Senka was still dragging Ryu along even as they arrived at the meeting place.

"Ah! Ryu and Senka! You're here!!" Alluka ran all the way towards them, waving both arms in the air as she grinned widely

Senka smiled and waved back with her free arm. "Hey! Hope you guys weren't waiting long."

"We weren't!" Alluka looks over Senka's shoulder to get a look at Ryu. She let out a small giggle. "Ryu looks super annoyed today!"

Ryu, who had this slight frown on his face, gave Alluka a sideways glance. "My ear still hurts."

"Eh?"

"Oh come on, Ryu! I didn't even pull it that hard!" Senka sighs, tugging on his arm a bit more. "Now, where are Killua and (Y/N)?"

Alluka turned around and pointed to one of the tables. Killua was right there, and next to him was you waving a hand in the air, beckoning to Alluka and the Hunters.

As they all took a seat, Senka immediately took notice of Killua's drink. "You're trying out another drink? I thought you only wanted hot chocolate in the mornings..." She peered on in curiosity.

You could see Killua tense up from the corner of your eye. You nervously looked down at Killua's hot chocolate, too. Somehow, you hoped Senka wouldn't notice anything.

"Oh! And (Y/N) is having hot chocolate this morning! What's going on?" Senka had her eyes trained on you this time.

'Oh no.'

"They switched. Duh." Ryu rolls his eyes. Though there was no mistaking the amused glint in them.

Senka furrowed her brows for a bit as she looked at you and Killua back and forth. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, as if something dawned on her. "Ohh, I see. That's fine, I guess!" She gave you both a smile, though you swore you heard a soft laugh behind it.

You and Killua looked down in slight embarrassment.

"Anyways!" Senka cleared her throat, as she put on a more serious expression. "I've been checking my Eyes since last night, and..."

You lean closer, paying close attention to what she has to say.

Senka sighs deeply as she buried her face in her hand. "No one came back."

Your eyes widened. "No one? But it's already the next day!" You found yourself rising from your seat.

Ryu pursed his lips together, looking at Senka through the corner of his eye.

Senka looked down. "We can assume two things. It's either Sanguis really hasn't come back yet, or..." she looks back at Ryu. "He's found out where I placed them, so he would know exactly how to avoid their field of vision."

You frowned, plopping yourself back down. "But your Wandering Eyes were hidden so well! There's no way he's found them out so soon..."

Killua nodded. "I agree. Even I would have a hard time looking for them unless I knew exactly where you placed them."

Senka let out another deep sigh, slamming a fist on the table. "Ugh, he's so annoying! Why wouldn't he just show up already?!" she groaned in frustration.

Killua put a finger to his chin in thought. "Should we revisit the place, then?"

"Yeah, we definitely should, but..." she pulled on Ryu's arm.

"Hey–"

"Ryu and I are going to be taking a different route to the forest."

Your eyes widened as you stared at the two Hunters. "Wait, what?"

"So you're saying we're splitting up?" Killua leaned closer to them, his eyes taking on a worried glint.

Senka nods. "That's right. You three will take the usual route we took last night. Ryu and I are going to risk it a little and enter from the forest's main path, just in case." She smiles. "Don't worry. The route you're taking is filled with my Eyes, remember? You should be safe."

"No! That's not what I'm worried about! I mean– yeah kinda, but–" Killua tries to gather his thoughts. "What you're doing is too risky!"

Senka blinks her eyes as if taken aback. "Yeah, but we need to check other parts of the forest, too," she says. "We'll be fine. So stop worrying about us and focus on (Y/N), okay?! You should be more worried about her!" She huffs, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Uhm!" You tried to call their attention. "I think Killua is right, though. Maybe splitting up is a bad idea..."

"Nope!" Senka turned her head to the side in defiance. "Ryu and I already decided."

Ryu sighs. "Senka will always be checking on you through her eyes anyway. I'll be sure to remind her too in case her stupid brain forgets–"

"What did you just say about my brain?!"

Ryu ignores her. "We go by sundown. Until then, we're free to do whatever, but I suggest you guys work on your Nen or something."

You and Killua share a worried look, before finally relenting. "Fine. We'll go with your plan," Killua sighs and gets up. "Let's go, (Y/N), Alluka." He rests his hands behind his head.

"Huh? Where?" You get up after him. Alluka follows.

"Oi, didn't you hear what Ryu just said? We should work on our Nen," Killua says, raising an eyebrow at you as he walks ahead.

Your eyes widen. "Oh, right!" you hurriedly follow after him, before turning to the two Hunters. "We'll see you guys later!" You wave.

Ryu and Senka turn their heads to you. Senka waves back with her arm raised high, while Ryu gives you a nod of acknowledgement. "Yeah! Work on that Hatsu!" She smiles.

As the three of you leave, you can see the Hunters actively discussing something through the corner of your eye. You frown ever so slightly, a familiar feeling of dread making its way to your chest.

_ _ _

"...Hey, Killua?"

"Hm?"

You hesitate, looking down at your feet. "...Do you think we can check the forest for a bit?" You pause, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "I'm not going against the plan, don't worry!"

Killua takes a step back. "Huh?! But it's still too early, you idiot!" He exclaims, an irk mark appearing on his forehead.

"I know! I'll stay right outside, and you can even come with me!" you lean towards Killua, trying your best to convince him.

He only sighs. "Why would you even wanna go there?" He buries his hands in his pockets.

You look down again, finding the right words. "I just feel a little restless and uneasy, since it's just the three of us taking that path and all!" In truth, you didn't know why you felt that way, but you just had to come up with a reason.

Killua stares at you for a moment, his annoyed expression softening. "Geez, you're a pain sometimes, you know that?" he says.

You nod.

After a while, Killua sighs. "Fine, fine. I'll come with you, but we're staying out, and we're still following Ryu and Senka's plan, okay?"

You immediately lifted your head to meet his gaze, nodding profusely.

"I'll come too!" Alluka raises a hand high in the air.

"Of course you are! There's no way we're leaving you alone at a time like this!" Killua takes Alluka's hand.

You smile and take Killua's other hand, interlacing your fingers with his.

Killua tenses up for a moment. "Seriously, don't you get embarrassed about these things?" he mutters, gripping your hand back.

You tilt your head to the side, giving him a warm smile. "Nope! Not anymore anyways."

_ _ _

Sure enough, you stayed out of the forest's boundaries, using Gyo to look inside for any traces of Nen.

"Senka's Wandering Eyes are still there, so that's good..." you find yourself sighing in relief.

Meanwhile, Killua stood nearby with Alluka, munching on some ChocoRobos he bought along the way. "Remember, we still need to do some Nen training, (Y/N)."

"Yeah! I still want to look around a bit more, though." You say, looking at Killua through your Gyo-infused eyes.

As you watched him sigh in exasperation, you suddenly felt a certain Aura getting closer and closer. It was unlike the Auras of the ordinary people around you. It was much more sinister, and way more overwhelming.

You froze, feeling weighed down all of a sudden. That feeling of dread from earlier seemed to multiply a hundredfold.

"(Y/N)!!" Killua immediately pulled you towards him, his actions swift and alert. He protectively placed a hand on the back of your head, letting it rest against his chest.

But even so, you heard a hauntingly familiar voice right behind you.

"It's so nice to see you again, (Y/N)"