I'm very pleased with this chapter :) Now, I gotta go! I realized that I've been spelling some things wrongly :(
Brunette/Brunet - The former is for girls, while the latter is for boys -w-
That is all, enjoy~~! :D
Katekyo Dame-Tsuna!
Chapter 8
Another day has come and gone as a certain brunet walks down a quiet street. The buildings lined down it are quaint and picturesque, as if emerged from a beautiful painting. The tutor takes in the sweet smell of baking treats wafting through the open window of a bakery, and the chatter of the old ladies as they shop for flowers and groceries.
His hands are shoved into his pockets, his dress shirt escaping from the waistband of his black slacks. It is after another day of school, not that he needed it, and he is having a peaceful stroll. Even though tutoring Reborn isn't hard, Tsuna wants some non-mafia related time in Italy.
The excited barks and yelps of puppies reach his ears and his head snaps towards them. His caramel eyes visibly enlarge to an inhumane size at the sight of various puppies running about in a small pen in front of a pet store, across the street. Nearly reacting the way a certain Sawada Nana would, he rushes over to the puppies.
Eyes sparkling like a little kid during Christmas, he slowly picks one up and nuzzles it. The beagle puppy he had picked up licks his nose affectionately as the brunet continues nuzzling it. Caramel eyes meet the droopy brown eyes of the beagle, looking oh-so innocent.
"I see that you've taken a liking towards the puppies, sir."
Tsuna looks up at the slightly accented voice, his brown eyes meeting calm grey ones. An Asian teen in red robes towers over the crouched brunet, smiling calmly. His hands are tucked into the long sleeves of the robe, and there is a long braid trailing down his front.
"Ah, yes. They're just too adorable to resist! Please, don't call me "sir". I'm only sixteen!"
"Oh? Then, I apologize if I offended you…" The teen bows low, shocking Tsuna. "Please, come in and have some tea. It's the least I could do."
"O-oh, okay."
Upon entering the pet store, Tsuna is entranced by the many critters in the store. Small birds flew freely up above, perching on the many hanging bars as they chirp happily. In one corner, there are cats of various patterns and sizes while the dogs are placed in a bigger pen across the room. Several tanks accommodate fishes of various shapes and colors, while others have tiny critters scampering and rolling around.
All in all, it is an animal paradise for both animal lovers and animals!
"Please, sit down."
The Asian teen motions for the tutor to sit on a barstool in front of the front desk, serving a cup of sweet-smelling tea to the brunet. Hesitantly taking a sip of the tea, Tsuna finds that he is enjoying its sweet taste. It's not too sweet to sicken the drinker, nor is it too bitter from the tea leaves in it.
"Mm… This is very good! What is it?"
"It's jasmine tea. Freshly brewed by myself."
"Oh, wow! It's really great… Um, what's your name?"
"Fon. My name's Fon."
"It's really great, Fon! I'm Tsunayoshi, but please call me Tsuna!"
"Oh, Japanese? Thank you for your compliments, Tsunayoshi-san."
The Asian teen bows once more, shocking Tsuna once again. Never has Tsuna met anyone who bows as low as him, nor anyone who bows as frequently. He scrambles from his seat, trying to get Fon to stop bowing.
"Please, you don't need to bow! It's completely alright!"
"Oh? Isn't bowing is a greeting for the Japanese? Or was it Indians?"
Fon wonders curiously, afraid that he might have made a great mistake with the cultures he had learnt from his tutor. Moving from China to Italy had caused Fon to experience a major culture shock from the lack of chopsticks and the Western style of the country.
He'd holed himself up in his new Italian room for a week, before his tutor managed to get him out of there!
"Oh, no! Bowing is a greeting for the Japanese, but you don't have to! Especially bowing so low! You only bow low for someone you truly respect…"
Tsuna straightens the enlightened Fon once more. Fon records the new information of the culture of the Japanese in his head for future use.
"Ah, I see. Thank you for enlightening me, Tsunayoshi-san."
"No honorifics too. Just plain "Tsuna" is fine."
"Okay, Tsunayoshi."
Tsuna blows into his bangs, knowing that the Asian teen will probably stick to his mouthful of a name instead of the nickname. A slight movement captures the brunet's eyes, and his caramel eyes dart towards a tank. However, it appears to be empty.
Eyes narrowing at it in curiosity, he crouches down to its level and stares at it. Its interior is exactly like any tank for a small critter, with a small food bowl, water bowl and miniature plants. However, Tsuna cannot see any animal in it. Fon chuckles into his sleeve at the brunet's behavior towards the tank. None of his customers had been able to figure out the animal in it.
Tsuna's eyes watch the entire tank like a hawk, settling on a bright green food bowl. Hmm, what an odd color…, Tsuna thinks to himself before looking around the tank once more. Oh, look. There's small bugs in that… grey… food bowl…
Tsuna jumps, pointing at the paused green figure in victory. The bowl is no longer a bowl, but an odd looking lizard with bright yellow eyes.
"Ah hah! I found you!"
Fon is shocked, at the brunet's ability to point out the illusive chameleon. Even he had not been able to point it out on his first try! Fon calms his shocked face into a neutral one, watching as the brunet picks the chameleon up and puts it on his palm. Said chameleon licks his palm before transforming into a heavy mallet, bringing the brunet down.
"Gyaa!"
THUD!
Fon, once again, is shocked at the chameleon's transformation. It had never transformed for anyone but itself when it arrived in the shop! The chameleon transforms, once more, into its chameleon form. Tsuna chuckles at the lizard, petting its tiny head softly.
"Um, Fon?"
"Yes, Tsunayoshi?"
"I want to purchase him. Could I leave him in your care for a while? It's going to be a surprise gift for a… friend."
"Ah, yes, of course. The chameleon seems to like you. It has never transformed for anyone before. I'll let you have it for free, Tsunayoshi."
"What? I can't do that! Let me pay at least half of its original price!"
"I insist."
At the insisting tone of Fon, Tsuna clamps his trap shut and accepts Fon's offer. The brunet places the green chameleon once more into the tank. All of a sudden, there is a loud crash and sound of things tumbling from the floor above the store. Some parts of an animal cage, and pieces of what seems to be a collar, lay at the foot of the stairs leading upstairs.
There is a string of curses from a gruff voice and the sound of a brawl from above. Tsuna can't help but grow worried. What's going on upstairs?
"Um, Tsunayoshi. I think its best you leave now. My… friend seems to be having some trouble handling the new animals we received yesterday. Thank you for visiting!"
"Oh, okay. Bye, Fon! I'll visit soon!"
With the soft jingle of the bell, all hell breaks loose behind the shut door of the store. There is a roar and things crashing from the animal's erratic movement. A silver-haired teen stumbles down the stairs, looking slightly beaten up. Scratches mar his fair skin and there is a deep gash on his torso.
"Ah, Gokudera!"
"Tch, that melon-headed cat won't calm down. Who came in earlier?"
"Oh, a customer. He managed to spot the chameleon over there."
Fon nudges towards the tank which holds said chameleon. The silver-haired teen's eyes widen slightly. No one had been successful on their first try!
"Tch, introduce me to him the next time he visits, you hear me?"
"Yes, sir."
