: Pull the Trigger :
First Shot, Warning
Disclaimer: Katekyo Hitman Reborn! is the property of Amano Akira.
Warnings: … I think this is the longest chapter I've written so far, so … yeah, enough said. Also. Fair warning! There's a bit of Yamamoto being molested by another guy towards the end. ;; Nothing explicit, just some … out-of-sight molestation.
Author's Note: Given the length of the chapters so far, I was iffy about replying to reviews here, but … here goes nothing.
dotYui – I'm not offended at all, no worries. I'm fairly laid-back when it comes to pairings and relationships in general. If anything, I thought it would be kind of fun to drop hints of all the possibilities, given that you're right. Amano seems to have a lot of undertones going on, unintentionally or not, and I thought … why not do the same? Not that I have any … real couples in mind, besides the older ones. I'm a shounen-ai fan, so I'm not against guys liking guys. Hell, I'm not even against girls liking girls for that matter. You'll probably see more of that as the story goes on, haha. But romance is definitely not my main focus. But like life, it does play its part.
Thank you for the reviews, they made my day. I've been struggling through this chapter for the past week and I just hope it turned out to your expectations.
Warning Five: All the Wrong Moves
Screeching tires spun on blacktop as a car horn went off somewhere in the distance. There was a loud bang, followed by a scream.
"Ni …"
"Oh god, someone call the hospital. A child's just been hit by a car!"
"Ni … Ni …"
"No!"
Hiro woke up with a start, crying out, and then struggled to calm down. His cheeks felt wet and he wiped at them hurriedly in embarrassment, hands shaking. What was that? He tried to remember the dream, but it wasn't working. It could have been a fraction in its bafflement, one part amazing and two parts frustrating because one minute it was there, clear as day, and then the next it was gone, as if it had been nothing more than smoke in the wind.
"Couldn't sleep either?"
He turned away from the source of the voice, still rubbing at his cheeks.
"Nightmare?" asked Daichi quietly. There was a rustling of covers and Hiro didn't doubt his friend was sitting up now, giving him that look he was so good at giving. "Want to talk about it?"
"No," the blond put it bluntly, burying his face in a pillow. With a great deal of consternation, he attempted to go back to sleep. "You should be resting, idiot. You have a test in the morning." He didn't like the choked up quality lodged in his throat and vowed to keep quiet. There was nothing left to say, not after telling everyone of his sister's disappearance. What else could they expect from him? He couldn't magically make her reappear. Like there's any real magic in the world, Hiro chided himself. He thought over the day's events and decided that no, there was no such thing as magic, only suckers who couldn't see through to the other hand. And I fell for it.
"Listen, Hiro, she's going to be okay. What's the worst that could happen? You know Emiko. She'll fight back and …"
"Save it," mumbled Hiro tiredly. "We're just kids. What can we do?"
"That's not the Hiro I know," came the soft reply, "the Hiro I know wouldn't give up. That's why you went downtown, wasn't it? Mom … told me about it."
"Yeah, well. You see how brilliant that was," the blond bit back coldly. He was mad at himself and lashed out without meaning to. "I'm sorry, Daichi, just … drop it." It was unclear if his friend had listened or not because a clap of thunder shut out all other noise, shaking the house down to the foundation as the storm raged on outside with a vengeance. Then it died down and there was a breath-taking stillness, drowned out only by the rain and then an electric crack as lightning struck somewhere close by. It must have been the transformer to the house, because when he chanced a look, the lights were already flickering. A few seconds later and the hallway's pale light was snuffed out, power lost.
That normally would have been fine, as it was nighttime already and they should have been asleep, but there was a noise coming from down the hall and it was not supposed to be there. It sounded suspiciously like a full-grown elephant trying to break down the front door, but to be more realistic it was more likely than not a branch beating against the house or rain changing over to hail. Boys being boys, they went to investigate anyway.
A lantern led the way, one engineered throughout the past decade with bioluminescence, and it didn't take long for them to reach the front door where the noise was originating from. After a decisive round of rock, paper, scissors, it was Hiro that typed in the key-code, unlocking the door. He pulled it open a split second later, a gust of wind blowing his hair back, but the rain was blocked, if only by the two figures using each other for support in the doorway.
Face paling, he stumbled forward and grasped the shorter figure by the shoulders. As if to prove to himself he was really seeing what he was seeing, he shook the person, breathless with relief. "E-Emiko?"
"About fucking time someone opened the damn door!" She pushed her brother aside and barged straight into the house, but there was a slight limp to her step. "Don't just stand there like you're brain dead, Hitomi. Get in here and out of that rain!"
With a shudder the other girl did as she was told, looking tired and shaken and barely able to close the door. "T-The lightning … almost hit you, Sawada-sama. Shouldn't you have been more … scared?"
"'Course not, who do you take me for?" The brunette slid down the wall she was leaning against and Hiro finally noticed she was favoring her right side, a hand placed on a dark red stain near her stomach. Crouching down, he pried her hands away and pushed at her shirt to see what was causing the wound.
He relaxed when he noticed it was just a shallow gash, but that still left the question of, "What happened?" Recalling the not-Emiko from the other night, he faltered and then asked, "Are you really even Emiko?" He let the shirt fall back into place and moved to sit beside her, staring up at Hitomi. "And what about you? Are you really Tomato-chan?" The dark haired girl flushed, a healthy glow coming back to her cheeks. "I need proof."
Daichi gave him a look that was somewhere between amusement and worry. "Who else would they be, Hiro?"
"Look, you dimwits, I've been dragged through a storm, nearly struck by lightning, and I had to put up with a pervert that Hitomi nearly didn't save me from." Emiko shuddered. "And now you think I'm some imposter on top of all that?!"
"Pretty much," Hiro was honest at least. Still looking at Hitomi, he persisted, "Okay, tell me something only the real you would know. Like something from when we were little."
"W-What?" Hitomi managed to say, using the door behind her to keep from letting her shaky legs give out on her. Damp, slanted bangs were pushed out of her face, green eyes a fraction of an inch bigger than usual. "T-That's … um. All right." She tugged her jacket closer around her body, shivering. "There was this one trip to the beach when we were little. Y-You jumped off the end of the pier and Sawa – Emiko-sama tried to copy you, but the current pulled her under. It would have … taken too long for someone to notice, so I jumped in and brought her back to safety." Hitomi kept her head down, but the redness to her face was hard to hide. "J-Just like tonight," she admitted, embarrassed. Despite that, there was a hint of pride to her voice.
Accepting her as the real deal, Hiro turned to his sister, just as the sound of footsteps filled the air, parents waking up. With the noise they were making, he was surprised it hadn't happened sooner. "Your turn. What was the name of my teddy bear?"
Emiko stared at him, scowling. "You didn't have a stupid teddy bear, you never did. Haru-bachan made you this weird namahage toy and you would hug that thing to fucking death, even called it Nama-chan. Good enough for you?"
"What did she make you?" Hiro challenged as the footsteps grew louder, almost upon them.
The brunette rolled her eyes. "She made me an onibaba. Are we good now?"
Hiro smiled, satisfied they were the real deal, just as the three adults rounded the corner and froze at the unexpected sight. Kyoko was immediately at her daughter's side, not wasting another minute as she began a thorough check over, fighting back tears. With one word from Kyoko, Yoshida Reiko was off to find the first aid kit kept in storage, ready to help in any way she could. Tsuna, for his part, pulled Hitomi off to the side, starting up a hushed conversation with the young girl. Hiro would have listened in under normal circumstances, but as appealing as that would have been it was his sister who held his full attention. He assisted his mother in bandaging the gash and then moved on to apply the ice pack Reiko handed him for the swollen ankle his sister was trying to hide. In the end, in an attempt to make Emiko more comfortable, they moved her to couch for the night.
By the time everyone had settled down, it was a quarter past one and they were more than ready to sleep, exhaustion - as well as confusion - taking its toll. The late hour had Reiko persuading Hitomi to spend the night and the girl reluctantly accepted. It worked out to Hiro's advantage too, because now he could question the both of them in the morning. Crawling back into bed, the blond Sawada yawned and snuggled back into his covers, mumbling a sleepy, "Good night," to Daichi. His friend said something back, but it was too quiet to be heard over the continuous, pouring rain.
- XI -
"Wait, wait, wait. Start from the beginning." Hiro held up his hands to forestall any objection from his sister. "We're not going to understand anything if you don't."
Emiko frowned at the interruption, crossing her arms defiantly. "What part of 'I was kidnapped and manhandled by a pervert who I will soon chop into itty bitty pieces' did you not understand?"
"Uh, none of it?" supplied Daichi as he tilted his head in confusion. "Come on, start from the beginning already. We want details."
Ignoring his friend's blatant eyebrow wiggling, Hiro shrugged and said, "Maybe we should just have Tomato-chan explain." He turned towards the quiet girl with expectation. "How about it?"
It was rare to have her accompany them to school like this, but it was nice in a way. It reminded him of the days when there had been nothing but the four of them, goofing off and playing. Those days had been filled games that actually made sense. When had all that stopped?
"U-Um, well." Hitomi seemed unsure of how to answer for herself before taking a deep breath, calming down as a shuttered expression replaced the uncertainty. "It's not my place to say."
"Oh for the love of -" Rolling her eyes and grimacing, Emiko readjusted the bag that had just brushed against her injured side. "It's not like it's a goddamn secret or anything," the brunette reprimanded sharply. "Hell, it's not like I remember much of anything before you showed up, Hitomi. Someone snuck up behind me like a coward when I was talking to that stupid kitchen boy, got me good with some weird sedative thingy."
Hiro tensed up as his sister rambled on about the events of last night, not sure how to handle it. His mind was overflowing with questions and he didn't know where to begin. A hand settled on his shoulder, but unlike yesterday this one was welcome and comforting. The blond smiled his thanks to Daichi and motioned with his eyes to his sister who had gone off on another tangent about perverts and how they should go die very painful deaths. They shared a laugh and it felt like everything was right again. His sister was safe, feisty as ever, and it didn't seem likely the phantom thief would win if they kept their spirits up. They had to stick together, all of them. It was a matter of pride perhaps, but Hiro didn't want to lose.
"Sawada-sama." Hiroyuki was the one to look over, Emiko too absorbed in her own world where she was no doubt skewering a pervert in her mind with an evil laugh. "For all of our sakes, please forget about last night. Here, I found one the missing items." They had fallen into step beside each other, well behind the other two, careful not to draw any attention to themselves as a blue ribbon was passed over into Hiro's outstretched hand.
He curled a fist around it, grinning slightly. "Easier said than done, but thanks. Now … Emiko doesn't have to get involved in this any more." It was a relief to say that. There was no longer a reason for his sister to be a target. By default, she had won the game and now it was only him that had to worry. "Thanks," he said it again, reaching over to ruffle dark hair affectionately. "You really are something, Gokudera."
Hitomi flushed the darkest shade of red he had ever seen and stopped walking, bowing deep at the waist. "I-It should me thanking you, Sawada-sama!"
As confusing as that logic was, Hiro didn't argue with her. He kept his gaze trained ahead and locked his fingers behind his neck, the ribbon trailing after him. "Yeah, well, don't let it go to your head. You're always jumping in like that. Don't you think about how that makes others feel?" He cast a sidelong glance her way, quirking an eyebrow, but she did not respond to the prompting. With a sigh, he left her behind in order to break up the inevitable fight that had started between the two ahead of them.
- XI -
During class, Emiko found the perfect opportunity to catch up on the majority of sleep she had missed last night. Of course, her teacher didn't quite see it her way, but she was too tired to argue and she accepted the two weeks worth of detention gracefully. Graceful in this case meaning she fell right back asleep.
Unwillingly last night replayed in her mind's eye and within the confines of her subconscious there was a rainbow colored fish now, flopping around. That wouldn't have bothered her too much, given this was a dream and all, but then it started talking in a heavily accented voice she couldn't place. Stay away from the river, it warned, and surprisingly there was no gasping from the fish without its water.
The dream world then tilted on an unseen axis to allow her a blurry glimpse of a fast-flowing river. She was the one left gasping at the sight of someone standing along the sloped edge of the riverbed. If that person was to fall, she held no doubt they would drown. The view within the dream switched again and this time she was looking at the familiar sight of Namimori Temple, the place where she had played as a child. Since it had been close to where she lived, she had played there a lot with Hitomi, her brother, and even Daichi. The temple here in her dreams seemed the same as always. Although there was a silhouette in the distance near the entrance and it appeared to be running at breakneck speed towards the river. The dream went hazy before she could make out who it was and all that she heard before she woke up was a cry of, "Vongola!"
Emiko blinked lazily to wake herself up, yawning behind a hand before taking in her real surroundings with a hint of confusion. Ah, right, school. She followed the hand on her desk up to the teacher attached to it; under the distinct impression the man in front of her had caused the abrupt reality check. "Did I miss something important, sensei?"
"Detention!" Nothing new there, she thought drowsily, heavy eyes dropping again. "For the rest of the month!"
Her eyes shot back open, resentment overriding sleep. "Is that really necessary, Takahashi-sensei?" The teacher fiddled nervously with a cuff attached to his suit and it was done in such a way that Emiko couldn't help but jokingly think, Maybe he's mafia.
"If you would just listen for once, Sawada-san, I wouldn't have to," the man lectured with a well-warranted exasperation. "You make me worry for the next generation."
Emiko wearily opened her textbook. "What page?"
"Sixty-four. Begin reading from the top. Out-loud."
She nodded and began reading. Modern Japanese was tolerable, but only because Takahashi wasn't nearly as strict as most of the other teachers were. If she had fallen asleep in English, for example, she probably would have been sent to the principal, given her track record and lack of respect in general for those older than her. After she finished the first two paragraphs the teacher cut her off with a "thank you, next" and the person to her left took over reading. She sat back down and cast her gaze out the window in an effort to stay awake. From the corner of her eyes, she had noticed the foreign exchange student watching her, but she was determined to ignore him - given the stunt he had pulled yesterday. She was definitely not blushing as she recalled back to the light peck on her cheek. Stupid perverts were not worth her time.
As if by habit, she fiddled with the ribbon around her wrist for a distraction. Hiro had been the one to tie it there, but she knew Hitomi was the one responsible for its return. Last night had been a disaster, but at least they had gained a small victory in their own way. It didn't necessary mean they had the upper-hand, but that could be changed. Knowing her brother, he probably already had a plan in mind, just waiting to be realized.
"Emiko," the gently coaxed whisper had her scowling as she redirected her gaze back to the open textbook. "Is something bothering you?" She sent the exchange student a blank stare and then went back to pretending he didn't exist. "Ah, so there is something bothering you."
"Shut up," she hissed, "it's none of her business!" So much for pretending he didn't exist. She settled for narrowing her eyes, glaring unseeingly ahead. "You're such a bother, you know that? Go get a life of your own, Vanilla."
There was a thump to her right that sounded more or less like a body part colliding with the underside of a desk and then a muffled laugh. The weird combination of noise had her glancing over and she stared in disbelief at the boy next to her who seemed to be fighting back laughter while biting at his knuckles. That wouldn't have been as weird as it was if the Italian boy didn't have tears in his eyes, his other hand rubbing stiffly at the knee residing under the desk. Okay, he really is a nutcase …
The whispering and slight commotion brought the teacher's attention back to Emiko's corner of the room. Takahashi's dark eyes darted to Nico first, resting there with an unreadable look, before switching to Emiko expectantly. "Is there something the two of you would like to share with the rest of the class?"
"No," Emiko's reply was immediate, but it was also accompanied by an unwanted, "Yes," from the boy she was starting to dislike more and more with every agonizing second that passed.
"Oh?" Takahashi leaned back against the chalkboard, completely at ease despite the silence that had befallen his class. "Then why don't you share?" There was a mocking twist of lips from their sensei, an almost smirk. It was the closest any of them had ever come to seeing him as arrogant.
"My classmate here seems to think I should get a life," the boy started with a shocking and uncalled for seriousness, "and she's of the opinion it should be vanilla-flavored." Then the dam broke because by now Nico had dissolved into a flood of giggles.
Emiko wasn't surprised, nor was she too thrilled, to find herself with a detention buddy after that. She was also unsure of what to make of her teacher assigning the exchange student an entire month worth of it. The harshness behind the punishment didn't fit. Hell, the back-talk hadn't even been funny, let alone worth that much time in detention. Nevertheless, she gave up on trying to understand the real motive behind it and let her head drop back onto the desk with a thump. She was warned with a "Pay attention, Sawada-san," and it was enough to stop her from falling back asleep all over again.
- XI -
When class finally ended and lunch began, Emiko was grateful. It meant she could get away from that creep next to her that was still giggling occasionally like a lunatic. She shouldered her bag and made a beeline for the door with only one destination in mind: the roof, to hell with avoiding Daichi.
"Mind if I join you?" She didn't have to even turn her head to know it was the exchange student practically glued to her side. He was too close and that immediately equated to trouble for her. "I promise you won't even know I'm there."
While Emiko highly doubted that, she didn't out-right refuse either. "Do whatever the hell you want." Her pace quickened with the faint hope of losing him around the next corner. No such luck; he matched her step for step.
"Mm, you really are bothered by something today. What is it?" Nico's soft voice washed over her for a moment, easing her into a false sense of security. She knew it couldn't be trusted, that sense of security, and shrugged it off.
"You. That's what's bothering me," she ground out waspishly. "What's with you anyway? Go bother someone else!"
"But you're so much more fun to bother than 'someone else'," he retorted brightly, like it was meant to be a compliment.
Resisting the urge to scream in frustration, Emiko took it out on the door leading up to the rooftop, not bothering to wait for Nico. She bounded up the stairs, two at a time, never slowing once in her stride. The second door was similarly wrenched aside, the brown haired girl storming across the roof to lean precariously over the railing. "I hate this," she said without considering what she was saying or who she was saying it to. "I hate how fast life is just passing me by. I feel … helpless." What the hell am I saying? She glanced over warningly to the smiling boy beside her, the exchange student willing to listen for some reason she couldn't fathom. "Don't you dare repeat this shit to any one, Vanilla, or I'll kick your ass."
He burst out into another fit of giggles, clutching at his sides with one hand and pointing at her with the other. "W-Why do you keep calling me Vanilla?" he somehow said around choked back laughs, grin so wide it almost looked painful. "Last I checked I was Nico. Or do you think I taste good or something?"
Glad they were alone, she turned and threw a punch. One that was easily caught by the person on the receiving end, much to her annoyance. The foreign boy "tsked" in apparent disappointment and that only riled her up more. Pivoting on the spot, she used a high kick, thanking every self-dense class she had ever taken. He let go of her fist and leapt back in time, a frown taking over his once happy visage. Emiko allowed a victorious smile to set its self onto her lips in retaliation as she continued, wanting to get rid of some stress and figuring a fight was the best way to go about it. It had been a few years since she had gotten into one while on school grounds, but she didn't see what it could hurt with the current mood she was in.
For his part, Nico indulged her. He had already known something was bothering her, but this proved him correct. She wouldn't be looking for an out if there wasn't something she was trying to avoid. Dodging the left uppercut she had aimed at his face, he lowered himself closer to the ground and swept out with a leg to knock her off balance. It worked, the girl losing her momentum long enough for Nico to seize an opportunity. He grabbed one of her arms and twisted it behind her back, forcing her to calm down. Breathing out and then heavily back in, she did, but it seemed reluctant even to him.
"Well, you're no fun," she bit out. "What am I supposed to do now? Stop? As if!" She struggled to get free, not yet realizing how useless it was.
The Italian gripped harder to prevent her from hurting herself. "I get it. You're upset about something, but I can't do anything to help you unless you explain first."
"Ha! You were doing just fine until you – you … let me go already!" Using her free arm, she jabbed an elbow back into his gut. The boy instinctively let go, wheezing slightly from the impact. They probably would have kept going like that for a while, bickering and fighting until something gave, but there was a reason she had come up to the roof and that reason made itself clear when a blond and his tag-along buddy entered the scene.
There was an unnerving silence, followed quickly by, "Uh, Emiko-chan, are you dating the foreign kid then?" She didn't really know what the taller of the newcomers was getting at until she looked over her shoulder, realizing belatedly she had dropped her bag a while ago during the skirmish. Nico was holding it out for her to take, smiling, and it appeared he was going to be a true gentleman for the sake of convenience. Unlike someone else she could mention, her eyes darting over to Daichi and narrowing.
"Fuck no!" She turned her back on them and snatched her bag away, jostling it just enough to spill out some of its contents.
Nico, keeping up the gentlemanly act, bent down to help her pick up the mess. Her fingers strayed over something sharp and she retracted her hands at once, staring with incredulity at the cause of her discomfort. Was that a rose wedged in her English textbook? Careful to avoid the thorns, she pulled it out and twirled it between her fingertips. Her brother was suddenly by her side, taking it away from her and throwing it over the railing as if it were a bomb about to go off. She blinked, stared down at her empty hand, and then directed a scowl at the blond flipping through her textbook with an unknown purpose in mind.
"What the hell are you doing?" she demanded, making a grab for the book. He kept it out of her reach, mumbling to himself, and then finally let loose an "Aha!" as he found whatever he had been searching for. Emiko didn't know what to make of the playing card being waved in her face, but she was pretty sure it hadn't been there during class. "Yeah, so? What's with the two of hearts, nii-san? I don't get it."
"Kano! Kano's still targeting you! This doesn't make any sense," Hiro grumbled, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. "Last night … I ... I think I met Kano. We played this stupid game. The rose. The card. They were all part of that game." The blond balled his hands into fists to stop them from shaking, crumpling the card.
Someone made an 'hmm'ing sound that drew Hiro's attention. He fought back the strong urge to immediately turn and leave when he noticed who it was coming from. Yes, he had known Nico was there, but now the boy seemed intent on pursuing conversation and Hiro wasn't in the mood to be polite. Settling for lowering his gaze, he closed his eyes and leaned back against the railing. It creaked, wavered, but inevitably held his weight. Ugh, and I said all that … Daichi will understand, but Nico-kun, why did he have to be here?
"Oi, Vancillo, get lost." An arm looped companionably around Hiro's shoulders, forestalling his racing thoughts. "Can't you see when you're not wanted?" Nails began to dig into his arm and he was forced to pull away, wondering what had Daichi so worked up. When he noticed the still smirking Nico crossing his arms as if in challenge, he had a good idea as to what. It didn't appear the exchange student was willing to leave and that didn't bode well. Why couldn't the kid just take a hint for once?
Letting his best friend and the new kid argue it out, he sighed and successfully slipped away unnoticed. His sister had taken a seat a good distance away, knees up and face hidden behind her legs. Hiro sat down beside her and pulled her into a sideways hug, resting his chin atop her unruly brown hair. "I'm sorry," he apologized quietly, not even knowing why. It could have been for anything, from allowing her to get mixed up in this mess to for his own inability to fight back.
An apology wasn't going to cut it this time, though. They had to figure this out on their own and soon. "Look, I … I should have stayed last night, I should have found you." He clenched his eyes shut tight, breathing out angrily, mad at himself for running away. "It should have been me there, protecting you. What kind of big brother am I?"
Emiko bit down on her lip, shaking her head. "You're so stupid, nii-san. You think I'm upset because of that? Che, I can take care of myself!" She leaned against him tiredly, feeling warm and safe. If he hadn't laughed, she probably would have drifted off to sleep. "Hey, what's so funny!"
"You," he said affectionately, tugging at a long strand of hair with an amused upturn of lips. "My little sister's growing up. Why should I worry?"
"Damn straight." Emiko grinned, poking him in the chest. "So if I catch you worrying again, I'm gonna have to hit you."
"Oooh, that sounds horrible," Hiro mock grimaced, "now I'm scared."
"You should be!"
They swapped insults for a while, falling into an old routine that stopped the worrying. The conversation abruptly switched to last night half-way through their short lunch period, discussing what they knew about the Phantom Thief. Daichi and Nico were still bickering away like children, suitably distracted, and the Sawada duo took it as the greatest chance they would have to speak freely. It was the playing card falling from his lax grip that brought his interest back to it. He picked it back up, holding it between his forefinger and thumb. Despite the crinkled countenance of the card itself, he had noticed a bit of small writing in the corner under one of the twos. He smoothed it out and showed it to Emiko.
"Eh? It's too small to read. Who the hell writes that tiny?" The younger Sawada furrowed her brow, tracing a finger over the two hearts in the center. "Maybe it's a puzzle we have to solve?" she suggested, apprehension getting the better of her.
"Yeah, sure, one that makes no sense." Hiro frowned and brought the card up closer to his face, trying to make out the writing. "It's too late, though, isn't it? Even with this, today's the last day of the game. If we don't figure this out … I … we're … it's not going to end well."
"Tell me about it," Emiko sighed, rubbing at her temples. "I think I'll go break up the two idiots." She waved a hand flippantly in the direction of the 'idiots'. "You keep working on a plan. We need a plan." Whether her confidence in him was enough or not, only time would tell.
- XI -
"Kyaaaa, Nakamaru-buchou!" Hiro winced as a group of loud first years surrounded the archery club captain. It was mostly the younger girls that went for the stoic senior, but he distinctly saw a few boys mingled in with the rest of the growing crowd. Apparently something exciting had happened, what with the way they were carrying on. He faltered in drawing his bow as he caught wind of that something. "Is it true you're dating someone then?" Ugh, what's the big deal? A smiling red-head appeared in his thoughts, unbidden, and he flushed, trying to get the image of Inoue Katsumi out of his head. Okay, so maybe it is a big deal, but still.
"That's none of your business," drawled the captain, unrepentant. Darker than black eyes drifted towards the second and third years going through the eight essential movements in kyudo like good club members. Hiro hurried to start back over from yugamae, the setting of the bow. It's not eavesdropping if everyone else hears too, is it? With his target in sight, he focused on that instead and lifted his bow, beginning to draw back the string. His concentration was broken again when a clipped voice drifted over, startling in its clarity. "I have someone I like, but that doesn't mean I am interested in dating or other such meaningless things." There were disappointed 'awww's and Hiro wondered why he was letting this get to him. I guess knowing senpai has a heart in there somewhere is just … throwing me off my game.
Forcing himself to actually shoot this time, he went through the motions once more and then released the string. He cursed when the wind shifted, throwing his arrow off course. It hit one of the outer rings and he couldn't stop the slight pout that earned him a few snickers from his fellow club members. Ducking his head to hide a blush, he went about searching for another arrow, prepping for the next shot. His actions were stilled when a hand caught his wrist. Brown eyes flicked upwards, mouth opening to yell at the person, but the words were lodged in his throat. "Senpai," was all he could say. Is this going to turn in a habit of his or what? Am I going to get yelled out again, this time for even practicing? The chaffing from the other day was nearly gone, leaving behind only a lingering redness. He had made sure to wrap his left hand to be on the safe side, for further protection, but he didn't know if that would be enough to appease his despondent captain.
"I've been trying to get your attention for a while," explained Michi blandly, letting go, "you seem to be in your own little world today, Sawada. Is there something troubling you?" At the confusion his words invoked, the captain continued, "It's affecting your stance and your spirit is wavering. It doesn't suit you."
"A-Ah." Hiro couldn't think of anything else to say. Why was it he could never speak when it mattered? He mentally slapped himself upside the head. "It's nothing you have to worry about. Please don't let it bother you."
Michi reached out and Hiro lifted an eyebrow, offering an uncertain smile. The hand faltered and drew back, falling limply to the older boy's side. "If it's nothing for me to worry about, then fine. But make sure the problem is resolved. We don't have time to waste waiting for you to get it together."
"I know," agreed the blond, looking down at his feet. "It's just … I … I don't know what to do any more."
"Hmm," Michi appeared to be thinking and thinking fast, an impassive expression giving way to a more considerate one that was rare to see. Hiro was certain he heard a few girls sigh dreamily and tilted his head, trying to catch a glimpse of what they saw that he didn't. It didn't work, but the young archer did flush an interesting shade of red when the captain caught him staring. Hastily, Hiro dropped his gaze again, chanting a mantra of stupid, stupid, stupid. He hoped Michi wouldn't call him on it. "Well, if things are that bad, take a breather, Sawada. I told you the other day: we need everyone in their best shape. You out of sorts like this is just going to cause a problem for the rest of us. Either let me help or get off my field."
Hiro shuffled his feet. "This is going to seem stupid, but maybe there is something you can do." He ran a hand through his hair, distracted, and then pointed to the clubhouse. "Let's go in there then. I have to show you what it is or else … well, you probably won't believe me." A curt nod from Michi had the two of them walking side by side in silence. What am I doing? It had been on a whim, reaching out for help like that, but in all honesty he wanted to know what he thought this could accomplish. The older boy had given him an ultimatum, maybe he should have just walked away.
"You wear your heart on your sleeve," warned Michi, "you should really stop that. I can see through you like a wet t-shirt." The blond shrugged helplessly, holding open the door for his senpai. Wait, did he just compare me to …? "If you don't want my help, you should say it."
"But I -" I don't want to refuse because it's you. He admired his captain too much and he would regret it if he did and regret, he found, wasn't nearly as easy to cope with as letting someone have their way once in a while. "I just … I hope you're not going to think I'm paranoid," he finished dejectedly.
"Why would I think that?" Michi sat down on one of the benches, waiting for Hiro to find what he was looking for in his locker. "If it's bothering you that much, then there must be a reason. You don't strike me as an attention seeker, Sawada."
Hiroyuki was thankful his back was facing the archery captain. He couldn't stop a blush from blossoming on his cheeks. Daichi's words had chosen that moment to echo in his mind, as if they had always been there, and it was making all of this that much more embarrassing. Damn that idiot and his stupid jokes! He fumbled with the letter and playing card and then handed them over wordlessly to Michi. The senior read the letter first, a crease forming along his brow, and then switched to the playing card, turning it over in hands.
"What does this card have to do with the letter? And is this letter serious? Are you being threatened?" The questions were cold, detached even. There was anger lurking behind those unresponsive eyes, but it wasn't meant for him. "I won't let anyone hurt you, Sawada. You just have to tell me what this is about."
He really is a good captain, but why is he so worried? … Ah, right, the competition. He explained everything from the beginning, leaving nothing out, and by the time he reached the end, Michi was already standing, slamming a hand against the locker he was leaning against. The noise rang in his ears, unparalleled, and it wasn't pleasant. "S-Senpai?"
"Dammit, Sawada, why did you let it get this bad?" He had never actually seen Michi lose his temper before, so this was a first for him, but wait – what?
"I-I don't understand. I didn't … I didn't ask for this. It just happened." What's he so upset about, anyway? It's not like he's the one being targeted by some freaky guy. Another hand slammed down on the locker, cornering him in, and Hiro flinched away. W-What's he doing?
Michi must have realized what he was doing, too, because he retracted as if burned, looking away. "So this playing card, it has something to do with the thief, right?"
The blond gave a jerky nod and then realized that couldn't be seen and spoke up, "That's right. There's writing in the corner, but it's too small for me to read. Do you … I mean, that's what I wanted to ask … do you think you could help me with it?"
"Of course. I said I would, so I will." Hiro was taken aback behind the determination in the other boy's voice. It was hidden well, but it was still there and that caught him off guard more than he cared to admit. "You, Sawada, are hopeless. Leave it to me."
- XI -
I can't believe it. Nakamura-senpai's actually tagging along. I didn't mean he had to follow me everywhere! He got it wrong, wrong, wrong! Sawada Hiroyuki didn't know what to do. It was an improvement, sure. Michi's usual philosophy being 'I don't hang out with people outside of school'. Anything was an improvement over that. The guy needed to lighten up, have some fun, but – Hiiiie, does he really have to sit so close? Daichi looks like he's going to kill him! The rest of the judo club just seemed amused by this, but Daichi, no. His response was the complete opposite.
If looks really could kill, Michi would be six feet under and pushing up daisies. "So … let me get this straight," Daichi was too nonchalant, voice deceptive and misleading. "I take you up on the whole 'oh, let's spend the day hanging out with the judo club' and you … you bring him along?" Well, that certainly wasn't helping to dissuade any rumors about the two of them.
A couple of first years eyed Hiro with a suspicion that didn't seem right, like it was his fault Daichi was acting like a jealous prick. But what was he supposed to do, tell Michi to leave? No, he wasn't going to do that. "Look, Daichi, I told you already. What you saw was an accident, plain and simple. You're such a – such an idiot!"
"You didn't see what happened through my eyes, so just who are you calling an idiot?" The dark haired judoka leaned forward, glaring across the table at Michi who was too close to his best friend for comfort. The captain even had the nerve to look smug about it, which was pissing him off. "He could have hurt you!"
"It would have been my fault too, then," argued Hiro. "I was the one who tripped him up. I'm a klutz, you know that. Use your brain for once. … Oh wait, I forgot. You don't have one!"
"Both of you. Shut up." It was the judo club's captain that interrupted them. It wouldn't have been necessary if the pair hadn't already attracted far too much attention from the other patrons, but now someone had to say something or they would be kicked out. They hadn't even ordered yet, where was the justice in that? "Take it outside if you want to fight."
"Ahaha, what a lively bunch we have here," a cheerful voice greeted the group. "Hiro, long time, no see! Looking good! And Daichi, woah, need an antacid, sport? You don't look so good."
Daichi stopped glaring long enough to give his undivided attention to the person speaking. "Yamamoto-san!" A grin spread eagerly across the judoka's face. "Nah, s'all good. But maybe you can make Hiro see reason. He'll listen to you."
"Hm?" Takeshi's perceptive eyes caught sight of the bandaged fingers tucking a strand of blond hair behind an ear. "Hmm." The sushi chef shook his head, smiling. "I'm afraid that's not really my place, is it? That's your job as his friend."
"Hey, no fair, you didn't even hear me out." The dark haired judoka huffed, sinking down in his seat with a hollowed sort of resignation. Being ignored had never appealed to him, but he understood and obeyed.
"Anyway, what'll it be boys?" Takeshi continued where he left off, but in a more business-like manner. "We're running a special on spicy tuna today. Any takers?" Michi raised a hand, pointing to himself, but otherwise remained silent. "Ahaha, got it. Spicy tuna for the quiet one. Anyone else?"
"Takeshi-occhan," Hiro propped up an elbow on the table, frowning, "not to be rude, but why are you taking orders?"
"Ah well, we're a little short-handed." Hiro made to insist he could help out, but Takeshi cut him off, "That's a nice thought, Hiro, but don't worry about it. We've got it covered. We're training someone new and Ryohei's here, so I figure we can manage."
Eyes lighting up, Hiro asked in a rush, "Occhan's back already? Can I come over tonight then? Please? I haven't seen him in forever!"
"Of course," Takeshi agreed readily with a laugh, "the more the merrier."
"When did he get back?" Hiro wondered curiously.
"A few days ago, but we'll talk about that later, all right? We should let your friends order. Heh, they look about ready to eat the table." That was almost an understatement, considering more than a few stomach growled at the prospect of food.
- XI -
After enjoying the platters of sushi and sashimi to celebrate the judo club's advancement, the topic switched to the upcoming archery competition. No pressure, Hiro thought. No pressure at all. Michi was in a heated debate with the judo club's captain concerning the line-up and that left him to fend for himself. The rest of the club wanted answers and they wanted them fast. Questions ranged from "How's Yumiko-chan's form?" to "Are you really competing this year?" He was only a one-dan, sure, and that was probably making them edgy, but that was only because his accuracy rate couldn't yet match up to a two-dan like Michi. He was determined to change that, but it would take time.
It was Daichi's question, "Are you in the running for captain next year then?" that piqued his interest the most. He couldn't help but answer that one almost unthinkingly with a, "I don't know, but that's probably for Takahashi-sensei to decide." Michi had paused mid-sentence to listen in, but the captain kept true to his impassive nature - neither acknowledging nor flat-out denying it. What that meant, Hiro figured he would find out later and switched the focus of conversation to something else. "But aren't you guys getting bored? Let's head over to the arcade and get some real competition going!" There were murmurs of agreement and they paid for their respective meals.
The arcade itself was brand new, the closest one to Namimori Middle as of now. It was built by one of the most famous gaming industries in the world too, the Big Bang Company. The popularity of the place had sky-rocketed the opening week and only increased over time. Hiro could see why. Wedged between the florist shop and Kitsune no Ame, the most well-liked ramen place around, the small building looked less than imposing - but the inside was a different matter entirely and that was what kept the kids coming back for more. The games were the latest and the arrangement was something other arcades would likely envy. The people working for the place were also friendly, willing to help whenever asked, and the place gave off the air of one well-cared for and appreciated.
A tug on his sleeve had Hiro focusing on his best friend, a grin taking over. "What should we do first?" This was their element, where they were most comfortable, and a challenge would only succeed in smoothing things over instead of winding them up.
The taller boy thought it over and then snapped his fingers in triumph, returning the grin. "Para Para?"
Hiro groaned, but nodded. He was willing to give it a try. Maybe the newer version wouldn't hurt his pride too badly. "You always win at that. I'm starting to get the feeling you're a sore loser," he joked. "Why else would you choose something that requires rhythm? You know I have two left feet." He would have preferred one of the games that required accuracy, like a shooting game, but nope. Leave it Daichi to pick something more complicated.
"We'll play virtual darts next, okay?" Daichi suggested, rubbing at the back of his neck in a 'jeez, stop making me feel bad' kind of way. There was a victory smile from the blond as he stepped onto the para para machine, raising two fingers in the shape of a 'v'. The taller boy laughed and stepped onto the adjacent machine. "Don't get cocky. The first win is mine."
"Is that so?" challenged Hiro. "We'll see about that!" When the game ended, loser flashed across the screen. Hiro hung his head, hiding an embarrassed flush. Damn. And senpai's here too. Hope he didn't see that.
"Nice try, kouhai, you did your best," a calm voice encouraged.
The blond cringed and moved aside to allow the next person a turn. "Yeah, right. You're just being nice, Nakamura-senpai." Daichi had followed him and was already pulling him in the direction of the virtual reality games before he could object. Regardless, he waved for Michi to accompany them, wanting to include his captain the best he could. They took turns playing against each other and Hiro could have sworn he earned a laugh or two from the senior at some of the faces he made after losing, but that could have been his imagination playing tricks on him again.
By the time they had worked their way back to the para para machines, Hiro had worked up the courage to somehow challenge his captain to a dance off. It went better than his match against Daichi, no where near a crushing defeat like the first time, but he still lost. He made a face, one that predictably came across as more of a pout, and there was no mistaking it this time. Michi actually laughed. Hiro blinked a few times, bemused, and then turned to his best friend with a blatant 'help me out here' expression written all over his face.
The judoka shrugged. "I think Nakamura's making fun of you."
Hiro made to retort in kind, offering up a sarcastic But weren't you just doing the same? He didn't get very far with that reply, as witty as it was. He was kind of busy gaping at the smile Michi was giving him. Apparently he liked making his senpai self-conscious, if the immediate blanking of the older boy's face was anything to go by.
"I don't see what he's laughing about, though," commented Daichi with underlying resentment. "Yeah, sure, he won, but only because you slipped up, Hiro." The three of them moved out of the way as a group of giggling girls took over the machines they were finished with.
"Are you mocking your senpai, Yoshida?" Michi was once more apathetic, his voice lacking the humility that had been there only seconds prior.
"So what if I am?" As a natural born fighter, Daichi wasn't prone to backing down once the stage was set. In moments like these, Hiro would end up comparing him to a tiger, one with its fangs bared, hackles raised, and with claws slowly being exposed. It was like looking at a different person. Gone was the popular guy people tended to idolize and respect. Instead, there was a predator, and he sensed encroachment on his turf. Hiiie, I'm doing it again, thinking he's going to eat someone!
"Then shouldn't you challenge me properly?" It didn't seem that Michi was going to give an inch either.
"Sure, if that's what you want." Hands were clasped together behind dark hair, Daichi's unusual smile sharpening for the occasion. "The stakes?"
"Loser leaves," the response quick, to the point. Michi didn't seem to like wasting his breath when it wasn't required.
"Deal. We'll para para for it."
Hiro rolled his eyes. The two of them were too caught up in a pissing contest to care what he had to say. He could see no reason to get involved knowing they wouldn't listen. They weren't exchanging punches or anything. What was there to be worried about? He glanced out the window to the arcade, bored, and his eyes caught sight of something that made him do a bit of a double-take. Is that Emiko? What's she doing? Curious, he left his friend and captain alone to fend for themselves and headed out. He wanted to make sure his sister didn't get herself into any trouble if it was her.
- XI -
"While your company is delightful, why are you following me?" Nico paused in the alley he had just turned into, hoping to catch the person tailing him off guard. He studied the girl's rigid posture and laughed. "Relax. Fu, I swear you Vongola are all the same. This isn't a trap, my apologies for disappointing."
"You're violating orders," the girl snapped, eyes hidden behind slanted bangs as she dipped her head, watching a needle roll along her fingertips with a practiced ease. "Sawa – Hiroyuki-sama would not appreciate knowing you were stalking him."
"You do me an injustice." Nico took a step closer. "Because really. Are we not … how do you say … two of a kind?"
At the proximity, the dark haired girl lashed out with the point of the needle, scratching his cheek in the process. It was enough to draw a thin line of blood. "I'm warning you now. Keep to your restrictions or I will not hesitate."
"Ah, so it's you that's been assigned to make sure I'm a good little boy," mused the Italian thoughtfully, running a thumb over the cut and strangely choosing to grin in the face of her anger. "Interesting. You're Hitomi, aren't you? Spider Venom Hitomi?" He drew back his thumb and marveled at the sight of his own blood. She was good. He would love to fight her someday, to see her true abilities in action. Too bad they were supposed to be allies at the moment. "I guess that was poisoned then." Though, to call themselves allies was probably a long shot at best. There was no trust yet, only empty words.
"… Dad confiscated my supplies," Hitomi stated coolly. "He had a feeling I wouldn't hold back. But that doesn't matter to me. I'll just have to get creative. If you insist on breaching the contract you signed with Boss-san, that is."
"Not today. I was out for a walk. What, is that illegal in this country?" He laughed and then turned, walking further into the alley without a care in the world. If the sound of a light-footed gait behind him meant anything, she was no doubt following. "Times sure have changed. Since when does a harmless walk equate to stalking, hm?"
"Well, the definition of stalking is the act or process of stealthily following or trying to approach someone or something. It is a crime when a person is involved and that person does not appreciate the persistent, unwanted attention. You were actively following Hiroyuki-sama and I know you wanted to approach him. Don't pretend like you didn't," the girl bit out coldly, lecture mode on, "and I do not accept you as a part of my Famiglia, so I will treat you like an outsider until you can prove your true allegiance."
"Now, now," rebuked Nico, "you're too hostile for your own good." He spun around to face her again at the sight of a dead-end, a hint of frown on his lips. He could have sworn this particular alley led to the street closest to Namimori Temple. Had the town changed that much in four years? "Tell me something, Hitomi. Do I offend you that much? Are you scared I will take them away from you? Those two precious people. I could do so much to hurt you without really hurting you, no? All I would have to do is -" His back slammed into the solid wall behind him, causing him to 'tsk'.
"Shut up!" There was a frantic look in her eyes, desperately searching for no ounce of truth in his words. "You shut up and stop talking about them. You know nothing."
"Are you sure?" He curled his hands around her upper arms and forced her back, quickly reversing their positions. "I hate in-fighting, so I won't start something I can't finish, Spider Hitomi, but let me tell you something you probably don't want to hear." Lowering his head to whisper in her ear, he made sure every syllable was crystal clear. "I know a lot more than you think." Then, letting go, he calmly walked away like nothing had happened, humming a tuneless hymn. "See you at home." A brown haired girl ducked into a shop as Nico passed by, but he paid her no mind, too caught up in his own thoughts.
- XI -
"Ah, I knew it. I thought that was you!"
Emiko nearly jumped out of her skin. She corrected this mistake by throwing a punch, which was avoided by the other person, but narrowly. Her temper dimmed as she realized who it was. "Oh, it's just you."
"Hey, wait a minute. What do you mean 'it's just you'?" Hiro mock frowned and then finally looked around the shop they were in, baffled. "Why exactly are we in a tattoo parlor?"
"E-Eh?" She cast a cursory glance over the place as well and then promptly copied her brother and father's trademark, "Hiiie!" They made a hasty departure before anyone could catch sight of them and ask unwanted questions. "Oh crap, I didn't think and I just … gah, I hope no one saw me!"
"What were you doing, Emiko?" Hiro tilted his head to the side. "Were you hiding from someone?"
"Er, sort of. I was going to go back to Yoshida's but then I saw Hitomi following that exchange student, so …" the younger Sawada trailed off, biting her lip. "Forget it, it's nothing."
Her brother shrugged and faced forward, watching where he was going before he tripped. "Did something happen? You don't sound too happy."
"Well …" Emiko wasn't sure how to put this. "They were talking about some weird stuff, but I couldn't hear all of it. Just something about clams and spiders." She knew she wasn't making any sense, but neither had the pair in the alley, so it came to a moot point when all was said and done.
"Weird." But Hiro left it at that, not willing to press her for information when the situation didn't call for it. "Anyway, Nakamura-senpai helped me figure out the mystery behind the playing card. Let's go see Ryohei-occhan, I can show you what I found out there. After we welcome Occhan home."
"Occhan's back from overseas?!" Grinning like a loon, Emiko sped up, leaving her brother in the dust. "What are you waiting for?" she called over her shoulder. "Let's go!" Laughing lightly, he tried to catch up with her. He ended up setting his own pace and stuck to it for the jog back to Take-Sushi, not caring he would arrive later than her. He wasn't in any kind of hurry and, knowing the slick pavement, he would probably slip up if tried to go faster.
Outside the sushi restaurant, he doubled over, panting with both hands on his knees. He wiped the back of one hand across his forehead, getting rid of the sweat there, and then slowed his breathing, evening it out. Ugh, I really need to start joining Daichi for those morning runs or something. That thought was soon banished, though. His mornings were for sleeping - nothing more, nothing less. Once his breathing was sufficiently under control, he straightened his uniform back up and entered. Only to find the place completely deserted.
Ah, that's right. Lunch rush is over. Bet they're in the back. Taking that into account, Hiro headed towards the kitchen, but the closer he got the easier it was to make out a figure crouching by the door. It wasn't until he was right next to the person that he realized it was Emiko. He was on the verge of asking her what she was up to, but she must have noticed because she quickly placed a finger to her lips and pointed to the kitchen door. It was slightly open and there were voices coming from the other side. In the empty restaurant, it wasn't too hard to make out what they were saying.
"Nn, stop. What are you doing? Later. She'll be back any minute." Hiro vaguely wondered if Takeshi was talking about the new employee. "A-Ah, not there. Stop being a tease, senpai, not right no -" Anything after that was cut off. The blond peeked through the door to see why and blushed scarlet. Emiko followed his example and had to slap a hand over her mouth to keep quiet, eyes the size of dinner plates by the time her brain processed what she was seeing.
"You shouldn't have called me senpai then," an amused Sasagawa Ryohei pointed out, letting go of the front of Takeshi's gi. The smile on their uncle's face could have been brighter than the sun itself. It was hard to say, they had to avert their eyes. "You know what happens when you extremely mess up like that."
The sushi chef laughed it off, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, I asked for that one. But I'm serious. We have to -"
"If you say the word stop, so help me, Takeshi …" It was playful teasing, meant to be taken as a jest - or maybe a promise. Again, it was hard to tell.
With the adults too absorbed with each other to notice their company, Hiro figured it was time for them to slip away unnoticed. But apparently Emiko had other ideas. Taking it upon herself, she barged right in, pretending she had not just seen something she shouldn't have seen in the first place. Hiro had to admire her tenacity.
Not to mention her ability to stave off embarrassment. "Welcome back, Ryohei-occhan!" There wasn't even a hint of a color to her cheeks when she said that. He envied her. It was only the knowing grin she wore that gave her away.
Walking in behind her, he had to hang his head, consciously willing the blush to leave him alone. It felt like his whole face was on fire. How could Emiko be so casual about this? There had to be some kind of trick to it that he was lacking.
"E-Emiko. Hiro! Woah, where'd you two come from?" Takeshi's light-hearted voice broke through the uncomfortable silence, greeting them happily. "Haha, I knew you were going to come back. But so soon? What happened to Daichi and the rest?"
The blond haired Sawada blinked, trying to work out why that comment had him worrying for a completely different reason. Slowly, the color to his cheeks receded and he could think properly. He then blanched, turning a ghostly white. "Shit! I left Nakamura-senpai and Daichi alone! Together!" He hit his forehead with the palm of his hand, grimacing. "I hope they don't do anything stupid." But this is senpai we're talking about. Maybe it'll be okay … "Ah hell, I should probably go back."
"They'll be fine," Takeshi soothed, talking over his companion who was mumbling something about extreme language and a certain someone needing his mouth washed out to the max. "Did Emiko talk you in to coming back perhaps?" Honey eyes smiled, laugh lines crinkling at the edge. Not for the first time, Hiro thought about just how likeable Yamamoto Takeshi was, a little too likeable if what his uncle had been doing moments ago proved anything.
"U-Uh," the blond flushed, disliking how freely his thoughts could drift.
"What are you saying?" Emiko interrupted before he could finish with something stupid. "Like I'd be hanging out with this half-wit by choice!" Hiding a small smile, Hiro made a mental note to thank his sister later. "But since I'm stuck with him, so are you guys. Get over it."
Takeshi laughed, not holding back. "It must be nice having siblings."
As if they had rehearsed it, Ryohei and Hiro shouted, "Are you kidding?"
The brown haired Sawada snorted, shaking her head. "I'm telling mom you said that, Occhan."
"Tattle-tell," grumbled the white haired man. He moved away from the counter where he was trapping Takeshi and approached the kids instead, smiling despite himself. He caught the two in a group hug and lifted them momentarily off the ground. "It's good to see you both! I missed you guys to the extreme. You're sure growing up fast. Did you get taller, Hiro?" After setting them back down, he ruffled the blond's hair affectionately. "I think you did. Wasn't Emiko the taller one a couple of months ago?"
"Occhan!" A mortified Hiro looked down, shuffling his feet. "I-I wasn't that short!"
Another bubbly laugh had their attention back on Takeshi, the man shaking his head and grinning widely. "Leave the kid alone, Ryohei. You're just jealous because you were shorter than him at that age."
"Maybe so," the older man replied, shrugging, "but that never bothered you, did it." There was a lull as Ryohei thought over something. "Then again, it took you how many years to confess? Maybe I'm wrong."
Takeshi scratched his cheek, unable to respond properly with two kids in the room. "All right already, I get it. That's a sore spot. Haha, still the same old senpai." He paused after that, making a sort of 'hmming' sound in the back of his throat. "Well, I guess I should go check that inventory while I have the chance." He sent a mock scolding look in Ryohei's direction. "Before someone tries to distract me again."
He was half-way to the storage room when Ryohei stopped him with a call of, "I'll get you for that one tonight, Takeshi!"
Confused looks were exchanged by the two left out of the loop until the dark haired man just threw his head back and laughed, ducking into the room. There was a muffled, "Go ahead and try it," behind a closed door and then more laughter that trailed off into a thump and muted well, that's going to leave a mark.
- XI -
While Takeshi was hard at work, the siblings were able to catch up with their uncle, listening avidly to the stories he would tell them of his adventures overseas. Ryohei had a passionate way of talking about things and it never failed to capture their attention. The tales always seemed unlikely, more outrageous and far-fetched than the last, but there was something about them that kept the siblings coming back to hear more.
"… and that's when I sucker punched the giant ferocious panda to the extreme! We barely got away, but we somehow did!" The last story of the day finally drew to a close as Hiro and Emiko tried to fight back laughs, nodding sagely. Their uncle seemed appeased, punching a fist in the air. "I don't know about you two, but after that, I'm starving." His stomach growled, showcasing just how hungry he was, and he stood. "I'll go get some food and then it's your turn for some extreme stories."
Once it was just the two of them in the kitchen, Takeshi serving customers and Ryohei no doubt rummaging around in the upstairs refrigerator, Hiro reached for his school bag. He kept an eye on the door and an ear open for noises from the overhead apartment, not exactly wanting to get caught in the middle of explaining about the playing card. Placing the two of hearts on the low set table they were kneeling at, he pointed to the tiny, illegible scribbling in the corner. "Okay, this is going to sound weird, but it's some sort of prototype ink from the government."
Emiko darted her eyes to the open kitchen door and then back, uneasy. "How … do you know that? And why the hell is that ero-thief going through all the trouble? What the fuck do we have that he wants?"
Reaching for a glass of water, he let a few drops spill over onto the card. The once tiny words expanded, retaining the water, and Hiro started to go into detail about what was happening. The ink, the way it was made, acted more or less like a sponge. It wasn't too hard to describe. After that, he explained how he knew what he knew. "Nakamura-senpai's mother works for the government. He's seen this before. It's still in the early developmental stages, but Kano liked it so much he went through the trouble of stealing a sample. About a month ago."
"W-What the hell?" The words began to shrink as the water dried. Before the message could entirely disappear into the minuscule writing, she hastily made sense of what she was seeing. "That's …"
"Yeah. It's a riddle." Hiro moved so his legs were stretching out in front of him, sighing deeply. "I don't get it, but it's some kind of nursery rhyme. I think I've read it in English before."
Puffing her cheeks out angrily, Emiko settled for an irrational, but righteous fury. "He's calling us mice, Hiro! Rodents! Freaky creatures without fur!"
"… Humans are freaky creatures without fur," the blond pointed out bluntly, frowning. And mice do have fur. At least get your facts straight. "But that's not the part you need to be paying attention to. It's the time and the place. It's hidden in the riddle. We're being invited somewhere." At her blank stare, he rationalized, "Don't you think so too? 'The clock struck one.' Come on, think about it. Where's the only place in Namimori with a large clock?"
A light bulb must have gone off inside the recesses of her mind because Emiko let an unhurried smile show through. "The clock tower downtown. That's right … that's where …" She didn't have to say it, her brother understood without her needing to. "Okay, so that takes care of location. But what about the time? Is it one o' clock?"
"That's a bit misleading, actually," Hiro mumbled to himself, gaze on the ceiling. "'The mouse ran up the clock' before one. Because afterwards, when 'the clock struck one, the mouse ran down'. I'm betting it's midnight. He wants us by the clock tower by at least midnight."
"Are you sure?" Emiko did not wish to see this through, but not out of fear of her own safety. "And it's a trap anyway. We shouldn't go."
"Either way, he'll track us down," reasoned Hiro tiredly, eyes slipping closed. "I don't want him hurting mom. Or dad. Or anyone else we know. We'll go. And I have a plan." That plan would have to wait to be revealed as Ryohei chose that moment to make his appearance, a bunch of fruit piled high on a sashimi platter that would probably earn him an earful later for using.
"I'm baaaack!" A girl with spiky white hair ambled into the kitchen soon after, swinging a shopping bag back and forth. "Aa, dad, I bought some sleeping pills like you asked. Can I go get started on homework, or -" She faltered in her steps, poise lost. "Uwaaah, it's Hiro!" The aforementioned blond collapsed backwards with the unexpected impact of a hug, letting out a, "Hiiie," that went unnoticed thanks to her loud, "Nya, lucky!"
Emiko cocked her head to the side, eyebrows raised, while Ryohei just watched in amusement. "I take it you've already met Minori then, Hiro?" He laughed heartily and placed the assortment of fruit onto the table for the kids to reach. For Emiko's benefit, he introduced the newcomer, smiling unabashedly. "That's my daughter, Sasagawa Minori. She kind of showed up out of the blue!" There was a rueful undertone to that, as if he was torn on what to think, but there was unmistakable pride at the word daughter and that kind of pride was hard to get rid, even by the worst of thoughts.
"Dad, what's Hiro doing here?" Light gray eyes settled on Emiko and widened. "Oh, oh, oh, you must be Emiko-chan!" Minori sprang out of Hiro's lap and latched onto her other cousin, hugging the brown haired girl tight. "Uwah, I'm definitely lucky! I get to see Hiro again and I get to meet Emiko-chan! My horoscope was right." She snuggled against Emiko, getting comfortable. "Today sure is full of unexpected surprises!" No one but Minori was surprised when the younger girl brushed her off, scowling. "Hey, what was that for? We're family, family!"
"What the hell! Go eat fish paste! Stop touching me!" The older girl didn't want to comply, though, and after a bit of struggling she had secured Emiko in a headlock, rubbing her knuckles insolently into the top of her cousin's skull. "Cut it out, that hurts!"
"Nuh-uh, not until you say …." Minori twisted her lips, thinking. "Say I'm the coolest cousin around and that we're going to be the best of friends. Yeah, that'll do."
Using a tactic similar to the one against Nico, the younger Sawada elbowed the person holding her, digging straight back into the undercarriage of the ribs. "Screw you, like I'd say something I didn't mean." As expected, Minori let go, but she didn't double over like the Italian boy and merely rubbed at the sore spot with a wince. "… Serves you right, stupid Nori."
Minori laughed out-loud, a hand clutching at her chest. "Y-You're so funny. Oh god, I'm going to like you! Hahaha, really? Really? Ahahahaha, she thinks I'm seaweed, this is just too funny!"
"Um, Occhan." Hiro stared at his uncle, wide-eyed. "I think the girls have, uh, lost it." Indeed, Emiko had grudgingly joined in with the laughing and the two girls were leaning against each other to keep from toppling over. It made a funny sight.
"Just let them be. Girls are a species all their own." Ryohei's wise message was ruined as soon as he plopped down beside the small table, grabbing for a pear. "Until they calm down, it's better to let them have their way to the extreme."
Hiro didn't argue. His uncle knew more about women than he did. Right? Right …
Okay, for anyone who read all of that, you have my deepest admiration. This is going somewhere, promise, as slow as it seems. Next chapter will most definitely include Reborn and hopefully be up later this weekend. Planning to make it shorter than the rest of these long ass chapters, and it will no doubt set the stage to speed things up too, so~
Ahaha, I hope this isn't completely boring, I don't know. I just couldn't … jump right in with where I wanted this to go without a good starting point. Ack, I never realized how hard it is to build up suspense. I should take a break from this and write something cracky. ;;
