Disclaimer: Please check previous chapters as I am not doing it over because I'm a lazy bum. Thank you!
A/N: OMGOMGOMG! Thank you everyone soooo much for your favs/follows/reviews! *group hug!* I am referring to the lovely peoples by the names of LoStInIlLuSiOn, Phoenician Rose, Rationally Irrational, PrincipessaBel, and AkaMizu-chan :-)
Sorry for the long wait guys. I had exams and then vacation, which I used to work day and night on my Deidara cosplay! XD but here it finally is, chapter 11!
Rationally Irrational: Thank you for reviewing! Haha, yes, veeery interesting indeed XD even though I wrote it, I'm just as excited as you to see more haha. Hope the wait was worth it~ enjoy!
PrincipessaBel: Thank you for reviewing, glad you like it so far! Oh my gosh, you're seriously making me shed tears of happiness over here *fans blushing, teary face* I am honoured to have this viewed as a 'gem' haha :-D and YES! I am indeed a demigod! XD I needed to think of an awesome Italian surname and, ding, Nico! Hahaha, I'm glad someone noticed and I found another fan! :3 Hope you enjoy this chapter, sorry for the wait!
On with the show!
Chapter 11
"What's wrong, Hibari Kyoya? Cat got your tongue?" Arica mocked, the corner of her mouth pulled up in a smirk.
The voice was, like the eyes, not hers. Arica D'Angelo wasn't present anymore. She was cooped up in a corner somewhere – that 'somewhere' being the back of her own mind. She was now merely a passenger in her own body as the other one took over. No, it wasn't a split personality. It was something akin to the Dying Will the Vongola was known for, but not quite the same either. The state which Arica was in allowed her to fight unrestrained and open-mindedly, just like the dying will, but that's where the similarities stopped.
Unlike the dying will, she didn't have control over her actions, her words, not even her thoughts. This state didn't allow any emotion at all except the will and hunger to fight. It wasn't hard to activate it, not at all, but it could become very troublesome trying to suppress it again after it had been activated for too long. At least releasing it wasn't painful at all, unlike with her weapons. If Hibari wanted to fight seriously, she'd use this any day if it meant not using the blades.
"If you're done gaping any time soon, could we start this fight?" she heard herself say.
Hibari snapped himself from his musings, deciding to bite first and ask questions later. Without warning, the Skylark lunged forward with a volley of unyielding attacks. They were all dodged. He had to stop himself from actually showing surprise at that. No one could dodge them, except the Bucking Horse on his good days and Sawada Tsunayoshi in his Hyper Dying Will mode. He couldn't even tell which way she was about to dodge; her body moved like water, flowing around the attacks.
A tonfa was swung at her chest and Arica fell back into a backflip, her one foot hooking around the tonfa, pulling it and its owner forward. When she came upright, she punched the off-balanced prefect in the jaw. Or would've, had he not stepped back just in time, aiming his other weapon at her gut. The girl doubled over slightly as her breath came whooshing out of her.
Damn it! the real Arica thought as she watched the scene unfold. She might not feel it now, but when she came back to her normal self, that was going to hurt. The Dying Will Arica didn't pay enough attention to anything other than how to attack and what the next attack would be. She didn't exactly feel pain either; no emotions, no feelings, no anything. She let her guard down too much, neglecting the defence.
Hibari pushed the panting body away from him like it was nothing but dead weight and the brunette stumbled a little as she caught her breath. He would allow her that only this once. Silver eyes looked up and a small grin started to form on her parted lips. Her right foot moved behind her left, the toes of her right sneaker almost touching the heel of her left. And she stood like that, just waiting for him to attack apparently. Mentally shrugging, the carnivore moved in for the kill.
Arica waited for him to close in before spinning to the side at the last moment. As she spun, her foot kicked out and something caught the little bit of sunlight that managed to peek through the dark grey clouds. Hibari came to a confused standstill and looked down, shocked at the sight that met his eyes. There, in his right side, was a small rip in his white button-up shirt. Underneath, a small scratch was visible, leaking the smallest drop of crimson. Arica had actually managed to land a hit on the strongest guardian of the Vongola.
Steel blue orbs darted towards the smirking girl and he found some new sort of respect for her as a smirk worked its way onto Hibari's own thin lips. "Wao," he said, turning towards her and readying himself for another attack, this time not planning to hold back anything. "You managed a hit, herbivore. And it was also your last."
Then, they clashed.
Half an hour later found the two teenagers still going at it on Namimori Middle's roof. Both had injuries, but nothing major. Arica would have a few more bruises later, about eight or so on various places; her stomach, her arms, maybe her legs. While Hibari merely had about four scratches and a few more tears in his clothes – which really pissed him off – caused by the small blades on her shoes.
Each was an inch long and were embedded in the toe and heel of her shoes. They had been suggested 'accessories' to go with her main weapons. There were triggers on her shoes that, when touched together, would release the triangular blades. One blade was situated at the toe of her left foot and the other on the heel of her right.
The real Arica had cringed at each blow both of them took, while the other one almost didn't even blink as she continued. Hibari didn't let up his numerous assaults, either. He had told her that that one cut was her only, yet she had managed three more on his flesh and about a dozen on his clothes from attacks he had barely been able to dodge in time. But her movements were starting to falter, he realized, as her breathing became uneven and harder.
Arica didn't think she could take any more damage at that moment. Well, she could, but Ricardo would accuse her of all kinds of things and probably kill her if he saw all the bruises that were busy forming all over her body. Arica was now trying to take over from her 'other self', trying to regain control, causing her movements to falter as it resisted. This caused for an opening Hibari willingly took, kicking the girl in the stomach before slamming a tonfa into her chest and finally swiping her legs from under her. Arica had known it was the worst time possible to try and change back, but if she went on like that any longer she would have a lot more trouble later on.
She went down, stumbling and skidding a little on the ground, scraping her hands and part of her upper thighs because of her shorts. The Skylark stalked forward, already executing the final blow as he watched her eyes flicker between silver and green. Arica managed to push herself into a crouch, but the tonfa was already overhead and there was no way she could get away unscathed.
Arica's arm went up instinctively to block the blow that was heading for her skull and winced a little when the steel hit her flesh. Not really at the pain, but at the almost inaudible, imperceptible clang of metal on metal. She hoped and prayed that she was the only one to have caught it, but alas, the prefect's ears were far too keen.
"Oh? What are you hiding in there D'Angelo Arica?" he questioned with interest as he observed the arm still being held prisoner by his weapon. Steel-blue eyes seemed to narrow in on the thin white line he had never before seen, yet it was a very old scar indeed.
"Nothing of great importance, I assure you. If you want to confiscate it, however, you'll have to slice my arm off first," she managed in barely more than a whisper as the fatigue began to set in. "But you don't have to worry about it; it's not going to be a danger to you or anyone else in this school or town. I would never allow that."
Hibari's brow quirked in mild surprise at the girl's words. 'A danger?' Did that mean it was a weapon of some sort? But that was impossible…or was it? He had seen a lot of strange things before and had been sure nothing coould surprise him anymore. But this girl was something else entirely, managing to catch him off-guard at every turn. Something told him to trust her on her word, however, and the Skylark settled with, "Wao. You're not a completely worthless herbivore after all, D'Angelo Arica."
"Thanks. I guess," the Italian responded and couldn't help but chuckle, albeit a little breathlessly. The action made her cringe from a tender spot in her side and it shut her up immediately, turning her smile to a grimace as she cursed under her breath. Biting her bottom lip in contemplation, Arica decided to ask, "Do you perhaps…have a first-aid kit I could use?"
Hibari watched the little herbivore slowly and shakily get to her feet, but her legs buckled and she nearly face-planted into the ground had he not caught a hold of her upper arm. It was a good fight and allowed him to relieve some stress, so what he decided on next was the least he could do – even if it was totally not like him at all. "Come," the prefect demanded as he yanked the brunette after him by the arm.
"W-where are we go– ow! Gods, watch where you're squeezing!" Arica hissed as the fingers gripped tighter, reminding her a little of how Gokudera had held her and shook her. She felt fear build in the pit of her stomach.
The only sound that was made was by Arica's heavy breathing and hisses of pain as the uncaring boy dragged her along, completely ignoring her protests. A few minutes later they arrived at the Reception Room and Arica was carelessly deposited on the black leather couch situated in the middle of the room. Hibari went over to another door – a bathroom – and came back a few seconds later, clutching something red in his hand.
"Here." The raven haired teen tossed it into her waiting lap without sparing the wide-eyed girl another glance as he went to sit at his desk.
Arica merely blinked at the small, portable first-aid kit in her lap. Yes, she had asked for it, but she hadn't expected him to actually give her one. After a few minutes, she realized she had just been staring at it while her body was in tatters. Green eyes searched for blue and Arica smiled, remembering her manners at last, "Thank you…Hibari."
She wasn't expecting an answer, but it came in the form of, "Hn. I couldn't leave you to bleed all over school property. That would be too troublesome."
Wait. What? Arica's gaze snapped to her scraped palms and legs to see nearly dried tracks of blood running down her creamy white skin. There was also a cut she hadn't felt or noticed before, a trail of crimson running down her midsection from just beneath her ribs. How did that happen? "I'm not bleeding that much…" she mumbled, opening the kit to start cleaning and tending to her injuries.
No answer. Another scratch had formed on her forearm where his tonfa had hit and this had Hibari wondering. The blow he had given there had enough force behind it to at least crack a bone. Yet she got away from it with merely a scratch. Very interesting indeed. He would've thought that maybe she had a metal plate in her arm because of a skeletal injury, but then the word 'danger' came back to him and he knew it wasn't that at all.
Ten minutes later found Arica completely patched up. She was about to put all the tools away when a small spot of red caught her eye and she looked over to see one of Hibari's cuts she had given him. The boy was busy with what looked like paperwork and didn't even seem to notice it. Arica hesitantly got up from the couch and approached the desk, kit in hand. The scribbling of the Chairman's pen stopped as soon as she took the first step, but he still didn't look up or say anything.
Arica stopped in front of him, clutching the bag in front of her. She had never felt nervous in front of someone, even if it was Hibari Kyoya. Why did she suddenly act like this? "Uhm…Do you want me to… Would you mind if I…took a look at your injuries?" she finally managed to ask, struggling to find the right words. There was no such thing as 'the right words' with Hibari, as far as Arica was concerned. No matter what you said, he would disagree; she already knew the answer to her request.
"Yes, I would," he answered curtly and the scribbling continued along with the silence.
Geez, I was just trying to be nice, Arica thought as she nodded and headed toward the supposed bathroom to put the kit away. Halfway, however, the brunette realized something. Turning back to the Skylark, Arica once more broke the silence. "You wouldn't happen to have any clothes lying around here, would you? Mine is wet and dirty and I would hate to soil your lovely office," she said half-mocking. Surprisingly her voice came out even and smoothly this time.
Hibari supressed a small sigh as he once more had to stop writing. Steel-blue eyes glared at the unfazed girl for a few seconds, but she didn't back down, to his slight amusement and equal annoyance. The prefect stood up and walked over to a box that stood in one corner behind his desk, picking it up and depositing it at the girl's feet. "Lost and found. Take something from there," he explained as Arica raised a questioning brow. He didn't know why he was doing that, answering to the Italian's every whim so far. Maybe because she would be unbearably annoying if he didn't? Yes, probably that…
"Thanks," she smiled and started rummaging through the contents for something that might fit. Finding a plain black T-shirt and a black skirt, Arica decided to go change in the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
Hibari watched her go before glancing down at his own damp clothes. Getting up and finding a black button up shirt and slacks he kept in the office for just such occasions, he changed quickly before the herbivore returned. When she did, fifteen minutes later, she was dressed in black, barefooted and her hair fell loosely over her shoulders, having curled up slightly as the tips because of the rain. It looked like she had taken a shower as well.
Arica felt much better now that she had tried to wash the memories of earlier down the drain along with the dirt and sweat of her previous fights, and didn't hesitate to practically skip over to Hibari's desk and grin at him, "Oh, you changed too?"
There was no answer as the Skylark saw no point in where the impending conversation was going. If she was going to get annoying and yap at him the whole time while he was trying to work, then she was going to get a tonfa to the head no matter what she said about being a girl.
Arica's eyes narrowed at the blatant dismissal and she studied him for a few second. Something clicked in her mind and a mischievous smirk made its appearance on her lips. "Hey, I just realized we're both dressed all in black! We can be twins or something…or just siblings, since you're obviously older. Or half siblings since we look nothing alike really. Hmm…you'll be the moody, scary one that everyone hates, and I could be the happy, friendly one that everyone wants to be friends with!"
What the hell is coming out of my mouth? Arica wondered incredulously as she babbled like a giggling schoolgirl. Yes, it was what she had had in mind at that moment, but for some reason she was doing it just too well. Am I high? she thought again, just as Hibari gave her a strange look, probably thinking the same thing while contemplating whether or not to call an asylum. She couldn't blame him; she was contemplating the same.
"Why would I want to be related to you in the first place, herbivore?" the prefect grimaced. He wondered when the headache was going to start… "We have absolutely nothing in common – our clothes do not count."
Arica pouted slightly, closing her mouth as she was about to say something before he cut her off. Maybe I'm bipolar, or really do have a split personality…I should go see a doctor about that. "You're so mean…" – another mischievous smirk – "Onii-san," the brunette smirked as she saw the Skylark stiffen at the title. Then he glared and promptly ignored her, continuing with whatever it is he was doing. Arica decided to make herself comfortable, pulling out the vacant chair in front of the desk before sitting down.
"What are you doing, herbivore? There's no reason for you to stay here any longer. Go home," Hibari demanded as he felt her intense stare boring into the top of his bent over head.
"But I want to spend more time with my newly acquired Onii-san," Arica protested and found that that was, shockingly, the truth. The main reason for this statement to be true was because that would mean she didn't have to go back home until she absolutely had to. She didn't want to see Ricardo, she didn't want to see that house – not the exterior or interior. The other, much smaller reason being the epiphany she had had in the shower the previous day; about Gokudera and Hibari being good enough for the mafia. Those thoughts had been reaffirmed when she had fought both of them earlier that day, but now she thought Hibari was the most likely out of anyone she knew to be part of the Vongola. Sure Gokudera was good, but he wasn't as great as the Disciplinary Chairman. Then again, you got different levels of expertise and skills in the mafia world, she knew as much from experience.
That epiphany had yet to be made a solid fact, though. She had to spend time with him – both of them, but she didn't have the strength to deal with the temperamental bomber at the moment – to see if there were any dropped hints or something of the like that could lead her in the right direction. Arica also felt…comfortable where she sat at that moment. She honestly found Hibari kind of interesting and wanted to know more just out of curiosity and not just because it was a job.
"Don't call me that," the Cloud growled, glaring up at the grinning girl. Her sudden mood change was so great that he swore it had given him whiplash. Normally, any herbivore that came at least within a fifty meter radius of him would flee at the mere presence of the killer intent surrounding him like a shield or ward of some sort. This girl however was sitting a few feet away and seemed unfazed by his clipped, icy tone and hard, freezing glare. Hell, she even fought him only a few minutes ago!
"But it's kind of fun to make you angry…" she trailed off. They both wondered if she had a death wish, but Arica just couldn't help it. Arica's normal side peeked out a little then and she sobered up slightly. "That aside, I…want to thank you. For letting me borrow the clothes and all. So I thought that maybe I could help out with some work?" The brunette glanced over at the stack of papers that would keep the Chairman busy for hours yet to come. She felt sorry for him, really. She knew what a pain paperwork could be sometimes.
Hibari was silent as he followed her gaze. He was about to say no immediately, like he would've done with anything and anyone else, but he hesitated for a moment and thought about it. He usually worked in the Reception Room on weekends so that he could have some peace and quiet and something to pass the time with. On school days Kusakabe would help out, but awkward and fear filled silence would still reign. Now, having this chatty girl with him unnerved the Cloud, yet…interested him at the same time. "…You can stay. But if you call me that one more time or say any unnecessary things, I will bite you to death," he warned her, studying her face for any reaction.
Arica blinked a few times before smiling warmly in thanks and relief. She didn't have to go home yet; she could escape that prison and Ricardo for a few more hours at least. She didn't want to face him until it was inevitable – she had said she'd be home at half past six at the latest and it was only half past one. He'd ask her too many questions on her new injuries and if she go home later, she could possibly dodge them with excuses of being tired and in much need of a bath.
The Skylark, on the other hand, was taken quite aback by the gesture he had just received. No one had ever given him such a warm, genuine smile before; any kind of smile, period. The action had made her blue-green eyes sparkle and her face light up and for some unexplainable reason he felt something in him soften. Shaking his head to get rid of the disturbing thoughts and feelings, Hibari went back to his papers.
Arica took that as a sign to go ahead and she divided the work into two piles – one for each of them. The only sounds audible were the scratching of pen on paper, the comfortable silence seeping into them.
A/N: End of Chapter 11! I hope you liked it…maybe a bit sudden? Fine? Good? High on crack? Please let me know what you all thought!
Question: What is your favourite anime? If I haven't seen it yet I will be sure to go check it out because I need more characters for my cosplay list!
Lots of love¸ ciao ciao~