Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn or any other recognizable enterprises. Nor do I make money off them.
Before the Bullet
Chapter Five Surprise Meetings
"A month, Hibari and waking up every morning like this," Tsuna raised and inspected his hands. "Is so weird. Sometimes I can't believe all that happened."
Most of the time, I don't want to believe it, Tsuna thought, eyes shifting from one display to another as the walked. He brought his arms down to his sides to avoid weird stares. Hibari did not tend to react well to being stared at. This street was destroyed in the future, yet it feels peaceful as if nothing would ever happen.
Hibari grunted and Tsuna took it as an agreement as a sign Hibari had a hangover. Very little rated a verbal response when he had a hangover. Tsuna really did not understand the alcohol. In the future, he had no memory of Hibari drinking but apparently Hibari was quite familiar with a) his drinking limit (very little and Tsuna wasn't sure that had anything to do with age), b) how weird he acted when he was drunk (he never seemed surprised to find himself sleeping on Tsuna), and c) Tsuna's protests against him drinking, which were deftly dealt with the very effective threat in the form of a raised tonfa.
"We still haven't found Byakuran." An uneasy feeling rested in the pit of his stomach. "What if—"
"Shut up and don't look. We are being followed, herbivore."
Tsuna froze, losing pace with Hibari, then jogged to keep up. He didn't bother looking back; he could almost feel the person following them now that he knew to look. Need to work on being more aware. To play off his stopping, he shouted, "Meanie."
Hibari snorted. Were they not being followed, Tsuna would have likely gotten bruises for yelling at him. Hibari turned their path down a empty residential street and turned again to bring them in a shady alley.
For children being stalked, this would be a stupid idea. But we aren't exactly children. Tsuna smiled grimly, a look that did not belong on his childish face. Hopefully Hibari can let off a little steam. Tsuna had little expectations that whoever had followed them would be much of a match for Hibari—he could probably take out the average creep himself—but at least Hibari could get truly violent, unlike in their spars. Neither wanted (or at least Tsuna hated the idea enough for the both of them) to explain bruises and broken bones.
They walked to the back of the alleyway and Hibari pulled Tsuna behind the dumpster. Tsuna felt the presence come closer and nodded to Hibari.
They stopped out of their hiding spot, Hibari brandishing his tonfa. Metal tonfa. When did he get those?!
The tall blonde--a foreigner most definitely--jumped back, falling into a fighting stance. The suit screamed mafia and the hair rose on the back of Tsuna's neck. How did we attract attention? We were careful. Who—His eyes widened when he realized he knew the man--well, more like a teenager currently.
Tsuna grabbed his shirt sleeve, stopping Hibari's attack. "Gamma?"
Hibari glared at him and Tsuna nearly groaned. Training tomorrow is going to suck.
"You know me, Vongola brat?" His voice had a gruffer quality with odd little sounds at the end of some words and sounded generally less Italian. Tsuna was quite familiar with the Italian accent and knew Italian was smoother, almost rolling sound.
Hibari's hand on his tonfa twitched. Tsuna knew better than to let go, even if holding on could lead to injuries of his own. "You seem to know me."
"Do you dream?"
Tsuna blinked at the odd question. "Of what?"
"Che. Byakuran's future."
Hibari tried to pull out of Tsuna's grilp, nearly sending Tsuna to the ground. Tsuna leaned on him, trying booth to regain his balance and keep a hold on Hibari. "We know about him."
"So it's real, that future?" There was despair in his voice.
Of course—Uni. Tsuna stepped in front of Hibari. "That future doesn't have to happen. We can stop it."
Gamma crossed his arms and Tsuna could feel the unspoken question.
"Help us find him. We will stop him."
A raised eyebrow. "You would trust the word of an enemy?"
"A once enemy, like most my Guardians."
Hibari flinched behind him. Gamma seemed surprised. Wonder how history will write me if even that wasn't known? Only Chrome and Yamamoto didn't try to kill me.
"Didn't work out every time. You once trust Byakuran and ended up dead."
Tsuna froze; he did not have an answer--he had never lived (or died) through that. I trusted Byakuran? Someone would have told me something, right? Maybe. He had very little time with his future Guardians. Only Hibari had not been replaced by his younger self.
"Do multiple time machines and the spy Shoichi Irie scream trust to you?"
Gamma looked over Tsuna's head at Hibari. Something had been decided in that stare, as Gamma asked "What do you need?"
"We needed to find Byakuran." Tsuna stated firmly. Telling Hibari that a long time ago had been a rather useless statement. With Gamma, Tsuna felt like he was getting closer to the future he wanted.
"We can't stay and talk today." Hibari said, placing a hand on Tsuna's shoulder. "Expected home soon."
"Children." Gamma snorted.
Only half correct. Gamma is definitely not making a friend in Hibari and being underestimated now isn't good—we need the help. "How old do you feel, Gamma-san? How old is Uni-san?"
Tsuna regretted the last question before Gamma straightened. The man was every bit as loyal as Gokudera and had the same fire. "The Princess hasn't been born yet. Luche isn't exactly Boss yet either."
Right, more than a decade to go. How old is Uni, anyways? "We have memories of that future. Do you think we are children?"
"'Pipsqueaks' is probably the better term."
Tsuna glanced back at the glaring Hibari. Please don't start a fight. Damn, why does he have to be like Gokudera? "Can we meet tomorrow?"
"Where?"
Tsuna bit his lip. Can't be the school—Hibari would definitely attack him. I will not bring home and I don't think even my Mom would be okay for taking an adult stranger home. He turned towards Hibari.
Hibari decided for him and he pointed to the building on the left. "There's a café around the corner. Meet us there tomorrow at three o'clock. If you are late, I will bite you to death."
Hibari grabbed Tsuna by the arm and half dragged him out of the alleyway. Tsuna looked back at Gamma, who stood in the alley with his arms crossed.
Funny how so many of my enemies becomes allies or close to it. Even friends.
A harsh jerk on his arm reminded him that ally did not mean nice. "Hibari that hurts!"
"So must your stupidity. Black Spell."
"Who hates Byakuran as much as we do."
Hibari snorted but released his arm. "Have you forgotten what he did to your precious Gokudera-kun and Yamamoto-kun?"
"We can trust him."
"Your Hyper Intuition?"
Tsuna frowned and forced his Intuition. Like a rarely used muscle, it resisted but then Tsuna knew. "Yes. He won't betray us."
Hibari nodded and a light strangeness teased the edges of Tsuna's mind. His Intuition slipped back into slumber without giving him an answer. "I will bite him to the death if he does."
Silence walked with them for a few more blocks.
"Hibari, aren't we going the wrong way? We're almost near the park."
"We are headed to the park."
Hibari's smirk made Tsuna gulp.
"But to-today isn't a training day." Instincts screamed at him to run—a stupid instinct. Hibari was rarely in a mood to chase his target and he always made sure the coward regretted the action (of course, the victim could also be regretting being alive near Hibari). Tsuna had thought Hibari had been far too restrained with Gamma. Shitshitshitshitshit.
"I feel a need to get a bit more exercise." Hibari cracked his knuckles. Tsuna winced at the sound.
My enemies become allies but they still want to beat the shit out of me. It's not fair!
Luche is the name of the Arcobaleno (though I don't know what the official English one is now) who I am pretty sure is Uni's mother and the Giglio Nero boss…but I have some problems because it seems she was pregnant before she became an Arcobaleno. My head hurts.
Anyone have an idea for a better chapter title?
Posted: May 25, 2009