I got all this ringing in my ears and none on my finger
Title inspired by: Fall Out Boy – I got all this ringing in my ears and none on my finger
Series: Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
Rating: T (mentions of sex, nothing explicit)
Pairings/Characters: TYL!Chrome, TYL!Hibari, 1896/ TYL!Reborn Cast
Disclaimer: I don't own KHR... However, I do own my sick creativity... Gosh, I wish I could trade...
Author's Note aka Introduction:
Hey guys, this is Saki. This is my first fanfiction here and sadly, English is anything but my mother tongue... so, uhm... please treat me well ;) Anyway, about the fic:
All the chapter titles are inspired by songs and it's going to be 1896 (oh, duh!). I tried to write something more mellow/mature so don't expect much happy-go-lucky romance and declarations of love. Instead, there will be a lot of depression :D Isn't that almost as good? Lastly, I do know that Chrome and Nagi are the same person but I imagine her to speak/think of her past as if it wasn't hers at all, so please, don't be confused ;)
Thanks for reading!
It all started with an adorned, white envelope. It was nothing but a simple invitation and had yet such an impact on Chrome's whole life.
"B-but white is tradition!"
Another magazine hit the table, rejected.
"Don't say that. Traditions are meant to be broken!"
"Well, no. I think that were promises."
"Oh my, promises are meant to be kept! Rules should be broken!"
Happy chattering filled the sweet-scented air of the small café. The place was neither famous nor modern but the owner was a nice, old lady and the coffee with various flavoured shots was popular among young women. Today wasn't as crowded as usual and the only guests were six girls, huddled around an oak table which was currently buried under various bridal fashion magazines and wedding catalogues.
Everyone was busy, talking, discussing, and nobody noticed the fresh, steaming cake being served.
Stifling a yawn, Chrome's gaze wandered through the café. The whole room was decorated with green plants, the walls were nothing but ceiling-high windows and it was just too easy to mistaken this coffee house for a conservatory. Haru uttered a delightful squeal and Hana-san rolled her eyes in obvious annoyance. Feeling uncomfortable, Chrome let out an inaudible sigh, wondering why she was here in first place. Probably because it was a sincere wish of hers to learn how to interact with other females.
Maybe because Kyoko almost dragged her into this café.
Speaking of which...
A quick, insecure glance directed towards the other female. Kyoko was almost glowing lately, a permanent smile gracing her soft features.
There was a conspicuous spark in her light brown eyes.
Ah, a marriage must be something beautiful.
And this was an absolutely honest statement, for Chrome really, really thought so. Sighing for the second time, she glanced around the small table.
Haru was still gushing over random bride pictures. Next to her was Hana-san who took an occasional sip of her café mocha. The small red couch was occupied by I-pin and Bianchi-san, the former giggled softly while skipping through bridal magazines.
The young girl gasped quite suddenly and pointed towards a coloured page.
"Look! Don't you think this would suit her? I mean, it is delicate pastel pink and has this incredible beautiful laced ribbon!"
Haru smiled. The mirth in her eyes was clearly evident.
"Well, sure. It looks stunning but I highly doubt it's going to fit. Just look at the size of Kyoko-chan's belly!"
"Come on, Haru-chan. That's just plain rude!" Still smiling, Kyoko slapped her friend in a light, playful manner and rested one hand on her swollen abdomen.
"We never planned it to be like this. Marriage first, children later. That was our original schedule."
She paused.
"Don't get me wrong, though. I don't regret how things turned out to be. The only thing I resent is the fact that I won't be a June bride."
The other girls started laughing while the Mist simply continued to stare at her friend's very visible belly. A new life was in there. And she knew that, unlike Nagi's past experiences, Kyoko would be a wonderful mother. Loving, caring, and all those things Chrome knew nothing about.
"Chrome-san!"
Startled, she looked up. She had been lost in thoughts once again and, now that she paid attention, she found herself staring into reproachful, chocolate eyes.
"Which one do you like best?"
She blinked slowly, trying to comprehend the situation.
"Ano... Pardon me?"
"Dress, duh! What kind of dress should Kyoko-chan wear?"
Leaning forward slowly, she peered at the colourful pages spread on the wooden table. From her point of view, the dresses looked basically much the same. Gaudy, with too many layers and loads of frills or the complete opposite, lacking any kind of colour and boring as sin.
"This is good..., I guess," she mused, pointing at a plain, white dress with a simple, lacy collar.
There was an embarrassed cough and the other girls were silent (presumably disappointed, too) for a few minutes until the bride-to-be chuckled gently.
"It's really lovely, Chrome-chan. I truly like that dress... but the others seem to expect something... fancier."
The Guardian hung her head.
"I see..."
Bianchi-san ran her finger's through her long hair.
"Chrome. It's common sense for a bride to wear something extravagant on the happiest day of her life. Naturally, she wants to be the centre of attention."
Nodding.
That, she understood and yet...
Suddenly, an arm was wrapped around her shoulders and Haru gave her an affectionate squeeze.
"Chrome-san thinks too much! Let's wait till you marry. Every bride wants to be the most beautiful and I bet you'll be the same."
"M-me and marriage?"
I-pin watched her with a dumbfounded expression and the brunette shook her head dismissively.
"Why are you so surprised? You're the next in line. To marry, that is."
And to prove her point, Haru held her hand up, showing a classy, golden ring. Reaching for her latte macchiato, she continued.
"The first one to marry was Bianchi-san. Hana-chan and Kyoko-chan's brother married in the same year. I was the next one. And now it's Kyoko-chan's turn."
There was some frothy milk on the corner of her lips and she struggled a bit to wipe it away.
"And, since I-pin-chan has to wait, because she is way too young, you're next in line. Isn't that utterly plausible?"
Chrome was a tad slow on the uptake. Then, suddenly:
"What? N-no! I don't... Well, I couldn't... I mean, presumably... There isn't even... t-there is no one!"
Once again, silence was the only answer. Hana-san was the first to speak.
"Don't worry. The right man will eventually appear one day. Or maybe he's already there without you noticing. Either way, you'll find him."
She stared at her own ring.
"Even if you do question your choice sometimes and wonder why you bothered to marry him in first place."
The Mist tilted her head back and stared at the ceiling, taking a long and sharp breath. Truth was she had never ever dreamed of being married. Never in her whole life. Nagi had, of course, but then again everything had been oh so romantic in those days. A fairy tale, so to speak. Feeling slightly insecure, she pressed both hands on her illusion-filled stomach. Was it even possible? Could she really have such a thing as a family?
She was the Mist after all. Mist would never linger too long in one place.
Still contemplating all these matters, Chrome ambled home. November was cold, the sky was a dark navy blue and the streets dimly lit. Above her, the firmament was almost void of stars, hidden behind a thick blanket of charcoal grey clouds. An arctic wind whispered in icy breaths and a fine wisp of fog was covering the concrete underneath her feet. Groaning, she clenched the jacket tighter around her small frame whilst at the same time trying to get her mobile phone out of the pocket.
Ultimately succeeding, she flipped the device open.
The green display illuminated her face and she noticed a bunch of unanswered calls from Boss. Howsoever, it was too late to call him back and she made a metal note to contact him the next morning. She hoped over a tiny, silver pole and followed the narrow path towards her small, yet cosy apartment.
"Marriage, huh?"
Shaking her head, she pondered whom she could ask for advice. The possibilities were few. In the past, it would have been Mukuro-sama or Chikusa. Ken had always been downright out of the question and so were the Vongola Guardians.
Boss, maybe.
She grumbled. Some things would never change. Her dependence on other people for example. Instead of finding answers on her own, she was yet again craving someone else's counsel. Stopping in front of a huge, grey building complex, Chrome strolled to the front door and put her key into the hole. She stepped into the dim foyer and decided to take the stairs rather than waiting for the old lift to arrive. Three flights up and she was in front of her apartment's door. However, an unusual sight presented itself to her.
Leaning against her door, was no one else but the Cloud man. And she was completely taken aback.
"I've been waiting."
He stared at her with an unreadable expression, a mixture of irritation, discontent and plain boredom.
"I'm sorry. I-I didn't know... ," she left the sentence hanging in mid-air because she didn't know how to finish and she suspected he wouldn't be interested either way.
"That's why some herbivore invented mobile phones, woman."
Oh. Boss' calls, for sure.
"I expect you to answer the phone next time. I don't want to come here a second time."
Dilatory nodding answered him and she stared at the male (in disbelief. Because he loathed , hated, abhorred and detested illusionists. It wasn't even a secret. Normally, he wouldn't bother to come even if it was an order) until she noticed the stack of papers next to his feet.
"Are you bringing me the forms about the last mission?"
He made a nondescript noise.
"Thanks."
He stepped aside and she unlocked the door. She was about to pick the papers up but when she turned around to get them, Cloud man already passed her (he invaded her refuge with such a taken-for-grantedness, she was dead dumbstruck) and looked around for a few seconds, examining the unfamiliar surroundings. Then, with a satisfied sound, Hibari-san placed the stack on her low coffee table. There was a faint memory, a warning from Mukuro-sama about the indecency of a man visiting a young, unmarried woman but it was forgotten when the Cloud grabbed a grey zabuton and sat down curtly. She gaped at his back.
"T-there is no need for you to stay, Clo-... Hibari-san. Rain m-...etto, Yamamoto-san (because Boss had taught her about the importance of addressing people in a proper way) is supposed to come ove -"
"The herbivore got a cold," he interrupted in a gruff voice.
"Ah."
Her answer.
Hibari-san yawned and snatched a silver pen from his breast pocket. He immediately started working whereas the female continued to stare at him before heading into her kitchen. Confused, she prepared some hot sencha and white daifuku as a makeshift snack. There was a slight noise when she placed the two cups on the table and the man looked at her through his bangs while she sat down across from him.
"You do know... there is no necessity in you being here. I'm perfectly capable of finishing these papers in my own."
He scoffed.
"And yet I received a desperate call from Sawada Tsunayoshi and another one from the sick herbivore. Both pleading me to help you because the other idiots weren't available either."
Grasping on of the cups, he took a small sip.
"Let's finish this quickly! I do not desire to stay any longer than necessary."
She bowed shortly to thank him and reached for a neat paper. The texture was smooth against her fingertips and she placed the document on the polished surface of her table. It was a list of casualties who happened to die during the last mission. Names. Ages. Sometimes personal data.
Not that Xanxus had cared about any innocent victims when he started blazing away at his enemies. In the middle of a crowded, Italian market.
Chrome blinked and glanced briefly into the Cloud Guardian's unperturbed expression. He was obviously concentrated on writing and most likely not caring for any of these people. She lowered her head and resumed staring at the data.
Families.
Children.
Women.
Men.
A baby, not older than seven weeks old.
And yet Xanxus hadn't wasted a single second to start firing (Boss' punishment had been severe but he couldn't undo the damage his subordinate had caused). She shook her head and a brusque picture of the pregnant Kyoko flashed before her eye. Tentatively touching her aching head, Chrome closed her violet eye.
Nausea was sweeping through her insides.
She stood up, excused herself and returned into the kitchen to fetch herself a headache pill before realizing that her symptoms had nothing to do with actually being ill. A thought crossed her mind and she walked to the fridge. Technically, a bottle of sake should wait in there as she recalled. A gift from Lambo which he brought on his short trip to Toyama-shi.
One quick look and she made a find.
Opening her food cupboard, she also detected an open bottle of shochu (from... Yamamoto-san?) and a staggeringly expensive bottle of Suntory Hibiki (a birthday present from the Sun). And, despite the fact that Chrome was anything but a carouser and she didn't even like alcohol at the most (nor tolerated it), she couldn't help but grab a masu and pour some liquid into its wooden confines. She downed the offensive drink in one swig. And refilled immediately.
The sake had barely any taste and was way more digestible than the Whisky. There was a change in temperature and everything was strangely warm and the illusionist had to take of her ivory bolero jacket. Her kitchen lamp was suddenly much brighter and the floor underneath her feet was wobbling. Or was it not the floor but her legs? Leaning her back against the kitchen counter, she sank to the ground and started to giggle in a maniac, involuntary way.
So what if Xanxus had happened to annihilate almost a whole village? Italy had more than enough! It wasn't like they were desperate to have enough people in their country, were they?
A blush crept over her cheeks.
And Kyoko. Oh, the lovely Kyoko. She should watch out for her child because Mafia doesn't like children. Nobody does. Nagi's mother proved that!
She grabbed her masu and downed another drink. Some (by now) delicious Whisky.
Hibari-san. Well, what was there to say about Hibari-san? He was incredibly handsome and she secretly like to stare at his behind sometimes.
It would be wonderful if his personality would match his good looks but, most of the time, he reminded her of an ill tempered bulldog (or any other animal that bites your calf and won't let go no matter what).
Her giggles turned into high-pitched laughter upon visualizing the picture in her mind.
And what if she wasn't sure whether or not she was able to have her own baby? What did it matter? She'll be happy anyway even if nobody wants to marry her and she'll grow to be an old, unloved, cat-crazed spinster.
However, her laughter didn't even subside as big, crystal tears ran down her flushed cheeks.
Hibari finished his seventh form and pinched the brick of his nose because he had the feeling of spots dancing in his vision. And these spots were mocking him. His tea cup was already empty and her tea had long gone cold, only the disgustingly artificial sweets were left and currently staring at him. He yawned and glanced at the unoccupied seat in front of him. Still gone. His silver-grey eyes narrowed dangerously and he stood up to look for her (and potentially choking her for disappearing).
The apartment was notably small and it didn't take long to find her. Especially not with that weird cackling coming out of her mouth. Sitting on the kitchen floor, Chrome's head was resting on top of her knees and she was talking... to herself? He found the answer (in form of three bottles) next to her.
"Are you drunk?"
Her unfocused gaze settled on his face and a salient blush crawled over her cheeks. Giggles bubbled out of her throat and tears adorned her eyes.
"Kyoko is pregnant. And Xanxus eats children. When they're standing in his way. I should stop liking cats and buy a dog instead. No bulldog, though. They bite!"
He didn't even try to make any sense of her jabbering.
"We have work to do."
She nodded.
"Work is important! Marriage as well! Do you think marrying someone will work out? Or will work marry someone? What if someone is already married to work? Mary has worked so hard to... be important?"
He peered at her with an incredulous expression and shook his head, deciding it would be better to go home and just freaking ignore her. Abrupt movements alarmed him and his hand shot to his belt where one of his boxes was waiting to be needed, ready to wreak havoc. His fingers hovered above the cold surface and he realized that Chrome Dokuro had no intentions to attack him. She simply had risen from her sitting position.
There was an odd spark in her eye and he would have never expected her next move. Simply because he was Hibari Kyouya and she was Chrome Dokuro. It was one of those very, very few; very, very rare and very, very disturbing times in which someone was truly and astonishingly able to catch Hibari off guard. Almost unthinkable to accept that someone like Chrome Dokuro would be able to surprise him.
But here she was.
Standing on tiptoes, her smooth, fragile body pressed against his and soft breasts squeezed against his firm thorax. She was at least one head shorter than him and, quite suddenly, one hand gripped his tie and the other one yanked the collar of his shirt down.
Her lips were soft against his.
Hibari blinked for a millisecond before regaining his senses and pushing her violently back, against the counter. The illusionist groaned and rubbed her lumbar region, intoxicated mind wondering whether or not a bruise would be visible.
"I'll bite you to death," he stated lowly, dangerously.
However, he had to blink a second time when she, all too happy, replied, "Yes, please do so." Her eye was full of mirth and the tears had disappeared. She grinned like an idiot and it took all his self-control to suppress his urges to slam his tonfa into her face.
"That means I'm going to kill you!"
Still grinning until her mouth slowly formed the perfect shape of an "O".
"Oh... oh!"
She continued, "I'm sorry, Hibari-san. Was that your first kiss?"
He summoned his weapons and raised them, warningly, threateningly.
But Chrome did not understand. She was too naïve and, moreover, too drunk.
"Well, it was my first kiss. Mukuro-sama kissed me occasionally but only on my forehead (she pointed upwards) or my cheeks. He also said I'm his cute, little Chrome but I don't think I'm little anymore."
She blushed and looked down, shyly eyeing the man in front of her by peeping up through her fringe.
"Oh, I guess I know why you feel uncomfortable when being kissed. Mukuro-sama mentioned it one time (He wouldn't, would he? Or, more importantly, she wouldn't... woul-). You are gay, right?"
She would.
His jaw clenched, his brows furrowed and there was a warning shadow crossing his features, hiding his eyes behind his raven bangs. His change in behaviour was like a sign foreboding a storm. Almost like the blanket of nearly onyx clouds she had witnessed on her way back home but her inebriate being couldn't see the red flags, the caution signs or the flashing alarm.
She signed her own death warrant.
"Is it the Cavallone man?"
There was was loud bang when she collided with the kitchen table and her breath was knocked out of her lungs due to the impact.
Her eye shot open and she barely dodged in time when one of the tonfa crashed through the table's desktop. Without any footing underneath her, Chrome fell down to the ground, the remains of her former table surrounding her. She raised her arms in fear trying to shelter her face from any harm.
The second blow never came. The Mist remained on the floor, frightened beyond belief. It took her about three minutes to gather enough courage to look up at the other person.
Hibari-san was standing before her and his expression was nearly blank. Seemingly, he was thinking. The handles of his tonfa were still gripped tightly in his hands but his arms were hanging limply and she took it as a sign of reassurance.
"I'm sorry," whispered the shell-shocked girl.
His eyes were almost silver, liquid like mercury, when he viewed her extensively.
"What else did the Italian bastard say?"
She shook her head, pressing her lips tightly together to seal them. The Cloud grabbed her arm and pulled her up in a swift motion.
"I do not like to repeat myself."
The lone, lilac eye was very wide and he was able to see his own reflection.
"N-nothing. There was just another t-time where he told Ken that you m-must be a..."
He narrowed his eyes. She flinched.
"W-well, he s-said how obvious the fact is... that Hibari-san is s-still a v-v-virgin."
A smirk spread over his lips but it was anything but appeasing.
"So, the pineapple is so interested in my sex life that he starts speculating about it. Guess, his own can't be too thrilling then."
Cold shivers were running down Chrome's back when the man in front of her (who was too close by now) absently started to skim his fingers over her cheek. Additionally, she noticed how his other hand was resting negligibly on her waist. The alcohol in her system was making her dizzy (she told herself, because it was impossibly caused by his scent; Fresh like pine scented water and intoxicating like the poisonous aconite which meaning was fittingly "misanthropy") and she staggered backwards.
The hand on her hip supplied more pressure and kept her in place.
This time, it was him who initiated the kiss and it was by far not as gentle or innocent like hers had been. Head spinning, hands clenching the fabric of his suit jacket. Her eyelid grew heavy and she finally closed her eye, willingly opening her mouth to allow his tongue access.
The rest was nothing but a blur. After her brain stopped functioning, everything seemed to turn into a colourful film and she was not part of it.
The next morning, reality came back in form of a crushing, excruciating headache. The dull buzz between her thighs was hardly imperceptible compared to the pain in her cranium and the sick feeling crawling through her stomach. Chrome was lying on her dove blue blanket, the bed was pliable underneath her naked frame.
One insecure eye opened wide.
Naked? She turned around and found herself pressed against a solid chest. The Mist was often perceived as innocent, naïve and sometimes even slow to comprehend but she was fairly sure that this scenario allowed only one conclusion, only one script to follow.
She has had sex. With the elusive Cloud Guardian on top of that.
Groaning lightly, she wasn't able to remember the last time she had done something as stupid. Mhm, she had splashed water on Ken. No, not as stupid. She had kissed the Storm on the cheek (just as a thanks) when he was holding dynamites and he had been so shocked that he forgot to throw them away, sending both of them into hospital. No, still not stupid enough. Giving up on dwelling, she studied Hibari-san's calm face. His mouth was slightly open to breathe and his eyes closed.
Sleeping safe and sound, he seemed so absolutely tranquil, it was hard to imagine him as... the person he really was.
Honestly, Chrome hadn't imagined that her first time would be like... this. But the man had one of his arms draped over her waist and the other one was pillowing his head, and it didn't matter anymore. Carefully brushing the bangs out of his face, she couldn't help but lean forward and kiss the tip of his nose
"Stop moving around."
Of course he had to be awake. Why didn't she expect something like this? It was just natural.
"Sorry."
The former prefect yawned and opened his eyes slowly, once again ashen grey like omniscient clouds. Blushing spectacularly, Chrome rose into a sitting position and covered herself with the blanket. Yawning, Hibari-san followed her example and stood up, apparently not caring to cover himself. She looked away as he started to dress himself. He appeared to be in a bad mood. Be that as it may, she couldn't figure out why.
"Seems like your master can even fuck with someone's mind without being present."
She stared at him, appalled.
That was the reason why he had slept with her? Because Mukuro-sama had questioned his sexual preference? He hadn't even told him that to his face. She felt like weeping.
"I'll tell him next time we see each other," she uttered amused, pretended to be buoyant. Even so, she was all but.
"I have to go."
And he left. Without a second glance. Without another word.
Chrome was abandoned. Being used was one thing. It had happened before (at some point she came to realise that Mukuro-sama had used her, too). But nobody had ever been so honest, so outright –so cruel- to admit it this bluntly.
She felt like crying. And crying she did.
It all started with an adorned, white envelope. She crushed the alpine-white paper carelessly in her hand and wondered if, one day, some day, she would send wedding invitations to her friends.
Reviews and constructive criticism are appreciated.