JANUARY'S DANGEROUS DAYS
CHAPTER 1
4TH JANUARY
The young brunette signed a lot of paperworks, movin' rhytmically his legs to the music which were coming from the stereo placed into a corner of the study
His pen was moving fast on paper, making a barely audible noise because of the song that filled the air while a bunch of reports and some other Family stuff were waiting their turn to be catalogued.
Tsuna raised his head a bit to look over the pendulum in front of his desk: the clock pointed to eleven; he sighed, they must have already gone to bed, according to that strange silence which made the whole HQ sadder than ever been
Well, never mind.
Decimo hoped that a properly rest could return everyone at their senses.
It was a strange period for everybody, the whole gang was extremely strange and short-tempered, their usually playful quarrels, in some cases, had turned into real fights: Tsuna didn't understand them and he asked for some explanations but he didn't receive anything.
He tolerated that situation a bit but his patience was almost over.
And when he knew all the story behind that situation, well…
That was not a so-good time for his Guardians.
For the very first time in his life, Sawada Tsunayoshi, on 4th January, 2018, argued with his best friends and Storm&Rain Guardians of the Family.
FLASHBACK
Tsuna managed to fill all his papers before lunchtime and he felt very relief: he was very hungry and tired because of the hard work he did and the only thing he wants is to rest with his friends and eat something delicious.
The young man stretched himself with a satisfied moan and stood up: "I did it!" he yelled happy, "All those reports are so boring but this meeting is definitely ready to start!".
Tsuna left his study with a warm smile, Reborn was going to be proud of his pupil: he became very fast with all of the stuffs!
And he really hate them!
The Tenth went down the stairs, whistling a merry melody.
He finally reached the dining room but, at the moment he was going to open the door, the man clearly heard Gokudera and Yamamoto discussing.
But it was not one of their discussions about baseball or their training or something else common between them.
They were discussing about him.
Surprised, Tsuna approached the ear to the keyhole to hear better: his men were all there, even Dino: but when he was arrived? No one had informed him!
"We have to prevent him from attending the meeting, absolutely. Tomorrow is the day!" the silver-haired claimed, with an unusually serious tone.
"I hate to admit, Octopus-head, but you're right. Tomorrow will be an EXTREMELY BAD DAY! I do not trust the Leroy, they're too slimy and we can't leave Tsuna alone with them!" he never heard Ryohei so worried.
"Tsuna-otooto would not be alone because they invited Kozato-kun and I'll be there too; but Smokin' Bomb is right, I'm pretty sure they've arranged something bad. And the date…" Was Dino-san really involved in that rebellion?
Sure, they were worried about the Bosses' meeting but his Family's reaction was a bit exaggerated: and what the hell was going to happen on 5th January?
"Ten years passed tomorrow. Giannini told me about Byakuran and his request to greet future Tsuna on 5th January 2018, al 11 o' clock: at noon…".
Yamamoto's voice was barely audible by his Boss, so desperate…
Tsuna understood their reasons, he felt upset hearing about their concerns but Sawada was angry too: they had to talk with him regarding that kind of stuffs, he'd reassure them! He was no more Dame-Tsuna, but the grown-up Tenth Vongola Boss!
"QUIT IT, NOW!"
Sawada's cry broke the silence that Yamamoto's words had brought with them: the whole Family startled and looked at him, confused and scared, while he appeared in the doorway, his fists clenched and arms hanged along the body.
Every single muscle in his back was strained to the utmost and the neck's veins were throbbing eerily: Tsuna moved into the room at slow pace and faced them, his caramel-like eyes were full of tears.
"You do not have faith in me." Juudaime declared angrily, trying to hold back the tears: "You're afraid that I don't know how to get along, but I'm not the Dame-Tsuna I was ten years ago, no more." he sobbed, he was disappointed.
Gokudera's eyes widened while he approached the Boss: "No, Juudaime... it's just..." the Storm tried to say, but the brown silenced him mercilessly, "Shut up, Hayato." he said, with a tone so cold that was difficult to recognize as his, "You too, Takeshi." Sawada went on to thwart any possible response by the Guardian of the Rain, "I'm not as weak as you think; what we experienced ten years ago was a future that does not belong to us, that does not belong to us even now, even if the years have passed. We sealed it when Byakuran is knocked down, beaten by these gloves." Tsuna showed them his hands, "I never raised my voice with you, and certainly I'll not start now to do. But all of you… Have disappinted me.".
Then, he left.
For the whole day, Tsuna stood alone in the study, despite Reborn called him several times to eat something, but Sawada wasn't in his usually joyful mood and his former katekyoushi's voice was annoying, too.
He wanted nothing but stay alone: a few more of paperwork seemed the best way to not think about the difficult situation between him and the guardians.
And so, he did.
But when the Tenth realized the whole afternoon was elapsed without seeing them around him, he felt guilty and lonely.
He reacted too badly: after all, they only wanted to protect their precious Boss, but it was undeniable that he felt diminished: he had managed with difficulty to develop his own pride, and it suffered a lot of situations like that.
Tsuna sighed, resting the pen on the half-empty paper, and closed his eyes: he hated to quarrel with others, was still too much bitterness on both sides, although the times that happened were rare: the last, was more than ten years ago, when Ryohei hit him in the face with a punch because he revealed to Kyoko-chan and Haru the truth behind the Vongola Family.
The only time, from what I remember, in which he had been openly on bad terms with one of his loyal subordinates.
Sawada was silent, amazed by the calm that reigned in the HQ, a peace of mind, however, had a bitter aftertaste: usually, at that time, none of the Family had already gone to bed and, indeed, more often, the confusion that his men made kept him company while compiling various paperwork.
But that night, everything was too quiet to work and even the music couldn't cover that eerie silence in which he found himself surrounded.
He was totally absorbed by his thoughts that, when he heard someone knocking at the door, Tsuna jumped on, scared, before answering the call.
Hesitant, anyone who was on the other side, pushed the heavy wooden door, that creaked on its hinges annoyingly.
The hurried pace was recognized by the Tenth even before Hayato appeared in the doorway with a tray in his arms.
Tsuna stared, while the Storm, keeping his eyes down, remained stubbornly in the doorway, motionless; then, the twenty sighed, letting him get close: "You are not really suitable as an ornament, Gokudera-kun." The last name was said with tenderness by Sawada.
Smokin 'Bomb rested the tray on the wooden desk, standing next to the chair without touching anything: there was a plate with some slice of roasted meat, potatoes and even a cup of hot tea.
"You didn't come down to dinner and you didn't eat at lunch..." the Storm whispered, "We waited, even to apologize, but... "
Sawada silenced him: "Forget it, I'm the one that should apologize, Hayato. I reacted badly to something stupid." the brown admitted, taking the fork, "I was angry with you when I should thank you. I was seriously considering going down to talk, but all this silence made me think that you were already all gone to bed." the young man explained, biting a piece of meat.
Gokudera sighed, placing his hand on the back of Tsuna's chair, but he remained silent, without moving.
"It's difficult to forget the past, right? You'll never forget that coffin in Namimori Forest where I laid after Lambo's Bazooka' shoot".
The Italian nodded: "But we should talk about it, we were wrong... " he whispered hoarsely, "We regret having disappointed you, Juudaime... "
But Tsuna, surprisingly, swung around and looked him straight in the eyes: "I didn't really think what I said before; Gokudera, please, listen carefully…" Sawada whispered, holding tightly his hands, "None of you would never fail me because you're my Family and a Family is always together, in every situation and in every battle. And so us. I know having hurt you, but I was angry. Remember always, you'll never disappoint me.".
Sawada smiled.
Then, he put his back against the backrest, so the head was going to touch the hand of the trusty right-arm man, still gently dropped on the soft back: "For tonight, enough paperwork ..." the Sky muttered, loosening the tie, "I need some rest. " he said, "Would you accompany me to my room?" he yawned.
With that simple request, the defenses of both collapsed.
There was no need for forgiveness: the Sky couldn't be gloomy too long with his Guardians, his beloved friends.
Fallen asleep with the hands dropped on lap, the Tenth breathed deeply, while his subordinate put his desk, arranging papers and documents in neat piles.
The Guardian of the Storm finished his work, but he was reluctant to wake up Tsuna: his Boss was unusually pale and seemed to be really exhausted, but the silver-haired realized that his chair was not to be the most comfortable place in the world, and at least a couple of hours sleep was necessary to Sawada.
Thus, even if unwillingly, Hayato put his hand on the shoulder of his Juudaime, shaking slightly; the twenty-five year old young man opened his eyes with a start, but he calmed down when he saw his fellow comrade by hisside: "Shall we go?" Sawada whispered, standing up.
Hayato nodded: "Let's go." he just said, escorting the Sky out of the study.
Silently, Tsuna slipped from the Gokudera's grip and pulled back the blanket, resting his feet on the floor; rubbing his eyes, the young man reached out to grab the hem of his gown, hanging near the bed, and while he wore, he could not help but smile at the intersection with the look of Hayato's face, totally relaxed: he felt like he came back to the time when they were middle-schooler kids, thrown in a world that didn't know, a world that didn't even know could exist, and suddenly, he became anew the Dame-Tsuna that found himself in company of his faithful Smoking Bomb. But the years were passed for them too, and Sawada fell in love for him.
"Juudaime ..."
The silver-haired'sleepy voice aroused him from his thoughts and he blushed as Hayato gently stroked his back, "Where are you going at 5 am?" the young man muttered, without ceasing to stroke the Tenth's hips.
Tsuna shook his head: "A bad feeling." he admitted, "I'm going to the bathroom for a moment. You sleep." Vongola Decimo said.
Sawada disappeared into the bathroom, feeling Gokudera's eyes follow him through the door, and went groping at the sink, without turn on the light, relying only to the touch: the brown-haired turned the tap on, leaving the streams of cold liquid flowed onto his skin, wrists and fingers.
His intuition was screaming loudly at him that something was not right.
And perhaps he had better listen to it.
To it and to the fears of his Guardians.