Please do not bother yourself with the chronological order. I, myself, got confused. So don't. Either way, this should be like my previous entry, Random Thoughts, where in most of the chapters are random but unlike that entry, the chapters here happen in the same universe and timeline. Just think of it as several 100-liners being put into a single chapter. C:

I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn!


The Wall You Call Apathy

-Inescapable Dream-

"Kyoya, keep quiet just like when I spank you when you've done something bad. Right now you are weak, that's why I'm protecting you."

"But Daddy…"

"No buts… he's coming back, Kyoya. Remember, Father and Mother loves you very much. And keep your promise."

The last whisper Hibari heard during that harrowing night always haunted him in his dreams. Nightmares that show a man dying on top of him. The slayer running a blade through both of them, cutting through the young one's flesh; its cold steel lingers still in his nerves.

Every time he wakes, he is covered in sweat, heaving and throat sore like he shouted for an hour. There was but a scar, a grim reminder of the past that drives him to the future.

-Match Maker-

"Good morning, Kyo," Fon greeted as the last plate had been set down. Even with his small body he could still cook, but wary spicy food. "Eat your breakfast so you can go to school."

"Baby," the younger copy started and was happy that breakfast had red meat, "Stop playing the matchmaker."

"Your parents did spoil you, didn't they? What will I ever do about you being ungrateful?"

"All I'm saying is that it's futile. So stop trying."

A crease could be seen on Fon's brows and he couldn't help but feel pity for the boy. "You do realize that she's a pretty girl, no? A lot of boys are flocking to her."

"I don't care."

"Of course, you do. If you haven't that fear—" but a hand with a pair of chopsticks and covered with a purple aura, slammed on the table so hard that Fon jumped off to the kitchen counter in fear of it breaking.

"Shut up."

Fon laughed at his ignorance. "This is where you will see how brave you are. For courage is defeating your fear." The words sunk to the young boy although a bit slow. The arcobaleno was more than happy to be understood. The notion of winning is the best motivation for the boy. He is, after all, quite the ambitious one, saying that he would be the strongest. "By the way, we have to brush up on your blackmailing skills. I'm sure you've read that message from the other clan, yes?"

The boy nodded in between putting food in his mouth and chewing.

-Amends-

That day, the Disciplinary Committee Chairman was ticking like a time bomb, with extra violence on the side. The slightest mistakes from others would render him in a rampage. His recent defeat by the Kokuyo gang leader must have spurred this and the rumors of it were not being taken lightly. Because of this, a lot of the delinquents that had no affiliation with him had started to openly offend his sense of order and authority. But they can't defeat Hibari Kyoya. His defeat was an exception if not a miracle.

That and the exams had just finished and his name wasn't on the top of the list. Yes, that's right. Hibari Kyoya was actually an honor student despite his actions. Though he reasons that memorization can be done by anyone. And that 'anyone' had removed him from his throne. Fortunately for that someone, academics is not about brute strength, otherwise Hibari would be undefeatable and would plow his way through like a demolition machine.

As for I-pin, she did great on the exams. She might not have the first place but she's really happy that all the studying paid off and had given her better grades. That's a thing off of her mind.

Lunch break finally came after long hours of waiting and I-pin couldn't decide if she was excited or nervous about what she was about to do. So nervous that she had Lambo escort her through the school, all the while holding on to his sleeve like it was her lifeline. Finally in front of her destination and with Lambo gone to flirt with some random girl, she stood behind the door to Yamamoto's class. From outside she could hear his classmates having fun.

She reluctantly slid the door open and all eyes fell on her, except for a pair staring out the window.

"Yamamoto-senpai," I-pin called to him, hoping that he's polite enough to look at her and reject her, rather than ignore her completely.

The boy however was more than surprised to see her. Apparently, he too thought that she would ignore him. But the fact that the person he wanted to see was there to see him made his day.

"I thought you hated me," the athlete said as they walked through the hallway that was littered with students.

The discomfort that the both of them were expecting from each other was brought about the fact that Yamamoto wasn't able to meet her for their game. He was stuck in Kokuyo Land to fight the gang of that turf and he still has his forearm bandaged because of a "dog bite." It was very uncharacteristic of him to be shy towards a person but he was terribly so in front of I-pin when they met the following school day. And since Yamamoto was feeling such discomfort, I-pin thought that it would be better to leave him for a while.

I-pin shook her head. How can somebody be angry at someone as nice as Yamamoto? Sure, the guys can be jealous at him with all the talents he has, mind you the grades, but be angry at him? She thinks it's incredulous. "I think that's impossible."

"What are you trying to say now?" with a grin, he spoke with such high hopes. But beware high hopes.

"What I'm trying to say is that it's hard to hate somebody nice like you," although she could also mean that I really like you from the bottom of my heart but I can't seem to understand why it's not growing.

"Oh," disappointment evident in his features, Yamamoto looked the opposite way and scratched at his nape. "I was expecting some other answer but… oh well. I'm just glad you're not angry at me anymore!" and a very bright smile appeared on his lips.

I-pin smiled as well and thought up something cheeky, "I think we should call that smile of yours as Yamamoto Beam," running and laughing, she went down the stairs to meet up with Tsuna and the others, only to encounter the most vicious carnivore that there is in Naminori.

Hibari took out his tonfas and prepared to punish I-pin, "Running in the hallways is prohibited!" only to be smashed on the head with a kick from the baby Fon. From wherever he came from though, it's a big mystery.

Witnessing the rather embarrassing scene, instead of caring about her impending punishment, I-pin showed what guts she had by approaching the Chairman, "Hibari-san, are you alright?" She was genuinely concerned since the young Chairman wasn't raising his head to grit his teeth and say something 'I'll bite you to death' amongst others.

After a few seconds of brewing in his own anger, Hibari finally spoke thourgh clenched jaws, "I'm going to bite you to death…" but he stopped on his tracks by whatever means. His eyes trailed up, glaring at the identical eyes staring at him upside-down, his hair being subtly and painfully pulled. But then Fon turned to I-pin, acting like a real baby.

"Nee-chan, I'm glad to see you again! Can we play?" Fon said as students started to congregate because of the ruckus.

Unsure of what to do, I-pin looked at Yamamoto for answers and then at the lunch she made that he held. The answer is pretty obvious. "Yamamoto-senpai," she pleaded. Just when they get the chance to talk after the long and awkward disconnect, she suddenly got a request from an arcobaleno, her Master no less.

But Yamamoto shook his head, "If I win against Hibari-senpai, would you let me play with I-pin, Fon-chan?" he challenged.

Hibari laughed. Yes, he laughed but more on the lines of a grunt. "Really? You're over your head, herbivore."

"We'll see about that."

-Hate or Fear?-

"NO," was the flat answer by Hibari when he was informed by Fon that their next client is hosting a party and he has to be there WITH a date. "Why am I even attending that? I can't even drink since I'm under-aged!" He roared walking through the apartment and kept on moving all the while avoiding Fon's knowing gaze.

"It's the crowd, isn't it?"

"OF COURSE IT IS! YOU KNOW I HATE CROWDS. THOSE PUNY HERBIVORES." Hibari curled his fingers in a teeth-gritting anger, seething and growling. "AND WHY ARE YOU EVEN ASKING WHEN YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER?"

"It is because I do not like being presumptuous. Now calm down boy, so we can get this over with." A baby talking sense into a teenager, if someone saw it, it would have been hilarious, on the price of the teenager suffering a major ego drop.

But even if the adult-in-baby-body couldn't appease the rampaging Hibari. "I WILL NOT CROWD!" he shouted and the boy got out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

Fon shook his head, "What should I do about him?"

-Star-struck-

Sword unsheathed from its cloth casing, Yamamoto raised it ready whilst Hibari was simmering in his own anger and anxiety and I-pin had taken upon herself to side with the former boy along with her Master Fon on the landing of the stairs.

The Chairman, for a minute lingered with his head down, as if thinking if he really wanted to battle. Another moment, he lunged at Yamamoto, taking two steps at a time, who then took his bamboo sword higher, posing like a hawk to dive at his prey, although with a sword.

But then the Chairman stopped halfway in his attack, prompting his opponent to also stop. The boy, Yamamoto, because of his momentum slipped and fell about four steps below, with no injuries, to which I-pin panicked.

"Yamamoto-senpai!" and was quick to the literally fallen boy's side. On her way, Fon jumped to Hibari's shoulder without the onlookers suspecting anything of him because they were too busy with the athlete's state. The identical duo then left without a word and without a witness.

Yamamoto brushed off any dust that could have gotten on his uniform. "I'm fine, I-pin. No need to worry. This is nothing compared to Kokuyo Land," and he smiled again as he put back his sword.

Then the audience applauded and praised that he was unscathed albeit the battle was short. The boy was starting to be a star and he'll be debuting in the coming baseball competition too. The young girl marveled at how the other students gathered around her friend who was offering everybody a smile brighter than any politician she has ever seen.

They got back to what they were about to do—meeting up with Tsuna and the others. The sentiments she had a few minutes ago, she couldn't brush off with a simple shake of the head. And she felt like it had to be said,

"Wow, I don't think I can keep up with that," I-pin spoke as she went down the stairs in a hurry. Because of the commotion they made, Tsuna and the others must be dying of hunger by then.

"With what?" Yamamoto was genuinely dumbfounded. The two exited the main building of the school and had turned left to the back of the school.

Rounding a corner and into a grassy field shaded by trees, I-pin couldn't help but left out, or better put star-struck, "I never thought you were popular," and waved at their friends who were very ready to eat.

"Well, I do think you are as well because I'm not the only one who says you're pretty," with a smile, the boy beat her to where their friends congregated and took a seat for himself, saving the spot beside him for I-pin, who is bright red like a stop light and unwilling to move.

Tsuna is uncharacteristically not dense whenever it was about Yamamoto and I-pin, "What did you tell her again?" and then raised a brow. Must be his brother complex working.

-Invitation-

After some time spending on her homework, which no longer was homework because she did it at school while waiting for the others, I-pin retired for the day and had put away her things as she was readying to go home. But before she could leave, a shadow appeared by the classroom's door. The young martial artist was quick to defend but the shade was not that dangerous.

"Master Fon!" I-pin was surprised to see her master alone. These days, him and the Chairman were inseparable. "What is it?" she inquired as she picked up the little child and into her arms.

"I need a favor: Kyoya needs a date for a ball," the baby spoke without delay and seemed at a hurry.

Feeling the urgency in his words, I-pin skipped her excitement about a date and put herself on business mode, "When is this?"

"Well, this coming weekend. I don't remember giving you missions so I hope you can cancel your activities with Tsuna and the others?"

I-pin thought about that long and hard. She and Yamamoto both agreed earlier that they would reschedule their batting game on the same day of the coming weekend. Hopefully the ball isn't on Saturday. "Is it on Saturday?"

"It is, Saturday night. I know this is sudden and that you and Kyoya aren't that close anymore," which incited a frown from the young girl, "But could you please help him? I was thinking that it would be easier for him because it's you since you know of the on goings in our little Underworld."

Still, I-pin isn't giving any answer. She could call it quits; being alone and waiting for someone who isn't coming made her feel stupid. Well, with her personality she wouldn't exactly do it but then again, Yamamoto was very excited about the rescheduling; she guessed it was her turn to burst bubbles. Or they can play before lunch and eat and then she could prepare for the ball.

"Alright, I'll do it," she said with a smile. But then again, "But I don't have anything…" and blushed.

"I'll take care of it. And I'll waiver you, if you're worrying about your parents." With such agreement, Fon left the girl to her previous activities.

-VARIA-

They had been planning for this small get together and they finally did it, being outside and enjoying their selves. Hanging out in some café, they were chatting amongst themselves when an explosion erupted not too far, unsettling the kids just sitting outside the establishment.

Gokudera kicked off the table that had flown over him, "What the!?" He was quick to remember his other friends but was glad to know that I-pin and Lambo had protected the other two girls with them.

Uneasy yet sure that it was the Mafia causing trouble again, I-pin put on a very troubled face despite being completely calm inside and then pulled the two dazed girls up to their feet. "Haru-san, Kyoko-san we should get out of here!" and supported Haru while Lambo carried Kyoko. As she struggled to carry her load, Yamamoto comes to help her, relief plastered on his face,

"I-pin, I'm glad you're alright," and once he carried Haru to a safer place, returned to Tsuna's side to help.

"Yamamoto-senpai!" The young girl tried to catch up to him, to help him, to protect him, but the words of her master rung in her head, like a terrible curse that incapacitated her and tied her to where she stood. Her body continued to try and move but it was like an unseen force stopped even the smallest of progress.

Lambo, who knew of her internal struggles, gave her a shoulder to cry on. And careful not to go overboard lest he wanted to be sliced from shoulder to hip by a very sharp katana or be pummeled by tonfas.

-Regret of not Helping-

I-pin hadn't heard from anyone after the incident in the café that they were staying at. She presumed that some big Mafia event happened again and she believed that it is not her business if they wouldn't tell her anything. So, she concentrated on her studies despite the persistent cold feeling in her stomach that she must be doing something for them.

Well, in a word, she was. She was to be Hibari's date for the coming Saturday. As it came to mind once again, the girl found it hard to return her focus on her subject. She yielded after a lot of different hairstyles started to flood her mind. Not only that but many different dresses came to her mind, too.

I wonder if Master has told Papa and Mama… Papa's being at home more recently. Does this have anything to do with CEDEF?

I-pin left her table to check out the living room since it is where Iemitsu lounges around when he's home. But she found no one.

I hope everyone's safe.

So she went back to her room. But something was amiss. And the angry voices behind her Tsuna-nii's door was enough proof. The uncomfortable aura came from there.

"I don't accept this!" She heard Tsuna shout, quite displeased of whatever was going on. I-pin didn't want to hear it because, as she thought before, they would tell her if they need to; they had sworn to be honest. So she left with heavy feet and brought herself back to her room to study again.

Getting back to her seat, she noticed that her phone was lit up and checked the buzzing thing out, and what she saw was a string of messages and missed calls from Yamamoto, asking her if they could talk. His last message was he was standing outside their gate. Thus, she quickly donned a sweater and hurriedly got out, telling Mama that if she's needed, she'll be just nearby.

Upon exiting the house's main door with a click, I-pin saw a sullen figure by the gate. The shadow was clutching at its arm.

"Really, why didn't you just come in and asked for me?" I-pin could feel the same uncomfortable aura from Yamamoto; something big happened again.

"Well, I didn't want to bother anyone else. Tsuna is having the hardest time too…" The boy's voice wavered and she hadn't seen him like that in a while. It was dark and it took her long enough to see what bandages were taped on his face and what bruises he acquired from the earlier attack. It broke her heart to pieces; their hardship that she could have alleviated if she had helped. But no, she chose to wait from the sidelines and see them get hurt. Why didn't she help the same way she helped with the time that the Kokuyo pair attacked in Nami Chuu? What was so different back then?

With all the questions of her own conscience running in her head, I-pin wasn't sure what to do. She could only offer an embrace,

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry… I don't know why I didn't help… I…" and she went on with her voice muffled by his shoulder and her touch caused Yamamoto to flinch in pain. But she did not let go.

"Haha, I-pin lighten up a bit. I don't mind you hugging me and all, but it's hurtin'!" How could he still have the strength to laugh when even her slightest touch causes his legs to tremble in pain?

"How? How can you still say that?" and I-pin stepped back a bit to look at his wounded face but still did not let go of him, "I could have been there. I could have helped. I could have—" embracing him another time, noting her pressure on him so as not to hurt him.

"Then I have to get stronger, much stronger than you, much stronger than Hibari-san, so you wouldn't have to worry about me."

What confidence… But it made I-pin more proud of him.

"Good luck and take care," but deep in her heart she had to rebuff him.

Kyo-san will always be the strongest.

They parted there and hadn't spoken in a while after, as everyone was busy training for the upcoming battle against the assassins division of the Vongola, the Varia. Nothing but hope that her friends would triumph and return alive resided in young I-pin's heart.


That's done! Yeah, everything's getting serious and I just couldn't pass up the idea of writing something like this. Hahah still testing myself; I have a problem with my tenses. Anyway I hope you enjoyed. C:

Please leave a review. Thanks!