Series: Katekyo Hitman Reborn
Pairing: Kagome/Belphegor
Summary: The last thing Kagome expected was to get mixed up in something crazy or dangerous again. But she moved in with her relative in Namimori because she just couldn't adjust to a normal life. Who would have thought that she would get mixed up in the mafia… or that she'd draw the intention of someone particularly bloodthirsty?
Disclaimer: Yoruko Rhapsodos doesn't own Inuyasha or Katekyo Hitman Reborn.
Succession Conflict Blues
If Kagome Higurashi were the same girl she had been when she first fell down the Bone Eater's Well, she would have tried to insist that she was done with guys who loved fighting so much that they practically lived for it. But of course, you don't survive countless life threatening misadventures throughout a quest to put back together and get rid of a jewel with too much power for anyone's good unchanged. Needless to say, Inuyasha showed every sign of never speaking to her again if she had been able to stick around after she picked the wish that would destroy the jewel instead of letting him risk everything by granting either of his very selfish wishes.
When Kagome found herself back in her time for good with it being her fifteenth birthday again and her family being the only people besides her who remembered how crazy her life had become and that the shrine used to have a dry well, she knew. She knew that she would never be able to be content with normality again. Unlike her old fantasies she would never be able to fall in love with a normal guy, even if she found someone cuter and less frustrating than Hojo. Peaceful normal days bored her, she longed for the chaotic peace that had dominated the quieter moments of her travels throughout Feudal Japan.
From then on Kagome threw most of her energy into her studies and learning self-defense. By the time she finally graduated Jr. High she had taken up kendo and martial arts and gotten a license to carry and conceal a gun. After she flat out told Hojo that she wasn't interested, her friends abandoned her. When she graduated Jr. High she decided to strike out on her own. Her late godmother's son, Kyouya Hibari- she finally learned that the Hibaris were relatives but her mother never said how they were related- had to Souta's and Jii-chan's surprise helped her enroll at his high school and offered to put her up at his apartment. So in that manner, she ended up attending Namimori High.
For the most part Kagome's first year was fairly peaceful. She didn't join any clubs because too many people in them were bullies, fangirls, fanboys, or sheep-like for her liking. Not to say that they were quiet. Hibari was only a year older than her yet was so feared he held more sway than any teacher or popular third year. Everyone who had managed to notice that she was friends with the infamous head of the Disciplinary Committee thought she was weird. Plus, one boy in her class named Ryohei Sasagawa was very loud, obsessed with boxing, and always shouting, calling things extreme, saying he would do something 'to the extreme', or complaining that something wasn't extreme. If nothing else the ex-time traveler could be content that her life wasn't boring. But she swore if the Japanese literature teacher kept going on his stupid rants while trying to embarrass people that scored below eighty five percent she would break his nose, the man made math pleasant in comparison.
"… Kyouya, if this keeps up the vice principal will being bugging you to do the part of the traditional definition of your job as Disciplinary Committee head again." Kagome complained.
"What are you talking about, Omnivore?" Hibari asked.
"If that damn Japanese literature teacher keeps up this annoying high and mighty attitude I'm going to deck him." she complained.
"… You mean the herbivore called Nezu? Do as you like, he keeps disturbing the peace." he waved off, "I'm always finding herbivores complaining about him or crying over something he said. Now focus or I'll stop tutoring you."
Kagome panicked at that. "I'm sorry! I'll stop, so please don't do that! I'll fail without your help!"
When her second year of high school began things got very crazy very quickly in Namimori after about a month. A cursed toddler was causing chaos she soon learned he called training and preparing a first year girl she had heard was a bully magnet for the future. Kagome learned even more quickly that he was a hitman from the Italian mafia sent to train the girl to be a mafia boss. Upon meeting the girl, Tsunami Sawada, Kagome befriended her immediately. Reborn, the toddler, seemed too pleased when Kagome demanded to be involved so she could protect Tsunami after she wound up saving her young girl from thugs he made them run into. And Kagome swore the transfer from Italy who had been following Tsunami around like a puppy actually pouted when she beat him to the punch. Then he starting yelling at her for reasons she didn't understand and she finally learned his name was Gokudera when Tsunami's other friend, the local baseball star Yamamoto, tried to diffuse the situation.
It failed miserably, Gokudera finally stopped shouting at her only to switch his anger to Yamamoto instead. "Shut up, Yakyuu-baka! No one asked you!"
"Maa, maa. Everything's fine thanks to her so there's no need to be angry right?" Yamamoto pointed out with a laugh.
"… Is it always like this?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah." Tsunami said, an aura of gloom encompassing her.
Kagome patted Tsunami on the back comfortingly. "There, there. I'm sure Gokudera-kun will learn to relax eventually."
In spite of how many times Reborn put all of them in life threatening situations without once noticing or admitting when he did something wrong or messed up, things didn't get serious until students attending Namimori High were suddenly being targeted left by Kokuyo High students left and right. Four days after the first attack, Ryohei was attacked and Hibari disappeared after finally getting a lead. She offered to stay to protect Kyoko, Haru, and Nana but in the end went with Tsunami anyway when Reborn said he had it covered. (When it was over she was introduced to the Ten Year Bazooka and "Dr." Shamal. She wound up sending the pervert to the hospital.) In the end because the others seemed to be doing fine on their own she mostly performed first aid and defended those who could no longer fight. And Reborn actually chuckled when Kagome asked who was the one that should be arrested for pedophilia. Then she decided that Reborn was a pervert and Bianchi a shouta-con when she discovered the nature of their relationship. When everything was over Kagome had made friends out of enemies again because she had tried to protect Mukuro, Chikusa, and Ken from the Vendice.
"What the hell are you hypocrites doing?!" she shouted, "First off Mafioso are criminals so they have no right to arrest anyone anyway. Second of all if your job is really to preserve peace and justice why did you ignore Estraneo? Mukuro has every right to hate the mafia after having a childhood like that!"
All three's eyes had widened, even Mukuro seemed shocked.
Then Mukuro laughed. "Kufufu, Higurashi-chan you're quite an interesting girl."
Kagome started getting booklets on the Vongola from Reborn after that. So when a silver haired man named Squalo Superbi showed up while everyone was trying to cheer Tsunami up about her workaholic father coming back a month into the new school year (Hibari was still lurking about Namimori High even though he technically should have graduated.) she recognized the uniform. He was a member of the Varia, a semi-independent organization within the Vongola that specialized in assassinations. By the time Dino arrived Kagome had broken Squalo's nose for trying to hurt a bunch of kids and she was handing him the box he'd been after.
"Take it and get out of here before I give you a black eye too!" Kagome demanded, "Tsuna-chan never wanted any of this anyway, she needs more time before being forced to make a decision!"
"Kagome-chan, what are you doing?!" Dino exclaimed.
"Voi! What're you talking about, trash?! Isn't the kid the boss candidate?" Squalo demanded.
"Reborn and Nono never asked her for her opinion, she just keeps getting told by every Mafioso she meets that she'll be Vongola Decima." Kagome explained, "She was just a normal girl until Reborn showed up, she didn't even know about being related to the mafia."
Squalo blinked, thrown off guard. That had been nothing like the Varia had heard or expected. A second later he decided that while he'd have to report the oddity it didn't matter. His task accomplished, he turned to leave.
"Fine." he said, and then muttered, "Its' the opposite, yet similar."
'… What's he talking about?' Kagome wondered.
"Why didst thou do that?!" the boy Squalo had been attacking when he showed up demanded.
"Tsunami needs to take advantage of every opportunity to put off or avoid direct contact with the mafia she gets." Kagome said, "Until she finally comes to terms with the fact that not every criminal or killer is bad no amount of physical training, danger, threats, or strange situations can prepare her mentally and emotionally for the long road ahead of her. Especially when she hasn't even been aware of the mafia for a year."
Basil, the boy Squalo had attacked, frowned. "Master never gave the impression that Sawada-dono wasn't aware."
Kagome shrugged. "You know what they say about assumptions."
##########
Though incredulous, Kagome couldn't bring herself to be surprised when she learned that the rings Squalo took were fake. When Reborn set Tsunami and her known guardians to train Kagome joined them. Ipin introduced her to her master, another cursed toddler named Fon. He helped her refine and adjust the martial arts she had learned, find and learn to use a suitable weapon, and even procured and helped her learn to use a gun.
"…Twin wakizashi?" Kagome noted.
"You have excellent aim with long distance weapons but they don't suit you." Fon explained, "Haven't you said that you don't seem able to help getting into the thick of the conflict?"
Kagome looked at the wakizashi contemplatively, she knew he was right. "… When do we start?"
############
When the Varia finally showed up in Namimori ahead of schedule the seriousness of the situation finally hit home for the other teens that were aware of what was going on. When Tsunami's so-called father Iemitsu and women from an organization called Cervello entered the scene and escalated the conflict into a full-blown mini war Kagome was furious. Mostly with Iemitsu, Nono, and Reborn. Who gets a five year old mixed up in a conflict between assassins and a teenage girl who grew up clueless about her mafia heritage?
Kagome grit her teeth. "Reborn, I can't do anything to you or Nono but if I ever meet Iemitsu Sawada properly he's in for a world of hurt."
Reborn had just looked at her. He hadn't been sure either but their options were limited and generally you could trust the judgment of someone who had sky flames. He just hoped that the blonde man-child didn't make things worse for himself when he inevitably wound up in a confrontation with the girl Gokudera had learned the hard way had the protective instincts of a bear or a dragon.
"Hm, I'll have a hospital bed ready for him." Reborn promised.
'And a bribe ready to keep me on her good side.' the spikey haired hitman noted to himself.
"Higurashi-chan sure is amusing." Yamamoto laughed.
"She's not amusing she's overprotective." Gokudera claimed.
Tsunami just sighed. 'I almost feel bad for Tou-san…'
##############
Ryohei's fight as sun guardian was first. It was intense, very intense. And a close call. Kagome's classmate almost lost. If it weren't for the technique Colonello, a third cursed toddler, taught him the boxer would have lost even with the boost in morale Kyoko gave him. His opponent, a flamboyant man named Lussuria, had covered his knee in metal and even without it Kagome was sure that he was much stronger than the boxing otaku. Not that Kagome paid much attention to the fight after Varia's sun guardian started flirting in a very creepy fashion.
She scrunched her nose in disgust. "Ew! Was he implying necrophilia?! Why do all the gay men I meet have to be weirdoes that want to kill my friend?"
"Hii! Have you met a lot of guys like that, Kagome-senpai?!" Tsunami asked incredulously.
"Well, it's actually only two." Kagome admitted, "I'm not sure if Jakotsu actually wanted Inuyasha dead but he kept talking about cutting his ears off. And back in Jr. High one of my classmates was poisoned by a worker of the inn they stayed at during a class trip because he turned him down. If I hadn't been in the room he would have died on the way to the hospital."
Though really, that had been funny in the end. The classmate was Hojo. He cried and almost fainted when he learned the one who gave him CPR when he stopped after Kagome's treatment was his roommate, who was also male. Apparently he had faked it in hopes of a kiss. Served him right, in her opinion.
Finally, the fight was drawing to a close. But it was brought to a premature end. The robot had shot the clearly losing Lussuria. The moment the Cervello declared Ryohei's victory Kagome was hurrying into the ring with her first aid kit. To her relief, both males were okay. Lussuria was creepy but other than that he seemed pleasant enough and with the way things were she had no reason to want him dead.
"Can you wait a minute for your turn, Ryohei-kun?" she asked.
"Yeah, I don't mind. That was extremely uncool." Ryohei said, unusually serious.
With that she started treating Lussuria, who was barely conscious. "Between his knee and his back, he might not be able to walk for a while."
"Voi! What do you think you're doing, trash?!" Squalo shouted.
"If your policies are really so harsh I can't to do anything to stop you from punishing failure, I don't have the standing and things are different in the mafia." Kagome replied, "But killing your friends and comrades is not okay! Besides, it's not like there's a law against helping people."
Back with the Varia, the blonde was amused. "Shishishi. How interesting. A peasant with a backbone."
When she finished with Ryohei the Vongola medics finally made an appearance. When she returned to her friends, she was told that while she was distracted the Cervello said that it was the lightning guardian's turn next. And no one was letting Tsunami pull Lambo out of the fight. She didn't think, just acted. Her hand flew and Iemitsu found himself with a throbbing hand shaped bruise. Only Miroku could withstand one of her or Sango's slaps.
"You're the worst father I've ever met! How can you let a five year old fight an assassin?! Lambo doesn't even understand what's going on!" she shouted, and then turned to leave, "Reborn, Even with your sadism I expected better of you than to send an innocent child to die like cannon fodder! If I find out that you were involved in picking Lambo as a guardian I'll never trust you again!"
Before Kagome got far Tsunami caught up. She begged the older girl to sleep at her house for the night. Kagome never noticed the blonde Varia member, Belphegor, watching her. When they arrived Kagome was given a futon and shown to Lambo and Ipin's room.
###########
The next day, Fon noticed something was wrong and she wound up pouring out her troubles to him. He patted her on the head, reassured her, and canceled training for the day. By then it was lunchtime. Having nothing else to do since she didn't have classes that day, Kagome decided to get some sushi. Yamamoto was a happy-go-lucky guy, if he was there cheering up was sure to be easy. Like she expected he wasn't there, but the sushi was good anyway. Kagome wasn't sure she had ever tasted better sushi. Suddenly Belphegor was there, sitting down next to her.
"Shishishi, fancy seeing you here peasant." he said.
"My name is Kagome. I'd appreciate it if you used it." Kagome said, "And your name is?"
"The prince's name is Belphegor." he replied, "You seem rather upset over the lightning battle."
"I can't say I mind the mafia. I've seen some pretty crazy things so I know the world isn't black and white." Kagome admitted, "But hurting children is never acceptable. Lambo doesn't realize what's happening or how serious things are. For crying out loud he thinks his weapons are toys! He's in over his head, no one can deny it but no one will admit it. I don't know what to do."
"Sounds like the eternal advisor should have found someone older." Belphegor commented.
'Older… The bazooka!' Kagome realized.
She stood up. "That gives me an idea! Thanks, Belphegor-san!"
With that she kissed the blonde on the cheek and was gone. She never noticed Belphegor's grin give way to shock or the slight blush on his face. Over in his spot behind the counter Yamamoto's father chuckled quietly to himself. It was always interesting watching young people who would inevitably become couples with them not even knowing it. He was happy for his son's friend. He could tell that she deserved some happiness and a shoulder to lean on. He looked forward to seeing how long it took them to figure it out.
#############
The moment Kagome got to the Sawada residence she went straight to Lambo. Predictably, he was arguing with Ipin and Fuuta over snacks. Shaking her head, she approached the little boy and picked him up. She had a feeling that it would be best to be alone for the conversation she had in mind.
"Will you come with me, Lambo? I really want to talk to you. I'll even buy you ice cream." Kagome bargained.
"Yay! Ice cream! Lambo-san will come!" the five year old cheered.
"Ipin come too." The Chinese girl requested.
"Can I join you Kagome-nee?" Fuuta asked.
Kagome smiled. "I'll bring some back for you and Fuuta. I want to talk to Lambo about something private."
"Ipin understand. Arigato." Ipin said.
"Arigato, Kagome-nee!" Fuuta said with a smile.
#############
Ten minutes later found the two on a bench in the park with ice ream cones in hand. Kagome asked to see the Ten Year Bazooka and Lambo complied without a word. He was so distracted by his ice cream she doubted he had processed what she said or that he did as she asked. Not hesitating, Kagome aimed it at the boy and shot it. Instantly Lambo was replaced by pink smoke and his teenage self.
"Ara? Did my younger self throw another tantrum?" Teenage Lambo asked, but then he saw Kagome and seemed to understand, "Ah, it was you Nee-chan."
"Hisashiburi, Lambo-kun. I hope I didn't pull you from something important." Kagome greeted.
Lambo sighed. "You didn't. Even if you had you've always been so motherly to me I could never mind."
"About the ring battle tomorrow night..." Kagome trailed off.
"I'm sorry, Nee-chan. I've already told young Vongola-chan that if I fight in my younger self's place it could damage the timeline." fifteen year old Lambo told his beloved sister figure.
"It's not that, per say... You and I both know that you're not much more of a match for that guy than your five year old self." Kagome said, "I'll ignore the holes in your excuse, we're on a tight schedule."
"What exactly did you want?" Lambo asked.
"We both know your younger self still hasn't learned to listen to Tsunami." Kagome pointed out, "Please Lambo! If five year old Lambo uses the bazooka anyway don't waste a second and use it to summon your adult self!"
Teenage Lambo blinked. "What?"
"You're still just a teenager. No matter how much Tsunami likes to call you 'Adult Lambo', Tsunami and I are too protective for you to have the strength and experience needed for a fight with a fully trained ruthless killer." Kagome pointed out, "With how strong you are as a teenager your opponent from the Varia won't stand a chance against your twenty five year old self given he can stay out long enough."
Lambo looked shocked. "Nee-chan, no one has tried that! It's just..."
"Please! I can't see any version of you get hurt!" she begged, "Please, Lambo. I'll step in and get you disqualified if I have to!"
Having been looking down, Lambo finally looked up at Kagome. His right eye opened up in his shock and concern. Kagome had started to cry. He panicked for a moment. But then he remembered something. Something Hibari had said when in a rare moment of human compassion he spoke up with threats and advice regarding how Kagome would be treated when it was decided that she was ready for missions.
"Whatever you do, leave Kagome out of missions that involve children or I'll bite you to death." the cloud guardian had said, She's fought against or with children before and regrets it immensely. I've never seen her have a nightmare about a death experience, but every time the cow herbivore or his friend is allowed to fight she wakes up in the middle of the night in tears mumbling apologies."
Lambo hugged Kagome and rubbed her back comfortingly. "I promise, Nee-chan. I'll be okay, I swear."
###########
The night of the lightning ring battle, Lambo indeed used the Ten Year Bazooka. Tsunami freaked out. Yamamoto, Ryohei, and even Gokudera cheered. For a moment Kagome was worried. But to her immense relief, Teenage Lambo used her advice.
"I was in the middle of dinner." the green eyed boy complained, and then he sighed, "It can't be helped, though. I hope this works Nee-chan."
Still holding his bowl of noodles, Teenage Lambo picked up the time travel device and shot himself with it. The Lambo that came out was taller and broader. His hair was longer, and his clothes were mostly hidden from view by a worn brown trench coat which was tattered to the point that anyone paying attention wondered why it hadn't been replaced and why it was thicker than any night in summer warranted.
"How nostalgic. It's been years since I've been in this situation." Adult Lambo said, "Those faces I thought I'd never see again- It makes me want to cry, but this isn't the time."
Then the twenty five year old Lambo looked at Kagome. She noticed a sad, somber look in his eyes. She was concerned, especially combining that look, his words, and the state of his clothes, but he had clearly grown up nicely. In spite of the situation at hand Kagome smiled.
"You've grown up well, Lambo." she said.
"Finally a genuine smile..." he noted, his smile both sad and relieved, "I've waited a long time for a chance to be the strong one Nee-chan, this time I'll protect you."
The fight was amazing. Leviathan didn't stand even a ghost of a chance. Then Adult Lambo found an old and battered set of bull horns on the ground. The exterior crumbled away revealing the insult Gokudera had written. The battle should have been one. With the state he put Leviathan in it nearly was. But then the five minutes were up. From where he laid battered and beaten on the ground the lightning guardian of the Varia prepared one final strike meant for the five year old. Kagome moved to step forward but Reborn grabbed her sleeve.
"You can't, he'll be disqualified." the hitman reminded her.
Glaring, Kagome slapped his hand away. "Excuse me if I value life over jewelry."
Grabbing the gun out of her pocket, Kagome shot the umbrella out of Leviathan's hand. As she approached the strange man she drew her wakizashi. Before anyone knew what was happening, the purple eyed girl was between Lambo and his much older opponent.
"Those attacks of yours could kill a kid like Lambo! If you value your arms and gender you'll leave him alone." Kagome said coldly, freezing the retort on the tip of Leviathan's tongue with a glare that would impress even Sesshomaru or Hibari.
"N... Nee-chan..." Lambo sniffed, "It still hurts..."
Kagome picked the boy up. "It's alright, the game is over."
She bent down and threw the ring towards Leviathan's comrades. The floating cursed baby/toddler, Mammon, caught it. He frowned, but remained silent as he handed the ring to Squalo. The silver haired young man grit his teeth in anger.
"Voi! You're giving up just like that?!" Squalo shouted.
"Urusai, baka!" Kagome retorted, "I can't let a kid get hurt and still call myself a woman. I don't know who the genius who picked Lambo for something so dangerous was but I'll never forgive him for doing such a coldhearted thing as involving a five year old in what was probably stupidly designed to be a battle to the death."
Reborn flinched at the harsh words and vowed to punish Iemitsu. Putting him in such a delicate situation with such a valuable potential member of the Vongola Famiglia wasn't something he would forgive easily. Tsunami was freaking out. Speechless for once, Squalo's eye twitched. Belphegor, to the contrary, laughed.
"Shishishi. You must be pretty naive, peasant. This is the mafia." The blonde mocked.
"I'm not preaching against all killing. I know there are people out there who would kill me no matter what unless they're killed first." Kagome retorted sharply, "What I'm saying is that children are supposed to be protected and nurtured, not hurt or used as pawns."
"Voi! Don't you care about the result of these battles trash?!" Squalo asked.
Kagome looked Squalo in the eye.
"These battles are either useless or a trap. The baka who calls himself Tsunami's father, Nono-san, and your boss all moved too quickly." she replied, "Tsunami still hasn't come to terms with being involved with the mafia at all, let alone as a potential future boss. She's against everything that's happened since she came across you attacking that boy. She should have had a lot more time before something like this happened."
"What do you mean?" Mammon asked.
"I'd have thought everyone in the Vongola knew." Kagome said, "Tsunami-chan hadn't known about her connection to the mafia until Reborn arrived, she hadn't even heard of the Vongola. And she never knew her so-called father Iemitsu had anything to do with the mafia until he stopped you guys from attacking her and her friends for the real rings."
"It sounds like you're not sure she should be the boss." Belphegor noted.
"Oh, she has the potential to be a great boss." Kagome said, "But the choice to take that path needs to be hers. Not Nono-san's, not Reborn's, not even the man who calls himself her father even though he had no clue she was completely friendless before Reborn came along and started changing her life."
"What will we do, Squalo?" Mammon asked.
"We report it, of course. What happens from here is up to Xanxus." Squalo said, turning to leave.
"No need, Trash. I'm right here." Xanxus said, "Pretty pathetic, Levi, letting a do-gooder girl get the drop on you."
############
The storm battle was the next one. The pervert Shamal turned up, not only revealing that he was the one who trained Gokudera but Mammon let on that he had been invited into the Varia before. Gokudera looked like he would be late at first. It was almost a Varia victory by default.
"Ne, Kagome-chan~ Why do you hang out with these peasants anyway? You don't seem the type to get involved with the mafia." Belphegor asked.
"Hm, well let's just say I've experienced things even Reborn would think was crazy. It involved time travel, and I'm pretty sure that even if I haven't changed the past completely there isn't any proof that it happened." Kagome said, "Honestly I came to Namimori because I wanted a little chaotic peace Kyouya guaranteed that life would be interesting here."
"Shishishi. Interesting~ What happened for you to get like that?" Belphegor asked.
Kagome shook her head. "I'm sorry but I can't prove my story to anyone. If I told you I'd sound crazy. Let's just say it deals with alternate timelines."
"Hm~ You're more interesting than I thought. I like you." Belphegor declared.
Finally, Gokudera showed up at the last minute. He was at a disadvantage from the start. Belphegor wasn't just really smart, he was a better fighter and his weapon of choice was the worst kind for Gokudera to deal with. When Gokudera finally used his head he changed things up enough to almost win. But then the time limit went up. He almost got himself killed trying to get the ring and thus win the battle even though he lost the fight. But finally Tsunami lost her temper and shouted at Gokudera, full on ordering and begging the bomber to live.
"Hayato Gokudera you listen to Tsunami and get your ass back here! A piece of mystical jewelry isn't worth dying over, trust me I know from experience!" Kagome demanded, adding in her two cents, "You have your friends and sister waiting for you! You might not like anyone but Tsunami but we would all be upset if you die! So are you going to man up and get out of there while there's still time!"
Then the turbines exploded and there was too much smoke to see. To everyone's relief, Gokudera managed to stumble back. The victory had been Belphegor's, the Varia had won two out of three battles. Kagome wasted no time in joining everyone in making sure he was okay. Upon seeing that his medical treatment was being covered Kagome made her way through the smoke and debris to the library, where she found Belpehgor still lying on the ground clutching the ring. She approached him, first aid kit in hand.
"What are you doing?" a barely conscious Belphegor demanded.
Kagome proceeded to open up the kit and get what she needed, only looking at the toddler out of the corner of her eye. "None of you exactly seem the type to either have the skills needed to treat serious wounds or the personalities to even bother trying unless they're your own and not bad enough to warrant you deciding to go to a hospital."
"Why would you aid your enemy?" he asked.
Kagome looked at him right where his eyes would be if they weren't hidden by his bangs.
"No you're not. Xanxus is a jerk, and I'll never trust Leviathan, but Squalo seems decent enough." Kagome replied, "And even though he hates Nono-san your boss sounds like he means it when he says he's loyal to the Vongola. Vongola is the mafia famiglia recruiting my friends, so as far as I'm concerned you lot are only comrades settling a disagreement in an overly violent manner. The issue isn't big enough for me to let comrades die."
Hidden by his bangs, Belpehgor's eyes widened in shock. He had never met such a forgiving person. And he could tell, somehow, that it wasn't Kagome being naïve. No, it seemed to be… some kind of intuition, perhaps. But she almost sounded like she was talking from experience to Belpehgor, as if she had befriended people who had started out trying to kill her before.
###########
The next day, Belphegor approached Kagome when she was on her way to the grocery store. He insisted on following her around. At first they bantered. As time wore on though it became lighter and more playful than she would have expected. Before either knew it they were chatting amiably. Talking about books and manga they had both read. Sharing stories about their friends. They even traded tips on various things.
"I know people see bleach as the go-to for removing blood stains, but the right herbs work much better." Kagome said.
"Shishishi. How do you know that?" Belpehgor asked.
"I can't prove it so you won't believe me." Kagome admitted, "Let's just say Kyouya wears clothes that smelled like they had been in the hamper for at least a couple of years before I found them."
"Kyouya? Who's that?" Belpehgor repeated, wanting an explanation.
"A relative." Kagome said, "My cousin, I think. Kaa-san was never exactly specific."
"Why do you live with your cousin?" he asked, "Do you not get along with your family?"
"No, that's not it… I get along really well with them. Do you remember that I said if I explained how I'm familiar with violence you wouldn't believe me?" Kagome replied, "I was restless, and couldn't move on. So I needed to get away and find a change of scenery."
"The prince doesn't understand." Belphegor said, looking at Kagome out of the corner of his eye.
Kagome looked at him, and though his eyes were hidden from view their eyes met. "I know it's selfish but I was bored. After the traveling and misadventures were over with, I found myself unable to be content with peace and quiet. Having a normal life had lost all appeal."
"'Misadventures'?" Belpehgor's interest was piqued.
"On my fifteenth birthday I got… lost, sort of. I was pulled to a place no one will ever be able to reach again by something I didn't think existed before then." Kagome explained, "I made a mistake with enormous consequences, and I had to fix it. I'm lucky to be alive and most of the people I wound up closest to saw me as an enemy or tried to rob me when we met. The things I went through and saw honestly make what Reborn puts Tsunami through look like a piece of cake."
"You really are an interesting one, Black Bird." Belphegor said.
When they reached the apartment building it started pouring. Kagome took Belphegor's hand and raced inside, dragging the blonde behind her. When he tried to leave she insisted he either call a taxi or wait out the rain. The weather was better than during the lightning battle, but not by much. So he agreed to stay. With that Kagome led him to the apartment she lived in with Hibari.
"Make yourself comfortable, I'll be right back." Kagome said, hanging up his coat and then disappearing down the hall.
Kagome came back five minutes later. She had changed out of her wet uniform and into jeans and a T-shirt. A small towel was around her neck to catch stray water from her hair. A slightly longer towel was in her hands. She stopped right in front of Belpehgor, who thanks to his coat was drier than she had been.
"I brought you a towel. Do you want help drying your hair?" Kagome asked.
"Please do." he said, not about to turn down a pretty girl asking to get closer to him.
And Kagome was indeed pretty, beautiful even. Belphegor couldn't help but notice, she was much more attractive in his eyes than most of the women he came across. Kagome's skin was pale, but not sickly looking- a nice change from the girl who either never thought their skin was tanned enough. Her black hair was well cared for but simply kept. Her face wasn't obscured by makeup, and her eyes were a unique shade of purple- something approaching blue violet. It had been a long time since the blonde had found a girl so intriguing, he would have to get to know her better. Suddenly the towel displaced his bangs. Kagome's purple eyes met Belpehgor's pale blue ones, and they both froze for a moment.
Belphegor smirked, and when Kagome blushed his smirk widened in response. 'Yes, I definitely have to get to know her. And I'm not letting her go.'
Owari