Title: All Summer In A Day
Disclaimer: Not mine. Amano-sensei owns Reborn!
Summary: Tsuna and Hibari were still hovering in-between the lines of their relationship when Tsuna decided to be engaged to somebody else. Future!HibarixFuture!Tsuna. AU-ish.
Pairing: 1827 or HibarixTsuna.
Note: Tsuna is twenty-one, and Hibari is one year older. Took place before A Temporary Surrender Of Temperance. Now refers to events of the present. Then refers to a flashback.
'I'm getting engaged, Hibari-san.'
Now.
The west wing soaked up the largest amount of the Italian sun, and was, therefore, Tsuna's favorite part of the house; and it was here that Tsuna spent much of his Italian summer days napping on the large, old leather couch in the office (before Reborn came along and smacked him awake to go train). And it was here today that Tsuna stood by the large open window, watching the incoming guests from below.
It was late spring now, the season fading slowly into summer. Spring still stubbornly draped across the gentle green slopes and lingered in the humid air, not willing to give in just yet. Tsuna thought of the mildly sunny and windy spring of Japan and felt a wave of longing washed over him.
He tugged at his tie lightly to loosen the tight feeling around his neck to no avail, hoping that Reborn, who was standing behind him, would miss the movement and not smack him on the head for messing up his tie.
The wind ruffled the thin white curtains, and they fluttered in the air, temporarily blocking Tsuna's view. Voices rose from below, but Tsuna couldn't distinguish them, nor did he catch the soft feminine voice that he had heard over the phone once and was expecting today. Tsuna reached out a hand to tug the curtains away, but stopped when he saw, through the thin white veil, a figure in bright yellow coming out of the black sedan.
His hand hovered uncertainly in the air before it fell beside him. Tsuna didn't want to see her right now. He knew what she looked like from the folder that Reborn handed him anyway. Tsuna would deal with this as it came, and even though that was only in a few minutes, he was willing to enjoy what little freedom he had left.
A soft shuffling sound to his left reminded Tsuna that he was not alone.
"Are you ready?" Reborn asked, a deep voice, grown out of its childish shell over the years.
"No," Tsuna answered honestly, feeling uncomfortable in his white suit, like his small, fifteen year-old self pretending to be a twenty-one year old man. "But I won't back down." The steadiness of his words reassured him that he had indeed lived all the years of his life. The fifteen year-old Tsuna might plan to flee, but the twenty-one year-old Tsuna understood well, from each scar on his skin, from each burn mark of battle on his friends' bodies, that there were things that he needed to protect, and there were things worth giving up. His family was in the former category; his need was the latter.
Tsuna turned from the window, intending to head downstairs and greet the guests. It was time.
A swift pair of hands caught him by the knot of his tie, and Tsuna peered up curiously at Reborn, who was a head taller than Tsuna even with Tsuna's growth spurt a while back. The corners of Reborn's lips twitched slightly in a smile that looked more like a smirk. "You've grown."
Tsuna laughed, scratching the back of his head as lightly as he could as not to disturb his neatly tied ponytail. "I have, haven't I?"
Years ago, he would have shrieked in surprise at Reborn's sudden movement, but now, he could sense Reborn's presence as easy as he could breathe.
His lungs felt tight with the thought of how much he had changed over the years.
"And you still have a long way to go," Reborn said, straightening Tsuna's tie with one quick twist of his hand. So Reborn had noticed that Tsuna was fussing with his tie. There was something in Reborn's eyes that made Tsuna felt uneasy, a melancholic pride that had Tsuna felt proud and sad for himself at the same time. "But you've done well for the past year, Vongola Decimo. Better than I thought you would."
"Thank you," Tsuna said, touched. "I wouldn't have been able to do it without your teaching." Rough and tough he may be, but Reborn was like a father to Tsuna, a mentor but a friend at the same time.
"Although I've yet to successfully teach you how to knot a tie," Reborn said with a tinge of amusement in his voice.
"My knot was fine," Tsuna protested, more for sake of old times than really disagreeing with Reborn.
"Gokudera helped you," Reborn pointed out, and something within Tsuna unwound. No matter how many years passed, no matter how many things changed, he would still have his family by his side. Tsuna didn't even know that he was desperately seeking for a confirmation of this until he found it: the tie knot that Gokudera enthusiastically helped him made, Yamamoto's useful input that made Gokudera irritated for the sake of being irritated at Yamamoto, Chrome's picking of the black and white pinstripes shirt, Bianchi's picking of the white tie, Ryohei's thumbs up of 'Extreme!' and Lambo's attempt to use it to strangle Reborn to get his attention.
Tsuna smiled at the memory.
Now the tie also had Reborn's blessing. Tsuna felt safer at the thought of his family being with him every step of the way.
It made it easier for Tsuna to accept the weight of his decision.
Tsuna blinked as Reborn placed both hands on his shoulders. "I've taught you all I can," Reborn said, and that tinge of melancholy returned, stronger than ever. "Whatever choices you make to benefit the family, I will support to the best of my capability." The hands on his shoulders tightened, and Tsuna immediately thought of the recent decision that he had made, the one that had thrown him in a hurricane of emotions that he didn't know how to sort, and wasn't going to, because he knew he would back down if he did.
Tsuna understood what Reborn meant. The training wheels were coming off. There were days when Reborn or another family member would openly oppose to Tsuna's plan because it was too risky or not effective enough, but those days were over. Now, everyone would put Tsuna's judgment above their own. Now, they placed their trust in his decisions.
"Thank you," was all Tsuna could say.
The pure white suit never felt heavier.
Reborn let go of his shoulders.
"Sometimes, I've forgotten how young you still are," Reborn said, and Tsuna wanted to say something to that, but decided against it. Despite his age, Reborn was still willing to trust his judgments, and that was enough.
Yet, Tsuna wondered what Reborn really meant. He was already twenty-one, a more than capable adult.
A gust of wind rushed in the room, and the white curtains flew again. A few pieces of document sitting under a paper weight fluttered in the breeze, and the delicate glass ornaments hanging in the room began to sing as the wind brushed past.
Tsuna turned to the window one last time and looked at the blue sky above. He took a deep breath.
The breeze smelled like summer.
Summers were good memories. Summers were brightest sun and brightest beaches and lightest breeze and sweetest fruits. Summers were his family's laugher, clear and filled with happiness. Summers were the memories of that person as they drove across Italy together in a summer day, smell of sweat hanging heavily in the air, dress shirt unbuttoned, suit jacket and tie flung in the back seat of the car, chilly eyes and an even chillier attitude piercing through the stifling heat.
But this was not summer.
Tsuna shut the window.
The white curtains fell silently back to the windowsill. The hanging glass pieces in the room stopped singing.
The scent of the summer breeze was gone, and Tsuna headed downstairs with Reborn to greet the guests.
'Let's drive, Hibari-san. It's such a nice summer day.'
Then.
The summer after Tsuna officially became Vongola Decimo, the head boss of the Vongola family, he spent a grand total of one summer day with Hibari Kyoya, his Cloud Guardian.
That summer, everyone had arrived in Italy before Tsuna because he had some things to settle with his father before he could leave, so he ended up sharing the same flight with Hibari. Tsuna wasn't sure what Hibari's excuse was to come to Italy later other than the fact that he resented crowding, and had, a year ago, admitted that Tsuna's company wasn't half-bad. They both flew first class because Reborn wouldn't have it any other way, and both wore stiff suits for the same reason. Hibari-san had nothing to say about the matter, but Tsuna openly mentioned how unnecessary both things were. Not that he minded first class, but he definitely minded the suit.
They arrived in Pontecagnano Faiano, which Tsuna had planned before hand, and was further from their destination than many other airports. If Hibari noticed, he didn't say anything about it.
"Hibari-san," Tsuna had said, throat dry and heart thumping with nervousness. "Let's rent a car and drive ourselves to the mansion."
Hibari had looked at him questioningly; a silent beckon for an explanation, and Tsuna's palms began to sweat. He placed his suitcase on the ground, wiping his hands on his suit pants before gripping the handle again. Making a decision to look at Hibari in the eyes, Tsuna said. "Let's go across the coast again, for old times' sake."
Tsuna remembered a day in October, when he became the official head of the Vongola family, following the Ninth's death. Hibari had driven him along the Italian coast to calm Tsuna before he had to face his entire family back at the mansion, waiting for his command.
Hibari didn't say anything at first, and Tsuna was afraid that he had made him angry. Then, Tsuna saw something danced in Hibari's eyes, but it was gone before he could take a closer look.
"There is no one waiting for us at Arrivals, isn't there?" Hibari asked steadily, and Tsuna could feel heaviness in his words.
"N-no," Tsuna admitted. That was also planned. Gokudera had offered to meet them, and Reborn had offered to send someone, but Tsuna rejected the offers.
The silence passing between them was starting to make Tsuna nervous. He had planned this out without knowing what Hibari was going to think about it. Well, that was a lie. Hibari's response was the only thing that he could think about when he planned this out. Tsuna still had Gokudera's number and a first-aid kit ready should Hibari rejected the plan, and decided that he was irritated enough with Tsuna to sock him in the face.
Tsuna knew, from personal experience, that a punch from Hibari hurt like hell.
"Fine," Hibari said at last, and Tsuna blinked in surprise. "But I'm driving."
"Yes!" Tsuna said, brightening at Hibari's easy acceptance.
"We need to find a car rental service then," Hibari said, then, noticing the sheepish look on Tsuna's face, Hibari asked, sounding a bit irritated, probably being miffed at himself for giving in to a herbivore so easily. "What is it now?"
"I—" Tsuna began, not knowing how to say it without Hibari being angry at him. "I may have a rental car ready for us already."
There was another moment of silence as the implication of Tsuna's words sank in between them. Tsuna was so intent on waiting for Hibari's answer that he didn't register the buzzing of Italian around them or the pressing summer heat blaring in when automatic doors opened.
"Well?" Hibari said, and now, he really sounded irritated as he glared at Tsuna. "Don't just stand there. Let's go."
"R—really?" Tsuna said. "You're not mad?"
Hibari's eyes narrowed and Tsuna wished that he had kept his mouth shut.
"You're irritating me. Don't make me bite you to death."
"Ah, yes!" Tsuna said, beginning to lead the way. He noted that Hibari had stopped referring to him as herbivore, but decided not to voice the thought out loud.
That, however, didn't stop Hibari from giving Tsuna a smack the back of his head as he walked past. Tsuna rubbed his head gently and was glad to be in one piece afterwards.
He was surprised that Hibari accepted.
Tsuna wondered if Hibari already knew everything all along.
'I may not be a good fighter as you, Hibari-san, but I will protect the family with all I've got.'
Now.
Tsuna tensed as he sensed a presence waiting at the end of the corridor, but calmed immediately once he recognized who it was. Tsuna didn't think he would come, considering his strong opinion about crowding and the strong wave of displeasure he had silently sent in the last family meeting regarding Tsuna's most recent life decision. He was leaning against the back wall of the corridor, right by the heavy ornate wooden doors.
"Hibari-san," Tsuna greeted warmly, although his stomach felt heavy, as if it was weighed down with stones. The last time they had seen each other was when Hibari promptly left the family meeting, his taunt back to Tsuna, not wanting to even look in Tsuna's direction.
Behind him, Reborn beat Tsuna to it. "I didn't think you would come today."
Hibari said nothing as he detached from the wall and walked toward Tsuna. Tsuna eyed him warily, wondering how their rocky but tentative relationship had come to this. He thought that they had an understanding between each other, a pack that they had one another's back. He didn't think Hibari would react so strongly against his decision.
Yet now, here Hibari was, showing up on this day even though he had opposed of its existence.
Tsuna didn't know whether to feel glad or disappointed that Hibari was here. Hibari's presence suddenly made Tsuna doubted the consequence of going through with his plan.
He waited patiently for what Hibari was going to do.
Hibari approached until he was about an inch away from Tsuna, but Tsuna didn't flinch away from the proximity. A rustling movement, and Tsuna realized that Hibari had pulled out a purple handkerchief from his pocket.
Hibari folded the handkerchief neatly before tucking it in Tsuna's left breast pocket. Tsuna could feel the brush of Hibari's hand burning through the layers of clothes, and he wondered if Hibari could feel the quickening beating of his heart, threatening to burst out of his chest. Tsuna could feel the warm caress of Hibari's breaths ruffling the top of his head. All of a sudden, he felt hyperaware of everything about Hibari, from the dark suit that he was wearing to the purple shirt.
"You forgot a handkerchief," was all Hibari said before he stepped back. Tsuna felt a cold void where Hibari's presence was right in front of him a moment ago.
"Thank you, Hibari-san," Tsuna said, although there was disappointment blooming in his chest. He didn't expect that he would have Hibari's blessing in this matter as well. Hibari, of all people.
It was strange, but of everyone in his family, Tsuna had expected Hibari to be the one to try to stop him. Tsuna didn't understand why this was so important to him, it just was. Tsuna thought of that one summer day where they drove along the Italian coast, and felt something cold pooling at the back of his neck.
Ignoring his own discomfort and the pounding of his heart, Tsuna walked past Hibari to the wooden door. His hands were on the handles when he heard Reborn's voice behind him.
"Aren't you coming?"
Tsuna paused in his track. He thought Hibari was coming with him. After all, he had gone all of his way from Japan to be here. He wouldn't have come if he wasn't backing Tsuna in this.
Hibari couldn't have come just to make sure that Tsuna was well-dressed.
"No" was Hibari's simple answer.
Tsuna tightened his hands around the door handles. He didn't say a word.
He didn't turn around as he listened to Hibari's soft footsteps faded away.
Tsuna did not know Hibari as well as he would like; everything about the man seemed to be a variable of uncertainty. But he knew Hibari's strength. He knew Hibari's stealth. So the faint footfall against the rich carpet had Tsuna's mind racing. It was as if Hibari wanted Tsuna to feel his fading presence, footstep by footstep, wanted Tsuna to know the distance between them wasn't one of the usual self-preference, but was Hibari's way of protesting, even if he wasn't going to stop Tsuna.
Reborn was silent behind him. He didn't prompt Tsuna to open the door and move forward, but he didn't tell Tsuna to stop with the plan either. Tsuna remembered Reborn's words, that Reborn was going to trust Tsuna with his own decisions, but he would really like Reborn to smack him in the head like he used to, "Dame Tsuna" and tell him what he should do.
But Reborn waited patiently for Tsuna to decide. Then, he spoke, repeating the words he had said before. "I forgot how young you still are."
Tsuna felt his insides curling.
"Interesting," Reborn said, and Tsuna knew that if he turned around, he would see Reborn watching Hibari's retreating back. "The handkerchief he gave you—it's the same color as his shirt."
He knows.
Reborn knew.
Tsuna didn't know whether he was afraid or relieved. But nothing had happened between him and Hibari yet, nothing that would solidify whatever thought was floating in Reborn's mind.
There was nothing between him and Hibari.
Yet, Tsuna became hyperaware of the purple handkerchief on his chest, feeling it burning as intensely as Hibari's touch right above the steady beating of his heart. It burned as brightly as Tsuna's own dying will flame.
"Let's go, Reborn," Tsuna said, his hands steady on the handles as he gave the door a push.
'I want you to look at me.'
Then.
They began driving to Salerno, and from there, to Vietri sul Mare on a long, winding road stretched around enormous mountains, overlooking a blue sea glittered with gold. The lane division was ambiguous, and the curve of the road dangerous, but Tsuna trusted Hibari's driving ability, seeing it first hand in many car chases. Tsuna knew that Hibari secretly loved driving, even more so if Hibari was by himself, and only tolerable when he was with Tsuna.
Tolerance was enough for Tsuna.
It was a fairly hot day, and Tsuna was beginning to feel the heat and the sweat that glued the fabrics of his suit to his skin despite the air conditioning in the car. His armpits and his back were damp and uncomfortable, and Tsuna wanted to peel off the suit jacket and the tie and the nicely pressed shirt, but felt shy at Hibari's presence. Hibari was still wearing all of his clothes, and he wasn't complaining, so Tsuna felt obligated to keep it on.
Tsuna kept his eyes on the scenery outside his window, but there wasn't much except for large, white rocks and the occasional plants that clung on the side of the mountain. The sea was on Hibari's side of the car, and Tsuna was scared that if he looked through Hibari's window, Hibari would mistakenly think that Tsuna was looking at him instead of the scenery. Although, if Tsuna was honest with himself, he wasn't sure if he would sacrifice a chance to study Hibari up close for a view of the sea.
"You're annoying me."
"HIIEEE!" Tsuna jumped in his seat, but then mentally hit himself for overreacting again. He thought he had outgrown this habit, but being within Hibari's presence never failed to revert Tsuna back. Tsuna turned to look at Hibari, swallowing a lump in his throat.
"I'm sorry, Hibari-san."
"Take off your jacket," Hibari ordered, eyes still on the road.
"Wha-what?"
"Take off your jacket if you can't handle the heat. Your fidgeting is annoying me," Hibari said.
"R-right," Tsuna said, relieved for the permission, glad to know that Hibari wouldn't be too annoyed with his low tolerance for the extreme. He honestly thought that Hibari would scoff and then bite him to death for being so weak.
Tsuna unbuttoned his suit jacket first, but was reluctant to take it off, even though he could feel the sweat on his skin cooling with the opening of the jacket. Taking a deep breath, he shrugged the jacket off his shoulders and tossed it to the backseat, sighing in relief. The tie came off next, and he kept the first three buttons on his shirt undone.
Even though Hibari was not looking at him directly, Tsuna could feel his skin prickling from the edge of Hibari's attention, as if Hibari was peering at Tsuna from the corner of his eyes. But when Tsuna turned to look at him, Hibari seemed to keep all of his attention on the road ahead.
Perhaps it was his wishful imagination.
Tsuna felt bare and vulnerable, as if he was shirtless rather than having only three buttons of his shirt undone.
"What is it?"
"Nothing," Tsuna replied hastily, turning away in embarrassment.
They fell back into a terse silence. Tsuna forced his gaze to the view outside his car window, which wasn't much because all he saw were more rocks and more bushes, but he didn't dare to glance in Hibari's side of the car. Yet, he could feel the side of his face burning from Hibari's presence alone.
The car entered a tunnel that cut through the mountain, and immediately the scene of rocks and bushes melted away to a faint reflection of Hibari on the glass, etching on Tsuna's own pale face. Tsuna's eyes latches on to Hibari's reflection, tracing the dark bangs delicately hugging the curve of his forehead to the bridge of his nose, following the tilt of his lips, the dark glint in his eyes, the line of his neck.
Tsuna imagined a bead of sweat trailing down Hibari's neck and his own lips reaching to catch it, brushing underneath Hibari's jaw to his collarbone, inhaling Hibari's musty scent. Tsuna's throat went dry at the image, and he shifted a little in his seat, his body feeling too warm. Tsuna licked his dry lips, his mind racing with guilt at the direction of his thoughts.
And then he saw it.
Hibari peered at Tsuna from the corner of his eyes, his gaze seemed to follow the brush of Tsuna's tongue across his lips. Tsuna felt his face burning, unable to look away from Hibari's reflection and afraid of turning around and catching Hibari's eyes dead on. He wiped his sweaty palms on his thighs, swallowing heavily when the weight of Hibari's attention grew with every passing second.
Then there was a flash of white light cutting across the glass, and Hibari's reflection melted away as the car reached the end of the tunnel.
'She is a lovely girl. I'm not in love with her, but I think I can be.'
Now.
Her name was Francesca, and Tsuna could sense a tint of her German descent in her voice despite her Southern Italian sun-kissed skin and dark eyes. The folds of her bright yellow dress fluttered like wings when she bowed to Tsuna, and, as Tsuna expected, a soft but strong voice, in accented Japanese, "Good morning, Sawada-san."
She was to be his fiancé, if things went well.
Her brother, the head of the Morreti family, frowned in confusion, and Tsuna would laugh if this was not a formal meeting. "Good morning, Morreti-san. You don't have to be so formal."
Francesca lifted her head, wearing an identical expression as her brother's. "I apologize if I have made a mistake. I don't know much about Japanese culture, I'm afraid."
"Oh no," Tsuna said, reverting to Italian. "We're in Italy. It's only fair if I speak Italian, right? Besides, there's no need for formality."
"Oh," Francesca smiled. She wasn't as pretty as Kyoko or Bianchi, but her openness made up for it. "Umm—"
"Just Tsuna is fine."
Tsuna could sense her brother's disapproval before meeting his gaze. He had spoken to Armando once, and the man was not as pleasant as his sister.
It was alright. Tsuna didn't like him much either. There wasn't much to say about a man who was willing to sacrifice his sister because he couldn't protect his family himself. Not that Tsuna was going to hurt Francesca in anyway, but Tsuna couldn't imagine using any of his friends and sacrificing their happiness for his own gain.
Behind Tsuna, his guardians remained silent until Tsuna introduced them to the Morretis, and in turn, he waited for an introduction of the Morreti guardians. Surprisingly, it was Francesca and not Armando who spoke first.
"This is Alfonso, who is—" Francesca began, but then her brother interrupted.
"My right hand man, the second in command," Armando finished.
There was a tense silence where the siblings gave each other significant looks, but Francesca turned away first, the line of her shoulders slightly lower than it was before. Armando continued on the introduction as if Francesca never spoke. Behind him, Alfonso, the man who was introduced, tightened his fists by his side, his eyes fleetingly turned to Francesca momentarily before darting back to Armando.
Tsuna knew that there was an internal conflict within the Morretti family without his Hyper Intuition. His guardians were behind him, so he couldn't read their expressions. He wondered if any of them could see what he saw.
Tsuna had several guesses as to what was going on in the Morretti family. He did a background check first, and what little he found was enough for him to understand that the Vongola had the upper hand in this deal. If he and Francesca got married, the Morretti family would gain a sense of stability from the alliance after the tumultuous internal fighting resulted from the death of their leader last year. The alliance would benefit the Vongola as well, strengthening its hold in Italy.
"I thought the Vongola family had one more guardian?" Armando said, startling Tsuna out of his thoughts.
"Armando," Francesca said warningly.
It was kind of Francesca to interfere, but Tsuna could handle this himself, and besides, he could guess that she had little authority over her brother. Tsuna knew Armando probably did a background check to see if there was any weakness within the Vongola, and this seemingly harmless question was his way of testing that crack. Armando wanted to know if there was an internal conflict within the Vongola.
Suddenly, Tsuna felt a familiar presence. A gaze burned Tsuna's back, making the hair at the back of his neck stood on ends. No one seemed to realize it, but someone was watching them.
Tsuna knew this gaze.
Hibari-san.
Tsuna thought Hibari didn't want to come. He thought Hibari didn't want to watch.
Yet, despite his words in the hallway, Hibari was here.
Tsuna felt a relieved but sad smile threatening to break over his face.
"He is here," Tsuna said without looking back at Hibari. Behind him, a soft murmuring rose before Reborn cleared his throat, effectively halting his guardians in their confused whispering. "But our Cloud Guardian prefers to watch and protect our family from afar."
Tsuna didn't need to turn around to know that Hibari was standing at the upper right balcony overlooking the room. He could imagine Hibari now, in his black suit and purple dress shirt, arms crossed, chilly eyes glaring at the crowd below him.
Tsuna looked at Armando's frown and Francesca's unreadable expression. Somehow, his inability to read Francesca's considerate look worried him more than Armando's irritation.
Francesca was looking at something high up, behind Tsuna, and Tsuna knew that if he followed the direction of her gaze, he would find Hibari.
Francesca returned her gaze back to Tsuna, something sad and indescribable in her eyes.
"You have a lovely handkerchief," she said cryptically.
Tsuna could still feel Hibari's phantom touch as he tucked the purple handkerchief in Tsuna's left breast pocket.
"Thank you," Tsuna said, wondering how much Francesca was able to find out. He wondered if she would tell Armando.
Behind him, Hibari's presence felt reassuring and dangerous at the same time.
~To be continued