Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
Rating: T

Search and Rescue

It wasn't that he didn't like her anymore. He still did. Mukuro sighed and looked longingly at Kumiko as Hibari pulled her closer against him. Obviously, the skylark didn't want to share. Obviously, the skylark didn't have any regards to her feelings either. Otherwise, why would he have even broken up with her in the first place? Mukuro's heart skipped a beat as Hibari sighed silently and got up, pressing the blankets firmly down onto her so that she was safely cocooned in the soft pile. Without a word, he gave Mukuro a sharp glance, indicating that he wanted the illusionist to follow him outside.

Mukuro doggedly followed after him. After stepping out the door, Hibari pinned Mukuro with a deep glare of hatred, before slowly letting the door fall shut. It closed with a soft click, and Mukuro then opened his mouth.

"I'm telling yo-"

"No. She's useless. I do not want her back. You can have her."

"..." Mukuro didn't say anything for a while, merely narrowing his eyes at the silent Skylark. It shocked him, how Hibari had so casually written her off like that, how he had treated her as nothing more than a mere object. You can have her. Hibari met his glare steadily. He didn't want her back. She was merely a burden, a weakness.

"Listen here, Skylark." Mukuro's voice was so full of loathing, so full of hatred, that even Hibari was shocked for a second. His grey slate eyes widened ever so slightly as Mukuro shoved him against the wall roughly. "It was my fault, Hibari Kyoya. How dare you blame it on her." Hibari shook his head and punched Mukuro in the stomach, making him reel backwards and let go of him. He was seething. So much so that he didn't even bother to pull out his tonfas as he landed another blow on the arrogant illusionist. Mukuro hissed and skittered away, standing stiffly to Hibari's right. Hibari let out a huff of irritation as he faced the illusionist once more.

"Don't. Touch. Me." There it was, that abhorrence rearing its ugly head once more. Hibari's head pounded. He wanted to kill Rokudo Mukuro right here on the spot, he wanted to kill Chrome, he even wanted to kill Kumiko. Why wouldn't everyone just leave him to be? He was a solitary creature, one that didn't need anyone else's company, one that didn't need to rely on a group of useless herbivores to support his every move. One that didn't cling to Hibari because she was insecure due to the fact that she's mute. All the worry he had for Kumiko vanished in an instant as he replayed her flirtatious moments with Mukuro. How long had they been going on behind his back? What had Mukuro given her that he couldn't give her? It started with the kiss when he had been immobilized in hospital, and then the cafe scenario and now the ballroom dancing partnering? He didn't care if she didn't want to be with him anymore.

I never really liked her in the first place. She's weak and useless and small and mute and she depends on me, so much so that I want to hurt her.

It was the anger that he couldn't control that brought him back to his senses. Holding in the anger hurt. It hurt to breathe, it hurt to think. He wanted to fight, wanted to resort to the instinctual feel of hitting someone with his fists and have them beg for mercy beneath his feet as their blood stained the plush carpets of the fancy ship they were on. Hibari let out a growl and ran at Mukuro, but the illusionist sidestepped.

"Fine." Mukuro snapped, and Hibari's anger dissipated as quickly as it had appeared. His most coherent thought at the moment would be something in the middle of I'll bite you to death, or what did you say? Mukuro sighed again. "Fine. If you want to do it this way, it doesn't really count as cheating after all. If you really did feel that way about her, if you were simply toying with her feelings, then you don't deserve her. I'll make sure she feels loved, unlike you. I'll make sure I take care of her, which you have obviously failed to do. I'll make sure she doesn't get hurt...you better not regret it. I'll make sure she's mine."

Hibari scoffed. "Do what you want. It does not concern me." But he couldn't get rid of the sinking feeling he felt in his chest. She had never been his to begin with, had she? Hibari Kyoya didn't know how to love. HIbari Kyoya didn't know what was in the mind of herbivores. He didn't know how to keep a girl by his side, he didn't know how to treat Kumiko. I don't deserve her. The more he thought about it, the more his mind clogged with memories of being together with her.

The way she trusted him so much that she would obediently do everything that he told her to do.

The way her touches were always so soft and submissive, the way she never demanded anything from him and never refused when he demanded something from her.

The way her eyes lit up with obvious happiness when Hibari went over to talk to her or to simply hold her. The way she would fit in his arms so perfectly, the way she was so concentrated when she was drawing something, the way she would look at Hibird and see the need to care for small animals, the way she looked at him with so much trust, the way she would open her mouth and mouth his name to him, the way she cried when he got hurt and the way she would fight for him if the occasion needed it. The way she wanted to hold his hand in public, the way she wanted to follow him around, the way she needed to know that they were going to stay together, the way she thought of him and knew what he liked and what he didn't like, the way she smiled at him, the way she never needed to draw attention to their relationship and the way she would always visit him at lunchtime and share her bento box with him when he got hungry, the way she would sit next to him on the roof and stay still so as not to wake him up when he was having his daily nap, the way she sometimes snuggled up next to him and tucked herself into his arms because she wasn't afraid of him and she knew that he wouldn't mind. The way she knew him better than she knew herself sometimes, the way he knew her better than himself. The way they were meant for each other, or so he had thought.

That terror he had felt when she'd frozen in front of him had been so real, so intense. He didn't want to go through it again. He simply wanted to cut all ties. In fact, this may even be beneficial to her! She can stay safe, and she can go to Mukuro, like she really wanted to. A traitorous voice within Hibari's mind informed him that she didn't want Mukuro in that way, that she was still completely loyal, if only caught off guard once or twice. But he didn't want any of it anymore. He wanted freedom. Isolation.

It hurts.

It wasn't that he didn't like her anymore. He just needed a break. Hibari felt like pressing his fingers to his temple. It hurt to think about her. It hurt to think that they were no longer to be together, that she wasn't going to be wholly his to love anymore. Who am I kidding? I don't love her. Hibari Kyoya doesn't succumb to herbivorous emotions. It alarmed him that he had to remind himself not to mention his 'love' for her. He has to let her go right now, otherwise his whole world would be turned upside down, and he would no longer be a carnivore. He refused to become a herbivore too. The only way to stay himself was to get rid of her.

"You can have her." He mumbled. Mukuro nodded, his eyes still flashing animosity. "You can have her."

He sounded incredibly tired.

Hibari pulled open the door to his room, walking over to his bed and sitting down heavily. A small squeak caught him by surprise, making him look back. He had almost forgotten that he left her on his bed previously. He whipped his head around to pin her with a stare, and a lone purple eye met his gaze.

That was the last thing that he remembered.

Hibari gently pulls her against him, his own chest rising and falling with his breaths. She huddles closer to him as if feeling cold, wrapping her arms around his torso. He gives her a smirk, and that's when a thin thread of regret laces through his heart. If only he could give her a sincere smile, a genuinely warm tilt of the lips. If only it wasn't marred by the smirk he always gives her. If only it was more...truthful. Was it? His smirk didn't seem half as convincing with the smiles as those of Sawada Tsunayoshi and Yamamoto Takeshi beam out. They don't even seem convincing next to the ones that Kumiko kept giving him. Wait, who was Kumiko again?

He settles for pulling her closer, weaving his hands into her hair. Her long locks tangle around his fingers. He breathes in her scent, a delicate wave of lavender and lilac.

Chrome's hands clung onto his shirt, never loosening her grip as if afraid that he would slip away before she wakes up. Hibari shook his head and pressed his lips onto her forehead once more. He loves Chrome and he would never leave her for anyone else. Chrome was his and his alone, and in return, he vowed to stay loyal, to stay a carnivore that mates for life and never cheats.

But the more he tries to muffle the painful thudding of his heart in his chest, the more he tries to deny the fact that the girl in his arms is not the one he wants, the more doubt builds in his mind. It was driving him crazy. His hands desperately searched for something to do, be it rubbing slow circles on her back as she slept, or stroking her spine, or even playing with her fingers. He felt a deep sense of unease, of...of what?

"Kyoya?" Chrome blinked, her one eye opening slightly to stare into his expression.

You're not the one I want. He wanted to say. Instead... "Do you need anything...Chrome?"

Chrome? Why would he call her Chrome? Have they gone so far in their relationship that he doesn't need to label her as herbivore or even omnivore anymore? The question is, why doesn't he remember anything about this? When had he become so close to Chrome that he would hold her against his chest and murmur sweet nothings into her ears? When had he become so close with her that he would open his eyes to her in his arms? Nonetheless, there was something that was stopping him from shoving her away. There was something that stirred his heart just a little as she lifted herself onto her elbows gently, her palms pressing against his chest. His breath hitched. She's beautiful.

She's disgusting.

"Kyoya? What's wrong?" Her concerns pressed into his mind. Yes, he belonged with her. There had been no one else in this whole wide world that cared more for him than she did. His hands automatically went to tuck her hair behind her ears, exposing her pale face and her gentle smile. It was her touch that warmed him. It was her voice that made him feel joy and laughter. It was her that saved him.

Not Kumiko.

Who was Kumiko again?

"Kyoya, your mind is wandering again." She pressed her lips against his skin, and he pulled her closer against him, wanting to feel more of her, wanting to feel her closer, wanting to have her by his side. Always by his side. He flipped her over onto her back and trapped her within his arms, leaning his face closer. The smirk he wore slipped onto his face once more as he leaned closer, as she smiled to receive his soft touch. His hands slipped behind to pull her up by the small of her back. She accepted his hold willingly, falling forward easily into his embrace.

"I love you, Kyoya. Do you love me?"

"I..." His own words clogged his throat. A miniscule part inside of him was thrashing, was fighting to get free. No, he wanted to shout. You're not the one I've fallen for. I don't fall for anyone, I don't succumb to herbivorous feelings. But that herbivore was special. I felt for her. And she is not you.

"I love you." He whispered, voice choked with passion. She smiles. "That's good to hear." Her head leaned forward to loll on his collarbone, her breath staining the side of his neck. He leaned back against the headboard, her weight against his chest, secure and anchored. She was never going to leave him. He loved her. He loved Chrome Dokuro.

Suddenly, he caught himself in a liplock with the girl. Small, timid Chrome had finally made a move, leaning forward and pressing her lips to his gently. He responded silently, wrapping his arms around her back to pull her forward. Her scent wrapped around him, lilac and lavender mixing together, and that's when Hibari knew something was wrong. With a muffled grunt, Hibari broke the kiss and pulled away. Chrome licked her lips. "What's wrong, Kyoya?"

"It's not you. I don't love you."

Her expression saddened. "But you do, you told me you do!"

Kumiko...Where is she?

He shook his head furiously. It's an illusion. His love for Chrome Dokuro is fake.

The floor was impossibly, unbearably cold. Kumiko was barefoot. She winced as she sat up. Her back ached with invisible scratches. It was dark but there was something beside her. Her feet scraped against the cold of the tiled floor. Was it tiled? Because it felt a lot rougher, all of a sudden. Her toes curled against the unidentifiable material. Brick? Stone?

She blinked. Her eyes made out few spots in the darkness. There was a bad smell lingering in the air, and Kumiko wrinkled her nose. The last she remembered was...was running to Mukuro's room. It came back to her in a painful rush, how Hibari had shoved her against the wall and kissed her so passionately, and how immediately afterwards, he had broken up with her without a second thought, leaving her to sob her heart out in the dining room. She automatically brought her hand up to brush against her chest. It hurt. It hurt.

A jingling sound caught her attention. Light glinted off something cuffed around her wrists...her ankles...even her stomach. She was chained. Chained to the wall. She tugged at her chains. At least her leash was long. She could stand up quite easily, but could only take a couple of steps in any given direction. She rubbed her eyes, looking for a way out. Her mouth opened and closed, forming words that she couldn't speak.

Hibari? Hibari-san, where are you?

Her thumping heart could be clearly heard in the sullen atmosphere in her new prison. As her eyes adjusted more and more to the amount of light let into the room, she realized that it was exactly that. A prison. There were bars between her and the corridor outside. There were no windows. As she tapped her hands against the brick, a sudden rocking motion threw her against the wall. Her light body was dragged around by the restraints of the chains, scraping her ankles and wrists and palms. She gulped and dragged herself back into the corner where she had woken up, rubbing her eyes and huddling closer within herself. Where is she?

A second rocking motion gave her her answer. As she pressed her head against the wall of the cell, she imagined she could hear the large waves slapping against the side of the ship, pushing it around like a toy boat in a bathtub. Even if there was a window, even if she did manage to get out of this cell, she had nowhere to go. Is she still on the same boat as Hibari-san and the others? Or has she been switched off the boat and onto another in a sick game of cat and mouse, of kidnapper and hostage?

Stifling a panicked sob, she curled up closer into a ball and lay her head against her knees. Tears leaked slowly out of the side of her face. Her head hurts. Her heart ached. She was broken and chained, probably forgotten, like a marionette that a spoilt child has thrown away. She shifted her legs slightly, coughing once more as she sat forward. Her fingers curled slightly and she realized that the cast that had been put on her has fallen away to reveal her pale skin. The skin of her left arm was white and clammy, unhealthy, compared to her slightly tanned left arm. She shook her hand experimentally, tugging it backwards and trying to get out of her cuff links.

A melodic sound drifted to reach her ears. She perked up immediately. Someone's here! They can get her out! She reached up to rub her throat, letting out a dry huffing sound. She couldn't scream, she couldn't speak, she couldn't do anything right. Frustration caused her to lift one of her hands and bang it against the bars. She smiled softly as a rich ringing noise caused the footsteps to falter. She banged her cuffs against the metal again.

Maybe it's Hibari-san.

She stopped then. Color slowly bled into her pale cheeks as she relived what he had said to her. What he had done. Did she really want to get back together with him? Did he really want her back? He implied himself that she was nothing more than a burden to him, nothing more than carry on baggage. It wouldn't matter if she got lost.

Her head spun. She didn't want it to be him. She wanted it to be him.

It hurts. Hibari-san, where are you?

"Kumiko-chan?" A soft feminine voice floated into the confines of her cell. It was Chrome. She rattled her chains desperately, banging it against the bars to catch her attention. The purple-haired illusionist swung her way, clutching a trident in her hands. Kumiko's eyes watered. She could finally get out of here! It was then that she realized how truly scared she had been. For some reason, she had thought that Nakamura was going to come back and kill her for what she did. She thought Komatsu had come looking for revenge. She wanted to go home. She wanted to go back to Hibari-san and beg him to take her back, because she's not useless and she'll definitely try her best to become stronger if only to please him more.

Tears ran down her cheeks as she desperately continued to rattle her chains. The sound echoed in the small room, sounding ghostly eerie, much like the death throes of a man getting strangled by metal chains. She shuddered, making the links clink gently once more.

"Kumiko-chan?" Chrome's voice called out again, and then suddenly she was in front of her. Kumiko's eyes widened slightly, and then she lowered her head and raised her arms. Chrome was related to Mukuro, wasn't she? Maybe she could create illusions as well! Her eyes raised to meet Chrome's purple gaze evenly and she asked silently for the female illusionist to break her chains. Chrome blinked.

"But there's someone else here to see you first..."

No, I want out of here! I don't want to see anyone, I can just see them on my own when I get out of these chains!

She didn't move, holding her breath as the sound of wheels filled the room. She was still half blind, even though her eyes could make out the movement of the person sitting in the chair. To her, it looked like an unidentifiable monster was making its way slowly towards her. Unconsciously, she pushed back and soon realized that, as her back pressed against the cold wall, she had nowhere to go anymore. The chains rattled as the thing moved closer, and it wasn't until the person started speaking that she realized who it was.

"Kumiko-chan~"

Mukuro ran into the room. He had to set Hibari's mind straight. Kumiko was no doubt still upset about how Hibari suddenly broke up with her, and the guilt was eating away at his heart every time he realized that he was a key factor in her pain.

He opened the door silently. Mukuro was never one for privacy anyway, but he was pleasantly surprised to find the skylark's door unlocked. He crept in, edging the door close with his foot. "Kumiko?" His voice is soft, silky almost. He quickly corrects himself, coughing, and tries again with a louder voice.

"Kumiko. Oya, where are you?"

He sees the shape of two people on the bed. Silhouettes, their true identity hidden by the shadows of the darkened evening. Mukuro continued forward, his eyes straining to see in the inky darkness. It blotched at his vision, making him shake his head in irritation. "Kumiko." He called once more, this time with slight irritation laced into his voice. Why did she even want to stay by him when she knew that he didn't want her anymore?

"Mukuro-sama?"

Chrome's wide eye met his. Mukuro was on guard immediately. With the way she was possessed by Envy, he didn't know what to expect. Her skills probably fluctuate quite a bit with the unpredictable emotions that she now hosts. He was surprised to see that she and Hibari were curled up snugly, and that the skylark's arms were around hers. The raven haired male lifts his head slowly and smirks at Mukuro. Mukuro growls in anger.

"What do you think you're doing, Hibari Kyoya?" It was disgusting of him to have moved on so quickly after ending things with Koizumi Kumiko. It was impossible too. Hibari Kyoya was a solitary creature, Mukuro knew that much. So why...

"What do you want, Rokudo Mukuro?"

And that was when he realized that the skylark was under Chrome's spell. Envy's spell, Mukuro mentally corrected himself. Chrome let out a pathetic sniffle as Mukuro's eyes met hers. "Oya, dearest Chrome. What do you think you're doing?" Chrome sighed. "Mukuro-sama, they broke up already. He has every right to move on. Right, Kyoya-kun?" Hibari nodded, his movements jerky as if he was being controlled by a thin piece of string connected to his head. As Mukuro's eyes followed his movements, he could make out a small stream of indigo flames wrapped around Hibari's head. Envy really is making her move.

"Chrome, stop it this instant."

"I don't want to, Mukuro-sama. I love him and he loves me. We're perfect for each other."

Hibari's eyes widened suddenly, and he pushed her off him quickly. Chrome's expression became hurt. "Kyoya, what are you doing?"

"You." He snarled, slapping her hard with his tonfas. Chrome giggled and scooted away from him, leaving him to miss. "Kyoya-kun, you're single again right? Why won't you let me make a move?" Mukuro could almost read Chrome's, the real Chrome's terror underneath Envy's acts. Envy, Lust, even Rage. The seven sins are all like masks, covering the true feelings of the people who are the embodiments of such feelings. Or was it the other way around? Was Envy Chrome's true feelings, only amplified by her extreme jealousy of Kumiko's existence? Because of Kumiko's feelings for both Hibari and Mukuro? Or because Hibari and Mukuro both like her?

Mukuro now deems himself quite lucky that his sin only rears its ugly head when Kumiko is around. Even though he has a chance of injuring her anyway, he is capable of relative control. With Chrome, resistance is actually futile, as cheesy as it sounds. The girls will is too weak. Mukuro mentally chided her for not being strong enough. I suppose it can't be helped, what with her weak state of mind. Even though Chrome was causing a lot of trouble for him and Hibari, Mukuro couldn't bring himself to hate her. Even as his heart twisted with guilt, Mukuro realized that he was the source of all her problems, when he had asked her to pave a way for him to Kumiko's heart. The poor girl had been so deeply hopeful at the prospect of finally being able to interact with Hibari, so damn hopeful that she would be the one to capture Hibari Kyoya's heart, that she had willingly given everything, her heart and soul, to the cause. Mukuro was the cause of Chrome's madness. Mukuro was the very root of all her troubles.

And now he had to cure her.

"Chrome, you are being unreasonable."

"Mukuro-sama," She started, sounding hurt. "You were the one that taught me to fight for what I want, Mukuro-sama. You're the one being unreasonable. Favoring Kumiko this muc-"

"Where is she?" Hibari cut in. His voice is sharp, his tonfas are out. He looked absolutely murderous, and Mukuro realized that he had managed to break out of her illusion. Even though Hibari is Mukuro's sworn enemy, Mukuro couldn't help but admire him for his strength of will. It reminded him, in some weird way, of Kumiko and her will to continue living even with her disability, even with no friends. Mukuro gave him a nod, which Hibari saw and narrowed his eyes at, making Mukuro chuckle. Even though he's admirable in will, his pride is still stubbornly in place, keeping him from agreeing with virtually anyone.

"Where. Is. She." Chrome giggled more as Hibari's voice got more and more angry. "Somewhere you'll never find, Kyoya-kun." She disappeared, leaving the question and answer hanging in the air. Hibari smashed his tonfa into the wall in frustration. Why is she so troublesome? Why are female herbivores so demanding, so hard to take care of? Why did he have to rescue Kumiko every single time, just because she was too weak to fight for herself?

"You go." He ordered Mukuro. Mukuro nodded silently, swallowing his disappointment at Hibari's reactions. He was hoping that the Skylark would realize just how much he cared for Kumiko once more when Chrome's actions provoked him to stay with her, but instead it cause an opposite reaction. He was disappointed in Hibari.

Hibari sat back down on the bed, watching as Mukuro left the room quickly. His eyes travelled over the crumpled sheets, and he couldn't help but imagine what it would look like if Kumiko was lying beside him. He could almost see her smile, her small form curled up and pressed to his back. Something colorful caught his eye, and he delicately picked out a colorful, miniature crane from the sea of beige that was the covers of his bed.

He missed her already.

Kumiko shook her wrist, trying to get free. She knew that voice. She knew who was coming to get her, and it filled her with raw terror. Komatsu's back. She scrambled backwards as the sound of wheels scraping against the floor filled the room. Komatsu slowly wheeled her way into the cell, making the panicked brown-haired girl back into a wall and cover her face with her hands.

"Tsk, tsk! What kind of a welcome is this for your old friend, Kumiko-chan?"

Terrified. She's terrified. She whimpered as Komatsu's hand shot out and hooked around her chains, pulling her forward slowly. "You know, Kumiko-chan, I still haven't paid you back for what you've done to my back. I hope you remember what happened."

She did. Of course she did. The chair, Hibari, the knife, the position, the crack, her spine, everything. Kumiko let out a soft scream and tugged harder. She clenched and unclenched her hands, willing the muscle to loosen and allow her to slip through. Komatsu lunged forward and clenched a bandaged hand around her throat, making her scream die out. "Kumiko-chan, we wouldn't want you to scream, now."

We?

"Chrome-chan, are the preparations ready?"

Chrome? Kumiko let out a choked sob. All her friends were turning against her now. Even Chrome, who she had actually trusted, got betrayed again by, and then finally forgiven, has turned against her completely. Kumiko curled up as much as the offending hand on her throat would allow her to, whimpering. Komatsu jerked her arm, making her choke and straighten once more. Her touch was painful, horrible fear was searing itself into her mind. If Komatsu so much as twitched her fingers, Kumiko would be dead. Kumiko found that she didn't care as much though. She had nothing left to live for. Chrome hated her. Hibari hated her. Mukuro...she wasn't sure what Mukuro wanted from her, but she was sure it wasn't something pleasant. If Komatsu clenched her hand tighter, it would only eradicate her pain, and she found that she didn't really care that much anymore. Hot, meaningless tears trickled down her face. Her heart hurts, and with a weird twisted sense of satisfaction, she realized that the pain in her neck was quite welcome. Her whole purpose, all her determination and her actions, had been fueled by her feelings for Hibari. She now realized that she had had a crush on him ever since he had caught her throwing paint out the window; she had been feeding off his strength, she had been influenced by his pride. She wanted him back.

Chrome trotted over with a scalpel. She smiled gently at Kumiko. "Kumiko-chan, this won't hurt at all. I promise." Her soft voice was like a balm to Kumiko's terror. The small girl went limp, dangling in Komatsu's hold. Komatsu pressed her down on the floor, keeping her still under one foot. Chrome approached with the scalpel, pressing it to her throat gently. "Kumiko-chan, keep still." She sounded genuinely concerned for Kumiko's health, but her voice had an unnaturally cold quality to it. Kumiko shivered and Komatsu pressed on her back harder, forcibly holding the small girl still. Kumiko resisted the urge to curl up into a foetal position, which she wanted to do whenever she felt scared. She coughed as Komatsu stomped onto her back cruelly, as if wanting to break her spine. She probably did want to break her spine, in return for her smashing the chair on her back.

"Dearest Nagi; If you hurt her, you're hurting me."

Mukuro flung Komatsu off Kumiko suddenly, making the girl in the wheelchair let out a hissed string of obscenities. Chrome slunk back into the shadows with a small, eerie giggle. "Hai...Mukuro-sama~" Mukuro pulled Kumiko off the floor and pulled her against him. The girl's tears soaked into his shirt and her hands searched for his.

'I'm so weak. I know why Hibari-san hates me now. He thinks I'm weak.'

"No, no, shh..." Mukuro gently stroked the back of her head, letting her cry into his chest. Her painful sobs wracked her body, and Mukuro held her tighter against him.

He wanted to keep her safe.

"Oi, Mukuro." Komatsu struggled to her wheelchair once more and tried to drag herself into it. Slowly and painfully, she inched herself into the chair. Damn that stupid bitch, making me have to suffer like this. Komatsu finally got back into the chair and straightened herself. "I remember you. Do you remember me?" Mukuro narrowed his eyes as he saw Komatsu unwrap the half of her face that was previously in bandages. The white sterile strips fell to the floor slowly.

"Nakamura." He hissed. Because somehow, as Mukuro caught sight of the red eye embedded in the ruined half of Komatsu's face, he knew that the hated man was back.

-
Hibari dreamed that Kumiko was next to him. And she could speak.

"Kyoya!" She laughed, gently running her hands through his hair. If I could turn back time, I could still be with her. I could refuse the akanbo's arrangements of ballroom dancing partners, I could have dinner with her...

Hibari reached for her hand and she held onto him quickly. She laughed once more, her voice light and happy. "Kyoya...I love you a lot, you know that?" This is just making him feel worse about his current situation. Why did he break up with her anyway? His hands clenched, trapping her small fingers inside his large palms. He leaned forward. "I don't know if I love you though." He whispered. This is a dream, right? He could admit anything he wants.

I'm scared of losing you. I'm scared of losing myself more. I'm selfish like that, Kumiko. You know that, right? Even Mukuro's right, he deserves you more than I do.

She shakes her head. Hibari looked on, wide eyed, as she continued to snuggle deeper into his chest. "I know." She assured him. "You used to tell me all the time. I love you though, and that's all that matters, because in the end, you did love me.

"I forgive you, you know that, Kyoya?"

Kumiko was running a high fever again. Mukuro continually pressed cold, damp towels to her forehead as she sniveled and coughed underneath his touch. His hands brushed against her flaming skin, and he cringed before pressing the cloth down firmly once more. If the senbazuru worked once, then it should work again right? Mukuro created origami paper out of nowhere and started to fold restlessly as Kumiko tossed and turned on the bed. Her raspy breathing sounds filled the air.

"Kumiko, get better..." He muttered to himself as he folded. Blue and purple. Her favorite colors.

The door to his room opened, but he was too immersed in his paper folding to look at who it was. Said person padded quietly over to the bed, and that's when alarm bells started ringing in Mukuro's head. It might be Chrome...

"You-" He started, snapping his head up. It was Hibari. He was gently changing the damp towels on her forehead, peeling back the blankets in which she thrashed around and ensuring that they did not entangle around her small frame. "How dare you." Mukuro stated simply. His voice was bland. There was nothing in it, no emotion, no rage.

"I didn't mean I wanted her to die." The aloof skylark muttered quietly. Mukuro nodded once more at his arch rival in acceptance of the explanation. This still meant that he had every right to take care of Kumiko himself. He didn't want the skylark's help.

"You may leave. I have no need of your assistance." His voice came out icy cold and apathetic. Hibari dipped his head silently, ever so slightly. It was as if he was bowed under invisible sadness, the emotion weighing down on his shoulders. He nodded silently, but Mukuro noticed that his hand lingered on her forehead for a second longer than necessary. He was missing her, and Mukuro couldn't stop the feeling of sadistic pleasure at the skylark's pain. If he had the gall to hurt Kumiko so much, he deserved all the pain he was feeling.

Hibari left the room as quietly as he had come in. Without him knowing, his feet were dragging. His body refused to leave Kumiko's side, and yet his mind urged him to pick up the pieces of his shattered pride and move on. He had even let Mukuro order him around, and he had done nothing to stop Mukuro from taking complete possession of his ex-girlfriend. Girlfriend. He had never really considered Kumiko as that until now. The word was foreign in his mind, the word rolling around his thoughts like a patch of oil clinging to water surface.

"Yaa, Hibari. What are you doing here all alone?"

Fon appeared, his ever smiling expression surprisingly calming to the torn Skylark. Hibari nodded once in acknowledgement of Fon's appearance, but didn't say anything. Fon nodded as well, completely understanding the Skylark's emotions.

"You know, your older self talked often about how much he cared for her." Not really talked, Fon reminded himself. It was harder getting Hibari to talk than getting Lambo to give up a whole pack of grape candy. Fon sighed quietly.

"Hn. I don't care."

Of course he doesn't. Hibari never liked her in the beginning. She was just some annoying herbivore that followed him around all the time like a puppy starved of attention.

He's getting better at ignoring the spears of pain in his heart every time he thought of her.

A/N: So, who are you guys going for now? Hibari x Kumiko or Mukuro x Kumiko?

Sorry for the atrociously late update, but next week is going to be hell for me so...I just wanted to post this before a tide of assessments hit me in the face. Thanks so much for supporting this fic; everyone who has reviewed, favorited or put this on alert. I will make sure you get the recognition you deserve soon, sorry for any late replies to reviews, but I am really busy right now...Thanks ever so much to AppleDragon, who didn't ignore my desperate plea for help even though it was 12:32 in the morning where she's at...

Yep! There it is, Chapter 25. Thoughts? Comments? Rages? Flamers? Preferred pairings?

Come at me, bro.