Hatred
Chapter Four: Taking the Bus
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Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
Warnings: OOC-ness? Rated T because of Hayato's usual colorful language.
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Summary: For the first time ever, Gokudera Hayato gets to experience the full blown out hatred that is within Miura Haru.
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(A/N: I present to you, author note 1! Lol, here's chapter four.)
After her rhythmic gymnastics with the hoop (they were nice enough to let her perform but none of it would count), Haru fast walked out of the gymnasium with her head held low, switched back into her uniform and walked out of Namimori. Shameful tears swelled up as she just began walking down the fence of the high school. Careful not to fall down, Haru played with the strap of her sports bag.
Hahi, I can't believe I didn't bring the right one! Cursing herself for her stupidity, Haru stopped and sighed. "And in front of everyone toooo. Uuuugh, this SUCKS!" She screams to let out her frustration, thinking no one was there to hear her anyways.
"Whoa, that bad huh?" Says a deep voice from behind.
Just knowing whose voice it belonged to made Haru's mood turn foul. Without sparing a glance, she continues on her little fence walk. Quick and light steps follow after her, much to her annoyance.
"Wait, Haru!" Says Hayato as he follows from the ground. It's weird having to talk (or not talk) to Haru when she gets on top a fence. The boy trails closely behind, in hopes he can stop her. He never thought that she'd be scary fast, even while on a fence. His jogging was barely keeping up with her. "I have something I want to say!" Haru doesn't say anything to him. Pursing his lips, Hayato tries again. "Would you stop? It's important."
She keeps walking.
Nothing.
He's stunned at the lack of attention she's giving him. It's like he doesn't exist in her life. That thought causes Hayato to flinch. What if that's what I am to her now? When put like that, he isn't too sure what to do. All he knows is that he can't give up. Not when he's only just started. A voice in his head whispers for him to try harder. "Haru, I know about the comb." He admits, frowning. "The dumb cow told me."
For the first time, the girl stops. Her body freezes at the very words. He knows? Slowly, she turns her head to look down at Hayato. He looks sorrowful, regretful. His deep, emerald eyes are practically pleading her to listen.
The first thing she thinks of is her grandpa. Her sweet, caring, kind grandpa. She remembers his smile, his laugh, the feel of his fingers when he attends to her cuts and bruises. The first memory she has from childhood is with him. He was a gentle soul who was very patient with her when she was growing up. In truth, she considers her grandfather her first real parent. Haru also remembers that for as long as she's known him, he was old enough that his back was always hunched over. He always had a hand behind his back whenever he moved around. How his hair was white and thinned out. She remembers him being on his last legs when she was small.
She remembers receiving his last gift to her.
"It's just a stupid piece of glass anyways."
White hot anger fills her insides. Clenching her fists, she turns away again and continues walking. Hayato's jaw drops. The familiar annoyance and irritation that he only feels when concerning Haru makes itself known to him. He quenches it down, however. The last thing he wants is to argue with her. It'll only push her farther away from himself and most likely the others.
"Wait up!" Running after her, he musters a little glare. "Why are you being so difficult? I just want to talk."
"I have nothing to say to you. Whatever apology you have, save it. It's no use." Haru's voice is cold when she says this. It's like icicles dropping and they shatter close to Hayato's ears. He gulps largely at that.
"E-Even though you say that, I can't let it stay this way." Looking down their path, Hayato is glad to see the fence line ends. Haru sees this too and huffs. She jumps down and lands gracefully on her two feet. A reluctant grin shows on the mafioso's lips. "...you know, for someone so clumsy, you're really good at gymnastics." It's a compliment.
But by the look on Haru's face, you would think she has never heard one from him before.
He tries to remember the last time he's complimented the older girl. Unfortunately, he comes up short and not one good word comes to mind. The sixteen year old boy cringes. I probably never had. Why is that when he begins to think about Haru, all he can seem to do it wince at the memories? Shaking his head from such thoughts, the jog he was in slows and he matches Haru's pace. "You don't have to say anything to me, I just want you to know that I've thought about it."
Haru continues walking and doesn't spare him a glance. It's nerve-wracking, having her act this way. The Italian-born teen has never seen her turn such a cold shoulder before. "I thought about it a lot." Clearing his throat, he continues. "And I've come to realize... You're right to hate me. What I did, it's inexcusable. I'm really sorry for it."
Hayato notices that Haru walks just a little faster at his words. Good, she's listening. "So I'm gonna do whatever it takes for you to forgive me." He promises her.
"Will you stop it?" Finally, Haru turns around and snarls at Hayato. This does nothing to deter him and instead, he looks at her expectantly. "I don't want anything, no, nothing to do with you. You've been nothing to me but rude, mean, selfish, abusive, idiotic, Tsuna-centered and down right a bully." She's livid, Hayato can tell. He has to clench his teeth at that. "Forgiveness? You want my forgiveness?" A derisive laugh escapes Haru's lips and she shakes her head. "You won't find that with me. I've told you, I don't want to see you ever again."
Haru turns to leave and this time, Hayato let's her. She probably didn't realize it, but she was holding back tears. Hayato saw the glistening wetness gathering in her brown eyes. The sight of it hurts him a bit because he knows he's done that to her, but he's also a little glad. At least she's talking to him, albeit angrily. It's better than nothing. He tells himself. "HARU!" He shouts at her back. "I'M GOING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES! REMEMBER THAT!"
He waits until he can't see her back anymore. Not until her small body disappears into the bustling crowd at the bottom of Namimori High's hill, does he crouch low and tiredly. Running a hand through his hair, he vows to her. "I swear I will. No matter what it takes." He can hear her voice in his head.
"I hate you."
"No matter how long it takes."
"He's here again, Haru-chan." Says one of the students. Her name is Sakura and true to her name, her hair is pink (dyed of course). She wore her hair in pigtails and was currently drinking a strawberry milk. Sakura is leaning against the window with Kikyo hovering over her.
"I have got to say Haru, you really know how to pick them. He's been waiting for you outside of class all day for almost two weeks!" The brunette shoots her friend a little frown. Haru is obviously ignoring them and is stuffing her work into her school bag. A soft smile shows on Kikyo's lips. "I know you said to leave it alone, but don't you feel just a little sorry for him? Why don't you try talking to him?"
"I hate that guy." Is all Haru says before leaving the classroom. Kikyo and Sakura share a look, worried about their friend. In all the years they have been together, not once has she ever shown such hostility towards someone.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Sakura questions, taking a break from her milk. Kikyo only sighs, raising her hands and shaking her head.
"Not sure. But I hope it works out between her and that guy." Together they look out the window, along with a few other classmates who are stayed behind just to see Haru meet with the "Mysterious Hot Guy" who tends to wait for her after school. The silver haired boy had quickly become a hot topic among Midori High, much to Haru's suffering. "Oh look! There she goes!" Kikyo points out loud.
Everyone watches her intently. Haru is walking out the school gate and ignores the handsome boy, as usual. Then like clockwork, he says something to her. Haru turns back and the two look like they're arguing before she stomps off. The guy leisurely trails behind. Sakura groans.
"She ignored him again!" Every single girl watching face palmed.
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"I said to stop waiting for me after school!" Screams Haru as she hurriedly rushes to the bus stop. Hayato is hot on her heels now because he doesn't want to lose her to the crowd. He rolls his eyes a bit before replying.
"Aaaand I said that I wasn't going to stop until you give me a chance to talk." He tells her in a dry tone.
"Aaaand I said that I didn't want anything to do with you ever again." Is her reply. Unfortunately for Haru, her bus is running late and she is forced to wait for it. She purposely picks a spot that's as crowded as possible because she knows that Hayato's hates things in close proximity. He knows she does it on purpose too because of the way she tries to get as close as possible to strangers. Never mind the looks they give her as she does so.
"Look, Haru, please?" Hayato latches a hand around her wrist and is surprised to find out how small it is. What the? He let's go just as quickly. The hot-head takes a moment to look at his hand. Wiggling his fingers, Hayato used his other hand to wrap it around his own wrist. It's bigger. Bigger and bony. Furrowing his brows, Hayato inspects Haru closely.
It's like noticing her for the first time. When they first met, Haru was almost as tall as he was. Now he's a good head or two taller. They were almost the same size back when they were fourteen too. He's realizing that Haru is more than small. She's so tiny compared to him now.
So tiny and angry.
Her foot taps on the floor, impatiently as she see's her bus finally turns around from around the corner. With a sigh of relief, Haru readies her bag and steps closer to the street. Thankfully, and strangely enough, Hayato hasn't pestered her anymore since the time she was waiting. Maybe he's finally getting the picture. It's futile. Haru feels a bit smug that her best efforts must finally be paying off.
She doesn't notice that a man she had rubbed against has been lingering closer to her for a few minutes. An average, middle aged business man. He's the typical glasses wearing male with a few wrinkles here and there. Not attractive in the least, but there's a certain air about him.
An air Hayato catches because his green eyes sharpen on said older man. Narrowing his irises, the Namimori High student steps closer to Haru. He's glaring protectively against the nameless old Japanese man. Haru catches whiff of this exchange and frowns a bit.
He's protecting me. She notes as her bus finally approaches. Both Haru and Hayato watch as the man gets onto the very same bus. Haru chews on her bottom lip nervously. Great, fantastic. Not wanting to get on the same bus, Haru finds herself in a bit of a dilemma. The next one wont't be for another fifteen minutes and that's fifteen minutes she doesn't want to spend with the boy at her side. Her bus ride, however, is double that amount. The raven haired girl sighs deeply. It's this jerk or that pervert. She doesn't know what's worse.
"Is that your bus?" Hayato's voice interrupts Haru's thoughts. A bit startled, the older girl shuffles a bit on her feet. She doesn't look up at him, refuses to.
It's now or never! Without a moment's hesitation, Haru dismisses Hayato and steps into the bus. She hurriedly finds an empty spot. There's only room to stand but it's breathable. Not too crowded at where she picked. Looking around, she is pleased to see that the man is not near her. A sigh escapes her at the revelation.
A few moments later, the bus jerks forward and begins to move. Feeling a bit relieved, Haru's body relaxes. Was I tense the whole time? She thinks to herself with a bit of disdain. He was unusually persistent today. Truthfully, Haru's tired of having Hayato around her. She can't seem to relax when he's close.
It's been almost a month since their incident. She still hates him, she's sure. But hating someone was really starting to take a toll. Being angry at the Vongola guardian all the time was tiring and energy consuming. Haru hugs herself a bit.
"Don't you feel just a little bit sorry for him? Why don't you try talking to him?"
Kikyo's words string through the dark haired girl's mind. Before she can put any more thought to it, the sixteen year old girl feels a hand on her thigh. She freezes immediately. Looking down, already she can tell it's the hand of an older man. There are dark spots and wrinkles around his knuckle bone. A cold sweat breaks out and Haru looks around.
No way. She thinks with a sudden desperation. It's the old man from earlier. When did he...? Gulping, Haru tries to step away. "Please don't touch me." She whispers towards him. It's fierce and low enough so only they could hear. The nameless man smiles warmly at Haru.
"My mistake. I apologize for bumping into you." He grins and Haru feels uneasy about it. Nothing about his smile or person seems welcoming. Having him so close, Haru can smell a hint of booze from his suit. She wrinkles her nose.
Who drinks at this time? Hesitantly, Haru takes a step away. So does the man in his booze smelling suit. Then he quickly cups a feel on her bottom left cheek. Heat rushes into her cheeks from embarrassment and disgust. She hurriedly turns around to give him a piece of her mind when the man is roughly shoved back. "Hahi?" Gasps Haru with wide eyes as she's forcefully pressed against something solid and hard.
She's surprised to see Hayato standing before her with an arm wrapped around her shoulders. He's pressing her against his chest and is using his other arm to hold back the startled pervert. The force Hayato used must have been great, Haru muses. The old man's glasses have gone askew on his face. There is a deep rumble she can feel from Hayato's chest and just now, she is realizing that he's snarling. The girl blinks, a bit dumbfounded.
"Stay the fuck back you old geezer. This girl is off limits." The way he says those words are so tight and condensed with anger. Haru can feel her heart beat race a little more from surprise. The arm he has around her shakes a bit, she notices. Haru wonders slightly if that's also from anger. "If I ever see you touching her again, I'll kill you." A sense of promise laces in Hayato's low voice.
"Excuse me!?" The man with his suit turns red in the face. "I was just making sure that this beautiful young lady wouldn't fall too much in this shaky bus ride." By now, eyes crowd in their direction. Haru wants to face palm. The last thing she wants is to cause a scene.
She sighs and misses the way Hayato looks down at her with a little frown. When he looks back up, he raises the man a bit off of the floor. The man turns speechless that someone so young could lift him up with one arm.
"You listen to me good you old bastard." He sneers before bringing the man close to him. Not close enough to let him see Haru's face though. "I don't give a fuck who you are or what you do. This girl in my arms," Hayato's voice booms throughout the bus now, "she's off limits. Don't touch my friend!"
Haru blinks at that.
"And anyone who tries to mess with her, they better be prepared for one helluva beating. I'll hunt you or anyone else down to hell if anything happens to her!" Emerald eyes narrow dangerously to the man in his clutches. "I swear it, don't test me." Hayato releases the man and shoves him once more. "You're getting off of this next stop, whether it's yours or not."
To Haru's astonishment, the man yelps and nods his head quickly. He gathers himself before the bus makes it to its next stop. Timed perfectly, he leaves the bus and a few heroic cheers are passed onto Hayato, despite the fact that he threatened them too. It all means nothing to him though because the instant the man leaves the bus, Haru shrugs his arm off and steps away from him. She makes extra effort to shield herself from him by hugging her body and looking out the window. He wasn't expecting a "thank you" but...
It's a large sting.
Still, the Vongola member doesn't leave her. Not until she reaches her stop carefully. He is willing to stick with her to the end of it.
(A/N: Omg, Gokudera you sap. And prince... Or are you a knight? Please read and review, tell me what you think.)