Engage Me.

A/N: This chapter will give you more into Hibari's thoughts and more into their past. Just an insight. Still going pretty slow. :o It'll pick up the pace soon so I apologize if it's boring. Hope you'll like it anyways. c:

Underlined phrases are either for foreign words (not in "Japanese") or emphasis if paired with italics.

Thank you to cherrypeachblossom, lemontea-addict, MsNi98, and magicjewel for reviewing, it's greatly appreciated and very helpful!

Announcement: 2 new stories if you're interested or.. bored. Same Difference, a Hibari x Fem!Hibari fic. c: And Uncharted Waters, a reincarnation fic for Bluebell. :)

CHAPTER 3

They were on the rooftop. It was Namimori High. There was a small breeze that ruffled her hair and picked up her skirt a bit, but not detrimental.

He was leaning onto the railing, the yellow bird sang the Namimori Middle anthem as it perched onto his shoulder. She giggled as she watched it flap its wings happily.

He scratched it gently, a serene expression on his face.

"Hibari."

"Hn?"

"Can I pet your bird?" she asked.

"No," he frowned and she pouted.

The scene blurred into a more pastel place. There was a cradle and two identical looking little babies. Twins, she thought. Newborns.

"Nami and Mori," he said, arms crossed.

"Idiot- Ow! You can't name them Nami and Mori. You're so obsessed," she frowned as she rubbed her injured head.

And then she was sitting somewhere. A hospital? There was Akane. She was holding Akane's hand.

"Sakura, you know I love you, right?" A ghost of a smile.

"Of course," Sakura smiled softly. "I love you too."

First Person; Sakura

I yawned, waking up to the smell of something familiar. Ah, coffee. I sat up slowly, my back hurting from hunching over the entire night and did my best to stretch but I felt sore. Note to self: never sleep hunching over.

Over on the other side of the wall, Hibari sat with a newspaper in his hand and coffee in the other.

"Good morning, Sakura-chan." I turned over to the woman who was sitting, leaned onto the back of the hospital bed with her hands placed onto her lap. She looked slightly better, a bit more healthy. She didn't seem as pale but she still had a tired looking demeanor.

"Good morning, Akane-san," I smiled.

I frowned at her empty hands. He only bought one for himself? "Stingy," I muttered upon looking at him.

He lowered his newspaper to glare at me, narrowing those steel blue eyes of his.

Akane laughed softly. "Kyoya," she said simply.

Before he could complain I stood up quickly. "Ah, no. It's okay. I'm not much of a coffee person. I was just joking. Would you like something, Akane-san?" I offered.

The raven haired woman hummed for a moment. "Do you know that bakery near Skylark Co.?"

"Yes."

"If you could get me beignets from there, that'd be wonderful," she smiled. "And some for yourself. Kyoya, can you hand me the-" Purse?

"Oh, no. It's okay. Don't worry, Akane-san. I'll go get it after I freshen up," I reassured her with waving hands. I walked into the bathroom with my purse for the toothbrush and what not, starting to get used to basically living in the hospital room. But it's not like I minded. Not for her.

Ah, that guy. I bet he didn't even ask her if she wanted anything- Where did he go anyways?

"If you're looking for Kyoya, the nurse wanted to talk to him about some matters," Akane said.

I wasn't looking for him but I supposed I should be looking for my, uh- fiancee. "I see."

"She seemed very… interested," Akane hinted with a very amused expression.

Interested? ...Oh. But of course. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and it was a feat very hard to pass upon. "Ah… It can't be helped," I laughed softly, knowing she was waiting to see my reaction.

She nodded. "My handsome son," she mused.

"My.. handsome.. fiancee. Hah," I smiled before excusing myself out of the room. Wow that was awkward, I'M awkward.

I turned the corner down the hallway and found my uh, fiancee, and a nurse. I wouldn't really say that they were 'talking' since she was mumbling and he was- well, frowning.

The nurse was young, light brown hair. She was petite. And blushing, quite red too.

I sighed as I walked closer. It was not of my choice, really. I had to go down this hall to get to the elevator. Whatever the conversation was, apparently he had the time to look up and glance- no, glare at me.

"Going to get the beignets," I mumbled. "Are you staying?"

He shuffled slightly, the hands that were in his pocket pulled out a phone. "Work in an hour," he said simply after a glance at it.

I nodded before leaving. 'I'll be back by then." Not like he cares.

Oh but that nurse? She sooo cares.

[...]

I parked my car in front of the bakery and got out quickly, locking it and shoving the keys into my purse. Once I reached the door, I faced the predicament. Let the person go in first or go in myself. Oh no, should I-

"Ah! Sakura?"

Huh? I actually looked at the lady this time. Dark brown slightly wavy short hair, middle split short bangs.

"Hana," I smiled as realization dawned on me and I walked up to her. "It's been awhile." How long has it been again?

"Yeah, definitely," she said. "Here for their famous donuts?"

"Beignets actually," I replied. "And you're here for the donuts?"

"Yeah. Ryohei wanted some," she laughed.

"Sasagawa Ryohei? Are you guys dating?" I asked with a hint of curiosity. They were pretty close in high school if I remembered correctly. Sasagawa Ryohei was in a few of my classes since were the same age and he was uh... Loud. But passionate!... But very loud..

She smiled softly. "Yeah. Want to talk inside?" she offered.

It was probably a good idea, to not block incoming customers, so I nodded and followed her inside. The gentleman she is, she held the door open for me.

"Thanks," I muttered.

I set the paper bag of beignets on the table and scooted in my chair. Hana received her order and took the seat directly in front of me.

"So, how have you been?" she asked.

"Oh, just uh.. busy," I said. "You?"

"Tired mostly. But fine," she replied.

"How's Kyoko?"

"She's good too. Studying overseas."

"Overseas? Really? That's amazing." I was impressed. That sounds like a lot of fun.

"What have you been doing?" Hana asked.

"Fashion designing," I answered. "And you?"

"Studying to become a psychologist," she replied.

"Wow, that's interesting. I had always been interested in psychology," I said truthfully.

"Fashion designing sounds wonderful too. OH- I remember now. Your work was in that magazine, right?" she grinned.

"Yeah, I'm surprised you noticed," I smiled.

"Well.. I read it but I didn't quite realize it until you mentioned fashion designing. Sorry," she said and I shook my head. She hummed for a moment. "So."

"So.. what?" I wondered.

"Do you have a significant other yet, Miss Popular Student Council President."

"Oh please, Hana," I laughed softly. Forget 'significant other', I'm getting married! My mind sarcastically cheered as it reminded me of my doom. "Um. Actually... " Well people are going to know about it anyways, right? "I'm getting.. married," I forced a smile.

Her eyes widened, lips parted. "Married? Really?" I nodded. "To who? Have you been dating for awhile?"

"You remember… Hibari.. right?" Then again.. Who wouldn't?

Her mouth almost dropped to the floor. "YOU'RE MARRYING HIBARI-SAN?"

"Shhhhh, shh!" I glanced around the bakery quickly though no one seemed to care.

Hana cleared her throat.. "Um- I- Well.. That's uh- wonderful.." she seemed utterly pressed to say that and I couldn't help but laugh. "That's surprising, kind of," she admitted. "I mean I knew you guys.. I mean you guys were…uh," I raised an eyebrow as Hana struggled for words. "Always.. arguing," she concluded. "That...that means you must've been close!" Close? As if.

I laughed a bit more but shook my head. "Yeah, we argued a lot, didn't we? He always wanted his way with the committee and always ran around beating up kids- Excuse me, biting them to death," I smirked. "What student council president would I be if I let him off with that?"

"Didn't you though?" Hana teased.

"...I couldn't win," I mumbled the truth defeatingly. "But-!"

She laughed softly. "But wow, marrying. I didn't think he had it in him." Me neither, Hana. Me neither. "It would make sense for him to hide it from the rest of us though," Hana said.

The rest? "You all still hang out together?" I raised an eyebrow. I remembered in high school that they were a pretty close group. Not to mention, they were always ditching together. There was something about them… It seemed like welcoming aura but it seemed like they existed in another world. Coming back to school a few days later, carrying scars and bruises like a secret. Like him.

"Yeah. You should come too, Mrs. Hibari Sakura." Ugh- ew. The name alone made me cringe. The thought of it… That made me want to crawl under a rock for the rest of my life.

"Please- I mean. That sounds weird," I forced a smile and I hoped I didn't cringe though I really wanted to.

"But I suppose it was a bit predictable. I mean who else would end up with Hibari Kyoya?" I don't know.. someone else that could actually withstand his arrogancy and terrible attitude..? Cold shoulder, death threats, and violence. "You do know that there were rumors though, right?"

"Rumors?" I raised an eyebrow. "Of what?"

"That you two were going out," she said with a small smile. "So I guess it was true."

"We were no-" Wait. "Yes. I mean.. kind of..? Uh…It wasn't..official. But what made them spread that?" I was genuinely curious. Who wouldn't be?

"You were always in his office." Complaints and paperwork. "You guys walked together sometimes, right?"

I nodded slowly. We...lived in the same house and happened to leave at the same time, though they didn't know that.

"He didn't really 'bite you to death'..?" Akane would have been worried or scolded him, I assume. "And you guys ...talked..pretty often..?" School, student council business or- arguing. She means, arguing.

"Oh.." I cleared my throat. "I see. That's uh, interesting to know. I didn't think it was…" what it looked like.. though it really wasn't. "Obvious."

I glanced down at my phone. It had been thirty minutes already. I should get back soon before Hibari has me for breakfast. "Sorry, Hana. I have to go now. I'll have him send all of you a wedding invitation."

"Please do. I'm sure he won't, and I want to see it happen," she smiled. That makes one of us, yay, my mind sarcastically cheered.

[ Hours Later. ]

I took out my phone as I paced back and forth in front of the hospital. I scrolled through it till I found the number I went through trouble to find and the contact I never really bothered to..contact.

"Ciao."

I took a deep breath. "Father?"

I could hear the slight shock from the other side of the phone. I don't really call often. "Fiore?"

"It's Sakura, father." He should know I didn't like him calling me by my middle, Italian name. The one he gave me. For he didn't get the right to, since he basically abandoned me.

"What is it, Sakura?" No 'how have you been'. Of course not. His Japanese had an accent and he wasn't very fluent but then again, he learned it for mother. Years ago. And mother's gone now- and so is he, just not in the same way.

"I just wanted to tell you that," I cleared my throat. "I'm getting married."

"WHAT?" His volume rose, disbelief clear as crystal. "Who is this man? Why didn't you ask for my permission?"

I really wanted to say 'why should I' but I didn't. "It was a recent decision, father. The wedding will be in a month maybe, yet to be decided. Will you come?"

"Sakura, I haven't approved yet."

"You don't get a say, father," I snapped. "This is my life, my decision. And you left me with that only a long time ago."

I heard low cussing in Italian, a language he never even bothered to teach me. "Sakura, I've told you many times-"

"How important your research is, got it," I interrupted to finish a statement he said to me many times, many times since I was young. Until he left me, that was.

"Stop laughing, Koenig." He said to someone on the other side of the phone who was indeed chuckling. Now, I'm guessing I'm on speaker phone. Wonderful.

"Father. In one month, you can either walk me down the aisle- something you could at least do. Or you could ignore it, like you did my graduation and everything else," I bit back.

"Don't speak to me like that, Sakura," he scolded. Something that he at least he knew how to do as a parent. "I'll see you in two weeks."

"Two weeks? You haven't even finished your end of the research," I heard from the other side of the phone, a different voice. My understanding of Italian was very limited but not so minimal. But, I don't practice it so whatever little I knew, when father actually bothered to teach me, was mostly forgotten. But not all was lost completely.

"I'll finish it. Don't worry, Verde," father replied to said voice. "Anyways. Sakura, two weeks. Do you still live with the Hibari's?" It was normal for him to assume that, since that is where he left me when he went off to who knows where- though I know now. Italy.

"No, father. I'm quite independent," I answered bitterly. Because of you. "But sure. Meet me at the Hibari's, so you can meet my fiancee too."

"What-"

And I hung up.

...

I sighed as I placed my bag down, taking my usual seat by Akane's side.

"Father, again?" she smiled understandingly.

I frowned. "How did you know?"

"You always have this expression after you talk to him. Are things still not going well?" she asked. Do I really?

"Same as always," I mumbled.

"I'm sure he cares about you, Sakura, just really.. passionate about his scientific endeavors," Akane reassured me with a squeeze on my hand. Well that's a nice way of putting it.

I nodded with a smile to please her though I didn't believe her. "Thank you."

Third person, limited; Hibari

He walked inside and closed the door behind him. A yawn escaped his lips before he regarded the two other people in the room.

That expression of hers, deep in thought, eyebrows slightly furrowed, a small pout- but annoyingly trying to act like nothing was wrong. He frowned. Must've been her father, he noticed. But he didn't say anything. None of his business, and he didn't care.

"Kyoya," his mother greeted him with a small smile. The girl merely gave him a small nod. It looked like she went home and changed. Now dressed in a some light looking white dress and some navy cardigan that seemed too big on her, it reminded him of the one she wore over her high school uniform.

Well, actually he remembered giving her detention for it. And then she came back the next day with the same thing on- and a handbook of the school rules to prove her point. Then when he tried to change the handbook, her ever so convenient position as the student council president conflicted with his position. Annoying.

Hibari placed the bag of his mother's clothes by the table on the other side of the room. "Ah, you got the stuff. Thank you," she said.

He gave her a short nod before sitting down at his usual spot, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"Why don't you two go eat?"

The two of them turned towards her. The female was confused, he just found it distasteful.

"What do you mean?" She asked. Idiot. That girl could be way too slow, he thought to himself. And she's also one of those people that ask for a clarification though she understood. How troublesome.

"You guys don't have to worry about me. Why don't you two go on a date? Go get dinner or something," his mother suggested.

He frowned at the girl once she glanced over before her attention fell back upon his mother with an awkward looking smile and furrowed eyebrows. Her expression always gave too much away.

"I-It's okay! We can have dates another time. I'm sure Hi- Kyoya wants to be here with you as much as I do," she said.

"I insist, Sakura," the woman pressed. He would think after all these years, he'd get used to the thought of that flower. But no, her name, the flower's name- sounded like defeat and it left a bad aftertaste in his mouth. And either way, he frowned everytime he heard it.

"Go," his mother said again.

Even the girl didn't want to argue back and he didn't have it in him. When his mother had decided on something, she could be demanding and very persistent. The both of them got up unwillingly and he walked out the door first, not bothering to wait for her to gather her troublesome things.

"Let's just go eat. Might as well since she kicked us out," she sighed. And why should he go eat with her?

"Don't get any wrong ideas, Nanase Sakura. I only went with your silly little plan for her, and her only."

He expected her to crumble slightly but instead her expression changed, her eyes narrowed darkly as she glared at him. "You don't have to remind me, Hibari Kyoya," she grumbled, eyes darkening. He didn't really expect anger. He supposed she did somewhat change throughout the years.

"So, do you want to go eat? Or are you going to sit outside in the lobby for an hour until I get back?" she frowned.

"You don't need to know or get to decide what choices I have, herbivore. And whatever it is, it won't be with you."

"Suit yourself," she snapped before turning around and quickly strolled her way down the hallway with annoying clattering of her heels. Back straight, chin up, like she had something to prove.

But it wasn't just irritation he saw. He recognized the other emotion in those brown eyes even if he didn't bother to. He found it annoying, bothersome, troublesome.

He recognized hurt. Hibari shrugged it off.

He supposed he hurt her, again.

...

A yawn escaped his lips and he lazily brought up a hand to cover it from a distance. Wiping a tear from his eye, he slouched down and crossed his arms tightly in front of his chest. The windows of the lobby revealed the darkening sky. It was getting late.

Where was that woman? Hibari glanced down at his watch and frowned. Seven. She should be back, it's been almost an hour.

From the corner of his eye, he could see a young woman fidgeting greatly in her seat. A few glances here and there to him. He let out a bothered sigh. Women. So annoying. He could ignore her like he usually did with most of them but today his tolerance was lower than usual.

Hibari could tell she was contemplating whether she should get up and talk to him. They usually do. It only took one irritated glance to scare them off. Perhaps he should. He was about to turn around and give her a glare she'd never forget, but instead he almost bumped into a bag.

Hibari frowned, ready to threaten whoever dared to shove a bag in front of his face. But it smelled like hamburger steak- his favorite.

"Here."

Hibari turned behind to the familiar voice. She was standing with an expression that was supposed to be neutral but one could tell she was still irritated from earlier. Also, kind of gave it away when she looked like she rather slam it in his face than to hand it to him. Though she'd be dead if she tried the first.

"What for?" he grumbled but it wasn't one of anger or annoyance. It was almost as neutral as he ever really talked.

"I assumed you didn't go get food," she muttered before pulling back the bag to walk around the chairs. And why does she care? The girl placed herself in the one away from him and the bag in his lap. She only took one glance at him and probably deemed herself to be right.

The feeling of having someone watch over him was gone and he noticed from the corner of his eyes that the unacquainted woman to his side was no longer staring at him. He supposed the pink headed one had some use to her.

"There's uh. A knife and a fork in there," she said before taking out some novel from her purse.

Whether or not that was supposed to make him feel more comfortable about eating it, he didn't really care. Hibari doesn't say 'no' to hamburger steaks, unless it was an obvious bribe or some kind of suspicious offer.

"You uh, you like that place, right?" she muttered, eyes still on the book.

Hibari opened up the black to go box and was enveloped by the nice smell. He could already tell what restaurant it's from by just the scent. Mother would used to take them there once in a while back in high school because it was one of his more favorites. "I don't have a problem with it."

She had a quiet, amused scoff and he assumed she knew the answer anyways. Then why ask? How bothersome. But he knew she never expected a 'thank you'. She did once, that first time.. that one day in February some years back. Though she learned quickly and never again did she bother.

He remembered that day clearly while he chewed. It was sometime in high school after she moved in. It was her first year and it was his technically second though he didn't really come to the high school till the year after. Someone had to look over Sawada Tsunayoshi and his troublesome friends along with their destructive tendency towards the school.

Flashback.

The night before one of the most annoying days of the year, she was in the kitchen that he remembered her asking over dinner to use. It smelled strongly of… chocolate. It smelled way too sweet.

"Ah- Mou," she muttered to herself as she stared down at the cocoa powder on her clothes. Leaned onto the door frame, he had to admit he was pretty amused watching her fail at the easiest looking things. She never does anything right, he thought to himself. He already knew that and he barely even knew her. Hibari almost scoffed out loud but he rather she not hear. He wasn't in the mood.

He watched as she unscrewed the cap for the vanilla extract and put it closer to her nose. The girl made a funny face and wrinkled her nose. "Ugh," she groaned. He figured it smelled too sweet. Only idly did he wonder if she disliked 'too sweet' things too.

"Do you think she's making some for you?" If he wasn't great at sensing presences, he would have jumped like every herbivore to the whisper from behind him. But instead Hibari made a quiet scoff before turning around and leaving, not wanting to be teased by his mother.

His mother gave a small laugh before walking into the kitchen. Before he left, he could hear their conversation. "Who are you making it for?"

"Friends," the girl replied.

...

He frowned as the door to the rooftop opened, removing him from his close journey to sleep. "For interrupting my nap, I will bite you to death."

Hibari caught the few strands of pink hair before she poked her head out first, walking out onto the rooftop of Namimori Middle School and over to him with a small smile. "Sorry. Though you should really nap at home," she said as she stopped in front of him and kneeled down. He questioned what she was even doing here to begin with. In fact, she was trespassing.

He sat up quickly and glared at her. "Don't tell me what to do."

"It was a suggestion," she sighed. "Anyways, for you," she said as she extended her arm out. His eyes trailed down to the distasteful sheer wrapper with a certain pattern. Cherry blossom, tacky. "I've been trying to reach you all the day but uh… You're very uh, popular," she concluded with a small smile.

Popular, she said. He scoffed. Hibari's threats and glares were not as effective on days like this. The front of the reception room was flooded with bothersome gifts that he had Kusakabe throw out or eat and if the women weren't staring, they were giggling or whispering. But they had some sanity and some value to their life to not approach him directly. Not to mention the whole school was annoying and full of crowds, whether or not it concerned him specifically.

When he didn't move for some time, she added quickly, "It's uh, semi sweet chocolate."

Hibari eyed it for a moment. He was okay with sweets as long as it wasn't too sweet. Semi sweet chocolate should be okay. But.

"I'm not your friend, herbivore." He recalled her telling his mother that she was making it for such herbivorous relationships with people. She better not be relating such things to him as well.

She cleared her throat before placing it down next to him. "I had a lot. You don't have to eat it, you could just throw it away." She's still trying to play nice, he realized.

"I don't waste food," he grumbled before picking it up and holding it in front of him, analyzing. At least not the ones he was willing to eat. "If I get a stomachache, I will bite you to death."

She laughed softly before getting up, brushing down her skirt and pulling the sleeves over her hands. It was getting cold, he realized. The wind that breezed by had her holding down her skirt. He frowned as her scent passed by him. Cherry blossom.

"Right. You mean 'thanks', Hibari. And you're welcome," she smiled before turning around and leaving. He could finally feel like breathing again.

"I didn't thank you," he grumbled upon apparently deaf ears. Hibari frowned before lowering himself back down onto his back, arms behind his head as a cushion after setting the annoying patterned bag onto the ground. Just a bit longer more before he'll decide to go home. The sight of the darkening orange sky disappeared slowly as his eyelids shut and he let the peace and quiet envelop him-

"Are you ready yet?"

Her voice snapped his attention back and he frowned, setting the now empty box of food back in the plastic bag and getting up without a word. Sometimes he vaguely questioned why she was still here. Always 'here' even when not literally. He figured after ten years she'd have had enough. Then again, the not-so-herbivorous-anymore herbivores- omnivores, still crowd around him after ten years. He supposed they're all just idiots, every last one of them.

He didn't bother to even look at her as he walked over to the trashcan, dumping the trash in and leaving to his mother's room.

Hibari Kyoya waited for no one.

He heard a low sigh from behind him but not before long, he could also hear her heeled footsteps as she trailed behind him.

If it weren't for this situation, would she still be following him? Like she did six years ago? That one time when she misunderstood.

Until he made sure she'd never have such a herbivorous thought again.

A/N: I also made a tumblr for my fics and KHR in general. So if you could follow Chrihstie on tumblr, I'd appreciate it. c:
I will be posting teasers and artwork for my stories / KHR characters. And... also the occasional reblogging of amazing KHR posts.