Chapter 19: Dancing in the Rain

(Thanksgiving, too)

November 2017

"Are you sure I'm not...out of place here?"

The tie around my neck seemed to tighten with my words. I pulled at the knot, and Melody fixed it. "You're fine. My parents really wanted you here."

We were sitting on a bench in the lobby of an upscale hotel. Her parents were at the entrance greeting their guests, and said guests assembled in the lobby and talked about business and politics.

She smiled and stroked my cheek with her thumb. "We'll be just fine. They're big business owning Republicans...they'll only talk to each other, drink wine, and eat the turkey. We'll be with their children, anyway."

She looked up. "Speaking of..."

She stood up as a boy our age walked over. "Good evening, Miguel."

I stood beside her, recognizing him from school.

"Hey, Melody." He looked at me with the one eye could use. "Sawada." He smiled. "Hope you like the kiddie table."

"I can't complain." I wound my arm around Melody. "We won't be alone."

Miguel looked around. "I apologize for this."

Before I could ask, he grabbed my hand. The symbol "X" glowed unlike it ever had before. I shivered feeling like ice inside. "I hope you can accept me as your Guardian of Ice...you may think that a half-blind man can't see the whole picture. Sometimes I wish I couldn't."

"That's depressing."

"No, that's life."

I nodded. Melody looked at my hand where the "X" had appeared. "Does that..happen often?"

"No, not really. Only when I, or another Guardian, am in trouble or we touch somehow." My phone rang. "See? KT is worried now."

She giggled slightly. "The more I know..."

Her parents approached with another couple. "Melody, you remember the Santanas?"

As she went to say hello, Miguel explained, "my parents. Well, my dad and my step-mom. They own a tech industry. I lost my mother in the same accident that cost my right eye."

I wouldn't dare ask what kind of accident. Melody waved me over. I took her outstretched hand. "My boyfriend Tsuna."

"Yes," Mr. Santana said as he took my hand. "The savior of Solon High School...Thank you."

His gratitude caught me off guard. "A-ah, you don't have to thank me. It's just what I do."

Mrs. Santana took my hand. "What a devilishly handsome young man you are...You chose a good one, Melody."

She blushed. "He's very good to me."

They moved on to chat with others. Miguel laughed. "Devilishly handsome."

I sighed, still in shock. "He thanked me."

"They were very moved."

We all sat at the designated "child's table,"

which instead of alcohol, had white sparkling grape juice and water in the cups. "I would prefer the alcohol," I said sipping the juice.

"You don't need alcohol, not after last time."

"I know."

The rest of the table was taken up by the younger children. They all had expensive phones and looked like prep-schoolers.

"Let the dinner begin!"

Servers brought plates of Thanksgiving food to everyone. It was magnificent. We ate slow to make it last. "We'll be celebrating again tomorrow," I said.

"I know, but it's so good..." she replied. Above us, thunder rolled. "There's the rain.."

We listened to it's patter in the roof, loud even over the adults.

In the time between dinner and dessert, Melody and I stood in the lobby with the others watching the rain. "It looks so nice," she commented.

I had a crazy idea. All the adults in the room, her parents included, watched as I ran out into the rain. I spun around and kept my face to the sky. Melody was laughing, and some of the elderly guests commented on the immaturity. Why not? she asked herself. She ran out to join me. I picked her up and spun us around. We were soaked. She giggled as I set her down and pushed the hair from her face. "Care to dance?"

We waltzed around the courtyard in the rain.

Several adults joined us, including her parents. We slowed the dance shown to mere rocking back and fourth. "You're crazy," she said into my ear softly.

"But it worked," I whispered back.

And we kissed in the rain.

She smiled. The rain let up to a misting. I kissed her again and felt the water dripping off my body. She had her hand at the base of my skull, the other on my face. "I love you so much..."

I kissed her hand. "I love you too."

We all went inside where the staff had towels. I hung mine over my shoulders. My chest was contracting. I pulled the tie and the top button of my shirt to breathe and braced myself against the wall. ~Not now...~

"Tsuna..." Melody grabbed her phone.

"No, I'm okay...I just...Need to sit..."

She helped me to a bench and I sat. She was beside me, rubbing my back slowly. I took deep breaths. "I'm alright...I caught it before it got bad."

"Thank God..." She kissed my temple. "Little too much fun for your heart to handle..."

"Unfortunately..." I sighed.

Later that night we were stuck sitting in her parent's SUV, waiting for them to say their goodbyes to everyone. I laid my head on her shoulder. "I should have drove..."

She giggled. "Either way you'd be stuck."

I smirked and turned her head to kiss her. She moved away and I caught her neck. She shivered. "N-not in my parent's car..."

I laid my hand on her thigh and pulled myself closer to her. "Why not? It's not like we're DOING anything."

"Did you get into the alcohol?"

"No."

She looked at me and I caught her lips. She pushed me away. "Tsuna, stop. My parents WILL think the worst from you."

I moved back to my spot and looked out the window. "Sorry."

She took my hand. "Later, okay? My parents will sleep when we get home."

I would be staying over night due to the previous late night accident. She kissed my hand. He's been so affectionate lately... "Tsuna, talk to me...please?"

I looked at her. "Sorry..."

"It's alright." I hope I didn't hurt him.

Her parents got in the vehicle, and started our journey home. "What did you think, Darling? Did you have a good time?" her mother asked.

I put on a pleasing smile. "I had a wonderful time. Thank you for having me."

Her father chuckled. "You really shook up the older businessmen."

"They missed out on the fun."

"That they did."

The guest room was quiet as I walked in from the guest bath, showered and dressed to sleep. Melody entered quietly, closing the door behind herself. "Too much?" She asked about the room. I shook my head.

"Just fine. I will sleep very well."

I sat on the couch and listened to the radio. Melody sat on my thighs. "I'm sorry about earlier...I didn't mean to be so harsh."

"I understand...I don't want your parents to lose trust in me."

She frowned. "But I hurt you."

"I'm fine, really."

She leaned in and kissed me. She shivered when my hand brushed against the bare skin of her lower thigh. I moved my head away and took a breath. Her lips brushed against a sensitive spot on my neck and I groaned. She smirked in my ear. "Sensitive, are we?"

She ran a finger nail from my ear down and I groaned again. She was pleased. "Hm...You're not old enough yet...and my parents would kill me."

I laid my head back. "Why would you tease me like that, then?"

"I wanted to know your sensitive spots...other than the OBVIOUS. And I enjoy making you BEG."

I pulled her closer and looked into her eyes. "Oh, don't worry. I'll get you back one of these days. You're not as innocent as you seem, sometimes."

She grinned. "I read...a LOT."

She got up and adjusted her shorts. I sat up. "I can't possibly sleep, now."

She shrugged. "You asked for it. Good night, Tsuna."

~"So close, huh?"~

~Oh, shut-up.~

~"People change at night...Actually, I don't think either of you realized you had wine."~

~What? We did?~

~"Yep. Alcohol changes people. Seems wine makes you-"~

~Yeah, I got it.~ I moved to the bed. ~Damn...~

I woke up in the morning sprawled on the bed in seemingly awkward positions with a small throbbing headache. I sat upright and stared outside at the sunlight that was slowly peering through the morning fog. It was very quiet. I got out of bed and walked down the hall to the stairs. I listened down and heard a few voices, those of of her parents and a few caterers, so I crept down. "Good morning, Dear," Her mother greeted me. "Did you sleep well?"

"I did, thank you." I bowed slightly in respect. "I appreciate your hospitality."

"It's our pleasure. You're very good to Melody."

And on cue, Melody walked into the room, half-awake. "Morning…"

I chuckled softly, taking in her frazzled appearance. "Sleep well, princess?"

She grabbed my arm and dragged me away from her family, and into the quiet and empty kitchen. "Does your head hurt too?"

"A bit…" I couldn't stop myself from laughing. "Is this what you always look like when you wake up?"

"Changing your mind?" She was joking.

I laughed. "Of course not. You're naturally pretty, not matter what."

She pushed me away slightly. "Shut-up…"

I grinned. "Are you ready for Thanksgiving with my side of the world?"

"I think it will be amazing," she stated, grabbing orange juice from the fridge. "I enjoy being around everyone."

"TC included?"

She laughed. "Even TC."

I drove us back home after we ate breakfast in order to help KT set up our dining room to accommodate the dinner. Melody was baffled by the amount of setting up there really was to do. "How many people are you having?" she asked me.

I shrugged. "I never really know with these guys...It could be just us; you, me, KT, Ty, Ashley and TC...But every once in a while TC's family joins in on the fun and so KT wants to be prepared."

"Sounds like a lot to get used to."

"It didn't actually take long to get used to the constant in and out...It happened often enough...TC still comes and goes."

"Excuse me, I'm always here. You just don't see me."

I looked up. "Hey, TC."

I was surprised to see he was standing tall in his godlike glory. "Where's my daughter?"

"She's out getting the alcohol for you guys...You could help us set up."

He walked over to see what we were doing. "Okay."

I stared at him. "Everything okay, TC? You're very...mellowed out."

"I'm perfectly fine…"

Melody was watching him as much as I was. "Do you enjoy the holidays, TC?"

"Sometimes…"

I tugged on his sleeve, and walked into the kitchen. He followed. "TC, seriously...What's up?"

He shook his head. "I'm not sure. I'm usually able to sense what's going on around me, and what's to come...But I can't. Not today."

I leaned against the counter, my arms crossed. "Do you think there's something going to happen?"

"Like I said, I have no idea...I can't tell. But I think you should take caution...Don't take unnecessary trips outside...Definitely no driving...I wouldn't recommend any of you going out…I know KT can handle herself, but you, Ty...It's dangerous."

"This is coming from you, the guy who used to throw me head first into any danger you could find?"

"I've begun to realize that this threat isn't a game, Tsunayoshi."

"I know that, he almost killed me a couple times now…" I shook my head. "I want a holiday that I'm not in any danger...If that's so much to ask for."

"No, it's not. I agree with it."

I pushed away from the counter. "Ty went out to get Ashley almost an hour ago…"

TC shook his head. "I will find him...Stay here." And then he was gone.

I walked back out with Melody, who was sitting at the table folding one of the red, fancy napkins KT bought. "Is he alright?"

"He's worried about something happening today…"

She looked up. "Everything is okay, though, right?"

I nodded. "Of course...Nothing to worry about."

"Good…" She smiled. "Everything has been so wonderful…"

"I know...I don't want it to be ruined so soon...It's been eight months since he tried to kill me and six since he last showed up...and I want it to stay that way...But I know it won't. And I will do everything in my power to keep him away…"

"I know you will...You've done so much since I met you…"

"I'm back!" KT called.

"We've got the table set!"

She walked in carrying a few wine bottles. "Looks beautiful, thank you…" She set the bottles down in the center. "Has my father shown up yet?"

"Yeah…" I replied.

"Alright...He must feel it too."

"Feel what?"

She rubbed her hands together. "The overwhelming darkness…"

Finally, we were all together, chatting in the living room while we waited for the dinner to be finished. Any mention of trouble was lost in my mind while I talked. "I'm just ready for this school year to be over," I said. "I can't stand waiting to be out."

"You don't plan to go on?" Ashley asked.

I shook my head. "I don't really see myself taking that route…I'm just not capable."

"College could be completely different for you," Ty commented. "But who knows, really?"

Melody was holding my hand. "I should start hearing from colleges at the beginning of the year...It's intimidating."

Ashley grinned. "Do you know if there's a senior prank this year?"

Melody shook her head. "Even if there was, I'm not exactly going to take part."

TC waltzed into the room, holding a bottle. "Whatcha guys talking about?"

"Anything and everything," Ty told him.

"Oh, nice…" He sipped from the bottle and sat in a chair. "Sounds interesting. Continue."

"Your mood changed fast," I noted. "Is it the alcohol?"

"Maybe…"

"Not much of a surprise."

"Well, I am not going to dwell on anything I feel at the moment...I'm just going to pretend it doesn't exist for one night…"

I scratched my wrist. "I wish I could do that."

Ty looked at his hands. Ashley frowned slightly, not enough to be noticed without expert vision. Melody squeezed my hand.

"I mean...You tell me something may be up, but what am I supposed to do?"

"Nothing…There's nothing you can do. If Notics is snooping around...Then let him. He's not going to find anything but a family enjoying their Thanksgiving dinner."

His use of "family" made me smile. "Family, huh?...I guess I can agree with that."

KT walked into the room. "I consider you all my wonderful family...No matter the stupid things you do."

"Daddy loves you too."

She rolled her eyes.

The dinner table was filled with the food KT had been making all day. We all sat around it and stared, our eyes much larger than our stomachs. TC held up his glass. "It's not a family dinner yet."

We were joined by Josh. "My brother! How I've missed you!"

Josh was utterly amused. "Oh really?"

"Shut the fuck up and take it."

"Okay, okay...I missed you too, TC."

"What about the others?" I asked.

"They're busy, for some odd reason. Never have time for their big brother anymore…"

I nodded, going along with him. "I'm sure they would love to be with you."

"Don't baby me, Tsunayoshi."

I held my hands up in surrender. "Just trying to help."

~"It's not worth it."~

~You're telling me.~

TC snapped his fingers, and Tsune was brought out to join us. "What was that, punk?"

"TC, as much as I'd love to do this with you-"

"Shut-up and sit down."

He complied, sitting beside KT. "Hey."

She shot him a warning glance. "Don't."

"Okay, okay…" He looked at me. "Long time no see in the flesh, eh kid?"

"Yeah, it has been a while…" I nodded. "You don't look a day over 20."

He rolled his eyes. "Thanks, considering I am forever 20."

Ty shook his head. "I still don't understand how you do that."

Tsune glanced at him. "Do what?"

"How you're able to hold a corporeal form here. It defies all scientific law."

TC laughed. "I can defy any law of science with the snap of my fingers...Tsuna and Tsu-senpai are the same person, so, technically it's not really defying any laws."

Melody and Ashley were lost. Tsune grinned. "Science is for losers, anyway."

"Excuse me?" Ty and Ashley shot at him.

KT hit him in the shoulder. "Jerk."

"Bitch! What the hell was that for?"

"Hey, let's all try and get along," I said, trying to draw their attention. "We've got all this food in front of us that's going to go to waste if we don't start eating soon."

Melody nodded. "He's right…"

Ashley and Ty agreed. KT smiled wide. "Tsuna."

I looked at her. "Yeah?"

"You can do the honors of cutting the first bit of the turkey this year."

I blinked. "M-me? Really?"

"Of course…"

I got up and she did too. She handed over the carving knife.

"Just don't butcher it," TC remarked.

"TC, leave the poor boy alone…" Josh nudged his brother. "You're just jealous."

I held onto the knife and stared at the massive bird. "Are you sure…?"

"Just slice a bit off the edge here…" She pointed with a fork. "It's the thought that counts, not what you cut off."

I did as I was told, cutting a piece that fell onto the serving plate. I smiled, feeling a bit accomplished. "Sweet…"

KT hugged my shoulders. "Great job. Everyone dig in!"

After dinner we lounged out in the backyard and watched the sun get lower in the sky. "Hey, Tsunayoshi…" TC pulled me to the side. "I've been thinking a lot lately."

"That's not a good sign."

"Shut-up and let me finish…"

I nodded.

"Anyway...I've been thinking, and I wanted to know your opinion of me. I think I've realized that I've never talked to you as an individual…"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I've never talked to you as if you were an equal...Not just my student."

I thought a moment. "I never could tell...I look up to you, you know…"

"Why?"

"You're my mentor and, I admit, a friend. Sure, you can get on my nerves, but that's what friends do!"

TC genuinely smiled. "Okay...I'll try to be a bit more friend-like."

"You don't have to change anything, TC...What's brought this on? Honestly."

"Honestly? I have a bad habit of losing the people in my life...I don't want to lose anyone else."

"Well, I like the way our friendship is now...You know, I remember the first time you told me you were proud of me...And despite the fear I was feeling, I heard those words and I forgot all about it. I knew I was doing something right for once."

He held my shoulder. "You're really growing up...I see how you carry yourself now, compared to then, and I feel a bit of pride knowing that I helped, somehow."

"You definitely did…" I smiled at Melody.

He pushed me forward slightly. "Okay. I'm done. You can return."

I laughed and walked over to the group.

"Don't let him bully you, Tsuna! We can rebel together!" Tsune held his fist up. "Just you and I."

"I'm not going to challenge TC…"

"We could all take him on!" Ashley stated, throwing her fist in the air.

Ty frantically shook his head. "I'm not getting in on this."

"I'm not either…As much as you've been helping my hand-to-hand…"

"I would never even think of tossing you into a battle with TC…"

"You don't know how to have fun, Kid! Have we taught you nothing?" Tsune leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. "We've both-"

KT threw a tennis ball at his head before he could finish his sentence. "Hey asshole!"

He got up and grabbed the tennis ball, and tossed it up a few times. "That's a challenge."

Ashley hopped up. "I've got your back, older Tsuna look-alike!"

Ty sighed. "Ashley…"

"You can call me Tsu!" He held the ball tight.

I sat back. "This may actually be interesting."

Melody closed her eyes. "No one will get hurt, right?"

"Of course not…Well, I can't say anything about my other half, but Ash will be okay."

"Okay…"

I don't think I've ever seen any duo work together better than Ashley and Tsune did. They played a solid game of volleyball in the yard. Anyway...Thanksgiving was actually the first holiday in a while that I was able to enjoy. I knew everyone else felt the same. But like most things, they don't last.