Hello everyone, this is the third chapter of Getting to Know Each Other! I just wanted to clear up that this fic takes place a little after the Varia Arc, and a little before the Future Arc. However, I made Chrome sort of friendly with I-Pin, Lambo, and the others, even though in the anime, she becomes more sociable during the Future Arc. Also, I don't like how she's supposed to be 13, so I'm pretending that she's the same age as Tsuna and Gokudera and wot. KHR is owned by Amano Akira.
Please enjoy!
"School was terrible today!" Tsuna groaned as he mussed up his own hair. Yamamoto chuckled, while he and Gokudera walked on either side of him, on their way to Tsuna's house. Ryohei was traveling around school all day, searching for new Boxing Club recruits. He had burst into Tsuna, Gokudera, and Yamamoto's classroom, interrupting the whole lesson while yelling nonsensical pleads for Tsuna to join the Club. The annoyed teacher had kicked Ryohei out, but even so, Tsuna was beaten up later by Hibari for 'being the cause of a class disruption.' The Tenth was patched up by the time 12:30 rolled around.
Lunch was always a hassle for Yamamoto and Gokudera. Crazy, lovesick girls with hearts for eyes and sharp claws for nails were always trampling over Tsuna to grab his seat at the table. Today was no exception; Yamamoto had to unwillingly charm the girls into love overload, while Gokudera helped up Tsuna, who was stuck under the table with his lunch strewn messily all over his school uniform, hair, and bag. Gokudera disgustedly glared at the girls. He soon found himself wondering if it would be different, if the female Mist Guardian attended Namimori Middle…No. A mafioso must protect and kill, he has no time for love.
O
I wonder where Bossu is, Chrome thought worriedly. What if the Storm Guardian is not with him? Though she had only been waiting for ten minutes, Chrome was already sitting and leaning back against the gate posts, surveying the neighborhood. It was fairly quiet, with the exception of a rather noisy puppy yapping and yapping three doors down. To pass the time, Chrome created beautiful flower arrangement illusions on the doorsteps of the houses on the street. She hoped that the sights of whimsical tulips and daisies would brighten the day of someone. Soon, she stood up, sensing the arrival of someone. Her heartbeat quickened as she looked for the source. She was somewhat disappointed, yet shocked to see that it was not Bossu and the Storm Guardian, but green uniforms. Kokuyo uniforms, belonging to none other than Imai-san and Amano-san.
"Hey, Chrome!" Koji greeted, smiling. He and Hatori stopped their bikes next to the gate. "What are you doing here?"
Chrome was utterly taken aback to actually see people that she knew from school, outside of school. "Ah…I am waiting for some people," she said bashfully. She was most definitely not used to boys speaking to her, much less being nice to her. Still, she would make the best of it and try to return the friendliness.
"We were just on our way to get some snacks," Koji said. The statement reminded Chrome of something Ken would do. "Would you like to join us?" Chrome smiled, but didn't say anything. Both Koji and Hatori took one of her hands in a friendly manner.
O
"Isn't that Chrome?" Tsuna asked, his eyebrows wrinkling, concerned. Gokudera and Yamamoto looked to see Chrome, standing at the Sawada home's gate, with two unidentified boys holding her hands. Chrome is in danger! Gokudera's mind screamed; something in his chest seared with the fury of thousands in battle. Without assessing the situation thoroughly, Gokudera whipped out eight sticks of dynamite and ran towards Chrome's 'attackers.' Following closely behind was Yamamoto, his Shigure Kintoki at the ready.
"Oi, idiots, unhand her!" Gokudera yelled, half of the sticks already lit. Yamamoto glared, which was very out of character on his part. The two did not have a chance to fight, though, because Koji screamed, fleeing instantly, and Hatori quickly biked away, calling a half-goodbye to Chrome, and left Koji's bike against the gate.
"Don't worry, Chrome," Yamamoto said, lowering the sword. "You're safe now." The three boys herded her through the front door and up the stairs, where they sat at the kotatsu in Tsuna's room. "Tell us what happened."
Chrome blushed and wrung her hands together. "Imai-san and Amano-san were…they were not trying to harm me." Yamamoto and Gokudera exchanged disbelieving looks, but let the matter drop. Gokudera then looked to his Boss, to see his reaction. Tsuna just shook his head, confused, as he dropped his school bag next to his desk and took a seat. Reborn sat on the desk, polishing Leon-in-gun-form.
"You guys," Tsuna began, the worried expression overtaking his face again. "I know that we just finished our battle with the Varia and all, but I keep getting this…this weird feeling that something terrible is about to happen." Everyone stayed silent, mulling over Tsuna's words. Reborn commented about the feeling being Tsuna's Hyper Intuition. Gokudera was listening to Tsuna, of course, but he found himself having trouble keeping his gaze and thoughts from the girl who sat across from him.
O
"Kufufu, dearest Chrome. You should hear the mental battles that Storm and Rain are having within themselves."
Mukuro-sama, you shouldn't read other people's minds.
"Kufu, the Storm Guardian makes his outward expression protective, but on the inside, both he and the Rain Guardian are still seething over those two fools that were chatting with you before. Jealousy, perhaps?" Chrome blushed at the thought of people caring that much about her.
"My, isn't this interesting? The Storm thinks that your skull patterns make you look cuter."
O
Gokudera felt very, very uncomfortable.
He had allowed himself to face in the general direction of the Mist Guardian, even allowing himself some thoughts of how…cute she was. When he saw her blush, he was afraid that she had somehow heard his thought about her skull eye patch and belt. That would never happen, he consoled himself. Nobody could read minds.
"…so be on guard, okay? Be ready, in case of an attack." Gokudera snapped to attention as Tsuna finished his speech. In an instant, the cow pajama-ed Lambo burst through the window, I-Pin quickly on his heels. They circled around the chuckling Reborn, hopped on Tsuna's bed, knocked all the books off Tsuna's shelf, and literally caused destruction everywhere in the room. As Tsuna started to yell, the two five-year-olds jumped over the table and onto Chrome's lap.
"Ahoushi!" Gokudera said angrily, standing up. "Don't cause discomfort to a guest!" To everyone's surprise, Chrome let out a small giggle and cuddled I-pin and Lambo, who were also giggling. Gokudera's face flushed and he looked away, seeing how cute she looked with the kids. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Yamamoto too had a slight blush as he grinned. Tch.
O
"Why is your uniform green? Why is your hair purple? Why is it a pineapple?" Lambo asked question after question, as any five-year-old does. I-pin hugged herself closer to Chrome. "Are you pineapple flavored? Do you like someone-" at that, Chrome blushed again. "? Do you like takoyaki? Lambo-san loves takoyaki!"
She nodded. "Yes, I do like taiyaki, (A/N: Taiyaki is a fish shaped cake thing, Chrome misheard him) I'll bring you some next time I visit." Chrome realized that she was implying another visit. Am I intruding in Bossu's home? No. Nagi was shy; Chrome Dokuro will not be. Because Lambo was still jumping up and down, the scrap papers fell out of Chrome's pocket, and all over the floor. Tsuna glanced at the scraps, then at Chrome, tilting his head in question. "Phone numbers," Chrome explained. "From friendly boys and girls from school."
"Tenth, someone should go with the Mist Guardian to her school, to make sure that nobody is trying to harm her," Gokudera exclaimed suspiciously.
"It seems that the boy only heard 'friendly boys,' hm? Now he's thinking about those boys who tried to 'harm' you from earlier. Kufufu, Chrome dear, get to know that Storm Guardian. He has your safety at heart as well, no? It could be interesting."
Chrome shook her head. "That will not be necessary, Bossu. Though, I appreciate your kindness. Grazie." She smiled.
O
He wondered why nobody had taken notice to the blanket of red across his cheeks. She spoke Italian again…if possible, Gokudera blushed harder. For some reason, he thought back again to Chrome's match against the Mist Arcobaleno, when Chrome had kissed the Tenth's cheek. That feeling I had, I was like that of a dog, wanting to protect his owner, right? Gokudera wondered now if it could have been…jealousy. How could that be? At that time, I had only just met her…
Sorry if some of the characters are OOC again, I have trouble with that lol. Please review, and include some ideas if you have any :)