A/N: Sorry for the wait everyone. Finally, the third chapter (whew!). I'm sorry guys if the chapter wasn't that good, I just rushed it and wrote whatever came to my mind XD. Anyway, please enjoy it and comment!
Chapter 3: Realizations
Hibari woke up from his sleep. It was six-thirty in the morning. He remembered the conversation he had with the infant yesterday about the herbivores. He also remembered the last words Reborn told him.
"Anyway, you'll be meeting again someone you have waited a long time ago in the past."
He was distracted when Hibird suddenly flew from outside the window towards him, circling above his head. "Hibari! Hibari!"
Hibari got up and went to the bathroom to wash his face. Then he went to the kitchen to eat breakfast. After eating breakfast, he took a bath, dressed up, and prepared to go to Namimori Middle School, with Hibird contentedly sitting in his head.
When he arrived at the school, it was already seven in the morning. He patrolled the corridors, checking if the herbivores already started their activities without his permission. When he arrived at the rooftop, he saw Reborn dressed in a weird costume (It's a maid costume, but it seems weird when Reborn wears it.)
"Ciaossu," Reborn greeted, "as expected of you, you're already patrolling the school grounds this early, and it's Saturday today."
"Just get over your business, infant,"
"The event won't be complete without you," replied Reborn, "after all, you are the Cloud Guardian of Vongola. And didn't I promise you yesterday that you'll meet again someone you were waiting a long time ago?"
Hibari couldn't reply at first when Reborn mentioned that. "I don't know what you're talking about." Hibari lied smoothly, and to change the topic he asked, "What is that you're wearing?"
"Oh, this? It's a maid costume I have specially designed for the event today." Even though Reborn answered Hibari's question, it doesn't mean that he didn't notice Hibari avoiding the topic. "Oh, they're here now." At the corner near the school they saw the herbivores already making their way towards the entrance of the school. They saw the Vongola boss, Tsuna, with Gokudera, Yamamoto, Ryohei, Haru, Kyoko, Fuuta, Lambo and I-pin.
Hibari frowned at them. Reborn said, "Are they already too many? There are still others coming." Hibari threw a sharp glare towards Reborn. Meanwhile, Bianchi arrived at the rooftop, "Reborn, there are still some people missing."
"Don't worry; they're on their way now." Reborn assured Bianchi. "In fact, a few more minutes and they'll be arriving shortly. As for us, we should go meet the others now."
Reborn started to go to the exit, but turn to Hibari and said, "Are you coming?"
Hibari remained silent, glaring at Reborn for a while, then followed Reborn and Bianchi in the end. When they arrived at the open school ground, Tsuna exclaimed as he saw Reborn, Hibari and Bianchi, "Reborn, Hibari-san, and Bianchi, too! What are we doing at school this early on Saturday? And what kind of costume is that?" Tsuna pointed at Reborn's costume. Reborn kicked Tsuna in the face. "HIIIIEEEEE!"
"Don't insult other people's clothes, Dame-Tsuna. Aren't you thought good manners?" Reborn's eyes gleamed with malice. "But that costume's really weird, to be honest…" Tsuna muttered, massaging the place where Reborn kicked him. "What did you say, Dame-Tsuna?" Reborn looked at Tsuna evily. "N-nothing, Reborn!" Tsuna stuttered as he saw how Reborn looked at him.
"Reborn-chan, you're costume's very cute!" Haru said.
"Hai, hai," Kyoko agreed, "Reborn's costume is very cute."
"Ho-oh," Reborn chuckled, "it's a maid costume I designed especially for this day."
"But really, Reborn," Gokudera asked Reborn, "what are we doing here in school?"
"I will tell you all later when everyone is here." Reborn said
"What!" Tsuna exclaimed."You mean there are others who'll arrive?" Suddenly, a helicopter came hovering towards Namimori Middle. "They're here now." Reborn said. The helicopter landed on the ground, and then came out Dino, with Romario at the controls of the helicopter, and Chrome being helped by Dino out of the helicopter.
"Dino-san!" Tsuna exclaimed. "And Chrome-chan!"
"Chrome-chan!" Haru, Kyoko and I-pin crowded towards Chrome
"Hey, everyone," Dino greeted, "it's been a while since I saw you guys." Then he saw Hibari, who already had his tonfas ready. "Ne, Kyouya-kun, no need to fight me now." Hibari remained silent, his tonfas still ready to attack. Dino sighed, "You're still stubborn as usual, always asking for a fight." Then he turned to Reborn and said, "Oh, I did what you asked me to do, Reborn. I brought Chrome-chan like you asked me to do."
"Uhmm… ohayou gozaimasu, boss," Chrome greeted shyly, "everyone, I'm sorry we're late,"
"That's alright, Chrome-chan." Kyoko assured.
"Hai! Kyoko's right!" Haru added.
Then, all of a sudden, Lambo shouted, "Where are we? Lambo-san's hungry!"
"But we just ate breakfast, Lambo." Fuuta answered.
"And Lambo even took everyone's omelets." I-pin added.
"Lambo is a growing boy," Lambo said, "so Lambo needs lots of food!"
"Hahaha," Yamamoto laughed, "I think I brought tuna sandwiches with me. You can have it if you want, kid."
"Yahay! Lambo-san loves sandwiches."
"Stupid cow." Gokudera muttered.
"Wot arf yu sayving, Stupidera?" Lambo turned to Gokudera, speaking while his mouth is full. "Or arf yu joulus ov ma sandvwijes?"
"Baka!" Gokudera answered angrily. "Who said I'm jealous of your stupid sandwiches, and don't talk with food on your mouth!"
"Stupidera!" Lambo taunted, waving his butt to Gokudera.
"Now I'm going to blow you to pieces!" Gokudera already has a dynamite in his hand when Yamamoto went between him and Lambo. "Now, now, Gokudera-kun. He's just a kid. And you can have some sandwiches if you want."
"You're another annoying one, baseball nut!" Gokudera shouted back. "And how many times do I have to tell you I don't want those stupid sandwiches."
Tsuna sighed. "It's early this morning and they're already fighting."
"Ne, Reborn, are we still waiting for someone?" Dino asked.
"No, we're complete now." Reborn answered.
"Then what the hell are we waiting for?" Tsuna asked.
"Don't rush, Dame-Tsuna. We're going to start now."
"WHATEVER IT IS," Ryohei said, all fired up and punching the air, "I'M READY TO THE EXTREME!"
Hibari, meanwhile, was already annoyed and can hardly contain his desire to bite all of them to death, and he has reasons for it. Number one: He couldn't stand seeing herbivores herding especially in school, and he especially can't stand being part of it. Number two: He is itching to hit Dino's face with his tonfas but unable to do so. And why is that pineapple hair here, too? Hibari thought. Whenever he sees Chrome he was constantly reminded of his defeat to that guy. As he was watching Chrome, who was talking to the two girls, she smiled sweetly to the girls.
Hibari flinched. There was something familiar with that smile he just saw. He suddenly had a flashback of Nagi's smile…
"Hey, Kyouya-kun," Dino said, "why are you looking at Chrome-chan, huh? Don't tell me you like her." Dino had a big grin plastered across his face as he taunted Kyouya. Kyouya just shot a murdering glare to Dino and walked away from him and the herbivores, unable to hear Dino say, "Finally, he's growing up."
Stupid Bronco, Hibari thought as he was walking away from the crowd. He tried to remember what he just saw earlier, and why did he thought of Nagi when he saw Chrome's smile. It's impossible that they are one person, Hibari thought, Nagi's already… he tried not think of the word, as he remembered bitterly day he received that letter; a letter from Nagi's parents saying that she's dead.
Death. That word is the reason he isolated himself from others, to forget the pain of losing. The reason for being the man he had become now.
He tried to clear his head, burying again in his façade the feelings he remembered. Instead, he focused on what was currently happening. He was glad he did, because he found out that the grounds of his beloved school became an outdoor tea shop. He saw the herbivores all dressed in maid or butler uniforms, serving the crowd that was already seated at the tables.
He was now determined to find Reborn and bite him to death for this when he saw him at a table, drinking tea, with Bianchi and Dino, both in uniforms too. He took out his tonfas and was about to attack when Reborn said, "Wait, Hibari." Hibari paused for a moment to say "I do not approve of this."
Reborn said, "Don't worry; I assure you there won't be any mess here by tomorrow." Hibari lowered his tonfas, apparently he approve of that setting. "If you do not mind, can you do me a favor?" Hibari didn't answer, so Reborn continued, "Can you give this box to Chrome?"
"And why would I do that?" Hibari asked.
"Oh, come on Kyouya-kun," Dino said, "it's not like it will kill you to give the box to Chrome, right?"
Hibari was about to say "why don't you give it instead since you're not busy at all" but thought twice about it. He became curious of Chrome Dokuro after his flashback earlier and was determined to investigate her. So, to Dino and Bianchi's surprise, he agreed. He took the box and went through the crowd to Chrome.
After Hibari left, Dino said, "I never thought those two would have some connections in the past."
"And what was surprising was they were the best of friends." Bianchi mused.
"Ne, Reborn, what are you planning to do now?" Dino asked his old mentor.
"Nothing," Reborn said, "just wait and let things unfold, and assist if needed." Then he sipped at his tea.
Meanwhile, Hibari found Chrome, who was serving tea to a young boy, who was trying to fold something with his paper, and her mother. "Uhmm… ano," Chrome said shyly, "may I know what you are doing?" she asked the boy.
"I'm trying to make this to a paper crane," the boy said, a frown in his forehead, "but the paper won't just become a crane."
Chrome smiled to the boy and said, "You were making a wrong fold, you see," she took a paper from her pocket and folded it, "try folding it like this," she folded the paper again, "and like this," she folded the paper, while the boy watched her, "there's your paper crane." She held out the paper crane she made and smiled at the boy. The boy smiled back and said, "Thank you, miss."
Chrome noticed Hibari standing and staring at her. She blushed slightly, then approached him and asked, "Is there something wrong, Cloudman?" She noticed that his face was pale and started to worry.
"It can't be."
Chrome couldn't understand Hibari. "What do you mean, Cloud-man? I don't understand –"
"You can't be Nagi. She's dead."
Chrome was shocked. How did he know my other name? she thought, No one except Mukuro-sama knows it. "Cloudman, how did you kno–"
But before she finished asking, he left, leaving her wondering.
A/N: I added my favorite character in this chapter, which is Gokudera Hayato (*fangirl scream*). I tried adding a bit humor, and I don't know if I succeeded on that (probably not). Comment please everyone! ^_^
