AN: Severely gross amount of of italics in this chapter because I hate typing shouts in caps-lock. And Ryohei yells alot. And he infects everyone with his shouting. Hooray for italics!
CHAPTER 9: FORESHADOWING WISH
"Happy birthday, Tsuna-san!" Haru screamed enthusiastically as Nana opened the front door.
"Kyoko-chan! Haru!" Tsuna squealed delightfully and ran to the two girls and they easily picked him up. Haru gave him a wet, big kiss on his cheek and Kyoko hugged him in her arms, squeezing him gently.
Today, the Sawadas were holding Tsuna's tenth birthday party. School had started again some time ago and Gokudera, Yamamoto and he were now 5th graders. Kyoko and Haru started their first year in high school now—Tsuna remembered them going on and on about how excited they were about their first day. They came to the birthday part straight from school so Kyoko was dressed in her Namimori High uniform and Haru was dressed in her Midori High School for Maidens' uniform. Despite the fact the girls went separate ways in schooling, they were still the best of friends.
"Ho-ho!" Haru said with flourish as she handed him her gift, "Here is your present, Tsuna-san! From Haru!" Tsuna's eyes brightened as Haru placed a messily wrapped gift in Tsuna's hands.
"This is from me, Tsu-kun." Kyoko said smiling gently as she gave him her own present, an expertly wrapped box.
"Thank you!" Tsuna chirped and he ran off to the table. He placed both of the presents next to the others and Tsuna took a step back to admire the mountain of presents before him.
Kyoko, Haru, and Nana chatted lightly as they made their way to the couch. Gokudera was happily helping around the house, even to go as far as cleaning the toilets and dusting the curtains. Yamamoto was playing with Tsuna's handhold game in the corner of the room, his tongue sticking out in concentration as he jammed the buttons. Bianchi was wearing her sunglasses, fully aware of her dreadful power over Gokudera and was cooking instead of Nana as she entertained the guests. Iemitsu and Tsuyoshi (Yamamoto's papa) were laughing in a eerily similar robust fashion at the staircase near the front door.
"Extreme hello!" At the voice, Kyoko's and Tsuna's head snapped towards the entrance. Tsuna almost screamed, giving away his present hiding place from behind the presents. It was that extreme monster again! Kyoko's older brother—Ryohei! He's come to spin him around the room and throw him out the window again!
"Onii-chan!" Kyoko said happily and flitted to where Ryohei was boastfully laughing.
This time, Iemitsu got the door and grinned at Ryohei. "Hey, Ryohei! Came to wish my boy a happy birthday?"
"Yes!" Ryohei beamed, nodding, "Now where is the extreme birthday boy?"
Tsuna snuck behind the couch on all fours, as much as he loved them; Haru, Kyoko and mama would surely tell Ryohei where he was! He crawled to the laundry room, which was near the kitchen away from that extreme monster. He opened it silently as he could—the hinges were always squeaky—and closed it behind him.
"Hey, get your own spot."
Tsuna screamed shrilly and tried standing up and he banged his head loudly against the door.
"Quiet, herbivore!" Hibari grabbed Tsuna and clasped a hand over the boy's mouth and dragged the kicking and flailing child to the corner of the room. Tsuna relaxed immediately when he realized it was just his boogie man and obediently became quiet. He had thought Ryohei was already in the laundry room, ready to cheerfully and extremely throw him in the dryer! Hibari quickly took a long, white bed sheet that rested in a basket and covered them both.
"Hm?" Yamamoto peeked inside the laundry room, squinting through the darkness. He shrugged and closed the door. Tsuna let out a relieved sigh and peeked out from under the white cocoon they were enveloped in. It was dark, other than the light that dared peered through the door's slits.
"Why are you here?"
Tsuna swiveled his head to look at Hibari, "Well, you know…Kyoko-chan's Onii-san…."
"Right." Hibari scowled, remembering the time he was taking a stroll one early morning on his way to Tsunayoshi's house when a young boy had been jogging, sweating heavily, and screaming 'extreme' this, 'extreme' that, all the while as he passed him. Hibari did a background check on him later; just to be sure Ryohei wasn't a mad psychopath—and therefore a threat to Tsunayoshi and the Sawadas.
Hibari decided to change the subject, sensing Tsuna's silent awkwardness, "Are you having fun?" Even Hibari himself felt aghast on how normal the question was.
But Tsuna didn't find the question strange however and smiled brightly at Hibari—even though he knew Hibari couldn't see it, "Yes I am! This was a wonderful idea you had, Hibari-san!"
Hibari nodded, satisfied. It was his idea, he had told Tsunayoshi a few weeks before and therefore the boy told Nana he wanted a birthday party. It was simply tactics of course. He needed to have a gathering of Tsuna's close friends to simply—investigate from afar. He needed to know who got along with who, possible new information, ecetera. It was rather necessary how things worked around Tsuna's life and his birthday was an excellent excuse for that. But he knew for certain that if he ever told Tsunayoshi this, the boy's feelings would probably be hurt—he is a very sensitive boy after all. So he just let the kid think whatever of Hibari's idea.
Tsuna jolted in surprise when Haru whined loudly, "Tsuna-saaaan! It's cake timeee!"
Hibari pushed Tsuna towards the door lightly, "Hurry up. It would certainly arouse them if you so happen to disappear for a long period of time." Tsuna nodded excitedly and ran out the laundry room, making sure to close the door gingerly behind him. He then made his way and passed the kitchen and the dining room (the dining table was moved into the living room because it was more spacey) he let himself been seen, everyone wishing him a happy birthday as he passed them.
"Tsuna-san!" Haru squealed when the boy came into sight and she immediately made a bee-line for him, "We're going to blow out your candles now! Hurry, hurry!" Haru gushed excitedly and pushed him towards the table.
Tsuna froze when he heard thundering footsteps pounding its way towards him. He knew those footsteps as good as Hibari's voice. Tsuna almost screamed in panic and tried backing up only, to bump into his papa; blocking his only exit in the hallway. Tsuna wheeled around. Oh no! That extreme monster is going to pick him up and spin him around or throw him or even—but he wasn't fast enough to see Ryohei swoop down on little Tsuna.
"Oooh! Little Sawada!" Ryohei bellowed and picked the kid up. "It's your birthday!"
"Yes it is!" Tsuna shrieked back, albeit terrified than excited, but all in the same infected by Ryohei's own shouting.
Gokudera saw this and he saw red. He rushed towards the two, "Put him down, you stupid, stupid freak!" Gokudera kicked at Ryohei's shin.
Tsuna acknowledged with wide eyes that Ryohei did not feel the seemingly painful attack at his knee at all. He was definitely not normal, Tsuna thought, as Ryohei grinned at Gokudera too. The champion boxer put Tsuna down enthusiastically, making the birthday boy's teeth clack at the sudden landing, and Ryohei shouted at Gokudera with swelling excitement, "Don't you know kid?"
"Know what?" Gokudera shouted back, also infected by Ryohei's yelling.
"That ten years old is the first second digit in your extremely exhilarating life? It's special and magical!" Ryohei turned to Tsuna, "That's why you have to make a really, really good wish! Because it'll come true!"
"Stupid!" Gokudera sneered with disdain at Ryohei and conspicuously shifted himself between Tsuna and Ryohei, "You made that up just now! And what does that have to do with anything?"
"It is true! I wanted to become a boxer and look where I am now!" Gokudera and Tsuna only gave Ryohei an incredulous stare letting silence speak words instead.
Gokudera grabbed Tsuna's hand, and wisely decided to leave before Ryohei began a story of how he came to be, "Let's go, Tenth, your cake is waiting! Then you can open my present first!"
"Ha-hi!" Haru screeched, seemingly overheard Gokudera's proclamation, "Tsuna-san will open my present first, kid!"
"Now, Haru-chan—" Kyoko said smiling weakly in protest at her exuberant friend.
"I'm no kid, you stupid flat-chested girl! And for your information, Tenth likes me best! So shut up!" Tsuna turned to stare disbelievingly at Gokudera. Since when was that decided?
Haru sputtered angrily, not able to get out a decent insult before Gokudera steered Tsuna to his birthday seat. Everyone was waiting for him, all smiling happily as Tsuna climbed up on the chair sat in front of his cake. Gokudera stood proudly next to Tsuna and Yamamoto took his place on the birthday boy's other side. Kyoko and Haru (she was still bitter from Gokudera's bold comment earlier) stood side by side and waited in anticipation. Ryohei and Iemitsu beamed down at him and Nana held her camera at the ready. It was a small party, but to little Tsuna—it meant a lot. Iemitsu started off and the others joined in different, messy times.
"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Tsuna!—
Tsuna tensed, storing breath. What should he wish for? The new actioin figure? A new game? Perhaps a trip to an amusement park? Maybe hope for a better birthday next year?
—Happy birthday to youuuu!" Tsuna snapped out of his reverie just in time when his birthday song ended.
"Hurry Tsu-kun! Blow out your candles!"
"Tenth! Hurry or else the magic will go away! Hurry, Tenth!" Gokudera waved his arms animatedly, unconsciously agreeing with Ryohei's ridiculous saying from earlier.
Tsuna stopped staring into space and gasped. Oh no! His head reeled around and he settled with that came to mind first. The birthday boy blew hard at the candles and the tiny fires went out—his wish had been made! Everyone cheered. Iemitsu, Ryohei, and Gokudera engaged into a competition on thunderous clapping. Tsuna sat at his seat, reveling on his wish. He sighed happily, he couldn't wait for it to come true. Everyone lined up for cake, which was a delicious strawberry and fudge flavored delight Nana whipped earlier. Thankfully, Bianchi did not have a hand in the cake unlike the rest of the food and so Gokudera allowed himself to eat his slice slowly and earnestly. Nana took pictures of everyone, delighted to see all the guest engrossed into her cake and Tsuna. Finally, after the cake eating it was time to open the presents.
"Open mine first, Tsuna-san!" Haru screamed as she held the present at his nose tip. Tsuna took it and smiled gratefully. The package was small, square and firm.
"No!" Gokudera wailed in defeat, he had been too slow to get his present from the stack.
Tsuna opened it gingerly, he wanted to keep the pretty wrapper. It was an origami book. He was rather surprised at Haru for remembering from such a long time ago. "You like origami, don't you, Tsuna-san?" Haru boasted, hands on her hips as she stole a glance at the sulking hot-headed Gokudera next to her. "I remembered that you could make a samurai hat very, very well!"
"—Of course he can," Gokudera interjected, "And he obviously won't have any need for your present seeing that the person who taught him how to make a perfect samurai hat was me. And I could probably teach him more than just—," the silver haired boy peeked at the cover in Tsuna's hands, "—Origami animals." Gokudera scoffed in mock-pity with a shake of his head.
Tsuna pointedly ignored Gokudera, "Thank you, Haru. I will use it for sure." He said, smiling brilliantly at the girl.
"Hah!" Haru grinned, her teeth sticking out like a happy beaver and beamed smugly at Gokudera and he frowned up at her.
"Birthday boy!" Ryohei boomed.
"Yes Onii-san?" Tsuna shouted back, frightened by the sudden proximity of Ryohei.
"My present!"
"Y-Yes, Onii-san!" Tsuna took the present from Ryohei's hands shakily, but nearly dropped it because of it's weight. It was crudely wrapped—tape encircled the package, so Tsuna had a struggle getting it open. When the offending wrapping was kicked away, Tsuna opened the shoe box that held his would-be present. He stared at it in disbelief. It was two crude-looking dumbbells, very heavy and very dangerous looking. The entire thing was covered in rust, having been carried out in the rain while working out.
"Those were mine a long, long time ago! Your dad told me you were started weight training a long time ago but for some reason you quit!" Ryohei was suddenly too close for comfort, "That's why I hope this will influence you again!"
Oh he won't. Tsuna will make sure of that. But politely, Tsuna thanked Ryohei for the thoughtful gift anyway.
"Try mine, Tsu-kun!" Kyoko flitted up to Tsuna with her present. It was wrapped in a gift bag with pretty tissue paper hiding the inside.
Tsuna ripped out the concealing tissue paper and brought out Kyoko's gift from inside the bag, "A-AH!" Tsuna cried in disbelief, he swiveled in his chair to look at Kyoko, "Kyoko-chan! This is the new Purple Power Ranger figure!" Tsuna brandished the box and Nana took a picture of the happy, glittery eyed Tsuna. "Thank you so much!" Tsuna jumped out of his seat and hugged Kyoko around the waist.
"Your welcome, Tsu-kun." Kyoko leaned down to whisper in Tsuna's ear, "However, I think you should open Gokudera-kun's gift next."
Tsuna peeked over his shoulder to see a completely sullen-faced Gokudera, looking at Kyoko will unmistakable jealousy. Tsuna gulped and nodded in thanks. Kyoko giggled and watched Tsuna go to his present stack and grab Gokudera's gift. It sat at the bottom of that stack, and it was very, very huge—maybe even the largest out of all the gifts he received. Tsuna had a hard time pulling it out and succeeded after Yamamoto helped him. Tsuna ripped off the wrapping off of the rectangle monstrosity. He struggled to open the box because it was just so huge. What met his eyes though, he could hardly believe it. Inside the box was paintings. Real, actual paintings. What in the world compelled Gokudera to give him such a bizarre gift? He turned to Gokudera who immediately turned sun-happy at Tsuna's choice of present.
"These paintings are from Italy." Bianchi supplied helpfully, "That's also my gift to you."
Gokudera jumped in happily, bouncing at the balls of his feet, "They're really beautiful paintings that I think you would really like, Tenth. I handpicked them myself for you." For emphasis, Gokudera pulled out a cloth-covered painting eagerly from the box, barely able to keep in his excitement for Tsuna's expected reaction. "It really shows human in its most primitive happiness!"
Everyone stared curiously as Gokudera untied the strings and let the cloth slide off the painting. Haru squeaked and turned bright red, Kyoko gasped as Ryohei put a hand over her eyes and used his free hand to cover own eyes. Nana and Iemitsu mirrored a look of absolute surprise and Yamamoto laughed as if he wasn't staring at something a normal ten year old boy should not be staring at. Tsuna blacked out from the blood rush.
A deep sigh.
Tsuna's eyes slowly opened when he heard that familiar huff of exasperation. He sat up, and took in everything around him. It was dark outside now, and judging how quiet the house was now, everyone was gone. Tsuna shook his head to get rid of the blurry feeling of disorientation. He focused at the corner where Hibari sat, watching him rub his eyes from the slugishness.
"Hibari-san?" Tsuna said slowly.
"I can't believe you fainted so easily. You're such a child."
"I-I'm only nine H-Hibari-san!" Tsuna protested weakly.
"Ten." He corrected, arms crossing his broad chest.
"Right…ten." Tsuna said wistfully albeit sadly. He would never be a one digit ever again.
"You don't sound too happy." Hibari stated as he got up and sat down next to Tsuna on the bed.
"Well, I was thinking about what Onii-san said…"
"About being a one-digit?"
"Yeah…" Tsuna said twiddling his fingers, "It makes me feel sad."
"Why should you be?" Hibari asked drawlingly. "Getting older isn't a bad thing." He sounded disinterested by this topic of conversation. At least, that was what Hibari wanted Tsuna to think.
Tsuna stared up at Hibari, "It isn't?"
"No." Hibari shrugging an arm inside his jacket, "It should be thought of as a happy herbivorous memory." It sounded sarcastic actually, but Tsuna wisely ignored that in light of a unfamiliar weight on his lap.
"Maybe I should—Ah!" Tsuna gasped surprise as something small and hard landed on his lap.
"Here," Hibari said boredly, "Happy birthday."
Tsuna stared at Hibari; completely shocked for words, and then his eyes darted towards the small package on his lap. It was a small black box, the size of Tsuna's fist. There were no decorations, as Tsuna expected should Hibari ever gave him a present. His hands were shaking as he popped the lid off of the tiny container, his eyes widened at the surreal object inside. Tsuna was almost sure it wasn't even there and he was just imagining it. The thing looked like a leaf. But then again, Tsuna wasn't even sure what it was.
"It won't last long," Hibari explained, "It'll die in a week."
The leaf was glowing. Actually glowing a soft shade of yellow. Tsuna didn't even want to touch it or take it out of the box. It looked so fragile, as if one caress would rip it through completely.
"W-What is it?" Tsuna asked breathlessly.
Hibari shook his head; deliberately ignoring Tsuna's question, "You must never, ever show this to anyone. It's not even supposed to be here."
Tsuna slowly put the lid back on, not before taking another quick peek at it to see if it was still there, and set it carefully on his lap. He slowly turned to Hibari and hesitantly squeezed his forearm. Hibari's muscles flexed under Tsuna's touch, tensing, but slowly easing below Tsuna's gentle clutch. And Tsuna looked at Hibari with such happiness Hibari almost looked away, "Thank you," Tsuna whispered, wrapping both hands around Hibari's arm, "Thank you." He repeated.
Hibari looked away, shrugging off his arm, "Just go to sleep."
Tsuna nodded and Hibari got off the bed. Iemitsu had already dressed Tsuna in his pajamas while he was unconscious, so changing wasn't a problem. They exchanged goodnight and promises of seeing each other again tomorrow night. Tsuna laid down and closed his eyes, pulling the covers up to his chin and snuggled into the warmth of his pillow. He couldn't wait for his wish to come true.
I wish to know more about Hibari-san.
How naïve Tsuna was when he was little. He wondered what it would be like if he hadn't made that wish—was Ryohei's proclamation really true? His wish would certainly be granted but not in a happy occasion. Oh no—of course not. What would happen a few more birthdays from now would be one of the most world-quaking events in Tsuna's short time on earth. It starts with a ginormous amount of curiosity, a very bad argument, and a grave mistake from Hibari.
A/N: The next chapters won't be so short anymore. I just needed to get this part off my chest. Most of you may have noticed I skipped over a year a bit. Tsuna was nine last chapter but now he's ten this chapter. I can't keep you guys waiting forever after all. I know how much everyone wants to know more and more about Hibari. Your hunger will be fed soon enough; just be patient, my pretties.
ABOUT THE MANGA: NO NO NO NO NOOOO! GOD WHAT THE HELL! HIBARI BETTER BE ALRIGHT YOU MF PANSY OF A MILLIFIORE CLOUD GUARDIAN! It's like bashing Genkishi all over again! ARGhhH-hopefully he's alright. I can't imagine someone like Hibari getting KO'd without a long struggle. HIBARI PLEASE BE ALRIGHT! D8