Desclaimer: I don't own KHR, i do own Frank.
I'm trying something new with this fic adding my main carecther's present thoughts during the story so whenever something's writen "like this" its his thoughts, unless stated other wise.
Where nature takes you.
Running. That was the only thing he could do right now. The fourteen years old, Mortimor Rigor, ran on the sidewalk his schoolbag dangling of his shoulder. He was in a desperate need to get home and fast. Seeing a person coming in his way so, Mortimor made a 360 turn to go around him, "finely I get to use my MA training" he thought . Ending the small detour Mortimor kept the momentum "i really have no freaking time for this".
"Fuck..." he shouted in frustration his house in sight. Fiddling in his pocket he took out the house key from it's pocket only to have it fall to the drain. "No fucking way" Mortimor muttered. Changing course he ran to the neighboring house, the owner was some kind of scientist that worked and always staid at home.
Stopping in the doorstep Mortimor rang the bell. "Coming..." came a shout from the inside. Mortimor was anxious tapping his foot and twisting while standing; it took forever for the owner to get to the door and open it. Looking at Mortimor he asked "What do you want Mort?" a common nickname for Mortimor
"Frank," the neighbor's name, "I really need to use the toilet I'll do anything..." "shit I said it why did I say that, is that an evil glint in his eyes, why can't I control my freaking mouth, now he might use it in some perverted way..."
"OK" way too fast for Mort's taste, but when nature calls, you must answer. The minute he opened the door only a cloud of dust showed Mortimor was ever there. He has been to his house a few times, so the layout was familiar, he ran to the toilet no time for pleasantries. He locked the door and let loss, it felt like heaven. Well after running six blocks from his training dojo, with the strongest urge to pee a person ever had, not to mention the pain, it did.
"When you are done, I'll expect to see you down stairs in your underwear," "Why cruel world, why did I say that freaking sentence, I could have said, I'll pay you money or any other damn thing but why did I say 'I'll do any thing' now I'm going to be used in some freaky perverted way..."
After about five minutes, Mort was finely done. As a man of his word he strapped down everything but his boxers (black colored with no wired painting, luckily) and went down to the basement lab. Entering the room, he found Frank, he was working on his consul allowing Mortimor to examine the room. On the far wall you could see a human sized canister that matched its twin which was positioned by the entrance. He also saw, more like smelled about hundred of Guinea pig cages that were nearby. Only half of them were inhabited Mort gulped as Frank turned around. "O, you are here, I thought you might have drowned, I was about to sand my Guinea pigs to rescue you." A very believed claim, Mortimor once saw his Guinea pigs, building an entire city only for them, in the backyard.
"So what do I have to do?""i am so going to die" Mortimor asked. In response Frank pressed a button and the canister near the entrance opened. A cloud of smoke appropriately enough spread out, when it cleared it was visible that the canister was empty. It was full with electronics and Mortimor could have sworn one of the many animas he watch had a similar machine.
"Just step inside and wait."Frank ordered he was still calculating somethings. Mortimor turned to walk when he heard frank mumble something along the line of "factor the mass of underwear... double the pocket space stay time... discard the fur mass..." this mumble started to make him wary.
He stopped on his tracks and asked "Frank, what exactly am I getting myself into?"
Frank scratched his head and said "If this will work right you'll show up in the other canister over there in less then a second; I say hope because you are my first human test subject and I had 60% success up till now" "explains the lack of Guinea pigs"" But you will agree right?" he gave me a smile. Mortimor could swear he has seen it before on some of the anima mad scientist before everything goes wrong "after all you did say anything" "me and my big mouth."
Mort stepped in ready for his imminent death. He pressed a button before he waved at me and said "If you won't show up, I'll make sure your parents will never remember having you." "o the dignty of this man...". Mort took a deep breath and waited.
There was a strong white light. "heaven here I come" Mortimor closed his eyes ready to meet his maker wearing nothing but boxers, but nothing happened. Opening the closed eyes Mortimor could see that he was standing in the street "I am alive?". People were circling him looking with surprised faces (duha... someone just showed up from tine air). Mortimor didn't recognize the place but he made a note to check that later. He had to do damage control. "Legs and hands check,boxers check, face" Mort fumbled with his hands over his head "check, but I lost some hair." suddenly the crowed started to disappear as tough some kind of evil was coming. looking to the direction from which they ran he could see a familiar black haired figure.
His jacket was swaying in the wind and the red band around his arm was wavering as he walked. I could see two tonfas held firmly in his arms."Grate, not only did I show up in a new place with no clothes or money, it just happened to be KHR universe. Before I thought Frank was about to kill me now it's going to be Hibari. Talk about murder by proxy" Hibari Kyoya looked at the naked auburn. There was no choice, he didn't know the place and like hell did Mortimor want to fight him without weapons. Mort looked at Hibari and smiled masking all of the fear with a tourist's confusion "English?..."
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Hibari asked in fluent English, as expected from a perfect.
"Well I just arrived from far away""afewuniverseaway" " and in some unlucky circumstances lost all my clothes and luggage." "iamnotlayingitreallyisunlucky". The perfect raised his eyebrow pondering what to do. Mortimor's honed instincts shouted "run", but trying to would surly bring to his eventual death. So they stood there Namimori's perfect and Mortimor in his boxers. "Do you by any chance have something I can wear I'll" "don't sayit you'll have to fight him or worse...""Do any thing...""this is the end of me I am going to die I just told Hibari Kyoya I'll do any thing why do I keep using that damn phrase."
Again with that evil glint. Hibari made it look as tough he was pondering, he wasn't, if the smug smile on his face wasn't enough of a clue the way he held his tunfas was. Hibari then promotly said "Follow me." as he stepped forward. Mortimor shock his head and sighed "where's the Doctor when you need him?"
Meanwhile in a different dimension the Taraids alarms were on. The tenth doctor looked down at the monitors. "A breach between dimension, hm...that's bad I should go and fix it..." he checked the coordinates for the dimension when the memories of the cretin location stroke him. "No, not going there last time I was there I had to deal with a green haired baby who tried to steal the Taradis and was held at gun point by another. Sorry whoever got there but your on your own." he erased the last command and continued to his previous destination.
Hibari took a phone out of his pocket and made a call, he thought talking Japanese will make it so Mortimor wouldn't understand he was so wrong. Mortimor mother was a linguist, and an expert one at that, from young age she thought Mortimor the language of whatever country they were about to visit. He knew about ten used language, two dead ones and his family's secret code.
"Kusakabe, I found a wired herbivore""he called mea herbivore I am so domed" "We'll be by the park in two, bring him some clothes in one...Yes, he's about my size" he closed his phone and made a gesture that meant 'follow me...or die', and so as any sane man would do Mortimor did. The road they walked was clear of human inhabitants; the news about Hibari's arrival travel fast. The two teenagers reached to a park and quickly spotted Kusakabe's haircut.
He looked at Hibari, then at me, he measured me with his eyes and pulled out a couple of clothes from a bag that he held. I put the shirt and pants in a hurray only stopping to turn around the pants when I found out I pulled them up the wrong way. I saw Kusakabe stifling a laugh. Hibari just rolled his eyes.
When I was finished I stood up and waited for my fate. Hibari traded whispers with Kusakabe before he said in English "Now I bit you to death." "shit...justmyluck." "Well I did say anything...but don't think it'll be that easy" Mortimor took on a stance," I ain't gonna go done without a fight...or some thing that resembles it". Kusakabe lifted an eyebrow, while Hibari lifted his tunfas ready to strike.
He swung with out a warning no sign in his body language or face no way to predict it only by the small flash of light was Mort able to dodge a 'fettle' (more like on hit K.O.) blow. The hit landed in his guts, causing him to exhale. Mortimor grabbed Hibari's arm and turned around, locking the arm behind Hibari's back. The attempt was greeted by the back side of his tunfa hitting his head.
Forced to let go Mort rolled backwards, he touched the point of impact, and was glad to feel no bleeding. Hibari in turn, charged at him both hands poised for an attack. Mortimor could only danced around, dodging several blows, but it didn't last forever. The first blow hit his right thigh stopping the fancy dodging moves. The next stroke the left shoulder, it was on propose as he used it to block, the hits hurt like hell. The next one was a kick to Mort's already sore guts, the force of which sent him falling to the ground.
The fall was very theatrical and would have looked so awesome in a movie. Falling down he had a chance to glance backwards "mm...this gonna hurt." Mortimor head hit the stone pavement causing him to lose consciousness at that moment.
Hibari smiled this was the first battle in many weeks he had this much fun and the guy didn't run away. A small spark of an idea formed in his head. Kusakabe knew Hibari so well that he could see the evil thought forming. he was already sorry for the new guy. Hibari looked at Kusakabe and said "The guy has nothing. put him in my unused apartment. From there you know what to do" feeling Kusakabe questioning gaze he surged and said" He was fun. I want to know where to find him"
Kusakabe sighed he was right on his assumption and the poor fellow was bout to get a double edged sword. Hibari was nice but only when it got him something. Usually that includes beating some unfortunate fellows "Yes Kyo -San" he said and lifted the unconscious male off the floor.
Three hours later location yet to be known
"Damn I have an headache" Mortimor woke head tubing and ears drumming like an entire marching band. "wait a minute I am pretty sure I was going to faint on the floor what am I doing on some thing soft" he opened his eyes, after the initial pain from the light a well lit Japanese style apartment was visible. Not something fancy but nice non the less.
On a chair near the bad set Kusakabe arms crossed, one lag over the other. He was looking straight at Mort and, as the one set up he opened his mouth and said in perfect English "Well I am glad to see it wasn't that bad, most people are out for about 12 hours after a fight with Kyoya-San." "duh...his hits hurt like hell". Shifting in the cozy bed Mort said "I can speak in Japanese,""thank you mom for teaching me""So...Where am I?"
Kusakabe smacked his forehead, a hard to do feat with the mess of hair in the way. "Glad to hear that" he said in Japanese "You are right now in one of Kyoya-Sans' many apartments. He said you currently have nothing and that you can stay here if you want." "really,that's very uncharacteristic."
Mortimor's eyebrow was doing everything to leave his face, when he asked "Why?"
Kusakabe stifled a laugh "Well his reason was and I quote.'He was fun. I want to know where to find him'" "I am doomed, doomed I tell you, whatever being that roles my fate...I.Hate.You"
"Guess there's no helping it, I am broke, no money or papers and the only thing I have to offer is my body so being a living punching bag is better then the other option" "not saying it, someone might get wired ideas."(AN:don't look at me, my muse is telling me what to write.)
"I can see your point. By the way I am Tetsuya Kusakabe who are you?"
"Mortimor Rigor. Fourteen years old, as off a few hours ago a broke orphan with no papers." "if I ever get back I am so killing Frank"(said not so mad scientist was currently spiking the drinks of Mortimor's parents with a special chemical). His voice was so calm so decisive that even he was a bit frightened. Kurosawa's showed a combination of shock at the bluntness and compassion.
"Well I am sorry to hear that Rigor-San. I am sure me and Kyoya-San can help you with your current predicament. Not to mention you are free to stay in this apartment building until you sort everything out." "there's a catch there must be a catch, if you can't see it; it must be there" "Of course you'll have to pay the rent.""thought so..."
Mortimor passed his hands over his wiry face, he was so damn tired and felt like his head was so heavy that it would fall off. On the verge of falling asleep he asked "And how much is the rent?" "guess a job hunt is required..."
Kusakabe looked at the auburn with a sorry look. you could feel the heavy atmosphere when he said "110000 Yen, but you can always go for the other payment method you seem quiet fit for it... "
"What other method?..."
"Well Kyoya-San has a big heart, so when he meets people like you he'll help. But...well you have seen how he acts you get the idea if it were a normal day that gig would have earned you a month""Hibari'sthedevil..."
"So how many days do I have till the next payment's due?" Mortimor asked."pleasesaymorethenone..." Kusakabe looked at him in a calm look "he'sveryperspective" thought the devil's advocate. Kusakabe smiled when he said "Well Kyoya-San said that the first month's on the house you need to get a job etc...""that's nice so I can live on my own no parents no damn school only thing I have to do is pay the rent" "of course that because you are under age you'll still have to go to school as the law dictates""damn laws."
Mort took a long breath, his head was still spinning. He closed his eyes and sorted things out "so its either be Hibari's punching bag or work your ass off, I think I'll go for option two, but with school and all I'll be in quiet a bind." "I'll take on the offer." he had a knowing smile,"its not like I had many options." "So, when do I start school?"
"Well because you have no papers it will take some time but probably in a week maybe two"
"I hate school," "Well Kusakabe-San, you can tell Kyoya-San I am happy for his generosity." he almost broke a laugh,"By the way we talked all this time and you didn't tell me, how old are you Kusakabe-San?" Mortimor wanted to judge the series point in the time with his age.
"I am fourteen years old." Kusakabe answered, before saying "I'll leave you now. I need to do my errand, I'll come over in a few days. We put some food in the fridge and left you some money to get around please be sure to pay us back""or I'll be 'Beatten to death'" he got up wiped clean his pants and left the apartment.
Mort talked to the silent room"What should I do now..."a loud rumble from the direction where is stomach should be, made the decision easy. he got up and started striding like a drunk to the kitchen, his head hurt like hell but he was too hungry to go to sleep. The floor was made off wood and gave a wired feeling to his bare feet.
Walking down the corridor he learned the apartment's layout. The apartment had three main rooms; a kitchen with refrigerator, a small feeding table with two chairs and a stove; the bedroom which he just left and a living room housing a small table with a comfortable rug around it.
stepping in to the kitchen he was wondering what he should eat. He made his choice and even tough the sun set was visible through the window fixed himself a bowl of breakfast cerealss. He set down to the table folding his legs over the seat while eating ( A habit of his whenever he tries to think things through). It seemed, Kusakabe had grate ability for foresight because the newspaper billboard was on the table. Mortimor scanned through it and found several jobs he could do. And didn't have age requirements.
Mort finished the ball of cereals, and felt better even though he was still tired. With plans for tomorrow Mortimor decided rest was indeed need. he yawned and stretched out his hands. Before leaving the kitchen he washed the ball.
He went to his bedroom and tucked himself in a single thought was on his mind. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
12 hours later
"you know what I hate about going to sleep? that you need to wake up. Why can't we all just live in our beds for the rest of our lives?... because..(some responsible BS), that's why." Mortimor opened his eyes and made the usual morning check list "first food and get ready,then get a job, if I get a job and they allow me to start, work till 5, then go and buy tooth brush and some clothes.Then try and check up where Tsuna lives and see if Reborn started training him. It might be a bit...well, very stupid but how can I resist.
Done with the list, he hoped out of bed and made way to the kitchen opting once again to eat cerealss before changing clothed and walking out. Kusakabe was good a pair of shoes in Mort's size were waiting at the entrance and the keys waited in the door. "Wasthedoorevenlocked? " Mort pushed it open to learn that it wasn't "guess when the building belongs to him(Hibari) you'd be a Major league fool to try and steal something."
Even tough his last thought he still locked the door (just in case, there are always fools in the world). The hunt which was today's main attraction started. He first tried a few easy morning jobs,finely taking a newspaper delivery job. Due to his lack of transport he was designated a small area.
Next was a waiter in a cafe, they said he can come in everyday after school and work till about 8, it was minimum wadge but with tips it was worth it.
The last one was the hardest one to get. The bar 'Shady place' ( a fitting name) looked for a bartender. Mort who years of traveling with his parents and meeting their many acquittance learned how to make almost every alcoholic beverage out there was quickly accepted to work. There were two other reasons why he was accepted, the first was that among all the others who competed for the job he didn't brake anything. The second was that due to his young age he will most likely wouldn't tell anything about the many shady patrons of the bar.
It was two pm when the hunt was finished and after three hours of research Mortimor discovered Reborn was yet to arrive .He walked to the mall "can't survive on Hibari's stufff or too long, he might ask me to pay for them..." he shuddered at the thought.
On the path to the mall Mort recognized a familiar figure running in his general direction. Swada Tsunaioshy was running away from four bullies. Mort guessed that Reborn's absence meant he was still in the bully radar. Pondering what to do Mort took out a coin from my pocket (he always liked do-face from the Batman) "Heads I help, Tails is obvious." He flipped the coin to the air and it landed on heads "guess its Tsuna's lucky day."
Mort kept walking positioning himself in Tsuna's way. "Haii..." Tsuna squealed as he crashed into the waiting Mortimor, the chasing bullies stopped a few feet from them. Mort bent down and helped Tsuna to his feat. The lead bully looked at the foreign youth and said "Thanks for helping our friend up, we would like to return to our game now." his sweet talk was ruined by the sheer fact two of his companions held weapons, a bat and a chain, also the look of surprise on their faces.
"Of course, but if you were playing catch I think we should give this guy a head start don't you agree? How about 10 seconds? I'll do the counting." Tsuna's face were a mask of fear Mort held him by his shoulder and traded places with him while whispering "Run." The brown haired boy started running away. "One..." Mortimor count out laud, the bullies staid put they were sure that this ten seconds didn't mean a thing. "Ten" the bullies started running after Tsuna passing around Mortimor.
They thought he was some stupid friendly guy like Yamamoto, a meaningless nosiness to their plans. They were about to be proved wrong. The first two fell to the ground when Mortimor hands collided with the back of their heads in a chopping fashion. Mortimor was no Hibari but after years of joining his parents on archeological exhibitions and meeting many martial masters who have deep connections with some lands history, he could hold his own against a small pack of bullies. The other two, seeing their leader down poised to attack him.
Tactically they tried to flank Mortimor. The one to his right held a metal chain in his hands and the one to the left was holding a bet. They nodded to each other and attacked. The chain was launched at Mort's head. he dodged it and let it pass through only to hit square in the head of the guy to his left. The hurt bully fell unconscious to the ground. Mort followed this by taking hold off the chain and pulling its holder towards his kick. The last bully's guts met Mort's leg, and he almost puked all over it when he fell hunched as a ball backwards. "I hate bullies" Mort spat and drooped the chain to the ground. He walked away. Rubbing his hands together as though he was cleaning them as he made way to the mall.
In the mall Mortimor was amazed by the amount of people and the diversity offered. He used Kusakabe's money to buy himself a few colored clothes, in the apartment there only were white shirts a black jacket and black pants and a tie for the day he'll go to school..
Done in the mall he went back to the apartment. After he got back and put the clothes in the closet, he went to make dinner. He prepared an easy dish of fried chicken with noodles. It was a refreshing change after his last few meals were all cereals. He washed the dishes and walked out . The 'shady place'-'s owner asked him to start working that day.
Once again Mortimor left the apartment and took off. It wasn't hard to get to the bar but the place looked different tonight. When he came earlier today it had a slight worm feeling to it. But now it felt cold as tough some evil was about to come. Mortimor walked in, the bar's owner was sitting inside. After Mortimor wore the bartender's apron, the owner gave him the keys and said to lock when no patron was left, or at about One thirty am whichever comes first, he was then to leave the keys inside the mail box.
The place was slowly filed with people. As the night went on he got asked a lot about his young age, and he gave the elusive answer "I look young". The drunk and not so drunk costumers just accepted the shady answer and stopped asking when he served them what ever drink they asked for. The Pub's atmosphere became lighter and lighter as the night went on as tough the patrons stopped fearing something.
It all changed when the doorbells tole. The room went silence as the door opened. The long shadow of a Fedora wearing man came to vision as the door's hinges made a squeaking sound. "Can it be?..." the door opened fully to revel a small figure, a fedora with an orange ribbon came into full view. The figure slowly lifted its head to revel the smiling face of Reborn, the feared assasin then said his signature phrase"Caiossu" "It can".
The entire room went silent as Reborn slowly went to the Bar. The closest Yakuza quickly vacated his sit while trying to bow to Reborn. The Yakuza failed miserably on both accounts ending with his back on the floor. Mortimor held his chuckle back, although a grate ice breaker the man's friends might not like it. Reborn made an impossible jump to land on the chair, allowing Mort to spot Leon sitting on his fedora. Always true to his job Mortimor asked "What can I serve you?",the room was silent.
"Whiskey." he answered, the room looked at Mort expecting some kind of stupid question. Or behavior regarding his look. Only due to early knowledge, he really knew batter. The teen turned backwards and took out a fine bottle of whiskey , followed by a few ice cubes and served the infant a glass. Reborn looked up at him and said "For a bartender I see the first time you are quiet fine with serving a baby." the hitman then took a sip.
"Well I am fourteen years old and I work here so who cares if I serve a baby""plus I know your about a hundred year sold".One of the people in the pub who for the entire night buged Mortimor over his young look said "Told you he was young, I knew he was underage." I looked at them with a gleam and said "Never said I weren't. I just said I look young; I am fourteen after all." The entire place burst into laughter.
The one who spoke said "I like you kid" they followed it with a "cheers" knocking glass and spraying bear all over the place. The night continued to go smoothly, there was a small drunk fight but Reborn just glared them down. Slowly the bar became emptier and emptier until only Reborn and Mort were left.
The silence was heavy and the stereo was dead, a stupid drunk purred his beer over it. "So what makes a baby come to a place like this?" The bar name fitted it perfectly, must of the patrons were Yakuza (the fingers were quiet a sign) and the rest were some gang members from around town. Mort learned earlier tonight it was a safe heaven were everyone forgot conflicts and just enjoyed drinking with like minded people.
The baby looked at Mort and said "That's because I am in the mafia.""usualanswertoeverythingha" Reborn had a wary look on his face and was currently donning his fifth glass. Mort took a chair from his side and set down in front of the hitman.
"Aren't the mafia Italian , so what does an Italian mobster has to do here in Japan?" He asked his face as straight as possible, all the while filling Reborn's glass.
"A good friend of mine sent me on a job here." The bottle of whiskey was now empty and Mort put it in the trash can while thinking to himself "welliknewthat...butbettercheckanyway."
Back to his sit the auburn boy asked Reborn "And what job is that if its alright to ask?" he kept on with the curios Bartender act. He didn't want to revel anything that might get him shot.
"I came hear to be a tutor for someone" he said with a sigh, "he really misses the action,don't worry its soon to come." "and from what I gathered this is going to be a long road to success." "up till I left it took three years so yea its gonna be a very long road."
"By the way I am Mortimor Rigor a pleasure to meet you Mr?" Mort smiled and reached with his hand. The place was vacant and reviling his name to Reborn had to be done if he ever wanted to get involved with the story.
"Reborn, my name's Reborn." we shook hands, "By the way your name's a joke right. Rigor mortis is in Latin the state of death, when the corpse cold."
"Guess the best hitman, will know what it means." "Well when I was born, everyone thought I was dead because I was cold and not moving. It took them a few seconds to find out I was alive but asleep. My parents love Latin so they gave me this name. ""And my sister just love to tease me about me 'sleeping like a corpse'." "at least they had the decency not to call me mortis"
Reborn smiled and then burst out laughing before he said "I like you Kid." "Well its better then being hated." Mort looked up to the clock and saw it was about one thirty am , and he started delivering at six.
"I like you too Kid but its closing time and I have another job in the morning so sorry to be rude but, Finish your drink and pay up because we need to leave." Reborn looked into his glass, as tough burning the image of the drink into his mind and gulped it all in one swoop. The baby then reached into his suit and took out a Yen note for 10,000 Yen and gave it to Mort. "The change's the tip, it was a great night." "Let's see one glass's 1000, five glasses are 5,000 so he just gave me 5,000 wow grate tip." Reborn then hoped from the chair landing soundly on the ground, as he walked to the door the auburn shouted "Please come again." Mort cleaned the pub before leaving making sure everything was in order and that a note about the stereo's condition was left to the owners.
Leaving the place, he locked the door, left the keys in the box as ordered and went home. He was very tired, but happy finely sure where he was in the series (the freaking beginning ) and he got to meet Reborn in a good way.
The teen was back to his apartment in short order. Stepping in he noticed someone visited the place. He was sure he locked the door so the only one to enter probably had a key. Looking inside the apartment he found a note attached to a big envelop. The note was from Kusakabe saying he'll start school on the next Sunday and that his new papers where in the envelop.
AN: hope you enjoyed this carzy idea of mine. I got this idea reading the 'Caomhnóir' fic by silvermonk (a grate fic BTW). I also took the chance to intruduce a new carecther for my Pendoron fic (Frank). I want to mention this was not betaed so i'll accept any functuaiton and grammer mistakes made here.