Arthor's note: I am SOO sorry this took forever. I promise to try and update more. Sorry to keep you all waiting but I do appreciate everyone's comments. They help a lot with my urge to write.
Sun and Moon, Ryohei's Destiny 8 {Tol-er-ate}
It didn't take long for all of us to gather together. In fact, once Ryohei and I had walked into Tsuna's house, everyone else was already there. Everyone sat in the living room as they waited for us. Reborn sat next to Tsuna. I was the first to say something.
"Tsuna, it's my fault Chrome was hurt. If it wasn't for me coming here, Culpo wouldn't have come and none of this would have happened. I'm sorry." Tsuna smiled and shook his head.
"It's not your fault and Chrome is fine now. The doctors said she was getting better. And don't worry about Culpo. We know what to do." Tsuna turned to the others and I could tell he was trying to stay positive. "Right now we need to visit Chrome. The doctors say she's awake now." He was right; as always. Besides, it would be good if I went and really apologized to Chrome.
Dino took us all to the hospital in his limo. It was loud and crowded. Lambo was fighting with Gokudera about the windows, which ones should be opened and which ones should be closed. Tsuna was trying to calm them down. Yamamoto was laughing, Ryohei was egging them on and Mihura and Ipin were trying to calm down Lambo. It wasn't working.
I was the only one who hadn't said anything. I just looked out the window thinking about Chrome and Culpo. What was I going to do about him? I couldn't take him on by myself. I didn't even think the others could take him on. Not even Tsuna. They weren't strong enough just yet. Even with the proper training who knew if they could really beat him.
When we arrived at the hospital, I almost couldn't get out of the car. For some reason, I was nervous; almost like I couldn't face her. Miharu popped her head back in the car and grabbed my shirt to drag me out.
"If you don't do it now, you'll never do it."Miharu stated. I nodded and took a deep breath before I walked in with the rest of them.
Chrome looked awful but better than she did. Some of the swelling had gone down and her eyes were actually opened. It was progress. Kyoko and Haru were already there when we arrived as well as Ken, Chiksa, and Bianchi. Chrome's bed was surrounded with flowers and get well cards; mostly from Bianchi, Kyoko and Haru. Chiksa leaned against the window while Ken nearly stood in the back of the room.
"Hey, how could you have gotten hurt? That's so like you." Ken grumbled.
"Hey! Lay off, man! It wasn't her fault!" Miharu yelled. I held her back. Now was not the best time to get in a fight. We all stayed for awhile, talking around Chrome or talking to her. Most of the time she didn't say anything. She never really said anything anyway. Chrome was quiet but she was a sweet girl. When it was time to go, everyone headed out except for me. I still had that guilt hanging from my shoulders.
"Chrome, I'm sorry what happened. It's my fault you were hurt." I sat down beside her and waited for her to say something but she didn't. "The person who attacked you works with an ex-boyfriend of mine. I'm the reason that he's here. He asked me to join his family and when I told him I couldn't do it, that's when you were attacked." I felt a tear fall down my cheek. "I'm sorry, Chrome." I couldn't look at her anymore. I was too ashamed.
I felt a hand carefully wipe the tear away. Chrome was looking at me with a kind expression. "It's not your fault this happened to me. Besides, I'm getting better now." And then she gave me a smile. At least, I think it was one. It was small and I almost missed it but it was there.
Later, back in the limo, everything went back to the way it had been on the way there. The boys were either yelling or laughing. Miharu was yelling at Gokudera this time because he was on the verge of beating Lambo to a pulp. I was still in my own world as I looked out of the window. I felt better. I really did. Chrome was better and now safe. Dino had sent and paid the hospital to allow his men to safely watch over her from a distance. Now the only problem was the rest of them. Not even Dino had enough men to watch over us. But Reborn seemed to have an idea.
When we arrived back at the Sawada home, Reborn had us all gather around the living room. "Culpo is bound to strike again tonight. That is why we must all sleep here." Tsuna, who was sitting next to Reborn seemed to have the same idea.
"We will all sleep in different rooms to watch all the different open doorways and windows. Dino's men will still keep a watch outside but this is just in case."
"Hey, Tsuna, let's sleep in the same room. Like a slumber party." Yamamoto laughed. Gokudera jumped up with his fist toward Yamamoto.
"Hey! I'm the Tenth's right hand man! I should sleep in the same room with him!" Gokudera yelled. Tsuna waved his hands nervously to calm him down.
"Gokudera! It's ok. You can sleep in Fuuta's room. It's right across from mine." Gokudera's eyes lit up as he seemed to agree with Tsuna. It was remarkable how much Tsuna affected his friends.
"Of course, Tenth! That's a great idea!" Gokudera piped in. Lambo turned to his sister to complain.
"I don't want Stupidera sleeping in my room! Sister, you sleep in my room." Miharu picked up her small brother and nodded.
"No! I'm sleeping in the room across from the Tenth. Even if it is with that stupid cow!" Gokudera protested. Miharu put down her brother and I could tell a fight was about to ensue.
"He's my brother and don't call him a stupid cow!" Miharu yelled. I could sense she was on the verge of punching him. Finally, I stepped in between them and held Miharu back.
"It's ok. You can both sleep in Fuuta's room. Keep the kids safe." They seemed to agree with this and left it at that. I turned to Tsuna with a confident smile. I was ready to be anywhere he needed me to be. "Where do you want me, Tsuna?" I asked.
"I think the living room would be good for you." Tsuna seemed to smile but it wasn't all the way there. I could tell he was still worried about everyone.
"And I'll join her, Tsuna." Ryohei pitched in. I found it remarkable how his friends would do anything to help Tsuna. Then again, Miharu and I were about the same. It was obvious Tsuna was stressed about the whole ordeal; as if he was blaming himself for Chrome's injury.
"Tsuna, Bianchi and I will take the Dining room." Reborn added. Bianchi gently picked him up and held him close to her cheek.
"Oh Reborn," she sighed. Again, I felt that feeling of wanting someone like that. But I had to shake it off. There were more important things to go over. As Miharu and I left to grab some things from home, I stopped and looked back at Tsuna and Dino already talking.
"Don't worry. I'll take the front door. That way I can quickly reach everyone if I have to." Dino smiled and wrapped his arm around Tsuna's shoulder. Finally, Tsuna had a feeling of relief on his face. It made me smile.
When Miharu and I returned, everyone was already in the living room just talking and laughing. As if we all really were just having a sleepover. We played games, ate some good food and everything seemed alright. It seemed to help everyone take their mind off of what was really on our minds. At one point, I looked around and suddenly felt a little uneasy.
"Tsuna," I asked, "where's mamma?" Tsuna smiled which made me feel better.
"Reborn sent her and Fuuta on a cruise for a few weeks. That way by the time they come back, this will hopefully all be over." Reborn really did think about everything when he wanted.
One by one everyone left to go to bed. It was getting late and we were all getting tired. When it was just Ryohei and I, I grabbed the extra pillows and blankets Tsuna left for us and placed them on the floor in front of the couch.
"You can have the couch. I'll sleep on the floor." Ryohei offered as he began to lie on the floor. It seemed as f he wouldn't be taking 'no' for an answer.
"Thanks." I told him and grabbed another blanket and pillow before settling in. It took awhile to calm my thoughts. I just felt uneasy, as if we were being watched. Finally, I had to tell myself I was worrying too much and I settled down. Little did I know I would come to a big surprise when I awoke the next morning.
Miharu's POV
Now fully changed in my familiar cow print pajamas, I headed upstairs to Fuuta's room. When I reached the door I could hear Gokudera and Lambo yelling at each other—which was no surprise—and Ipin trying to calm down Lambo. I opened the door and Gokudera stopped and cleared his throat trying to regain his maturity. Lambo looked back and forth between the two of us.
"Stupidera stop looking at sister. She thinks you're stupid too." Lambo said nonchalantly. Gokudera clenched his fist and continued to yell at my brother, his maturity completely forgotten. Lambo jumped on the bed and stuck his tongue like the adorable little five year old I know him to be.
"Ha ha, Stupidera. I get the bed." Lambo jumped underneath the covers and snuggled in deeper. Gokudera thought for a minute and smiled with an evil grin.
"Alright you stupid cow, you can have the bed. But when the monsters come out at night, they always eat the little children in the bed first." Gokudera wiggled his fingers and inched his way closer to Lambo as he stared back with watering eyes fearfully.
"Don't tell him that, you jerk!" I yelled as a brought a tight fist onto Gokudera's head a tight fist I brought it up and then down on Gokudera's head.
"To, ler, ate…" Lambo started reciting but it didn't last long before he started crying loudly and buried himself under the blanket.
"He'll have nightmares for weeks!" Gokudera rubbed his head guiltily.
"What was that for?" He asked. A stupid question, indeed. I lifted the blanket and gently picked up my brother.
"Shh, it's ok." I soothed. Just like mom used to do. Lambo buried his head deep in my chest and I hugged him tightly. I softly began to sing the lullaby our mother used to sing to us when we were scared or couldn't sleep.
I placed my sleeping brother back in the bed and tucked him in. When I looked back at Gokudera, he was watching me; as if I had done something amazing but all I did was put my brother to sleep. I shrugged off the look. It was a common routine for our mother. She may have raised us like boys but she could still sing us to sleep any night.
Later that night, I woke up and noticed Gokudera hadn't gone to sleep yet. He was staring up at the sky and didn't seem to notice I had awakened. I crawled over and sat next to him. "Can't sleep?" I whispered. He shook his head. "What me to knock you unconscious?" Gokudera smiled and shook his head. It was strange to see him smile. He didn't do it very often but when he did; I could feel my face warm up. It was nice.
Sayomi's POV: Morning
The sun peaking its head through the glass window was as aggravating as ever. I buried my head deeper into whatever I was lying on. It took me a few minutes as I tried to piece everything together. Whatever I was lying on was warmer than a pillow. It moved up and down but it was still comfortable all the same. But I could feel that something wasn't right. Suddenly, I felt something wrap around my shoulder as whatever I was sleeping on shifted. My eyes popped open and I looked at my 'pillow.' His eyes fluttered open as they looked around before setting on mine.
"Um, good morning." Ryohei smiled a little. I got up and sat on the couch. My guess was that I had, somehow, rolled off the couch and onto the floor right next to Ryohei. I didn't really know what else to say.
"Mamma!" I heard Lambo scream across the hall. "Lambo wants food!" Lambo ran across the door way as Ipin was running after him.
"Lambo slow you have to wait for everyone." She called after him. I stood up from the couch and looked at Ryohei at little nervously.
"I guess that means breakfast is ready." I seemed to mutter before walking out of the living room.
By the time Ryohei and I got to the kitchen, everyone was already eating. Tsuna's mom hadn't returned yet but whoever cooked breakfast must have done well because Lambo was already starting his second serving of food as I sat down at the table. I looked around the table and noticed a person missing.
"Where's Reborn?" I asked. Bianchi didn't seem to be surprised as she took another bite of her food.
"It's time." I heard behind me. Everyone looked behind me as Reborn walked in with a letter in hand. He handed it to Tsuna who sat at the head of the table. From where I was sitting I could easily see the symbol on the back. It was the crest of the Invano family. It was the same as Culpo's family crest but altered a little. That much I could tell. The time was surely close.