Disclaimer: I know this is old but I own none of the character in this story.

"Auntie, I, uh" Sakura stammered, trying not to gawk in mortification at the bunny underwear Nana was currently holding up and asked what her opinion was. The pink head was really a polite person, really she was. And Nana had done nothing to provoke her resentment. However, the woman's sense of fashion was another problem. Seriously, was there any auntie who wanted to buy her niece a bright, and undoubtedly ugly, pink underwear? Why the hell should she care whether her boxer matched her hair color?

The kunoichi really felt the pain her client had to go through. In the end, the pink head muttered up a forced smile. "I don't use this type of clothes. I prefer the ones I brought from home, Auntie. Beside, I've already got a lot and there just simply no space to store anything anymore."

"Aw, but this one is so cute! You would look handsome in it!" Nana protested, and both Akira and Tsuna simultaneous blushed. Why should he care if that boxer suited him or not, especially when no one would even see him in it? Though, if a rapist did get to his pant, the shinobi doubted any pervert could get a kick out after one look at this.

Sakura had known Nana was a kind woman. However, she had underestimated the woman's good nature too much and was dismayed that Nana had abandoned the household for the whole day, in order to take her cute niece shopping for clothes. Normally, Sakura wouldn't have any problem going shopping and sightseeing. But, unfortunately, she would rather like looking at books, or even dresses and not boy's (Male's!) underwear. It didn't help the matter that both Lambo and I-pin had tagged along, causing chaos to erupt in whatever shop they stepped in, creating more than dozens situation for both the teenagers, (Tsuna and her) to blush in embarrassing and shame.

The day hadn't gotten better yet. Akira's mask and hair had also attracted much attention and being stared at must make Tsuna feel uncomfortable. The boy's tired face said enough. But his exhaustion might have been from other source aside from her too. The two accidents, one was a thug stealing an old woman's purse and another was car crashing, this morning had forced the shorter teen to be under a transformation, that similar to a jutsu that burst one's strength stronger, namely "Dying Will Mode." (The one she had seen him under yesterday.) It's a shame that the pink head didn't own Byakugan. It would have made an interesting extra information on how Reborn's bullet, activated the spurt of charka inside Tsuna.

Though, the kunochi doubted she would use such an attack or any of the Konoha shinobi might ever find her research useful. Honestly, prancing around, kicking ass or performing mind-blowing jutsu in your underwear only didn't sound appealing, even for Lee, she was sure. Once again, Akira felt another surge of pity toward his charge, knowing just how agonizingly one was when suffering under humiliation. (Having Naruto as a permanent teammate taught her enough)

"Oh, dear! It's already this late!" Nana exclaimed, glancing worriedly at her watch clock. "It's a special cooking program today! I couldn't miss it! Boys, I'm going home early so feel free to have some bonding time." She was already leading Lambo and Ipin to the direction of their house.

"Mama! Wait! We won't have dinner at home, tonight!" Tsuna called, hasting the hurried woman in her steps. "Yamamoto invited Akira and me to have sushi at his dad's store tonight! Is it alright?"

"Oh, sure! Of course! Have fun but remember to go home, early, ok?"

After watching the woman and children disappeared behind the corner, Akira asked. "Another friend of yours? This Yamamoto?"

"Oh, yeah. He, along with Gokudera, has the same class as us." Tsuna had been informed that the shinobi would attend Naminori's high and was secretly dreaded the first day of his cousin. If Akira couldn't provide appropriate reasons for his mask and pink hair, both had failed to gain, even Tsuna's trust so far, his cousin might not leave the school in one piece, knowing the head of the discipline's commitment's abusing nature.

Tsuna had wanted to warn Akira about the glaringly obvious danger, namely You-know-who yesterday but for some reasons, Reborn interrupted his good- natured action by a swift, painful kick to the head, almost making him biting and losing his tongue in the process. He hadn't understood why his tutor threatened him to shut his mouth but decided not to go against that violent baby's order. He had missed his tongue by sheer miracle yesterday and judging from his ridiculous ill luck, he doubted another chance of survival might present if the same trick was played again.

"I'm sure hope he's not as energetic as the some one." Akira remarked, following the way Tsuna showed. They were currently walking toward Yamamoto's father's shop and the shinobi did mean what he just said. His tolerance was short and he couldn't be too sure if Inner could be able to hold in anymore if another jerk appeared. God knows if Naminori would still be on the map after one of her earth- shattering, charka- induced blows.

Tsuna couldn't help but chuckled at the grimace on his cousin's face. Though half of Akira's head was hidden, most of the time, those jade eyes revealed enough emotions for the concealed part. "You will like him! He's very nice!"

"You honestly don't remember you comment exactly the same praise about 'Gokudera San', do you?" The shinobi pointed out. "Will he be there too? Your other friend, who had the bad case of asshole-ish?

"I didn't put it that way!" Tsuna said in horrify, a bit offended that his best friend was insulted. Though, the tone Akira used wasn't hostile, just bitter sarcastic, so Tsuna didn't get angry. After all, Gokudera was the type who always did a poor job at first impression and he, himself, didn't think the silver head could ever be described as kind when Tsuna first met him.

"Ok, jerk seems to be a more polite name. So, will he have dinner with us?" Judging from the sheepish look of his companion, Akira sighed. "I take it as yes."

"He was in bad mood yesterday." Tsuna tried.

"Frankly, I don't want to face him once he's in good mood either." A happy go lucky, foolishly smiling while declaring he loves peace Gokudera popped right up in both the teens' minds and both simultaneous winced. Tsuna mentally agreed with Akira, because from his past experience, while angry Gokudera was troublesome, a joyful Gokudera brought even more injuries to himself, and others (specifically him!). It sounded contradicted but true enough.

Not liking Gokudera enough to continue talking about him without any cursing, Akira changed the subject. "Where is Bianchi nee? I haven't seen her today."

Tsuna looked a tad nervous. "Oh, she's back to Italy with Fuuta Kun. There is something Reborn needs them to do, or so they said."

Good for that brat. Inner muttered. Having him around would undeniable lead to the shinobi commit homicidal someday. Yesterday was hetic enough. Something Reborn needs them to do? That's a nice way to put it. Akira was sure, the brat had received enough 'sweet- talk' (having a shuriken pointed at his neck) to know where his place was.

It was a good thing Tsuna decided that since most of the people around him was strange, having his cousin hiding his true identity and face, who also clearly displayed some very disturbing evidences of failed temper- managing issue, was acceptable. After all, so far, nothing too derange had been revealed from Akira (aside from the fact that the boy stored sharp, pointy weapons all over his body) so the brunette thought it would be alright. Or, so he tried to assure himself when Reborn had his gun pointed to his forehead when the short boy expressed his wish to move out.

After a while of silence, Akira remarked, not used to complete silence, especially when Sakura was the permanent teammate of the most loud-mouth ninja named Naruto. "I like your town's clothes. It's very comfortable."

Glancing at the normal fade jean and simple white T-shirt his cousin had just bought and put on immediately right after, Tsuna felt confused. "…Realy? I think they are kinda plain. I mean, Naminori is a small town so it doesn't have as much fashionable clothes as big cities liked Tokyo."

"The materials are light and the design is easy to move in." Akira said. "From where I come from, people have even more boring style." They focused more on daily survives, war and death. Sakura hold the last bit back, finding it's saddening to even think about it. Comparing to her villagers, the people in this town was in heaven. No constant fear. No haughty death. No worries about food storage. (She had seen those big supermarkets and thought, even the richest ninja village in her world couldn't afford to build them.) When would Konoha be as peaceful as this town, Akira wondered.

Noticing the far-away expression in his cousin's facial, Tsuna stayed quiet instead of voicing his question of why. He had learned from last night that Akira did not like being queried about his personal life and Tsuna respected his will enough to push the tirade of unsatisfied curiosities down. The two walked silently on the road, passing the people who were busily minding their own business. At last, they stopped in front of a big crowd, and the shinobi wondered what the cause was. The people had lined up but it seemed the problem stayed in whichever shop they were waiting to buy from. Some were grumbling, some simply gave up but most just kept complaining about tardiness, very loudly.

Tsuna as if recognized something, dashed forward to the shop and Akira realized that this must be their destination, the sushi free diner provider. As the brunette came into full view again after the shinobi had arrived at the store - after much pushes and shoves and swearing – the pink head realized that the short boy was talking with a tall, dark haired boy, who, the shinobi supposed, should be Yamamoto. And Akira was not happy. Not at the moment his gaze took that face in. Though, Inner was another matter as the mental ego literally was swelling up with ecstasy.

'So-So HOT!'

'Classic.' Sakura muttered back, and the ego glared right back at her, though how, she didn't even know herself.

'Shut up. You don't know a monkey ball about hot guys.'

'Why should I, and you in fact?'

'Because even though we have a thing between our legs, inside we, or me only in fact, is still a god damned girl!'

'I have this feeling that Orochimaru leech to that very same philosophy as his life force.'

'… You bitch just ruin my day.'

Satisfied that the shameless fan girl had grudgingly retreated to her rightful corner, the shinobi focused his mind back to the presence and stood attentively beside his client. Tsuna had just finished saying something and both of the teens turned to the shinobi.

"Would you please do me a favor, Akira Kun?" A frown blossomed between the pink haired boy's brows and the shinobi just knew, once those bloody pleading, pitiful, heart-breaking puppy eyes found his, that whatever the hungry ninja might hope to have that night had come right back to bite his butt.

"Do you know how much you own me, Tsuna Kun?" And Konoha along with Tsunade. Akira wished to add in his grumbling. A lot, and lot lot lot! Inner yelled, creating explosive havoc inside his mind. The shinobi didn't need such a headache when all he should focus on was the fact that there was a hand creeping up his thigh!

Putting a gentle hold on the filthy hand, Akira smiled forcefully at the customer, a man who was leering disgustingly at him. "Please keep your hand to your self sir."

"I like chicks with sexy voice like ya! Wanna good shag?" That jerk's companions even dared to laugh like a bunch of loons on crack. Akira struggled to keep his rage inside, vehemently imprinting the bastard's face to his mind. Naminori's people wouldn't mind missing such a sore bastard liked this asshole.

"Please, sir." Discreetly sending charka to the drunken man's brain, the shinobi left immediately once the body plopped to the table. He couldn't count how many assholes he had put to deep sleep by the very same method that night. How luckier a person liked him could get? Carefully striding back to get the customers' orders, Akira almost cursed out loud as his foot accidentally stepped on his kimono and making him nearly smash-kissed the floor. It's a blessing he was a ninja that allowed him to regain his balance quickly and looked every bit as elegant as ever.

"How is our leading lady doing?" The man, who was introduced as Yamamoto's father asked cheerfully from the place where he was rolling new made sushi in inhuman speed. The shinobi would have been impressed but he was too angry at the man to feel anything closed to pleasant toward him.

"Why did you have to choose today of all day," Akira glared right at the man, who didn't even flinch at the sheer murderous force in the air. "to be your 'Special Free Sushi plus extra beautiful geisha as hostress' night?"

"Sorry, sorry." The old man even had the nerve to chuckle liked a sheep! "I have promised to pay you double the paid!"

"You honestly think I want your money?" Akira asked flatly.

"Free sushi?"

"How about hell no!" The shinobi nearly explored at the amused way that man was looking.

"Now, no need to be such pest." The elder said calmly, offering the dish with intrigued hand-made sushi. "Takeshi and Tsuna Kun didn't complain so you need to man up and be a good boy, Akira Kun."

"…I'm no Kun."

"Beside, you look stunning in that kimono." It was a robe that made from silk with different shade of red blended together. Though, Sakura got no problem with her traditional clothes, Akira did, especially when this kimono was designed for geisha. How could one feel comfortable when his clothes always threatened to spill off his shoulder? The fact that he was in a middle of the sushi shop, surrounding by drunk perverts did not help! "And you must feel proud, because aside from Takeshi's mother, I have never found anyone who could pull off as well as you do in it."

"My muscularity is not proud."

"Oh, don't worry. Even though, you are pretty, most will never mistake you for a girl completely."

"Good for them because I won't hesitate to present them a black eye when they mistook me for their wife." The old man smiled sheepishly under Akira's accusing glare.

"I know and I'm sorry Akira kun. Anyway, enough with the chit chat. I see that many customers are turning green because of me stealing your attention. Hurry up and serve them, boy."

"I am not happy."

Yamamoto's dad laughed. "Silly boy, you don't need to when you're such a looker."

But that's not the point! Akira wanted to yell, but restrained himself successfully. He swirled around and angrily stomped to the assigned table, once again mentally prepare charka to knock another pervert out. It wouldn't have been a problem to just serve the customer because Sakura occasionally might help Ichikaru ramen shop if they were short handed. Akira could handle foul mouthed bastard liked the one Yamamoto was serving, or bad- tempered one liked the woman who was scolding the clumsy Tsuna for spilling sauce on her skirt. However, cross-dressing in a fucking kimono and letting perverts, who leered at his face (For the life of himself, Akira could never understand what drug he was on when he agreed to take his mask off after wearing this stupid kimono), his non-existed breasts (Though that didn't stop some from trying to grope his flat chest!) and who were more than pleased to roam their filthy hands all over his body, his very manly body?

If only Tsuna hadn't been so god damned persuasive with his bloody big eyes!

Apparently, the actresses, who would be in the roles of geisha as in the advertising outside the shop, had got caught in a car accident, which blocked the whole road to get to Naminori's gate and had been unable to reach to this sushi place. Akira couldn't understand why the old man just couldn't cancel the whole damned thing and waited till tomorrow until the actual hostesses were here. In fact, he found it's ridiculous that the man had dragged his son and even his son's friends (and friend's bodyguard) into this stupid business.

Tsuna San was too kind for his own good, Inner grumbled. He should have refused straightforward and galloping right off liked Gokudera had done once the begging began. However, the idiot just had to live to his motto, which was 'understanding and accepting all', which then, forced Akira to stay behind as his sore job was protecting the baka.

And who could say no when the old man had even kneeled on his knees to beg the shinobi to help keeping the restaurant's reputation. Oh, damned it all!

Akira couldn't even form an appropriate curse to swear at his shitty situation. Not when there was a hand on his ass, again.

Tsuna, Konoha and Tsunade owned him too much.

A/N: I'm sincerely sorry for the late update. However, I think the chapter worth the wait, no? I've been busy these days so, even though I didn't show the votes, I actually went through it, so no worry!

Thank you for anyone who had kindly read and reviewed my story. Your words inspired my work and sped up my writing. Hope you enjoy this chapter.