Genre: Romance/Comedy
Rated: T
Pairing: 1886 TYL. Hibari x Haru.
Summary: They had maintained a relatively platonic relationship for almost ten years now, with her calling him a close friend and him looking out for her. But after her decade-long crush on Tsuna came to a sad ending and she came back to Japan, he decided it was high time their relationship progressed.
Setting: Ten Years Later
Disclaimer: I do not own Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn. The manga belongs to Amano Akira-sensei.
Chapter Four
"What do you mean, Haru? Setting me free? What's this all about?"
"Tsuna-san, you're in love with Kyoko-chan, aren't you?"
"Eh—! Wha-What! I—I…"
"Hehe, no need to panic, Tsuna-san. Haru knows you're still in love with her. You've always been…and probably always will."
"How—How did you know, Haru? And how long have you known?"
"It's easy, Tsuna-san. Haru heard it from your mouth, when we were in junior high."
"Eh? That long ago? B-But, I'm positive I never told you!"
"Of course not, you never did. Haru just accidentally overheard it—Tsuna-san's confession."
The walk back from the Miura residence had been a rather quiet one, with Haru being unusually tight-lipped and Hibari usually not bothering to even say anything. It was to be expected, though, after their little fight earlier. She had protested against his one-sided decision, saying she didn't want to trouble him too much. And of course, he didn't listen and proceeded to force her to pack her textbooks. In retaliation, she called him a 'tyrannical jerk' and pushed him, but the one who got bounced back from the reaction force and fell on the ground was herself. By then Hibari had decided that Haru, being herself—her stupidly clumsy and idiotic (as deemed by him) self—would not be able to successfully transport all those nerdy gigantic medical textbooks to the destination, and that he would have Kusakabe come fetch it by tomorrow, problem solved. With that, the skylark informed her of his new plan, and before she could even utter a word of disagreement or lift herself from the floor, he grabbed hold of her collar and dragged her out of the house, candle and all. Haru had protested all the way down the stairs, shouting and calling him names, but to no avail.
As a result, she had decided to pout and sulk all the way back to the institute as a way of trying out the so-called 'silent treatment'.
It didn't work.
Of course, it didn't. The terms 'Miura Haru' and 'silence' were antonyms. She could only stay silent until they reached the shrine, then she couldn't hold it anymore. She asked him to reconsider, for the thousandth time. His reply had been plain and simple:
"No."
She had pressed on, because she wasn't the type of pathetic wimp to back off so easily after only being blatantly rejected a few times (case in point: Tsuna-san) and she had another really important reason why she didn't want to live at his place. However, this time, Hibari's answer was final.
"If you want your choice in underwear to remain a secret, then shut up and stop bothering me."
She was that type of pathetic wimp, after all.
She wasn't strong enough. Just…couldn't…resist. The threat was too great. (*sobs*)
That whole ordeal led to the current situation, where Haru was pacing around in her decidedly-pretty-much-long-term-or-even-permanent-if-that-guy-wants-cause-he's-such-a-dictator room, mumbling dark curses she remembered from her occult-stuff-addicted days. When that wasn't satisfying enough, she picked up her sewing kit from her backpack, sat down and started making a voodoo doll. Obviously, the name that was going to be sewed onto the doll was none other than her beloooooooved best guy friend's, who supposedly threatened her into accepting his whimsical proposal.
Fair enough…This predicament didn't deserve such an over-the-top reaction from her, since she had practically been going in and out of this place so many times that it could be considered her second home already, and over the course of these years, she had actually slept over quite a few times—each time a period of only overnight, since the next day she would have to go straight to take the exams or show up to make excuses like "I stayed over at Kyoko-chan's" to her parents. Still, to actually move out of her house and settle in here…That was a completely different matter.
She had told him that she didn't want to trouble or rely on him too much. That was only half the truth. The hidden reason she didn't dare tell him was, well, simply put, too hard to explain. If she had persisted, it would've been something like this:
"Hibari-san, this concept might be a little difficult for a blockhead like you to comprehend, but a pure maiden like Haru, who has been proudly raised and taught by her strict, academic parents about the merits of a fine woman, must absolutely not live in a house full of men. It is scandalous, disgraceful, and a huge blow to a woman's honor. Most importantly, no one's ever going to marry me if he hears that I've been living in such a place! I don't want that. Without Tsuna-san this is already hard enough; I have to start finding a new fish from scratch! What if I can't find a boyfriend because everyone thinks I'm the kind of lewd woman who lives with men! Hahi! And what if all my girlfriends start to think the same too? *sobs* Nooo, I really don't want that. I've just suffered a heart break and come back and now my rose-colored love life and springtime of youth are already coming to an end. Nooo, it's too short, I can't. Hahi… does this also mean my dream of marrying someone who will come to destroy my world in a romantic manner and build it up anew with his tempest-like personality and the charisma of Count Dracula will not be fulfilled? Ahhhh…*wails*"
And the rest that was in her head was just redundant. The rant went on and on.
On and on.
Now the voodoo doll was just about finished, but Haru was still mumbling the earlier monologue.
"Um, excuse me, Miura-san. Miura-san? Can you hear me?" Before she knew it, Kusakabe was knocking on her door…for however long he had been doing so.
"Hahi! S-Sorry, Kusakabe-san, Haru was just lost in thoughts (about a certain boss of yours, actually). Please, come in," she answered sheepishly, quickly tucking the voodoo doll back inside her backpack.
He slid the door open and stepped in with a cart full of her books. Big, calloused hands picked a few of them up and brandished them to her.
"Are these the books that you'll be needing, Miura-san?"
She gave him a smile, despite her mood. He was just so nice and kind, a refreshing contrast to his precious Kyou-san. "Yes, thank you, Kusakabe-san."
"I actually brought all the medical textbooks I could find in the house. There were so many books in your house, Miura-san, I was surprised. One cart wasn't enough at all. Heck, even five carts wouldn't do the job."
"Hehe, I feel flattered when you say it like that. We're an academic family, after all." Haru grinned and scratched the back of her head shyly as she got up and approached the cart. Delicate, soft hands caressed the covers of the textbooks lovingly, as if they were her treasure.
"Would you like me to go back to fetch all of the remaining books tomorrow?" The man couldn't help feeling a kind of empathy when he saw the fondness in her brown eyes. He, too, adored her like a little sister.
"Ah, please don't bother. I still refuse to live here. I just need to find a proper way to convey it to him, that's all. Besides, you shouldn't have to go to the trouble of moving my stuff for me just because Hibari-san decided, all by himself, and without my consent, that he would have Haru stay here."
Noting her indignant tone, he attempted to reason with the girl. "But, Miura-san, I agree with Kyou-san's decision. I think it's the only way for you to be able to live in Japan safely."
Haru's eyebrows rose up and went to the ceiling, before they were knitted together as tight as a dead knot. She stuck her lower lip out like a kid, doe-like eyes glared at him as if blaming him. "So you're on his side, huh?"
Kusakabe chuckled weakly, "Ahahaha...ha...It's not like that, Miura-san. I just think that Kyou-san has a legitimate reason for you to live here. You should also realize that. On top of that, you've slept over so many times, and not once have you minded. Why are you against it so much this time?"
Note: Haru's full explanation is just up above. Can't you scroll up and read, Kusakabe?
"Because, Kusakabe-san, I'm the only female here! It's scandalous. What if my parents know? They will kill me, I tell you. And no one will ever marry me." The last sentence was the most important.
"That won't be a problem, Miura-san. When we came back to your house, no one in the neighborhood saw us. I'm positive, because the street was empty. So no one knows yet that you're back. And if you live here in the institute, of course no normal people can see through the illusion. And when you commute, it will appear as if you live deep in the mountains. Clearly nobody will talk, and it is the best option," he explained.
"But what about the man who will marry me? If he knows..." She looked extremely worried over the matter. Once again, Kusakabe was reminded that Japan valued this girl as a national asset-the gem of the academic society-and that this country was probably doomed.
"Miura-san...When you were fourteen, during the battle with the Millefiore Family, you and Sasagawa-san had to live in the base with the boys, too, correct? It was for your safety. This situation is the same. It's for your own safety."
"Hahi! You're right! But...You know, Kusakabe-san, back then Haru didn't mind because I thought I would be marrying Tsuna-san anyway and that was like a sort of practice to become the tenth's wife in the future. And now...*sighs* It's like I'm going to become Hibari-san's bride and I'm practicing housewife lessons for him or something. So embarrassing," Haru grumbled, hands cupping her cheeks like it really was a topic she was uncomfortable with.
At that remark, the man gave a wide, knowing grin, but refused to say anything.
The brunette sighed in defeat. "All right. I see your point, Kusakabe-san. I was just being stubborn and unreasonable. I'm sorry. I'll go apologize to Hibari-san right now."
"Then shall I put these books onto the shelves? How do you want them to be arranged, Miura-san?" he gestured at the looming bookshelves at the far end of the room, completely forgetting the fact that Hibari was in his private quarters right now, and that Haru was going to go there.
"Ah, if you could put those in the same categories together, I'd appreciate it. Thank you so much, Kusakabe-san!" she beamed at him before exiting the room.
"You're very welcome," he replied faintly as the door slid shut. Kusakabe sat down and stared at the pile of books, not moving an inch for a long time.
Mental note: I actually can't read a word of the complex English medical term titles, Miura-san. Is-Is it okay if I put books that have titles with similar-looking words together? Uh, is she really gone?
"What is this? (Japanese accent) Ro...Robu? Lobo...tomy? Lobotomy? What are these scary pictures...M-Miura-san...Please come back...*cries eternally*"
Meanwhile, Haru nervously headed towards Hibari's bedroom, carefully noting the hallways and rooms on her way to the somewhat unfamiliar place. His private quarters were separated from all the guest rooms and offices, where the former Disciplinary Committee members occasionally came back from traveling and met up for research purposes, due to his hatred of crowding and love of solitude. Whenever Haru came around to conveniently use this mansion to study, she was allowed to stay in one of the guest rooms, which was almost never used considering the skylark's level of hospitality. To be honest, she never intended to stay over at all, but in most cases, though, she often fell asleep right on the spot with her head resting on the book-and her drool wetting the pages-and Kusakabe was the one who had to carry her to bed because she wouldn't wake up no matter what he tried. And over the course of nearly a decade, the first guest room on the left wing of the mansion had gradually become 'Haru's room'.
While the guest rooms and the living quarters for the returning members were on the left wing of the institute, Hibari's living space took up all of the right wing. It was known as the forbidden sanctuary among the members, where trespassing meant certain death. Miura Haru, on the other hand, might be the only exception. A certain myth among the Pompadour lovers was that she had set foot in the sanctuary and had come back alive, but the actual truth remained a mystery.
Slim legs strode uncertainly across the main hall towards her destination. Haru was starting to become unsure of her choice of time. It was, in fact, pretty late. She remembered they had come back from patrolling the town-him the one patrolling and her just tagging along but ending up having a one-sided argument and got mad about it-at around one in the morning. Now that she actually thought about it, it was beginning to make more and more sense that he would be fast asleep right now, and that disturbing him during his sleep meant getting bitten to death with no mercy, she was at least sure of that much; he loved his naps, after all. The brunette heaved a huge sigh while mentally smacking her head.
"This is a wasted trip. *sighs* I should just retreat for now and apologize tomorrow..."
But here was the thing.
It had been quite a walk from the far end of the left wing all the way to the right wing, and she just didn't feel like going back empty-handed now.
Well, she was just going to make sure he really was asleep. If he was, then she would be on her way back.
To top it all off, she was already here. The hallway of the right wing.
And at the end of this hallway, if her memory of one time trespassing and almost getting bitten to death served her right, the sliding doors with delicate drawings of a beast devouring its prey, with an enormous quote that read 'DISCIPLINE', must be the entrance to his bedroom.
She remembered this place only vaguely. Her memory of the time she came here was also rather cloudy. The reason was because the first, and the only, time she had been in here, she had been a little inebriated. But that was only Haru's version of the situation. If Kusakabe had to describe it, he would say, well, she was a little...frickin' drunk an' smashed out of her fucking mind. At that time, the official second-in-hand of the Vongola Cloud Guardian had lost sight of the drunken girl for only a moment, and she had disappeared. He only found out later that she had barged into his boss' private quarters when she had come back in one piece, albeit unconscious, and held by the collar by a very pissed off Kyou-san. Also, the one getting bitten to a state of half-death later was him, in her place.
In summary, Haru could hardly remember this place, and had no idea what happened here the last time she came.
Still, the feeling made her feel a little off. After all these years of coming to the institute, there was still a place unfamiliar to her in this familiar mansion. That place was his room. His private life.
It seemed that no matter how much she had invaded his personal space, he was still him. The mysterious, restraint-hating, isolation-loving, him.
The brunette came to a halt in front of the doors. She knocked three times and tentatively called out, "Hibari-san?"
There was no response, as she had expected. But to be sure, she knocked again, anyway.
"Hibari-san, are you sleeping?"
When it was becoming clear that he probably was asleep, she decided to give it a rest. However, when she was about to turn around, she was met with a cold sensation of a metal on her right cheek.
It was a tonfa. And it was right next to her face.
"Did you have a death wish, coming here?" A terrifyingly familiar voice coldly asked behind her. Immediately, Haru felt a shiver down her spine, followed by her trademark "Hahi!". Without turning, she knew what kind of scary face he was making. He should be in his usual pre-fight stance, with one tonfa in one hand casually resting by his side, while the other extended along the length of his other arm with the elbow bent, ready to attack. His low and menacing tone suggested that he was mad, and that it probably hadn't been a good idea to come here, after all.
"U-Um, Hibari-san," she shakily rasped out as she struggled to turn to see him, her right cheek brushing by his tonfa as she did. Haru did her best to look pitiful, and even if she was dying to say something, she waited. All she could do right now was stare into those unreadable, cold, sharp, grey eyes guiltily.
"...No answer. So that means you want to be bitten to death," he continued icily, eyes boring into her doe-like ones, intimidating and giving her the fright she deserved. But to his dismay, those big, warm, brown eyes refused to yield and kept looking into his. Worse, their owner was sporting a puppy-like expression and was trying her best to act like a small animal. And the moment he made the mistake of comparing her expression to that of his box weapon's, Roll's, he knew he wasn't going to be biting anyone to death tonight.
On the other end, Haru was feeling a little uneasy. She really didn't like the situation she was in. It was like she was a small animal, staring into the predator's eyes, begging for mercy, and the fate of her whole life was to be decided in these few moments of life and death. She couldn't read what Hibari was thinking at all, it was frustrating-and scary. While it was true that normally she wasn't afraid of her old friend because she knew him well, but this time was different-she had crossed his boundaries, and he was understandably angry.
This was turning out to be more of a disaster by the second. She had come to apologize for her earlier mistake, not caring whether he had been upset about it or not, but if he hadn't then, he was very much visibly upset now. And her mistakes had doubled.
Out of frustration, she shifted her gaze without meaning to, and quickly realized another alarming fact.
"Hahi! H-H-Hibari-san! You're-You're naked!" she screamed, hands shooting up to cover her eyes, the color of her face quickly recovering from the earlier pale white into shades of crimson.
Hibari put down his tonfa, no longer in the mood to fight. He was also far from 'naked', as she had so wrongly described. He just had been taking off his usual attire-a black suit and a purple shirt, along with a black tie-after patrolling the town, about to take a shower, and although right now his top was exposed due to the unbuttoned shirt, he was still wearing pants. It was her fault for coming in here when he was preparing for bed. As soon as he heard the footsteps, he was constantly on guard for enemies, thus grabbing his tonfa and appearing from behind the target-only to find a stupid female herbivore. Imagine how ticked off he must have been.
But now his mood was starting to lighten up considerably.
The little pervert was sneakily peeking at his abdomen between the gaps in her fingers. And she thought he wouldn't notice? What nerve.
"You pervert," he said softly, the corners of his mouth curving into a smirk.
She flinched, her face becoming even redder, if that was possible. "H-Hahi! I don't know what you're talking about! A-Anyway, Haru came here to apologize for yelling at you and calling you a tyrannical jerk just now, even though you kind of are, and I'm sorry I barged in here without your permission. I know you really hate it when I invade your space, but I felt like I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight if I didn't apologize to you. So, for trespassing and yelling at you, Haru will make it up to you somehow. And also, thank you so much for letting Haru stay here, I really appreciate your kindness. And...That's it. G-Good night!" she rushed out as much as she could think of, and, with her hands futilely covering her eyes, quickly sprinted past him.
The skylark easily let her pass, despite the fact that she had trespassed into his private life. But if he thought about it, she had always been bulldozing her way into his life, and this time, it was merely a matter of degree. And by letting her go, he had just allowed her to invade his personal space further, which made him scowl.
"And put on some clothes!" the brunette had the nerve to turn back to lecture him, and as if she knew that had been another wrong move, she was already gone when he spun around to find her.
It would take exactly two seconds for him to go after her and bite her to death. But for now, he wasn't feeling like it, so he would let her go. For now.
Strangely enough, he had used the excuse "will let go for now because I'm not feeling like it" on this particular herbivore for almost ten years, and he had not gotten around to actually biting her to death yet, even though she so deserved it for a number of times.
Years ago, his past self would have been very confused as to why, and right now he would be lying if he said he wasn't, but at least he had come to accept it.
Miura Haru was an exception to his rules.
Or more like, he made an exception of his rules, for her.
To be continued
KimJoysu's Notes: Hey guys. I'm re-watching KHR, that's why I got the inspiration to write the fic. I put the KHR manga on hold a few years ago, and only finished the Shimon arc. I'll probably get back to reading it if I have time. Getting back to the story, as I said, it's slow-paced. I don't even know if this chapter was fun or not, but I enjoyed writing it. The reason I don't have a fixed updating routine is because I didn't deliberately plot this story, I just whipped it up on a whim, which goes for my other fanfic as well. And that's why I experience a lot of writer's blocks. Which is why, I'm sorry to say, I can't tell you my updating routine-or if it's a routine at all. My routine is, if it's updated, then yeah, it is. Lol.
So did you like it? Hate it? Please R&R!
P.S. Seriously though, if you find any of the characters acting OOC, you gotta review and tell me, since this is the aspect I stress the most. I think that the point of me writing this fic in the first place is because I found the other fics OOC, and they weren't to my liking, that's why I started my own (on a whim, with no plan, sigh).
Anyway, I'll see you on my next update. Thanks!