A/N:
@ChuLian: I'll try that! Nice suggestion. I haven't been listening to music these days. Thank you.
@NorCal.NEH: Refresh it. It'll appear.
The declaration and all you're waiting for are on the next chapter. (Sorry to burst your excites bubbles ( ) ) You can skip this part if you want, though I think you'll read it in the end.
Anyway, onwards.
Chapter Sixteen
Tsuna laughed at Colonnello's story while sitting beside Reborn. The only ones who stayed are Skull, Bermuda and Fon while the others wandered around under the permission from the brunet. They stayed at the lobby, making a ruckus there and catching people's attention.
The sight was new to them. For two years, the guests only see Tsuna make cold expressions towards his companions or acquaintances under the Vongola name. He never smiles, laughs, or even gave different emotions other than hostility. Usually, the brunet will be gone after dinner.
The people who are fortunate enough to talk with the young delinquent are the hotel staffs. People can hear them getting excited for the night, saying they're going to play games with Tsuna. They do their work properly but in quick movements too. They help each other for the sake of not being late. When the managers asked why they like to play with the brunet,
"We love how happy he looks like." One of the maids answered with a smile.
So when Tsuna told the others that he has to go somewhere after they got settled in the room, the arcobaleno started to ask questions. The brunet only smiled and told them he has a promise to fulfill. Bermuda, surprisingly vocal after talking to their little human, told them to let him go. The kid gratefully smiled at the demon before slipping away from the door.
Little did he know, Viper was on his tail.
Viper saw how Tsuna met up with a maid and a bellhopper. He followed them secretly, going for their shadows to hide. He saw how the brunet looked behind him, as if suspecting some secret activity. But he let it go. Viper thought the human dismissed the thought of someone following him.
He accompanied them. They went for the elevator, Tsuna made the two talk about their year, how their families are and are the job became much tolerable. The staffs enthusiastically answered, sometimes recalling funny moments and such. Viper realized how Tsuna never said anything other than the questions and only listened to them talk and talk. Just like how he is whenever they're with him.
They arrived to the lobby which is pretty much deserted and went to the staff room. The room has three doors and they entered the left entrance. They walked a little through the hallway of doors before opening a door to their right. Viper can't help himself raise a brow with the amount of people in the room. Obviously, they are the hotel staffs.
All of them looked at their way, and then bursted into excited chatters of greetings and calling Tsuna's name to get his attention. The brunet never failed them too. He calls each person's name with accuracy, and is able to throw them back a greeting with a smile. It took fifteen minutes for everyone to settle down. They made a big circle in the room where everyone can be in it. It was even a miracle that the temperature of the room didn't go up with all the people inside it. Not even an aircondition can ease the heat if ever.
"So who wants to suggest a game?" Tsuna asked.
Many people suggested. The brunet asked them what they wanted then came to a conclusion that they will do three games with three rounds. Tsuna led and other followed. The room was full of chattering, teasing, laughs. And not even once a fight broke out nor bad jokes were thrown anywhere. By midnight, they slowly dispersed, bidding Tsuna a quick goodbye as a butler and a maid escorted him out.
And Viper realized that Tsuna never won even a single round.
Tsuna opened his eyes. His head is alerting him something. The brunet looked at the clock and groaned a little. It was one in the morning. And he only slept forty minutes.
His head snapped to the door when it opened. He almost quirked an eyebrow when Reborn slipped in quietly and closed the door as silently as he opened it. Feigning sleep, Tsuna closed his eyes and evened out his breathing. Slowly, he felt the blanket rose and the bed dipped before a warm body laid beside him. The blanket was fixed and an arm snaked around his waist, pulling him close until his back touched the demon's chest. Tsuna tried his hardest to make his heart rate calm as blood rushed towards his head.
"Sleep, Tsuna." Reborn whispered on his ear.
Tsuna's eyes snapped open and a shiver went down his spine. "S-Stop that."
"Hmm..." The amused hitman hummed.
Tsuna fought to stop his blush. "You're killing me with too much blood."
The demon chuckled before going serious. "Seriously, sleep."
The brunet looked over his shoulder to see the noiret before straightening his body again. "Okay."
"What was that for?"
"I just wanna see your face before I sleep. Who knows, I might dream of you."
The arm around him tightened. "You're impossible. Tomorrow, I want to discuss something with you."
Tsuna yawned before nodding, eyes dropping already. "Okay. Night, Reborn."
"Sweet dreams, Tsuna."
The staffs looked away as another silverware broke on the floor. The guest kept backing away from the fight that is slowly breaking. The only ones who are amused about this are the Arcobaleno who are silently chatting among themselves, giving sideward glances to the fight. The only one missing in the group is the feisty brunet who is doing a wreck in the dining room of the hotel.
Tsuna took the flower vase on the table and threatened the three on throwing it to them. They cowered a little before stepping forward. The young man growled before chucking the vase to them, complete with the flower and water. One was hit in the thigh, breaking the decor.
"You son of a-"
"I fucking dare you to finish that." Tsuna scowled.
Specific people felt pleasant shivers down to their spine after the brunet swore.
"Tsunayoshi Sawada!" A deep voice called.
Tsuna gritted his teeth as pressure from above tries to make him submit. With clenched hands, he raised his head and rolled his shoulders. A flash of light from outside blinded everyone except Tsuna, the man and the Arcobaleno before a deafening thunder clap boomed from the sky. "What?!"
"You're doing it again!" The man said before sighing as if resigned. "Calm down, okay?"
"Then tell Coyote to leash his dogs." Tsuna glared at the three who stood up straight in the presence of the man. "Before I remove every single demon in their beings, Ganauche."
Ganauche chuckled, eyes crinkling in amusement. It was always entertaining for him to see the young man so worked up, especially when the pressure he wants Tsuna to succumb get thrown away and turn to a thunder. "Yes, Sir."
Tsuna eyed the man. Ganauche III, the lightning guardian of Vongola Ninth Sky, Timoteo di Vongola. The man has semi blond-black hair that is where his hair by the back is black and the front is yellow, green eyes and few facial hair. He is pretty young, around mid-fifties and taller than the brunet by six inches, but that doesn't stop Tsuna in calling him a 'geezer', especially with all the long dark green robe he is wearing above his suit. He has laugh lines in the side of his eyes and on the forehead, regardless, that made him more manly in the eyes of the women in the hotel. And adding on that he is single makes a lot more trouble.
He is categorized as the lightning guardian of the Society for his affinity. The one who recommended Tsuna as a student. He is pretty lax about everything but very competent with his work. What people like about him is his good nature and friendly disposition. He is also kind and a good conversationalist. The only thing that makes his life difficult but amusing is his only charge which is the cold brunet who is glaring at his three bullies.
"May I talk to you, Tsunayoshi?" Ganauche asked carefully, not wanting to get a harsh rejection which happens a lot.
The brunet looked at one specific table before returning his attention on him. "Sure."
Tsuna almost snickered when he saw the lightning's eyes widened at the agreement. If he could, Tsuna suspects that the man's jaw would have slacken in shock. The brunet tilted his head a little on the right, waiting for any sign of movement. That took out the other from his state and beckoned him to follow. Instead of following the man, Tsuna went in step with him.
It's not that the young man willingly wants to talk with the man who ruined his life. His reaction to the question wasn't really his. It was impulsive, probably his intuition that made him accept it. Anyways, he just has to wing it. Not that he can take back what he said, even after seeing the man's happy face.
They went for the garden of the hotel and to the maze. Tsuna's eyes looked around, observing and telltaling any signs of human or demon anywhere. He stopped his musing though when Ganauche was about to make a wrong turn. He took a hold of the other's sleeve and pulled him in the opposite direction.
"No sense of direction, as always." Tsuna grumbled.
The other laughed sheepishly. "Sorry. I never memorized the maze even for years."
"No wonder you're always late." Tsuna grumbled.
Silence went between them.
"Tsunayoshi-"
"It's Tsuna." Tsuna corrected with a glare. The other chuckled.
"Okay. Tsuna."
"What?"
"Good job last year."
The brunet sighed. "I didn't do anything good, Ganauche. You could've at least known that even after all the troubles I did to infuriate you."
"I wasn't the one who gets angry though. It's either Coyote or Timoteo." The lightning replied.
"Good grief." Tsuna sighed.
"But really, good job. Headmaster Angelo said that you saved two classes already, lowered the bullying rate with Kyouya and won the tournament without any summons."
Tsuna didn't say anything.
"Even though you really hate me for recommending you and tearing you apart from your family, you still uphold your promise to them. It makes me proud."
"How are they?"
"They're fine. Nana misses you a lot. Even Iemitsu and Ietsuna. They wanted to give you something, but they know you wouldn't want that since they respect your decision that you won't go home until you got the title you've promised them."
Tsuna nodded.
"I know I say this every year, but Tsuna I'm really sorry."
"It's fine now." The young man dismissed. "If you didn't take me away, I wouldn't be this independent nor meet my friends."
"Is this about the demons you've been seeing?" Tsuna tensed at that. "Headmaster told me that many powerful demons have been watching you after the attack two weeks ago. They've been the ones who nursed you to health and accompanied you most of the time. You even made them stop fighting, fix their damages, and stay low when class is in session."
"Yeah. It is."
"You know, you mellowed a lot."
Tsuna glanced back. "Huh. You're not the only one who noticed that."
"I mean it. Whenever I invite you to talk, you always refuse at first askance. Today, you immediately agreed. You haven't insulted me nor gave me the cold shoulder. And instead lashing out on your colleagues and making them bloody, you only threatened them."
The brunet brushed a hand on his hair. "I came to realize that if it wasn't because of you, I won't meet him."
Ganauche didn't pry who this 'him' is.
Tsuna looked at his left where Reborn suddenly materialized but still invisible. "If you didn't put me in Saint Academy, I won't meet my best friend. I won't mellow like this, nor my anger on you won't simmer down. If it wasn't for you, I won't be able to meet someone who makes me happy after being locked up in that academy."
Reborn smiled at him before disappearing.
Ganauche stared at Tsuna's back. The back who is slumped for the past three years he had met the young man. The one that carries invisible things that only the young man can comprehend and solve. And now is free of anything, straightened up and looked manlier.
The lightning tried to match the other's steps and peer at the latter's expression. He looks genuinely happy, exasperated but appreciative. The brunet looked like he saw something eye opening with all the twinkle in his eyes. He always sees that in Timoteo whenever he mentions his wife.
"You're in love." Ganauche said.
The young man looked at him, horrified. "What?!"
"Tsuna. You're in love."
"In love? Who told you that?"
"No. I mean I deduced it. I know that look on your face. Timoteo always had that face whenever he talks about his late wife. He's all this sparkly, happy and in love. And you look just like him. You're in love to that him."
The lightning watched the brunet ponder that reality.
"Okay, answer me truthfully." He said, remembering all the things Timoteo asked Nie Brown Jr., their sun, when the other was denial about his feelings. "Do you feel happy whenever you see him?"
Tsuna thought of Reborn. "Yes. Even when you mention his name, or when I think of him."
"Do you feel happy and flattered whenever he does simple things?"
Tsuna blushed remembering all the hugs, the teasing, the apology. "Yes. Always."
"Have you fought with him?"
"Twice."
Ganauche's brows rose up in surprise. "When you fought, did you feel like your heart broke or the world just ended? And you just want to apologize but you're at lose of what to do or how you do it?"
Tsuna thought the two fights they've done. He remembered the pain of thinking that he might just lose Reborn. "Yeah. It was painful."
"Can you bear seeing him with other people?"
Tsuna immediately shook his head. Just thinking of those ridiculous contracts of Reborn on the past centuries makes him mad.
"But then when you feel like he doesn't want you anymore, or see you, you can let go?"
Tsuna took a deep breathe, pain prickling in his heart. "Yes. I can let go, accept it and maybe if I was insane enough, have him back when he wants."
"There you go. You're in love, Tsuna."
Tsuna grimaced. "But I can't be. We can't be."
'We can't be...' Ganauche repeated in his head before nodding. "Is he one of the demons?"
Tsuna slowly went numb as he nodded, steps halting in realization. "Yeah."
The lightning looked at the brunet in pity. The eyes of the young dimmed, just like it did when he was taken from his home. Tentatively, he hugged the young man. "I'm sorry, Tsuna."
The brunet let his tears trail to his cheeks and buried his face to the other's shoulder, wanting to gain comfort from the painful realization.
Tsuna took deep breathes, feeling Ganauche's hand patting his back. He has been crying for ten minutes or so. It was painful but bearable after the water works.
He started to think of things. Stupid things and solution for his predicament. He knows he can't avoid Reborn. He doesn't want to cause heart ache to the other nor add more to his own. Maybe he just had to act normal and cherish everything in their time together.
"You okay?" Ganauche asked.
Tsuna nodded. "Yeah. So where were we? Gazebo?"
The man got the hint and nodded. "Yes. We're going to see the Vongola Council."
"You could've at least warn me." Tsuna grumbled, acting his usual self as they started to walk again.
"I did say I want to talk to you."
"No point taken."
The man laughed.
After a few turns, they reached the wide gazebo where six people are sitting. Tsuna relaxed his shoulders and let Ganauche led the way towards them. All of them looked at their way. Some eyes held judgement, few show indifference, and one remarks happiness.
Tsuna rocked his brain for information. The one in their middle is Timoteo di Vongola, a man in orange robes and just in his grandpa's age and literally looked like a grandfather with his friendly smile and happy eyes. His storm is Coyote Nougat; looks strict and donning in red robes. Brabanters Schnitten, the rain in blue robes that looks kind enough not to scare any child. The sun, Nie brown Jr. in yellow robe with a small harmless smile on his lips, and Croquant Bouche in indigo robes indicating that he is the mist guardians and looks pretty intimidating. And then the cloud guardian, Visconti in purple robes who looks like he doesn't care about the world.
These people rule the Vongola, or the world society which is the organization that put the world in order when demons outbalanced it. It is led by the sky guardian with his aids, the colors of the sky. Normal people with dormant flames and the colorless call them elders, since they were thought to know everything which is impossible for Tsuna's view, except if these people love to read just like him and his grandpa.
They are respected and feared even by low level demons. Even if no one saw them, just hearing Vongola will put a shiver down the spines of every individual because they know these people are trained and taught about a lot of things from the very start of their lives and always at the top of their chosen fields. If their names give scare, wait till they flare their auras, it surely gives a beautiful fright.
"You're late." Coyote deadpanned on Ganauche who laughed merrily in response.
"Almost got lost." And the lightning gave Tsuna a wink.
"Thank God Tsunayoshi didn't ditch you." Schnitten laughed before looking at the brunet who bowed in respect. "Good morning, Tsunayoshi. It's good to see you again."
"Likewise." The young man said back.
"Sit, child." Visconti nodded off as he pointed the seat just opposite of Timoteo.
Tsuna accepted the offer. He pulled the chair carefully and sat there, facing the sky guardian with a serious expression. "What can I do for you, Timoteo?"
The guardian smiled.