very glad that she decided to go to Cavallone's apartment now. ...Good Lord. How does her nephew survive here?!

naturally invited herself in while Dino was out. She feels no need to ask his permission if she can drop by.

comes home from meeting one of his old Yakuza friends in the old town. He's amused how can easily fool them after a bottle of sake.

alarmed to find his apartment door open. Dangerous senses started to kick in that he takes his gun out and cautiously steps in.

totally got his hunch right. TAT The In-Law is over for a visit.

chuckles softly as he takes his gun back to its holster. "Geez, for a moment I thought it was Hibari's older self again."

Good day, Kyouko. It's nice of you to drop by.

Say it if you actually mean it, Cavallone.

her hands on her hips and her eyes skimming the area critically. She really, really isn't pleased.

You didn't pick the safest location on Earth, did you?

Eh?

looks around his apartment, wondering what was wrong and where he could've gone wrong with it.

with him around, it should be the safest place on earth... he thinks.

You've got virtually nothing keeping people from breaking in here. The security's shabby.

And you don't even have an armory. How are you supposed to be prepared if something happens?

And these ridiculous windows. Please tell me they're bulletproof.

doesn't tell Kaoko that he has around 40 of his men living in this building, in constant watch in and around the vicinity for anything.

put them in major incognito mode because the last time 18 caught one of his men following him around, he got bitten/beaten to death OTL

doesn't also say that for a Cavallone, any item can be a good weapon. His gun, whip, and kitchen utensils are more than enough.

that with Hibari staying around, the room's security has risen from 99.80 to 99.93. And that means shitty stuff only happens if

an idiot and acted clumsy without his men around. Although that's rare now. Especially with Romario around.

if that means his room was a whole lot safer than when he was clumsy.

I checked with the bldg. admin and the windows are bullet proof. This highrise was built after 9/11, so they took some safety measures

leaves it to that. He doesn't exactly want to piss this woman off right now.

sniffs, turning away.

He doesn't have a room to himself, does he?

A boy like him needs space, and I don't see a lot of that going around here.

didn't think about that. Somehow, all he really thought was just the two of them sharing the bed.

OTL.

Dino an incredulous look.

Don't tell me you're *sharing* everything? Toiletries and basics included?

Well....

... yes. ( ._.)

hasn't given this much thought really. He... hasn't exactly lived with anyone before and was just keen on sharing.

Kaoko doesn't need to say it, but yes, he's an idiot.

.....

Living with someone doesn't mean sharing *everything*, Cavallone.

Both of you are going to have to figure out where one of you ends and the other begins.

And sharing a bed, a toilet, soap, shampoo and god knows whatever else isn't going to help.

sighs. "And of course, it just *had* to be with my nephew, who's not going to say a *word* about his own needs..."

a headache coming along. The woman stalks over to the kitchen counter to smoke.

lights up the woman's cigarette in haste. He really messed it up this time. orz.

I guess I have to start briefing him in then...

This... is a first time for me too. So, I honestly don't know what to do just yet.

completely stumped. ( ._.)

Tell me about it.

rather amused that the blond idiot lit up for her. She wasn't expecting that.

takes a long drag before speaking again.

...Hm. I haven't given him his allowance in a while either.

glances at Dino. "You and I have a lot of things to arrange, Cavallone."

Yes. We do.

accepts that despite his pride as a boss, there are things he has yet to learn and he would, even if this was the scariest bitch that

ever met, listen with careful ears on what she has to say when it comes to taking care of Hibari.

takes one of his best wines from his cellars and pours it on a glass, sliding it across the table towards the Intoccabile.

wordlessly takes it. She enjoys her cigarette for a bit longer before making the first sip. ...Fine wine, as expected.

I've already said some of what I have to, so I suppose it'll be menial things for the moment.

I'm technically his legal guardian, but since he's out of my house, you'll have to take over some of that responsibility, I think.

--If only to make things smoother.

huffs. "I still find that there's something seriously wrong with you being his lover and then some, but..."

It can't be helped. He's so young.

shifts his weight down the counter, leaning on his elbow as he tries to light up his smoke.

recognizes the burden of taking care of Kyouya while he's staying under his roof. And for days he's been wondering where to place himself.

can't exactly act as a guardian. He'd probably be imprisoned if they found out what he does to him at night. OTL.

Hibari might even get annoyed by the fact that he might have to depend on Dino for the little things, allowances and all that...

doesn't mind signing checks for Hibari but for sure the boy will react to it.

I can't convince you to like me, Kaoko. Even Iemitsu has expressed concern, but it's too late to really make us stop.

I think, Kyouya and I are young that way. Stubborn to a fault.

taps the ashes of his smokes on his ashtray, eyes cast to the base of Kyouko's wine glass. "I don't mind taking responsibility."

I just have to work on convincing Kyouya that it's perfectly fine to depend on me.

You know him. He'd sooner get Kusakabe's wallet than take something from my hand...

Mm, I know.

...It took me a couple of years to convince him that it was only natural for me to handle paying for things in his stead.

Years?

how many years he still has to spare. He does have a shorter life-span than most people. ;A;

might consider rearranging his will to forcefully give Hibari an allowance if he still doesn't take it. orz.

So... uhm... how did you convince Kyouya to depend on you? I know little of his youth but, a part of his old self still remains.

He refuses to be a burden to anyone.

Force it on him. With kindness.

...You'll get it when you try it out.

that was the vaguest answer ever.

pours himself some wine, not exactly sure how to that just yet.

, So, I'll be in charge of his basic needs and daily allowance, am I correct?

Mm. Simple things.

You can work your way up from there, I think.

Like eventually, I'd probably pitch in his trust fund.

chuckles lightly after a short sip of his wine. "You know, he has plans taking over the world someday... planning to use Cavallone intel."

He wouldn't be a Hibari if he didn't think that far.

...Takes after his father that way.

Since we're both chatty this afternoon about everything that relates to Kyouya.

Would you mind telling me more about your family? Your brother? And maybe his mother?

raises an eyebrow.

Why?

Because for someone who's taking responsibility of someone, I have to know the circumstances of him sleeping in my roof.

Call it a background check. Just in case people start knocking at my door suddenly claiming their son.

Kyouya will never tell me this. So I'm turning to you.

eyes Dino for a moment, then re-focuses her attentions on her cigarette.

That's not going to happen because Kyouya doesn't exist to them anymore.

whistles, swirling his wine in his glass before taking a good slurp.

His mother is an actress and a beautiful thing who likes to bend the world the way she needs to see it.

I guess I'd just have to rely on my resources then. I don't mind doing that but I wanted to hear it from you first.

His father is in the police force, and perhaps the biggest son of a bitch in existence.

That's really all you need to know.

Out of respect for someone who's taken him out of that closet.

continues, "You did a fine job in trying to piece him together from such an odd pair of folks."

Thanks for telling me that. At least, I can understand a little more when this thing haunts him.

a warm smile at the woman, raising his glass in utmost gratitude. It is strange that she hasn't reached for his neck yet but

better for believing and trusting this woman.

raises an eyebrow at the gesture. She returns to her cigarette.