A/N: oh yeah. I've already published this much and yet I don't put in stuff that follows. well anyway, now I do!

Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn. My characters are only the things I own so far from this story. Any relations to real people or fictitious characters, and the like are purely coincidental.

13 Forehand Perspective

"Before anything else, I would like to explain things to you." Nieve said.

Nozomi replied with a puzzled face.

"You are currently asleep, dreaming all of this in the real world." Nieve added.

Nozomi nodded slowly. "Oh…kay."

"Anyhow, back to business." Nieve smiled. "My name is Nieve Aizu. I was born in a wealthy family. My father is Japanese businessman while my mother is a maiden foreigner. He and my mother met during a certain encounter. After courtship and hardships, they married. Since my father was a businessman, a lot of transactions were made with his partners and, he had to travel a lot. He was always bringing me along to his trips in order for me to learn his ways. However, I knew that he was just going to use me to have more business connections. Even so, I didn't mind. We went traveling back and forth, from Japan to my mother's home country. It was definitely endless, but, I somehow saw it stable."

"Just… like me." Nozomi realized.

Nieve smiled. "Until one day, an aristocrat came as my father's visitor, asking for the payment of my father's debt."

-FLASHBACK-

It was in an enclosed Japanese room, with the sliding doors and tatami mats. There were four people; three were men and one was a woman. There was a man with a slightly bald head, his face a bit aged; he was facing his debtor, and behind this debtor were his companion and his companion's wife.

"Have you no shame? You know only too well that today is the day of the payment of your debt." the debtor, who was in respectable blue and white Japanese aristocrat clothing, said.

"I am very sorry, sir, but recently my funds have been coming low," the slightly bald man bowed his head. "I cannot pay you unless…." he trailed off.

"Unless?" the debtor asked.

"I hear you are a bachelor, sir." the older man slightly raised his head, looking if his debtor was paying close attention. "If so, it leaves me no other choice, but to present my only child, my only daughter, to you."

"I WILL NOT GO FOR SUCH TRANSACTIONS!" the debtor turned red. "This goes against her will of being a person!"

The older man bowed his head again. "But, I have no other choice, sir; she is the only medium I can think of…"

"Enough of this foolishness," the debtor's companion interjected. "I want to hear this girl. Asari," the man faced his friend. "I believe you are right. This is unbelievable."

"He is desperate after all, Giotto." Asari replied to his companion, looking pitifully at the older man. "At times like this, he'd do anything he can to-"

"Very well then," the older man sat up. "I shall hear my daughter's voice out. Come out, Nieve."

A sliding door slowly opened. A young woman emerged and presented herself, bowing towards her father and his guests. She was beautiful; nothing was on her face, her hair was neatly tied up and her clothes simply matched her.

Her daughter is indeed beautiful, but, she's only being used, Asari thought disappointedly. I must find a way to help her…

"Permission to speak, father?" the woman asked.

"Go on," the old man replied confidently. "You most likely have an idea on what to say."

"I am in honour, to be of my father's…advantage." the woman started. "I am willing to serve him as he wan-"

"Liar. I can really tell." Asari's companion, Giotto, boldly said towards the woman.

The woman suddenly raised her head in disbelief.

"What is your name?" Giotto asked.

"E-excuse me?" the woman was dazed with the man's words.

"Your name?" Giotto repeated.

"N-Nieve, sir." she answered nervously.

"Stop lying to yourself, Nieve. Is this is how you understand the difference between love and being grateful to someone? Marrying a complete stranger?"

"Giotto-" Asari tried to calm him.

"But, I love my father…" Nieve weakly replied.

"Enough," the old man halted.

"I would like to say something, sir," Asari cut in.

"Go ahead," the older man permitted.

"These things take time, sir. I wish you understand that. And as so, I am willing to court her." he paused to look at the woman and looked back at him. "And if time comes for marriage, I shall say so. No, I mean, we shall say so." Asari straightened up, smiling. "Sir, if you do not see to my wishes, then the debt you have from me shall have interest, an increase per day of delay of payment. If you agree to my terms, then your debt may as well be cut into half, and we are both happy."

"Y-yes sir! I agree!" the man bowed immediately. After a second, he raised his head a bit. "But, what if, you don't… enjoy her company? I mean, if the marriage does not…"

"One-fourth will only be deducted," Asari replied. "At least then, you have given me a friend."

A friend… the woman felt uncomfortable.

"Agreed." the man replied.

The two men bowed their heads at one another.

"Sir, if you may, please escort my guests out." Asari asked as he rose. "I wish to speak with your daughter in private."

"Yes, Ugetsu-sama," the older man stood. So did Asari's companions.

"I guess it is resolved, Giotto," Giotto's wife stood and smiled. "Isn't that nice?"

"Yes it is, dear." Giotto answered. He then faced Asari. "We are off then, Asari."

"See you soon, Giotto," he bode and faced his wife. "See you as well, Giotto's ever-beloved," Asari teased.

"Yes, see you," the woman giggled as she and Giotto were escorted out by the older man.

The two sat in silence after the others left the room.

"Y-yes, Ugetsu-sama?" Nieve stuttered, breaking the silence between them.

She was so nervous. She felt a drop of sweat run down her face. She knitted her fingers, one over the other, practically fidgeting on her place. Anything could be done, now that she was alone, with the peculiar stranger, who just stood up to her father.

"I…" Asari started, alerting Nieve to straighten up.

Nieve went back to her proper sitting posture.

"I… am pure-born Japanese. In fact, I am an official. You could say, therefore, I am a man of aspirations and so." Ugetsu started. "However, I am not just any other man you may come across in this land; I am a well-bred and well-raised man, with principles and beliefs." He then stared deep into Nieve's deep black eyes, although he knew she was avoiding his gaze.

Nieve was confused. "W-what are you trying to…?"

"Why do you, a woman of substance, let yourself be used by your own father?" Ugetsu asked sternly.

Nieve sat in silence, ignoring Ugetsu.

Ugetsu heaved. "I know women in today's time are inferior, but, I sense some difference in you."

Nieve looked up at his words. What an opinionated man…

Nieve then decided to answer. "Sir… I was not only raised here in Japan, but I was also reared in a chaotic country called Philippines. My mother is a native of the country. Therefore, I spent some of my years growing up with her, making me a person of two… countries."

"And?"

"And so, sir," Nieve continued. "I've learned from my mother the value of being grateful to those who have done well to me. My father is a good man; he does his business for me and mother, to have a good life. He and my mother brought me up the best they could. And by obeying their wishes is the sole way I can think of, to repay their kindness, all these years they've reared me." Nieve sighed, looking away. "However, this is far different from my female Japanese friends, who only obey their parents' wills of marrying strangers because they believe women are inferior."

Asari nodded in comprehension. "I see; you have grown up with foreign morals. It may just be the reason why I sense some difference in you."

Nieve nodded in agreement with him.

"So, did you listen to what my good friend said earlier?" Ugetsu asked Nieve.

"Yes, and it was wonderful. It opened my mind." Nieve replied. "I guess there is another way to repay my father's kindness… because as a father, he should be able to recognize my efforts to make him happy."

"Yes indeed." Ugetsu smiled. "I see you have thought it out. Wonderful."

"But what else am I able to do?" Nieve asked resolutely. "In current times, men are over superior to women. What could someone like me possibly do? I am not enough-"

Asari then reached out for something in his sleeve. He brought out a flute, which surprised Nieve.

A flute…? Nieve wondered. Why does he…?

He then played a magnificent, peaceful tone which brought Nieve to tears. Although she was in tears, she understood what Asari was trying to say to her.

"Is it clear now?" Asari asked, keeping his flute.

"Yes." Nieve answered wholeheartedly. "To go beyond the unexpected…"

"Very well, thank you for your time."

"Thank you very much, Ugetsu-sama. Thank you for everything." Nieve bowed her head to him.

"N-no. Please don't,"Asari rejected, feeling uneasy with the title.

"Huh?" Nieve was puzzled, although she knew she addressed him correctly.

"Please do not forget, we are lovers now. You may address me as Asari, as I shall call you Nieve. No more formalities." Ugetsu stated. "We are lovers, with your father's consent."

"Y-yes, A-Asari." Nieve obeyed, stuttering with her first attempt.

"Forgive me then, as a lover, instead." Asari bowed in humility.

"But why?" Nieve asked.

"For I do not know how I shall court you, for you are a foreigner." Asari reasoned. "Your parents may have told you stories of courtship onto which I may not reach up to… I am afraid you have expectations from your lover, based from these stories-"

"But you were the one who said to my father earlier, that these things take time." Nieve caressed Asari's face with her hand. "So, I don't know myself what to expect from you. You don't know what to expect from me. We won't know anything until we try. That is courtship; we shall get to know more of one another."

Asari gently got her hand. "My, my, not only are you a flower, but a blossoming sakura tree of knowledge. Very lovely."

Nieve blushed. "Thank you."

"I shall see you soon, Nieve." Asari bode.

"See you again, Asari." Nieve replied.

- END OF FLASHBACK-

"Nieve-sama… How… wonderful." Nozomi said in awe.

"Indeed." Nieve agreed. "But I'm afraid our time is limited. You must go back to Vongola Decimo's tutor. He is worried sick and very much curious."

"Thank you, Nieve." Nozomi said.

Nieve smiled at her, closed her eyes, and so did Nozomi.

_ _

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