Caught in your trap
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#01: I'm not a herbivore!
That day wasn't supposed to start like that at all. No matter how hard she thought, Elen didn't know why she was there, with Dino, in a meeting that didn't even concern her. The real question was why in the world did he wake her up at six in the morning? Nobody there seemed to require the presence of a boss that wasn't their ally. Even if they requested Cavallone's help, what involvement did she have in all that? It wouldn't hurt to actually pay a little attention to what was discussing there, but Elen felt really tired. If they hadn't been friends, Dino would probably regret his decision. If he wanted help, she didn't mind to offer it, but still, being woken up at six in the morning, being dragged at a meeting where she didn't have any business…It was too much, even for her tolerance, but he was going to hear everything Elen had to say when they would leave that place.
Sleeping there wasn't such a bad idea, but after all, no matter how tired she was, Elen wasn't that impolite, so she had to stay awake. The time she had on her hands was useful, because she remembered that later Xanxus established a meeting, God knows for what. Nothing bad could happen if she didn't go or called him to invent an excuse. But thinking twice about that, it wasn't a good idea. Xanxus being Xanxus was able to come after her to obtain what he wanted. How much Elen wanted to be in her bed, sleeping. Sometimes she was just too nice for her own sake. She shouldn't have cared that Dino was her friend and the best solution was to throw him out of her room, then go to sleep.
This time, Elen tried to focus on what those people gathered there were saying and like she had expected, being weaker families, they wanted to relay on Cavallone's help to win a fight. Their strategy was so wrong…If they continued with that plan, in a matter of minutes every single one of them would be wiped out of the Earth's face. Well, it made sense then that Dino brought Elen against her will at that meeting, even if he received a couple of 'loving' words from her.
There wasn't a single moment when she hadn't yawned, but there was nobody that minded her, so it wasn't like she disturbed anybody. Maybe becoming a mafia boss hadn't been such a good idea, because Elen wasn't made for that, but under some critical circumstances, her father couldn't lead the family anymore, because he was busy searching for a person he didn't even know what happened with. A person that he never loved, but used to his own good. In fact, that fated day changed her destiny and let her with that fear of what she loved once the most, like her mother...The discussion that evolved into a fight attracted Elen's attention and she couldn't help but sigh. Why had they had to fight in such a situation? All those mafioso were acting like spoiled children that didn't like if somebody had a different opinion from theirs. So childish…
"Heeeei, if you'd stop fighting, you would have seen that letting the strongest people on the field, while you give them orders from inside the mansion is actually a good strategy." Her voice was quite bored, but that boredom made them stop from arguing, while Dino smiled like an idiot seeing that she finally got involved. The people there didn't know what to say, because after studying the terrain and doing some sketched on the paper where the teams were assigned, it was kind of shameful to admit defeat. It also happened to argue during a meeting, but never a girl showed them what stupid mistake they made by not taking in consideration an idea that was excluded from the start. "If Cavallone is on the field, along with your strongest men, then the battle is won, but you will have to defeat those who manage to pass through them. I can lend all of you some of my people for defense. They will be glad to finally have a practice target."
Their faces were funny to watch, but Elen held a bored expression that made some of them laugh because she had been so serious moments ago. At least she seemed to have forgotten about being woken up at six in the morning for the meeting. She had been so grumpy then and expressed all that love towards him that for a moment Dino thought that he would get killed. "Don't think I've forgotten that you woke me up at six in the morning…" Maybe Elen wouldn't be that harsh after they were done there…Just maybe.
Seeing her yawn, Dino realized that she wasn't a danger and that his mistake could be easily repaired by taking her home. At least that problem had a solution, because he had to focus on the meeting, to establish the last details. This time, Elen didn't listen anymore, because all those people there weren't arguing and the discussion was pretty calm. For her that meant a single thing: returning to sleep as soon as possible. She was afraid to go back, since there would be a lot of paper-work, but that was her job in the end. Thankfully, Dino didn't force her to speak anymore, because he made a suggestion that was actually accepted by the mafia bosses. After all those years, the Cavallone boss wasn't just a kid, even if he was still as clumsy as ever. He knew what decisions to take to benefit his family and protect them from any harm. He still needed Romario or another person to behave like a normal person and not trip on his legs, but that was something usual. After all, everyone was used to see him alongside with somebody from his family, otherwise accidents were meant to happen or even worse, Dino could get hurt.
Nobody beside Elen was that happy that the meeting has finally ended, because she had enough of the useless screams. If that solved something, then she could have done what she truly liked and wouldn't be forced to lead such a large and powerful family. "What a drag…Can you at least take me home? I have to work." Elen rubbed her eyes, getting up from the chair in a lazy manner, somehow resembling Xanxus when he was bored and did something out of duty. For a reason or another, Dino couldn't comply with her request, despite being saved from getting shot to death for not letting her sleep enough, but two hours. If he would be late more than he already was, that person waiting for him would really murder him. Ten years didn't help him change at all. Well, he was calmer than before, but if annoyed, that person was as ever. Such a pain…And fighting there would disturb the customers.
"…Can you come with me? I won't disturb you for one month, just say yes!" The offer seemed so appealing, but Elen wasn't attracted one bit by it. Looking skeptically at Dino, she started to think how many benefits she could get from that situation. "Just buy me a coffee! I'm too tired to even think what I should do to you…" She looked at the floor, thinking that her attire wasn't even suited for a meeting, but it wasn't like Dino wore a suit either. Elen was only wearing a black skirt, along with a dark blue T-shirt. She wasn't even wearing boots, but sandals, a complete unsuited attire for somebody in the mafia, but that could serve as a lesson for Dino, so he won't wake her up that early again.
Being that bored, while following the Cavallone boss, she looked at her hair. The color resembled Mukuro's and one day that led to a whole mess, because it seemed that his subordinates thought that we was using another vessel for his soul. And the bad thing was she had been in such a bad mood then, that Elen calmed down only after she tried to kill them, but was stopped by Mukuro itself. That led of course to another conflict full of insults addressed to each other, but for his subordinates was only a great show they could watch. If they hadn't been stopped, then their argument would have easily transformed into a fight. She hated that there was even that similarity between them, even if her hair actually had a nice color. But despite their continuing bickering, Elen tolerated Mukuro and reverse. The relation between them was benefiting both: Elen got her information about certain mafia members or leaders, while Mukuro got his money and sometimes his ruthless acts got covered and it was like nothing happened.
Curiosity suddenly took over when Elen remembered that Dino wanted her to come with him, instead of just taking her home. Was he meeting with somebody and he was late? If that was the case, then she would be the third wheel, but he didn't seemed to mind, so it shouldn't be a girl. The Cavallone boss wasn't even dressed for a date, but in his casual attire, similar to the one with which he spared, so probably he was meeting somebody else, but who? "Hm…Dino, remind me again…who are you meeting? It's not a date, I know that! You are dressed with clothes similar to those used for sparring, so…who's that person?" She saw Dino tensing a bit, so that meant that he wasn't that comfortable talking about the one they were going to see. But who he was…?
"Ah…you've never met Hibari Kyoya, right? Then it's your chance to do so…" His voice was wavering a bit, but she understood that he was the one they were currently going to see. Elen also knew that Mukuro liked to annoy the hell out of him, especially since he defeated the cloud guardian and beat him really bad. That seemed to be the sensible chord that shouldn't be touched in front of the said skylark. "And I'm not keen on meeting him…I prefer to listen to Mukuro's blabber of how he will destroy the mafia, then that." Maybe she was a bit cruel, but she heard some thing about Hibari and after listening them, Elen lost any interest she could have in meeting him. She had to talk with the mist guardian soon enough, since everytime he seemed to know better Kyoya. Well, it was also funny to hear Fran saying that his master was a perverted pineapple. Thinking better, that was the main reason for going to Mukuro's hideout, instead of acquiring the necessary information.
Elen heard from different peoples about Hibari Kyoya and she felt annoyed only by the sound of his name, but if there was the opportunity of stepping on his nerves, who was she to miss that? They didn't meet even once, but it was his attitude towards people that made her despise him so much. Maybe the feeling would be mutual after today. "I can get home on my own…why should I come with you? You're a big boy…" She didn't feel the tiredness anymore, but Elen had no intention of getting acquainted with that cloud guardian. Their personalities were incompatible, because the truth was that the girl wasn't always tolerant, willing to help the others, patient and so on. She had a strong personality, but her friends were the only exception she decided to spare. "Dino, I'm serious, I don't want to come, so I'll go on my own home. Hell, I'll even walk, but I won't go. Get it?"
The Cavallone boss frowned, because this was the first time she insisted that much in not going somewhere. Had Kyoya and her met already and disliked each other for the very beginning? It was a possibility, but she need to relax a bit! Elen had been working constantly, but well, that was his fault as well for tripping and spilling something on Xanxus who was so kind that he decided to shot him. For sure she was still mad about that, especially since her mansion had been damaged. "I'll pay for whatever you buy and I'll do your paper-work, but just come…" That seemed to interest her, since Elen was in deep thought for a moment, before actually starting to laugh. Dino was wondering what she had in mind if she started to laugh after his offer. Was it wrong or has she decided to waste his money until he had nothing left? "As long as you help me with those things, it's fine. I won't waste your money, you know? That's what Xanxus is for…He has to pay for the reparations."
Dino made a mental note not to cross paths with the Varia leader anytime soon, because he sure wasn't happy for being forced to pay for something. He was so screwed because Reborn came with the wonderful idea of everybody meeting so the relation between them will get better. He was going to die if Xanxus saw him and the worst was the he was forced to come, even if he was not part of Vongola. It seemed that his former tutor liked to see him suffer, but he felt sorry for Tsuna, because he was living in the same mansion with Reborn. It was harsh, for sure. "Hei, Dino…if that Hibari Kyoya says something that annoys me, I will rub his loss in the fight with Mukuro into his face…" He sweat-dropped hearing that because that would mean the start of a fight and it wasn't like they were children whose fight won't harm anybody and won't ruin anything. They could be as destructive as Xanxus on his bad days.
Somehow, Dino felt really tired and all he could do was take Elen's hand and drag her to his car. Thankfully Romario had been with them the whole time or he might have some something stupid. Somebody should really give him a break after he was surrounded by people like Kyoya and Elen. "Can I ask you a favor?" Her question took Dino by surprise, since she wasn't the type of person who would request something, but nonetheless, he said yes. For sure it was something serious, if she asked for help. "Well…how to put this…" It was the firs time that she behave like that, because it didn't matter if there was crisis time, normal conditions, a meeting. Elen never thought about the way she should say something. Maybe when she was little and shy, but not now. "Damn it! Can you take my place for a week or two? I need to do something important! Please!"
That was getting weirder, but it wasn't like he couldn't replace her for a couple of days, especially when she would let everything in order before she left. "Ugh, sure, but-" It was typical for her to stop him midway if he wanted to ask her where she was going, what was happening. "Don't ask! I'll be fine; it's just that you don't need to know for the moment." Well, it was better not to ask more, since she was irritated. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to bring those two together, since nobody knew how it would end. Dino had to take that risk, because later he would still have taken Elen out, so he just hoped that both Kyoya and her will behave and not create problems.
Well, things were as he remembered, at least now. Like those times when they were little, even if he was older than her. At least Romario seemed to enjoy they talk, because he laughed, probably thinking that almost every moment Dino and Elen were together, things like that happened. Well, even if she didn't like at first being a mafia boss, now she was able to lead such a large family without too much trouble.
"Boss, we are here." Romario announced both of them that they arrived at that café where Dino was supposed to meet Kyoya. Elen couldn't help but snicker, since she wondered how her friend managed to get that man come into a crowded place. It was a miracle or maybe…he was just Dino. Probably he said that they will train or something that sparked Hibari's interest. Well, she was amused for the time being, but Elen only needed a reason to leave, without being impolite with Dino and Romario. She wasn't in the mood to hear Hibari's talk. "Joy…" She was sarcastic, but you didn't have to be a genius to notice that.
Dino couldn't do anything more but sigh, but she didn't seem to be keen on arguing with Kyoya, so for the time being, he had to deal with him. Hibari was the type of person that voice out everything that was annoying, weak, that resembled a herbivore. The Cavallone boss trusted Elen to keep her mouth shut, but he wondered for how long she would manage that feat. Maybe it had been a bad idea to bring those two together, even if he did that so she could relax a bit. Well, he had to deal with both if he wanted to keep that café intact, even if it was dangerous to try to split Kyoya when he was fighting. It was foolish to do that, but Dino could at least try.
He spotted Kyoya soon enough, but he had a grim look on his face, almost like the one Elen had. What was he doing with two crazy people? The answer was pretty simple: looking for trouble. "Herbivore, you are late." Hibari accentuated the word 'late', since he didn't like that he had to wait in a place where people where actually crowding. The cloud guardian was annoyed, Dino could see that and if he said something rude that would sure break into an argument. Should he be glad that Elen was in a skirt and she won't fight? Probably, because that way the café will be intact. "I had a meeting this morning." He stopped to laugh, but it seemed that not even the years could do something about Hibari's fierce glare. "Ah, Kyoya, this is-"
"I have no interest in meeting your herbivorous friends. She's probably a weakling." He had rudely interrupted Dino, but the situation was worse than he first thought. Kyoya didn't even give the girl a chance, but knowing Elen, she would step on his nerves and annoy him like she earlier said. She had a mocking smile on her face, now sitting on a chair, almost too close to Hibari. "Oh? That so…At least I wasn't shamefully defeated by Mukuro Rokudo, was I? And then I don't keep claiming that I'm the strongest, when I'm just a sore loser, right Kyoya-chan?" Hell broke when she dared to point out his defeat. Dino even thought that somebody there hated him, because he had to calm down the cloud guardian, but his plans seemed to fail everytime.
Hibari's tonfa came in contact with the table, the surface becoming only shards of the glass, but Elen seemed really amused by the situated instead of cowering in fear. But again, she knew Squalo, therefore the whole Varia. Even hanged out with them more then with him, so what could Dino expect? Sanity? To keep her calm when somebody just insulted her? It was too much to ask, especially with Kyoya strong personality. "Oya, are you going to hit a girl? Not even Xanxus does that. How low…It seems that being defeat damaged something in your brain!" Elen continued to mock him, enjoying every of his reaction, but Dino was desperate to calm them, since it seemed that both were in their own world and he was invisible. In what mess did he get involved.
"Herbivore…don't push your luck…" His voice was dangerous, almost daring her to say another word to mock him, because he could use that opportunity to get revenge for being humiliated. He ignored Dino, who was trying to make them come back to their senses. All he could think about was how could he bit that herbivore to death, she was stepping on his nerves too much. "Hm? Mukuro and Xanxus also told me that the first time I met them, but as you can see, I'm alive~. They sure are more polite than you. And stronger." For anybody who had a bit of sanity, that would be the prohibited word near Hibari Kyoya, but Elen knew how much he wanted to get his revenge after that defeat and made use of that.
"I'll bite you to death." This time Kyoya was really mad, but she avoided the hit meant for her, yet the chair wasn't lucky enough to escape from the blow. Despite having her guns in the car, Elen being Elen, continued to mock him, without caring about their surroundings, but it wasn't that hard to dodge his attacks and she could thank Xanxus for that. She had been a target practice for him, like Squalo, but that only lasted until she gained his respect, which had been really hard to obtain. "Really~? I'd like to see you do so, but it seems that you a just a little child mad that somebody contradicted him, Kyoya-chan~." She kept pushing her luck, even if he was dangerous and even Elen had to admit that Hibari was a good fighter, but had an attitude problem. Attitude that annoyed her to no end…if she became an ally of the Vongola, then the start was bad, but from what Dino told him, not everyone there was like the cloud guardian and Mukuro…Mukuro was being Mukuro.
"And so you know, my dear, Kyoya, I'm not an herbivore, you know? I'll even prove if~. Cavallone, don't stay there like a fool and pass me my weapons!" Poor Dino sighed, since nothing will stop those two from arguing like that, so it was better for them to fight and calm down. It would be the dumbest thing to approach them, so he just used his whip to give Elen her guns. All Romario and him could do was to make sure that no citizen would be hurt because of their foolish actions. It would be a hard task with how destructive Kyoya and Elen were. "Wao, I'm amazed that you managed to dodge that, but your luck end here, herbivore." Before she had time to respond or ask what did he want to say, Elen felt how his tonfa hit her harshly in her stomach, but being the girl she was, she used that certain moment to shot him.
"You're not moving too bad…but you're still a sore loser!" Even if she was in pain, holding her stomach, Elen kept mocking Hibari, but thanks to the distance she was save for the moment. But that didn't last for a long time, because Kyoya wasn't the type to give his opponent such a long break before attacking again. Maybe it had been a mistake to challenge him when she had no weapons, but Elen wouldn't give up without a fight. She didn't realize when she closed her eyes due the pain, but when the girl opened them, she was forced back-way, dodging Hibari's tonfa, that almost hit her face. "Where's your previous courage, herbivore?" Elen gritted her teeth, but she managed to aim and shot him, but Kyoya wasn't a weak opponent, so only his cheek was scratched.
Dino knew that it would be dangerous if both turned against him for interfering, but the fight was already going too far, especially if Elen was hit. He knew that Kyoya was strong and a blow with his tonfa actually hurt, he felt it. "Kyoya! Stop already, she's still a girl!" Well, it was like he was talking to the walls, but even they would have listened! Hell, even Xanxus, who was pretty stubborn. "Kyoya!" But trying to knock some sense into him was pointless, he never listened.
If she wouldn't have been in a skirt, Dino was sure that Elen would have fought him better, but she couldn't do that right now. The Cavallone boss was speechless, because the girl was not crazy, but completely insane. She risked being hit, only to get closer to Hibari, so that way she could make sure that her shot would get him. He saw that she smirked as she fired, but he trained the cloud guardian, so it wasn't surprising when he barely dodged, being somehow affected as well, but used that opportunity to land another hit. Elen had been thrown into one of those tables thanks to the force with which she had been hit, knocking the air out of her lungs. "Herbivore, get up."
Seeing that, made Dino actually stop caring of what would happen if he interfered and went to help the girl. Hibari had exaggerated this once, not caring that he was fighting a girl, even if she was part of the mafia. She was coughing pretty bad, but that had been expected, since Kyoya wasn't an average fighter, but one that didn't care about his opponent. "Cavallone…I'm fine…Just…help me get up. Damn…" She had been leaning on Dino, using his arm to stabilize herself, because she wasn't going to let that guy bring her down that easily. Looking at her hand, Elen noticed that she coughed up blood and that meant that his blows had been more serious and she thought first. "Are you mad because I've been saying the truth? Such a brat…And you are thinking so highly of yourself that it makes me sick…"
She was so confident that it made Hibari want to crush that self esteem, to make her realize that she was only a mere girl that wasn't even a worthy opponent. But both were too prideful for their own good. Elen used that moment to shoot Hibari, so he would distance himself from them, before using the seconds she gained in her favor. The fight couldn't end without him being hit as well, because she already hurt. "That's all you can do, herbivore?" They liked to provoke one another, but Dino seemed annoyed of their childish fight and wanted to stop them, but it seemed that there were other persons that would do that. Without caring about their surroundings, Elen actually managed to trick Kyoya by using her box animal, which bit his tonfa. The same moment when he was surprised, she managed to hit him with his jaw with her elbow, before shooting without holding back.
"VOOOI, stupid woman! What the fuck are you doing? Do you know how late it is? That shitty boss is waiting for you!" Squalo's loud voice made her look at him, but Elen decided to ignore what he said and watched the mess she and Hibari had done, but she was proud that the cloud guardian had been hit, even if it wasn't a severe injury. Maybe he will stop thinking so highly of himself. "Shishishi, princess, just come already~. Boss is unpleased that you are late, but when he sees you…Shishishi"
"Herbivore, this isn't over…" This time Elen ignored Kyoya and went to Squalo and Bel, who came to bring her, since it seemed that Xanxus became bored and probably needed another practice target, but after that, things would settle and they could talk like decent people. Thanks to the pain from both her stomach and ribcage, she needed to lean on Squalo in order not to fall. Things weren't settled between them, but for the moment it was enough, the disaster they made was enough. "Oh? I think that it is. I mean, a girl had managed to injure you, so you aren't that great Kyoya. Se you later, Dino~. The paper-work on my desk can't be done by herself…"
Even if she had been using Squalo's arm to be able to walk, she was definitely arguing with him, because thanks to Hibari, she was late. Not that Elen really cared, but they heard Belphegor laughing at the cloud guardian before catching them. He was lucky that Dino was there, because the he would be the next target for Kyoya's anger would be the poor Cavallone boss.
"Don't think I'm done, Cavallone…"