I'm so slow with this story while I think my writing speed with 'To KHR's World' kinda multipled (not really)... I'm just so evil XD But 'To KHR's World' also had a month void of updates (one word: beta)! So it's fair! (err... not?)

This is still just corretions so far. Because youkomazuki did her/his work too good XD

POLL ALERT! POLL ALERT! Vote for your fav MALE KHR character! (I know you're gonna vote for Hibari! ...Because you're reading this? I mean, this is a Hibari story. But my love shall be Tsuna forever XDDD)

Ch.2 - Time Slip

I coughed at irritation caused by the smoke, my eyes were closed tightly. My muscles were tensed as I waited for the impact my eyes foresaw.

I stared into the darkness beneath my eyelids…but nothing came.

A couple of seconds must have passed and the smoke seems to have gone away, relieving me from my coughs but I still couldn't feel anything…aside from something weightlessly rested on top of my head.

I slowly opened my eyes and reached over my head to pull down a page of the documents Kusakabe-san gave me.

"What was that…?" I mumbled confusedly, my eyes scanning over the nicely printed words over the snow-white page meaninglessly as I wondered what was the meaning of the explosion.

Then…something touched me.

Something chilling…like ice – it brushed against my cheek slightly.

I immediately yelped in surprise at the foreign and uncomfortable feeling. My hands fell to my laps heavily, removing the paper that had been blocking my view. Then I suddenly noticed the soft but kind of firm object my head was leaning on.

When I looked up for the first time, I met a pair of metallic eyes.

The pair of familiar dark eyes was sucking away my soul.

I parted my mouth in a surprised gasp.

Hibari-san?

I wanted to say, but my voice was stuck within my throat.

I stared at the face before me.

No…he's not…

He's not that Hibari-san…

I stared into those eyes and found my own reflection.

This person…he's…

"Hibari…san…" My voice came out in a soft, quiet whisper. I flinched when the cold object against my cheek suddenly moved. My eyelids slid half way down my eyes, stopping when I felt my eyelash brushing against the cool finger resting upon my cheek.

I felt the warmth drained from my veins, as though absorbed by that unnaturally chilling hand. When my eyes fell lower, I nearly broke out a gasp when discovering myself somehow sitting rudely in his lap. I fell in a daze until I finally became conscious of the situation and the lost heat immediately rushed back up my face, multiplying by a few times.

"I'm so sorry!" I quickly scurried away from his arms, only to end up tripping over and scrapping my knees against the rough surface of the tatami. I could feel my face to heat up further from the embarrassment. I slowly glanced around…finding myself in a familiar Japanese style room.

"U-um…" I mumbled softly as I nervously glanced back to him. "I–…I'm sorry." I quickly apologized and bowed down. I didn't know if I apologized for intruding on him or something else…but I just felt as though I had to say it.

"My name is Shirayuki Suzume," I quickly introduced myself. I knew he already knew my name, but the guilt of never properly introducing myself to my savior left a thorn in my chest. "Last time…thank you so much for everything, Hibari-san…!" Even though I couldn't make sense of anything that happened, all I knew was to thank this man sitting before me.

I stared at the tatami for a long while before Hibari-san finally spoke.

"The paper," Those two short words flowed out of his lips.

I blinked, unable to understand him until I noticed the document crumbled in my hand. I nearly screamed as I jerked up. Color was drained from my face as I stared at the document crushed under the pressure of my hand.

Hibari-san…is going to kill me if he finds out.

"You've changed," the sudden comment made me stopped from trying to smooth out the wrinkles from the page and glanced up to Hibari-san who was now on his feet. He walked around me and slid open the shoji. The soft morning light gently spilled into the room and peeled away the darkness.

Unfortunately, I failed to notice the beautiful morning light.

My eyes were unconsciously led to Hibari-san's face. Since he was standing directly against the light, a layer of shadow engulfed him. I could only make out his silhouette, but…

'What is this…?' I found myself asking quietly in my mind as I felt a small pang to my heart.

I didn't know what…but something's definitely not right.

The Hibari-san right now seemed…a little different. Or at least, different than when I last saw him.

"Suzu," Knowing that I was being called, I quickly snapped out of my daze. Only to see Hibari-san facing my direction. Although he didn't instructed me clearly, I got this feeling he wanted me to go over to him, so I did.

Once I stepped out into the light, my eyes slowly trailed to the garden under the bright blue sky. The sun warmed up my body.

It was just like last time…
It was exactly the same.
I've arrived to a foreign place when in reality I should still be in the reception room.

Silently, Hibari-san turned and began walking down the hall. I followed quietly behind him, holding a five step distance between us.

As we walked, I couldn't help but stared at the garden to my right. I parted my lips to speak, but quickly sealed them again. I exhaled softly and kept the endless sea of questions within me. I rudely intruded on him and bothered him…there was no way I could find myself the right to ask anything.

After making our way down to the near the end of the hall, Hibari-san stopped before another pair of shoji.

His fingers gently brushed by the handle. With an effortless push, the shoji slid open with seemingly more force than Hibari-san had applied.

"This will be your room," He said shortly as he stepped through the doorway, motioning for me to come in too. But I paused and stared at the interior of the room which was lit by the sunlight.

It was beautiful.

Unlike the previous room I was in, this one seemed rather new. The tatami and the furniture…everything was sparkling clean without a single scratch or dust on it. The traditional style of this room had a homey feeling but I was clear that this is not my home.

"…Eh?" I spoke after a long pause, finally realizing what Hibari-san had just said.

Hibari-san turned. He came up to me and grabbed my shoulder suddenly. With a slightly forceful pull, I tumbled forward and stepped into the room.

"From now on, you will stay in here," He said without any clear emotion behind me.

A flicker of light suddenly beamed down my head. I snapped my eyes upwards, realizing that it was only the light being turned on.

"Umm–" By the time I turned around, the shoji has already been shut, sealing off the sunlight from me.

I quickly glanced around the room, unable to see another being's presence.

"Hibari-san…?" I gasped in surprise, not being used to be alone in this foreign place. I quickly pulled open the shoji as I stepped back into the hall.

I stared to my right, then to my left…but there was no one.

There was no sign of Hibari-san.

"What…?" I whispered softly, quickly trying to think how this happened. What did he meant by staying in the room?

I looked back to the room nervously.

I stood outside and waited for minutes, but there was still no sign of anyone. It didn't feel as though anyone would come either.

After a long while of hesitation, I decided to see if I could find anyone. I knew it would be rude to wander in other people's home, but I didn't know what else to do. I carefully closed the shoji before I slowly began walking down the hall in a direction my body chose randomly.

I slowly glanced around, feeling myself suffocating within the eerie silence. There was no sound, not even the sound of leaves rustling despite having quite a number of plants around the place.

I didn't know how long I've walked for, but eventually, the scenery drastically changed. My eyes wandered, feeling slightly pressured by the sudden change in the environment.

There were no greeneries, no sunlight and no sky.

I seem to have walked into the deep part of the huge Japanese house. My footsteps against the tatami silently echoed throughout the dark hallway. The atmosphere was giving off an unpleasing feeling that greatly contrasted that beautiful and elegant Japanese style garden.

With each step I took, my footsteps came down heavily and echoed through the quiet hall.

I didn't know if it was my imagination…but every other second or so, I thought I heard a strange noise.

After some time, I finally stopped and panted from the exhaustion of walking. I looked back into the darkness of the hall while wondering if I had gone too far.

"Gyahahaha!"

I flinched at the sudden voice that had just echoed down the hall. '…What was that?' I thought and quickly looked around.

Just now…what was–?

"…Ugh!" I gasped as a sudden pain pricked my chest. I held my breath as my legs quivered. I stumbled, quickly leaning my weight to the wall as I carefully exhaled.

The pain slowly vanished…

I breathed carefully, afraid that if I breathe too hard, the pain would return.

"Suzume-san!"

I nearly yelped at the voice that suddenly yelled out my name. 'That voice's…' I lifted my gaze and slowly turned to see Kusakabe-san not far down the hall. "Kusakabe-san…?" I gasped softly as the man rushed up to me.

When I stared at him, I couldn't help but see him as the Kusakabe-san from the Disciplinary Committee. But... is he really the same person?

"I've finally found you." Kusakabe-san said in relief. It was then when I realized, that my disappearance had made Kusakabe-san look for me.

"I'm sorry…I'm really–" when I saw the look upon Kusakabe-san's face, the familiar atmosphere that he gave off made me forget what I was going to say. That image of Hibari-san's silhouette flashed back into my mind.

It then dawned me...what was different. I stared at that strange gaze Kusakabe-san was directing at me with.

It was this kind of gaze.

That time…hidden under the shadow, Hibari-san was staring with this kind of gaze.

I shifted uncomfortably as I stared at the man before me. "U-umm…Kusakabe-san?"

At my voice, Kusakabe-san seemed to have snapped out from something. The previous trace of emotion vanished from his eyes.

"You shouldn't wander around here," he continued where he left off. "Let's go back. Hibari-san is worried."

I stared at him. Unable to trust my voice, I replied to him with a simple nod. Kusakabe-san smiled before turning around and began leading me back to where I came from. I looked up silently and stared at Kusakabe-san's back as we walked.

Even though there was someone here…I felt the atmosphere grow heavier than when I was alone.

But even so, I didn't say anything.

I couldn't.

For some reason, I felt too afraid to speak.

"…!" I inhaled sharply as I felt my heart pound against my ribcages. The sound of each intake of my breath resonated within my eardrums. I tumbled onto my knees, my eyes watered as I clenched onto my chest, where the pain was seeping from.

"Suzume-san!" Kusakabe-san was kneeling before me, calling my name.

I tried to speak, but I couldn't respond. The pain was squeezing around my throat, choking me to even breathe, let alone speaking.

"Aah!" I screamed as something warm shot out from my throat and dripped down the corner of my lips. I recognized it…this coppery taste that swirled around my tongue.

"Hang on, Suzume-san." Kusakabe-san pulled me towards him, but quickly stopped when I felt something like a blanket fall over me. I gasped for breath as shadows fell over my eyes.

I stared into the darkness.

I felt a pair of arms wrap around me from behind as Kusakabe-san's grip slipped away. With a pull, my feet were lifted from the ground and I was surprised at the sudden lost of gravity. The sound of footsteps synchronized with my heavy pants. A breeze of wind gently brushed against me within this sealed, underground maze.

Another strike of pain pierced my heart like blade. My head threw back as the sound of my scream vibrated against the wall.

Struggling against the pain, my hands reflectively reached out to grab something...anything for comfort. I felt something came in contact with my hand...and without thinking, I clutched onto it. More droplets of tears ran down my cheeks. My body began to grow numb, tired from the constant coughs.

My eyelids fell over my eyes...or maybe my eyes were already closed.

I didn't know which.

I leaned my head closer to the warmth, the only comfort I could seek as I clenched my teeth and swallowed back another wave of pain, the familiar copper taste slowly came to presence.

This warmth…

If I remember correctly, this warmth is…

I still think I'm evil... almost as evil as a pineapple... ALMOST. And I still have yet to feel comfortable with this story.

P.S. I just discovered another problem with this story... I CAN'T THINK OF COOL TIME RELATED NAMES!

Bloodstained Fantasy