thank you to Emrys Ivy, Kayumee, Nuvola De Demone, and Anon for the reviews! I was actually really worried about the chapter in particular, because it was the long-awaited confession chapter, so to speak. I'm glad you guys enjoyed it hehe

I forgot to post for two weeks in a row now because college got hectic so I apologize to y'all and tbh, I'm running out of chapters to post so I'm trying my best to grind out my chapters as much as I can, in the midst of school lol

hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 22: Adjusting To The Future

Honestly, I had expected an ending scene credit to pop up saying, "The End" after hearing Hibari's confession. I mean, the impossible had just happened! Hibari Kyoya, who I had thought lived solely off of his own bloodthirst like some crazed vampire, reciprocated my feelings… he liked me.

...But alas, this was reality, and that did not happen. The reality was that we were still in the future, under threat of a marshmallow-obsessed mafia boss. And the question remained in my head as to why exactly I had been sent to the future as well. I had met the ten year older version of Dino Cavallone, which only further increased my confusion as to why I had been sent, rather than leaving my future self here. Even more so because the Sanguignos had yet to be allies to the Vongola. So I asked Reborn exactly that.

He looked at me with a calculating gaze. "It's a shame Tsuna couldn't have you as his Guardian. That's an observation I didn't expect you to be capable to make."

I tried not to look as offended as I truly was at the moment. "…Sorry for making you think I wasn't observant."

He smirked in amusement before turning serious. "Izanami, even though you are now politically a Sanguigno, Tsuna never saw you as anything less than family. When I first started to tutor him, he frequently mentioned your name in passing, making you somewhat equivalent to a neighborhood older sister. I think having the Izanami he knew as a kid here rather than the more cynical future version of you makes him feel more comfortable. In fact, this is something the future you decided herself."

I blinked, shocked. "She… did?" I frowned a little. "So you're saying in the future I became more cynical? Is it because of all the bloodshed I would come across? Because the mafia life would change me forever?"

Reborn shrugged. "Whether you're in the mafia or not, you're bound to become more cynical as you get older, Izanami. The things you eventually come across... The Italian mafia may be a dirty and cruel place, but so is the real world."

I sighed. "I didn't take you for the realist type, Reborn." My frown remained on my face. "I still don't get it. I mean, I do, sorta, but that doesn't explain why Dino-san wasn't sent to the future as well."

Reborn did that thing where his fedora covered his eyes. "There is another reason, but I've been told it was a Sanguigno secret. For that… you'll have to ask one of your Guardians for that, I presume."

Hibari and I were in the Foundation base, as I had decided to take cover here to gather my thoughts. It seemed Hibari didn't mind, so I stayed.

"…Hibari."

"Hn."

"I heard you met my future self. How did she seem to you? Did she seem different at all?"

He immediately stiffened, and he turned to me with a wary look. "Why."

I blinked. "W-what do you mean? I'm just curious. Did she do something to you?"

He narrowed his eyes. "My Izanami is better." He turned to me with an intense gaze. "You're better."

I flushed. "T-that's not what I was asking!" I fanned my face with my hands. "Mou, why did I even bother…" I recalled the conversation I had with my future self's Cloud Guardian, Diana.

"The Sanguigno eyes are a gift, but they are also a curse. Each person has a cap as to how often they can use their eyes. When a Sanguigno reaches that cap, the eyes become permanent and it starts to lose its effectiveness. It'll reach a point where it'll even deteriorate your vision if you strain it that much. Our boss, your future self, had multiple situations where she had to strain herself, no thanks to Byakuran. That's why she asked that you be sent here. So that you could be more helpful to Vongola Decimo."

And she's supposed to be more cynical... looks like the future me has been misunderstood much too often, huh?

I noted Hibari's wariness at the mere mention of her.

I wonder if she had a relationship with Hibari's future self. I wish I saw Hibari's future self. Why did I have to be sent to the future last?!

"Izanami."

I blinked out of my thoughts. "Huh-?"

He interrupted me with a kiss, and his lips skillfully distracted me from my thoughts, now turning into thoughts of how nice his lips felt on mine. My eyes closed shut and I focused on the way his hands caressed my cheek, the way his tongue felt against-

Wait.

I pulled him away, breathless and no doubt more flushed than before. He looked at me in confusion, and I averted my eyes from him, trying to catch my breath. "H-H-Hibari… n-not now…"

He stared at me with a hunger, but eventually the hunger dissipated and he just pressed his lips against my forehead. "Okay, carnivore."

I shut my eyes tightly, trying to contain my smile and aware of the annoyingly loud heart of mine beat at light speed. I can't believe this is happening, I can't believe this is happening, I can't believe this is-

"But you're mine. Don't forget that."

My heart exploded. I just about died.

I did it.

I finally opened my Box Animal!

It was supposed to be a momentous occasion, and then I realized what exactly I had revealed from the boxes themselves: crows. Two of them, each with one red eye. It seemed that they were supposed to be a pair, as one had the red eye on the right eye and the other had the red eye on the left.

Diana walked in, noting the two crows, and smiled at me. "Congratulations, Milady. You've finally brought out Misa and Zai."

I blinked. "Which one's which?"

The crow with the right red eye squawked, "Misa! Misa! MISA!" She even opened her wings ostentatiously while doing so.

I snorted. "Alright alright you're Misa, shut up."

Misa flew to my shoulder and repeatedly pecked me in the cheek with her beak.

"OW! WHAT THE FU-"

Zai flew to Diana's shoulder, and she motioned to both of them. "Boss usually used them to scout out the enemy, or generally for extra vision. Once you send out these two, they'll scan the area that you ordered them to and return to you, relaying all the information they saw."

I blinked. "That's useful. Can they fight?"

"Their talons possess Lightning Flames. There's no off button on them, by the way, so good for you, Lady Izanami. You're immune to their Lightning Flames."

I blinked. "Huh?" I turned to see Misa's talons were indeed crackling with Lightning, and she was on my shoulder, yet I felt nothing. I turned to Diana excitedly. "Does that mean I'm immune to Lightning Flames or something?!"

Diana shook her head. "I wouldn't get too excited. Misa and Zai aren't combat-oriented, so their Lightning Flames aren't as strong. Please don't go in recklessly thinking you're immune. You're only slightly."

I pouted. "A girl can dream…"

She smiled. "Have you tried opening your Box Weapon yet?"

"I was going to do that next, just in case the Box Animal would break my ring." I held out the Box Weapon, and stared at it for awhile. It had the Sanguigno famiglia crest on it, and it looked really fancy, somewhat similar to the Vongola Box Animal boxes. Except this was for a weapon. I wonder what I'm going to get... a gun? A sword? A spear? I took a deep breath, summoning my Lightning Flame, and slammed my ring into the box, feeling something drop into my hand.

It was... another knife?

Diana noted my confusion and started to ominously roll up her sleeves. "I'm aware that Sanguignos don't usually learn this skill this early on, but we are in a special situation here so Boss told me to teach you as soon as you could open the Box Weapon."

I stared at her expectantly. "D-don't tell me… you're going to teach me how to…?"

She had a glint in her eyes. "Sanguignos are a famiglia specialized in assassination. You didn't expect to learn how to dual-wield knives, did you?"