Silent Heartbeat Chapter Ten:
Hospitable Kindness
When Hibari came to, the first thing he recognized was a sharp pain in his leg. As he tried to clear his vision, he sat upright and slowly took in his environment. It wasn't long before he realized that he was in a hospital. Hibari emitted a quiet groan, massaging his forehead tenderly as he wondered how he had ended up in such a place. And then, he heard a voice, though he couldn't quite make out the words...
"Kyouya, I was in the area... *mumble mumble*... so I took you here... *mumble mumble*... rivalry... *mumble mumble*... would be the right thing to do..."
"... What... who...?"
The voice was vaguely familiar, but in a sickening way. The voice made Hibari's stomach lurch with fear, and he looked to his side. A chill shot up his spine as he saw the face, but then, the man's hand touched his chest so softly, it eased his tense muscles. "Shh. You're very, very hurt."
"Mukuro... why are you...?"
"... When I found you in the middle of the road... it looked like you had JUST been hit. There was a man kneeling over your motionless body... gah, I just felt sorry for you, I guess," Mukuro muttered, looking away. Chuckling and shaking his head, he continued, "The last time I saw you, you were just acting like... well, almost like Chrome used to be. Mayhaps it was a sort of instinct I had; I just knew that I had to help you out- as your rival."
"Oh...," Hibari murmured. He blinked in confusion, before figuring that he must've collapsed and gotten hit by a car.
"Kyouya," Mukuro started, looking like he was about to say something very important. He then thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. "Nevermind... it's nothing," he sighed. "Just... try to heal up, okay? Here." The illusionist set a lotus flower on the prefect's stomach, and said, "Just meaning to lift your spirits, Kyouya."
"Thank you," Hibari said quietly. He could tell that it was an ordinary lotus blossom, nothing that would actually help him. But Mukuro's kindness was rather refreshing... especially after being treated poorly by that Dino.
"Kyouya," Mukuro started again. He had that same look on his face. "... I... eh... no... no, still nothing."
"Mukuro, touch me," Hibari rasped. "Just let me feel your hand against my face... let me feel a friendly touch." The illusionist paused, then reached forward, and his gloved fingers brushed soothingly over the prefect's cheek, making him shiver. Giving a calm sigh, Hibari leaned against the welcoming palm, his cheeks beginning to turn color. "Mukuro...," he breathed. The other smiled and retracted his hand.
"You're so different, Kyoya."
Hibari blushed, and his heart raced as he took in the small sentence. Not because he was being called 'different,' but because Mukuro had said 'Kyoya,' not 'Kyouya.' It was soothing, and nice, because it meant that Mukuro wasn't looking down on him anymore. 'Kyouya' could be translated to 'plaything.' Hibari was no longer a toy. No longer an object of amusement. He was a human. He was real.
He was... an equal.
A warm feeling came over the prefect as he thought about it, and he reached his hand out, and wrapped his fingers around the other man's wrist. "Mukuro...," he said, "I think I'll be okay with you hanging around as much as you want."
"Kyoya?" Mukuro murmured, "Are you... sure you're all right?"
Oh YEAH.
He WAS supposed to be a jerk, wasn't he?
Hibari retracted from the handshake, and looked away, trying to suppress his blush. "Thanks for bringing me here," he mumbled. "You saved me."
"Shut up," Mukuro said quietly, "You're toying with my mind... and that's my job."
"Sorry," Hibari apologized. He glanced back as Mukuro began to walk away, and allowed himself a small smile. Could it be that Mukuro would heal the wound in his newborn heart? Could the power of the Mist bring back the love Hibari longed to feel? Could it?
Hibari closed his eyes, holding the lotus flower in his hands. His leg hurt, but he felt an overpowering happiness inside him. The fluttering inside his chest made it pleasantly clear...
That he would soon find love again.
Later...
"Kyoya... Kyoya, wake up!"
Hibari let out a gentle whine as the strong arms gave him a violent shake, making his leg sear in protest. He forced his eyes open, and said, "What?" Unfortunately for him, something had broken in his voice, and he'd given off a sound rather similar to that of a scared kitten. A mewl, almost.
"Ahh, you're awake... I'm so relieved..."
A heavy mop of blonde hit the prefect's stomach and he hissed in pain, before growling, "Why are you here, Dino?"
"Why? You ask... why?"
The golden fluffball shot up, revealing worried, shimmering, hazel eyes. "I was worried about you, Kyoya," he whispered, his nails poking into the prefect's skin. "Just look at you! You're a mess; you're so pale... you look so delicate... almost like... like a..."
"Like a WHAT, Bronco?"
"Like a flower," Dino breathed.
Hibari, hurt physically by the other's roughness, and hurt emotionally by Dino's presence, tried not to cry as he looked away. "I don't want to see you right now," he attempted to change the subject. "I can't take the pain."
"Ah, yeah, yeah, right," Dino stuttered, backing off. "Sorry, I'm being a little reckless with you, Kyo-"
"Go away," Hibari said. The tears were hanging on the edge of his eyes, barely being held back, and the force of resisting them added a headache to the prefect's wellbeing. "I don't want to see you."
"Kyoya, I just want to talk," Dino began, but the prefect put a hand up.
"You're hurting me," he said, his voice just loud enough for Dino to hear. The blonde stood, and gave Hibari a long stare, before finally leaving the area. The prefect immediately gripped his head, and yanked the covers over his body, not seeing exactly HOW pale he'd become. In truth, his skin was mere shades from porcelain white, while his eyes looked more lifeless every day.
Hibari Kyoya... was sick.
Every so often, he would emit a petite cough, or give a cute, little sneeze, but it was no mere cold that kept him in bed. He grew weaker constantly, feeling more and more sluggish. And every day, at the same time, Mukuro would stop by and set a lotus blossom on the prefect's chest. Then, they would talk about something, until a nurse came by and ordered the illusionist to leave for the sake of their staff not getting distracted by him. But for some reason, whenever Mukuro and him talked, Hibari felt that Mukuro was... sad about something. He didn't say so, but his eyes seemed so full of pity and compassion, and one day, he even whispered, 'you poor boy,' to the prefect.
Hibari hadn't seen himself, but he was truly a mess. And everyone around him was starting to believe he was on his deathbed. Hibari began to sleep more, as well, opening the gate to a world of dreams.
A world of love.
-End Chapter
Man, this ch. seems slow! I've slumped! *depression* So I'm going to seriously need some reviews!
And btw, this is STILL D18, just expect some mixin' up to keep it rollin'!
