Rhage: My beloved readers, a new short has been added to our Short Series: Al Dente. Please enjoy Surrender.

The door to his office swung open with a soft squeak, revealing the dark interior. Hibari's eyes flicked across the familiar shapes: the sitting area with its leather chairs and low coffee table, the potted trees that flanked the back wall, and his desk. He stared at its neat top, the thoughts whirling in his head; there wasn't a piece of paperwork in sight.

"Good morning, sir." Hibari didn't turn at the sound of his second's voice. Kusakabe waited patiently while Hibari took one last long look around the room before stepping inside. The lights flared as Kusakabe followed, flicking the switches then moving towards the back wall to pull the drapes. Hibari paused in front of his desk and looked down. The toes of his shoes rested behind the faint line drawn on the dark blue carpet. Something cold swirled in his stomach. The metallic hiss of the curtains sliding along the rail stole his attention and he looked up. Kusakabe tied the curtains with their sashes then stepped away from the window; turning to face his boss. Their eyes locked across the desk and it took Kusakabe only seconds to see what wasn't right. He moved quickly from behind the desk, but Hibari's eyes, sharp and wide, followed him.

"What's going on?" Hibari asked quietly and was grudgingly grateful when Kusakabe understood all the emotions and meaning behind his simple question.

Kusakabe clasped his hands behind his back as he drew even with Hibari. "News of your injuries and brief disappearance," his eyes flicked away and back quickly, "spread which led to several small disputes with other schools. They were contained easily until your continued absence on the streets gave them the courage to challenge our hold. Many of our newest recruits defected, leaving our ranks dangerously thin.

Taka-san, upon hearing of the desertion, was not pleased." The edges of his mouth twitched as he remembered how she'd voiced her anger. "Several days later, our defectors returned," another twitch worked at his lips, "and Taka-san was kind enough to offer me the use of her free time so that I would be able to devote my attention to keeping the Committee running smoothly." He gave Hibari a slight smile. "She has been a great asset, sir."

A sharp tap on the glass behind the desk drew their attention from each other to the window where a swallow fluttered back and forth, its beak jabbing at the glass. Its delicate claws were clenched around something small. Kusakabe moved quickly to pull the window back on its track and the small bird darted in to circle the room, drop its bundle on the desk, then slip back through the opening and into the sky. Hibari reached out and plucked the small roll of paper from the maroon blotter. It weighed more than he had anticipated but as he unrolled it, he found out why. A ring tumbled into his palm as he read the words written on the scrap of paper.

Welcome to the family.

Hibari lifted the ring to inspect it all the while trying to ignore the anticipation tightening his gut.

It was obvious that she's spotted him the second she'd stepped from the dojo. Her chin tilted up defiantly as she watched every step he made until he stood before her. They watched each other in silence and Hibari found himself wondering, while he took in her wide stance and cold gaze, what had happened to turn her into him. Had it been the words he'd said or was it the duties he'd shirked?

"What do you want?" she snapped finally and anger flashed through him.

"Watch your tone, herbivore," he growled stepping closer.

Taka didn't back down, her lips curling into a sneer. "I have more important things to do than stand here and talk to you." She started to turn away only to freeze when Hibari's fingers closed around her wrist. She yanked at her hand. "Let go," she snarled, her words as cold as the glare she leveled on him.

"Shut up." Hibari pushed her against the brick front of the dojo, meeting her resistance with his own as she struggled against his chest and under his hands

"Let go of me, you ass!" She freed a hand and swung at him. He caught it then pinned her arm above her head. "You have no right-"

He held her to the bricks with his body then dropped his mouth to her ear. "Shut up," he took a deep breath, "and listen."

She didn't relax as she glared up at him then finally growled: "What?"

Hibari closed his eyes as he pressed his cheek to hers. "Forgive me," he whispered then released her, the back of his neck hot.

"I shouldn't," Taka said quietly as she looked up at him, her features softening. His fists clenched hard, his nails biting his palms until he forced his hands to relax. His eyes dropped from her face when he slowly lowered his head. She kept silent at his display. Heat licking across his cheeks, Hibari was about to straighten when she moved forward and he felt the warmth of her breath when she brushed her lips against his hair. "I really shouldn't," she said sadly, her fingertips brushing through the sensitive hairs at the back of his neck.

Hibari looked up to see the shadow of pain in her dark eyes before she turned away, her steps silent on the sidewalk.

Heli: Random Fact Two: Hibari was not the first KHR character we wanted to write for. Takeshi's, The Wind and Rain, was supposed to be first. W+R has been started and scrapped three times because the OC scares me...