Chapter V; Reassurance

The week began with a lighthearted note, a looking-forward to spring and the breath of new things. Of course for some those things where bad for others those things were good. For Martino Fortugno, the newly-crowned Rivelazione family's boss things were looking positive if nothing else. Of course that never meant the things he was happy about would make other people happy either. To each their own, as well as, one man's trash is another man's treasure. That went hand-in-hand with the boy's inability to interpret and analyze feelings though he had always thought they were unnecessary, needless things that only helped to bring someone down. God does not have any feelings... people are made in his image so why would they need them in the first place? It was clearly a malfunction of the human race. One of the many malfunctions of the human race.

As he was driven to school that morning by one of his private tutors, a tall, phlegmatic young man with eyes hidden beneath thick spectacles. He was dressed in white and never uttered a word for the duration of the ride. That was the way Tino liked his underlings to be. Colorless, speechless and it would be rather relieving if they happened to also be mindless too... at least the lesser ranks of them. The man driving was nothing like them, but to Tino he didn't mean much else besides his own protection. Even so when he exited the car he smiled beautifully, joyfully, beaming with emotion that was never-before expressed.

"Have a good day, Nicolas." he bid the man goodbye and walked into the school followed by the curious glances of various students that were gathered around the front. It wasn't everyday that they'd see a new boy with features as particular as his appear in an expensive-looking car and literally steal the morning performance. Not even the threat of the Disciplinary Committee and Hibari Kyoya didn't shake the most courageous ones that formed a small crowd and surrounded the boy right away asking all sorts of questions.

Tino didn't mind answering all of them. Or at least... he appeared not to mind.

"Are you a transfer student."

"Why, yes I am."

"Where are you from?"

"Florence is my hometown but I've lived in small village for a while."

"What's your name?"

"You cute girls can call me Tino."

"Why did you come here?"

"Well... basically family affairs. There's been some turbulence back home."

"What kind of girls do you like?"

"....that's... confidential."

The list of questions grew by the second and he found himself talking more than he ever had before in his life. Lies, most of them were, the words he spoke. Of course this was one needed little measure, a... precaution if you might... A leader must always keep a pleasant social profile and form steady relationships with those around him. You never know who you might need and when and under which circumstances each. Relationships were tricky things such as that. And as tricky as tricky they might seem if handled correctly they could give one great power beyond their wildest imagination. And Martino, like most great men, was enamoured with the idea of that power... whether this entailed good or bad things for those around him, he didn't know, and to tell you the truth, little did he care about it.

When he managed to free himself from the people surrounding him, he found himself walking off to wherever in order to explore a little of the school grounds before he would head off to class. He already knew where it was, who his teachers were as well as his classmates. He ended up in the same homeroom as Sawada after all...

What he did notice after a bit was a small while after was a sole figure training right outside the school's gym. A tall boy with a baseball bat. Namely he was Yamamoto Takeshi, Sawada's guardian of Rain. If Martino knew his classmates well, he knew those that were of interest to him even better. He had done his homework well. And having been a diligent student he had made sure to find out just what made each of those people tick. As forementioned, relationships with people were often key items to progress your story further. For a few minutes he just watched the others training, then decided to step in by catching one of the balls thrown by the other.

Considering the speed of that ball it would have been impossible for a person with such a petite physique to force it still without injuring himself, yet somehow Tino didn't even flinch at the collision of his hand with the ball.

"Hey! I didn't notice you here! Nice catch! Are you here to join the baseball team?" Yamamoto exclaimed from the other side of the training grounds while pacing his way to him. Tino smiled brightly at him tossing the ball back at him without putting any sort of strength or effort to it, thus causing the ball to leisurely fly across the air to end up in the boy's hands.

"Sadly no..." Tino replied, bowing his head in greeting. "I am Martino Fortugno, I just transferred in this school and was looking around." he went on. He now stuck both hands in his pockets and looked up at Yamamoto in the most innocent of manners. Much like a lonely puppy. "But I noticed you were training here so early... I mean... classes haven't even started... and I wanted to see what you were doing, but..." he trailed off unexpectedly and looked away. "I noticed a flaw in your technique so I had to point it out... I'm sorry for interrupting and everything... senpai... but your throws appear all so predictable. I mean... even I managed to stop that ball in mid-air by thinking of the direction the wind blows right now and watching your previous throws... maybe some variety wouldn't be as bad..."

A moment was spent in silence before Yamamoto finally laughed. "You're a sharp one, aren't you!?" he exclaimed, excited that someone would come speak with him about baseball. "My name's Takeshi! Yamamoto Takeshi!" he introduced himself with a grin. "You seem to know a lot about baseball!" Martino nodded his head vigorously in reply.

"Of course I do!" it was Tino's turn to smile, beaming with an inner light. "I've always loved baseball! However I was never good enough to be in a team back home so I just studied it on theoretical grounds. I know all sorts of techniques that appeared through the ages as well as history of baseball... but still it's not quite as thrilling as to be able to actually play..." he looked down, a little embarrassed at himself. Yamamoto smiled at the kid. He certainly was an interesting one. Smart, friendly and loved baseball! What else was there to ask for in a person? He was about to open his open his mouth and speak when the morning bell rang. Was it really already that late? Practice earlier and his chat with the boy right now... they made time pass by only so quickly!

"What class are you in?" Yamamoto asked, picking his things up. Maybe they could walk back to the school together. "2-A..." Martino trailed off "I-If you could give me some directions I'll be fine on my own, really!" he exclaimed. "I wouldn't like to trouble you any further with myself, Yamamoto-senpai!" the other laughed at the boy's exclamation as he walked back to him. "Nah, don't worry. It's perfectly fine. See... we're in the same class!" Tino's face lit up again. "Really?" he laughed. "That's amazing, senpai!"

Of course what Yamamoto didn't know, couldn't know, was that Tino's veil of lies had been wrapped all around him, preventing him from seeing the truth in front of him. Of course... doing everything in favour of being welcomed and well-liked in a new environment wasn't all that bad either anyway.

The school's hallways were full of students rushing to their classrooms, others just loafing around, chatting merrily, talking about lessons and upcoming exams and all other things involving a student's life. Among those people were also two that didn't look too well. Namely, Gokudera Hayato and Sawada Tsunayoshi. A third person was with them on the moment they entered Martino's sight however he left briefly afterwards, after saying something that while Tino would like to know what it was, he couldn't because he was too far away to be able to listen properly. The person didn't see him, but he did see that person and it made a small alarm go off in his mind. He got the feeling that this person was dangerous, dangerous to him and his plans during his stay in Japan. He made a mental note to deal with it the soonest possible.

"Good morning." Martino greeted the two once he and Yamamoto reached them, making a small bow of the head as it was appropriate in Japan. Tsuna turned to them, looking grim, but his expression changed a little once he saw it was his friend. Then his eyes moved to look directly at him. A shadow cloaked his gaze for a single moment before they cleared again -a passing cloud through the brilliant morning sky-. Of course Martino wouldn't blame him for being cautious around a person he barely knew. Some people were just like that... but just then, the Vongola tenth proved him wrong by gifting him with a bright smile.

"Good morning Yamamoto, Martino-san." he said tilting his head to the side just a little. Gokudera towered over his boss, looking at the two of them somewhat less then pleased to see them there. Little did Tino care right now. All he cared about was that he had quietly placed himself among the rest of them, silently became one of them through that small morning ritual that would soon become an everyday habit, then routine, then an unbreakable part of everyday reality.

Tsuna's acceptance overjoyed him, for the same reason, because the one who he was most interested in was not his guardians, his other classmates or the school but the Vongola Tenth himself. And just as he had reassured the boy of, the other day at that gathering, they were going to go along just fine. There was no flaw in his perfect plan. He would win Sawada Tsunayoshi over, he was sure of it. After all He told him so...

Chapter five is finally here!

I am so very sorry for the immense delay! On my defence I was getting ready for the exams I sat last week. -Drawing statues is NOT a piece of cake folks...

Anyhow, now I am back and will resume writting normally.

You may expect chapter six in a few days.

Critiques and reviews always welcome, comments as well.

I hope you keep enjoying "Say It Was a Dream", we should have some intimacy soon as planned -I don't wish to rush things...