Color of Your Soul
Chapter 7: Eagle
"Daddy!"
The white-haired, old man smiled lovingly at Yotsuba.
"Nii-chan!"
The red-eyed youth placed a strong hand on Yotsuba's shoulder.
Yotsuba laughed. So pleasantly that everything else around the three of them seems to be fading. It was their own world. She loved them. They loved her. She held onto their hands tightly.
"Don't be a fool," a voice said, "You don't really belong here…"
As December arrived the streets of Namimori began look more and more empty gradually. They say that the coldest time during the day is the early morning, and the only people that are walking on the street at that time are the students of Namimori. The students wrapped their arms around their bodies, pulled at their scarves so that most of their neck is covered, and walked slowly against the chilly wind. For some students, December is a fun-filled month, because in a couple of weeks the winter vacation will start and it'll be the end of another year. For other students, like Sawada Tsunayoshi, December is the most dreadful month, because December meant final exams; failing final exams meant after-school make-up exams; failing make-up exams meant flunking a year; and flunking a year meant humiliation in front of Kyoko.
Although Tsuna is quite scared of Gokudera most of the time, December is the month when Tsuna wished for Gokudera's brains. It's surprising to Tsuna that a person like Gokudera could be so smart. I guess the saying "don't judge a book by its cover" is most suited for the devoted Gokudera. Honestly, Tsuna was really grateful that Gokudera had tutored him for the last two weeks, but he just doesn't seem to get it. Reborn had tried to teach him too, but there was always a death penalty and Tsuna won't even survive through one question. Then Yotsuba offered to help tutor him, but she spent most of her time arguing with Gokudera and her grades weren't that much better than him anyway.
What Tsuna really wanted was to be tutored by Kyoko. Tsuna sighed as he entered room 1-A and saw Kyoko's cute smile. Looking at Kyoko always made him feel happy. I'm going to try my best, Tsuna thought, so I can be in the same class with Kyoko-chan next year!
"Good morning, Tsuna-kun!" Kyoko greeted him happily. "Are you nervous about the exams today?"
"Good morning, Kyoko-chan!" Tsuna blushed. "Yeah, a little bit."
"I'm so nervous, too!" Kyoko said, but her smile doesn't make her seem nervous at all.
"Juudaime! Don't worry; I'll help you on the exams!" Gokudera winked at Tsuna and raised a thumb.
Tsuna smiled sourly, "No, Gokudera-kun! Cheating is bad!"
"Oh…" Gokudera pondered on Tsuna's words, "Then I'll just threaten the teacher with my bombs!"
THAT'S NOT THE SOLUTION EITHER! Tsuna thought as he watched Gokudera's assuring expression. Tsuna looked at Yamamoto who has a pretty bad grade also, but Yamamoto doesn't seem to be the least nervous. Well, Yamamoto is too clueless to be nervous, anyway. Then he looked toward Yotsuba, who is supposed to be smart but has horrible grades. Tsuna gawked at the sleeping girl; she even brought a pillow! Once again, Tsuna laments on the weirdness of his friends.
Easy. Easy. Easy. This is a waste of my time, thought Gokudera as his pencil soared through the test paper on mathematics. When he was finished with the whole thing there was still forty minutes of class time. He heedlessly leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs on the desk, and plugged earphones into his ears. The teacher frowned at Gokudera's actions, but with on condescending stare from him the teacher backed down.
Unconsciously, Gokudera's gaze drifted to the left of him. The black-haired, sleepy girl had her head on the table. The test paper under her crossed arms had only five questions filled in. Gokudera felt anger boil inside him. This girl is too lackadaisical. He hated this kind of people, just like he hates Yamamoto. He just doesn't understand why Reborn-san allows them to be a part of Vongola. At this rate, what will the future of Vongola become? He remembered that when he was a kid, the tough and older guys made fun of him, saying that no mafia will accept a weak boy like him. He worked hard, then. So much harder than anyone else, and he was so happy when Tsuna, the future boss of the biggest famiglia in history, accept him.
Has anyone tried harder than him? No. He sent another scornful glare at Yotsuba when he thought that. But he remembered their conversation that they had the other day at the park. There was something despondent in her eyes when she talked that day. Like she was really talking to someone else and not him. Someone from a bad memory, perhaps.
But whatever it was, she seems to be of no harm to his Juudaime as of now. Still, he wonders if he could put that much trust in her.
"Tsuna-kun, how did you do?" Kyoko asked when the testing was finally over. Students stood up exhaustedly from their seats and packed their bags, ready to go home and rest.
"Ah… not so well…" Tsuna put on a sour smile as he scratched the back of his neck. He didn't want to lie to Kyoko, but he had no choice. Because, really, he did terrible. Yamamoto patted Tsuna on the back.
"Ahaha! It's all right, Tsuna!" Yamamoto laughed. "I didn't do well either! I rolled my pencil to get the answers!"
"Baseball idiot! Don't compare yourself to Juudaime!" Gokudera growled.
"Mm? School's over already?" Yotsuba moaned as she straightened her back in her seat. She stretched out her legs and rubbed her heavy eyes.
"You finally woke up, Yotsuba-chan!" Tsuna eyed the girl worriedly. She seemed to have slept through the whole school day, only awake for about ten minutes. Although it's confirmed that Yotsuba needed more sleep than anyone, but normally she wouldn't have to sleep for the whole day.
Yotsuba's eyelids fluttered. Her back slumped and the limbs seem to have lost their bones. Even after a whole day of sleeping, Yotsuba was still not fully energetic. She contemplated in her mind whether or not to answer Tsuna. She really didn't feel like she has the energy to. She was fully aware of her strange sleepiness today. It bothered her a lot, because it's not the first day that she's felt this kind of fatigue. Her body's been getting tired more and more easily ever since last week. She could not understand why, though. The dream that she had last night troubled her. But it was a dream, what could it possibly be?
"OI! Stupid woman! Juudaime's asking you a question!" Gokudera snapped at the daydreaming girl. The expression Yotsuba had a second ago scared him. The pupils that showed through the small opening between her eyelids had no color. It almost made him think that if he hadn't called her, she would've disappeared.
Yotsuba jerked suddenly upon hearing Gokudera's voice. She frowned. "I heard him. You don't have to yell so loudly, octopus-head!"
A vein popped out on Gokudera's forehead. "You…! You better watch your attitude, woman!"
"Gokudera-kun!" Tsuna immediately stepped, knowing too well Gokudera's character. "It's okay! Just drop it!"
Gokudera glared at Yotsuba, "You're lucky Juudaime is so generous! No one else here can put up with you!"
Yotsuba's head shot up and her body seems to have frozen. Along with her expression. Tsuna immediately noticed something wrong. He moved in front of the stupefied girl and shook her a little, calling out her name several times. But the girl didn't move, though. Her head lowered and her bangs covered her eyes. Tsuna frowned at this sight. It must have been something that Gokudera said that triggered Yotsuba. But what could it be? Usually she's not the kind to be shaken by other people's words.
A student from the second year came through the doorway. He was quite a handsome student, having a sweet smile and clean attire. Tsuna and his friends made way for the senpai as he approached Yotsuba. Politely, he reached out a hand to her.
"Mikami-kun," the boy said, "I'm Ishikawa Hiroshi from 2-B. I was wondering, if you're free, would you like to go on a date with me this weekend?"
Tsuna and his friends were shocked at this sudden invitation.
The boy named Ishikawa, seeing that Yotsuba hasn't answered, moved closer to her. "Don't worry, Mikami-kun! I promise I'll treat you nicely!"
Yotsuba finally opened her mouth. But since she kept her head low, no one could make out what she had just said.
"…"
"Eh? What was that?"
Ishikawa's gentle smile suddenly shifted to one of horror when Yotsuba raised her head. She glanced at him with the coldest eyes he has ever seen on any girl. Everyone else was just as shocked as Ishikawa.
"Shut up…" Yotsuba said in a deadly low voice. "So noisy… if you don't shut up, I'm going to kill you, barbarian!"
The temperature in the room suddenly dropped about ten degrees. Everyone had their mouths wide open, but none could say anything. What happened to the cool, nonchalant Yotsuba? Is this her true character? Yotsuba shot them another death glare and everyone backed away. It was like Moses parting the Red Sea again. As if making ice over the path she walked, Yotsuba left the classroom without turning back.
Test scores were available the next day; students crowded in front of the bulletin board to see their grades. Tsuna squeezed in between pushing students and found the list of 1-A. His face became darker and darker each time he scanned the score sheet. No matter how many times he looked through it, his name was not there! Tsuna gulped and glanced toward the list on the very far end. The list for the failing grades. Tsuna slowly moved in front of that list; there was barely anyone standing in front of this one! It was like a thunder had struck him, Tsuna's shoulders slumped when he saw his name, along with Yamamoto and Yotsuba's, was on the "Failed" list. On the bottom of the list, it read:
"Attention! If your name is written on this list, it is mandatory for you to stay after school today for make-up exams. If you do not show up at this exam, you will be held back a year. Good luck."
"Eh? I have to stay here today?" Yotsuba's voice traveled from behind Tsuna, making him jump.
Tsuna studied her appearance. She doesn't seem to be in a bad mood. But still, he should be careful. Girls are very unpredictable creatures, after all. "Yotsuba-chan… You're not mad anymore?"
"Mad?" Yotsuba's face showed no sign of anger. "At what? This? No, I'm just sad that I won't be able to go home and sleep right away today…"
Before Tsuna can say anything, Yamamoto came up behind them. "Yo! Tsuna, Mikami! It seems like the three of us are the only ones taking the make-up this year!"
Yotsuba pouted her lips, "I really thought there would be more people. It can't be just us that fail the final exams!"
"Mikami, that's where you're wrong! Final exams are the exams that you definitely should not fail!" Yamamoto said despite the big smile on his face, "Don't tell me you don't know…"
"About what?" both Yotsuba and Tsuna asked curiously.
"Tsuna doesn't know either?" Yamamoto said. "The supervisor for the after school make-up session… is the Disciplinary Committee Chairman, Hibari Kyouya!"
"Daddy?"
Silence.
"Nii-chan?"
Silence.
"Who are you calling, little clover?"
"My family… where is my family?"
"What family?" There was a tint of amusement in the foreign voice. "You've never had a family…"
"…?"
"You're alone, little clover… You'll always be alone…"
The silence in 1-A after school was nerve-racking for Tsuna. The only sound audible was the dropping and rolling of Yamamoto's pencil. Tsuna didn't dare to look at what Yamamoto is doing, though. One wandering glance to anywhere other than the test paper could cause him a lot of PHYSICAL pain. Tsuna didn't need to look up to feel the sharp eyes of Hibari Kyouya. The sun was setting and the temperature was dropping rather quickly. Tsuna felt like a prey being watched by an eagle's eyes.
Hibari was, of course, not in a very good mood. If it weren't for Reborn's offer to find him a good prey, he wouldn't be here supervising these failures. Hibari yawned for the tenth time since school ended. Not being able to go home and sleep irritated him. Seeing Yotsuba sleeping at her desk irritated him even more. When both Yamamoto and Tsuna were done with the exams Yotsuba was still sleeping there.
YOTSUBA-CHAN! WAKE UP! Tsuna cried in his head.
Hibari's eyes went from the unknowing girl to the boys standing there. "What are you guys still doing here? Get out!"
Yamamoto took a step forward, "We're waiting for Mikami!"
Hibari's eyes had no emotions. "Leave now or… I'll bite you to death!"
"Heeee!" Tsuna shrieked and grabbed Yamamoto, pulling him out of the classroom as quickly as possible. Hibari stared at the door that was left open coldly. Tsuna's panicking screams could still be heard when they were already two staircases down. Hibari almost smirked at the weak herbivores that ran from his sight. His eyes went back to the sleeping girl with interest.
This girl has some nerve… sleeping under my supervision… Hibari thought. Two tonfa slid into his hands as he slowly approached Yotsuba's desk. His eyes have found a prey.
Shut up…
There was a buzzing noise inside of Yotsuba's head. It was getting louder and louder. It made her silly, made her mad, anxious, and exhausted.
So loud… So noisy…
Zmmmmmm… Zmmmmmm…
Shut up…
"Mikami Yotsuba."
Zmmmmmm… Zmmmmmm…
Shut up…
"Oi…"
Shut up!
The moment Yotsuba opened her eyes she backed away instantly. The first thing she saw was Hibari's towering body over hers and his tonfa raised just above her head. The next thing she noticed was that the buzzing in her head was gone. She wondered what made the noise go away. Maybe Hibari was so terrifying that even the evil thing in her mind cowered at his tonfa. Yotsuba stared into Hibari's cold eyes and then cautiously eyed his two tonfa. There was something else in Hibari's eyes, though. A little bit of surprise, perhaps.
Just when Yotsuba was getting confused, Hibari lowered his tonfa, which made her even more confused. Hibari raised an eyebrow at the oblivious girl. He prodded at Yotsuba's cheek with the tip of his tonfa a little bit too roughly, and made Yotsuba squint her eyes.
What is this guy trying to do? Yotsuba frowned at the raven-haired boy's actions. Yotsuba was even more bewildered when Hibari stopped the prodding on her cheek and shoved the tonfa in front of her eyes. It was wet. Yotsuba put her hand to her cheek. I was crying?
Then Yotsuba remembered the voice. The voice that haunted her in her dreams. What bothered her was that the voice sounded so familiar. It made her weak in the knees. It made her feel a kind of dejection so heavy that forced out her tears which had been hidden away for so long. Yotsuba started crying then. Soundlessly and motionlessly as if the tears were just falling by themselves.
Hibari puckered his eyebrows. Seeing Yotsuba cry made him feel goaded. It was as if there were ten heaters running at the highest temperature at the same time.
This herbivore… what is she doing to me?
Yotsuba was still engrossed in her thoughts until Hibari's tonfa made contact with her wet cheek. Fiercely, this time. The unsuspecting girl was sent across the room with one swing. Her body crashed with some desks and chairs with a loud crack.
Oh crap! I hope that wasn't any part of my body just now! Yotsuba thought, completely forgetting about the voice. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR, KYOUYA?"
Now she's crying because she's hurt, thought Hibari. Good.
"Ah!" Yotsuba exclaimed, suddenly remembering that she was here because she needed to take a make-up exam. Yotsuba looked at Hibari guiltily. "Kyouya… the exam…" I didn't answer ANYTHING.
Hibari yawned and sent her an indifferent expression. He's had enough of this make-up session. He wanted to go to sleep right now. He turned and started to walk away, leaving Yotsuba gawking. Before he exited the open door, he stopped and looked back at Yotsuba.
"Clean up your mess," he said languidly, eyeing the fallen desks and chairs. "And pay for that broken chair."
Hibari left. Yotsuba had to resist the urge to stalk him burn down his house. Although, she has to admit that she is a little thankful that Hibari had chased away the haunting voice in her head. Silently, Yotsuba started to lift up the desks and chairs. A smile on her face as she worked.
Thanks, Kyouya…
TBC.
A/N: Ah~ an update! This is quicker than I expected! I actually have a lot of things to say. First, I have a question. I'm totally new at this, so the "anonymous review" thing… is it okay to enable it? I mean, there must be something fishy with it since it's default was disabled, right? I am so confused. But for now, I've enabled it. Please don't tell me I'm gonna get spammed for this or something.
Anyway… so I figured that there's still gonna be a good five or more chapters until the Kokuyou Conflict… so since I'm running out of ideas for pairings, I'll be happy to take requests for any pairings that anyone wants to see! Um, well, I don't know how well that's gonna work out, but let's just try this, ne! So for anyone that REALLY wants to see a certain pairing, make your request!
And lastly, PLEASE REVIEW! XD