Word Count:11,314
The Cervello women seemed to finally deem the time for talk to be over, both of them coming to attention as they declared my death sentence. My teeth gritted and my fists clenched around the palm-piece of the brass knuckles, anger replenishing as the girls reminded me of the absolute fuckery taking place.
"The battle for the Sun Ring, Lussuria vs Sasagawa Ryohei and Yamaguchi Daiki, begins now."
I really fucking hate the Mafia.
|S.T|
Tsuna stood at the door of the Skylark's nest, his usual fear replaced by cautious hesitation as the restless Rain and irritated Storm bustled behind him. Seeming to reach his limit, Gokudera reached around his Sky, slamming the barrier open and prompting him to step inside, Yamamoto following after at a more reserved pace.
"Oi, bastard! Where the hell is the fucking giant!?"
Tsuna flinched away from the roar, his eyes darting between the DC head and his friend.
Yamaguchi Daiki. They hadn't seen their upperclassman since the conclusion of the battle for the Sun Ring.
Hibari looked up from the papers in front of him, little piles stationed around his desk. He gave the invading trio a bland look, completely uninterested in their plight and worry for the missing third year, before reclining back in his chair, the leather giving squeaks and wheezes.
"Why would I know where the Chattering Herbivore is? He is free to roam."
Yamamoto deflated at his side, frown curving deeper on his face. Since the disappearance, the Rain had been quite, not breaking into laughter or smiles like he usually did. This was no doubt caused by the absence of his fiancé, the engagement ring that hung around his neck subjected to regular fiddling.
"Oh...Okay then, thanks, Hibari-san." Tsuna breathed, the bomber stepping back and shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Now, get out or kamiko-"
The Vongola Sky was out the door before the Cloud could finish his threat, his Right Hand trailing after.
"Are you sure you can't tell me where Daiki-kun is?" Yamamoto asked, still within the reception room.
"If he doesn't want to be found, he won't be." Came the blunt response.
"True...If you find him, tell him that the notes really helped us. Tsuna-san and I got above 70 percent this time."
The small boy paused and looked to his book bag, the notes written by Yamaguchi slipped neatly inside, a stark contrast compared to his own, cramped and crumpled work.
"Hm, tell him yourself when he calms down."
"..."
The Rain came out of the room with a downcast look, the Storm giving a tsk of annoyance, his shoe scuffing the floor of the hall.
"Sorry, Yamamoto-kun. It's my fault that Yamaguchi-san's avoiding us." Tsuna apologised, lowering his head as brown eyes shifted to him.
"It's not your fault, Tsuna-san. I should have spoken up when I noticed how against it he was." He sighed, shaking his head as his hands came to pinch at his ring.
Gokudera gave a sound of aggravation before whipping out a cigarette, the fire catching the end of the cancer stick.
"Whatever." The Storm huffed, blowing a lungful of smoke out of his mouth.
"He's bound to show up sooner or later, right? The fucking giant is too invested in his education to not attend classes and do his homework like a good little boy."
Tsuna bit his lip as Yamamoto bristled momentarily, bringing his decorum back under control before the mocking teen could notice.
"Right! Yamaguchi-san wouldn't dream of skipping school! Especially with Hibari-san breathing down his neck! He'll show up, eventually!" The Sky yelped, bringing focus to the Storm's legitimate point before the Rain could snap and cause even more unrest.
"Yeah...I guess so." The swordsman breathed, looking unwell as he turned and began walking back to their class, the bell accompanying his departure.
The Vongola watched after him worriedly, guilt flooding his system as he noticed the tight fist that had become of the other's hand.
Ah, if he had just been able to tell Reborn to shove off!
"Damn Yamaguchi-san, why the hell is he able to get such a reaction out of us?" Gokudera hissed quietly, stalking down the hall.
Because he's our friend.
Tsuna gave a glance to the door again, frowning as his mind told him something was wrong, before shaking it off and chasing after his Guardians.
|S.T|
".. Thanks, Hibari-san." I breathed, my legs drawn up to my chest as his feet nudged my side.
The Skylark gave a noise before rolling his chair back, light bathing my little hide away as he looked down at me.
"Hm, why are you hiding, Chattering Herbivore?" Hibari grunted, jabbing me gently.
Pausing, I looked to the far side of my cover, Hibari's obscenely large desk managing to cater to my own size.
"I've made too many mistakes as of late, and they're all starting to make themselves known."
The Skylark gave me a most unimpressed look, slate eyes showing annoyance and exasperation as they gazed down at me.
"So your solution is to hide? You're being childish, handler."
A frown touched my face as no argument came to mind, knowing full well he was right. My hand came up and gently rubbed my shoulder, bruises recolored and stitches renewed.
"I know...but I'm scared."
A grunt of surprise left me as my eyes were bombarded with light, the split second hum of electricity sounding around the arena as UV lights bathed our bodies in warmth. I brought my hands over my brow as my lids closed instinctively, Ryohei in a similar condition at my side.
"Ah! So bright!" Tsuna yelped from a distance. "What is this?! The ring's shining!"
They expect us to fight blind, and seeing Flames wouldn't help me. Not this time.
My grimace intensified as the limit of whatever 'Flame Sight' I had gotten showed up again, the non-Flame attacks that made up Lussuria's arsenal giving me an upper hand in anything but having an idea of what he was going to throw at me.
"This ring is illuminated by an artificial sun designed especially for the battle between the Guardians of the Sun Ring. It is a sun coliseum." A masked woman informed, shades exchanging hands in the Vongola party.
I became alert as Lussuria's Sun Flame started moving, quickly advancing on my partner with hostile intent. Stepping before I registered doing so, I planted my feet solidly on the concrete of the arena and heaved loudly, an impossibly hard knee grinding against my fractured and bruised ribs, winding me as well as undoing any healing that could have taken place.
"Ah, Yamaguchi-san!"
"Shit, fucking giant what the hell!?"
Taking deep, pained breaths, I gritted my teeth as I felt waves of barely restrained emotions waft off of the Flames surrounding us, disorientating me for a few blaring moments.
"Bro, you took a hit for me?!" Ryohei roared into my ear.
"Of course, there was no way you were going to get out of that." I coughed, a shudder of the repercussions rattling my ribs.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit, I've really done it now. I'm wading waist deep in fuckery, ain't I?
My hand came to my front to cradle the blow, my friend's fist gently bumping my back in reassurance as well as identification. Damn, Lussuria's knee was hard as fu-
Doesn't...Doesn't that guy have, like, a metal knee implant?
"Ohoho? Daiki-kun, you managed to intercept my attack!" The flamboyant Sun chirped, his position moving further back in caution.
"Did I really?" I asked sarcastically, flinching as the stitches in my front throbbed.
"You're a lot more muscular than you seem, darling. I like you even more now!"
Ryohei gave a sound of competitive annoyance before stepping out from behind me, giving sharp jabs to the area around him as he blindly tried to land a blow on the opposing Sun.
"Hey, Ryohei-kun." I hissed, grabbing his shoulder and dragging him back to me until he was flush against my front and I could mutter into his ear.
Bringing my hand up to cup my mouth, I ignored the high pitched squeal that left the Varia member across from us, his fire flickering in a certain joy.
"That guy, Lussuria-onee-chan, be careful of his knee. It felt too hard to be natural, metallic almost."
The boxer shifted against me, an annoyed sound leaving him at the idea of restraints on his punches, before he voiced his disagreements.
"I can't see him! How am I meant to know if I'm punching his knee or his face!?" He roared, blowing any cover I had made for us.
Dropping my hand, I gave a throaty noise of done-ness, before yanking him to look at me, pressing our foreheads together to shade our eyes and allow him to see and obey my next order.
"Fine. In that case, make sure that when you punch, you do so with the intent to break."
It was obvious, the exact moment the command clicked in place. Ryohei's eyes widened and his whole arm tensed as his fists clenched, flashes going off behind his eyes as he planned out the moves and strength required to pull off the feats expected of him.
"Okay, Daiki-kun." He huffed, coming back to attention.
Giving a nod, I pulled back, the two of us squinting as the cover was removed and we were subjected to the blearing lights again. My fists came up as I viewed Lussuria again, careful to keep all the other occupants of the ring in my perspective.
"Here I come!" The Varia Sun sang, moving forwards swiftly.
I tensed as he came in front of me, preparing to defend against metal plated blows, only for his footing to throw him to the side, the sound of heavy impact and a grunt of pain telling me he had landed a solid punch on my partner.
"Nii-san!" Tsuna yelped, confirming my suspicions.
"You're getting nearer to my perfect body! My idea of that is ravaged, unmoving and rapidly cooling." Our opposing Sun cooed, making an obscenely loud 'slurp' as he licked his lips.
Gritting my teeth, I launched myself away from Lussuria's reach, a woosh of air showing me just how close a call that had been. Tapping down on the floor a bit further back, I watched Ryohei come to his feet, Flame still steady despite the near-KO.
"Screw you!"
A grunt of success left me as the Varia member was sent flying back with brutal force, my allied Sun connecting our first attack. I couldn't help the twitch of my lip as the groan of regret left Lussuria, the man obviously not expecting the punch to be as hard as it was.
"Good on ya, sunshine!" I called, a roar of approval leaving the other.
"Owwy! Daiki-kun, don't encourage violence against the fabulous!"
Shit! Damn it, that punch needed more strength!
"Wait, I can sense him…He's in the air!" Ryohei muttered, Flame shifting to a more stable version of his own.
My breath hitched as I scanned the ring, realising just what Lussuria had done. He had separated us.
"You're not getting away this time! You're mine!"
The ground started moving under me as I launched myself across the ring, knowing full well I wasn't going to make it in time, the cocky lilt to the Varia Sun's Flame telling me he knew it too. I clenched my brass as I sped up, because like hell I wasn't going to try.
"Ryohei-kun, careful of his knee-"
Crunch
Ryohei let out a choke of pain as his body was flung back, crashing against the ropes before splaying across the floor in muted agony.
"Shit, shit, shit." I hissed, stationing myself in front of my downed partner and across from Lussuria.
"I have overcome adversity just as the Guardian of the Sun should! My left leg has a steel plate embedded in it. A metal knee. Your poor hand is useless now, no doubt."
I gave a warning growl as he inched towards us, the result being a large step back and a bout of laughter.
"Come now, Daiki-kun, No need to be so angry! I just gave him a little...nudge!"
Immediately, my arms came up, my body jolting as they took the impact of a bone shattering kick, the shout of pain the left the attacking Sun confusing the people around us. Despite the block, I was still sent flying with amazing strength, a muted gag of pain leaving me as my back made contact with the blunt bars of the cage.
Cold dread flashed across my hazed mind as I felt a snapping release in my skin, my only saving grace being the pained Varia Sun hopping around as he clutched his abused shin.
"What's wrong?! Why is that guy hurt?"
"Lussuria what the fuck!? The hell happened there!?"
"I thought your knee was impossibly hard. Fortunately," I breathed as I began rolling up my sleeves. "You're not the only one with a bit of metal on them."
"Forearm guards!? Daiki-kun, why must you tease me?" He cried, pouting as he rubbed the expanse.
Grunting with effort, I grabbed the bar behind me and dragged myself to my feet the last few stitches giving out as muscle and skin shifted to allow for the stretch and movement.
"Fuck. Doc's gonna bash my head in." I hissed, feeling my bandages wetten and stick to me, sounds leaving the Varia behind me.
"Shishishishi, is that blood I see?"
"Even Lussuria-san's kicks aren't that destructive. He must have been injured prior to this." Mammon noted dully, making the boys on the other side of the cage perk up as they pieced together what the fuss was about.
"Daiki-kun! Your stitches!" Takeshi yelped, spying the redness on the bars as I pushed off the edge and raised my fists again to knock off another attack sent at my head.
"Yamaguchi-san's still hurt from before!"
Stop talking. Stop talking- You're all the reason why I'm here!
Dropping to one knee, I managed to avoid a foot the face, and by rotating on my hand, I forced Lussuria to become airborne, my legs kicking over to switch to a painful cartwheel as I dodged another kick. With my stitches burst, I seemed to have thrown all previous caution to the wind, no longer having anything to consider as I twisted my body and slammed my knee into vacated space.
With a wince, I brought my arm up and let out a hisses breath between my teeth, the sounds of metal screeching against metal filling my ears and making me shiver involuntarily as Lussuria's knee clashed with my arm guards. Again and again, I was forced to defend against the other, having no time to sent blows of my own at him as legs, arms and fists came at me with bruising speed.
"Why do you know where I am? Can you see me or something!?" He whined, running at me full speed.
"Yes, because these fucking lights totally aren't burning my pupils to hell or anything." I responded with heavy sarcasm, stepping out of his range and dodging to the side when he tried to bulldoze me.
"Don't be lying to onee-chan, Daiki-kun."
"I'm not lying. I legitimately can't see shit!"
God, it's hot as hell in here. I'm fine, the litre of water I had downed before stepping into the ring coming to my rescue, but Ryohei's Flame was showing signs of fatigue, tongues becoming sluggish and weak.
"God damn it, why is it so fucking hot!?"
"Oh, would you like me to leave, then?" Lussuria asked, pausing his barrage.
'Smack!'
I think Squalo just facepalmed.
"I'm gonna attack you, now."
Launching myself at the other man, I slammed my fist down into the suddenly vacated concrete, a grunt leaving me as flecks of the surface grazed my face and the repercussions of the action reverberated up my arm, pin pricks stabbing my skin.
"Waa!" The man gasped, surprise lacing his voice. "Daiki-kun is stronger than I thought!"
Swinging around, I grunted when I felt my heel connect with the other Sun, a hiss leaving my as I felt something, that definitely wasn't sweat, drip down to my pant line, an itch forming in some places. With a huff I quickly shot off, the painful cartwheels and stabbing dodges finally getting me to where I needed.
Moving swiftly, I came in front of Ryohei, ignoring the sounds of distress that left the Vongola team as they saw the, what used to be white, back of my uniform shirt. Planting my feet in the concrete, I batted away a blow to my head.
"Oho, Daiki-kun managed to get back to his damsel!"
Sounds of pain left my partner as he grabbed my shirt, a disgusting 'shluck' emanating as the material peeled from my skin to take the strain of his body. I leant forwards to balance as Ryohei pulled himself to his feet, swaying slightly as he painted his hand red on my back.
"Use your own strength! Kora!"
A Flame rivalling the size of Reborn's appeared in my view, bright, blue and powerful enough to make me wonder how I hadn't noticed it before.
Colonello?
"VOOIII! So that runt's Colonello-san, one of the Arcobaleno, huh!?" Squalo roared, crossing his arms.
"I got stuck with Kyoko-chan, so I'm late. Kora. It's about time, show him your true strength, Ryohei-kun!"
My friend's Sun Flame flashed at the order, making my head snap to the size as if it would help my perspective.
"Colonello-shisho, that's all I needed to hear!" Ryohei bellowed, his hand coming off my back and releasing the pressure on the newly opened wounds
A sizzling reached my ears as perspiration began scenting the air, annoyance bubbling in my stomach as I noticed the sudden dryness of our skin despite the copious amount of sweat that dripped from us just prior.
Was it really that hot?
"There is a difference between our bodies. You won't last longer under these lights, you especially, my dear Daiki-kun." Lussuria hummed before giggling maniacally.
"I can't wait for you two to become part of my collection! Reborn-san was right, you two have to come in a set!"
Just. Take. Ryohei! You don't need me, for God's fucking sake! That boy can take you alone!
I bristled as the Sun behind me swayed on his feet, fists raised but leaning closely to me as a precaution in case of his knees buckling.
"Looking like that will do you no good; your punches have little effect on me!"
"Maybe," He huffed, perspiration disappearing off my shoulder almost instantly. "But so far, I've only used my left hand!"
I twitched as the memory came back, the lack of current visuals unhelpful when it came to these details.
"This right hand of mine is for overcoming EXTREME disadvantages!" My fellow Sun roared, stepping out from behind me and coming shoulder to shoulder.
"Oh my, how comical!" Lussuria cheered.
"I don't know how strong this punch you've been saving up is, but...It makes no difference if you can't hit me!"
Shit. Lussuria's fast.
Gritting my teeth I tried and failed to lock onto the fleeting Sun Flame, wisps left behind by the fragile tongues only giving me a hint as to where he had gone to.
Ryohei let out a grunt of pain as he was struck, the solid sound of his body bouncing off the walls reaching my ears just before a metallic knee was shoved beneath my ribs, the air in my lungs rushing out of me as I dropped.
"Now, now, Daiki-kun, don't get distracted!"
Giving a huff, I pulled myself to my feet again, my allied Sun doing the same.
"I'm not done yet." He choked, back no doubt bruised to hell. "Let's go."
A low hum left me as I saw his Flame settle, the random sputters of energy finally coming under control and concentration.
"The second you miss, will be your last."
For some reason, I don't think he's gonna miss.
I watched Lussuria's Flame dance around us before Ryohei flared, a shout of success leaving him before the Varia went flying.
"Maximum Cannon!"
The faint sound of Lussuria's glasses cracking reached my ears as he gave a grunt of pain, a whoosh following as he flipped himself to land on his feet.
I tilted my head as a faint tinkling reached my ears, not in front, or behind, but above…
Ryohei released a roar as he quickly doused the ring in darkness, bulbs shattering as glass came falling to the ground.
"Looks like we're evenly matched now, hey, Daiki-kun?"
Slowly lowering my arms from above my head, I opened my eyes, allowing them to adjust the difference, before looking to the opposing Sun.
"'Bout time too." I huffed, falling into a mirroring stance.
"...It makes no difference whether you can see or not, though I would like to know how the force of his punch managed to destroy those lights!"
"Lussuria-san," Belphegor called, a rather conniving smile on his face. "Look closely at his body."
Following his instruction, both the Varia and I looked to my partner, a moment of confusion passing me as I noticed that Ryohei was literally sparkling.
"Oi, Ryohei-kun, you're sparkling."
"Huh? Thanks!"
"No as in-"
"Crystalised salt? I see, you were dehydrated from sweating, and the heat from the lights made the moisture evaporate! But the salt from the swea-"
"Yeah, and he shot it off like bullets, we get it, Lussuria-onee-chan." I grunted, cutting him off.
"Can we get this over with? I'm not exactly having a great time over here."
The older man gave me a disapproving look before pouting, his arms coming to cross as a hand cupped his cheek.
"What's wrong, Daiki-kun? You've been grumpy this whole time! Lussuria-onee-chan doesn't like it when her little Daiki-kun is grumpy!"
I gave a noise off annoyance and thinning patience, before obliging and answering the other.
"I'm not here of my own will, like you are. Let's put it like that."
The Vongola party behind me shifted awkwardly, obviously knowing my bitterness was sent at them.
"Aw! But you should be excited to fight me!"
"Perhaps if I weren't almost forced into this cage at gun point, I might've been."
No. No, I wouldn't be. Lussuria's scary as all fuck.
"Okay, okay. Let's get back to it then, hey, cutie?" He cooed, looking to Ryohei.
"Here I come-Eh?"
The Varia Sun stood atop the third year's head in a show of speed and balance, his arms still crossed as he let out hooting laughter.
"Oh please, don't make me laugh so hard! My abs will get more define-!"
Once again, the flamboyant man was cut off as he was thrown across the ring, his back crashing against the bars on the far side as I slowly drew myself out of the end position, a scowl on my face.
"As I said, Lussuria-onee-chan, I intend to end this fast. Stepping up my own game is unavoidable."
Ryohei blinked at me as I slowly began calling for my strained Flame, it's ember form erupting back to its original size. Out from behind the now standing Varia Sun, I noticed Xanxus glance my way, easily recognising the disobedient Flame from before.
"Ooh, there are those Flames of yours! They're so...flexible." Lussuria cooed, patting himself down.
"Oh well, I have no fear of either of you, really. All that concerned me was that punch you threw before, my little cutie. I thought you broke the lights through sheer force, but I guess there really is only one man who could do that, the one who earned the designation of the Shining Punch: the first Guardian of the Sun. But, as for your paltry technique, even I could do that."
Moving my feet sharply, I got myself out of the Sun's reach as he launched himself into our space, a low curse leaving me when Ryohei wasn't as lucky, and only narrowly missed the punch. The lights shattered above us again, but I gave no time for the man to boast as I ran back, a glance to Ryohei getting him ready to go.
We weren't doing well in terms of what we were expected to do, cooperation wasn't our highest of priorities at the moment. Boxing was an individual's sport, sharing the ring with an ally was unheard of, as well as jarring. Add this to our current emotional instability, my anger and Ryohei's confusion, and you have two gears that just weren't going to click.
But that was fine. We didn't need to work. The easiest way to solve this issue; get rid of the less useful piece. And I was more than happy to step down. We didn't need to figure ourselves out, no need to work out a system. We just needed that Ring, then I was outta here. For good, this time.
Swinging my fist as Reborn went on about 'Varia quality', I stepped back and around Ryohei as he filled my space and swapped styles on Lussuria, making the man fumble for a moment as he swapped mind frames. Coming up behind the flamboyant man, I swiped my leg out at him, forcing the Sun to jump, his newly airborne state giving him no way to avoid the punch sent to his stomach.
"Alright!" Ryohei cheered, Lussuria now standing awkwardly a little distance away from us.
"Aww! Look at you two finally getting along!"
"That's not something you should be happy about." I muttered, casting a look to my friend before launching myself at the Varia Sun.
Reeling my arm back, I prepared to punch the flamboyant man with as much power as I could muster, knowing full well that if Ryohei was having trouble, I needed to get rid of whatever moral hold I had on my strength. Lussuria saw this coming easily, and counteracted y raising his plated knee, my hand flying inches from it, before I tilted my head with wide eyes.
If I can't punch it…
My fist unravelled and my fingers hooked, the direction of my force being switched from forwards to a swift and brutal down.
I can sure as hell tear it of-Wait fuck!
The Varia Sun let out a shout of pain and surprise at the sudden yank as the metal implant was almost torn from its station, only to breath quickly and leap away when I freed him, wide eyes fixated on me through cracked lenses.
Not my job. Not my job. Not my job. Stay out of it Daiki. You don't mess with the predetermined.
"What was that?"
"It looked like...Shit, was the fucking giant going to tear it off!?"
"Why'd Yamaguchi-san stop though? He had him, we saw!"
Cause, that 'pleasure' belongs to Ryohei.
"You ready to go, sunshine?" I called over my shoulder, a flash of pride coming when Lussuria tested his knee to find the plate loose.
"..."
"Oi, what's wrong with you?!"
Ryohei seemed to snap out of whatever daze he was in, but couldn't pry his eyes from my back, forcing my to roll my eyes to high heaven.
"You just realised? The guys out there had a little fit about it ages ago!" I hissed, making him look to me with a worried expression.
"Daiki-kun, look at the floor of the ring."
Blinking, I dropped my gaze and cringed. Ah shit, that'd be hell to clean up. Foot prints and skid marks all coloured half red dotted the ground, there wasn't an obnoxious amount, but there was enough to make itself known, and my head to finally feel light.
"I feel sorry for whoever is on cleanup duty, now let's get back to it. If you're really worried about my health, hurry up and get us out of here!"
Snapping my attention back to my self-proclaimed sister, I lept out of the way of another kick, glancing over my shoulder as Ryohei cooled himself down and set up for another Maximum Cannon. A turn on my heel allowed me to see the painful moment where a Sun fueled fist collided with the plated knee, potential energy buzzing wildly in the limb to the point of visibility.
"Fuck, Ryohei-kun!" I yelped running back and kicking at Lussuria, forcing the man to back away from my downed partner.
"Ah, that sure is a nice sound he's making there, Daiki-kun!" The flamboyant Varia cried, the last Sun letting out grunts and wheezes of pain.
Risking a look over my shoulder, I gritted my teeth as Ryohei pressed his head against the concrete floor, arm spasming as adrenaline tried to mute waves of pain. A hasty breath left me as I dropped, the shadow of a leg sailing over my head as I brought myself back around, Lussuria tsking at me.
"Now Daiki-kun you should know better than to look away from your opponent!"
Narrowing my eyes at him, I let myself snap up and launch my hand out, eyebrows rising up from behind tinted lenses as a 'crack' sounded before the man was sent sprawling. It didn't take long for the pain to kick in, Lussuria's shout of pain reaching us from across the ring as he clutched his newly broken finger.
"Hahaha! I hope you learnt your fucking lesson, Lussuria!" Squalo roared from outside, sword-adorned hand raised.
The Varia Sun got to his feet with a rather annoyed look on his face, before it was sloppily schooled into his usual smile.
"Owwy, this hurts. Onee-chan will forgive you, though, since I broke both of those boy's hands now."
"Nii-san!"
My eyes widened as I recognised the voice, head snapping around as Kyoko ran up to the ring, Hana following close.
A flash of orange made me turn my gaze across the group, my teeth crunching against each other when I saw the damned CEDEF man, looking all too pleased with the contents of this fucking cage.
Use this time. Use this time.
Shaking off the bubbling in my gut, I took advantage of the confusion and bustle that came with the new appearances, my foot moving back until it brushed Ryohei's broken hands. A gasp of pain left him when the contact was made, before he quietened, a warmth entering his skin as a faint glow came to the air between us.
"Nii-san, Ki-nii, what are you doing!?"
Lussuria finally turned his attention from me to face the younger girl, a self-satisfied smirk coming to his face as he made the connection.
"You're these two's little sister, hey? You came at the perfect time! Once I finish up dear Daiki-kun here, it'll be over for them!" He laughed, moving to spread his arms thematically.
"Nii-san, stop! You promised me you wouldn't do this anymore!" Kyoko cried, turning her gaze on me.
"Ki-nii! Your back is all-"
She covered her mouth and stepped back, Hana coming to stand by her.
"Nii-san, even Ki-nii is bleeding! You said you wouldn't fight if it got him hurt!"
I glanced over my shoulder when she said that, trying to remember the specifics of the original route, more panic clawing into my mind. Just how far back have I changed things? Oh God, what have I put at risk just by being near these people!?
"-If it makes you cry, and gets my friends hurt, then I promise not to lose!"
A gasp left me as Ryohei's Flame went up, an almost tangible warmth radiating onto my back as he pulled himself to his feet, replenished drive moving his battered body. Second hand energy began buzzing in my veins as excess Flame began slipping into my skin, my partner releasing loud pumped roars as he began to practically give off light.
"You really are persistent." Lussuria huffed, before leaping at us.
Raising my fists, I locked my attention on the incoming Sun, before my eyes widened and a signal went off in my head. It was like how Xanxus had tried to reach me before, but different all the same.
This one's mine.
Obeying instantly, I moved my right foot out and crouched, hands splaying out on the ground to balance as I watched Lussuria's face fall as the sudden removal of me gave way to the once obscured Ryohei. I held my breath as a Sun packed fist crash into the Varia's metal knee, a sound of success leaving me as the plating shuddered before fragmenting, pieces hitting the ground in random parts of the ring.
"This is the real MAXIMUM CANNON!"
Rising when the beaten man hit the floor a ways away from us, I turned my gaze Ryohei, frowning when he grinned widely at me, fists still clenched from the final punch.
"Now that was a shining punch, kora. Way to go, Ryohei-kun."
"Colonello-shisho!"
"Let's go, Kyoko-chan."
I gritted my teeth as the rush of battle calmed, my screeching pain in my back finally coming to mind as well as the malformations in the cannon I had caused.
Get the ring and leave. Get the ring and leave.
"Give me the Ring, please." Ryohei asked, reaching out to retrieve the damned item.
Alarms went off in my mind as Lussuria began to shake, raw knee straining as he pulled himself to his feet, brow furrowed as he began to sweat, despite the heat lights gone.
"N-never! I'm Varia, I can win with one leg! It'll be easy!"
"Lussuria-onee-chan." I grunted, pain making my temper take front seat again. "You're done, onee-chan, give him the Ring."
"No, no, no! Daiki-kun, let's continue!"
The Vongola Sun looked to me in confusion and concern, as if to ask me why the once cocky man had become so frightened.
"What's the rush, pal?" He asked, uncertain about how to deal with the almost hysterical Varia.
"Hurry up-!"
I tensed painfully as a gun was set off, the faux-Cloud's free hand raised in the background as Lussuria was struck by ammunition. Ryohei stepped forwards, hands ready to assist, but my arm came up and blocked his way, my eyes set on the Varia party across from us.
"Gotta take care of business." Mammon hummed, nonchalant. "You're a fine aide to the Boss, Gola Mosca."
"Kill the weak. That's the Varia's policy, and the reason they remain strong." Reborn hummed, catching up the too naive Vongola who remained stunned by the action that had taken place.
A grunt left me as I nudged Ryohei back a step, the uncomfortably familiar smell of burnt skin reaching my nose. Moving towards the unconscious form of my self-proclaimed sister, I gave him a once over before crouching beside his body, snagging the chain around his neck and carefully unclipping it.
"Lussuria-san knew this, and panicked."
Standing from Lussuria, I let the Cervello woman move around me to check on the Varia's state, before walking up to my friend and pushing the Ring harshly against his chest, tender hand coming to catch the blood-stained trinket before it fell.
"The Vongola Sun Guardian, Sasagawa Ryohei, has possession of both halves of the Sun Ring." I called, drawing the girls' attention, as well as the Mafia around us.
"I believe that that equated to a win to the Vongola, yes?"
The two masked woman looked to each other before nodding and returning to their task, the furthest to the right amplifying her voice to make the announcement.
"We have determined that Lussuria-san of the Varia can no longer fight, and Sasagawa Ryohei holds the Ring of the Sun. Therefore, Sasagawa Ryohei and Yamaguchi Daiki, you have won the match to decide the Guardian of the Sun Ring."
I clenched my fists and walked out, not bothering to let the Cervello continue their speech, the girls pausing as attention was drawn to the one moving member of the crowds. Pushing the door of the Sun Coliseum open, I descended the steps heavily, a childish part of me wanting to make my footsteps resound as loudly as possible, but I managed to cap the desire to instead make my walk brisk.
"Y-Yamaguchi-san!" Tsuna yelped, stepping towards me as I snatched up my bag and tie from the ground.
"Good job in there, Yamaguchi-san." Reborn smirked, resting on Takeshi's shoulder.
I looked up from the strap of my bag and regarded the Arcobaleno coldly, my fists jumping as I reigned in the need for more conflict.
"Sawada-san," I called, making the Sky flinch. "Make no mistake, despite what Reborn-san may tell you, I am not your Sun, and you are not my Sky."
Ignoring the flash of pain that went past too emotive eyes, I pushed past the thin boy, working my brass knuckles off my fingers and shoving them into the bag as well. The withdrawal of my hand dragged items out of the holder, a curse leaving me when I saw the two books that fell to the ground.
Sawada Notes. Takeshi Notes.
Tsuna bent and picked up the pages, his Rain stepping up beside him as they read the titles, looking to me in confusion.
"Keep them. They were meant for you two, anyway." I grunted, preparing to step away again.
'You are unclaimed...'
A shiver left me as I felt something alien, but mildly familiar touch my Flame, my head tilting in confusion, before the temper that had been bubbling in my stomach snapped and I retaliated. Setting my Flame ablaze, I sent claws of Sun screaming up the tongues of wrathful Sky that dared to provoke me, sinking the fiery talons into Xanxus' Flame before ripping them all the way down.
Shouts of anger and pain left both of us as we recoiled, the repercussions of a violent Rejection rattling our nerves. I brought a hand to my chest as my lungs burnt in punishment, my head snapping around to glare fiercely at Xanxus as he breathed hard and heavy, his face twisted in rage and suffering.
"Keep your fucking Flames away from me, Xanxus-san!" I roared, straightening as I fought off the waves.
Growles rumbled around me, making me widen my view and freeze, nails sinking into my palm like butter when I noticed the sudden proximity of the Vongola Guardians, all of them having taken steps towards me.
"Daik-"
I tensed and slapped away the hand that came down on my shoulder, eyes wide in alarm as I turned around to face a rather stricken looking Takeshi.
Too much. There's too much that's wrong here…
"I'm leaving." I stated simply, pushing past their group and shaking off the attempt the Vongola Rain made to hold onto me.
"Wait, Yamaguchi-san!"
"You cannot leave yet, Sawada-san. You must be made aware of the next battle's opponents."
"But..."
...
Mephisto sat up sharply when I threw the door open, my bag hitting the far wall before dropping to floor with a heavy thud. My footsteps were loud and my movements stiff with restraint as I stormed up to my bed and roared into my mattress, the faint tapping of his claws sounding as he paced the length of the bed frame.
"Dumbass! Dumbass! Daiki, you mother fucking dumbass!" I snarled, pegging my pillow at the wall to let it fall along side the bag.
"The relationships between Takeshi-kun and Sawada-san, wrong! The timing of their knowledge of Mukuro-san, wrong! The Guardians, wrong! I've made everything wrong!"
Breathing heavily, I gripped my hair as I rested my elbows on my knees, not bothering to look up when Mephisto bolted from the room, my raised voice spooking the pup. My teeth ground against each other, squeaks and clicks sounding as enamel slid across double layers.
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. I've screwed up. It's all incorrect. Inconsistent. Malapropos.
A faint clink sounded before Takeshi's ring fell from my shirt, hanging freely in suspension and dropping directly into my eye line. The amount of panic that bloomed in my mind was amazing, the ring representing what I should have avoided from the beginning. Relation.
I should have asked the teacher to move me in kindergarten when Ryohei bothered me. I should have said no to Takeshi when he asked me to play. I should have left Tsuna alone when he fell, he would have been fine...right?
Someone would have help him, surely. The lifeguards would have jumped in to save a drowning kid, maybe Nana or some other adult would have noticed…
"I...I don't know. I don't know if he would have survived that if I hadn't of helped him." I breathed, eyes widening.
"Where...where did cannon derail, exactly? When I met Ryohei-kun? When I was born? When Yamada-san met kaa-san? When the bloody Watanabe Clan set up shop just outside Namimori borders?"
The ring around my neck glinted, drawing my attention back to it. My breath hitched and my hand found itself clamped around the precious metal, my brain sending off signals to rip off the marital symbol and rid myself of an incorrection...but my arm won't move. A shallow breath left me as my eyes burnt, my grip tightening as I hugged my almost abandoned gift closer.
God damn it...God damn all of those idiots.
Why can't I believe that they can take care of themselves? I've seen them do it, chronological, ocular proof had been displayed to me through two mediums of media, and yet the thought of them stepping out onto that stage made my stomach flip.
Bzzzt! Bzzzt! Bzzzt!
Snapping my gaze to my phone, I reached out and stiffly retrieved the device, reading the ID and letting out a sigh as I tried to regain myself.
Incoming Call: Pervert
"...Hello, Shamal-sensei."
"Yamaguchi-chan, why haven't you come in yet?"
"Come in? What do you-"
"Don't try me, I know your stitches have gone to shit. You know what, don't come. I'll go to you, you're probably in no condition to walk right now. Damn it, Yamaguchi-chan, why didn't you just come straight to me? The Vongola kid and his pals came running to me after you left!"
I remained quiet as the sounds of movement came through the line in amplified shuffles, the pain in my body reawakening as my panic died down and attention was drawn to the open wounds.
They were...worried. Why were they worried?
Takeshi and Ryohei, sure, I get, but Tsuna and Gokudera? I've treated both of them with nothing but open hostility, my attitude around them was flip of the coin at best when it came to how I would address the two.
"Yamaguchi-chan, you still there? You better not have dropped from blood loss!"
"Y-yeah, I'm fine, just...Oh my God, Bo-kun!" I yelped, tensing up when I finally noticed the lack of cow pattern in my room.
"Shit, shit, shit- I left Bo-kun at Namimori Middle! He was asleep so he didn't make any noise and after all that bull shit-! Oh God I have to get-"
"'Guchi-chan, 'Guchi-chan, cool it. I have the kid here, hasn't woken up yet. I said I'd take it to your house, used your mother as an excuse."
The relief that I felt was enormous, a loud sigh leaving me as the familiar feeling of absolute drainage filled me once again.
"I left Bo-kun. I left my son at school. What kind of a...Thanks, Shamal-sensei, I'm sorry."
"It's fine. You've had quite the past few days, I must say."
"...And there's only more to come."
…
"Yamaguchi-chan, I thought I said no strenuous activity."
I ignored Shamal's tsk to instead race forwards and take the sleeping Lambo off him, bringing the little bundle of Lightning to me and hugging him closely. I swayed slightly when he let a noise leave him, the continuous rocking lulling him back sufficiently as the doctor watched the interaction.
"Can you tell me how bad you think it is?" The Mist man breathed, placing his case down on my desk and unclasping it.
"Not too bad. Hopefully." I responded, pressing a kiss to my child's cheek before moving to his cot and placing him down.
I was forced to pause and tinker as Lambo's sleeping body latched onto my chained ring, a high pitched whine leaving him as I gently pried off his little fingers. Pulling the blotch pattern blanket up, I quietly watched the little Lightning toss his body into a comfortable position, a random assortment of pieces falling from his head of hammerspace, leaving me to pinch them up and dispose of them in a small crate dedicated to his knick knacks.
"Yamaguchi-chan, let's get this done. Again." Shamal grunted, sutures and needles already out and ready.
I breathed quietly as I locked my door, pulled my shirts off and sat down on my bed. Shamal groaned when he saw the wrappings, easily deeming the bandages unsalvageable as the doctor peeled them from my wounds with a tsk of annoyance. A wince left me as he began pulling out the burst stitches, medical thread pulling themselves free from red and tender skin.
"This wouldn't of happened, if you had listened to me."
"You think I wanted to take part in the conflict?" I snapped, hushing quickly in caution of my sleeping child.
"Either way, you're in it now. No getting around that, Yamaguchi-chan."
"No, I'm not. I never wanted to get involved in this madness, and no bloody baby is gonna make me. Reborn-san can shoot at me and throw a tantrum all he wants." Came my response, my glare shifting over my shoulder to pin on the stoney-face Shamal.
The good doctor let out a breath, shaking his head silently before gesturing me to turn back around as to not disturb his work. His cloth came to my skin as he began wiping away dried sweat and crumbling blood, the hand that slid down my side making him give a huff before he assured me that I had undone just about all my healing.
"Honestly, Yamaguchi-chan, totally uncute."
"I'm not trying to be cute." I grunted, wincing as he shoved the needle through my flesh and injected the first shot of anesthetic.
"Obviously. Ah, about your tattoo artist; I'm sorry, I couldn't find anyone." Shamal hummed, pulling the stitches tight before snipping it off.
My teeth sank into my lower lip as I fought off commenting on the sudden change of topic, before sighing and nodding understandingly.
"Yeah, it's fine. I did ask on short notice. Thanks for trying though, Shamal-sensei."
A sound left the Nami nurse as he continued to sew me back up, my attention halved to focus my ears on Lambo's sleeping form, half in case he wakes up, and half to quench my paranoia.
I had left him. With the Vongola group, yes, but I had left my son and gone home in a blind rage.
Shamal seemed to notice my attention, and removed himself from me, walking over to the crib to rearrange the spotted blankets, allowing me to view Lambo's face through the bars. I let out a heavy breath as I relaxed, the sight doing a number on my tension.
"In the call, you called him your 'son'. What's that all about?"
I blinked up at the doctor as he came back to my bedside, taking up the needle and thread again.
"Bo-kun is my son. That's all there is to it."
Shamal gave a short laugh at my statement before he straightened my head and began sewing up smaller cuts.
"You've adopted a Mafioso, and if the rumors are true, you're engaged to a future Mafioso. And yet you still believe you can get away with not falling into our ranks as well. Very naive, Yamaguchi-chan."
"And we're back at it, again." I sighed, spinning around as instructed to allow for further care at the front.
"I'm just saying, if you expect to be able to get out of this, you're in for a surprise." Shamal shrugged, cleaning off my split knuckle.
I forced my lips into a thin, straight line as he continued to bustle, allowing me my silence.
Did he think I didn't know that already? The second I stepped in that ring I knew I had signed my sentence…
But surely, surely there is a way to get Reborn to reconsider his decision. I have no place in that set, no likeness to the Primo's line up. There is no counterpart to Yamaguchi Daiki in the first generation, so why was I added to the mix?
"All done. Now, please, for the love of Mary, don't rip out your stitches again. I'll be expecting you in three days. Think you can handle that long without the Mafia coming down on you?"
"Three days?" Lightning. Storm. Rain.
"Yeah, I think I can handle that." I hummed, lifting my arms and testing out the grip of the new bandages.
"You know, Yamaguchi-chan, the easiest way to get out of this would to be cut all ties with the Vongola and his pals. Of course, that would include ridding yourself of your best friends, sweetheart and son."
I jolted at the statement, eyes widening at the far wall as a sudden pain panged in my chest, unwelcome.
Shamal closed the door after him, giving me a pointed look to remain at my bed, saying that he could show himself out. I waved halfheartedly and gave another thanks before the barrier clicked in place.
Tugging on a set of night clothes, I prepare to settle into bed, before a faint sniffle reached my ears, making me turn around immediately. My feet carried me quickly over to Lambo's cot, his face reddening as tears welled in the corner of his eyes, sounds leaving him despite still being deep in sleep. Reaching out, I gently pet his hair in attempts to calm him, a stab coming to my chest as a little cry sounded.
"Hey, Bo-kun." I called, waking him up easily.
"H-huh? Daiki-san?" He whimpered, eyes dangerously wet.
"What's wrong, champ? You're all teary."
A look of fear flashed across the little one's face, as if he had just remembered the nightmare, hands clamping down on my fingers as a hiccup left him.
"I had a bad dream…"
I frowned at the confession, his voice too small to be coming from someone like Lambo. Reaching my other hand into the crib, I carefully plucked the 5 year old from its confines, holding him to me gingerly as I crossed the room and sat down on my own bed.
Little hands tangled themselves in my shirt as a small patch of wetness bloomed at my chest, my attention too drawn to my distressed son to bother with the pain that came from the salt invading my wounds. Gently petting his back, I laid us down with his small form on top, hand making the continuous rubbing motion.
"Do you want to tell me about it? The nightmare?"
Lambo didn't respond vocally, instead shaking his head and burying his face deeper into my chest.
"Okay, then. Do you want to sleep with me tonight?"
That got me a nod, prompting me to situate us properly with the sheets drawn up to cover him, not really caring about how my arms and shoulders got cold. A hum left me as he started to calm, grip on my shirt no less strong, however.
"Daiki-san, can I get a song?" He asked, surprisingly careful.
"A song?"
"Uh-huh, Ryohei-san and Yamamoto-kun told me that you used to sing them to sleep...You don't have to…"
Sing someone to sleep? I haven't done that in ages. They've all grown too big.
"Daiki-san?"
"Yeah. Yeah, sure. Do you have a song you want?" I finally responded, looking down at the small child.
"No, anything's okay." Lambi muttered, pressing closer as his eyes went big.
A lullaby. A lullaby. What do I know that could...okay, let's go with that.
"Somebody's taking the train to Sleepytime Junction.
Somebody is so tired he can barely function.
So he's hoppin' on that train to Sleepytime Junction.
Somebody's taking the train to Sleepytime Junction." I hummed, remembering just who had made up this song.
A smile came to my face as the story flashed through my head, but I capped the desire to bellow and kept the volume consistent, not wanting to wake up the slowly drifting child.
"'All aboard!' Cried the engineer. 'Sleepytime Junction is so near.'
Somebody's taking the train to Sleepytime Junction.
Somebody is so tired he can barely function."
At some point, my rubbing had become rhythmic patting, the high pitched music of the song echoing in my head.
"'All aboard!' Cried the engineer. 'Sleepytime Junction is so near.'
Somebody's taking the train to Sleepytime Junction.
Somebody is so tired he can barely function."
I smiled softly as light breaths left the little hitman, shirt still wrapping his fist.
"Good night, Bo-kun."
"Hmm...Night Papa…"
Cut all ties…
...Must I? Really?
…
I sat up with a start, the boom that sounded waking me up to a faceful of smoke, a cough leaving me as I fanned away the particles, free hand clenched in a fist, ready to cave in the face of the bastard who woke me up.
"Oh, hey Papa."
A sigh fell from my lips as I looked to the teen sitting at the foot of my bed, donned in cow print pyjamas and holding a cup of milk in his hands. The TYL Lambo looked completely at ease, a little milk moustache lining the top of his lip as he downed another mouthful.
"Wipe your mouth, Bo-kun." I hummed, throwing the tissue box on my side table at him.
The younger boy followed my order easily, dabbing the mess in a surprisingly well mannered fashion.
"How the hell did you get your hands on the TYL Bazooka?"
"I dunno." He shrugged, tossing the tissue in the bin.
Sighing, I pulled myself up against my headboard and looked to the teen, raising an eyebrow when he slurped the liquid loudly.
"So, battle for the Lightning Rings tomorrow night, remember it?"
Lambo blinked slowly at me before making a sound of realisation, cup coming to balance on his knee.
"Nope, not at all. I think I slept through most of them. The others don't talk about it often, so I have no memory of it."
I nodded in understanding, before frowning slightly, my hand coming to the throbbing stab wound on my chest. This seemed to gain the teen's attention, a sour expression taking his face as his hand fell over his stomach.
"What's wrong with you, champ?" Came my huff, covered foot nudging his side.
"Is it the stab that's hurting? You got it around this time, right?"
I stared for a moment, before nodding, wondering just how many of these wounds scarred despite my Flame.
"Yeah, but I'll be fine."
He frowned momentarily, before placing his cup down, something else going down with it, and crawling up the bed, flopping on top of me with his head on my stomach. Startled by the action, I tensed up and gave him a wide eyed look, before calming when I remembered the familial connection.
"You're always getting hurt. It makes everyone worried."
Everyone.
"Bo-kun, you know that I'm not getting involved with the Mafia, right?" I breathed, letting my hand come to brush through his messy hair.
"Hmm, you sure made us work for it, keeping you with us." He sighed, before looking up at me with a tight smile.
"But who knows, maybe you might do it, this time 'round. This might be the last time I call you 'Papa' when I come back."
The tightening in my chest was reflected by his sudden grip on my shirt, the material giving sounds of strain as the fibers were pulled to their limit in his hand.
Am I willing to give up what I want, in order to avoid what I don't? Am I willing to give up my family, in order to avoid the Family?
"You'll be summoned tomorrow, I bet. So we'll just have to wait, Bo-kun."
"I don't want to lose my Papa. In any timeline."
Damn it, these boys know how to pull at my heartstrings, don't they?
My teeth fell tight against each other and I wrapped an arm around the TYL Lambo, the time-traveller accepting the embrace whole heartedly. He lowered his head back to my chest, low hums leaving him. I blinked when the sounds began to take on a lyric, my eyes widening when he opened his mouth and began singing instead.
"Somebody's taking the train to Sleepytime Junction.
Somebody is so tired he can barely function.
So he's hoppin' on that train to Sleepytime Junction.
Somebody's taking the train to Sleepytime Junction."
I hummed along, before quietly joining him, hand still combing his hair.
"'All aboard!' Cried the engineer. 'Sleepytime Junction is so near.'
Somebody's taking the train to Sleepytime Junction.
Somebody is so tired he can barely function."
"Haha, you know, Papa, one time, we screamed this at the top of our lungs to wake up Ha-nii. You ran with me on your shoulders when he chased us out in only his briefs. Mu-nii took pictures." Lambo laughed lowly, a smile of reminiscence on his face.
"Mu-nii. Rokudo Mukuro, The Vongola Mist."
"Uh-huh. I hope he get's out of Vindice faster in this time. He was really thin after he got out and stopped using Chrome-nee as a vessel all the time."
"I can imagine." I responded, remembering the tank he was confined to for so long.
"There was also that time that Papa fell asleep on the couch in the main living room, and when you woke up, everyone had come to join you and we all slept together. I had to bunk with I-pin though. She kicks in her sleep."
"Is that so?"
"Another time, you, Kyoko-nee, Haru-nee and Chrome-nee were in the swimming pool, and these men who came over for a meeting started staring. Everyone saw them at the window, and got really angry. I don't think they got the deal with Boss. Everyone kept on smothering you guys after that, Kyoko-nee and the others couldn't go anywhere without someone, and Boss kept on calling you up to the office so you couldn't go out."
"Really?"
I knew what he was doing. He was telling me about all the times I could have if I stayed, if I didn't abandon the Vongola Family. These were stories about what could be waiting for me out on the other end of the Katekyo madness, the fun I could have. Lambo was trying to convince to not leave him and the others behind.
"'All aboard!' Cried the engineer. 'Sleepytime Junction is so near.'
Somebody's taking the train to Sleepytime Junction.
Somebody is so tired he can barely function." I sung, moving his hair out of his face instead of calling him out.
"Papa, please don't leave us."
A smile came to my face as I glanced to the window, the sun's luminescence peaking over the horizon.
"I'll see you tonight , Bo-kun...Maybe."
"See you, Papa...Hopefully."
…
Resting my chin on my palm, I let out a long sigh, a very familiar looking set laying on my desk in front of me. The things that TYL Lambo had left beside his up hadn't gone with him after the time limit had expired, leaving me with some rather battered looking conducting horns.
"Honestly, even ten years later he's still leaving his stuff everywhere."
"Chattering Herbivore."
I looked up from my desk, a look of exasperation on my face as the little clock on my side table ticked past 9am.
"I'm not even three seconds late, how did you manage to get to my house so fast?"
Hibari glared at me as he dropped into my room, curtains bellowing dramatically behind him as he stalked over to me, his hands on the metal peeking out of his coat.
"Why aren't you at Namimori Middle? Class has begun and you look fine."
"I'm not coming in today." I responded, turning back to my assignment, due in three weeks.
There was silence for a moment, before I was harshly spun around and caught between my chair and a looming Skylark, the boy's unamused expression rather close to my own tired one.
"And what is so important that you would dare to jig?"
I frowned up at him, his left arm supporting himself off my desk as the other held a shiny tonfa at my chin, ready to leave a bruise should I step out of line.
"I'm unwell. Injured." Came my response.
Not untrue, just not the reason.
"Oh? Show me."
I reached around and pulled up my night shirt, bandages lining my abdomen and allowing me to reveal myself without fear.
"Hm...Get up, you will spend the day assisting me instead." Hibari ordered, grabbing me and yanking my form to its feet.
"Wait, what?"
"Either change or come as you are, you have three minutes."
"Hibari- Fucking hell!"
"You're scared, so you hide. Pathetic." He snapped, nailing my broken ribs with the toe of his shoe
"Ow! Fuck, careful!" I hissed, whacking the limb away as I nursed the side.
He glared down at me before pushing himself out further and flicking his hand up gracefully, his chin lifting along with it as he called for me again.
"Get up."
I blinked before shifting, my legs stiff from the small space. Being careful of my head, I moved to my full height before the seated Cloud, unsure of what he was doing.
"Sit down."
Where?
"I said, sit down." He growled, hand coming to push me back against his desk.
With confusion and caution painting my expression, I grabbed the edge of Hibari's desk before seating myself properly, knees hanging off the sides. My eyes widened as the Skylark rolled his chair forwards, pushing my knees open to allow him closer.
"Um…" I breathed, very unsure about this situation.
Hibari didn't react or make note on my attitude to the matter, instead grabbing a two page file and leaning back in his chair, which would have been fine, if it weren't for the hand that made itself a home on my knee.
I remained tense and very uncomfortable for the next few minutes, just about jumping when the hand on me stated adding pressure and moving, similar to a lazy massage. The hand didn't go higher than mid thigh, nor lower than mid calf, but it touched just about everywhere between on that leg, leaving me rather distressed.
"Did you know that we were going to get a new transfer soon? Tomorrow, in fact." He said suddenly, flipping the file shut in his free hand.
"Oh?" I responded, keeping my voice stable by some miracle.
"Yes, a first year. Another herbivore." Hibari huffed, handing the sheets over to me.
Taking them from him, I opened the document before stalling, the familiar mousy boy captured in a small image in the corner of the page.
"Jun-kun?" I muttered, scanning his file.
"Of the Watanabe Yakuza. Your errand boy, I believe."
"Sort of, I rather the term 'personal assistan-"
I cut off sharply as the other hand came to my leg, muscles going hard with tension as the other boy moved his fingers along them.
"Hibari-san, what on Earth are you doing?" I finally asked, watching his right hand carefully as it went a bit higher than the other.
"You have very muscular legs. Also, very long."
…
How the fuck do I respond to that?
"Thanks...They help me to walk." I uttered, returning my gaze to Jun's file quickly.
Oh hey, Jun's only 151cms. He's even shorter than Tsuna.
"Hibari-sama! I have the stuff you asked fo-Ah!"
I glanced over my shoulder and waved at the familiar boy, the very same one who had witnessed my with the Skylark's fingers in my mouth months ago.
"Y-you again?" He stuttered, face reddening.
"Yep, me again." I nodded, before turning back to the headman.
"You gonna help the little lamb or what?"
"Hm," He huffed, his grip on my thighs jumping before he turned his attention to the shaking lad, hands not moving from their station. "Leave them there. You are dismissed."
"Yes sir!"
A loud breath left me as I looked to the shopping bag just before the desk, wondering why it was left there of all places.
"Give me the bag, handler."
I blinked, before swinging my legs, only to have them grabbed and slammed back into place. Jolting at the swift replacement, I gave the Skylark an astounded look, before letting my jaw drop as the dots connected.
"You are not making me do that. No." I refused, shaking my head.
"Give me the bag, handler." He repeated,leaning closer as out glares clashed.
"Let me go and I will."
"I don't need to let you go to allow for you to reach it."
Slate and amber-earth locked as we dared the other to back down, our faces rather close, but far enough to give me some comfort.
"Get the bag, handler. Without moving from the desk." Hibari ordered, reclining in his chair again after a few moments of burning eyes.
"My God, fine!" I yelled, completely over with fighting this impossible man.
Looking over my shoulder at the plastic bag, I sighed loudly before falling back on the expanse of the desk, hand coming up over my head to try and make a grab for it. When my fingers came short, I was forced to arch my spine off the wooden table, legs tensing to stabilize me as I pinched the bag and brought myself back up.
"There, you happy now?" I huffed, dropping the item in my lap.
"I suppose." He hummed, looking smug as all hell as he began rummaging through.
I blinked as I took an offered carton of chocolate milk, the boy across from me content to drink his own ice tea. Eventually, a small smile came to my face and I opened my drink, tossing my head back as I downed the sweet liquid.
I really should have expected it, having bared my neck unintentionally to the Skylark. The teeth on my neck hurt for an instant, before I rolled my eyes and gave the other an exaggerated pat on the back.
"Well done birdy, you bit the handler. Yay."
There was a pause, before the other released my throat, teeth marks beading with blood as we took a synchronized sip of our drinks. With a hum of boredom, I began swinging my legs slightly, the Skylark only slightly perturbed by the muscles shifting under his hands to start the momentum.
What was with him and my legs? Was it even my legs, or just legs in general?
"So, am I to be my little mouse's guide around the school?" I hummed, tossing the file back on his desk.
"Yes. You will show him the layout and keep him out of trouble. He is here to serve and assists you during the day, so expect him to hover." The Skylark answered, looking up at me blandly.
"I don't need an assistant when I'm at school."
"I don't care."
Giving a noise of defeat, I checked my watch and sighed, the face showing me the three remaining hours of school. A shuffling caught my attention, head turning to look at Hibari as he rolled his chair closer and moved his hand up until they could clasp together behind my back, my entire being going rigid as he leant over and dropped his head onto my right thigh.
"I'm going to sleep. Sort the remaining documents into piles correlation to each faculty. I expect this done by the time I wake up."
"I beg your pa-"
"Quietly, Chattering Herbivore." He huffed, a warm patch blooming on my leg as his breath was absorbed by the fabric.
Trying to argue against him, I made a noise of aggravation when he dozed off in spite of my efforts, leaving me to look at the multiple stacks of paperwork left by the DC head.
"Oh, you fucking lazy bird!"
These boys. They don't make disappearing easy, do they?
(I would be disappointed if they didn't.)
Song: Sleepytime Junction, from The Game Grumps(Youtube).
LeNoRi Note: It has come to my attention that I didn't express what the story last chapter was trying to convey. It was supposed to show that the father was poking fun at Daiki's situation, the dog only wanted to help his master (mother) and when he brought home a reward (got rid of the father) it was punished(forced to become a male). Might not have been the best story to use,but meh. :/
Hope you all liked the chapter!
Extended LeNoRi Note: Topic Fight Scenes
As much as I like boasting my little bread bun's badassery, I find fight scenes difficult as hell to do justice. I mean, there's only so many times and variations that I can write a punch to the face or a kick to the gut and make it not seem repetitive. Not to mention, I already find it hard enough to translate ideas into text! Loud-ass sigh But, since I've chosen a shounen, fight scenes are a necessary evil. Just going to have to accept that I don't feel like I've done the Sun Ring Battle enough justice and try to make up for it in the next couple scenes. Well, there's my sorry attempt at a rant done.
Plunny: *clapclapclap*
Plunny: Also misconceptions about fighting. E.g. adrenaline It doesn't actually help, in fact, it worsens. There's a reason why people stand around dumbly for a while or so until they start fighting back. One can train to ignore that, but yeah.
Sidekick Commentary Á LA ThePlotbunnyBreeder
I am anxious to see how this'll all play out. *tries not to chew on fingernails* Even though it annoys one slightly how Daiki, well, Shamal summed it up briefly: Don't befriend/bethrow/adopt mafioso and expect not to be tangled in with all the shit. But it is kinda realistic: I remember lots of people (me included) to just… yeah. Willfully ignoring problems until they march up to you and bitch slap your cheek. People do have a tendency to do that, and if it shines a spotlight on Daiki's flaws, we had a lots of chapters doing the opposite. Not a bad thing, just different.
On another note, Jun ma boy is coming to Nami Middle! :D Have I already mentioned how I adore that insecure little bundle? It helps that he's shorter than me, but still. I am really looking forward to the day/moment he shows some assholes the meaning of 'smol 'n angry'. Or character development. Or fluff. Or all of them. :)))