5 – The Head Prefect's Amusement
"Tsu-kun, get up!" Nana called from the stairs. "Breakfast is ready!"
"Okay!" He replied tiredly, covering his mouth as he yawned.
"Maman! You don't look so good." Lambo crowded, only to be smacked away by Reborn who jumped into her lap and leant back comfortably.
"Everyone's already eating." Nana smiled, holding a pot with oven mitts.
Hitori groaned, slumping forward, eyes dead with black circles under her eyes. "Too loud." She muttered.
"Lazy-Hitori, get up or I'll eat without you." Reborn ordered, wide eyes staring at his Sky, his Sun flames working their way through her immune system and healing whatever bug she had caught.
Hitori, while his Sky, needed to be toughened up eventually. He ignored the little whisper that said he'd be healing her as soon as he was able to.
"Thank you, Reborn." She smiled, kissing his cheek and ignoring the glare from Bianchi, whose spoon snapped from an unknown force.
"Lambo-sama loves gratin!" He exclaimed excitedly, shoving the hot piece in his mouth before jumping out of his chair hysterically, tongue hanging out to relieve the burning pain.
Hitori picked him up, walking over to the freezer and placing an ice cube on his tongue, smiling at his happy sigh. "Maa, Lambo, blow on it before eating it. It's too hot." She admonished gently.
Nana giggled. "Hi-chan makes a great mama!" She cheered, clasping her hands together.
Even Bianchi nodded reluctantly before her eyes narrowed. "Here, Reborn." She spoke softly, holding the spoon of gratin, only for it be knocked out of her hand.
"Maa, sorry." Hitori smiled, holding her own spoon of gratin that Reborn calmly ate. "I didn't notice your spoon.
"Tsu-kun, you'd better eat too or you'll be late!" Nana smiled cheerfully.
'And somehow, this is becoming normal…' He thought with a stunned face, watching his cousin feed Reborn and Lambo while Bianchi glared daggers at her.
"Tsu-nii, ignore the dogs crowding our house today." She piped casually, pecking Reborn's cheek and Lambo's forehead, watching the two glare at the other fondly. "I bought some treats yesterday and accidentally dropped them out of the window this morning. Silly me~"
He shuddered. 'Hi-chan's scary smiling like that.' His scared eyes watched as her smile only brightened more at Nana's smile.
"Ara, so that's why I heard screaming this morning?" She giggled. "The dogs were just hungry this morning."
She'd keep it to herself that it wasn't an accident. She had noticed Haru lurking around this morning and decided to drop her treats and play dumb when asked about it. She was completely innocent in that aspect; she didn't call the dogs and tell them to eat the treats and scare the bumbling fool away.
She really didn't, even if Reborn gave her that knowing look.
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"Tsu-nii, are you sure? Kyoko already knows what happened." Hitori piped as they walked to school, Lambo and Reborn cradled in her arms. Those two were awfully annoyed with each other this morning, she wondered why.
Lambo glared petulantly at the hitman; green eyes wide as his bottom lip trembled. He found the hitman nuzzling his maman's neck! Reborn stared back smugly, eyes glittering in amusement as he recalled this morning.
His Sky had nestled him in her arms and wouldn't let go, even if she had moved one arm to cradle the stupid cow, he was still her first priority. His thoughts turned dark as he remembered his Sky wanted more guardians, how many, he didn't know, but he'd have to share her with them! A punishable crime if they weren't strong enough to protect her and keep the weaker lackeys away from her.
She deserved nothing but the best, and he'd be damned – which he already was, being in the Mafia – if she didn't have the best.
"It's alright Hi-chan." Tsuna denied with a morose sigh. "I just don't know how to…" He trailed off, looking at his cousin with worried eyes. "Everything is changing so quickly; I don't know how to deal with it."
"Tsuna." Her eyes were soft, a warm smile on her face that told him it was okay. "Everything changes for a reason, no matter how slow or quick. It's a quest we strive to complete in our lives." She walked past him, spinning on her heel, her flames subconsciously brushing against his, letting them know it was alright. Her eyes flickered orange, her smile widening. "Our paths have crossed with everyone for a reason. So, chin up. You're braver than you think you are."
Reborn tilted his fedora, hiding his approving smirk at her words. Saito really did live up to his reputation of being the level-headed advisor. His decision to offer his daughter to take over the position was commendable, especially when you read her file, explaining how emotionless she was.
"The Sky welcomes all, the Storm protects, the Rain washes the pain away, the Sun shines brightly, the Cloud watches over them, the Mist hides in the shadows and the Lightning warns the enemies." She stated proudly. "Our guardians have their jobs, and our job is to welcome them with open arms, to protect them from all and watch over them."
"Hi-chan really is confusing." Tsuna muttered, shaking his head.
She blinked. "What was I talking about?" She questioned.
"You'll be late, Lazy-Hitori."
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"Why are we yawning in harmony?" Tsuna questioned with a smile.
"Maa, Lambo's gone to sleep." Hitori hummed, shooting them an almost playful look. "You're yawning made Lambo tired. "
"He was just irritating me." Gokudera answered, glaring at a smiling Yamamoto.
"I was no!" Yamamoto denied. "I just happen to be bored."
"Don't go yawning in front of Jyuudaime without permission!" He shouted.
"Oh, come on, it's just a yawn." Yamamoto claimed brightly.
Gokudera stood, holding two sticks of dynamite as he glared at Yamamoto. "Next time you yawn in front of Jyuudaime, I'm gonna shove one of these in your mouth." He threatened.
Hitori stared at Gokudera, quirking a brow that made him fight the urge to drop the dynamite. "If you wake Lambo before the bell, I'll shove them down your throat, puppy."
"You and your fireworks…" Yamamoto smiled, looking up at the silverite.
"These aren't fireworks!" He hissed.
Tsuna shrieked. "Hi-chan! Gokudera-kun, don't use violence." Tsuna pleaded. He had enough bruises to deal with, no need for explosions.
"But he's just so insolent!" Gokudera pouted.
"You don't need to be on my case all the time." Yamamoto stated cheerfully.
Hitori sighed, standing as she carefully cradled Lambo. "Tsu-nii, I'm going to see Kyoko and Hana."
Tsuna blinked, the duo ignoring the commotion between Gokudera and Yamamoto. "You're getting along with them." He smiled brightly. "It's great to see Hi-chan making friends!"
Her cheeks bled a dusty pink, emerald eyes looking away bashfully. "Nii-sama has friends with these two, and I'm their friend too, but Kyoko and Hana are my friends also." She smiled brightly at him, eyes shining in a way he hadn't ever remembered her having. "It's all thanks to Reborn and Tsu-nii! Ja ne!"
She waved at the trio, walking through the open doorway and making her way downstairs. "Lazy-Hitori, Tsuna and co are going to the reception room." Reborn stated bluntly, the same smirk on his face whenever he was around. "Tsuna got hurt."
She blinked, before scowling at the hitman. "You did something, to him Reborn." At his nod, her shoulders sagged. "I can't even be angry with you. But, in return, you are going to take Lambo to Kyoko and Hana while I catch up to them." She shot him a look that instantly warmed his flames. "That is an order."
"Maman?" Lambo hummed tiredly, rubbing his eyes as he looked up to Hitori.
"Lambo, Reborn is going to take you to Kyoko and Hana. Tsu-nii, puppy and baseball star are going to be in trouble."
He blinked. "Why?"
"Hibari monster." She answered simply, Reborn smirking at this new piece of information he could use to torture the stupid cow.
"Hibari monster?!" He cried, fat tears rolling down his face. "Take me to Kyoko-nee and Hana-baa-san!"
She snickered at his title for Hana. She really didn't mind Lambo, but she'd be furious if she ever heard him calling her that in public. "Reborn is going to, ja ne." She placed him down gently, racing off to the reception room as quick as she could. 'I hope I get there before Hibari. Tsu-nii won't stand a chance against him without that bullet.' She thought.
Skidding to a stop in front of the room, she slammed the doors open, huffing out deep breathes as her eyes narrowed onto her cousin's unconscious form. She'd convince Reborn to make him train when he was awake and not dead to the world. "Gokudera! Yamamoto! Grab Tsu-nii and get out." She barked angrily.
"Why should we? Reborn told us it was hardly used." Gokudera questioned, though a sliver of worry did slip past at her expression. He had never seen her so furious or anxious, even when his sister first showed up, he'd never seen her like this.
She stared at Yamamoto with hard eyes, glinting dangerously. "You've heard about this room, right?"
He felt like he should, especially with how she was looking at him. "Nah." He laughed. "I didn't know we even had one."
Her brow twitched. "Reborn told you about this room, I assume." She looked down at the baby standing next to her. "Didn't you, Reborn."
"Correct assumption." He answered, jumping into her arms with a smirk. "Are you going to walk in, Lazy-Hitori?"
She glowered at him, begrudgingly walking through and sitting in the chair across from Tsuna, eyes widening as his chest fell and rose like he was asleep. "At least you didn't poison him." She muttered, pecking his cheek and letting him know he was mostly forgiven. "You right-hand-man and left-hand-man can deal with his ruffians. I'll sit back and watch over Tsu-nii."
"What are you doing?" One Elvis wannabe delinquent with an armband demanded. "Who allowed you in here?"
"Huh? What the heck do you want?" Gokudera retorted lowly, glaring at them with dark eyes as Yamamoto watched in confusion.
"Don't talk back to us. This room belongs to us, the Disciplinary Committee." He continued angrily.
Hitori only shook her head with a sigh. "I did try to warn you. It's not my fault you aren't well known with the facts of the school." She muttered.
"As an advisor, your job is to ensure all underlings have been well informed." Reborn denied, watching in amusement at her pout.
Henchman two looked down at Tsuna, unaware of the eyes that snapped to him instantly at his tone. "Who's this brat?" He demanded, preparing to kick the couch only for Hitori to spring up and roundhouse kick him into the wall.
"I'll make sure you leave through the window." She threatened darkly, bangs shadowing her face as she lowered her leg. Her face snapped up, glinting purple eyes glaring into their very souls as her flames roared their fury. "Don't touch my nii-sama again."
Gokudera glared at the henchmen, walking towards them warningly. "I don't care who you're with, you're outta here."
"What?"
"You're annoying me. Leave." He demanded.
"Why you…" He lifted his hand, ready to punch him only for Gokudera to slap the offending hand away, the henchman stumbling back as his followers looked at the teens with fury.
"You gonna fight the Disciplinary Committee?" Henchman three demanded, pushing past henchman one.
She snickered as Gokudera easily punched henchman three, rendering him unconscious quickly, henchman two joining his fallen brother not long after.
Yamamoto sighed. "Jeez… Oh well." He intercepted the henchman determined to whack Gokudera with the mop, his hand catching the mop. "Mops are for cleaning, you know." He twisted the object out of his hand, pushing him to the left, Gokudera quickly turning and knocking him out.
"Make me some coffee please, Reborn." She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose in annoyance, ignoring their friends fighting off the goons.
"Lazy-Hitori, make your own."
She smiled sweetly at him. "I always make you one, Italian no less, so making one for your favourite advisor wouldn't be too much, would it?" She smirked as he handed her a cup of freshly made coffee and sighed in delight at the richness. "Thank you, Reborn." She kissed his cheek fondly, oblivious to the red dusting his cheeks.
He was a hitman! He had no time for blushing! "All done?" He questioned, turning to look at his student's guardians.
"Yeah." They answered.
"I put some coffee on." Reborn stated, handing Yamamoto two mugs.
"Oh, thanks." He smiled brightly, taking the mugs and holding one for Gokudera, noticing Hitori sipping on her own.
"You didn't need to help." Gokudera stated bluntly. "I could've taken them all myself."
"Yeah? You looked like you were in trouble." Yamamoto returned, handing him the mug as Gokudera struggled to retort, only grasping the mug and reluctantly glaring at him.
"The Rain always works well with the Storm, even when they refuse to admit it." Hitori hummed.
Reborn filed that away, another question for Saito to answer. Why would she forget she mentioned their flames?
"They can't even handle being watchdogs." A voice stated disdainfully, catching their attention.
Gokudera and Yamamoto looked at Hibari with confusion, Hitori instantly straightened, placing her mug on the table next to her and sliding in front of Tsuna smoothly. Even if she could somewhat defend herself from him, she couldn't keep his attention on her fully, not with Tsuna unconscious and her nature in protecting him.
Reborn sat, sipping on his coffee and watching everything like it was a soap-opera.
"Who are you?" Hibari ordered bluntly, face in his ever-present scowl that Hitori warily watched him, prepared to make a scene in case he got his tonfas.
"That's… Hibari Kyoya." Yamamoto stated unsurely.
"I tried to warn you too about who this room belonged to." Hitori stated. "Yamamoto, you should've known with how infamous he is in Namimori. The reception belongs to Hibari."
"Huh? So, you're with them?" Gokudera questioned, ignoring the sharp look she sent him for his carelessness.
"Gokudera, wait." He panicked, trying to stop the teen from walking closer to Hibari.
"Gokudera, back up." She ordered sternly.
"This room is now the Vongola Family's hideout." Gokudera stated, careless of their warnings.
"Family?" Hibari echoed slowly, sharp steel eyes cutting into Gokudera and the others who were watching him wearily. "What kind of group is that?"
She tensed. If Gokudera spilled, none of them would make it out of the hospital for weeks. Reborn stared at the duo. Let the week guardians pay for their meddling, but his Sky would not be hurt on his watch, especially by a teen younger than him.
"Group? Get out of –"
"Gokudera, duck!" She shouted, seeing the glint of his infamous tonfas.
Gokudera back up, the handle of the mug being the only thing left in his hands as his tonfa easily sliced through the ceramic object.
'Who is this guy?' He thought, backing away quickly.
'I've heard of him.' Yamamoto remembered, the encounter of Hibari barely glancing at Lambo when he first came into the school, eyes staring at Hitori with something he couldn't understand. 'If Hibari doesn't like you, he'll use his retractable Tonfa to beat you up. Hitori was trying warning us about him.'
"I hate weak bottom-feeders who band together." He stated, eyes sliding over to Hitori who was staring at him. "I expected more from a carnivore."
Her jaw tightened at his remark, eyes narrowing as she shuffled closer to Tsuna and Reborn, much to his amusement. This tiny teenager couldn't fight him and win on his worst day, what made her think he'd come for him. When she glanced over her shoulder, he instantly noticed the smouldering orange eyes, determined to protect them.
"You…" He growled, lighting his dynamite.
"When I see one, I want to devour them." His steel eyes narrowed at the trio, setting them all on edge.
'Jerk…' Gokudera thought.
'This guy's going to be trouble.' Yamamoto stated, sweat dripping from his brow in nervousness.
Hitori slid her left foot slightly behind her right foot, her hands clenching into fists as she prepared to throw herself into the fray at the first sign of trouble, no matter how weak she was compared to Hibari. She hadn't taken those defence classes or thrown idiot fanboys around for nothing, she could give out a beating, but Hibari was a class of his own.
A true carnivore.
Gokudera was the first to fall, coming at Hibari with his dynamite only for the tonfa to hit under his chin, launching him into the couch. She snuffed the sticks with her shoe when she noticed them roll to next to Reborn.
"One." Hibari counted, staring at the fallen explosive lover.
"Why you!" Yamamoto shouted.
"Let's go." Hibari countered.
Yamamoto launched himself at Hibari, who dodged and countered with his single tonfa. The two were locked in a dance of battle, twisting and dodging hits expertly with a sense of ease. Hibari smirked.
"You've got good moves." He complimented. "But you're favouring your right hand." Yamamoto slid back slightly, catching Hibari's attention. "I see… You're with the Baseball Club. Guess I was right." His leg shot out, kicking the baseball player in the stomach and launching him into the couch.
"Two."
The shake of the couch caused Tsuna to wake, his eyes slowly opening.
Hibari focused his attention on Hitori, who was already on him before either could realise the newly awakened Tsuna. Her hand shot out, intending on grabbing his shoulder, only to be met with a tonfa to the side of her neck, a thing drip of blood trailing down her neck as she backed up warily.
"Where is the carnivore I saw fight weeks ago?" He taunted, lunging at her and nicking her ribs, Hitori barely suppressing a gasp at how easily they cracked under his pressure.
"I didn't stand much of a chance against you, Hibari." She admitted hoarsely, successfully grasping his tonfa and twisting it out his hand and whacking him in the head with it. "But I'll still make my attacks count –"
Her eyes widened as the tonfa sucker-punched her stomach, causing the honey-haired brunette to slam into the wall in front of the couch, her body slumping down and landing in an uncomfortable heap as her ribs protested against the abuse.
"Three." He finished smugly. "Is that all?"
Tsuna sat up, tired eyes looking around until he noticed his fallen cousin, bruises littering her body and blood dripping delicately down her neck. "Hi-chan!" He looked behind the couch quickly. "Yamamoto! Gokudera-kun!" He looked up at Hibari, a sliver of orange seeping through as he stared at the prefect. "Wh-Why? What happened?"
"There's one more?" Hibari wondered.
"Eh? H-Hibari-san of the Disciplinary Committee?" He slid off the couch, rushing to his unconscious cousin only for Reborn to glare darkly at him and stare at Yamamoto meaningfully. He nodded, ensured that Reborn would look after his cousin. "Y-Yamamoto! Gokudera-kun!"
"They won't get up." He stated casually. "I made sure of that."
"Eh?" Tsuna worried. 'Does that mean this guy beat all of them himself? Hi-chan is strong, but even she's hurt after fighting with him. Did they even stand a chance?' He chanced a look at his cousin, eyes widening at the dark look on Reborn's face the longer he stared (read: glared) at Hibari.
"Now then…" He stared down at Tsuna with mocking eyes.
'I-I'm too scared to move.'
Hibari grasped Gokudera and Yamamoto by their collars, intending on dragging Hitori wit them but refrained doing so, the baby next to her was clearly making staking his territory so he'd let him take her.
"Wh-What are you doing?" Tsuna demanded with a stutter, watching with worried eyes as Hibari threw half their body on top of the open window, intending on throwing them out.
"Cleaning my room." He stated simply. "They're cluttering it up."
"W-Wait!" Tsuna ordered. "Y-You can't do that! Do something Reb –" He looked around, wanting to find his tutor only for Reborn and Hitori to have seemingly vanished out of thin air. "Where did he go? Why now?"
His head lowered; eyes clenched shut as sweat fell from his brow. He swallowed, hoping to find some bravery that his cousin often told him he had.
"Quit it!" He ordered bravely.
That caught the prefect's attention, his eyes looking over his shoulder. "Try and stop me."
Reborn appeared out of nowhere, leaving Hitori for a few moments in the infirmary and appearing when his student needed him. "Do it out of Deathperation." He ordered, shooting him with the bullet and disappearing to join his Sky.
Hibari watched with narrowed eyes as the brunette teen was shot, falling backwards only for his clothes to rip and body lunge back to stand, an orange flame dancing brightly on his forehead. "Re-Born!" Tsuna shouted loudly. He lunged forward. "I'll beat you as if my life depends on it!
Leon jumped out of nowhere, shifting into a green slipper that Tsuna caught and hit Hibari with. "You idiot!" He crowed. The prefect let go of the two teens, the duo falling out of the window. "No, you don't!" He caught them by their collars, leaning against the sill of the window as Hibari smirked.
He held his tonfa tightly. "Mind if I tear you apart?"
Tsuna looked back at his words, only for an innocent coffee bean to hit the wall softly.
"A coffee bean?" Hibari questioned, turning his head to his left and pausing at the sight of the strangely dressed baby.
"Not so fast." Reborn ordered.
"I don't know who you are, but I'm very upset right now." Hibari stated. "Mind lying down and waiting for me?" He shot at Reborn, intending on hitting with his tonfa only for a small rod to deflect the hit, his brows quirking in amusement. "Wow, you're pretty impressive."
"And you're pretty strong." He complimented, though his tone wasn't polite, angered this fool would dare harm his Sky so much. He'd teach this impudent little carnivore his place another time.
"I'd love to fight you." Hibari smirked.
"Some other time." Reborn refused, holding a stick of lit dynamite and watching as the other's eyes widened in shock. This tiny sliver of vengeance would have to do for now. Tsuna could do damage control with his friends, he needed to see Hitori.
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Hitori could only sigh at the smug baby. "You deliberately forced Tsu-nii to meet Hibari?" She echoed her cousins' question.
"It was a risky gamble, but I didn't expect for you to be so injured in your fight with him." Reborn explained to himself, dark thoughts tumbling through his mind as he exercised multiple plans of revenge on her behalf.
She smiled at him, cradling against her chest and resting in her bed. It had been a few days since the fight with Hibari and she was still feeling the repercussions of it, her ribs still badly bruised she would need to watch herself and not overexert her body past its limit for a few weeks.
Nothing that Reborn couldn't heal, but since she had been in the infirmary, he wouldn't be able to heal her as much as he wanted without anyone suspecting her of doing something unsavoury.
"I'll forgive you as long as you help Tsu-nii and I strong enough to overcome situations like that." She muttered, pecking his cheek. "Don't mother hen us, but guide us so we become strong enough to protect our loved ones from as much harm as we possibly can."
"Go to sleep, Lazy-Hitori. You need to heal." He ordered bluntly, waiting for her eyes to close. Her breathing evened out, chest rising and falling softly. Hitori was his Sky and he had already failed in making sure harm wouldn't come to her, but it was inevitable. He would just need to make her strong enough he'd have less worrying to do.
So Hitori isn't all-powerful, which plays a big role in future and character development. Reborn acting like a concerned guardian and being offended, he's so cute I just wanna pinch his cheeks. Hibari might have some run-in's with Reborn, but who knows at this point - oh, wait, I do. I hope I didn't do too terrible with the fighting sequences, I struggle with them quite a bit, so a little feedback on how I did would be much appreciated! Did anyone catch the Byakuran cameo last chapter, did you like it? Changes this early in the series will have an impact, I assure you, so the Future Arc will be presented a little differently. I can't wait for Muroku and co to make an appearance. For her future enemies, I do have a role for them, they just need to be fleshed out before I'm completely happy with them. Let me tell you one thing, studying a certificate to get into uni for law is hard, my mum's doing the same one but she got in before me so her's was due Friday, it's why I didn't really update, we did a bit during her four weeks to get it in, but finding specific information is exhausting when you have to word the questions for what you're looking for. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Ciao!