Thanks for reviews! I love all the people who read my story! Hmm… most people give cookies but… BROWNIES IF YOU REVIEW! (For me… ;) maybe I'll share)

BTW, sorry for the long wait, but now I'm on summer vacation, so I'll be quicker with the updates.

"Nnnnnn…" I was so warm… so comfortable… I snuggled closer to the source of the amazing warmth. The warmth hugged me back. Wait, since when could warmth hug?

My eyes snapped open and I very nearly jumped straight off the bed. I would have to, if it hadn't been for the warmth clinging to me tightly.

"Where do you think you're going?" the voice of the warmth questioned me. That stopped me from squirming. I knew that voice. I turned my head for the first time and took in the sight of the "warmth" lying next to me. He was also known as Hibari Kyoya.

"O-oh… it's you." I blinked, trying to recall why the hell I was sleeping next to Hibari Kyoya. His eyes were slightly narrowed, something they weren't a moment ago. Then he seemed to relax, a smirk playing on the corners of his lips.

"Who else would it be?" I was about to squeak an answer when he pulled me close to him and planted a kiss on my unprepared lips. Suddenly the memories of the previous night (Afternoon?) rushed back to me.

"Oh my gosh. You… I… we… Mieko… we…oh my gosh." I just stared at him.

"Hmph." I could see him getting ready to kiss me again, when someone pushed our door open without knocking. Of course the only person who would dare do that would be Nikko, who of course was holding a squirming Mieko. I smiled at the two of them, immediately sitting up and patting the bed beside me.

I scooted over to make room for the pair, forcing myself to ignore Nikko's stony face. He placed Mieko beside me before climbing onto the bed as well. I immediately scooped up Mieko and tickled her belly, making her giggle. I laughed with her and teased her a bit more before turning my attention to the still cold Nikko.

"Did you sleep well?" He nodded somberly before returning the question. It was obviously just to be polite. He knew I never slept without nightmares. I was about to shake my head in the usual response when I realized I didn't remember having a nightmare. My brow furrowed as I tried to recall the one that I must have had, but I came up blank. Nikko stared at me inquisitively.

A small chuckle was heard to my left, and all eyes turned to Hibari. Even Mieko, who had been quite content sitting on my lap wiggled out of my arms to flop on top of her father.

"Daddy," she cooed. He acknowledged her with a gentle pat on the head before answering Nikko's question for me.

"Of course she slept well." He openly smirked now, "She was with me after all." I could see the anger building up under Nikko's calm face. Hibari just smirked at him.

"W-Why don't we all eat breakfast?" I squeaked, trying to break the tension. I stood up, grabbing Nikko's hand as I went. "Hib-Kyoya?" He merely shrugged, scooping up Mieko with one arm and hopping off the bed. He twined his fingers with my hand and started towing me along. I, in turn, pulled Nikko, so we formed a small human chain.

He led us to what I guessed was his kitchen, before releasing my hand. I let go of Nikko and the two of us sat at a small round table. Hibari plopped Mieko into my lap and pulled out a pan to start cooking. We all sat in an awkward silence leaving the frying pan the only source of noise.

Eventually Hibari was done cooking and he served us each a plate of omelets. I cut a piece of mine and slowly placed it in my mouth. I chewed the piece slowly and my eyes widened as I recognized the flavors in the egg. Inside it was filled with bacon, avocado, some plain ham, tomato, and loads and loads of Tapatio.

It was the omelet I made Nikko for breakfast all the time. He didn't actually like it, but I did, so I made it nearly every day anyway. I realized I hadn't had one since we arrived in the future, seeing as all the cooking was done by the other girls. "Mmmm…" I closed my eyes in appreciation and quickly shoveled in another piece. "I've missed these…"

Hibari just smirked and sat down to eat his own omelet. Nikko only picked at his, obviously not wanting to eat an omelet he had repeatedly told me he didn't like. I was nearly finished with mine when I realized Mieko didn't get anything.

"Umm… what does she eat?" I felt a little stupid asking, but I didn't know her likes and dislikes yet.

"Just give her a piece of the omelet," Hibari replied. I stared at him incredulously. Before I could protest he was giving her a piece of hot sauce-filled egg right in front of me. She took it and scarfed it down, not showing any sign of displeasure at the spicy sauce. Her only response was to wiggle her fingers and whine, "More!"

I was suddenly struck with inspiration. I stood and placed her carefully in Nikko's lap. "If you let her eat yours I'll make you something you actually like." He smiled at my offer.

"Please," he agreed. At that point I was surprised to see Hibari rolling his eyes.

"Nekko, don't trouble yourself. Mieko can have mine." He said, gesturing at his unfinished plate. "There's nothing wrong with the herbivore's food. He just doesn't want to eat anything I touched." I frowned at Hibari's words, and Nikko glared.

Suddenly my brother stood, handing his niece to me. "Nekko, I'm going to see Lal." He stalked out of the room without another word.

"You didn't have to do that. Nikko doesn't like spicy foods. Why couldn't you just let me make him something else?" I was angry now. I might have been in love with Hibari in this time, but Nikko was still my little brother.

"There wasn't anything spicy in his omelet. He was just too much of an herbivore to try it..." Now that I heard his explanation, I softened up a little, but not completely.

"Stop calling him herbivore!" I smacked him lightly. Then I told him, "I'm going to go with him." Without waiting for his response I spun around and walked briskly after my brother. It wasn't long before he fell in step beside me, yet again encasing my fingers in his.

After another minute of speed walking we caught up to Nikko. I know he heard us, since he quickened his pace as we neared, but he didn't turn around. I unwound my fingers from Kyoya's and grabbed Nikko's hand.

"Nikko, slow down. It's not a race." I shot him a smile when he complied. Kyoya stepped up beside me and placed a hand on my shoulder, steering me through the unrecognizable labyrinth of passages. We all walked in silence. Even Mieko seemed to comprehend the tense atmosphere.

I tried breaking the awkwardness more than once. Directing questions at the two "men" beside me. They were both being stubborn and would respond with short, unelaborated answers. Finally I couldn't take the hostile glares shot from Nikko from Hibari and back.

I stopped short in my tracks, pulling the two with me. Nikko glanced at me worriedly while Hibari simply looked away arrogantly, as if he knew what I was going to say. I kneeled down so I'd be closer to Nikko's height. I looked at him right in the eye, waiting until he did the same to start.

"Nikko, I know it isn't easy. Everything, everything is changing… but you have to understand that it might be better. I get that right now you don't really like Hibari-san, but please give him a chance. He might not be the same guy we knew ten years ago. He could be nicer, or more mature. Please, just give him a chance for me." I gave him my super secret pity gaining stare. He sighed (not even he was immune).

"Yeah, Nekko, okay…" He still looked a bit down.

"Hey Nikko, you'll always be my best guy." I winked at him before abruptly standing and roughly patting his head. I didn't look at him as I grabbed his hand to continue towing him along. I didn't have to, to know there was a small smile on his face.

Eventually, we reached the kitchen Kyoko and Haru always used to cook. Based on the all the noise of commotion and voices, everyone was in there. I suddenly realized how awkward it'd be if I suddenly walked in there, holding hands with Hibari, who was holding a little girl. There would be a lot of questions to answer.

Before I really had a chance to think about it, Hibari pushed me through the door. Nikko stepped through the door ahead of me, pulling me with an evilly innocent look on his face. He really wanted me to suffer.

At first everyone just glanced and said good morning. Then they did a double take. Kyoko and Haru seemed to be the first to notice. They stood and gawked, glancing back and forth between each other and Hibari and I. Then was Tsuna… then Yamamoto, Gokudera, until the whole room was staring at us. Even Lambo and Ipin, who didn't really get what was going on, were staring at us. The room was awkwardly silent, no one daring to make a noise. I was too embarrassed to move.

Mieko also noticed all the eyes on her. Of course, any little kid who's ever had a room full of people staring at them dead silent will tell you it's not a pleasant feeling. So I really couldn't blame her when she burst out in tears, thinking they were all mad at her.

"E-eh?" I looked at Kyoya frantically wondering what to do. I lightly bounced her up and down hoping the motion would calm her. "Shh…it's okay…it's okay." I chanted to her. Then to Kyoya, "Do something!"

He yawned lazily, "Why should I?"

"Because she's your daughter and you have a responsibility to raise her! That includes comforting her when she's crying for no reason!" He rolled my eyes but raised his hand to pat her head. After having her head lightly tapped by her father Mieko's tears stopped and her cries calmed down to light hiccups.

"Thanks," I said, smiling to him. I held perfectly still as he leaned in to peck my cheek. Then I was forced back to reality as the voices that matched the staring eyes began to speak.

"What the fuck! What'd you do to Hibari?" Gokudera breached the subject with absolutely no tack.

"G-Gokudera… you shouldn't s-say things like that." Tsuna scolded him, eyeing Hibari suspiciously.

"Yeah! We should congratulate them. Congratulations you guys!" Yamamoto laughed.

"Nekko-chan, why didn't you tell us before?" Haru questioned.

There was a lot of chatter and questions going on around the room. A lot of angry and nervous comments and questions were voiced. They, of course ended when Hibari pulled out his trusty pair of tonfas.

"Herbivores, be quiet before I bite you to death." Of course, the room quieted in under a second.

"Ah, Kyoya! You didn't have to do that!" While it was very awkward for me, and there were some rather rude comments (from Gokudera) most everyone was simply giving congratulations. It wasn't nearly as bad as I imagined it.

"Ch. I already let you convince me into sitting through this once. There's no way I'm listening to it again."

"Already?"I asked him.

He fixed me with a stare, still holding his tonfas threateningly. "When we announced our engagement."

That caused the chaos I was afraid of. Everyone was choking on their breakfast and giving me suspicious looks. I couldn't hear myself think over the noise that ensued. Mieko looked like she was getting pretty pissed off.

"I'll bite you to death!" It took me a minute to realize it was my one year old daughter speaking.

"You taught her how to say that!" I shot Kyoya an incredulous stare. He answered with another shrug.

"She picked it up on her own."

I was pretty surprised when they actually shut up. I mean, she was only one after all. Perhaps they were afraid she inherited her father's knack for settling things with insanely immense strength and violence. The room stared at me expectantly.

"So… I guess you've all figured out now that I'm engaged-" "Married." "Married to Kyoya. I also have this little girl named Mieko."

"Why didn't you tell us sooner Nekko –chan? She's so cute!" Haru asked. I looked at Nikko evilly, who had abandoned me to sit next to Tattoos.

"Nikko can answer that question better than I can." All eyes turned to him. He ignored the stares and twiddled his thumbs nervously.

"W-Well… LAL CAN ANSWER THAT!" he shouted suddenly, diverting attention from himself.

"Oh no, this is definitely a question for Nikko." She winked at me.

"Well, you see… Nekko didn't really know about Mieko until yesterday actually." Hibari glanced at me surprised: that was news to him.

"Eh? Why not?" Haru questioned poor Nikko.

"Well, I actually kept it a secret from her. I didn't think she'd really be better off knowing." This earned a mutter of disapproval from the crowd. At this point I thought I'd step in and save his neck.

"He didn't want it to interfere with any training. Right Nikko?" I didn't pause for him to agree. "Of course, when he realized that it would actually help me draw out my flame, he told me right away." My little brother looked surprised at my upright lie.

"So how did your training go Nekko? You find your flame?" Just as expected, Tsuna leaped at the chance to change the subject to less awkward topics. I smiled and was about to respond when Fedora intervened.

"Dame-Tsuna, you fell for that one so easily. That was exactly what Nekko wanted you to say!"

"Damn woman! Stop trying to trick the tenth! He's way to amazing to fall for your cheap tricks!"

"You fell for it didn't you Gokudera?" I ignored his comment and answered coolly. Hibari unfortunately was not so cool about it. His eyes glinted dangerously as he stepped forward, tonfas at the ready.

"What did you say to her herbivore?"

"Eh! Gokudera didn't mean it Hibari-san. He's actually really interested in Nekko-chan's flame… Right, Gokudera?" Gokudera blushed furiously at being questioned by his boss.

"O-of course tenth! Won't you show me your flame Nekko?"

"I-I don't have my ring…" I was using it as an excuse, but it was the truth. I'd left it in the room. So, I was very surprised when Kyoya tossed me not one, but two rings. I caught them both, and immediately slipped on the familiar ring I used to summon my flames. The other I held in my hand to examine a moment longer.

It was a simple band of white gold with a beautiful center decoration of purple amethyst and a diamond. The way they were carved they fit together perfectly to look as if it was one stone of intertwining colors. For some reason, though they looked nothing alike, it reminded me of a yin and yang symbol.

I realized at once it must be my engagement ring. I slipped it on my finger without another moment's hesitation.

"So show it to us…"

I was about to protest when Bianchi grabbed Haru and Kyoko, telling them they should go start on the laundry or something. She winked at me as she passed. She obviously wanted me to show the group.

I closed my eyes and focused the image of my family in my head. Then I giggled as I realized I didn't need to use my imagination for that. That picture was displayed perfectly right before my eyes. I looked down and saw the distortion of air around my ring.

I waited for them to acknowledge it, when I realized that they hadn't noticed it yet. It wasn't something you could see unless you paid close attention, and they were all looking for a colored flame. Before I could point it out to them Hibari rolled his eyes.

"Are all you herbivores blind?" They looked confused at his statement.

"Nekko, elaborate for them." Fedora commanded, irritated at the lack of observation in his students.

I allowed my focus to drop a little, causing my ring to flicker between the flame colors. They gasped as they saw every element represented.

"Now, let me show you my flame again." I created the clear flame again, holding my hand up so they could see well. "My flame is a combination of all the elements." They all gaped at the ring, except for Gokudera who seemed to be deep in thought. Suddenly he stood and dashed out of the room, calling out an apology to Tsuna behind him.

I spent the next few days watching Kyoya beat Tsuna up. It was somewhat scary watching my super strong husband beat up my closest friend. It was never as bad as that first day though. It had seemed like he was really ready to kill Tsuna.

Fortunately, Tsuna pulled through and ended up with some new gloves. They were supposed to be stronger, but they seemed to be a little too strong, seeing as he kept crashing himself into things.

Other than that I spent some time practicing on lighting my flame. Now that I knew what it looked like and how to summon it, it was much easier. I also worked on opening my box weapons. They were both created especially for my master flame, allowing me to channel all attributes with them.

One was a dagger. I could make it multiply, use it to heal wounds by stabbing them, or I could just charge it with a flame and spread it through the air with a slash or a stab.

My second box was an animal. She was a beautiful black panther. She was almost twice as big as me, but long and slender. Her name was Mokumoku because when she walked she was completely silent and stealthy. I found that Mieko took a great liking to her, and enjoyed sitting on her back when I wasn't training with the cat.

My final box weapon was another animal. It was a small fly that I could open without much notice. I was informed by Hibari and Tattoos that I only used it when I was losing spectacularly. The insect would fly unnoticed (hopefully) to my enemy. When it was close I'd strengthen the cloud flame as necessary and from there it would multiply and attack or, a lot of the time, do something sneaky. I was told I used this to steal boxes by allowing it to slip into a jacket before multiplying. Then it would carry the box in numbers out, and I could use that as a secret weapon. Other times it would slip up an enemy's nose or down a throat, and then multiply, killing from the inside out.

I didn't like this box weapon and I hoped I never had to use it. The idea of using it to steal and cheat, or kill someone in a way they couldn't fight back was horrible. I still couldn't even imagine killing someone, seeing as I use to be such a wimpy pathetic little girl.

When he wasn't training Tsuna, Hibari came to watch me. Sometimes he even muttered tips and practiced with me. I usually turned down his offer, because truth be told, he was way too strong for me to have as a sparring partner.

Then there was the time I spent just sitting with him, talking. I asked him questions nonstop and forced him to answer. He obviously didn't enjoy being at the center of the conversation, and took longer than necessary responding. I made up for it by placing my head in my lap and allowing him to stroke my hair, which seemed to calm him down.

It occurred to me that he seemed a lot gentler than he use to be. It was a change, I felt, was for the better. While he still gave out plenty of threats, it was rare to find him actually injuring someone (though he still had his moments). When I asked him about it he said it was completely and undeniably my fault.

"What do you mean?" He rolled his eyes at me and decided to ignore that question. Kusakabe, who happened to be walking through the room at that moment, answered for him.

"Kyo-san is talking how you'd always ignore him if he did something you found an overreaction. You wouldn't start talking to him until he made some sort of an apology, even if it wasn't much." I smiled, that sounded like something I might do. In fact, it was something I'd already considered doing.

I very nearly did that every time he called Nikko an herbivore. In fact, I actually started ignoring him when he nearly killed Tsuna, but he forced himself back into my attention when he said, "Don't start that again. I'm doing this because the infant asked me to, and it's always good to have him owe you a favor." When I'd looked to Fedora he'd nodded and I had no choice to believe him and continue speaking to Kyoya, regardless of the fact he nearly killed Tsuna.

It was a day that Kyoya and I were on his side of the base, playing with Mieko, that Kusakabe came to find us.

"There has been a ring signal detected near Kokuyo land. They're requesting all the guardians to meet in the conference room." I looked at Kyoya expectantly. All he did was look at his watch and yawn.

"It's about time, too. Kusakabe, attend the meeting for us. Report back on what the herbivores decide."

As I watched Kusakabe exit the room I questioned Kyoya, "Why aren't we going? If there's a ring signal, couldn't that be the enemy?"

"It's of no importance. We'll deal with those herbivores when they arrive at the base." He obviously knew something he wasn't letting on.

"What do you mean?" I asked fixing him with my super secret stare. He glanced at his watch again.

"You'll see in a bit." I was about to ask for more information when Mieko suddenly yawned.

"I'm tired," she muttered her eyelids drooping. I smiled, scooping her up off the floor where she was playing, and laying her down on the couch beside us. I covered her with a blanket Kyoya handed me, yawning myself.

"You should take a nap too." He suggested, but the tone of his voice made it more of a command. As he spoke he slipped the ring off my finger. I realized there'd be no way I'd be able to object. I nodded reluctantly, already sleepily curling into a ball, my head in his lap.

I slept dreamlessly, as had become the custom since Kyoya had returned. It felt as if I'd only gotten about ten minutes of sleep though, when a loud voice and a shift beneath me woke me up.

"VOIIIIII!" An unfamiliar voice vibrated through me. Based on the volume it seemed as if the whole base could hear it. My head shifted again as Kyoya removed it from his lap, placing it instead on the couch. He stood up, murder in his eyes.

"Where're ya goin'?" I yawned.

"To destroy the one who's disturbing the peace." If I'd been paying attention I would've noticed the glint in his eyes, but I wasn't. I was still more than half asleep, so I didn't fully process his words and tone.

"Don't kill anybody Kyoya…" I murmured unintelligibly before rolling over and falling back asleep. Just before sleep consumed me completely, I heard him reply.

"I won't promise anything…"

TYL Hibari

I stalked out of the room Nekko and Mieko were sleeping in, heading to the meeting room. Those damn Varia bastards were disturbing the peace. I walked quickly but quietly, finally arriving to smash open the door of the room.

Everyone in the room turned to look at me. I glare back. "Which one of you herbivores disturbed the peace and woke Nekko up?" I asked, even though I knew it was the one on the monitor. Unfortunately, you couldn't bite a monitor to death, so someone else would have to be his replacement.

I was about to turn on Sawada, since he was the leader of the herbivores, but was interrupted by Squalo.

"Stay alive brats!" He shouted, before the screen went black. Then before I could attack him, I was yet again interrupted. This time by Sasagawa stepping in, holding an unconscious Chrome Dokuro in his arms. This put a permanent pause to my actions. I irritably put my tonfas away.

Everyone was stupidly surprised by his arrival. I, on the other hand, was extremely irritated. I wanted nothing more than to leave the room, but because of my own attachment to Nekko I was unable to. First I had to attend to the caretaking of Chrome Dokuro, or Nekko would start ignoring me again.

Turning to the woman I knew was named Bianchi, I commanded, "Make sure to treat this herbivore. I'll send Nekko to see her when she wakes up." She nodded understandingly. Then to Kusakabe I commanded, "Stay until the end of the meeting." That said I found myself free to walk back out of the room and back to my family.

As I entered the room I'd left Nekko in I found her sitting upright, chewing on her lip in worry. The instant she saw me she jumped up and ran over. "Where were you? Please, please tell me you didn't hurt anyone." She seemed generally worried.

"What makes you think I hurt someone?" I was a little surprised she cared where I was. Not that I showed it.

"Because right before you left you said you were going to destroy the person who was disturbing the peace!" It surprised me she remembered. I'd thought she was too much asleep to recall what happened.

"Yes, but unfortunately I was interrupted before I could complete my goal." She sighed in relief.

"What were you interrupted by?" She fixed me with a stare she seemed to believe would trap me into answering her questions. I found she always used it when she didn't believe I would answer her. She seemed to have the impression it was invincible, since her herbivore brother always caved when she looked at him like that.

"I'll introduce you later. Right now, sleep."

"Why are you always trying to force me into taking naps?" I yawned in response, laying down on the couch next to her. (It was really a very large couch).

"Because I'm sleepy," I closed my eyes, pretending to fall asleep. I heard her sigh and lie down next to me. I realized it was about time for Mieko to wake up, but the herbivore would take care of her. Right now, I needed sleep. I drifted off to the sound of Nekko's breathing.

Is it just me or is this chapter really boring? I think it's really boring. It's long and boring.

I decided to save the surprise for the next chapter. I left some hints here and there. Thanks for reading.

BROWNIES IF YOU REVIEW! (If you don't like brownies then too bad!)

PS. Sorry for typos. I don't own Reborn.