Tsuna was bored out of her mind... again. She started reading the newspaper out of sheer boredness, something she would only do online (Really, who pays for a newspaper anymore?). She looked at news about politics, police reports, and the Vongola company. One thing about the Vongola family is that they have a hand in every industry, from political interests, police, technology, you name it. Mostly as a cover to hide form the world's eyes, sometimes you just have to say the Vongola name and you automatically get special treatment. She sighed, reading about a new medical breakthrough the Vongola made, and briefly wondered if she could get the medical team to make a drug to turn her back to normal. She dismissed the thought and turned the page.
Her eyes quickly skimmed an article about a missing detective and she quickly flipped to the back, wanting to the Sudoku and word puzzles. She started to work on the easy Sudoku, which wasn't as easy as it sounded in theory. She heard the door slide open, and people enter. She continued on her number search, assuming the people were here for Shamal. Her curtian was pulled back with a flourish, revealing two painfully familiar faces.
"Aria-chan! We've come to visit!" Haru said, putting a little bunch of flowers in the small vase on the bedside table.
"H-haru nee-san..." Tsuna stuttered, surprised that anyone came to visit her. "What do you mean by, 'we'?"
"Ah, thats right!" Haru stepped aside to let Kyoko introduce herself.
"I'm Sasagawa Kyoko. Nice to meet you Aria-chan." Kyoko smiled, but Tsuna could see that it was forced. She had been friends with Kyoko for as long as she could remember, she could tell if Kyoko was hurt or not. Tsuna hated the fact that she was the one causing all of her friends pain, she wanted to tell them the truth about herself and continue her life with her friends, but that would put them in more danger. All Tsuna could do was to assume the role of a seven year old and put on a smile to fool her friends.
"Yep, Nice to meet you!" She chirped, putting on a bright smile and making the girls coo at the cuteness.
"Hahi, So cute!" Haru hugged Tsuna, still careful to avoid her injuries. Haru pulled back quickly and held up a pink paper bag. "We brought you some cake!"
A pink blush dusted Tsuna's cheeks. "Y-you didn't have to get me anything. R-really!"
"Don't say that." Haru pulled a pink box out of the bag. "When you're sick, you're supposed to eat sweet things to feel better."
"I don't think that's how it works..." But Tsuna put on a smile and thanked the girls for the gift.
"Lets see..." Kyoko looked at the pieces of cake in the box. "Aria-chan, what kind of cake do you like?" Tsuna peered into the box, choosing the chocolate dusted tiramisu. They said their thanks for the food and started eating, Kyoko choose the mille feuille and Haru got the mont blanc. Tsuna took a bite, relishing the creamy texture of the espresso flavored cake. They ate in silence for a while until Haru broke it.
"Aria-chan, how did you get those injuries?" Tsuna paled and the cake grew heavy in her mouth as she struggled to swallow.
"I'm curious too, how did you get this hurt?" Kyoko asked making Tsuna panic a little on the inside. Dr. Shamal had actually come up with a script and everything in case something like this happened, but all it really was was a bunch of lies compiled together to gain sympathy.
"Remember, act cute and they'll be putty in your hands." Dr. Shamal's words ran through her skull, making her twitch at the thought of taking advice from the perverted doctor.
"A...ano-ne, Aria, can't really remember that good." She started looking down at the sheets to hide her lying face while she referred to her self in third person. "Dr. Shamal said that Aria hit her head, and thats why she can't remember anymore." She inwardly cursed at the use of incorrect grammar as she tried to make her voice as believable as she can. She peaked up a bit to see their faces, sadness and pity were written all across them.
"Wh-what about your mom and dad...?" Haru asked, less enthusiastic then before. Tsuna kept her head down and shook no.
"Aria dosn't know... She woke up in this white room, only Dr. Shamal here..." She heard a small gasp and felt a hand on her good shoulder.
"Gomen ne, We asked you a really tough question." Kyoko said, trying to comfort this poor girl. Tsuna looked up.
"No, its all right. Dr. Shamal is pretty nice, and I've got Kyoko nee-san and Haru nee-san here too! Aria's really happy right now." She said smiling up at the two girls. Haru sniffed and rubbed a tear away from the coroner of her eye and put on a huge smile.
"Alright, thats the spirit Aria-chan! Lets eat cake until we destroy our stomachs!" All Tsuna could do was blink.
"That didn't go to bad..."
A few days later, Tsuna was discharged from the hospital. Kyoko and Haru were there to congratulate her, but she couldn't really focus on their words.
"I wonder what will happen next... I don't really have any place to go. Maybe I'll just stay with Reborn in Beika City, there should be more leads to the black organization there."
"...now?" Kyoko turned to Tsuna, snapping her out of her daze.
"I-i'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention..." Tsuna blushed and looked down from embarrassment. Haru and Kyoko smiled at the adorable gesture.
"It's fine, I was just wondering what you were going to do now?" Kyoko repeated.
"Hmm... Aria's probably gonna stay with Reborn... san." She stuttered the last part, not used to adding a honorific with Reborn's name.
"Huh, Aria-chan, do you know Reborn?" Haru asked Tsuna, and she nodded.
"Un, Reborn-san is the one who found me and took me to Dr. Shamal. I going to be staying at his house in Beika City."
"Eh, thats too far..."
"We'll miss you, Aria-chan."
"Me too..." Tsuna looked up at them. "But I can always come and visit with Reborn!...san" Tsuna smiled at them, not the plastic smiles she's been giving them for the past few days, but a real, genuine smile from the heart. "...It feels like I'm talking to them like I normally do as Tsuna..."
Tsuna's stomach churned when she saw where they were going.
"T-this is..." Tsuna stuttered as she looked up at the house. Her house, the one she's lived in for as long as she could remember.
"Ah, We're going to drop off somethings for Tsuna's mom." Haru said, sensing Aria's discomfort."It shouldn't take long." Haru marched up to the door and rang the bell, the familiar chimes ringing through the house. Tsuna gulped as she waited for someone to answer.
The door opened, revealing an all too familiar face.
"Bianchi-san!" Haru said in surprise. The Purplette gave a small smile before taking notice of Tsuna.
"Hm, who is this?" She asked, squatting down to Tsuna's level.
"This is Aria-chan. She's the girl I met at the hospital." Haru introduced her, Tsuna just nodded and did a small bow as a greeting. Bianchi smiled.
"Heh, I see..." She placed a hand on Aria's head in a comforting gesture. "This is the girl you told me about... Nice to meet you, Aria-chan."
Tsuna smiled back. "Un, nice to meet you too!" She chirped as enthusiastically as she could.
Bianchi stepped out of the door way. "Come in, Maman's making dinner. Feel free to join us." She said as she went to the living room. Tsuna and the others took off their shoes and entered the house. Tsuna looked around, it was the same as always. The same scene she'd return to after school and after harsh, spartan training. Tsuna took a deep breath, the air laden with delicious scents coming from the kitchen, the dull thuds of knife on chopping board rhythmically sounded through out the house. All Tsuna really wanted to do was to say 'I'm home!', eat a delicious dinner and then fall on her soft bed and sleep like the dead. Her heart clenched at not being able to do such little things, moments she'd take for granted.
She set her shoes neatly by the doorway for when she would leave, then proceeded to 'explore' the house. Tsuna was a very decent actor, and she knew it'd be suspicious if she walked around the house as if she lived there her entire life, which she did. Her real goal was to get into her room, for various reasons, but she knew that it'd be hard to sneak into her room undetected. She sighed and followed Bianchi into the living room, Kyoko followed after her. Haru went into the kitchen to drop off the supplies for Nana.
Tsuna honestly thought about going into the kitchen and assessing her mom's state of well-being, it was something that had been haunting her for the past two weeks. Has she been taking care of herself? Was she depressed? Is she eating and sleeping properly? She hasn't turned to alcohol or drugs or anything like that right? A whirlwind of questions flew through Tsuna's mind as she jumped on the couch and sat down. She swung her feet back and forth, her short legs not being able to tough the ground as she waited anxiously for dinner. Kyoko and Bianchi started some small talk, staying off the topic of 'Tsuna's disappearance'.
There were a few crashes and Lambo came running in, I-pin in close pursuit.
"Lambo, give me back my snacks!" I-pin shouted as she hopped after the curly haired cow.
"Bwahahaha, no way, this is all Lambo-san's now!" He said, holding small bags of chips and candy close to him as he ran. Tsuna looked on at the scene with a smile, at least one thing stays the same, it hasn't change once in the five years she's known them.
"Alala?" Lambo noticed Tsuna and stopped and I-pin barreled into him, sending them both flying across the room. Tsuna laughed as I-pin victoriously claimed her snacks, making her stop and look at shrunken Tsuna as well. I-pin hopped on the couch next to Tsuna and brought her face close to Tsuna's, making the little girl shy away a little.
"...Thats right, I-pin doesn't have good eyesight..." She thought as I-pin finally pulled away and offered a hand.
"Nihao, nice to meet you, my name is I-pin." She chirped, smiling brightly. Tsuna took her hand.
"I'm... Aria. Nice to meet you too." She said, stuttering awkwardly to say her name. Lambo has also recovered and jumped on the couch too.
"Bwahahaha, I'm the great Lambo-san!" He announced proudly. "If you want, I could make you my minion."
Tsuna sweatdropped. "Uh... no thanks..." She said, not really wanting to be bossed around by Lambo.
Lambo frowned. "Hmm, you've got guts to turn down the great ore-sama... But don't get cocky! Just because you're younger, that doesn't mean I'll forgive you!" I-pin kicked him into the wall.
"Lambo, no bullying!" She shouted before she sighed and turned to Tsuna. "Sorry about Lambo, Aria-san, he always been like that..." She apologized and bowed politely. Tsuna quickly waved her hands in-front of her face.
"N-no its fine... and you can just call me Aria okay?" She said, smiling at the Chinese girl and noted on how much better her Japanese has gotten.
"A-anyway, is he alright?" She asked, turning her attention to Lambo, who was still on the floor.
He crawled to the couch face down on the carpet.
"Gotta... Stay... Calm." He chanted, his green eyes watering and threatening to overflow with tears. He sniffled and somehow managed to keep the tears back just as Haru entered the room.
"Dinner's ready!" She announced, everyone getting up and migrating towards the door. Tsuna hesitated as I-pin led her to the kitchen, she didn't want to face her mom, but she had to know how she's been fairing the past weeks. Tsuna strode into the kitchen, her nose detecting the warming scent of curry, one of her favorites. Needless to say, all of mom's dishes are her favorites. Kyoko pulled up a chair for Tsuna and put an extra cushion or two on it for her to reach the table. She then picked up Tsuna and placed her on the tower of cushions "The humiliation..." Nevertheless, she thanked Kyoko and said prayers with everyone before digging in.
Tsuna observed Nana, noticing that she had black bags under her eyes. Other than that, she seemed to be absolutely normal, laughing and smiling at Lambo's story of his day. Lambo took food from I-pin, she was yelling across the table to give it back, while Mom placates and gives I-pin some more side dishes. Bianchi was eating dinner without a fuss, Haru and Kyoko were gossiping about things that happened in school, which cakes they recommend and so forth. It was just the everyday dinner scene. Tsuna filled her mouth with her Mom's curry, the mild and smooth curry washing her worries away and filling her with longing. She could no longer enjoy dinners like this anymore.
"Hm, Aria, what's wrong?" Nana asked, worry laced in her voice.
"Eh? what do you mean-" She was cut off when she felt warm drops fall on her hands. Her chest ached and her eyes felt hot. Tsuna brought her hands up to her eyes in an attempt to hide the tears. "Huh, why am I..." At this point, the table was hushed as all eyes turned to Aria. Haru and Kyoko got up and went to the little girl.
"What's wrong, Aria-chan?" Haru asked.
"Does it hurt anywhere?" Kyoko asked, rubbing her back in a comforting manner.
Tsuna shook her head quickly. "N-no, it's just..." Her voice quivered and her shoulders shook. Tsuna couldn't hold it in much longer. Silent sobs escaped her mouth as she tried to regain control, but she was soon crying into Kyoko's shoulder. She wailed, feeling small and vulnerable all over again.
And tis done! Sorry about the delay, finals are coming and such, so not much time to do things...
To Cafuchi: Thanks for the review, I really appreciate it! And yeah, with Fem!Tsuna there will obviously be somr romance right? I'm thinking of making it minor AllxTsuna, and the final couple to be ConanxTsuna. And there might be some IriexAi because I think they would make a good pairing. But then again, I don't think I'll really emphasize the romance, mostly because I'm not confident with my romance writing skills.
Again, Please review! It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!