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'm wondering if I should change the rating of this fic from K+ to a T because of all the violence. Yep. That's right, here's a warning for the upcoming violence in this action lacking chapter, lmao
20. Author has temporarily given up on chapter titles (Part 1).
Xing sat on the raised platform that opened to the training grounds. His eyes bore a slightly lost look before darkening with determination.
His grip on the dagger, the gift from his master, tightened.
He was not going to fail his master.
"This disciple will carry out his master's will."
The man had still cared for him even after all this time; how could he have been so blind to it!?
"Kill the boy."
Morning light already broke through a few hours back and Xing had been sitting on the platform, meditating as he waited for the big moment to arrive; the time when they would finally launch an attack on the Hibari.
The ones who wanted to strip Kinjō of all his glory.
Xing was not going to allow that.
A soft whistle brought him out of his thoughts. The others hastened to their positions at the signal. Xing also stood up to ready himself.
It was time.
All hell had broken loose just ten minutes after the Hibari entourage had entered Kinjō's compound.
And Kuroo was honestly disappointed.
He had been eager for some more underhanded method like poisoning, or something quieter perhaps— not an all-out attack.
The boy sighed as he sidestepped a poorly aimed kick before grabbing his attacker's leg and slamming them to the ground with a sickening crack.
If Kinjō's goons believed that they would be able to overcome the ten Hibari members (Kuroo and Fon included) with their sheer number, they were greatly mistaken.
Even one Hibari was enough of a monster to tackle down.
Ten?
"Could this be what Kyoya would call a savanna?" Kuroo wondered aloud as he skillfully danced his way to his uncle's side.
"Don't get distracted." Fon instructed. "And don't stray too far. Leave the elders to find Kinjō."
"Kufufu, this is fun." Kuroo only nodded as he materialized a few kunai in his hands and tossed them towards his oncoming attackers, accurately nailing them in the head.
"And don't go too overboard." Fon furrowed his brows at his nephew who seemed to be enjoying this...a little too much.
"No problem!" Kuroo exclaimed in a singsong. He paused for a brief moment before sprinting off to a certain direction without a warning. "I'll be back in a while."
"This brat." Fon uncharacteristically cursed as he easily shook off three men who had pounced on him.
While he wasn't entirely worried about the boy being able to fend for himself (he was well aware of Kuroo's capabilities), Fon had an inkling suspicion on why Kuroo had just gone off like that.
And it did not sit well with him.
Of course, Kuroo would never lose to Kinjō's Xing in a million years but—
"I'll follow the boy." Fon passed on his message to the nearest Hibari.
—but Hibari Izanami would have his head if her son returned with even a single scratch on his person!
Hell hath no fury like a protective mother.
Xing did not need to seek out Kuroo because the boy came to him.
With an annoying smirk plastered on his face, the Japanese brat had the audacity to casually wave in greeting as though they'd just run into each other in the street.
So Xing greeted him back with a kick, which was blocked as he had expected it to, before twisting his body and landing a rather accurate hit to the boy's chest with his other foot.
"How wonderful!" Kuroo exclaimed with a laugh as he regained his balance in a split second. "A smooth execution right at the drop of a hat." He smirked. "I believe this little spar will last longer than it ever has, kufufu!"
Xing's eyes narrowed. "You're mistaken. This is not a spar, but a fight that will end with one of us dead."
Kuroo only laughed at Xing's statement. "Finally baring out your fangs, I see!" He exclaimed. "Alright then, may the best one...live."
The two launched into a series of blows and blocks, moving around at a speed that would be incomprehensible to a normal person. They had both come to know each other better over the past few days, from the other's attacks right down to what came after the dodge; they'd sparred enough to be aware of all the tricks up the other's sleeve.
Well enough to even realize when the other was—
(Kuroo frowned as he danced his way through a barrage of Xing's punches.
There was something off...
His frown slowly morphed into a rather ugly expression as soon as he understood what was.)
— "You're holding back."
Xing was caught off-guard with abrupt Kuroo's statement, and this cost him a few precious seconds. He narrowed his eyes as he blocked another blow and lashed out with his fist. But before he could even open his mouth to speak, the Japanese boy interfered with a low growl.
"You're holding back." Kuroo almost sounded like he was angry even though his face didn't show it. "You're not taking this as seriously as you should and I do not appreciate that."
The boy violently swiped at Xing's face, coming close to ripping out the other's golden eyes. Or at least, that was what Xing had felt. His body coursed with adrenaline and fear as he leaped back to avoid the attack.
"Didn't you say you were going to kill me? What happened to your determination? Or was that just…pointless bravado?"
Xing found himself being pushed to a corner, unable to fight back and only defend.
"Look." Kuroo's hand shot out to grab the other's collar. "Look."
Xing felt himself flinch before wincing as a punch landed square on his abdomen.
"Why? Is it because you have some sense of pity for me?"
Another punch.
"Because I'm younger than you? I'm still just a child?"
Xing had somehow managed to recover his momentum when the next words from Kuroo's lips almost threw him into a rage.
"Or is it that…you're too scared to carry out your dear master's orders?"
"Shut up!" Xing lunged forward, unsheathing the dagger that had been hanging from his waist the entire time.
"Kufufu, coward."
A roar left the golden eyed boy's mouth as he slashed the dagger in the air in what seemed like pointless strikes to anyone observing the battle. However, Kuroo knew better as he carefully dodged the dagger's movements.
"Can't touch me can you?" Kuroo laughed. "Even with your master's special technique, kufufu."
Xing's eyes briefly widened on hearing the brat's words but he wasn't entirely surprised with the other's knowledge. After all, the boy was considered a prodigy. But how he'd come to know that this was a technique taught to him by his master—
"What a pity for Kinjō. Looks like that old dog truly raised a worthless little puppy in the end."
Xing moved without a second's thought, his slashing movements increasing in speed.
All he could see now was red.
Sure, one could insult Xing. He was used to all of it. But no one, no one was allowed to slander his master in front of him and walk away unscathed.
Xing moved right in front of Kuroo in a blink of an eye.
Clearly, the other hadn't been expecting him to, if the look of surprise on Kuroo's face was anything to go by.
Xing brought down his knife and accurately cut a long gash across Kuroo's chest, leaving a deep wound that began to stain the brat's clothes red. There was an expression of pain etched on the Japanese brat's face and Xing relished in it as he brought down his knife again. He pinned Kuroo to the ground and with no hesitation, accurately stabbed the boy on the nerve points of his arms, making sure to render them useless forever…if he would even survive in the first place.
Xing's eyes bore a cold glint as he finally slashed at Hibari Kuroo's throat with his dagger, ending the other's infuriating laughter once and for all.
Only at the end of it all did he notice how heavy and ragged his breathing was.
He steadied his breaths as he wiped off the blood on the dagger. There was a sense of relief as the fact dawned upon him: Hibari Kuroo was dead.
"I have to tell Master." Xing muttered under his breath as he slowly rose to his feet when a choked giggle suddenly sounded.
"Kufufufu."
Xing's head quickly turned to look below him.
And his eyes clashed with heterochromatic ones, a shade of crimson red that bore the kanji numerical one and a stormy bluish-grey that Xing was all too familiar with.
Xing uttered a yell in horror as Kuroo (who was supposed to be dead) swept his legs off the ground and pushed him down. The brat continued chuckling in a rather deranged manner as he snatched the dagger that had fallen off Xing's hands and plunged it right into the golden eyed boy's gut without a moment's hesitation.
"Oops, you got stabbed." Kuroo's grin widened as his red eye slowly faded back to its stormy bluish-grey shade, and his wounds and the blood he had been coated in disappeared. He mercilessly pushed the dagger deeper into the other. "Not part of the plan I see?"
Xing choked out blood. "H-How!?"
"You poor thing." Kuroo only clicked his tongue. "No one's going to come and save you but this, this was a good battle despite being meaningless."
"What do you mean?"
"Kinjō has fled." The Japanese brat waved his hand to gesture around the place. "He never intended to face us in the first place. Everyone else here was merely used as a distraction to enable his safe escape."
"No, that can't be—"
Kuroo laughed. "Oh, but it is. He never cared, anyone could tell."
Xing winced as the pain from being stabbed truly hit him after he'd recovered from his initial shock.
"You can heal yourself." Kuroo said in an offhanded manner as he stood up, leaving the dagger buried deep in the other's gut. "It'd be a shame if you were to die here."
The golden eyed boy coughed. "Why do you even care?"
Kuroo shrugged.
"Just kill me." Xing said through gritted teeth.
The Japanese brat only smiled before turning to walk away.
"Just kill me!"
"Maybe if we ever meet again," Kuroo only taunted before leaving, "I will."
Xing lay on the ground, seemingly bleeding to his death. He curled his hand into a fist as he coughed out more blood. There was a strange gleam of determination in his eyes before his body slowly engulfed itself in very faint yellow flames.
The last thing he recalled before slipping into unconsciousness was the face of Hibari Kuroo.
"I will find you." He muttered.
Kuroo turning twelve was by far one of the most entertaining years ever since his rebirth.
To begin with, he had been permanently transferred to a prestigious school in France, courtesy of his tonton Casimir who had somehow sneakily managed to breeze past through all admission requirements (which wasn't much of a problem seeing how gifted Kuroo was in the first place) and procedures on behalf of his beloved nephew. After which he'd flown to Japan just to break the news to the Hibari family and present Kuroo his letter of acceptance.
Shocked was an understatement.
The house had burst into an uproar the moment Casimir announced the "good news".
Hibari Kyoya, in particular, had taken the announcement rather badly and had almost swallowed Kuroo's letter of acceptance had not tante Alison intervened.
Hibari Izanami on the other hand seemed quite pleased with the sudden development while being a little hesitant at the same time. And Hibari Akihito, who had surprisingly also been present, had merely stated that it would be a good experience for his son.
Good experience. Kuroo mentally scoffed.
A good experience for him to end up being overly acquainted with his tonton's trade and turn into a mini-killing machine alright.
As for tante Alison, the woman was a little too preoccupied with preventing the youngest and recently turned eight-year old Hibari (who was now convinced that his uncle was the devil) from biting Casimir.
But that was not all.
Sakaguchi Kentaro had barged into the house the very next day (the boys were currently well into their summer vacation) while making sure the whole neighborhood knew just how unfair it was for Kuroo to sneak off into another country without informing him in advance.
And his complains ended up triggering Kyoya who clung on to his older brother for the rest of the day like a koala, believing that the moment he let go, Kuroo would disappear.
So now, Kuroo had to deal with not one but two migraines.
"I don't leave until the end of August." He could only huff over the meal he shared with his brother and friend.
"Kuroo," Kyoya looked unhappy as he tugged on his brother's sleeves, "don't go."
"Kuroo, I'll ask my dad and transfer with you!" Kentaro exclaimed, completely disregarding the meal before him. "Just tell me which middle-school you've been enrolled into!"
The stormy bluish-grey eyed boy could only sigh at the exasperating (but very much endearing, not that he would admit it aloud) antics of the two.
He would have refused his tonton and stayed back in Japan, really. It would only require a few words from his lips for the deed to be done.
However, studying abroad would make it far easier for him to gain access and carry out a few plans he had in mind. It would be very advantageous for him.
And besides, Sepira had not said anything negative about the situation.
And so, after about a month's time, Hibari Kuroo finally left for France.
(Not without leaving behind two rather heartbroken souls.)
Unlike what he had hoped for, however, Casimir had not immediately taken him out on a few jobs. Instead, it seemed as though the man was lying in wait for an opportunistic moment…or rather, he seemed to be temporarily in hiding.
"There was a sticky situation in Italy," was all Casimir replied when Kuroo asked him why, "involving a rather gruesome incident with the CEDEF. You've heard of them haven't you? Yes, the mafia-dogs of the Vongola Famiglia."
Kuroo nodded.
In Casimir's eyes, Kuroo knew much about the mafia only because of the amount of information the man had made him study since most of their assassination jobs involved the mafia. Not otherwise, but oh well.
"The CEDEF are on high alert at the moment which means they're currently everywhere and I don't want to accidentally run into one of them during a job."
"So you're lying low?"
"I'm merely preventing unwanted encounters from happening."
"Oh, wow." Kuroo merely hummed. "They must really hate you, enough for you to go so far as to avoid them."
Casimir smirked. "Not as much as they currently hate the person who killed twelve of their members and stuffed them into an elevator. They're calling it the Flood of Blood incident." He paused. "It would've been quite a sight to behold, hmm."
A faint memory tickled the back of Kuroo's brain at the mention of the incident as though trying to remind him of something from a very distant past.
"You're really sick." Kuroo shook his head before leaving the room. He had more important matters to tend to, like his homework.
Kuroo's new school was a prestigious co-ed institution in France which was a primary and middle school combined.
Why mention this fact? It was because he had run into Connie (the girl from the Vongola gala who was the current owner of the Malocchio, one of the only six Hell Rings in the world) when he'd just been walking down the hallway to get to the cafeteria.
Connie Izquierdo who was supposed to be in the primary school section of the academy had rushed over to find him the moment she had heard the rumors of "a Japanese transfer with really pretty blue eyes".
"Your brother is a year younger than me?" She asked as she chewed on her burger.
"Yes."
"Awww, that's so cute. Oh, would that make me, like, your younger sister then?"
Kuroo only raised a brow. "Why would you want to be my younger sister?"
Connie just shrugged. "I don't know. Mamá said siblings are nice because they're always around with a hand to help or something. But I think she says that because her older brother, my tio, takes care of me whenever she's not around."
"Hmm."
"You should come over sometime, to my house."
"Someday I guess." Kuroo replied.
"I'll show you my eye collection! It's grown to another jar." Connie happily informed.
"…alright."
And somehow, just somehow (Kuroo isn't even sure of it himself) they'd ended up becoming friends.
"Tight on funds!? I'm pretty sure he shoved all that extra cash into his savings." Squalo grumbled as he strode into the manor with the newest Varia recruit trailing behind him. "Thank goodness *Renée's house is in the area."
(*Kuroo's grandmother)
Squalo would've left the whole "showing the new guy the reins of the job" to one of his subordinates, but after the failed coup d'état that ended with Xanxus getting frozen (one year ago) for god knows how long, he had a lot of time in his hands. And he needed to keep himself busy before he razed the whole of Varia to the ground just because all of its members seemed to be out to get into his nerves lately.
(Well, technically the kid had just arrived in time and had also participated in the failed coup d'état, but Squalo still regarded him as the newest recruit seeing how they were unable to get newer members after all those shenanigans.)
"Voi," he turned around to face the ten year old assassin prodigy Belphegor who curiously looked around his surroundings, "we're going to be staying here for the night. Don't make any unnecessary ruckus or I'll be tossing you out to sleep in the streets. Dinner will be served sharp at seven and the guest room is down that hallway, take the third door to your left."
Bel grinned.
"If you need anything, you come to me. No bothering anyone else or doing funny business that jeopardizes the lives of the people in this household, you hear me?"
"Ushishishi." Bel shrugged. "Is this the Vice-Commander's happy home? Where's your family?"
"And no questions." Squalo snapped.
"What if it was an important question?" Bel asked in the same moment that another voice piped up from the staircase that led up to the first floor—
"And what if I had a question?"
The two lifted their heads up, weapons immediately drawn and ready to attack.
Squalo who had been just a second from leaping from his position to run his sword through the newcomer froze at the sight of a very familiar Japanese brat. "VOI! What are you doing here!?"
"I'd like to ask you the same thing." Hibari Kuroo replied as he descended the stairs like some immortal god despite being dressed in a set of pale blue pajamas. He had just been taking an evening nap when the sudden noise from the ground floor had woken him up.
"You're not supposed to be here…"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did no one inform you yet? I live here now." Kuroo only raised a brow before gesturing at his cousin with a wave of his hand. "If anyone's not supposed to be here, it should be you."
Squalo huffed before replying, "I'm— we're only crashing in for the night."
Kuroo blinked as he took in the appearance of the boy casually standing next to Squalo with his hands resting behind his head. The blond haired boy had bangs that fell over his eyes, and stared back with an unnerving grin.
There was a moment of silence as both parties observed each other.
"I see you've resorted to dragging children around now to do your dirty deeds." Kuroo said with a sigh, throwing a disapproving look at his cousin.
(What an actor!)
Squalo felt his eyebrow twitch in irritation. "I'd rather not have any comments from you right now."
"Alright." Kuroo simply shrugged before throwing a lazy smile to the little assassin. "I'm Hibari Kuroo. You can call me Kuroo though."
Bel remained silent, grin still intact as he studied Kuroo with interest.
"I'd ask you to pardon my cousin's rude behavior. He is very much inept when it comes to treating guests with courtesy." Kuroo placed his hand on top of the little assassin's head and slightly ruffled his soft blond hair (you couldn't blame him for missing how he'd do the same to his baby brother Kyoya) while being careful enough not to touch the tiara neatly resting on the side. "My, this is a very lovely tiara. Would you mind if I took a closer look at it?"
Squalo rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to tell Kuroo to back off because Belphegor never allowed anyone even an inch near his tiara. But he was surprised when the other readily replied with an— "Okay."
"What." The silver haired Vice-Commander (and currently the substitute leader of Varia) reeled his head back in shock.
Kuroo looked smug as he leaned in close to admire the tiara that sat atop the little assassin's head. He hummed in approval. "Those are some very intricate designs. I should say this is very befitting of a prince such as you."
The little assassin seemed pleased (Squalo could swear the boy was preening at the praise, but what horrified him was how in the ever loving fuck did Kuroo do that!?), finally stretching his hand out for a shake as he introduced himself. "My name is Belphegor."
"A pleasure making an acquaintance with you." Kuroo said as he accepted the hand and gave it a warm squeeze. "Well, since you're a guest here, and a prince at that, it'll only be right for me to treat you as such. Have you eaten yet? We had some dessert prepared just this afternoon."
Squalo stood with a deadpanned expression as he watched the two walk off towards the kitchen, hand in hand like they were long lost friends.
What the fuck was going on!?
Kuroo turned around with a sly smirk before throwing a shameless wink at the silver haired teen and a mouthed, "I win."
And when did this even turn into a bloody game!?
Kuroo chuckled at how Squalo looked very close to skewering him with his sword.
How could he let up an opportunity to get into the other's nerves after three whole years?
"Ah, it feels just like yesterday."
On the other hand, little did Kuroo know that his teasing had left a little assassin rather enamored with him— honestly though, Kuroo had never intended to gain himself a kid (and a soon to be army of children at that) who would prove to be quite problematic in the future.
A/N:
One thing that messes with my head real bad is how different the "education systems" all around the world are. I don't know how the French education system works like, and I don't want to crack my head over it so please don't attack me for getting facts wrong xD
I'm just basing it all off the Japanese system cause that's easier and something I'm more familiar with, no thanks to anime and manga. HAH. But if I still get it wrong, somehow, I'm only human! Yeeks!
And don't worry Kuroo will be back to Japan in time for all the ACTION. France is just a detour for him (and for me to get stuff done), huhuhu.
To avoid confusion and also refresh your memories, the Flood of Blood incident is an actual canon incident that comes to light during the Inheritance Ceremony Arc, you know, where Kozato Enma and his family gang make their first appearance in the manga.
Also, a big thank you to all my reviewers! And to everyone who put this in their favorites and alerts! I love waking up to see my mail with notifications of them huhuhu. Big and warm hugs to MayaHikari, Blue Seraphos, arapyanime, Neko1290, .927, Not A Criminal, Knaruto, thecatleader, NamineRae, SugarAlien, Levin Kluge, G1ntsuk1, Failing Wings, Diamondia, Guest (May 10), Guest (May 11), Marii Wollsch and trillna99!
And a notable mention for Guest (May 11) who gave me such a pleasant surprise with the spam of reviews after (probably?) picking up this fanfic to read on May 11! ^^ I had so much fun going through all your reviews for my prev chapters and the latest one, haha, and I'm grateful for all the little points you pointed out too! I will be sure to keep that in mind! I'm really glad you seem to be enjoying this. I swear I was all, "Who are you? Where can I find you!?"— in a not so creepy way, lol, when I got notifications about your reviews! Thanks again!
Also, because I couldn't seem to message you, Neko1290 sorry for worrying you! I'm grateful for the concern and your continued support! ^^
Next chapter update on the 19th of May! And it's a special chapter for the Hibari brother duo so stay tuned for that! :')
Thank you so much for reading/giving this a try!