Author's rant: HOLY SHIT! I'M ALIVE! I'M NOT BLIND! Then why haven't I been updating? Because I was lazy- busy. LOL. Here ya go! A crappy chapter, but a chapter nonetheless! Be happy. :|
Uh, happy belated New Year! LMAO. Ugh. It's going to be 43 degrees celcius on Australia Day. I DON'T WANNA GO BACK TO SCHOOL WHEN IT'S SUMMER. WAHHHH! Seriously, who wants to sit in a stuffy classroom with no air-con all day when it's blazing hot outside? You do? Um, you have issues...like Yuri.
Chapter 25
Enter: Moon Trial
Shirobara Nikoru tapped her pen onto her table continuously as she stared out the window, her mind wandering. She paid no mind to Nezu-sensei's endless rants about how tests were the utmost importance - Yuri snorted when he began and muttered darkly about whether a sheet of paper would protect him from a knife or gun – and instead mused about her (and Yuri's) upcoming Trial.
To be honest, she wished that Majo had gotten it over and done with already. All this nervous anticipation – it was, indeed, and oxymoron, but Nikoru couldn't help but feel at least a little excited for the Trial; the second (Yuri and Kikyo's being the first) battle she was ever uncertain of ever since she arrived in Namimori – was slowly driving her spare.
Every time a sharp noise occurred (which Nikoru noticed was quite often in such a crazed school), every time something fell onto the ground with a dull thud that seemed to reverberate and echo in Nikoru's ears, Nikoru jumped up several feet.
In short, she was becoming paranoid.
And like most things she did, she had a plausible reason for it, too. Her duty was to protect Tsuna from danger, meaning that during the hours students were required, something was going to pop up unexpectedly – and, knowing Majo, it was most likely something startling – and attack Tsuna head-on. So Nikoru was on her guard and ready for anything.
Her best friend (who was so like her in many ways and yet at the same time different), meanwhile, was chewing gum. Loudly and very openly. Like a cow with an ill mind, as a matter of fact.
Yuri had no idea of what the Trial would include, nor did she really care. She only knew the basic facts: someone would come to harm Tsuna, and she and Nikoru would have to protect him stealthily, much to Yuri's distaste.
All she had to do now was wait. And ask Nikoru for the scythe she promised to lend.
Or she could bolt out of class right now while Nezu-sensei's back was turned and sneak into Tensai Gakuen wearing her 'normal' façade and old uniform. With a curt and decisive nod, Yuri did just that.
Nikoru was so absorbed in her contemplation that she didn't notice her best friend leaving. Or the loud crashes she caused because of her stumbles.
oOoOo
Meanwhile, a figure cloaked in gray chuckled to himself quite sinisterly. Eyes glinting with determination, he fondly traced a finger over his gun and grinned from within the shadow cast over his facial features thanks to his hooded-sweatshirt.
It was time to put the plan into action.
The agent in place unhurriedly sauntered toward the back doors of Namimori Middle School, figuring that the rarely-used backdoor was the safest place to enter rather than the front gate which was in plain sight. After all, he had heard of the feared prefect that was more like the dictator of the school - and the individual preferred his mission to be completed swiftly and without and trouble.
He nimbly opened the double doors so that only a narrow gap was created. The man wasn't exactly the thinnest person on Earth, but he could manage through without any hassle.
His subtlety was thrown out the window, however, as he stumbled and collided with the polished tiles. He sighed aloud and massaged his head, grumbling about how a bruise was sure to form.
The individual dressed in dull tones agilely dashed toward the stairs ascending to the second floor. When he arrived at the destination where his target was sure to be located, he placed his hand onto the handle and slowly slid the door open.
With one hand supporting his weapon, the man entered classroom 2-A.
Sawada Tsunayoshi wouldn't know what hit him.
That is, he didn't know what could have hit him.
Before Yuri could dash down the stairwell that led to the ground floor, she ran into one of Hibari's sheep- er, prefects. Now, normally this wouldn't pose as problem. Ordinarily, Hibari's subordinates cleared a path for her, either because they feared her due to the fact that she was stronger than them or because she was friends with Hibari - and that generally wasn't something good. The others avoided her as a result of her irritating non-stop chatter.
But the prefect she had run into, however, was Kusakabe. Hibari's most reliable underling, his top manservant, his-
"Yuri-san, what are you doing out of class?" Kusakabe asked, unknowingly jolting Yuri out of her rather rude name-calling.
Yuri stared at him. "Call me 'Yuri-sama'," she ordered bluntly.
"No," Kusakabe answered with equal bluntness.
"Tch." It appeared as though Kusakabe was one of the rare few who didn't answer to her every beck and call. Yuri frowned. She needed to polish her manipulation skills.
It took a few seconds for her to recall that Kusakabe had asked a question. Blinking slowly, she said, "Well, Nezu-sensei is the most incompetent teacher I've ever had - and that's saying something - and all he does is rant about how tests are imperative." And before he could counter or reprimand her, Yuri was gone.
However, being the directionally-challenged person she was, Yuri had somehow managed to return classroom 2-A right after she descended the stairs. Seriously - how was that even possible? A small part of her mind groundlessly blamed Majo.
Gritting her teeth in order to remain calm, Yuri almost didn't hear the distinct thud of a body as it slammed against the immaculate fall. After all, she had had enough experience of stumbles and falls to know what it sounded - and felt - like.
She instinctively turned to peek at the victim of those nasty invincible rocks, so that she could assess whether they were an obnoxious adolescent or an innocent individual. If it were the latter, then she would, of course, lend them a hand and question their physical well-being.
However, if it were the former, then she would turn away; depending on the level of arrogance, that is. If it was one of those twits she despised, then… It was best left unsaid.
Nonetheless, what Yuri found when she whirled around was neither an obnoxious adolescent nor an innocent individual. It wasn't even a teenager. It was a man. And she could tell from his tight sweatshirt that this man was quite fit. Upon further inspection, his biceps were rather sturdy.
For a moment, Yuri pondered on why he would wear such a tight article of clothing when he seemed to be infiltrating a school - and that required stealth, considering this town kneeled down on its knees to Hibari.
Whoa, where did that thought come from? Yuri blinked. Why would she suspect - let alone assume - that this unknown man was here to break into Namimori Middle School?
Before she could question herself further on this, Yuri dived behind a set of lockers (that were oh-so conveniently placed there) intuitively as the man began to rise somewhat unsteadily. She didn't know why she did it, but something seemed…off.
Concluding that her intuition was normally correct, Yuri stealthily followed the man, all the while humming softly to the Mission Impossible theme. But Yuri needed to name him…something that described what he looked like at first glance - but it also had to be something completely degrading and amusing. That was how Kuraihana Yuri rolled, after all.
This man was wearing gray and seemed to be intruding… That was it! She would call him, Man-Man! Well, Yuri shrugged, it was better than something Nikoru would come with it - she would probably suggest Grey, or something laughable such as that.
Yuri watched with strained eyes (she really shouldn't have stayed up last night playing Sudoku and Naruto: Ninja Council on her Nintendo DS last night) as Man-Man latched onto the iron handle of the door and yanked it out viciously.
He held up his gun toward the stunned class. Yuri tensed. Realization hit her like a tonfa. They were in front of classroom 2-A.
"Sawada Tsunayoshi," Man-Man said, his voice muffled, "prepare to die."
Yuri charged towards Man-Man like a bullet; which was ironic, really, considering the current situation.
"Die from embarrassment, that is!"
Yuri skidded to a stop. What? Did she hear right? Die from…embarrassment?
"EHHHHHHHHHHHH?" screeched Tsuna as Man-Man pulled the trigger to his…paintball gun?
Yuri, mastering her agitation so that it wouldn't seep through and show on her face - though the twitch developing under her left eye ruined the effect somewhat - stalker behind Man-Man and swiftly pulled her leg back to kick him in the crotch.
Before Man-Man sunk to his knees in horrible, horrible pain, Yuri sent all her anger into her clenched fist and slammed it against his head. He quickly fell unconscious.
"AN EFFING PAINTBALL GUN? SERIOUSLY? THIS WAS OUR TRIAL?" she roared, with cringe-worthy rage.
"Trial…?" Nikoru asked bemusedly, as though everything but protecting Tsuna had vacated her mind. She was standing protectively in front of Tsuna, coincidentally blocking the boy's view of Man-Man. Nikoru's eyes bulged. "You mean this was our Trial?" She produced a flat look. "Paintball gun? Really?"
Tsuna finally broke out of his astonished stupor. "Trial? You don't mean the Inheritance Trial? Why are Nikoru-san and Yuri participating in that?"
Nikoru silently cursed her big mouth as Yuri strolled forward to Tsuna. "This is all a dream…" she said in a mystical voice.
Even though she put an extremely convincing act, Tsuna still looked doubtful for some incomprehensible reason. Shrugging, Yuri simply knocked him out. Ah, it felt good to finally hit Tsuna. It was even better that Gokudera was at home due to a mysterious package that was sent to him by someone (Yuri) that unexpectedly contained Nikoru's cooking (which, at first, seemed delicious and harmless, but was horrible and tasted like bile and Bianchi's Poison Cooking mixed together).
Yamamoto was also mysteriously called out of class to practice for baseball - Yuri had a sinking suspicion that that was Majo's fault - so no one had any inclination to stop her from physically harming Tsuna. Well, except Nikoru, but she was still frozen in place after hearing Man-Man was the attacker and the paintball gun was his weapon.
"Now, let's see who Man-Man really is…" Yuri said as she headed for Man-Man.
Nikoru mouthed, 'Man-Man?' in total bewilderment. She then gasped audibly as 'Man-Man's hood was revealed.
Yuri pulled a face. Really? Really. This bumbling idiot was working for Majo?
Damned Bronco.
oOoOo
Damn Majo. Damn Dino. Damn Primo! Yuri released a growl of frustration as she continued to punch the sandbag from within the Boxing Club's...club. Well, room.
Nikoru peered up from her daydreams, absentmindedly petting the purring (Minimized) Blue. She and Yuri had cut class, saying that they were to give Dino to Hibari (which they did) and then decided not to return to class, seeing how it was probably dismissed due to the sudden intruder.
"Did we at least pass our-" Nikoru coughed lightly, "-Trial?"
Yuri smirked at Nikoru's rather blatant contempt. "We have. Haven't we, Majo, Primo?"
"Yes, you have."
"Yep!"
Vongola Primo entered in a burst of orange flames while Majo appeared by his side with nary a sound. The former smiled calmly while the latter grin slightly, mischief coloring her eyes.
A growl was heard by the occupants of the room, and it took Yuri awhile to realize that it was coming from her. Majo's grin turned sheepish.
"Oh hey, Nikoru," Yuri said coldly, "it's the witch we love dearly and the man who somehow looks younger every time we see him."
Nikoru, out of politeness toward the two aforementioned adults, attempted to force her lips from twitching up.
The founding Boss of the Vongola blithely ignored Yuri. "Since there is no First Generation Moon Guardian," Primo began, interrupting Yuri's glare, "you are unable to inherit the powers required."
"However," Majo continued, "in return, we'll grant you each a favor."
Yuri pulled a face as Nikoru grimaced. "Another wish?" spat Yuri. "Really?"
Majo grinned sheepishly once more. "Well…we couldn't think of anything, so we're letting you decided on what you want."
"To go home."
All eyes were instantly on Yuri. Majo was openly gaping. Primo, seeing how he didn't know exactly all the details of Yuri and Nikoru's adventure (he was only summoned several days ago, as a matter of fact), merely gazed at Yuri because everyone else seemed to. Nikoru's honey eyes reflected shock.
Naturally, due to Yuri's influence, the first thing Nikoru blurted was something…random. "But you said you were going to join the Varia!" she gasped, as though it were a horrid crime for one to back on their word. "And give Squalo a shark!" she added as an afterthought.
Yuri smirked. "Yeah, that's true. But it would be a pain since I won't be able to see Shoichi. Oh, and I'm pretty sure the Varia wouldn't allow you to enter, too." She paused, frowning thoughtfully. "And taking missions to kill and torture people is such a drag," she groaned, as if she was suffering from a painful illness.
Nikoru rolled her eyes at the shallow reason. Of course Yuri would take no notice of the fact that it included possibly killing innocents.
Majo was still gaping. "Are you kidding me?" she shrieked, causing Primo to flinch slightly, seeing how he was standing (floating) so close to her. "I give you a once-in-a-lifetime chance, AND YOU'RE THROWING IT AWAY JUST LIKE THAT?"
Yuri could feel the familiar pull of her lips that soon formed into an amused smirk. Petty as it may be, Yuri saw Majo's obvious vexation at Yuri's nonchalant action as a form of revenge. Yuri blithely ignored that it was petty.
"Well," she said slowly, relishing Majo's anger, "I'm feeling just a bit homesick," she admitted. Her eyes were no longer shining with glee; they softened. "I won't ever see these people again, but I miss home…" she trailed off sadly. Yuri blinked abruptly, her head shooting up as an idea hit her. "Wait, I have a better wish!" she cried brightly.
Nikoru shook her head at her friend's 180. "What?" she inquired wearily.
Yuri grinned. "I want my Box Weapons to be alive!"
"What?" This time, Nikoru was confused. "What?" she repeated, unable to decipher what was going through Yuri's admittedly odd mind.
Majo shared Nikoru's confusion. "What?" she echoed.
Yuri rolled her eyes, annoyed. She pursed her lips and waited, just in case Primo wanted to add in his two cents. Finally, she said, "Well, Box Weapons run on Flames, so technically they don't live. And they're troublesome to keep out because they drain your energy. Uncool."
Nikoru narrowed her eyes. "You just want things to be easier for you, huh?" When Yuri avoided eye-contact, Nikoru knew for sure that she hit the mark with her assumption. "Since Blue already is alive," Nikoru began, allowing herself a smile as Yuri jerked at the mention of her feline companion, "although technically not a Box Weapon, I guess I have to make a different wish."
She didn't need to turn around to see the hopeful, pleading glimmer in Yuri's eyes, for she could practically feel the anticipation radiating from her. Besides, Nikoru wanted to return home, too. She smiled brightly. "Let's go home."
"Awesome!" chirped Yuri, as Majo and Primo exchanged curt nods and vanished. Yuri grabbed Nikoru's wrist. "Let's go!"
Nikoru tilted her head to the side, not even bothering to resist against Yuri's pull. "Where are we going?"
Yuri smirked, though Nikoru couldn't see it. "To piss off Daemon Spade!"
oOoOo
"So, Mukuro," Yuri said with a smirk, "how's life?"
Mukuro shot her a dirty look. "Splendid," he said, the sarcasm practically gushing out of his mouth. "Oh yes, being trapped with no way of communication to the outside world is great fun."
Yuri blinked innocently. "Really?" She was rewarded with a bruise on her head. As she rubbed the bump that was sure to form, Yuri muttered, "You know, you could always just use my body. Idiot."
Mukuro stared blankly. Apparently, he hadn't thought of that. "I'd…rather not use your body, because who knows if you'll ever let me live it down," he replied with a pleasant smile, the smile that annoyed Yuri to no end.
"Sure, sure," Yuri said sceptically. She suddenly snapped her head up and stared unseeingly into the late afternoon sky her mindscape conjured up. "Well, I have to go. Seems like Nikoru's calling me. See ya, perverted-pineapple." She grinned and faded away before Mukuro could strike her for the insulting nickname she dubbed onto him.
Instantly, her ears were bombarded with sobbing. Yuri bet that it was Chrome who was sobbing pathetically. She sneered. How weak.
Nikoru, noticing the way Yuri's lip curled at sight of Chrome, absentmindedly pinched her friend's cheeks in silent admonishment. Yuri pouted.
Eventually, Nikoru left to kneel in front of the couch where Chrome sat, and joined the girls in comforting and assuring the Mist Guardian that everything was alright.
Yuri, however, had no intention of comforting the weak (in her opinion) girl. Instead, she sat before the food Kyoko and Haru had graciously made, and dug in. Even she had to admit - albeit somewhat grudgingly - that the food wasn't half-bad.
"Yuri!" cried Tsuna. "You shouldn't be eating right now!"
Yuri stared at him coldly, continuing to chew on her rice ball. Once she swallowed, she huffed, as though amused. She smirked cruelly, enjoying the fact that everyone seemed taken aback - they really shouldn't have, seeing how she had already revealed her nasty self back in the Future. Maybe they were hoping that the beating she received from Kikyo shed a new light onto her. Hah.
"And what should I be doing, Tsuna-kun?" she asked, condescending entertainment tainting her tone. She seriously didn't need his stupidity right; she had already received her day's fill thanks to Dino and Majo.
Tsuna swallowed nervously, but then steeled himself. It wasn't the time to be acting like a coward! He had to man up and give Yuri a piece of his mind. "You should be helping Kyoko-chan and the other girls with Chrome! This concerns you, too!" he said hotly, scowling with determination.
"Oh?" Yuri chuckled softly. "How so?"
Tsuna found himself faltering. "Because…because in order for our world to be saved, we need to defeat Byakuran. And in order to defeat Byakuran, we need to pull our powers together!"
Yuri continued to stare. "Foolish boy. You do realize that I'm not even a Guardian, correct?" She was answered by stupefied silence.
"Besides," she continued coldly, "why would I willingly console that weak girl? It's disgusting how weak she is. I wonder why Mukuro even bothers with her. It's a disgrace, really, to the female population that entwine with the mafia."
"Ah, I've lost my appetite," declared Yuri, and instantaneously, the tension in the air lifted. Despite her words, Yuri snagged several more snacks before leaving.
"That girl has issues," Nikoru said bluntly. Chrome's loud sniffle punctuated that statement.
Well, at least Yuri's influence made Tsuna's backbone to appear (partially).
Munching furiously at the cracker in her hand, Yuri stormed out of the run-down Kokuyo Health Land with an infuriated scowl. "Stupid Tsuna and his blatant idiocy. I hope the Vongola ends up getting destroyed due to their Boss' incompetency."
"My, my, you have quite the temper," a voice observed, laughter coloring his tone.
Yuri twitched and jerked to a stop. It was the man with his weird orgasm-like speech-impediment. Could her day get any worse? She was in no mood to piss him off at the moment, thanks to one pathetic boy.
"What do you want?" she asked rudely.
"Your body," Daemon Spade replied casually.
Yuri's eyes widened. "Pedophile?"
She barely had time to run or attack, for Daemon reached out to her. And then the world went black.
Author's rant: Shit. I just realized I subconsciously made a cliff-hanger. Oh well, LOL. Thanks for pointing that out 197th reviewed who has no name which is really inconvenient! :D
Almost 200 reviews! AMAZING~! THANKS, YOU GUYS!
Yeah, sorry it's so short. Ugh, only 3000 words? My minimum is 4000. Not like I'm bragging or anything...
So, you guys know any good books to read? :D
Published date: 22-01-11