A/N: Hey guys! I'm really sorry about taking so long to update. I was literally swamped in school work and tests after winter break. But I'm back now and starting another story. It's called 'Of Bows, Swords, and Masks. A Bleach story. I'll let you all know when the first chapter is posted up :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn, nor do I own Naruto.
"Dino you would not believe how great of a time I had on my date!" said Natsu excitedly.
After her and Reborn left the dinner cruise, he had drove her home, and promised her that they will see each other soon. Natsu had almost fainted when Reborn had kissed her good night (she couldn't believe that she got to feel his lips one her own twice!). Natsu had a magical evening and she just had to tell her best friend all about it! So she had called for an immediate BFF Weekend to recall the events to Dino.
Dino and Natsu were sprawled on the floor of her living room, furniture pushed up to the wall. They were in their pajamas with a movie playing on her TV, blankets flung on top of them, while they passed a gallon of ice cream between them.
Dino raised his eyebrow, "Oh? Well do tell."
Natsu beamed at him. "Well when Reborn got here, he gave me a bouquet of roses and said that a gorgeous woman like myself deserved the best. After I finished putting them into a vase, Reborn had ushered me into his car. Don't worry it was a two-seater!" Natsu assured him, when Dino adopted an alarmed expression. "Anyway we drove and showed up at a dinner cruise! It was such a classy dining hall, I assure you, and we danced to slow music, and it was just... Perfect."
Natsu sighed with a dreamy look on her face and glanced at Dino from the corner of her eye. He had a soft smile on his lips, looking at Natsu's face with the love that only a best friend can provide. She smiled right back at him, when suddenly a thought came to her.
"Hey Dino... Can ask you something?" Natsu said, glancing at him curiously.
Dino nodded, "Of course. What's up?"
"Well when I said that I was going out to dinner with Reborn, you seemed... Shocked. Why was that? Do you know him?"
Dino froze, his chocolate ice cream covered spoon stopping halfway to his mouth. Natsu noticed this and grew even more curious.
Dino sighed and put the spoon down. He craned his neck so his eyes met Natsu's. "Yes I do know him. We had first met around sixteen years ago actually."
Natsu furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "How can that be? Reborn would've been at least ten years old then. You would have been sixteen..."
Dino nodded in acceptance at her deduction of time and said, "You are correct. I was sixteen when I met Reborn. But Reborn wasn't ten, he looked a lot younger than that back then. Then again he is a lot older than his presumed twenty-six years of age implies."
She looked at him with disbelieving eyes. "But how is that possible? What aren't you telling me, Dino?"
Dino looked down guiltily, "Sorry but it's not my story to tell. It's Reborn's. So can we change the subject now? Please?"
Natsu hesitated slightly before nodding her head in understanding. As Dino said, it wasn't his story to tell, so she will wait until Reborn trusted her enough to tell her it. It was only fair. Natsu had done the exact same thing when Reborn at started inquiring over why she had been disowned. She could at least give him the benefit of the doubt. 'But still...'
"Okay then, I guess that's fair." Natsu bumped her shoulder against Dino's and held up the spoon (they were sharing one) that was dripping with ice cream. Dino stared at her for a second, smiled, and opened his mouth to taste the sugary goodness.
"So I heard you were on a date last night." Lanchia said staring at her with blank eyes.
Natsu looked at him with her customary WTF? face. "Wait how did you know I was on a date?"
After Dino and Natsu's BFF Weekend escapade, he went back home and Natsu went back to work. Her and Lanchia had to make preparations for their annual photography festival. This festival was basically where the influx of clients, newspaper reporters, and other important figures came to the company that would be hosting. This year just happened to be Lanchia's Inc.'s turn.
He raised an eyebrow, a smirk of triumph on his face, "Dino. Who else?"
"What?! I told him not to tell anybody though!"
Lanchia made a face and said, "Natsu... It's Dino. As long as he didn't betray your trust or confidence, everything else is fair game."
Natsu sighed with exasperation. "I guess you're right... Anyway what's it to you if I was on a date or not?"
Lanchia's eyes bored into Natsu's with utmost seriousness. "Natsu... You have to be more careful. Vaughn could've seen you."
Natsu stiffened. "Lanchia, I know that I have a delusional stalker with psychotic tendencies. No need to remind me."
Lanchia ran his fingers through his hair, "You know that's not what I meant."
"I know, it's just... I hate thinking about what have to do for the publicity. Vaughn is always so obnoxious during this time and the festival doesn't end until another three months! I don't think I have the willpower to get through it..."
Lanchia nodded, nothing but sympathy in his eyes, "I know but you need to be aware. Anybody could've seen you, so I advise you to stop seeing Reborn until the festival is over."
Natsu head went up so fast that she almost go whiplash. "But-"
Lanchia shot her a warning look. "Natsu if they catch wind of this, the media will destroy you and your reputation! You know that. But if you are really desperate to be around Reborn, then do it in private. Tell him that you can't go anywhere public, and for the love of God, inform him of the situation!"
Natsu nodded in acceptance of Lanchia's terms and smiled, "Thank you for looking out for me."
He smiled at her in response, "You're welcome. After all it's the least I could do to make up for your romance with Vaughn."
A/N: Well that's a wrap! And as usual, your monthly dose of cliffhanger! Anyway I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and I promise that I will start updating regularly :)
R&R
