Author's Note: Gaaaahhh, I've done it! I completed this chapter! Sorry guys! My manga scan site was bugging out for a while and I had some problems finding a reliable alternative site, so I couldn't finish this as quickly as I hoped.
Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn
I frown as Mukuro suggests something absurd. He wants me to stay at Kokuyo Land instead of going to school? He refuses to let me fight? I can't seem to wrap my mind around what's happening. After a moment of hesitation, I decide to speak my mind. "Mukuro-sama, I've never doubted your judgement before, but this is absurd. No, this is utterly absurd."
"Hm?" He doesn't seem mad for now.
"No matter how I try to figure this out, I can't seem to understand why you would stop me from participating in the fight. You need people, don't you?" I ask. "Also, why would you stop me from going to school?" I shake my head and sigh. "I won't argue about participating the the representative battle, but if that's the case, I'll be going to school then. Why stop me from going to school if I'm not a representative? I won't be in any danger then." I pick my bag up and start to head out. Then it hits me. I turn around. As petty as it may be, I think I know now. "It's about Hibari-san, isn't it?" I ask after turning around to face Mukuro.
"Yes," Mukuro replies. It surprises me that he replies immediately without hesitation. He doesn't even look away from me. I'd expected silence.
"I see," I reply quietly.
"Are you going to stay then?" he asks. I shake my head and his expression falls a bit. "Why?" he asks. I can hear his irritation slipping into his voice.
"I…" I start. I take in a deep breath to calm myself. I make sure to keep my expression composed. "I loved you and only you at once point, but you let it slip past your fingers. I'm not certain anymore," I say with a shake of my head. "I may be bound to both of you somehow or neither of you, but in either case, the outcome isn't as clear as it used to be, Mukuro-sama." I head out of the room quickly before anything else can happen. "Fran," I call, "behave yourself while I'm at school, alright?"
"Why should I?" comes his monotonous reply.
I shake my head and say, "Why shouldn't you?" I head to the front. "Ken, Chikusa! I'm heading out!"
"You," Hibari says irritably as he pokes me with his tonfa. I catch a glimpse of the boss watch around his wrist. He's on a different team? He's not part of Sawada's?
My eyes widen a little as I realize that he caught me spacing out again and I smile weakly. "Sorry," I reply quietly.
He frowns at me and his eye narrow. "It's the pineapple, isn't it?" he asks.
"Your instincts are dead on per usual, I see," I reply as I try to hide my surprise.
He continues to frown at me. "Go to class."
My eyes widen a little. "E-Eh?" I ask.
"You're no use to me if you can't pay attention," he replies pretty bluntly. That's a quality that I can appreciate though. There's really no need to look into his words too much.
I nod slowly. "I'll be," I hesitate as I try to find the right way to phrase it. "...better tomorrow," I decide. He nods and walks me to class. I smile a little at him when we get to my classroom. "Thanks," I say softly. I bow slightly before heading into the classroom and taking my seat. I sigh quietly and look out the window from my seat.
"Eh? Sato-san?" Sawada asks.
I turn to him. "Good morning." He's wearing the boss watch as I'd expected. I'm sure that he tried to push it onto Dino though.
"You're not participating?" he asks with widened eyes.
I shake my head. "Mukuro-sama's orders," I reply curtly.
He frowns a little. "You're not okay with it, are you?"
I hesitate. "I…" I choose my words carefully. "I don't agree, but there's not much that I can do about it." I fold my arms. "That's good for you though. It means that you have one less enemy in the school to worry about." Since I'm here anyways, and there are at least three teams with members here, maybe I should collect information and deal it. It would give me a goal at the very least.
I spend some time collecting information on my own after school ends. I head home once I hear the fighting begin. I wouldn't want to be caught in the middle of a fight, after all. When I get back home, it seems that the fighting time elapsed already. Mukuro smiles at me as I head though the "living room." He greets, "Welcome home."
"I'm back," I reply curtly. "I'm going to my room to do homework." I continue to walk without hesitation and I hear Mukuro click is tongue in annoyance.
"Hey Master, for today's illusion training, how about I give myself the same hair style as you?" I hear Fran ask. I stop at the doorway and watch as Fran turns his apple hood into a pineapple one.
"Wha?!" Mukuro exclaims. "What about his is the same as my hair?" He asks as he takes his trident out. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what's going to happen next.
"Well, this ugly pointy spiky part here… and the whole tropical silhouette," Fran replies immediately. This kid...
Mukuro exclaims angrily, "My hair is not a fruit, damn it!" He stabs Fran's hat with his trident. "As punishment for insulting me you're going to do twice the illusion training!"
"This is cruel and unusual punishment!" Fran exclaims.
"This is just progressive discipline!" Mukuro replies angrily.
"Geez, stupid Fran got yelled at my Mukuro-chan again," M.M. says with a laugh.
Ken adds, "That's a nice look for you, stupid runt!" I smack him upside the head with my notebook. "What was that for, Kasumi?!" Ken exclaims.
"Behave yourself, Ken," I scold. He frowns at me, but doesn't snap back at me like I thought he would.
"Damn…" Fran mutters as he adjusts his apple hood. He glances at Verde and picks him up by the head. "Hey there, Verrdypoo," he greets. "Want me to swing you around for a bit?"
"I'm perfectly fine. And I thought I told you not to call me that," Verde replies. It seems like Fran's resorted to picking on the smallest person in the room to release his anger.
"Come on, just a bit," Fran says a bit darkly. He begins to spin Verde around rapidly. "If I don't, my heart gets unsettled and I get filled with anxiety."
"You're just taking our your anger from getting yelled at by Mukuro, aren't you?!" Verde exclaims.
"How is that little kid able to treat Verde as if he's so strong?" M.M. asks.
"It makes the Arcobaleno really seem just like a normal baby…" Ken adds.
Meanwhile, Verde complains, "My eyes are spinning! I don't have any muscle to do anything about this!" He calls for help. "Stop him for me, Mukuro-kun!"
Mukuro hums to himself as he listens to music and reads a magazine with a drink in hand. "This hot chocolate is wonderful, my dear Kasumi. Would you like me to make you some?"
"I'll pass," I reply flatly.
"Listen to me, Fran! Go on and keep spinning me! See what happens! I won't let you use the equipment I built anymore!" Verde threatens.
"Eh?" Fran asks. "Hey, c'mon Verrdypoo… That great equipment was made for these beautiful autumn leaf-like hands, right? If you're gonna lie to me, these two fingers here are gonna bust through your glasses and say hello to your frontal lobe," Fran threatens. He's certainly a creative one in terms of phrasing...
"Hey! Do something about this stupid brat, Mukuro!" Verde exclaims. There are tears at his eyes as he pleads.
Mukuro pulls his headphones down. "Ahh, that reminds me, Fran…" he starts.
"Yes, Master?"
"There's no need to stop what you were doing," Mukuro finishes.
Verde exclaims, "There's a huge need!"
Well, that's enough for me. I head over to Fran and Verde and pluck Verde out of Fran's grasp swiftly. "That's enough, Fran. Alright?" I say.
Verde sighs. "Thank you," he mutters. He looks at me. "You're an illusionist too, so I suppose that I'll build you equipment as well."
"I'm honored," I reply. "Thank you."
"In any case, I want to try out that equipment in tomorrow's battle. So you're gonna have to help me out too, okay Fran?" Mukuro asks.
"You're scheming something evil again arent'cha?" Fran asks.
"This sounds interesting… Wanna fill me in?" Verde asks.
"This is so exciting… I can't wait!" Fran exclaims cheerily. "Let's rock! Fruity Style!" The hell? I'm wearing a raspberry hood… Mukuro's got a pineapple (of course) and Verde, who's still in my arms, has a strawberry on his head.
"Quit fucking around!" Mukuro exclaims angrily as he grates Fran with an over-sized grater. "When you're around, we can't talk about anything seriously!"
"Don't grate my skin off!" Fran exclaims.
I sigh and set Verde on the ground. "Sorry."
"It would have been great if you saved me earlier," he replies.
I fold my arms. "I was simply observing. Reborn certainly hasn't shown any physical weakness, so seeing your's means that you all vary in terms strength," I reply. "If you have any complaints, Fran and I will play this new game I made up called 'Verdeball' for our illusion training today."
"Sounds like fun, Kasumi-senpai. How do you play?" Fran asks. I'm so lucky that Fran always plays along when it comes to things like this.
"The goal is to destroy the ball as efficiently as possible," I reply. "So, any more complaints, Verde?"
"O-Of course not, Miss Kasumi," he replies.
"I'd thought as much," I reply as I pick my bag back up. "Fran, let's go. We'll do some illusion training outside today." I walk towards my room to ditch my bag.
"Okaaay…" he replies.
