Here it is. I'm being generous to end my hiatus earlier.
Thanks for the reviews, faves and alerts guys and sorry for the long wait! And yes, this is an R27 story *throws confetti*
Disclaimer: I don't and I won't
"No way" Tsuna said seriously. If anyone takes a look at her expression, one would think she's taking a decision for a lifetime.
Reborn sighed exasperatedly. They had been over this for hours. He silently wondered how thick the girl's head is. "It's just a few more days"
"No way" she said again, crossing her arms in an 'X' motion to emphasize her point.
"Okay, but you will owe me thousands of lire to get back. Cash." He huffed elegantly, folding his hands in front of his chest.
Tsuna gritted her teeth in frustration. There's no way she'd stay in that bloody Mafia mansion until the end of winter break! No way in hell!
But she also couldn't afford thousands of lire. She even had a hard time paying for the apartment and the college, let alone for this. She'll have to sell her organs to the Yakuza if she wanted to pay him back. But that was out of the question since she needs her organs to work.
What can she do now? Beg on her knees to be shipped back to Japan? Or forgive bastard 1# (Giotto) for his deeds and be buddy-buddy with him while she stays?
No fucking way.
"Also your friends wanted to spend more time with you. How heartless of you to leave them" The raven haired man said again, jerking her out of her reverie as he mocked hurt expression.
Tsuna raised an eyebrow, pure confusion dancing in her caramel brown orbs. "Friends? I just have a friend!" Only Chrome wanted to be her friend, right?
Reborn sighed exasperatedly yet again as he leaned to the bed post beside him. This girl is too thick headed for her own good. "Didn't you notice how happy they were when they saw you? Some of them are stubborn but they are all obviously wanted to be your friend" he explained.
Tsuna blinked. "Really?"
"Really" replied the Hitman bluntly with a deadpanned expression. The two are currently in Tsuna's room. Since Tsuna felt embarrassed to stay with them all. Because for some reason, the cousins kept boring hole in her head. Maybe because they were grateful to her and wanted to thank her. But it was unnerving! Was that what Reborn meant by 'wanting to be her friends'? Well, too bad, she doesn't think that way.
Truth to be told, she also hates to be with Reborn but it's better than being with the other, especially Giotto.
When Tsuna was back from her train of thought, there's a sudden knock on the door.
Reborn stared at Tsuna knowingly. The brunette blushed, understanding the gesture. "C-c-come in" she's not used to give permission like that.
The door creaked open and Yamamoto peeked in, a tad bit hesitant. He noticed the Hitman inside and came upon a conclusion. "Did I disturb you?" He asked a bit uneasy at the thought of disturbing them.
Tsuna shook her head. "No. Do you need something?"
Yamamoto grinned in relief as he opened the door wider to show his full body. "Well, we want to go outing! So, we were wondering if you want to come?" He asked, putting his arms behind his head in an easy going attitude.
Tsuna blinked. "I can?"
"Of course!" The teen replied cheerfully.
She glanced at Reborn who was listening quietly to their conversation. "Will you also come?" she silently hoped the other would say 'yes'. She'd kill herself than admit it but she felt most comfortable with bastard 2#, namely Reborn.
Reborn immediately understood why the brunet asked and refused bluntly like he always did. She has to start making friend on her own. Even though, he wanted to help the brunet.
Tsuna frowned –a frown that resembles a pout in Reborn's eyes- in disappointment. Yamamoto saw the exchange and grinned sheepishly. "Reborn is busy. Though, we don't mind him to come. So, are you coming?" he asked again, also hoping to get a 'yes'
Tsuna looked a bit hesitant but said yes nonetheless.
Yamamoto's grin stretched from ear to ear. "Okay! We'll be waiting for you in the entrance!" he said and skipped down the corridor. Tsuna waved at his retreating back hesitantly.
"I should just say no" she muttered with a worried frown on her face.
Reborn raised an eyebrow. "Why?" He inquired.
"W-well," she started hesitantly. "I-I don't know how I am supposed to act around them"
Reborn hummed slightly, gesturing that he was listening, and said, "Don't worry. Just act like how you usually do."
Tsuna turned to him with mixed feeling which was dominated with frustration. "I usually do? But what I usually do is be quiet and read books! That doesn't count!"
The raven haired Hitman stood straight. As he passed her, he rummaged her hair. "They will understand" he said and left to who-knows-where.
Tsuna touched her hair softly, feeling the warm of Reborn's hand on her hand with tints of pink on her cheeks. She pouted, feeling really disappointed that Reborn couldn't come.
When she finally realised what she was thinking, she slapped herself 'Why the hell am I so disappointed about? It's as if I'm in love with him?!' She shook her head to clear her head from bad thoughts and went to the entrance, where the cousins are waiting for her.
[Sawada Tsunayoshi]
"S-sorry, I took a while" Tsuna apologized, looking down to her feet as if it was covered in fairy glitter, 'I will never get used to this thing!'
Yamamoto put his hands behind his head. "No worries! It's not that long!"
"I forgive you TO THE EXTREME!" Ryohei shouted, pumping his fist to the air.
"Kufufu. . . It's fine" Mukuro said -almost pervertedly in Tsuna's eyes-.
"Please just take your time Tsuna-san!" Gokudera exclaimed, bowing slightly with stars visible in his eyes.
"Nyahaha! Lambo-san forgives you as long as you give him candies!" Lambo exclaimed from Chrome's hands. Though, they all ignored his demand.
"Tsuna-san" Chrome murmured softly, smiling shyly at the brunet.
Tsuna smiled back. "Umm, I think you lose one person" she said, trying to stray the attention to something else or someone or anything. She swore she could die due to the uneasy feelings. If she didn't die because of the Mafia first, though.
"Hibari doesn't like crowd! But he'll be around if we need him!" Yamamoto said cheerfully. Tsuna sweat-dropped at that. "That's rather unique…"
"I think we should introduce ourselves again" Gokudera suggested. They all nodded eagerly.
"My name is Gokudera Hayato. Please call me whichever you like, Tsuna-san!" The silver haired teen exclaimed and bowed ninety-degrees sharp at her.
Tsuna's right eye twitched slightly at his attitudes but decided to let it be. She doesn't have the right to comment anyway. In Tsuna's eyes, he's like a relentless storm that never rest.
Maybe that's because of his storm-y, temperamental attitude he showed to other people except her, for some unknown reason.
"I'm Yamamoto Takeshi! You can call me Takeshi if you like. Oh, and I like baseball and milk!" The raven haired teen introduced himself as he put his hand behind his head, grinning in a care free manner all the while.
Tsuna felt slightly calmed by this guy's aura for some reason, like the presence of a calming rain.
Maybe that's because he's the most normal compared to the others.
"I'M SASAGAWA RYOHEI! NICE TO MEET YOU TO THE EXTREME! YOU SHOULD ALSO JOIN THE BOXING CLUB TO THE EXTREME" The white haired teen said –yelled at the top of his lungs- while pumping his bandage-covered hands.
At first glance, he may look intimidating and annoying, but Tsuna somehow had a warm feeling inside her, like a sun had shine brightly and warmly upon her.
But maybe that's due to his passion with the boxing club he mentioned before.
"Kufufu. . . I'm Rokudo Mukuro and this is my sister Rokudo Chrome." Mukuro said, pointing to himself then to Chrome who was smiling shyly at her. Tsuna returned the smile slightly. At least there's a girl there.
She silently wondered how Chrome could stand her creepy brother inwardly. She couldn't even stand a doting one, not that she said he is her brother. Not over her dead body.
So this time, she felt that the two had mist-y aura around them, like thick mists that hides away bad things. Considering their mist-y and mysterious aura, she wouldn't be surprised if they actually materialize their weapons from mist.
"I'm Lambo-sama! Bow down to me! GYAHAHA" Lambo laughed boisterously. Tsuna sweat-dropped at the cow kid.
In the other hand, this five-years-old for unknown reason had the lightning-y feeling. Like a lightning rod more specifically.
Maybe that's because he's a place for Gokudera to release his pent up frustration by kicking him. Lightning rod indeed.
Hayato face palmed. Had Tsuna not been there, he was sure they will be eating steak tonight. He mean, how dare he act like that in front of Tsuna–san? Unforgivable.
"I'm sorry for his behavior Tsuna-san" he apologized, bowing profusely.
"N-no, it's fine" she said, waving her hands. "My name is Sawada Tsunayoshi, call me Tsuna. You don't need to use –san by the way." She introduced, looking off to the side and awkwardly rubbing the back of her neck.
Yamamoto laughed his trademark laugh and would have plopped an arm around her shoulder had he not see her nervous expression. "Tsuna then! The one with the scary glare and hate crowd is Hibari Kyoya. Some of us are Italian but most of us are Japanese"
"Okay." Tsuna said slowly, noting the information inwardly. "So, where do you guys want to go?" she asked the question people with common sense would ask.
"Well, we don't really want to go somewhere specific. Do you have any suggestion?" Yamamoto asked back, looking at her expectantly.
Tsuna shook her head and smiled sheepishly. "It's my first time in Italy. Someone kidnapped me here" the last part was dripping with sarcasm and venom.
"Then why don't we show you around?" Gokudera suggested, throwing a brilliant smile at Tsuna. Tsuna nodded and they started walking to the town.
It took an hour to the town by foot as the Vongola mansion is on a hill. Along the way, Gokudera bickered a one-sided argument with Yamamoto who just laughed it off, Mukuro kufufuf-ed while staring at Tsuna with something she couldn't comprehend, Lambo demanded sweets and almost threw a tantrum when not given candy but saved by Yamamoto who plopped a candy to his mouth, Chrome being quiet all the time, Ryohei EXTREME-ed at the top of his lungs, and Tsuna kept fidgeting on her spot seeing their… antics. When they arrived, the first thing they did was showing her their regular boutique.
The bell jiggled as the brown wooden door opened. A woman with sandy blond wavy long hair and slender figure stood behind the counter looked up to them almost immediately.
"Elena-san!" Yamamoto greeted, waving at her from his spot. The woman's face immediately brightened up.
"Ara! It's the guardians' cousins!" she chirped cheerfully and immediately shoved them in.
"Hello there, Chrome" She greeted the eye-patched girl who just smiled shyly. "How are you?"
"I'm fine" Chrome muttered quietly. Elena smiled and ruffled her hair affectionately.
"Kufufu, Elena, Daemon says hi." The pineapple-haired brother informed her, almost chuckling to himself. The sandy blond haired woman blushed slightly and nodded. "Tell him I said hi too" She said with a charming smile.
Just then she noticed Tsuna. "Are you Vongola Decimo's cousin? Considering you're with his guardians cousins and you're alike with him" she asked suddenly, putting a finger on her lips.
Tsuna gave a deadpanned expression. "No, I'm not. I don't even know him" she said, trying hard to restrain her inner demons from lashing out at the woman about the taboo. The cousins raised an eyebrow at her statement but didn't say a word. The woman oh-ed and clapped her hands, deciding not to pry further.
"Okay! So~ what kind of clothes do you guys want?" she asked, smiling kindly.
"Well, we just want to show Tsuna-san around" Gokudera answered pointing to Tsuna. Tsuna had told him many times no need to use –san. But he's too stubborn.
She oh-ed again. "Then please take your time! I'll be in the back if you need me." she said and left after patting Chrome's head. Red brushed the latter's cheeks, feeling really embarrassed of the kindness.
Yamamoto then turned to Tsuna. "Do you want to buy something?" he asked, smiling happily.
Tsuna shook her head. "Like I said, someone kidnapped me. I don't have money" she said, looking sheepish and raised her hands to show that she really doesn't have any money.
"Kufufu. . . Then just pick the clothes you want. I'll pay for you"
Gokudera perked up at that. "No, you don't! I'll pay for Tsuna-san!"
Yamamoto laughed. "Either way, just take what you want and we'll pay for you"
Tsuna smiled awkwardly and shook her head. "No, thanks."
Even though she had refused, Chrome appeared beside her with a dress in her hand. "Tsuna-san, p-please t-try this" she said with hesitant smile and offered the dress to Tsuna. Oh how she longed to do this kind of thing with a friend. A girl friend. That doesn't mean she was not happy with her cousin's cousins. It's just that sometimes she needed a girl as a friend to share girls' secrets. She smiled at Tsuna. Her brother and her cousin's friends' cousins smiled proudly at her. It was the first time she did something like that and it was a good thing as she was a shy person.
Beads of sweat rolled down Tsuna's forehead. Seeing the timid looking girl offering her something with awkward smile, trying her best to look confident, make her feel guilty to decline the offer. Hence, she took the dress uncertainly. Chrome's smile brightened up, so are her brother and cousins. Tsuna suddenly felt bad to make them feel bad, like a huge rock with 'responsibility' written on it fell on her shoulders.
In the end, they bought dresses and clothes they see fit on Tsuna. She could only accept it with a look on her face. Then they went to the candy shop to buy candy for Lambo. They were bickering all the way until the shop about which dress Tsuna fit the best. She had tried to calm them down but soon they will start another fight. The brunet sighed tiredly.
In the candy shop, they argued about which sweets she liked the most yet again. And again, they bought a bag of each candy for Tsuna and debated on which Tsuna will eat. Gokudera even went to the point explaining the substance of the candy. Tsuna just stared. She couldn't decline the candies again. Since they looked like abandoned puppies when she was about to reject it. She was not heartless enough to abandon them.
After that, they went to an abandoned alley. There are some trash bins and sounds of rats running and squeaking as they passed by. Had they not be careful, their feet will land on the puddles of dirty water that almost made some lakes there. And the last but not the least, the bad smell, typical abandoned alley. Tsuna carefully took her steps, not wanting to dirty her pants due to the puddles and frowned at the place.
"What are we doing here?" Tsuna asked, cautiously looking around.
Gokudera immediately stood up straight and with a salute, he said "To restock my dynamites and buy other thing like weapon, Tsuna-san!"
"I see" she replied slowly. But still, she can't help but feel nervous. By the time they were there, Tsuna was glancing around the place anxiously, as if she let her guards down she'll be swallowed by the earth. There were various scalpels, injections and weird liquids which reminded her of her time in the Estraneo which made her nervous. Gokudera and the other noticed her reaction and fasten their pace, knowing well what made the girl so nervous. They hurriedly got out from the place when Tsuna started sweating and her hands started went cold.
Gokudera apologized to her by kneeling down on the sidewalk and offered to do seppuku. Tsuna sweat-dropped at that and tried to calm the silveret down, feeling nervous by the stares the pedestrians gave them. After calming Gokudera down, they finally settled down in a café, and again, bickered.
"You baseball idiot! I should be the one sitting beside Tsuna-san! I'm her right-hand-man!" Gokudera claimed to the said baseball idiot who was laughing like an idiot he is. Tsuna sweat-dropped again, since when did he become her right-hand-man?
"Maa maa, it's all the same, isn't it?" Takeshi said and plopped an arm around his shoulder in which the silveret threw away harshly. The baseball loving teen just laugh it off.
"Kufufu. . . I should be the one sitting next to her." Mukuro said, chuckling creepily.
"EXTREME FIGHT!" Tsuna cringed at the loud volume. She sweat-dropped and turned to Chrome. "Why are they always bickering? Is it normal?" she asked with exasperated tone. Chrome smiled sheepishly and nodded. "It's perfectly normal" she said, barely above a whisper. Tsuna sweat-dropped again.
They talked about random things while in the café, mainly about their life after they got out of Estraneo. They also said that they would visit the mansion in summer vacation. Some of them were also born in mafia while the rest were dragged into Mafia world like it or not.
Sometimes they laugh, not because what they talked was funny, but being together itself was fun. It was the first time Tsuna actually had this much fun other than reading books.
Suddenly Gokudera remembered something. He then stopped bickering with turf-top and turned to Tsuna, who was watching them bicker silently.
"Err, Tsuna-san, can I ask you about something?" he asked hesitantly. That managed to gain the whole grup's attention, feeling curious as to what the silveret was going to ask.
"Sure" Tsuna said slowly, glancing right and left nervously, silently wondering what was wrong. Did she do something wrong? Or do they want to leave her somewhere far far away so she wouldn't be found ever again? Tsuna cringed at her extreme thoughts.
"Before, why did you say you were not related to Giotto-san?" he asked. The group turned to Tsuna, also wanting to hear the answer. Tsuna blinked. She sighed in relief inwardly. She then scratched her cheek and looked to the side to avoid looking in their eyes.
"Well, I really don't want to be related to him." She started, trying hard not to show venom in her tone. Then her eyes turned dull and stared at her shoes blankly. "He's the reason why I was in that bloody lab. He sold me to those assholes." She then chuckled sadly. "I wonder what did he use the money for?" She trailed.
Their eyes widened slightly and stayed silent, not knowing what they are supposed to say. Even a cheerful guy like Yamamoto and an extremist like Ryohei seemed speechless. Gokudera was especially flabbergasted. After all, Giotto was his second role model after Tsuna.
"But" Yamamoto said, turning the attention to him. "It thanks to him that we met you" They, save Tsuna and Lambo, nodded eagerly with respect in their eyes.
Tsuna's eyes widened. If she could cry, she swore she must be crying right now. But even though she can't cry, she could still feel something stinging in her eyes. It was the first time someone was grateful meeting her. And it felt… nice.
They all just smiled. Ryohei surprisingly didn't say anything. He only patted her head softly. Chrome on the other hand tugged her sleeve. Tsuna turned to her with teary eyes. She smiled encouragingly.
Chrome understand very well how hurt is it to be thrown away, by a family member nonetheless. She couldn't imagine what will happen to her if her brother also abandoned her. But she can't help but being happy that she can finally have a friend beside her brother and cousins.
Tsuna wiped her eyes again and smiled back. "Thank you, guys"
They all grinned as a response and nodded. Tsuna watched as they bickered about something random again. She smiled contentedly. 'It's not that bad to have them around. . .' she thought. 'So, this is how it felt to be with friends.' Sometimes she giggled because of their antics. Chrome smiled seeing her smiling and also watched them. Without them knowing, a shadow of a fedora-wearing-man in the corner of the street was smirking at them.
Reviews please!
