Katekyo Hitman Reborn
My Fate is Certainly Uncertain
Chapter 12: Socialism II
Overall Warnings: Violence, swearing, blood and Oc-ness.
[Written to: G-Dragon - Crooked]
~o0o~
The night was cool and with little wind, I barely managed to keep my back straight as I stepped out of the car in thin heels. Reborn followed, dressed in a purple dress shirt this time around, and wearing a bow tie in place of his usual accessories. Even Leon had dressed up tonight, having a miniature bow tie of his own. The way that light glowed, as it flowed from the brightly lit windows of the mansion and reflected off of Leon's scales made everything seem that more dreamlike. It felt like stepping on a red carpet in Hollywood, something every girl dreams of at least once in her lifetime.
I had a quick debrief before we, Reborn and I, embarked on our thirty minute drive. It was just us two, since the CEDEF got an official invitation. Only those who were handpicked by Iemitsu were given permission to go and even then they weren't permitted to stay for long periods of time. Since I was Reborn's plus one, I was given free reign. However, social gatherings still aren't my forte, so the only rules were that I behave myself, have fun and not attempt to leave or suffer dire consequences.
"Keep your back straight." Reborn ordered, whacking the side of my ankle. "Keep it straight or you really will embarrass yourself."
"I thought we had an agreement not to read minds tonight." I whispered discretely, nodding a thank you at the guy who opened the door. He was wearing a suit made of light blue that made his dark skin stand out. I saw a lot of other men and women dress in the same, peculiar way. A way that stands out from everybody else so that you immediately know who they are. Useful for some, a warning to others.
"I told you not to read any minds tonight. Myself, however, isn't bound by my own rules. I just happen to have more self control over it than you."
Our car pulled away and another took it's place as Reborn and I walked, I want to say gracefully but I wouldn't go that far, to the steps of the front entrance. A man in his mid thirties nodded as Reborn handed him the white card invitation. My arm felt heavy.
"Welcome Sir Reborn." He said in a rustic voice, bowing. His gloved hand rested above his breast pocket. "And partner."
"Thank you." We both replied, my reply coming a little after his. The man stepped to the side and slipped the invitation into a ballot box. I held Reborn in my arms, who made things just that more difficult and walked through the brightly lit hall to not one, but three security checkpoints.
Reborn had probably read my mind when we waited in line to be patted down. He sniffed. "It's just a procedure Phillipa. It's not that big of a deal." Then, he looked down at the brightly wrapped package that I held underneath him. "Although, I think they'll pull you over for that thing."
"How was I supposed to know that you're not meant to bring something to an event?" I whispered, rather urgently.
"Is that what you do in America?"
I breathed out of my nose. "Not everybody does it, but I like to as a thank you."
"You're strange."
"I get that from you."
"No, you get that from your mother."
"Bags please." The female attendant asked politely, standing on the other side of a table. Another attendant stood on the other side next to us and kindly took Reborn's coat. Her smile dropped when Reborn jumped out of my arms and onto "Um…Miss?"
"I'm so sorry." I said quickly, placing it on the table. "This isn't, like, weapons or anything."
Her eyebrow raised. "What is it?"
"A gift for Dino."
"A-A gift for master?" She repeated, stuttering. "You know him personally?"
I shrugged, and Reborn kicked my ankle for acting unlady-like. "We're sparring partners."
She whispered under her breath as more guests entered. "Would you mind stepping into the room next door? I just want to ask some questions."
"I'll meet up with you later Reborn!" I called, as he passed the last checkpoint.
He nodded and past though the white french doors. Two attendants closed the doors behind him and I followed the female attendant into the room next door as another blue clothed female took her place at the table.
She put the gift on the table and gestured for me to sit. When I sat, I undid the tiny straps at the back of my black heels, groaning in relief. She smiled at my response, a strand of blond hair hanging in her face. She tucked it away.
"I take it that it's your first formal event?" Her smile grew larger. "Don't worry, these rooms are soundproof."
"Is it ever." I replied, crossing my arms. I wasn't going to trust her as I had no reason to. "What are you doing?"
"Opening this." She said, delicately opening it. I tensed. She blinked when it was fully opened and rubbed the fabric between her fingers. "The inside lining is really soft."
"So is it okay to take in? Because I really don't want to return it."
She sighed and re-wrapped it, doing the best she could to stick the tape back down, even though bits of ripped paper were still stuck on it. "Yup, you're clear. Do you want to do the rest of the checks here and bypass the rest of the desks? I have a special pass for clearance."
"Yes, do that then."
~o0o~
I gave the pass to the guard at the door, who looked over my outfit awkwardly and entered into the main ballroom. Immediately, I had held my jaw back from dropping. I had never ever been to a wedding before and only a couple of birthday parties while I stayed in America. The outlay floored them all in both the atmosphere in the room and even before, when the invitations were handed out, I found that this was going to be one hell of a night. There wasn't going to be any ceremony, shall I say, but just like an official announcement at the party to reveal the new boss to the world.
I found it annoying to wear this much make up, but the mascara and eyeliner was what bugged me the most, since I couldn't rub my eyes. I'd heard that this shin-dig would go on throughout the night, to which I cringed. My mind went numb. I, personally, hated staying up late. Wasn't my thing at all and I found that I had no problem what-so-ever when it came to getting up early.
The ballroom chandeliers lit up and light from the fluorescent light bulbs. There was a live band playing, with a lady in red who donned a burlesque style dress that glittered in the light. Their music resonated through the room, mingling with the chattering of the socialite birds, who carried half filled wine glasses and red licker lip smiles.
My shoes slowly strode across the polished marble floor. Under the clink of the glasses, I looked around for Reborn, but finding him in this sort of area would prove to be another challenge. I spent what was probably ten minutes walking through with the gift in my hand, I spotted Dino being surrounded by ladies with all sorts of styles, champagne and wine in their hands. His cheeks were slightly red as he too had one in his hand. I didn't know whether that was because of embarrassment due to all the attention or due to drunkenness, however, my mind suggested it was a mixture of the two. On top of that, he seemed to his hands literally full with addressing all of these people, so I smiled to myself at his unfortunate scenario and walked to where I heard my name being called.
Basil was waving his arm, calling me over. His foot had recovered remarkably since last week. Since it was only a sprain and some slight swelling around his ankles, he had only yesterday been taken off of his crutches. He still had a bit of a limp, but he smiled his way through it.
"Hey B." I smiled and touched his shoulder. In my heels, I was a bit taller than him in his flat dress shoes. "How's the foot going?"
"Great!"
My smile remained, eyes closed. "Liar."
When I opened them, his smile was still there too but it shifted into a nervous one. He chuckled quietly. "Things never get past thou, do they?"
"Most things." I replied. "I have selective hearing."
"Phillipa!" Iemitsu yelled, giving my shoulder a hard thump. I sighed under a smile.
"Hello, Sir. Nice suit."
"Thank you M'dear." He thanked me with a big grin and stood with his back straight. In the heels, I reached to his nose and was tall enough to rest my arm on Basil's shoulder. Iemitsu wasn't holding a glass but I already assumed that he'd drunk at least a glass, since he used my actual name instead of my last name. "You look fine as well."
I looked down at my V neck line and blinked at the face that I couldn't see my feet because of the ruffles in the dress. "Thanks, have you seen Reborn?"
"N-"
"You."
The look on Basil's face when someone called out to us was one of fear mixed with anxiety. He silently groaned and swore in his mid, turning around to address whoever-the-heck decided to seethe at us rudely.
I don't know what happened to the dude. He looked like someone had pissed on his shoe. His face looked nasty, being scrunched up. And was his hair naturally grey or did the hairdresser accidentally mix up the hair dye? Like all of the men here, he wore a simple tuxedo and carried a glass of wine.
He was gritting his teeth, growling. Basil was good at keeping up a smile when faced with a ferocious growl of a hound.
"Hello again Squalo."
The man named Squalo spat out a guttural response and I wondered. What did Basil do and how far did he go to get someone this angry. Of course, this would depend on Squalo's level of tolerance and the height of the situation.
Something clicked in my mind as a scene replayed out in his.
"Oh!" My mouth rounded in a red oval. "So you're the dude that broke Basil's ribs when he kicked your ass."
"WHAT! VOI~!"
Basil coughed, trying to break the tension. "Uh, Squalo, this is Phillipa, my sparring partner and agent at C.E.D.E.F."
"Oh, so you're one of them?"
"What are you, deaf?" I asked. "Basil clearly just said the obvious."
"I wasn't asking, bitch!"
"Then learn to use your tone right when saying questions and statements, idiot." I rolled my eyes and patted Basil's shoulder. "I'm gonna step outside. The dress is a rental and I really don't want to have to fight tonight. Ciao."
I left the two in a spaz, the grey haired one yelling obscenities after me. It was true, what I had said before. I didn't want to fight tonight or ruin the dress since it was Reborn who brought it for me. But the main reason I ditched was to get some fresh air and run away from the chaos and drama of actually having to socialise. It drained me to talk. I moved through the moving crowd as they tried to get back inside, just as the announcements were being made.
The moon was out tonight. It was nice, being here. Dino's families' mansion was a good way out of the city, on a hill in the country sunshine. In the city, where the main headquarters was, you couldn't see the stars properly like you could here. I stepped out into the cobblestone courtyard that was lined with a stone fence and large potted plants. It was the kind of scene where I imagined myself smoking to myself, despite how much I hated the smell.
Not many people were out here. Most of them were brainlessly watching the show inside. A couple was eating each others faces in a corner, the guys hand slyly moving down her waist. I breathe out and rolled my wrists, stretching. Then, I closed my mouth quickly, just as I'd spotted a small child that was sitting on the courtyard fence; cloaked in a deep purple cloth that under this light, looked black.
It wasn't me that started the conversation, nor was it him. Or her, I wasn't too sure. That annoyed me, since I couldn't pick it up from his mind either. The couple in the corner decided, loudly, that they'd find a more private place to mingle. Our eyes met when they left and under his hood; (that's the gender I decided on).
He huffed, and I felt the back of my mind dipping into a dark place.
"I'm going to guess that you're an arcobaleno."
I heard the boy click his ankles and turned on the spot he was sitting on. "You'd be right."
I sat down on a nearby bench, tired of wearing these heels. He hopped off of his seat and floated over to me, the marks on his cheeks glowing in the moonlight. "Arcobaleno of what?"
"What do you mean, foolish girl."
"Like, your Pacifier." I pointed to the one wrapped on his chest. "Reborn has the sun and Colonnello has the rain."
"You know some of the others?"
"Yeah." I muttered, wiggling my toes. I painted them burgundy earlier in the day but my big toe was starting to chip. "So which one are you?"
"Mist. I'm Mammon."
I swore in my head. This wasn't Verde, like I hoped it would.
"Marsh." I replied.
"You need something, because if not, you can bugger off."
"I do, but I need to know that you won't tattle if someone else asks about what I'll ask."
"Forget it."
"Why?!"
"I don't give information for free," He sniffed. "Pay up or get lost."
"Pay...up?"
He held out his hand. "For the safety of the information I keep secret on everyone else and the information itself, I want double. I also wanna know who you're keeping it from."
I took a pen and notebook out of my purse and handed it to him. "Put your bank details on there and I'll send the money as soon as I get back to the office. After you get it, send the info to this address." I wrote down one of the several email addresses I had as back up ones. "How much?"
He blurted out a random number, since his brain was going at the rate of a roller coaster non-stop for the duration of the conversation.
I thought it over quickly in my head and nodded. "Yup, I can get it."
He folded the paper and put it away. "What are you looking for?"
"I need information on Verde's whereabouts."
"Verde?"
I nodded. "And I need you to keep Reborn from finding out, got it?"
I stood and aired out my dress, patting it out at the front. My feet felt slightly cold on the cobblestone but I was reluctant to put them back on.
"Reborn." He repeated, looking up at me.
"Yes."
"Any relationship to him?"
I blinked, very quickly thinking this question over because if I paused for too long, it would be the equivalent of saying yes.
And then I had to duck for my life.
No warning, no signs saying 'look ahead, flying weapon of deadliness!'.
Just you bitch.
When I looked up, I found myself face to face with a woman whose face closely resembled Squalo's, in the fact that she wanted to tear my face off. I groaned at the point that I have never had one point of rest for myself tonight.
"Rude much!" I called, picking up my heels.
"You're the one who's rude!" She yelled, her face as red as her strawberry hair. She was wield food weapons around her fingers, like a pizza base. How she got them, I had no flipping clue. Her brain was focussed on other things, like me, so I couldn't pick up much. When I looked back at the seat, Mammon had disappeared. "Stealing other peoples' boyfriends!"
"Stealing other peoples' boyfriends?" I thought for a moment, keeping my eyes on her twirling weapon. "Who?"
"You know who!"
"I don't!" My mouth was open at this sudden turn. "Are you with Basil? 'Cause I can tell you, I'm not with him. I'd never date anyone younger than myself."
"Reborn, you idiot!" She yelled at the top of her lungs. "Reborn, my Reborn!"
My brain stopped functioning properly as the words left her mouth. Was she seriously seeing Reborn?
"EH!? WHAT! EW! EW THAT'S PEDOPHILIA BOTH WAYS!"
She gasped. "You bitch, how dare you!"
The girl threw another pizza my way and again, I managed to duck. I threw one of my shoes in the direction of her face. She was quick to dodge it but then again, I was too.
In the corner of my eye, I saw someone step out into the courtyard. Dino spotted me and raised his hand with a smile spread on his face. "H-"
"No time to explain!"
I grabbed his hand and ran off as fast as I could, away from the crazy woman. I could feel her presence chase after us, hounding. I felt him stumble. When we reached the third floor of the mansion, I opened a window and climbed onto the second floor roof that was right beside it. Dino followed suit, since 1) - He didn't want to be fried by the woman he called Bianchi and 2) - this was a regular spot where I hid when Reborn was on a training rampage. Dino found out about it one day and joined me on the roof, and then Reborn found out.
We breathed quietly as the footsteps thudded down the corridor and eventually, out of my hearing range. I breathed out and closed my eyes. The breeze was refreshing. I hated running in this dress.
"Um…."
I opened one eye. "Eh, sorry for dragging you along. She surprised me, so I didn't have time to think."
"Afraid of Bianchi?" He asked, his fringe sweeping across his eyes. "Yeah, I think everyone's afraid of her."
"Except for Reborn. Reborn's afraid of nobody."
"Yeah." Dino chuckled. "Uh…."
"What?"
"You're still holding my hand."
What?!
"A-Ah, ha. Whoops," I let it go. "Sorry."
"It's okay, you're still wound up."
I nodded and thanked the Lord that it was nighttime. I hadn't meant to grab his arm, but I wasn't prepared to leave him alone like that. What the hell was I thinking?!
He lifted his head and I turned mine away. "Hey, what's that?"
I looked to where he pointed to.
"Oh, right. Here." I pushed the half-opened gift onto his lap. "Uh, congratulations…."
"Y-You got me a gift?!" He asked, sounding genuinely surprised. "A-After I yelled at you!"
"You were panicking and it was my fault for not warning you. M'sorry."
He laid back down, huffing. "No, no. I was actually going to apologize to you back then."
"How about we just apologize at the same time so that neither of us feel bad."
"Okay. I'm sorry for yelling at you."
"Thank you. And I'm sorry as well for…" I paused. "trapping you in a shield that was infact a way to protect you."
Dino nodded bashfully and went to open the gift. What he pulled out was an army green overcoat with a soft inside lining that would be cool in summer and that would keep vital heat in winter. The hood was lined with a black fur.
He gazed at it with his mouth wide open, tearing up slightly. "..."
"Don't you dare cry Dino over a jacket. It's just a piece of material."
"Just a piece of material!" He yelled at me, suddenly sitting up. "No way is this just a piece of material! It's something that you took the time to pick out for me, even when you didn't have to buy me anything!"
I didn't know that I didn't have to buy him anything at the time. If I had, I wouldn't have done it.
I shrugged. "No biggie."
"It is a big biggie!" He was frowning, trying to convince me that I did some good. He was elated with the gift. "Thank you."
I sat up and turned my gaze away. "Whatever. I'm gonna go. I have to go talk to Reborn about this Bianchi chick."
"No."
He reached for my arm and I fell back. I panicked, since I was sliding down the roof and he caught me with his arms, holding on tight. "S-Sorry."
I kept quiet.
"Stay here." He whispered, resting his head on the back of my neck. "I don't want to go back, so stay here for a little while longer."
In his arms, his breathe on my neck; I didn't like how it made me nervous. It confused me and I could feel my face grow hotter the longer we sat together.
I shook my head and broke away from his hold. I didn't bother to check if the coast was clear. I swooped back through the window while holding onto the top of the frame, landing on both feet.
"I mean it Phillipa, I love it!"
I didn't turn around. I kept my back arched and went to find my heels.
I didn't want him to see how red my face was.
~o0o~
For months after that, I spent a lot of my time with Reborn learning about what he does and why, while he waited for a new job to come up. I still sorted out the files back at the headquarters and was still not close to completing it.
Basil had another fight when Squalo came to the headquarters as a messenger to Iemitsu from the Varia about several security issues; since, they were the assassination squad. Normally, they wouldn't have gotten into this sort of stuff, but a lot of the heirs to the Vongola heritage had died suddenly over the past five years. The ninth wasn't looking all too well at the moment either.
One day, when I had decided that I didn't want to be cooped up anymore at the headquarters, Reborn invited me out to lunch.
To which I cringed with dire suspicion.
Regardless of my suspicions, I went anyway out of the politeness of my heart and due to the fact that he didn't give me any other choice. All of my previous appointments that day had mysteriously been canceled in my diary.
The cafe was called L'occhio del mare, not only a cafe but a bar famous for the seafood it sold. I had been there a couple of times and liked the snapper that they baked, but today, I didn't feel like ordering anything, My stomach was turning out of my nervousness. This behaviour wasn't what I had expected of him.
"Calm down Phillipa, you're not in trouble." He told me, while he waited for his food and I waited for my iced chocolate. Al sat silently in my lap, and thanked me in his mind that I had convinced Reborn to sit at a table that was covered by the shade of an oak tree.
"Then why are we here?"
"I want you to meet someone."
"Who?" I asked, looking around and froze when I saw the woman named Bianchi stormed up to our table. "Oh god…"
"Ciao, Bianchi. Have a seat."
"Hey hey, is that the spazzasaurous that you told me about!?"
"What is she doing here?" She asked pointing a finger at me while pulling a chair from another table and sitting right next to Reborn. "I thought I told you to leave him alone."
"No you didn't." I replied, thinking back. "You called me a bitch and then screamed that you were having a cahoot with Reborn."
"We are." She said smugly. "We're simply meant for eachother."
Wait a minute. Was this the chick that I met when I first met Reborn in the park? How the heck did I not remember that?
"Oh boy. What a lovesick duckling. All I want to do is eat her so I don't have to hear this." He whimpered. "Well well Reborn, old-sport. You like to choose 'em young, don't ya? Younger than your own daughter?"
Reborn didn't say anything, but I blatantly heard him reply 'At least I'm not a pervert.'
"Well, I can confirm for you now, I still don't have any romantic feelings," I resisted the urge to shiver and at the same time, laugh or giggle at his comeback."for him. That would be gross."
"Gross?"
"Reborn, Why don't you tell your girlfriend about me."
Bianchi's bottom lip pouted when I talked to him. "Reborn? Darling, who is she?"
"This is my Daughter, Phillipa."
Her mouth dropped right down, as far as the D word escaped his mouth. I felt like she had the urge to stand up and knock over the chair in the utmost surprise, so I respected her in the aspect that held her back from doing so. I tried to keep myself from prying while she tried to find the words for her emotions.
"D-Daughter?" Was the first thing she managed to say, as a confirmation.
Reborn nodded.
"Seriously, you have a daughter?! Have you told anybody else."
"Not many others know." I whispered, Al's tail flicking while I stroked him softly.
She blinked and completely unexpectedly smiled, this time actually standing. "Does this mean I'm a mother?!"
"Heck no! I'm three or four years older than you, at least."
"Then how about sisters-in-arms?" She asked, linking her arm in mine. "I heard you like to fight!"
"Not really."
"Or that you talk frequently to the new Chiavarone boss, even though he's no longer in need of a sparring partner! He's the one who originally stole my Reborn, you know. And I almost got him once."
"Ohohoho, Phillipa! Why haven't I heard about this!"
I pulled my arm away from her. "E-Excuse me? Hell no! He keeps calling me for more training and sometimes, Reborn comes as well!" I stood and just as the waiter brought our orders, I picked up the iced chocolate and put it in front of her."Here, you can have this and continue your cahoot with Reborn. I'm going home."
"No Phillipa! Stay, stay! I wanna hear more!"
I left in a blunder, over the shouting of Bianchi and the smirk of Reborn. What I didn't get was why I was so flustered over a stupid little comment.
Nope.
No fucking way.
This shouldn't have happened in the first place.
~o0o~
Boy, is it a hot hot summer! (If any of you get that K-pop reference, I will be very impressed.)
No, but seriously, it was the kind of how where I couldn't stay in one place for an hour or I'll overheat and pass out in the most embarrassing fashion.
Replies:
(for some reason, my email suddenly stopped sending emails from fanfiction so I only got about half of them. Sorry for not noticing until just now. So let me know if you got his in a notification. And if you didn't, still let me know and I'll try to fix it.)
Stranger-san: Hm, yes yes. I'd been planning it for a while. Originally, it was meant to be Squalo, but in my first try I got a comment about Dino so I slept on the idea and the next morning, I had nearly most of the story figured out. I can try and fit Reborn and Al together somewhere.
FreeWeirdGal: Well, no. He's a cat therefore he's a warm ball of destruction.
Viper'sGirl: I don't like it either. Last time, we had to go kayaking in a lake full of eels. *shivers* Then later, they cooked some but I didn't eat any.
Mystique-World-Master: Yes! Oh no! I had to wear them the other day to my ball and oh gosh the blisters I got! *cries* And what? Are you offering me cocoa bean products? HELL YEAH
GreenDrkness: ….*Pumps a fist* yeah! Go Phillipa! (Even though I don't camp, I know a lot about it since I'm a human sponge.)
Alright, I'm going to try and cool off.
-Verdigurl
