Disclaimer: I don't own KHR or stuff.
Word Count: 4557
When Natsume came home that evening, Tsuna could tell that she was in a better mood than she been in the past few days. That and the fact that she let herself fall on top of him, knocking the air out of him.
Yeah, she was getting better.
"You ass," he wheezed as he rolled over to the side just enough so that he could get her off him. His sister gasped as she fell onto the floor and when she pushed herself up to glare at him, he noticed that her eyes were a brighter green than usual, the area around them red.
He went from annoyed to worried as he sat up on the couch, holding a hand out to her. Her gaze softened, a small smile aimed at Tsuna, one that made the corners of her eyes crinkle, "I'm okay." She grasped his hand and pulled herself up, taking a seat beside him.
He believed that now.
He bit down on his lower lip, squeezing her hand slightly before letting go.
"You're being an ass," he said softly, a surprised hie leaving him when she put her arm around his shoulders.
Thinking she was going to put him in a headlock, Tsuna was surprised when she just hugged him, her head resting on his shoulder. He wanted to ask if she was okay, even if it was getting old and repetitive. Instead he said, "Y'know we were gone for over a month."
"You kept track?"
He pointed at the papers on the coffee table, "Hayato was here helping me figure it out."
"Did he leave already?"
"Bianchi came by."
"Ah."
She could imagine how that went.
"So…." Tsuna drew out, "we were gone for a month, but we came back just two weeks after the first of us disappeared." His nose scrunched up as he pursed his lips, shaking his head, "It's confusing and I don't know if we're older or still the same."
Natsume straightened up, peering at the top of Tsuna's head, hand coming up to comb through his hair before yanking out one strand, making Tsuna cry out. "Nope, still brown."
"I swear Natsume!"
Was all Nana heard from her room, followed by a cackle of laughter. Standing by the doorway she watched as Tsuna and Natsume tussled around the couch, her eldest popping up near the stair case to avoid being grabbed by Tsuna.
"No! No flames that's cheating! Fight me like normal!"
"This is our normal," Natsume threw back, hands on her hips as she stepped aside to avoid the decorative pillow Tsuna threw at her. "I'm not picking up your mess by the way."
"Mam!"
Nana hummed, leaning against the doorway as she watched the two straighten up in surprise as they looked at her, "You two are always a whirlwind of energy."
She stepped forward, gesturing with her chin to the pillow Tsuna threw and Natsume picked it up. Stopping beside Tsuna, she looked up at her son and smiled at him, lightly bumping her shoulder against his arm, "It's good to see you two still playing around."
Nana had been a little worried when Natsume had stayed too quiet, reminding her of how she was after Timoteo had spent some time with them. Unlike then, her eldest bounced back much quicker, though she could tell she wasn't completely fine.
Natsume could trick Tsuna into thinking she was fine, but Nana knew her daughter.
"How about instead of horsing around, we cook dinner together?" she checked her wristwatch, knowing that Fuuta and the kids were at the park and would be coming home soon.
"I'll make the rice!" Tsuna called immediately, Natsume's mouth falling open as her she furrowed her brow.
"Lazy ass," she muttered, smirking a little when Tsuna stepped back when she moved forward to place the pillow back on the couch. "Aw, Tuna-fish scared?" To which Tsuna scoffed at, rolling his eyes as he turned and headed to the kitchen. "Oi, how 'bout instead of rice you dice some potatoes?"
"Oh~ we can make cheesy mashed potatoes," Nana hummed, linking her arm with Natsume's. "It will go well with the chicken I want to make."
Tsuna grumbled something that made Nana laugh, though Natsume did say, "Remember Tsuna, you peel the potato not your finger."
Oh dear, Nana stifled her laughter as Tsuna squawked in offense, Oh how I missed you two.
/ | \
Fuuta sat beside Natsume not at all minding the way she fiddled with his hair, "Your hair is so long," she muttered as her fingers twirled the ends of his hair which reached down to his neck.
"Yours too," Fuuta said looking at her hair which she had pulled back into a low pony tail. "Can I braid it?"
"Hm, you know how?"
"I've done I-pin's hair and Auntie let me do hers," Fuuta said standing up to move behind Natsume. "It's okay?"
"Hm, sure, I don't mind," she answered, focusing her attention back on the tv, watching as Kiki and Osono moved the bread to the front room. "I should have named Emi Jiji."
Fuuta decided not to say that Emi was not as sweet as Jiji.
She hadn't been here when they were gone.
Emi had been such a brat and kept taking things and hiding them in Natsume's room which no one could get into. How the cat managed to go back and forth like nothing when Nana couldn't get the door to budge open, Fuuta had no clue.
"I don't think it fits Emi," Fuuta said, easily pulling the hair tie and slipping it around his wrist. He began toseparate Natsume's hair into three sections and he was thankful she had brushed it before, so it was easy to comb his fingers through the thick, wavy hair.
Natsume hummed, a sweet "Emi baby," leaving her when she saw the cat strolling past. Natsume clicked her tongue to get said cats attention, wiggling her fingers to beckon her over.
Emi ignored her.
"Okay she's mad at me," Natsume sighed, lower lip sticking out. "It wasn't even my fault Emi."
The black cat walked towards the slightly open sliding door and went out, the bell around her collar tinkling as she jumped up into the cat tree that they had put outside for her.
"She'll come around soon," Fuuta tried to assure Natsume, halfway done with her hair. They sat in silence, the background music from the movie making the afternoon feel a bit special. "I'm done!"
"Oh," Natsume lightly ran her fingers over her braid as she brought it over her shoulder. "Thank you and it's not tight either."
"When Auntie was teaching me she said she didn't like them tight," Fuuta admitted, watching as Natsume put her braid back over her shoulder, reaching just above her hip. It had been two weeks now that they had been back and Nana had trimmed Natsume's hair, "Would you ever cut your hair short?"
"When its short it sticks up like Tsuna's did," Natsume wrinkled her nose, "Not as bad, but I never liked it. Also I get to smack people with this, so it's a plus."
Fuuta had seen that happen when Natsume smacked Takeshi in the face at his birthday dinner last week. He moved back beside her, not at all minding when her hand came up and began combing through his hair again.
"You want to get ice cream later?" she asked him after a while.
"Yes please."
Lambo and I-pin had gone with Tsuna and Hayato to the park, where they would be meeting Takeshi and Ryohei. He wasn't sure why Natsume hadn't gone along with them this time, having heard her mutter something about stupid rings earlier before Tsuna had left.
"Is it okay if Chrome and Hana come along?" she asked him, holding out her finger where an indigo butterfly materialized.
"Oh yes!"
Chrome was so nice and so was Hana when she wasn't being weird around him.
"Alright," the butterfly took off, fluttering through the walls. "It's a date."
/ | \
"Chrome!" Fuuta waved excitedly at the purple haired girl, who waved back. Natsume trailed behind him, a serene smile on her face as she nodded at her.
"Fuuta-kun," Chrome greeted, "Natsume."
"I'm glad you could come," Natsume smiled, getting one in return from Chrome.
"I'm glad to be here," Chrome responded, holding out her hand to Fuuta who took it, lacing his fingers with hers. "Fuuta-kun is so bold."
"And so is Chrome."
Natsume didn't pay any mind to their conversation; leading them to the ice cream shop. Hana had said she would meet them there and knowing her friend, she would have gotten there early.
Outside of Takeshi's birthday and a few moments at school, this would be the first time in weeks that she would be hanging out with Hana and if Natsume were honest, she was a little nervous.
Just a little.
Hana had been annoyed when she had finally spoken to her and once Natsume started explaining all she had to say was, Of course it was mafia related.
And then had ranted about how bat shit stupid the mafia that she was being involved in was.
(Apparently what the world is told about the mafia just isn't true! Sure there's your murder, vengeance, need for succession and dark aloof individuals.
But how does all this magical fire and mind numbingly stupid technology come into play? Huh? How? Just…how!)
Natsume didn't have an answer for any of that.
She had also been shocked through Hana's rant and currently didn't have a phone because it had been fried.
"Sparky!" she called out to the dark haired girl standing outside the ice cream shop.
"Stop calling me that," Hana muttered, rubbing her eye with the back of her hand. "Hi Chrome, Fuuta."
"Hello."
"Alright Pikachu," Natsume smiled, pulling open the door and gesturing for them to go inside. The name earned her a flick to the forehead and she couldn't help but snicker. "Come on shorty, is that the best you got?"
"I want a triple scoop," was all Hana said as she went inside, missing the way Natsume wrinkled her nose.
"You better be sharing that triple scoop."
Chrome shook her head, amused at the interaction between the two older girls. Natsume scratching her head with one hand on her hip and Hana with her arms crossed against her chest, looking at the ice cream flavors.
"Fuuta, Chrome what do you guys want?" Natsume called, watching as Hana choose only two flavors. Fuuta let go of Chrome's hand, nearly plastering his face against the glass which was only stopped by Natsume's hand coming down on his forehead.
"I want strawberry cheesecake in a cup, please!" Natsume handed Fuuta's to him, the sandy haired boy chirping out a thank you as he immediately ate a spoonful.
"Chrome?"
"Can I get a chocolate swirl on a cone, please?" She reached for the cone that was being handed to her, thanking the employee.
"I'll get a scoop of the salted caramel on a cone and that's it," Natsume ordered last, thanking the girl who handed her the ice cream. "How much is it?"
With that paid, they all headed outside enjoying their treats, "Hey Hana let me try your mocha ice cream."
"They would have let you try it if you asked," Hana sniffed as she took a seat at one of the available chairs, taking a spoonful of the light brown ice cream and putting it in her mouth.
Natsume rolled her eyes, lightly biting her ice cream, "Well I didn't wanna try it then, but I do now."
Hana took another spoonful and before she put in her mouth said, "No."
"So mean."
/ | \
Hana and Natsume sat on a bench and enjoying the warmth of the sun, watching as Chrome pushed Fuuta on a swing, the sandy haired boy kicking his legs out to try and go higher.
"Kyoko might join you guys for lunch again," Hana said, picking at her nails. "She still hasn't talked about what happened with me."
"Can't say I'm surprised," Natsume sighed, bringing her legs up so that she could sit crisscross on the bench and rest her elbows on her knees. "I'm sure she will once she feels like she can."
Natsume cupped her chin, head tilting to the side, a soft smile curling her mouth as she heard Fuuta shout, "Watch this Chrome!" And then let go of the swing when it reached its high point.
No one was around to see the way a transparent slide appeared beneath Fuuta, the boy laughing as he slid down really fast and rolled onto the grass.
She couldn't hear what Chrome was saying, but Fuuta nodded, running back to the swing.
"Kyoko is strong in her own way," Natsume said, "So is Haru, we're all still trying to come to terms with what happened in the future."
"And I'm sure once we all heal, we'll all be for the better."
Hana glanced at Natsume, who was staring off into the sky, watching the clouds glide by. Her face was unreadable and Hana wondered aloud, "But what if they can't?"
The way Natsume breathed out, bringing her right hand up and curling her fingers into her palm, a slight glimmer of purple flicking over her finger tips, "It's not that hard to make people forget, Hana."
Part 89: Continue on with life
"A maid café?"
Kyoko brought the pamphlet up to cover the lower half of her face. Natsume squinted her eyes as she noticed Kyoko's shoulders shaking slightly, trying to hold in her laughter.
"It sounds like fun," Takeshi hummed, propping his arms behind him and holding himself up.
"I vote that Hayato and Takeshi be one of the maids," Natsume immediately said, looking over her brother for a second. "I guess Tsuna too."
"Oi wha's that supposed to mean?"
"A boy's café," Natsume continued, ignoring Tsuna as she gave Kyoko her full attention. "There's more girls than boys at this school, why shouldn't we cater to the majority?"
"No one is going to –"
"That actually might work," Kyoko spoke up, earning a yes! from Natsume, who was trying not to smirk. "I'll bring it up during the council meeting today."
With that Kyoko left, going up to another group of students and handing them a pamphlet. Natsume was left with three boys who didn't seem too amused at what she had done. "What?"
"You just couldn't let it be, could you?" Tsuna sighed, shaking his head, mimicking Takeshi's pose. "Do you know how many guys are going to hate you?"
Natsume's brow rose, lips pursed as she lifted her head slowly, "They can come talk to me if they have a problem."
"Or they can talk to me," Hayato piped up, flinging grass pieces at Natsume.
"You might end up being one of the maids," Takeshi said, earning a scowl from Hayato and a cackle from Natsume.
"Can you wear cat ears if you do? It'd be so cute," Natsume didn't get a chance to ruffle the top of Hayato's hair as he smacked her hand away. "The girls will love it."
"I was going to defend you, but you're on your own."
Natsume's mouth fell open, hands coming up to her cheeks, "Oh no however will I protect myself." The stilted way she said that, before she burst out laughing had the three shaking their heads. She stood up, dusting off whatever pieces of grass clung to her, giving them a peace sign as she left, "Girl power will prevail and protect me, so fuck you guys!"
There was a screech of her name and they watched as Natsume quickened her pace to keep ahead of Hayashi, who had started running after her.
"Do you think they can split the day?" Takeshi brought up, getting Tsuna's attention. "Maybe boys in the morning and the girls in the afternoon?"
The impish grin that curled Tsuna's mouth made Hayato sigh, moreso as Tsuna and Takeshi got up to find Kyoko to see how that suggestion went.
"My friends are idiots," Hayato muttered as he followed after them, not wanting to be involved with any of this. "Why couldn't we just have a banana stand again?"
/ | \
Kyoko watched them gather, holding her bag tightly against her chest.
She watched Hana hip check Natsume before walking back up to the school. Natsume stuck her tongue out at Hana's back before her and Takeshi made their way to the gym so they could get ready for after school practice.
They seemed to be getting along fine as if what they had experienced just weeks ago was no longer affecting them. At first she had thought that they were completely over it.
And she had been so angry and hurt and jealous.
How come they could be fine, but she couldn't?
Why did she have to keep dreaming about the future-that-was, why did she keep going back and forth between doubting and wanting to trust her friends?
Kyoko stared awhile longer, watching Tsuna and Hayato leave school grounds.
But they weren't okay, they weren't like before.
She had watched them leave many times before and never had Tsuna and Hayato walked so close. Tsuna had looked over his shoulder twice, his pace slow so he could make sure that Natsume and Takeshi made it inside the gym.
Her phone beeped, the simple tone breaking her out of her thoughts.
Onii-chan: Kyoko! Practice will be let out late today, do you need anyone to walk you home?
Before Ryohei didn't text her to make sure if she had someone to walk her home.
Kyoko: I'm meeting Haru-chan today, remember?
Onii-chan: Right! Okay! Is she coming over?
Kyoko: Yes
Onii-chan: I should be home in time to go with you to walk her home, okay!
Kyoko: Okay.
It's not like her brother was being over protective, he was just being cautious. They all were.
Kyoko sighed, slipping her phone back into her bag. It was kind of nice; she'd spent more time with her brother in the last few weeks since they've returned than before.
"Sasagawa-chan! The meeting is about to start," one of the council members called out.
"I'll be right there," she said, a soft hum of acknowledgment coming from the boy who left the door open. She looked back out the window, the figures of her friends long gone.
Even if she was in a constant back and forth with her thoughts, she knew deep down she could trust them. They had put their lives on the line, had fought and endured so much for her not to realize the sacrifices her friends have made.
(…..she should learn how to fight.
Or at least protect herself.)
"We have to move on at some point," she murmured, turning away from the window and towards the classroom they were using for the meeting today. She closed the door behind her, a warm smile aimed at those gathered, "Is everyone here?"
There was a chorus of yes and her gaze flicked around the room to note that everyone was there. She set her things down in the chair beside the vice president, nodding at the dark haired boy in greeting. Kyoko took out her attendance book, marking everyone present, while also keeping track of what the president was saying.
She made notes as the meeting progressed, making sure to bring up that everyone presented their final idea for the spring festival.
Throughout this she still thought, slowly realizing that perhaps she didn't necessarily have to fight, but she should definitely know how to protect herself.
She was good with people wasn't she?
"The idea was brought up to me by a fellow third year, that perhaps instead of having the girls host the café, that it should be the boys?" Kyoko could see the vice president wrinkle his nose, though the president did raise her brows, head nodding slowly.
They were in there groups now, speaking within their own years as to what they would need and how to get any funding for it, or if anyone could donate needed materials.
"That doesn't sound too bad…."
"Tora-san," the dark haired teen sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Oh come on, it'll be something different, Kurosaki-san" Tora-san said, tapping her fingers against the table top. "Maybe we could present a theme?"
"Cowboys," Kurosaki deadpanned, shaking his head when Tora whispered, cat cowboys. "I regret saying that."
"How about we just let the volunteers decide how they want to dress up?" Kyoko offered, earning a sigh from Kurosaki and a laugh from Tora.
"That sounds fine to me," Tora chuckled, elbowing Kurosaki. "Lighten up, I was joking."
It continued for a few more minutes and by then it had been an hour.
"We'll announce it tomorrow morning, that way we can start gathering supplies for the café."
"Also a reminder," Tora said to everyone else, the sounds of papers being shuffled and backpacks zipped quieting down. "We won't be meeting until Friday, but if you have to meet before then, this room will be open to anyone who needs it."
"See you all tomorrow!"
Kyoko waved at them all, her smile slowly fading away as she walked alone down the hallway. Her phone buzzed, no doubt that it was Haru texting her. She set her things down on the bench, changing out of her slippers quickly and into her shoes.
"Kyoko-chan!"
There was a bit of warmth that bloomed in her chest at the excited call from Haru as she exited the building. Kyoko raised her arm and waved back, "Haru-chan!"
They linked arms together after Haru handed her a drink, "They have a sale on fabrics at the plaza and I've been wanting to sew, but I don't have a pattern I like at home."
The bracelet around Haru's wrist jingled and Kyoko noted that it was the silver band that Natsume had gifted her last year. Except instead of one charm, there were now two.
"You got a new charm?"
"Oh yeah," Haru raised her wrist, careful not to spill her drink, her voice quieting down a little. "Natsume dropped it off early Saturday morning, along with a slice of chocolate cake."
The pink lady bug was cute and paired with the red doll charm, "She got me a koala one."
"You need to show me," Haru said, bringing her hand down so she could sip at her drink. "Also," Haru jiggled the arm she had linked with hers, "You're thoughtful today aren't you?"
"Oh, just thinking," Kyoko responded, a bit sheepish.
Haru hummed, "Good thoughts right?"
"Better thoughts."
Kyoko looked at Haru, who exhaled softly, "That's good, me too."
They continued on in silence, enjoying each other's company. It wasn't until they were entering the fabric store that Kyoko brought up what the third years were planning.
Kyoko couldn't feel too bad at the brilliant and devious look that crossed Haru's face, "I think I'll go this year, let me know when."
"Oh I will."
/ | \
"That looks nasty," Takeshi commented as he saw the bruises on Natsume's legs.
"Thanks, I tripped and this one," she pointed to the one on the back of her thigh. "I'm gonna get Hayashi back; she hit me with the broom."
"You're getting awfully friendly with them."
Natsume rolled her eyes, adjusting her bags so that both were crossed over her shoulder, "I like my team, unlike some baseball ace I know."
Takeshi sniffed, straightening up, "I also like my team."
"Of course, of course," Natsume drawled out, sticking her hands in her hoodies pockets. "It helps that your upperclassmen are all no longer here, eh?"
"Yup~ and the first years are funny."
"The young ones are funny, aren't they?" she said, smiling and waving at the three first years that passed them. "Good practice you three~"
One of them muttered she devil, the other two quieting them and waving back at Natsume before scurrying off.
"Do I want to ask?"
"You did and no, I don't get it either," Natsume responded, beginning to walk out, Takeshi following after her. "All I do is play like I'm supposed too."
"Hmm," Takeshi put an arm out, resting it on top of Natsume's head, who scoffed and swatted his arm away. "Whenever you do what you're supposed to, you can be extreme."
"Do I look like Ryohei to you?"
She turned left with him, something that he wasn't too surprised about now that they knew about who her teacher was, "If I said yes, you'd probably beat me up."
"Me? Beat you up? Never."
Takeshi laughed, shoving his hands in his pockets, "Right, because you're such an angel."
Natsume snorted, miming flipping her hair over her shoulder even though it was held up in a bun, "Bet your ass I am."
They continued their banter, Takeshi nearly falling over when Natsume managed to trip him at some point. Her cackling as she bolted ahead of him so he couldn't grab her was loud and rang through the air.
"Hey Tsuyoshi-san! Bye Tsuyoshi-san!"
"Natsume!" his father greeted as he stopped sweeping, watching the girl run by him and turn just down the way. Tsuyoshi looked back the way she had come from to see Takeshi coming to a stop, shaking his head. "Welcome home Takeshi."
Takeshi nodded his head, a warm smile directed at his father, "How was your day, dad?"
Tsuyoshi raised an arm, giving his son a side hug, patting him lightly on the back as they both made their way inside, "Good, good."
The two made their way inside, not noticing the purple butterfly that fluttered by. It made its way down the corner, settling on an outstretched finger, where it dissolved.
Natsume closed her eyes, hearing Tsuyoshi's greeting to his son, getting the feeling of warmth from how happy the two felt.
"Can't exactly see, but I guess hearing and picking up feelings is good enough," she muttered as she began to make her way to Kawahira's shop. "Weird, but I guess that's because we're connected….right sensei?"
"If that's what sounds right to you."
Natsume rolled her eyes, not at all phased when Kawahira appeared beside her without a sound or a flare of power. Not even the take out bag that she was sure had a bowl of ramen inside made a noise.
One day I'll be that good.
She opened the door to the shop, about to gesture for her sensei to walk in, but a voice called out that had her going in first.
"Na~tsu~me~"
"Wonomichi!"
It was odd to see Natsume being the one to tackle Wonomichi into a hug. The young man just laughed, his eyes squinting shut from how big he was smiling as he wraped his arms around the girl tightly, lifting her off her feet for a brief second.
"Hoho~ You've grown, I don't think I can carry you anymore!"
"You couldn't carry me before with your noodle ass arms," Kawahira heard Natsume respond, which made him sigh.
"Children, behave."
"Of course~"
"Never."
Kawahira supposed that somethings never did change.
He brought a hand up to adjust his glasses, hiding the smile that appeared for a second, "Why do I even put up with you two?"
All that got him was a laugh from Wonomichi, while Natsume merely stuck out her tongue.
AN: This chapter was difficult.
I feel like there's alot of changes that have happened and maybe its too fast? I'm trying not to move things along to quickly, but agh, this is how it came out. And I actually kind of like it, but yeah.
Uh, timeline goes roughly from a few days after future return to maybe three weeks, almost a month after it? I kind of reference time by bringing up characters birthday's, if anyone has picked up on that. So it's Mayish? So it might seem a little too late to host a spring festival, but ah, well, its fanfiction for a reason...right?
Anyways, hope you all enjoyed~
Soru