Disclaimer: I don't own KHR, or any of it's absolutely awesome characters. I just own the plot.
You have no idea how tired I am of writing that! I think it's fairly obvious that I don't own it. Why do I have to say it too? Are they trying to rub it my face? Geh. Actually, what if the owner decided for some twisted reason that he wanted to write on this site about his own story (don't ask why, I don't know)? Would he have to say that he doesn't own it too? I wonder...
Whatever. To stop any confusion you may have, I'm going to say this: when I said I'd update every other day, I meant that I'd update a story. Like, I'll update this, then next time, it'll be Our Sky. Simple enough. Maybe. Moving right along, responses!
supercherryninja: Yes, yes he is. He's probably worse than my tech teacher (see earlier chapter for complaints :p). The story between them is kind of interesting, but I'll let you decide for yourself. Thanks!
Seriyuu: If you're thinking of who I think you are, don't worry. He's coming. But I needed someone creepy and perverted for the role, and who better than Glo Xinia? No one, that's who.
Gravefire: You don't have a lot of experience? I find that hard to believe. I love your reviews! Please, keep them coming! Good flow is always nice. And as for the last part of the review about the 'Marshmallow Monster'... *goes off into a dark corner and sulks, while muttering, "Stupid plot that people can already read."* Byakuran (he might be evil, but he's also hot as hell) may make an appearance.
Kajune: Yeah, I just have other things planned. They will kiss eventually, I promise. Just not then. Don't hate Kai! …You know what, on second thought, go ahead. I couldn't care less. He's not a main character. Thanks so much!
ZeRamen: The confusion won't last long, trust me. I don't really like writing about confusion. It's too, um, confusing. You know?
x Hibari Kyoya x: I love both of your names, so whichever one you like is just fine with me. I'm sorry this made you late! I'm glad you read it though. I can totally agree with your friend who's obsessed with BelxFran. I love reading about them, but I don't know if I could really write about them. It would be kind of hard to get their characters down (read: impossible). Either way, it was just a suggestion! Thanks for the review!
Allen Walker the Crowned Clown: If you slept through the entire rest of class, I think we can assume that you weren't caught by anyone who would tell. Good for you!
kikyokyoyahibari: It's good that I can make stuff up, because it will probably happen again. I don't know if I'm going to add in a lot of other characters. I'm going to try to get the Varia in here somewhere, but other than that, I think the cast is about set. With one other exception, who I'm not going to tell you about because it'll ruin the surprise! And yes, Glo is the creepy guy who fought Chrome. My description really wasn't that good, so if you need to google him to remember who he is, I understand.
dotYui: I hate it when teachers do that! Doesn't it suck? Uh, my head hurts just thinking about it! Don't get caught reading!
Fire Princess21: Yes, I'm going to add more Yamamoto, and Tsuna, and Gokudera. Don't worry. Explanations will come, I promise!
This chapter's a little more dialogue/plot development. There isn't going to be a whole lot of 6918 in here. Sorry! Also, just a heads up, updates on this story are going to be a lot slower. I'm so sorry, but I'm having a horrible case of writer's block. I don't want to make any promises about when I'll update, because we all know how well that worked when I said something about in chapter 4. I think I jinxed myself! I'm so frustrated, and I'm also really sorry!
Love's Many Risks
Chapter 7: Cute Bird
Love can be a scary thing. It makes us become something different from what we are. When you fall in love, it's like giving part of your heart away. It's offering that part of you to another, and hoping they don't break it. It gives someone power over you. Love makes people do crazy things. So, even knowing all this, why do humans still fall in love?
Simple: because despite all these things, love can also be the sweetest feeling in the world. It makes you feel euphoric, and light, and happy. It's about taking risks. Yes, that's what it is. Love is a risk.
"Bye Dad," Yamamoto called to his father as he pushed aside the sliding door that led to the outside world. "Remember, Tsuna and Gokudera are coming over after school to watch the baseball game."
"I'm looking forward to it, Takeshi," the man called from his position behind the sushi counter. Yamamoto's father owned a fairly popular sushi shop in the middle of Namimori. On weekends and after school, the boy usually worked alongside his father. "Have a good day."
"Okay." The teen began his walk to school, whistling quietly to himself. His baseball bat was slung around his shoulder, covered by a dark blue bag, and it bounced slightly with each step. It was a nice day, with the sun shining brightly, and not a cloud in sight. He turned his face upwards, enjoying the feel of the sun's warmth on his face. He was so oblivious to his surroundings that he didn't even notice the person in front of him until he bumped into them. "Sorry about that," he apologized. "My bad."
"Stupid herbivore," was the annoyed response.
"Oh, it's you, Hibari-kun."
"Please refrain from calling me so familiarly."
"Eh?"
"We may have been friends once, but-"
"Once?" Yamamoto looked a little confused. "Aren't we still friends?"
Hibari considered his response carefully. It wasn't that he disliked the baseball player. They had been friends since they were kids, after all. In fact, back in elementary school, Yamamoto had been his first friend. The exact conversation had been: "Would you like to be my friend?" from the other boy, and a quiet, "Whatever." from Hibari. But things were different now, and he was about to say so, when the taller boy suddenly waved to someone behind them.
"Hey guys!" he called. Hibari turned, and saw Gokudera and Tsuna walking up to join them. The brunette froze the minute he saw Hibari.
"H-Hibari-san?" he exclaimed. Gokudera just glared at him. Yamamoto laughed at their responses.
"Yeah, we were just talking."
"No," Hibari said coldly. "I was just leaving." He turned and walked away, never having given an answer to Yamamoto's previous question. He didn't even know if he had one, honestly. The other day, he'd finally figured out what he didn't like about the baseball player's friends, besides the obvious fact that they were weak and annoying. The true reason was just that he didn't like crowds, and the other boys were always crowding together.
"Hibari," a cute voice chirped from atop the school fence. Hibird flew down to land on the teen's shoulder, singing the school anthem. A few of the surrounding students gave him odd looks, and began whispering among themselves. He sighed.
"You do realize that this is all your fault, right?" he asked the bird. It just tilted it's head curiously, wondering what was wrong.
"Geez, what's that guys problem?" Gokudera growled once Hibari was out of earshot.
"What do you mean?" Yamamoto asked.
"Why's he always so unsociable?"
"That's not very nice, Gokudera-kun," Tsuna admonished. The other boy immediately began to bow furiously, apologizing about speaking out of line and upsetting the Tenth. Tsuna sighed.
"He's not that bad once you get to know him," their black haired friend said. "He's a good person on the inside, and he's got a killer baseball swing."
"Of course that's what you notice," Gokudera huffed.
"What do you mean?"
"I have neither the time nor the energy to even begin to try and make you understand."
"Oh really?" Yamamoto asked teasingly.
"Really."
"So how have you been recently, Mukuro-chan?" Glo Xinia asked.
"Just fine," was the curt response.
"Aren't you going to ask me how I've been?"
"I have no interest." Mukuro said calmly. They were the only two in the classroom, so they could talk freely. "Why are you here. Did he send you?"
"And if he did?"
"Why are you here?" the demon repeated.
"I've come for my own reasons." Glo said vaguely. "Also, my master told me to tell you that he was coming to Namimori soon for a visit."
"He's not welcome here." Mukuro narrowed his eyes. He didn't want to see that man right now. If possible, he'd rather never see him, but especially not now. Misfortune always seemed to follow that man, and he did not need any misfortune right now.
"Do you really think he cares?" Glo had a point, Mukuro admitted grudgingly. "He's coming, whether you want him here or not, and there's nothing either you or I can do to change that. So if I were you, I'd just accept it, and get some decorations ready for a welcoming party."
"Luckily for me, I'm not you," the younger demon* snapped. "If I was, I'd probably kill myself."
"So cruel," the other said, feigning hurt. Seeing that Mukuro wasn't fooled, he quickly gave up on the act, and turned his attention to the open window, watching the students file into the building. "So, which one of these girls is it?"
"Is what?"
"Your target."
The teen couldn't help it; he smirked. "None of them."
"Alright, sure," Glo Xinia responded, obviously unconvinced. "Is it that one?" he asked, pointing to a random girl from his class who had just walked through the gates.
"No."
People were beginning to enter the classroom, so with a warning, "Don't think I've given up on this," from the substitute, they parted ways. Glo took his place at the front, and Mukuro went to his seat. Moments later, Hibari walked in, Hibird still clinging to his shoulder.
"What a cute bird," Mukuro commented. "It's named Hibird, right?"
"Hn."
The demon reached out a finger to pet the bird, but it hopped away skillfully, landing on it's master's head. He tried again, but the same happened.
"The bird's a good judge of character." Hibari smirked.
The other demon watched this scene with barely veiled interest. "Very interesting, Mukuro-chan," he muttered to himself. "I'll have to tell Byakuran-sama about this."
*Yes, Glo is a demon. If that wasn't clear, I'm sorry. :p