Disclaimer: I don't own KHR
"Nana, is something wrong?"
Were the first words that Iemitsu blurted out as he darted through the dingy back alleys of Italy with a speed belying a prodigious bulk of solid muscle. On the other end of the connection, his Japanese wife, whom he had married not even a year ago, exclaimed in a sing-song voice, "Absolutely nothing's wrong! Everything is fine! More than fine!"
Iemitsu fought to keep his breaths coming out evenly, not in harsh pants to gulp down more oxygen into his lungs and make his fatigued legs go faster. He was fit, at the prime of his age, but running two kilometres at a dead sprint was enough to make even him feel the toll. His strides hadn't shortened, but there was a marginal difference in speed already, and his muscles were screaming in protest, sore and aching.
"More than fine?" He questioned absentmindedly while attempting to make out the indistinct shapes of various obstacles through the Stygian gloom.
"I just gave birth, Iemitsu! To a pair of twins!" His wife's sweet voice exclaimed delightedly. There was a loud clang as his foot accidentally sent a can flying, the metallic sound as it ricocheted clearly audible in the almost dead silence of the alley. "That's great, Nana!" He hurriedly answered, glancing behind him to check if his team was still following him. They were, dogging on his heels and clearly exhausted from the gruelling pace.
Two of them had been killed off in the first shower of bullets. He really couldn't afford to be distracted, not even by the news of his children born back in Japan. "Would you like to come and see your sons?" There was a cheerful lilt to the words, and he could hear her cooing at her newborn sons. No, their newborn sons.
"Sorry, Nana. My work is really demanding right now, but I'll try to make time to come home soon." There was a soft sigh, leaden with disappointment.
"Could you… name them?" Iemitsu grimaced. How was he supposed to come up with names while involved in a mad chase through the streets? Bullets pelted ruthlessly into the ground, trying to catch them unawares, and he conjured a wave of Sky flames to counter the deadly projectiles. "Nana, I'm sorry but-" His phone was dropped unceremoniously as he defended his team vehemently, not even noticing when the thick sole of his shoes crushed the fragile piece of plastic underfoot.
Approximately 6,000 miles away, a nurse entered a sterile white room, "Mrs. Sawada, what would you like your children to be registered as?"
"The oldest will be Ietsugu, the younger, Tsunayoshi." Dark circles traced the bottom of Nana's bloodshot eyes, her lower body lying motionless and uncooperative after the excruciating labor that had torn through it. But she still mustered a sweet smile towards the nurse, who nodded and penned down the names. "Please rest, Mrs. Sawada. The gynaecologist will be here to check on you soon."
As the nurse walked out, heels clicking smartly against the linoleum floor, she stared at the filled "spouse" section on the form. Spouse: Sawada Iemitsu. She had been working in the hospital for many years, but not once had she seen a husband that neglected to turn up when their wife was going through labor. The only exceptions were single mothers.
Then, the aged nurse thought of the unreserved smile that had been offered to her and the two innocent children in those frail arms, and murmured, "That poor, poor child."
Because in her mind, Sawada Nana was as good as a single mother.
~One Year Old~
Yuri Chiyo looked dubiously at the youngest child of the Sawada household. There's something wrong about this kid… I just can't place my finger on what it is.
She had walked up to the house at nine in the morning, dressed in her usual smart attire, immaculate and pressed neatly. She had expected to see two drooling, wailing, fussy babies sitting dumbly in their cots even when they lost control of their bowels. She had expected to have to force a smile that would probably have turned out as more of a grimace as she congratulated Nana for giving birth to a pair of twins that would grow up without their father.
She had expected to see two normal children.
Now, staring at the youngest child of the Sawada household, she knew beyond any doubts that Sawada Tsunayoshi was not normal in any way.
"This is Ie-kun! The oldest!" Nana picked up the other child, cradling him to her bosom tenderly. Transferring her gaze to the boy held by Nana, Yuri instantly noted that the disparity between the two twins was so marked that it seemed almost unnatural. Even if they were fraternal twins, they shouldn't look so different.
She barely spared a glance towards the perfectly mundane baby christened Ie-kun. He squirmed in his mother's arms, yellow-green viscous liquid trickling out of one tiny nostril as he waves chubby hands around stupidly. He was the quintessential epitome of an idiotic baby.
No, it was the brother she was worried about.
"And this is the younger one, Tsu-kun!" Nana announced in that ever cheerful manner. "Why don't you pick him up? I'm sure he would like to be carried!" "..." Yuri stared at her dumbly for a second, her brain not quite catching up with what was being said. "Yuri-chan, it's not too hard…"
She let out sigh of defeat, caving in when Nana gave her that hopeful, too hopeful smile that never failed to make her feel terrible when she didn't comply with Nana's wishes. A smile that never failed to draw people towards her.
Yuri approached the child warily, and when the silent baby in the cradle turned his head towards her, a shiver inadvertently ran down her spine. Hesitantly, she reached under his arms and lifted him into her embrace.
Shifting his warm weight to a more comfortable position, she looked down and instantly regretted it. Unfathomable sepia eyes pierced through her as if seeing straight into her soul. Repressing an undignified shudder, Yuri tried to ignore the baby that lay in her arms.
It was not his looks that caused her to feel an alien aversion towards a child that should, by all rights, be innocent and pure due to little exposure to the outside world. He was actually a beautiful baby, with the biggest, most luminous brown eyes she had ever seen set in an uncommonly adorable face. There was little doubt that he would one day grow up to be a heartbreaker.
Half-heartedly listening to Nana's excited chatter about her twins, she finally realized what was so wrong with the tiny, insignificant child called Sawada Tsunayoshi.
His limpid caramel eyes were too adult, too aware, too intelligent.
And they were watching her. Always watching.
When Yuri Chiyo left, dressed in her usual smart attire, immaculate and pressed neatly, she never realized she had forgotten to congratulate Nana.
~Three Years Old~
Flurries of pure white powder swirled through the air dizzyingly, the skies sprinkling the first layer of frost across the ground. The tiny flakes land on the ground, intricate patterns melding over each other into an unblemished blanket that crunched under heavy winter boots. '
Despite the chill that whistled through the streets, throngs of people dressed in thick parkas and coats patronized the shops that were lined along the road, an entire crowd moving sluggishly with eager children occasionally darting through.
Christmas Eve.
A time of presents, carolling, garlands, mistletoe and the like.
Lights were strung across the street, winding around trees and buildings to give off a beautiful array of color in the midst of the falling snow. A huge Christmas tree sat square in the center of street, baubles dangling off the verdant green branches and a incandescent star glowing brightly at its perch on the very top of the towering tree. Arrayed at the bottom of the tree were ginormous boxes wrapped up attractively in shiny wrappers that glinted under the twinkling illumination, though they were most likely empty.
Nana held onto her sons' hands firmly to restrain them from getting swept away by the crowd, smiling fondly as Ietsugu eagerly tugged on her hand, towing them towards yet another store-the sixth one-while chattering exuberantly. Her other son followed obediently, cherubic face bearing the budding signs of impatience.
She released an almost inaudible sigh, her warm breath slipping out of her lips as a misty puff amidst the frigid air.
Nana was worried for Tsuna. Ietsugu moulded into the norm naturally, he laughed and smiled and threw tantrums and screamed like any other child, progressing at the conventional pace set for children's intellectual capabilities or perhaps a little faster-not quite a genius, but certainly smart. He was ebullient and talkative, slightly pampered but overall a good natured child.
But Tsuna… while he laughed, those moments were few and far between, and while he smiled, that short instance would only be captured and directed to a few select individuals. He didn't throw tantrums, for which the neighbours constantly praised her for raising such a well mannered and deferential child, but what the neighbours did not know was that when someone actually managed to burn off Tsuna's rather long fuse, his anger was not explosive and impassioned, but rather as glacial as the raw arctic wind. And it was far, far more formidable than any fiery outburst that his brother constantly made. Because of the very fact that Ietsugu's hissy fits would flicker out as fast as it came like a fire that ran out of fuel while Tsuna's could last for days, or even weeks.
Between the two twins, Tsuna definitely held a grudge far longer.
And don't even get her started on his intellect. Tsuna was exceptional, able to assimilate information that was well advanced for his age effortlessly. But geniuses didn't always fit in with others. Child prodigies were predominantly regarded with a mix of veneration, acrimony or even apprehension.
Basically, her worries stemmed from Tsuna's idiosyncrasy.
A good thirty minutes later, the trio exited the mellow store, the air that had been redolent of the saccharine candies and chocolates that had caused the store to gain repute reverting to pinches of cold that redden the exposed skin of their faces. Ietsugu cradled a box filled with a motley collection of tooth-decaying sweets, a happy beam on his face.
"Kaa-san, I wanna go home!" He whined pleadingly after another twenty minutes of wandering through the streets, "It's getting so cold…"
Nana petted him comfortingly on the head, but a distinct note of anxiousness over her eldest child could be seen in her eyes. Children did have terribly vulnerable immune systems after all. "Tsu-kun, have you decided on what you want to have for Christmas?"
"It's fine. Nothing has caught my interest so far."
While Nana felt a twinge of guilt for not purchasing a present for Tsuna, she comforted herself with the thought that Iemitsu would definitely send one in her stead just like he had for the past three years. So, fretting worriedly over her children, she led the way home hurriedly, ploughing through the rapidly accumulating snow.
But she didn't miss the small hitch in the steps of her youngest child, the slight reluctance that dragged his heels down for a short moment or two. Glancing down, Nana just caught the look of covetousness that was directed at an antique store sitting right at the corner of the street, largely given a wide berth by the crowd. Of course, Tsuna had already glanced away from the half-hidden store, most likely unwilling to trouble her.
"Tsu-kun, do you want to go to that store?" Nana halted, ignoring Ietsugu's loud protests. It was Christmas, and Tsuna deserved a special present of his own, no matter what Ietsugu insisted. "It won't be too much trouble to just pop in and buy something." She coaxed. Tsuna studied her expression for a moment before nodding agreeably, a rare spark of animation and eagerness lighting up his honey eyes.
"Irashaimase!" The matronly woman behind the counter greeted politely.
Tsuna just made a beeline towards the corner of the shop where a subdued, small glass case sat, the original sheen of the glass long since encrusted by dust motes. Blowing off the grey wisps softly, he eyed the necklace nestled on the intricately embroidered pillow, its silver links neatly laid out around it.
At first glance it appeared to be nothing special, just a simple miniature hourglass charm. But inside, small, exquisite snowflakes exquisitely carved to the finest detail glittered as they drifted idly about, intriguing the eye.
The shopkeeper walked up behind him, gently asking, "Do you wish to purchase that necklace?"
Tsuna gave a questioning look to Nana, who nodded in assent, "Yes please. How much does it cost?" The shopkeeper opened the glass case delicately, hooking her fingers into the gleaming chain and bringing it back to the counter. "This will be 3000 Yen." Nana handed over a wad of notes, and she counted the thin sheets of paper carefully with practiced ease. "This is for your child?" The shopkeeper asked Nana cordially, a warm hearted expression on her face as she looked at Tsuna.
"Yes, my youngest." Nana answered, her voice sweet and polite, "A Christmas present."
"I see… It's truly rare for me to see children in my shop nowadays." The shopkeeper said, placing the necklace into a small black box and wrapping it up deftly with a shimmery gift wrap decorated with little sleds pulled by flying reindeers. "Kids these days just don't appreciate antiques?" Nana asked. The other woman nodded melancholically. "This was a very valued piece of jewellery when it was crafted, a masterpiece even. Do treat it carefully." She added a tasteful gold-colored bow to the top of the box and handed it to Tsuna.
"Thank you." Tsuna mumbled softly in reply.
As the door swung shut with a curt bang, cutting off the continual stream of wintry air, the aged shopkeeper shuffled back to the adjoining room, mumbling, "I wonder if I should have told them that the necklace was forged for a dead person."
Verdant garlands with artificial red berries and gaudy bows were hung about the house, a miniature Christmas tree was set in the middle of the living room, a pile pretty little presents placed carefully beneath it, amongst which a gift wrap covered with flying reindeers pulling sleds nestled awkwardly.
Three people sat on the various chairs littered around the living room, Nana settled in an uncomfortable straight-backed wooden chair, Ietsugu nearly drowning in the enveloping softness of the biggest armchair in the house, Tsuna lounging on the cushy couch.
All three were staring at the television, on which a Christmas Special was playing, reindeers and Santa Claus and elves and whatnot gamboling about comedically. Only two, however, were paying rapt attention to the screen, the last simply affixing her eyes onto it in a semblance of a interest.
The phone rang, the shrill sound easily heard over the volume coming from the television. Nana, having seated herself near the phone, instantly snatched up the thing from its cradle, a shining hope that none of her children understood written all over her expressive face. A hope that was brutally snuffed out the second she heard the voice speaking over the phone. Again, neither twin could comprehend the crushing disappointment that replaced hope.
"Who was it?" Ietsugu asked curiously, still struggling to free himself from the suffocating embrace of the armchair while attempting not to let his family notice his predicament. A futile attempt though.
Nana slid a smile back onto her face with practiced ease, smiling so hard that she could barely see out of the tiny slits her eyes had become. "Just a friend wishing us a merry Christmas."
"Will Otou-san be coming?" Ietsugu continued, blind to the pained expression that flitted over his mother's face for a moment. His innocence was so cruel at times. Tsuna, tearing his attention away from the screen, decided to add in his own two cents into the ongoing conversation. "You told us that he would be coming, but I think that it's highly unlikely that he would make it back to Japan in time for Christmas. It's already past ten o'clock."
"So, if Tsuna's right, can we start eating the cake now?" Ietsugu interjected eagerly, licking his lips as he looked to the log cake displayed temptingly on the table top. It was a beautifully well-made cake, suited to the festive season currently infecting most of the world.A thick layer of chocolate buttercream encrusted the entire cake, thin lines dragged through the soft cream to create a more realistic looking log. Powdered sugar had been scattered over the icing to resemble snow, deep red berries strewn beside the cake along with fake tree branches.
"Of course! There's not much point waiting for your Otou-san anymore since it's so late already." Nana managed to maintain the farce of a smile, feeling more like she was baring her teeth than anything, "Maybe he forgot about the time difference or something and will come late." Anyone could have discerned that she didn't believe what she was saying though.
She had truly hoped that Iemitsu would come, or at the very least, call home. If not for her, than for his children. The last time he had came, one year ago, he had shown no inclinations that he wanted to divorce her nor that his interest in her had waned. He had been completely devoted to her just as he had been when they had agreed to get married.
Still..."I'm sorry, dear! But duty calls!" Would be all that Iemitsu would say and then he would just up and leave again abruptly, even after the huge fiasco that was her wedding.
Why? Why was his job as a lowly construction worker so important that he had to be called halfway around the world urgently? Why did he marry her and leave her for years on end with hardly a letter or a call?
Sometimes, she would stare at her wedding photo, reminiscing over the disaster and regretting her marriage. Then she would berate herself fiercely for her infidelity and end up wondering if he was the one cheating on her across the globe. At least something had come out of the quasi-marriage, she often told herself. Nana wouldn't trade her children for the world.
Tsuna looked up at her then, childish enthusiasm shining in his eyes as they began the countdown towards Christmas. The forced smile became something more genuine, and to her horror, tears started budding at the corners of her eyes. Ietsugu rushed at the presents as soon as the clock struck twelve, mouth stained with liberal amounts of cream, even his nose had been decorated with a dollop of the chocolate substance.
Yes, she wouldn't trade them for the world.
If only Iemitsu had called.
But perhaps she would trade them for him.
Glossary:
Otou-san: Father
The necklace will have some significance later on. I don't have a beta, so please inform me if there are any mistakes in my grammar (my friend has repeatedly informed me of my terrible grasp of grammar... my mum too, come to think of it), and stuff like that. And don't flame please, it is rather hurtful.