Title: Masquerade [Part 2]
Genre: Angst/Romance
Pairing: HibarixHaru, slight OCxHaru
Disclaimer: Katekyō Hitman Reborn rightfully owned by Amano Akira-sensei, except the OCs.
Hibari was annoyed. The place was too crowded, the music was too loud, and the light was too flashy for his taste. Most of all, he met the man he distaste the most, and he had to resist the urge to beat him on the spot. He wouldn't do this if only he didn't remember his first purpose for coming here. At least this stupid half-face mask suggested by Kusakabe hid his frown.
"What are you doing here?" Hibari asked, still tried to calm.
"I'm enjoying the party. I should ask the same to you. What are you doing here?" Mukuro asked back, clearly teased him.
"It's none of your business," he replied dryly and the conversation stopped, as another silence came between them.
"Don't you think this occasion brings back an old memory to you?" Mukuro spoke first after a long ten minutes, and Hibari gave him a what-do-you-mean look. Mukuro couldn't help but smiled, "So you've forgotten it. Kufufu, maybe it's for the best," he paused momentarily, "Well, I'd love to stay a bit longer, but I have something to do. We can continue our talk in another time."
With that, Mukuro left Hibari and went into the crowd. Hibari, although slightly curious with Mukuro's question, continued scanned the room in search of his target. It was a difficult job to do, since every man was wearing mask and he didn't know what clothes his target wore tonight. Then, his phone rang.
"Our spy saw him walked on the third floor and entered room 212," Kusakabe informed through the call.
Hibari went to said place immediately, and kind of relief he didn't have to spend another time in this noisy place anymore. Taking lift to the third floor, he walked to the door with a brown plank numbered '212' hung on it. He silently broke into the room with his 'partner' readied. He closed the door and went to the main part of the bedroom. The lights suddenly were off before it was on again moment later, and brightened the room. Feeling it was too bright, he turned the lamp off before continued walking. He searched around the area but the person he was looking for was nowhere. When he intended to search in the bathroom, he saw something moving under the blanket on the bed. He approached and moved the blanket slowly, revealing a naked red-haired woman.
"Are you done yet, Hun?" she spoke sweetly and opened her eyes, stared at Hibari, and screamed a second later.
"What happen!" someone opened the bathroom door and shouted, only to be greeted by the sight of his woman's head connected with Hibari's tonfa.
Hibari glanced at him. Grey-haired man in his late 40, a large tattoo of mole on his right arm, and a face Hibari recognized as his target. That man only wore brown towel to cover his lower body, a look of terror and shock expression clearly showed on his face. Hibari was happy, as he didn't have to search anymore; his prey willingly came to him. That old man grabbed a handgun lay on the table beside him and tried to shoot. Hibari, however, already stood in front of him and ended his life in one fluid movement. Wiping off the blood from his weapon, Hibari walked to the door. Suddenly, a group of men barged in from there.
"Boss! We-shit!" one of them cursed when seeing his leader lay on the blood pool. He, as well as the others, turned to Hibari with rage. "KILL HIM!"
The Cloud Guardian moved swiftly and avoided the bullets as his legs brought him closer to them by each step. He didn't give those people enough time to live long. He wanted to get out of here quickly, and no way he would let them took more of his time. When it was over, Hibari looked at the mess he had created. The room was splattered with blood and dead bodies everywhere. He threw a glance for the last time before walked out. Almost reaching the door, Hibari stopped as the corner of his eyes caught a movement from his side. One of the men was still alive and pointed a gun to him. When Hibari realized it, that man already pulled the trigger.
"DOR!"
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[Ballroom, 25 minutes earlier]
Haru hid behind the nearest wall, a second after she saw the two. She hoped both didn't see her, despite their sharp eyes, as it'd ruin everything. She hadn't planned any excuse and she definitely wouldn't want to explain, if one of them found her and questioning about her presence. She was confused, panic, and angered. Of all places they could be in this city, why did they have to be here, in the same room with her?
"Haru, something's wrong?" Fujiwara asked and startled the woman.
"Oh, no, nothing, I just forgot we're still on the line," Haru answered as calm as she could. "Aniki, I'll call you later. Bye."
"So, it is really you," someone whispered in her ear from behind and took off her mask.
"Hahi!" Haru turned around and found the Mist Guardian towered her. Straightening her body and extending her hand, she looked at him sternly. "Rokudou-san, give it back."
Said man let out his usual laugh and gave the object back to the owner. "I'd never thought to meet you in this event."
"Same here," Haru wore her mask again.
She looked around, afraid someone would notice her, especially Akihiko and her clients. She couldn't let them saw her hanging around with someone from Vongola. Mukuro was too stood-out although he was in his usual getup and wore a mask. Even now, she could feel many sharp looks on her. Not to forget the envious one everytime he turned down an offer to dance from any women. Actually, she hoped that the man beside her would accept one offer immediately and she could be free. She realized by then that Hibari was nowhere. He probably went after someone, pretty much his target. That was the most logical reason to make an unsocial person like him come to an event like this. Even on the most important day in her life, he limited the number of the guest to two people. Well, he gave her a sweet return in the end.
"Don't you think this masquerade brings back an old memory, Haru?" Mukuro asked out of the blue, repeating the almost similar question he asked Hibari before.
Haru knew very well what he meant by that. "Yes, it is. I'm surprise you still remember it."
"I'd never forget it. I want to, but I can't," he turned to her. "And I know that you're the one who hurt the most."
"Nah, it doesn't bother me that much now," she said.
Mukuro didn't say anything, only looking at the woman. She became a good liar now. Somehow, a mixture feeling of pity, amuse, and pride appeared inside him. When he wanted to talk more, he saw someone among the crowd. "That's good. Well, I need to go now. I hope we can have a much longer conversation the next time we meet," Mukuro smiled and left her.
Haru didn't move from her position, while it was the thing she wanted to do since the moment he appeared before her. To be honest, his words and act puzzled her (and how he could recognize her among the crowd was still mystery to her), ever since they befriended each other. Mukuro would say a nice thing, but in second count, he turned into a sadistic bastard. It pretty much reminded her of Hibari. She almost thought that maybe it was the reason behind Hibari's hostility to Mukuro, despite their not-so-lovely past. That was also the reason why she never told him about her relationship with Mukuro. If he finally knew, at least it wasn't from her mouth.
"I'm thinking too much," she mumbled to herself and went to the restroom.
She might have built a high resistance to alcohol over the years, but her body still couldn't keep that amount of liquid for a long time. Either dumped it or had a stomachache, she chose the first. When fixing her make-up, the lights suddenly got out and everything was dark. The other occupants of the room went out screaming frantically while Haru just stayed. She wasn't that afraid of darkness now, besides she didn't want to get stomp by those girls and the lights was on then. However, when she heard a sequence sounds of gun firing from afar, a fear crept up her heart. Was it Hibari, Mukuro, or some stranger? Grabbing her clutch, she went out of the restroom immediately. On the way to the ballroom, when she turned around the corner of the passage, she saw a familiar figure slumped behind the big pot of chamaedorea palm. She approached it cautiously; afraid that whoever it was might be an enemy or a friend.
"Hibari…," the name went out of her lips, after she recognized the figure.
She ran to him, not caring that her act might trouble her. Squinted down beside the man, she fast-observed his condition. He sat closed eyes, his body leaned on the wall behind him, his breath ragged, and cold sweat flowed down his face. Remembering the gunshot she heard earlier, she opened his blazer, revealing a big splotch of dark red color in the middle part of his purple shirt. When she wanted to take a better look, his hand suddenly grabbed her hand.
"Wh-who-," he was cut off.
Gently rubbing his hand with her free hand then wiping his forehead with her handkerchief, she tried to assure him that she wasn't his enemy. She couldn't speak or it'd blow her cover. When he finally let go of her hand and didn't move after that, she panicked. She quickly buttoned his blazer again and helped him to stand. She needed to get him out of here. Haru took the back passage while remembering the map Yuhgo had given her before she left to the party. There was a door to outside located not far from the janitor room. She had to stop midway, when she saw a group of people came from her direction. Cursing her own luck, she turned around and hid behind the dark corner, waiting for those people to pass through. After a long five minutes, the area was cleared and she continued walking. However, his foot tripped over hers and they almost fell to the floor, if only Haru didn't grab his arm. It was hard to walk if you brought someone whose weight and height were heavier and taller than yours. When they finally arrived on the dark alleyway behind the hotel, Haru was proud to herself. This time, she wasn't the one being helped by him. Taking his phone from his inside pocket, she sent a message to Kusakabe to fetch Hibari. She knew he was around here, waiting for any command from his boss to support his action.
"Please, don't let yourself get caught, okay?" she smiled sadly and planted a small kiss on his forehead.
In just three minutes, Kusakabe and his men arrived and brought Hibari away. Haru watched them leave from her hiding place, before went back to the ballroom. She stopped by the restroom again, to do something with the blood on her dress. She possibly got it when she helped him to walk. Taking out a small bottle filled with transparent water-like liquid from her purse, she sprayed the content to the dress, which erased the splotch completely in no time. Though it only lasted for five hours, it was enough for now, because if her hunch was right, she would undergo an interrogation related to the killing which Hibari did not long ago. If these red signs still lingered in her dress, she could picture them arrested her. She should thank Yuhgo for making her this helpful thing, and she should thank God for giving her a chemistry maniac like him. Calming herself and acting like nothing happened, she entered the ballroom and she was right. Polices were scattered around the room and interrogated the guests. She approached Akihiko after she saw him. He didn't put on his mask anymore and was talking with an old man wearing a brown long coat.
"Akihiko-san, what happen?" she asked casually and pretend to be confused.
"Ah, Miura-san! Where have you been? Are you okay?" he asked back.
It was strange to her, but she sensed a worry tone beneath his voice. "I was in the restroom. Ano, can you tell me what happen?"
"Someone has been killed in second floor and we haven't found him, Miss," the other man answered her.
"Him?"
"The killer. One of the worker said that after she heard shots sound, she ran to the room 212, where the incident happened. She then saw a man walked out of the room. She said he has short black hair and wore a black suit. Too bad she didn't see his face. Did you, by any chance, meet someone like that?" he asked again.
"No, I'm sorry but I didn't," Haru said though she knew very well who was the person they were talking about.
That man asked other questions to Haru and Akihiko for the next 30 minutes, before leaving the place with his subordinates. Akihiko, feeling tired, left early with Haru. He wanted to drop her in her apartment, but she refused and said that she had to buy something first.
"Are you sure? It's almost eleven now. Don't you think it's a bit dangerous for a woman like you to wander around at this hour?" he asked unsure.
"Don't worry, Akihiko-san. The store isn't far from my place."
Akihiko silent for a while before continued talking. "At least let me accompany you to shop. I have promised your safety to Toushirou-san, and it's a breach if I let something happen to you."
Haru had to receive his offer. He never left her, from the time they entered the store until the time they finished shopping. He even paid it with his own money. Haru wasn't sure whether she should thank him or suspicious.
"Someone offered me an agreement with his family tonight. And guess what? It's none other than the infamous Vongola family," he spoke suddenly, during the walk to his car.
And it clicked her. That was the reason of Mukuro's presence at the party. "That's great news, Akihiko-san. What was your answer if I may know?"
"I said I'd think it over," he moved dangerously close to her, "It's supposed to be a secret after all."
"Secret? Then, why are you telling me this?" Haru slowly took a distance but he prevented her.
"Because you're one of them."
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Hibari cracked an eye, facing the white color in front of him. He blinked for a while before recognize the view as a ceiling. When he put his hand on his forehead, a pain appeared from his abdomen. Oh yeah, he got shoot by that bastard. Hibari only gotten shot once, but it was still a shoot nonetheless. If only that man were still alive, Hibari would surely chased him down again and beat him into bloody pulp. But, as far as he could remember, he was stuck in that hotel's passage when trying to run. Then, someone came and helped him escape. Because of his blurry sight, he thought that person was enemy and almost killed whoever it was. However, when that person slowly rubbing his hand, the insecure feeling he felt vanished. He was unconscious after that and didn't know what happen. The question now, who was that person?
"Hibari-san, you're awake!" Kusakabe exclaimed suddenly. He wanted to say something but a glare from Hibari was enough to shut his mouth.
"How did I get here?"
"We found you unconscious in the back alley, and then we brought you here."
Huh? "Did you see other person there?"
"No. After we received the message, we went there quickly, but you're alone by the time we found you, Hibari-san."
"What message?"
"A message to fetch you. You sent it with your phone," Kusakabe replied and he was confused, did Hibari got his head hit somewhere?
Hibari only stared at the ceiling again. He knew he wasn't the writer of the message. That same person had to be the one who used his phone and sent it to Kusakabe. "Strange," he mumbled and touched his forehead. There was a warm feeling there that he himself couldn't describe. "Was it…"
Hibari slept again as the sedative effect still working. One of his men came in and gave Kusakabe a small bag on his hand. It filled with the stuffs Hibari had worn or found in his suit, as the clothes were being washed. Inside, he found several things including Hibari's weapon boxes and his phone, but the object attracted him the most was a tiny object he never saw before. He took it out. It was a hairclip ornamented with green butterfly-shaped stone.
'I don't know Hibari-san's into this kind of thing,' he thought and put the object back to the bag.
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Haru walked with difficulty to her apartment building. Her body felt heavy and a sharp pain was attacking her head, ever since she parted with Akihiko five minutes ago. When she passed by the small playground, she decided to sat down on one of the bench. Dropping her shopping bag beside her, she opened her purse and hastily looked for her medicine. A chain of sweet curse directed to herself was made, when she couldn't find any single familiar white pill. Then she remembered that she left it on her vanity.
"Stupid Haru!"
The pain was growing bigger and Haru couldn't stand it. It felt like hundred needles were planted on her head, and the numbers were increasing. It was excruciating. She didn't even realize blood trailed from her lips, since she bit it too hard, only to reduce the pain. At least, she could keep her consciousness in place. Grabbing her phone, she fought the pain and intended to call Yuhgo or Riku, when two old drunk people appeared before her. She tried to walk away, but her legs gave up in the fourth steps and those two were squealed in happiness. Their steps getting closer and within those steps, she could feel her consciousness slipped away. She was afraid now. Knowing she couldn't handle those two with condition like this, she hoped a miracle would happen.
"Hey, don't disturb my girl," a masculine voice was heard from their behind.
That person successfully got rid of them and approached her. Haru tried to see his face, but she was at her limit. The last image she saw was that person called her with panic.
-x-
"What do you want now?" she asked him with a suppressed pain and anger. That man stood before her, practically ignoring question. The moment later, he turned on the music. He then pulled her up, and hugged her gently. As the song started to play, he led her to dance. Not really dance, since she did nothing besides leaned on his body. She didn't even have any energy left to stand up, how could she have energy to dance? "Why are you treating me like this?"
He laughed. "It's better than seeing you with him."
"Just kill me, then," she said, almost pleading.
"And letting you free from me? I don't think so, my beloved woman. I'd never let you go," he smirked and kissed her deeply before looking straight into her eyes. "Never."
-x-
Haru awoke abruptly. Tears still flowed freely as she remembered the dream. Why did she have to remember that? But, where was she? She was supposed to be on the dusted ground in the playground, and not on the clean bed in a bedroom. Did that person who saved her brought her here? Hoped he didn't have any ill intention to her, or else-
"Are you okay?" someone asked and she turned to him with an odd look. "Ah, don't be afraid. I'm the one who saved you from those drunkards. I don't know where I should take you so I brought you to my house. But, don't worry! I won't do anything bad to you. You can call the police if you think I-"
Her expression changed after hearing the fact and she smiled, "Thank you for saving me." He grinned and Haru couldn't help but laughed. Then she realized that her headache was gone. "It's not painful anymore."
"Oh, I gave you my usual medicine for headache. It works a lot to me, so I thought it'll work to you, too," he said and gave her a glass of water, but he dropped it to the floor before she took it. He looked at her terrified. "You're bloodied!"
Haru gaped at his statement, only following the direction of his finger to the left side of her dress. Oh, that. The spray effect has worn out and the splotches were back. "It wasn't mine."
He was confused but didn't dare to ask further. It was rude of him if he inquired much from her. After she felt much better, that man drove her home with his bicycle. Haru felt nostalgic with this but she said nothing. His house apparently wasn't really far from her apartment. After he left, Haru checked her stuffs. Everything was still there, but something's missing.
"Where's my hairclip?"
A/n: Phew, another chapter with all the main heroes presented/mentioned. Maybe it'll be the last time for them to appear together. Hope this chapter is acceptable, despite any predictable event, any mistake, and any mess I've done to it. Well, review, comment, question, and criticism are welcome. See you in the next chapter and thank you for reading!