KHR - Half a Glass of Water
Summary: TYLHibari reflects on the changes of this small herbivore.
AN: A bit common in the 1827 fanfics, but this one's gen and left to interpretation. Just to clarify, the italics basically separate the past from the "present" from TYLHibari's point of view.
Aaaaaand me don't own KHR...
Most would scramble away from the dark haired chairman of the disciplinary committee. Others would bravely, or foolishly, one might say, stand against the young man. And promptly pay for causing turbulence.
A few, however, would gradually and eventually understand the teenager. These few can be counted with the fingers on a hand.
***
“Kami korosu.”
“Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie!”
***
There were two groups of population in this world, from Hibari’s point of view. The first was what he calls often with disdain. Herbivores.
“Hey, will you look at that!”
“It’s dame Tsuna!”
And this category had two sub-groups: the wannabe-carnivores and the small animals. He didn’t find the former worthy of a real name. But he was actually relieved that they existed, since they proved to be an excellent source of entertainment. And they signified pretty much a good workout if they are crowding. Which they were most of the time.
“Hiiiiiiiiiiiie!”
The small animals were… special. He discovered this species only recently and had only encountered two of them. One was scared easily, bullied by other herbivores often and needed protection constantly. However, while being so, so weak, he could sometimes find strength in the most bizarre places. The flame on his forehead spoke for itself.
“Miiidori tanabiku~ Namimori Chuu~”
The other small animal he knew was a bit different. This one didn’t seem to be afraid of him. He was pleasantly surprised, even if it didn’t show on his face as expected, when the little bird sang his school’s anthem for the first time. The occasion was a bit ruined because of that pineapple herbivore, but nonetheless, he allowed this little one to come and go as it wishes.
“Hi-bari~ Hi-bari~”
The tiny bird perched on his head. He didn’t flip it away.
***
Carnivores, the category he placed himself in, were highly competitive. He would never allow another to breach into his territory. The infant often accompanying one of the small animals seems to fit the bill, but he had yet to find a time for a match. There wasn’t anything more exhilarating for Hibari than the feel of a good fight, a challenge. The question lied within the opponents. It had been quiet lately. Too quiet. The young chairman was restless. His instincts were telling him that something was going to happen soon. Something big.
“Kyo-san, the Vongola decimo has arrived.”
***
“There is no more tea left.” He gestured the small animal to sit. The other two herbivores didn’t come today, for some reason. He thought that those two would stick to him like glue after the recent events.
“Ah, it’s okay, Hibari-san. Water is fine.” Of course, regardless of the category, herbivores and carnivores both drink water.
This small animal was intriguing. Most of the time, he was just like any other typical herbivore. But sometimes, when something was triggered, he would shine with a brazing, blinding fire and fight incredibly like a full-fledged carnivore. It was troubling.
“How have you been doing, Hibari-san?” The small creature asked with his usual, naïve smile. He had grown accustomed to carnivores lately. The fear in his eyes from his younger days had disappeared, leaving place to something resembling respect and, perhaps, kinship.
“Hn.” The other man wouldn’t disturb him for trivial things. He knew better, from all those years.
“Still as talkative as ever, I see.” He chuckled. He took a sip from the glass of water on the table.
Silence reigned between them for a while, interrupted only by the sounds of his Japanese garden. The soft tapping of the wooden container from the artificial waterfall, the occasional chirp from the yellow bird and the slow sipping from the other man.
“I need a favor.” There it was. The four words sliced through the air like a knife.
***
The plan was foolish, but undeniably his. He was probably the only one who would dare to gamble like that with his own life. Hibari didn’t think that the newly formed Famiglia was that much of a threat. However, he did own the herbivore, if he can be called that nowadays, after the last sparring match.
“If Reborn was still… I wouldn’t have needed to do this. But now, our only option lies in our past selves and the rings. I don’t regret my decision of destroying them. What was done, has been done.”
So it was the infant. He was wondering where he disappeared to after all those weeks. Usually, a day didn’t pass by without some sort of training session.
“So... ” He was waiting for an answer.
“I’ll bite to death whoever disturbs Namimori.” The truth. Unstained, uncovered, raw truth.
A relieved sigh.
“Thank you very much, Hibari-san.” He turned to leave, stopping just before sliding the door behind him. “Oh, and please don’t mention this to Hayato and the others, alright? Just until I can confirm Byakuran's real intentions. Don’t want them to worry for nothing.” So he intends to die quietly. Such a weird small animal.
“Sayonara, Hibari-san, Kusakabe-san.” Somehow, it seemed more like a farewell. Kusakabe hadn’t said a word during the whole exchange. It was only now that Hibari was reminded of his presence. If things were going as planned, he would soon be an active participant too in all this mafia fiasco.
The door slid close.
It was only long after that young man left that he realized that all the planning, scheming and fabricating underhanded manoeuvres weren’t this small animal’s type. He was more direct, hot-headed and blindly honest. How much did the deaths change him? To change him into the unreal, mysterious creature as of now?
A half glass of water stood on the table, the only evidence of his untimely visit.