Trip 26: Back Home

I rest on Giotto's shoulder, eyeing the ship's metal body slicing the water's smooth surface in half.

We are going back to Italy. It is going to take us a few weeks' time, since we are right in the Bermuda Triangle. Apparently, that spot was famous for creepy things to happen because since the First's arrival, she made it into her base and the generations that came after just used it too.

Well, that explains a lot. I wonder if the Bermuda Triangle from my world has something similar to this too, with supernatural things going around and all. If it has, then that sure explains everything science can't.

Speaking of which, since we are near the American continent, I would like to step on it, just to see how it looks like in this era before going back home, but I guess the Vongola family can't wait anymore. Their boss is still trapped here with me on this boat. And knowing Giotto, he wouldn't go back if I am not with him.

Besides, we have being away for long enough already. According to Cerve, after he fished us up from the sea, Giotto had to stay in intensive care for about a week until his condition stabilizes, in which time I was drugged to stay asleep too. Then, he used his power to transport us to the island to prepare me for the ceremony, which took, miraculously, only took half a day. Although, the speed comes with consequences; we had an accident when entering the Bermuda Triangle's zone, probably because of the prevention the older generation put there. In any case, Giotto and I were separated. That is why we weren't together when I first woke up.

Now, more than two months have already passed. Adding the trip for returning to Sicily, which will take minimally around one month, forces us to rush.

"You really are badly organized." I glance at the red haired man, "What if Giotto's condition worsened?"

He straightens his back in alert, watching with caution the suddenly agitated waves. "W-well he is fine now."

"That was just luck." I reply curtly before looking away and calm the water around us.

What I don't say, is that even though I am still a little bit mad at Cerve, I have completely forgiven him. After all these days together, I no longer hold a grudge against Cerve, now knowing and understanding his position. Actually, I even begin to enjoy his company, knowing that someone who is also from another world is with me.

It is just that I am still uncomfortable with the idea that things could've have being worse.

"Elleira," Giotto gently strokes my back, "it is alright. We are both fine, aren't we?"

I close my eyes and nod slightly, not even wanting to think about the worst case scenario. He is right, we are both fine right now, and that is what matters.

However, I can't guarantee that we will be in the near future. One day the matter concerning the potion isn't solved will be another day I struggle to keep the grief bottled down.

Right now, I can only hope that everything will turn out just fine, and spend as much time together with Giotto as possible.

But what if, after drinking the antidote, he feels betrayed?

"Shh, the trip is still long." Giotto's soothing voice caress my skin, "Sleep for a while, I will call you up later."

Then I will just have to make him believe in me again no matter what it takes.

I stare at the people around us, and then back to Giotto who's grinning widely.

"I thought we are in a hurry?"

He pats my head affectionately, "We always have some time to meet a friend."

Alright, someone please explain here, I am confused.

I look behind us and notice that not only the room we are in is cramped with people, but even outside is too.

Feeling slightly intimidated by their stares focused on us, I lean closer to Giotto. He lets out a low laugh and kisses my forehead, earning a round of whistling and laughing all around.

Wow, that makes me feel so much better.

To show my gratitude, I pinch Giotto's belly, to which he reply with yet another laugh.

At this moment, a red haired man steps in as the crowd makes way for him, "Alright people, you are scaring Elleira."

Ehm, excuse you, I am not scared, just still confused and disoriented as to where I am and why I am surrounded by so many people.

"Elleira, stop frowning." Giotto gently rubs the wrinkles away from my eyebrows and nods to the man. "This is Cozart, Cozart Shimon, my friend."

...Oh... isn't that the dude who has something to do with Daemon betraying Giotto, and then he went to some place so that he wouldn't bother the Vongola, but his descendant attacked Tsuna because of a misunderstanding?

Wow, that's actually a pretty good plot of a nice complicated love/hate soap opera. I bet the two main love birds would be Giotto and that Cozart over there, or maybe Tsuna and that descendant...

Haha... hah...

I grip Giotto's shirt and get up at the same time. Holding his head tightly in my arms protectively, I eye with caution the seemingly surprised man. "Giotto is mine, I won't let you take him!"

Oh hell no! Not only his descendant is going to attack mine, now he smiles that way to my husband! It doesn't matter what "that way" is, I just don't like his smile. It is as if he knows more about Giotto than me.

After a few seconds of silence, a suppressed snort can be heard, followed by the crowd's unreserved laughter. I can even feel Giotto's body shaking uncontrollably as his arms wrap around me and bury his head deeper in my chest.

After a while, Giotto slowly nudges his head up to my neck, his throat still resonating with laughter, "Elleira, sometime I really wonder what is going on inside your head."

Probably splashing you with ice cold water? Also definitively washing that red haired man away from you.

Shimon claps his hands, making everyone direct their attention on him, "Alright people, let's go eat something." He looks over to us with a sheepish smile, "I hope you guys are hungry."

Oh, rude. Not only he wants to steal my husband, now he wishes that I am hungry?

"Alright Cozart, we are going to catch up in a second."

After the crowd is gone, leaving only the two of us alone, I grip Giotto's collar and pull him close to me, "Spill it out, who is he? What is your relationship with him? I don't like him, let's leave."

Apparently, what I said is funny, because Giotto laughed again.

"Are you jealous?"

Hell no I am not.

He pinches my nose playfully, "You look like you are."

I slap his hand away with a frown, not even slightly affected by his lighthearted tone.

Giotto ruffles my hair, making it as messy as a bird nest, "Cozart is the one who suggested me to create a vigilante group."

I stay put, waiting for the background story to be unlocked. To be honest, I admit it, I don't really have anything against Shimon. It's just that his presence made me realize how tiny I know about Giotto's past. The fact that that man was part of it, yet I am not, irritates me.

"You just want to know about me better, don't you?"

I nod swiftly. He can always put his finger on what is bothering me.

"How about I tell you later?" Giotto gently pats my back all the while making a cute pout, "I am hungry now."

Nod.

"And please don't frown at Cozart."

Nod.

"He is my friend."

Wonderful, now I feel like a kindergarten kid who doesn't know anything.

Letting out another chuckle, Giotto holds my hand and drags me outside to eat.

It is only at this moment that I have a full view of the place we are at. This is a village of about 100 houses made of stone and wood surrounded on one side by a thick forest and another side by the ocean, or maybe it is just a very large body of water because I can't see the other side. There is a small harbor with boats floating in the calm water. Behind the forest is a mountain that has a few infrastructures on it, probably built by Shimon and co.

Now, what bothers me the most is the fact that I didn't even notice when we stepped on this island. Seriously, I have to get rid of this bad habit to sleep through everything. What if there's danger and I just slept through it? I don't want to be a burden.

"You don't have to, because I am with you."

I blink in confusion. Looking up, I see Giotto smiling down at me, his eyes warm and knowing.

...Now I am a bit freaked out. I mean, why can he know what I am thinking so well? Maybe it is because of the hyper intuition, but still...

"Well, I get better with practice."

...Ok now I am officially freaked out and finally understand how Tsuna is feeling regarding Reborn reading his mind.

Giotto lets out a chuckle, pats my head, and drink down the beer Shimon poured for him. He then takes a whole roasted chicken, rips it and gives me one half as he stuffs the other half directly in his mouth.

I stare at the meat in my hand, actually shocked by Giotto's careless action. Is this really the same man who spent hours trying to correct my bad table manners? Comparing to what he just did, I think I would've be considered as really graceful.

I have never seen this side of Giotto. So blunt, so careless, so boastful... is he drunk? He did drink a lot since the start of the supper.

A wink he gave me out of the blue tells me otherwise. Nope, still sober and stupidly acting as if he is drunk so he could do as he pleases. What a kid.

I stare at the alcohol, internally evaluating my chances with it. To be honest, last time I drank (and totally got drunk) ended up horribly weird, so I don't know if it is a good idea to drink now. On the other hand, everyone else is drinking so freely, unrestrained from any rule, just between friends; it makes me itchy to do the same.

"Don't even think about it." Giotto stuffs a carrot in my mouth, stopping me from reaching out for the beer. "I don't want them to see you drunk."

This brings up roars from others, screaming wildly and banging on the tables. I think those guys are actually drunk...

In any case, it is fun. Seeing Giotto having so much joy being with them, reunited with his friend again, brings me joy too.

"To our friendship!" At a certain moment, Shimon gets up and propose a toast to Giotto. The latter gets up with his cup raised and drinks everything down in one gulp, making everyone scream wildly.

Tolerate Elleira. You can do it, don't make a scene now, nobody wants to see it, especially not you. Remember what happened the last time you fucked up because of milk? Yeah, three human that can rival legit demon almost wanted to skin you alive. Seriously, stop getting worked over nothing. That red hair is just Giotto's friend, there's nothing between them. There is nothing except friendship, just like he said, friendship... just friendship... just friends... friends...

I slowly put down the knife I used to cut the chicken on the table and push it toward Giotto... might as well push away the fork too since it might be dangerous... the juice too just because I might "accidentally" use my power and send it straight to a certain someone's face... I think I better push everything away from me; I am the danger.

"Elleira, even if you are not hungry anymore, you shouldn't push all your things toward me." Giotto nods playfully at the small pile of utensils, half eaten food, and some trash in front of him, most of which are mine...

I twitch my mouth in slight annoyance. Can't a girl get jealous in peace?! I mean, who the heck in their right mind would propose a toast with "to our friendship"? No really, I mean it. It is so cheesy and weird. Friendship my ass. Everyone knows that most of the time, lovers begin with being friends. That's it, I said it, I am afraid that Giotto and Shimon had some kind of "adventure" before. This is bothering me so much! It's like I've found a love rival, yet that rival doesn't even think of me as one. That feel, it's horrible. And this blond beside me isn't helping at all.

I huff in a helpless anger before taking back the food, leaving the trash on his side.

Giotto lets out a low laugh before placing an arm around my waist to pull closer. I would've continued to eat if not for the sudden blockade.

The bonfire casts a coat of light on him, softening his feature, and his lips. Even though I can't clearly distinguish his visage, his eyes are surprisingly bright. Amber is a warm color, I like amber eyes...

"You have something on your lips." He explains softly before going back to his former position, his arm still around me.

I slowly lean in to rest on his shoulder. He takes my hand in his and kisses it gently, his eyes unwavering from me.

"Thank you."

"It doesn't mean you can drink the beer though."

"...Good job you just ruined the romantic moment."

"Haha..."

The feast continues until late at night. Whilst the children are hushed to sleep, some adults remain by the bonfire, chatting softly amount themselves.

I have being resting lazily on Giotto since a while now, watching people come and go, listening to their chat, absorbing information from their discussion and ordering them in my head.

I always knew that Daemon was someone to not be messed with, but I never imagined he would go to such length, betraying Giotto's trust and even planning on killing Shimon. Likewise, I never thought that Giotto took on the blame for Elena's death. It pains me to know that he suffered through one of his most trusted friend's betrayal, and all of this because he didn't want Daemon to know the truth.

I have a blurry idea of what happened, from what I've read in the manga back in my world; the illusionist promised himself to bring Vongola to the highest echelon of power by all means. That is probably why he wanted to destroy the Shimon family and its rings that can rival the Vongola rings. He knew that Shimon and Giotto are bound by a strong friendship, yet he did it nonetheless.

I wonder… does he still consider Giotto as a friend? Or does he hate him, because he was led to believe that Elena was dead because of Giotto.

Wait hold a minute. Shimon rings can rival Vongola rings? I thought that the Vongola rings are supposed to be part of the Tri-ni-set, something along the line of being one of this world's pillars. How can the Shimon rings that aren't even part of the Tri-ni-set, possibly rival the Vongola rings? Is this a bug? Wait no, this is real life, and technically real life doesn't have bug.

I am confused.

Well, I guess I'll have to ask Cerve about it- wait hold on, I haven't seen him or Grey all day. Where are they?

...Oh well, they are fully capable of taking care of themselves, no need to worry.

"Do you have a plan for when you retire?" Shimon's voice pulls me back from my drifting thoughts. "How about coming over to live with us? We have plenty of space here. This is a pretty big island."

An alarm turns on inside me. Ehm, what is he doing? Is he trying to snatch my husband again?

As if knowing exactly what I just thought, Giotto turns his attention from Shimon to me, grins widely, and places a moist kiss on my cheek. I silently wipe away what I believe to be his saliva and curls back in his arms. Giotto's grin widens.

Oh well, I guess there is no harm in just talking about moving here. We'll see about it when the time comes.

He gets back in Shimon's conversation as if nothing happened.

Shimon, on the other hand, stares at us with wide open mouth. He immediately regains his composure after a few seconds, and engages in the conversation as if nothing happened too.

"How about you? Where do you want to go after I retire from the Vongola?" Giotto asks me.

Well I know for a fact that Giotto is going to settle in Japan so that someday, Tsuna would be born there. So I guess, we would probably go to Japan and settle down before travelling. Oh yes, I love travelling all around and taste the different food. I no longer have to work to live. Giotto is rich, so am I. After all, I doubt the Cerve family doesn't have enough cash for me to spend… hehehe…

I think I should make a list of things I want to do now that I can. Seriously, I always wanted to slap someone with money, it looks so bad ass… hehe…

Giotto suddenly buries his head in the nock of my neck and blows loudly, stopping only when my suppressed laugher escapes, then sits straight again as if nothing happened with a calm face. "You still haven't answered me Elleira, stop letting your thoughts drift away."

I pinch his arm as payback, "I want to live in Japan."

Now that I think about it, Shimon's descendant met Tsuna in Japan, so that must mean that this red head moved there too.

…Fine, for the sake of this world, I am willing to sacrifice a little bit for this love rival.

"You are coming with us to Japan too, every single member of your Famiglia included."

Shimon looks surprised before breaking into a big grin, "Yes ma'am!"

I nod at him calmly before hiding my face in Giotto's arms that curl around me tighter. Shimon isn't such a bad man after all…

The fire dies away; people scatter back to their house. Shimon goes back into his house to bring us more food.

"You just wanted to be called as 'ma'am', don't you?" Giotto asks me with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"You bet I want." I nod in agreement. Nobody ever referred me as "ma'am", and to be honest, I don't dislike it.

"Sure, sure."

I bet Giotto and Shimon still have a lot to talk among themselves. I should probably leave some private space for them. Even if I am his wife, Giotto doesn't necessarily have to share every part of his life with me, just like I don't have to do it with him either. Actually, more like I don't want to, not after experiencing just how clingy he can be for the past month.

In any case, I get up, dust my dress, and walk back in our assigned house. Just before entering, I turn to Giotto and warn him seriously, "No flirting allowed, got it?"

"Yes ma'am!" He straightens his back with a smile.

I nod in satisfaction before going to sleep.

The next morning, I suppose, someone wraps me in a blanket and carries me away. I yawn tiredly, crack open an eyelid and go back to sleep seeing that it is Giotto.

At a certain moment, I vaguely hear conversation around me. People are wishing us a good trip, laughing softly, biding us goodbye.

I grunt at the noise and turn a bit in Giotto's arms to find a better position.

"Sorry, were we too loud?"

"Oh don't worry about it, she is always grumpy in the morning."

I open my eyes and stare at Giotto, no longer sleepy.

"I dare you to say it again."

He blinks innocently at me, his lips slightly pursed, "Say what?"

Hn, what an actor.

I struggle out of his arms and waves at the people around us. "Let's meet again, it was fun."

"Ooh! Let's meet again!"

The people are still waving at us from the harbor. Soon, they become tiny dots of humanoid shapes. I wrap my arms Giotto, trying to comfort him. Just now, he looks so vulnerable it breaks my heart.

"Everything will be alright, we will see them again."

He blinks a few times, the haze clearing away from his soft amber eyes, and lean in to kiss my forehead, "I know we will." Looking back up, he whispers softly in the wind, "I know we will."

"Elleira, would you like to hear a story?" Giotto takes my hand in his, his eyes distant and lost in memories of the past. "My story."

His gaze focuses on me, and he finally smiles for the first time since the departure from Shimon.

"Where do you want me to start?" He strokes my head, his voice peaceful yet I can detect a hint of sadness in it.

I've always wanted to know more about Giotto, and that includes his past. However, if talking about it makes him sad, then I'd rather not know anything about the past for the rest of my life. After all, I am conscious that not everyone had a happy experience. Giotto's case might even be worse. He is a Mafia boss, and to become one from scratch like he did, he must have suffered through so much with his friends.

"I..." I don't want to reopen Giotto's wounds just to satisfy my own curiosity.

He lets out a faint chuckle before patting my head, something that somehow became a habit for him, "Say yes. I want to talk about it to someone."

I hug him tightly, at a lost at what to do, "You can start where you want."

Giotto hugs back just as tightly. He stays silent for a few minutes before telling me about his past.

I always knew that Giotto's life is way more eventful than mine, and I can't even imagine the hardships he had to go through all these years to become who he is today, but one thing I know for sure is that what he tells me now are all more complicated and painful than he made them sound.

Italy isn't a whole nation; some wants to keep it this way, others want to unify it. The territory is divided in many states, and each state governs its own land. Of course, human greed leads to war in order to obtain more power and land. The Mafia is then born to protect the people from the wars wagged by those states. Although the intention started good, it soon turned into a criminal organization.

The Vongola family was a relatively rich merchant family from north Italy. They possessed fields, various trade networks that extend to many states and mostly, they don't belong to any power. Of course, because of various conflicts in that territory regarding the unstable politic situation at that time, Vongola family is swirled right in the middle of the fights along with other rich merchants or aristocrats. After all, money is crucial in order to win war.

Giotto's father noticed how dangerous it became, so he immediately decided to leave Italy. Unfortunately, it was too late. The night right before the departure, a group of assassins attacked the main mansion. They killed everyone present and took everything. Giotto's father died while protecting him and his mother, hiding them in a secret passageway right before the killers came.

After a night's walk in the secret passageway, Giotto and his mother came out and arrived in one of their farm. There, they planned to gather up enough forces to go back to the mansion.

At this, Giotto halts and closes his eyes painfully as if unable to pull out of the dark memories.

"Giotto, please don't… I…" I bite my lower lip, at a loss on what to do.

He opens his eyes and sighs softly, "I want you to know."

I stare right into his amber orbs. They seem to be darker. "I don't want to know anymore, not if it brings bad memories up."

"You have to know, Elleira." He shakes his head in determination, "You have to know how cruel this world is, you have to know how beautiful this world is. I want you to know this world by seeing it through my past." He pats my head, "Understand?"

I let out a shaky breath and nod hesitantly. It is only at this moment I notice that I am on the verge of tears.

"I met G in that farm. He was the son of a servant and the only one near my age, so mother obviously asked him to look after me.

What I didn't know, at that time, was that G had the order to bring me away whilst mother and the servants who volunteered, including G's father, go back to the main mansion to retrieve father's… to retrieve my father.

I never saw mother ever since, and G never saw his father either."

Giotto gently wipes my tears away, continuing monotonously.

The night before the operation, Giotto was drugged unconscious, then carried away by G. When Giotto regained consciousness, he was already on a boat to Sicily with G resting beside him, barely awake.

"You won't believe how lousy I was back then." Giotto says half jokingly, "When I understood that mother decided to send me to Sicily, I made a scene like the spoiled brat I was and rushed to the captain's lodge, demanding the ship to turn around. Luckily G stopped me from doing that, or I bet we would be both thrown in the sea."

I stare at Giotto, unable to laugh even when he mimics his younger self's arrogant actions. I understand him, I understand everything, and that is exactly why it is so painful for me; knowing what he went through breaks my heart. Even so, I still want to know more. I have to, just like he said, know more about this cruel yet beautiful world. This is my home now, and I have the duty to understand it.

When he notices that I am not in the mood for jokes, Giotto pulls me closer and continues, warming my cold body with his.

"I was 10 years old then, and G was 13… I got into a lot of trouble because of my arrogance, and every time, he took care of me." Giotto chuckles softly, eyes closed and deep in his memories, "I guess that is when he caught this habit to always nag me, just like a mother.

"The money that was sufficient if spent wisely was supposed to last for a few years, but because of me, it leaked out like water to appease the troubles I caused. We soon had to move to the slum, doing any job we could find. Of course, at first, I refused to do so. At this moment, G snapped and lectured me severely. It is only then that I begin to acknowledge the fact that I am no longer a master, and G isn't a servant. He is my brother, someone who didn't abandon me to die and run off with the money mother entrusted to him, someone who risked his life trying to clean up my mess.

"The years that followed were harsh and difficult. However, these years polished my arrogance and, luckily, made me open my eyes. I am lucky to have met them, all my friends. They are the ones who made me who I am today."

"Should I be glad that my husband is not an arrogant little brat?" I wipe my tears away forcefully, trying to lighten the atmosphere, "And all thanks to G."

Giotto finally laughs out loud, the tension in his muscles I felt since he began loosens, "Maybe you really should."

After he stops laughing, however, Giotto turns serious once again, "Elleira, I can't protect you forever. Even if I want to, I wouldn't be able. There will always be people who would try to target my family, and those who are weaker become inevitably the ideal target. That is why, I am glad that you can protect yourself."

"Giotto…"

"That being said, you can turn your target to other people now that we are going back. For example, I don't know, let's say Alaude?" He grins widely, his eyes glint brightly as if a drenched Alaude right before him, "It would be fun, trust me."

…Is he trying to get me killed?

Seeing my bewildered expression, Giotto reflects on what he said before shaking his head, "Yeah, probably a bad idea to mess with Alaude. He can get really scary when he is angry."

You bet it's a bad idea.

"How about Lampo? Oh and Asari and Knuckle?" To be honest, they are the only ones I am sure won't go on a ramping rage and start planning my death. Safety comes first.

"Nah, their reactions are boring."

His face tells me that he already tried to pull all sort of prank on every single one of his guardians… are Mafia bosses supposed to be this free as to even have time pulling pranks on their subordinates?

"Oh! I know!" Giotto suddenly sits straight enthusiastically, "You should've have done it on Cozart. He is the only one who wouldn't be mad enough to chase you till the end of the world for revenge, but his reactions are hilarious, especially if you manage to surprise him."

…I don't think this is appropriate to say about your own friend…

Speaking of Shimon, I almost forgot to ask what happened to him after he left Sicily.

"Oh you know," Giotto shrugs indifferently, "Alaude pulled some strings here and there."

I can't believe it, Alaude, the supposedly cold-hearted law enforcement maniac, if he resembles Hibari anyway, bribed the authorities?!

As if noticing my disbelief, Giotto continues the explanation, "I mean, he is head the British Empire's secret agency. I doubt he doesn't have any connection."

I still can't believe it.

"Besides, he arrested those who accepted the bribes afterward. It was kind of like a test you know, to see who can be easily corrupted."

Well that makes more sense. But man, that was so sly of him to do that. Sly but clever.

It also makes sense geographically; Shimon and his Famiglia are living near the British colonies. It would be impossible for them to go unnoticed by those colonies. One day or another, they would be found out, and that would be problematic. However, if Alaude were to step in, not only he can get the latest news on Shimon (for Giotto I guess), he could also prevent the information concerning Shimon's whereabouts to leak out.

It is wonderful, knowing that Giotto has such good friends willing to face everything with him. But…

"Giotto," I snuggle on him and rest my head on his shoulder, "are you ready to go back?"

"More or less, how about you?" He pulls the blanket that I kicked down up to my neck before yawning.

"To be honest, I am a little bit scared."

"Why?" He caresses my hair gently.

"I don't know how to face Lampo and everyone."

He stifles down a laugh and pats my head, "Why would you think that? They are the one who wouldn't know how to face you."

I push myself up to look at him, "Why?"

"I think Cerve told them that we misunderstood you. Knowing these guys, they would feel so guilty about it that they would practically do anything you ask."

"Really?" I ask incredulously, "Even Daemon?"

"Except him."

That's what I thought.

Well, good enough. At least now, I am feeling better about it and won't be acting all awkward.

"Elleira." Just as I am about to doze off, Giotto's voice pulls me slightly awake.

"No matter what he did, I believe Cerve did it for your well being." My sleepiness goes away in an instant hearing this, "Besides, he will become your family. I don't want you to hold a grudge against him, alright?"

"Giotto, did Cerve asked you to tell me that?"

"No, but I just don't want you to make mistakes you will regret later."

I lower my eyes, feeling the warmth of a family's care for the first time since a long time ago, "I am not mad at him, it is just that he did something- but soon, it will be over." I crawl to Giotto's level and kiss his lips, softening his frown only a little bit. "Can I tell you everything after?"

His eyes remain impassible, until he finally sighs and nods slightly, "Don't keep me waiting for too long."

"I won't."

"Where were you guys before?" I ask the two men before me. Cerve and Grey were nowhere to be seen since we arrived on Shimon's island, and I honestly don't like the idea that they, especially Cerve, could be doing something in my back again. Just the potion is more than enough to drive me crazy; I don't need something else of that caliber so soon.

The crimson haired man grins widely, holding up a bottle with a transparent liquid inside, "I finished the antidote last night. Are you happy?"

I stare at him with a raised eyebrow.

He wipes the grin away and waves his arms with an awkward smile, "Yeah, I guess not."

Grey tends me another bottle of a blue liquid, "Master."

"Yeah?" I answer at the same time as Cerve.

"Right… sorry, I forgot that you- yeah…" He scratches his head while clearing his throat awkwardly, staring at the ceiling as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.

I turn my attention to Grey, still not entirely used to him being so respectful toward me. Actually, I am just not comfortable when people are treating me like some kind of high society lady, because I am not and have never being treated such way. It is going to take some time for me to get used to it, not only with Grey, but also for when I meet other people as the Cerve family's Sixth Head.

"Master, please drink this antidote."

I stare at the bottle, dumbfounded. I thought that only Giotto has to drink it since, well, he's the one who drank the potion, not me.

"The potion Sir drank was made to accompany the one Master you drank." Grey explains calmly, "It makes the target, in this case Sir, fall in love with the person who drank the other part of the potion. Of course, the people around Sir are influenced by it too."

I see. This actually makes sense. If Giotto just drank the potion, there's no guarantee that I would be on the receiving end. After all, I doubt Cerve used some of my body part to make the potion, just like how it should be in those witch movies I saw... He didn't right?

"Why are you staring at me like that?" The red head asks me with an uncomfortable frown.

"It's nothing." On second thought, I don't want to know about it. Just imagining Giotto drinking something along the line of my nail powder makes me shudder in disgust. Well, at least, I am not the one who possibly drank something so disgusting.

Taking carefully the bottle Grey is tending me, I frown at it. I wonder what they put in it… Actually, I better not know about it.

Closing my eyes, I gulp it down instantly, expecting a horrible flavor, only to realize it tastes like water, meaning it doesn't even taste anything particular.

Okay, now I definitively don't want to know what they did to this blue thing to make it tasteless.

Now, I only have to make Giotto drink the other antidote. I don't want to lie to him, but if I just tell him the truth, I guess I will get so nervous I wouldn't be able to speak. Write him a letter? Nah, it would just be so weird.

"Did you tell him about it?" Cerve asks me, "Or would you like me to tell him?"

I shake my head and smile gratefully at him, "I want to tell him myself."

"Are you sure? Because you don't look like you want to."

I scratch my cheek in embarrassment. Yeah, the only problem now is how to convert this message to him. If only I am more courageous…

"How about you ask the future him?" Cerve proposes out of the blue, "Just ask him and you will be fine, wouldn't it?"

I throw him a mocking glance, "What do you think this is, a science fiction novel? Nobody have a time machine."

"Well I do have something that can send you to the future, only ten years though. It should be enough, right?"

…Say what?

Grey takes out a green bazooka to show me.

Oh… isn't this the ten years bazooka Lambo has? From the… the… I forgot the name of that family, but what is important right now is that I can go ask Giotto from the future about what I did. I know, this is escaping reality, but I can't overcome this fear.

"Alright, do it."

Grey nods and throws the weapon at me, muttering a soft apology.

"Elleira, are you here?" At this exact moment, Giotto comes in, only to scream in horror seeing the bazooka fall on me, "Elleira!"

Before any of us could react, he pushes me out of the way and gets engulfed in the bazooka the next moment.

I look at Cerve, at a loss on what to do. He looks back at me, looking just as lost.

I stare intensely at the screen of pink smoke. To say that I am not nervous is a lie. The mere idea of meeting an older Giotto petrifies me. I am not ready yet! How is he going to act? How would he look like? From what the anime suggested, the older version of Tsuna's family all became extreme hotties. Then how about Giotto? Also, what is the future like?

I-I… I can't!

The smoke screen vanishes, revealing a blond man in a dark blue yukata with his back turned on us.

"Mm?" He turns his head slightly, looking at his surroundings.

…His voice got deeper! And what is this hoarse texture I can almost feel?!

I quickly cover my mouth to at least muffle down a bit my loud heavy breathing. How can only a back and a voice affect me so?!

Cerve throws a side glance at me, obviously weirded out by my action.

I glare back. What, never seen a girl fangirling on her own husband?

He looks away after nodding uncertainly to me and stretches a forced smile, giving me a thumb up while at he's at it. It is clear as the day to me that he is judging me. Then, as if understanding that his presence here is not really needed, he points to the door and silently creeps away. Grey follows his lead and closes the door as they exit.

"Elleira?" The foreign yet familiar voice catches my attention, so silky and deep.

I turn my head mechanically in his direction with tightly shut eyes out of nervousness, internally expecting some great change. Isn't it always like that in drama? People you haven't seen for years suddenly become unrecognizable yet so much hotter. Giotto is already so handsome now, how is he going to look like ten years from now? Wouldn't he be exceedingly beautiful enough to cause war to begin?! Like those stories I read, somebody so gorgeous people would do anything, even war, to have that person.

I clutch my heart. I breathe out slowly to calm down my crazy heartbeat. My shaky legs can barely support my weight. Suddenly, the room feels so heated.

"Elleira."

Ahh! This wonderful voice, giving out the perfect mixture of the deep husky manly feels, yet still maintains a lively radiance of youth. Ooh, such complacence!

Bring it on, hot Giotto! You are mine!

I open my eyes at scrutinize the older man before me intensely.

…I am disappointed.

He didn't change that much, still the same blond hair, the same eyes that would look at me like a big innocent puppy when really, he is everything but innocent. Even the goofy look is alike.

Meh, I guess that only thing that improved in him is his voice.

Hot damn though, I love his voice.

Giotto chuckles softly in his silky voice, "Of course you do."

And let's say all his "mind reading" business got better over the years.

He raises and eyebrow in amusement, "Are you disappointed?"

"You bet I am." I cross my arms over my chest, "The body can't catch up with the voice."

Giotto's eyes widen before he laughs uncontrollably, "You are still the same," He approaches slowly, soon looming over me, "my little sharp tongued kitten."

His words and intonation make me blush furiously.

I think I miscalculated. Yes, this is still the same Giotto, but ten years of difference isn't just for show. H-he… what is this blatant dangerous aura?! At least the Giotto of this time wouldn't be able to make me weak in my knees just with a glance. Even thought I know he wouldn't hurt me, the feeling that he can make me dig a trap then happily jump right into it afterward just won't shake off. I-I…

"S-stop that…" I look down, refusing to look in his burning eyes and back down, "You are too… close…"

"Am I?" He suddenly leans in and blows softly on my neck, making me back down immediately with a burning face.

I hide my cheeks with my hands, feeling the heat burning my palms. My brain has turned into jelly, unable to think straight. Heck, I doubt I can even speak properly now. "Y-you…"

Soon, my back bumps the wall. I almost whimper out loud. Why do walls exist? I don't want to be cornered.

"Oh?" He smirks slyly like a predator, "Feeling weak in the knees?" He slowly puts his arms around me, caging me inside. "Look at me Elleira."

I furiously shake my head.

He leans closer, "Look at-"

At the exact instant, we are both engulfed in a pink smoke.

I look up, and see with relief Giotto, his cheeks unnaturally red with hazy confused eyes.

"Giotto!" I jump on him and fling my arms around his neck, giving him a bear hug.

I never, ever want to experience what I just experienced. Too much adrenaline and tension for me. I can't handle it.

"E-Elleira!" He immediately holds me up so I don't end up chocking him. "Are you- are you alright? I mean… with the future me…"

Hearing this, my blush darkens. I bury my face in his fluffy hair, enjoying this softer Giotto, "Yeah…"

"A-alright then…"

It seems like whatever happened in the future managed to shaken him up as well. Now I really am curious about it…

"So," I ask Giotto once I get down, "what happened in the future?"

Hearing his, his cheeks that almost regained its normal color suddenly becomes tinted of red. "N-nothing happened!" He flaps his hand to fan himself and looks around nervously, "Is it me or this room just got really hot?"

"Giotto?" The more he acts this way, the stronger my curiosity becomes.

"I am so thirsty, is there water anywhere?"

No really, what happened there to make him so agitated?

"Oh water!" Giotto spots and reaches to a strangely familiar looking bottle eagerly, "I-I am so thirsty."

Wait, hold on… isn't this the- it is the antidote!

"Giotto!" I watch him open it in a swift movement and take in a large gulp immediately.

I am not prepared yet, and he just drinks it?!

He looks at me curiously, still drinking.

"D-do you feel anything strange?" I ask him tentatively once he finishes drinking, fear and anxiety already boiling inside me.

He puts the cup on the table in silence, his eyes never leaving mine. Then, he advances toward me slowly. I back away with each step he takes. Soon, I have my back against the wall… again.

Giotto halts once before me. He raises an arm and... "Pinch." He smiles childishly, his fingers still on my nose.

"G-Giotto?" I ask him tentatively.

"Yeah?"

"How do you feel?"

He blinks in confusion, "Perfect. You know, I thought that I would at least feel sick or something with the time travel, but I feel perfectly fine..."

Giotto's voice becomes a distant background sound. I can only see his lips moving, but I can't understand what he is saying. Although... I am glad. Nothing has changed even after Giotto drank the antidote. This is enough for me, more than enough.

I cut off Giotto's endless babble by sealing his lips with mine.

At last, there is nothing I fear anymore.

"Wow." He sighs dreamily, "Is this what happens when I drink water?"

I chuckle at his reaction and bury my head in his chest to hide my tears, tears of joy, "That's right Giotto. Water is good for your health."

Although my tears of joy turn dry and my smile freezes the second I spot the red spot on Giotto's collar. I flip it to see better, just to make sure this is not what I think it is, but Giotto seizes my hands with a panicked awkward smile.

"You better give me some good explanation here, Giotto Vongola." I gnash my teeth in anger. "Some good ass argument as to how this lipstick stain got on your shirt."

"Ehm…" He blinks a few times, the blush returning on his face, "the older you had a stamp in the form of lips and stamped on me?"

…Normally, I would've kicked him, but after seeing how the ten years older Giotto acted… yeah, I guess the older me had to somehow adapt…

No really, what kind of people we became in the future?!

A/N I did my research on Italy, but since I know I might write some inaccuracies, let's say that this world is different from the real history, an AU if you prefer. Although I try to make the historical context asclose to the real thing as possible. That said, if any of you notice that I fucked up royally, please tell me about it and preferably put a source so I can correct myself. Again, I repeat, this is pure fiction, so please forgive this incompetent history failure of an author for any mistake in historical order. Thank you.

Btw, is there enough fluff? I tried.

Also sorry for the late update I had this block and couldn't overcome it.

PS everytime I reread this story, I spot so many reference and citation I am just like, "god, look at this geek".