Rori's Corner: Aha~ sorry, monthly updates. The only way to motivate myself is by being competitive, in terms of deadlines. Seme and I are constantly updating on the same date.
Coincidence? I think not.
And – wao, chapter 10 already ._. LOL The end of chapter 9 wasn't aimed for excitement. Okay, in the eyes of the readers, it was XD But really, my super long wait is because of my extreme laziness (and school).
Whoops. Shouldn't have let that slip. ILY too ~
"Whatever They Say~ DBSK [Dong Bang Shin Ki]
Love Makes War
Chapter 10
"And here we have..."
"My, your export goods are rather behind, Mister Randolph."
"My daughter, Cecilia, has a rather talented hand at crafts. Of course, her beauty is also unrivaled. What of your son, Claude?"
"Uhh, D-Dino-san..."
"What is it, Tsukasa?" Cafe-colored irises roved over the sweet delicacies to meet chocolate brown, and Dino grinned laxly.
Tsuna sighed, shifting his feet when the prickly dress finally started to aggravate his skin. 'What is it?' There were a lot of 'what is it's, all of which he couldn't ever express clearly in his current state – unless he wanted to expose what he actually was (in this case, a very obvious male), risk gunshots aimed specifically for his head (from a certain arcobaleno), and suffer from major embarrassment for the rest of his life. No, he didn't really want to answer honestly to the handsome blond, who was conversing lightly with another girl next to the dessert stand. This Dino-san from the Chiavarone looked to be pretty young, perhaps around seventeen or eighteen, and he seemed rather...naturally cheery. He looked like the ideal foreigner to Tsuna; one could expect to meet a replica of Dino in a shoujo manga.
No, he didn't really read shoujo mangas.
Okay, so maybe he did. His mom had forced him to, in fact. She was super influenced by this cooking manga featuring a 'bishounen,' as she put it, but who was simply a pretty boy, that she started to procure dishes of spicy curry mixed with inklings of vanilla ice cream. Tsuna couldn't honestly say he was terribly impressed by his mom's development. He'd rather she stuck with her older, more edible, cooking skills. Tsuna jumped when the thread starter of his thoughts addressed him.
"Ah, Tsukasa, come over here," Dino said, arm waving him over to where an abrupt gathering of people stood, lingering around a long dining table that consisted of silver candelabrum lining up after the other in rows. Tsuna's wide eyes displayed involuntary trust, limbs immediately going numb and rigid.
Eep! I really don't want to go over there!
The blond excused himself from the tall group of middle-age black market distributors and strode over to him, cafe-colored eyes instilling comfort in the Vongola heir. Dino gently took a hold of Tsuna's hand and gripped it lightly, briefly, in encouragement. "I'm sure Reborn wouldn't like it if you abandon your duties, right?" Noting the horrified look and the unhinging of jaw of the latter, he grinned in success. "They're not scary people, once you get to know them. And, of course, I won't let them harm you."
Halfway assured by the comfort of the suave blond but still not completely confident, Tsuna nodded his head dully in understanding. "Ah, Dino-san," he started, but halted when he realized the somewhat masculine voice of his natural vocal chords. With his face flushed, he waved his hands haphazardly in the air at the question in the blond's eyes. "U-uh, let's go over there, yeah, s-sure."
The Chiavarone heir beamed and said proudly, "Exactly what I expect the Tenth Vongola boss to say. All right, let's go, Tsukasa."
Tsuna sighed in relief, knowing that the other was oblivious to his sudden voice change. Well, it was time to show what little skills he had in cross-dressing, which will possibly traumatize the keener population with better evaluation skills, and perhaps get away with his head attached. All of a sudden, this little wish for salvation seemed all the more impossible, when he was led to the higher-class assemble of stone-faced men wearing all black tuxes for the occasion with their haughty wives, stylishly superior in their vivid gowns and sleek dresses. One of the men, a burly looking businessman in his late thirties, spotted the slim Vongola, and his eyes immediately glinted.
Tsuna paled, stumbling a step after the tall blond. Did that guy just...he shuddered, using Dino as a coverage for half of his body. This was totally out of his realm. He wanted to be home, playing his addictive video games and shouting nonsense at the screen. And battle cries, he added. He was so anxious that he almost missed the sound of a mechanical ticking, Glancing around, he took note that noticed besides him, and a quick reminiscence reminded him that Reborn had implanted some sort of tracking device on his earrings, including the power for it to transmit messages to his brain without anyone else acknowledging, and so this way the arcobaleno could survey his movements and advise his next approach.
Apparently. He himself couldn't for the life of him see the use of surveying his privacy a good thing.
"Ladies and gents," Dino announced, waving his hand in a grandiose flourish at the completely focused gathering around the dining table, "let me introduce you to one of our next, most influential people in the later generation." At his words, the men exchanged a solemn, curious look with each other, as the ladies glanced around with conniving notions. Tsuna had blanched at the Chiavarone's speech, hoping against hope that he did not just hear what the man had said. He hid behind the blond further in an attempt to avoid what he knew was going to happen. "Shall we welcome the tenth generation of Vongola bosses, the heiress Sawada Tsukasa?" Gasps went around as, despite the brunet's stealthy hiding, he was pulled by the hand into the spotlight, now facing ten affluent mafia people with stunned stares directly pointed on him. Tsuna couldn't even still his own eyes from widening and blinking continuously in shock.
The man earlier who had eyed him dropped his cocktail glass on the table, clapping his hands afterward while saying, "My, my, what a spectacle you are, Miss Vongola."
Tsuna winced, goosebumps dotting along his bare arms. A warm hand rested on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Dino, whose face was steeled toward the chattering mafia. A firm but gentle squeeze comforted Tsuna, and with a shaky smile he returned his attention on the skeptical mass of people who were debating on whether to show their respect or continue to seek the ruse in this circumstance.
"Let me introduce myself, m'lady," the discreet voice of the unnerving man said, as he bowed curtly in courtesy, and in spite of Tsuna's prideful instinct in denying such a title, the palm on his shoulder reminded him of the gravity of his situation. He willed his mouth to stop at sounding anything unnecessary to the intimidating public and to just bear with it. The dark-haired man with the beady eyes continued to present himself, "I am Alfredo Fettuccine of the manufacture of military weapons department."
All eyes turned to face the brunet, and Tsuna flushed. "Ah, uh, um, nice to meet you...too?" A squeak came out in the end, but the man, Alfredo, seemed not to mind; he had on a victorious smile, which he chose to show off proudly to the incredulous individuals. On the other hand, the Vongola could have palmed himself in the face had he not been in this overwhelming atmosphere of grown-ups and adults alike. He couldn't even bring himself to breathe properly, lest someone see through his guise of a female. A pleasant chuckle beside him resonated, and Tsuna realized that Dino was leading him to the head of dining table, which faced everyone adjacent to him as well as the person at the end. Knees succumbing, it was relatively easy to just shove him into the chair, but the blond had cautiously settled him in, giving Tsuna an encouraging grin before he himself sat down on the right side of the table.
"What a pleasant surprise, Miss...Sawada of the Vongola Famiglia," a foxy purr came from the left of Tsuna. The brunet blinked, taking in the sight of a beauteous woman with a long mane of gorgeous brown and eyes the color of deep cerulean. Her sleek, midnight gown made her appear even taller, and at his rather incomparable height, seated, on the chair, her majestic figure was more than intimidating. "Bonjour," she greeted flawlessly before strolling over to her seat, flipping her wavy hair over her shoulder and carelessly winking at a male across the room. Once settled, she started chatting smoothly with Mr. Fettuccine, occasionally glancing at a certain Chiavarone with deliberate intention and witty seduction.
"Mademoiselle Celeste," Dino murmured, humor traceable in his casual tone.
Tsuna looked at him inquisitively, and before he could stop himself, he asked, "Does she like you? Hiiie! I mean - "
A cackle of laughter escaped Dino, leaving the brunet in a humiliated puddle of bewilderment, as the sound of merriment attracted others' attentions. "You're painfully blunt, Tsukasa! It's cute, really."
Blushing a dark red, Tsuna stammered, "I'm so sorry, Dino-san! I shouldn't have asked such a personal question."
"It's fine - "
"I mean, it's not my position to probe your business, I'm really - " Tsuna stopped himself, when he saw that the blond was no longer paying attention to his rambling apologies; instead, he was laughing so hard that his head was buried in his arms. "Uh...Dino-san?" The Chiavarone gradually looked up, tears of laughter in the corners of his coffee-colored eyes, and he wiped them away, chuckles fading.
"For a girl, you really don't act like one," commented Dino. Just when Tsuna had the dawning awareness that maybe he was risking a turn for the worse, the blond's maturely carefree eyes swept over his dainty, tensed body at the head of the table. "Just relax, Tsukasa," the Chiavarone assured, fingers absentmindedly caressing his glass of honey cocktail. "It's about time for us to meet the Vongola's - "
"Move, trash."
"I – I'm so sorry, Mister Xanxus," a man apologized, head bowing repeatedly in solemn fear. A younger male in a black suit appeared, frightening crimson irises narrowed in contempt as his lips snarled in utter distaste, his figure casting a venomous shadow and contagious doom, as he advanced upon the gathering of mafia. Tsuna could already feel himself quaking in fear just at the sight of the man, and when the blood-shed eyes glanced at him with such ineffable hatred, he was ready to lose consciousness.
Beside him Dino had grasped the edge of the table with one hand, coffee irises steeling in uncharacteristic hostility. "Talk about the devil," he muttered, a strained grin overlapping his frowning mouth. "Xanxus," he greeted, standing up and acknowledging the mass before him. With a nod at the unnerved mafia men, Dino calmed the strained tension slightly. Xanxus, the brooding boss of the Varia, the infamous independent assassination squad of the Vongola, came forward in all his fear-inducing grace and grasped the end chair of the dining table, lifting a leg and rudely resting his boot on the seat, crimson orbs glaring all the while.
"Mister Xanxus, hm?" Celeste murmured in interest, sheer pink lip-gloss glimmering flatteringly,
Ignoring the brunette, the dark-haired Italian smirked cynically and demanded, "So, what the hell do you want?" Looking around, each person would either flinch or avert his eyes once addressed by the fearful red. Continuing on in a deadly tone, Xanxus grabbed a glass of wine on the table, taking a swig while addressing the exchange of looks from one to another with his penetrating glare. The little chatters around the table stilled to silence, though the flow of music elsewhere and accommodating conversations carried on. The Varia boss's eyebrows furrowed, and a second later, the wine glass deliberately shattered into splintered fragments on the marble floor, pooling around the area a collective red liquid. Xanxus slammed his fist into the table, face glowering and beyond pleased, and in a deep growl, he hissed, "This is where the greatest mafia families gather, and you dare give me this shit to drink?"
A chivalrous personnel rushed over to see the commotion, splutters of apologies already forming in his quivering lips, "T-t-this is – Master Xanxus, please! I will clean this up right away - "
"Shut up, trash."
Wham!
A chaotic moment later, the employee was found on the floor, left cheek exposing a raw mark where an incredulous second earlier, a clenched fist had connected harshly with. Immediately, people stood up from their seats, and Tsuna rose as well, shock forming in his wide eyes. Dino looked stunned, but not ultimately surprised, as he was expecting this kind of undesirable temper from the notorious head of the infamous team of violence. The Chiavarone patted Tsuna's shoulder for him to sit down, and the brunet did so with numb obedience, before he went around the table to reach the end, where the ill-tempered boss was irritably holding up another employee by the collar. By now more attention was directed at the area where important mafia heads had gathered for a negotiation to settle matters and conflicts, and when the audience saw the initiator of the commotion, they automatically returned to their conversations prior, not wanting themselves to be involved with the violent boss.
"Provide me the best wine you have, scum, or you'll never live to see another daylight in your pathetic life," threatened Xanxus, using just one hand to hold the victim in place.
"A-ack! I got it, sir. Please, I'll get the wine right away!"
Xanxus smirked deviously, though his crimson eyes spelled murder. "If I find out you've done anything to it - "
"Xanxus."
Ruby irises narrowed and swiveled to clash with firm and stern coffee eyes. Neither batted an eye, and there was little to no movement, until Xanxus suddenly let go of the employee's collar, permitting him a rash contact with the unrelenting marble. As other personnel on stand-by went to aid the frightened man, Xanxus turned to eye the Chiavarone with an unyielding, arrogant gaze. "Bucking Bronco. Cluttering with the scum now?"
Dino's eyes flashed in anger, but he eased himself into the safe zone with a pointed seriousness in his tone, "That's going overboard, don't you think? On top of that, displaying such violence in the presence of ladies, and especially in front of one of our youngest and most important figures. You're way too rash, Xanxus."
The tall, dark-haired Varia boss glanced around at the table, now finally taking in whoever was at the head, and abruptly his mouth snarled vehemently. As the victim of the most dangerous glare to have ever been witnessed in the world, Tsuna's heart was desperately beating in hyperventilation, and goosebumps were forming all over his body. His flimsy attire had never felt as naked as he had now. Xanxus seethed, "Who the hell is that?"
The Chiavarone made a move as if he were reaching for his weapon, but a quick glance at the frozen brunet behind reined him in place, and in a deadly tone he warned, "I won't have you disrespecting the representative of the current Vongola, Xanxus!"
Tsuna, by this time, was keenly wishing for a portal to transport back to home and for his bed that he could nestle comfortably in. Anywhere that wasn't here, he could take. Quite honestly, he'd admit to anyone who would care for a listen that that scarred man freaked him out to hell and back again. Quite honestly. Oh no, Dino was making claims again. HIIIE! Don't say anything, don't say anything! Pretend that I'm not here –
"Tenth generation boss of the Vongola?"
Nooooooooooo!
Dino let a wry grin to adorn his lips, back turning on the barely striking lion and facing the long table, where wary eyes were all focused on the two of them. Tsuna was confidently trying to avoid the coffee-colored gaze resting on his form to no avail, because it would only be a matter of time before the blond pointed him out as the heiress of the powerful Vongola Family. He could feel it now, just a breadth away from doom, and he could taste the fear already taking its sour form, just waiting to consume him entirely. Only a second away –
"AHAHAHAHAHA!"
Tsuna froze, Alfredo Fettuccine was halfway reaching for his cocktail, when he'd stopped, Celeste was playing with her hair, eyes burning into Xanxus, when she blinked inquisitively, and the other mafia henchmen had all stood up again, despite having taken their seats just a moment ago. Everyone stared at the raucous boss of the Varia, uncomprehending the sudden burst of raw delight, and only when Xanxus's laughter had died into a low vibration of unnerving chuckles did they dare to exchange skeptical looks. Tsuna had forgotten how to breathe – that was how frightened he was.
"You have guts, messing around with me, Chiavarone. You expect me to believe that this...girl is the tenth generation? Don't make me laugh!" Xanxus roared, knocking aside the chair his leg was resting on and letting it clatter onto the floor with a loud thump.
Celeste hummed, standing up and striding over to the quivering Vongola. She lingered around the high-back chair, hands roaming over the armrests, and in a smooth voice she said, "Don't forget, Xanxus. This may not even be the Vongola's true form."
Tsuna perked up at her words, tension high-strung in the unsteady pacing of his heart. Was it possible that this woman knew something about his circumstance? And...why was she this close to him, anyway? Murmurs in agreement resounded, and he could have melted into a puddle of humiliation, when a slender finger lifted up his chin. Celeste was giggling lightly now, and Fettuccine seemed to be rather satisfied with his mild thinking, for he had on an ugly smirk reflecting his beady eyes. Tsuna couldn't make himself shake off the soft hand of the woman, who was undeniably making him more and more uncomfortable. Alfredo Fettuccine had picked up his cocktail and was saying something, "That reminds me, Mademoiselle Celeste, of the delightfully cunning Vongola Settimo in the olden age. You people must recall, I'm sure, of his wonderful execution as a beggar in an international congregation, such as the gathering we are having now, and how he had fooled hundreds of mafia families into believing his disguise. Of course, none knew that he was the heir to the most influential family at the time, the Vongola." Nods in understanding passed along the table, and now Tsuna was feeling too prickly for his liking.
He somehow found an intense dislike in the witty Italian, who was currently sipping from his glass with great content. Fettuccine wiped his mouth with a handkerchief before continuing to speak, a greedy glint in his distrustful eyes, "Is it coincidental that a month after each mafia family knew of the next Vongola heir, the Settimo from a century or two ago, the fools who had mocked the beggar form of the Vongola were unfortunately perished from the face of the earth?"
Silence ensued, but each person's mind was filled with a sudden thrust of tension and fear. However, the most nervous one was Tsuna, who was enduring countless glances from his unlikely companions. They didn't look too friendly. He did understand, if not ironically, why they were now putting up their guards in front of this "future boss of the tenth Vongola generation," although it was not to say that he liked the undeserved attention and the fleeting glances. Suddenly, he noticed that the scary, glowering guy with the abnormal red irises was glaring at him in utmost hatred. Tsuna scooted back a few centimeters in his chair.
Whoops. What now?
"This common girl as the next Vongola?" Xanxus was livid. "I refuse to believe such bullshit."
And he had left, shouldering people out of the way in his retreat. Celeste had wandered back to her seat, grabbed her Louis Vuitton handbag, and winked at a rather disheveled Dino before departing, sauntering away to the bartender in a little section across the room. Alfredo Fettuccine cleared his throat, standing up and refusing to look at the petite figure at the head of the table. Others had stood up, as well, and one of them, a woman in her thirties, mumbled to him, though audible in all aspects (probably a volume level intentionally used so that Tsuna could hear her – and in Japanese, no less), "We must be careful. Letting such an...important figure overhear our conversations would be troublesome, no?"
A nonchalant voice said from Tsuna's left, "Let's not make ourselves enemies of the future Vongola, shall we?" The brunet flushed, face paling considerably. Tsuna found himself imagining an abrupt pit in the ground, in which it was easy access to a hiding place away from the world and its prying eyes and stinging words. His head hurt, but it wasn't just that; his chest was beating painfully. I didn't want to come here in the first place. Do they think I want to be a part of this mafia stuff? I'm just a high school student – a ninth grader! I don't want to be involved in this mess! It's not normal! He told himself he wasn't going to cry, that there was no need to, but he was already feeling the pool of tears forming, the anguish thudding of his heart, and the stuffy nose he was sure going to endure later. A-ack! S-stop! Why am I depressed over this?
"Tsukasa, I apologize on behalf of the undisciplined fools; I'll have them handled later." Dino's voice was soothing, but Tsuna could not hope to lift his face from the shield that was his wavy brown hair and reveal his already tearing eyes. He only managed a dull nod, refusing to look up at the tall blond before him. "Hey, Tsukasa. Are you all right?"
"J-just fine." He was at least proud in his normal-sounding voice. It didn't crack or anything. Not yet, hopefully. "You don't need to worry about me, Dino-san." Tsuna found himself being grasped by the shoulders firmly, and in surprise, he unfortunately exposed his nearly tear-stricken face. HIIIIIE! Now he's going to think I'm a crybaby! Waving and flapping his hands awkwardly in an attempt to cover his humiliation, the brunet stammered, "A-aha! It's not what it looks like! I'm just...uh, stung by the tea, see?" He hurriedly averted his eyes, holding up the steaming cup for confirmation. A hand gently pried his from the teacup, and Tsuna stood stock-still, just trying to stall time. Maybe he'd have enough room to make a beeline for the lavatory, wherever that was, (he'd have to ask an employee later) and then make himself at home with all the tissues he'd have surrounding him.
"You're not fine, Tsukasa."
When trying to stop unnecessary crying in front of a whole group of audience, it is better to think of the good things in life, the fulfilling dinner you'll be having next, the internet time you'd have at home, and perhaps amusing yourself by imagining the perfect revenge on your offender, such as a nice, epic kick that would send the person sailing through ten brick walls and have there waiting for him a decade of comatose, and when said person wakes up ten years later, he will find a divorce note from his dearly beloved wife – apparently not so dearly beloved, after all. But one must never have, in the midst of the peak of bawling your eyes out, someone coming in and reminding him of that terrible, tear-of-anger-inducing incident, in which the person had oh so experienced and agonized over, and telling him that "You're not fine (and I can fix that)," because it is just not mentally and socially acceptable.
So, when Tsuna heard Dino tell him the apocalyptic statement that would conquer heaven and bring upon earth a drought of doom ("You're not fine, Tsukasa), it was like a volcano had erupted inside of him, and he was just so sick of the entire mafia business – what did that have to do with him? – and being talked about as if he were going to unleash Cerberus on their rears and set their 'families' on fire, and on top of the outright indication of "a common girl" (he was not a girl), he was forced to dress up as a female. And he was just so sick of all this.
"Ciao, Dino – my, what have you done to this pretty girl?" A hushed, curious tone.
"A heartbreaker as always, I see." A womanly laugh.
"Ahaha, nothing like that," Dino replied with a slanted grin, but he quickly rushed past the group of wealthy women to the staircase, which would lead upstairs. Beside him Tsuna had his eyes obscured by his arm, head facing downwards, as a sniffle would occasionally escape his mouth. The latter was reluctant to present his vulnerable state, and Dino didn't press him. On the left was a majestic balcony, which overlooked the glittering city nicknamed the Underground, and by the hand, the blond led Tsuna to take a breath of fresh air. They slid past a rowdy crowd of people who were being entertained by a round of billiard played by two fellows to the sectioned area on the ledge of the building, in which a comfortable, cushioned sofa was placed to view the dazzling night sky.
Tsuna sniffed, still hiding his face, but he was curious as to where he was, though he still lacked the courage to take a peek. He did hear the conversations and rumors as he was passing by with the Chiavarone, and in fact, he was more than glad that the blond brought him to the balcony (he could breathe in the air). Even though he was afraid of his voice turning out like a broken record, he choked out a, "Thank you, Dino-san." He sounded almost normal. At least he had an excuse for being vaguely on the masculine side now.
"Don't thank me, Tsukasa. If anything, it's my fault you were in that situation."
"Ah..." He wanted to disagree, but this was fifty percent Dino's fault. "It's really because of me and my useless self, so it's all right." By now, he felt he could see with his eyes and not break out in new waves of tears. Tsuna was bullied often by delinquents who had all the time in the world to waste, but he had never actually cried this badly. This was a first. He wanted to put the blame on Reborn (the baby had disappeared again, not to say he was all too surprised), but he knew it wasn't really the case.
"I'll be right back. Just stay here, Tsukasa, you'll be safe. I need to deal with the pricks down there." Dino sounded serious.
Tsuna looked up at the blond, meeting determined coffee eyes, and he knew he had no say in this, but he'd still try. After all, no one needed to waste time for him, the ultimate, useless tuna. "It's fine, really, Dino-san." However, the Chiavarone had flashed him a cheeky grin before heading inside, disappearing amongst the mass of pool players. Now alone, Tsuna sighed, slumping into the sofa gracelessly, now that there was no one to witness his unladylike actions. So, why exactly did he start weeping so embarrassingly? It was obvious that he could live without comments on his being a disguised Vongola, ability to delete other families, just the fact that he was involved in the mafia, and also being bossed around by Reborn, twenty-four-seven, all day long, and with no freedom to live like any regular high schooler with less than bad grades.
Calling me a common girl, giving me the creeps with that glare, staring at me like I'm a rare and wild animal put on display, telling me that I must do this, the Alice game – I'm fed up with it!
Footsteps.
Tsuna froze, eyes widening in disdain. He could see the courtyard from where he sat, and there seemed to be a lingering couple roaming the garden.
"Ah, there's someone here?"
A familiar voice. He bolted upright, body tensing. Tsuna knew who this was, and it surprised him to no end. Just what was he doing here?!
"Hmm? A young lady?" There was that teasing edge to that voice he knew so well. This was...abrupt. He didn't think he could handle anything else, especially since coming back from such embarrassment downstairs. Though, this was something else entirely. After all – hiieeee! It's...
Tsuna tore his eyes away from the scenery of a lush garden lit up by the entrancing moonlight, gaze slowly locking on the eerily pale yet tantalizing lavender ones of the person he'd known for nearly two weeks. Byakuran was leaning on the stone balustrade, fashionably attractive in a dark Victorian bartender vest, a dodge city white shirt underneath, and black pants of the silk texture that complemented his long and slender legs. His arms were casually resting on the railing, silvery white hair fluttering in the light breeze, pale violet irises radiating a shade of blue under the illumination of the pearl planetoid, and lips drawn into a whimsical and carefree smile.
A click sounded in the mechanical device hidden in his jade earrings. Tsuna blinked away the unshed teardrops collecting in the corners of his eyes, forcing himself to remain calm while feeling his throat dry up completely. Why was Reborn signaling him now of all times?
Byakuran spoke, tilting his head slightly in question, "Seeking solitude?"
Yes or no. No or yes. Either way, he would have to answer. Tsuna kept his voice steady when he replied in a low murmur, wondering in the back of his mind if the waterproof mascara and eyeliner were credible in their claim, "No...just taking a break." G-gahhh! Why do I have to act like a girl?! I really, extremely, highly despise you, Reborn!
The older teen was grinning, pushing off the balustrade and strolling over to the brunet, seemingly as laid-back and cheery as ever. Byakuran stopped within a few inches away, a rather dangerous breadth apart, and he lifted a hand to reach for the latter, only to have it stopped midway before coming into contact with the brunet. He blinked, uttering not a word while taking in the startled expression of the latter along with his fragile hand grasping his violating one in resistance. Byakuran let out a surprised noise, "Ah..."
Tsuna was inwardly screaming in fear, but he clamped his aggravation with a grim and contrastingly innocent smile. It was even shocking to himself to see his nonexistent acting skills emerging from nowhere and coming into play in this situation; he finally half understood how disguises could make one more effective. Sort of. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mister,,,?"
Byakuran observed the pretty brunette whose recent defiance to his advance, which couldn't really be considered an advance, since he was merely going to wipe away the noticeable traces of tears from her eyes, was more than intriguing. It wasn't usual that girls would give up a chance to be near him, and even less, let him willingly touch them, so this was utterly surprising. He dropped his hand and let out an amused laugh, as if he weren't weighed down by the brunette's silent refusal. "Byakuran. Just Byakuran. And you, my dear lady?" he prompted, surveying the distantly familiar and beauteous face of the latter. Wide pools of brown eyes, medium length wavy hair, complementing, authentic jewelry, and the form-fitting white dress – she could easily be a movie star or a model, although her height was rather short.
There was a pause, and Tsuna took the time to think up a name for himself, since most likely he didn't want the upperclassman to find out who he actually was, but then a quick reminder recalled that he already had an alias. "Tsukasa," he replied, nervous hands hiding behind his back.
"Then, Lady Tsukasa," Byakuran said, smiling smoothly, "would you mind chancing a dance with this lowly servant?"
The floating music from the three-story congregation had drifted into a lullaby of strings and classical piano. A ticking noise from Tsuna's earrings sounded, and the brunet stared at the taller male in shock. "D-dance...?"
Rori's Corner: Uhh, super long chappie. My chappies have a pattern of long to short and then short to long. It took me around 4-5 days to finish this. Or more.
Hehh, don't kill me now. It's to make up for my uh...overdue-ness?
I don't mind if you guys consider me incompetent a writer, but at least appreciate the story LOL Anywaiiz, I love you still~ Byakuran and Tsuna ;3 Xanxus is very bas~tard~ly. But you know you love him.
Finally posting something ;3