Carousel -Part 5- H''ouderves
On a Wensday afternoon , when the children are playing in the streets is when Tsunayoushi found a pet shop. It was a secluded place, away from any major sights and streets, there was only a small bookstore to keep it company .
He, along with Yamamoto and Gokudera were scouting the downtown area for interesting shops and cafes. That, and all of them were searching for birthday gifts for his big brother Dino. They thought of giving him odd nick-knacks since they knew him to be quite childish and a lover of the eccentric . He liked pogs and marbles that glistened in the sun when you looked at them, that , and he had a collection of old comics stacked high in his closet.
When they were much younger, Dino had always joked that when he would die, he'd give his collection to the youngest . And of course Tsunayoushi knew that in his dreams that wasn't the case, that he would always die first. So he told his brother so, and Dino's face turned dark and he said almost crying and pleading,-
" Don't say that! Don't ever say that!"
Tsunayoushi sighed as he stepped into the shop ( Gokudera held open the door for him). He had been looking all day for a present, and he was the only one who hadn't purchased anything. He did find some things his brother would like ( nice rimmed glasses , eve though he had a 20/20 vision, books about magic) but something inside him told him 'no'. That that wasn't it. It has to be some thing else. And that something else hadn't been found yet.
" Gokudera do you think that they'll sell the Lochness Monster in here?" Yamamoto's eyes twinkled in mischief and Tsunayoushi was glad he had a friend like that.
The silver haired man looked at the taller with superiority, lifting his nose as he did so.
" Lochness Monster?" Gokudera crossed his arms. " The hell would they have one here? Are you stupid? That thing is hiding underneath the surface. Under a big lake. "
That's Gokudera for you, thought Tsunayoushi fondly, he always believes in the impossible and strange. I guess, that's why he has so much faith in me.
"Oh yeah?" Yamamoto grinned. " Why doesn't it want to come out?"
The other began to explain as if the other was a gradeschooler.
" Obviously because the humans would just want to exploit it." Gokudera crossed his arms and nodded in approval. " Nessy is cool for standing up to it's beliefs and for not being a sell out. I mean even if a group of people tried to push me to do something I didn't want to do, I wouldn't fall for it even if they made me feel guilty !"
Tsunayoushi stopped looking at the pet food, and staid still for a while.
" If you always just do what others want you're nothing but a small toy going in full circle . They are the ones pulling your strings. Like a marionette. Where is your free will? "
And Tsunayoushi wanted to turn and yell ' But. What. If. I. Can't. Help. It?'
" Haha, Gokudera you're funny!" Yamamoto walked in between his two friends. " Maybe instead of a Lochness Monster, we can get Dino a dinosaur. Get it?" He began to laugh. " Dino as in the English word for dinosaur?" Gokudera rolled his eyes. " Ha! We can get him a green one with red spikes or something. What do you think Tsuna?" The tall man asked the shorter, so he shifted his body to the right. Except Tsunayoushi wasn't there anymore.
"Tsuna?" He called out again, and he looked at Gokudera, who's face was the same as his. Worried and urgent.
The fear started to step in. Reborn had told the two to watch him.
" Tsuna!" Yamamoto called out again, scaring the customers, he walked around the area with the silver haired man in a frenzy.
"Tenth!" Gokudera shouted and sprinted into the direction his eyes were on, and the other soon followed.
They found Tsunayoushi to be near the back of the store, his hand pressed on the tank that had turtles. But there was something strange about it. The turtles were behaving strangely, trying to jump out the water ( it looked like they were trying to touch the other.) There was one turtle that had separated from the rest, who only lightly tapped at the glass, opening it's mouth slowly and cautiously.
Frightened for his Tenth's health, Gokudera stepped in and grabbed Tsunayoushi from behind , the others back on his chest.
"T-tenth," Gokudera began as if nothing had happened, as if he wasn't scared to death he'd leave them. " Even the turtle likes you!"
But the other didn't even look like he was listening to the other.
" That's it " Tsunayoushi whispered. " That's it!" He said louder. " It has to be this turtle." He pointed to the one tapping. " I'll give this turtle to my big brother Dino."
" You should give him a name," Yamamoto suggested.
" Hmmm..."
There was a slight buzz from the light on the tanks, the fish swam around them and a minute passed.
Tsunayoushi lifted a finger to the ceiling.
"Enzo." He said easily. " Enzo is his name!"
I'll go get a worker to attend us Tenth, " The silver haired man offered. He scurried off sharing a meaningful look toward the taller of the trio, one that said ' Take care of him when I'm gone. I'll be right back. '
Yamamoto nodded, and once the other was out of his sight he turned to face the brown haired man. He was tapping on the tank and talking to the turtles ( who just seemed to bask in his attention). A sigh escaped him.
" What's wrong Tsuna?" Yamamoto began walking to the tank as well. " You've been sighing all morning." The shorter smiled warily. " Remember what my pops always told us. That if you sigh a ghost will come and take your soul away." Yamamoto laughed , to Tsunayoushi his laughs always sounded like rain, the sort of rain you get when you're looking outside from a window, when you see umbrellas of different color and the droplets of water on the sides.
You just feel at home.
Tsunayoushi smiled, because when Yamamoto laughed, and when Gokudera became hot and angry at the smallest things all his problems seemed to go away, even for just a little bit.
" You always make people feel nice."
And Yamamoto grinned , sheepishly and said " You do that too. " He did? " You give people the feeling of wanting to protect you. You give people the strength to go on. You give people a reason to live. " He paused. " How should I put it..." And Tsunayoushi frowned because this didn't seem like the usual Yamamoto , for this one was frowning and serious ( yet it was also him, since this Yamamoto appeared only at certain points in his life.)
" You taught me the opposite of disappearing."
The low murmuring could be heard again ( the same from the elevator) , the fish escaped from their designated tanks and swam fully and in between them. The Jellyfish emitted a light blue glow and began to come together, forming electrical currents that did no harm. The Sting Ray was also out and about, on the prowl attempting to eat the much smaller Guppy fish. Koi fish swam around their bodies in full circle, the anemone blooming in their hair.
And just like that, when Yamamoto placed an arm over Tsunayoushi's shoulder everything went back into place. Like nothing had happened.
" Come on Tsuna," The taller grinned. " I want to see some of the other pets they have."
And the both walked up the stairs leaving behind the ocean in the petshop's first floor.
When Tsunayoushi finished paying for Enzo he looked at the shop keeper one more time and said -
" Excuse me, how much for that canary by the windowsill? In the white cage?"
Kyouya was in the herbivore's apartment again. It was decorated in a very traditional manner. Hydrangea in a vase lighting up the living room most elegantly. Lighter blues to deeper purples.
Since the last time he came here, he had become more acquainted with the other. Now that they both knew about each others dreams and hallucinations both of them took time off their schedules to meet every day. Hoping to become closer to the truth. How are we connected? What is the similarity between our dreams? What does this all mean? For every 'what' there was a 'why'. And for every 'why' there was a 'when'. Questions became answers and the answers became questions.
"Before we start," The brown haired man began to fidget " I'd like to give something to you." He walked out the living room to bring out an object draped over a white cloth. Kyouya was sitting underneath the Kotatsu table, eyes narrowed in curiosity. Tsunayoushi tore the cloth off, revealing a small yellow canary who chirped loudly and haughtily.
The only sound that could be heard was loud chirping and the sound of feathers being flapped inside the cage. The sunset was draping the living room slowly and carefully.
Kyouya blinked.
"What is this." It is not a question, more like a statement, a reassurance that this was real and not an illusion.
The mousy man spoke delicately, "It's a canary..." And began to smile nervously, thinking this was just all a mistake, and, oh god what have I done.
Kyouya looked at the bird and then at Tsunayoushi ( he seemed bored) but to people who've been around him long enough, they would notice the interest in his eyes. He loved small animals, but most of all birds. The structure of the bones on their wings, their small eyes, he admired everything about them. Since a small child he collected grand encyclopedias on birds from around the world, and even joined many birdwatching clubs ( that he soon became the president of). He liked them because as a child, he imagined breaking the window to his room . Stretching his arms and flying away. He tried to once, and, well let's just say it didn't go very well. He never tried to fly again.
" I am aware it is a canary, herbivore." Kyouya reached for the tea at his side. " Why give this to me?" He patted the cage lightly, the bird staring at him boldly. " I have never expressed a desire for a bird much less from you."
Tsunayoushi was about to speak, but he just stared as the dark haired man opened the cage of the canary, and letting the small bird perch on one of his fingers. They looked so good together.
"I don't really understand this myself.." He spoke truthfully. "But when I just saw him at a pet shop, he just seemed to call out to me ' Take me to Hibari-san.' ."
Kyouya did not look at the other, just merely raised the bird further up in the air.
" A-and I don't meant the bird spoke! I-I -I meant metaphorically , and well, oh Hibari-san you should have been there. He just chirped so loudly, like a fireman truck and did not stop until I purchased him!"
Chirping could be heard in agreement. And finally -
"Would you take him?"
Kyouya became still, and after what seemed like deep thought placed the bird back in it's cage, locking the handle.
"I am not a herbivore, everyone knows that one must accept gifts even if one does not like it." Kyouya placed the birdcage at his side. " It is common courtesy."
Dejectedly, yet at the same time happy Tsunayoushi murmured. "Ah, so you don't like it."
Kyouya looked at the others eyes.
"I never said that."
" Have you ever cried in a dream and then you wake up feeling like you've just cried but your eyes are dry?"
Tsunayoushi says this when he places the rice omelet in front of Hibari, taking a seat across from him.
"Thanks for the food." They chorused and began to dine, Hibari's utensils cut through the egg carefully.
" No, I do not cry. Dreaming or awake . Crying is for women, children and herbivores."
Tsunayoushi drank some water, and couldn't help but think ' That is a very childish answer.'
" I keep having dreams when I wake up like that, but mostly those dreams occur when I dream of my hometown. Namimori."
The clinking of a knife stopped.
"I lived in Namimori." When Kyouya said this, he paused and then continued to eat. As if it didn't make him happy that he was talking about Namimori. He was supposed to hate conversing ( but not with him).
"Namimori?" This sent the herbivore's meek personality away, leaving nothing but an ecstatic person, invigorated with energy.
"I love Namimori!" When Tsunayoushi said this the whole room lighted up, and Hibari couldn't help but stare in awe. The herbivore had become so caught up in his speech he was carelessly applying too much ketchup on his omelet. " The place is so clean and friendly, I could walk out at night to the corner store for snacks without being worried about being robbed! Everyday was filled with adventure!"
Kyouya nodded in agreement, his chest swelling with pride. Then why are you here? A voice asked him.
" I loved it there."
" Why don't you go back?" Its a questions he's asked himself so many times, but now, he wanted to see what the other would say, what were his reasons. Kyouya tried to keep the interest out of his voice.
When he had said that, Tsunayoushi returned back to the miserable herbivore he had always been. He noticed , due to his excitement the river of ketchup on his plate. It was spilling over, and Kyouya blinked, because it was happening again. That same time skip,the static, Tsunayoushi had two cups at both his sides, and both were overflowing. The water covered the whole table, the omelets , leaving it to drip on the floor. He carried a flashlight underneath his face, illuminating in the darkness. When had it turned dark?
" Because I felt that I needed to come here." His lips moved, his eyes were half lidded. " But above all, I have my obligations to fulfill. I'm just not sure what they are yet . "
Kyouya nodded to himself on the answer given , because it was about the same for him.
When the man with the red tie blinked, the normal herbivore came back and he was attempting to clean some of the ketchup off the table.
"I remember," Tsunayoushi began " There was a small festival at the Hibari Esate..." Recognition flashed his eyes. "Ahh- I'm sure, since you are Hibari-san then, it was probably your family's gardens?"
"Correct." He remembered how he never took part in the festivals because they forbade him him from playing with commoners. And besides he never had time to actually be a child , he had no childhood. Since his education was more important than creating bonds and friendship, more important than eating a meal as a family.
He remembered one certain festival where he felt incredibly lonely and unwanted ( and now he bites himself to death for behaving so childishly) so he sulked by himself near the estate walls.
" I think I was six about that time." Tsunayoushi tapped his head in thought. " I had gone with two of my friends Yamamoto and Gokudera, along with my two elder brothers named Dino and Giotto. My father had dropped us off at the side of the rode since he had work." He bit into his meal. " We had a great time at the festival, and my eldest brother Giotto had won me a red ball at the goldfish stand. I began to play with it and it landed somewhere along the gardens. I went to the gardens to look for it ," Tsunayoushi paused. " And it wasn't there, but there was such a beautiful garden. It had Cherry Blossoms, Hydrangea, Tulips and even Roses!" His eyes glistened in memory. " It really stuck into my memory since it was the first time I had ever seen such a large display of flowers all at once...anyways, I began looking for my ball until I , for some reason began to climb the estate wall. You know the wall that stands between the main house of the Hibari's and the part open to the public?"
Kyouya's eyes opened a bit for he already knew how the story would end.
" So I looked over and I saw a child around my age there, holding my ball. Me and him, we shared a stare, but I didn't have the courage to ask him for my ball back. I climbed back down , ready to look for my eldest brother. But when I had already begun to walk to look for them, I heard a noise, like something had fallen down. That other boy had given my ball back to me! I was so happy!"
But Kyouya did not tell him, that he was the person to throw the ball back to him, nor did he tell him that Tsunayoushi's words that day had saved him.
'Thank you.' Those were the first words anyone from the outside world had ever spoken to him.
" Whenever I dream of Namimori, I always dream of that moment. The garden and when that boy gave me my ball back. I always awake feeling like I've cried, and even sometimes I awake crying. It's a very empty feeling." Tsunayoushi admitted. " If it's possible, I want to go back in time, and ask him to play with me."
Kyouya dropped his fork.
" I've always regretted that, that I didn't go back and play with him." The herbivore smiled. " I was really shy when I was small, and, well, I still would have liked to become good friends with him."
Kyouya's face became hot and looked at the plate, grabbed a mouthful and chewing angrily.
"Why would he want to become friends with a herbivore like you?"
But Tsunayoushi laughed because he could now tell when the other was joking.
' You're right! Why would anyone ever be friends with me? I'm useless!"
Tsunayoushi laughed but Hibari did not. And all he could think about, was how could anyone ever live like that, to have such an unhonourable view on themselves. From where he stood everyone loved the herbivore and gave him special treatment, but the herbivore was a fool and did not know the power he bore within, he knew this to be true, because his ch arms ( unfortunately) where working on him too.
Instead of going forward, things had become more backwards. This happened the next day.
Hibari opened his handkerchief, in which he carried his lunch and in there found a black box decorated with black swans. Just about everything else had that motif.
When he asked the herbivore about it he simply said " They reminded me of you."
Today's lunch was a Salisbury steak, vegetables seasoned to the grill. The rice wasn't too bland. It was just perfection. He was in a very good mood today, but it was a bit strange, he had been feeling too good lately.
His cellphone rung , it was his mother, who was worried over his well being , worried about him if he had made any 'friends'. He did not believe this women was his mother, because how can that be? A Carnivore coming from a complete Herbivore? Yet, since he was in a good mood he had decided to humor her for a bit.
" How are the gardens doing outside the estate, mother?"
Kyouya had begun to put away his lunch box.
" Ah, which gardens, dear? What gardens do you speak of?"
Exasperated and annoyed.
" The ones outside of the estate, the gardens that are only open to the public a few times a year."
Silence.
" Oh, you meant those! I think," his mother tried to voice her thoughts carefully, her breath caught on the receiver. " I think you are mistaken. You might have studied them when you were smaller, and since you haven't come home in such a long time you had them mixed up."
"What?"
" Those gardens only existed about fifty years ago. It's nothing to get worked about Kyouya-kun. This happens to everyone! Just the other day I-"
" What?" He interrupted. " You mean to tell me, that those gardens did not exist when I lived there? You mean to tell me, that when we had those festivals outside our territory-"
" Kyouya dear, are you feeling well? Those festivals were moved to the town square, they have always been there, ever since you were a child. You attended quite a lot. Kyouya? Kyouya? Kyou-"
But the phone slipped from his fingers, leaving behind him in a dark confusion. The meeting him and Tsunayoushi had when they were children , it did not happen . It never happened, but both of them were real and sure that it did . Tsunayoushi, that herbivore was real, and he was too. He knew that. But now he just didn't know any more.
Kyouya did not know who was pulling his strings. He forgot who's will and who's conviction did he act upon.
Since as long as he could remember Reborn always gave Tsunayoushi sort of a silent treatment whenever he made new friends. Always . It was as if Reborn felt a bit pushed away and felt threatened over everybody younger than him. He always wonders when the time will come, when Tsunayoushi would walk on his own two feet and would never need him again. Tsunayoushi needed him, Reborn kept telling himself.
( But what he didn't know [ But felt ] was that the tables were turning . And now the one who needs the other more is not Tsunayoushi, but himself.)
" I already sent the invitations to a few of Dino's birthday party. He wanted to hold it in my apartment . Just you, some uncles and aunts, father, brothers and some of my own friends. It's not going to be anything fancy."
Reborn just drank his coffee and flipped the newspaper uninterestedly.
" You'll be coming right?" The brown haired man at the kitchen sink tried again.
Nothing.
So at this time Tsunayoushi knew what to do and walked up to Reborn and placed a hand on top of his. Filled with respect and gratitude, because he knew that Reborn was always there for him, more than his father ever would and introduced ( more like forced) him to befriend the close friends he had now and said-
" Without you, who am I?"
And Reborn smiled and forgave him.
Hibari was signing a document on top of his desk, he had his legs firmly on the ground and only at certain times he looked up to see Tsunayoushi sitting with his hands in his lap.(Both of them were to meet for some documents needed signing.)
He also kept looking at a vase the herbivore had brought him. It was a hydrangea that was yet to bloom. He did not understand why the other would gift him with that, but the other had said " Nature is good for you! Plants give more freshness to a room."
There was a knocking at Hibari's door, he signaled for the other to let them in, so the mousy man stands up and opens the door. It was a man with dark rings under his eyes ( and Tsunayoushi couldn't help but admit to himself that the man seemed really scary) .He bowed politely, looking toward Hibari then looking to the other who opened the door, and bowed again.
" Hello sir, My name is Lancia and I work for division A." Hibari did not look at him, just continued to write on his desk. " I came here to ask for a day off."
Tsunayoushi could hear the other man gulp in fear, ( and he could only do so as well, since even though he had never worked under Hibari he knew what the other man asked was out of the question.)
This time the writing had stopped, and the president of the Cloud Company could only look up, blinked and opened his mouth to answer .
" No."
Lancia tried again.
" My mother died two days ago." Lancia spoke quietly, his voice wavering on a quiver. " I wanted to attend her funeral tomorrow ."
Apologetically, Tsunayoushi frowned and looked at the other. Surely Hibari would be lenient and give the other some time off.
He was wrong.
"I don't care if your mother died." Hibari's stare does not break off from the man at the doorway. " You need to arrive at work on time. A true worker would know how to split his private life from his professional life." He added an extra bite. " I should fire you for your incompetence."
The man with the steel eye moves his eyes to the one who opened the door, Tsunayoushi, and he sees horror written on his face. His eyes wide and his eyebrow furrowed. A frown at his lips.
Silence.
And Lancia could only do what he could do. To bow, and turn around . Ready to close the door behind him.
Before he could do any of those things a warm hand was placed on his shoulder seeming to say 'wait'.
Tsunayoushi looked at the man with a hopeless expression ( and sadness) and turned to the man on the desk.
" Hibari-san, surely... you aren't serious?"
"When am I not?" Kyouya is not amused and as if this conversation was a waste of time he turned to his paperwork .
Lancia sighed, and bowed at Tsunayoushi, the leader of the Vongola company. Even thought it was the first meeting he now knew now that he was a kindhearted young man. But all it did was make him unsuitable to be there. He didn't belong here.
" Thank you Sawada Sama." The elder began. " I'll be taking my lea-"
He blinked, and saw the other already on the floor, his knees bent in the position of total humiliation. Begging.
" Please...p-please, Hibari-san." Kyouya stared at the body on the floor. " Let him take the day off."
Tsunayoushi did not know why he is doing this, his feet just moved on his own.
" Get up." Kyouya said firmly, and coldly. As if he was disgusting by the mere sight of subjecting one self to coaxing.
Lancia looked back and forth in alarm, and laid low as well with Tsunayoushi. Trying to pry his arms from the floor and to make him stand up.
" No Sawada-sama. Please don't do this for my account! Please get off the floor!"
Their voices fell on deaf ears, and the other simply says with a tour de force-
" No."
Kyouya was interested on the Herbivore, how dare he defy him? He did not care that the other was his boss, that was irrelevant. So he tried another way.
" Why should I let him have the day off?"
And the other answers unashamedly " Because it is the right thing to do."
That was the most ridiculous thing Hibari had ever heard. Choosing decisions based on the principle on what was 'just' or ' wicked.' Decisions to him were based on what it could do for him. What was in his best interests.
And right when Kyouya was about to lay his law down, that herbivore said something preposterous again, something miniscule and lacking significance ( but it was still enough to move him.)
" Please do it for me."
And that was all it took for the flower on Hibari's desk to bloom, it was radiant and the aroma filled the air of Hydrangea.
" Alright." Hibari spoke. " You have my permission."
In disbelief Lancia is left speechless. He stutters and then breaks into apologies and gratitude ( he didn't even know what he was saying ) and quickly left the room.
The room was still when he left, and Tsunayoushi was still in his position on the floor, but now for a completely different matter. Instead of pleading for permission he was pleading for forgiveness. For he knew, that what he had just did was out of line.
Kyouya could not even look at the other ( it was as if he was disappointed in him ) and says in a bitter tone " And that's why you'll always be a herbivore."
He lisp were dry, and Kyouya adds for good measure, " That sort of foolishness will get you killed some day."
Both of them knew that the room dropped to temperatures under zero, and both of them heard the low humming, the sound of water faucets dripping.
" Nothing is going to happen to me, because I believe in them."
Revive. Revive, Tsunayoushi heard.
Stop, Stop, Hibari heard.
Both of them heard different things, because it was what they both needed to hear. It was a warning more than anything.
Revive. Revive. Revive within me!
Stop, stop, stop, turn back.
R.E.S.T.A.R.T.
" I believe in eternal miracles. "
You could always count on Tsunayoushi to lose his ticket every time he boarded the train and you could always count for him to lose a pen you let him borrow just a few minutes ago. Despite all this he would always be the first to give up his seat on the train for the elderly and mothers with children, you could always count on him to listen if you needed comfort or advice. You just know that he would. You just know him.
He has no sense of priorities. When he's doing the small things hes too preoccupied thinking on the big things. He'd rather think about cleaning his apartment than directing a million dollar company. But what's important to him he does it well. So in a way he isn't incompetent as he thinks he is.
Giotto and Dino knew this well, and just about everyone else that have been touched by his innocence and kindness.
In the evening, when Tsunayoushi arrived from work was when the guests started to come in. The apartment's living room had started to become a bit crowded even though there were a minimal amount of guests. Kyouya was also invited, he was in the kitchen, away from the crowd and the noise. Tsunayoushi was too busy trying to accommodate and greet the guests, so he did not get the chance to greet the other.
" Tsuna-chan, " Called his father. " Could you serve your papa some wine? Or better yet some gold old Whiskey?"
The brown haired man had a platter of eclairs on one hand and a side of spinach and cheese croissants on the other. " No father, we don't have any alcohol at this party."
" Then what sort of party is this?" Reborn asked indignantly, he had wanted to get the other smashed was all. " The only reason I attended was to see you drunk. Everyone came to see just that."
Giotto rolled his eyes while Gokudera ( thank god) did not pay attention as carefully since he had insisted on helping his beloved tenth with the task of serving the guests. There would have been a shouting contest.
Dino had been chatting with a few aunties when he pulled his smaller brother closer.
" So little brother, I heard you called for me a few minutes ago. What's going on?"
" Oh, " Tsuna smiled politely. " It's about your present. I'm giving you a turtle!"
Dino's eyes glowed as he leaned in to give his smaller brother a kiss on the check.
" How did you know I've always wanted a turtle?"
" Lucky guess?" Tsuna walked toward the kitchen, the other soon followed. " It's in my room, I also bought turtle food, the shop keeper said-"
"I know I know," Dino did his signature grin. " Only feed him three times a day. And never overfeed him because he goes a bit crazy and hits the tank."
The younger brother could only stop making the snacks, and stare upward at his brother and says-
"How would you know that? "
Dino blinked " I don't know Tsuna I just..." He seemed lost. " I don't know why but I feel like I've had Enzo since forever."
The other hadn't even mentioned the turtle's name yet, nor did he want to mention what had just happened so he just smiled as his brother excused himself ( Dino had wanted to introduce himself to Enzo properly is what he said, more than likely he just wanted to play with the turtle .)
" Herbivore."
" Ah," Tsunayoushi turned around to see his newest friend ( ?) . " Hibari-san, I'm glad you could make it. Let me introdu-"
Kyouya raised his hand and opened his mouth.
" Restroom."
Tsunayoushi blinked.
" Oh, ah, across the living room, down the hall to the right."
Kyouya was becoming impatient. Whoever was in the restroom would get bitten to death if they do not open the door in three minutes. He had his arms crossed, tapping his fingers on the wall. Rage inducing. He was already preoccupied on what his mother had told him earlier in the morning. He had not yet addressed the herbivore on such a subject, for he wanted to gain more information on the matter first.
" Excuse me." A calm and proud voice said.
The carnivore turned around to see someone four years his senior, his hair reminiscent of a herbivore he knew well. 'This is his eldest brother.' Hibari thought.
Giotto raised his hand to withdraw a few strands of hair from his face/
" Have we met before? Perhaps in France?"
What was this man talking about? Did he look French to him? There, and in that moment Hibari knew that the other was teeter tottering toward the 'Herbivore pile'.
"No, I am mistaken." Taking the other by surprise, Giotto seemed to speak in a mocking tone, bordering toward rude and cold . " The other had light hair, and his name was Alaude."
At the sound of that name Hibari turned and spat. The same feeling with Mukuro seemed to steep in with the herbivore's brother as well. He wanted to tear him to shreds.
" What do you know of my stepbrother?"
And the limitless empty space between them seemed to grow bigger and bigger, because they both knew, that they hated each other. Always.
Mukuro was having a wonderful time at the party. He alongside his smaller sister Chrome were chatting away with Tsunayoushi. The man who always tilted his hand when he served tea.
" Boss," Chrome said " These croissants are amazing, would you kindly give me the recipe?"
Tsunayoushi beamed at her , reaching for a notepad. " Sure, let me just-" When he turned his back on them ( to get a pen) , Mukuro (who currently had a knife cutting in half his croissant ) stood up following his boss.
When the Italian walked, his eyes flashed dangerously, they hid behind them the intent of harming someone, he had the knife at his side.
Tsunayoushi walked obliviously toward the kitchen , opening a cabinet. " There it is!"
Mukuro, who was half way there, lifted his knife raising to cut, and then stopped when a hand clasped his shoulder.
" Hey Mukuro-kun!" It was Yamamoto who had a tray of h'orderves on his left hand. " What are you up to? Having fun so far?"
And the hetero chromatic man blinked and whispered to himself, " What the hell am I doing? Wasn't I with Chrome-chan? " He said this in a worried tone, and even Yamamoto caught on to it.
" Hey, I think you should lay down somewhere, you look sick."
The Italian nodded, and returned back to his sister, who looked quite worried and alarmed. And Yamamoto couldn't help but think ' She knows something we don't.' And she did, and not only did she know 'something' she knew 'most'. Mukuro did not leave her side for quite some time.
Yamamoto found Gokudera on the balcony of Tsunayoushi's room. He was sitting on one of the chairs near the table. A pack of cigarettes left untouched .
It was tense, and it would only get tenser, so Yamamoto speaks first, because he does so all the time.
"I think Mukuro is starting to remember, should we kill him? He's not aware of it though. " He didn't sound like Yamamoto anymore. He sounded like someone foreign.
"Let's kill him." Gokudera suggested, his hands already reaching for the lighter in his pocket.
"No we should inform this to Reborn, then he'll decide." The taller of the two leaned his back on the wall. Exhausted because of the guests ( how can Tsuna take it so much?), and exhausted because of the facade he and Gokudera had to keep up.
"We can't let anyone else remember." Gokudera finally lit up a cigarette. He felt disappointed at himself, he had promised tenth that he would quit smoking soon. Another thing to keep from him, he though. " It's bad enough that we regained our memories." He staid still for a while, his genius mind was for once overwhelmed at the complexity of the situation. Why can't life be like math, he thought? There was always an answer. He had yet to find an equation that didn't supply one. " Fuck, Fuck, Fuck." As if by cursing he would make himself feel better. And half the time, it did.
Yamamoto's eyes followed the fumes that engulfed them, it reminded him of the fish in the petshop, he was pretty sure, that Tsuna didn't know that he could see them too.
"If we don't stop the turning of the carousel," Yamamoto said darkly and hoarse, " He'll die-again."
" He cannot revive."
It was a bit sad-Because not only was Tsunayoushi losing his mind, Hibari was losing his freedom.
And in the end, Tsunayoushi did not truly know his friends.
Thank you.
♠TITLE♠ Carousel
♠RATING ♠ 15+
♠WORDCOUNT♠ 6,783
SUMMARY ♠ In which a group of people's lives are nothing more than a mere orgel. Destined to spin the same tune over, and over, and over again...AlternativeUniverse
Carousel -Part 4-Caffè-