Authors Note: I'm SO SORRY for not having updated in like… FOREVER!
Personal life, writers block and lack of proper internet combined aren't fun. I really hope that those of you who have been waiting for this chapter haven't given up and left!
I finally managed to place this into a proper-ish timeline: Shortly after the Future arc, but before the Inheritance/Shimon arc.
I'm sorry all of you Shimon-family fans, but they won't be appearing in this story!
Also, for those of you who have only watched the anime, I will completely IGNORE the "Arcobaleno trials Arc" and the "Succession-or-whatever-it's-called Arc" (you know, the one where they went back to their time, AGAIN, to get the first generation to give their powers to their boxes). Why? 'Cause I didn't like either of those (filler)arcs. End of discussion! *huffs*
Because of the nice reviews I got on the first chapter, I feel like I've disappointed myself with this chapter, but oh well...
Warnings: Grammar, spelling, OOC-ness!
Katekyo Hitman Reborn © Akira Amano
Tsuna felt himself waking up and he groaned inwardly. Was it morning already? Maybe he should take a break from his midnight walks. He was losing a little too much sleep for his own liking. He made a promise to himself to stay home tonight, and maybe the next night too.
"Dame-Tsuna, wake up!"
Something heavy struck his head and Tsuna's eyes shot open. Above him stood Reborn, holding a huge green 100 Ton hammer, getting ready to strike again if the boy didn't leave his bed within the next three seconds. As usual. Here we go.
"HIIIEEEE!"
Letting out his usual shriek, Tsuna leapt out of bed and raced around his room in search for his uniform. How he longed for his 18th birthday, as that was the day he had promised himself he would stop with those shrieks. They were actually starting to hurt his throat. He figured that by then no one would find it strange that he suddenly stopped with them, since 18 was supposed to be a "mature" age.
'Maybe I'll stop being "no good" before that, though,' the brunette thought as he grabbed his bag and walked down the stairs to the kitchen, 'It's annoying having to trip on air a few times everyday just 'cause it's expected.'
He walked into the kitchen and was greeted by his big family; Nana by the stove, Bianchi drinking tea, Lambo stealing food from a complaining Fuuta and I-Pin who scolded Lambo. Reborn appeared on his usual seat with a cup of coffee just as Tsuna sat down.
"Good morning Tsu-kun," Nana beamed and placed Tsuna's breakfast in front of him.
"Morning mom," Tsuna smiled back as he started to eat while at the same time guarding his food from Lambo, who had given up on Fuuta's food.
Tsuna glanced at the clock on the wall. 'Hayato'll be here in one minute.'
He looked at his food and sighed. For once he would like to actually take his time and enjoy his breakfast. Maybe it really would do him good to stop with his nightly walks.
Pushing Lambo away one last time, Tsuna practically threw all of his food into his mouth and swallowed. If it was something Lambo had taught him; it was eating lots of food in the shortest amount of time possible. Right on the second too.
"Tenth, are you done?"
No one looked even the slightest bit surprised at the shout from outside. Nana only smiled and handed Tsuna some money.
"I'm sorry, Tsu-kun. I don't have time to make you lunch today, so please buy yourself something."
Tsuna took the money and hugged Nana briefly.
"It's alright mom, thanks," he answered, while adding in his thoughts: 'It's not like I ever eat during lunch anyway.'
After pocketing the money, Tsuna put on his shoes, grabbed his bag, shouted an "I'm leaving", and then rushed out to greet his Storm guardian.
"Good morning Tenth!"
Tsuna was sure that if Gokudera had a tail, it would be wagging almost to the point of falling off by now.
"Good morning Gokudera-kun."
They started to walk towards school, Gokudera going on about some new kind dynamite he'd been experimenting with the night before while Tsuna listened and nodded with small smile. When they reached the usual four-way, they were greeted by Yamamoto and Kyoko. Ryohei was probably already at the school.
"Good morning, Yamamoto, Kyoko-chan," Tsuna greeted with a smile and a small blush when looking at the girl. 'It's expected.'
The two returned his greeting, while Gokudera stayed quiet with a slight glare directed at Yamamoto. Tsuna mentally rolled his eyes. He knew exactly why Gokudera always showed such a hostile side towards the baseball player, and frankly he was starting to get annoyed with them both. Annoyed with Gokudera's way of showing how he felt, and Yamamoto's way of being completely oblivious to almost everything around him. Maybe he should talk someone into "helping" them out of their stupidity a little? He'd check his bank account after school, just in case.
"Tsuna-kun, did you finish the math problems for today?" Kyoko asked him, bringing him out of his thoughts.
"Ah, um, yeah, I did, they were really hard though," Tsuna stammered, still blushing.
He briefly considered trying out as an actor in movies or something, since his acting had reached the point of perfection where he didn't even have to try to be one hundred percent convincing. Though, being a mafia boss actually seemed more appealing than being an actor. Especially after their adventure in the future.
"I couldn't even finish all of them," Kyoko said, blushing slightly in embarrassment.
Tsuna just smiled at Kyoko, and she practically glowed back at him. He saw a small glint of something in her eyes and mentally frowned. He recognized that glint, as he had seen it in Gokudera's eyes at rare times when the silverette had looked at Yamamoto when he thought no one else was looking, and it meant that it was time for him to talk to Kyoko. Soon.
. . .
Tsuna spent the lessons before lunch trying to formulate what he wanted to explain to Kyoko. Who would've ever thought that when what he had dreamed of finally happened, he had to prevent it from developing further? He let out a small sigh and scratched the back of his head, looking like he was confused over the math problems in front of him. He felt Gokudera looking at him and sighed again. 'I can feel another study group coming up.'
The "study groups" mostly included himself, Gokudera and Yamamoto under the spartan watch-eye of Reborn. The study groups would start normally and end in disaster. Every one of them. Tsuna still wondered why they even bothered trying when, in the end, they would be stuck in an impossible situation not even related to their school work.
Tsuna sighed again and glanced at Kyoko who was completely focused on their teacher. The brunette nodded to himself. 'During lunch it is.'
. . .
"Kyoko-chan, can I talk to you for a minute?" Tsuna asked, not liking the way Hana was staring at him like he was going to do something inappropriate to her best friend.
"Of course," Kyoko beamed.
Tsuna smiled back and started to lead Kyoko up to the roof, which was completely empty thanks to the schools resident watch-bird. Perfect for a private conversation. Tsuna waited until the door was completely shut before he looked Kyoko straight in the eyes.
"I need to tell you something, and you have to listen until I'm done. Also, what I'm about to tell you, you can never tell anyone about. Not even Hana. Can you do that, Kyoko-chan?"
Kyoko nodded, looking slightly confused. Tsuna took a deep breath before continuing.
"Since a long time ago, I've had a crush on you. You were, and still are, the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. You're really nice to me and everyone else, and while we were in the future I also learned that you are a great cook.
During our time in the future I went from a crush to falling in love with you. But not the kind of love that I, or anyone else, expected me to have. I'm quite aware that some of our friends actually expect us to get married one day, but unfortunately I have to disappoint them. I love you like Big brother loves you, like a sister, and-"
"But you haven't changed!"
Tsuna tilted his head a little to the side and waited for her to continue, ignoring the fact that she had agreed to not to interrupt him.
"Tsuna-kun… You always… You blush and stutter and you smile so lovingly at me, just like… Like you always have!"
Kyoko looked torn between crying and screaming in anger. It was the first time Tsuna had seen her like that, and he found that he actually liked it. It was a kind of nice contrast to her usual expressions. If anything it actually made her more beautiful.
"I have changed, Kyoko-chan," Tsuna began slowly; "I just don't let everyone see it."
Kyoko stared at him, face red and small tears visible in the corner of her eyes.
"You haven't. You haven't changed. You're still the Dame-Tsuna that everyone knows of!"
Tsuna laughed sardonically, making Kyoko fall silent again and stare at him with wide eyes.
"Of course. Everyone thinks of me as Dame-Tsuna. They underestimate me, mock me, and send their weakest assassins at me. To everyone it looks like my bursts of power during the last deciding minutes of all the fights are just pure luck. But you know what?"
Kyoko slowly shook her head as Tsuna smirked widely.
"They're not. I know my own strength perfectly, as well as my opponents' strength. I know that if I wanted to, I could go to Italy right now and put Xanxus in a hospital bed before he could even blink!"
Kyoko shivered slightly at the glint in Tsuna's eyes. It was dark and malicious, so unlike anything she had ever seen in his eyes before. Tsuna blinked and the glint disappeared. He gave her a tired smile.
"The reason why I'm telling you all of this is because I trust you, and I really couldn't come up with some kind of lie to explain why I don't have a crush on you anymore. The truth seemed like the best way to go," he said softly.
Kyoko stayed silent for a few moments while she looked between Tsuna and the ground. After a couple of minutes she looked straight at Tsuna again.
"Who else knows about… About thisyou?"
"Mukuro, Chrome, Shouichi, Spanner, Xanxus and now you."
"How does Xan-"
Tsuna held up a hand, silencing her.
"We don't have much time before lunch ends, and I don't want to be responsible for you going through the rest of the day hungry. Let's just say that Xanxus and I had a talk and we reached an agreement. Now let's get you back to Hana before she decides to hunt us down and kill me for keeping you away from her for so long."
He grabbed Kyoko's hand before she could react and half-dragged her through the door and down the stairs. He could feel Kyoko staring at his back all the way back to their classroom but he chose to ignore it. He knew that she was confused and had a lot of questions, but they would have to wait until another day. At least he knew for sure that Kyoko wouldn't tell anyone, and even if she actually did no one would believe her.
'Oh the wonders of having a "no good" reputation~'
And that was chapter 2.
I'm sorry if it didn't live up to any of your expectations, but I'm not exactly a professional writer.
If you have any questions that just CAN'T WAIT until the next chapter, please write them in a review or in a PM and I will answer them as good as I can without too much spoilers.
I have no idea when the next chapter will be done, but hopefully before Christmas at least. Life will be hectic for me for a while now, since I've finally found an apartment and hopefully I'll be moving in by the end of next week. Hopefully.
Thank you for reading!