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Disclaimer: I don't own KHR but I do own my characters
"Life is such a short thing, ne?" Her voice echoed through the silent room. I made no move to reply back and slowly pressed my hands together and bowed my head. My eyes slowly closed and exhaled the breath I didn't even know I was holding.
"Don't cry." Her voice stated soothingly. My eyes snapped open and my hands retreated back to my knees. I stared at the pictures before letting a long sigh. It would have been better if I could have went outside to pay my respects, but I was told to stay inside for a while.
"I'm not crying." I glowered getting up from my knees and turned to her. "Why would I cry for that old hag and an acquaintance?"
"Because you care more for that old hag than you let on. Oh and that acquaintance was one of your greatest friends." Alba replied. I sent her a glare.
"That was a rhetorical question."
"Sure it was." She smirked at me and placed her hand on her hip. "Let's go to the training room already. Lal Mirch is already there and she doesn't like to wait."
I stared at her blankly before walking past her. I stopped once I reached the door.
"Annerie, Ai at the moment is just an acquaintance. You, to me, are nothing but a stranger. I may not know the reason why you had taken me out of the prison, but I do know it wasn't because you did it out of the goodness in your heart." I turned my head towards her and narrowed my eyes. "I will find out the reason behind on why you so happily took me out of the prison, but I'm afraid I don't have time for that."
"Always the sharp one Zurui." Alba called out as I walked out of the room.
If it was another time, I would have figured easily figured it out, but at the moment I can't. I needed to help everyone get us back to the past. That's what I am here for, ne?
"Baka you don't even know where you going." A voice criticized as something tapped my forehead. I blinked for a moment and took in silver hair.
"You ended up near the kitchen. Jeez I can't even go five feet away without you getting lost." Alba frowned and grabbed me by my arm. She dragged me down a hallway before stopping in front of an elevator.
"Oh and word of advice, don't say anything that displeases Lal Mirch."
"This era is different from the one you knew ten years ago." Lal Mirch stated. "To fight here you need to light the flame on your ring and open a box."
Her hand out from her coat. There were rings on her four fingers..
"First, understand the ring. The ring can do two things. It can use its own power, or open a box."
"How is it possible for a ring to use its own power?" I asked crossing my arms.
"Using weapons like these, one can energize it with exposure to the flame and they," She replied without hesitance and brought up her arm where a silver gauntlet resided. An indigo flame appeared on one of the rings and she touched the gauntlet. "can be shout out!"
Bullets shot out of the gauntlet hitting the wall to my left. I stared in amazement as the smoke cleared and the damage was shown.
"Where can I get one of those?" I asked turning to her. Lal Mirch stared at me for a second before Alba started to laugh.
"Already eager Zurui? You don't even know how to produce a flame yet." She taunted with a smirk on her face.
"Then how do you make a flame?" I asked Lal Mirch. Alba snickered for a few seconds before Lal Mirch turned her steely gaze to the Italian assassin. Alba shut her mouth and crossed her arms.
"Visualize your resolve into a flame." Was the vague answer.
Is that it? Is that all she is going to say. Just imagine what flame looks like with my resolve? Oh yes that is not complicated at all.
"Why did you fight in the ring battle?" Alba asked. I stared at her. Why would she ask that?
"What was your reason? Why did you keep fighting when you knew you were going to die?"
"Why are you asking this?" I hissed angrily. It was none of her damn business why I fought.
"Just think about it!" She snapped. I looked at her taken aback before sighing.
Why did I fight? I pondered lifting up my left hand. The indigo gem glistened from the light as it laid peacefully next to the Snow ring.
Didn't I fight for everyone? Iie, that wasn't it. At least that what was I thought it was before. No it was to make up for the acts I did years ago. To try and clean my permanently blood stained hands.
My resolve? I don't have one. Before it was to kill the man who killed my mother. Then it was to get revenge on my siblings. Later, it became for everyone else and to repent. So what is my resolve now?
"Tch, I don't have all day to take care of this brat." Lal Mirch scoffed and started to walk away.
I closed my eyes, hearing her footsteps fade away. Perhaps what the younger Annerie said was right. I'm nothing but a broken toy now. There is nothing to fuel my resolve.
"Live on. Years ago you told me you can handle anything that's directed towards you, but if I dare say something bad about your family you would kill me." Alba whispered into my ear.
The words echoed through my mind. She was right. Before I was ready to kill her because she threatened my family and berated them. If its for my family I'm willing to do anything.
"Like this right?" I asked, my voice echoing in the room. Lal Mirch turned away from the elevator as Hibari stepped out. I smirked at him, but he passed me off.
An indigo flame appeared and began to wisp violently. The Snow ring itself had a flame come out. The flame was an almost clear misty white color with specks of blue in it.
"What's the next step?"
"How did someone as weak as you survive this long?" Was his snide comment. I glared at him and did a butterfly kick. He deflected it easily before hitting me in the back causing me to fall forward.
"Uresai..vampire-san." I hissed wiping away the blood from my mouth. His eyes narrowed at the name and the flames around his tonfas expanded. I smirked and ran at him ignoring the stinging pain that spread throughout my body.
I bent down to the floor and swung my feet under his. Hibari jumped up and swung his tonfa down and by reflex I brought my arms up. Pain spread through my arms like fire but I forced myself not to notice it.
"Hey baka!" Annerie yelled out. I glanced at her before barely dodging another one of the attacks.
"Don't get distracted."Hibari said coolly.
I glared at him. Of course I knew that, I'm not five. Damn asshole was treating my like a little kid.
"Giannini made this fan for you." She called out before tossing the fan to me. I lunged for it before rolling to my left, letting the crazed tonfa-wielder make a crater on the floor.
"HIIE!" A voice screeched. HIbari stopped his attacks and I stood up from the floor.
Giannini, Reborn, Lal Mirch, Tsuna, Gokudera, and Yamamato exited out of the elevator. Giannini smiled at me he made his way towards Annerie.
"It's a prototype I found in the storage room. It was one of the fans you had asked me to make." He stated happily. I glanced at the fan in my hand.
The sides were black and had white pattern engraved into it. A button was on the bottom and I pressed it. Needles with bells tied to each fell out. I bent down and grabbed a needle, staring at curiously.
"At the time you asked me to design this, Momoko was teaching you about poison." Eh, so the old bat was useful after all. Guess she wasn't so bad.
"Open your fan."
Following Giannini's orders, I opened the fan to see a gray and silver design on the fabric. I touched it lightly, but to my surprise it was cold and hard like metal.
"It's metal, but you wanted it to look like it was plain fabric. Not only that, but the edges of it are coated with a certain type of poison. It was one of the main fans you used before it was destroyed by Ayaka. Even though it was only a prototype, I upgraded it while you were asleep."
"Can I use my flames with it?" I asked softly amazed at the thought that I actually designed something like this.
"Of course idiot!" Gokudera exclaimed. I glared at him before throwing the needle at him. His eyes widen as the needle scratched his left cheek.
"What the hell was that for bitch?" He screamed trying to get to me, but Yamamato held him back laughing.
"Giannini when did Yukiko make this?" Reborn asked making Gokudera stop struggling. I walked towards where my needle was and pulled it out of the wall.
"Oh it was around the time her and -" He was cut off when Annerie covered his mouth. His voice was muffled making it hard to hear what he was trying to say. Annerie whispered something into his ear, making the mechanic stop his muffled words. Annerie removed her mouth and Giannini gave us a nervous smile.
"It was a few weeks before her eighteenth birthday." He stated as his hands fidgeted. He was a really bad liar.
"Sugoi Yukiko!" Yamamato exclaimed. "This game is getting even more interesting!"
"This isn't a game baseball idiot!" Gokudera angrily yelled. Yamamato laughed once more.
I spun the fan, surprised at how light it was. This fan was really amazing. So is Giannini for being able to make this.
"Arigatou Giannini-san." I bowed in respect and smiled at him. Giannini smiled back.
"Ano..." Tsuna started looking around. "Where's Hibari?"
I began to look around. I didn't even know he left.
"He said something about herbivores and crowding." Yamamato stated rubbing the back of his head with a smile.
Ah that's right. Hibari hates crowding. He really is a vampire. A very crazed, biting fetish, tonfa-wielding vampire.
It was then I noticed how quiet Tsuna was. That was the first time he had spoken when Giannini started to talk.
"Tsuna?" I whispered softly into his ear. He jumped in surprise before turning around.
"Yukiko please don't scare me like that." He whined lightly. I gave a small smile which he returned.
"Daijabou?" I asked lightly. The smile on his face disappeared.
"Y-Yeah!" He gave me a fake nervous smile. I frowned and flicked his forehead making the brunette let out a small cry.
"Don't lie." I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair.
"I-I'm not lying!" He protested throwing his hands up. A small chuckle escaped and I ruffled his hair.
"Whatever you say Tsu-kun." I smiled at him and walked off to experiment with my new weapon.
A contented sigh came from my lips as the hot water consumed my aching body. Humming came from my mouth as I massaged my sore arm.
"Hahi! Yukiko you scared us!" Haru cried out in surprise. My humming stopped as her, Kyoko, Bianchi, and Chrome entered the room.
"We were looking for you." Kyoko smiled at me. I nodded in acknowledgement and moved so they could get in.
"How long have you been here?" Bianchi asked settling in herself. I pulled back a strand of hair that came out.
"Just for a few minutes. Lal Mirch called it quits for the day so my body wouldn't be so stressed."
"What were you guys doing?" Haru questioned innocently. Bianchi and Chrome looked at me expectantly and I sighed in return.
"We were training. I have to get back in shape for dancing you know." I stated pleasantly. Kyoko gave a knowing smile as Haru grinned brightly.
"Haru likes to dance as well! Haru designs the costumes too!" She exclaimed proudly. I smiled a bit at her.
"Maybe next time we could dance together." Haru's grin brightened even more.
"Ano," Chrome started softly. "Yukiko don't you also do magic tricks?"
"Hahi! You do? Haru wants to see!"
I gave a nervous laugh and let out a sad smile.
"I did."
"You did? You don't do them anymore Yukiko-chan?" Kyoko frowned. I tensed up.
"Yukiko lost most of her props for her tricks while on her travels." Bianchi cut in. I sent her a grateful smile to which she sent back.
"But can't you do one with out them?" Haru pressed eagerly. I sighed in return and pulled myself to sit on the ledge of the bath.
"I told myself I wouldn't do any magic tricks because I lost something important to me. But, I ended up breaking it once, so this time I'll make an exception."
"Yukiko-chan you don't have to do any." Kyoko cut in concernedly. I shook my head to signal that it would be fine.
"Watch and be amazed at what will happen before your very own eyes!" I stated dramatically. Kyoko and Haru clapped in excitement as the other two watched.
I pulled my hair out of it's ponytail and showed everyone the elastic ban.
"Be careful not to blink or you'll miss it." I advised throwing up the elastic ban into the air. I snapped my fingers and the ban turned into a sakura petal.
Everyone respectably clapped. I smiled and let the petal drift into my open hand. I closed my hand and brought it up to my mouth. I blew into my hand through one end as sakura petals flew out the other. They floated down into the water before going back into my elastic ban.
"That was amazing!" Haru exclaimed as Bianchi handed me my ban. I bowed down as they clapped even more.
I moved my legs out of the water and stood up.
"I best be going, I have a long day tomorrow." I turned around only to hear shocked gasps.
"Yukiko what happened?" Kyoko asked concerned. My hands gripped the towel tighter. They saw.
"Your back wasn't like that when we first met you!" Haru cried out. I sighed and turned around.
"The reason you weren't able to see it was because my grandmother put something on me to cover it. As to what happened," I paused, " let's just say that before my grandmother took me in, the dancing school I went to was really strict. The smallest mistake could cost you deeply."
"But that's wrong!" Kyoko reasoned standing.
"It's okay. By the time I came to Namimori, they closed down the school." I gave them a bitter smile before walking out of the room.
My fingers felt around the box taking in it's physical attributes. My eyes scanned the object for every detail.
"Mii and Yuu." I whispered softly taking the indigo box in my hand. The need to open the mysterious boxes was becoming more strong from when I was first in possession of them.
"Can I really meet you?" I wondered lightly examining the boxes even more. The indigo box began to shake in my hand angrily, but the white one stayed completely still.
I sighed and set the two boxes down and let out a small indigo flame. I placed it near the indigo box mesmerized at how it eagerly took in the flame before it.
A tentative tap came from my door. I looked up surprised and set the weapon box down.
"Come in." I called out sitting up on the bed. The door opened revealing Tsuna as he walked in nervously. His hands were behind his back as he gave me a wavering grin.
"Need something?" I asked getting up.
"I-Iie." He stuttered lightly. I frowned to myself getting off the bed and walked towards him.
"Baka!" I spat tapping his forehead. "Why are you acting so nervous around me?"
Tsuna flinched before thrusting whatever he held in his hands into my chest. I grabbed it before it could fall to the floor.
"Gomen!" He called out at his sudden rashness.
I glanced at what I held in my hands, letting my eyes widen. It was a wooden baton that was roughly carved and shaved. It was painted black with white at the ends. Silver was in two lines crossing over one another as each ended at one end.
"Its not as nice as your first one." Tsuna stated softly. I looked back at him before letting the baton drop out of my hands. Tsuna's eyes widen as it hit with a loud clang.
I bent my head low allowing my black hair to cover my face. I smiled before letting it expand to a big grin.
"Gomen! I kno-" I cut Tsuna off by throwing my arms around him.
"Grazi." I whispered into his ear. I pulled away letting him see my grin. It expanded as I saw his blushing face.
I bent down and grabbed the baton quickly. I spun it around letting out a small laugh.
"Alba told me you lost your baton and it was really important to you. Then Kyoko and Haru said that you wouldn't do magic tricks because you lost something important to you. I kind of figured it out and well I...I," Tsuna started before looking away shyly. I laughed lightly at him.
"Tsuna thank you so much. That baton meant a lot to me, and I was a bit heartbroken when I lost it. But," I walked closer to him making him blush harder. "this is perfectly fine."
I closed the distance as I kissed him lightly on the cheek. I pulled away and smiled at his astonished face. It was just so cute.
"I better go find Lambo and I-Pin. They were bothering me about playing some tricks for them. Lambo was mad when Haru told them I showed her and Kyoko a trick."
I walked out of the room tossing the baton up and down. Sure it wasn't the baton that Alex made for me, but I wouldn't want a better replacement.
It was sweet of him to make that for me. Not only that, but the look on his face when I hugged him was so cute. Especially when I kissed him! Wait what?
Did I seriously just kiss him? Did I just seriously think he was cute?
I stopped abruptly letting the baton fall down. My face felt hot and my heart started to pound faster.
What's going on with me? It's a side-affect of the medicine. That's it! It's just the medicine affecting me. That's why I did those things and thought them.
Well I hope it is the medicine, I mean what else could explain this?
okay this way overdue. I know and I'm really sorry. The only explanation I have is that I had a horrible writer's block. But even that isn't a valid excuse. *head falls in shame* I let you guys down. I'm sorry!
I hope you guys like this chapter. Please review before you click the little red x button! Flames will be accepted because I deserve it for taking such a long time to write.
Hope to see you next time and I won't take as long as I did this time! I promise!