…..uhm, well all I can say is I AM SO SUPER SORRY OMG FORGIVE MEEEEE! OTL I could try justify my long absence, but well let's just say trying to write a fluffy, romantic fanfic while you are OBSESSED with Shingeki no Kyojin while your whole fluffy vibe sorta dies a painful, vibrant, bloody death...is just not happening. I never once forgot about this story though I haven't been able to write it again till recently. So well, it's here, I hope you enjoy, and since I have no uni I can write at my leisure again.
Once again I would like to thank those who reviewed/favourite/followed my story, I greatly appreciate the feedback and support.
Author: SecretsTellNoLies
Rating: K+
Genre: AU, Romance.
Pairings: 9527, 2795, (KyokoxTsuna)
Warnings: Since I forgot last time slight foul language due to Gokudera, also maybe some angst-ish feels.
Disclaimer: ohohoho are you suggesting I own any part of khr? Then you'd be wrong, unfortunately (or fortunately) I own the plot.
SUMMARY (because even I needed one to remind myself of my little subtle plot points): Kyoko has been watching Tsuna jog past her house for the past few months and has fallen in love with his everything. Hana is concerned over this attachment but after a biting comment from Kyoko she arranges a Dinner in which her colleagues will be attending.
She met Haru and the Guardians and we left off after she finally met Reborn and Tsuna, after which she proceeded to escape to the sanctuary of the kitchen.
And though it hurts I have fallen
Kyoko was angry.
Startlingly.
Blisteringly.
Unbelievingly.
Because Hana had known, she had known the entire time that the one man. The only man Kyoko had ever fallen in love with, who ever looked at her voluntarily without knowing about her. Hana, her best friend, had kept his identity secret from her.
And it hurt. It hurt so much. To have been kept in the dark for so long. So painfully long. It hurt deep. She didn't know how to deal with the onslaught of emotions. Curled up in a corner of the kitchen, clammy forehead resting against the cold, hard countertop. It was too much.
She felt like weeping. She knew Hana kept things from her, she knew her brother kept things from her. She wasn't naïve or air-headed as she appeared to be. She also knew that they kept certain things like the exact details of their work from her.
But keeping something like this from her?
Their reactions made perfect sense now. Hana's strange question the day before. Asking if she really loved her Tuna, the spat between her best friend and brother. Hana dragging him into the office and then…during dinner last night. When she mentioned Boss Sawada.
It really hurt her.
But…was the dinner tonight not a set-up? It was an abrupt formulation of plans. Hana would have told her weeks in advance had it not been. So, what did this all mean? Why exactly had they, no Hana, been hiding it from her all this time? There must have been a valid rea-
"Kyoko?"
The woman jolted in her position against the countertop, forehead squeaking along the marble and burning lightly at the too-sudden movement. Slowly sitting up, rubbing the red smear on her forehead, Kyoko met concerned brown eyes.
"Are you ok? You suddenly left after bringing in the Boss and Reborn"
Blinking dazedly the petite brunette merely kept rubbing her forehead. Clarity slowly returning to her as the other woman's words filtered through the turmoil her mind was in.
"Ah" she breathed out "No, no I'm fine Haru. Sorry for worrying you."
The reassurance was met with a tilted head and probing chocolate eyes. Kyoko gave a puzzled look then blinked rapidly as the shrewd look on Haru's face melted away to be replaced with bubbly cheer.
"That's a relief hahi, I thought Reborn had scared you off like he does to most people after first meeting them."
Kyoko nodded, not quite keeping up with her excitable friends' train of thought. Honey eyes searching out the clock, she found it to be just a few minutes off six. With a sigh of newfound trepidation, replacing earlier elation, Kyoko moved to the dining room. Opening a shiny redwood cabinet and removing the fine china and silver cutlery that was to be used for the dinner.
Haru followed her, chatting about Reborn, Leon and a funny story involving her brother and Hibari. Chances were that Kyoko had heard it already and so wasn't taking note of the words.
Her mind was still occupied on the stinging anger that resurfaced every time she thought of Hana knowing, closely accompanied by the anxiousness that Hana must have had a good reason keeping it from her. Lingering under these two urgent emotions however was gratitude and a potent longing.
He was so close. Literally a room over. And yet, he felt even further away than before. What she had known of him proven to be correct but it was the merging of the two men that she had heard of and seen but admired the same that floored her.
She would need some time before her thoughts could order themselves and for it to sink in. Setting the table, a task greatly anticipated would be a remedial action, one unfamiliar yet soothing.
One circular plate, one shallow bowl, two spoons, one fork, two knives; one butter and one serrated, one solid champagne glass and one folded napkin. Repeat twelve times and step back in satisfaction.
"Wow, you did a great job! The dining table looks so pretty" chimed a voice from her left. Kyoko jumped a little in surprise, she had completely forgotten Haru was there. That Haru hadn't stopped talking and that she heard a continuation of whatever she had been excitedly chattering about.
But it had helped. Setting the table with Haru's voice as a backset had calmed the younger Sasagawa's nerves. Though not quite ready to face the strangers-in-appearance-only-and-not-even-then occupying the living room just yet.
Haru seemed just fine with it and followed her back to the corner kitchen bench and occupied the seat next to her. A wide smile on her face. Comfortable silence stretching between the two.
However, ready or not the clock started chiming, a haunting toll with the last chime echoing resoundingly. Dinner had arrived and it would be eventful to say the least.
Awkward and Silent sat amongst the twelve at the dining table, making themselves comfortable in pointed stares, polite smiles and amused smirks. Tsuna sat amiably at one end of the table, Gokudera to his right and Yamamoto to his left. It was a set-up of the boss and his two most trusted men. Ryohei, as host, sat at the other end of the table and the only significance in seating was how he had Hana to his right.
The rest of the table was seated as pacifyingly as possible. Starting from Yamamoto, the order on the left side of the table was: Hibari, Reborn (who was seated in the direct middle of the table and directly opposite Kyoko herself), Mukuro and then Hana. The placement of Reborn between the rowdy Hibari and Mukuro was purposeful, as Haru had whispered into Kyoko's ear when they first entered and before the awkward silence had settled heavily. On Kyoko's side of the table they had Gokudera then Haru, then herself, Chrome who was opposite Mukuro and Lambo who was seated to her brother's left and directly across from Hana. All in all, the best possible seating to subside the worst possible consequences.
Soon enough though, the silence and awkwardness got to her. She couldn't possibly occupy herself with glancing between Reborn's somewhat mocking smirk to Hibari's silent stare at no point in particular to Mukuro's wide amused grin to Hana's observant expression or Yamamoto's sheepish smile. Not daring to move noticeably, Kyoko inconspicuously wrung her hands in her lap. She felt as if Reborn could sense the movement though, because his eyes flickered to them as if he could see through the table.
Her saviour (or torturer depending on what angle Kyoko wanted to argue) came in the form of Hana clearing her throat and standing from her seat, an appropriately filled glass of wine in her hand, raised in the beginnings of a toast.
"First of all I would like to thank you all for coming here on such short notice and for agreeing to dine with us tonight" Hana smiled demurely at everyone around her, gaze finally landing on Kyoko "Although you have heard countless stories about Ryohei's younger sister and my best friend I would like to formally introduce Kyoko Sasagawa to everyone gathered here. Due to her frail health this meeting has been put off but here we are at last and I ask that we all drink to her good health. Let us celebrate and form irreplaceable bonds."
With a gesture from Hana, great mortification and slight indignation from Kyoko, who was not told that she would be front and centre in anything so heartfelt (yet still insulting) tonight, the pale brunette straightened in her chair and smiled as all at the table picked up their glasses and held them up as Hana finished her toast. Each proceeding to sip a small amount of red wine. They in turn gazed upon her with differing yet highly characteristic (from what she knew of them) expressions.
Despite her misgivings Kyoko felt like she was just welcomed into a large family, it was a cosy feeling, more than that it was a nice feeling. Especially nice to have Hana make a toast in her honour and though embarrassing it cemented the feeling of goodwill in her bones and washed away all prior worries. Or at least pushed them momentarily to the back. Although having Tsuna there was something she still didn't know how to feel about she would stop agonizing over it and enjoy what had been given to her; companionship more than she has felt in a long time.
The entrees went by without too much of a fuss and they were now waiting for the last of the mains to be placed upon the table.
In the lull between the occupants of the table chatted. There was boisterous laughter and cheer from where it could be expected; Ryohei and Yamamoto mainly. There was mischief in both the attitude and words of Mukuro least of which were all directly or indirectly a prod towards Hibari who replied not at all or scathingly. There was familiar chatter between Lambo, Chrome, Ryohei and Hana (who occasionally got amusingly frustrated with the two males) and then there was Gokudera who was often talking in a loud voice at people instead of to them (though he deferred instantly to Tsuna - who had asked her a few polite questions yet politely let her be when she proved to be too flustered with his attention on her). As for herself, she was now conversing with both Haru and Reborn, the latter who seemed to enjoy being the very meaning of mystifying. (She was merely grateful that in this conversation she wasn't reduced to stuttering or blushing or hearing more of her heartbeat than actual words).
"This is a superb feast Kyoko, especially in light of your… fragility" Reborn drawled before a sceptical look, one that seemed to encompass her whole being and the dinner spread that the chefs had just finished laying out, questioned where this fragility of hers lay.
Kyoko couldn't help the pleased yet embarrassed blush that covered her cheeks (so much for not blushing she sighed internally). She didn't know what Reborn's agenda was (and she had been told he always had an agenda) but his… compliments for lack of a better word were definitely striking home. It has been an age since she desired someone to look at her and not see weakness or at least show some dubiety to her supposed frail health.
However the more than small amount of amusement that lay within both tone and gaze of his, not to mention the twist to his lips that was vaguely mocking sent her spiralling. She just knew he was garnering enjoyment from her flustered expressions despite also harbouring an inquisitive seriousness about him.
On the one hand she wanted to take it as a compliment, on the other she wondered if she ought to be answering his unspoken but probing question and on top of that she wondered whether she should take offence. He knew exactly what he meant but all she could see was three facets contained in one simple sentence and she didn't know which one to address.
Deciding to take it at face value however she ignored her red cheeks and smiled at the man, reaching out to take a slice of the roasted duck (her favourite) before her brother got into it.
"Thank you Reborn, however I couldn't take even half of the credit for this dinner, those praises must go to our wonderful chefs and their skill in the kitchen. All I helped with was the menu and the main feature of dessert – in which Haru here helped immensely with. So if you had to compliment anyone please direct it to them instead."
Reborn gained a strange look in his eyes that was not amusement but not anything teasing or inquiring either, then it was gone and he chuckled lowly.
"Compliments to the chefs then." He said, raising his wine to his lips and holding her gaze from across the table.
Kyoko merely returned his indecipherable look with more confusion before Haru caught her attention when she tried the roast duck, gushing about how delectable it was and that she had to invite her over for dinner again but just her because she didn't want to share it with any of the others.
That gained a laugh from Kyoko and a warmth settling in her gut, she replied with a definite yes and an anticipation for the turn her life had taken from just yesterday. She wondered what other changes would make themselves known and she just hoped they were those she wanted.
Finding her eyes wandering over to Tsuna, her heartbeat quickened when she caught his gaze and realised he had been looking at her. Quickly averting her eyes, feeling her traitorous cheeks heat up once again, she returned to her meal and struck up a conversation with Chrome.
In this manner, dinner went by jovially and smoothly, everything laid out being devoured till there was nothing but piles of bones, smears of dressing or sauce on ceramic and glass and the enticing smells lingering in the air.
It was during dessert when Kyoko realised what Hana had been so worried about and why she had not, before even seeing her Tuna jog by each morning, been introduced to the rest of the occupants at the table at large.
The series of unfortunate events went something like this:
First she and Haru had gone to retrieve their confectionary masterpiece and carried it out between them, the other chefs following with the other desserts and placing them around the bonsai's, with the cake taking pride of position in front of their esteemed host - Tsuna. The two women had delighted in the hungry looks being aimed at their chocolate cake and were especially pleased with the way some were eyeing each other up in a competitive manner; like predators tensing in preparation, waiting to see which of their enemies would make the first move or if they would be the ones to make that crucial move.
Perhaps, if Kyoko had known what would happen then, she wouldn't have felt so pleased. Well she knew she would have, but it would've been wholly diminished. Reborn, surprisingly was the first to make a move, considering Kyoko had heard of his dislike for sweets and so the Tiramisu placed near him was all but there for his singular pleasure. But well, they did have copious amounts of dark chocolate in the cake, in fact it was divided according to the prominent sections; dark, milk and white chocolate. With the cake being wedged into three pieces, indicated largely by the chocolate shavings adorning the top. And so it shouldn't have then been a surprise that Reborn aimed for the dark chocolate wedge and found no opposition from anyone else.
After that it all sort of descended into chaos. Mukuro, Lambo and Gokudera had all made the next move and, considering their individual temperaments, it wasn't bound for any peaceful resolutions, especially when none deigned to give way. Mukuro was gathering a slice for him and Chrome and obviously they should be allowed first pickings (wholly ignoring the cut-out wedge indicating Reborn's involvement), Lambo was still as selfishly greedy and enamoured of sweets as he was as a child and Gokudera was righteously performing his right-hand-man duties and getting a slice for Tsuna.
Naturally that was when said chaos descended on the table.
"Oya, you are such a good, obedient wife Haya-chan. Tell me does Tsuna grow tired of your constant waiting on him?" Mukuro smirked maliciously over the cake, the gesture widening when a growl escaped the silver haired male.
"How dare you insinuate that I would ever dishonour the Boss like that!"
Now, with such a peculiar answer, Kyoko felt such a rush of curiosity at not being able to grasp even the tiniest idea of what Gokudera was talking about. She tilted her head at Haru who had grown unnaturally stiff and was glaring hotly at Mukuro. Even more dangerously than Gokudera himself was.
This caught the brunette unawares and so her curiosity grew even more. She almost didn't notice that Mukuro had been successful over obtaining his and Chrome's slices, nor that apparently Lambo had been able to get his one even before the two older males. Most probably having grabbed it during their verbal bickering.
Kyoko felt a strange sense of trepidation build up within her, causing her hands to twitch as if they wanted nothing more than to, to… to cover her ears and block out the world. Her confusion (and there was definitely also a little terror) mounted, eyes flickering between the three who seemed locked in a heated battle of stares.
"Oya, didn't you know Sasagawa-chan?" Mukuro almost purred in a startling non-sequitur, voice low and impossibly silky, languidly twisting in the air and wrapping around her heart just as his eyes arrested her attention, something wholly amused fluttering in the dark depths.
Haru slammed her hands onto the table and stood abruptly from her chair, full force of anger painted across her being.
"Don't you say another word Mukuro!" she snarled, yet…
Mukuro didn't even deign to spare her a glance, eyes still holding Kyoko immobile.
"Tsunayoshi Sawada is betrothed to Haru Miura."
And all hell broke loose.
TBC
A/N: Well, it's shorter than all but the first chapter I think, but I'm evil and cut the chapter here since anything after it totally killed the impact of this ending. Reading over it again I can see that Kyoko changes, a bit? So does my writing style halfway through I believe, I hope it's not too jarring and if it is just tell me so I can smooth it out next chapter.
Ahem well other than that I know how this is gonna end and what I need to do to get there, I don't want to spoil anything major (if I haven't already that is) but after the next chapter or the one after that I'm gonna be asking a few questions about what you all want to see or not want to see so yeah get ready for that.
Also, I hope you enjoyed this chapter after all the time it took me to update! Sorry once again for the uber lateness *bows*
As always reviews are welcome and highly appreciated ^^ Constructive criticism too and if you see any mistakes feel free to point them out to me.
I extremely thank you for reading and hope to see you in the next chapter!