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We Live Our Lives on Different Sides

ACT II

~A Storm Is Brewing~

A week ago there was a sighting of enemy forces congregating somewhere in Namimori, and are possibly out for revenge. It was rather ironic if you think about it: famiglia who are against one another grouping together under a single flag just to defeat the Vongola.

However, the people of Namimori still don't feel threatened, probably because Hibari patrols the streets. Who wouldn't agree that Hibari's the scariest person in the place? And that is why one would be able to say that things haven't gotten that dangerous as of the moment. As they say, a calm before the storm.

"This peace is fleeting," Tsuna began as he got his best men in a strategy meeting. But then again, in the real world nothing happens exactly as planned, down to the very letter. As such, they began discussing possible approaches that the enemy may take. However it's nothing but speculation and they can only hope for the best.

Luck favors those who are prepared.

-cloud-

If any words even came close, it was 'rejuvenated.' Hibari flexed and relaxed his hand, his arms, his legs… it was as if he drank from the fountain of life. Although he hadn't had those weird dreams lately and had normal dreams just like before, he felt so different.

'So this is how it feels to reconcile with yourself,' he thought, still looking at his hand curiously, as if it had turned huge and green. It was like some new power awakened in him.

He stood and readied for the day. The annoying Herbivore has called on them again for a meeting about destroying yet another group of weaklings. Still, it was an opportunity to try out his new mentality in battle.

-cloud-

The nights were growing tenser as it is easier to attack at night. The punishment for falling asleep while being on duty was death by Hibari's hands. It made the others shudder but those from the Foundation only said 'Meh.'

The enemies were encroaching them, hiding in the shadows, hiding behind civilians, waiting for the right moment to pounce.

-cloud-

Awakening in the dead of night, I-pin had awful gut feelings swirling in her stomach. Something was wrong and here she was doing nothing while others were probably sacrificing their lives out in the field. So she stood, put on a robe and trudged down the stairs, distraught. She felt that she had to do something but didn't exactly knew what.

Knock knock!

The sudden sound made her jump and she was quick to the back door where it came from. In her haste she knocked a few things over and she heard Papa getting up and shuffling about. Soon she was at the door while Papa got off the last flight of stairs. Before opening though, she was wise enough to peek who was outside. Air got knocked out of her lungs at the surprise.

"Hibari-san!" The young lady gaped at him whilst fumbling with the doorknob. Into the light the Guardian stepped in and that was when she saw that he was not alone. In tow was the Rain Guardian who was dripping in blood, his own blood, and had gashes everywhere and some bullet wounds here and there.

The almost dead man raised his head, his voice so raspy it tore I-pin up just by listening, blood oozing from his mouth with each word, "Hello, I-pin… Sorry to interrupt," and she clamped a hand on his lips. Her tears were threatening to fall. But she was an experienced doctor; it was not the time to be emotional. Rather, calm and indifference would be the key to save his life.

So, she directed Hibari to drag Yamamoto to the kitchen table turning the said object into an alternative operating table. As Hibari was laying the other man out, Papa came and helped, then cleaned off the blood that was on the tiled floor. When he finished, he disappeared up to the second story of the house and the rest could only think that he was comforting his wife; probably saying that it was just a stray cat and their daughter had taken care of it.

I-pin had boiled water when the men were busy, also preparing everything that she would need for the operation. Opening the sun attribute box she had, the light wounds the patient had quickly closed and all she had to take care of were the critical wounds and removing the bullets.

Throughout the time the box animal showed its power, I-pin held Yamamoto's hand, continuously comforting the older man as she cleaned off the blood from his face.

"Everything is going to be alright, Yamamoto-san. Just hold on."

The man gave her a weak smile and a slight squeeze of his hand. His eyes gradually closed though, feeling a little more relieved and had succumbed to exhaustion, leaving his hand limp. It scared I-pin that he might be dead and she hadn't made it in time but there still was a pulse in him, albeit weak, but still there.

The young doctor steeled herself, it was going to be a long night.

As the Rain got treated, Hibari's eyes never left the young woman as she worked to saving the former. Inside him, he felt a storm brew—emotions sweeping in his being, picking up speed, becoming turbulent, until he was sure it was something that was well out of his control's league.

After a while the doctor asked him, along with Sawada Iemitsu, to flip Yamamoto's body as there was a bullet wound on his back. Sweat riddled her forehead and sometimes the other herbivore would wipe it for her. Drops glistened against the light but then her eyes glittered more as her determination to save her dying ally made them bright even in the shade.

-cloud-

Six bullets in different places, two of which hit the lungs, one the liver… and the exhausted I-pin hovered over Yamamoto, who was breathing hoarsely on the table. His life signs had become stable but he suffered from extreme blood loss.

The doctor smiled at her tough soldier and she gave the Rain Guardian a peck on the forehead, "You did a good job, Yamamoto-san." The act put Hibari's heart on a grill and twisted his guts in many different ways. No matter, he was going to get the same treatment anyway.

Then the woman suddenly remembered that there was another person aside from the operated one, and I-pin turned to Hibari who was clutching his right arm, a red stain over his purple button-up shirt. Regardless of fatigue, she willed herself to him, saying that he should have spoken earlier.

"Hmph." Was all Hibari could say to her foolishness. As if a gash could kill him; he's better than that. Also, her box animal made the blood stop from flowing out earlier. There was no threat to his life.

Another operation was about to start and just as Hibari's shirt was about to be torn from him, Iemitsu came back with bags of blood, typed O, meant for their other patient.

"Oh ho, I'm so sorry to interrupt, but I have here some more blood for Yamamoto-kun," he said with lips pouted ominous and eyes narrowed mischievously, in an attempt of teasing.

With his statement, I-pin hesitated from unbuttoning Hibari's shirt but then returned to her collected attitude from before, "Papa, please get some blankets and clothes for these men. We don't want them to catch a cold," she said as-matter-of-factly and had finished with the buttons with Hibari's help.

The man just shrugged the shirt off from his side that was unharmed and let the doctor gingerly pull it from his wounds, surprising I-pin that he had another on his back. Seeing that his wounds weren't vital, I-pin left Hibari she can begin transfusing blood for her other patient.

Iemitsu returned with what seems to be the things the woman had asked for and placed them near the table. He then proceeded to clean off the blood from the Rain Guardian and once done placed a blanket over the lad in his make-shift bed.

Without looking over her shoulder, as she was busy with removing a bullet from Hibari's shoulder, she spoke coldly, "Papa, tell Mama I can't sleep so I'll be downstairs for a while." The old man guessed that she was acting so cold so as to not get teased about being with her crush in the middle of the night. Indeed, he did what he was told and was never seen again.

-coud-

Not a stinging feeling was left when I-pin was done with all his wounds. She was indeed a good doctor that was overpowered with the help of Sun Flames.

Aside from that, the kitchen was spotless and not a sign of a bloody operation could be detected anywhere. She thanked Hibari for helping her move Yamamoto to the couch and help with some cleaning in the previous room.

It was surprising; she thought that the Cloud Guardian would leave as soon as he was healed. But there he was, lingering still.

Hibari felt indebted. And troubled.

-cloud-

Whatever he felt a few days ago, of how rejuvenated he was, it was gone. All gone, like it didn't even happen. It was thanks to the Rain Guardian being pampered, well the reason was valid, by no other than I-pin.

Hibari was royally pissed. Pissed at the Rain but more pissed at himself. Why you ask?

A familiar annoying creepy laugh rumbled through the air, "Emotional yet again, aren't we?" then appeared the voice's owner, Mist covering him in a theatrical entrance. "We meet again."

"Hmph."

At that very moment, a silver-haired man appeared from nowhere, red with anger, with dynamites ready to be lit. He suddenly hollered, prompting a vein to pop on the Disciplinarian's forehead,

"PINEAPPLE! What are you doing here!? And where's the Tenth, huh!?"

"Whut?" The Mist guardian looked at him quizzically, "Maybe the other guy has him? You know the Rain?"

"That baseball nut!"

"Jealous, aren't we?"

Then something exploded in Hibari. He attacked, his face too neutral for comfort, but had a very strong killing intent all the same.

"I am not."

"Ho ho, so you already know everything about us, eh?"

The two exchanged some blows until they came to a deadlock.

Apparently in a disadvantage in terms of strength, Mukuro snarled, "I'm surprised I'm not strong. You're doing well managing us."

"Shut up," Hibari swung hard, winning the deadlock and pushing the other guardian farther back. Just as he was about to send his arch enemy to the abyss of his apathy, a certain shrilly shriek distracted him, thus allowing the illusionist to escape.

"Damn you. You'll pay for this," was his parting words.

Now completely sober, Hibari turned to see the head of the Vongola family curled into a ball in the corner of his dream. He approached slowly not wanting to ignite the hotheaded person with them.

"Herbivore," Hibari called but his boss didn't hear him; he was mumbling to himself. "What are you, and what are you doing here?"

"If this goes on…" The brunette kept on going. "It will be the end! Oh no!"

"Herbivore, if you don't stop, I'll bite you to death!" Since he was quite close, he was able to make out the incoherent blabbering from where the other was crouched. "What will end?"

"T-T-That is…" Tsuna was getting more scared. As it is, Gokudera came to the rescue, shielding his superior even if it was futile.

"Spit it out."

The younger man gulped, unsure if he should say it or not. A few more seconds passed with Tsuna hesitating to speak that Hibari didn't take too lightly. The Cloud Guardian raised his tonfa and it was more than enough to squeeze it out of the Scaredy Sky, "If… If things went on… This, us, we might be your bane. If you regain us, I'm afraid you will die."

-cloud-

Hibari woke in his office in the Foundation. After I-pin had treated his wounds, he stayed for a bit in the Herbivore's residence then left after he had deemed the surroundings clear. Next, he was quick to make his way to the headquarters without being followed so that he could report the happenings to Tsuna and then prepare a countermeasure for all that had happened.

Since he was fully healed at that time, he was able to push back the enemy forces with the help of the Sun Guardian. It took quite a while but not too long, and then he was back in the Foundation ready to take a nap while his underlings took care of the chores.

Well, that was what happened according to his memory.

It wouldn't have had escalated that far if the Rain Guardian wasn't so weak. Okay, he wasn't that weak, maybe if he was a little more careful… he pondered. When he was defending the already-battered Rain Guardian, his feet felt like he was fleeting, as light as air. But now, he isn't sure if he can do it again.

The weight of the recent events are nothing compared to what is really pulling him down. That lump of flesh located in the middle of the chest that which continuously thumps is now sinking to the pit of his stomach. Not only that but he was pretty sure that his crotch also reacted to the woman removing his shirt for his operation.

As much as he hated to admit it, he was scared of the things that were happening inside of him. Not too long ago, he was certain that he has mastered control over his emotions and primal tendencies. He has kept responsibility over them all throughout the years but why now?

"Kyoya, are you there?"

The familiar voice switched on his annoyance radar and the owner coming into the room made a dot appear on the screen.

"What are you doing here, Bucking horse?"

"Well, I had a meeting with Tsuna regarding the situation in Italy. Man, am I shocked by what happened here. Italy's a lot better." Dino sat down in one of the couches that was in front of the president's table, sinking into a repose. Then he continued, "I'm also surprised that I-pin-chan has made it back. I'm pretty sure she didn't want anything to do with the Mafia."

"She didn't want anything to do with killing, not with the Mafia," Hibari corrected and to that, Dino had a teasing 'Ooh' face. The younger one looked at him with a raised brow, "What?"

"She's gotten pretty, hasn't she? Well, you know what they say: the older a man gets, the younger the woman he needs."

"Hn." A smirk played in his lips, not annoyed nor amused, probably because he agrees with what was said. "You can still joke around despite the situation."

"I was just trying to help. As your mentor, I am also concerned for your well-being. And I wish you would be less dense."

"Go away Bucking Horse before I bite you to death."

"Alright, alright. As you wish, your Highness. But…" eyes narrowed into slits and Hibari knew that Dino was going to be serious, "I heard what you did. Kusakabe-san said it was as if you were having a good time, fleet-footed and all. What happened?"

"Something."

Blond hair got combed rather violently at the obvious remark, "Darn it, Kyoya. Of course something happened!" Dino, who happens to have a very long patience, huffed, exasperated at his student. "Well, whatever it was, just do it again. Unless you want Namimori destroyed."

Then Hibari was alone again.

"Hmph, easier said than done."

-cloud-

'If you regain us, you will die.'

Even the smallest pebble can create the most troubling of waves in a human's soul. The thought that you know that you could die any moment is frightening. But Hibari Kyoya is different. And he will face death with a smile on his face.

Hi guys! It's been a while. I don't know if people are even getting to this chapter but if someone is, thank you again!

Please leave a review; a "great", or "nice story" would suffice. It's more of an ego-boost really. C: