A/N: This is an older story, when I was still a bit interested in E21, but I decided to repost here since it is a stand-alone one shot. Originally written for a HiruMamo advent event over on Deviantart; my theme was "family". Features a bit of crossover with Nobunagun, but since they're mostly making cameos and it's not necessary for readers to have watched the series, I'm going to stick this in the E21 category and not as a crossover. (Also, nobody checks out the crossover section so...)
P.S. Kudos to Honey-Bee89 for beta-ing and hosting this Advent Calendar that I wrote this for.
The first time Mamori had asked their devil-leader-quarterback about his parents, she'd gotten nothing more out of him than the iciest glare he'd ever bestowed upon her, followed immediately by curse words which were spat at an equal ferocity to the hail of bullets he fired towards her (each one deflected by her well-worn clipboard, of course).
"Don't ask that again, Fuckin' Manager," was all he said before storming out of the clubroom and continuing his reign of terror amongst his hapless teammates. At the time, Mamori was – well, pretty angry. It was just an innocent question, after all, and after all of this time, with all of the trust they had built between them, surely she had earned some sort of privilege to question him on such matters?
But looking back, perhaps there had been a reason why he didn't like to talk about his parents. Maybe they weren't on good terms; maybe they were divorced; or maybe he didn't have any at all…
Throughout the week, she paced and fretted around the field while Suzu-chan tried her best to reassure her that 'You-nii' was just being his usual anti-social self. The supportive cheerleader didn't realize that her words only succeeded in making her feel more and more guilty. So later that day, when she spotted Hiruma coming out of the locker room after practice (he was last one out, just as was she), she decided then and there to sit him down and talk things over with him – whether he wanted to or not. But just as she opened her mouth to say something, a small envelop was being thrust in her direction.
"H-Hiruma-kun? What is this?" She looked closely at the fancy scrolls and gilt-leaf text, "...An invitation… to a winter ball?!"
"Tch. Fuckin' Manager. You wanted to know about my family, right?"
"W-Well, yes, but I-"
"-Dress code is black-tie, be ready by seventeen-hundred hours – and you'd better not be fucking late when I come by."
The Devil Bat's manager couldn't help the small smile that appeared on her lips as the lanky quarterback walked out the door with nary a glance back. He may be the devil incarnate himself, but that didn't mean he wasn't capable of being nice. In his own, unique, twisted kind of way.
"What's wrong? Do you think my dress is all right?" Mamori wasn't quite sure how to decipher the blond's expression when she opened the car door: though she must admit, the deadpan poker-face looked quite attractive when coupled with a nice suit. He looked like he just walked off an Armani ad! "I, uh, didn't really have time to go shopping since your invitation was so sudden, so I thought the dress I wore at Vegas would-"
"-Good enough. Get in – I don't wanna be late." His words were short and to the point, and while she was used to his curt replies, there seemed to be an edge to them now. Was he mad? Did he not want to go to this ball? Was he only taking her because of her nosy question about his family? These questions ate away at her mind for what seemed like hours.
"H-Hiruma-kun, you know... you don't have to take me just for my sake. I mean... I know your family is a very... personal issue. So, if you don't want to go, don't force it..."
The car screeched to a stop in front of a very fancy gated mansion on top of a hill. "Fuck, could they get any more cliché..." he muttered while handing the keys over to a waiting valet. "Come on, looks like they've already started..."
"Wait, Hiruma-kun, didn't you-." She gasped as he suddenly pulled her towards him, and when she looked up at his face, his mouth split open to reveal his pointy fangs.
"Really, did you think I was just taking you for your sake?"
The mansion was certainly impressive: decked to the nines in all the right, tasteful holiday decorations; though Mamori felt that the 24-karet gold serving trays were just a tad too much – even for the holidays. Besides that, however, it all looked very nice. She wished she had the foresight to borrow Suzuna's camera… but then again, as Suzuna's camera was more like a computer than a simple point-and-click camera, perhaps it was best to just try and remember it as best she could and describe it all to Sena tomorrow. Good thing her memory was a lot better than her luck with fancy gadgets (though her luck with technology was far greater than Shin's. At least she hasn't broken anything… yet).
She didn't recognize anybody here, but they all seemed to be having a good time, wining and dining and taking advantage of the massive dance floor being supplemented with a live orchestra.
"So, Hiruma-kun... uh, whose party is this, anyway? One of your relatives?" She snagged a glass of sparkling cider from a passing waiter's tray, attempting to look like she at least had some level of grace, unlike her blond partner, who merely rolled his eyes before downing a cup of black coffee… wait, she hadn't seen any coffee trays! Where did he get that?
"It's not anyone you really need to know about. Some distant relation I never really bothered gettin' to know beyond what dirt they've got," he waved that little black book in her face, "they're harmless – mostly. But since you're so interested in knowing what they're like, just go ahead and check them out for yourself. Everyone here's related some way or another."
"Everyone?"
"Yeah. Got a problem, Kuso Manager?"
She frowned. "Hiruma-kun, I know that's your little habit, but could you please refrain from calling me that in public? "
"Heh; I wouldn't get yer hopes up, Miss..." A new voice sliced through the air, a deeper timbre than Hiruma's. His Japanese was impeccable, but tinted with a slight accent she couldn't quite place. "So, I guess the devil himself decided t' show up after all..."
"Fuckin' Ripper."
"Hello, Hiruma. Charming as always, I see."
The owner of the voice belonged to this "Ripper" man, who looked like some elfin forest creature from those fantasy books she sometimes liked to read. Taller than even Hiruma, but well-built, and with a head full of shocking, pure white hair that covered his left eye. The other eye, the one that was visible, had that vibrant shade of intense green she has only seen on one other person. And that person was currently staring right back at the new arrival.
"Th' name's Adam. Adam Muirhead." He shook her hand briefly. "Don't tell me yeh actually brought a date. So, what'd he threaten you with, Miss?"
"Mamori. I'm Mamori Anezaki. And, actually, Hiruma-kun didn't... blackmail me or anything. I'm just the manager for our school's American football team, and he's the captain, so-"
A single white brow raised in disbelief. "Really? Well, yeh might just prove everyone wrong yet, demon."
"Says the virgin who didn't even tell his girlfriend about that concealed knife you're carrying in your inner left jacket pocket." Of course Hiruma would never miss a beat to take advantage of whatever dirty little secret he had on everyone. Even his own relatives.
"Oy! Watch yer tongue, lest I cut it out the next time we meet..."
"A-ano, Adam-san? Who is... this?" All heads turned to the petite brunette who approached them, looking very much uncomfortable in her formalwear. Mamori could tell right away that this girl must be Adam's girlfriend.
"Oh. Uh, Hiruma. Yoichi Hiruma; an' this is Sio Ogura. I think he's my cousin... or somethin' like that."
"Technically, I'm your mother's cousin's brother-in-law's great-great-great Aunt's youngest nephew's brother by their second marriage but once-removed after she drowned her husband and then attempted to kill herself and is currently in an asylum. But sure, cousins, right?"
The two could only blink at him as Mamori giggled slightly. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid he's always like this. Don't worry, though, he's really not as bad as he seems." She offered the smaller girl a kind smile; the poor thing seemed rather shy at all of the attention. "I'm Anezaki Mamori. You can just call me Mamori-san, though, Ogura-san."
"O-Oh...okay..." She nodded shyly before attempting to hide herself behind the taller man again.
Hiruma, meanwhile, was busy creating and popping bubbles (seriously, where did he keep getting the gum? She didn't even hear him unwrap it!). He then snatched a glass from one of the trays. "Gotta say, you sure know how to choose them, Fuckin' Ripper. No tits, not much of an ass... but I'll give you points for the legs."
The poor girl turned about five shades of red while the taller man looked like he was about decapitate Hiruma with nothing more than his glare. "Watch yer mouth, Hiruma... yeh know I won't hold back any more than you would..."
"HIRUMA! For goodness sake, behave!" She gave his ear a hard jerk, which earned her a glare as scary as the one coming from Adam to Hiruma. "I'm serious! If you really don't want to be here, then just say so! Don't go around tormenting your poor relations just to make a point!" To her surprise, the other man gave a low chuckle.
"Don't trouble yourself, Miss Anezaki. I think outta everyone, we're probably two that get along the best. Or at least, are on the same wavelength. Anyway, surprised t' see you here, so at least try and an' enjoy yourself, maybe?" He gave Ogura-san a small pat on the head, which was obviously a signal of some sort, for she startled, bowed and stuttered about how nice it was to meet them, before scurrying back to the taller man's side.
"Well, good to see your relations have better manners than you, Hiruma-kun." He only glanced at her once, clearly still smarting over his ear. "They were actually pretty sweet; especially Ogura-san, the poor girl..."
"What, don't tell me you'd rather have me be all mushy and all that stupid lovey-dovey shit – can you believe the guy's still a fuckin' virgin?"
She pouted those full lips and she could tell he felt a little sorry – or at least: a little more subdued. "Now, now, Hiruma-kun. You know as well as I do that I didn't start going out with you for your gentlemanly qualities." She tapped his nose and he growled. "You are Yoichi Hiruma, the devil's control tower, quarterback and leader of the Deimon Devil Bats and-" her words were cut off by a sudden, deep kiss. They were barely aware of being in full-view of anyone who walked by.
"Damn straight, Fuckin' Manager." He licked his lips and the tips of his fangs showed just slightly through that smirk.
Mamori couldn't help but feel very warm inside. Perhaps Hiruma shared some of his cousin's qualities just a little bit, after all.