BOOM! Finally! I have updated! I hope you guys like this and I'm sorry for stalling!
Beta'ed by Icy-chan!
Chapter 50
Tsuna's hyper intuition was acting up and the brunet looked around for the cause of it, feeling, quite suddenly, a weird sense of eeriness settled in him. And then it came to him clearly – they were being followed. He was sure of it. But… the follower hasn't made the move yet. He turned back towards his friends, ignoring the bewildered looks he received from them, and wondered if the person following him was an ally of the Vongola.
Probably not.
"Tsuna-kun?"
The young boss turned towards Kyoko, and immediately, he was aware of everyone staring at him. He blinked and forced a small, awkward smile. The attention felt somewhat uncomfortable.
"Is there something wrong?" Kyoko asked, a frown etching her worried face.
"Tsuna-san seems distracted." Haru pointed out.
"Oh… uh! It's nothing, I was just thinking." Tsuna didn't want to ruin their day by introducing the bad news. But then he noticed they didn't look so reassured, so hastily he decided to change the subject, "So Yamamoto! Gokudera-kun! I-I thought you had some stuff to do this weekend. I was pretty surprised when you guys showed up!"
"Haha! Maa, maa… just because we've been busy with practice, doesn't mean I can't show up for an outing with you guys!" Yamamoto grinned.
"That's right Juudaime! There's a time for everything, even for those stupid clubs!" Gokudera scoffed.
"Hahi! You say that, but you're actually enjoying the new club you joined." Haru exclaimed, making the bomber blush a, "I-what? Of course I don't, you stupid woman!"
"Maa, maa Gokudera."
Tsuna chuckled a bit before sighing in relief. The subject had been completely diverted.
"Boss…"
The brunet almost jumped in surprise as he completely forgot about Chrome. He turned to see the illusionist looking at him with concern. "Is there something you aren't telling us?"
"U-uhh, no!" Then he looked at the others, and was stunned to see Yamamoto and Gokudera looking at him seriously. He avoided their eyes as he turned to see Haru and Kyoko chatting with each other excitedly.
He just couldn't tell them. He'll ruin everything if he did.
The small teen wanted to groan in frustration, why did he have to be the harbinger of horrible news?
Once more, he finds himself arguing with himself. He might as well tell them, because apparently, they won't believe his lies anymore. They're not that easy to fool anymore, much to his dismay.
However, before Tsuna could even open his mouth to speak, Lambo suddenly hopped towards the brunet, shocking and interrupting him in the process.
"Baka-Tsuna! Lambo-san wants ice cream!"
"You stupid cow!" Gokudera grabs Lambo from his boss, "It's still too early for that!"
"Wait!" Tsuna then took this opportunity of distraction by grabbing Lambo back, "I-I'll buy Lambo some ice cream. He might start whining."
"But he'll be having too much sweets." Haru frowned, "I mean, we'll be eating cakes after all."
"It's just one ice cream." Tsuna insisted, "I, uhh… kind of owe Lambo one."
"Nyahaha! Lambo-san deserves ice cream!" Lambo cheered.
"Well… if you say so…" Yamamoto exchanged looks with Chrome while Gokudera stepped up, "I'll come with you too, Juudaime!"
"No! I mean, it's okay… you don't have to. I won't take long; you guys go ahead. I'll meet up with you at the cake shop." The brunet said with a small smile.
"But… Tsuna-kun-"
"I'll come back immediately. I promise." And without waiting for a response, Tsuna immediately ran off. Everyone exchanged looks while I-pin quickly left to follow Tsuna and the cow child.
"Oi Baka-Tsuna! Lambo-san wants chocolate! Lots and lots of chocolate!" Lambo exclaimed while waving his arms above him as if to emphasize his point. The brunet just chuckled before looking up to see an ice cream store nearby. He turned around to check if anyone was following him, or if his friends were nearby. He sighed in relief, as he saw no one before lining up for the ice cream. He then looked down at Lambo and softly spoke, "Lambo, I have to leave you for awhile… can you buy your own ice cream? I'll be right back as soon as possible."
"Lambo-san can take care of ice cream! Nyahaha!"
Tsuna sweat-dropped and was about to speak again, when he was interrupted by a tug on his pants. He looked down and was surprised to see I-pin, "I-pin! You… you followed us?"
The ex-assassin nodded, "I-pin want to make sure if Tsuna-san okay!"
"I'm fine." The young boss assured as he knelt down, "Hey I-pin, I have a favor to ask you."
"Favor?"
"Yap." Tsuna put Lambo down next to the Chinese girl, "Can you buy your ice cream for awhile while I leave to do something?"
I-pin frowned in worry and Tsuna was a bit impressed that she could find it in herself to worry over someone like him even when he was bribing her with ice cream. Kids often fell for ice cream.
"I'll be right back immediately. I swear. I just have to… uhm… to look for a bathroom." Tsuna smiled as he ignored Lambo's obnoxious laugh, "I really have to go."
I-pin's eyebrows shot up in understanding, and all worry left without a trace, "Understood! I-pin buys ice cream!"
The brunet felt a bit guilty for lying to the child but nevertheless handed the girl some money, "You can pick your own ice cream as well." He puts a hand on her hand and assured her once more, "I'll be back before you know it."
I-pin watched as the teen stood up and left. She reached out hesitantly but the brunet had already gone far, "Tsuna-san."
'Right. Finally I can look for this stalker.' Tsuna thought as he ran through the streets with neck-breaking speed. He stopped for a moment and looked around, trying to ignore the bustling people around him. Suddenly, he sensed someone pass behind him in lightning speed. He turned around with a glare. The perpetrator was near. He ran back and his eyes widened as he saw a suspicious looking person walking ahead of him. Tsuna was determined to go after him, but the people around him seemed to have multiplied as he soon found himself having a hard time trying to move around.
"S-sumimasen…" He said politely as he pushed some people out of the way, 'Almost there!'
His eyes never left the person as he kept wiggling his way towards him. The stranger suddenly turned sideways. But all he saw was a pair of shades instead of eyes. The brunet was stunned as he was sure he just looked at him.
But he was quickly snapped out of his state of shock as the person ran.
"O-oi!" Tsuna quickened his pace, determined to reach the unknown character. Unaware that he was slowly nearing a pedestrian lane, "Come back!" He exclaimed as he finally got out of the crowd, but before he could even step on the road a hand had grabbed him from behind and pulled him back.
Tsuna yelped when a car that honked loudly rushed passed the place he was about to pass by.
He sighed in relief before turning around to thank the stranger who saved him, but was frozen in shock as he saw his guardian of storm, "G-Gokudera-kun?"
The bomber did not look happy, "Juudaime, you could've died there!"
The small teen flinched a bit and tried to ignore the people who were staring and muttering how careless he had been, "I-I'm sorry… I was just…" His caramel eyes darted back to where he last saw the stranger, and much to his dismay, he wasn't there anymore.
Gokudera frowned but did not say anything. The brunet couldn't help but wish he did. The silence coming from the right-hand man was not something he was used to. He winced as he watched Gokudera gesture him back before hesitantly following him.
"Gokudera-kun, look…" He sighed, "I'm sorry for-"
"Juudaime, did we do something wrong?"
Tsuna found himself staring up in surprise, but he did not see the other's expression, for he had his back face. He shook his head, "Of… of course not! You guys didn't do anything wrong as far as I'm concerned."
"Is it because of our clubs, Juudaime?"
"Wha- No! No-!"
Gokudera had turned to him. His face was trying to hide the frustrations in his eyes, "What's happening?"
Tsuna had stopped in his tracks to stare at those emerald green eyes. He frowned. He didn't know whether he should tell him or not. Whether it was the right thing or not. He couldn't tell anything from what's best or what's right anymore.
"Juudaime." He watched as those pale hands clenched tightly, "During the time you wanted me to join the Occult club, my mind was clouded with doubt and uncertainty."
The brunet looked down his shoes as he suddenly found them interesting.
"Is this what Juudaime really wants? Or is he testing me? These were the thoughts that kept ringing in my mind." Gokudera quietly said, "I didn't know if I should really join or not. Protecting you, Juudaime, is my number one priority and I just couldn't distract myself with such activities."
'But you deserved it…' Tsuna silently thought before looking up to stare at the bomber, 'I know you deserved it.'
"It was what kept me from accepting all those requests." The bomber admitted, "But then you gave me that determined look. And I couldn't find myself to say no."
"Then why didn't you say no?" The question was asked quietly, as if the brunet didn't want him to answer. But he did anyway.
"Because I trusted you."
The young boss' eyes widened once more and immediately he looked away from the other's unwavering gaze.
"But I don't know if what I did was right anymore." Gokudera bit his lower lip, "Ever since I joined… it's like Juudaime had been pushing me away."
Tsuna tensed at what he heard. And suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder, making him look up once more. His sight met with a confused looking Gokudera who asked with a slight hint of hesitation.
"Juudaime, not just me… but the others too…" He kept staring, "You… you trust us, right?"
He did not know what made him hold his breath as if he was preparing for a hit. He did not know the reason for the sudden quickening of his heart. He puts his hands inside the pockets of his hoody, to hide the trembling. 'Am I afraid?'
"Juudaime-"
"Of course I do." Tsuna spoke up; he tried to meet the other's emerald eyes before breathing out, "Of course I do…"
Right there and then… he perfectly knew from the small crack that he barely heard… that he knew was lying.
Fortunately, Gokudera believed in him as he looked at him in a bit of relief. He looked like he was going to thank him, but the brunet couldn't help but wish he wouldn't. He didn't want to be thanked for lying. Luckily, the bomber decided on just grinning at him and finally they went on their way back to I-pin, Lambo and the others.
A certain group was standing outside a small cake shop of Namimori. Obviously waiting for some other people that would soon join them.
"Oh! Here they come!" Kyoko spoke up as she waved at the four figures heading their way.
"Took you guys long enough." Yamamoto grinned as he turned to Gokudera and Tsuna.
"Juudaime had a perfectly good reason!" The right-hand man reasoned.
The brunet chuckled half-heartedly, "I uhh… got side-tracked."
"Did you two enjoy your ice creams?" Haru asked the two children who were covered with chocolates around their mouths. They nodded in response. Kyoko giggled softly before taking out a handkerchief to wipe their faces.
"Why don't we get in?" Yamamoto suggested as he opened the door of the small cake shop for the others to enter. Unfortunately, they were unaware of the eyes watching them. All except Tsuna who was the last one to enter. He turned to look around with caution.
"Tsuna?" The brunet turned back to Yamamoto and smiled. Quickly he entered before the baseball star could ask him any questions.
"So what are you guys having?" Kyoko asked at the others with a bright smile.
"I'll have what you guys will have." Yamamoto shrugged, not really sure what the delicious looking cakes were called. Tsuna nodded as if agreeing with the swordsman while Gokudera grumbled something about 'desserts' and 'disgusting'.
"Lambo-san wants everything!" Lambo bounced as they took their seats.
"Lambo behave!" I-pin scolded.
"Boys…" Haru rolled her eyes before turning to Chrome and Kyoko, "Chrome-chan, what about you? What do you want? I have a menu here!"
"Their Soufflés here are amazing though! You've gotta try it." Kyoko cheerfully pointed out at the menu.
"And then there's the Sachertorte!" Haru exclaimed excitedly, "And oh! The Prinzregententorte! It's a sponge cake covered with butter cream and dark chocolate gaze!"
"E-eto…" Chrome looked at her two best friends timidly.
"Esterhazy torte is worth tasting too, Chrome-chan." Haru added cheerfully.
"I-I think I would like… t-the Angel cake." The illusionist mumbled. She turned to Kyoko who nodded, "That's a great choice! Their angel cakes are the best!"
A waitress then approached their tables to ask for their orders. And once they were done, they strike up a conversation. Their first subject was criticizing Tsuna's order.
"Why'd you only buy a shake, Tsuna-kun? There were some really great cakes." Kyoko spoke looking upset.
"Oh, uhm. I really don't feel that hungry." The brunet reasoned.
"B-but, it really doesn't fill up your stomach. It's all about the taste desu!" Haru insisted.
"Leave Juudaime alone! It's what he wanted!" Gokudera crossed his arms, "Besides, if Juudaime wants some cake, he can get some from me."
"Hahi? Haru wants to share her cake with Tsuna-san too!" Haru exclaimed, wanting to take the opportunity of spoon-feeding the brunet with a cake. She tried to fight down the blush as she imagined this.
"I…I might not like the cake… so m-maybe I'll give it to Boss instead…" Chrome shyly muttered. She did not dare look up just in case someone was staring at her.
Kyoko giggled as she spoke, "Well I would really want Tsuna-kun to taste my favorite here, the soufflé. Luckily I ordered that!"
Yamamoto chuckled and Tsuna couldn't help but sweat-dropped. Suddenly the rain guardian spoke, "I know! Why don't we hold a contest?"
"Contest?"
Yamamoto grinned and nodded, "Let's find what Tsuna's favorite will be!"
Tsuna almost fell out of his chair at what he heard. What is it with them always putting him in the center of everything?
"You idiot! We'll have to order everything in the menu to find out!" Gokudera scowled.
The grin on the swordsman's face, however, did not falter as he continued, "Maa, maa… what I meant to say is, why don't we let Tsuna choose which cake or dessert he likes most from our orders?"
"But… w-wait… why me?"
"Because you didn't order any cakes." Yamamoto casually replied.
"Nyahaha! Lambo-san will win!" Lambo excitedly proclaimed, only to get a hit on the head by the bomber.
"You're not joining stupid cow." Gokudera looked away as he ignored the cries of Lambo and Haru's scolding.
The brunet could only sigh as he sunk lower to his seat. But immediately, he perked up as their topic then went to Yamamoto's upcoming baseball match.
"I really can't wait to watch!" Kyoko smiled as she turned to Yamamoto.
"Haha! I can't wait for the match. But… I feel kind of nervous." The baseball star admitted as he scratched the back of his head, "I can't help but feel like I'm not practicing enough."
"Don't be silly." Kyoko spoke, "We know you've been working hard, neh Chrome-chan?"
Chrome made a small nod, "You always leave last…"
Tsuna nodded absentmindedly. He always saw Yamamoto leaving the baseball practice late, when he himself was late from cleaning the classroom alone.
Just goes to show how important baseball was for him.
The raven-haired teen then turned to Tsuna and hesitantly spoke, "Uhm… Hey Tsuna…"
"Yeah?" Tsuna took the shake from the waitress who approached them before looking at his best friend.
Yamamoto hesitated as a certain memory flashed in his mind.
"Ido know. Sorry, but this road is already taken by my best friend. And I have my own road to take."
"The thing is-"
"Oh the cakes are here!" Haru exclaimed as she watched the waitress approach them with a tray of their orders. Tsuna sipped his shake and stared at the desserts with interest.
"You were saying, baseball freak?" Gokudera hardly looked interested but there was a hint of curiosity in his tone. Yamamoto hesitated as he watched Tsuna turn to him as well.
He chuckled weakly, "No… nevermind."
"Let the contest begin!" Kyoko giggled.
"Tsuna-san! Try my cake first!" Haru exclaimed as she neatly took a small piece of her cake. The brunet was taken aback as the fork was thrust to his face, "Uhm-"
However they were all interrupted by a small tremor and a loud explosion.
"GYAAAH!" Lambo jumped towards Haru's arms, while everyone else looked around in shock and distress.
"Hahi! W-what was that?!" Haru looked around in panic.
"Over there!" Yamamoto pointed at the open entrance of the shop. All eyes widened as they saw the burning building across the street. Like a chain reaction, everyone stood up and crowded out the room to check it out.
"An explosion?" Kyoko muttered looking worried and scared.
"We should check it out." Gokudera muttered as he stood up from his seat, while everyone else exchanged looks but soon followed either way.
Tsuna followed the bomber towards the crowd. He heard some murmurs from some random people.
"It looked like an explosion!"
"Probably a malfunction of a machine or something?"
"Or maybe a bomb."
Tsuna paled at what he heard. A horrible thought struck him as he remembered the person following them. Could it be his doing? Was that explosion meant for him?
"Juudaime, over here!" Tsuna looked up to see the others already standing outside, Gokudera waving at him.
"Yeah, I'm-" Then he saw him. Tsuna froze as he stared at the familiar man at the other side of the crowd. Then the man suddenly walked away and Tsuna suddenly found himself trying to follow the other. Just as he was about to squeeze out of a crowd a hand grabbed his wrist.
He turned to see Yamamoto, "Tsuna, where are you going?"
The brunet had to follow the guy, for apparent reasons. What if that was the guy who caused the explosion? What if the explosion was really meant for him? If so, it would probably his entire fault that innocent people were getting injured for no reason at all!
He had to stop this enemy.
"I'm sorry, Yamamoto. But I have to go-" He tried to pull off his wrist, but the grip just tightened.
"No. You're not going anywhere. It's dangerous-"
"You don't even know what I'm going to do." Tsuna said with a frown.
"No. But I always know it's not safe." Yamamoto had that serious look once more.
"Juudaime-!" Gokudera then emerged from the crowd, looking frantic. But as soon as he saw his young boss, he immediately calmed. Then he noticed Yamamoto holding onto the small teen, "What's happening?"
"I… I just have to go somewhere." Tsuna looked up. He could still see the guy and he could probably still catch up-
"Where are you going, Juudaime? I'll come with you."
"No!" The young boss tugged his arm once more, "I don't need you to- please, Yamamoto. Just let me go."
"No. It's too dangerous… there are too many people-"
"You guys will have to let me go one way or another." The tone in Tsuna's voice suddenly darkened and his best friends couldn't help but look at him in stunned silence, "I'll fight you if I have to."
"J-Juudaime…"
Yamamoto's grip slackened but the swordsman didn't seem to notice.
Slowly, the brunet looked up and they couldn't help but flinch as they unconsciously imagined dull caramel eyes staring up at them.
"You're going to have to let go of me, either way." The brunet spoke softly.
Why did that sound like… it was meaning something else?
The young boss took their silence as an advantage as he pulled his hand from the other's grasp without much effort and ran off.
"Tsuna!"
"Juudaime!"
Tsuna ran off ignoring their calls. His mind echoed with only one thought for them. Hoping they will understand, 'Trust me.'
He looked around, trying to find the possible suspect (aka the one who had been following the whole morning) of the explosion and saw him turning towards an alley. He quickly followed suite, only to end up in a dead-end.
'Where is he?' He looked around with a scowl.
Nothing. Nothing but the trash and the dirty, vandalized walls that shaded the dark path. The brunet looked up to see if he had escaped by the roof, but found no one. His footsteps echoed in the suspiciously silent area, as he got deeper and deeper into the darkness.
"I know you're out there." Tsuna said loudly, "I know you've been following me! So it's no use hiding-!"
"Sawada Tsunayoshi…"
He halted his steps and turned around as he undoubtedly heard his name. He was stunned as he looked at the newcomer standing by the entrance of the alleyway.
Caramel eyes met with mismatched ones.
He never expected…
"M-Mukuro…"
Nope… don't get the wrong idea… xD Seriously, I apologize... for another cliffy (don'tkillmeplease). I guess this is really gonna be a 'thing' in this story... suspense... OwO
Anyway! Thanks for your reviews and faves and alerts guys! I really am grateful and I honestly do read your reviews (those awesome songs you've been suggesting, I love listening to them) I swear someday I'm gonna find some time to give my appreciation to you guys. I really don't want you to think I'm being a snob. Because I'm not. Seriously not. I may be lazy... stupid... annoying...busy... but never a snob.
THANKS A LOT! A THOUSAND CHU'S for YOU!
