AN: So...I'm back with an update. It's not a date, but rather a way to it as the chapter was getting big and I decided to split it. Still, I hope you like it. Enjoy.
To distract herself from what she called "boy troubles", Tsuna volunteers to get groceries the next morning. On her slow trek back though, she can't help but slip into reverie about said ''boy troubles".
She was never popular with boys due to her "plain looks" and being Dame before Reborn came. Sure, now things changed somewhat: Mukuro flirted sometimes, Byakuran too, but that's all it was - harmless flirting that led to nothing as she considers them friends. With Yoru it was different for some reason. His presence, his words almost always make her flustered. She can't have a crush on him, can she? She likes Rikuo.
Although, considering Tsurara-chan likes him… Can she compare to her even with her grown confidence? Of course not. He probably likes Tsurara and she's just a dear childhood friend…
"Tsu-chan!" She stops when, as if summoned by her thoughts, there's Rikuo-kun's voice coming from behind her.
I wanted to distract myself, not to run into one of the reasons for my dilemma! the brunette wails internally. Nonetheless, she turns around to greet her friend with a smile.
"Hi, Rikuo-kun!" she says when he catches up. "Didn't expect to run into you."
"Finally, had some free time, that's all," Rikuo replies. "Out for groceries?"
"Yeah, Sumiko-ba-san asked someone to do so and I volunteered. Needed to clear my head a bit," Tsuna explains.
"Mind if I walk with you then?"
"Of course not," Tsuna says. As they fall into step beside one another, she asks, "So how are things with the clan? You look more rested."
"They slowed down thankfully, but the paperwork is killing me!" Rikuo whines good-naturedly.
"Yeah, the paperwork is bane of many, "the brunette agrees with a laugh. And she awaits me in the future too, she adds to herself, then chases the thought away. "So, catching the break?"
"Partly," Rikuo says, rubbing the back of his head as his cheeks pinken. Here comes his perfect moment to ask. "Listen, Tsu, I wanted to ask you something…"
"Woah," someone whistles suddenly, interrupting the moment. "Look at you, lovebirds."
Both brunets turn towards the voice. Here stand four delinquents, and Tsuna can't help but note that they look familiar. Has she met them before?
"What do you want, Yamaguti?" Rikuo asks warily as he moves protectively in front of Tsuna. It's clear the group is looking for trouble.
"Relax, Nura, we just want to say hi to your friend," Yamaguti gives Tsunami a sleazy grin, causing her and Rikuo to look at him in disgust. "You look familiar somehow…"
"That's because it's Ienaga's Dame cousin!" one of Yamaguti's friends exclaims. Yamaguti's eyes light up in recognition and he lets out a laugh.
"For real?" he asks in disbelief. "You still hang out with her?"
"And you are still a bully," Tsuna speaks up, also recognizing the gang. They bullied her whenever they stumbled upon her during her visits to Ukiyoe during her childhood, and it seems they haven't changed their ways at all since then.
"Ohh," Yamaguti finds the brunette's retort amusing. "Someone learned how to bite. Plus," he adds , eyes raking over Tsuna's forms appreciatively, "you're not so ugly anymore. How about you ditch Nura and go with us?"
"Thanks but no thanks," Tsuna says. "I don't hang out with bullies."
"Dame-Tsuna not only learned to bite, but became prideful too?" Yamaguti sneers, stung by the rejection. "Why you…!"
"Don't you dare talk to her that way," Rikuo growls, voice low. His blood boils at the way these scums talk about Tsuna like she's the pretty doll and nothing else. He wants to tear them apart.
"Rikuo-kun, don't," Tsuna warns, placing a hand on his shoulder. He glances at her out of the corner of his eye and—Is it just her or Rikuo-kun's eyes flashed red? Must the trick of light. "They're not worth it. Let's go."
"Not worth it, huh?" Yamaguti mocks. "Then what's worth in your eyes? Trash like yourself?"
That's it, Rikuo had enough. He raises his hand in a fist, and punches the bully in the face. Yamaguti exclaims in pain, and Rikuo hears a satisfying crack while Tsuna and others freeze in shock.
"You, bastard!" Yamaguti swears as he cradles his broken nose, fingers bloody.
"That's what you get for bad mouthing my friend," Rikuo states calmly. His knuckles ache a little from the punch, but it's worth it.
"What are you waiting for, you idiots?!" Yamaguti yells at his friends. "Get him!"
This order seems to snap others out of the stupor and the fight breaks out.
When Itaku said once that I need to practice, he probably didn't mean a fist fight, Rikuo thinks absent-mindlessly as he avoids a punch. He is more of a swordsman, but he knows how to throw a punch and avoid an attack thanks to being a Nurarihyon, and the bullies, not used to a fast opponent, go down like a bag of potatoes. When he turns around, he sees that Tsuna is done with her guys as well.
"Let's get out of here," she says. Rikuo nods, and as she takes his hand in one hand and groceries in the other, they hightail it out of here.
So much for a peaceful walk and a distraction.
"What's gotten into you, Rikuo-kun? You never get into fights," Tsuna says, tone chiding, reminded of the previous night. First Yoru acted reckless, now Rikuo followed his example. Boys. "And I told you not to bother. Guys like that love to push your buttons and it's best not to react."
Currently, the teens were sitting in Ienaga Household's living room on the couch. Kana and her parents were out, so they did not have to explain what happened, thankfully.
"I know, I know," Rikuo replies, sheepish as his friend tends to his bruised knuckles. "But I got so mad when Yamaguti badmouthed you that I snapped."
"And I'm grateful that you stood up for me, really, I am, but what if they did worse than bruised knuckles?"
"Then you are worth it," Rikuo's voice is full of conviction, no trace of doubt. "I promised to protect you, remember?"
Tsuna's mind throws her years back.
She's eight and Rikuo and Kana are seven, and they just had run in with bullies, now sitting on the playground's bench.
"They are right. I'm useless and pathetic and s-stupid!" Tsuna is crying her eyes out while her cousin is doing her best to console the distraught girl.
"That's not true!" Rikuo protests vehemently. "Just because you struggle with something doesn't make you stupid!"
"But if I wasn't that way m-maybe dad would've been around m-more," the brunette counters, "and mama would've been less sad. I'm disappointment."
"You're not!" It's Kana's turn to protest. "You're wonderful, and Auntie loves you, we all do! Uncle is the who's stupid!"
"Kana-chan is right!" Rikuo agrees, cheering inside when his childhood friend stops crying, only sniffling now. "I know! I'll protect you from bullies from now on. Kana-chan will help too!
"Re-really?" Tsuna asks through a hiccup.
"Really!" Rikuo replies, extending his pinkie towards Tsunami. "Pinkie promise!"
Tsuna intertwines their fingers and a promise is made.
"I remember," Tsuna replies as she returns to the present, and ducks her head in embarrassment, her long hair hiding her flaming cheeks. "Just… We were kids when we made that promise. I thought it wasn't as important anymore."
'Anything concerning you is important to me," Rikuo says softly as Decimo raises her head and their eyes meet."Listen, before we are rudely interrupted, I wanted to ask you something."
"Yeah, I remember," the brunette says, mouth suddenly dry due to the way Rikuo is looking at her. It's the first time she sees such a look on his face — adoring, loving, like she's his entire world — and it's doing things to her. "What is it?"
"There's a festival going on in the town. Would you like to go with me?"
"Yes," the single word leaves her lips faster than her mind can fully process what's happening. "I would love to."
"Great!" Rikuo gives Tsuna a blinding smile, not quite believing this was happening. She said yes! "Then, I'll pick you up later. Does after lunch sound good to you?"
"Yeah, sounds good."
"Then, I'll go, there's some things I need to do first," Rikuo stands from the couch, but not before kissing Tsuna on the cheek, causing her heart to flutter. "Thanks for the first aid. See you later."
"See you later," Tsuna's response is purely automatic, but thankfully Rikuo doesn't notice. Once it's clear he's gone, Tsuna is finally hit with a realization of what just happened as she touches the kissed cheek.
Oh gosh. Did Nura Rikuo, her long-time crush, has asked her out on a date?
Or is it not a date? She doesn't know what to think.
Maybe Kana can shed some light on it later. Until then, she needs some time to herself to calm down and process everything.
Kana totally thinks it's a date when Tsuna tells her everything that transpired in her absence when she comes back.
"Oh my gosh!" Kana squeals in excitement like she's the one that got asked out and not her cousin. "He asked you out on a date!"
"It's not a date," Tsuna denies on reflex, gaining a flat look in return.
"Are you kidding me, Tsuna-chan? You tell me he remembers your childhood promise, tells you, and I quote "Anything concerning you is important to me", Kana does the air quotes, "Then asks you go to a festival with him, and you expect me to believe it's not a date? Come on!"
"Okay, okay," the future Donna relents, raising her hands in surrender. "Let's say it's a date; what then?" It's not like Tsuna has a lot to go on. Most "dates" she had could hardly be called that. They are more of a lessons in a "How to use one's own woman's charm to get information and sway people to your side" under Reborn and Bianchi's tutelage with her Guardians as partners than a real deal, so she's a little lost on what to do.
"Well, first you need,—"Kana starts, but is cut off when they see the incoming video call. "Oh, your friends are calling."
Tsuna lets out a groan. "If they find out about the date, they will freak out."
"Like you did when I came back?" Kana teases.
"Oh, shut up," Decimo grumbles as she accepts the call. "Hi, guys."
"Hey, Tsuna!" Yamamoto notices that his Sky is nervous while her cousin looks mischievous. "Uh, is this a bad time? We can call later."
"Everything's fine. My dearest cousin is just having fun at my expense," Tsuna assures with a glare sent Kana's way.
Kana just giggles. "Kind of hard not to, considering you are freaking over a da—"Tsuna clamps a hand over her cousin's mouth, but it's too late. The forbidden word has been spoken.
The room on the other side of the screen erupts into chaos.
"Ara, ara, Tsuna-nee is going on a date? Tsuna's sitting in a tree kissing!" Lambo is the first to react, teasing Tsuna only like little brothers can.
Gokudera's reaction, on the other hand, is more… explosive.
"This is a no laughing matter, you brat!" Gokudera swears. "Who's he, Tenth?! I will find out and stuff him full of-!"
"Now,now, Gokudera, I'm sure whoever asked Tsuna out is a nice guy or else we will have to talk with him right, guys?"Although Yamamoto is smiling, his gaze is sharp and threatening, and Tsuna knows he will make due on his promise if he has to, and others will gladly help him.
"Agreed. And what's this about a date? Weren't my good looks enough?" Mukuro asks in his usual manner. "You wound me, Tsunami-chan."
"Who's he, imouto?! Introduce us so we can have a talk to the EXTREME!" Even Ryohei's in on the madness, his "big brother instincts" activated.
"A date, huh? Weren't you only supposed to visit your cousin?" and that's Hibari. The only one who hasn't succumbed to the chaos is Chrome, bless her soul.
"See what you did?" Tsuna mouths at her cousin. Kana offers an apologetic shrug, big "Oops, sorry for that" written in her expression. The brunette sighs in reply. Time to rein in the chaos. "Okay, guys, enough! Cut it out!"
"Tenth!" They focus on her immediately as her Storm speaks. "Allow us to come and we'll—"
"You will do no such thing! He's a dear friend of mine and I won't subject him to your shenanigans that you'll do in order to protect me, so stay put!" Decimo's voice brooks no argument as she gives out orders. "Chrome, make sure they won't do anything stupid, will you?"
"Of course," Chrome nods. "I'll try my best. Have a nice time."
"Thank you, Chrome! You're the best. See you!" With that, Tsuna ends the call, cutting off the further protests and breathes out a relieved sigh. "Phew, crisis averted for the time being."
"Overprotective much?" Kana asks. raising an eyebrow.
"You have no idea," Tsuna rolls her eyes in reply. "So, about the date. What do we need to do?"
Kana brightens as they return to the previous topic. As Tsuna listens to Kana's ideas, she really hopes her Guardians won't do anything stupid or reckless.
That, and she looks forward to the date. Her first real date. Hopefully she won't mess anything up and disappoint Rikuo.
She will find that out in a couple of hours. For now, they have to prepare for it.