebrow. "Really, Onii-chan?"

"Yeah!" You sat up all of a sudden, leaning in and gazing at Killua's blue orbs. "How long did it take you then–woah...!" You feel the blood rush to your head as you lose your balance a little. "Oops. I probably shouldn't have sat up too fast." You chuckled, clutching your head.

"Ah! Are you okay, Onee-chan?" Alluka's eyes widen in shock and worry.

Killua immediately had an arm around you to help keep your balance. "(Y/N)! Geez... be more careful next time, you idiot." He sighs.

You laugh it off, waving a hand dismissively. "I'm fine! I just sat up too fast. That's all," you beam at them.

Seeing your smile, Killua's eyes widened slightly as heat rushed to his cheeks. "Y-You can be too reckless sometimes, you know?" He utters, letting go of you.

"Wait, Killua!" You grab his hand as you lean closer to him. "You haven't answered my question yet!"

"H-Huh?!" He leans back, feeling his body temperature rise even further. "What do you mean?!"

You narrowed your eyes. "How long did it really take you to get your Hatsu? I can't believe it didn't take you just a few days!"

"Y-You're seriously still worried about that?!"

"Onii-chan's lying! I can tell!" Alluka chimed in, pointing at Killua with a suspicious glare.

Seeing yours and Alluka's stares, and the Bounty Hunters in the background still bickering at each other, Killua couldn't help but sigh. "All right, all right. I lied," he said. "I already had an idea of what I wanted my Nen to do, so it only took me a couple of days to develop it."

"Ugh, see!" you sigh in exasperation, letting go of Killua's hand. "If Alluka's Hatsu is developing and Killua had his in a couple of days, there's seriously something wrong with mine!" you pout.

"Oi, oi. Stop jumping to conclusions." A worried frown overtook Killua's features. "You're a Specialist after all. You never know what'll happen," he starts. "Besides, we're all here to help you anyways, so stop being such a pessimist. It doesn't suit you." Killua gave you a stern gaze.

You couldn't help but inhale sharply at Killua's cold-yet-somehow-comforting words, as you gazed back at his vivid blue orbs. "Yeah...yeah! You're right, Killua!" you smile, pink dotting your cheeks. "I'm speaking too soon! I haven't even mastered all the Nen techniques yet!" you chuckled.

Killua smiled. "Yeah. Exactly, so stop pressuring yourself, okay?"

You nod, feeling a sense of relief wash over you. "Okay!"

Meanwhile, Alluka watches on as you and Killua laugh together. "Ehe! Onii-chan and Onee-chan are too cute together...!" She mumbles, just enough so that no one but herself can hear.

_ _ _

"Okay, guys! We're gonna have to continue our search tomorrow! Hopefully by then, we'd be able to catch something with my Wandering Eyes!" Senka clapped her hands together, before letting out a wide yawn in exhaustion.

Even Ryu looked more tired than usual. "Are you sure you put enough around the city?"

"Of course I did!" Senka exclaimed. "You know how serious I am about finding this guy!"

Ryu sighs softly. "That's good..."

Killua turned to the two Bounty Hunters. "So, what's the situation with the abandoned warehouse where that snake is supposed to be?"

At that, Ryu and Senka let out deep sighs. "Nothing new so far. This always happens just when we start getting into it..." Senka replies.

Killua sighs as well, burying his hands in his pockets. "I see... Looks like we're gonna have to spend years looking for someone again."

"Hold up– again?!" You raised an eyebrow in confusion.

He averts his eyes. "Nevermind."

Meanwhile, Alluka walks up to Ryu and Senka with a worried frown, suddenly giving them a tight hug.

"Uh–" Ryu's eyes widened.

"Woah, Alluka? Are you okay?" Even Senka was taken aback.

Alluka nods. "I should be asking you guys that question. You seemed super on edge ever since we found Sanguis' whereabouts. Are you okay?"

"W-Well..." Senka trails off.

"We're fine, Alluka. We just really wanna catch Sanguis. That's all." Ryu replies, resting his hand atop Alluka's head.

"Yeah! So don't worry about us, okay? We're catching him for (Y/N)'s sake too, right?" Senka lets out a tired smile in an attempt to reassure Alluka as she lets them go.

You nod. "You're already doing a lot. Thanks, guys," you say. "I've been wondering, though... you seem to take Sanguis more seriously than any other criminal you hunt. Why is that?" you ask, putting a finger to your chin.

"Ah... well..." Ryu and Senka shared a look of hesitation, something that's never happened before. "I mean, he's just a handful and he's really hard to catch! Of course, we'd take him seriously!" Senka laughs loudly, scratching the back of her head as Ryu averts his gaze.

Killua narrows his eyes. "Is that so?"

"Yeah! Anyways, we'll continue our search tomorrow, so you guys better be well-rested by then, okay?" Senka puts her hands on her hips. "Don't be late. Especially you, Ryu!" She says, before dragging Ryu off.

"Ah, wait!" Alluka reached out to them, but they were already rushing ahead.

Killua put a hand to his chin. "Doesn't seem like something they'd wanna share. Well, can't blame them. That snake seems like the type of guy who could traumatize anyone." He shrugs.

"Hm... I really wanna know the reason though." You sigh.

"They'll probably tell us sooner or later. Until then, we better start taking this stuff seriously, especially since you dragged me and Alluka into it." Killua narrows his eyes at you as he leans closer.

You smile sheepishly, scratching the back of your head. "I know, I know!"