Chapter Four: The Challenge
Tsuna, Yamamoto, Gokudera and Nozomi were walking to school the next morning. Yamamoto was telling them how fun the Amusement Park was and that next time they should all go.
"Nozomi how was the Amusement Park?" Tsuna asked.
"Fun, I didn't image it would be." she said smiling.
"Sawada!!" they heard someone shout as they entered the gate, they turned to see a black-haired guy carrying a kendo stick, followed by other brutish looking guys.
"Mochida-Senpai!" shouted Tsuna.
"Sawada I challenge you to a game of volleyball. If you win, I'll leave you alone and you can have Kyoko, but if you lose I get Kyoko and you must stay away from her forever!" he shouted.
"Ummm……..Mochida-sen……" he started only to get interrupted by Nozomi.
"We accept your challenge, but if you lose you must go around the school in nothing but your underwear and apologize to everyone." Nozomi shouted.
"Ha! Like that will ever happen, your on!" he yelled back.
"How's about it Takeshi?" she asked looking at the athletic guy standing beside her.
"Sounds like fun, I'm in." he said smiling.
"You wouldn't make Tsuna look like a fool now would you Hayato?" she questioned the silver-haired guy behind her.
Gokudera cracked his knuckles, "Anyone who dares to insult the 10th is going to have to go through me first!"
"Hmmm…….crowding around again? You must really want me to bite you to death." they heard a very familiar Hibari say, "And I will not allow this challenge to go on in my school."
Gokudera was about to object, but only to get cut short by Nozomi, "It really doesn't matter what you say, we are going to do this challenge with or without your permission Kyouya."
Hibari who did not like what was said, pulled out his tonfa, causing everyone who was still around to run, "I don't like the tone you use to talk to me."
Nozomi smirked placing her hands on her hips, "Really but then again I really don't care if you like it or not. You may scare everyone else but I'll say it again you don't scare me." she said being to get annoyed. "I didn't ask for your approval which means it isn't needed." she said walking passed him and into the front door.
She was so exasperated by him, she just didn't know what to do. As she was walking she was about to turn around the corner until she saw some guys, she was close enough to hear what they were saying, "If we take out Yamamoto there chances of wins are low."
"Yeah, see Mochida there's nothing to worry about." another one said.
Nozomi had to warn Yamamoto and ran for it, she ran fast until she finally found him, "Takeshi I have something every important to tell you."
"What is it?" he asked.
"There are some guys that are coming after you!" she shouted just then she noticed there wasn't anyone in the hall.
"There he is!" they heard someone shout, they turned to see someone pointing at them.
"Gotta make a run for it." he whispered.
"They're surrounding us." Nozomi replied.
In an instant she felt strong arms wrap around her and lift her, "What are you….." she stopped to see Yamamoto jump onto the windowsill. She did the only thing she could think off, embrace him. She wrapped her arms around his waist.
When she opened her eyes they landed behind some trees, "You scared me!" she said punching Yamamoto's shoulder.
"What I had to do something to get us out of there." he said laughing.
"What?" she asked.
He pointed at her hair, "Your hairs messed up."
She tried to look at her hair, but started to touch it, "Do I look weird?" she asked Yamamoto.
He looked at the girl in front of him, her hair was messing but she still looked beautiful. He blushed, "You look beautiful." he said sincerely.
She remember from her time in the future, if she didn't tell Hibari she'd always go to Yamamoto. She felt so comfortable around him, just like she did with her brothers. Somehow she just missed that feeling, the feeling of being home with family, smiling and laughing and just being loved. Before she knew it tears started to fall, Yamamoto started to freak, he hoped it wasn't his fault she was crying, "Gomen, Nozomi."
She looked up at him, "What are you sorry for?" she asked smiling.
"Well I made you cry……" he started only to be interrupted, "You didn't do anything wrong, I just remembered something that made me want to cry, and I guess I can't help but feel at home around you." she said smiling, which made Yamamoto blush.
"I think we should get back, I don't want Hibari to get mad at you." she said standing up and being to walk, "You coming?" she asked the guy standing behind her.
"Yeah I'm coming." he said running to her.
-
They walked in the halls with each other laughing, "Seriously I used to kick guy's asses almost everyday and when I came home I got lectured by my tutors. They used to say things like, 'That's not lady like. You shouldn't fight.' she said impersonating them. "But whenever that happened Dino would come in and save the day." she said smiling.
Yamamoto was still laughing about seeing her impersonate her tutors. She'd do things like straighten her back and talk in a funny voice, and try to sound like her male tutors were hilarious. "So you used to live with Dino?"
"Yeah, childhood friends. We did everything together from pranking the tutors, to anything you can think of." she said smiling at the memories.
"Wait what time is it?" he asked.
"Umm…..wait it already time for the match!" she shouted grabbing his arm and running to the gym.
-
"Gomen!!! We're here, we're here!!" she shouted finally letting go of Yamamoto.
"Where they hell were you two!! The match almost started without you!" Gokudera shouted.
"Shut it, at least we came!" she retorted.
"Your in no position to talk you stupid girl!" Gokudera shouted at Nozomi.
"What!!!" she said about to hit him only stopped by Yamamoto, "Come on, come on let's not fight." he said standing in between them.
"Fine only because you asked." she looked toward Gokudera and showed him tongue.
"Sawada you ready to lose." Mochida shouted.
"You better get ready to admit defeat!!" Nozomi shouted loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Ha like that will ever happen!!" he said grinning.
She smirked, "Just you wait."
"Okay ready begin!"
Mochida served the ball, it flew to Tsuna and was going to hit him on the face but Nozomi ran, jumped up and hit it back at Mochida.
"Oh!! That's an extreme stuff!!" Ryohei shouted cheering them on.
"That's cheating!" Mochida shouted.
"Negative that was a authorized move." Kusakabe stated.
"Hmm…..we'll see!" he shouted back.
Next Yamamoto served the ball, they hit it back, Nozomi ran and blocked it from falling. She hit back at them, they weren't as fast and the ball hit the ground.
"Team A, earns a point." the ref shouted.
Nozomi smirked there was no way, she wouldn't lose against someone like him. She wouldn't let him win.
Yamamoto jumped up to serve the ball, he hit it as hard as he could. Mochida hit the ball back and it flew straight to Nozomi. She saw through this jumped up, spun in the air and hit the ball harder then Mochida. The ball hit right at the line, which happened to gain them another point.
She landed on one knee, as she lifted her head, she smirked at Mochida.
Gokudera didn't do much, he just hated that the baseball idiot, and the jumping for joy princess were the only ones that actually did anything.
"Boss, I'll take care of the next shot." he said jumping up to hit the ball, only to have it fly passed him.
Nozomi caught what was happening, threw herself on the ground and deflected the ball so it flew to Yamamoto. Yamamoto's slick instincts picked up the movements, as he turned, jumped up and hit the ball to Mochida, who tried to keep it from touching the ground but he failed at that.
"Two to one." The ref blew a whistle, "BREAK!" he shouted.
Nozomi's shoulders tensed down, "That was hard work!" she shouted running to grab a water bottle.
She took four, and ran back. She took a breath and threw one to each of the guys, "Drink up you must be exhausted." she said smiling.
"Thanks." they muttered.
"Don't worry guys, we can do this." she said smiling trying to encourage them.
"As long as we work together anything can work." Yamamoto said smiling.
Nozomi giggled, "See stop looking at the negative side and look at the bright side. Don't go and be Betty Buzz Kill on me."
They just looked at her, she always found ways to laugh, smile or make fun. "So, I think we can do this, all we have to do is concentrate."
Then they suddenly felt a cold, unwelcoming feeling in their guts, "Hmph, so you did go against my words." they turned to see a very ticked Hibari.
"Kyouya-san." Kusakabe said nervously afraid what Hibari might do.
Nozomi stepped in front of Kusakabe, so that her body was only inches away from his, "Don't you dare to interfere with this Kyouya. I will make you regret ever going against me, and trust me I could kill you in a matter of seconds and hide your body in places people would never think of." she said in a very serious tone.
"Is that a challenge Akatsuka Nozomi?" he said sternly to her.
She crossed her arms over her chest, "Why yes, I believe it is. Are you up to it? Or are you to afraid I might hurt your little pride?" she said smirking very largely.
"Hmph, you can't touch me, much less hurt my pride." he said looking at her like she was brainless.
"Yeah, yeah, just kiss my ass, you jerk." she said turning and walking away from him.
That angered Hibari nobody, absolutely nobody, dared to mess with him. Then some girl from Italy showed up acting as if she could walk all over him. Who the hell did she think she was?
"Kyo-san, are you alright?" Kusakabe asked the man in front of him who looked viciously angry.
"Let's see how this end, shall we." he said walking and sitting on the chair.
That wasn't good, Hibari Kyouya agreeing on something, he must know that something was going to happen, something that would entertain him.
-
She stared dangerously at Mochida, how she detested people like that. She was always the type of person that wanted to help the little guy. Maybe that was why everyone felt so at ease with her. Only if they knew the pain that she felt inside, that unspeakable, unforgettable pain.
"Nozomi?" she heard someone call, though it sounded very distant, "Nozomi?" she heard again, "Nozomi, are you alright?" she was pulled back by Yamamoto tapping on her shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm fine." she said smiling at him, "Just day dreaming."
Then she felt a sudden pain in her stomach, she thought that is must have been from the water. She took a deep breath, then after a few seconds let it out. Her eyes opened and stared straight at Mochida, it was their turn to serve the ball.
Nozomi bent her knees, jumped up, threw the ball in the air, and when her hand met the ball. She pulled back and hit it harder then anyone anticipated. She landed on her feet, Mochida had blocked the ball from falling.
Yamamoto jumped up and blocked it again, hitting back to the other side. Nozomi looked toward Hibari, who actually looked amused, somehow that irritated her.
"Nozomi!" Yamamoto shouted, she looked toward him to see that the ball was flying toward her. She just smiled, you had to be faster then that to catch her off guard.
She stared at ball and hit it harder to the opposite side. They ran trying to block it from falling on the ground to no triumph.
She looked toward Hibari, who had an unusual look on his face, like impression. She was shocked how could anyone impress Hibari Kyouya, he wasn't the nice type and everyone knew that.
"3-0." Kusakabe announced, "Next goal earns 2 points." he said gesturing to continue.
It was Yamamoto's turn to serve the ball, he took a deep breath, jumped up and hit the ball. Mochida ran and hit back, Tsuna tried to hit it but missed. Gokudera seeing that rushed and blocked the ball. Hitting it toward Yamamoto, he hit it back to the opposite side. Mochida ran and blocked it hitting it back to their side.
Nozomi smiled seeing it flying toward the ground, dropped to her knees and hit it toward Yamamoto. Yamamoto seeing it fly toward him thought it should be Tsuna to win it. Backed up and Tsuna being behind him freaked. He saw the ball flying in his direction, "Tsuna-san you can do it!" he heard Kyoko shout from the sideline.
He took a breath, and was taking this serious. He jumped up and hit the ball toward Mochida. Tsuna hit the ball his hardest. Mochida who wasn't thinking that it would have such a power thought nothing about it. The ball came flying quickly toward him, flew past him and hit the ground right beside him.
"TEAM A WINS!" Kusakabe shouted.
The crowds of people jumped up shouting, Nozomi smiled. She didn't feel good and she left to get some fresh air. She didn't notice a very pissed off Mochida following behind her.
-
She started coughing , leaning against the wall for support. She grabbed her stomach it was in pain, she hoped that it wasn't her childhood sickness coming back.
"Ha, ha so this is where you were." she turned her head to see Mochida smirking at her.
"What the hell do you want jackass." she said still leaning against the wall.
"You." he said grinning at her.
She gave him a fuck-off look, "Bite me you asshole." she said looking away from him.
Mochida took a step toward her and pinned her against the wall. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him, "You really are a beauty."
"Get your hands off of her, or I'll bite you to death." they heard a voice say in the distance.
She stopped, he said the exact same thing Hibari from the future said.
Flashback
Nozomi's eyes started to open, she grabbed her forehead that was in sudden pain.
"Looks like she's come to." she heard an unfamiliar voice say.
She opened her eyes wide, noticing she was in a unknown room, with about 8 to 10 unidentified faces. She coward to the corner holding her stomach, trying to figure out what to do. She looked sternly at them, "Who the hell are you?" she demanded to the men.
They started laughing, "Wow, you're a feisty and you are quite a beauty." she heard one man say.
She looked at him in disgust, "Bite me you jackass." she said toward the man.
"What was that you bitch!" he said standing up.
"Don't touch her! The boss will kill you, he'd want the first taste." another man said to the one standing. "You're a lucky bitch, but you won't be for longer." he said turning away.
"Yeah, you're too much for a wuss, to try and touch me." Nozomi shouted to the man.
"What!" he said turning back to her.
"You heard. Or are you blind, deaf, and stupid?" she said to the man in front of her.
"BITCH!" he shouted grabbing her by the neck and chocking her.
"Get your hands off of her or I'll bite you to death!" she heard another unfamiliar voice shout.
She turned her head to see a man, in a black suit standing in the door way, 'That's not the boss right?' she asked herself. The man's grip on Nozomi's neck tightened.
She started kicking trying to get some air, she lifted her legs and started to kick the man's side. "Keep still!" the man shouted smacking her face.
Hibari was angered, by the scene but mostly the person being strangled. Nozomi died a long time ago, and he would kill anyone who dared to use any form of her.
He quickly knocked out the other men in the room, and ran quickly toward the man holding Nozomi. He pulled out his tonfa and hit the man with it. Causing him to let go of Nozomi's neck, she fell to the ground. She coughed, gasping from air.
She looked up noticing, the unknown man glared at her, "Can I help you with something?" she asked.
She stood up, her head only coming up to his shoulders, she was about to walk away. He placed the tonfa against her neck, "What the hell……" she stared, but stopped when she looked up to the man.
Dark emotionless blue met compassionate bluish-green, "Do I know you?" Nozomi asked the man to held a weapon at her.
"Nozomi…." he said in a low whisper, she looked at him in shock, "how do you know my name?" she asked looking up at him in confusion, "where am I?" she asked him.
He dropped his tonfa, wrapping his arms around her, embracing her as hard as he could. Nozomi looked at him, in puzzlement, "Hello? I don't want to ruin the emotional moment but I don't know you." she said to him.
He let go, "Nozomi? That is your name correct." he asked looking into her eyes.
"Yeah, and how the hell do you know that?" she asked backing as far away from him as much as she could.
"Please, trust me, I do not intend to lay one finger in aggression on you." he said kneeling in front of her, "please come with me and I'll explain everything." he said placing his hand out in front of her.
Nozomi stood there, there was a part of her saying don't trust him, but she couldn't help but feel like she knew him somehow. She slowly took his hand, "I missed you." he whispered, holding her hand gently and walking out the door.
End of Flashback
-
"Hmph, you are as useless as you look." she heard a voice say.
She was knocked back into reality, "What was that?!" she shouted taking a step closer, "You are the most arrogant, ruthless, jackass alive." she said stomping her foot.
"Uhh!" she heard from below her, she looked to see Mochida down on the ground, "Oh!" she said jumping back, "What did you do?" she asked looking toward Hibari.
He just gave her an emotionless look, she could already tell he was more then satisfied with the damage he had done.
She smiled at him, he tried not to make it look like he notice but anyone who saw that smile couldn't help but look at her.
"Nozomi!" she heard someone behind her shout.
She turned to see Yamamoto waving at her, "Coming Takeshi." she said bowing to Hibari and walking toward him.
She knew it deep down, the Hibari she knew, the Hibari she cherished was nothing more then a memory. She just didn't want to admit it to herself, the man that she had spent the last 5 years with was gone.
'I said I wouldn't ever leave you, easy to make that promise.' she thought to herself, bringing the memories back sadden her a bit, but like always she just blinked the tears away.
"Guess you were right, we did win." he said smiling at her.
"What did you doubt me?" she said in a hurt sarcastic tone. Putting a hand on her chest and taking a gasp.
"No, but…..I guess but the class was calling for you." he said motioning to the door.
She looked at him with a confused look, "They didn't tell me why." he said as he gave her a light push to the door.
-
As she opened the door, she was practically attacked by the other girls, "What are you doing this Halloween?" they asked together.
"Well, I was going to follow my friends brother trick-of-treating." she said.
"AWWW!!! Your so sweet Nozomi!" they shouted crushing her.
"Okay, sorry we just thought you'd be free."
"Nope, I'm sorry." she said smiling.
"Okay see you next week." they said.
"You to, keep safe." she said walking over to Yamamoto.
-
"What was that about?" he asked.
"They were just wondering what I was doing for Halloween." she replied.
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, taking Lambo, Fuuta, and I-pin trick-or-treating with Dino why?"
"Oh, so that's how it's going to be, not inviting me." Yamamoto said grabbing his chest.
She put her hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry." she looking at him with the puppy dog eyes.
"It's okay." he said smiling.
Some girls were jealous, some envied, others hated, but they all knew even if it was deep inside there was no romantic feelings between them. Just a close friends relationship.
"Sorry where are you going after this?" she asked
"Uh, I have practice." he said. "You?" he asked.
"Oh, I'll probably be picked up by Romario and Dino." she said grabbing her bag.
"Wait there's someone you need to meet." he said walking out ahead of her.
She saw him walking with someone unfamiliar with white hair and a scar on his left eyebrow. They appeared in front of her, "Nozomi this is Ryohei Sasagawa or senpai, your choice." he said waving to the guy standing beside him.
"That was an extreme game you put on!" he shouted.
She smiled, "Thank you."
He stopped after he saw her smile, "Oh, Ryohei-senpai are you okay?" she asked her bluish-green eye looking into his gray eyes.
"That's am extreme smile." he muttered.
Earning him a small blush, "Thank you, you are to kind." she said smiling.
"Senpai, you and Kyoko should come by Tsuna's tomorrow. I think she'll be overjoyed to come along and help Lambo and the other trick-of-treat." Yamamoto said smiling.
"Ah, now that you mention it, thanks." Ryohei said smiling.
Nozomi bowed and walked out the door. Her eyes became distant as she walked, lost in thought of her past.
Flashback
"Onii-chan!! Toshi Onii-chan!!" the little ice blue hair girl shouted tugging at her brothers pants.
"Yes, my little princess?" he asked looking down at her his crimson red eyes locked on her.
"I want to go treating with Onii-chan!" she shouted smiling at him.
"You mean trick-or-treating?" he asked.
Her head shook up and down with lots of energy. "Ok and what does my princess want to be for Halloween?"
"A butterfly!" she shouted.
"Really, you'd be the most beautiful butterfly I've ever set eyes on." he smiled at her.
"Yay!!" she shouted jumping up.
"Wait, what about the others?"
"If Onii-chan wants them to come, then it will be more fun!!!" she said to him.
"Yes, you'll be that princess and we'll be your guardians."
"I love you Toshi Onii-chan." she said hugging his legs.
He patted her on the head, "Yes, I love you too my Princess Nozomi."
End of Flashback.
She missed them all of them, all her brother, gone like nothing. They disappeared from her sight, it was like she was shouting but they never heard her.
She walked through the halls, and found herself at the gate.
"Nozomi!" she heard Dino shout.
She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and turned, "Yes?"
"You made me worry sick about you!" he shouted trying to catch his breath.
"I'm sorry." she said her looking toward the ground.
Dino instantly seeing this rushed to her side, grabbing her and embracing her. Living with her all her life if anyone knew her it was him. "Stop troubling yourself with the past Nozomi, let's put it behind us." he whispered into her ear.
"You make it sound so easy." she whispered back.
He pulled back to look at her, "You make it sound impossible."
"I guess your right just a little faith." she said hugging him and after pulling away smiling.
-
Hibari walked through the halls of his so called school. Then he caught a glimpse of two girls standing at a window. "Gosh, she's so pretty."
"I know, look at that guy holding her, he isn't that bad looking either."
"Man, why does Nozomi get the good guys?"
"I know right?" they said walking away from the window.
Hibari walked to the corner of the window. To see Nozomi smacking that idiot bronco, across the head.
That earned her a small chuckle, as anyone would none they would never believe he would laugh.
That long day ended and finally, Nozomi was beginning to wonder maybe what she had between the Kyouya she knew would always be. But deep down she knew that it wouldn't ever happen. She just had to fall for the man that she knew she could never be with. Her heart and soul was stolen by a man she never thought could, but she was certain no matter what she would always love him. Even if it was just a memory.
You will learn more about her brothers and back story later in the story. To be clear she has nine brothers and she is the youngest and only daugher. Please review, I'd love to hear what you think. = )
