Who has the Compatibility for Marriage?!

Part 11

She really was dumber than a bag of rocks. Her father was no better. Tsuna idly wondered how in Hell this man sitting before him with his daughter, who was staring into space absentmindedly, ever managed the largest weapons dealing syndicate in Japan. Then he wondered how this man had managed to survive long enough to reproduce. He thought he was an idiot growing up, but these two people were just so incredibly dumb it was a God-given miracle they hadn't be off'd yet. Tsuna felt his brain cells dying at a rapid pace as the man spoke about nonsensical things as his daughter's mind if one could call it that, wondered. The small bar they sat in was mostly empty, being too early for the business to open, and Tsuna was trying desperately to make conversation with the young woman.

"Where do you go to school?" He asked in a last-ditch effort for conversation.

She stared at him with the blankest look he'd ever seen and nodded. "Locally, and you?"

Tsuna took a moment to think about her answer then almost slammed his face into the tabletop. "What I meant is, which school do you go to? I graduated already."

"Yeah, I went to high school."

Tsuna was about to ask to be shot dead right there. None of her answers made sense and she kept drifting off to space. To do what? He didn't know, but she sure as Hell wasn't thinking. "Nevermind," he said and looked behind him to where Reborn was leaning against the wall. His eyes were closed, but Tsuna knew he was more than aware of everything around him.

The Boss dealer, Matsumoto Ida, kept chatting seemingly to himself about weapons shipments and their annual profits, and Tsuna was sure he wasn't all there either. "Oh, and my Yuko isn't a virgin so you can be sure she'll give you an experience you'll remember."

Tsuna blinked at the man owlishly, not quite hearing what he just said. "I'm sorry, what?" He heard Reborn chuckle behind him.

"My daughter, she's very experienced. You won't need to be worried about her not being able to give you a good time." Matsumoto Ida smiled brightly at Tsuna.

He was sure he heard that wrong. "Are you- are you propositioning your daughter… To me?" The man nodded and Tsuna was sure he mentally checked out for a solid five minutes. "I-I'm not interested." He mumbled 'what even' under his breath and looked at Reborn who was now peeking at them with a smirk. At least one of them was entertained. Tsuna felt his brow twitch and turned back to the Matsumoto pair. "Ah, I think this has been, uh, nice… So we're gonna head on our way and I will discuss this meeting with my grandfather." He stood swiftly and a waitress brought over his jacket. "Have a good day." Before more could be said, Tsuna nearly bolted from the bar and dove into the waiting car.

Reborn slid in smoothly and smirk at Tsuna next to him. "She was a gorgeous young woman, I don't understand why you turned down such a generous offer."

Tsuna spluttered and blushed. "I'm glad you find this funny." He adjusted his jacket as the car began to move. "That was the single most useless and time-wasting meeting I've ever been in."

"You sat there for twenty minutes before you ran," Reborn said with a chuckle. "Shortest meeting you've ever been in."

Tsuna scowled out the window. "And you wanted me to endure that circus for longer? She couldn't even tell me what school she attends!" He ran his fingers through his hair and tugged at the brown locks. "I can't do this anymore! I know grandpa wants me to get married, but these women! I just can't handle this and I am so tired of the same old brainless, tactless, and rude individuals who think they can pull a fast one for their own benefit." He scrubbed at his eyes, feeling as though he could break down into tears at any moment. "I'm so frustrated. I don't know what to do, Reborn."

Reborn sighed and crossed his arms. "Tell the Ninth that you want to choose for yourself. At the party, meet and greet the young women there and find a partner for the evening. The ball is only in a few more weeks anyway, I'm sure he can wait."

Tsuna nodded. "Okay, thanks."

"Don't thank me yet, Useless Tsuna. You still have to get a woman on your arm for the party."

Tsuna flinched. "Can't I just go alone? Wouldn't it be rude to go dance with a bunch of single women when I have a date already?"

Reborn smirked and nodded. "Good answer. But you already invited a few women to attend, didn't you?"

Tsuna's head shot up and he began to panic. "I totally forgot!" He screamed making the driver swerve at the sudden noise. "Sorry!" He said and waved his hands in a placating manner. "I haven't ordered their dresses or gotten them fitted and I was supposed to get them to the castle for some impromptu lessons in dancing and etiquette. Reborn," Tsuna turned pleading eyes to the former Arcobaleno.

Reborn heaved a breath and nodded. "I'll help you, Idiot. Now relax, we're almost there."

Tsuna looked out the window to see the small residential area he used to call home and smiled. He was ready to be fussed over by his mother, he'd missed her and had been promising his father he would visit her as often as possible. Since he was really only in Japan until the inheritance ceremony was over, he was going to spend as much time as he could afford with his mother. After this year, he may never see her again or only see her sporadically once or twice a year. When the car finally stopped, his mother and father were standing on the porch waiting for them and waved when they saw the fancy car approach.

"Tsu-kun~!" Nana called as the heir stepped from the vehicle.

Tsuna rushed forward to his mother to be encompassed in her arms and immediately felt relaxed. "Sorry, it's been a while."

"Oh, my Tsu-kun is always so busy. What am I to do with the men in this family?" Nana joked lightly and pulled Tsuna into the house as his father greeted Reborn at the gate. Tsuna was seated at the family dining table and hot tea was set in front of him. Nana went back into the kitchen and came out with a small platter of various snacks.

Tsuna couldn't help the wide smile he gave his mother as she sat across from him. His father sat across from him with his mother while Reborn took the seat beside him. Nana immediately began to fill a plate with snacks for her son and husband while Reborn helped himself. Tsuna took the plate when it was handed to him and took a couple of bites when the gate bell rang.

"I'll get it!" Tsuna called out before his mother could get to her feet. He darted to the door and opened it to see a very, very pretty young woman on the stoop with a basket in her hands.

"Oh?' She said and placed delicate fingers against her lips in surprise. "Is Nana-san home?" She asked with a small smile.

Tsuna was struck dumb by the petite young woman before him and nodded. Turning away slightly Tsuna called for his mother inside the house further surprising the young woman.

"Mom? Oh!" She said in surprise then broke into a grin. "Tsunayoshi-san? I didn't recognize you at all!"

Nana came to the door then, wiping her hands on her apron before smiling at the girl. "Miku-chan! I didn't know you would be stopping by today." She slipped on her sandals and went to meet Miku at the gate. "Tsu-kun! Don't you remember Miku-chan?" Nana said to him over his shoulder. "Oh, Miku-chan, come inside. I've got tea and snacks!" Nana clapped her hands together before grasping Miku by the hand and leading her inside.

Miku didn't even bother arguing, having been used to Nana's bubbly nature from a young age. "Tsunayoshi-san, it's good to see you again," Miku bowed and Tsuna returned it with a dumbfounded look on his face. "Oh, you really don't remember me! I'm Kobayashi Miku, from next door."

The realization finally hit Tsuna and he broke into a smile. "Ah! Kobayashi-san, I really didn't recognize you. You've changed a lot," Tsuna rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.

She nodded back at him. "You have to! You're a lot taller than I remember," she laughed as she entered the house behind Nana, and Tsuna closed the door.

"Is that all?" Tsuna said jokingly.

She laughed back at him while Nana hid a smile.

"Well, you two can catch up over tea. Come this way, Miku-chan." Nana intervened and led the two teens to the dining room.

Once seated, Tsuna began asking Miku about her studies and how she'd been since he'd been gone.

"Ah, well…" Miku blushed shyly and looked at Nana as the older woman grabbed her husband by the arm and yanked him from the room, Reborn following with a knowing smile. Miku licked her lips nervously as Tsuna waited patiently for her to continue. "Things were good, I went to Nami High after you left and heard from Kyoko-chan that you'd moved to Italy. You have no idea how surprised I was! To think that you got a scholarship to such a prestigious school. I'm very proud of you, Tsunayoshi-san."

Tsuna felt heat immediately rise to his cheeks then dipped his head to hide it. "There wasn't a scholarship, actually. My grandfather paid to have me sent to an academy overseas to toughen me up. He's raising me to take over his company so I needed the best education." He began to fidget with his cup, afraid to make eye-contact with Miku.

"That's great too!" She exclaimed.

Tsuna's eyes shot up to her and he blushed further. She looked so happy for him as she gazed at him with big hazel eyes. "Ah, thanks? It's nothing to really be impressed by, but it did help," He laughed to cover his embarrassment.

"But it is impressive, Tsunayoshi-san. You're not Useless Tsuna anymore, you should be proud," Miku blushed at him as he smiled gratefully at her. "You should have more confidence in yourself."

Tsuna scratched at his cheek and averted his eyes as an awkward silence fell between the two.

"You know," Miku said after their pregnant pause. "I had a crush on you for most of middle school."

Tsuna choked as he gasped, completely taken by surprise. "Eh? Really?!"

She nodded at him shyly. "I still kind of do, it's awkward to say."

Tsuna began to shake his head. "It's not awkward at all. Uhm, thank you. I'm flattered."

She began to fidget in her seat before looking up at him to see a blush and wavering smile on his face. "Would, um, would you like to go out sometime?"

Tsuna stiffened at her words and swallowed nervously. "I- Uh, sure. Yeah!" He felt giddiness rise in his belly as he gazed at Miku. He found a small mole on the side of her nose and couldn't help thinking it was cute.

She beamed at him as he answered and hid her face in her hands. "Oh my God! I'm so happy!" She squealed slightly muffled behind her hands.

Tsuna watched her with his blush growing before taking her hand from her face. "So, where would you like to go?" Thinking a moment he realized something. "Ah! Your phone number, can I have it?"

She nodded vigorously and pulled out her phone, handing it to him. "Put your number in mine and I'll put mine in yours."

Tsuna nodded and the pair exchanged phones and numbers before a calm, and still slightly awkward silence fell over them again. Reborn chose that moment to walk in and bother the love birds.

"Tsuna, we need to head back. Your grandfather is bothering me relentlessly already."

Tsuna pushed back from the table and rose from his chair. "Ah, of course. Thank you, Reborn." Turning to Miku he bowed his head and smiled at her. "It was nice seeing you, Kobayashi-san. I hope to see you, maybe this weekend?"

She nodded again, a bit more shyly this time, and also rose from her seat. "I would love that. You can pick the time and place. Oh! And call me Miku."

Tsuna felt his smile fight to turn into a grin but shoved it down. "Thank you, Miku-san." He bowed again and left the residence with Reborn. Tsuna could hear his mother squeal in excitement at Miku as they left, a big grin from his father beating on his back.

While they drove away, Reborn sat smirking at Tsuna from the seat beside him. "Happy?" He asked the still blushing young man.

Tsuna nodded and couldn't stop his grin anymore. "Kobayashi Miku has been my neighbor for a long time. She was one of the few people who didn't call me Useless Tsuna." He chuckled to himself as Reborn listened. "I just remember her as a slightly dorky girl with these big thick glasses and braces, so it's hard to match the two together. She's really changed a lot."

"And she had- has a crush on you. Sounds like a real winner," Reborn said with a sigh. "But, she's a civilian. Do you want to drag her into the mafia, or do you want to keep her out of it?"

Tsuna sighed with a frown. "I would never want my partner to be involved with this mess, but realistically that can't happen."

"So what will you do, Tsuna?"

Thinking quietly, Tsuna watched the cars pass as they entered the highway that would take them north to the manor they were staying at. "A few dates won't kill anyone. If I feel like there's a connection, I'll tell her the truth. If she wants to run away, I won't stop her."

Reborn nodded. "A wise decision. What will you tell the Ninth?"

Tsuna grumbled under his breath until Reborn smacked him. Rubbing his head he glared at the older male before sighing again. He was sighing a lot these days, wasn't he? "I'll tell him the truth. I met a nice young woman and I'm seeing where it leads. I'm just gonna try to not give him too many details about it."

"Good. Now, what will you do about Roman Nevrus's daughter?"

Tsuna looked at him curiously. "Um, nothing? Why?"

Reborn rolled his eyes. "You have a date with her too, Moron."

"Wha-?! Since when?!"

"Since you told Nono you wouldn't mind getting to know her."

Tsuna paused as he thought back then remembered the conversation he had with his predecessor after their meeting with the small-time crime boss and his daughter. "Shit!" He exclaimed and scratched his head. "When do I have to do that?"

"Tomorrow night." Reborn watched Tsuna relax then tense again. It was almost comical how the boy swapped from his old behaviors to his Boss facade with a flip of a switch. A good thing to be able to do, but it would be best if his Boss facade was the real deal and his true personality. While it wasn't a complete failure, according to Reborn, it could still be inconvenient but his personality wasn't a threat to the power he would soon hold. It was inadvertently an asset.

"Alright," Tsuna said as he set his shoulders and Reborn saw his Boss facade fall into place subconsciously. "What else do we need to prepare for?"

Reborn shook his head. "Other than the ball, that is less than a month away, there is nothing else."

"Alright, when we get back I'll call Gokudera and the three of us will get started on sorting things out for the girls. Can you get a hold of that old bat with the riding crop?" His eyes belied his nervousness though his face was set like stone, his eyes narrow and his jaw clenched.

Reborn smirked and nodded at his student. "Of course. There's no better instructor in the whole of Italy."

The rest of the ride was spent in relative silence as Tsuna contemplated his upcoming dates and the ball. He was sure he was in for one hell of a ride, but he would face them all head-on.

A/N: Was anyone surprised by the ending? I hope so, at least a little bit. I'm hoping this chapter was as entertaining for you to read as it was for me to write. Please review, follow, and favorite! :D

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mide1718: I certainly hope so, but knowing him the answer's no lol

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