Rated M for language, possible gore, violence and safety reasons.
Disclaimer: Belongs to Amano-sensei only. I only own this plot and any future OCs.
Thanks for the reviews(!): NaturalSam14, Dark Bless, XxShadowfangxX, v. victory, silent-insaneminako, my [anonymous reviewer], guest reviewer: Anon, calypso tchaka, Ramaxy18-chan, JackFrost14, Final Syai Lunar Generation, and Tiger723.
Enjoy my masters~!
Unbeta'd: all mistakes are my own and I will fix them when you or I catch them :)
Capitolo Quattro:
Storm [Tempesta] II
"You are Gokudera Hayato,"
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A perverted doctor had once told him:
"A man should not take a lady's impulsive words to heart,"
It was stated to him after the doctor was met with a kick and a punch from a so called sister of his. As the two of them watched the girl leave [the doctor still sprawled on the ground nursing his bruising face] Gokudera couldn't help but feel that there was some sort of hidden message to the eccentric man's words. The feeling went away as quickly as it had came.
Shamal was nothing, but a lazy womanizing pervert. What did he know anyway?
Mamma
Clammy hands clung to the collar of his night dress as he labored for breath. His white cherub face was covered in cold sweat and the fever dyed his cheeks rosy red. Turning over, the 8 year-old boy curled himself into a tight ball in a weak attempt to protect his spasming stomach.
Where was...his mamma?
Tears stung the back of his eyes as the child whimpered in pain. He dragged in a deep breath only to stop as an itching feeling crawled up from his chest to the back of his throat.
Gokudera began coughing so deeply his chest began to burn. A cold cloth was laid down upon his heated forehead startling the silverlette. Instinctively he reached up and grabbed the hand that was pulling away. He felt the hand flinch back in surprise, but quickly relaxed and even pulled the small clammy appendage into his own protective hold. Gokudera slowly opened his eyes but could only see a blur black shape in his fever induced gaze. Who was there? he wondered, who was holding his hand so tightly and pressing soft kisses to his knuckles?
"Rimettiti presto, fratello," [Get well soon, brother]
He could see her now, her familiar green eyes large and filled with tears as she rubbed his hand against her cheek. She looked so sad and scared that Gokudera wanted to tease her.
His sorella. His sister. Bianchi.
Where was mamma?
"Signora, please, you must! He has been asking for you!"
"I-I-I can't, I can't. Find someone else - Elsa! You go - take my place!"
"S-s-signora-?"
"Be reasonable now-"
His sister's grip tightened slightly and Gokudera couldn't help but question why? He felt his mind sluggishly ponder on questions he had no ability to ask. As soon the question surfaced it was quickly washed away in his fatigue and pain, and then he simply forgotten it, that question that had nagged him. Except for one.
His mamma.
"See how he calls for you?"
"Do you think me deaf, Tamaki? Do you think...if I could, I would-," there was a hitch in his beloved mother's breath, "I can't! I can't! I reject him! Just seeing his face repulses me! I can't... touch him, without being physically ill,"
There was a long stifling pause. The only sounds the silverlette could hear were his own labored breathing, and his sister's soft whimpers.
"Signora he is your son," Tamaki's voice sounded odd; almost strained.
"I-I-I-I can't...I can't do this...not now..."
"Mamma," Bianchi called looking up at her mother with fear and a slight look of pain, "Is Hayato...is Hayato going to die?" Signora Gokudera covered her mouth to stifle a whimper. Fresh tears fell from her eyes as she stared down at her beautiful daughter.
"N-no, my child," she whispered, coming to her daughter's side and pulling her into a hug, "My beautiful bambina." she cupped Bianchi's face, her fingers entangling themselves in her puce colored hair.
"Y-your fratello, Hayato, he's just...just very ill, but do not worry, a doctor is coming. He is very skilled and highly respected. He will cure your little Hayato soon,"
Bianchi blinked as she touched her mother's hands gently, "Why can't Tamaki help him? Like he always has?"
Tamaki, a tall slender japanese man, looked over at the little girl. Appearing sheepish and if not a little frustrated.
"Little signora, what ails your brother is beyond my knowledge and help. That is why I call upon an old friend of mine. His ways may seems strange and unorthodox, but he will make your fratello well again. That I am sure of,"
"Is that true, mamma?" Bianchi asked looking hopeful up at her mother. Signora Gokudera smiled and creased the soft cheeks of her daughter with her thumbs.
"Of course my bambina. Would I ever lie to you?"
Bianchi smiled and shook her head. Signora Gokudera eyes warmed as she bent down and kissed the forehead of her daughter. Signora's wrist were caught in a frail grasp. Signora Gokudera gasped as she flinched back in surprise, pulling her hand away in the process. Gokudera continued reaching out, his fevered eyes shimmering and large grin on his face.
"Mamma," he called softly; fingers flexing, "You are here." Signora Gokudera whimpered as she gnawed on the knuckles of her hand staring at the silverlette will large wavering eyes.
"Mamma," he sighed reaching out again. Signora couldn't help but flinch in reflex.
Bianchi looked up at her mother, "Mamma?" The little girl's eyes were filled with such hope. She was expecting. Signora felt her will falter. Signora looked at the sickly boy and couldn't help but have the familiar roll of her stomach. The painful lurch of her heart. The boy's eyes were gleaming like his sister's.
He too was expecting.
Both children were expecting her to do something. What was it? She couldn't recall in her panic. Those green eyes that were so different yet so familiar that she began to loathe them. Why did their eyes have to mirror such similar feelings? Why were they looking at her? What did they want from her? WHAT DID THEY WANT?
"I am - I am-," she called softly reaching out a hand to the silverlette whose smile seemed to grow, "I am here...your mamma is...here-" When their finger types were about to brush, binding them into child and mother forever, black bars encaged her heart. Dark purple vines entwined and grew as thorns formed, dripping with poison. Signora Gokudera slapped the boy's hand away. Gokudera yelped in pain and shock. Having never having been hit in his entire life, it had felt like a bullet went his arm. Adrenaline seemed to clear his head of the fever for a moment as he stared at his mother in shock and hurt.
"Don't touch me!" she cried as she looked down upon Gokudera in fear, disgust, and...loathing?
"I can't! I won't! This boy is not my son! I don't care what my husband says, I won't call his bastard child my own! I won't call that whore's son my own! I can no longer ignore this infidelity!" she screamed her eyes wild. Gokudera coward under his blankets as he stared up at his mother not understand her words, but could feel that she was talking about him. He could feel her pouring out her hatred for him, her loathing, and that was just as painful as the fever.
"Signora, per favore! Not in front of-"
"I don't care!" she practically screamed, her entire body shaking, "I can't believe I have to put up with this for so long! Do they think I can't hear their whispers? Their stares burning at my back? They speak of my shame! How i could not tame my own husband? My husband who swore to me! And look what his sin has left? A child who shames me. Who everyday reminds me of that harlot! Why should I-! Why should I have to be the one to pay for the consequence of his actions? Why does the burden fall too me because he could not contain his lust! Oh, the shame I feel! Why does it-! Why does it matter to me if her son die-!" Signora was surprised by a calloused hand that had woven over her mouth silencing her.
"Signora, I believe the time now is to be silent," an unfamiliar male voice exclaimed, "It pains me to see such dark ugly words stain such a beautiful mouth." Signora Gokudera's entire body tensed, how dare some touch her so freely! She gritted her teeth and shrugged off the loose hold around her mouth. Looking up she readied herself to scold the commoner for touching their superior when she was caught in an intense gaze. Contrary to the light and flirtatious aura the foreigner was holding, his dark brown eyes were a sharp and penetrating abyss that had Signora faltering. A different kind of shame and embarrassment bubbled in her chest and she had to look away in order to contain the rest the rest of her pride.
"Sh-Shamal!" Tamaki exclaimed in surprise his eyes wavering between his Signora and his old friend, "I had not heard you had arrived." With the woman docile in his grasp and looking like she would no further embarrass herself, Shamal let her go. Turning around, the doctor scratched the back of his head with a large grin on his face.
"I arrived about 20 minutes ago," he laughed, "I had no idea they were so many cute senoritas! I lost my way and my heart." Tamaki sighed and rubbed his temples.
"I'm just glad you came, my friend,"
"When they are such beautiful young ladies waiting longingly for me, how could I refuse?" he grinned grabbing an unsuspecting maid and placing a not so chaste kiss on her hand. The young maid yelped in fright and slapped the doctor with full brute force. The doctor staggered way holding his reddening cheek and a grin on his face.
"Fierce and beautiful! Like an angel! Have I stumbled into a house of angels? No, with such sinful beauty they must be temptresses. I have fallen into every man's dream and down fall. Give me a kiss because I have fallen hard and wish to never look back," With hearts in his eyes he lunged forward towards the frightened maid. A small body wrapped around his leg keeping him still and unable to run after the scampering maid. Looking down he was surprised to see a young girl [because Shamal rarely fails to sense every female, he is proud to say, in a 67 meter vicinity] staring up at him with large green eyes.
"Are you the doctor who is going to help Hayato?" she asked in a bell like voice. Shamal's eyes sparked and dropped to one knee, before anyone could blink, and grasped the girls hands in his.
"What beauty at such a young age," he stated kissing her knuckles, "My heart stands forever true. I shall wait for eternity and more until your grown and ready to take my hand. Age cannot dissuade our love."
Bianchi's eyes narrowed dangerously. Lifting up her leg she then promptly dug her heel into his abdominal. As Shamal doubled over in pain, Bianchi hotly rose her head in disdain.
"Pervert," she growled and turned back around.
Tears glowed in his eyes as he stared appreciatively at the girl, "Forbidden love is always the most...painful."
"Shamal," Tamaki interrupted weariness and irritation in his voice, "Can you please put a pause on your lecherous personality and treat our Hayato?" Shamal struggled up, holding his stomach with a smile stretched on his face.
"Of course. Of course," he exclaimed, "Where is the lovely senorita who has waited most impatiently?" His dark eyes scanning over the room purposely missing the young sickly boy on the bed.
Tamaki sighed, "I have repeatedly told you the patient was young Master Hayato." The doctor frowned his eyes finally trailing to the boy. Straightening up, he shoved his hands in his coat pockets and turned to meet his old friend.
"I don't do boys," he stated firmly, "You should know this." Tamaki touched his head again, the headache forming at his temples was pounding between the juncture of his eyes.
"The master asked for the best," he replied opening his eyes to hold down the others, "So I immediately sent for you."
"I'm flattered you think so highly of me old friend, but you know my policy." Shamal stated firmly, "And I've regrettably only ever broken it twice in this life time. I'd prefer it to stay that way." Tamaki open his mouth to retort but Shamal held up a hand to silence him.
"No means no, my friend. Find someone else,"
"You are not going to save him? You are not going to save my fratello?" came Bianchi's sweet panicked voice. Shamal looked down at her then to the boy who was gasping on the bed. His face pale and flushed indicating fever. There was a nervous twitch that started on his left shoulder and ended with the slight stiffness of his left hand. Accumulative sweat rolled down from the flushed skin, a discolored tongue roughly ran over lips that were pale and chapped, and a moan of pain whenever the boy shifted uncomfortably on the bed. The small part of Shamal's personality, that tiny dream and the fascination of human [and non-human] diseases that inspired him to become a doctor, was piqued. A piece of his heart, the part that enjoyed a challenge, gave that familiar aching thump.
To bad the kid was a boy. That part of him, that could be called a doctor, would of enjoyed finding the pieces to this puzzle.
"No."
There were pinks and purples, white and blues, little yellow buds and some sort of decorative weeds. These were the flowers that his nurse was holding in her hands. Tsuna was never good at telling what kind of flowers were what, but from what little knowledge he had, the flowers in the basket were orchids. Or were they geraniums? What ever they were, they were extremely pretty.
And he wanted nothing to do with them.
"Throw them out," he said as politely as he could, but couldn't stop the cold indifference tone from entangling itself in his words. Aria frowned down at her patient, his face told her nothing; it was clear, kind, loving, and patient [if not tired], but his eyes. The one eye that wasn't covered was dark and voided of all emotion. It was like the personality of Tsunayoshi did a complete 360 and left in front her, a man she could not recognize. No that wasn't true. She recognized it. It was the same look Hibari came back with whenever he left Namimori for long periods of time.
The look of someone who has seen terrible pain and darkness.
Her frown deepened, "Are you sure?"
"Hai. I've kept them this long only because of your insistence-" Which was true. The brunette wanted them thrown out as soon as she uttered a single syllable from the white card with fancy writings embroidered with golden letters. Aria persuaded the boy to keep the bouquet with the sole reason of brightening up the all too white hospital room. Tsuna sulkily agreed.
"-there is no longer a need when I am leaving this place." Aria sighed seeing the brunette was not going to budge on his decision.
"I guess I could give them to another resident,"
"I'd prefer that," he agreed with a nod. Aria turned around with the basket of flowers in hand and walked over to the little sink across from her patient. Setting the flowers gently down she turned on the faucet, staring as water rain down and was soaked up by the black dirt.
"Is the reason why you don't want the flowers is because they came from your father?"
Tsuna was silent as he watched the blonde nurse with an oddly blank expression.
"I'm sorry if I sound rude, Arai-san, but I believe that is none of your business," the brunette finally stated after the nurse placed the flowers on the corner of the counter. Aria turned to face her patient and crossed her arms. Blue eyes peered through the lens of her glasses, seeing clearly the tense and displeased look on the brunette's face. For two months she watched and tended to the young man. Taking care of him, healing him, and talking to him. She had seen his pale skin glow into a healthy olive, overseen bruises lighten into a yellow-green, removed needles from dark blue veins, taken joy in watching the brunette eat, and grown accustom to that smile that seemed to make her whole body warm in an instant. She wasn't ashamed to say she had formed a certain soft spot for the brunette, and there was even begrudging respect for his guard dog.
It was true Aria had no business in anything non-health related towards her patient. As a nurse, she should feel satisfied at just seeing her patient leave healthier and alive, but she couldn't. Aria wanted to know what reason was there for that sad look in her patient's eyes. A look, she believed, that should never come across in someone so nice and kind as Tsunayoshi.
She wanted to fix it, and give back ten-fold to the person whoever put it there.
"Aria-san," came Tsuna's voice. The nurse blinked rapidly and stared inquisitively at her patient. The brunette was staring at her, but the look of sadness was replaced with concern for her. Aria flushed and covered her face in attempt to rub off her embarrassment. She had been in such a deep thought she hadn't noticed she had been silently scowling and glaring at the bed post for over five minutes.
"Sorry," she mumbled in her hand; looking anywhere but at the brunette, "I-I know I shouldn't have said anything. It was disrespectful and I-"
"Aria-san," the brunette interrupted. At her name, Aria's eyes were drawn over to her patient. Tsuna smiled at her, though half of his face was still bruised and it came out lopsided, the effect was still the same.
"Thank you, Aria-san," Tsuna stated, closing his one eye and cocking his head. The familiar bubbling warmth entered Aria chest causing her to blush from a different kind of emotion.
"No-no need," she whispered looking away shyly.
"Oi! You ready yet dame-tsuna?!" exclaimed a loud obnoxious voice. The door to the hospital room was slammed open making the two jump in reaction. The brunette's face brightened instantaneously as Mochida came strolling in.
Aria glared as she pushed up her glasses, "Could you be anymore obnoxious? This is a hospital and there are other patients, you know."
Mochida sneered, "Like I give two shits, lady."
"You incorrigible bastard,"
"Sticks and stones,"
"I hate you,"
"The feelings is mutual," Mochida smirked smugly, "So is dame-tsuna ready to go or not?" The nurse sighed in frustration and rubbed her throbbing temples.
"Yes," she replied, "As long as he comes back for a daily check-up every two weeks and applies to physical therapy as soon as his casts come off."
"Great!" Mochida grinned strolling over to Tsuna's bedside, "Lets get going!" Before the brunette knew what was happening, he was lifted in the air by a pair of strong arms and curled into a broad chest. Tsuna yelped in surprise and pain as he clung instinctively to the raven to keep himself from falling.
Aria gasped, "Wait! Stop you, idiotic beast! You can't just go man handling a disabled person out of bed! Let me get the wheelchair!"
Mochida stopped in mid-stride out the door and frowned, "What is the big deal? He's free to go. So I can do whatever I want."
"Sawada-san is still injured! Jerking him around like some brainless neanderthal can do some serious damage! There are steps! Procedures to be taken care of," Aria scowled as she pushed the black wheelchair forward.
"Well, ready means ready! Not 10 minutes later ready!" Mochida growled, or dare they think, pouted. Aria narrowed her eyes and demanded the raven to place the brunette in the wheelchair appropriately. Mochida rolled his eyes and complied to the nurse's orders setting the brunette gently down on the seat.
Tsuna winced as a sharp pain ran up his sides when he shifted in the seat of the wheelchair. Immediately, Aria's concerned face entered his vision as she began probing him for answers. Tsuna waved her off stating he was fine; being bedridden for a couple months had made him a little sore. Aria frowned but let it go and began placing his feet on the footrests.
"Don't worry, Mochida-senpai," Tsuna said smiling up at the scowling raven, "We can go home soon."
He tsk'd and looked away, "Like I care. I just wanna leave this hospital as soon as possible. Coming here everyday is just a pain."
"Then why do you come?" Aria retorted, pushing Tsuna forward.
The raven glared, "What did you say?"
"You heard me, you walking contradiction," Mochida opened his mouth to retort but Aria had turned away, completely and purposely ignoring the fuming raven.
"Here you go, Sawada-san," Aria stated as she stopped the wheelchair in front of the nurse's desk.
"Thank you, Aria-san,"
"Let me just go get your paperwork, and then you can go,"
"Alright," Tsuna replied and the blonde curtly nodded and disappeared behind the doorway. Mochida grumbled, scowling a little as he rounded behind the brunette taking Aria's spot.
"That woman is just as annoying as that damned bird," he growled.
"She is kind," Tsuna replied with a small smile, "Speaking of Hibari-san, where is he?" Mochida shrugged leaning forward on the wheelchair's handles, face in his hand.
"Do I look like a bird keeper? Haven't seen that bastard's face since yesterday,"
"Oh," Tsuna said feeling slightly put out. Even though he knew he should not he still had held some kind of hope for the certain aloof skylark to make an appearance on his last day at the hospital. I should of known better, he thought with a small smile, Hibari couldn't deal with the crowds in the hospital. Every time Hibari had came to see him, the hospital usually erupted into a panic. Shoving patients in their appropriate rooms and told the on duty-nurses to stay out of his way. He was pretty sure the entire hospital was breathing a sigh of relief that he was finally leaving. Tsuna couldn't blame them.
"HE WAS SMILING! HE WAS SMILING! I SAW IT! I'M NOT CRAZY!" came an estranged voice breaking Tsuna from his thoughts. An older woman from what Tsuna could tell was attacking a doctor. Her grip was so tight around the male doctor's collar that her knuckles were turning white. Her blonde hair looked unkempt and unwashed, her face was pale and wizened, large dark circles marked around her dark purple eyes, and her body was huddled so close together that she looked ready to fall over at any moment. Despite her weak appearance, the doctor was turning blue from lack of oxygen from her iron grasp.
"Ma'am...I..." he swallowed thickly, hands wrapping themselves around her fragile wrists, "Just...muscle reflex..."
"I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MUSCLE REFLEX AND MY OWN SON'S DAMN SMILE!" she screamed cheeks burning red.
"So loud," Mochida grumbled startling the brunette. Tsuna looked away from the scene to stare up at his friend. The raven had a look of boredom etched across his face, his dark eyes staring blankly, but his grip on Tsuna's wheelchair was tight.
"Senpai?" he questioned. The raven looked down at him but before he could say anything a bunch of men in black came running in. Pushing through the crowd in an hurried attempt to grab the deranged woman.
"You need to calm down ma'am!" A man sporting a security cap tried to console as another broke her grasp. She fought them; kicking and screaming, eyes wild and panicked.
"HE WAS SMILING! SMILING!" her voice echoed as they pulled her away and out of sight. The hallway was deathly silent in shock at the scene that had just played out before them. A hushed whispered escalated in volume and the doctor that had been attacked was taken away by a pair of nurses.
"Poor woman," Aria stated appearing to their side. She her face held a troubled expression as her eyes followed the doctor out.
"Who was she?" Tsuna asked looking up at the blonde. The nurse shrugged her shoulders placing her gaze back on her patient. She knelt down and placed a clipboard in Tsuna's only working hand.
"The mother of a coma patient," she stated simply, "There had been minor muscle spasms and twitches over this past week that has lead her to believe it as a sign of her son waking up. The leading doctor had investigated and...has said that there is no change in his condition."
"Oh," he said looking down, "Is there a reason for his spasms?"
"It could be a reaction to his dreams,"
"He's dreaming?" Tsuna inquired looking up at her with wide eyes.
Aria smiled, "He's not brain dead just in a...deep sleep."
"So there is a chance he will wake up?"
"Its highly unlikely but-" Aria couldn't bring herself to destroy that little light of hope in the brunette's eyes, "-it could happen. Someday."
"Are we done here?" Mochida suddenly interrupted standing up straight, "I'm hungry." Tsuna nodded as he handed back Aria the completely signed paperwork. The nurse smiled and sat the clipboard aside.
"Then lets go. We can't have his royal highness starving to death, can we?"
"Bitch,"
"Sticks and stones, sir. Sticks and stones."
Gokudera should of been paying attention to his surroundings. He should be watching every passing pedestrian. He should be on guard. It was his targets release date from the hospital and he should be thinking of a plan of action. He should be thinking of the when, where, and how. He should be thinking like a cold hard killer.
Instead he was watching the clouds and thinking about music. The sounds of a piano was in the background, music to the rolling gray clouds ahead. Listless clouds and black notes consumed the silverlette's vision. The sounds of the city were his orchestra. The birds where his back-up singers. Everything synced and flowed together perfectly in his head.
Baa daa badum baa baa dum daaa dum.
His finger's twitched at each sound, unconsciously extending forward to hit the phantom key to the piano in Gokudera's mind. Slow and soft. Like the building of a storm. Faster. Louder. Nimble fingers rolling over the keys.
Forte. Forte. Forte!
The room in Gokudera's mind was dark. It was just him and the piano. The sounds of music echoing against the darkened walls. Beautiful and elegant like the growing clouds. Wild and unstable like the emotion running rampant storm in his heart.
His fingers were bleeding over the keys, but he couldn't stop now. Not when he was almost finished.
"You are very talented,"
Gokudera's eyes snapped opened as unfamiliar presence entered his sanctuary. His palms accidentally slammed down on the keys in surprise and tore apart his beautiful song. It took it away and left him alone with the feeling of apprehension tightening in his body. By the corner of his piano stood an orange light. A light so bright in the shadows that Gokudera had to squint his eyes to stop the sting. It seemed too consume the darkness and push it back to the corner reaches of Gokudera's mind. Unfamiliar warmth entered his chest as he gazed almost hypnotized at the smiling phantom.
"What?" he asked dumbly. What had the intruder said?
"I said you're very talented," came the reply, "It was lovely."
Gokudera flushed at the sudden praise. Not many people said that about his playing. Then again, Gokudera hasn't played in front of an audience for a long time.
"T-thank you ah-."
"But it was very sad," the phantom frowned for second as if contemplating something before smiling again, "I think you are better suited playing something more lively."
"What?" he asked taken back before blinking rapidly. The darkness had faded away now, and the piano at his feet disappeared along with it. In its place returned a busy street and people chattering among themselves as they walked by. In front of him, the shadows disappearing from his face, was the phantom.
His target: Tsunayoshi Sawada.
Every door, every bar, and every shield Gokudera had placed inside himself locked down immediately. It took every ounce of will power he had to keep his facial expression neutral. He couldn't show surprise. He couldn't show recognition. He couldn't show...emotion.
The brunette suddenly looked sheepish, his only visible eye looking down shyly.
"I didn't mean to startle you," he muttered fingers lacing together, "I just wanted to say I really liked your song. You sing very well." Singing? Was he singing? He couldn't remember anymore. He was feeling too much like a deer caught in the headlights to recall anything anymore.
"Ah thank you," he muttered before he could stop himself. What was he doing? He shouldn't be interacting with the target like this! It was too risky. Gokudera wanted to curse himself into oblivion. How could he make such an amateur mistake?
"You're welcome," his target smiled. Gokudera was hypnotized again. Fuck. The guy's smile was dazzling. Tsuna smile faded around the edges as he looked at the stranger. The young man looked about his age, maybe older, he couldn't really tell. The guy was so skinny he looked almost all skin and bone. His face was pale, which would of looked liked his normal complexion, if he wasn't so ghostly pale. Like a shadow of his former self. His silver hair was long, cascading past his shoulders before being collected into a loose pony tail. His eyes were a dull ghostly green that looked like it could of been a brilliant shade of jade at one time.
Could he be blind?
Tsuna was frowning as he reached into his pocket and began digging around. When he found what he was looking for he reached out and held out a couple papers.
"Its not much-," Tsuna stated with a small smile, "-but I would like you to have it."
Both Gokudera and Mochida's eyes widened in surprise. It took all his self discipline he had acquire over the years for him not too tear into the brunette. The little asshole thought he was homeless? What the hell! He wasn't homeless! He don't want the bastard's money. He didn't need his pity either.
Apparently, the raven haired bastard thought so too. He was practically shouting Gokudera's thoughts.
"Damn it, dame-tsuna! What the hell-! Don't go giving our money to the random fucking homeless! We're on a tight enough budget as it is!"
The word homeless made the silverlette twitch. "I'm not fucking homeless."
"Yeah, I'm sure you're just sitting out here for the warm company," Mochida scoffed crossing his arms. Gokudera scowled, his hand tightening around his cane unconsciously. The red flame of anger sparked in his chest.
"You son of a-!" he growled.
"Senpai,"
The two broke apart to see the brunette smiling with a growing aura that seemed too pleasant to be comforting. Mochida swallowed thickly backing away while the silverlette tensed. Aria, who had been watching the scene quietly, was just as amused as she was confused by the whole situation.
"Don't worry about it," Tsuna said with that brilliant smile. Aria blinked in surprise as Mochida backed down with a slight scowl on his face. She had never seen the man submit so easily. Even with his fights with Hibari he wouldn't relent. He had to either be beaten into unconsciousness or collapse from exhaustion. The man was too stupid to know what was good for him.
Aria watched with interest as emotions she had never seen play across the raven's face. She could tell he wanted to continue his verbal battle with the stranger. She could also see he was angry and wanted yell at Tsuna from the way his eyes kept shifting his way. But more then that his eyes held some sort of fear. Fear of the brunette. That more then anything confused the nurse. Who could ever be afraid of her cute patient?
As his cheeks burned red in his physical effort at trying to keep his emotions in check the raven turned away abruptly. Shoving his hands in his pockets.
"I'm going to start the car," he replied hotly, "Do whatever the fuck you want. You always do."
The air around Tsuna changed dramatically and so did his smile. "Thank you, senpai."
"Tch," Mochida glowered and stomped off. His head held down. He could never win against that kid, he thought to himself glumly.
Tsuna turned his attention back to the silverlette who was wearing a comical expression. His mouth was open and closing as if he wanted to say something but couldn't get the words out. His eyes were darting back and forth between Tsuna and Mochida's retreating back. He was clearly confused.
Tsuna cocked his head. "So what do you say?"
The silverlette's bewildered expression set on Tsuna. "Huh?"
Believing this amusing, but confusing conversation had gone on long enough (especially when it was outside where her patient could get potentially sick) Aria felt it was her duty to move it along. The nurse coughed into her hand to gain the two's attention. "I believe my patient just asked you to move in with him and his friend." She stepped forward and once again returned to her position behind Tsuna. "I know its not my place to interfere with your personal life. It is obviously your decision, but to invite a complete stranger into your home? Do you believe this wise Tsuna-san?"
Gokudera couldn't help, but be curious about the answer to this question too. The silverlette didn't know anyone to allow a stranger, (potentially dangerous stranger) into their house so freely. You either had to be very stupid or very sure of your skills to protect yourself in these kind of circumstances. Gokudera was placing his airy looking target in the first category. The slim brunette looked like he couldn't even protect anyone much less himself in this state. The raven though, the silverlette pondered. He would have to keep an eye on that guard dog. So far it had looked like only his bark was worse than his bite.
"Everyone worries too much," Tsuna replied surly suddenly pulling Gokudera out of his thoughts, "You are just as bad as Senpai, Aria-san."
The nurse flushed at the comparison. "M-m-me? Like that incorrigible bastard? That is an offal thing to say, Tsuna-san."
Tsuna let out a heart felt laugh. "Ah. Gomen. Gomen. Aria-san. It was meant as a compliment." Aria just sniffed hotly in response. "What I meant to say was don't worry."
"Its hard not too when you are making such an irrational decision," the nurse mumbled softly.
"Don't worry," Tsuna repeated his remaining eye lighting up, "This man is good. I can feel it."
Gokudera's entire body grew cold. Like he was suddenly thrown into a tub of ice cold water and left trapped at the bottom. He was drowning in his own bitter guilt. It was swallowing him whole as he stared into the too trusting caramel eye of his target.
"What is your name by the way?" The brunette inquired with a smile, "I'm Tsunayoshi Sawada.
Gokudera hesitantly licked his lips. What he wouldn't do for a cigarette right now.
"I - ah - Vi-Vi-Vincenzo." He stuttered out before he could stop himself. When he had finished he wanted to bash his head against the nearest wall. What happened to not interacting with the targets?
"Vincenzo," Tsuna repeated. The name awkwardly rolling off his tongue. It sounded weird and was heavy accented by the brunette. It made Gokudera sick to his stomach.
"That is a foreigner's name. Is it french?"
"No, Italian," the silverlette replied instantaneously. Once again, Gokudera felt the need for self harm. Why couldn't he just shut the hell up?
"Oh, well. It is nice to meet you, Vincenzo-san." Tsuna greeted. Gokudera swelled with sadness and regret. That name sounded offal coming from the brunette's lips.
A car horn broke in the awkward air (mostly coming from Gokudea's side). It screeched and blared loudly disturbing the entire block with its unrelenting and unpleasant protests.
"Lets go! I'm starving!" Mochida screamed in between honks, "And with another mouth to feed means the longer its going to be before I can eat. So get your asses moving already!"
Aria's expression became absolutely livid as she swung herself around. Her eyes blazed with fire as she glared daggers at the unconcerned raven.
"This is a HOUSE of HEALING! NOT some place where you can do WHATEVER YOU WANT! There are PATIENTS SLEEPING in here! YOU frustrating ASSHOLE!" Mochida just rolled his eyes which in return set the blonde off even more. Tsuna's nurse stomped off towards the raven leaving the brunette and Gokudera alone. Tsuna stared fondly at the silverlette who in return refused to meet his eyes.
What the hell is wrong with him? Gokudera growled unconsciously patting his pocket for his cigarettes. The tips of his fingers traced the outline of the small box feeling comfort in the bit of familiarity, a bit of normalcy, in this strange and unusual situation.
"Go ahead," cme the soft voice from his target. The silverlette raised his eyes hesitantly only to see the brunette smiling down at him.
"Huh," he garbled out. Once, again words could not compute in his mind. This fool of a man left him, him a highly educated male (he graduated college at 14 for fuck sakes!) baffled and speechless.
And he always had a few well chosen words to say to someone.
"Smoke," Tsuna clarified motioning to his pocketed cigarettes to which his hand was holding an iron grasp too, "I know the signs. Mochida can get a bit antsy when he doesn't have his morning...umm...juice." Tsuna glanced away feeling slightly embarrassed. He didn't want a complete stranger to get the wrong impression about his senpai. To say Mochida was an alcoholic was a bit of an overstatement, but he has been telling senpai that he needs to cut back on the juice before it does become too much of a problem. The raven has told the brunette multiple times it wasn't his "fucking problem", but Tsuna has seen a considerable cut back on the pyramid of cans stacked on the coffee table.
It now only fills up half a trash bag a day.
Without being told twice, Gokudera reach into his pocket without a second thought. With a flick of lighter (magically appearing as soon as the thin stick was in his grasp) the cigarette was lit in less than a second. Inhaling the sweet bitter smoke Gokudera's body relaxed instantly and a form of clarity entered his mind.
A door of opportunity like this doesn't come often. Rarely in his career. Hit two birds with one stone as they say. This was a good idea, a bit unorthodox, but he could use this. He could monitor his target better if he was close, and from what he has already learned, his target was a loner. No family or friends; the exception being his guard dog. Which he could easily take care of if need be. Hopefully not, he would hate to waste extra time and energy on someone so unimportant.
"Alright," Gokudera said, his voiced muffled from under his cigarette, "I'll go." It took Tsuna a moment to realize what Gokudera meant, and after a period of blinking in surprise, the brunette released the brightest grin.
"That is amazing!" he exclaimed, "I thought for sure you would say no. I mean, a total stranger asking you to live with him and his roommate, how crazy!"
Well good, thought Gokudera sourly, at least the guy knew that what he was proposing was absolutely and utterly absurd. So he wasn't as dense as the silverlette originally thought.
"Yeah, crazy," Gokudera agreed as sharply inhaled his cigarette. He held the smoke in his mouth, savoring the ashy taste, before releasing it all in one breath. He pushed the burnt end into the concrete, and snuffed it out before letting the stub fall free from his fingers.
"So your place," Gokudera inquired, "Does it have room for another freeloader?"
Tsuna nodded his head enthusiastically, "Yes. Yes, of course. Its actually a three bedroom apartment. Up until now the third was only used for storage, but I'm sure we can move things around."
Gokudera nodded. Everything seems to coincide with the information he had gathered so far. He was going to wait a little bit before he acted, gain a little more information, but-
"What are we waiting for then," the silverlette stated as he began rubbing the stiffness out of his shoulders, "Don't want you to get reported for animal abuse for not feeding your dog."
"Dog?" Tsuna questioned, narrowing his eyes confusion, "I don't own a-" Realization lit his caramel eyes. "Senpai?! Oh he isn't-! I wouldn't-! Why would you-? Please, don't ever call him that! He is just a really protective!"
Gokudera rolled his eyes. Over-protective more like it. He just couldn't understand why someone would be so devoted to one person. It didn't compute. Whats the point of throwing away your life for someone else? Especial, if that someone is a person like Tsunayoshi Sawada. You only have one life, and they use that one life to follow someone around like a lost stray. Sticking their head up so far up someone's ass they are oblivious to everything.
Idiots.
A dainty hand was shoved in his face. Gokudera blinked repeatedly confused by the appendage now comsuming his vision. Looking up, he saw the brunette was smiling, eyes completely closed, with his hand stuck out in gesture.
"I welcome you to the the family, Vincenzo," The silverlette stares at the hand with contradicting emotions flashing across his face. His eyes brighten, then darken, and repeat simultaneously. Gokudera was once again in a state of uncertainty. Not used to the strange behavior the brunette was showing. In actuality, Gokudera usually avoided these kinds of people. They were always so happy, in your face, smiles, and sunshine.
So to say, he was more then startled and confused when he grabbed that hand, would of been the understatement of the century.
What the hell am I doing?
"Your turn," pale violet eyes twinkled in mischief. He rolled over and under between his fingers, with utter nonchalance, a white pawn. Tsuna's brow twitched with irritation because it was his pawn that was being played with. The little statuette looked tortured in the large pale hands of the mad man. Tsuna glanced down, unwilling to let useless feelings fuel his next move. Nothing good will come if he let his anger get the best of him.
Calculative eyes roamed over the black and white checkered board. Only a few pieces remained; on both sides. Just a few more moves, a slip up from another, and someone would win the game. The game, Tsuna licked his lips nervously, he didn't know what it even was. Even as his fingers nimbly picked up his white knight and moved it across the board, he had no idea what he was doing. His body was moving on its own without command, and his mind was scrambling with conflicting and abnormal thoughts.
Calculations. Calculations. Moves. Steps. Checks. Losses. Wins. More calculations. Queen to C3. Rook to A7. Rook to B7; captures Black Bishop. Queen to F6. A frantic fire of thoughts and ideas running rampant in his head. He had no idea what they meant. His hand froze in horror hover a little white box.
Queen to F6; captures Black Knight.
Though his hand was shaking he dropped the little statuette with care completing the last command that shouted in his head. When he removed his fingers, gently brushing against the crown as he did so, his head suddenly cleared and he could think for himself.
What...was he doing?
"A-a-ah!" he screamed and kicked backed his chair. By accident, Tsuna's hands hit the table, and at the sudden force, the table jerked scattering the chess pieces. Some toppled over and others rolled over the edge, crashing onto the floor.
The albino groaned and pouted; pressing a white Bishop into the cushion of his cheek.
"Aw~ that was mean of you, Tsu-chan. The game was finally getting interesting...," the albino sighed and got out of his chair. Kneeling down he began picking up the pieces one by one.
"If you haven't broken them, I expect another game," he commanded, chuckling.
Tsuna felt a sudden rush of guilt, "Oh, ah, I'm sorry...I didn't mean too." Tsuna blushed in embarrassment as he knelt beside the taller man and began helping carefully pick up the fallen pieces. Tsuna gave the albino a side ways glance. The albino, as the description represents, was extremely pale. From his skin, to his hair, to the pigment of his eyes. Even his clothes were the purest white Tsuna had ever seen. They were baggy on his slender body yet oddly fitting.
It looked almost...freeing.
"Oya~ Have you fallen for my pretty face, yet again, Tsu-chan?" the albino inquired meeting violet with caramel. Tsuna flushed in embarrassment at being caught and anger at the unorthodox question. His hand tightened around the Black King in his hand.
"You're an attractive man, as you undoubtedly know, but you're in no way, at all, my type," he said politely as he could but still pouring in the heat of his displeasure. Violet eyes twinkled mischievously a wide grin on his face. He didn't looked perturbed by the rejection, actually quite the opposite, he looked utterly amused. When the albino closed his eyes [no longer giving Tsuna a window into the albino's emotions], and cocked his head, Tsuna couldn't help but get the feeling he was being played.
"What a pity," The albino sighed standing up with the chess pieces in his hands. The man sat back down on the chair laying out the pieces on the board. Then one by one he placed them back into position. The albino shot Tsuna a look of humor.
Tsuna felt his face flush in anger.
"Who are you?"
"I am me," he replied violet eyes flashing, "As I always am." Tsuna glared as he sat back down in his seat across from the albino.
"I don't appreciate the cryptic answer," he growled grabbing a toppled white Bishop and placing it upright.
The albino snickered, "You never were one for riddles. So easily rattled," The albino then pouted and cupped his face in his hand watching the brunette place his own chess pieces back in their original position. "This is the 32568 time I have told you my name - or was it 32569? Oooh, I forget, but i will appreciate it if you remember it this time, Tsu-chan."
Tsuna glanced up at the man eyes narrowed in confusion. What in the world was he saying? Repeating his name that many number of times and claiming he, himself, still not remember it? He had to be lying or insane.
"I remember no such thing. When have you ever stated it to me?" he inquired the tip of his index finger rolling over the crown of the queen.
"Yesterday," came the albino's reply and a large grin, "Tomorrow. Last week. 3 Months ago. In a year, maybe. In kindergarten. A vacation to Italy. That bar in France-"
"You're crazy," Tsuna exclaimed shaking his head in frustration.
The albino shrugged, "So some have said. I prefer see it as thinking outside of the box, but believe me, I am quite sane."
"Then I must be crazy,"
"No,"
"THEN WHAT ARE YOU!" Tsuna demanded, fist clenched, and eyes blazing a brilliant orange. The albino's smile didn't falter nor was he deterred by the brunette's sudden outburst. Instead a pale hand shot forward and picked a black pawn by its head.
"I am Byakuran," he stated coolly his eyes narrowed dangerously. Pale violet burning purple. Then gently, he moved that black pawn forward two spaces and let it free fall down onto the black square with an ominous crack.
"And I believe its your turn, Tsunayoshi-chan,"
...
...
..
.
..
...
...
...
"You are my best friend,"
So I-
Gokudera: Juudiame! Such kindness for someone as unworthy as I! I shall follow you until death! No BEYOND death! JUUUDIAME~! *cries*
I-
Gokudera: Kindness that knows no bounds! You are a boss worthy, more than worthy, of having a lowly creature as I follow you!
...ah
Gokudera: Ask of me and I will be there! Anytime and anywhere!
...
Gokudera: Juu-!
*grabs the silverlette and promptly shoves a dirty sock down his throat*
Gokudera: Phwt ugh fregd!
There, now shut up. Author's time to talk!
...
Sorry about that. The phantasm of Gokudera-kun took over a bit. As much as I love our silverlette, he can sometimes be a handful. Especially when he goes on his "only my boss" episodes. -_-' You know, writing his character was harder than I originally thought. Him and Hibari are hard shoes to fill. You have no idea how terrified I am of getting into Reborn's head. 0.0' That baby scares the living day lights out of me.
Isn't Byakuran awesome? xD
So I've completely giving up on trying to narrow this story down in chapters. You know how I said 9 or10 chapters? Hmm yeah, not going to happen. The character's are exploding and demanding their own personal time. Do you know how nerve-racking it is just sitting here surrounded by the characters who are nonchalantly watching you work? With some deadly killer intent aimed in your direction? I swear the end of Reborn's gun has made a permanent impression in the back of my skull. T^T Its scary sometimes.
Don't worry, Tsuna-kun has apologized repeatedly, but the good feeling usually goes away when Hibari shifts in the corner of the room. I swear, I see the tonfas peaking out threateningly sometimes! I think if I ever give this story up [WHICH I WONT! DON'T PANIC!] I might not ever wake up...
Stupid phantasms.
...
Sorry about the late update. Honestly, I started getting bored with this chapter. I knew where I wanted it to go, but I just didn't know where I wanted it to end...so I kind just stopped really. :/ This chapter is SO bad I know~! Please forgive me.
So next chapter...don't kill me, okay? Yamamoto has already forgiven me and Hayato won't stop laughing. So yeah.
~Ciao Ciao~
Next Chapter!
Capitolo Cinque:
Rain [Pioggia]