A.N: Thank you so much for stopping by and thank you seryuTammi for your sweet review and all those lovely readers who have placed my story in their favourites and alerts. Love ya all!
WARNINGS: Foul language
Disclaimer: I do not own the familiar characters.
He was a DAMN fool! What kind of right hand was he, letting his Juudaime walk into the house first?! He should have surveyed the place first, dammit! Gokudera's heart thundered against his ribs as he stormed into the house in a flurry of protectiveness and rage.
"Juudaime! I am her—"Gokudera stopped short noticing his Juudaime flat on the floor by the kitchen door, "No…Juudaime…" he whimpered getting on his knees and crawling up to a clearly knocked out Tsuna.
"Juudaime…I am so sorry…I failed you…" Gokudera moaned, hugging Tsuna's lifeless body close to himself. He barely registered Yamamoto's silent footsteps approach him from behind. Poor Juudaime—how he must have desperately called out to him! JUUDAIMEEEE….! He was literally washed off his self-pity when a bucket of freezing water was dumped over him and the said bucket over his head.
"WAAAAAAAAHH…!" Tsuna screamed, snapping out of his self-inflicted comatose. He looked around to find—"HIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE…! BU-BU-BUCKET HEAD MONSTER!" he wailed, getting on his feet and trying to make a run for it, only to trip in a puddle of water and face plant on the carpet. Beside him, Gokudera was scrambling all over the floor, desperately searching for Tsuna with a red bucket sitting proudly on his head.
Xanxus, who took to standing at a safer distance beside Yamamoto, observed the total chaos in front of him with morbid fascination. This bunch of half-wits was gonna lead Vongola… Xanxus mused and gave up all together, the very thought traumatizing him. Are they always like this…Maybe he shouldn't have dumped the bucket on the stupid bomber's head. He looked at Yamamoto who was smiling like an idiot at his deranged friends. Xanxus shook his head in disbelief and cleared his throat.
Taking in a deep breath, he roared, "GET YOUR ACTS TOGETHER, YA CRETINS!" A heavy silence fell up on the room's occupants. Gokudera realizing belatedly that he was breathing inside a bucket, pulled it off while a giggling Yamamoto helped Tsuna up.
"Tch…" Xanxus grimaced at the pathetic scene and walked back to the stove. I can't stand them for even a fucking minute…How am I supposed to tolerate them for a FREAKING MONTH?! Xanxus gritted his teeth. Dammit, Iemitsu! He could feel a nerve tick in his forehead.
"YOU!" Gokudera started, his hands moving to his array of bombs," WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING HERE, YA BASTARD?!" he stood in front of Tsuna, who looked like he was about to burst in to tears any second.
It took all of Xanxus' strength to restrain from throwing the hot pan of sauce on the idiot's face, "HELL IF I KNOW, ASSHOLE!" he muttered darkly. Take the hint and get lost, bastard…
Unfortunately, Gokudera being his usual suicidal-self was determined to press on. He turned to Tsuna who was desperately trying to pull him out of the house, "It's alright, Juudaime—this bastard needs to be taught his place" he gave Tsuna a gentle smile. How DARE he — stepping into his Juudaime's house like he owned the place! And here he thought defeating him in the Ring Battle knocked him a peg or two!
Gokudera opened his mouth to tell him just that when Yamamoto, being the simpleton idiot he was, beat him to the race and casually walked up to Xanxus, "How are you doing Xanxus? You look nice!" he beamed good-naturedly.
The ramekins Xanxus was holding fell to the floor as he turned to face Yamamoto, his face looking positively murderous, "What did you just say?" he forced through clenched teeth. Tsuna shivered from head to toe while Yamamoto remained unfazed. Hieeee…Xanxus probably thought Yamamoto was mocking him…! Hopefully, Yamamoto got the hint… Tsuna prayed.
As it was God's business to mock him these days, Yamamoto simply continued, "You look nice!" he smiled, "You know— you look good in casuals…I guess…I don't know" he laughed sheepishly. Xanxus just stared. Gokudera was already pulling Tsuna out of the house. " I just felt that you look pretty good in shorts than in formal pants!" Yamamoto laughed awkwardly.
The explosion of rage they were expecting never came. Seconds passed. Tsuna finally raised his head to observe the damage. Silent assassination…maybe… But Xanxus was just standing their staring at the grinning Yamamoto as if he grew a second head. He blinked once and then twice. Finally, Tsuna and Gokudera watched in awe as a small but sure smile spread over Xanxus' usually sour face, just as he turned around to stir the sauce while mumbling a soft, " You don't look so bad yourself…"
This was not happening…Xanxus actually SMILED! Not some twisted 'I-am gonna-kill-you-in-your-sleep' smile…but a REAL smile! And just like that, Yamamoto plonked on the counter near the stove and proceeded to converse as if they were best buddies, and Xanxus for his part, was skilfully ignoring Yamamoto as he glided over his mother's kitc—HALT RIGHT THERE!
Tsuna's mom and dad—where were they? And Dan-kun too? Tsuna felt an uncomfortable feeling settle in his gut. Could Xanxus have kil—NO! Tsuna shook his head and glanced fearfully at Xanxus only for him to catch his eye. Brown eyes met deep crimson as both held each others gaze from across the room.
"Ahem…" Gokudera awkwardly cleared his throat, "Umm…so where are Iem—"
"Don't know, don't care" Xanxus butted in curtly. Glancing at Tsuna, he sighed and added in a milder tone, " Iemitsu is probably where Nana-san is right now" he cracked some eggs into the pan, ignoring the way Tsuna's eyes widened at the mention of his mother's name. "We came here to find the house empty. Iemitsu, as much as he SUCKS in anything requiring his brain, took a wild guess that she might be shopping." Placing a lid on the pan and tapping Yamamoto's hands away, Xanxus turned to regard the other two. "He told me to wait here and all but rushed in some random direction." He finished.
Tsuna let out a breath he didn't remember holding. His parents were safe…what a relief…Mom probably wanted to cook something special since Dan-kun was coming over to stay...Tsuna's thoughts took an abrupt stop. Wait…mom mentioned that Dan-kun was coming along with dad, which means…Tsuna's eyes widened as realization struck him faster that a thunderbolt. Don't tell me Xanxus is…
"Ara…Tsu-kun, why did you leave the door ajar, sweetie?" came the voice of his mother from the porch.
"He's probably excited to see me, aren't you my little Tsuna fish?" Iemitsu cooed in his overly exaggerated voice.
Tsuna heard someone snort behind him at the atrocious nickname but he didn't care. His entire focus was on his mother who had suddenly dropped the grocery bag she was holding and was staring at Xanxus, her eyes widening and brimming with tears and her hands going up to cover her mouth in an astonished gasp. Before anyone realized what was going on, Nana had reached Xanxus' side who, for his part looked just as stunned as the others, and pulled him into a rib crushing hug!
Tsuna almost screamed in horror but held back when he noticed Xanxus' body stiffen in his mother's embrace. He looked confused, curious and…happy? Tsuna had seen his fair share of strangeness in his life but the image of his mother gushing over Xanxus clearly took the cake. He noticed that Gokudera looked despondent, Yamamoto looked sympathetic and his dad was looking at the pair with a bittersweet smile.
"Dan-kun, you remember me, don't you?!" Nana held Xanxus' face in her palm and looked him in the eye. "You've grown so much?!" she practically beamed in happiness.
Xanxus, much to Tsuna's amusement threw a desperate look at his dad. Iemitsu snorted out loud before walking up to the pair, trying his best to coax his wife into loosening her grip around the squirming boy.
"Come now, Nana dear" Iemitsu smiled, "Xanxus-kun is probably tired. His eyelids are barely open. Why not have dinner and sent him off to bed?" he looked at Xanxus, "Besides, Xanxus volunteered to cook dinner for us tonight…Can't let that cool down now—won't you agree?" Xanxus vigorously nodded his head.
"Alright. Tomorrow then…" Nana smiled tenderly at him before taking his had in hers' and pulling him towards Tsuna. "How about introducing yourself to Tsuna and his friends today, dear?"
"Eeeeeeh?!" Tsuna and Gokudera started only for Xanxus to whip his head towards them, a threatening glare in his eyes.
"Dan-kun" his mother smiled, oblivious to the entire exchange, "This is Tsunayoshi-kun. Remember the baby you helped deliver? That's him" she chimed proudly.
Tsuna heard Gokudera choke beside him, giving him a disbelieving look. Tsuna mustered all his strength and smiled at Xanxus. He was surprised when Xanxus returned the smile and held out his hand to shake. Tsuna heard someone collapse behind him, but for the moment he didn't care. He took Xanxus' hand and almost gasped at the softness of it. And here I thought assassin's hands were supposed to be rock hard… Tsuna couldn't help but hold on to his hand a bit longer.
"I'm Xanxus Daniel Vongola" Xanxus took his hand back, much to Tsuna's disappointment. So THAT'S where the nickname 'Dan' came from, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you Tsunayoshi-kun. I look forward to our time together" Was it just him or did his smile look a little vindictive?
"T-t-the pleasure is all mine, Xanxus" Tsuna stammered out, but definitely not in fear. What is wrong with me?! "These are my best friends" he nodded at Gokudera, who was passed out on the floor, "Hayato Gokudera" and then at Yamamoto, "Takeshi Yamamoto" who in turn beamed at him.
"Since that's officially over" Nana clapped her hands together, "Let's have dinner." She turned to regard Tsuna's companions, completely unfazed that one of them was on the floor mumbling something that suspiciously sounded like 'What has the world come to' over and over again, "Won't you join us too?"
Gokudera took to muttering about unfinished business and a promise to join them next time. He was, in no way, consuming what that maniac made! And with that Gokudera made a rush to the door bemoaning about the unfairness of life on his poor Juudaime. Yamamoto too, politely declined that he had to catch a train to Karakura along with Hibari, and promised to join them in the future. Xanxus, however, surprised him by producing two boxes of food.
"Huh? Is this really for me?" Yamamoto pointed at himself with a surprised smile.
"No! It's for your pet dog!" Xanxus snapped, then took a deep breath. He was out of the Sawada's earshot…thank goodness…"Of course it's for you, brat!"
"Thank you!" Yamamoto beamed, taking the offered boxes, "See Tsuna, he's not that bad."
"Haha…yeah" Tsuna looked uncertain. Beside him, he could feel Xanxus radiating a dark aura of malicious intent.
"I don't want you to eat crap along the way and get yourself and by extension, Squalo sick" Xanxus sneered before clearing his throat. "He's finally taken out of stasis but the BASTARDS drug had already done it's damage"
He looked pointedly at Yamamoto. "Take good care of him or I'm coming for your head" he pointed a warning finger at his face.
Tsuna watched on, holding his breath as the smile on Yamamoto's face shrunk till it was non-existent. "How is he now?" he breathed out.
Xanxus glared at him for a whole minute before he sighed and his shoulders hung in defeat. "He's in a coma. Hopefully he won't move into a vegetative state" he grimaced.
"Don't worry, Xanxus" Yamamoto spoke softly, his voice carrying a tone of unspoken threat. "I'll make sure he is safe" his eyes narrowed, "Even if it means I have to taint my hand with blood"
Tsuna gasped out loud and he felt Xanxus stiffen beside him. He heard Xanxus mumble a shocked 'Good' and offered a curt nod of his head.
"Take care, Tsuna!" Yamamoto smiled at him and then turned to Xanxus, "You too Xanxus, have fun!" And before Xanxus could so much as throttle him, Yamamoto ducked his head and power walked to the gate.
However, he stopped and gave them a sly smile. "Besides" Yamamoto threw over his shoulders all the while smiling at them charmingly "I could always wake Squalo up with a kiss!" he grinned before running for his life, leaving Xanxus and Tsuna gaping at where he previously stood.
Slowly, Xanxus turned towards Tsuna, "DAFUQ IS WRONG WITH YOUR GUARDIANS?!"
Tsuna, for the first time, bravely faced him head on, "Probably whatever's gotten into you guardians, I think…" Xanxus nodded his head in understanding. A few seconds passed in companionable silence.
"Don't get me wrong, Scum" Xanxus muttered, glancing at him from the corner of his eyes, "I still fucking hate you and will kill you if you bring Vongola down"
Tsuna sighed and gazed at the starry sky with an unexplainable feeling of deep contentment. The smell of delicious Italian food for dinner and a promise of mouth-watering panna cotta for dessert—all courtesy of Xanxus, his mom and dad chatting aimlessly in the kitchen and a fellow mafia comrade beside him, giving him the evil eye— nevertheless exhibiting great restrain for the sake of God-knows-what and the lack of training from a certain Sun Arcobaleno on a vacation along with Bianchi and the kids— what else could he ask for! I really need to sort out things with my dad…I wonder what he threatened to make Xanxus behave… Tsuna sweat dropped.
And for the second time that day, Tsuna threw caution to the window and took hold of Xanxus' soft hands, pulling him towards the table, his heart warm and his Will pulsating in pleasure when he felt Xanxus' palm curl into his own. Tsuna smiled. If this was a dream, then Tsuna didn't mind sleeping a little longer.
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