Under a Clouded Blue
Summary:
"My ambition in life? To conquer the world because destroying the mafia is so last season and I never got around with it the last time anyway…kufufu."
In which Rokudo Mukuro is reborn into a parallel world and finds himself in the position of every other SI/OC. Did he mention Hibari Kyoya being his younger brother?
To hell with what Sepira's spirit has to say about him making sure everyone —even bloody Byakuran— plays the role they did in his previous life. But if that dead woman promises those imported chocolate bonbons from Kawahira's store— "Sure. Why not?"
Featuring the evil mastermind and guardian angel of the canon!character's fates (the hell?): Rokudo Mukuro/Hibari Kuroo.
DISCLAIMER: Amano Akira owns it all. Except the plot and a few characters of course.
WARNING: Mind the language and grammar, I don't have a beta.
A/N:
I have been reading way too many xianxia and wuxia genre Chinese novels lately, so a bit of it has seeped into this chapter, whoops :')
Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HIBARI KYOYA! Unfortunately, he doesn't appear here though, so I will make up for it by posting a special extra chapter for him soon, woot woot!
19. Xing.
Xing.
The boy technically had no name.
He was just Xing; who knew if it had once been his family name, his middle name or just his first name.
He shared Kinjō's vibrant golden eyes, half-hidden from view by the soft locks of his copper brown hair that fell over it.
But what stood out most about his appearance was—
"He looks so lifeless." Kuroo didn't hesitate to point out.
Hibari Kinjō's harsh laughter echoed. "He's a little loose in the head." He stated. "They say he's mad and lazy but most of the time, he provides decent company. You won't get bored with him around and besides, he's the only one who about your age here."
Fon's eyes briefly narrowed at Kinjō's casual description of the golden eyed boy. He decided the man didn't have any kind of an emotional attachment to Xing, seeing how he had so casually disregarded him in front of everyone.
Xing brought up his hands and cupped them as he lowered his head in greeting, seeming unaffected by the treatment. "At your service."
"Keep our esteemed guest entertained." Kinjō gestured to Kuroo. "Show him around the gardens and the training grounds."
"Hao."
(*yes or a form of an agreement)
"And serve him refreshments too."
"Hao." Xing obediently replied.
"I will also be accompanying my nephew." Fon excused himself as he hopped onto Kuroo's waiting arms.
Kinjō raised a brow but said nothing more than an, "Alright."
Kuroo bowed in farewell before stepping out of the hall and following after Xing.
"This way," the golden eyed teen droned as he led the way, "esteemed guest."
"Do you know him by any chance?" Kuroo asked his uncle.
Fon remained silent for a moment. "I'm afraid I do not know much, but I have heard of an excellent young disciple training under Kinjō with eyes like his. However, they say he lost his sanity and became a waste lately, a sickness plagues his mind."
"That's a shame." Kuroo commented. He picked up his pace until he was walking side by side with the Chinese. "How old are you?" He asked.
"Thirteen," the other replied in an almost mechanical tone, "esteemed guest."
"Call me Kuroo."
"...Kuroo." Xing replied after a pause.
"Kufufu, take me to the training grounds, let's spar." Kuroo said. "I hear you are quite talented yourself."
Fon sighed as he gave a low toned warning. "Kuroo."
Kuroo, of course, ignored his uncle as he gave Xing an amiable smile.
"I," the teen seemed to hesitate, his fists slowly clenching and unclenching, "I am not allowed into the training grounds for spars."
"Oh?"
"I will find you another disciple—"
"No." Kuroo instantly replied in the brattiest tone Fon had ever heard him use. "The only one I want to spar with is you. I'm not interested in sparring with someone else."
And really, Kuroo was just a little too curious for his own good.
"But—"
"Uncle Kinjō did say that you have to keep me entertained." Kuroo said. "Or is it okay for you to go against his words?"
Xing seemed to involuntarily flinch before giving in to Kuroo's demand. "My apologies, I will take you to the training grounds and spar with you."
"That's more like it." Kuroo smirked and Fon sighed again.
"Spar with me."
This seemed like it was going to be a continuous routine because of certain new development. But more of dissatisfaction on Kuroo's part.
Xing flinched as he bandaged his hands. "I've already sparred with you."
"Kufufu." Kuroo nodded. "But we never got to the end of the spar because you fell asleep."
Indeed.
During the spar, much to Kuroo's surprise, the teen had suddenly just slumped down unconscious in the midst of running towards the raven haired boy.
Kuroo had first thought it to be some tactic to catch him off-guard, but when he noticed the steady rise and fall of the teen's chest he decided that was not the case.
And that the boy was...asleep.
Fon silently watched on from his nephew's shoulder.
He had an inkling suspicion of what Xing was actually suffering from (Xing wasn't mad, that was for sure and definitely not lazy as well) after hearing the other disciples' whispers and witnessing the boy collapse into sudden sleep before his own eyes.
The Arcobaleno, being skilled in traditional Chinese medicine, easily understood that the boy's ailment was caused by some blockade in the flow of his qi (life force/energy).
"Just one more time." Kuroo proposed. "For today. And then I'll leave you alone."
Xing stayed quiet.
"Or are you really just a coward who fakes sleep to get away from his battles?"
"I will spar with you." Xing replied almost instantly through gritted teeth.
Bingo! Kuroo smirked.
Unfortunately though, it was only ten minutes into the spar before the teen collapsed again— this time bringing Kuroo down with him since he had been unfortunate enough to have the boy in a choke hold before his abrupt state of sleep.
"Narcolepsy." Fon hummed as he felt the teen's pulse.
"While I do appreciate the fact that you managed to diagnose his problem," Kuroo huffed as he shoved the sleeping teen off him and got to his feet, "you could've, I don't know, helped me out from underneath him first, couldn't you?"
Kuroo was partially disappointed because Xing was one of the only few people (who were his uncles, Fon and Casimir) who could actually keep up with him.
His rivals in the various championships he had participated in over the years were nothing but a bunch of small fries he had to go easy on because Uncle Fon always reminded him not to bring "too much attention" upon himself.
"I hope our next spar lasts longer."
Fon signaled to a few of the training disciples nearby who were keenly watching them. He gave instructions for them to take the teen back to his quarters before asking another one to guide them back to the hall where the negotiations were still going on.
"So, what do you think?" Kuroo asked as Fon hopped up onto his shoulder.
"He has great potential." Fon said. "Fiery passion, as bright and burning as the sun. He just needs to get rid of the blocks in his meridian points to allow the seamless flow of his qi. A shame no one bothers to help him though; I do not understand why Kinjō would leave such a great disciple to ruin."
"Maybe it's because he himself hasn't discovered the problem behind his prized disciple's so called madness." Kuroo hummed. "Can we take him back with us? Kufufu, I like him."
There was a pregnant pause on Fon's part before a firm, "No."
"Why not? You did say yourself that he has great potential."
"He does but he cannot return with us." Fon knocked his nephews head with his knuckles. "He is still one of Kinjō's blood."
"How boring."
They were greeted by one of the guards of the Hibari delegation just as they were about to enter the hall.
"Senior Bother Fon." He bowed in acknowledgement first. "Young Master Kuroo."
"Is something the matter?" Fon asked.
"Senior Sister Suiko requests for Senior Brother Fon's presence." The guard said. "But she requires Young Master Kuroo to return to the hotel first."
Fon's ever present smile stiffened. "It seems that things aren't going as smoothly as we hoped for it to." He nodded to the guard. "Make sure to escort Kuroo back as quickly and quietly as possible."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
"Well then, good luck." Kuroo wished before departing from his uncle's side with a small group of guards who had more or less just materialized from the shadows.
Fon entered the hall after making sure the boy was out of his sight.
"Back so soon?" Hibari Kinjō greeted him with a sneer, not bothering to hide his hostility this time. "And where is my lovely little nephew?"
"He asked to go back." Fon replied with a pleasant smile, unaffected by the heavy air. "It is almost time for his dinner, and the boy has a very picky taste when it comes to food."
"Ah, what a shame." Kinjō sighed. "The only pleasant company amongst you has already left—"
"One who isn't participating in the negotiations," one of the Hibari cut in, "which you are very much involved in."
"Now, now." Fon interrupted before the atmosphere could turn worse. He folded his arms and seated himself in the empty space meant for him. "Time is precious, so why don't we resume our talk as civilly as we can, hmm?"
The last thing he needed now was an all-out battle— which despite being already anticipated would only prove disadvantageous to them at the moment. There was business that needed to be taken care of first before blood would be allowed to spill.
All that was required of them now was patience.
This was, after all, the calm before the storm.
"Sepira, if you nag me one more time." Kuroo warned. "I will find a way to dissipate your ghostly apparition."
He was currently seated cross legged on the bed, eyes closed as he focused on the flow of his qi. Lately, he had noticed some sort of an inconsistency in it. While his Flames of Hades remained the same, his Mist Flames were reacting strangely— as though reaching out for something.
"But you need to have your breakfast before your uncle arrives." She fussed. "And leave on time, or you'll be upsetting everyone's routine!"
He snapped his eyes open with a frown. "And since when did you decide to become overly concerned with my management of time?"
They were already four days into the weeks' worth of negotiations. This would be their fifth day which would hopefully pass on peacefully with no killings— Fon's hopes of course.
Not Kuroo's.
If anything, the boy was ready for action because whenever he was not engaged in a spar with Xing, everything else was such a bore.
He found himself getting addicted to the rush of excitement that came with fighting the other.
"You're getting yourself too involved with that boy." Fon had told him only to hear Kuroo's laughter in reply.
"Don't worry Uncle, this is nothing serious."
Xing had ditched all formalities towards Kuroo by the end of the second day. And Fon found it slightly troublesome how the golden eyed teen no longer bothered to conceal his blatant hatred for Kuroo.
But Kuroo, of course, did not seem to mind.
Instead he only insistently kept on poking at Xing's sore spots. Kuroo had, much to his delight, discovered that his annoying insistence triggered the golden eyed teen's hate: Xing's dying will to fight him. And possibly kill him.
(But oh well, this was the thrill of living, wasn't it?)
And as a result, actually last longer in spars without collapsing.
Not that the teen himself noticed.
"Come on, Kuroo." Sepira's voice brought him out of his thoughts. "You're an old man in a child's body. You should be more responsible!"
Kuroo felt his eyebrow twitch. "Excuse me?"
"Today is an important day!" Sepira exclaimed in exasperation. "You can't be late!"
Ah, another one of her visions.
"Now I don't feel like being on time." Kuroo yawned.
"Xing!" She said as she came over to him with a disapproving look. "This event will eventually lead to a very nice, long fight with Xing!"
"Kufufu, whatever happened to our peace loving Sepira?"
"As much as I want peace," she sighed, "I can't have it when I'm with you. Anyway, hurry up."
"Sure."
Just as Kuroo reached out for his light breakfast of milk, bread and butter, the door to the room opened. Fon stepped in with a mild look of suspicion in his eyes as he quickly scanned the room.
"Good morning, Uncle." Kuroo greeted, because he was a very nice and polite boy.
"Were you talking to someone earlier?"
Sepira wore a guilty expression as she headed over to the window, pretending to be attracted to something outside.
"Introspecting." Kuroo replied without batting an eye as he spread the butter on a slice of bread. He had grown very used to being asked the same question so it was now as good as a routine for him to easily come up with excuses. "I like talking aloud; I find it...a convenient form of introspection."
Fon only raised a brow at his answer.
"I'll be done in ten minutes." Kuroo offhandedly offered.
His uncle nodded. "Good."
"Oh, also, I noticed an imbalance in my qi."
Fon gave a deep sigh, as though he had been expecting this all along. "I told you not to get too involved with Kinjō's boy."
"What does this have to do with him?"
"I'm sure you have noticed how he seems to be more awake, having less of a tendency to fall asleep." Fon began. "While you think this is because of your instigation—" (Kuroo rolled his eyes) "—unfortunately, it is actually because the balance to his qi is being restored. He originally had too much of yang, disrupting the equilibrium of his qi. But now, he is receiving the yin he needs."
Yin and Yang.
Kuroo had a bad feeling about his uncle's next words.
"And this yin, he is drawing out from you."
"How is this even possible?" Kuroo furrowed his brows.
While admittedly, he wasn't all knowing when it came to flames and their behavior, he knew enough to say that he had never come across such a strange occurrence before. Was it that he had earlier on misinterpreted his uncle's definition of qi?
Did his qi not just mean his flames but something more?
"It is complicated." Fon replied. "But right now, all you have to be worried about is finishing your breakfast faster. Just seven more minutes left."
"I told you." Sepira chimed in from the side.
"I don't get it. All I do is play around with Xing, I don't even have a part in the negotiations. Why does it matter whether I'm late or not?"
"Punctuality and discipline."
"Oh, why thank you Uncle. That just explains so much."
"Kuroo, stop antagonizing your uncle! Five minutes left!"
Xing's expression soured when he was summoned to the front gates before he could even begin with his breakfast.
While it was usually served at eight in the morning, he had been delayed because of a few chores he had to tend to. Chores that weren't his responsibility but were nevertheless always dumped on him because he was lazy.
He steadied his breathing as he headed to the front. It wasn't a good thing to lose one's temper early in the morning.
Or a good impression to his master.
(Not that the man gave a fuck about him anyway.)
"Good morning, Xing."
He felt a vein pop at the sickeningly sweet voice that greeted him. Xing forced himself to look up and greet the boy (the reason for his increased misery lately) with a strained smile.
"Good morning, Kuroo."
"Did you sleep well?" The Japanese boy asked as he fell into step with him.
"Yes."
No.
Of course not. His hallucinations were getting worse.
"Kufufu, that means we will hopefully get to spar longer this time." Kuroo sounded rather pleased. It did not bode well with Xing.
They were first headed to the meeting hall to greet Hibari Kinjō before leaving together for the training grounds, just as they had done so in these past few days. Xing and Kuroo followed behind the Hibari elders, with the peculiar small man sitting atop Kuroo's head.
Fon, was what he was called.
As for why he looked like an infant, there were many stories floating around, varying from experiments to growth abnormalities. But Xing believed the one his master did because his master could never be wrong.
That Fon was special, and cursed.
Xing was never one to dwell in superstitions, but neither was his master. The reason why he believed his master's view was because he had seen a picture where Fon appeared to be older.
(His master was always right.)
And there was no way he would mistake someone else for the man considered to be the world's greatest martial artist.
"Is something the matter?" Fon asked, his smiling face turning to look at Xing.
The teen silently cursed as he shook his head. He had been staring a tad too long at the man.
"He was probably wondering why you always hitch a ride on someone's body rather than walking by yourself." Kuroo dismissed the question with a laugh and a wave of his hand before addressing Xing. "It's because his short legs will get him nowhere."
Fon's smile twitched.
They had arrived to the meeting hall.
Xing had thought of standing quietly in the corner as the group greeted Kinjō. But no, the damned Japanese boy just had to grab him by the arm and pull him to stand right next to him.
"Good morning, Uncle." Kuroo politely greeted Kinjō whose gaze was now focused on him— no.
On the both of them.
"You seem to have taken a liking to the boy." Kinjō commented with a raised brow causing Xing to fidget as he stared at the ground.
Hibari Kinjō was his master.
Was.
The man saw him as nothing more than a tragic waste of space now. Not a disciple, no— not after he had become a handicap.
It was a miracle he was still kept alive.
(It is only because of master's kindness. He told himself. Kinjō was a very merciful man.)
"He is a very good company." Kuroo smiled. "An excellent martial artist, as expected of being trained under someone like you, Uncle."
"Oh?" Kinjō briefly narrowed his eyes.
"I will be taking my leave now. You see, he has promised me to another long spar today." Kuroo politely excused himself as he linked his arm with Xing. "Kufufu, I would very much like to start it at the earliest."
"I see."
"Thank you, Uncle."
This time Fon did not follow after his nephew like Xing had hoped he would. The little man was after all, the voice of reason and common sense which Kuroo obviously lacked.
And so, the two were left to themselves.
...
An hour and thirty nine minutes.
That was how long he had lasted this time before collapsing into a dreamless sleep.
When he opened his eyes, he was greeted with the smiling face of Kuroo staring down at him.
"That was brilliant." The Japanese boy said, eyes gleaming with something dangerous. "Kufufu."
Xing grunted as he brought himself to sit up.
He furrowed his brows. His arms and the points of his body which had been injured seemed to be— healing?
They weren't as sore as he expected them to be.
"It's your qi." Kuroo said as though reading his mind. "A fiery passionate yellow; bright and burning as the sun."
"What do you mean?" The golden eyed teen blurted.
"Your qi is as destructive as it is soothing." Kuroo said as he shifted closer to the other. "You harness it right, and you kill or heal with it. Your call. Has your dearest master never told you of this?"
Xing instinctively struck out a fist aimed at the boy's face.
"Oh, that's tragic." Kuroo laughed as he languidly pulled himself off the ground and straightened his changpao. "I forgot. He isn't your master any longer, is he?"
Xing was on his feet in a second, and throwing a kick in the next. Blood rushed to his ears and a strong killing intent filled his heart.
He didn't need someone telling him that.
"Shut up." He growled as he pounced on the other.
Kuroo's laughter rang out in the training grounds, sending chills up the spines of all present.
This Japanese boy is mad.
They muttered to themselves.
Later that evening, after the group from Japan had left for the hotel they were putting up in, Xing was returning to his room to treat his wounds when he was summoned.
The golden eyed teen was gripped with apprehension on learning that the person who had called for him was none other than Kinjō.
Had he done something wrong? His master usually never called for him ever since his disability unless...unless it was because of an important matter.
Steeling himself, he made his way to his master's study.
"Come in." Kinjō's voice replied after Xing knocked on the door.
The teen entered the room before sliding the door shut behind him, his head bowed in respect the whole time.
"I see you've been keeping the boy, my nephew entertained." Kinjō spoke after a moment of silence. "And doing a good job at it."
The man's words stung; he hadn't even bothered hiding how he had a much higher regard of Kuroo over Xing. But the teen just kept silent.
"And I have also heard your health has greatly improved from this episode of...your sickness." Kinjō continued as he approached the teen. "What do you have to say about this?"
The teen didn't know how he was expected to reply.
Xing flinched when the man's hand suddenly came to rest upon his shoulder. "M-Master, I..."
"Yes, you?"
"I'm— I— this is all because of master's training and care. I've been improving because of—" Xing hurriedly replied.
"Because of me?"
Xing nodded. "Yes!"
Kinjō laughed at the teen's declaration. "Even after all this time," he said, "to still regard me as your master..."
"But you are!" Xing desperately exclaimed, his head snapping up to meet golden orbs that were a mirror reflection of his.
Kinjō was his master! The one who had brought him up and trained him!
"You dare speak up so brazenly?" The man simply smirked.
Xing immediately bowed his head. "Forgive this disciple for acting out of turn." He said. "You may punish him as you deem right."
...and Kinjō was his only family.
"Punish you? Oh no, I did not call you here today to punish you." Kinjō said, his dangerously low and soft. "I was just wondering if this disciple of mine would still carry out the will of his master."
"Of course!" The poor teen replied as he fervently nodded.
Kinjō seemed satisfied with his answer as he turned and walked away from the boy. He went over to the shelf that stood in the corner and pulled out an object wrapped in an intricately embroidered red silk cloth.
"Do you know what this is?" He asked as he turned back to face the teen.
"No."
Kinjō smiled as he removed the cloth and revealed an old looking dagger with a dragon's head as its hilt; Lóng Yá, or Dragon Fang.
Xing's eyes widened in recognition.
This was the dagger that Kinjō's master had presented to him when he had come of age. The blade was old and famed to have been forged from the fang of a dragon, hence it's name.
"You recognize it now?"
"Lóng Yá." Xing shakily replied.
"Yes." Kinjō gave a pleased smile as he came to stand in front of the teen. "Given to me by my master. And now," the man placed the sheathed dagger in Xing's hand, "given to you, by me. Your master."
Xing's hands shook as he registered his master's words. "...f-for me?"
"For you." Kinjō replied, his smile growing wider as he closed the teen's fists over the dagger. "It comes with a small request of course." He paused. "If you are still willing to carry it out."
The golden eyed boy immediately dropped to his knees. "Your will is my duty."
Kinjō laughed at the display before him. "Good, good."
"What is it that you wish of this disciple?"
"When the time comes," Kinjō began, "I want you to use this dagger..."
Xing waited patiently with bated breath.
"And kill the boy."
Hibari Kuroo.
A/N:
If I didn't make it clear, you can always go Google up Narcolepsy to understand his condition a tad bit better. And this was supposed to end with this chapter but uuuuff, oh well. Next chapter it is. I'm going to keep the fight scenes short because I do not really enjoy writing them lol
Also a heads up because I'm probably going to kinda rush the next few chapters because I want to get to canon as much as some of you do. So yep, give or take about five more chapters until we begin canon I guess. That is unless the fic takes on a new development or something. If you have any questions or confusion just ask me, I promise I will answer on time this time. And if there are any corrections, do feel free to point it out!
A big thank you to my reviewers as usual, MayaHikari, Guest (Nov 15, 2018), Not A Criminal, BlueSeraphos, Neko1290, SugarAlien, Hyakuma, Guest (Nov 16, 2018), Death Wand, Dango Dango Daikazoku, Feliciteria, Newest Reader, robertastarcris11, Failing Wings, arapyanime, setokayba2n, ViDevLianN, holyscythe, Kyralou2 and Kloness! Typing in all your usernames and going through your reviews again left me with the biggest smile on my face. I'm really grateful. And I promise you can expect more chapter updates this month and the next too. And I'll also try to respond promptly to your reviews through the pm!
And to all of you who put this in your follows and favorites list, I'm ever grateful.
Thank you for reading/giving this a try! :')