Rosabella got out of the shower and changed into something kind of nice. Well, it was nicer than the yoga pants and t-shirt she wore to the bookstore. After putting on a bit of mascara, she sat on her bed, dialing up her brother for their weekly call. As she waited for an answer, she slipped on a pair of heels. Finally, she heard his voice on the other end.
"Rosa! How are you?"
"Good. The store is doing great! Even sold some books." She laughed a bit, then cleared her throat. "How's everything at home?"
"Fine, fine. Don't worry so much!" He laughed a bit. "Actually, I'm visiting an allied famiglia at the moment."
"Am I interrupting?"
"Not at all! We were just hanging out. It's actually my little brother's."
"Oh! How is he? You haven't talked about him in a while." She glanced at the clock. It was 7:15. She still had some time.
"He's doing great! Better than he thought he would anyway." She heard him sigh. "You should meet him some day."
"You sent me away, so why would you want me to?" She sighed. "I can't argue over this Dino. I have a date tonight."
"A date?" She heard his voice get serious. "Who is this guy? Are you sure he isn't out for the Famiglia? I want a name. Romario! We're going to have to do a background check."
"Don't do this…."
"It's too dangerous for you to be dating someone I don't know Ro-ro." She sighed at the childhood nickname.
"I'm all grown up sir." She heard him scoff on the other end. "I'll give you his name, but don't make a big deal. Seriously, he's a nice guy and I don't want you to scare him off." She heard him groan and thought she could hear him roll his eyes.
"Fine. I'll behave. But I'm doing a background check."
"Fine." She huffed, then let out a breath. "His name is Hayato Gokudera. Please behave Dino! I reall-" He cut her off, yelling.
"HURRICANE BOMB HAYATO?! What the actual fuck! TSUNA!" After a moment she was able to put the phone back to her ear. "No need. I know exactly who he is. Don't go out with him Ro-ro."
"Why not? Who is he?" She asked, then got up hearing a knock on the door.
"Right hand man to Vongola Decimo. Ro this was the life I was trying to keep you out of. Do you realize how many people are out gunning for the Vongola?"
"I know who the Vongola are. After all, I DID grow up in the same place as you." She opened the door and motioned for Hayato to come in as she walked away towards the sofa. "And I never asked you to protect me. I can protect myself!"
"Rosabella, please just listen…"
"I have to go Dino. He's here waiting on my sorry butt."
"He's there?" She heard the threat in his voice. "Let me talk to him. Or I will call you every five minutes on this date, until I fall asleep." She sighed, then pouted.
"Fine. Behave." She looked at a bewildered Hayato and held out her phone to him. "I'm sorry. My brother would like a word." He simply nodded and took the phone.
Taking the phone from this ethereal creature before him, Hayato brought it up to his ear, frowning. He just knew he wasn't going to enjoy this conversation.
"Hello?" He asked warily. When the person on the other end spoke, his eyes widened.
"Hayato! So that's where you were rushing off to!" He felt the blood drain from his face as he stared at Rosabella, listening to the man on the other side of the phone. Did he actually ask out the Chiavarone Famiglia princess? Oh man, Tsuna was going to kill him. "You are going to listen for once in your life. Got it?"
"Yeah…" He mumbled, still stunned.
"Ok, good. So, here's the thing, Rosa is my baby sister. I don't want her dating you of all people. You have a shorter fuse than I have ever seen, you don't know how to treat anyone, and you have one of the largest targets on your back ever. I was trying to keep her out of this world, but it can't be helped. She seems quite taken with you for some reason. So…" He heard the mafia boss sigh on the other end. "Do NOT hurt her. I will find you and I will beat you until you wished you were dead. You will protect her, and don't involve her in Mafia shit. Understand?"
"Uh…yeah…"
"Good. We're done here." Hayato simply handed the phone back to Rosabella, who took it and frowned.
"You didn't threaten him did you?" She gave an exasperated sigh. "Dammit Dino, just…let me live my life. No. Don't Ro-ro me. I'm….Bye Dino." She hung up the phone, then gave Hayato a smile. "I am so sorry…."
"Nah, don't worry about it." He replied, shaking his head a bit. "Come on. Let's go before your brother tries to kill me for keeping you out too late." He offered her his arm, and walked this angel out to his car.
Later that night, Hayato pulled up to Rosabella's home, and turned off the car. Their date had been fun. They had several things in common and he had enjoyed talking to her. Along with being absolutely beautiful, she was intelligent and funny. Thankfully Dino's clumsiness wasn't genetic, and she had the grace of a gazelle. He cleared his throat as he looked over at her.
"So, ah…I had fun…." He said lamely, inwardly kicking himself for sounding like an idiot.
"I did too. Um…" As he watched her, she blushed and chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. "I had called you today from my cell phone, so…you have my number." She leaned over, kissing his cheek. "I'd like to do this again some time." He felt himself blush faintly as he watched her get out of the car. As she walked towards her door, her phone rang. Answering it, she dug out her keys. "What now? Yes, I just got home. No…no…it's not….oh my God! He was a perfect gentleman. Yes, he's about to drive off now. You are such a brat you know?"
Hayato sighed, as he started the car and driving off. He thrummed his fingers against the steering wheel as he tried to concentrate on the road. His mind kept wandering back to Rosabella and the dinner they shared not long ago. He felt like they got along very well. He was all ready trying to figure out where he would take her next. What would she enjoy doing? Perhaps he should call her and….
At an intersection, he stopped, slamming his hands on the steering wheel, scowling. He pulled his cigarettes out, lighting one as he rolled down the window. How was he getting so twisted over a girl? Why did that girl have to be Dino's baby sister? He started driving once again and sighed, arm hanging out of the window. He felt like he couldn't concentrate, his mind wandering back to Rosabella. How was he supposed to work, do missions, generally pay attention. How was he supposed to not get his ass completely and thoroughly whooped by an over protective big brother?
As he pulled into the garage of Vongola Headquarters, he supposed he would get that answer soon enough. Dino, Romario, and Tsuna were waiting on him. He sighed, and closed his eyes before shutting the car off, and grabbing his jacket. He was going to have to deal with this sooner or later, might as well do it now and get it over with. He got out of the car and headed over to the group.
"Hey." He said, lighting a cigarette, and inhaling deeply. He was nervous as hell, but he wasn't going to let Dino see that.
"So, um…Gokudera….Dino wanted to talk to you…." Tsuna started, feeling slightly nervous.
"About me asking out his sister? Kinda figured that." He said, the epitome of calm on the outside. On the inside, he was a whirling mess. He didn't want to get on DIno's bad side, sure it'd upset Rosabella, but he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't lose his temper in this situation. Like anyone, he didn't like being threatened, and he was pretty sure that was what this was. He leaned against a nearby car, glancing down and noting it was Yamamoto's anyway. He saw Tsuna nod and Dino frown.
"I don't want you to." Dino said with finality. "Period. I got her out of the mafia life, and I don't want her back in it. Don't contact her, don't even go into her store." Hayato couldn't help it, he smirked around the cigarette between his lips.
"I…can't do that." He said, shaking his head.
"But Gokudera…" Tsuna said, eyes wide.
"Look here Hurricane bo-"
"I have never felt this way before about a woman. I can't explain it, but I won't stop seeing her." He said, leaving no room for argument. He started to walk by and Dino grabbed the front of his shirt, slamming him against the wall.
"Dino!" Tsuna yelled, alarm in his voice.
"Do you realize that's why you should? Do you know what danger you would be putting her in?" He slammed Hayato against the wall once more. "I successfully hid her away, allowing people to forget I even had a sister so she wouldn't be used to get to me. And now you prance in and drag her back in?! Even worse, you'd involve her with the Vongola as well?! If what you say is true she is your weakness. And other families will use that to get to you. Just….think about your actions." The fire in DIno's sepia eyes dying out. "I can't lose my baby sister…"
"Tch" Hayato clicked his tongue as he pushed Dino's arm away from him. "You're assuming I can't protect her." He sighed, closing his eyes, taking a deep breath, calming himself. "If I can help it, no harm will ever come to her." He looked over at Tsuna and Romario. "Can…we have a minute?" At that Tsuna nodded, and motioned for Romario to follow. At a questioning look, Dino gave his right hand man a nod. When they were gone, Hayato looked at the man in front of him.
"You can't be there all the time Hayato…" Dino said quietly after the other two left.
"No, I can't. But here, let me tell you something." He crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall. "And if you repeat this I swear I will deny every bit of it…." When the other man looked at him, he let out a breath, looking to the side, a blush creeping up on his face. He cleared his throat then began. "I… can't explain it. I can't get her off my mind. I… the thought of her being in danger pains me in a way I've only felt about a select few." He sighed, glancing at Dino from the corner of his eyes. "I know I just met her, but the feeling was like a switch was flipped inside me. When I asked her out my mouth worked on its own volition. All I did was go there to pick up some books she ordered for me." He shook his head, pushing hair from his eyes. "I just can't back down, unless she wants me to. And I will fight anyone who gets in my way." He stopped, thumbs hooked in his belt loops and leveled a stare at Dino, almost daring him to do something then sighed, his shoulders slumping. He ran a hand through his hair and chuckled a bit, eyes sparkling a bit.
"Fine. But one word of you hurting her or her getting hurt because of you, I will personally make you regret your words this evening." With that Dino started walking inside, answering his phone on the first ring. "Rosa! I thought you were done talking to me tonight! No, of course not! I told you I wasn't going to threaten anyone! And you call me a brat." His laugh floated back to Hayato, who scowled.
"My ass…" He mumbled as he finally headed inside, shoving his hands into his pockets.
A/N: I'm enjoying the writing process I'm going through with this one, and loving the end results! OK! 2 chapters up today! I'm working on I think Chapter 6 as we speak. Let me know what you think! Comments and reviews make my world go around!
