Chapter 7
A Restrained Cloud
Momoka Kojima from the day she was born had always been reminded of her place in life. She was a natural beauty from a young age with intelligence far greater than any kid her age. Born into a family of power only weaker than one in Namimori the girl was designed for success. Momoka's mother knew her daughter was meant for greatness and as such taught her the ins and outs of life from the young age of three.
"A lady's job is to always smile and talk kindly."
Her mother would say and Momoka would nod with a shy nod. Etsuko would pat her head in praise just as Momoka had seen her neighbors praise their new puppy. It was noticeably Estuko's favorite way to treat her child. Like a little spoiled puppy. Raven haired prized pup. A delicate beauty meant to be seen but never heard.
At four Momoka had come to know all there are about a lady's expectations. Her manners were refined and top-notch. Something Etsuko would praise with gifts of ribbons and new dresses. So many pretty little gifts that over time Momoka would just pile them into her wardrobe to never be seen again.
Momoka had no memories of her father throughout this whole time, the man always out at work. The one time the girl had questioned her father's absence her mother had scolded her 'boys don't like a clingy lady my child'. Momoka had stopped asking after that. Finding no real want to meet the man who shared blood with her.
At five Momoka was lead with her mother to meet a 'close friend'. Her mother's code word for a person of power. Etsuko does not have any truly close friends, just those whom she sees as leeways to more and more power. Hotaru Hibari was very polite, though she did not smile as Momoka was told ladies should. She frowned and glared, huffing little chuckles only when Etsuko pushed and pulled for a joke.
She would ask Momoka question after question on her thoughts of different things. Always wanting to know the little girl's opinion before doing anything. Momoka, who had never been asked for her own opinion, was left unsure of how to respond. She instead sat with a strained smile trying her hardest to decipher the correct response.
Momoka met the rabid dog that day and though her polite smile stayed up she felt nothing but disdain for the rude boy. Two years older yet he treated the girl like an idiot. Calling her a weak herbivore for being too polite and kind. Momoka made a point to correct every mistake he would make simply to scorn the boy, of course with a smile stretched upon her face.
"Ladies love to talk about themselves, all you have to do is sit and listen to them my child, soon they will hand over their secrets without knowing a thing. Just be a lovely lady and sit and smile, those mutts will hand you power just because you are the prettiest girl in the class.
Gentlemen are a bit different, they have no brain when it comes to the finery of communication. Change the wording of a polite conversation and they will never know they were insulted. A lady never needs to bare her fangs before one, she just needs to act weaker and others will do her work for her."
These are the lessons Momoka was taught right before entering Midori elementary at six. By a month of school, she had monopolized her whole class into her little world. A pack of little puppies all surrounding the alpha whose fangs were politely tucked away under a strained smile.
The little girls Momoka was forced to befriend for the betterment of her own family were all dull drones. Each a replica of the next. They all spoke in simplistic, always chattering about the new trend and the prettiest boy from the school next door. Gossip at its finest. Little puppies that needed to be trained, needed to be herded into the correct direction.
Momoka, as trained, sat at the forefront on her little throne and smiled and laughed with the rest. All while jotting down every nibblet of information that could be used later. An ever-growing annoyance forming within her form as she becomes bound to the group and forced to never stray from her post at the top. Etsuko would just look at her child's success and ask for more.
Seven is when word of Haru Muira had first reached Momoka's delicate ear. Rumors of a loud girl with no brain nor beauty. The girls surrounding Momoka chattered on and on about the belligerent girl. The girl was supposedly an enigma within the school of poster children. More interested in sports than the next boy band.
Rumour said Haru Muira lost her mother in a robbery. Rumour said Haru Muira's father, in mourning, had lost all his money and forced the two into debt. Rumour had it soon Haru Muira, who had no brain nor talent, would soon be leaving Midori elementary as she no longer is a child of prestige.
Momoka ignored all of these comments, instead working to become student council leader. Her need to please her mother festering into desperation as her mother continued to greedily ask for more from her.
At eight Momoka's life had become handed to another. Tied to a rabid dog. To a boy who found fighting in the streets with the excuse of 'crowding' a joyful thing. Engaged to better her family's position, just as her mother had done, and as her own child would in the future.
Momoka, ever the good puppy, just smiled and accepted her fate. She had other things to worry about, if her mother claimed this boy was right for her then Momoka would accept it.
Momoka first met Haru Muira at nine. The two placed within the same class for once. A surprise to Momoka who had assumed the girl was kicked out already. Still, she gave no mind to the girl whose smile was so wide, so pure.
"Haru is really happy to be working with Momo!" The girl had cheered when the two were assigned together. Momoka had to hold a scoff at the nickname, forcing a smile as she pleasantly agreed. What bad luck, to be stuck with the school's idiot. She would have to make a point to do the work alone so her grades are not injured by the dull girl's intelligence.
"Ah, Haru thinks it's one not negative one" The school's idiot chimes in when Momoka is busying herself on the worksheet. Momoka pauses her work to look up with a strained smile.
"Hm?"
"Negative divided by negative is positive!" The schools not so idiot adds with a little nod.
Momoka nodded dumbly back before moving to work along with the girl. Apparently, some rumors are wrong.
At ten Momoka had formed a tentative friendship with Haru Muira, the school's only real person. The girl learned a lot of Haru Muira in this time, for one, while Haru is quite odd, her weirdness is a quirk that Momoka finds cute. The brunette liked to speak her mind, when angry she would let others know. Haru didn't fake a smile. Haru was true to herself.
She never did things for the betterment of herself. She never had ulterior motives. Haru was just Haru.
Momoka had never seen anything like her. She could swear sometimes the girl would glow.
The rumors hit a nasty climax at eleven as one girl, Amy, tried to corner Haru with insults. The large-nosed girl who was only known for her brains had lost her place to Haru and was sore over the subject. Vindictive, she tried to squander the girl. She brought up money, brains, talent, anything to hurt cute little Haru.
Momoka was annoyed. "Jealousy is ugly on you Amy." She had clipped with a frown. "Or are you just taking out your anger for the divorce? It was bound to happen with your mom sleeping around so much...Must be scary, unlike Haru you probably won't get a scholarship to stay in Midori. It's ok, I'm sure Namimori will take you in with open arms!" She cheers with a little clap of her hands.
Amy is quick to disappear and never reappear.
When Momoka turned twelve she took one look at herself and frowned. The girl was maturing fast, baby fat already melting into chiseled cheeks. Pouty lips, cute button nose, and sweet droopy eyes. An exact replica of her mother.
Momoka grabbed a pair of scissors and gave herself a little trim. She stole her mother's makeup and coated her face in colors that she knew didn't suit such a sweet sweet face. The face that looked back was wild and crazed. Momoka kind of liked it.
Haru was kind to her when she came to school with botched hair and raccoon eyes. The only person to accept the girl's changes with open arms.
Her mother had gone ballistic that night screeching for Momoka to fix her appearance all while Momoka sat with a strained smile. She accepted the fixed trim. She did not stop with the raccoon eyes.
At thirteen the girls went to their first convention on their own. Dressed in pretty dresses and blonde wigs. For the first time in Momoka's life, she felt comfortable in her own skin. She looked into mirrors and saw herself.
Her mother's frown when she left in the over laced dress only affirmed her comfort.
So at Fourteen when the time came to switch from Midori elementary to Midori middle school Momoka made the final change. With bated breath, she bleached her hair and placed contacts in her eyes. Fake tanner to hide her pale skin and long fake nails hot pink and jeweled.
She deleted each and everything that reminded her of her old self away and reformed herself.
When she entered the school to Haru's friendly compliments Momo let out a real smile and ruffled the brunette's hair with a snort.
Momoka was happy.
"Tsuna said Haru's a good friend" The brunette sighs one morning as she slumps into the seat next to Momos. Momo takes a moment to tap listlessly on her phone, to create the illusion of uncaring, before swiping a look Haru's way.
The girl doesn't seem upset. A small smile gracing her face as she stares off into space. Her whole presence exudes contentment. "That a good thing?" Momo mumbles as she shifts back to her phone. A silly cat game on the other end.
Honestly, if Momo had any say in Haru's love life Tsunayoshi would be dead. Not only is the boy an exhibitionist creep he also already has someone that he likes. One pretty little Kyoko Sasagawa. Pretty little boring thing.
Tsunayoshi has some balls to be leading Haru along while he already has someone.
"Mhm, Haru is really happy to know Tsuna sees her as a friend...Haru was starting to think maybe she was annoying Tsuna" The girl admits with a small frown before a huge grin plasters her face "But now Haru knows Tsuna sees her as a friend! A good friend!"
"Not more than a friend?" Momo jokes when Haru starts to jump in her seat. Haru pauses at that holding her chin in thought.
"Mmm, nope. Haru thinks Tsuna like Kyoko?" She notes with a tilt of her head. Momo scoffs at the remark a frown marred on her pretty face. She had been hoping Haru would not notice the obvious, would stay oblivious to the obvious disgusting relationship before the two of them.
"Have you heard about the random attacks happening to Namimori students? Pretty crazy stuff, looks to be mostly against those delinquent scum that follow Namimori's rabid dog but still...Might wanna lookout for your hubby, with his luck he'll be next." Momo notes with a flick of her wrist. Ah, she just unlocked a new cat, nice. Cute, it's a tuxedo her favorite.
"Hahi! You think?!" Haru panics, immediately thinking of the worst possible outcome. Personally, Momo would be quite happy whoever was causing this chaos did hurt Tsuna. The stupid boy deserves a few harsh lessons if this is how he treats the perfect girl.
Still, Momo snorts at Haru's panicked form "Nah, that dog will probably pick a fight with whoever is causing this before Tsunayoshi can even get bit. He's been prowling around itching for a fight." She notes with disdain in her voice. The boy's angry muzzle had made its turn more than once past her house, every time glaring vehemently her way. Momo had made a point to shoo him away as one would an unwanted stray.
She had even turned the hose on him once in warning when he'd tried to talk to her. Honestly, Momo pities Hotaru for birthing such an insolent child. The woman was quite alright in her books and in no way deserved to suffer through her child's belligerence. The only good thing that came from the rabid dog was his ability to clean the street of troublesome mutts. This new turf war would soon end as well by the dog's bite.
Hopefully sooner than later too, as Momo's mother has slowly become hysterical over the violent attacks. An irony as she never once commented on the Hibari's bloodied solutions to the trouble.
"That dog? Ah, you mean Kyoya! Haru doesn't understand why you're marrying someone you don't like! Marriage is the happiest moment of life! To promise yourself to the one you love and care for most! Hahi! Haru can't wait for the day she gets married!" Haru gushes swaying in her seat with a jovial squeal of excitement.
Momo quickly flicks the girl before once again tapping idly on her phone. Mable was meowing for food now and George had brought a present after adventuring outside. Ah, the joy of cats, digital or not. Why can't Momo just live alone with just a flock of kitties, she would truly be happy then.
Still, Momo does agree with Haru on one thing. Momo in no way agrees with the idea to marry the rabid beast. The two had an obvious dislike for one another from the start. With him always throwing one-worded insults her way and Momo always kindly answering his every rude inquiry with her own.
It would be one of the only things she does agree with her mother on. The look on a man's face when you kindly insult them is the most enjoyable thing Momo has ever seen. The slow-growing anger as realization dawns and inability to reply. The dog especially never has decent responses, always looking to hurt her instead which Momo would quickly re-affirm as domestic abuse as the two are tied to one another.
It's about time Momo made a visit with Hotaru to end this annoying courtship. She just never was a dog person after all.
A week later found Momo before the Hibari's. The visit to the Hibari's was less troublesome than Momo had first expected. Most times Momo had gone to visit was with family or due to familial duties thus she was notably stressed for this unprecedented visit only to happily be welcomed by Hotaru's cold hands.
The older woman's frowned face stitched slightly with kindness as she welcomed her into a large room for tea. The two kneel over a lovely table as Hotaru calls for treats. For once Momo feels bad for what she is soon to say, as unlike her own mother Hotaru is a somewhat decent lady. Strict and uptight yes, but she never has any hidden motives nor is she altruistic.
She simply does what she sees fit.
"Should we be expecting anyone else?" 'where is the dog?' Momo notes with a light sip of her tea.
Hotaru takes a moment to just look at Momo before she huffs from frustration. "No, my boy is out fixing some troubles." She clips with a click of her tongue. "I apologize, I've told Kyoya plenty of times to spend more time with you. Not sure what that boy is doing, last time I chastised him he came home drenching wet! Gave me the excuse of rain when not a drop had fallen that day.."
Ah. So she was the reason for all of the rabid dogs' random visits. Momo can't help but look away guiltily as she awkwardly coughs to the side. "He's looking for the perpetrator of the random attacks on Namimori students right?" The girl instead questions with bored interest.
Hotaru scoffs lightly at her words before waving the girl off. "Random? Child, we both know it was not random. Those attacks were deliberate and specified. Someone is trying to scout out the strong."
Momo had guessed as much, of course, she also did not care much for the brutes fights. If boys wanted to go at it like dogs then so be it. "Why scout, everyone knows who the strongest in Namimori is." She instead mutters darkly.
"But do we?" Hotaru questions with a careful eye on the girl. Momo frowns upon the question as her face scrunches up in thought. Was there anyone else these mongrels could be looking for?
One boy does come to mind.
Not because of his strength of course. More so because of Haru's stories of troubling excursions. All of which one boy was in the middle of. One boy who Haru swears to gods above and back is a strong leader in the making. One boy who is always in the middle of gossip.
"Tsunayoshi."
"Oh? Someone stronger than my boy?" Hotaru questions with a smile that is more teeth than lip.
Momo nods no quickly in dismissal. "Not stronger, troublesome."
Actually, now that Momo thought of it, this all made sense. Just earlier that day Haru had been complaining over the boy not allowing her to join them in an escapade. Stating along the line of it being 'too dangerous'. Momo, indignant of her friend being exiled from the group, had told Haru to just prove herself to them. To go anyway and prove to the clueless boys just how strong-willed she truly was.
While at the moment such a thing had felt like the correct response now Momo starts to wonder if maybe she had sent her dear friend into the wolf's den. For a moment Momo tenses in worry, muscles tightening and nails clipping into her palm as she takes a deep breath. With one exhale she shakes the thought from her mind.
Whether or not these thugs were after Tsunayoshi they would be dealt with soon. The rabid dog was already on his way. He would deal with issues as he always has and any and all problems will be gone by the time little Haru arrives on the lot. The most mortifying thing Haru would happen upon would be injured/dead bodies.
Momo will just keep her phone on 'sound' so that she can answer whenever Haru calls to cry about the blood.
"I apologize, you didn't come to talk about my son's strength did you?" Hotaru chips in after a few moments of silence. Momo nods offhandedly in affirmation. "How can I help you, my dear".
Oh, how does that hurt? The amount of respect Momo is given that will soon be lost. How Hotaru treats her at equal footing. A Hibari, with their prestige and a long line of traditions, wishes to help Momo. All because Momo is tied to the family by contract. The beauty of marriage.
Momo is a bit sad she will lose this ally today.
"I would like to null my engagement to your son." She claims with a rigid back. The two stew in thick tension as they stare unblinking at one another. Waiting for the other to break. Momo can feel a cold sweat run down her forehead as she waits for the older Hibari to respond.
She fears the rumored anger that comes from a scorned Hibari. Of the violent streak, they all seem to hold.
Hotaru proves her worry false when she instead breaks eye contact with a loud sigh. "I see...Smart to come when he is not around, the boy will be angry when he hears of this." She comments solemnly, "I will be sure to dissolve the contract for you, you are still welcome to visit of course. This old lady would be happy if you did as well." She remarks with an elegant flick of her hand.
A servant rushes over as Hotaru calmly instructs them on how to proceed. Momo on the other hand looks on dumbly. The whole form frozen in shock of the ease things had gone through.
"You're ok with it?" She finally says in a quiet voice.
"Did you think I would not respect your word? While it saddens me to hear you break the engagement off I will do as asked. I like you, child. You are smart, you keep up with my stubborn son whose belligerence scares most away. Even at a young age you stood up to him, outsmarted him in his own games. While I see you as the perfect woman for him I respect your own opinion more. If you say being separate then so be it. I have no interest in forcing you." She claims with a single huff.
"I-thank you, Miss Hibari," Momo says with a low bow. Part of her wants to cry from the sudden kindness from one not of her own blood and the other worries this is a ploy to once again tie her to the rabid dog. "While I have no interest in being married to your son I would not mind visiting you. I hope we can continue to get along." She coincides.
Hotaru nods with a light smile before a small chuckle escaped her lips. "Now to tell the boy I suppose." She replies wistfully before setting the papers before the girl to talk about.
It was late into the day by the time Momo left the Hibari household. The girl felt more light on her feet and pleased with herself. Humming lightly to herself home. Slowly she was carving her own path into life and cutting the ties her mother had knotted upon her limbs.
Now no longer tied down to such a disgusting man Momo now had the choice to actually fall in love. To find this supposed happiness the Haru was always giddily chiming about. While part of Momo wholly doubts such a thing even existed she would be sure to keep an eye out for it.
The roads were only lit by distanced lamps at this time of day, the sun long was gone. The random spurts of violence and knowledge that the rabid dog would not be making his usual patrols forced Momo to walk faster. Something that only slightly dampened her good mood.
Coming up to her own household Momo could see someone's form curled up near her door and for a moment she worried some dangerous mutt was waiting to attack her. Then she heard a slight sniffle and moving a bit closer saw the glint of a yellow clip in the person's hair.
"Haru?"
Haru looked up with big tearful eyes. Her hands cradling something in her hand as she stared at her friend in mourning.
"Haru what happened? Why are you outside? Are you ok?" Momo panicked, immediately rushing over to hold her friend. Moving her this way and that in search of serious injuries. Little bruises marred her arms but as a whole, she seemed fine. She was still gripping something with all her might though.
Momo furrows her brow at this and moves to unfurl her hands only for Haru to bowl more into herself mumbling a sad cry.
"Can you say that again Haru, I didn't hear you...Everything is going to be ok, just please let me know what's wrong." Momo calmly soothes her, petting Harus hair as she waits with bated breath. For a moment it looks as though Haru is not going to move. Then she carefully unravels herself, slowly, ever so slowly, she unfolds her hands and holds out the object she was cradling.
It's her necklace, the one she wears on a daily basis. For a second Momo is confused about why the girl is cradling the ugly thing like a baby but then she sees it. A jagged crack runs down the middle of the purple jewel.
It's then that Haru says her first words that night. Her voice is quiet and so unlike herself. She sounds small and scared. Like a shell of herself. As she looks up at Momo with large scared eyes and whispers.
"I broke it."
Hi there! So this bad boy is a tiny bit late...I honestly forgot the due date was coming up till this Wednesday and had a day or two of panic writing. Teehee. Classes were a bit busy this week so I was distracted. Next week is my last week of classes so I'll have much more time to think soon!
Basically, I don't want to write Haru's side of the fight yet, but I want to give you something so I decided to tease via another perspective! What better way than our ever kind Momo. So here is how she and Haru had first met plus a quick rundown of her lore.
Like her loving fiance, Momo is a cloud! Which would explain her aggravation when told to do something or being tied down!
As for what happened to Haru, we will find out soon!
Thank you for joining me during my Ted Talk and I'll see you next time!