Ch 7:

"Tsu-kun~" The sweet voice of Sawada Nana reached its intended recipient.

Sawada Tsunayoshi put down the pen he's using to sign the pile of paper works on his table. He watches as his mother approach him with a few envelopes in hand.

"Mom?" The brunet Don tilted his head in confusion. "What's is it?"

"This came by today and I saw Hayato-kun about to throw it aside..."

Tsuna mentally groaned...

"Mom..."

"Why don't you try it?" Nana asked hopefully. "They might not be as bad you think"

Tsuna could only sigh.

"Fine"

"... And there's this old guy that was like 'Do you still wanna eat that?', and I was so like 'Na-ah!'..."

Tsuna inwardly groaned. He could feel pressure building on his temples. His date had been talking for 10 minutes straight and the poor Don just want a quiet change.

"Please excuse me" Tsuna finally cut-in. "I need to go to the rest room for a bit"

"Okay~" The woman chirped.

Tsuna debated whether to leave the annoying woman without saying anything or just say that... ugh! What excuse does he have? His mom cleared his schedule today and tomorrow for these stupid dates.

He was passing by the reception counter when a familiar name caught his interest.

"So" A slightly high-pitched voice chirped. "When are you getting married, Reika?"

Glancing over to the source of the voice, Tsuna saw a familiar face...

Shizu Reika had her head bowed; eyes staring at an empty glass as if it was the most interesting object she'd seen. Her three companions kept talking about her and she didn't seem interested even one bit. She kept staring at the glass until one of them said something that snapped her out of her trance.

"Are you even capable of getting married? I mean, who's going to marry a workaholic who's only enthusiastic about nothing but her work?"

Tsuna could see how Reika's fingers twitched every now and then; and he could easily see through the fake smile she pasted on her face.

"Who told you I'm not married?" She asked sweetly.

"What?!" The three women chorused. "You're married?!"

"Of course~!" She chirped. "I'm turning 30 for God's sake! Of course I'm married!"

Tsuna could feel his hyper intuition buzzing at the back of his mind. Lies.

"Who is he?"

"What does he look like?"

"What does he do?"

Reika hushed their simultaneous questions with; "Why should I tell you?"

"So, he's fake then?" Another of her companions asked.

"Of course not" Reika denied. "Why would I lie about something so trivial?"

She stood up and grabbed her purse. "I'll take my leave then"

The three continued whispering to themselves

"I knew it, she's lying" and the two others were quick to agree.

"After all, I even heard her brother's searching for a suitable groom for her"

"How could she be married when her brother is begging for somebody to marry her?"

Reika's march halted when she caught sight of him; he could feel his breath get caught as he could see the unshed tears in her eyes. It didn't even take a minute when Reika decided to do something she might regret later on.

A well-concealed pained smile stretched her lips but her true feelings were easily masked from her voice as she called out, "Sweetie~! What are you doing here?"

Tsuna was so stunned that he wasn't able to protest when she approached him and gave him a peck on the lips. He was only brought out of his trance when he heard the trio of girls whispering questions about who he is. Looking at Shizu Reika's eyes, Tsuna could easily see the desperation in them. So he smiled sweetly, and kissed her on the forehead.

"I came here to get you, of course" He easily lied. "We decided to go to the beach, right?" He chuckled at her astounded expression. "So, shall we?"

She nodded hesitantly and he was more than happy to leave the restaurant with her. As they got outside, a black car immediately parked infront of them. The driver, Gokudera Hayato, looked understandably baffled. As far as he knew, it wasn't Shizu Reika that his boss was dining with today.

"I'm sorry, Hayato, but can you take care of everything inside?" Tsuna pleaded. It was also a request to leave the two alone.

"Of course, Juudaime"

"Thank you."

"Where are we going?" Reika finally asked when she finally had her emotions stable.

"To the beach" Tsuna replied.

"Huh?" Reika glanced towards him. "You're serious about that?"

"Of course" Tsuna minutely glanced at her before returning his gaze back on the road. "You're about to burst, you know? You need an outlet"

"Woah~" She stared wide eyed at the sea in front of her "It's beautiful~"

Tsuna smiled, glad that she liked it. Glancing at the side, he waved the caretakers blatantly watching them away. He actually brought her to the beach privately owned by Vongola. (Because seriously, why bring her to a public beach when he has a private one?)

"Signore" An elderly man approached him, carrying with him a tray of juices and snacks. "It's good that you've dropped by, but may we know if you're staying for the night?"

Tsuna glanced at the enjoying woman playing by the shore. "It depends on her"

"Are you enjoying?" Tsuna asked as they walk along the sea shore, away from the cottage.

Reika stopped walking and turned to him, she had the brightest of smiles he had ever seen in her. "Definitely"

With the light of the setting sun shining behind her, Tsuna couldn't help but be mesmerized by her. The image of her desperate tear-filled eyes flashed at fore front of his mind. I don't like that look.

He took a step towards her, and Reika looked at him curiously. Another step and they're already inside each other's personal space; and it mildly alarmed Reika.

"Sawada-san?"

He was too close and its making her heart restless.

Tsuna's eyes drooped but not completely shut as he slowly brought his face forward; giving Reika the chance to move away if she wanted to. But she didn't. She closed her eyes and breathed slowly. She didn't pursed her lips or puckered; she simply waited.

The corners of his lips curled upwards, it was as good as any consent. Closing his eyes completely, he kissed her. It was slow at first, then they found a rhythm. Tsuna's arms encircled her petite form as he deepened the kiss, and she hooked her arms around his nape.

Their lips slowly parted, panting and trying to catch their breaths. They didn't separate; still in each other's embrace.

"Will you marry me?"

Reika looked at him, wide-eyed. Searching his eyes for something he doesn't know.

"Why should I?" Was her response, "Are you in love with me?"

It took him a minute to answer, but still he doesn't know if it's what he wanted to say. "No"

... I don't know

Reika slowly detached herself from him. "So why should I marry you?"

But his hold tightened around her, refusing to let her go. "Necessity."

She stared at him for a while before she burst out laughing. It was filled with emotions Tsuna couldn't decipher. It was a meshed mess.

"Necessity?" She repeated. "What are you, a woman?"

"I'm turning 30 too, you know?" He was obviously ticked off.

"At least you're not 40" She chuckled. She slowly extracted herself from his hold and was prepared to go back to the cottage.

Both of them feeling disappointed and thinking of the same thing...

I feel like I've been used and was heartlessly discarded...