"You said she would be here, trash."
The atmosphere was becoming beyond unpleasant. It was tense, it was uncomfortable, and for Tsuna especially, it was awkward. Over the past nearly four years of knowing Noriyama Kaere, they had developed a sort of sibling bond. Even his mother acknowledged it and thought it was the sweetest, cutest thing ever. In this moment, he wished they weren't so close. Sitting with Yamamoto and Gokudera made him feel somewhat safe, but the way that Xanxus glared at them was becoming too unsettling. "Er…sh-she should be here soon…"
"This is some nice weather, isn't it?" Yamamoto spoke up cheerfully.
Why are you making small talk? It's making it worse! Tsuna glanced at his phone. There were no new messages from Kaere.
"It's going to be Christmas in a few days, right? That's pretty cool; Christmas in Venice."
Stop talking! He's getting angrier! His eyes widened when he heard a familiar voice behind him, ever so slightly muffled until the restaurant door opened.
"VOOOOIIII! WHAT DID I TELL YOU, WOMAN?! I SAID THERE WAS NO RUNNING AWAY! XANXUS, KEEP A TIGHTER LEASH ON YOUR WOMAN!"
Tsuna winced and turned in his seat to find Squalo dragging Kaere across the restaurant by her arm. To a stranger, this might have looked violent. It might have seemed like he was truly angry with her and that she, in turn, was truly glaring at him. Tsuna knew better. He could see in their eyes that it was an act, even though he already knew that it was. As if things weren't awkward enough! He slouched in his seat as they neared the table, the man shouting at her and Kaere irately muttering back at him.
Shift P.O.V
Did you have to draw so much attention?! Kaere's face was bright red, biting the inside of her cheek in an effort to keep herself distracted from the embarrassment. She could feel people staring at them, but the strongest gaze was that of her fiancée. The one she had spent the past few months hiding from. The one she had abandoned the night of their engagement. Kaere's hands curled into fists and in a final act to dissuade suspicion, she punched Squalo in the stomach. The surprise in his eyes was genuine, the anger only marginally real.
To everyone's relief, Xanxus laughed. An arm wrapped around Kaere's waist and pulled her down to sit on his lap, much to her embarrassment. "Where the hell have you been?"
"She was staying with her cousin in Hokkaido, right?" Yamamoto spoke for her.
"I want to hear it from her, trash."
"Er…I-I was staying with my cousin…in Hokkaido…" She glanced across the table at her friends and fought back the urge to pull away from Xanxus. If I do, he'll just get mad. I'll just play along with this for now. It's safer for everyone if I do. Besides…if we're supposed to be engaged…Kaere saw Squalo scowling from the corner of her eye.
"Anyway! Are we getting food? I heard that this place was really good," Yamamoto spoke again, trying to ease the tension.
The dinner went by uneventfully after the initial arrival. Kaere listened to everyone talk, silently eating her meal. Most of it was stuff she didn't entirely understand, but she had nothing else to do. She occasionally glanced over at Squalo, who was grudgingly looking away from her. After the meal, she just wanted to go back to her room. I just want to sleep and think everything over. I don't want to talk to anyone right now. It's just awkward. She stepped out into the chilled night with everyone and started to follow Tsuna when a hand caught her by the arm.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?"
"I-I was…going to my room…at the hotel…" Kaere frowned, refusing to meet his gaze. I know what he's going to say. I know I can't go back yet. I might not even be allowed to go back at all. She forced a half-smile, ignoring the way her stomach hurt with unease. "I guess…m-maybe we could…go for a walk…?" She saw him raise an eyebrow, looking slightly annoyed. "I mean…I-I haven't seen you in a while so…"
The smirk he wore was one of pure satisfaction. "You missed me," he taunted.
"…y-yeah…" Kaere bowed her head and nervously fidgeted with her gloves.
Red eyes shifted from the girl to Squalo, who was watching with narrowed eyes. "Leave us alone," he growled.
"Um…s-so we'll see you later, right? Kaere?" Tsuna asked.
"Yeah…um…I-I'll find you later…" she assured him, giving him a worried glance. I'll be okay. He won't kill me. I might get a few bruises, but he won't kill me. He started to walk, not waiting for her. The girl hurried to catch up to him, one eye twitching slightly. I wonder what he would think if he knew how sadistic I can get. He wouldn't be afraid; I know that. Would he be mad or just laugh? Kaere half-grinned and he smirked back at her.
"What are you thinking about, woman?"
"Just…remembering last time…the last time I saw you…"
"What about it?" Xanxus was watching her from the corner of his eye, amused.
Her cheeks burned pink in the cool night air. "It…was intense…wasn't it?"
The man laughed wickedly. "You know you fucking loved it" He paused for a moment, glancing over his shoulder at the retreating forms of Kaere's friends. "You haven't been with anyone since then, have you?" There was a clear, threatening tone.
"Who…do you think I would do that with…? N-none of them…are even my type."
"I'm your type?" he teased. "What? Do I make your sadistic little heart race?"
She turned toward him, smirking up at the man. "M-maybe~" Her back was suddenly pinned to the brick front of a shop, crimson eyes smoldering down at her. Kaere's first instinct was to fight and thrash her way out of his hold, but when her gaze met his, it made her freeze in place. I know what he wants…but let's see how he feels when I really let loose. Her arms went around his neck and she pulled his face down to hers, the girl's lips meeting his roughly. Kaere bit his lower lip and tugged slightly, her teeth drawing a little blood.
He growled, fingertips digging into her waist. When she moved her lips away from his and latched onto his neck, he pressed tighter against her, one hand threading through her short, dark brown hair. Xanxus felt her teeth scrape over his neck and was disgusted that it made him feel so weak. Teeth sank into his flesh and her hands traveled down and over his chest before gripping tightly to the material of his shirt. The man's pulse raced beneath her teeth and he could feel her smirking against his skin. Irritated at her attempt to dominate him once more, he pushed her away. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"
The sound of his voice in that lusty growl made her heart skip a beat, a shiver running through her. "I'm…just being romantic…in my own sadistic way…" Kaere tilted her head, licking specks of his blood from her pale lips. "Why? Do you have a problem with me…showing my love…Xanxus?" She knew her plan had backfired the second he smirked, licking the blood from his own lips. That didn't scare him off…?
"That's how you show your love?" he taunted, leaning down to the side of her neck. "You're better than I thought you were. I thought you were just a normal, shy little brat."
"You…say this after already proposing?" Kaere gritted her teeth, muscles tensing as he bit her neck lightly. She squirmed against him, hands going to his hair and trying to pull him away. I don't like this! I really, really don't like this! Her golden eyes caught a flash of something pale behind Xanxus, across the street. Squalo stared back at her, fury in his gaze. She mouthed the word 'don't' and watched him go, her heart beating faster in panic. "X-Xanxus…w-we shouldn't…do this out here," she quietly protested.
The man pulled away and looked irritated with her words. "Where would you rather do it?" His tone was suggestive, but still taunting.
Kaere smirked, genuinely amused with his frustration. She leaned up to his ear, biting gently. "Somewhere…they won't hear the sounds you'll make…" Her cheeks were pink, but she ignored the warm sensation in favor of the growl that reverberated in his chest. They continued their walk down the street and Kaere frowned slightly. As much as I love Squalo…he never reacts the way Xanxus does. I can't really tease him the way I can with…She glanced at the man beside her. He was frowning, but she knew what was going through his mind. He was reflecting on what had just happened, what he wanted to do in the future.
They had been walking for a while when her phone started to ring. She looked at the screen and grimaced. "I-I'm sorry, but…I have to take this…" Kaere leaned against a shopfront and sighed. "Noriyama speaking."
"Kaere! You need to get back to the hotel right now! Something's wrong!" Tsuna sounded truly panicked and it made her instantly sprint toward the hotel, leaving Xanxus behind.
"What is it?! Is Gokudera-? I mean, is everyone alright?"
"How did you-? Squalo and Gokudera started fighting and ran off! We need you to help us look for them before one of them gets hurt!"
She frowned as she ran, hoping Xanxus wasn't following her. Tsuna, you just don't want Gokudera to get hurt. I know you don't care if Squalo is injured. Nonetheless, she was now frantically glancing around her as she sprinted. I just saw Squalo! Did he just immediately go back to the hotel?! Wait! Damn it! That idiot! She had reached the hotel and stood there a moment, glaring at the doors. "Tsuna. I'm sorry. Gokudera will be okay…so just wait in the room. Where's Yamamoto?"
"He should be leaving the hotel. Kaere, what's going on?"
Kaere greeted Yamamoto as he cheerfully approached her. "Just…Squalo saw me with Xanxus…and I think…maybe he did this to create a distraction…" She winced. "C-could you call Xanxus…tell him I'll…call him later?"
"I guess so. Be careful, okay? Both of you."
"No problem." She checked her coat pockets and found a few syringes and sheathed scalpels. Seeing Yamamoto's grin, she raised an eyebrow. "So…what exactly happened?"
"Oh, you know. Just usual Gokudera stuff," he replied. "What about you?"
She snorted and started down the street quickly with him at her side. "Just…hanging out with Xanxus…you know how that is." Kaere tugged her goggles down over her eyes. "So…are you having fun?" This awkward small talk should at least make things easier until we find them.
"I am now! What about you, Kaere-chan?"
"Oh yeah…loads of fun." She heard a familiar shout in the distance and changed direction quickly, grabbing Yamamoto's arm to drag him behind her. "This way."
His grin grew. "You always did have a weird Gokudera-radar, huh?"
"…you could say that…but it's just intuition really…usually…"
"Uh, Kaere-chan? You have a little blood on your face. What happened? Did you bite Xanxus or something?" To his discomfort, she grinned evilly.