Here's the next chapter, enjoy! Happy New Years~! I thank you all for reading and reviewing. And I'm glad that you are enjoying this story! :)
The brunette dumped all the contents from the bag and began to sort through them. There was a jumble of clothes, accessories, and a pair of shoes that fell out of the bag; mind you the bag was not at all big. It was a wonder how all of the items fit. Most of the garments had small signs of wear and tear but it was doable.
However, the first thing he needed to work on was the hair dye. Giotto was kind enough to toss in a small towel and a comb. The man sure knew how to prepare. Grabbing those items as well as the hair dye, he went over to the small sink and began the tedious process. The fact that he knew how to use the dye in the first place was all due to Reborn. The hit man had an obsession with disguises, as he later found out.
Constantly, he would lecture the brunette when he was working through papers. The Arcobaleno went as far as devoting one of Tsuna's school vacations to learning about disguises, much to his displeasure. Though it was true that it did come in handy, there was no way he was going to voluntarily tell the infant, ever. That would just be another thing on the long list of things he would be teased for.
Tsuna worked quickly, applying the gunk into his hair with practiced hands. Already, part of his hair was jet black. The dye seemed to be heavy enough to cause his ever standing spikes to droop. It was surprisingly helpful for the ending product. After a few more minutes, his hair was completely black and dyed as close to the roots as he could possibly go without getting onto the scalp.
With the hair dying done and drying, Tsuna closed the bottle and wiped away the smears that got on to his hands. He cleaned the sink, running water over the surface until all the specks of dye washed away. Once all traces of the process were gone, the previously brunette man moved back to the bed, tucking away the bottle and comb. He took another look at the clothes that the man had stuffed into the bag and sighed.
He quickly stripped down to his briefs and pulled on a muddy colored trouser, long dark brown socks, and slightly battered black shoes. He then pulled on a white cotton dress shirt and over that, he wore a brown waistcoat that was a size too big. Looking through the clothes, he found a couple pairs of gloves. In the end he chose a pair of beaten up leather brown fingerless gloves. The gloves served their purpose wonderfully, covering both his rings as well as his bruise. Finally, he grabbed the gray cloth cap, hiding some of his top black spikes that were unfettered from the weight of the dye. The dye was actually pretty neat; it didn't look like he colored his hair nor did it feel stiff like some of the ones he used in his own time.
He checked himself in the mirror one last time and gave a slight grin; Reborn's teachings did not go wasted. It was a wonder how a change in clothes and a dye could alter one's appearance. Grinning back at him was what looked to be a black haired teenage male that looked either a little over eighteen though he could probably pass for younger. He had chosen the ensemble of a child raised in a working class family. His slight stature further emphasized the idea of him being a growing youth.
His tucked his gloves into the inner pocket of the waist coat and proceeded to placing all the unused items back into the satchel. Now what was he to do about his personality? Pretending to act like how he was as a teenager was a tempting idea. But the fact that he had already used it as an advisor made it a bad idea. He did not want anybody to have the slightest idea that the two were connected. After a moment of thinking, he gave a small smirk that looked surprisingly natural on his current face. He just hoped that it would fool the people around him and that he remembered to speak it correctly.
Tsuna grabbed the bag and walked out of the room and down the flight of stairs. He peered into the front and raised his brow at the amount of people that now filled the bar like café. There was a lot more people compared to when he first entered. He could see Charles talking with one costumer while making a cup of coffee for another. The tables were filled with people drinking and eating.
How in the world was he going to do this? Tsuna could not help but give a small scowl. However, he didn't have to ponder for long as he was pulled by the scruff of his shirt and dragged into view, much to his distaste, "Hey Charles, who's that kid hiding there?"
Charles who had just finished making the cup turned to the man dragging a teen from the back. Charles furrowed his brow. The scruffy looking teen seemed to look annoyed by the fact that he had been discovered. Under the cap, the boy had messy black hair that drooped around his face.
He watched as the teen move away cautiously once he was dropped, "Din't haft to grab so hard…" was a barely audible comment. The teen shot a glare at the man that had let go of him clearly peeved.
Charles frowned, how did the kid sneak into his back room? He was sure that the doors were closed…unless. Wait, that voice sounded rather familiar. Charles eyes widened in surprise and the teen gave him a knowing smirk. "Sir, you were tho kind in lettin' me 'tay in the guest room," thanked the teen with a grin, "I'll be goin' now."
The man that had grabbed the teen raised his brow, "Where are your parents, child?"
The teen glared at the man, "Ain't got nobody here. 'cept my bag," said the male proudly, "That bout it. And, m' not a kid. Sixteen and proud of it," announced the teen with a small indignant huff.
Charles chuckled quietly. Giotto sure knew how to choose. "It's alright, Alan. It just slipped my mind that I even had the kid here!" The people that were listening in erupted into laughter at the expense of the boy.
The kid gave an indignant cry, "Hey! Have a name you know. Thomas! I sure ain't no a kid either!"
Charles shook his head in amusement before beckoning the disguised man to come over. The teen, humiliated and slightly red from irritation, slunk towards the man. Charles spoke softly so that only Tsuna heard, "That's some pretty good look you got there. Could have had me fooled."
'Thomas' gave a small shrug, tugging his hat down to hide some of his blush, "Course sir. Learned from tha best."
The shop owner chuckled before moving out of the counter and leading the boy back into the storage room. The man then began looking through his shelves, grabbing a couple jars that were distinctly labeled and placed them in a cardboard box, "I suggest you leave your bag here. It will only hinder you. Give this to them alright? I don't know how long you'll be there for, but remember if anything goes wrong just drop what you're doing and come back here."
Thomas furrowed his brow before shrugging, "Okay, I understand… But they know what I plan to do, right?"
The man nodded, amusement never leaving his eyes, "Yes. Now the place is only six blocks down to the left once you leave here. You won't miss it; it's the only one with a red header sign. Remember to tell them that I sent you."
Thomas nodded his head, "Yessir," said the teen before leaving with a mock salute. The boy them picked up the box with a small huff and walked out to the front door. As Charles moved some jars around, he could hear an indignant shout and another round of laughter.
Charles shook his head with another chuckle before going back to work. The fact that the brunette had managed to have a whole different personality as well as pulling off the disguise was simply amazing. And he seemed so comfortable with the whole change as well. The man could not help but wonder why Giotto hadn't brought him sooner. He had to say that the brunette sure seemed to know what he was doing when he signed up for the job.
Meanwhile, Tsuna was leaning against the wall in an alley way to the left of the store; all the pent up stress leaving him with a big relieved sigh. He couldn't believe that what he had just done actually worked. He had thought acting like that would have been a stretch. However, imagine his surprise when they all believed him. He had half expected that at least someone would be suspicious. But he would not question it. He gave a small groan. Why did he just have to agree to take this job? He wasn't even going to be paid! And what the heck were in those jars that made the box feel so heavy?
He looked up at the sky, watching as a cloud cover up the sun before moving away. Well, he didn't have all day. He sighed as he hefted the package onto his shoulder and moved out of the alley way. He didn't make it down two blocks before somebody crashed into him, "Watch where you're going kid!"
Tsuna glared at the man before grumbling an apology, half in mind to swing the package at the man. Wait a minute... Tsuna turned to look at the man who was looking through the windows of the stores. The black haired male widened his eyes as he realized just who he bumped into. It was the man who was initially tailing him! Tsuna quickly turned back around; forcing himself to continue at the pace he started out with. The man was still searching for him! The fact that the follower did not recognize him meant that the disguise was a success. However, there was always the chance that the man might realize that it was him.
Nevertheless, he was almost there as he could already see the tell tale red of the store a block away. He could not help but notice as he walked down the street that the stores around the block he walked on were more restrained in their styles, as one had to go inside to see what they offered. There was a very upper class feel to the whole area as the people walking around dressed a great deal better than the previous blocks he had walked. A sense of confidentially also seem to dominate the area as well.
When he reached the store, he found that it was still closed. He gave a small frown before peering through the wide window next to the door. He could not help but raise his brow. The interior décor was elegant but simple. Tables were draped with deep red cloths and topped with a thick white candle and a skinny black vase with a single fresh rose. The chairs were painted and shined to a polished black; a red cushion at the seat. The sleek milky colored walls were lined with different paintings and draped with curtains that were attached to hangers at the top.
Four small chandeliers hung in each corner of the store, giving the room a cozy glow. It looked like the place could fit roughly twenty people at most. Towards the entrance, there was a staircase that presumably led to the more private rooms. A small bar to the side, towards the back, looked to be where the register was as well as the doors to the kitchen. At the opposite end, there was another door, what he assumed to be the restroom.
He backed away from the door and frowned, a bit doubtful. Was he at the right location? He peered through the side of the store, spotting the side door open at the end. He walked towards it and peaked inside. It was the entrance to a brightly lit kitchen. He frowned when he spotted no one there. However that did not stop him from looking around.
To the right, there was a long counter table with two stools. Part of the counter was filled with bottles of oils, jars of seasoning, and wines for cooking. The other part was lined with a mixing bowls, pots, and pans; some of which were filled with ingredients. If he craned his neck, he could see that inside a particularly large bowl was a big chunk of dough that was partially covered with a damp cloth, to keep the moisture in.
Hanging on the sides of the counter were utensils ranging from chopping knives to spoons and even a couple cutting boards. Behind the counter were two kitchen stoves and a circular brick oven in the corner. One of the stoves already had two big pots being heated. If he looked closely, he could see a small fire in the brick oven, warming the area inside for cooking.
To the left, there was a big slate sink flush against the wall. Next to the sink was another table counter was piled with fresh bought vegetables and fruits. Above the counter were cabinets filled with utensils and dishware. He noticed another door that probably led to the cellar or storage room. Was he supposed to enter or wait until somebody showed up? Thankfully, he did not have to decide for long as a man, with a big bag labeled flour, came walking into the kitchen. Said man spotted the boy instantly, "What do you want. Leftovers are at not for another couple hours, kid."
The man looked to be the cook. He wore a large apron that covered the simple navy blue dress shirt and black pants. He had short dirty blond hair and dark brown eyes. He looked to be in his mid thirties and had a lanky figure, being a couple inches taller than Tsuna. However, the man was definitely built from days of lifting ingredients and cooking. Tsuna watched in silence as the man leaned the bag against the counter and moved to the stove, where two enormous pots were simmering. He sniffed the first pot before adding spices from the rack that hung to the right of the stove. Tsuna watched as the man stirred the pot and then move to the other. Once he was satisfied with the mix, the man made a move to the cellar, only to see that the blacked hair teen still standing there.
Tsuna held up the box that he was carrying, "'cuse me sir, but, Charles told me to come 'ere and to give this to you."
The cook raised his brow in recognition of the name. He looked over the teen before shaking his head, chuckling in amusement, "He sent you? Do you have a name?"
Tsuna gave a miffed glare, "Yes. Ts-Thomas! That's my name sir," replied the black haired teen, internally hitting himself for the nearly slip. Thankfully, the man did not notice as he looked lost in thought.
"Really… Well then, Thomas, no use standing there gawking. Come in and let me have a look at what's inside that box of yours," said the man beckoning the teen in. Tsuna entered the kitchen and gave the box, watching as the man look at the jars with a thoughtful look on his face. Tsuna could not help but wonder what the labels meant to the man.
After a moment of silence, the man began placing the jars onto the counter that held the seasoning and turned to the teen, "So you're Giotto's new advisor, eh?"
Tsuna widened his eyes in shock, completely caught off guard, "Excuse me, sir?" Tsuna's mind was racing. How did he know, this stranger?
He introduced himself, "Name's Lucio, Pleasure to meet you. I thought after the last one, he would never even try for another," commented the man absentmindedly.
Tsuna frowned before sighing. If his cover was blown, then there was no point in faking anymore, "How did you know?" asked the blacked hair teen curiously.
Lucio grinned, "The jars. Each of them has a specific meaning. Its how, we, shopkeepers get messages around and how we make sure that there is no deception," explained the man.
Tsuna nodded in understanding, "I see… Then, you know what I am supposed to be doing,"
Tsuna received a nod, "Correct. Lately the two have been meeting up privately. Charles recently found out from one of his sources that they were going to have lunch here today."
"What am I supposed to do without giving myself away?" asked Tsuna with a frown.
"Since I am conveniently short one member today, I am going to need another pair of hands. Why not have you working around as a serving man, alright?"
Tsuna nodded slowly, "What does that entail? I'm sorry, I am not familiar with all this," said the black hair male sheepishly.
The man laughed, "Don't worry, and simply listen to whatever servers tell you to do. The two reserved a private room upstairs, so you'll have no problem listening in."
"Alright if it's like that then it's fine. So what do you need help with?" asked Tsuna.
Lucio looked around thoughtfully, "For now, help me-"
"Lucio! I just heard from someone that Giotto got a new advisor! Is that true?" interrupted a figure from the door. Standing at the door was a woman who looked to be in her late twenties and early thirties. She was slightly shorter than Tsuna with a mass of black curls pinned up in a bun. Her deep blue eyes were bright with energy and cheer. She wore a simple navy blue with a fitted bodice and skirt that was shy off the ground and elbow length sleeves that puffed up slightly at the shoulders.
Lucio groaned covering his face in exasperation, "Do shut up, Sonia, you are too loud. Yes." muttered the man through his hand.
Sonia rolled her eyes as she grabbed an apron and tied it to her waist, "They say he's an interesting fellow. I can't wait to meet him," chattered Sonia giddily. It was then she realized that there was another occupant in the kitchen. She looked at Tsuna curiously, before a devious smile appeared on her face, "Who's this? He looks adorable! Do you think it'll be okay if Camilla and I had a chance to-"
Lucio held up a hand to stop her from continuing, "No, you will not. The last time you two tried to do that, the poor guy quit and I had to find another worker."
Sonia pouted before shrugging, "Fine. But it wasn't just our fault. You and Charles were to blame for it too!"
Lucio glared at the woman through his fingers, "That is a completely different story."
Said woman made a face before turning to Tsuna with a smile, "Anyway, my name is Sonia. I assume you're the substitute for Logan, then."
Tsuna nodded, "My name's Thomas. 's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am" greeted the male politely.
"Oh, by all means, call me Sonia! No formal speaking is necessary," chided Sonia with a grin.
Lucio rolled his eyes, "Oh really, now," muttered the man.
Sonia glared at the man, who simply ignored the look, busying himself with the stewing pots. Tsuna had to hide a smile that was threatening to slip into his expression. This was just too amusing.
Sonia gave a huff of exasperation before grabbing a pile of plates in one hand and a tray of utensils in the other. She left to the dining area muttering something about men being idiots, leaving the two alone once more.
A few seconds passed in silence before Tsuna spoke up, "Uh… Do you need me to do anything?"
Lucio turned from the stove in surprise, "Oh. Sorry, I thought she dragged you with her," remarked the man, "Grab an apron from the hanger. You can start washing the vegetables for now. There are still a lot of things that need to be prepped." Tsuna nodded his head before turning to the pile of vegetables. He gave an internal sigh, before rolling up his sleeves and tying on the apron. Well. At least it wasn't paperwork.
After he had finished rinsing the vegetables, Tsuna moved to help making the dough for pasta kneading it till it was a big ball of dough. After he separated the ball into smaller ones, he started the process once more. Sonia, who had finished setting up the last of the tables, had come in to finish making the pasta, expertly rolling the dough out into long thin sheets and slicing them. Once they were cut, she set them on a rack on the counter near the stoves where Lucio worked at.
Later, the two went down to the cellar to get the meat that was needed for the dishes. After instructing Tsuna how to prepare the meat, Sonia began making the sauces for the pasta. Lucio, during that time, had already begun making some dishes, using the things in the bowls he had already set up. The reason for that was because, they were ones that were most time consuming as well as regular choices made by customers.
Before he knew it, the little restaurant was open. With most of the prepping done, Tsuna was moved to the dining area as he was no longer needed in the kitchen. Sonia had given him a quick rundown of what he was suppose to do before people began pouring in. Small appetizers and drinks were the first to be set out for new customers while the regulars already began on their prepared dishes.
As Tsuna was getting the hang of waiting on and serving people, he made sure to keep an eye out for two particular men. However, as time passed, he began to grow worried as there was no sign of either man. Was the information wrong? Two hours later, when most of the diners had eaten their fill and left, Tsuna had all but given up on them. Instead, he simply immersed himself in helping Sonia and Lucio where they needed help.
"Thomas, you did a great job today! I'm so glad that you were able to help us so much," thanked Sonia with a smile. The flow of costumers had died down, leaving them some time to chat.
Tsuna shook his head, "You guys did most of the work. I learned a lot from you guys." Really, he did. Though he had started living in Italy for a good while, he had never had the time to learn how to make the things he ate.
Sonia giggled, "Oh, Thomas. If you weren't here, I don't know how we would have done it. Lucio is always so against having new people to work when Logan isn't here."
Tsuna raised his brow questioningly. Sonia sighed, "The last time that happened, Lucio refused to get a hire hand and we almost lost a great chunk of profit that day. Thankfully, the costumers were willing to wait. Sometimes, he can be such a stubborn idiot."
"It seems like the two of you are really close," commented Tsuna.
Sonia perked up and a smile immediately appeared on her face, "You really think so?"
Tsuna nodded, "Yes,"
However the smile soon disappeared, "I just wish that he would say something. You know I've been here for the past three years and he has never said any inkling of endearment to me?"
Tsuna raised his brow in mild surprise. Sure he was dense when it came to romance, but this was way beyond it, "Have you told him how you felt? Three years is pretty long," said Tsuna.
"Actually I confessed twice. Both times I asked he completely ignored me," said Sonia with a sigh, "My parents think I am foolish for still staying here. I am already at the age where finding a spouse is next to impossible. You're still young so you don't have to worry as much…"
Tsuna gave a small laugh at the last comment but wisely held his tongue, "I guess so."
She drew the young man closer, "This is just between you and me, okay?" she whispered with a grin, "I am going to ask him again, maybe tonight when we go over to see Charles."
"Well, I wish you the best, Sonia," said Tsuna. He hoped that it would go well.
Sonia gave the teen a hug, "Thank you. By any chance, would you like to join us to-"
She was interrupted by the sound of the entrance door opening. In walked the two men Tsuna thought had decided not to appear, Moldavite and Silice. Tsuna could feel Sonia tense slightly and could not help but wonder if she knew just who they were. Sonia ushered the teen to the kitchen, "Could you go tell Lucio that the pair that made reservations today are here?"
As he entered, he could hear Sonia greet the two men before the door closed shut behind him. He looked around, and frowned when Lucio was not in sight, "Lucio?"
There was still something boiling in the pot which had been left unattended. Tsuna frowned as he turned it off, covering the contents of the pot, sauce, with a top. He then walked to the kitchen exit and peered outside. His eyes widened at what he saw, internally cursing at the predicament. The cook, who had been dumping out refuse, was being held at knife point by a curly light brown haired man. The man had not noticed Tsuna as his back was turned towards the door.
"Why did they come to you shop?" asked the man placidly, though his stance was anything but that.
Lucio narrowed his eyes, "What are you talking about?"
The shook his head sadly, "It's a shame that you won't tell me. I'm surprised that they would come here of all places, though. It's been rumored that you have connections to the Vongola."
The man continued as the remark triggered no response from the cook, "I told boss that you wouldn't know. What would a cook know? But oh well. I get to add another one to my list."
However before the man could act, a kick sent him sprawling into the wall, head first. Lucio raised his brow in surprise when he realized just who did it, "Thomas, what are you doing here?"
The black haired teen grabbed the knife that was dropped out of the man's hand, "The lady called for you, she says that the reserved room is in use and that you need to make the order," replied the male, never taking his eyes off the man on the ground.
Said man, began to stir getting up with a small groan, "That hurt! What if you really injured me," chided the man before dusting himself off.
The man, who dressed in simple black three piece suit, looked to be in his early forties, though he could probably pass for younger. He had dark green eye that had held a slight eerie glow that could be seen if one looked closely. Tsuna frowned; he could not shake off a sense of uneasiness as he eyed the man warily. His intuition screamed danger and caution.
The man scrunched his brow before looking at Tsuna with curious eyes, "You dress like a youngster but that isn't so, now is it?"
Tsuna narrowed his eyes, "M' sixteen. Who are you and what are you tryin' to pull here?" demanded the 'teen' bravely, though internally he was getting very bad feeling at where this was heading to.
"No, no," denied the man with a small shake, "Most people would have believed you, but I know. I always know. You look at least have hit your twenties, at least twenty one?" The 'teen' could not hide the shock in his eyes quickly enough. The man gave a delighted clap, "I thought so."
The next event happened so fast that Lucio had to wonder if he imaged it. One moment, the two were simply standing and in the next, they had knives at each other's throat. The man chuckled, withdrawing his weapon as quickly as he drew it, "This is rather interesting. Thomas, was it? Well, Thomas, I am sure that I will be seeing you around sooner or later. In the mean time, I shall take my leave."
With that said, the man left with a small bow walking down into the streets, melding into the crowd. Tsuna watched the man leave, his mind racing. What in the world was this man and just what was he planning? His thoughts were interrupted by Lucio, who beckoned the male into the kitchen.
Lucio moved to the stove that he had left unattended, "He is well known in many circles as Rosario, the Wanderer. The man is a hire hand, a skilled and deadly one. He's killed enough men to make even the most hardened man cautious when dealing with him," said the man calmly, as if the whole incident never happened, "It is hard to describe him. He has no particular aim for power, and he never works under someone for very long. "
Tsuna frowned as he placed the taken knife onto the counter, "Do you think he is going to come after you again?"
Lucio gave a shook his head, "I am merely a cook; my combat skills are decent but not on par with his. If he didn't kill me now, then he won't bother trying to continue. He has a talent of figuring out things and most of the time he will be right."
Tsuna gave a grim nod, accepting the information as it was true. The man figured out his age without batting an eye. He was lucky that his instincts reacted quickly enough; the man had aimed to kill. Lucio continued as he began chopping a slab of meat, "If anything, I have a feeling that he has set his sights on you. So you best be careful from now on, especially with all the business with the other advisors."
Tsuna tightened his lips. Great, this was really just what he needed; another person to hound him. And this was a dangerous one to boot. But this problem had to wait till later, as they had more pressing matters to attend to.
Suddenly, Sonia came running in, "Did Thomas tell you who came? They already made their orders!"
Lucio nodded and accepted the note that held all the requested foods, "Alright, they settled themselves already?"
Sonia gave a terse nod, "They haven't said anything in particular yet, but I can't keep watching them. I have to mind the costumers downstairs,"
"Don't worry, we'll have Thomas bring up the orders to them," assured Lucio.
There was an instant refusal from the woman, "No, that's too dangerous!" said Sonia with a frown.
"Uh, Sonia… there's something I should tell you," said Tsuna. However he was brushed off, "Wait a moment, Thomas. Do you think Logan can come in?"
Lucio sighed, "Sonia, Thomas is more than capable enough to do it. There's a reason why he's here and Logan's not. Think. Who else would come other than Giotto?"
Tsuna watched as Sonia glared at the cook before a frown replaced it. Her eyes widened as she realized just what Lucio meant, "You're Giotto's new advisor?" squeaked Sonia in surprise.
Tsuna gave a small smile, "I was trying to tell you before…Pleasure to meet you."
Sonia sighed before giving a small smile, "No wonder. I thought it was strange that Lucio actually found somebody to hire," teased the lady, all traces of shock hidden.
Lucio shot a withering glare at the woman, "Very funny, Sonia," muttered the man, before he set out the dishes, "Here are the orders. Remember what I said earlier, Thomas. Be careful."
Tsuna gave a small nod as he set the dishes onto a tray, leaving the room. Sonia looked towards Lucio worriedly, "Are you sure he's going to be okay? You know what happened with all the other advisors…"
Lucio shrugged, "I think he'll be fine, after all, wasn't it said that Giotto chose him by himself?"
Sonia sighed, "I hope he's the right one because we can't have anymore traitors. The time to prepare and fortify is slowly ending."
I'm sorry to disappoint some of you who were expecting him to be dressed in something more, feminine. However, it might be fulfilled in another chapter. And as for romancing, though there might be hints of it, it won't be prominent. Sorry. I am no good when it comes to writing about love. Also, I realized that there's been a lot of characters that I have been adding. It'll stop soon, I promise.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Feel free to leave critiques and comments. I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can. Once again, Enjoy the New Year~! :)