Lily: I feel pretty proud of myself for getting out this many chapters in such a short amount of time! I hope you guys like it so far. The way it's going right now you should be seeing some more familiar faces next chapter!
Shiro: Say anymore and you'll give the rest of your story away you baka.
Lily: (vein throbbing) Well anyways please R&R!
Shiro: Disclaimer- we do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
Chapter 3: I'm afraid of you, Gio-nii
The following months, Tsuna would say were the best in her life. Giotto came over nearly everyday and sometimes the others would come as well. Daemon would pop um suddenly now and then trying to get Tsuna to like him as well. But in all his perverted creepiness he would end up making Tsuna dive for someone's, mainly Giotto's, lap or cry. On the occasions Tsuna cried Giotto would smile with a black aura of death and destruction around him and halfway kill Daemon for making his precious little sister cry. Then G and/or Alaude would pulverize what was left. This would cause Tsuna to giggle and everyone would leave behind the lump of flesh that was now Daemon and continue playing with the little girl.
The bullies also backed off quite a bit due to the fact that Giotto and his friends would drop and pick up Tsuna from school almost every day. Though they still picked on Tsuna, it was mostly verbal abuse so Tsuna was able to ignore it.
But after being together for nearly a whole year, Tsuna began to notice some things about this group of boys. Every so often they would show up with injuries and they would look exhausted. When Tsuna first noticed she asked them if they were in a fight, but they told Tsuna that they had been rough housing with each other. But she couldn't help but be slightly suspicious. She could tell that whatever they were doing it required the majority of their attention. The only way Tsuna could think of to help them was to cover up her own injuries from being bullied and to let Giotto come over when he had time, rather than Tsuna going over to visit.
Tsuna made sure that whenever Giotto, G, or anyone else came over, that they were unable to see any signs of bullying. They had taken it upon themselves to confront anyone who hurt Tsuna, and Tsuna could tell that they didn't need that sort of distraction. More than anything she didn't want to be a burden. All she could do was smile and try her best to make their troubles go away when she was with them.
As the months went on Giotto was unable to visit Tsuna as often. At one point Giotto and his friends disappeared for three whole months. Tsuna was extremely worried during this time. Not because the bullies came down ten time worse than before claiming it was for all the lost time, but for the now 18 year old boys who she viewed as her older brothers.
When they came back, it was late at night. Tsuna was getting ready for bed when she looked out her window and saw a sleek black car drive past her house and stop at Giotto's. Tsuna watched at Giotto, Asari, Knuckles and G got out of the car dressed in suits. She knew that the next morning Giotto, and maybe the other three boys as well, would stop by to say hello and spend time with her.
But…
Tsuna was afraid. 'What if they come back mean and scary? He didn't even say good-bye and they look like they've been getting into really dangerous fight. Gio-nii may not be the same anymore,' Tsuna thought as she started to cry. Nana hearing her daughter in distress ran to her room and tried to comfort her, but to no avail.
The next morning, as Tsuna had predicted, the doorbell rang to reveal Giotto. But Tsuna was in her room. She had locked the door and wasn't coming out anytime soon.
"Ah Giotto-kun," Nana said as she opened the door.
Giotto noticed something was wrong right away and dropped his smile in concern. Nana looked like she hadn't slept and worry was visibly written across her face and in her body language. "What's wrong Nana-san?" Giotto asked.
"Ah. You see Tsuna suddenly started crying last night. I tried comforting her, but when I went downstairs to get her a glass of warm milk she locked her door and hasn't come out since. She wouldn't tell me why she's so upset or what is troubling her," Tsuna's mom explained. "But Giotto-kun, maybe you can help her," Nana said suddenly looking hopeful.
"Of course I will try Nana-san," Giotto said kindly. He took off his shoes and went up to Tsuna's bedroom. He knocked on her door a few times. "Hey Tsu-chan it's me," Giotto said tentatively. There was a muffle. "Sorry kiddo, I couldn't hear that."
"I said, go away" A small voice called out. Giotto frowned. Tsuna's voice sounded weak and raspy, like she had been crying for a really long time.
"Tsu-chan what's wrong," Giotto tried again, "Why won't you let me or your mother in? I want to help you." Giotto leaned and put his ear to the door to listen. He heard Tsuna get up, walk over to the door, and sit down.
"Gio-nii are you different?" She asked quietly.
Giotto sat down and leaned against the door. "What do you mean Tsu-chan?"
"Gio-nii has been getting hurt a lot lately and…and I'm…" Tsuna paused.
"And what?" Giotto pressed.
Tsuna spoke into her knees.
"I couldn't hear that Tsuna."
"…"
"Tsu-chan?"
"I'm afraid of you, Gio-nii." Tsuna whispered those words, but Giotto was able to hear it. He stood up and took a kit for picking locks.
Why did he have such a kit? Simple, it's because he intended to play a prank on G with Tsuna's help later if she hadn't been in the state she was now.
Giotto was quick, this was much simpler than what he usually does (makes you wonder how he got this good, no?) and walked into Tsuna's room. Tsuna was sitting next to the door hugging her knees and crying.
Tsuna looked up in shock. "No!" She shouted and started for her bed.
But Giotto was faster. He caught Tsuna's arm and pulled her into a tight hug. She squirmed and struggled for a bit, but soon gave up when she realized she couldn't get away. She kept crying while shaking slightly. Giotto sat next to Tsuna's bed while holding Tsuna firmly in his lap.
"Now tell me why you're afraid. Did I do something to hurt you? Or did you see me doing something that scared you? What?" Giotto demanded, though gently.
Tsuna didn't look up. "You're always getting hurt. You're always tired and you disappear a lot. I'm scared that… that after that long time that you were away…that…you're going to be a different and scarier person. I realized last night, when I saw you come home in a suit with G-nii, Asari-nii, and Knuckles-nii, that something might have happened to you guys and you all changed into meaner and tougher people and I became afraid. I felt so scared. You might leave me," Tsuna whispered the last part.
Guilt stabbed at Giotto's heart as he realized it was his fault Tsuna was so distraught. He hugged Tsuna tighter than before. "I'm not leaving you behind and we haven't changed." He used a couple fingers to pull Tsuna's chin up so that she would face him. "I'm sorry, I can't tell you what we are doing, but I want you to know that it's to help people. I wear a suit now and then because I'm going to become the leader of an organization of sorts, which is also why I'm tired. I won't become someone scary and mean, because I have you to remind me about the brighter side of life. You make me happy and there is no way that I would hurt you."
Tsuna studied his face a little then wrapped her arms around Giotto's neck and buried her face into the crook of his neck. "You promise Gio-nii?" She asked almost desperately.
"I promise," Giotto said as he kissed her forehead and hugged Tsuna back. Tsuna's heart fluttered when she felt Giotto gently peck her forehead, but she couldn't understand why.
After a while Tsuna pulled away, no longer crying. She looked at Giotto and smiled brightly. "Welcome back Gio-nii, I missed you a lot."
Giotto smiled back, relieved that Tsuna was alright and back to acting like her normal self.
They went downstairs after Tsuna changed out of her pajamas, Giotto waited outside her bedroom of course, and went to inform the still worried Nana that Tsuna was alright now. Nana ran over and hugged Tsuna, this time it was her turn to cry. Tsuna apologized several time before her hysterical mother finally released her and smiled again.
"I'm sorry, Nana-san, this was all my fault," Giotto apologized while bowing slightly.
"No, no it's fine!" Nana smiled and waved off his apology, "So Giotto-kun, are you two staying around for lunch, or are you two heading out?."
"Well, I had planned to take Tsuna out today if that was alright with you," Giotto said, straightening.
Nana smiled cheerfully, "Okay, have fun and be safe."
The two left the house and waved behind them at the cheerful Nana before they made their way to G's house. After thoroughly pissing off G and getting chased out of his house, the two made their way laughing to Asari's place where they would meet up with everyone else.
"Hey, what's up?" Asari asked as they walked into his dad's sushi restaurant.
"Nothing much, just pulled a rather entertaining prank on G. Otherwise it's been a peaceful morning," Giotto answered, smiling at the memory of G's expression.
Asari laughed, "Hey Tsuna-chan, long time no see! How have you been?"
"I'm fine," Tsuna smiled and hugged Asari, "I missed you guys, Asari-nii. I'm glad you're all ok." Asari smiled and accepted her hug.
Earlier Tsuna and Giotto had promised each other not to tell anyone about what had happened that morning.
Giotto and Tsuna snacked on sushi and chatted with Asari while they waited for the others. Finally a less disheveled, than when Giotto and Tsuna met him, G showed up.
Tsuna got up from her seat and ran over to G to hug him. She looked up with big, wide, innocent eyes and said, "I'm sorry G-nii. Gio-nii and I were just having a little fun, were didn't mean to upset you."
"I did!" Giotto called out in a sing-song voice from where he was sitting.
G glared at Giotto, who was smiling smugly. But smiled when he turned back to look at Tsuna. "It's ok chibi, I know it was all Giotto's idea. Besides I can never stay mad at you." G hugged her back.
"Yay!" Tsuna cheered and hugged G tighter.
Just then Alaude walked in.
"Ah! Alaude-nii!" Tsuna cried out immediately forgetting G as she ran to hug Alaude instead.
Giotto laughed. "You've just been ditched G," Giotto said as he laughed some more.
"Alaude-nii I missed you so much, I'm so glad you're back!" Tsuna said as she buried her face into Alaude's chest.
"Hn. Hello little one," Alaude said patting her head.
Tsuna giggled as she recognized Alaude's way of saying he was happy to see her too. She pulled Alaude next to Giotto and sat back down.
"By the way Asari," G said as he walked over and sat down as well. "Where's your kid brother? Usually he sticks to you like glue when we're here."
"Ha, ha! Takeshi has baseball practice right now," Asari answered smiling fondly. "He's gotten really good. What about you're siblings G? How are they?"
"Bianchi seems to have a new boyfriend and has been getting a lot of jobs," G stated and shuddered a little, "and I've convinced Hayato to come live here in Namimori."
"Wow! That's great, when will he get here?" Asari asked excitedly.
"He's finishing up elementary before he comes here to attend Nami Middle." G popped a sushi roll into his mouth.
Tsuna shivered and sat up suddenly. She looked around calmly, then walked over and hid behind Alaude and Giotto.
"Ah, Tsuna-chan what's wrong?" Asari asked.
Daemon suddenly popped up out of nowhere. "Nufufufu, the little rabbit sensed I was here huh?"
"Wow, the chibi has gotten really good at sensing Daemon now. I didn't even know he was here," G stated, impressed.
"Move away melon head," Alaude said glaring at Daemon.
"Oya, I don't get a hug like everyone else?" Daemon mocked feeling a broken heart.
Tsuna eyed him wearily. A month before the group left, Daemon had started to try doing weird things to her. Although she didn't quite understand, Giotto, G, and Alaude would beat him up twice as much. So Tsuna concluded that whatever he was doing was a bad thing and she shouldn't let Daemon do such things to her.
Thankfully Knuckles and Lampo walked in and eased the tension.
"Knuckles-nii! Lampo-nii welcome back!" Tsuna called out and ran from her hiding place to hug the two. Lampo still wasn't quite used to Tsuna's affection so he was stiff while Tsuna hugged him, but Tsuna didn't mind. Lampo didn't push her away and that's all that mattered. Knuckles more than made up for it, by lifting Tsuna high in the air and spinning her around before giving her a great big bear hug.
"Now that is just hurtful," Daemon said.
Tsuna looked at the man jadedly. "If Daemon-nii promises not to do anything weird, then I'll hug you."
"Nufufufu, alright little rabbit," Daemon replied.
Tsuna smiled and hugged Daemon. But stiffened in his embrace as one of his hands reached lower and lower until…
WHAM!
Alaude had kicked Daemon and sent the blue haired man back out of the restaurant.
Tsuna ran over to Giotto's protective lap yelling, "Daemon-nii you stupid liar!"
Lily: And thus we come to the end of another chapter
Shiro: Drama queen
Lily: Do you see a spotlight and mysterious cloak? No, so shut up!
Shiro: Captain obvious
Lily: (vein throbbing) please let me know what you think
Shiro: Ahoushi
Lily: (trying to ignore) leave a comment
Shiro: Baka
Lily: (shaking slightly) And I hope this story meets you expectations
Shiro: Ahou
Lily: I have to go now, bye bye (turns menacingly towards Shiro) Shiro I have something to say to you
DIE (jump kicks)
Shiro: (Dodges) Read and Review. See ya! (Runs away)
