Hello everyone! This is a side story of the fic The Sky that Bonds.
It will tell the events of what happened in Italy BEFORE the start of the main fic. Well, most of them. What's a good story without mystery? The pace will be different, I don't want to reveal things here so quickly before they show up in the other story so you guys can still experience cliffhangers and form theories. (Don't hate me!)
I'm not sure how many chapters it'll be, but it won't be a long fic, that's for sure. And also, don't worry, the chapters won't be monsters in length. If you're lucky, they will probably be 5k at most.
Hope you enjoy!
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Leaving your house when you're a little kid didn't have much impact.
You aren't attached to it yet, and the concept of traveling to a new place and going on an adventure was more exciting than saying goodbye to the floors that saw you crawl and the walls that held you as you learned how to walk.
So little Sawada Tsunayuuki was not sad as she ran through the empty halls, giggling and waving goodbye to every nook and corner she could find on her path.
She was carrying a small backpack with angel wings containing small toys and her colouring book. All her clothes and shoes were packed in a large, square bag with tiny wheels that her mommy was rolling. It was amazing how they could fit most of their house inside that bag, little Tsunayuuki tried to lift it once, but it was super heavy.
Really, her mother was amazing to be able to carry it with no trouble.
And the reason for the move, you ask?
Tsunayuuki didn't understand it well but she wasn't complaining.
It had something to do with their way of living here in Japan. People were mean and rude. Kids at school wouldn't stop asking why her hair wasn't black or why her eyes were big and not brown. She didn't know what 'being Italian' meant but the old ladies at the market would hush and turn their noses as if they had smelt something bad. Tsunayuuki might be named after a tuna fish, but she was sure she didn't smell like one.
Her mommy smelled like lavender and curry, and Tsunayuuki always made sure to bathe rigorously with a watermelon soap that left sparkles in her skin to get rid of the smell.
But it never goes away.
People still talk and stare and hush in secret. Tsunayuuki didn't like secrets, so one day she asked her mommy the reason why people were so mean.
"That's because they're scared" Her mommy had said. "People here don't like different. But you know, Tsu-chan, being different it's amazing! You can shine and be yourself! There's nothing more beautiful than being your own person"
Tsunayuuki really didn't understand why it was bad to be yourself. To be different - different eyes, different hair, different, Italian - there were a lot of differents in her life. But she actually liked it, it was as if she had a superpower and something to be happy about. Her mommy always encouraged her whenever the topic was brought up, and nothing mattered more than her mommy's words, so she ignored all the cruel jokes the kids and old ladies would whisper.
She was happy to be Tsunayuuki.
"Tsu-chan! It's time to go dear, come on!" Her mother called from downstairs, followed by a boom of laughter.
Another reason for the move was her father.
Little Tsunayuuki couldn't remember the last time she had seen the man. Her earliest memory was that of her mother playing with her in the park, building a sandcastle and pretending to be a princess rescuing fairies built with twigs and leaves.
The man had never been there, until suddenly he was.
Even if she wasn't going to school anymore, she was smart. She knew what a family was supposed to be like: a mother, a father, a child and a pet. But in her house, there was only her mommy and her. It was another thing that people were hushy about, frowning and laughing about.
Not having a father was bad, but Tsunayuuki had a father, he just took too long to come back from working with the penguins in the north pole, so she doesn't understand why people were mean about it. But it didn't matter, her mommy had said, for her father loved them very, very much. Her mommy never lied, so that was the truth.
Ever since the news of the big move, Tsunayuuki has been asking for lots of tales and stories about the man who was her father. To know him better. What he liked and what he was like. Sure, she has seen pictures of him, and her mommy said that he has actually visited on some occasions with presents, but she was too small to remember.
Was he Santa Claus? She had asked, and her mommy laughed but said "I don't know".
The stories were simple but she had begged for them before bed time and time again. And she always listened with new wonder as she was told the story of how they met and fell in love. She told her that their roles were reversed the day she was born, that he cried like a baby while all she did was giggle. She has her father's smile, her mommy has said; big, bright and sincere.
Tsunayuuki thinks hers was prettier though, and she made sure not to hide it.
The bedtime stories always ended up with the same ending, that they were going to be a happy family living in a far away place.
"Tsu-chan!"
"I'm here!" She jumped the last step of the stairs, crouched down like a frog and lept to hug her mommy's legs with a happy squeak that was almost swallowed by a loud noise of something hard hitting the wall.
"Ouch!" A man's voice said, before her father appeared coming from the living room and rubbing a bruise on his head for hitting the frame for the third time that day.
"Oh dear, you're so tall!"
"You're a mountain!" He really was, she had to throw her head back so that she could see his blond hair.
"Careful, Tsuna-fish. You'll grow up to be as tall as me!"
"No!" She ducked from the hand that tried to pat her and hid behind her mommy "I'll be a robot! Not tall!"
"Is that so?" Her father said with a grin "But if you're not tall, you won't be able to reach the cupboard where the cookies are hidden"
"I'll fly!"
"Ah! Why didn't I think of that!"
Tsunayuuki laughed at his expression. He was loud and silly, but funny. And if he knew where the cookies were hidden, then he was a good person. Speaking of...
"Can I have a cookie?"
"After lunch, Tsu-chan. Our plane is waiting" Her mommy grabbed her hand and that was the moment when in her mind, the realization that she was leaving this place and never coming back settled in. It kinda made her want to hug her mommy and hide from the sight of the empty house.
"Alright, ready to go?" Her father asked.
"I guess so, dear"
"The house will be here if you want to return"
"We'll be fine" Her mommy smiled down at her, patting her hair away from her eyes and then looked at her father "We had wonderful memories here, but we're ready to start a new adventure, together"
"Ah, my beautiful Nana, how I missed you!"
Yes, this man was loud and silly, Tsunayuuki concluded. But her mommy hasn't stopped laughing since he came back, so he wasn't bad. And he had come back to them, to take them away to a far away land across the ocean, it was going to be like a huge summer vacation that will last forever.
"Say bye-bye to the house, Tsu-chan"
"Bye bye!"
She waved goodbye to the little house, not crying or feeling hollow at their departure. Her mommy was right, they had had very funny and happy memories in this place, but they can make so many more now that they are together like a real happy family.
And so, it was with a smile that she walked away, hopefully, to a better life.
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"Tsu-chan! Not so fast, dear"
"Woah! So many people!" She gasped but stumbled when a man in a hurry almost squashed her with his black bag, so she slowed her pace and backed until she collided with her mother's knees, hugging them immediately so as to not lose her.
The airport was huge and loud, Tsunayuuki has never seen so many people in one place, not even the school or the market were filled with so many people coming and going with their huge rolling bags, some of them even had three! There were people from all ages, kids too, and suddenly she was gripped with a sudden feeling of unease.
"There are so many, so don't let go of my hand, okay?" Her mommy grabbed her hand, and Tsunayuuki refused to let go.
"Okay!"
"Come on, this way" Her father led them towards a long corridor and some stairs, all the way to a more empty hallway where just a few people were waiting.
"Your boss was very kind to offer his private plane. I never thought I'd fly in one, how exciting!"
"He's been wanting to meet our little one, family matters to him, and I've been on my best behaviour to have access to this little favour"
"Then we will have him over for dinner! I need to thank him for the accommodation too. So generous to let us use his house"
"It's a country house and no one really uses it. I guess I had to use my christmas bonus to ask for that though"
"Oh, dear. You didn't have to"
"No, I had to. You deserve the best, my sweet Nana. You and Tsuna-fish"
Tsunayuuki turned when her name was called. Well, not exactly her name. She didn't knew why her father called her a fish, but it wasn't in a mean way. It was a nickname, a pet name, her mommy had said. Her father was the one who named her after all, he must have liked tuna fishes a lot for him to name her after one.
Once they passed through the check-out and gave their bags to a worker wearing black uniform with silver buttons, they arrived at a waiting area where the walls were made of glass and she was able to see a plane for the first time.
"It's so big!" She exclaimed as she immediately ran and stuck to the glass, peering down below at the massive transport that was being moved slowly towards their side. "And it can fly?"
"It sure can! It will fly and it won't fall. It's magic, Tsuna-fish"
"Magic!" She gasped in awe. Her father had walked to stand next to her and pat her head, and together they saw the planes landing and taking flight until it was their turn to depart.
They didn't have to wait for long, as soon as the white plane with black strups reached their gate, they were allowed inside. And the surprise didn't end there, the plane was empty and just for them! How cool was that?!
There were only four seats in the wide space with a wooden table between them, a desk at their side and a big couch with a telly behind them. And in the back, past a door, Tsunayuuki saw and jumped over the bed that bounced on her feet. There was also a bathroom, a kitchen and a small library. It was like a tiny flying house! She loved it, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to live here.
"Tsu-chan, come here. It's time to leave"
She ran back to the main area, where her parents were already sitting down in the seats and a man in uniform was giving instructions. Her mommy picked her up as soon as she was near and helped her sit next to her at the window seat where she will be able to see the ocean and the sky.
"Now, don't remove the belt until they tell us so, and if your ears feel funny, just chew this gum, okay? Nothing bad will happen"
She doesn't normally chew gum, it was sticky and there were a few times she had swallowed it, but seeing as her parents were also chewing gum for this one occasion, she did as instructed and savoured the strawberry flavor that exploded on her mouth. With the seatbelt securely on her waist, and the gum in her mouth, she held her breath as the plane started to move.
She has never been to an amusement park, idly she wondered if this was how it felt like to ride a rollercoaster. She has heard kids from her class gush in excitement how the car started to move slowly before going up and up and suddenly plummet down.
She really hopes the plane doesn't fall down.
And then the plane suddenly shook and her ears popped, she gasped and held mommy's hand.
"Don't be scared"
"Mn!"
She chewed harder, making sure to keep the gum in between her teeth and closed her eyes tightly until the weird sensation of rocking in the air passed and her hearing returned. It felt odd, not exactly an enjoyable sensation she wanted to experience again, and thankfully it was over after a few minutes of silent prayers. A little chime sounded and a gentle voice announced that they were on air and it was safe to remove their seatbelts.
"It wasn't so bad, was it?"
"Do I have to chew until we arrive?" Her gum was losing its flavour and her mouth was getting tired, she doesn't know how long she could last chewing without accidentally swallowing it.
"No, my dear. You can stop now, come spit it out"
"My ears feel funny" She said once her mouth was free and rubbed at her poor ears where it felt like water was hiding in there even though she was hearing just fine.
"That's because we're so high, the air pressure is different" Her father said, having removed his seat belt already and was peering down his window while giving her a grin "Want to see the clouds?"
She shook her head, despite having her own window next to her and knowing what she would see down below, she still wasn't ready to see how high they were. Good thing she had her bag to entertain herself and ignore how the sunlight was trying to reach her face.
"It will be a long ride, probably 10 or 9 hours." Her father eventually said, yawning and stretching. It was barely eight in the morning and already it felt like it was going to be a long day. "We have movies, books and refreshments if she gets anxious"
"She'll spend half of it drawing and the other sleeping, we'll be fine" Nana said, smiling at their daughter who already had a coloring book out and was busy splaying the crayons on the table. She sighed for a moment, lost in her thoughts before looking at her husband, who had an adored look on his face. "Say dear, won't you tell me about the town we'll be staying at? Is there a market nearby?"
"Of course!" Iemitsu grinned, accepting a cool glass of lemonade from the flight attendant, offered her one and gave Tsunayuuki a small pink lemonade that was quickly gushed over for the pretty, weird color. "The Villa is a bit secluded, but there is a market and a town nearby with a fishing port. It is a small city, so most people use bicycles or go by foot"
"How refreshing. I hope the cultural shock is not too much"
"Well, there are no chopsticks, for one. And people are very social, so lots of hugs and kisses. But Nana darling, if a boy tries to kiss our little fish, you can yell at him to go away. Mother's orders are the law"
"You're lying, don't be mean"
"I'm not! Honest!" Iemitsu laughed, knowing that Nana would never raise her voice and instead could disarm a man with sweet words. "Oh, but speaking of, does Tsuna knows how to ride a bike?"
"She hasn't learnt yet. But I'm sure there'll be time to try. Will you help?"
"Of course I will! I missed her first steps, there is so much I want to teach her"
"We'll have time"
"Yeah" Iemitsu smiled at the fond expression of his wife, and not for the millionth time, he cursed himself for being away for so long. He was young and in love when he decided it was best to keep his distance from his family, fearful that danger would fall on them if they were near him. He already had enemies, and with the birth of their baby he realized how easily he could lose them.
Five agonising years had passed, he was still young and in love, but also strong and wiser. And so he thought one night after Vongola signed another successful treaty, wouldn't he protect his family better if they were close and not far?
It was a gamble with the devil, he knew, but one he was ready to offer his own soul to have the odds in his favour. That was the resolve that fed his Will, after all.
"What are you drawing, Tsuna-fish?"
"No! You can't look! It's not ready!"
"Sorry! Sorry! I won't look!" He grinned placidly and placed a hand over his eyes "Not looking"
His little daughter made him promise to keep his eyes closed and continued humming a song that was more gibberish than actual words, but it was endearing all the same to listen to it as she returned her attention to her drawing. He waited 10 seconds before lowering his hand and peeked at her creation.
"She's quite the artist, isn't she?" Nana said with a proud smile as she also looked at the colorful sketch. Iemitsu agreed wholeheartedly, over the years, his letters had been accompanied by pictures of Tsunai's creations that were printed and framed all over his office and workplace.
"There are many art schools in Italy, she will flourish there, I'm sure"
"I… think I want to wait a little, until she learns Italian before signing her to school, make it easier for her"
"Of course, of course. There are some Japanese speaking tutors with good references that I can find. And maybe not just teach her Italian, we can hire a home tutor that covers elementary academics so that she's not far behind when she goes to school"
"Oh yes, that's a good idea, dear!"
"I'm going to school again?" Tsunayuuki suddenly asked, turning to see her mommy with wide eyes.
"Not for a while. You'll learn Italian first"
But wasn't the reason for their move because they were Italian? Isn't it bad? Should she learn that?
"Italian is a language from the land of Italy, Tsuna-fish. Just like Japanese is for Japan. Here, listen. Questo è italiano. Carina, vero?"
"Ooh!" Her father spoke words she did not understand, it was as if it was a secret language that sounded pretty and she suddenly wanted to learn it. Right, her father was Italian. And her mommy has said being Italian wasn't bad, so it was okay for her to be too.
"Tsu-chan, you should call me Mamma, ne? That's mom in Italian"
"Hai, Mamma!" The word felt funny, but she quickly got used to it and was happy that the first secret word she learnt was how to say Mom. She smiled and raised her book when she finished drawing and showed it to them "Mamma, mamma look!"
"That's really pretty, Tsu-chan. Are they berries?"
"Mn!" It was a garden, filled with trees and shrubs with purple flowers and tiny marbles hanging from the little leaves like grapes but rounder and blue.
"Now that I think of it, the summer villa is surrounded by blueberry bushes. There's a vineyard in the back too"
"It sounds delightful, dear!" Nana exclaimed with a happy note "Let's make some blueberry muffins, ne Tsu-chan?"
"Hai!"
"It's 'SI' in Italian, Tsuna-fish"
"Si!"
The flight went smoothly, even if it was a bit tiring to be inside a flying home for so long. Tsunayuuki did braved herself and peered through the window to see the ocean and sky be surrounded by so many clouds. It lost the charm after half an hour, and if she wasn't drawing, she took control of the telly and spent the whole flight asking "Are we there yet?", receiving a patient "Nope" and begging for more Italian words for her to learn.
Soon after, she fell asleep for the other half of the flight, dreaming of flowers falling from the clouds and being carried away by the sea.
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Vongola Summer Villa was like a house that came out of a fairytale.
Tsunayuuki didn't know why a house needed a name, but there was a shiny plate by the gates. She was smart, so she knew how to read. But she doesn't know Italian yet, so her father pointed out the letters and read them outloud until she remembered them with ease.
Summer Villa, it said. It was a summer house. A vacation house. And when she saw it, she felt like a dream had come true.
The sunlight shone brightly over the pale yellow stone, making it look like the house had light on its own. It was the only part visible from the house, for half of it was covered by green leaves and cascading purple cotton that her mamma soon told her was actually a flower called wisteria. It was as if the leaves were trying to hug the house and hide the stones from view, but the light refused to be swallowed, creating a beautiful contrast of shadows and gold.
It was beautiful.
And it was their new home.
"Come on, come on!" She exclaimed in excitement as she ran through the path surrounded by huge orchids, pine trees and blueberry shrubs that led to the entrance of the house. The wooden doors were heavy to open by herself, but one push from her father and they relented, revealing the warm interior of the house being bathed by natural light, making all the antiques and furniture shine.
The walls were a creamy color, some of them had the pattern of pale flowers while others were covered in stone and decorated by huge paintings of landscapes, old people, flowers and even some shields and swords! The sofas of the living room were white with mint cushions, and there was a fluffy rug in front of a fireplace. Tsunayuuki approved of the place, it felt homely.
"Alright, Tsu-chan, you can go explore and choose your room. But be careful with pointy objects and don't run beyond the garden, okay?"
"Okay!"
"Shout if you need us!"
"I WILL!"
Having permission, she ran.
She inspected every nook and painting, every shelf and table and their decorations. It felt old, but not expensive like the rich houses from some of the soap operas her mamma has watched. The house felt… welcoming? She didn't know how to explain it, only that one foot inside, one look around, and she already considered it her home. As if she had lived here forever and this is where she's meant to be.
The kitchen and dining room were nice with the hanging lights, but the most captivating place on the first floor was without doubt the backyard. It had a little deck with chairs, a grill and an open garden that led to rows and rows of grape plants. Her mamma said not to go, so she wouldn't. Not today and not alone, but already she wanted to run in between the tall plants and taste some of the grapes.
Seeing as the sun was starting to set, she moved her search upstairs. There were five bedrooms in total and they even had a library! Each bedroom had its own bathroom and closet. And in the back, two crystal doors led to a terrace with the vineyard as the view below. All in all, it really was a beautiful house, she was still starstruck by every new beauty she found.
She chose the room with light orange walls because she liked that color, it was also the one that didn't have walls of stone, and her reasoning being that she was scared she would bump into them and get hurt. It wouldn't be the first time, and she didn't want to move houses again just because of a small bruise. So the pale orange walls it was!
The bed was a little high and she had to jump to get in, but she could manage. How to describe her room? Well, she would say it was like a room for a princess. With hangings on the wooden bed frame, a vanity mirror, rocking chair and the huge window that she could sit on and see the front garden. She wouldn't have minded having a pool too, but she also liked the house as it was.
Then suddenly, there was a soft chirping sound from the window, and when she looked in curiosity, there was a small white bird tilting its head towards her, watching.
"Welcome to our home, pretty bird!" She said, scrambling out of the bed to go greet it. She was half scared she had spooked it when the bird flapped its wings and hovered in the air as she approached, but all it did was warble a song and fly inside, perching itself over the tall bed frame and peer down at her.
She wanted a cat as a pet, but if she can take care of a bird, maybe she will finally get one.
"Mamma, I found my room!"
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A few days after settling in and exploring more of the Villa, her family had settled in. They had gone to the town and market to meet the locals, and even if they didn't know how to communicate, they were given lots of bread, fruits and fish as welcoming gifts. Her cheeks were pinched and kissed a lot by everyone, and that was something she had to get used too.
Apparently being Italian meant hugging people you met in the streets. It was weird, their traditions involved a lot of touching but they were kind people that didn't turn their noses when they walked by. It was nice. They felt welcomed, she felt welcomed. It did feel weird not hearing any more Japanese or the sound of the city, but the natural sounds from the Villa had wormed into her heart.
Three days in and she already belonged.
And today was the 'take your kid to work day' and her father promised to take her along and show her where he works while he wasn't busy in the North Pole.
"You work in a castle?" She gasped in awe.
"It's not a castle, Tsuna-fish. It's called a Dimora. That means Mansion"
"Dimola. Dimorra" It was a bit difficult pronouncing the letter 'r' when in her native language didn't exist, but she was getting the hang of it. It sounded funny and her throat itches when she tries it, but she keeps doing it until it sounds better. "It's a big house!"
She was holding his big hand as he led her inside. And if she felt her Villa looked like a home for a princess, this mansion looked like a castle for a King.
"A very big house. My boss lives here. Also works, it's been his family's for many years"
"Can we have a dimora too?"
"But that would be lonely, no? Such a big house, just for you, mamma and me"
"I guess. But what about the penguins?"
"Ah! They are working in the north pole while I work here sometimes. Don't worry, they're fine!"
She was sad she wouldn't get to see the penguins, but being with her dad and working with him was worth it too. Maybe. Kinda? She doesn't understand why he was leaving her in a pretty waiting room with a bald man in a suit.
"Now, wait for me here, alright?" he told her as he crouched down beside her and patted her head "I promise I won't be long! And if you need anything, ask this kind sir, alright? Anything you want"
"Anything, Boss?" The young man asked with a raised eyebrow and crossed arms.
"Within limits, of course" Her dad laughed and gave her one last pat in the head before standing up "I'd be right back, Tsuna-fish!"
And just like that, he disappeared behind some closed doors and she was left sitting on a hard couch, holding nothing and with her angel bag still strapped on her back. She blinked and puffed her cheeks, waiting for her dad to return. She didn't bring her coloring book because she thought she was going to be busy helping her dad, but if she had known she would have to wait, then she would at least have brought some toys.
How boring. And the man that was babysitting her looked boring and serious too.
"Hello" She called.
"Hello"
"Are you friends with father?"
"We're coworkers, yes" The man shifted on his feet and nodded his head down "We are a team"
"You work with the penguins too?"
"Y-Yes"
"Are they doing okay? Are they cold?"
"They work better when it's cold, don't worry"
"I hate the cold" She murmured, and when nothing was said for some time, she blinked and stared at the quiet man "Sir?"
"Do you need anything?"
"Can I have a cookie?"
"I'm sure the maids will bring some tea in a minute"
"But I'm hungry now"
"Alright. Alright. I'll bring some refreshments, you stay here, and don't wander, alright? I'm sure your father will come back soon"
"Okay. Thank you, mister!"
She didn't want to send him away, she thought he would bring her along and show her around but now she was stuck here, alone and bored. She sighed and moved her legs while she looked around the room. It really was a pretty room, but she was not allowed to touch anything or else it'll break. They were already lacking a flower vase at the Villa due to her hands; it will be sad if she breaks a house that wasn't hers.
So she waited, and waited, and waited.
And when the quiet man failed to return, she decided to go search for him.
She gripped the straps from her backpack and went through the door the man left, only that instead of a room it was a long hallway filled with more doors, vases, paintings and shields. It was like a museum, she likes looking at pretty things, so she wasn't scared to walk alone.
She didn't dare open the doors though, in case she met a ghost or her father and got scolded for not staying put. She didn't want to make him angry, but it was already too late to return because when she reached the far away wall that led to two different hallways, there came the flap of wings batting against air that made her turn her head.
"Hey!"
It was her pretty bird. She hasn't come up with a good name yet, but it was hers.
The bird chirped in hello and flew, taking the left halfway without looking back. Tsunayuuki knew this game, they have been playing it for the past afternoons so she giggled and ran to catch the bird, jumping here and there as high as she could to touch it but her fingers reached nothing. She was so focused on not losing sight of the white creature, that she really didn't realize how further into the castle she was venturing.
She didn't stop until the hallway became dark, moist and dusty. There was no sunlight lighting the path, no lamps or fires, it was just an empty gloomy place and yet somehow; somehow she could see the paintings in the walls. Some were covered by white cloths, others were stained with spiderwebs but most of them sone with a light of their own.
Her bird chirped, and Tsunayuuki felt like it was shining too. How else could she see a white bird in the dark? Slowly, feeling caution this time she walked through, looking at everything she could in wonder and curiosity.
The pretty bird warble another song, low and soft as it stopped in front of a painting of orange flowers. They looked like clouds of cotton, fluffy and round, resting together in a blue pot. She didn't know their name but staring into the painting, they looked real, too real, as if she could grab one from the canvas if she reached for it.
And she tried, standing on her tiptoes, she raised her hand to touch -
Nothing.
Her hand went through it.
And with a gasp, her body followed.
Already used to stumbling, she fell into her hands and knees with a pained groan that turned into another gasp when she looked up and saw a staircase not far from where she fell. Scurrying to get up, she looked behind to see a wall where she came from, but when her fingers went to probe she saw they go through the invisible barrier and came back fine.
It was a secret room!
She grinned and turned to explore the stairs, patting her poor knees in consolation when they started to ache and her palms sting. She can wash it later. Right now, she was more focused on climbing the stones down without falling to her doom, that would make her mamma sad.
Carefully, she held onto the wall and stepped down, one by one, she climbed the stairs until light came from the dark. Whatever she was expecting was not this.
Tsunayuuki stated at the ceiling first, there was no hole or window for the sun to come through but there was light shining down and illuminating the little garden with warmth. Then, her eyes travelled down to branches and white flowers falling gently and joining the dead ones on the floor where a big stone laid above the grass, old and dusty.
There was a tree hidden behind the wall, keeping company with spring delights to a grave.
First, she was confused. Then she was scared and backed away. But then wonder filled her heart at the pretty sight. There were no monsters hiding in the corner, no ghost or curses so with slow steps, she walked until she was standing in front of the tree.
She knelt and dusted the grave to try and read the name, but she hasn't learnt the Italian alphabet yet, so she didn't know. She recognized an A from having learnt Villa, and maybe another letter but she wasn't sure. Bummed, she starts gathering the falling flowers and assembling them into a small bucket to place over the grave. Whoever it belongs to, it must be someone very nice to have their own little garden, she thought as she held one of the withered flowers in her hands.
"Come ci sei arrivato?"
She screamed and stood up, feeling scared now.
Italian, that was Italian, right? She shivered as she backed into the tree and looked around, searching for the voice but seeing nothing but shadows.
"H-Hello? Are you a ghost?"
Her voice cracked and her eyes started burning with tears. She never thought she would meet a ghost, but now that she did, she didn't want to be here anymore.
"I am. Are you scared?" The voice called in Japanese this time. Ghosts speak other languages? That…. That was cool.
"N-No. No" She lied, and from the darkness came a sigh followed by footsteps and a presence that made her almost hug the tree, but whatever horror she was expecting was not a tall man dressed like a fairytale prince.
"What are you doing here, child?"
Maybe he was the ghost from this grave. Was he haunting it? It was an old castle, after all. Ghosts were supposed to live in old places with hidden rooms. Was he a good ghost? She just came into his home without asking and stole a flower, that was rude. But he didn't look like a scary ghost, in fact, his hair looked like a pineapple.
"You look funny"
"Shall I change then?"
"Are you magic?!" She gasped, fear forgotten despite some tendrils of shadows coiling around his figure "How did you do that? Can you change into a cat!?"
"Yes, but I wont. Now, why are you here and how did you find this place?"
"The pretty bird told me"
"Pretty bird?"
"Why is a tree behind a wall?"
"So that no one can see it"
"Is it a secret?"
"It is" He walked closer and she blinked up at him "No one can know about it"
"I'll keep the secret!"
"I will haunt you if you reveal it"
"Don't be mean, I promise I won't tell! I'm Tsuna-yuuki, what's your name, Mr. Ghost?"
There was a pause, as if the ghost was remembering his own name before he responded dryly.
"Daemon" Saying that, he reached to grab her shoulder shirt to pull her away from the tree "Now come along child, you can't come here again"
"Can I take a flower?" He didn't give her an answer at that, merely looked at her with piercing eyes so she bent down and picked the flower she had dropped in her haste to get away. "What's the name?"
"It's a magnolia"
"Mag-nolia" She munched the word, stared at the dead flower that had seemed to come back to life in her hands and smiled "It's pretty!"
Daemon blinked, wondered, and then glared at the tiny child.
"Why are you here?"
"I got lost, but I found your grave!"
"Your name?"
"I told you already, silly Mr. Ghost! It's Tsuna-yuuki"
"Do not call me silly, child. And answer the question. What is your other name?"
"Other name?" Do people have other names? Oh "Oh! Sawada!"
Has the curse finally come home? Daemon thought silently, as he started dragging the child up the stairs. He didn't know how she even found this place, but of course it had to be a descendant of his. Even after centuries, he still dares to cross him.
"Mr Ghost, what is your other name?"
"The secret will cost your life. Now come along"
"Hey, wait! I'll keep the secret!"
"Do they know you're here?"
"No"
"Hm" He considered her. So young and naive, holding hands with a dead man and sharing secrets as if they were crumbling petals.
"Will you tell me?"
"We'll see" We'll see, indeed. If anything, this could be his perfect chance to plant the seed into his plans.
Tsunayuuki knew not to trust or follow strangers, but did that applied to ghosts too? So far he hasn't hurt her, and he actually led her out of the secret garden and towards a more illuminated hallway she was sure she wouldn't find on her own. Speaking of, where did the pretty bird go? And why was the ghost leading her towards a carpeted wall?
"Walk through there, and never turn back. If you tell a soul of what you saw, I'll make your life a living hell"
"Hey! Don't push me, I already promised!"
She tried to fight his grip and dig her heels in but he pushed her with ease and down she went again. Her poor knees will surely turn purple, she groaned in pain and she stood up and turned, only that when she tried to go back, the wall had become real and hard and she bumped her head in the process.
"Ouch! Ow!" She held her head and tried not to cry at the sudden pain. "That was really mean!"
She yelled, but there was no answer.
Where was she? She was alone, stuck inside a wall and her head was throbbing, her poor little flower had crumbled due to her hard grip on it. It made her sniff and try to arrange the petals so they wouldn't fall.
"Mr. Ghost? Please come back! Are we playing hide and seek? I don't want to be alone!"
Still no answer, and not wanting to lose time, she sniffed again and walked towards the only exit the hidden wall held. It was a long dusty hallway, in contrast with its other side, there was nothing adorning the walls, just stone and dust and huge spiderwebs. She was really, really lucky she wasn't scared of spiders. They were cute! But some girls in her old school used to scream really loud when they saw one.
She doesn't know how long she walked, she considered screaming for help but she doubts someone would hear her or worse, she didn't want to bother her dad. Her mamma said not to separate from him, but he was the one who left her… she didn't do anything bad. Right?
Just as she considered shouting, she saw a line of light from beneath a wall. A door! She grinned and held her flower close to her chest so that she could lean on her shoulder without crushing it.
"Hello?" She grumbled and pushed the wall with all her might "Is this another door in the wall?"
Please open, please open, please ope-
With a gasp leaving her lips, she fell, again.
The floor wasn't made of stone so it didn't hurt as much, but it still left her laying there for some minutes until her vision stopped twinkling with fairy lights. Once the pain faded a little, she blinked and got up slowly. She was in a new room, a library with a fireplace, more paintings in the walls and big windows that showed a garden beyond the glass.
Curious, she took a step forwards, flinching at the pain in her knees that she tried to ignore in favour of exploring this new room. But every thought, sounds and feelings came to halt when something moved at her right.
She wasn't alone anymore.
Holding her little flower, she turned, and there, sitting in a red chair by the fire was a boy with the most peculiar color of eyes she has ever seen, glaring at her with a scowl like the old ladies of the market as if he had smelt something bad.
She stared at the boy with the red eyes.
Bored, bright, a hint of curiosity,
And he stared back.
.
.
.
You don't know it yet, but little Tsuna is a terror ଘ(੭ˊ꒳ˋ)੭✧ She's five at the moment, so her storytelling will be a bit childish due to her mental age and adult conversations will sweep past her. But also, warning! This fic will be full of fluff and humor that will slowly shift into angst and horror. Be mindful of that.
See you next chapter my loves!