A/N: YAY! First update of 2009! You know, I'm actually updating this story faster than I thought. After the holidays are over, my updating speed probably won't be so fast. In my last chapter there was a pretty big mistake and thanks to kimmiYO who corrected me! Maybe I need a beta reader… but anyway, if anyone spots any mistakes, please tell me so I can correct them!
Color of Your Soul
Chapter 5: Tropical Fruit, Tonfa, and Laughters
I won't be stained in any colour
I swore I'd be "black"
The Seiran Apartments building is located in a very expensive area in Namimori. It's a very convenient place, geographically. Living meant that you lived in the liveliest part of the town, and you can get just about anywhere by foot. The shopping center is just around the corner, and it only took about 15 minutes to get to the train station. Although it's quite on the outskirts of Namimori, the Tokiguchi Apartments is still a popular place for rich people. Yotsuba doesn't particularly like the place, though. Having the convenience to get all these places meant nothing to her. In fact, she was quite disappointed when she found out that no one her age actually lives around this area.
Yotsuba sighed as she locked her apartment's door from the outside. She had walked to school with Tsuna a few times before, and though she mostly bickered with Gokudera on the way, she can't deny that she enjoys their company. She squinted her eyes as they met the shining rays of the sun.
"So bright…" she muttered. "It's going to be another boring day, isn't it…"
To walk to school Yotsuba has to cross the Namimori shopping center. It was a place where she hung around a lot when she wasn't with Tsuna. She got to know many of the nice old ladies and gramps who sold groceries to her. She greeted them politely as she passed their shops. Namimori was truly a great little town. The people are so nice and it's so peaceful.
Yotsuba never thought she would sense such a detestable aura in Namimori. She was passing by the vegetable shop when she felt it. It was a dangerous feeling. Though the bad feeling wasn't directed toward her, it made her uneasy. Yotsuba jerked around to find the person discharging that aura, but just as she turned she crashed into a young man that was at least a head taller than her. She looked up to see a boy with an oddly-styled blue hair and an eerie smile. Pineapple?
"Are you all right, miss?" the boy asked. His right eye was covered by his bangs, and his left eye looked into Yotsuba's as if he's seeing through her.
The aura's gone. Was it him? Yotsuba eyed the young man suspiciously, "I'm fine. Sorry about that…"
"Don't be." The boy's smile was so sinister that it made Yotsuba shiver. She also noticed that he wasn't wearing a Namimori uniform, even though he looked around her age. He probably isn't from Namimori at all.
"Is there something on my face?" The boy asked innocently, chuckling in a weird way.
"Nothing," Yotsuba answered almost too quickly, "I'm leaving now."
The boy grabbed hold of Yotsuba's wrist before she could go far. Yotsuba looked back slowly, placing her other hand in her bag and grabbed Kabi.
"Kufufufu… Don't be so scared! I just want to know your name!"
Yotsuba fought her nerves and growled, "Pervert!"
The boy's eyebrow twitched, but his smile didn't seem to go away. He loosened his grasp on her hand and said politely, "My name is Rokudou Mukuro. Now that I've told you my name, you can tell me yours…"
Yotsuba fumed and reached for Rokudou's arm that was holding hers with her other hand. Originally planning to throw Rokudou using Aikidou, but he let go of her before she could catch him. It surprised her. She didn't think twice and ran as fast as she could toward Namimori Middle School.
The blue pineapple boy chuckled again in his weird way. "Mikami Yotsuba, we'll meet again."
Yotsuba panted as she sprinted all the way to the gates of Namimori Middle School. The name Rokudou Mukuro replayed over and over in her head, making her dizzy and scared. She was sure that the blue-haired youth was the one that emitted the dangerous aura. Her pace slowed and she kept her balance with one hand on the gates. Her tired eyes scanned the entrance of the school; there were no students as she was already late.
"This is good…" Yotsuba murmured, "That bloodthirsty skylark isn't here…"
Yotsuba fell to the ground with a thud. Her back heaved up and down from her heavy breathing. She fell asleep before she could see the black silhouette approaching her.
When Yotsuba woke up she wasn't in her classroom but she was in the infirmary. She sat up and looked around the room. There was no one there. Just as she was about to get up, the door slid open and a tall guy came in. When the guy turned around Yotsuba almost laughed. The guy had a tough appearance and a pompadour style hair. What is with today and weird hairstyles?
"You're awake." The guy said with a deep voice.
"Yes," Yotsuba said, "and you are?"
"Kusakabe Tetsuya." The guy nodded his head, "You're lucky Iinchou didn't see you… you would be in a hospital instead of this…"
"You brought me here?"
"Yes."
"Thank you." Yotsuba smiled, "and by Iinchou, you mean?"
"You don't know?" Kusakabe said, a little surprised, "Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Hibari Kyouya."
"Ah! Him!" Yotsuba breathed, "You're right… he would've bitten me to death…"
Kusakabe looked at the girl with disbelief. She was talking about Iinchou in such a casual way. Something seems odd about the frail girl, though. He could've sworn that Iinchou had seen the fainted girl when they were inspecting the campus.
Yotsuba waved her hand in front of Kusakabe's face, bringing him back to present. "Kusakabe-senpai, what time is it?"
"If you don't feel well, you can rest a bit more. It's free period right now."
"I see," Yotsuba said while standing up, "Thanks, Kusakabe-senpai!"
Kusakabe's eyes followed Yotsuba as she made for the door. She slid the door open and turned back to face him, "My name is Mikami Yotsuba by the way! You have a kind heart, Kusakabe-senpai, even though you have a tough appearance!"
Yotsuba left Kusakabe gawking in the infirmary and walked out on her own. She yawned as she slowly made her way back to 1-A. She felt a lot calmer now about the mysterious Rokudou Mukuro, but she probably won't touch pineapples for a long time. A sound of people shouting made Yotsuba stop in her track. Yotsuba looked down to see I-Pin run across the hall with two green lunchboxes in her hands.
"OI! GIVE BACK JUUDAIME'S LUNCHBOX!" Gokudera's voice first came into recognition. Yotsuba looked toward his voice and found the lot of them chasing after I-Pin.
"Ah! Yotsuba-chan, you're here!" Tsuna acknowledged her and kept running.
"…" Yotsuba stood there, speechless, as she watched Lambo lagged behind. When all of them were finally out of her sight, she sighed. "Having a lot of energy sure is a good thing, ne, Kabi…"
Silence.
"Kabi?" Yotsuba called, looking around her. "My bag's not here!"
Yotsuba began to worry. What if she dropped it in a hurry when she ran, and now that creepy pineapple has Kabi? She shook her head. She was sure that she had her bag with her, but she didn't recall seeing it in the infirmary. She took a big breath and walked faster toward the classroom. Maybe that nice guy Kusakabe brought it to class for her. Things aren't always that easy, though, as there was no sign of her bag in the classroom either.
"I wonder if there is a lost and found room here." Yotsuba wondered aloud. She walked around aimlessly. After a few minutes she stopped in front of a big door. On the door there was a sign that said "Reception Room". Yotsuba stared at the doorknob doubtfully.
"Well, I've got no other clue anyway," Yotsuba said to herself before opening the door.
Yotsuba froze when she saw the violent skylark asleep on the couch. She looked a bit further and saw her bag sitting on the table in front of the window. That Kusakabe… why did he put it here? Yotsuba cursed in her mind and tiptoed toward her goal. She looked at Hibari as she carefully crept past him.
He doesn't look that scary when he's sleeping. Yotsuba made a mental comment. She beamed when she finally reached the desk. Quickly opening her bag, she fumbled with it and found Kabi. She ruffled his fur and kissed him on the head.
Kabi looked happy. "Chiii~!"
Completely forgetting about the sleeping Hibari, Yotsuba said happily, "Kabi! You're all right!"
"Mikami Yotsuba."
Yotsuba froze. By the volume of his voice, Hibari was probably right behind her right now. She gulped, and started to turn around slowly. Before she can fully look at Hibari, a tonfa came into view and the next thing she saw was the ceiling.
"Owwww…" Yotsuba didn't feel how much it hurt until she sat up. She licked her top lip and tasted something metallic. Her nose was bleeding. That damn skylark, HE HIT MY FACE?
"Disturbing my sleep…" Hibari muttered, "I'll bite you to death!"
Yotsuba panicked. Her bleeding nose made her head dizzy again. With much effort Yotsuba stood up, propping herself upright against the wall. Mercilessly, Hibari raised his tonfa at her. To Yotsuba's surprise, the tonfa never made contact with her. She followed Hibari's gaze down to her injured knee.
When did this get on my knee? Yotsuba thought.
Hibari lowered his tonfa. His piercing eyes were making Yotsuba produce cold sweat. "Why were you fainted this morning?"
"It's not any of your business." Yotsuba said. "Wait… I thought Kusakabe-senpai said you didn't see me this morning, skylark-kun."
Hibari hit Yotsuba, then, making her fly across the room. Yotsuba's nose bled even harder.
"WILL YOU STOP HITTING ME ON THE FACE?" Yotsuba exploded. Her right hand covered her bleeding nose, blood dripping from the space in between her fingers.
"This morning…" Hibari repeated dangerously, "why were you unconscious?"
"… Are you worried about me, skylark-kun?"
Hibari sent Yotsuba across the room again. Okay, she deserved this one. Yotsuba struggled to sit up, coughing up blood while doing so. She crawled at the wall, and leaned against it. When she opened her eyes she saw a hand in front of her against the wall. Her eyes followed the arm to see Hibari's enlarged face. She panicked to find out that Hibari has locked her against the wall.
"Herbivore." Hibari said, cold and heartless. "Do not call me 'skylark-kun'…"
"Iinchou!" Yotsuba blurted immediately.
Hibari stared her down.
"Hi… Hibari-san?" Yotsuba said, this time in a questioning tone.
"..."
"…"
"… Kyouya?"
Hibari kept the same expression, but he lowered his hands and stood up. Yotsuba looked bewildered as Hibari walked away. Not looking back, Hibari threw her a box of tissue. Yotsuba stared at the tissue box with a blank expression, and pulled out a sheet to wipe her bloody face. When she was done and about to put the box back to where it was, she found Hibari sitting at his desk, playing with Kabi. Or, rather, squeezing and stretching the life out of the poor fur ball.
"Don't do that!" Yotsuba cried and reached for her pet. She didn't realize that her fingers were still bloody, and they stained Hibari's fingers when they made contact. Yotsuba gawked and looked at Hibari with fearful eyes.
Hibari stared back at her. "Don't make a face like that."
"… What?"
Hibari removed his gaze. "You look weak."
Yotsuba watched Hibari wipe away the blood on his fingers quietly. A smile formed on her face.
"Kyouya… you do care abo…" Yotsuba was cut off by another swing of Hibari's tonfa. Blood spewed out of her nose again. Yotsuba glared at Hibari with teary eyes before she fell backwards and fainted.
Hibari smirked. He carried the limp girl to the couch and threw her down on it. Her pet fur ball screeched at him angrily while trying to stop her blood flow. Yotsuba started murmuring in her sleep. Here and there Hibari heard his name being mentioned. Curious, Hibari leaned down to listen.
"Skylark-kun… Hibari… I'm going to kick your ass next time... Kyouya… Kyouya… Kyouya…"
Pause.
Hibari stood back up and plopped down on the other couch across from the one Yotsuba's sleeping on. Lying down and closing his eyes, he said, "I'll bite you to death later…"
"You're finally awake?"
When Yotsuba woke up again, there were only her and Kusakabe in the Reception Room. Her head hurt like an elephant just ran over it. She ran her wrist under her nose. Dried blood crumbled down in pieces as she repeated the movement.
"Ugh." Yotsuba grunted, looking at the blood pieces with disgust.
Kusakabe sighed at the girl's actions. How did this girl get so beaten up in only half an hour? Then again, this IS the Reception Room. This girl is pretty brave for entering the Reception Room on her own. Unknowing that Yotsuba didn't even know about the dangers of the Reception Room, Kusakabe looked at the girl with sympathy. Maybe Iinchou went a little too far on this girl… now she has all these bruises on her face.
"Kusakabe-senpai…" Yotsuba said, breaking the silence, "What time is it?"
This question sounds familiar. "School has ended already. Iinchou left too."
"Is that so?" Yotsuba sighed. "Maybe I'll kill that little birdy another time!"
What a daring thing to say! Kusakabe thought.
"Well!" Yotsuba said as she stood up straight, "Thanks for all your care again, Kusakabe-senpai! I hope I don't see you again since every time I've seen so far I've been in pretty bad condition!"
The strip of leaf in Kusakabe's mouth fell as Yotsuba made her way out of the door.
Yotsuba caressed her face as she walked out of the school building, making "tsk" sounds for every touch on each bruise. From behind the wall came the ear-ripping cry of Lambo. Yotsuba's head was drawn toward that direction and heard even more voices. Out of curiosity Yotsuba walked toward the noise. Behind the wall were Tsuna, Gokudera, Yamamoto, Ryohei, Haru, Reborn, and Bianchi in a squirrel costume.
"Ah!" Yotsuba gasped when she saw Bianchi's costume.
The others all turned around to Yotsuba's voice.
"Yotsuba-chan!" Tsuna said, "What happened to you?"
"It's nothing!" Yotsuba smiled, "A little birdy got hungry and thought I was food!"
All of them gaped.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"We're having a contest to find Lambo a babysitter," Reborn answered, "Want to join?"
Yotsuba stared at the cow-suited baby that's going berserk and said, "No, thanks."
"The winner gets to become Tsuna's right hand man!"
"Really?" Yotsuba exclaimed, "But then again… that means I'd have to listen to Gokudera's jabbering everyday, and that wouldn't be fun at all…"
"OI! STUPID WOMAN! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA WIN?" said the offended octopus.
"Oh, it's starting already…" Yotsuba groaned. "Don't you think it's loud enough over here?"
Gokudera readied his bombs and Tsuna tried to stop him. Yotsuba watched as this everyday-episode was played in front of her again and forgot about the bad feelings she got this morning. No more did she think about the creepy smile of Rokudou Mukuro, but instead she laughed as each of Tsuna's friends failed at the task of taming Lambo. When it was finally her turn she failed at the job too, scaring Lambo with an enlarged Kabi.
"Well," Yotsuba yawned, "I didn't want the job, anyway. I'd probably 'accidentally' kill the kid…"
"Heeeee!"
"Hahi! Yocchan is being so dangerous!"
"Hahaha! Mikami is funny!"
"Oi! Are you saying that being Juudaime's right hand man is not worthy enough for you?"
"EXTREME!"
"Give Lambo-san candy!"
Yotsuba smiled.
TBC.
A/N: Ah~ I hope the end didn't sound too cheesy. I didn't like this chapter so much… I wanted to write something sweet and cute in the Reception Room bit… but I thought that Hibari didn't know Yotsuba THAT well that he'd actually do sweet things, so I made it part sweet part violent. Um in case it's a bit confusing, Hibari was the one that took Yotsuba's bag to the Reception Room! Hmm and Mukuro appeared! It'll be a long time before he appears again, though. I hope everyone will review!