Disclaimer – Don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn, Amano Akira's.

Freedom! I'm FREE! Thank you for your patience everyone.

Warning for Oocness, I try my best. Did not copy or plagiarize in any way.

Chapter 25

Dramatic Revelations and Changes

For the rest of the night, Elsa did not see Dino – well more like he avoided her, she assumed. Although, that was not the reason for her dejected mood and sulking, and every person that was standing near her knew that – except for Luciano.

"That's it. I'm through, no more."

"What are you on about now?" Luciano asked, staring blankly into space.

"Not once did he compliment me. All this effort was a waste."

"Don't be stupid Elsa, he's just a slight airhead that's all." Luciano looked to his left, keeping guard.

Elsa sighed; she twiddled a strand of her wig and then tucked it behind her ear. What would she do now? She'd no idea where Dino was and her heart could barely take on the weight of all this - anymore. She tugged onto Luciano's shirt and bit her lip, her whole body felt like collapsing to the floor, she felt tired and exhausted. Luciano felt the weight of the pull grow heavier. He finally turned his gaze to Elsa and saw that she had completely slumped to the ground like a rock.

"What on earth is the matter with you?" Luciano lifted her back up with ease; she let herself lean against him.

"I'm sulking." Her voice droned.

Luciano sighed, "Dino probably just forgot to tell you, quit whining about it and stand up, you're heavy."

Elsa didn't respond. She let her weight drag onto him; she stared soullessly at the people around her. She very much wanted to go home, even though she hated home, at least she could escape reality again on the chicken farm, at least she had something to talk to - not someone - but something. She should have never entered this life in the first place, she should have struggled on with her peaceful, lifeless days, and the mafia world should have stayed out of her reach. She should have...she should have...

"Luciano..." She muttered monotonously.

"What?" He'd given up on making her stand.

Her eyebrows knitted together, "Am I a failure of a female?"

Luciano took her by the shoulders and began shaking her, "What has gotten into you?"

She muttered bashfully, "I confessed."

"Well good for you—wait you WHAT?" Luciano barked. Elsa cringed as his spit rained across her face, she grabbed a napkin from a nearby table and wiped it off unpleasantly. Luciano's let go of her and clapped his hands animatedly together, "What did he say?"

"He…he didn't say anything. He left me standing there." The anger welled up inside her as she said those words, she watched the beautiful woman in their effortless outfits, stepping around the floor gracefully and without a worry in the world. She hated them, they had no obligation to impress because they naturally did already. Elsa had been put in a dress, caked with make-up and forced to put on an irritatingly itchy wig and yet she still didn't shine as brightly as they did. Fuck this world, seriously. Why was life so unfair?

"T-That doesn't mean he rejected you! Maybe he was just shy or scared – I mean – there are a lot of people here!" Luciano took a deep breathe in, "A-And besides, he's probably looking for you right now so I think you should really go find him yourself—"

Well I'll be darned. Then explain to me why his reaction was THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE when Yano confession to him…HUH? I thought so. Elsa let a vein pop.

"I saw the look on his face!" She suddenly yelled, and Luciano jumped. Her face twisted into a scowl, "He was shocked – no – disgusted, he was looking at me with disgust, he's grossed out by it!"

"No he—"

"He dropped his glass, he left me STANDING there. If he were a good man none of that would have happened, I'm not up to his standards Luciano I'm over it…he's just like the rest of them!" She hissed, her fists were balled as tightly as they could, she tore off her wig and let her copper brown hair fly out. She threw it on the floor and unhooked her loop sparkling (almost blinding) earrings, she wiped her arm across her lips, smearing the lipstick off.

"Hey what are you doing?"

"I'm not made for this, take me back to the mansion, I'm leaving." Elsa demanded, striding through the crowd of stares and whispers. Her heels clanked against the marble floor as loud as she could – but she couldn't care less, she was far too angry with that bonehead to be giving a damn. Her heart pounded wildly as she passed through the doors where the guards looked strangely at her. Before she could avert the red sports car and make towards the pitch black vehicle where Dino's men were smoking around, she heard the rough clank of the door swing open behind her.

"Elsa wait I—I'm sorry for leaving you there!" Dino's voice rang behind her.

She jolted around and pointed a finger at him, "You should be!"

"I can explain, I didn't mean to—"

"Whatever!" You were probably too busy worrying about how I'll come along and ruin your relationship with Yano anyway.

"We can talk this out just let me—"

She jerked her finger up to silence him, "No! You had a plenty of chances to talk to me about everything these past few weeks but you chose to spend quality time with that fake…THING because I'm apparently not good enough for you! Right? Yes? Of course, because looks are EVERYTHING!"

"I've never thought of you like that, I just didn't realize but we can still be—"

"No!"

One of the guards tapped Dino on the shoulder and asked curiously, "Cavallone tenth, is that your fiancée? Is something the matter?"

Well what do you think?

"Ah yes sorry she's—"

How rude. "I'm his goddamn sister!" Elsa spat.

Dino quickly strode towards her and held onto her arm, "Let me finish Elsa, I know I was an idiot for leaving you there…it was wrong of me and I regret the whole thing."

"You really expect me to forgive you—"

"And I'm sorry I didn't realize how stupid I was for believing you would be happy if you knew I thought of you as a little sister" He said all in one breath.

Elsa gritted her teeth. "Ugh! Can you not look at me in any other way? I'm human! I have feelings! I seek attention!"

Dino looked wounded, it made Elsa guilty but she couldn't live with another unrequited love, "Cut to the chase, you're in love with Yano Watase not Elsa de Luca am I right?"

"Els I…"

"Answer the question!" She almost screamed.

"Yes…but I—"

"Alright, I get it, it was impossible from the beginning anyway, what the hell was I thinking? finito! Fine della storia! Non più! Arrivederci e buona fortuna con Yano!" Elsa smirked, seating herself in the car and gesturing for one of Dino's men to drive. With hesitation, the car sped off into the distance leaving Dino standing their feeling ashamed and responsible for everything. She chortled out loud as the car furthered away from the whole thing. Ah, she thought, she never got the chance to witness the actual coronation – oh well, she had better things to do anyway. That reminded her, once she got back to the mansion she would need to start packing her things before Dino came back, avoiding Yano was going to be difficult, but once she learned the truth she'll have her own personal party. She'll have to give the ring back too, and all the clothes he bought for her, it was time to let go of her customized Galvin Blind suit, she'll have to leave a note for Luciano as well, and Romario. She'll have to…

She stopped laughing; her driver (one of Dino's men) had not stopped looking at her the whole time.

"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" She cried with frustration and buried her face in her hands. She stamped her feet on the ground furiously.

The driver wondered what was wrong, but was afraid to ask.

Who am I kidding, I'm not going to get over him! Why the hell did I say all that? Ugh you stupid girl! Elsa knocked her head against the window and began to panic, to think she'd given up so easily despite Dino being the nicest out of all the guys she had ever loved! Maybe things could have gone well after that confession slipped out? And his apology was so sincere. GAH! I BLEW IT!

xxxx

Elsa took a long, heated bath. In fact, it went on for longer than three hours and her skin was beginning to wrinkle like a prune. She managed to avoid Yano on the way back, whom was out sponging off Dino's money with Romario. The men who had stayed back threw questions at her the minute she stepped into the house but she simply gave them the 'I'm tired, maybe tomorrow' reply. She never found out the name of her driver, but she figured he'd be letting the whole household know of her stupidity. Elsa sunk deeper into the bathtub, the water had gone cold. Yano was probably back already, and in an hour or less Dino would be too. Dammit…she was too afraid to get out. But turning into a prune wasn't any good, she mustered up all the courage she had and stepped out of the bath.

"Elsa" Dino spoke through the door.

JINKERS WHAT IS HE SUPERMAN? She slipped back into the tub, the cool water splashed out violently.

"Are you in there?" He tried again.

Well duh I'm in here, it's so normal of you to stand outside the bathroom while a girl is taking a bath? She really wasn't mentally prepared for this. Her heart pounded elatedly, was he going to change his mind and confess his feelings for her? That was highly unlikely.

"This has been…" He sighed, Elsa knew he was leaning against the door, "…a very tiring day."

If you're not here to make things better then shoo…was what Elsa wanted to say out loud, desperately.

"Everything that I said before, can you forget it all? It was all crap I made on the spur of the moment."

Elsa brought her knees to her chest nervously; this was all too dramatic for her, she couldn't keep up. One minute they were arguing (well she was) and now they were reconciling? All this was because she'd let herself slip and confess at the worst time possible. Their whole relationship was in turmoil.

"I'm sorry for everything." Dino said simply, his sincere voice made her blush even through a wooden door. She ducked her head shyly. "But you're right, I do love Yano, so there really is no way we can continue with the way we are right now."

Elsa thought this was all over, did he have to repeat something she already knew? And she certainly did not want to hear that woman's name again. Hell he'll be happy when she packs up and leaves—

"I still want you to stay here, you lighten this place up, and I've never seen Luciano this happy before…"

No way, Elsa thought, she wasn't going to stay and let herself deteriorate into a lump of burnt soot. She stepped out of the tub and pulled the plug, she watched as a whirlpool formed, draining the water, just like Dino was draining her—yeah let's not go there.

"Elsa, be part of the Cavallone family." He said.

"What?" She let herself slip. Oh shit.

"I want you to be part of my family, if you're willing to."

YES. YES OF COURSE SIGN ME UP! She wanted to scream. If she couldn't find love then a life of crime and violence was definitely a way to go—

Really she just wanted to stay by his side. Sigh.

"But if it's too difficult for you because of me then I understand…" Dino finished.

Elsa slammed her fists against the door eagerly, "NO! I'll do it! Train me, throw me into a pool of sharks or whatever, I'll join."

"Are you sure…won't it be difficult…?"

"I'll get over you it's easy! And I promise I won't get in the way between you and Yano!" She squawked, tempted to open the door (while she was butt naked) and fall onto her knees while begging to join the dark side of his life.

"Sorry" He said again.

"If you really feel bad about rejecting me that much, then you can make up for it by letting me join!"

Dino knew she was lying, no matter how air-headed he was he knew that letting somebody go was not an easy thing, but if it made her happy then…

Dino said finally after a long pause, "Alright."

What crazy shit have I gotten myself into this time? Elsa thought. She wondered if she had made the right decision. Well, at least she knew for sure this night was over and done with, and whatever she and Dino had before was gone, this time things were starting new, "I'll try my hardest Dino—no—Boss!"

"You don't have to call me…"

"Yes I do, if things are going to change from now on…yes I do!"

Dino sighed, "If that's how you'd like it."

Yes it was, it was exactly how she wanted it. She heard frantic footsteps and a sudden gasp of air. She recognized that sweet, enduring voice as Yano Watase's.

"Eto…is everything between you and Elsa-chan alright now?" Elsa could hear her panting on the other side.

"I'll tell you about it tomorrow, you should rest." Dino said.

"I'm not going anywhere unless you're with me"

Elsa was very much jealous to the point of wanting to grab the girl by the hair and throwing her in a toilet bowl then flushing it until she drowned or repented, but she reminded herself she had promised Dino that she would try and lose her feelings for him. She thought of everything that had happened up until now. Tonight Elsa had confessed, tonight Elsa was rejected, tonight Elsa yelled at this handsome Italian man, tonight she ran away from a coronation celebration and tonight she changed from being Dino's bride-to-be to being Dino's hench-woman. She left out one important detail from her recount:

Tonight she told a white lie, that she would forget about Dino.

Finito – Finished

Fine della storia – End of story

Non più – No more

Arrivederci e buona fortuna con Yano! – Goodbye and good luck with Yano!