A/N:Hello again. I'm sorry for not updating on my other stories and chose instead to write a new one. ^^' I know, I'm making it hard for myself. I hope you could understand.

I was looking at the KHR forums (which I think needs more subscribers, by the way) when I came across two posts that caught my interest. One was by EveChan170 with the topic: Love of the Lesser Characters in the Katekyo Hitman Reborn Writing Challenges. The other one was by sugarpie-chan with the topic: Mammon! in Got some time to spare to lil' me?

I guess I got inspired. ^^

Anyway here's the first chapter of Under the Hood. Please enjoy~ :3

Note:This is not yaoi. X3

Disclaimer:Wait patiently until the time I can claim the world for myself. *smiles*


Under the Hood


-Chapter 1-


We're an odd group, the seven of us. I don't recall when this…flocking started, but through strange and rather unorthodox reasons, us misfits somehow hit it off and were eventually classified as a group.

People call us the Arcobaleno.

I scoff at that. Who in their right mind would name a group of healthy teenagers who would most likely go for world domination or be found in the world's most wanted list some time in the near future after a rainbow? We're not exactly the most cheery people around, mind you.

Stupid humans.

"S-sempai! Stop!"

Bam! Bam! Bam!

"I-itai!"

"Serves you right, lackey."

"Oh my! Don't you think that was a bit too much?"

"The lackey deserves it, kora."

Just how noisy could they get? My brows furrowed in irritation as I lost count with my earnings for the week.

I let out a sigh and further pulled on my hood to cover my face, eyeing my acquaintances from the small area of vision under the hood. Yes, acquaintances. I don't consider these people as my friends. I don't have friends nor do I need any. My gaze trailed over to the female with azure hair and matching kind aquamarine eyes. Luce. She's probably the only one able to create such a miracle as holding this group together.

I don't have a problem with Luce, though she smiles a bit too much for my taste.

I let my thoughts wander as I sipped my beverage. Ugh, amusement park refreshments are disgusting.

Reborn, the trigger-happy sadist. Verde, the psycho science-freak. Colonello, the military-wannabe. Lal, the Spartan tsundere. Skull, the idiot. Luce, probably the only sane one out of us all.

And then there's me, Mammon. People call me by many names, none of them kind. Freak, weirdo, coward, money-hungry slut to name a few.

Bang!

Clang!

Slap!

"Colonello, you bastard!"

"Try coming at me, kora!"

"Oh my!"

I drummed my fingers on the table, my patience wearing thin. I pressed my lips into a thin line before speaking up. I did my best to be civil for the past hour after all.

"What did you call us here for, Reborn."

Six heads turned towards me almost immediately. I would've laughed if only I cared enough to do so. My voice was in monotone, as it always has been, but knowing them, they should've picked up the irritation behind the uttered words.

Reborn sat down on the seat a few chairs away from me and locked me in his piercing gaze. I stared at him head on, challenging his actions. I couldn't very well give him the satisfaction of getting so much as a flinch from me now, could I? A few seconds passed until Reborn finally tore away his gaze and pulled his fedora down to shadow his eyes.

"A friend is coming over. He'll be joining the group."

A friend. I almost scoffed at that. I rolled my eyes from behind the hood, not that anyone could see them. I casted a quick glance towards Verde. He's been silent throughout the entire exchange. I uttered a silent curse as I was met with an empty chair. He probably escaped sometime ago amidst the chaos. I turned my attention towards Reborn again.

"Well this is a complete waste of my time. If that's all that's happening then I would be taking my leave."

Luce shot me a look akin to a mother reprimanding her child for doing something wrong. I set my lips into a frown.

"It'd be rude if you don't meet with him, Mammon. It's only a matter of time before he arrives. You never know, you might get along with him enough to be your friend."

My lips twisted into a scowl as I glared at her, hard. My voice turned cold as I spoke. "I don't need friends." With that said, I stood from my seat, grabbed hold of my things, then promptly turned to walk away, ignoring the voices behind me. I was a good couple of steps away when I suddenly collided with someone. Stepping back, I let out a frustrated sigh. It's times like these that having a hood on is quite inconvenient.

"Dui bu qi."

Was that Chinese? I raised my head to come face to face with a tall man, probably around the same age as we are. He has pale skin which rivaled my own, and sported a red Chinese attire. Long braided raven hair rested on his shoulder.

Kind onyx eyes stared back at me.

"Ah, I meant 'I'm sorry'. Are you okay, Miss?"

Miss? My eyes widened at the statement. How did he know I was a girl? Normally no one would notice unless I verify that I am, indeed, a girl. My eyes narrowed in suspicion as I glared at him. Just who is this person?

I reached up to grab at my hood. Good. It's still in place.

"I see you two have met."

I turned around and saw Reborn looking on at my predicament with interest, his lips pulled into a smirk. I directed my glare towards him. That infuriating man! The rest of the posse soon followed, bringing with them the ever present noise.

The Chinese suddenly smiled at the sight of Reborn and gave a small bow in greeting.

"It's been a while, Reborn."

Reborn smirked, but then tipped his fedora in response to the greeting. "Likewise, Fong."

Then it clicked. I studied the Chinese man now known to be Fong from head to toe. So this person is the new addition.

He caught my gaze and gave me a small smile. I narrowed my eyes at that. Another idiot. I decided then and there that I didn't like the new guy.

We're an odd group. A group of misfits who for some reason or other ended up together. I don't like them, and I know that they don't like me. It's a group that doesn't require its members to harbor feelings of friendship towards one another. I'm perfectly content with that.

And now this group of odd misfits has acquired a new addition, the one to be called the Chinese idiot. Really, the things I put up with.


End


A/N:Well then, that's the first chapter. How was it? Please do leave me a review. ^^ Thank you for reading!