Title: Serendipity
Author: sllebswap
Characters/Pairing: Miura Haru and Dino
Type: OneShot/Drabble Collection (InComplete)
Genre: Romance/General/Humor
Word Count: 1918
Rating: T (Contains content not suitable for children)
Disclaimer: Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn belongs to Akira-san.
Summary: CEDEF Agent Miura Haru and Cavallone Boss Dino have known each other for a very long time, haven't they? Loosely interconnected one shot/drabble series. Multi-verse. D86.
Verse: Marriage of Convenience AU
Chapter Last Revised on: 09/12/17
From this Moment on
"…The truth is…Haru still loves Tsuna-kun…even though things are like this now…"
Her gaze was downtrodden and lowered, as if she could not quite meet his eyes. She wrung her hands with anxiety and distress, before she bit her lips and squared her shoulders. It took effort to finally raise her head and look at him. Her doe eyes glimmered with apprehension, tinged with sadness and hesitation, unsure if she was making the right decision, doing what she had resolved to do…for the sake of the Family and the one she loved.
But therein laid the crux of the problem. Because. In an hour's time, she would become a Cavallone wife.
Truly, this was the first and last official mission she would ever take for the Vongola Famiglia…and the mission wasn't even meant for her in the first place. It was Kyoko who had been the chosen one, partly because she was so close in temperament to the Vongola Decimo's mother, Sawada Nana, and also partly because of the close association she shared with the current Boss…
Tsuna-kun had always insisted that they were all just friends, but the very moment the engagement offer from the Cavallone Family was made known, there was no hiding the dismay that had flashed across the young Boss's expressive features. No matter how he tried to deny it, Kyoko-chan had always been a special person to him…
Haru's gaze darkened slightly at the thought. There was no point agonizing over that anymore. That door was closed to her – had always been. She had tried, she had tried so hard to pry it open, to make a place for herself in his heart, but…
"…Haru will be a good wife. Haru will do her best to honor Dino-nii, so…"
Standing before her soon-to-be spouse, the young woman's bravado faltered. Dino had not said a word at all, and was silently watching her. It made her nervous, the fact that this was one of those few times where the older man was completely unreadable. Or had he always been like this? But they were stuck together now. Like her, he, too, did not have any other choice but to go forward with this official arrangement.
"Are you really sure, Haru-kun? It's still not too late to change your mind."
His voice was level, calm, and despite her reservations, the concern in his tone was painfully reassuring. As always, Dino-nii was so kind. Even though they did not know each other very well, he cared. Her eyes started to water, and she quickly looked down again, so that he would not see the degree of her upset.
"Y-Yes, it's fine," she croaked, her emotions leaking out of her even with her best efforts to contain them. "I…Haru knows…that this is not the best scenario for any one of us, but maybe we can still make something good out of it."
The twenty-four-year-old bride-to-be bowed before her groom. There were worse men to be hitched to; she knew that. At least if it was like this, then she could still protect the happiness of the boy she adored. The Tsuna she loved was the Tsuna who should always be carefree and smiling, and so it would be fine like this, wouldn't it? She had tried her hardest for the last eight years to gain his love, but Tsuna-kun had, always, only eyes for Kyoko-chan…
Her heart ached painfully at the reminder. Today was her wedding day, supposed to be the happiest day for every woman, but she could not be more miserable.
"I…Haru'll be in your care from today on, Dino-nii."
A vague thought occurred to her– she had been so steeped feeling sorry for herself that she had almost forgotten that this marriage involved not only her. She lifted her head again.
"Will Dino-nii be fine with Haru also…?" she asked, her mind buzzing at the same time. She did not know too much of what went on in the Cavallone's private life – for all she knew he had someone he liked as well…or maybe even a significant other! She shuttered at the notion – the thought of once again becoming an inadvertent third party to another couple's relationship was enough to send faint tremors of distress rippling through her. Would she forever be destined to be entangled in this sort of painful bonds? Truly; it wasn't like her to be so uncertain and doubtful. But then again…
"If you're asking if I have someone waiting for me in the wings, Haru-kun, then the answer is no."
She could not help but look disbelieving. Dino-nii was a good- no, great person; warm and gallant and with so much heart. How was someone like that unattached? Dino-nii was also much older than she was – surely he had way more experiences in relationships than he was choosing to divulge.
"The truth is; I've always known that I was going to end up in an arranged marriage," the golden-haired man explained. "My clan is…unique for our charisma and chivalry. The Cavallone House has always maintained the tradition of relying on our strong alliances to reinforce our standing in the Mafia world. Intermarriages between Famiglias are not as rare as you think, Haru-kun. It is simply one of the many ways to strengthen bonds between allies."
Haru chewed on her lips again, not comprehending how it was possible for Dino-nii to accept this type of arrangement in this day and age. Her expression showed plain bewilderment.
"Is that…really okay?" she asked again, brows furrowing. "Is it really okay to give up on love…like that?"
Even as she asked that question, Haru was immediately aware of just how hypocritical she was being. Wasn't she doing the same thing?
"What makes you think that I'm giving up on anything, Haru-kun?"
She stared at him, but the Cavallone Boss looked perfectly serious.
…Eh?
"Eh? But-"
"Feelings can, and will, develop over time. More importantly, a strong foundation of trust and understanding has to be built first for any relationship to flourish." Again, his gaze was unwavering as he met hers. "I will love and protect you because you'll be my wife, Haru. That is, if you've indeed prepared yourself to becoming the wife of a Mafia boss."
His tone was sure, steady, but instead of romantic adoration in his eyes, there was only a firm determination and resolve to commit to his decision…for the sake of all of them. He truly was a great leader, she thought faintly even as she started at his declaration.
In the past, she had often joked that she would become the wife of a Mafia boss. Now, that joke was swiftly becoming reality…and she certainly was in no mood to laugh. But, as she stood before Dino-nii right now, Haru could not help but feel a faint sliver of optimism pierce through the dense fog of her disorienting misery, influenced by his unyielding confidence.
If it is with Dino-nii, then maybe it won't be so bad…
A strange sort of calm inundated her. Perhaps this was simply the calm before a storm, but she would take it all the same. Enveloping herself in it like a large, fuzzy robe…or an armor, trying so hard to protect all of her tender, bruised parts. She didn't want to keep hurting anymore.
Slowly, she nodded.
"…I understand. Haru will resolve to do her best to be the wife of a Mafia boss."
Dino's eyes lightened at her agreement, clearly made with no small amount of serious thought behind it. Smiling gently, her future husband petted her on the head like how one would do with a younger sibling…or a subordinate.
"Excellent! I believe that Haru-kun will grow to love and support the Cavallone Famiglia just like she does the Vongola, so it will be fine."
Huh?
"Hahi?"
Dino seemed to easily take her confusion in stride.
"We may not be as powerful as the Vongola, but the men and women of the Cavallone Famiglia are steadfast and loyal and in those aspects, we do not lose to any of our allies. Haru-kun, if it's love that you're looking for, you'll find no lack of it with all of us."
Why was this starting to sound more and more like a recruitment speech? What on earth…
In her rising shock, her earlier upset was quickly fading away. It was impossible not to be at least a bit stirred by the charismatic Cavallone's strong, impassioned words, but that was not the main point here!
"Wait a minute, d-desu-"
He was petting her shoulder now with comradely understanding.
"You'll fit right in with everyone, Haru-kun. There's no need to worry. After all, I already promised Father-In-Law to take good care of you."
Father-in-law. Haru colored at his address of her parent, but more importantly-
"E-Ehh?! What do you mean, 'you promised?' You met Otou-san already?!"
"Yes, naturally. It's my responsibility to ask for your hand in marriage – that's how it usually goes, right?"
Haru's mouth opened fruitlessly, then closed again just as quickly, speechless. Nonetheless, she tried again, frazzled and sputtering.
"B-B-But how?! When?!" And why was she not told about any meeting until now?! Also, if he had already asked her father, then did that not mean he had already more or less anticipated that she would commit to this marriage? Then what even was the whole point of him asking her if she was indeed sure of her decision? This man; was he testing her?!
"Yesterday. I did as Reborn taught me; I got down in seiza before the Honorable Father and then challenged him for permission to marry you by drinking him under the table."
Haru was trying not to gawk in disbelief.
"Hahi, Haru cannot believe this… Are you trying to tell Haru that Haru's getting married today because Otou-san lost to you in a drinking game?"
The civil ceremony hadn't even been held yet but already Dino was quickly wising up to the moods of his future spouse. His eyes widened slightly at her rising screech. "I think it's fairer to say that I've adequately demonstrated that I'll make a good husband for you, Haru-kun."
How and why winning a drinking competition would convince any father of such a thing still remained a mystery to Dino, but Reborn had said that this was the way things were done in Japan and so he had succeeded all the same, though less in due to his own abilities, and more because of the fact that the Miura patriarch was quite the lightweight when it came to alcohol. It was fortunate that there were no other contenders vying for Haru-kun's hand, or surely there would be plenty of husbandly candidates who would pass this challenge even blindfolded and with their hands tied behind their backs.
"Did I do it wrong, Haru-kun? I thought that it might be easier for you if I went and greeted Father-In-Law first."
It was impossible to be upset when it was so obvious that the man's intentions had been well-meaning. Haru groaned, mortified. She also really did not know what to make of Dino-nii now. They weren't exactly strangers but they weren't exactly close the way she was close to Tsuna-kun and the other Vongola Guardians. He was a friend, for sure – but now he was also going to be her husband. Her stomach twisted in knots, almost cramping with anxiety. Did this count as pre-wedding jitters?
Was it really going to be okay like this?
::owari::
Questions That I Would Like To Answer Before You Ask:
Received so much love and encouraging feedback from my fellow Haru fans, I got really motivated to edit and post this chapter up quick. If the rest of you are wondering who to thank for this (considerably) fast update (from the reliably tardy me), thank them for being so awesome and supportive! :)
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This chapter is the prelude to the Marriage of Convenience!AU. Poor lost and heartsore Haru hurt my heart to write, but at the same time, there probably is no one better than Dino (and by extension the entire Cavallone Famiglia) to help heal her and distract her from her current misery! For those of you who wondered about the premise of this AU, I hope that this update has shed more light on how their relationship eventually came to be!
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Next instalment will be one from the You Belong with Me!AU – stay tuned! :)
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FYI, in this chapter, Dino is thirty-two, and Haru is twenty-four.
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Your reviews make me update faster; so please leave a comment if you like this fic!
-sllebswap