Moment In Time

Chapter 77

Chapter 77:Sibling Bonds
                         (Hibari)

Walking across the bridge that served as part of his path home from school, Lambo found a familiar small yellow bird fighting with a much bigger bird on the rail.

Hey…that's Kyo-nii's pet!

"Get off!" he roared, charging forwards and waving his arms at the bird. "Shoo! Go away!"

Chirping, the big bird flew off into the sky. Lambo went over to Hibird and furrowed his brow. "Guess he got a swing in, huh?"

Hibird chirped sadly, pecking lightly at his bent wing. Lambo held out his hand and Hibird hopped into his palm. "Since you can't fly, I'll bring you back to Kyo-nii."

As much as he was willing to say it aloud, he didn't have the courage to address Hibari directly as such. He knew the Cloud Guardian wasn't much of a social person, and he didn't want to get bitten to death if Hibari disliked what Lambo wanted to call him.

Taking a different route, Lambo went to the apartment complex. When he arrived he hit the buzzer to the apartment Hibari shared with Tetsuya. After a few seconds he was let in through the gate. He entered the building and jogged up a flight of stairs. He rapped on the door and Tetsuya answered.

"Hi, Teriyaki," Lambo greeted. It was a running joke between them, based on the fact that he had a horrible time pronouncing his name when he was five and six.

Tetsuya smiled. "Hello, Lambo-kun." He noticed the injured Hibird. "Ah, Kyo-san was wondering what happened to you. Come on in."

Lambo stepped over the threshold and went for Hibari's office. He'd been to this apartment a few times, when it was necessary for Hibari to watch over him while the others were busy. He knocked on the office door and he was answered with a curt, "Come in."

Lambo pushed open the door and stepped inside. "Hi. I found your bird. A bigger bird was picking on him."

Hibari's eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of his hurt friend. "Where?"

"Near the bridge that I use on my walk home." Lambo set Hibird on the wooden desk. Chirping, Hibird nudged his fingers affectionately before hopping towards his master.

Hibari stroked Hibird's head fondly. "You'll need a splint for that wing," he muttered softly. Glancing up, he added, "Thank you, small animal."

"No problem."

Lambo shouldered his bag and was about to depart when Hibari asked, "How was school?"

"Okay, I guess." He shrugged. "Math was kinda rough today. I don't really get it."

"If you're willing to wait while I fix Hibird, I can help you with your homework."

Lambo brightened. "Yeah! That'd be great!"

Hibari nodded shortly. "You can review while you wait." He stood up with Hibird in his hands. "I won't take long."

"Okay." Lambo settled down in the chair across from the Cloud Guardian's desk. "Thanks, Kyo-nii."

He froze.

Oh, that was not what I meant to say…

Biting down on his bottom lip, Lambo stared at his feet as he waited nervously for a reaction.

After a few seconds, a hand fell onto his head and lightly ruffled his short raven curls. "You're welcome, small animal."

The smile that crossed Lambo's face could have lit up a dark room.

And that was the day Lambo gained his sixth (and final) brother.