A/N: I don't own KHR or any of its characters.


It's not necessarily pain that hits me when I wake, but my body feels unrecognizably heavy. Like I've lifted three mountains then bench pressed the pacific ocean.

At least I'm alert. My mind is thinking as fast as usual and with clarity.

I'm in an infirmary bed, though it's obviously not a hospital. Too private. No windows. Wayyyy less noise. And judging from the ventilation system, it seems we are back underground.

I grab the IV running directly into my veins and pull it out. I hop out of bed, stretching out my legs and arms. My fingers run lightly over my prior wound along my chest - a wound that should've taken a day or two max to recover from will now be a week long venture from the exacerbation. What a hassle, but at least it's well treated with antibiotics now and already scabbed over.

I glance at the clock on the wall - 7:00am. Below the clock is another door. I turn the knob and thank god - a full giant tub, shower, toilet, stocked with everything I'd need. Getting treated is one thing, but a hot bath and some personal hygiene goes a long way.

I don't feel assuredly safe here despite being in some sort of friendly base. There are too many unknowns, too much reliance on others for information, and too many technological advancements. The future is certainly not my friend, but how long will I be here? Is this a forever thing and I should make myself comfortable? Or is there a way out for us all?


It's… tough being here. I don't want to burden Tsuna but…

I slowly trudge through the hallway. It's too early for anyone else to be up, thankfully. As much as I love Haru, I can't be fully open with her knowing how she feels about Tsuna. Considering how I feel -

As I open the door to the bathroom I'm hit by the dense, warm steam.

"Eh?" I startle backward. Someone is already here?

"Kyoko-chan!" The mist clears to reveal Hatsu, leaning against her arms in the tub. "Get in here, the water is perfect."

I wanted to be alone, but - I smile - I'm so glad to see a familiar face after everything I've been through.

"Hatsu-chan! Why are you here?" I quickly strip off my clothes and shimmy in at the other end of the tub. There are so many bruises and scars on her skin…

"Why? Hmm…" Is she going to lie to me as well? She scratches at her head "It's a long story, but I got sent into the future by a little brat. Found myself in the clutches of the enemy - presumably the mafia. Fought my way out, trudged through the town all night, and then Yamamoto picked me up! What a time, huh?" She chuckles. "I'm hoping YOUR trip to the future went better than mine?"

"..."

"Kyoko…?" She eyes me, worried/

I can't help but start to sniffle

"Are you okay?" Then immediately I burst into tears. Dangit, what is it about someone asking 'are you okay?' that makes the water works flow?

"I-" I sniffle, trying to keep it together. "I've been so scared. But more than that… I feel useless to help everyone I care about. Tsuna walks on eggshells around me - I know he's trying to protect me, but I don't want to be protected… I want to be relied on." I look at her as she smiles at me kindly, without judgment. "You're the first person to tell me the truth, no matter how crazy it is. Thank you."

I let out another sob. How embarrassing! We barely know one another, but here I am letting everything spill out when she's been through so much -

"Kyoko-chan." We meet eyes. "You're stronger than anyone gives you credit for. You're the reason Tsuna can keep moving when he's used up all the energy he has left. Your joy, warmth and spirit keep the group together behind-the-scenes. You've helped me just now when I needed to vent about my shitty past few days. I couldn't do that with just anyone. And… I know what it feels like to want to walk alongside someone, not behind them."

Red colors my cheeks as I sink deeper into the water, tears spilling over even quicker.

"Hahahahah you're such a cry-baby." She splashes water at me.

"I know." I can't help but laugh-cry as I say it.


Kyoko and Haru are already deep into their breakfast prep as I step into the kitchen with young Tsuna and young Gokudera. I sigh in relief as my sight lands on Hatsu, leaning over the counter, but barely helping. She's still low on sleep. I'd made sure to check on her in the infirmary first thing, but she was already gone. I thought she might've escaped - knowing how she is - but thank god she was still around. Who knows what HE would've done otherwise. Probably beat us all up…

"Good morning!"

"Morning!" They both respond cheerily, continuing to work.

Hatsu quickly bee-lines straight for me.

"H-H-HATSU?! WHY ARE YOU HERE?" Tsuna bumbles out.

"I was hoping YOU'D have the answer to that. This is obviously Vongola-related and I feel like I'm an extremely random addition to this adventure."

"Don't speak to the Tenth like that!" Gokudera shouts, to which she throws a plate at his head and he crumbles to the floor unconscious.

Gokudera starts to come-to - "What happen -" when a flying baby kicks him back to the ground.

"Ciaossu~ Good to see you made it in one piece, Hatsu."

"Just barely!" She replies with a cheeky thumbs-up.

"When did you even get here and how did you find this place?" Tsuna continues to question.

"Tsuna, no offense, but I'm ignoring you now. I ain't got time for your shit right now."

"HAA?! H-H-Hatsu s-since when were you like this?!"

And as she just said, she completely ignores him, opting instead to turn straight toward me. "Time to tell me everything."

"Hai, hai, where should I start?"

"Who the hell are you all up against?" She's straight to the point as always.

"The Millefiore Family, which is the merging of two families you might know from your time: The Gesso Family and The Giglio Nero Family."

She nods.

"I'm familiar with one of them. How exactly do the boxes work?" Quick-thinking to a scary degree.

"No one really knows."

"Then tell me how do you USE them?

"Well - " I hold up the ring on my finger "Each box has a specific attribute. There are rings, which also must have the same attribute, to open the box."

She pulls out a string of boxes and a ring. "I found some yesterday." Of course, leave it to Hatsu to gain an upper-hand on her own.

"Where would you just FIND them?" Tsuna butts in..

"Well, TOOK some." I laugh at that one.

"Each ring isn't the same though. There are different rankings, A-rank being the highest grade."

"Those produce the strongest results?" She glances at the ring in her hands with disapproval. "This one probably can't do much then." I can remember every detail of her first using a ring. The heat of summer even at dusk, her baseball gear - well MY old gear - tossed to the side, our convenience store ice cream quickly melting in my hands, and the ease at which she slipped on my ring and produced a vibrant, rippling, blue flame.

"Yup, but they are extremely rare. The original Vongola rings are A-rank."

"Ehhhh? Why aren't you wearing yours then? That's a fake right?" That was the first time I'd thought 'we could be something more.'. No… it was the first time I'd thought 'I WANT to be something more'. Proof that we shared something in our very being, being able to wield the same flame. A kinship I always felt but couldn't put into words.

"Ah well they were destroyed by Tsuna." She swivels to Tsuna, who abashedly looks away.

"Bakaaaaa~ The head of the Vongola, destroying the Vongola rings?" But when she turned with excitement straight towards him, shouting his name and waving him over -

"Yes." I smile sadly to myself. "It was to prevent anyone from fighting over the rings, but it didn't really go as planned."

The door SLAMS open, startling everyone in the room.

I knew it was lost, so I'd buried the thought as quickly as it came.

"KYO!" Just as I do now.


I haven't felt this way in a long time. Hopeful.

I didn't think I could ever feel this way again. Possessive.

It was as if I'd had to put a part of me to sleep, with no clock and no reason to awaken until now.

Of course she does that same thing - there's a way she calls for me, notices me in a room that is unlike anyone else, draws my attention so all I can focus on is her. And god, hearing my name from her lips - I would've given everything up for that. She's so fucking beautiful.

"Kyo!" she says again as I'm planted in the doorway. Unable to move toward her even though all I want is to close the distance between us.

When I lost her, I was enveloped with a terror that grew over time. A feeling that all the little mannerisms, the smells, the pitch of her voice - that it would just slip away from me. That my memory would fail and I wouldn't be able to capture it as well as the real thing.

"Come." I manage to gasp out, opening my arms for her.

The first year after she'd passed, I could still smell the exact mix of sweet tea and maple tree that she left in her wake. The second year, any hint of it had left her room and her clothes altogether and all that was left was a new layer of dust.

She scoffs. "What did I say about ordering me around?" but she leaps from her seat straight to me without hesitation and soon my arms are wrapped around her. As if I never had to let her go to begin with.

"Old habits."

I breathe her scent in and my fingers grasp at her warmth.

I love her.

She leans into my ear, and whispers for just me to hear, "What's wrong?"

Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. Whatever timeline I'm in, I love her.

"You know." I can't help how bitter it comes out.

One of her hands gently caresses my cheek, pulling my gaze to her. The other slowly moves through my hair - calming motions back and forth across my scalp.

I'm struck with deep jealousy of the younger me that she knows. The version of me that hasn't had to learn how to exist without her. I haven't figured it out yet, but all I can do is keep moving forward.

I walk out of the room with her still in my arms.

"Hibari-san, where are you going?" One of the herbivores calls after me. Of course I ignore them as I continue down the hall.

"She laughs, "They were almost done cooking breakfast!"

"Hn."

She rolls her eyes playfully. "As long as we eat soon. I'm starving."

I enter the code for the gate leading toward my side of the compound.

"We're leaving?"

"Mm."

As the gate shuts behind me, she starts to wiggle out of my grasp, but I hold tighter.

"I can still walk."

"No."

"What took you so long?"

"I was in Italy. I flew here as fast as possible."

"Ehhh, when did you know I was back?"

"Our house. Surveillance."

"Well, your family house."

"Our house." I repeat, more firmly.

She blushes "...hai, hai."

"You were injured."

"Tsk, partially YOUR fault you know. We fought."

My brows furrow. "I hurt you?"

"Well…" she pauses, "It's a long story."

"All my time is yours."

She looks at me like I'm crazy, poking me in the head. "Are you sure YOU'RE okay?"

I am now. "Hn."

"Then I'll start from the beginning!"

And just listening to her, talking about trivial arguments with the younger me, school life, and Vecchio missions… a fire burns in me to protect this moment. I'll do anything to change this future, so that she has a place in it. I know the plan will be successful. Hibari's don't lose. And I'll bite anyone to death who stands in my way.


A/N: I want to start a JJK fanfic but I haven't finished the 2 ongoing fics I have out, but should I… ?