Heli: This chapter (well most of it) is straight from the manga. It was actually kind of fun to link my story to what was happening in the panels.
Taka and Kusakabe looked up from the city map they'd been studying when there was a soft knock on the office's door frame. Hibari's eyes lifted from the book he'd been staring at absently, his fingers pausing in the worrying of his ring. The tall, blond visitor stepped in followed by an imposing man in a suit. He nodded to the couple behind the desk before turning his attention to Hibari.
The blond man smiled pleasantly and Hibari felt a surge of contempt. "You're Kyoya Hibari, right?"
Hibari's fingers clenched around the ring in his palm. "Yes. Who are you?" he asked bluntly.
The blond's golden eyes sparkled with amusement. "I'm Dino, an acquaintance of Tsuna and Reborn. I'd like to talk to you about that ring you received."
The edges of Hibari's mouth ticked up. "The little guy, eh? Guess that means," Hibari pushed to his feet, trying not to let his anticipation show, "I should take you seriously." His emotions got the better of him, twisting his lips into a sardonic grin. "Not gonna happen."
Dino smiled to himself as his hand slipped into his coat pocket. "I thought as much," he said smiling at Hibari before lifting his hand out. "Alright then." His whip snapped when he pulled it tight between his hands. "We'll do this the hard way."
Hibari's stomach clenched with excitement, his tonfa clicking into place.
Following behind the fighters, Taka eyed the newcomers warily. What were they here to do exactly? They reached the stairwell to the roof, Hibari and the man called Dino slipping up it while the man in the suit hung back. He lifted a hand when she approached. "I'm sorry, Miss, but only-"
"Shut up," Taka snapped, her anger flaring. "I'm not letting you go up there alone with him."
The man gazed at her shrewdly for a moment before bowing his head. "I see." What he saw, she didn't care as she skirted past him and up the stairs. Hibari and Dino were already facing off when she reached the roof, so she moved to the side to lean against the rail. The mustached man joined her not long after.
Taka could see the combatants trade words but was unable to catch them on the breeze. It didn't matter, she figured, once they began to move and her breath caught in her throat. The man, Dino, was far more graceful then she'd given him credit for as she watched him dodge each of Hibari's attacks, that slight smile on his face. The fight paused when Dino halted one of Hibari's jabs.
"Your young man is quite the fighter," the man at her side murmured.
Taka's eyes narrowed on Hibari as she replied. "He's holding back."
The fight continued and Taka watched Hibari with a smug appreciation; enjoying each fluid movement he made until:
"Oh..." her companion said to himself, a proud smile on his own mouth at the sight of Hibari tangled in Dino's whip.
"You're like a frog in a well," Dino said, smiling. "You need to expand your outlook." Hibari gazed at him. "I'm going to help you with that, Kyoya."
Hibari's eyes moved from his opponent's face to find hers and when their eyes met, Taka felt her stomach clench suddenly at the barely perceptible lines of worry on his face.
Me...
He turned back to Dino. "No, you won't."
"Eh?" Dino reared back in surprise as Hibari swung his free arm, catching Dino across the face.
"Jack isn't going to like that," the dark man at her side said, clearly amused.
"Ouch!" Dino shook his head to clear it. "That smarts!"
Hibari watched him, his expression unreadable.
Heli: Random Fact Seven: It isn't uncommon for me to spend days agonizing over my OCs and fight with them. The record is 7 days with Aubrey, the OC of my Season. You know you're too connected to your characters when you can feel their smugness as you realize they aren't the problem; you are.
