Welcome to the tenth Chapter of Cute for my Cloud, a Hibari X Oc fan fic. I'm certain some of you were dying for this, well… It's gonna happen. ^.^ Hibari shows up in this chapter! There will be a minor skip in time because I don't want to keep dragging on with the explanations. I'm sure most know what happens in the time gaps. Anyways, here's Chapter 10. Enjoy~
Chapter 10
After getting an earful from the 'devil trainer' Lal Mirch, the next morning while Tsuna was looking for the bathroom he heard a commotion in the command room. Giannini was getting a transmission from Hibird. Giannini was trying his hardest to switch the fixed cameras to find the small yellow bird that was flying about. Everyone aside from the one Izumi member that wasn't present in base arrived due to the buzzer.
However, Giannini lost the signal; he did manage to get a last fixation which was near Namimori shrine.
"The shrine? What would Hibari be doing in such a place," asked Yamamoto.
Aiko frowned. "Could he still like hanging there ever since…" She fell silent, trying to not say too much about Hibari and Maeko.
"Ever since what?" Gokudera glanced at her.
"Ever since him and his sweetheart went there," Aiko stated bluntly. She was deep in thought about the matter, not recalling if there was something significant over there or maybe something vital. Hell, she knew only Maeko knew Hibari's tricks and hiding spots. Shame she wasn't around.
However, she didn't notice that the bit of information she said dropped a few jaws.
"Hibari-san has a sweetheart!?" Gokudera was highly surprised.
Aiko blinked. "Why are you surprise he has a sweetie? He had a group of fan girls for a while, wouldn't put it past them to attempt dating him. I mean whenever him and Maeko went on patrol, they had to shoot glares at the fan girls to not fight."
"Maeko had fan girls…?" Gokudera paled a little, recalling that Maeko had gone under the alias of a male name once. Minoru, the name of the weapon she wields, was the name she used at school a lot.
While the others were worried that Hibird could have fallen into enemies hands or the battery ran out, Gokudera pondered something on what he just said.
"It could also be a trap set by our enemies," stated Lal Mirch.
"A trap!" Tsuna glanced over at Lal Mirch.
Something connected in Gokudera's mind while they spoke. It dealt with Maeko's past alias. A male name alias… Lou stated his name was an alias while in Varia. Could Lou be…? "Aiko!" He looked at her. "Tell me straight or not!" He looked at her, surprising the others around him.
"Tell you straight what?" She looked puzzled.
"That Lou guy…" Gokudera swallowed at the thought, wondering if he was correct. "That's Maeko, isn't it?"
"Gokudera… Lou is a man," said Lal Mirch with confidence. "Why would a woman use a man's name?" She believed that Lou was a man despite never seeing him without his coat off.
Tsuna gasp. "Maeko's past alias!"
"Exactly, boss!" Gokudera was glad Tsuna caught on to that. "Maeko previous alias was Minoru, a male name!" He looked back at Aiko. "Is that Lou guy is Maeko in disguise!?"
Aiko blinked at what Gokudera said, sighing softly and scratching her chin. "I take back what I've said in the past, you're not a half-wit genius. However, what's your proof?" She looked at him sternly. "There has to be something other than the coincidence of a male alias."
Gokudera swallowed. "Both use sky flames, both have dressed in Varia uniforms." He was thinking of the other connections. "And most of all, he didn't harm the tenth. Wait…" Gokudera looked at Tsuna. "Boss! Did you get that weird vibe thingy like when you felt Maeko was alive around him? Like that guy was familiar!?"
Tsuna frowned at this bit of information. Lal Mirch sighs. "This is pointless, Lou is obviously a male."
"Hold on," Ryuji said, looking at Tsuna. "Tsuna, did you sense anything when Lou touched you?"
Tsuna looked at Ryuji and nodded. "I didn't consider him to be Maeko-san… because when I heard her voice it was far off." He placed his hand over his heart. "I wasn't scared of him, even when he was glaring… I felt rather calm, actually." He scratched the back of his head. "Like whenever Maeko-san would just stand quietly beside us while watching the ring matches. Or the few times she shot me a glare because I said something rather outrageous in class. It felt like Lou was just quietly giving his moral support… if that makes sense."
While they were discussing the fact that the strong blip on the radar could be a Black Spell call Gamma, Haru rushed in.
Kyoko was missing and left a note stating she was going home for a bit.
"Shit…" Aiko slipped on an earpiece and tuned it. "Lou, Lou!" She grits her teeth. "Damn it, why is he out of range! He should be in base!"
"Lou isn't here," stated Reborn.
"He isn't!" Aiko was surprised by this. "He always runs things like this by me if he isn't going to be in base and outside! He knows it's dangerous!"
Reborn grimaced. "He said he was heading out to wait." He looked at Aiko. "He's waiting for Hibari, or at least that's what he wrote he was going to do." Reborn was had a note left behind for him by Lou in case someone was wondering where he was. It stated rather simply that Lou was going to wait outside for Hibari's return since he had something to say to him.
"WWHAAAAAAAATTTTT!?" All the teens seemed to be unanimous about this shocking bit of information.
"Why is he waiting for Hibari!?" Gokudera looked over at Aiko who went silent.
"Ai-chan…" Haru looked at her. "Would Lou-san know where to find Kyoko-chan if she was in trouble?"
Aiko sighed. "Considering the location…wait…" She flinched. "Lou has a device that allows him to be notified if something like that did happen…" She glanced at Giannini, and he shriek in realizing he left entrance four unlock. "Tsuna, you decide." She looked at him. "We'll stay at base unless one of you hail us." She grimaced. "We can provide back-up… we can't let this base be taken so having several Lotus guardians here will ensure no one can take it over."
Tsuna nodded, taking cue from Reborn what he was suppose to do. Two teams were going to be heading out. Lal Mirch with Tsuna in Group A and Gokudera with Yamamoto in Group B. Group A was going to search for Kyoko. Group B was going to search for Hibird and Hibari.
Upon breaking, they both used two different exits to go towards their goals.
||| ### ||| Sometime later, with Gokudera and Yamamoto. ||| ### ||
Gokudera and Yamamoto were easily defeated by Gamma, and someone blasted a swirling about of cloud mist into the electricity. "I'll give you a hint about what you want to know," said a male voice. "They came over from the past." Standing in the smoke of the explosion was to pair of feet. "I'm not so stupid… as to be replaced of course."
"You seem to know a lot of things… but, if you want to join the fight, the rule is to give a name first." Gamma gazed towards the figure.
"There's no need for that." Hibird flew off of his owner's shoulder. "I'm in a very bad mood. I was suppose to meet someone dear here." Standing there a grown-up Hibari stood holding a cloud box weapon. "So, right here, right now, I'll bite you to death." The glint in his eye had gotten sharper over the years; it was none other than Hibari Kyoya the reliable Cloud Guardian of Vongola and the symbol of Order in Namimori over the years. He gazed coldly towards Gamma, wondering who in the world this man was to disturb the peace.
"Waiting for someone?" Gamma looked over, remembering from the posters of information about the various Guardians. Now he knew why he didn't give a name. "Got a hot date, Mr. Cloud Guardian… Hibari Kyoya?"
"So what if I am?"
"Although, Mr. Cloud Guardian… You've been giving our intelligence unit a lot of trouble. Are you an ally or enemy of Vongola…? What of Izumi? We just can't work out the motives for your actions." Gamma gave a small smile. "But, according to the most prevalent rumors, you have an infatuation with the seven wonders of our world or something. You appear to have been investigating the boxes."
"Maybe," replied Hibari. He didn't want to indulge the enemy of his ties with Izumi. If he mentioned Maeko's name, Hibari mood would have plummeted even further. It wasn't the first time where a Millefiore member mentioned Maeko's name and mentioned what transpired a few months earlier. That always tended to sour his mood so much he wanted nothing of whoever said it left.
Nothing left but their bitten corpse.
"Well, I'm the same, really. I wouldn't want to trust my life to things I know nothing about. So, do you want to know who, what for, and how they built this?" Gamma held up his box weapon.
"I don't want to answer that either. Like I said, I'm in a very bad mood."
Gamma smirked. "No wonder it's said that Hibari Kyoya is the Vongola's man. When it comes to your allies getting killed… you couldn't just stand and watch."
"Hardly," commented Hibari. "The thing which makes me angry is… when the discipline in Namimori has been defiled." The ring on his finger exhumed a large amount of Cloud flames.
"Eh discipline…? You said you were meeting someone dear here." Gamma smirked, he knew he heard Hibari correctly. That was something new since the intelligence unit never truly did find a solid source of who Kyoya and Maeko Izumi married. It was at the exact same time, the only thing they knew was that Maeko's husband was part of Vongola. Nothing else was known. "Meaning there's a Mrs. Hibari running around, right? Or haven't married her yet?"
Hibari glared fiercer at Gamma. If Hibari had a mood meter, it would have dropped six notches at the mentioning of a 'Mrs. Hibari and it boiled his blood. Obviously very few outside of Vongola knew of the marriage he had. They were on a wild goose chase for a Saya Hibari, the one he purposively married. Just like the wild goose chase they did trying to find a Kejiro Izumi who married Maeko.
No one outside of Vongola knew the real truth of who married who.
"Well, whatever. The more of the enemy's guardians I have on my kill list, the merrier." Gamma's ring was sparking lightning flames and he inserted it into his box weapon. "I'm a man… after all." Gamma's foxes were out and Hibari sent the same blast towards Gamma. Gamma could see that there was a hedgehog inside. "The hedgehog is cute, but what's with this power…? How are you able to control the box's movements with that third-rate ring?"
"My abilities when it comes to living things are not the same as yours," commented Hibari. His ring shattered due to unable to withstand the wave energy he was emitting. "So, we should… begin our attack too." Hibari slipped on another ring, having the flames burst out of the ring before putting it into another box weapon. This time, the weapon was something Hibari was overly familiar with.
Tonfas covered in cloud flames.
Gamma was a little nervous at this. Hibari was the first person he met who tosses rings as he uses them. The two clashed and Gamma realize that Hibari was no joke. The rumors of Hibari being the strongest of the guardians excited him.
||| ### ||| A little away… ||| ### |||
Lou glanced in the direction of the sound, standing up the Varia member sighed before something shot at him. He dodged swiftly to the left, skidding across the ground and his hand touched the ground as he gazed upwards to the sky.
A curly haired woman floating above him, storm flames were emitting from her boots as she wore a scantily clad Black Spell uniform. "Long time no see, Lou-baby." She blew a kiss, turning to the side to jiggle her breasts. "Did you miss me, my big boy~?" She gazed at him hoping he would be enticed by her voluptuous bounty of a body. Most men couldn't keep their eyes off her, let alone their hands. Just a few manage that, and she always wanted those men as her pets.
Lou blankly stared at her, turning around as he noticed that there was a large spike looking thing near the shrine. Probably Hibari…
A wave of storm flames hit the ground as Lou dodged yet again, causing an explosion that would have been heard from the shrine. "Stop ignoring me!" She held a two hand scythes. "I want you as a pet! I'll make you talk if it's the last thing!" She was turning red with anger. "You're my prize that I've set on ever since you got here! Next will be that stupid Hibari and then Xanxus!"
Lou snorted at hearing this. Lifting his right hand up, he motions her to come at him. This woman was Bellatrix of Black Spell under Gamma's control, and she came all the way from Italy to chase him down. Amusing, really it was. Lou will have a final dance with this Black Spell; the final dance of Lou of Varia.
||| ### |||
Tsuna heard that Gokudera and Yamamoto weren't in any danger, yet he met with Kusakabe Tetsuya. His hair had gotten a bit longer, but he still looked the same despite the years. Just then an explosion was heard, and both turned their heads in the direction.
"Wait… that wouldn't be Lou-san, would it?" Tsuna was the one who said this, surprising Hibari.
"Lou!" He looked at Tsuna and then to the forest. "Are you positive that Lou is outside?"
Lal Mirch nodded. "He left last night after I accuse him of being a traitor. He left Reborn a note saying he was going to wait outside for you, Hibari Kyoya, and say something to you."
Hibari slide a glare over to her. "You made a big mistake…" Hibari hurried over to the direction. "Tetsu, I'll leave them to you." He hurried over to where all the explosions were going on.
"Wait, Hibari-san!" Tsuna followed after him.
"Wait, we can't hide these here or enemy's radar will pick it up," Kusakabe said to Lal Mirch.
"It's fine, leave it to me." She took the two Vongola rings since she was going to pick up Kyoko. "What about those two?" She glanced towards where Hibari and Tsuna went. From what she knew, Hibari didn't like crowding and more than likely will attack Tsuna if he felt such. Then again, Hibari's reaction to Lou being attack was… interesting. Lal Mirch wasn't expecting it at all.
"I'm certain Kyo-san will be alright. Lou-san is capable, so I doubt Kyo-san will need to draw his weapon," commented Kusakabe.
"Eh, he can handle it," Maemi's voice was heard.
"Yeah… Hibari-san tends to do just fine," Isamu stated. Lal Mirch looked over to see the Cloud guardian and the thunder guardian of Maeko's. The only one left was the mist guardian who was looking for Chrome.
"Leave them to me," said Aiko. Kusakabe and Lal Mirch turned to see her standing there. "Tetsu, take these two into the base for us. I'll retrieve the bosses and Tsuna." She looked a Maemi. "You two head in and relax. Maemi, make sure to see Haru."
"Mn, will do." Maemi smiled, grabbing Isamu's arm and led him into the invisible wall for the base. They were followed by some blonde haired woman who was silent, yet she didn't look like Caprice.
"The bosses…?" Lal Mirch was confused.
"Yes, the bosses." Aiko smiled. "You'll see why once you come back with Kyoko-chan." Aiko drew out a Storm Ring box and hurried towards where Tsuna and Hibari went. She had a feeling she was going to have to shoot some pests out of the way. No one has ever gotten out of her line of sight when it came to her scope; not even Maeko.
||| ### |||
Tsuna and Hibari manage to get opening in the forest, smoke kicking up from the combatants being in the mist of battle. "Lou," called Hibari. "Lou!" He covered his eyes, trying to spot a figure in the smoke. He couldn't see anything, but he noticed some Storm flames and grimaced. She wouldn't be here, would she?
"OH! Hibari Kyoya!" Bellatrix squealed, flying higher to look at him. "You brought a cutie with you too~ Good thing I'm a cougar, I can show that boy a thing or two." She winked over at Tsuna.
Tsuna gawked at being winked at like that, chills running up his spine as he feared this woman would do some rather horrible things to him. He didn't want to know!
"Where is Lou?" Hibari glared at Bellatrix.
Bellatrix grinned, pointing down at the ground before landing. Well, she was heading towards someone before a blast of Storm flames hit the figure that was standing there. "What!?" She flew backwards, looking down in aghast. The collar she took precious time to put on Lou was on the ground, and Lou was back on his feet.
"Someone shot him!" Tsuna jaw dropped as Aiko stood beside him.
"Stop playing stupid twit." Aiko held her umbrella, smoke coming out the tip of it. Tsuna looked at the umbrella, noticing that there was a handle and what looked like a trigger too.
"Aiko-san… is that…?" Tsuna didn't dare ask.
"A gun in the form of an umbrella," answered Aiko. "It doesn't take normal bullets but my flames are enough ammo to send a precise bullet to my target. It shield and defend me from oncoming attacks while I blow pest asunder." Aiko glanced at Tsuna. "I have other weapons. I just like my sniper umbrella a bit too much…"
"My Louie!" Bellatrix landed on the ground before glaring over at Aiko. "You whore! I'll make you regret that!" She snapped her fingers, several men carrying scythes showed up wearing the same collar that Aiko shot off of Lou.
Tsuna glanced over at Hibari, seeing him getting irritated at just the sight of all those people and Tsuna glanced at Aiko in worry. He didn't want to get bitten to death. "Leave these pests to me," said Aiko. She returned her umbrella into the box, opening another and catches a sniper gun coated in Storm flames. "I'll snipe you flies out of the sky." She took out a pair of glasses, sliding them on and tapping the side before a display showed up. She raised her gun and smirk. "Come get me, you worthless Black Spells."
Bellatrix signaled them men to attack, all dive bombing towards the three while she herself walked over to where Lou laid. However, she stopped upon hearing loud explosions and looked.
Tsuna was watching the whole time while Aiko shot one after another, hitting with precision despite each Black Spell member being mobile and flying. Her glasses started to glow too, Storm flames jetting out of the side and it showed to Tsuna they weren't ordinary glasses. They were tactical glasses Aiko wore to predict and maneuver against her opponents that were air born.
Lou was still lying on the ground, motionless before Bellatrix got to him. Bellatrix grabbed him by the collar, looking at his face to see his eyes were still closed. "Oh Lou!" She hugged him tightly and proceeds to snuggle her face into his chest. "Now you're finally…." She frowned pulling back and groping his chest. "Mine…?"
Aiko started laughing at this, turning around and slamming her fist into a nearby tree. Hibari face palmed, looking away and trying to not laugh at the confusion Bellatrix was having. They knew Lou had some extra padding there. Well, considering who it really was they wouldn't blame her for being confused.
Bellatrix jumped back just as Lou opened his eyes. "Why is your chest…? It's not possible…!?" She gritted her teeth. Tsuna glanced between the three adults, perplexed about what was going on until Lou started to move.
"Lou-san!"
Lou stood up, cracking his neck and unzipped his jacket. Tossing it to the side, this caused Tsuna to gawk at what he was seeing. Standing with a black bikini top, fingerless gloves covering her hands, rings on her fingers, and several boxes lined on her belt. Wearing black slacks and boots to complete the ensemble; Lou was a woman, and one who looked eerily similar to someone Tsuna knew. "I'm home," said the woman, glancing over at Tsuna and giggles. "Missed me, Tsuna? Hibari, you best brought those souvenirs or I'm going be mad at you."
Bellatrix stood there in shock at what she was seeing. Lou wasn't a man but a woman.
"No way…" Tsuna smiled, truly relieved to finally see her. "Maeko-san, you're back!"
Hibari chuckled. "Guess that boot camp Varia style was good for you after all."
"Duh~" Aiko grinned. "Who better to get Mae-chan out of the funk other than Xanxus? I mean, come on, that guy is brutal and gives no sympathies." Aiko glanced at her best friend. "Welcome home!"
"My Louie!" Bellatrix shouted, igniting her scythes once more. "I'll kill you! You…!" She glared at Maeko.
"Maeko Izumi, head and boss of the Izumi family." Maeko held up her right hand, the ring on her finger that had an Lotus inside the ring's crystal lit up with sky flames. She opened up a Rain ring box, a sword coming out and it became coated in sky flames. She stood with her feet apart, her sword tip pointed downwards as she held the hilt over her head. "Prepare to be obliterated, Ms. Bellatrix. The Lotus shall burn the truth into you!"
Maeko makes a return and her first fight is with Bellatrix of Black Spell!
Bellatrix charged Maeko, slicing down at her as if she was going to hit. To no avail, and Bellatrix stood fixated in the spot while Maeko stood behind her with her sword resting on her shoulder. "Child's play," said Maeko calmly. At first, Tsuna thought it was one slash until he saw Bellatrix clothes become nearly shredded to pieces.
"Thousand Cherry Blossoms," said Hibari. Tsuna glanced at him. "Didn't think she'd use that so quick..." He smiled over at Maeko. "Looks like your speed increased there."
Maeko chuckled as she returned the sword into the box and picked up her coat. "Just a bit, my speed was actually one of my benefits given how tiny I am."
Hibari went to her side, not going to make a comment while they were outside. "Don't scare me like that, or I'll bite you to death."
"Oh?" She glared at Hibari. "Mr. Doesn't-call-to-tell-me-he's-coming-home doesn't have a right to bite me at all, I think." A hand went to her right hip as she looked at him, Hibari's gaze following the hip and the pants she wore with it. His gaze traveled right back up to her exposed abdomen, noting the few scars and then finally back to her face.
"I was a little busy, I'm sorry." He looked at her. "I'll make it up to you."
Tsuna stood there in confusion. He heard what Maeko said about Hibari not telling her when he was coming home. Were they hinting the two that were together…?
"No way!" Tsuna jaw dropped in realization of just who the two were with.
"Tsuna-kun?" Aiko glanced over at him.
"The sweethearts are… no way…" He paled as if he didn't realize it himself. He just, not a few days ago in his time, thought the two were in no ways a couple.
"Hm?" Hibari glanced over at Tsuna in puzzlement before Maeko laughed.
"Come on, let's go." She grabbed Hibari's arm. "I'm certain Tsuna can tell us once we're in base." Hibari went with her willingly back towards the shrine and into the base. The first thing Tsuna did once inside was bow and congratulates the two on their marriage.
To think his suspicions in the past weren't too of the mark…
||| ### |||
Tsuna had gone to check on Gokudera after checking on Yamamoto. Hibari happened to drop by, before Bianchi and Fuuta arrived with information. However, due to the crowding caused Hibari to bite Tsuna and return to his side of the base. Leaving Kusakabe to the intelligence debriefing in his stead and returned to his side of the base to his own room. Hibari opened up the door to his room. Now he was in a bad mood, and seeing Maeko lounging around on the floor still in her Varia outfit made him stare a moment. "Still wearing that?" He smiled at her while walking in. He made certain to lock the door so no one dared bother them.
Maeko glanced over at him and chuckles. "I'll wear a kimono tomorrow, promise." She sat up as he came to sit beside her. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she straddled his hips and gazed into his eyes. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, Mae." He leaned in close and nuzzled his face against hers. How many months was it since he last saw her? He had been so busy with work, he almost neglected her. Yet he knew she was in Varia for an intensive boot camp ever since Minoru was destroyed. He had a feeling that Regina was right about that one thing. Only Xanxus would have been able to snap her out of it with a Varia-style boot camp to get her back into the fight. "Surprised you're not in the debriefing, skipping out?"
"Aiko will inform me of any changes. Besides, I want more alone time with you."
"Naughty girl."
Maeko smiles. "Only for you."
Hibari smiled at this. He missed their banters and her teasing. "I'll be busy tomorrow, so tonight shall we indulge?" He really wanted just an intimate night, but he also didn't want to wear himself out too much before tomorrow. He had to evaluate the Lotus Guardians again to ensure they were at the top of their games, such he made a habit since marrying Maeko. They can romance another time. He could tell from that combat earlier she was swifter, or just quicker than her opponent. He heard that Bellatrix wasn't the quickest to swing her weapon.
Maeko sighed, moving so she sat directly in his lap with her back against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her trim waist. "After tomorrow, when you're not busy since I have a feeling it'll be a while before I switch." Hibari leaned close, biting her shoulder and caused her to moan. "Hibari, I said tomorrow."
He nibbled his way from her shoulder up to the sensitive part of her left ear. He bit down, earning himself another moan and feeling her shudder in his arms. "I'm giving love bites, like you did last time."
"I did not!"
"You gave me twelve, love," he reminded. He counted how many hickeys she put on him the last time the two were together. "Or did you forget that?"
"It's bug repellent," she scoffed. "Do you know how irritating it is to hear over and over again women wanting you despite you being my husband? I mean, seriously. There is only one Mrs. Hibari."
He smirked. "And it's you, Mae." His hand slide down her abdomen, across the pale scars and he began playing the whip to remove the belt so he could play inside her pants. He continued to nibble on her shoulder and her neck as he pulled her shoulder length hair to the side so he could play all he wanted.
"Kyoya…" Maeko bit her bottom lip to not be so loud, squirming in his lap.
Hibari smirked at her moving and trying to not moan. "Adorable," he murmured. "You keep this up, and we'll be tumbling in the bed sheets in no time." He blinked when she moved out of his lap, frowning at her doing so. True in the past he wouldn't have let her escape, but he knew better than to push her sometimes. If she wanted up, he lets her up without questioning her. That was until she pounced him. "Ofmph!" She managed to knock him down onto the floor, his gaze on the ceiling before seeing Maeko's face blocked it out.
Her hair curtain their faces and he had to stop himself from having a smug look on his face. Her elbow rested beside his head, her head dipped low as she kissed him. He parted his lips, kissing her deeper as their tongues wage in a war like dance of dominance. He buried his left hand into her hair. He rolled her underneath him, kissing her and only pulling back to pant to get some air before returning to kissing her.
The passion was mutual; months spent apart and possibly even being apart at a moment's notice was driving them. Any second, either Maeko or Hibari could be switched with their past self.
Except when a certain Box weapon decides his masters need to give him attention. Just as Hibari lifted his head so the two could catch their breath, a black furry head pushed between the two and Hibari snarl. "Lou, why are you out of your box," he snapped. Maeko covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing as Hibari glared at the Cloud Box animal. He was about to take off Maeko's top and this damn animal came in at the wrong time. Like usual.
The Black Panther lay over Maeko's abdomen, looking like it wasn't going to move and gave a yawn. Flames were coming from the joins of the limbs and on the tips of it's ears looked purple despite the fact the owner was a Sky flame user. It looked at Hibari bored while the carnivore was seething on the inside. This blasted cat, the one he gave to Maeko as a present, was persistent on interrupting the couple. Every damn time and always on the dot when this blasted box animal decides to come out of it's box to be Hibari's nemesis. Right when the two were about to be intimate; fortunately, it never happens if they start in the shower.
"Lou…" Hibari tried to speak calmly, hoping to settle this without getting into a brawl. "Can you move? I have to have time with my wife before I get to busy with training tomorrow." He smiled at the panther that was named Lou before Maeko took the alias.
Lou blinked at him, staring him down before swatting at Hibari's nose. Hibari dodged it, knowing well enough that swipe was meant to hurt him.
"You…."
Hibari patience had run out, and Maeko was trying so hard to not burst out laughing. The only time her husband ever got flustered was around this box animal. Lou always got Hibari flustered to the point the two fought. Constantly, and to the point where she was trying so hard to not laugh. Not only that, but it was just too funny that the one interrupting them was like their child. Sort of, in a way if one looked at a box weapon considering it's master parents.
Hibari got up, pulling his tonfas out and glaring at the feline. "I'm going to bite you to death." He gave a menacing glare to Lou. "You still need to learn who the alpha in this family is. Prepare for punishment for interrupting me and my wife."
Lou started snarling at him and stood up.
"Boys…" Maeko gently pushed Lou off her and stood up. She walked over to her husband and kissed his lips softly. "Darling, come on now. Do you really want to be fighting with Lou now? You two will go at it for days, besides he's just showing how he misses you." She smiled at him and got the box weapon and looked at Lou. "Sorry, tonight you can't be bickering with the hubby. Play nice, please?" Holding the box open, Lou was transported back into the box and Maeko put it back onto her belt.
Hibari's mouth twitched at her doing that. She did have a point. He'd fight that blasted box weapon with his normal tonfas for days on end just to get the point across that Maeko was his wife. He wrapped an arm around Maeko's waist and grumbled. "Stupid feline…"
"Feline was gotten by you, maybe you're ego transfer?" Maeko wrapped her arms around him and giggles as she gave him a hug.
Hibari scoffed at this. "Doubtfully." He held her tighter, feeling her body against his and sighs softly. "Maybe a quiet night together, like old times, would be better." He gave a smug look at her. "After all, once I'm done evaluating, I'm spending all night and morning with you."
"Pervert, all you think about is tumbling in the bed with me." She lightly hits his chest and laughs.
"Can't help it, Mae…" He nuzzled his nose against her hair, down to the crook of her neck. "Aside from work, all I ever think about is you naked in bed with me."
Maeko chuckled at his words. "And maybe biting idiots who disturb the peace in Namimori?"
"That too."
"And the bastard who hurt me," she added.
"He's dead… If I get a chance to be alone with the one destroyed Minoru… He's dead." Hibari pulled back to give an icy glare. "No one hurts you like that." He gave a warm smile. "Only I'm allowed to tease you to the point you're crying."
"Because you're my teasing, mean carnivore," Maeko said. "And I love you for that, all of you." She leaned in close and gave him a kiss. A slow and thorough kiss that Hibari had no qualms with; until Lou got back out of his box.
Hibari glared at the pesky box animal. "I think you need a time out mister…"
Maeko laughed at this, glancing at the two who seemed to be having a dispute. "Boys will be boys…" She walks back over to make sure that neither of them started a brawl in her and Hibari's room. Tonight, they'll spend a quiet eve where they just talk, cuddle, and try not to take a tumble in the bed sheets.
Just like when they were in high school together.
||| ### ||| With the rest in the meeting |||
The meeting was at it's end when Kyoko and Haru came in to see Bianchi and Fuuta. Along with them was Lambo and I-pin. Tsuna knew having the guardians of Maeko was good there, because he needed to ask each of them about the current situation. Regina was sitting between Ryuji and Maemi. Aiko was sitting beside Kasuakbe and Isamu was leaning against a nearby wall, silent. Also in the meeting, Tsuna told Lal Mirch that Lou was actually Maeko and she was the wife of Hibari. Obviously she wasn't told about this, shocked to hear that the one she accused of being a traitor was Maeko Izumi.
Now Hibari's words to her made sense…
"Aiko-san, who are you dating?" He looked at her. "Reborn said you were with someone, and I know Maeko is married to Hibari-san." He was clam now after his earlier freak out of seeing Hibari being like that. While they were walking, Hibari and Maeko flirted a little bit. Then again, he figured Hibari was perfectly fine flirting in front of allies and not the enemy.
Aiko chuckled, not surprised that he'd say that. She sticks her tongue out a little. "Those two were meant to be from the get go. They have similar likes and dislikes, and the two hit it off so well in middle school." She gave a sadden smile, knowing that she was going to talk a bit of something painful for her. "As for me… well, my boyfriend just landed himself in the medical bay."
"Just landed in the medical bay?" Haru gave a confused look.
"She means Gokudera," corrected Maemi. "She's been dating him for… two years now?"
"Four, actually. I managed to confess after you and Maeko teased me for like six hours." Aiko gave a peeved stare. "You sisters are ruthless when it comes to teasing. Hell, Maemi, you don't even have a crush on anyone right now."
"None that I'd let on." She giggled and looks at the two teens. "There wasn't enough time for the two to actually start dating in the past. But Bianchi agreed that Aiko was perfect."
"That meanie!?" Haru looked over at Aiko, and Kyoko did too. "Haru wants to know more!"
Yet Kyoko and Tsuna noticed how sad Aiko looked. To think her friend wasn't happy and she could guess. If the adult Gokudera was her boyfriend, then that meant the younger one wasn't aware that his girlfriend was worrying for him. "Ai-chan, it hurts seeing Gokudera-kun hurt like that… and you can't just outwardly voice your concern because he doesn't know you're his girlfriend in this time." Kyoko was the one to voice this, looking at Aiko.
Aiko glanced at Kyoko in surprise. Everyone was listening in, even Kusakabe who was still waiting for the information Aiko manage to get. Aiko glanced downwards. "Yeah… anyone of us who is dating any one of the Vongola Guardians has that chance. I'm certain Gokudera would be shocked given how we were in the past." She closed her eyes. "But… He has to understand, that the past four years… He was a wonderful and understanding boyfriend." Aiko smiled and looked at Haru and Kyoko. "To me, even if he's from the past, I know Gokudera just as well as his sister, Bianchi."
"I'm expecting a wedding soon," said Bianchi, scaring Aiko and she jumped. She was not expecting Bianchi to say that.
"Bianchi!" She turned red. "We still have time! No pressure, geeze!"
"Um… Aiko-san." Tsuna scratched his cheek. "I have a couple of questions, concerning Maeko-san."
Aiko glanced at Tsuna. "What is it…?" She was just glad he didn't bother to ask why she was dating Gokudera then again he probably had suspicions as to why the two were dating.
"If Minoru is destroyed in this time era… does that mean Maeko from ten years past will come here? And why was she in Varia?" Tsuna looked at Aiko. "I know it was destroyed here, yet in the past it's not! Meaning, Maeko from that time…!"
Aiko sighed softly. "Yes, there is a high probability that Maeko from the past will come. As to why she was with Varia, it was the boot camp we sent her to after Minoru was destroyed."
Regina chuckled. "I suggested it! Because Maeko was all lifeless, I recalled Xanxus didn't know what happened at the time so I went with her to explain what happened." Regina voice dropped to her actual tone, a deeper voice by the man. "Xanxus had to beat her back into the fighting spirit. It's a cruel way, but it was the only thing I could think of. She either fought back or died. Obviously, our boss is here thanks to her will to live. She has too much at stake if she just willy-nilly died on us."
Aiko looked at Tsuna. "She's the only one who can assist you, realistically, as the Izumi head. Minoru can be reinforced here and she'll have to be trained just like everyone else." She placed her hand on her hip. "Except this time, she has guardians and a nuisance."
Tsuna looked at her puzzled. "Nuisance…?"
Reborn was the one to pipe up. "Ah, you mean Caprice's student? The one following Hibari around in this time era?"
"Eh!?" Tsuna was surprised, recalling the name vaguely since the blonde haired woman was with Xanxus at the time.
Aiko nodded. "Her name is Griselda, cloud flames affinitive." She gave a stern stare. "And also a woman who doesn't believe that Maeko deserves being the boss of Izumi, let alone married to Hibari." She glances down. "She believed that Maeko is weak given what happen a few months prior, but Hibari shot it down instantly. Griselda believes that Maeko is weak, and doesn't understand the huge impact the destruction of Minoru was to her."
"Hibari-san… is part of Izumi?"
Maemi glanced at Tsuna. "He's my brother-in-law. Marrying an Izumi head normally results in boss-like status. But he didn't marry her for status. He married my sister because he loves her." Maemi smiled.
"Sister…?" Tsuna blinked, recalling that in the past Maemi was going to refer to Maeko as her sister despite them being cousins. Aiko even referred to them as sisters. "Ah… so you did go with calling her sister."
Maemi smiled at him saying that. "Yes. I don't regret it. But…" She gave a frown. "We just found out something… disturbing."
Reborn glanced at her. "What is it, Maemi?"
"Joben is still alive." Aiko looked directly at Tsuna. "And he joined White Spell, he's part of Millefiore now along with his lackeys. And he'll do anything to get his revenge on Vongola and Izumi."
Tsuna blinked at this bit of information, shocked at this new brand of information. Joben had returned and was part of Millefiore, their enemy. "That means… past Maeko is going to have to fight him again!"
"Correct," said Aiko. "Except for one thing that Joben will not be expecting at all." She smirks. "She'll have Minoru and the secret technique down. The one used to enhance her powers, Hibari knows how to do it too."
"Eh! Hibari-san can touch the sword!" Tsuna only heard, from what Reborn told him, that very few could touch the sword without getting burned by it. The sword burned people with sky flames, forcing them to drop the blade since it wasn't a rightful master or someone who had permission to touch it.
"Kyo-san has been able to touch it since he first met Maeko-san," stated Kusakabe. "He's been able to hold it and use it too. Minoru recognizes him as the husband of the head of the Izumi family."
Tsuna's jaw dropped hearing this.
"The only records we have of a husband of a female head doing that was, ironically, the ninth. Our grandmother, Noriko Izumi's husband was able to wield Minoru from the start too." Maemi smiled warmly, recalling her grandmother very well despite how young she was. "Grandpa I don't remember, he died before both sis and I were born. He died for grandmother Noriko, I heard. He protected her with his very life from some crazed Mafia guy who attempted to kill her while she was pregnant with Uncle Sakuya."
"Wow…" Tsuna was amazed at hearing this.
"Very few could use it. Even Aunty Yumiko managed to do it only because of possession," continued Maemi.
Tsuna blinked at hearing this. "Wait, Minoru can possess people! Aren't ghost suppose to do that only!?"
Maemi blinked at how surprised Tsuna wasn't aware of this. She forgot this wasn't his future self who knew about this. "Actually it is possible. Minoru is named after the first Izumi head, Minoru Izumi. His soul lies inside the blade as well as each true Izumi head afterwards." She looked at Tsuna. "He placed it in there after the fight with Ricardo, Second Vongola Boss, in which Maemi Izumi, his sister and the next head of the family, witness this transaction." She looked at everyone who was present. "Shattering a soul isn't normal. Particularly one bound in a sword. The way Minoru was destroyed proved this Byakuran wasn't just trying to destroy a blade." She gave a serious look. "His objective was destroying the souls inhabiting it."
Tsuna swallowed at hearing this. "Does that mean…?" He was scared to ask if this guy could destroy souls, that would mean the possibility of past Maeko's sword getting shattered too.
"Don't sweat it for now," said Reborn. He had a small frown on his face. "When Maeko comes here, everything should be ready for improving Minoru for combat. Not only that, but she'll have six guardians to guide her in her training. She should be up to par with you by the time we're ready to strike."
Aiko nodded. "I agree. Don't sweat about her coming here until she does, that's when you should start worrying. Not now when the Mae-chan from this timeline is still here. As you saw, she's stronger than she was before." She smiles proudly at her best friend's accomplishments. "Strong enough to be on par with her husband, which is no small feat, and still manages to lead the Izumi family."
Tsuna swallowed and nodded in understanding. He shouldn't worry about Maeko until her past self comes here to the future. Until then, all he can do is wait and train.
Thank you for reading! No worries, I'll have a longer chapter depicting the thirteen days afterwards. Got to have the loving couple bonding after all, can't leave you all hanging due to me posting chapter wetting the appetites of when the couple should appear. I'll get to work on Chapter 11 for Cute for my Cloud as soon as possible once I take a minor break so I'm not burned out and start to hate writing chapters. Until next time, Ciao~