"Where's... Senka...?" Ryu repeated, mouth slightly agape as he gazed at you with widened eyes.

Even Killua was taken aback by your question. He looked at the almost-defeated Sanguis for any clues, only to be met with a small smirk.

"I mean... she survived that, right?" you mumbled, almost as if you were asking yourself. "...right?"

Dead silence fills the room. Ryu averted his eyes from you, lips spreading into a thin line. Killua looked like he wanted to say something, but no words were coming out of his mouth.

Then, you hear soft chuckles erupting from Sanguis' lips. "What? You think she actually survived that?"

Your eyes went wide.

"Shut up!" Ryu immediately pulled Sanguis up by the collar.

"Why do you keep avoiding it? Just tell her already!" Sanguis smirks as he watches the expressions on each of your faces, somehow remaining unfazed despite the state he was in.

Ryu's continued silence on the subject only confirmed your fears.

"W-What..." you mumbled, taking a step back. "But... why?" You looked at everyone's faces for answers but found none. Vivid images of Senka from that day flashed through your mind. The way the light in her eyes faded as she collapsed lifelessly on the ground. The way Ryu desperately shook her 'awake' as Sanguis dragged you away. You tried to push that all to the back of your mind, insisting that she was okay. She had to be. But now–

Hearing that crashing sound forced you back to reality. It turns out that Ryu had punched Sanguis on the face with his Hatsu, sending him across the room and onto the wall once more.

"Killua. Get (Y/N) out of here," Ryu orders. He walks up to Sanguis, who was still conscious even after that attack.

You widen your eyes as you step forward. "W-Wait, but I need to know–"

"You need to go, (Y/N)!" Ryu exclaimed, looking you straight in the eye.

Ryu's stern and serious gaze was already something you've never expected. But the anger and pain behind that made you stop in your tracks. It was like a flame flickering with the wind, unsure if it was going to extinguish itself, or spiral out of control and burn everything in its path.

You opened your mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, you looked down at your feet as you felt your chest get tighter and tighter. Your mind was all over the place, and you were starting to feel dizzy.

Then, you felt Killua's hand gripping yours. Its warmth calmed you down a little. "Let's go," he said.

You didn't reply, but you didn't object either when he pulled you by his side and walked you to the open window. Your original escape route.

Meanwhile, Ryu continued to approach Sanguis, glaring down at him to meet his eye level. "I finally got you now," he seethed.

Just before you and Killua jumped out the window, he turned to Ryu one last time. "Ryu," he called.

The Hunter didn't fully acknowledge him, but you could tell he was listening.

"Watch yourself," was all he said, before leaving the warehouse with you.

_ _ _

As soon as you touched forest ground, you collapsed on your knees. All the fatigue and injuries from the battle came crashing down on you, not to mention the realization that Senka was gone.

"Hang in there, (Y/N)..." Killua's heart sank at the sullen look on your face. He gently lifted you up bridal style, planning to carry you all the way out of the forest.

"Killua?" you mumbled, leaning on his chest. "Why did she have to die?"

His eyes widened as he stared at you, not knowing what to say. You didn't even look back at him, staring at nothingness instead as you tried to calm the growing storm in your mind. You didn't notice the genuine worry etched onto Killua's expression.

In silence, he gently puts you down, letting you lean against a tree while he sat in front of you.

"Why would Nii-chan..." you stopped, shaking your head. "Why would S-Sanguis do all this?" Your vision started to blur as tears threatened to fall.

Killua remained silent, looking down at your trembling hands as he clenched his jaw.

"I don't... get it," you mumble.

Killua immediately lifted his head upon hearing your soft sniffles and sobs. Tears were streaming down your face, expression laced with guilt and anger.

His eyes widened. "(Y/N)..." He reaches out a hand, but hesitates, leaving his outstretched hand inches away from your tear-stained face. This was one of the very rare occasions when he had no idea what to do.

"T-This wouldn't have happened if I wasn't so..." you spoke in between sobs, burying your head in your hands. "I-If I wasn't... such an idiot."

Killua's brows knitted together with your words. "Hey, don't say that."

Your shoulders started trembling as your sniffles became more erratic. "B-But... It's true. If only I noticed... if o-only I listened to you from the very beginning, I–"

"Stop!"

Your shoulders tensed up at his voice. You fell silent, but tears continued to flow even as you lifted your head from your hands. "I'm sorry," you mumbled.

"I– that's not what I meant..."

"You were right all along..." you continued. "Nii-chan... is no longer the person I knew... but I was just too dumb to see it–"

Killua sighs. "Just... come here, (Y/N)."

He pulls you by the hand, and you fall towards his broad chest. He scoots closer, protectively wrapping his hands around your trembling body.

He could feel you stiffen up at his touch. "K-Killua..." you finally look into his worried eyes with your own puffy ones. "Wh-Why? Aren't you mad at me?"

Killua nearly averted his eyes with how close both your faces were. "You already apologized to me earlier. Plus–" He nuzzles his head in the crook of your neck. "I can't be mad when you're this depressed," he mumbles.

"B-But...!" you insisted, frowning in protest. "I could have avoided this whole situation if–"

You were suddenly cut off, feeling a warm sensation press against your lips.

A muffled gasp escapes you, eyes widening to the size of saucers. Killua, who just seconds ago, had his head buried on your shoulder, was now pressing his lips against yours. It immediately shut you up.

He was incredibly gentle, and thankfully for you, his eyes were closed. You watched with wide eyes as he slowly tilted his head, moving his lips against yours and pulling you close with his arms. He handled you like you were made of glass, careful not to hurt you any more than you already were.

You held your breath the entire time, feeling your heart beat so fast it threatened to jump out of your chest. Or was it Killua's heartbeat? You couldn't tell anymore.

But the storm in your mind seemed to have subsided.

He pulls away, and the first thing you notice was the redness in his cheeks. "S-Sorry. Didn't know how else to calm you down." He lets you go, avoiding eye contact with you.

You stared at him like you were in a daze. The warmth on your lips lingered, and your face felt extremely warm.

"Are you okay now?" Killua asks.

He certainly made you forget about what you were lamenting about, but those thoughts were only replaced by something else entirely. Nevertheless, you still found yourself nodding. "Y-Yeah, I... I f-freaked out a bit too much... sorry."

Killua sighs once more. "That's not what I meant, and stop apologizing already!" He stands up, turning his back to you and crouching down. "Get on my back. I'll carry you out of here."

"H-Huh?!" You stood up as well, but with considerably more difficulty than Killua. "N-No, it's fine..."

"But (Y/N), you're injured."

"You're injured, too!" you argued, brows knitting together. "And I don't want to make them worse, so I'll walk on my own."

Killua stared at you in disbelief, before shaking his head and standing up again. "Fine. Be careful," he says, worry laced with his tone.

"I-I know," you reply, averting your eyes from him. You hesitantly reach out, slowly taking his hand in yours.

"Wh–"

"I know you're worried I'm gonna trip or something... S-So I'll hold your hand to be safe." Technically, what you said was true. But it was more of an excuse for you to feel his warmth again.

You look up at Killua in hesitation, only to see a relieved smile across his face. "Good idea," he says, interlacing his fingers with yours as he visibly relaxes.

______________

Hisoka stares down at Gon, who was panting heavily as he wiped some blood off the cut across his cheek.

The Jester smirks, though that proved difficult due to the searing bruise on his face. "Well done~ ♡" he says, wiping away the blood that dripped off his lips. "Though you look rather tired already. ♤"

Gon frowns at him, struggling to get back into a fighting stance.

Hisoka chuckles, before throwing a couple of Nen-infused cards at him.

Gon watched with widened eyes as the cards flew straight for him. He wasn't sure if he had enough energy to dodge in time, but the anxiety only lasted for a second. The next thing he knew, the cards flew above his head, hitting the tree trunks behind him instead.

"Huh??"

Gon whipped his head back to look at Hisoka, only to see him step aside. "Run along now~ The battle seems to be almost over," he says.

The spiky-haired boy raises a brow in confusion. "Ehh? What do you mean? We're not done fighting yet!"

Hisoka gives him a close-eyed smile. "If you stay here, dear Gon, you will die, ♤" he says. "I won't let unripe fruit die so quickly on my watch. Not yet~♢" He licks his lips, opening his eyes to look Gon directly in the eye. "Now go."

Gon tensed up at Hisoka's sudden change in aura. Within the next second, Alluka was urgently tugging on his sleeve. "Someone else is coming! We need to go!"

"But–"

Alluka puffs her cheeks in annoyance, pulling aggressively on Gon's sleeve. "Come on!!"

Gon staggers forward from the force. "Ah– okay, okay!" he smiles sheepishly, looking back at Hisoka one last time, who just gave him an innocent-looking smile.

He hesitates, darting his eyes between him and Alluka. Finally, he runs off with her. "Okay, let's go meet up with Killua and his friend!"

Hisoka watches them until they are completely out of sight, feeling another presence behind him get closer and closer.

"What are you doing? Where's Nanika?" a voice asked from behind.

A sly smirk plays across the jester's lips as he turns to face the man behind him. "They seemed to have gotten away from me somehow. What a shame, Illumi~♢"

Illumi narrows his empty eyes at him. "Liar. You let them get away, didn't you? Don't even think your bruised face would be able to fool me."

Hisoka chuckles. "Why would I do that~?" he questions, before immediately changing the subject. "It seems that Killua was able to escape. Sanguis is in a bit of a pickle, too. Should we help him, perhaps? ♤" He tilts his head.

Illumi scoffs. "No need. It was a mistake working with him."

"But he asked you to assassinate someone, right~? How about that? ♢"

"I can tell he's going to die soon. No use serving a client that won't be able to pay," Illumi says rather monotonously, looking over at the warehouse where Sanguis and Ryu should be.

Hisoka hums. "I see~ And how about Killua?"

Illumi simply glares at him. "Let's go. We're done here."