Sorry it took so long to update!

Ahahahaha. It occurred to me that Bianchi isn't technically suppose to be in the story yet… so oh well. She's in it so you can't complain. I slightly altered the story a bit, but not much. However, more alterations will come.

Nekko

"N-Nekko! It's not what you think." Nikko stuttered as he struggled to come up with an excuse. This was his precious secret, what he had strived to keep hidden from me. It was the absolute last thing I would have thought, or wanted, him to keep me ignorant of.

"Don't give me that crap Nikko. Don't you dare try treating me like I'm a stupid weakling you have to protect. I'm your older sister. I'm the one who's in charge here, and I'm not going to stand by and let you go. You're not going to try and hide my own daughter from me!"

Nikko paled. I was rarely, if ever, this pissed, and I was never thispissed at Nikko. Almost immediately the tears started.

"Nekko, I'm sorry. I just thought, I just wanted…" Nikko looked so miserable at that moment I had to remind myself he was just a little boy, my little brother, and I was the one who was supposed to protect him.

I stepped forward and pulled Nikko into a hug, carefully minding the little girl in his arms. "What were you thinking Nikko?"

"I just... I just couldn't let it happen." I didn't say anything, waiting for him to continue. "I don't want him to be the one you end up with."

I sighed and pulled away, forced to take the girl with me because she clung so hard to my shirt. I knew immediately who "him" was, and found my suspicion confirmed by the blue-gray eyes of the girl in my arms. I couldn't help a sad chuckle and my brother.

"Nikko, you were the one who got us together. What are you afraid of? That I'll turn into a cold person like him, who can barely express my feelings? Nikko, I'm me, and he's him, and whether I love him or not that isn't going to change."I used my best comforting voice, and in the end received an apologetic smile from Nikko.

"So, what's her name?"

"Mieko."

"Mieko…what a pretty name." I spoke to the baby now, pressing my finger tip on her nose, making her giggle. I saw Nikko open his mouth to say something, but hesitate.

"Spit it out."

"Nekko, how did you know?" He seemed genuinely surprised. I snorted.

"Nikko, you aren't the best at keeping secrets. That and your lying abilities need improvement. I was sadly disappointed at your performance. I thought I trained you better." I tried to keep the conversation light. I was definitely upset with Nikko, but I wasn't going to show it.

"That's…That's not what I meant. How did you know who she was?" That was a question that I wasn't sure how to answer.

"I don't know. I just…saw her. I mean, her looks gave me a tip." I gently stroked her short black waves. "You know this hair is a Konowa family trait. You and I both had it when we were little. Her eyes too, they gave me a hint. This color is pretty rare. I've only met one person with them." That seemed to upset my brother.

"You saw his eyes and immediately thought it was your daughter!"he fumed. I chuckled at him.

"Not at all. They just confirmed what I already thought." This calmed him down enough for him to resume his questioning.

"So how exactly did you know then?"

"I just knew. I saw her and it didn't cross my mind that she could possibly anyone but my daughter. That and she called me Mama." I smiled a little as I thought of an acceptable answer.

Suddenly Fedora interrupted us, reminding me that we weren't alone.

"This is all a very nice family meeting and all, but I take it you haven't noticed the flame on your ring." For the first time I looked down at the flame on the ring that had been lit since the moment I laid eyes on my family.

"What the hell… is this even possible?"

"Mist is your primary flame, but I was told if you focus you can equally distribute all your other flames."

"Other flames?" I was only half listening. Most of my attention was focused on the clear flame on my finger. It was barely visible, the only way I could see it was by paying attention to the distortion in the air around the ring.

"You have multiple flame energies flowing in your body. In fact, you have every flame. If you concentrate you can create a flame that combines all 7 energies."

"Then why is it clear? Shouldn't it be black or something?"

"Stupid Nekko, I thought you were smart. That's simple science. Think of the flames as light."

A distant science lecture popped into mind. White light is a combination of all the colors of the rainbow. Since all the colors were represented by the flames, combined they created white light, or in this case, a clear flame.

"It's extremely rare for someone to posses all flames. I've never heard of someone being able to use them all, much less at the same time. The future you had mastered that ability, and was able to open any box, as well as boxes created uniquely for her master flame."

"Wow." Nikko gawked at the flame along with me.

"Now that you know what you're flame is and how it feels to have it lit, it should be easier for you to summon it. Try now."

Of course, before I could summon the ring, I had to extinguish the current flame. That, in itself, was a project. I had to work on calming my overprotective self into believing that Nikko and Mieko were perfectly safe and didn't need any protecting at the moment.

After the distortion in the air disappeared, I focused the image of Nikko holding Mieko in my mind. I looked down at the ring. The flame kept flicking different colors. I saw every single one except sky.

"I was also told that sky was your weakest flame. Even in the future you had some trouble channeling it equally with your other flames. You have to really focus."

I focused on my image harder. I threw myself into the picture, and then, laughing at myself, added Hibari. Of course, it was a poor representation, because he wasn't trying to kill anyone. It worked though. I could feel the harmony the sky was suppose to provide. I concentrated it onto my finger adding it to my other flames.

For a moment, the clear distortion of air returned, and I could feel the energy and power pulsing from the ring.

"That's so cool Nekko!" Nikko ogled at the flame. I flashed him a smile, and watched as the flame intensified.

"You need to be able to do that at a moment's notice, whether your family is with you or not," Reborn lectured. All I heard was the word family.

Family. Almost all my life my only family had been Nikko. I had parents, but they didn't care, so they didn't count. Now I realized my family had grown exponentially. Now I had a daughter, and (I blushed) Hibari.

Not only them, I realized. The Vongola was my family. Tsuna had given me a family. I mentally made a note to give him a big thank you hug next time I saw him.

I giggled childishly. Just that idea was hilarious. Tsuna would blush furiously. Gokudera would be pissed off at me for casually touching the tenth. Haru might be a little jealous, but I'd talk her out of it. Yamamoto would laugh and if Ryohei was there he'd yell EXTREME. Hibari would… Hibari.

Hibari was missing. My maybe boyfriend, and Mieko's father was missing. My face fell as my perfect image became not so perfect.

"Reborn, do you think they'll find him?" He didn't ask who.

"They better. If they don't, Dame-Tsuna's going to be in a load of trouble when they get back."

I smiled at Reborn and was about to thank them when Tattoos came crashing into the room.

"We're back. We ran into Gamma. Gokudera and Yamamoto were injured but in the end they were saved by-" She stopped herself as she took in the image.

I was standing holding the daughter I wasn't supposed to know about. Nikko was gawking at her. Reborn was smirking. I found myself vaguely wondering if she had been the one who didn't want me to meet Mieko. So I was slightly surprised when she smiled.

"Did she kill you for not telling her sooner?" she asked Nikko.

"Nearly."

"Tattoos, why'd you let him hide it from me? Didn't you think I should know?"

"It's all Nikko's fault. I was going to tell you eventually anyway." The way she smiled at me, I could tell I use to be her friend. Just talking to her, I could feel that I might be her friend. I felt the atmosphere turn a bit awkward, so I decided to change the subject.

"So, how did your mission go?" She answered slowly.

"We found Kyoko. Unfortunately Gokudera and Yamamoto ran into Electric Gamma, and were severely injured. Thankfully they were saved by," here she paused, carefully watching Nikko for his reaction, "Hibari."

That one name, in that one sentence, completely changed the mood in the room. Nikko was obviously surprised, and I could nearly see the gears turning in his head as he tried to decide if it was a good thing. I was completely happy. Hibari was fine. He would come and tell me about Mieko, and how we first fell in love. He'd tell me what I was like in the future. He'd be here. That was the important part. He'd be here.

For other people in the room, Tattoos' explanation held a different meaning. Bianchi was immediately asking about her brother. Reborn was asking if the injured boys would heal in time to complete their training.

It wasn't long before Bianchi had dashed out of the room, and Tattoos had finished explaining the mission to Reborn. I listened without surprise as she described how Hibari took out the feared Electric Gamma no contest. He didn't have a single A rank ring either. I smiled as I easily imagined my violent… person… biting the poor sucker to death. The second she finished relating her story I asked where he was.

"I want to see him." Tattoos smiled at my eagerness.

"He's waiting to inform the others of the findings of his mission."

"Why don't you go wait for him? You've made decent progress in your training today, so you should rest. I'm sure he'll come see you the second he's done with the other Tsuna." Reborn asked in a way that was more of a command. I found myself grudgingly agreeing to being led to Hibari's side of the base.

Reborn led me through the complex maze of base. I was silently thankful that Nikko was with us. He could memorize any route. Finally we came to a thick door. It swung open, revealing a traditionally Japanese decorated room. Inside it was a man with the classic Disciplinary committee haircut.

He smiled at me. "Ko-san, come in. Kyo-san will be with you in a moment. Why don't you wait for him in your room?" I just stared at him blankly. Ko? No one called me Ko; otherwise I'd be mixed up with Nikko. So why was this random guy calling me Ko? He seemed to realize I didn't know him. "My apologies. I don't believe you've met me. I'm Kusakabe Tetsuya. I went to school with you."

That name rang a bell. I remembered people talking about him as Hibari's sort of personal assistant. I smiled at him hesitantly.

"Of course Nikko-san and Mieko-chan can accompany you. Though, I feel that Nikko-san might be more comfortable in his own room." I looked at Nikko, waiting for his answer.

"I have my own room here?"

"Yes, Ko-san arranged for you to have a room just down the hall from hers. I could lead you there if you want." I twitched as I heard he still insisted on calling me Ko.

"Uh… no thanks. I think for right now I'd be better off sticking with Nekko. Maybe later." Nikko seemed pleased. I could understand why. Maybe now he'd finally believe I wouldn't forget him if I got involved with Hibari.

Kusakabe led us to a large room. It followed the same theme as the other. It was simple but immensely large. I sat on the king size bed, laying Mieko down beside me, since she was falling asleep in my arms. I lay in down beside her, and there was still room left for Nikko to plop down on the other side of her.

TYL Hibari

It was such a nuisance. Being forced to save these two herbivores. They even had their Vongola rings, and they couldn't take down as weak an herbivore as Gamma. I'm sure even Nekko would have been able to take them… Nekko.

If all had gone according to Irie and Sawada's plan, she should have switched for her younger version. The version that didn't know about Mieko, possible hated rather than loved me, and was completely devoted to protecting her brother.

I worried slightly. I'd have to explain everything to her, and that meant talking about my feelings. I'd barely gotten through that the first time and now I'd have to completely start over. Plus now I'd have to explain about our daughter.

Nevertheless, I felt the strange eagerness I always felt when I was with Nekko. At first I hadn't been able to explain it, and it'd been a while before I could identify it as "love". But the fact of the matter is that's what it was. I loved Nekko.

As soon as I entered the Vongola base I'd see her and Mieko. I couldn't help the small smile creeping its way onto my features. I was thankful no one was with me as I walked to see Tsunayoshi and his family. A moment later I reached the room where the injured persons were being treated. I assumed Tsunayoshi and Nekko would be in there as well, fussing over them. By now Nekko should have uncovered her sun flame, if not her master flame, and she would be working on healing their wounds.

I knocked the door open with a tonfa. Inside I saw the herbivores Gokudera, Yamamoto, Sawada, Bianchi, Fuuta, and Nekko's friend, Lal Mirch. I found myself surprised at not seeing Nekko. I had entered a room crowded with herbivores for no reason.

"Hibari-san!" Sawada greeted me enthusiastically. I returned the favor by tonfa-ing his face.

"Where's-" I stopped myself when the baby entered the room.

"Ciaossu, Hibari."

"Infant."

"Please refrain from hitting Tsuna, even if it is his fault." At this point the infant jumped up and landed a neat kick on the side of Sawada's face, opposite the spot where I hit him. "Dame-Tsuna, can't you see that Hibari doesn't want to talk to you?"The infant surprised me as always.

"Eh?" Apparently he surprised Tsuna as well.

"Hibari, I'm sure that whatever findings you wanted to inform Tsuna of can wait a little longer. It's obvious that you'd rather be with your family right now. In fact, they're rather eager to see you as well."

They were eager to see me? I was definitely leaving then, especially since that room was so crowded.

"Infant, where are they?"

"I left them at the entrance to your side of the base. I don't know where Kusakabe led them after that." After being told the information I needed I turned to leave. The second I stepped out of the door I heard a chorus of shocked "What!"s and "Hibari has a family!"s. I was about to turn around and bite them to death, when I realized that ten years ago I wouldn't have believed I had a family either. I decided to leave them be just this one time.

I stepped into my base, immediately finding Kusakabe waiting for me.

"Kusakabe, go inform the herbivores of our findings." I instructed him.

"Of course Kyo-san. Ko-san, Nikko-san, and Mieko-chan are all waiting for you in your room. I think they may have fallen asleep though."

"All of them?" My eyes flashed dangerously.

"Y-yes…"He shuffled his feet nervously and his eyes flickered away, breaking our eye contact. That way he didn't see the tonfa coming to smash his chin up. He didn't cry out, though I knew it hurt.

"Kusakabe, you know better than to let her fall asleep. I assume you didn't bother telling her to take her ring off either."

"N-no. Kyo-san. I just thought that since Nikko-san and Mieko-chan were with her, maybe she wouldn't be as troubled as she normally is."

"Fool, you should have known better."I walked away without biting him to death. I didn't have time to. The idiot let Nekko fall asleep. I had to get to her before her nightmares started. The second I walked into the room I could tell I was too late.

Nekko's eyes were flicking around beneath her eyelids. Every few seconds she twitched. Every time she twitched, the ring on her finger flickered with a flame. I strode forward, hoping to wake her up before she started thrashing. I grabbed her arms in an attempt to hold her still as her twitches became more violent.

"Nekko." I shook her gently. Well, it was gently for me, but to most people would have been considered rather rough. I knew better than to think that it would wake her up, but I tried anyway. I threw my tonfa at Nikko, hitting him squarely on the head. He, due to constantly being woken by his sister, was thankfully a light sleeper.

"What! Huh!" he glanced around searching for the one who had woke him up. I glared at him.

"Herbivore, I blame you for this."

"Wake her up."

"It's not that simple. She's too sleeping too deeply." He didn't seem to get it.

"She fell asleep with the ring on her finger. She can't control the flames while she's sleeping. She's going to hurt someone, probably herself."

"W-what should I do?"

"Wake up Mieko."

"Right, to move her so she won't get hurt."

"Herbivore, listen to the words coming from my mouth or I'll bite you to death. I said wake her up, not move her."

"Fine." I watched Nikko walk over and attempt to wake up Mieko by gently shaking her. I chuckled as her arm automatically lashed out, hitting his face with an audible thwack. "OWW!" the only other result he produced was causing her to roll over.

"Herbivore quickly." I watched as he quickly poked her side and ducked as she lashed out again. This repeated itself for three times before my daughter's eyes finally fluttered open. Now she consciously smacked Nikko across the face before rolling over. In this position she could clearly see her parents, especially her twitching mother.

"Mama." She gently placed a hand on her mother's neck, in an attempt to calm her down. Even without a ring or the conscious ability to control her flame, her rain attribute was quickly made evident. Immediately Nekko's movements calmed themselves, her breathing became even, and her muscles relaxed. Now it would be much easier to wake her up, even though she had been thoroughly treated with tranquility flames.

I shook her again, watching as her eyes slowly pried themselves open.

"H-Hibari?" I stiffened. She hadn't called me that in years. I was about to correct her when she giggled. "Or, I guess, can I call you Kyoya?" I smiled at that, not hesitating in pressing my lips against hers. She opened her eyes wide in shock. A moment later I pulled away.

She tenderly raised a finger to her lips before smiling hesitantly. She shot up from her position lying down to place a peck on my lips, before returning her head to the pillow.

"Hmmm… why am I so tired…" her eyelids quivered, as if she was struggling to keep them open.

"You were having a nightmare, so we had to use some rain flames to calm you down."

"Rain flames?" I glanced at Mieko, who was settling back in to continue her nap.

"Here." I slipped the snake ring off her finger, setting it on the table next to the bed. I scooped up Mieko and carried her to her room next door, setting her in her crib. I directed the herbivore to his room, and watched as he left, glaring at me. Didn't her like me ten years ago? I didn't really care what he thought of me, but Nekko would.

I slid onto the bed next to her, sliding my arms around her. I smiled as she snuggled in next to me. I held her until she fell asleep, and even though it was only three o'clock, allowed myself to drift into my usual shallow sleep. Just before I dozed off, I found myself realizing I might not have to explain anything. Of course, I didn't know that the girl beside me had drifted off thinking the exact opposite.

Okay. This chapter is done. Hibari is OOC, but is it too bad, or is it acceptable?

As for the flame, I couldn't decide which to pick for her, so I said: Why not all of them? Normally I don't like people creating their own flames, but I didn't really make it up. It could be an actual flame in the actual show. Gokudera can use two flames at a time, so why can't Nekko use seven?

I have another ridiculous surprise in store for the next chapter. This story is actually coming to a close.

Anyone want to recommend a box weapon for her, or an ending to the story? I need a little help.

Sorry if some of the sentences in this chapter are awkward. I wasn't really in a writing mood when I made this.

Seriously though, I could use some advice. I pretty much think I know how this is going to end up, but I'm sort of stuck getting there. If I don't get a better idea I will use the ridiculous surprise I mentioned before. so... review please. If you do review, recommend something please! I live off reviews... well, reviews and pizza...and gummy bears... and cheetos... anyway review!

Just one last thing. Reviews mean more to me now than ever. The traffic tool on my account is down. The only way I know if I'm getting hits is through reviews. Normally, when I only get a few reviews, I take comfort in the number of hits. I can't do that anymore! You must review! Please! For the sake of my sanity. For the sake of this story. Review! Thank you to those who do review.

Don't own KHR. Just Nekko, Nikko, and Mieko. Does that say something about my creativity to you?