"He is like the fox who effaces his tracks in the sand with his tail."
~Niels Henrik Abel
Day 1
Mission Objective: Find out what Shuichi-sama is hiding.
Status: Solo
Materials: Camcorder, and notebook.
Plan: Spy on target while in his office at school.
Hayato leaned casually on the wall, tilting the camcorder up until he could catch a glimpse through the second story window of the building across from him. He was technically supposed to be in class, and Tsuna-sama might be worried about his absence, but Reborn gave him this mission and he would do his best to complete it.
(Even if it seemed kind of impossible.)
Glancing down at the little screen attached to his camcorder he watched as Shuichi-sama shuffled through papers on his desk, lips moving as he talked to someone out of sight. It could be one of two people from what Hayato had observed so far.
Either Hibari or the weird short guy, Hiei. Hibari, like Shuichi-sama, seemed to follow his own schedule instead of going to class and Hiei apparently didn't go to school at all.
(He wasn't sure what it said about Shuichi-sama that his two close companions were extremely scary people with bad attitudes who only seemed to respect Shuichi-sama…)
He shook his head and turned his attention back to the camcorder.
Red eyes filled the screen for a brief moment before the machine freaked out and the screen went black.
He cursed.
Mission Status: Failure
Day 2
Mission Objective: Find out what Shuichi-sama is hiding.
Status: Solo…?
Materials: New camcorder, and notebook.
Plan: Spy on target while reading outside at school.
"Go away," Hayate growled as he adjusted his notebook in one arm and tried to open the new camcorder with the other.
"Awe, but this looks interesting."
"Keep your voice down, baseball-freak!"
"But you're being way louder than me."
Their target heaved a great sigh, closed the book in his lap, and looked up at the two of them balancing precariously on a thin ledge jutting out of the building behind him. He gave them a Look that sent them scrambling back into the building via an opening window.
Mission Status: Failure
Day 3
Mission Objective: Find out what Shuichi-sama is hiding.
Status: Baseball freak will not leave me alone.
Materials: Camcorder, and notebook.
Plan: Ask around about target.
"Shuichi-nii's secret?" Tsuna-sama titled his head to the side. "What do you mean?"
"Remember that training on the mountain? He was all like whoosh and boom and woaaaaa…and the bears ran away!"
Hayato ducked under one of the idiot's wild gesture with a scowl. "No, like what his deal with the plants? Or why does Doctor Shamal flinch every time Shuichi-sama even glances his way. Or who exactly is this Hiei guy and how does Shuichi-sama know him. Also, where did he train and who train him to be able to move like he does…"
He took a breath and glanced at Tsuna-sama's face, only to receive a puzzled looked.
"Shuichi-nii is Shuichi-nii," Tsuna-sama replied with a shrug.
(If Hayato wasn't completely certain Tsuna-sama was an angel he might have thought there was a hint of a smirk to his smile.)
He bit back another curse and bowed stiffly to his boss. The baseball idiot trailed behind him as he wandered around trying to find someone else to question.
"I can tell you his rank as a big brother!"
"I'll bite you to death."
"Shuichi-nii gives Lambo-sama warm hugs! And he always smells like roses!"
"Shu-chan? Oh, he's such a sweet boy. I remember when he just started school he was so cute in that uniform. I have pictures…"
"Fufufu, so you want to learn more about Shuichi Sawada? Hm, what a coincidence."
Mission Status: Failure
Day 4
Mission Objective: Find out what Shuichi-sama is hiding.
Status: Gained another tag alone. He won't stop chucking under his breath.
Materials: Camcorder, and notebook.
Plan: Follow target.
Following Shuichi-sama was probably the most difficult task Hayato had ever performed in his entire life. Even the baseball idiot was looking mildly irritated and serious. The only reason they managed to keep on the redhead's trail was because of Mukuro.
The illusionist had an uncanny way of guessing which direct Shuichi-sama went and could follow him even when Hayato and Yamamoto were completely lost. Of course, not without backtracking and circling.
By the time the sun was starting to go down they had lost him 37 times. On the 37th time, they had unanimously decided to call it a day.
"For someone with such bright hair, he really knows how to disappear." The baseball idiots voice was still cheerful, but a frown was tugging at his lips and the scrap on his face, from running face first into a wall when they were running to try and cut off Shuichi-sama, was still trickling blood. Hayato didn't look much better. He had accidentally stumbled on a stray cats' tail while trying to give chase and ended up with his fair share of scratches as well.
"You know, I'm starting to think that brute, Hibari's nickname is on point." Mukuro murmured, still looking as pristine and mildly bored as ever, much to Hayato's utter annoyance. "He's as wily as a fox."
They were trudging along the empty streets back home, Hayato held the camcorder loosely in his hand while his notebook was tucked under his arm.
Then the devil himself stepped out of a side street with a smirk tugging at his lips and his greens eyes dancing with laughter.
"Oh hello, how are you three doing this lovely evening?"
Hayato let out a scream of utter rage and waved his arms around in wordless frustration before he stomped all the way home, muttering under his breath. When he got in the door he threw down the camcorder and notebook on the dining room table, ignoring the warning look Reborn shot his way.
"I give up!" He snapped at Reborn, to angry to pay proper respect. He'd regret it later, but he was too livid now.
(He'd never know, but when he flailed his arms he got an interesting video of Shuichi. His eyes looked golden in the evening light and his shadow…well his shadow almost looked like a fox.)
No one else would know either because the poor camcorder broke when Hayato threw it on the table.
Mission Status: Failure…?
Here's something a bit more lighthearted.
Btw, I'm also on tumblr as xejisss. If you want to ask a question or chat, that's probably the best place to do so.