FAILLLLLLLL! On my part. Not any of yours. :p This is so late I bet many of you were beginning to wonder if I'd ever continue. Hell, I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to continue. But the other day, I had this epiphany-ish thing. This story's almost a year old. As such, I have to try harder. So, I buckled down, started beating my writer's block into submission with a stick, and hopefully came up with something that doesn't suck as badly as I still think it does. So...yeah. Optimism. But yeah, no, please continue. Hope you enjoy!

As for review responses, you all know I love you. Thank you so much, your reviews are honestly what keeps me writing (because lord knows this story irritates me now that I can't write it). Anyway, I promise I will respond to any reviews I get this chapter, but seeing as for some of you its been ten months since you posted your review...yeah, figured you would have forgotten what it said by now. But I still love all of you! *hugs and kisses* Thanks a million!

By the way, has anyone seen my dividers? They seem to have gone missing at some point, and I would very much like to have them found. If seen, please return them to me. *pointed look at site*

Love's Many Risks

Chapter 9: Conditions

"Get out."

"No."

"Get out."

"Can't do that."

Hibari's eyes had narrowed almost to slits at this point, and yet he displayed none of the other, perhaps more common, signs of anger. No reddening of the face, no screaming – although his words were taking on a more dangerous, threatening tone that some might associate with pure, blind fury – and no violence.

...Yet.

Still, the rage was radiating off of the smaller boy in almost-tangible waves. Even Hibird, usually so comfortable around its master in all his moods, had wisely taken the hint and flown away to another part of the house. Mukuro, apparently, was not so intelligent.

At the demon's unrepentant, mocking expression, Hibari muttered something under his breath that sounded a lot like, "Damn herbivore," before continuing, voice dropping another octave.

"Get. Out."

"Kyoya-kun, I realize that you don't want me here."

More mumbled words followed this reply, altogether sounding something like, "Biggest understatement I've ever heard." Mukuro ignored this, instead choosing to continue on.

"Regardless, your brother specifically came to school today to talk to me about this," the demon explained, hoping without much conviction that he would garner some sympathy from his beyond-reluctant charge. Hibari, as anticipated, was not impressed. "It's obvious that he really cares about your safety, and wants to ensure that if something happens to you, as unlikely as that may seem, there's somebody here to take care of it."

"My brother is an over-protective herbivore," the other ground out through gritted teeth, eyes flashing. "I can take care of myself probably better than he can take care of me."

Not to mention that I don't think he realizes that one of the biggest things I need to be protected from is you, he added sullenly in his head, but refused to voice the comment out loud.

"Be that as it may, you're not going to get rid of me that easily," Mukuro finished adamantly, crossing his arms over his chest.

After a moment's thought, Hibari nodded, seeming to accept this. Then he reached for his tonfa.

The demon decided it was time to switch tactics, and fast. Again, it wasn't that he was afraid of the boy. Rather, he was afraid of hurting the other unconsciously in a fight. Human's were such fragile creatures, after all.

"You won't even know I'm here!"

Hibari paused, one hand already on the folded-up weapon at his waist.

"I don't think your brother really wants to come home to a dead body, do you?"

"He can deal," the black-haired boy grunted, but his hands relaxed slightly. "Besides, I'd find a way to dispose of your corpse."

"Nice to know you care so much," Mukuro sweat-dropped. "Look, it's only for a few weeks, okay? I won't bother you-"

Hibari snorted. The demon ignored him.

"Anyway, I'll tell your brother you were a perfect little angel and didn't need my help at all. Odds are, next time he'll let you stay home by yourself, and then you won't have to go through this again."

His fingers still hovered above the tonfa, but it was clear that the other had already made up his mind. Much could be said about Mukuro, but his powers of persuasion were top notch.

For a long moment, they just stood in the entranceway, the tension so thick that it was palpable. Finally though, Hibari dropped his glare in his own form of defeat, growling softly. Hibird, as if it sensed that its master was now in a less volatile mood, immediately swooped in from its position on the living room couch in favor of his shoulder.

"Hibari," it chirped. Absently, the boy moved a hand up to pet the bird's head. It seemed to almost be a soothing gesture for him, a mannerism adopted to keep himself calm.

Mukuro had never felt respect for a bird before, and if anyone had asked him a month ago if he ever thought he would, he would have promptly stabbed them with his trident. Now, however, the demon couldn't help but feel a small amount of grudging appreciation for how well the tiny animal held up given the harshness of its constant companion.

But back to matters at hand...

"You can stay," Hibari said reluctantly, his free hand clenching into a fist at his side. "However, there are conditions."

"Of course," Mukuro mumbled, rolling his eyes imperceptibly.

"One: you do not talk to me. At all," the boy began, voice strict and allowing no room for arguments. "Two: anything you need, you get yourself. I am not baby-sitting you."

Interesting choice of words, the blue-haired teenager raised an eyebrow, remembering his companion's original arguments against his brother about this very situation.

"Three: no one in school is allowed to know about this arrangement. I have enough rumors going around about me; I certainly don't need more added to them."

That one was...surprising. Mukuro was tempted to point out that it was Hibari himself who had said that he couldn't care less what the 'stupid herbivores' thought of him. Somehow, he managed to refrain from doing so, as he could see that such a comment would probably destroy the delicate truce they now shared.

"And finally: do not, do not, do not go into my room. That includes standing in the doorway, touching the walls, and climbing up onto the windowsill. Or anything else like that."

Mukuro was silent for a moment, digesting all that he'd just head. Finally, "...You really think I'm crazy, don't you?"

"Incredibly so," was the terse answer. When the other made no move to walk away or anything of the sort, Hibari sighed. "What?"

"Um, where do I sleep?"

The black-haired teenager pointed towards the living room before elaborating: "The spare pillows and blankets are in the closet under the stairs. I trust you can find the couch by yourself."

With that said, he turned and began up the stairs.

"Wait!" Mukuro's shout halted the boy mid-step, and he shot a glare over his shoulder.

"What is it this time?"

"Where's the bathroom?"

The demon had just enough time to duck out of the way to avoid the tonfa that was thrown at his head only seconds later. By the time he looked up again, Hibari was gone.

~X~

It was only much later that night, when the distant sounds of Hibari moving around upstairs had finally dissolved into the quiet, measured breaths of sleep did Mukuro realize exactly what it was that had been nagging at him since he'd watched Hibari go upstairs hours previously.

"That is by far the most I've ever heard him speak in one day," the demon said to no one in particular, cocking his head slightly in thought. He was seated on the couch, a blanket wrapped around his shoulders and a pillow at his back, flipping through channels on the television. There was nothing on. Human television was so boring.

As he'd hoped, this whole staying-in-the-same-house would definitely help his mission along immensely. Why, he was already seeing progress, and it hadn't even been a full day.

Still...

He had been strictly ordered not to speak to his new house-mate. Mukuro had never planned on adhering to that rule, but maybe it would be best to at least try and comply with it, if only for a few days.

...Nah.

With a smirk, he leaned back further into the soft cushions behind him, eyes falling shut peacefully. Of course he would go out of his way to talk to Hibari, conditions or no conditions.

After all, rules were made to be broken.

Filler chapter is a filler. -.- I'm sorry there wasn't much going on in this, but please review anyways. They really do motivate me a lot.