IceSpirit: I dedicate this chapter to all my readers especially midd. Thank you everyone for your patience and honesty in all your reviews. I hope to develop this story better along the way. 8018 officially starts here. :) Italics signify flashbacks.
Edited June 7, 2010 – I just added some trivial notes at the end.
TIES
chapter III
"Kyo-san, here's your tea." Kusakabe politely said as he set down the tea cup on the table beside Hibari. The other didn't utter any word.
"Kyo-san, about earlier-,"
"I don't mind. Leave."
Kusakabe need not be told twice. He bowed and left the room.
It was a quiet night. Hibari gazed at the zen garden just outside his office with the smell of freshly brewed tea wafting through the air. He has a lot of things in his mind despite the uneventful day that passed. If others could hear his thoughts, they would most likely say that he's confused.
But Hibari Kyoya does not get confused. Confusion means that there's disorder. Disorder means the absence of discipline. And nobody is more passionate about discipline than him.
No, he's not confused. He just has a lot to think about.
Yamamoto Takeshi.
Images of the forever-grinning, sheepskin-covered wolf invaded HIbari's thoughts.
Such masquerade makes him so angry.
But getting angry would equate him to being rendered helpless. Helplessness is only for herbivores.
He hates it.
Fine, it irritates him.
Damn.
His grip on the teacup tightened for a moment before he relaxed and lifted his hands from the warm object to his chest.
Much as he wanted to deny it, Yamamoto Takeshi is the only one capable of bringing disorder to his thoughts. And to think it's been over a year now since that time.
"I like you Hibari. I really do. If I die today, I'm happy that I told you."
Violet eyes widened in surprise as he supported the gravely injured Rain Guardian. He immediately regained his composure, feeling the other's warm blood soaking his own suit.
They continued heading out of the Gesso base, occasionally knocking out persistent Gesso underlings. Today marked the decisive battle between Byakuran and Sawada Tsunayoshi. Based from their previous trip to the future, the Vongola acted to defeat Byakuran and his attempt of assimilating the other mafia families for him to take over.
"Shut up. You're delirious, herbivore."
Yamamoto Takeshi coughed, red liquid trickling from his mouth, in his attempt to let out a laugh. His entire body was battered and bloodied, it hurts.
"I'm not delirious. Ouch, please be a bit gentle, sempai."
They were almost near the exit. Gesso's been defeated along with Byakuran. But it was not without a price for Vongola. Such as the life of their Rain Guardian was hanging by a thread.
"It's your fault for getting beaten up like that."
"I saw Zakuro launch an attack on you," Yamamoto once again coughed out blood, " while you were fighting with Kikyo."
"I didn't ask for your protection." Hibari focused on hurrying out of the building and bring the swordsman to paramedics. He knew that reinforcements had been called and were already positioned outside the Gesso compound. He almost half-dragged the wounded man in an attempt to speed up their pace. Any longer, Yamamoto might just die in his hands and Hibari might take the mindless babbling of the other man a bit seriously.
"But I told you," cough, "I like you, Hibari. I want to save you. I can't let you die." Yamamoto can feel his body giving out, the surroundings kept growing colder and colder. He could barely see the path. What's keeping him awake was the sound of Hibari's smooth, firm voice.
"Herbivore." Much as he wanted the other to keep silent, he knew that having the other man awake is better.
"I really love you Hibari," Yamamoto struggled to breathe, "don't cry on my funeral. If I had known," cough, "I would have told you sooner."
"Hibari-san, we'll take it from here. Please let the other paramedics see to your injuries." Three Vongola paramedics rushed to Yamamoto's aide. They laid him on the wheeled cot, performing preliminary treatment to his wounds and attaching life support equipments. Hibari just watched as they brought him into the ambulance. He continued watching even after the vehicle came out of sight, Yamamoto's words still ringing in his ear.
'Idiot.'
For weeks, Yamamoto Takeshi remained unconscious. Amongst all the guardians, he was the only one who suffered great injury. Shamal said that he was lucky. Any more blood loss, he could have died on the spot, he said. But there's no certainty as to when he'll wake up for some of his vital organs had been injured as well.
Hibari didn't say anything when people asked as to how Yamamoto came to such a state. He ignored Gokudera's ranting about the said Rain Guardian – him being stupid, careless and making the Tenth worry. A single question kept running in his thoughts.
'Why?'
Without thinking, he would drop-by Yamamoto's recovery room early in the morning every day, when no one's around. Whether it was his pride or his conscience, he did not bother himself with those things. He still finds the blood of his victims on his tonfas or suit entertaining. But whenever he remembers the warmth of Yamamoto's blood soaking his skin, he feels some unexplainable discomfort within him.
"Here again so early in the morning, I see."
Reborn suddenly appeared in the recovery room during one of Hibari's visits. He didn't bother respond to the former arcobaleno's comment. After a quick glance at the still lifeless man, Hibari turned to leave.
"Is this remorse for his act of saving you?"
Hibari stopped in his tracks, his back facing the other hitman.
"I don't remember asking him for assistance."
"If he didn't take that blow for you, it would be you lying unconscious right now."
No response.
"Yamamoto did it because he wanted to."
With that, Reborn walked past Hibari and left the room.
Hibari didn't see Reborn again during his succeeding visits to the Rain Guardian. Yet he kept in mind what the arcobaleno said before. Yamamoto Takeshi is the most likely strongest and skilled fighter on earth who will stupidly rush to the aid of others without thinking about the consequences.
His morning stopover to Yamamoto's recovery room has somewhat become a habit that it slightly surprised Hibari when he found the previously unconscious swordsman sitting on the bed, watching a baseball game replay.
The recovering man was also shocked to see the Cloud Guardian. "Hibari."
"You're awake."
"Ah, haha, yeah. I regained my consciousness late last night." Yamamoto blushed.
"Then, I'm leaving."
"Hibari, wait-!" Yamamoto called out, jerking his body along the process, "Ow, ow, ow."
Hibari looked at him, waiting with a bored expression on his face. Yamamoto, still in pain, hesitated a bit. Then he turned serious.
"I was not in the state of delirium. Everything I said back then, I meant it. I still do."
Hibari turned to leave.
"You annoy me, Yamamoto Takeshi."
-o-
"Figured you'll be here."
"What the hell are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your kid?" Gokudera inhaled from his cigarette as Yamamoto sat on the stool next to his and leaned on the bar. The storm guardian motioned the bottle of whiskey towards the other man, a silent offer which Yamamoto declined. "Tch."
"Haru-san and Kyoko-san volunteered to take care of Tsuki for now."
For some time, only the occasional clinking of ice on glass and exhalation of smoke filled the room. Finally, Gokudera broke the silence as he disposed his cigarette butt on the ashtray.
"What game are you playing now?"
"Huh?" Yamamoto gave him a slightly confused look.
"I know you can be an idiot sometimes but, to play house at this age."
It finally registered to the swordsman what his comrade was talking about. He laughed albeit obviously forced.
"I just needed someone to take care of her earlier. I have no idea how Tsukina came to Hibari. She was supposed to be with Kusakabe-san. "
Gokudera raised a silver eyebrow at Yamamoto while lighting a new cigarette.
"It's true." Yamamoto defended himself.
"Well, whatever. It seemed like playing house. Your precious 'wife' almost killed me."
Yamamoto blushed. Gokudera removed the cigarette from his mouth and turned to the man beside him.
"What? You're too obvious."
"It's not like that." Yamamoto laughed though pain was evident in his face. He laid his head on his hand and continued laughing. Gokudera resumed smoking.
"He rejected you? It's Hibari, what were you expecting. Stupid."
"He didn't really say anything like that."
Gokudera's mouth fell open, causing his cigarette to land on the bar table. He immediately pursed his mouth when he recovered.
"You actually told him." He was initially just messing with Yamamoto. Apparently, it was true.
The Rain Guardian just nodded his head in reply.
"That's really beyond stupid."
"I thought that it was my last chance," Yamamoto played with Gokudera's whiskey glass, "I didn't want to die with regrets."
"And you expect him to go touchy-feely on you? Does he even swing that way? Tch."
"I don't know."
"That's just you. Not thinking."
Gokudera lighted a new cigarette stick.
"And he actually listened to your babbling? I'm supposing that he hit you with his tonfa afterwards?"
"He listened because he thought I was going delirious." Yamamoto laid his head on the bar, "I don't know. When I see Hibari, I can't really think because my heart would go beat fast. I get this urge of wanting to touch him, even for just a second. His eyes hold this intensity that draws me in. The mystery surrounding him fascinates me. He has this dangerous yet delicate air around him. And when I saw him with Tsukina earlier, I felt really happy."
Gokudera fell silent. Everything the slouching man beside him said spoke magnitudes. Yamamoto has it bad.
"If that guy hears you talking about him like that, you'll get really bitten to deathimmediately. Kindly limit your stupidity at a minimum. You've got a kid now. Be responsible."
Yamamoto laughed. "I told you, he didn't hit me. I was dying then."
"I'm impressed," Gokudera puffed out some smoke, "I imagined him like those homicidal people in movies who goes on a rampage when they see so much blood."
"Haha I don't think he's like that."
"Like I would know that."
"He's kind to Tsukina."
"Hibari is a violent bastard but I suppose he's human enough not to hurt a kid."
"Haha, you're right."
"Where did you even get that name for her, some weird family tradition or something?" Gokudera asked with a bored tone before grabbing his glass from Yamamoto and drank some of his whiskey.
"Nah, did it seem that way? I named her 'Tsukina' because I found her under the moon surrounded by trees*. Haha, I didn't realize that. Maybe my old man will be pleased if he finds out that I named his granddaughter that way."
"That is if he doesn't die from shock because of you having a kid in the first place."
"Don't be like that." Yamamoto suddenly turned solemn. Gokudera realized his mistake a little too late. In a different future, Yamamoto saw his father die as a victim of Byakuran's quest for absolute power.
"Che, don't sulk on me. Work harder then, so you can protect them."
Yamamoto grinned. "I'm not sulking."
"Good. Now go away. You are disturbing me. We've got work tomorrow. You better focus."
"Haha, okay. I'll go fetch Tsuki then. Maybe I'll introduce you to her sometime soon," Yamamoto got up from his stool and started heading out of the recreation room, "Don't smoke too much. You're going to kill yourself."
"Che."
-o-
"Maa… it's been only a day since we met but I felt like I missed you Tsukina-chan," Yamamoto remarked as he cuddled baby Tsukina to sleep. He simply smiled, not expecting any reply, and continued walking around his room while holding the child.
He suddenly stopped walking around, sat on the edge of his bed and glanced down at the now sleeping figure in his arms.
"Ne, Tsuki-chan… you know, I feel kind of envious. You got to spend time with Hibari today right? I really want to get closer to him too," Yamamoto smiled bitterly as he gently laid down Tsukina.
"But I guess I already messed up. What should I do?"
*The name Tsukina, in this case, is written with the Kanji characters for moon (tsuki) and vegetation (na). It was by chance that her name starts with the letter 't' as well. I initially thought about using the name 'Mori' which means 'forest' but where's the fun in that?
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