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Chapter 30
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"Kanna, take care, okay?" We were a bit further away from the bus as I wanted to talk with her privately. That and I can't handle Kanna's homeroom teacher. He feels familiar for some reason, but at the same time I don't know him. "Remember, I gave you a phone so if any emergency comes up make sure to use it." I said smiling at her.
"Un, don't worry. I'm strong, Tsukichiyo." Kanna said nodding her head.
"Kanna." Chikusa handed her a yo-yo. Oi! Don't go giving her your weapon! "Use this if you need it."
"Thank you, Nii-chan."
"Chikusa...!"
"Wow! Kanna-chan's big sister is super pretty!"
"Ah! That has to be Kanna-chan's big brother! They have the same look on their faces!"
"Ah, Aozora-san...I apologize for not greeting you when you arrived." Kanna's homeroom teacher came straight to me as usual. "I was concerned that you wouldn't be here since you weren't listed as a chaperone."
"I'm not attending, merely dropping Kanna off."
"It's a pity, I would have loved to have gotten to know you better, Aozora-san."
"...I'm afraid that I'm very busy during the summer with various meetings." I smiled politely at the man as he started to get pushy. "I shall be leaving Kanna in your care, Sensei."
"Yes, leave it to me!"
"Yes..." I waved a hand as the man led the children onto the bus. I stared at him...taking in his auburn hair and green eyes...he reminds me of someone...who is it? I tilted my head to the side, trying to come up with an answer. The man's name should be...what was it...? "Chikusa, what was that man's name again?"
"Kagamine Sakuya-sensei."
"Kagamine...Sakuya...?" For some reason, that doesn't sound right at all. "Why...?"
I stared at the man as he boarded the last child. His eyes met my own and he smiled, giving me a small wave. He's familiar...so familiar, but why? He seems human to me...but there's the slight smell of forest on him and hints of copper. If he's a youkai, he would immediately register as a threat to my senses, but he doesn't. I thought following Chikusa back home.
"Is he a danger?" Chikusa asked suddenly.
"Huh, no. For some reason I feel as if I met him before...long ago..." I said quietly.
"Youkai?"
"Kanna would have said something and he doesn't register as a threat. I was trained to kill youkai, no matter how well someone tries they can't hide from my training and intuition."
"Then don't worry about it. Kanna likes him."
"I guess so..."
I pulled on my hair, pushing it out of my mind as I have to deal with Kotaro tomorrow night. A dinner date/meeting...I really don't want to deal with it. I hope we get a private room so we can shout at each other without worrying about our surroundings...and to prevent any memory wiping if we decide to let out our claws. Speaking of claws...when I look at my hand, my nails look normal...but I lightly flexed my fingers...and the nails grew a bit and sharpened.
"...Hm...I wonder if I'm going to become more of a youkai..." My canines are growing a bit bigger...my ears are becoming a bit more pointed...and my eyes sometimes take on a bestial look whenever my emotions run strong. "I'll ask him...It'd be bad if I am...I don't want lion ears..." I muttered to myself.
I swiped my hand in the air, killing a wasp...again? Why are there so many wasps around? I hate it...I hate wasps because they remind me of Naraku...how annoying.
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"This fancy dress feels so awkward..." Michiru is helping me brush my hair out as I sat in front of the mirror. While the dress covered my scars, the only problem is...! "I-It's too short...!" I said wanting nothing more than to wear a kimono!
"Kufufufufu, looks like Aozora Tsukichiyo has met her match." Mukuro said laughing at my expense.
"Bobby pins." Michiru said pulling a section of my hair up.
"I think she looks pretty." Souta said handing Michiru a bobby pin.
"Blah! It's just some fancy dinner! What's the point of fussing?" Ken asked messing with the shiny hair accessories.
"A woman's key points are her body and her hair. It is a date so you must wear something that matches the location." Bianchi stated handed me my shoes.
"That's right. You must dress for all the correct occasions." Reborn said dressed as a...as a...pff...!"
"Hahahahahahaha! What's up with that!" Ken couldn't contain his laughter as he pointed at Reborn...who is dressed in women's clothing...! With poorly done make-up. "You look ridiculous! Ow!"
"Shut up, dog." Reborn hit Ken with his hammer...which is a transformed Leon. "Oi, Dame-Tsuna. Why are you the one doing her hair? Let Bianchi take over."
"The day I let a hitwoman I don't trust touch my hair is the day I willingly give up my life. Since I do like living, I'm not letting her near my exposed back and neck."
"How rude. I won't do something like kill you in such a manner."
"Tsukichiyo." Chikusa entered the room. "There's a car waiting out front."
"Got it." I stood up and I lightly moved about in these heels. "Hm...Hm...!" I spun around a few times. "I don't want heels...it feels funny..."
"A woman must always wear heels." Bianchi gave me a stare that actually scared me a little. "Having only one pair is a disgrace. You must learn to walk, to kick, and to run in heels or you cannot call yourself a lady."
"I can move about just fine in geta, but heels are another matter entirely. Then, I'm leaving. Don't destroy the mansion while I'm out. Also, if you try to follow me then the Aozora will not hesitate to take it as a sign of aggression, Reborn. This is a meeting between Aozora, not something an outsider has rights to."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I wonder...Chikusa, Kanna is returning tomorrow morning. I won't be here to pick her up so I'll leave it to you."
"I understand. Take care."
"Yes."
I took my leave and I made a sound seeing the fancy car that was sent to pick me up. The driver was incredibly attentive, opening the door and offering me snacks and drinks. I refused anything and I played with my hair. I stared out the window, watching as the scenery from Namimori pass me by...and we were entering Tokyo. We arrived at the meeting location and I got out, looking around for Kotaro.
"Huh, Taiga?" I asked seeing him approach.
"I came to make sure Kotaro doesn't go wild. He'll be a bit late so let's wait at the restaurant for him." Taiga explained smiling at me.
"I understand..."
"This way."
The restaurant has a nice outdoor private terrace area. They use couches instead of chairs and the table is set at a good height. So it's not a strict place, that's good. I sat on the couch with Taiga...instincts kicked in and we ended up leaning against one another, dozing off while waiting for Kotaro. The sun is still high in the sky...it'd be a while before sundown. Tigers, like lions, sleep a lot during the day and with his mixed blood made it worse. We were woken up by a hand pulling on our cheeks, forcing us awake...by a male who looks incredibly like Taiga if not for the fact his wild blond hair has dark blond stripes in it and how it messily stood about similar to a lion's mane.
"Kotaro...that hurts..." Taiga said rubbing his sore cheek.
"Don't sleep out in public like that. The waiters didn't know what to do when they came to get your orders." Kotaro said sitting on the couch across from us.
"I can't help it...it's such a nice summer day..." Taiga said with a stiff laugh.
"Why the terrace...? It's difficult not to sleep..." I said rubbing at my eyes.
"This is the only space that I could think of to ensure that I don't start a fight..." Kotaro is looking sleepy too. "Sleepy..."
"Pardon me!" I waved at a waiter. "Three ice coffees please!"
"Yes, right away."
"So...what...?" It was getting hard to speak...until our order of drinks arrived. The three of us drank the coffee in silence for a few moments until placing down the drinks, now a bit more wide away. "Kotaro...this is the worst..."
"Instead of relaxing just enough, we're too relaxed...Kotaro, let's move inside...It's warm and sunny...I want to sleep in the shade..."
"Stop following your instincts, damn it..." Despite saying this, Kotaro is still ready to fall asleep. "Oi, get two patio umbrellas out here. It's too sunny!"
"Right away, sir!"
"So...let's...zzz..."
"Don't sleep!"
"Ow!" I held my head after he hit me with what looks to be a cane. When did he start carrying something like that? "That's child abuse!"
"So?"
"Kotaro, don't bully her."
"I can't help it! She looks just like him!"
"Who are you talking about...?" Several men brought out two large umbrellas angling them so that the sun doesn't touch us. "Hm...Sleepy..."
"Sleepy..."
"I'm tired..."
We snapped out of it when the waiter brought out more iced coffees for us, asking for our orders. I wasn't all that hungry so I asked for some fruit sandwiches...compared to my uncles who chose meaty dishes without hesitation and a huge number of them too. Kotaro stifled a yawn, drinking his coffee completely black. Taiga is the opposite, placing cream and sugar in his. They might be twins, but they're complete opposites.
"So, what reason do you have for asking to meet with me? Did you finally give in and choose to join my pride?" Kotaro asked with a grin.
"No way." He almost fell over at my harsh rejection. "I chose this path because I want to control my fate, my future. I might play into the hands of others, but I have no intention of allowing Vongola to control me or to turn me into a puppet for their own uses. Also...I have no intention of lowering my head to anyone I have no respect for." I stated calmly.
"...! Is that a challenge, dear niece of mine?" Kotaro didn't look as tired anymore. "How interesting!"
"Aniki, if you keep this up then I'll get angry." Taiga patted the top of my head. "How surprising though. Kotaro is very charismatic so I figured you would respect him."
"Do you not remember how we met?"
"Aaaahh...yeah, I figured as much..."
"What did I do?!"
"The first thing out of your mouth when we met is 'this tiny girl is the heir? How pathetic. Join my pride, girl. A weak little cub like you will surely be killed if you aren't protected'."
"It's true!"
"This is why I have no respect for you. In real life, lion males laze around while women do everything from hunting to caring for the young."
"We're youkai, we don't follow those rules."
"I'm mostly human."
"Tsk." Kotaro has a dark look on his face. "If that human man didn't convince Nana...then you wouldn't have..."
"The past is in the past, give it up."
"Waaah...Taiga...so harsh."
"If I don't act harsh to him then my stupid brother will just run wild."
"Sirs, miss, your food."
"Ah, thank you."
"Thanks."
"...You guys ordered too much." I picked up my sandwich as Kotaro waved the waiters off, leaving the three of alone on the terrace. "Now then, let's get to business."
"Hold up." Kotaro stole my sandwich replacing it with a plate piled high with meat. "Eat that instead. I don't get why young girls don't eat their meat properly! They starve themselves to get a skinny figure and pass out. What's wrong with having a nice plump body?"
"I don't think it's that..." I decided against arguing with him about this...if I did it'd only lead to us fighting...as in we'll exchange blows and I'm not exactly dressed for that. "Human girls are self-conscious about their weight. I don't understand it myself."
"Good, eat more."
"It won't help if you force me to eat." I didn't flinch when Kotaro suddenly lunged at me, catching what appears to be a bullet that would have pierced my skull. "...Family or enemy?"
"Probably enemy. Stinks of human." Kotaro stood up properly, eyes glowing gold. "I haven't had human in a while, what a nice chance. Too bad it's a man instead of a pretty girl."
"How crude, Aniki." Taiga gave him a blank stare. "Do what you wish with the body, just make sure nothing remains. Also, I will not forgive you if you bring that even ten feet of Tsukichiyo."
"You still eat humans...?" I knew that some did in the clan, but for Kotaro of all people...how surprising. "Still, I'm the target...Who did I piss off recently...?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm having a meal."
"It's my problem, is it not?" I lit a bit of Sky flame on my fingertip and I pointed it at the fleeing sniper without needing to look. "I hate killing humans..."
In a flash of light, the flames shot and began targeting my failed assassinator. I lowered my hand and I played with my hair, unable to stomach the thought of meat. Kotaro went to fetch the body...or at least I assume so...but he came back with bloodied lips and I knew he ate the body whole...I wonder what he did with the clothing and weapon.
"He was surprisingly young, not bad in taste." Kotaro said licking his lips.
"How young are we talking?" Taiga asked curiously.
"Maybe early twenties? I don't know, pretty much your type. I saved his head for you, it's somewhere hidden on that roof."
"Hm...I'll pass. I'm not into eating my brother's leftovers."
"Too bad."
"...I keep forgetting you two are more youkai than you are human..." If I remember right, even Ojii-sama and Michiru partake in eating humans. "I really hope you two don't try to feed me human. That'd be cannibalism as I'm mostly of human blood."
"You're not bothered?" Taiga is patting my head as I looked at the meat in disgust. I resumed eating my sandwich. "We kept quiet about it because you were raised as a youkai taijiya."
"I got used to it." After Naraku. "I already helped kill a lord's wife, killed many innocent people from priests to civilians. What does the blood of a mere killer for hire matter?"
"Now I'm surprised." Taiga is staring down at me. "...Do you wish to talk about it?"
"I killed, it's that simple. Kotaro, I want to know...why do you keep interfering with my life?"
"You're not suited to be the Aozora head." Kotaro sat down, picking at his teeth. "You're just a tiny human girl."
"The Aozora name belongs to me."
"The Aozora aren't so weak as to depend on a kid."
"You misunderstand, Aozora Kotaro. I am the first Aozora. Nikki had no right to the name and yet he used it to form the Aozora clan."
"...!"
"What?"
"Nikki's grandfather, our ancestor...He was the one to gift me with the name Aozora."
"You...Lies!"
"Believe what you wish. I only came here to tell you this. Stop interfering with my life. This is my path, I have no intention of dragging our clan down with me. If I live then I shall live, if I die then I shall die."
"Don't say shit like that!" I got grabbed by the back of my neck...! F-For some reason I can't draw any strength and can only hang limply. "Come on!"
"W-Where are we going...?"
"You'll find out!"
"Kotaro! Tsukichiyo isn't a small cub anymore! You can't carry her like that!"
"I can't gather any strength like this..."
"That's natural for small cubs. When you're an adult, you'll lose this feeling."
"It hurts..."
"Kotaro."
"Tsk." I was released and I rubbed at the back of my neck. "Come on!"
"Where are we going?"
"Let's go!"
"Ugh..."
Taiga took hold of my hand as Kotaro took the lead. Everyone is staring at us...I wonder why? I was suddenly tugged forward by Kotaro grabbing my other wrist, dragging me ahead as I struggled to keep up in these stupid heels. Bianchi is dead to me. I thought after I kept tripping because of the awkward height and movements.
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Chapter 30 Ends
The Aozora name does belong to Tsuki. Nikki using it effectively means that he's a member of 'her' family rather than the other way around. It's not information that Tsuki would spread around as she doesn't intend on actually inheriting the Aozora. As for the eating human thing, I think it would be a common with carnivorous youkai even during modern days. Tsuki's gotten used to death and someone who is paid to kill, she wouldn't care as much as innocent humans who have done anything wrong. She also isn't afraid of getting her hands dirty anymore, but won't cross certain lines. Welp~! That's all for today~! Bye-bye~!
