Chapter 2: The Skylark
Disclaimer: I don't own KHR. Only my OCs
The two of us are damaged people. We treat love like it's a crime waiting to be committed. We treat people like murderers waiting to stab us as we turn our backs to them. We keep them at arm's length, with one eye open, scared that they will strike while we sleep. Our backs are always tense, waiting for the storm in the midst of the calm, Because us, damaged people, have already been through hell. We know that every demon that we have encountered was once a benevolent angel before it fell from grace.
Maya Akiyama has always been a shy girl. She always hated being put in the limelight. She never did well with crowds either. This, of course, became a very big problem when she decided to become a public figure. Being a national athlete meant socializing, shaking hands, meeting sponsors and judges, and smiling for the camera.
None of which Maya ever appreciated. Just like Kyoya, she was vehemently against crowding.
However, when she donned her ice skates and glittery outfit, she never imagined the responsibility it came with. People look at her now. What she wears, what she eats, and even the people she interacts with, it's all documented for the public to read. They watch her every move, every breath, waiting for her to make a mistake. It suffocated her.
She never did want any of this. The spotlight, the fame, that was never for her. Maya is a performer. She just wanted to dance. Apparently, fame was part of the deal as well.
Which is why, all Maya could do was sigh. Standing in front of a classroom filled with students, gaping and whispering with each other, Maya stood helpless. The students looked at her with amazement and glee which made her uncomfortable. She kept her eyes firmly planted on the ground, her hands were fiddling the hem of her skirt, and she was sure her face was as red as a tomato. Her thimble necklace was sitting comfortably on her neck. It's familiar and secure presence was calming her thumping heart.
"Alright, settle down, class." The teacher finally said. May breathed a sigh of relief when the students finally stopped pointing and whispering with one another. "This is Maya Akiyama. But I'm sure you all know who she is," the teacher started, his voice laced with amusement, "she'll be staying here for the rest of the school year. Be good to her, are we clear?"
Then there was chaos.
"Whoa, are you really staying here?"
"What about ice skating?"
"Are you going to take a break?"
"What's it like in America?"
"Are you still going to continue skating?"
"Can I get your number?"
Their voices drowned Maya. It was like facing wave after wave of violent ocean. She never stood a chance. Luckily, the teacher was there to keep things peaceful. And quiet. Quiet was good. Maya liked quiet.
"Would you like to say something, Akiyama-san?"The teacher looked at her expectedly.
Oh right. Self introduction. Talking. To other people. To a whole class. Maya could do that. She's an international athlete, a proud bearer of many gold medals, and holder of the highest point garnered in a free skate. Introducing herself shouldn't even be a problem.
But it is, Maya thought inn despair.
"My name is Maya Akiyama. I'm a returnee from America. To answer some of your questions, I'm staying here for an indefinite amount of time. So for the time being, my training will be here in Japan as well. There are some days when I might not be here due to training or competitions. Still, I hope you take care of me." She finished with a bow.
Maya took a deep breath. Inside, she was cheering. She didn't stutter. A major improvement for her. Yaaay. Kyoya will be proud.
"Okay, Akiyama-san, you can sit next to Yamamoto. Yamamoto, raise your hand."
Maya was surprised to see a familiar face. So his name is Yamamoto. He was the person that was beaten up by that VOI-guy, Squalo, her mind reminded her. At the back of Yamamoto's seat was the boy with the gravity-defying hair, Sawada Tsunayoshi. He looked nervous, Maya noticed. His face was held low, and his shoulders were tense. Next to him is another person that Squalo beat up. However, Maya couldn't remember his name. She would just call him silver-hair for now. Silver-hair was looking worriedly at Tsunayoshi, asking him if he was alright. It was a cute scene, if she were too ignore the Tsunayoshi turning redder and redder by the minute. The poor boy.
Yamamoto was smiling at her as she made her way next to him. As she sat down, he introduced himself. "My name's Takeshi Yamamoto, nice to meet you."
His smile was nice, Maya decided. "I'm Maya. It's very nice to meet you to, Yamamoto-san."
"Alright, everybody, turn to page 48," their teacher instructed.
Opening her textbook, Maya suddenly felt dread. Dread and panic. In hindsight, she should have thought of this sooner. She was in Japan, of course their textbook was going to be written in katakana. This was bad. Maya groaned. Hopefully, the teacher won't call on her on the first day.
"Hey, is everything okay?" Yamamoto whispered, having caught on to her dilemma.
Maya tried to smile, "Yeah, it just, uhm,"she stuttered, trying to find the right words, "I'm sort of, well I'm kinda-" she sighed, "you see, I'm dyslexic."
Maya watched as the realization hits Yamamoto. He scratches his ear, " that must be tough," he says with a wry smile. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable," he apologized.
Maya shook her head. "No, it's fine, really," she whispered. "Normally, this wouldn't be a problem. I had help in phonetics when I was a kid but that sort of stopped when I went to America," she explained. She fidgeted in her seat, looking to see of the teacher was looking at them. "You know, new country, new language. It seemed that my brain was more suited to the English language and alphabet."
That was the problem with Dyslexia, Maya muses. It was a language-based learning disability. Her reading and writing comprehension with English as a language was just fine. Japanese and Katakana, however, those were her enemies. Growing up, she would often come to Kyoya, crying and lamenting if she really were stupid. No matter how much she tried, the letters just wouldn't stick to her brain.
Normally, Dyslexia was more common in western languages. Because of the explicit difference between letters and sounds, Dyslexia is more evident in languages where the same phoneme could be written with different graphemes as in English or vice versa. But Maya? Maya had always been a problem child. She could understand English no problem. Hell, before coming back to Japan, she was learning French. But Japanese just seem to hate her.
Maya grimaced, if she were really planning on staying here for the rest of the year, she'd have to relearn how to read and write. She hang her head low and groaned, the teacher's voice lulling her further into despair.
"Hey, listen," Yamamoto whispered, "maybe I could help you."
Attractive and kind. Maya smiled at him, grateful for his suggestion, "It's fine, really, you must be busy training." At Yamamoto's look of confusion, Maya explained further, "You know, what with the Vongola Ring debacle and all of that. You must be busy," she said while pointing at the ring hanging from his neck.
Yamamoto stiffened, his eyes narrowed, and his shoulders were tense. Behind, she can also feel Tsunayoshi and Silver-hair tensing.
Oh, she thought as realization hit her, Maya arrived after they were knocked out by Squalo. Only Tsunayoshi knows her. For Yamamoto and Silver-hair, she might as well be an enemy trying to grab the ring. Stupid Maya.
"And how do you know about the rings?" His question was nonchalant but his smile was tad bit dangerous for Maya's taste. She had to diffuse this. Fast.
"I was with Dino-san yesterday," she whispered. "We took you, the silver-hair guy, and Basil-kun to the hospital," she explained, she sneaked a look, hoping that the teacher still hasn't noticed.
"Oh, okay." She sweat dropped at the sudden change of attitude. "You had me worried there for a minute," Yamamoto exclaimed with a laugh.
"Gokudera Hayato," he whispered.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"His name," Yamamoto explained with a smile, "Silver-hair guy. Gokudera Hayato."
She heard someone tsking from behind. Maya covered her mouth, trying not to chuckle. "I'm sorry Gokudera-kun, but it's very nice to meet you," Maya said, still facing the front.
Again, she heard a tsk. " Whatever, but I'm watching you."
Maya decides that she could deal with that.
Maya found herself at the rooftop having lunch with the three boys she had just met earlier. The four of them were sitting in a circle.
"Tsunayoshi-san," she said to get his attention. As a result, he flinched and let out a small 'hie' which sort of made Maya guilty. She bowed to him, "I'm really sorry for my behavior yesterday. I shouldn't have said what I said, especially in such a tense and stressful environment. I apologize for my actions."
Tsunayoshi was scratching his cheeks. He seemed flustered and surprised. "Maa, you sort of had a point. And you were, uhm, very succinct with it." He peered at her through his bangs, "And you can call me Tsuna, Akiyama-san," he said shlyly.
Maya smiled at him, "Well then, you can call me Maya, Tsuna-kun."
Before she can take another bite from her bento, she heard a very loud tsk coming from her left. "I still don't trust you," silver-hair guy, Gokudera, her mind berated her, growled. "What were you doing yesterday with Dino-san. You suddenly appeared here yesterday," he complained. "We don't even know a single thing about you."
She supposes that that was fair. Maya was, after all, an unknown. "I'm an ally, if that's what you're worried about," she paused, fidgeting before their hardened stares, "let's just say that I am a person who is rooting for your win." Maya smiled. She was trying to organize her thoughts, trying to explain herself better. "Two days ago, Dino-san called me. He told me that I had to get away, that something bad was about to happen. He told me that a friend of mine was about to participate in a gruesome fight. I was worried so I immediately went here to, I don't know, help? Support? Stop him from fighting? I'm not sure." Maya smiled wryly. "I just wanted to be here for him, I guess."
"This friend of yours, who is he?" Gokudera asked.
"You probably know him, he goes here too," Maya said. "Hibari Kyoya."
She received a flurry of reaction from her words. The three of them looked shocked and scared. Maya blinked. She paused before speaking again, "Did I say something wrong?"
Tsuna looked at her with fear. "Hibari-san?" he whispered to himself, as if he was afraid that by speaking his name, Kyoya would appear.
Unexpectedly, Yamamoto laughed. "Who knew Hibari had friends? What's he like, Maya-san?"
Gokudera looked angrily at Yamamoto, "As if that's important right now, you idiot."
"Akiyama Maya and Hibari Kyoya are childhood friends," a squeaky voice said.
When did he get here? Maya thought.
"Their grandfathers were war buddies," the squeaky voice explained.
A loud 'hie' came from Tsuna."You can't just spy on people like that, Reborn." Turning to Maya, "I'm really sorry, Maya-san."
Maya shrugged. "It's fine, Tsuna-san. It's all written in my fan page so I'm used to it."
The three boys looked at her with bewilderment and amazement. Did I sound snobbish? Was that it? Maya worried.
"My, uhm, manager thought it would be a good idea to put it in my fan page. She told me the public loved 'origin stories'" she explained uncomfortably.
To be honest, she hated her fan page. It was filled with very sensitive and personal information. That page was built to attract more sponsors. It didn't matter that it contained her past traumas or her fears. It brought in sponsors, her manager would say.
Maya smiled at them, willing the ugly thought away from her head. "Well, to answer Yamamoto-kun's question," she paused, putting her hand to her chin, thinking of words to define Kyoya. "Well, Kyoya is uhm, he's a lot to take in." Maya finished pathetically, if their sweatdrops and twitching eyebrows were anything to go by.
"But he's very nice," the ice skater ammended. She offered the bento on her hand. "And he's a good cook."
"H-hibari-san cooked that, Maya-san?" Tsuna squeaked.
Maya was offended by their reactions. Sure, Kyoya was a trigger-happy person, but he wasn't that bad. He was just...shy, Maya mused. Oh who was she kidding? Even she wasn't an exception to Kyoya's wrath.
In the end, all Maya could do was sigh. She needed to domesticate Kyoya. Fast.
Before lunch break ended, Reborn cornered her in the hallway, telling Tsuna and the others to go first.
"Did you want something from me, Reborn-san?"
"What do you think about Tsuna and his family," Reborn asked, ignoring her question.
"I think their nice," Maya answered uncertainly.
Reborn smirked at her answer. "So how would you feel about joining them?" he asked bluntly.
Maya tried to see what he was planning. Why does he suddenly want her to join them? She was a civilian. Sure, she knew how to fight but she made sure not to make a reputation, after all she was a public figure. The last time she actually fought was when she and her sister had a fight and that was two years ago. Was it public support then? No that was silly. Mafia is a part of the underworld, to bring it into the public's eye would just bring chaos.
It's Kyoya, she realized. Kyoya was also an unknown. Like her. They didn't know his motivation, he was a piece in the board they can't control. So they use her instead.
It was clever, Maya admits. But Kyoya is a person of his own. Whether or not, she joins has no correlation to his decision whatsoever.
Maya smiles at Reborn. "I'm sorry but I think I'll decline your offer."
"Why not?" he asked, fully knowing that she saw behind his reasoning.
Maya simply smiled. There was nothing else to say after all.
"You know, if you really wanted, you can get Hibari to stop from participating." Reborn said just as she turned to leave.
Maya looked at Reborn with sad eyes and an even sadder smile."Reborn-san," she started, "I'm Kyoya's friend, I'm here to support him. And if I force him to do what I want, then I stop becoming his friend. I just become an obstacle in his way. And I don't want that."
And with that she left. Unbeknownst to her, the hitman was looking at her with an interested gaze.
Later that day, she sees Dino leave Kyoya's office. She greets the Mafia Don with a smile. "Dino-san, good afternoon."
"Good afternoon to you as well, Maya-chan."
Maya licks her lips, "Listen, Dino-san, about yesterday, I'm really sorry for calling you an asshole, albeit indirectly. I apologize for my actions," she bowed to him
Dino chuckled. She noticed in amusement that both he and Tsuna likes to scratch their cheeks when embarrassed. Cute. "It's fine, Maya-chan. It's not like you're wrong," he teased.
Changing the subject, May asked, "Did you give Kyoya the ring yet?"
"I just did." Dino pumped his chest proudly, "I'm going to be his trainer from now on."
Maya sweatdrops. She can't help but feel sorry for the blond. And he was excited as well. Kyoya was, well, Kyoya was Kyoya. Enough said. Maya grabbed Dino's shoulder, surprising the Mafia Don. "I wish you luck, Dino-san."
Entering the Disciplinary Committee office, Maya heaved a sigh. Kyoya was leaning on his desk, observing the half Cloud ring in his hand.
"So this is why you came here." Kyoya stated. Not asked. Maya sighed, she's been doing that a lot lately.
"Are you going to accept it?" she asked, completely ignoring his previous statement. Maya knew she couldn't change his mind, even if she tried. But, hell, that won't stop her from warning him.
"I know you're strong," she continued, "and I know that you like proving it." Maya walked towards him. "But this is bigger than that," she held the hand holding the ring, "it's bigger than the both of us." Maya looked him in the eye, "If you choose to fight, you're going to be saddled with that ring forever. You're going to be in it for the long haul, Kyoya. Do you want that?"
"Nothing can force me to do anything, Maya," Kyoya countered. "Not you, and certainly not this ring."
"I can't loose you," she whispered desperately, changing the subject. Her head hang low. "I already lost so much, Kyoya. I can't loose you too."
Kyoya's eyes widened.
"I just want you to be careful, alright, I'm not going to force you to do anything you don't want," Maya said before Kyoya could talk. "I just want to know that you'll think before you go attacking other people." Maya sighed. "Mafia, the Army, they're all the same, Kyoya. It only takes a second to kill someone. And I would like to live with the knowledge that you won't charge headfirst into a storm of bullets."
Kyoya sighed. "You don't even know if I'm going to accept yet." He holds her hand tighter.
"You will," Maya answered with a smile. "You never could decline a challenge."
"Do you remember the first time you got kidnapped?" Kyoya asked suddenly. Maya nodded her head, confused to where he was going with this. "We were playing in the sandbox," Kyoya narrated. "I was with you the whole time, I saw it happen, and yet I couldn't save you," Kyoya whispered. "I can't let that happen again, Maya. I need to get stronger," his voice was raw with frustration. "As I am right now, it's not enough."
The ice skater touched Kyoya's cheeks, her thumb flickering through it. She forced him to look at her. "Saving me was never your job, Kyoya."
It happened in broad daylight. She and Kyoya were playing in the sandbox. They were both kids. She was five and he was six. Kei, her older sister, was there too. But she wasn't a kid, Maya thought. Kei was sixteen, a teenager, Maya thought with distaste. Kei was babysitting the both of them. Not like they needed it though, Maya mused. Grandpa Keisuke said that she and Kyoya are responsible children. That meant they could take care of themselves.
And then came a white van.
A gun.
And a handkerchief suffocating her.
Maya thrashed wildly. Beside her Kyoya was also fighting. She was scared. She wanted to cry. But Kyoya was fighting. He was being brave. So she had to be brave too.
Maya cried for help. Kei was already down. She took a hit on the head and they were dragging her to the ground. Kyoya had bruises on his arm and blood was dripping from his face. Kyoya was brave but he's also scared. Maya felt a hand grab her from the ground. It lifted her up. She kicked and scratched and cried until her voice was hoarse.
Before taking her away, she saw Kyoya. He was lying on the ground, bloodied and bruised. He was only six year old, she thought. They were only children. Kyoya was trying to stand up. No, Maya thought, stay down, they only want us, you can still go. That was her last thought before darkness took over.
When Maya regained her consciousness, her head hurt. The lights were too bright. And she felt like crying. Kei was thrashing violently beside her.
Blackmail, they said. Their parents have been snooping into something they shouldn't, they said. It was all their fault, they said. May wabted to cry.
At least Kyoya was safe, she thought.
It took three days before her parents got them out. Three days of continuous noises and threats and sleepless nights and disgusting food. Kei looked subdued and Maya, well, Maya couldn't speak.
The doctors said that it was her brain trying to cope with the traumatic experience. They said that it was severe for a child to have experienced that kind of trauma.
They said. They said. They said. They said. They said. They said. They said.
But what did they know? Maya only wanted to keep the noise away. But no matter how much she tries, it just wouldn't leave. The noises in her head just wouldn't stop bothering her.
It took six months before she talked again.
And it took two years, a pair of skates, and Kyoya to make the noise go away.
She always hated fairy tales. Fairy tales won't tell you about the girls with the same shade of red in her hood as the blood on her hand. They will tell you about the girl who is the fairest among the land, who is kind and naive, who rejects all sin with hair as skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood . What they won't tell you is a girl who wanted to escape so much that she willingly bit the poisoned apple and let it consume her.
The next day saw Maya bright and early in the rooftop. As always, Dino was with a subordinate. The two of them were in a safe distance, away from the wreckage that is Kyoya and Dino.
Romario, Maya learns, is Dino's right hand man. He tells her of what Dino is capable of. He fondly tells her that his boss turns into a very clumsy man when his subordinate is not around, that he can only function well because his men needs him too.
Cute, Maya thought as she watched them fight. But still an asshole, she amended amusingly.
The ice skater flinches when a whip hits Kyoya's face. Then she sighed when she saw the smirk Kyoya was sporting. It reminded Maya of her sister. Even when Kyoya was still young, he idolized her sister. Kei, for him, was his goal. To be better than Kei. To be stronger than Kei. He even took over Kei's beloved Disciplinary Committe and turned it even better.
When they were young, Kyoya would always ask Kei to a fight. It was never serious. But after the kidnapping, something changed in Kyoya. He became more quiet and bloodthirsty. He even went as far as to emulate Kei's beloved phrase of I'll bite you to death, hervivore. It was Maya who realized that it wasn't just her and Kei that had to deal with the trauma of kidnapping. Kyoya had to as well. He was traumatized just like her. And he dealt with it through training and fighting.
After the fight, Maya sauntered to where Kyoya was sitting. He was sporting a few bruises and scratches but nothing Maya couldn't fix. She sighed, crouching down to look at him in the eye. "You're enjoying yourself aren't you?" She fiddles with the first aid kit on her right, looking for bandages and the antiseptic soap.
The skylark smirks at her, much to Maya's ire. She grabs his arm a little too harshly. In turn, he glares at her, "Gently, Maya. Do it gently."
"You know, I bet Dino-san wanted to tell you that all through out your fight," she answered casually. The man in question flinched and vehementy nodded. Romario, just like Maya, was patching up his boss' injuries. Maya smiled at them. "You should do things in moderate, Kyoya. Moderation is always key."
"Hn." Kyoya ignored the ice skater.
"'Hn' me one more time, Kyoya, and I'll be the one putting injuries on you rather than heal them."
When Kyoya didn't answer, Maya smirked. "That's what I thought. Now tell me where it hurts, Kyoya," she ordered in a teasing voice.
Kyoya flinched. He knew that voice and he definitely knew what that voice meant. "Maya," he warned, looking at her with panic, "we are not children anymore. Stop this nonsense at once."
Maya looked at him sadly. She bit her lower lip, "Okay. You're right, Kyoya. I know you don't need me anymore." She turned away from him and drew circles on the ground with her finger dejectedly.
Kyoya groaned. He rubbed her face in frustration. He knew it was all an act. Maya had been doing this since they were children amd no matter what, Kyoya had always complied. Kyoya sighs, he never could say no to Maya, "Here," he points to his grazed right cheek. "It hurts right here," he said, exasperated and resigned.
As if she wasn't moping earlier, Maya turned to look at Kyoya cheerfully. "Okay," she said and proceed to kiss his cheek. " There, all better, right Kyoya?" she asked, just like she would when they were children.
"Yeah." He smiles against himself. "All better." Kyoya suddenly felt melancholic.
Forgotten, Dino was looking at them with a smile. Who knew Kyoya could act so cutely?
TO BE CONTINUED
Sneak Peak for Chapter 3
"Have I ever told you about my name, Tsuna-san?" May asks suddenly.
Tsuna looks at her with confusion.
"A warship, Tsuna-san, I was named after a warship."
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