A/N: After a two years of drabbling, plotting and hiatuses, lots and lots of hiatuses, this fic would finally meet completion. The Final Chapter! *sighs* Thanks for the reviews, follows, faves; I couldn't done it without your support and with all sincerity, Thank you!
CREAK! A noise followed a jet black limousine as it hit the brakes and stopped in front of column of houses alongside the road. It was quiet. No noises from people chit-chatting with each other, no cars parading along the way; just the subtle whistling of blades of grass as the cold humid wind blows fiercely. The trees are slanted to the right, their leaves rustling and cicadas chirping around it created a symphony of sound that just takes the breath away.
The door in the front opened. A man dressed in black suit and tie came out, head raised above the skies, seemingly looking at the gloomy blending of dark clouds and the sunlight that hides behind it. It's like a mixture of white and grey, like that of a coffee as it foams up. Haa… he closed his eyes and lets the cool morning wind combs his silver hair and ruffles the indents on his shirt.
It's been a long time, he said to himself, basking in the exquisite mixture of vanilla swirls in the skies. Shortly after that, he came back to the thought of his supposedly final mission; his last task, the ultimatum of his loyalty to the family. The man turned around and slowly walked towards the far end part of the limo. Hands clenched on the door-lever, it took no more than a second to open it as the bluish grey light consumes the pitch-black shadows inside of it.
"Thank you, Gokudera-san." A pair of heels popped out of the car, after it was a sliver of orange and brown that materializes in the form of a beautiful orangette. Winds blow by, evidenced by the clumps of dead leaves flittering through the sidewalks. It stayed on her before lifting her bangs up, drying the glistening skin there. Still, no sound was heard.
"I'll be going then." She turned around, looking at the silver-haired man who uttered the said words in a gloomy tone. He smiles at her from a distance. A smile that looked pained, a smile that rests between two frowns; that's not how it was supposed to turn out but it curves out just like any other smiles.
"… … …" she didn't answer, the woman. Her head was bowed down and it doesn't take any genius to feel the mood emanating from their cascading auras. Being the right-hand man, the man knew that what happened 'there' won't be something that you can doze off any summer night. It's that kind that will leave a mark, maybe permanently. And he may not be the best minstrel to quell their war-torn hearts out, but he knew it wasn't the right time to be such a thing.
Hmmm he breathes out, completely expelling the memories that began welling up inside his mind again. The orangette suddenly turned around. "Okay." She replied to him.
"Are you sure you are gonna be okay?" he immediately replied, knowing sarcasm from truth.
"*chuckles* … … There are so many people there who will be glad to give you their answer." Her eyes close and she too gave him a smile in return. Now feeling the time to leave, the silver-haired man turned away and slipped inside the limousine faster than the orangette could notice. Its near-soundless muffler began smoking once more as it started moving towards the road, figure slowly disappearing from sight. Now, after grabbing the keys under the mat, the woman stood face to face with the door as she took the final inhale before going in and closing it from the inside. She's finally home, after all the adversities; she finally went back home.
CLATTER was the sound of her bag when it touched the floor after falling off her arms. Slightly disheveled, she then approached the living room and stayed there for a minute. Next, she removed her high-heels then took her tarnished blazer off. Slowly, she moved to her room and closed the door. And after the slam, she backed off against it; closing her eyes as she slowly slid down until she was sitting on the floor. She really does wonder; thinking that it was the time for her tears to show up but nothing was pouring out. The woman just sat there huffing and puffing but her eyes were dry, probably sapped out already.
She then stood up, fixed her orange hair and looked on a mirror. After a few seconds, she went to the bathroom to wash off. The shower was switched on and all can be heard was the Shhhhhhh from the bathroom that comes along with it being used. Clean and dry and now on her T-shirt and shorts, she goes out of the room. A towel was fixed on her head as she strolls along the corridors. Her figure disappeared as she passed the kitchen room, and then reappeared holding a spoon and a box of ice cream on her hand.
At the same pace as before, she approached the living room before sitting down, holding the remote and turning on the television. A movie suddenly appeared on the screen and surprisingly, she knows it already. Not caring any less, she opened the box of ice cream and dug a hole on it with the spoon, slamming it on her mouth for like every ten seconds. Not so long after that, the woman suddenly laughed, pointing her spoon at the television. She bowed down and looks again, digging in another and so on. Then suddenly, as she took the last spoon of the stuff, the remote control fell dropped onto the table, changing the channel.
"Namimori still quake in terror on what we witnessed yesterday. A sort of terrorist attack looms at some international financial firm, killing hundreds of -… BZZZT!"
A drop of clear liquid fell on the box. She didn't quite tell where it came from but it did caught her attention when another goes in, and another, and another. Slowly raising her hand to her face, the orangette tried feeling her eyes and noticed that both orbs were wet. She trailed the flow from the ducts to her lips, eyes open with surprise as it continued to trail off and pelt her shirt. The stain stayed there for a time, just like what she experienced before. The only difference was that she can wipe the tears but she cannot erase the memories that were formed before it.
Sniff… her head bowed down, with her vision getting all blurry as the leaking never stopped. She put the empty box and spoon on the table before lying on the couch, holding a pillow which she eventually used to dry her tears. Nothing noticeable happened thereon, except from her pants and exhales which come along a loud cry that she was trying to stay sane as possible.
Like a box of ice cream.
At first, it tasted so sweet.
But afterwards, there's this emptiness that you will realize, you cannot fill up anymore.
"Here you go…" a can flew up in the air for a second before descending, only to be caught on the hand of another man, who appeared to have dark green hair while the one before has white. "Thanks" the said man replied, receiving a smirk from the latter. Zoooooom! A low-frequency yet equally loud noise shrieked around the open space, followed by a powerful gush of air generated by the wings of airplane, as it took flight right before their eyes. They used their arms to prevent dust from entering their eyes just as their clothes stopped ruffling and the wind returned back to normal.
"…*gulp* *gulp* *gulp* Haaah…" the white-haired one exhaled, wiping his mouth with his bandaged hands. The man appeared to be the Vongola sun guardian, Sasagawa Ryohei, all-covered up with gauzes and his wounds patched up in visibility. In the same yoke, the fellow he was talking too was also covered in bandages and an arm splint hanging on his neck. Neither one of them looked fine but if it was looked up closely; it seemed as if nothing really happened and they were fine. They were absolutely okay to be exact; the other guy thought when he also took a sip on the refreshment tossed to him minutes ago.
"So…" Ryohei looked at him with relaxed presence. "Italy huh?" he gave a rhetorical question without raising a brow, gazing at the clouds as the sun mixes with its bluish white color. The other guy, after throwing the empty can straight in the trash bin, replied. "Yeah." He tried making a smile but just chuckled when he realized he cannot. Not with all these cloth sticking on his face. The sun guardian then looked at him with a hint of seriousness evident on his orbs. "How many?" the green-head closed his eyes after hearing such words. "I don't know the council hasn't decided yet." He answered back to Sasagawa.
"What? Two? Four? Six?" the extremist scratches his head in anxiousness, making the latter grin at the expression. "You know it's more than that." A hopeless sigh escaped his lips while the Vongola Sun guardian glared at him with subtle pity. Unexpectedly, the man remained smiling, though broken, though withered… his mouth remained curved that his cheeks pushed up the glasses upward. "Anyway, by the time this is all over…" Ryohei snapped back to reality. "I want to have a rematch with you, lawn-head." his heart overflowed with challenge and reinvigorated the burning spirit after hearing such words pass his ear.
"You bet!" he thrusted his fist in front and a smirk formed on his face. "I'll be expecting a hell of battle to the extreme!"
"Hmm…" the glassed fella turned towards him and casted a cross between a smirk and a frown. "Baka!" he light sneered, using his good arm to meet the latter's fist and taking upon the challenge that a new and healthy rivalry would bring. The two remained posed like idiots until they were interrupted by a couple of men in black that bears the crest of the Vongola on their suits.
"It's time." One of them coldly uttered, standing adjacent between their joined-up knuckles. Another pair of men went by and stood behind the one from earlier. Both of them knew at that point. It was time.
"Give us a minute." The sun guardian told them and like magic, they drift off; moving towards the group of people who seemed to be heavily bandaged as well. Ryohei and his rival looked at it from a distance and a figure of tall black-haired woman waving caught their attention.
"I'll be there in a minute!" the green-haired boxer formed walls with his hands and used it as a megaphone. The woman nodded her head and backed off, the same time he returned the attention to the white-haired boxer. "I guess… this is It." He looked at him with resolve.
"Yeah…" a sound of pine trees whistling with the wind was heard after Ryohei's reply. "Good luck to your family, we'll meet again in due time." A mild tone reckoned back a moment of unexplainable warmth; something he hasn't felt for a long time now. And he tried his best to still be optimistic of things. Because there's always light at the end of the tunnel, there always is and always will have. "I'll be going now…" they stared at each other, with latent assumptions of meeting each other someday in the ring.
"Wait Koyou." He grabbed him lightly on the shoulder. The green-head can only look back behind.
"Take care of your boss." Such words filled with the essence of family entered his ears, causing him flinch in response. Ryohei's eyes flickered with steely conviction, composed and reassured that he will live up to it. The latter replied after a breeze blew by, sending a chill slither down his every goosebump.
"I should be the one who said that… he's an exceptional one after all…" the sun guardian felt proud as he grinned, canines showing when it turned into a smirk.
"…*smirks* … Yeah, he sure is…" a deep exhale followed afterwards. The two boxers exchanges stares before they went on with their separate ways. Immediately after Sasagawa turned around, the other male was cuffed and was escorted by the two men in black earlier, along with his comrades who were also taken away by such individuals. Ryohei never bothered looking back, since he knew that they would be smiling if that happens. There's no need to check whether or not they will be fine, his rival went with his word, they will someday meet again. It may not happen now, or a year after, but certainly; they will meet again…
I suppose the sun's hiding again today for I didn't see it shine this morning.
Probably hiding behind the clouds, amidst the great blue sky, wondering…
Asking itself why the moon didn't told him to shine earlier…
So that he witnessed the reason why heavy clouds of gray are present in the air…
"….*whistles*…" A figure of a man was walking along a peculiarly perched stone steps that ran towards a steel gate at the top. He was wearing a black overcoat, complete with suit and pants. His face wasn't that evident from all the rolls of cloth that are taped on his skin. And the only thing visible to see was the bouquet of red roses that he held on his right hand since his left was strapped around his shoulders. A small drizzle poured over the scene while he took on the climb, step by little step, letting on the drops of water pelt deep on his hair. That kept the flowers wet, a droplet of liquid running down the petals, giving it a crystalline gloss.
Like the sun, I too, was asking myself.
Even though I somehow knew the answers, I kept on thinking.
That even though I was the one who lit the candle, why am I not the one who got burned?
Funny… I think that's the same thought my father had when he gave me this crest…
Or maybe, the same one Tsunayoshi had when-…
"Faster." A large hand pressed the man's back and roughly pushed him, halting his train of thought. There were five of them, not only one; tall men dressed in black who are synchronically walking behind the latter. They weren't the best persons as escorts but he wouldn't ask a better one than a Vongola to do the honor.
Anyway, I was never able to grasp things correctly since I curdled the blood of my ancestry.
The moment I threw the last flower on his coffin, my mind was deluded with so much spite and vengeance that in times I began to lose grasp of everything and eventually, my sanity.
Thoughts which I never knew I will succumb to.
"…*exhales*…" he stopped at an intersection, in front of the shiny gates from which a cemetery was put into stand. There were some sources of noise, mostly from the chirping of birds and the scratching sound of the caretaker's broom sweeping the dead leaves off. The chimes resonated when he pushed the gate open, nodding his head to the concierge and walking past it with the men shortly doing so afterwards.
And so I became the boss.
Deluded all the ones I loved into fighting another man's war, which was mine.
And as far as I can remember, I heard no resistance from them, nor did they hear a single utterance of thanks from me.
Still, they paved the way for me to walk on; tolerating my grudges and malevolence up to the last moment.
The least I can do for now is to be with them wherever we are destined to be, because…
I'll be the one paving the way for them from this day on.
The red-head stopped at some obstruction, like that of a fallen wall, and turned left before continued walking towards a more grassy area underneath a shroud of twisted bushes and vines that overhangs from above.
A couple of steps more and an array of systematically arranged tombstones welcome the man and his escorts. The man turned his head, left to right, trying to look for a specific one and felt a twitch on his heart after spotting the one he's looking for. A shoe clatter was heard when he had the first few steps but he stopped in the middle and looked up at the sky, clouds clearing up and the sun slowly beaming down on him. A moment of silence drenched the atmosphere with his lips slowly curving into a sad smile, line of clear liquid running down his right cheek, soaking up the gauze.
I see you've been waiting for me… all these years since I've stood here and watched you lay into rest…
I'm glad to be back, otosan…
"We'll give you fifteen minutes." Were the final words of the chief escort as he and his fellowmen turned around, leaving the red-head to have an alone-time with his old man. He can only nod his head until their shadows dissipates out of the scene. Now alone with his father, he knelt down and brought the flowers he was holding near his chest onto the name plate that was greatly eroded by time. The young man wiped the dried-up dirt and traced over his father's name over, cleaning the indents as he rode his finger.
Kozato, Makoto
Right after that, he moved backwards and knelt again, his eyes solemnly looking at the sight of his father's grave. A couple of seconds passed, he proceed to give respects; bowing down a couple of times with his last one so inclined that the man's face was already touching the ground, eyes tightly clenched in concentration. Shortly afterwards, he regained his composure back and wiped off his eyes, showing a beautiful smile after his wrist left his face.
"I… I'm really sorry otosan…" a new set of tears began to form but he wiped it as soon as he can. "I never had the chance to visit you, and I'm sorry for that."
The trees swayed to the side when a breeze of wind came and tossed up all the leaves up in the air, whistling over the blades of grass and passing over his presence. The red-head felt the air crawling on his skin as its essence flows in him. That quickly dried up his glistening closed-up eyes until the moment it left and the leaves began falling into their right places. His red eyes opened up and he quickly directed those orbs onto his father's name plate, chuckling a little bit on his seat. Knowing that his time's ticking already, he decided to open up his coat and revealed a bottle of red wine and a glass atop of it. Swinging the receptacle over, he twisted the cork and popped it out with ease, making sure that the contents won't spill as he poured it over to half-full. Sighing, the young man put both the glass and the bottle near the flowers from earlier. It was his dad's favorite.
"Anyway, I want to tell you that the next visit would be a little bit difficult." He scratched his head in embarrassment and turned the other way, looking so realistic as if his father's really right in front, listening to him. "I don't know when or how…" a hand was placed on the tombstone. "But I'll definitely come back here and have another toast with you."
A huge cloud suddenly drifted over the sun and slowly consumed the light, making it look like six o'clock in the morning rather than the peak of the day. The red-head took time to inhale the scent of nostalgia and exhale a rather contented way. He looked the other way and decided to continue.
"The Shimon family, I decided to give it to the more capable hands of the Vongola." His eyes redirected onto his hands, which were covered around with bandages. The ring which was supposed to be in place was gone, stolen? No, in fact; he gave it up himself. Now having a more serious look on his face, he withdrew a thought out of his lips. "I think I'm still young, incapable of doing handling such responsibility." He uttered with humbleness, watching the shadow of his body tint the name on the stone. "But you know? I met this guy, whom I've always thought of differently up until now." A short breath followed his words. "Unlike me, he's rightful to be called boss and he's definitely capable of handling responsibilities. In fact…" the man looked up at the sky, the exquisite mixture of sky-blue and orange dazzling over his orbs. "He's the reason why I visited you today."
"…*sighs*…" he closed his eyes and immediately spotted the presence of his escorts present behind him. Disregarding the fact that the given time was about to end, he just continued the talk with his late father. "I hope I'll get the chance to be like him someday. "Another smile formed on his face, eyes shining with resolution.
"And get to see what he's trying to make me see." The man looked yonder the tombstone, just about a glimpse of another bouquet of flowers behind it. He softly chuckled in amazement. "Time's up, we have to go now." A deep and cold voice was mumbled behind his back, ultimately ending his bonding moment with his dad. Not wanting to sway the orders, he gave a last bow of respect, grabbed his coat and gave a nod before turning around and leave. Still smiling, he looked up at the sky and whispered something in the wind…
.
.
.
"I guess… you met him already."
"Sir that'll be a 230." a young woman on her apron waltzed in front after getting the good out of the fridge. She was looking at the person in front of her with spectacle, rosy tints of blush evident on her cheeks, smiling and looking all fuzzy and such.
"Here… Thanks" the black-haired man, who appeared to be the Vongola rain guardian, smirked at her reaction before putting the bill down and sliding it towards her. He grabbed the carton and bailed out the convenient store, leaving the cashier daydreaming about him.
"…*gulp*…" Yamamoto took no more time to wait and opened the carton from the side, taking the refreshment in to quench his thirst. "I'm glad chocolate milk tastes the same as before." The latter sighed after leaning his back on a nearby sidewalk seat across the road. It's been fix or six years since he last tasted the stuff and doing so in a public bench takes him on a highway trip to nostalgia, his teenage memories if he may. CRUNCH goes the carton as he crumpled it and threw it on a faraway garbage bin, like that of a basketball ring. A strong gale of wind drifted by and repulsed it to the side, making it look like he dumped the trash on purpose. With people started looking, the rain guardian sprang out of his seat and took time walking towards the other side of the road just to pick it up his litter. *yawn* such bored tone escaped his lungs as he stretched his back, scratching his nape after taking a few steps of his own. He saw the crumpled up carton box and stared at it with sharp eyes before painstakingly kneeling down to pick it up. But in surprise, he felt something soft and warm on his hands. Immediately after that, he tilted his head up, only to find a woman with familiar face, who also had the same expression as his.
"Oh! Sorry I'm just trying to h-…" the young woman fidget when both their fingers touched and she felt a cool feeling wash over her. Their eyes stared at each other for a while, letting the sense of déjà vu sink in their minds. "Y-Yamamoto-kun?! Is that you?" she uttered to him with amazement, curving a smile on her well-defined lips and leaving the swordsman baffled in awe. He looked at her striking appearance. She was on her ponytail, dressed in skinny white shirt and green mini skirt, covered from shoulder to waist with a grey blazer. The rain guardian felt a huge pounding deep inside of him as he tried to remain composed as possible. Removing his eyes from a long time staring at the baker's heels, Yamamoto gallantly replied.
"Yeah… It's nice to see you again Haru-chan." A smirk appeared on his face, eyes deeply locked at the scene of her, smiling back with glee. He bit his lower lip when she turned around and properly dumped his trash on the waste bin. "It's good to see you too Yamamoto-kun." She then grabbed something from behind, making him tiptoe just to get a peek. "By the way, thanks for the umbrella the other day." Haru bowed with gratitude while the young man accepted it anyways. A period of unnerving silence and awkwardness passed by and with neither of them making a move, the baker assumed that it was the end of their short but riveting conversation.
"I'll guess I'll be going then." The brown-haired woman mumbled, deeming the man in front of her panicking. He thought that an opportunity of seeing her like this would be too farfetched if he lets go of this moment. Keeping that in mind, he took on a leap for himself. "Huh?" her face, puzzled as she felt a hand clamped down on her wrists just the time when she turned around.
"Would you like to have coffee?" he said with an embarrassed but rather candid approach. It was the same thing he said the last time they had a conversation like this. Looking past her huh-expression with scrutiny, the swordsman remained calm, even after he saw her parting her lips.
"Tea… would be lovely…" she looked at him with thankful eyes while he stood there, feeling all appreciative and such. Not long before that, they were gone.
"The meal was delectable, thanks again Yamamoto-kun." Such words came from Haru's mouth after wiping it off with a clean hanky. They were in the same place where they had coffee and tea before, a few walks behind the remnants of a once-great edifice. The rain guardian didn't order anything but a cup of brewed coffee that smelled strongly throughout the place. He was busy glancing yonder the window; mind baffled and was in constant turbulence. It didn't take someone lesser than Haru to notice that and so she asked.
"Is there something going on your mind?" he snapped out to reality, initially watching her pleading eyes glance on his surprised reaction. "No… I…" the rain guardian readily took a sip and sighed. "I was just thinking."
"Of what?" she answered back, causing him to get a hint that the topic wouldn't end so easily.
"Of…" he then glanced at her, smiling optimistically while she gazed at his form. "Certain things that young women like you aren't supposed to think of." She felt partly cheated as the rain guardian began changing topics, his smile never-ending… and that's what makes it suspicious. Though thinking of pushing her assumptions on him, she knew men like him are hard to crack like walnuts. And so, she just went with the flow.
"Anyway…" Yamamoto took another sip of cup, ears still alert on what she has to say. "Will it be alright if I ask you of Tsuna?" -
*COUGHS* he almost choked by the thought of hearing such statement pass his ears. Clearing off his throat from the stuff and regaining back his composure, Takeshi replied.
"Why do you ask?" a more serious look buttoned up his face, compelling Haru to ask more questions of that genre. It's like a minute before she gathered up the courage to ask, looking at her receiver's eyes which looked a certain way that captivates her to speak.
"It's just-…" her eyes opened up wide when she saw him making a silence gesture. "Shhh" he silently whispered, parting his lips for a half-thought grin. "You don't have to explain, you equally have the right to know." Then after those words are heard, Haru's heart began pounding faster with anxiousness. She knew that he knew, but what she didn't think of was a small hint of selfishness that he had to bear in order to please her. Anything other than that was left alone on their seats…
The chilling wind of the air-conditioner was too much for them to bear and so, both decided to continue their private conversation atop the ledge that separates the road from the sea. There was so much abundance of grass in the area, sweeping monotonously when the wind rushes by and carries them away a certain direction. There were two faint shadows that were sitting atop of the small walls and obviously it was them. After looking atop the faded colors of the sun that was streaming under a pale noon sky, he decided to continue.
"He's fine." Two words started it off and from the viewpoint of the baker, waiting for such words really paid off, knowing that he's all fine. She felt an overpowering sense of happiness flowing onto her heart as she closed her eyes to conceal such emotions that were still evident to the rain guardian. But what she didn't expect was the next words Yamamoto carefully laid out for her.
"He's just-"she immediately opened up his big eyes and noticed the latter's respective ones locked against hers. The man felt the urge to stop, but knowing that she needs to know the truth at least, he continued. "…gonna be out of the country…" her smile suddenly broke into something between a grin and a frown. "…for a few years." He finishes, leaving her devastated; pitiful eyes of the man looking upon her shaking ones.
A couple of minutes passed and the two remained unmoving even with strong winds ruffling their clothes. Yamamoto remained bowed down while watching every one of Haru's movements, from her pants to the way she wiped off her eyes with her wrist. Getting the feeling that she would finally give her word about the matter, the man remained like that of a sentinel, meek and silent.
"…*pants*…" she took a deep inhale and kept her broken smile, looking towards Yamamoto, who was looking away at the horizon. He noticed her glancing and then turned his head to accept her reply, which ultimately follows.
"When will he come back then?"She asked with less resistance, making him think that talking the information to her would be easy… Which is not.
"I don't know…"
"He's going abroad? W-Why? Is there something we 'lesser' people in his lives should know?" and on that moment on, he felt the urge to slap her back to proper way of thinking. The way she feels so important and responsible of him, it just brings angst to the man whenever he saw her like this. There are more things in life than Tsuna, Yamamoto thought while faking an expression towards her.
"It's not about that." He replied, straight in her eyes, he can see his blurred appearance in the reflection.
"Then wha-…" but before she could answer back, the swordsman overtook her with the words she needs to know.
"He's sick. He needs rest. A rest from his job, from his family…" a rise of tone was evident by that sudden up burst of emotions. She looked at him with shock, his piercing brown eyes on her submissive ones. The baker was flabbergasted, unable to give a question 'why'. Why Tsuna didn't tell her that he was going? Why was it kept as a secret? And more importantly… Why is Yamamoto acting this way? The onset of having those questions on her mind only intensified when the swordsman followed his comments.
"He needs a rest from everything… Haru, that doesn't exclude you." The once uplifting and warm voice of the rain guardian was replaced by a cold, low-pitched and deeply persuasive tempo. He was now on his foot, standing in front of her, hands akimbo, looking evidently expressive than he usually is.
"Besides me and Reborn, you are the third one to know. And that's makes three of us." Her eyes opened up widely after hearing such information. "Gokudera didn't know since Tsuna knows he'll follow him wherever he'll go. The same goes to you and the others." Yamamoto slowly calmed down after watching her submissive form under him. Though he needs to, he never really wanted saying such things to her. He just wanted her to have what she has the right to have, the truth… and everything written under it.
"He gave me his word because he knew I can keep a secret." the crow-haired Mafioso regained composure, making Haru comfortable and nudge the frigidness caused by the fright she had earlier. She can clearly see his desire to let her know and it bothers her a little since it's hard to know the reason why. Wetting his lips, he uttered the continuation. "But that didn't stop me for having the guts to tell you because you deserve the right to know." Yamamoto wore the smile that was missing on his face. The young woman felt relieved to see his old self back and the pressure that's in the air was already gone… "You deserve to know Haru-chan." Small amount of tears formed on her eyes but didn't fell down. Words can't tell how much dissonance she's feeling right now. Angst and sorrow from the news and happiness for telling it. It feels like her heart's gonna blow up from all the emotions contained up to this point of their conversation. She was lost for words.
"If saying such things would cause you so much hurting then I shouldn't ha-…" she immediately held her hands over his and makes a 'no' sign with her head.
"You have given me the truth. And for that I'm very thankful." A blush formed on Yamamoto's face after Haru leaned over and gave him a peck on his cheek. Pants and huffs followed and he just has to make sure.
"You are still hurt."
"Yes. It hurts because I know now that Tsuna and I are not destined to be." A smile managed to form at such conflicting times that it made the man think otherwise. But deep inside, she knew such things would arise. "But thank you though, for everything…" and she gladly accepted whatever outcomes it would end.
"…*sniff*…" the baker dug out her pockets for a handkerchief but she couldn't find one. But when she looked up at him, he's already holding out his in front of her. Thanking him after wiping those inhibitions away, she took the liberty of breaking the ice. "Why? Why make a liar of yourself just to tell me that?"
"I don't know…" he turned his head towards the clearing up sky, bringing a bright ray of light reach them down the earth.
"...*chuckles*… Tell me the truth Yamamoto-kun." Haru grabbed him by the shoulder and tug at him lightly, causing him to look at her with such resolution. Bringing back the seriousness in the atmosphere, he held her by the shoulder and slowly mumbled with honesty. "Because I know you are someone special. You have a good life set out for you and I don't want you getting hurt." She felt goosebumps running down her skin after hearing such thoughtfully expressed words coming from him. "That's sweet Yamamoto-kun"they both had a couple of laughs, watching the ebbs and flows of the seawater running on the shore. Having the feeling of their conversation coming to a close, Haru tried to ask something off-topic to bring back the lost mood from earlier.
"Anyway, before we part. I want to know more about you." She moved closer with him not minding at all. "Do you already have plans for the future? I mean… have you met your special someone already?" a mischievous grin was present on her face when he looked at her with candor.
"Yes, I've already did. Six years ago, I met her along with my friends." He smiled, not turning his head to look at her reaction. "She may not know it by now but I wanted her to know how much I desired the best for her." then they both locked eyes together. His head turned away when he was about this close of saying the real truth from her.
"Well…" Haru took a stand and glanced at his form with curiosity. "I really hope you two would be together." Yamamoto then took a deep inhale and exhale before removing his leaning body from the wall and faced her with such joy after hearing her words pass his ear. A gush of wind passed in between of them.
.
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"Actually… we are right now."
Half a decade had passed since the fated war on Namimori that had made its mark on Mafia history. The day where hundreds of lives were lost and left a quake of trauma that will remain in the hearts of the citizens who witnessed it. Though thought of as a day that will forever live in infamy, let us not remember that 'tis the same day where the family stood united against a common foe. From which the sun, who eradicates enemies with his body; the rain, who washed away the blood of the innocent; the storm, who has proven himself worthy of 'his' right-hand; the mist, who concealed them from harm; the cloud, who was there and helped the two bosses escape from harm; the lightning, who did the best he can to give support; and the great sky, who harmonized the conflict that shook the very foundations of the Mafia world. The Vongola Family Tenth Generation had proven itself worthy for the rite of passage which they will keep our sacred crest and thus, formally be known as the new generation which will bring yet another great story to be told.
"How was it Ninth?" a suited man walked across the room and gave his report. And adjacent to him was the elderly figure of a man who was standing with his scepter, facing the other side and looking afar from the window.
"It was good." The older man spoke in a gentleman-like manner, turning around to face his subordinate.
"But Ninth. We do not know about the whereabouts of Decimo. And as much as you wanted him to take the title, we do not know if he accepts or concedes such turn-over sir." He replied hastily, not having a single reply from the ninth boss. Instead, the elder man took a sit and pointed his finger on the scroll. His dying will flame appeared on the headings of the manuscript, thus giving it his signature to be submitted to the family board.
"Do not worry about him." the subordinate stood tall and watched his boss smile at him. "I know my grandson is out there." He bent over to look at the window. "We don't know when but I guarantee that in due time, he'll be the one sitting here next to you, as the new boss of the family."
"He'll go back, I promise that…" Nuevo said with assurance, casting yet another smile for himself and another for his grandson. Meanwhile at some partly crowded sidewalk, a man on his leather and jeans was walking along the way before sneezing faintly on surprise. Suddenly, a gust of wind drifted and dragged along his hat upward to the sky where the sun shone brightly against his now golden brown hair. He looked at the sky and a smile formed on his face.
"He'll definitely go back…"
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And that's the how the legacy of Sawada Tsunayoshi ended, or at least, that's how we know it did. The story of how he showed the whole world, not just the mafia world, what it takes to be a man, a friend and a boss. Of how he changed the over bent ruling of his great family. And of how he retained the valorous heart of himself, a kind and lionhearted man that everybody looks up to.
"Sensei! We heard that story a kajillion times already."
"Hmmm? Is that so?"
"Yeah sensei! You're always telling it every time you finished day dreaming."
"…*soft chuckles*… I guess I would be more careful sometimes." The teacher smiled at her students who seemed to be in kindergarten; their innocent smiles matching over their curious minds.
"Ne! Ne! Is she your boyfriend Sensei?" and after such question the whole room was full of childish laughs while the teacher remained oddly charmed by them.
"I already told you children before; Sawada Tsunayoshi is a great leader and-…" she was interrupted by the same kid, patched with a mischievous grin on his face. "No sensei, I mean that guy!" the boy pointed out at the far end of the room, near the door where the lights touched the corridors. A man was standing before them, wearing a suit and tie, glancing at the teacher with small strands of his brown hair obscuring his eyes. The educator felt a huge beat on her chest and felt the urge to fix her clothes and her orange hair that dangles over her ears. Oddly, the children remained silent as the two exchange stares with some of them chuckling over the back seat, saying that it looked like the romance movies they watched every Friday night.
"Shhh!" she immediately turned her head and made a silence gesture, causing her young pupils to button up their lips as they watched their teacher had the moment of her life descend upon her.
"I think they are happy to see the real thing." The young man uttered with subtle gentleness, entering the room while the children along with their teacher gaze with awe after seeing such a gallant appearance. He had a smile on his face that remained there even after he said Hi to the kids. She walked a few steps towards him and both of them exchange stares, conveying emotions so big that words can't contain it.
"We all are Tsuna-kun…" a tear fell down on her cheek.
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"We all are…"
A/N: Haaa... It's the first time i finished a story with chapters. And it felt good. Now gonna focus more on my other fics, specifically on YTA. Thanks for the persistent and heartwarming subscriptions. Subscribe on my other stories. This is imgood12. Thank you.