A/N: I don't own KHR or any of its characters.
It's times like this where one must decide whether to be caught is better than to not be caught. Okay so someone wants a little talky-talky with me? Other than a fat pile of wasting-my-time, what's the harm right? Unless "a little chat" is a euphemism for murder or torture, then cheers to getting caught! Also, not too much of a choice right now.
I throw my hands up into the air in surrender.
"You both are just soooooo strong, please don't hurt me!" I even add in a slight sniffle to sell the act.
They glance at each other and their fighting stances relax.
"She is just a kid." Correct.
"Miss Komiya-Sama said to be careful… but what were we thinking, we almost made this little girl cry?" I sniffle again, for the dramatics. And on another note, are these guys really that fucking stupid? C'mon accidentally spilling your boss's name - it was already obvious, but for the love of God use your brains. Seriously. It's shit like this that is just plain sloppy for the underground world. I almost want to just smack them around to knock some common fucking sense into them. And end rant.
"But we should still tie her up, just in case." I smirk. Please do.
And as he steps into my personal bubble, I quickly pick-pocket the key, storing it in my tights.
Pissed is an understatement.
The past couple months she's been driving me insane. She's an herbivore through and through. Whatever fluke she pulled off in our first fight, there's none of that left in her.
She even had the gall to steal what is MINE and lie about it. His fists tighten. That was my FAVORITE pencil case.
But still…
Not chasing after her leaves some sort of emptiness to my day's agenda… which was admittedly training & following (stalking) her.
No, no more of this wasted time. I shake my head aggressively - even when she's not here she's STILL proving to be a nuisance. "Herbivore".
I walk to the right, toward the Hibari estate. I spare a glance over my shoulder. She's probably long gone in the other direction. I scoff. What am I doing? Why can't I just leave her alone.
But her voice echoes in my brain - "Then watch me.".
I pause in the middle of the sidewalk. Wait if I leave it at this, am I the one giving up?
…
Hibaris don't GIVE UP.
I grimace.
I'll challenge her to a fight - we'll settle this once and for all and I can finally leave her in the dust where she belongs. And I'll make her admit she stole my pencil case.
"One last fight."
I quickly bolt in the other direction, renewed vigor to catch up to her.
And as I turn the corner, I see her scraggly mop of hair being pushed roughly into a limousine. A Komiya-limousine at that. Attempting a kidnapping, but driving around in a limousine bejeweled in your family crest? I'd facepalm, except Hibari's don't facepalm.
Seriously?
The limousine turns the corner onto a road at the edge of town. It's a dump.
Yes and because driving a LIMOUSINE into the HOOD ain't conspicuous enough, they actually have the gall to HONK at hoodlums in the way as we enter an abandoned warehouse. It's like they really need to take the masterclass on criminal life. Or atleast read "The Idiot's Guide To Being A Criminal Mastermind". Like, if you're so stinking rich, why not just take me to your private property, a huge estate with acres of land that no one can get to?
"What a fucking cliche." I mumble under my breath. It's like you see ONE gangster movie and think WOW this is just what the movies show this must be the way to go!
"You say something?" the Tall Buff Guy says. Yeah they're all tall and buff, but because I won't remember them either way I'll just call 'em Tall Buff Guy #1, Tall Buff Guy #2 and Tall Buff Guy #3. So this guy can be Tall Buff Guy #1 for all I care.
"I said what a stunning alleyway." And it's like, maybe cover my eyes for the entirety of this kidnapping?
Tall Buff Guy #1 turns toward his conspirators - "I TOLD you this was a good choice."
Great, so now I know who the GENIUS behind this location is. They really chose brawn over brain out here.
We drive into the entrance of the warehouse and pull to a stop in the darkness. The car turns off and we're left in utter darkness. Someone drags me out of the car by the cuffs on my wrist and throws me into a wooden chair.
Suddenly, spotlights blare down upon me. I squint my eyes. Not in an attempt to make out the figures, since I already know who the culprit is - YUP, CALL ME DETECTIVE! But because man, tons of lights directed straight at one's eyes is not good for the pupils - YUP, CALL ME DOCTOR!
A voice cuts through the silence, deep and mechanical, obviously talking through a voice distorter.
"If you answer my questions, you won't get hurt. That's all I want."
"Komiya, you couldn't have just asked me in class? What, you want some help with your homework?"
"I'm not Komiya - though I've heard of her, and she's perfect with perfect grades so why would she need help from the likes of YOU - who is barely passing - for homework?."
"... I see. Yes you are definitely not Komiya." Sigh.
"Why have you been following the Hibari family around? Are you trying to leach out all you can from their prestige? What connection could you possibly have with them?"
I open my mouth to spout a quick lie when Komiya interjects -
"And DON'T lie. I've seen you enter and leave his estate."
Annoying. Because for all the whining and complaints I have about being here, the Hibaris have been honest with me. Have been honorable. And have been loyal.
And even for all the power in the world, I would never betray that.
I crouch outside the warehouse and peak my head over a broken window. I watch as the interrogation unfolds before me, weighing my options. I could help her, but what would I really gain by doing that? I don't have any sort of loyalty to this passing figure in my life, so why should I?
I could barely make out three huge muscular figures in the darkness, close behind her. I guess it could be a challenging fight at the least.
"I don't know what you're talking about, you probably mistook me for someone else." - I lean my ear closer into the window, eavesdropping.
One of the men punches her in the gut. "Agh!" She grits her teeth as the chair screeches back on the impact.
"Let's try this again. You LIVE at the Hibari estate. What might you know, that I don't know. That family is shrouded in mystery, and if you give a little, all this can stop."
I pull out my tonfa.
Hatsu bows her head. Silence Herbivore.
"I said, tell me everything you know about the Hibaris."
No one threatens MY family and gets away with it. I move to attack before Hatsu can spill any information, when -
"No." The whole room freezes. An edge to Hatsu's voice I've never heard.
"W-what do you mean no?! Hit her again!" Komiya commands.
He punches her across the face. The SMACK echoes across the walls.
"You can hurt me all you want, but if you so much as mention the Hibari name again, I'll kill you." Hatsu smiles up at Komiiya mirthlessly.
My eyes widen.
And it's then that I finally get it.
Komiya laughs. "Get her." she orders her guards.
I charge in just as Hatsu's handcuffs CLINK to the ground. She throws the key at the first guard's eye with a straight kick to the groin. He falls, but the second is right behind her. I launch at him, knocking him back with a flurry of tonfas to the chest. It's not mediocrity.
"Eek! H-Hibari-san?!" Komiya squeals from the side.
I take up formation, back to back with Hatsu. It's not a lack of will-power.
"When did you get here?" Hatsu asks.
"Just now." I say flatly. It's not weakness.
In-sync, I lunge for the third. He jumps up to evade, but Hatsu twirls through the air, knocking his jaw with her foot. I swing around as he falls to the ground, landing another tonfa swing to his back. He crashes against the wall in a puff of dust and debris. It's that she doesn't care what others think of her.
Hatsu saunters over to Komiya, menacingly. "W-wait, I didn-t - stop - n-n-no -" And before Hatsu even has a chance to knock her on the head, Komiiya faints dramatically onto the floor.
"Ah. She's out." Hatsu sighs.
She looks at the heap of Komiya sprawled onto the ground and shrugs. She turns to walk out the door. In fact, she'd prefer if people didn't think of her at all.
"That's it?" I demand.
"Yeah, c'mon I'm starving. Do you think Chieko-sama made cake for dessert?" But she had her own code of honor.
"You've had cake three days in a row."
"I know! We need to round it out to a perfect ten days is what I'm thinking." And she would never falter from it.
Not for anyone
Not for anything.
The stars twinkle above us as we walk the long road back.
I'm moving slower than usual - thanks to the couple of punches I took like a champ if I say so myself. To my surprise, Kyoya slows to meet my pace, walking right beside me.
We walk in silence, until I can't hold it in any longer -
"Man, those guys were the WORST criminals though, amiright?" I throw my hands up with an UGH, completely exasperated. "I mean, I would rather be actually tortured than have to endure that level of stupidity again. What is it, amateur hour out here? Mr. Onazuka would make a better thug than those guys! Could they have been more obvious with the bejeweled family crest? And don't get me started on bejeweling as a concept that even exists in this world." So sue me, the rant ain't actually over.
Kyoya is silent for a moment "Herbivores."
I turn to him to make a snarky remark about the extent of his vocabulary when to my surprise, he's smiling - and not that 'I'm-going-to-bite-you-to-death' evil smirk he does. No this is a smile that creases his eyes and lifts his cheeks wholeheartedly. He… he thinks I'm funny in that 'hahahaha-normal-person-laughs-at-a-joke' sort of way. And OMG I made Kyoya laugh (I mean, almost, with his eyes. Whatever! That counts!).
I nudge him playfully with my elbow. "They really are herbivores aren't they."
And that's all it takes for him to unravel.
He full out belly-laughs.
And it's the sweetest sound I've ever heard.
A/N: Oh hey, we're back!