Lit:

Oh my, oh my. Who is this rich girl?

Summary:

She ended up splitting the table in two. Reborn still didn't give her a glance.
The only noise accompanying them in the quiet hall was the sound of ice spreading followed by the door slamming shut.
By the age of sixteen, the future Vongola Decimo was officially betrothed to Hibari Kyoya, the sole successor of Hibari Clan.

Log:

/un-beta-ed/

"Italic conversation" with [*] at the end is spoken in Italian.
Italic words without any quotation mark is a thought spoken only inside your heart.

I am quite in hurry and didn't entirely proof-reading this. Sorry for any mistake!

Stay calm!

The Kat Hunts the Hare

Four
Stalking Horse

"How about this string or whatever the name is? Wear this, plan a trip to a private hot spring and seduce your husband! He will submit to you like a loyal lackey!"

Tsuna slapped Shittopī's out-stretched hand which was holding the revealing bikini that was not even going to cover a quarter of her chastity. She hissed at the falling garment on the floor and resisting the urge to stomp at it until it turned to dust.

"Not happening. Not even in my dreams." She mumbled under her breath, feeling frustrated with Shittopī's suggestion of making her arrangement a bit better in the future with the plan included the term of seduction and mature content.

Shittopī was all but grinned and pulled down her sunglasses slightly, eyeing Tsuna with a playful glint. She wiggled her eyebrows, "It might be in his dreams, though."

Tsuna's neck turned red and went up all the way to her ears and face. She snorted and folded her hands while turning around to exit the swimsuit shop. She ignored the polite greeting by the employee and pretended to not hear her friend's apologetic calling. Not to mention she purposely left behind all the shopping bags for Shittopī to carry. It might take her a while until she caught up.

Walking to the path through the lines of boutique and beauty shop, she was abruptly being run over by a man twice her size with a ridiculous getup which covered his face. Her shoulder hit a side lamp pole as she stumbled and swiftly grabbed it to steady her position. She swallowed down the throbbing sore. The man clicked his tongue and nearly pushed Tsuna away but halted.

"―thief! A thief! My bag, he took my bag! Someone, please help! Thief!"* A shout from behind them disenchanted Tsuna from easing her throbbing arm. She went to grab the man but he evaded and ran again. The spectators who were mostly women screamed and moved away from him, their behaviors unconsciously created a path for a smoother escape for said thief.

Tsuna wasted no time to turn tail and run after him, passing Shittopī in the process of her pursue.

"H-Huh? Where are you running off to?" She shouted frantically, hands were busy grasping all the bags.

Tsuna only casted a brief glance. "To catch a thief! Stay there, I'll be back!"

The brunette followed the man who ducked around and tried to make Tsuna's way harder than it should. He bumped the bouquet displays purposely and scrambled them with his running feet. Tsuna however, was not affected by his plan. She jumped around the broken vases and scattered flowers. The florist screamed in devastation and slumped down.

"Sorry! I will compensate them later!"* Tsuna yelled but the florist only stood and swung her fist around in the air, her mouth was scrambling a list of curses for the thief.

Tsuna eyed the left abandoned alley and went to take the route, kicking the full bin of trash and made a black cat jumped away after hissing at her. Through the end of alley, she saw the thief ran past by and had not noticed her. She craned her leg and he fell down, went rolling on the street. His back ended up hitting a lamp pole hard and he groaned, the pain lulled his senses and he clutched his head.

Tsuna stood brazenly in front of him and kicked his bended leg, the pitiful man once again groaned. She then grabbed the fallen purse on his side and tucked it securely in her arm.

"Your only fault is obviously me. You stole things right under my nose."*

The man stood up wobbly and launched his fist to her. Tsuna wasn't expecting his tenacity as she tried to move to the side and had already planned to immobilize him with martial arts inside her mind―Reborn and future Hibari had taught her to the brim of insanity and she was quite proud with her progress.

Even so, Tsuna was not given time to dodge as a firm hand protruded from behind her. It had grabbed the flying fist and proceeded to twist the thief's arm behind him. The thief hollered a string of curses and pain as he was brought to his knees.

"Police! You are under arrest for stealing and an attempt in physical abuse to woman!"*

Tsuna let out a sigh of relief silently. Thinking again, it might be a bad move if she had showed her identity and skill in front of this mass of a crowd. She let out another breath.

The aged police man who appeared heroically looked like he was in the middle of his forties. He turned to face her worriedly while his hand was pressing the man's body to the ground, the other hand took out a handcuff from his pocket and put them on the doer's wrists in one fluid but trained gesture.

"Miss, are you okay? Did he hurt you anywhere? We could bring up the case to a court. Witness will be taken care off easily, seeing this many bystanders have watched the spectacle."* The officer furrowed his eyebrows in concern and Tsuna felt her heart clenched, she didn't have the heart to worry him further. She then tried to console the man but was halted by a familiar shout.

"Vongola!"*

The officer went rigid and unconsciously slammed the thief's body to the ground. The latter was on the edge of passing out. "V-V-Vongola?"* He stiffly spelled the name.

Tsuna eyed the man's weird behavior. Hearing a couple of footsteps behind her, she whisked her body away and saw how the other bystanders were in the same state as the officer.

"Vongola!"* Shittopī ran to Tsuna and gripped her arms. "You scared me! Don't run off like that again. What if something happened to you? I would never be able to save myself from the entire Vongola's wrath, you stupid!" Shittopī shook her body back and forth, twirling her once in a while to scan any spotted injuries.

"No, wait― Shi―Hey!" Tsuna jumped back, away from the tightening grip of Simon's guardian. She stroked her previously gripped arm where the dulling pain seemed to fade slowly. "Hang on! Before that," She moved closer to Shittopī's ear and whispered, "What's wrong with these folks? They looked like they had seen the ghost of their ancestors?"

Shittopī stiffly scratched the back of her head and laughed nervously, "A―haha, uh… Sorry. It seems like, the name of Vongola has scared Italy? After, you know, the news of you and that boy was internationally…? Well, do you remember what Adel said previously, uh…"

Tsuna's mood darkened again, her orbs flickered between brown and flames. She really had the urge to flatten her future territory. An idea suddenly passed her mind. She stroked her chin while looking deep in thought.

Wait, should I just do it instead? I mean, we can build a new one somewhere. In Hawaii, maybe? Or Swiss? I want to build a new Vongola anyway. Or we could just destroy everything and create a new era? Her daydream however was slapped away by the officer's awkward cough.

"Uh, Miss… My apologies for not noticing you sooner."* The man stood rigidly with the perfect pose of a trained senior officer, he seemed reluctant with his body swaying forth but back to the upright position again as if he was contemplating whether to salute or kneel. The thief had been long forgotten below, appeared to be unconscious from the ground slam the officer previously committed.

"Huh, what?"* She was only able to mutter a word of confusion.

The police man was sweating profusely by now and he bowed his head, "Ma'am! I beg your forgiveness if I have offended you by my previous action or casual demeanor. I will be more careful in the future!"*

Tsuna jolted at his yell while the crowd had started to disperse quickly, their eyes blatantly avoiding where she was standing.

What, what, what?

Tsuna panicked and ushered the man to lift his head, "No, Sir! It's okay, uh no, I mean―"*

The man showed no sign of listening. He proceeded to bow in a perfect ninety degrees, causing his spine to crack all at once, "I shall drown myself if it will satisfy your anger, Ms. Vongola!"*

He turned to run to the direction of nearby sea but Tsuna was faster. She grabbed the back collar of the man but put too much strength in her tug―she regretted it immediately. The man stumbled back and stood rigidly again like he had been slapped for insolence by his mother.

"It wouldn't satisfy you, right!"* He took his gun and presented it at Tsuna, "You can shoot me, Ma'am! I will die with no regrets! But please spare the other citizens!"*

Tsuna felt an impending headache as she clutched her head and groaned. What a pain in the ass. Why was today no one seemed to listen to her talking first before deciding things like she wasn't there? Tsuna openly wondered where the common senses of these folks went to.

"No, sir, please listen first―"*

"―Yes, Ma'am. I do realize my action is impolite and I am deserved to be beheaded. If drowning and gun don't satisfy you, then I will stab myself twenty times in a row!"*

"No―"*

The man swiftly searched his body and regretfully stared at Tsuna, "My apologies, I forgot to bring my pocket knife."*

Tsuna unconsciously exhaled a deep breath she didn't know was holding. No wonder her chest felt tight and suffocated.

"There is a utility store. Please pardon me to buy one right now!"*

Tsuna sucked back the breath she had exhaled.

"SIR! DO LISTEN TO ME FIRST!"* Tsuna shouted and stomped her feet in frustration. The officer stood by and saluted her.

"YES, COLONEL!"* Sweats ran down his face tremendously as if he was standing underneath a shower. Tsuna rubbed her forehead.

"What in heavens that the rumor goes around is about…?" She muttered under her breath.

"Sir, I am not your Colonel and I am not angry. Your action is very noble and I thank you for saving my life previously. Please take the poor man to the station first and take a good rest, you deserve it. You have done a very good job, sir officer―"* Tsuna quickly glanced at his name badge, "―Ivan Lodovico."*

She then put on her brightest smile and nodded her head satisfactorily.

The man clutched his rank insignia with tears spotted on the corner of his eyes. He seemed pretty taken back with Tsuna's acknowledgement as he nodded back enthusiastically. He saluted once again and bid his farewell. The man then dragged the thief's body while once in a while stopped and sniffled. He continued again until his shadow was gone amidst the crowd.

Tsuna sighed loudly and cracked her stiff waist.

"…I feel like I have aged ten years older…" Tsuna muttered while her hand patted her chest. She sighed again in exasperation. Shittopī only laughed at her misery which earned a glare from the former.

"Laugh again and I will make you aged twenty years."

Shittopī hugged Tsuna with one arm while the latter tried to free herself from the tight grasp.

"No, wait. What is the rumor going about? They see Vongola as what, a man-eater? Destructive machine? Circle of professional killer?"

"Um, yeah, quite. Top of the pile, king, strong backup and sponsors. You know, not only in military sense but also business track. Who wants to mess that up? Your famiglia―"

Shittopī's chatters were stopped by a soft giggle behind her. She slapped her forehead.

"My God, I totally forgot about you. You have so little presence. Here." She pulled the young timid girl to Tsuna and grinned, "The owner of the purse, Hero."*

Tsuna rolled her eyes and playfully hit Shittopī's arm. Tsuna smiled as she patted the purse and gave it to the girl.

"Here, Miss. Please be careful in the future."*

The girl looked at Tsuna and smiled gratefully. She nodded. "Yes! Thank you."

Shittopī and Tsuna were shocked to hear the fluid Japanese coming out from the girl's mouth.

"Wait, you are Japanese?" Tsuna pointed at the girl when Shittopī suddenly grabbed her index finger and bent them back to a fist.

Shittopī frowned, "It's rude to point, Vongola. But, it's not the case." She turned to face the newcomer with furrowed brows, "You are Japanese?"

"A quarter of Italian, actually. My name is Hanajima Chouko. It's truly a pleasure to meet you." Hanajima tilted her head and smiled. Tsuna felt a slight blush creeping up at the cute presence the girl emitted.

"Ah, yes. I am Sawada Tsunayuki and this is Shittopī-chan. Nice to meet you too, Hanajima-san."

"Likewise! Are you guys on summer vacation, too?"

Shittopī grinned, "Nope. I actually live here with my family. But I studied for a while in Japan."

Hanajima nodded with interest and dragged her attention to the brunette, "What about you, Sawada-sama?"

Tsuna rubbed her neck, "Uh, I just visited my grandfather and father. We have some… matter to discuss face to face."

"Oh, my! A family reunion! How exciting!" She clapped her hands enthusiastically. "I too actually have a plan with my fiancé but he suddenly had a work to attend to so I spent my days touring over Palermo by myself." She looked down to her feet. Seeing that, Shittopī slapped Tsuna's back, making the brunette pushed forward and nearly lost her balance from the sudden force.

"Such a coincidence! This maiden, too, is here to officially announce her engagement. What is it with young folk these days getting married so early, huh?" Shittopī shook her head in fake exasperation and sighed loudly to irked Tsuna. The latter pinched her side for a warning.

"Oh, gosh! We can then talk about our fiancés together, Sawada-sama! How do you say we stroll around together?" Hanajima proposed the plan with twinkling eyes and held her hands as if pleading.

"Sure!" Shittopī nodded, "We actually planned to―"

"Young Miss!" A young man suddenly ran to them and stopped in front of Hanajima. He kneeled with one hand crossed in front of his chest, "My apologies, Miss. I lost track of the thief! Please punish me as you see fit!"

Tsuna shuddered at the nearly familiar scenario beforehand. Shittopī nudged her side with a hidden laughter. Tsuna nudged back irritably.

"No worries, Ryou-san! Sawada-sama took down the thief and got my purse back!" She twirled her possession to emphasize the statement. Tsuna softly coughed to hide her embarrassment and abruptly choked on her saliva when the man named Ryou wheeled to kneel in front of her, his forehead touched the ground.

"Huh, HUH?" Tsuna jumped back. "No, wait―"

"I sincerely express my utmost gratitude, Sawada-sama! Thank you for taking care of our Young Miss!"

The eyes and whispers of bystanders were starting to kill her nerve. Tsuna felt another impending headache attacking her poor head.

"No, it's okay. It's nothing big, please stand up…"

Ryou bowed one more time before standing up. He turned to face Hanajima, "Young Miss, I am truly sorry but it is nearly your curfew. It saddened me to say but we need to go home soon."

Hanajima dejectedly nodded and casted an apologetic smile to the two new friends she had made today.

"Sawada-sama, Shittopī-sama. My apologies but it seems that we must postpone our plan. Let's meet again either in Palermo or if I am lucky, in Japan." She bowed her head, "Then, thank you for today!"

Tsuna smiled and waved her hand, "Yes. Be careful, Hanajima-san."

"Take care!" Shittopī flashed a bright smile while trying to grasp some of the shopping bags that fell from her grasp, "Wait, Vongola, quick. Help me, they are slipping!"

Tsuna averted her gaze from the polite form of aristocrat in front of them and scrambled to take some of the baggage from Shittopī's hand. She missed the way Hanajima's smile turned a bit distant. Ryou stared at her sudden change.

"Something wrong, Miss?"

Hanajima shook her head, "Look at them being so happy in the presence of what people called as friends."

Ryou took a brief glance at the two girls occupied by their purchases, "Do you want a friend? I will search for your favorite criteria when we are home."

Hanajima laughed and turned her body to meddle in the crowd with Ryou following behind closely, "Nonsense. Go back to your work. Don't make any silly mistakes again."

Ryou bowed, "Yes, Miss. My sincere apologies."

The crowd was getting busier as the day nearly ended and the two companions walked in silence.

When Tsuna and Shittopī finished arranging their share, they looked back to the front. They found no figures of previous young miss and her butler, not even in the rush of pedestrians.

"That girl seems familiar." Shittopī suddenly said and Tsuna whipped her head to face her.

"You know her?"

Shittopī shook her head and stared at Tsuna deeply.

"Just a feeling. I might pass by her once or twice in here. But she is not a foreign in my eyes. I can't put my word into that, just a brief feeling. What about you? Maybe we passed her when we frenzy-shopping? Remember anything in particular?"

Tsuna rolled her eyes at her choice of words, "I don't think so. But I do get a certain feeling."

"Hyper intuition?"

Tsuna shrugged, "More or less. I can't pinpoint the exact word, too. But I guess it is because her characteristic is not barbaric like most people we live with. Something new to us."

Shittopī laughed and slapped her thigh, "Damn, right. Such princess only lives inside fairy tales, anyway. Outside of it, she will break or maybe a bit twisted on the inside."

Another rush of festivity not far from them was once again filled the plaza. People were gathering around while some were moving around to avoid something. Tsuna stood on her tiptoe to see past the tall figure of European―compared to them she must have been look like a kid or maybe a dwarf.

A sudden gust of strong wind lashed and some people dispersed their post to close their shop in a hurry. Tsuna saw a familiar hairstyle sticking out from the gap of people. She turned to Shittopī who was eyeing her with the same thought running in her mind.

Shittopī then pointed at the core of attention in front, "Isn't he your―"

The sound of metals clashed and the crowd's whoop stopped her words.

"Kufufu."

Tsuna's headache came in full force as she held her head between her hands and groaned. She silently wondered why her days were never categorized as normal or peaceful. Just one of the two would be a good start to her sanity. She wondered again, why must had God loved testing her so damn much.

Hibari Kyoya was a predacious man. He was one who would never abide to other's dictation nor surrender to the vision of regress. He was an alpha, august and obviously a carnivore. He fought the world, not defend oneself for the world. He was a seeker, a holder who tainted his hand with the blood of his pursuer. He reigned himself as an insurgent who gambled life for a life, no matter how bad or good it was.

He always viewed everything as even.

He was a realistic man, an idealist for caste of life.

Contradictory to what he had clung to, he was always obedient to Taiki's decision. The latter however, was a nurturing and wise old man. He never pushed his belief to others, moreover to his petty grandson. He believed in choices and he would hint that kind of opportunities in whatever settlement he questioned to other people. He would give them the freedom of options and the will to decide.

As the only heir of Hibari Clan, Hibari was looked up to by the entire family. From the young age, he was always a personage of detachment and independent, the sole and true individuality needed to rule the harsh but cunning group of Hibari Clan.

That was why Sawada Tsunayoshi was such an interesting being to be observed. She was a new but refreshing breath that unconsciously made Hibari inhaled as deep and as many times as he wanted.

He would never get enough of those curious eyes and vibrant―loud but reckless―trait.

She was something novel and innocent that being offered on a silver platter both from her blood father and adoptive father, his grandfather and the head of powerful organization as her grandfather. Such innocence that made Hibari's blood somehow boiled with excitement―the exhilaration to unfold her weakness and build her again to be the strongest.

He was a predator that had set his eyes on his prize, and he was going to ensure that he would get it.

Twisted as he was in his mind, Hibari had always found his eyes traced back to her clumsy fall. At first it was irritation, trying to beat the herbivore so she couldn't come and grabbed his attention all over again without even trying hard or had the plan to do so.

He hated how effortless her presence had grabbed his interest.

His eyes following her in school were starting to deviate from watching over a Namimori resident to observing her daily routine. Even so, by observing her and her circle of friends, now he had gone bored. He was bored for having to watch over her without her knowing.

He had done observing from a far.

This time, provided, he was going to watch her from a close distance. Who to object, he had the permission and privilege. If one dared to butt in, he would put his tonfas on fire and slap them to the sky.

Putting his thought aside, right now he was watching intently―both the current leader of his family and his separate organization.

Hibari Taiki and Timoteo were both busy discussing the detail of his marriage, precisely the formal pronouncement from both families, with both betrothed would be presented in front of the ring of Alliances and the next discussion would be the day and their respected guests. While his supposed to be partner named Sawada Tsunayuki had currently disappeared for three days since the first day they set foot on Italy. Hibari had inkling about where she was hiding and the way the elder plus Reborn behaved like nothing was wrong, Hibari knew he was right. He didn't pester anything more about her then.

By the end of their previous meeting, all of her guardians had all scrambled out trying to find her before Reborn finally snapped and kicked (tied) them into a private jet to Japan.

He was currently being left behind―not like he wanted to be in the same space as those herbivores but his grandfather insisted him to stay for a little while longer. Truth to be told, those twinkles in his eyes was a bad premonition that said old man had planned something in the cover of excuses, something that would include him.

Hibari sat on his seat with the most uninterested face he could muster. Who he was trying to fool, both Reborn and Taiki knew he listened in silence―grunted when he disapproved and closed his eyes to listen attentively to the next plan he approved.

Reborn eyed him from the corner of his eyes. He softly laughed but Hibari threw him a glance. Reborn then decided to break the ice.

"You know where she is?"

Hibari chose to stay quiet while he knew Reborn didn't state those words as a question. He softly sighed and Hibird chirped away on the top of his head.

"It's been three days since dame-Tsuna abandoned her post. She should be learning how to be a good boss from Nono but she fled instead. I think I should discipline her more." Reborn continued as his dominant hand was playing with his side curl.

Hibari frowned and crossed his legs, his gaze turned sharp and menacing at the last words spoken to him. He still didn't look at the older man.

"Or should you do it instead, Hibari? After all, it's only right for the future spouse to interfere as not to shame the last name she will bear sooner or later."

Hibari's frown instantly disappeared at the offer and Reborn found it hard to hold himself from laughing out loud. He stared at Hibari's pleased face, waiting for his guessed answer.

"Do what you want, Infant."

Reborn chuckled at the endearment nickname. Even if he had been turned to an adult, Hibari was still calling him Infant. Neither was bothered to change it but Hibari was no fool to drop his respect and acknowledgement. The infant was still the strongest for him and could be one of the strongest in their generations. He doubted he could earn a clean victory if they were ever had a battle, even if the hitman was wounded and at the disadvantage.

The talk about the youngsters wedding was still going on and Hibari had started to feel restless. It was then stopped when Hibari stood from his seat.

"Where are you going, son?" Timoteo asked while a kind smile was plastered on his face.

"Japan." Hibari said nonchalantly, earning a boisterous laugh from Taiki from his bluntness. The loud exclamation from his grandfather irked him but he hid the feeling well other than a slight twitch of his eyes.

"Nah. Just let the youngster go back and enjoyed their last summer break. I think it's around three days before school starts again?"

"Two." Hibari responded without batting an eye, earning a knowing smile from his grandfather. Wherever he was, he would still remember to beat those students if they were even late on the next period of school. Thinking about it, there was someone who was still playing around here. Should he drag her back this instant?

"Hibari." Reborn suddenly called, stopping his evil thought, "Before you go, it will be wise to check around the center plaza. You will find something much more interesting than your early flight to Namimori."

The young raven haired man's eyes glinted, clashing with Reborn's deep one. The latter twisted the corner of his mouth and continued playing with Leon. He paid no more attention to the others.

Taiki ushered his grandson with a wave of his hand and resumed the talk with the head. Hibari let his gakuran slapped the wind as he walked away while Hibird had fly away first through the window with his black eyes watching the bustle of city. From his beak, came forth the familiar melody of his hometown.

Rather than going to the helipad on top of the skyscraper where the meeting took place, Hibari went downstairs to the lobby of said hotel. Following Reborn's advice, he headed for the downtown. On his way to the center of plaza, there were many people―mostly women―who tried to grab his attention but he paid no mind, even emitting a deadly aura to make those pesky annoyances stayed away as far as possible.

Hibari was a good looking specimen, everyone agrees, but to them who had heard about his temper would be in agreement that it was better to uncheck him from the list of dreamy future husbands.

Shifting his glance side to side, he tried to catch something unusual or entertaining per Reborn's heed but he only found how boring the town was or how the citizens of mafia world were so normal and scaredy-cats.

He snorted at himself for believing said Infant's words. He took out his phone, planning to call Kasukabe to ready the helicopter in ten minutes―for him would take that much time to walk back to the hotel and going with elevator once again―but his phone was swiftly taken away from his grasp.

"Kufufu. Where's the fun of going home early, kid?"

Hibari took no time to bring out his tonfas and aimed at his right at the low angle of his ribs. The metal whacked against the same kind but thinner and longer, with three tiny spears on top. The trident glinted in the reflection of sunlight while the holder was smirking tauntingly to the noirette.

"Rokudo. Mukuro." The detained call of his foe's name was all it took for Hibari's purple flame to burst and shroud his entire tonfas at the same time with Mukuro's indigo flame engulfed his own. The force of two dying will flames on rage sent nearby people flying who either hit empty space, building or each other.

The two mortal enemies sneered at each other and didn't give anything even a careless glance. The two of them were focused on the current predicament with weapons at each other's neck.

"Kufufu. Why haven't you back yet to your beloved hometown, Young Master? Don't tell me you're lost?"

Hibari's grip on his tonfas deepened as he pushed forward. Mukuro was taken back with the sudden force and nearly lost his footing. His smirk was still plastered to annoy the man, the numeral kanji on his eye turned to four and the power surged. He put the same weight to push back his foe with the power of Realm of Demons, exciting the skylark of the upcoming battle.

"Kufufu. How is our little tuna fish? Does she finally come back and slam a door to your face?"

Said question was somehow irked Hibari more than Mukuro's vexing smirk. The former aimed a kick to Mukuro's abdomen but Mukuro swiftly jumped to the side and hurled the same action. This time their legs clashed at each other before they decided to backtrack a few steps.

The area surrounding them was bare of citizens. The first blow of their fracas had them scrambled both on their hands and feets, fear latched evidently on their miens.

Mukuro playfully twirled Hibari's phone in his hand. He was tempted to check the inside and Hibari seemed to catch on his urge. He once again raised his tonfa.

"Rokudo Mukuro. Why are you still in Italy?"

The illusionist's smirk never fell from his face, no matter what circumstances he was in. His expression as always was unreadable but there was kindness somehow briefly passed through his gaze. It was gone before someone could understand the term of it and it was then replaced by a playful glint.

"Playing around with a foreigner. Familiarizing with the soon-to-be my hometown. Searching for a certain girl for a date. Do I meet your expectation, Young Master?"

This time Hibari left a smirk as his answer and ran to strike Mukuro's arm, followed by a strike to his head at the next action. Mukuro easily evaded those and turned to mist. His laugh resounded in the entire plaza and at the same time alarmed the present citizens who stayed to watch the fight of two strong men. Their forces of dying will flame were no joke, neither their intentions to kill.

Hibari put down his tensed arms which were still holding his weapon tightly. He felt another irritation bubbling inside him and the speculation he had in mind came to the light when Mukuro materialized quite far from him, twisting Hibari's phone in his direction and prompting him to get it back if he could.

"Let's play tag."

The cloud guardian suddenly remembered his sky.

If Tsuna was here, Hibari was sure she would scream her head off. She would definitely foresee the destruction left behind by her two strongest guardians, of how bills and letters of complaint were going to be sent her way to make her bald. She would freeze the two and shoot them into the private jet, sending the two of them to the nameless island in the middle of unnamed sea.

Mukuro's smirk widened and he twisted Hibari's phone one more time―which obviously irked the skylark more―before running to the opposite direction with Hibari hot in his heels.

People were shoved around, some were screaming while the others were cursing but the two grown-up men were chasing each other around the downtown without a care for the disturbances they had caused.

Hibari was not that far with Mukuro but not close either. Even with his stretched hand, he still was not close enough to pull the illusionist and threw him aside. At most, the man would just turn to mist again.

"Kufufu!"

Hibari's eye twitched again at the trademark laugh.

"Hibari Kyoya-kun. How do you feeling after tying down our tuna fish? Relief? Irked? It could not be a happiness bubbling like a kid who got an ice cream after throwing tantrum, could it?" Mukuro asked the questions without looking back. His hand was still playing with Hibari's phone, twirling it carelessly.

Hibari sped up his pace and when he was close enough, he swung his tonfa to Mukuro's side. The illusionist turned to mist upon the contact and Hibari stopped on his track to look around.

"Not your business."

"Kufufu. How entertaining." Mukuro's voice reverberated around but Hibari sensed that the annoying man was not somewhere near him. More or less, he still put up one of his tonfas in defensive stance.

Mukuro slowly materialized in front of him with no trident was seen in sight. The phone was tucked on his blazer's pocket securely and Hibari dropped his guard.

"Kufufu. Young master, since you are not particularly feeling anything, let's be generous. What do you say about giving your fiancée to me instead?"

One of his tonfas flew over to hit the ground where Mukuro was previously standing.

"I will bite you to death." Hibari seethed.

"If you can."

Mukuro ran again to the next district with Hibari followed on another route. Excitement was still boiled in his entire being, of facing on his greatest enemy who was the first one to beat him. Mukuro on the other hand was not so excited, tired even. He slowed his pace when he was turning to the busy alley of a market and chose to jump through the roof for a quicker route.

"Kufufu. Let's finish the task soon, then. The sun is too wearisome."

His trident slowly formed on his out-stretched hand, scaring a nearby kid who dropped his lollipop and ran away. He turned right to the next intersection where the other path of junction was occupied by his fellow guardian. By the time his trident had fully taken form, he swung it to his right where it clashed with a tonfa.

"Kufufu. Not fun. I wish that had struck your spine or something to turn you into a defective goods."

Hibari twisted his tonfa with a swift spin of his hold and aimed the rear of said weapon to strike his opponent's gut. Mukuro, having seen the move beforehand had calculated the next step. He ducked and brandished his trident. The loud vox of steel took the entire market's attention. People stop conversing as they simultaneously turned their head to watch the spectacle.

The fight once again ended in tie. Their weapons were still stalling each other, a daunting smirk marred the owner's face of heterochromatic eyes.

Hibari furrowed his eyebrows, feeling displeased with the outcome and the uneasiness feeling of Mukuro who he guessed was just playing to appease the crowd.

"Fight me seriously." Each word the ravenette uttered had dropped deadly venom of real impendence. He gritted his teeth impatiently at other man lack of response.

Mukuro's trademark sneer then turned to a full-blown laughter. "Why should I?"

Hibari took back his tonfa and once again swung it in a clean blow as another sound of steels hitting each other resounded in the silent plaza.

"What do you guys think you are doing here?!"

A girl hollered through the mass of spectators, making her way to the two of them. Said familiar voice made them turn their head and took a step back from each other when the figure emerged from the tall frames of Europeans surrounding them.

"Now, now, Tsuna-chan. The youths are having fun with each other―"

"Not having fun. They are obviously trying to destroy each other!" Tsuna cut Shittopī's blissful excuse with a glare. The latter only shrugged and ushered the people who were watching the battle with utmost interest.

"Go home, go home! Don't watch the lover of a lover fighting with each other!"* Shittopī waved her hands around, telling the people to disperse. Some of them turned around uninterestedly before Shittopī finished ushering them while the others seemed hesitantly to leave the fun show. The people―mostly elderly―who lingered had casted Tsuna a disapproving look, in which the girl fidgeted uncomfortably.

"What the― I'm not their lover!"* Tsuna yelled with a red face, totally avoiding the two men who were still battling with a glare and a smirk. Their hands were itching to lift up their weapons again.

"Kufufu." Mukuro then turned to face Hibari, "Should I be your lover then, Skylark-kun?"

Hibari along with his tonfa turned to Mukuro with a disgusted face. "Silence." He hit the empty air as the latter bounced back cheerfully and laughed.

Mukuro swiftly threw Hibari's phone back to him and went to Tsuna. He grabbed her hand pulled her closer. Tsuna felt the sudden warm air on her ear and stayed put, feeling a bit afraid to move around. They stayed for a full minutes before Mukuro broke the closeness with a rough laugh.

"What do you say about us, Vongola?"

Tsuna frowned and tried to jerk her hand away but his grasp was stronger. She pursed her lips but said nothing. Mukuro laughed once again and left a quick peck on the back on her hand before letting it fell back to its rightful place. Tsuna's face turned even redder as she held her kissed hand in her grasp, making Mukuro's smirk widened in delight.

"Then," Mukuro took another step back to see the three of them. His smirk turned to knowing smile, "Let us meet again back in Japan, Sawada Tsunayuki." Mukuro's body slowly drifted away to cherry blossom petals. They were blown away by the wind along with his trademark laugh, coloring the summer in Palermo with soft pink.

Tsuna held up her hand to grasp a petal flew to her opened hand. She stared at the pink petal with an indescribable look.

"Herbivore."

Tsuna turned her head at the familiar calling and found Hibari who was watching her with a vexation projected both on his face and body language. His tonfas were no longer seen on his grasp.

She flinched and unconsciously gulped, "Y-Yes, Hibari-san?"

Hibari raised one of his eyebrows and let a smirk once again adorned his pale complexion. His gray eyes stared deeply at her ear before moving down to her hand, the one which previously was touched by a disgusting pervert who vanished like he was shooting a drama movie.

"…School starts in two days." He ended up blurting those words and he caught Shittopī's daring expression in the process. Her lips was twitching slightly like she had seen past him and trying her best to stay oblivious. Hibari's frown deepened as he passed her a pungent glare. Shittopī raised both of her hands in the air and let out a puff of breath.

Tsuna on the other hand only scratched her hand in awkwardness.

"Ah, yes. I'm going home tomorrow with Vongola's private plane." She rubbed the back of her neck at Hibari's intense gaze before continuing the conversation to lighten the atmosphere, "Reborn said he had some business today so we will go home tomorrow night."

The side of Hibari's lip turned upwards in a mocking smirk, "Oh?" He shifted up his phone again to his ear while his thumb was pushing the familiar number without looking. His eyes were never straying from Tsuna's trembling one and the latter gulped the impending doom she somehow created with the minimum conversation they just had. Did she say anything wrong? Or did she not explain clear enough? Did she plus Shittopī mean crowding around? Tsuna had even forgotten what she was saying to him a while ago. Her eyes darted back, trying not to focus on Hibari's sharp grey eyes.

"I have sent the newest coordinates." Hibari said the next second his call was picked up. His smirk widened, "Three minutes."

Shittopī quietly patted Tsuna's back and shook her head, giving the Decimo sort of pitiful encouragement before grabbing the shopping bags she held.

"I will send them to you tomorrow, along with the rest of them on the mansion. Have a safe trip." Shittopī gave her a bright smile while Tsuna's head tilted in confusion.

"Huh?"

Too immersed in the perplexed words her friend suddenly uttered, Tsuna failed to notice the black haired man striding in five big steps and stopped in front of her. His height hovering over her which was finally took her attention. What she saw in the close distance was her most frightening guardian smirking above her, his eyes was (always) intimidating and she was ready to piss her pants the moment Hibari's hand went to grab her.

Tsuna was torn between fighting back and she might end up being buried in the ground or let herself being beaten to stay alive for some years to come.

She decided to shut her eyes for what she expected was a swung of his tonfa or worst he might be throwing her on the ground for crowding around him or maybe, for stopping his deadly battle with Mukuro. Whichever the reason was, Tsuna braced herself with eyes tight shut.

She didn't expect to feel herself floating in midair, with no pain felt in her entire body. The surprised gasps of people around her somehow alarmed her that something must be going against their expectations.

Tsuna opened her eyes abruptly and the first thing she noticed was how the ground was entirely closer to her face. The slight bent of her body made her wriggled, but a hand held her waist securely.

"Huh?" Tsuna shrieked, trying to lift her head to see the predicament she was in. She saw a mop of black hair and she didn't miss how Shittopī's gasp turned to a grin.

Her holder slightly bounced her up to right her position which was draped like a sack of potatoes on his shoulder. "Don't move or I will drop you to death."

She stopped moving when she heard the well-known catchphrase and the real threat underlying the words. Her legs dangled on his front and Tsuna started to fell dizzy as her head was swaying upside down. She opened her mouth to speak her protest and fear unconsciously creeped up when she heard the ripple of helicopter coming near.

"Hi-Hibari-san? Don't tell me…?"

Hibari smirked at the visible fear latched on her words. He nodded and patted her waist in which was held by his arm.

"Hn."

Tsuna gulped down her own cries of surrender when the dirt around her started to aviate around in circular motion and her butt was starting to feel a bit chilly. The sound of propeller stayed behind her for a good minute before Hibari proceeded to come closer, Tsuna was still held securely on his shoulder.

"Kyo-san." The familiar thick voice sounded and Tsuna couldn't help but blurted the name.

"Wait, Kusakabe-san?! You are here, too?!"

The man chuckled. "Yes, good afternoon, Sawada-san. I have come to pick the two of you for a trip back to Japan."

Tsuna stopped struggling when Hibari grasped her waist and brought her feet back to the ground. Tsuna's sigh of relief was quickly drained when Hibari held her waist once again and lifted her up carefully into the helicopter. The chorus of awe and envy reached her ears. She then decided to look down to hide her burning cheek which she deemed was the best option she currently had, but she forgot the fact that Hibari was positioned below her and had the full access to see her cooked face.

"Wao." He mused with a smirk.

Tsuna's eyes widened frantically. "Umph!" She brought her hands to cover her face.

Hibari's chuckle was the last she heard before she was brought to her seat and the door was shut. Hibari pulled on her safety belt and put it securely. She then saw how his helicopter was a lot bigger than what she usually saw on Vongola's field. Her eyes explored every inch of the interior and sometimes straying to the window to see the downtown of Palermo one last time.

"Wear your headgear properly, Herbivore." He instructed while putting on his piece. Tsuna did as he said with much difficulty. She turned to ask him a question but was pushed to her seat.

"Hii―!" She shrieked when the helicopter suddenly took off and she shut her eyes in fear. This was of course the first time Tsuna had ever experienced riding inside a helicopter. The laughter from the man beside her didn't escape her attention.

"Bastard." She muttered under her breath and she heard another taunting chuckle following suit.

"Consider this as a payback for daring to yell and stop my fight, Sawada Tsunayuki."

She bit her lips and glared at him through the air glasses while the latter challenged her back with a steady stare and a cocky smirk.

"You better do well in your next decision making lesson."

Hbari turned his head from her and gazed through the clear window. The smirk never left his face. Through this, the table would turn and he had the utmost chance to unfold the mystery of Sawada Tsunayuki. The elders had done a great job and Hibari reminded himself to be polite the next time they met. A gratitude must be expressed equally.

About:

Hanajima and their acquaintances, simply whoever they are whose names are foreign and not inside the dom, are the OC, uh-huh. I don't know if they are good or bad.

End Log:

Thank you for reading!

I know it's late! Sorry, truly. But, EIGHT THOUSAND. My brain has been fried nicely.

I don't know either if the action scene is detailed or not, or make sense or not. If you have any suggestion, feel free to drop by! But play nice!

The next chapter, I think on Tuesday. I will try to update two chapters in one go, if I could.

The fifth chapter will be THE START of conflict oh yeah. Since all the characters are slowly being introduced, now we will go to the heart of the problem.

See you all next week! Lots of love.