A/N: Haha, and here I thought I wrote it clearly that girls are with different rooms with the guys. XD Anyway, I planned all of my chapters this morning at school, and so far I got settled with my idea. I just need you guys to decide of whoever you want Tsuna to end with, I'll start the poll when I reach chapter 10. Hihi. So here it is, thanks for waiting! :D
Chapter 8: Stake Out
"That would be me, Tsuna-san," a man with dark brown eyes with braided hair, wearing a tradition Chinese clothes. Tsuna tried to remember where he'd seen the man, but to no avail, he can't remember it. For some reason, the man looks like someone he knows, at least two. Tsuna tilts his head to side, and makes a confuse face to the man. The man softly chuckles, and held out his hand. Tsuna accepts it, still has that neutral looks on his caramel eyes. The other teens went to their respective room, while G and Cozart wait for their companion, slightly eyeing on the look-a-like of their friend.
"Hello again, Tsuna-san. My name is Fon, Hibari Fon," Tsuna smiles softly, slowly drowning into those calm and matured eyes. Tsuna and Fon realize that they'd been holding each other's hands for so long, much displeasure to the other two. Tsuna's the first one to stop the hand shake, and bows his head, as well as the other two, as a sign of respect. Fon just smiles, not clearly enjoying those neutral eyes. Once they're done with the introductions, the other two wants to be a gentleman, wants, in front of Tsuna by asking him to carry his luggage to their suite, but Tsuna kindly declines as for him don't want to trouble his senpais'. The other two frown at their friend, while Fon just smiles enjoying the unfolded scene before him, while thinking, 'and here I am, standing before the person I recently admired, and then for the last two minutes of my introduction, there's some competition going on, huh, I really need to make a move.'
Once they reach the suite, there they see a small kitchen far below the hallway, one large room with two double decked beds and Tsuna just shoves his luggage to the side, and quickly reach for the top bed, wanting no one to disturb his sleep. Before he shuts his eyes, he looks down into the people before him, sticking his head from the railings, while smiling, and of course, the clumsiness that Tsuna hasn't loosened yet acts upon again. The other three are dazed by the smiling brunet, until they realize that the brunet is struggling to get a hold of his body. G, Cozart, and Fon quickly reach for their hands to catch the brunet until they've seen an unexpected stunt. Tsuna manages to take control of his body and quickly makes a flip from the top bed and lands on the ground where the coast is clear.
"Ah sorry about that, good night senpai," Tsuna goes up using the stairs to his bed and quickly turns off his light, there seems to be a lamp next to him as well as the others' beds. When the three secured that the brunet is asleep, they all seem to be lost in thoughts. As Cozart as always recover from shocks, he goes to the kitchen to see if there's a hard coffee that can make him think that he's not going insane any minute now. G on the other hand settled his decision in going to the bathroom to refresh himself and looks at himself in the mirror reminding himself that there should be no nauseating thoughts tonight, even slapping his face in the end. Fon goes back to his assigned bed, yes there are names on the bed and the brunet didn't see that or just ignored it, Fon doesn't know. As sleepiness visits them, silence filled in the room.
The sunlight blinds the eyes of the sleeping brunet; while the other occupants pretend that they're asleep at least that was their thoughts to each other. When Tsuna woke up, he found himself filled with saliva all over his lips dripping over his pillow. It's kind of horrid looking at him, you might say, but Tsuna is just beyond oblivious even though his brain can hold so much information in one day. Tsuna settles himself to the kitchen, looking at every drawer to see if there's something he can cook, and luckily there is. There's a can of spam and corn beef, battling which one should he cook, he smelled a rather nice aroma coming from the living room. Following his trail, he saw the man sitting comfortably on the sofa while brewing his tea. Tsuna just shrugs it off and was about to go again to the kitchen and makes his decision, a voice stops him.
"Do you want to have some, Tsuna-san?" the man with the braided hair and Chinese clothing said, though it's strange why the other seemed to like dressing himself up who looks more like an anime character than a Chinese man himself. Oh probably that one with pig tails turn into bun, or something. 'I remember, it was Chun Li!' Tsuna thought. Tsuna just nodded by the invitation and let himself get swept away by the nice smell of oolong tea which the other says his favorite.
"How long has it been, Tsuna-san?" Fon starts the conversation as he sense that the latter won't say anything in more than an hour if he did not say anything first. Tsuna just shrugs it off and looks away, he doesn't freely talk to people, so why giving effort now? While Tsuna thought it was uncomfortable, the other thinks it's cute on how there's a huge question mark on the other's head, stating that he's confuse, as his body language says.
"I've come to your classroom before, but it seems I entered the wrong class," Tsuna raises his eye brow at this, why would this man would visit his room for no reason? It's not like Tsuna had been friendly to him, just being polite not wanting to mess things up or else they would be mark absent by his so-called lovingly teacher. Fon just chuckled softly, running his hand through his braided hair. His hair is rather long if you remove his braided hair, but considering he doesn't want to look like a girl, he did what the best he could do without actually cutting his unruly hair. And of course, he wants to be treated as the seme. Tsuna takes his tea while seating from far right down next to his companion, Fon. When Fon was about to say something, probably a question regarding a mouse chasing the cat in the room, when a loud ringing bell awoke his half soul. The other two who are apparently still in bed heard the bell and fall from their selves over their beds, it's a good thing they were both on the bottom, if they're on the top, first aid kit wouldn't work.
"Damn this clock! Who the hell brought this anyway?!" G exclaimed, not really enjoying the fact that something just disturb his sleep, and to top it all, it all happened in front of the chibi. 'Sometimes, I wonder what's wrong with my head, why the hell would I care if the chibi sees me in this state, it's not like he's some kind of important to me, wait, is he?' G thought.
"Idiot, this was set up by the teachers as their morning call, it's not like Lal-sensei can shout over the microphone and disturb all the people in this hotel," Cozart explained, going to the kitchen to see if there's a coffee that he can drink. He sometimes thinks if he's a coffee addict, although it may seem that he is rather addicted looking at the brunet, than his coffee.
Lal Mirch is a teacher in P.E., same as Colonnello. Lal has blue hair and a distinctive scar on her left cheek, while she has a slender body that most guys usually looked at whenever they have her as their P.E. teacher, although she's a Spartan herself. Weak looking people were always downgraded and graded an F whenever the student did not meet her expectation. Colonnello on the other hand has a head band with number in it, and a blond hair. He's a Spartan too, and Reborn's friends, how they knew each other, no one knows.
Verde is one of the teachers too, although he's very smart and perceptive, all the students think warily of him. Why? He's plain creepy with those green spiky hair and suspicious glasses, no one dared to taunt him, except Reborn. He's the head of the Science and Technology Department. Skull on the other hand is the so-called lackey, that even a new student Reborn always taunts him and kicks his butt every time he messed up his classes. He's the head of the Music Department. Luce however is the most calm on their faculty room; she was always the one that stops the fight between Verde, Skull, and Nezu-sensei. Fon however is a third year student, only to be known as the most reliable student assistance in the faculty. He always does his work properly as added points for his college. Reborn simplifies the matter, even though he's a new student, he's rather familiar with all these people, as if they knew each other for quite some time, and understand each other very well.
Anyway, as the clock goes on and on. Tsuna finally snaps and turn the fucking thing off. He dashes to the bathroom to take a quick shower so he can go down to the hall of whomever in hell calling them in this time of the day. Who would normally call people in field trip at 5am in the morning? It's not like they're camping or something, damn it. As the brunet goes inside the bathroom, G, Cozart, and Fon give each other a meaningful look and quickly go to each other's luggage and search for a decent shirt and shorts, for the weather is freaking hot.
As Tsuna gets out the bathroom, his hair is wet, dripping water on the floor, and his towel covering only half of his body. The other occupants do not dare to move from their spots as they clearly see the image of the yummy brunet. Tsuna, however don't recognize those stares, so he just shrugs it off and quickly makes his way to the room where he left his luggage yesterday, completely oblivious the ogle eyes directing at his body. As they are about to finish, the wake up alarm rings again, so they all hurried, and quickly make their way to the hall. The hotel has a hall, can you imagine that?
As the students are settling on their seats, from first years to third years of the three school. The teachers just hope that no one will die from some stupid reason, such as getting angry because the other threw a tissue at him, and the one who got aimed at thought it came from the bathroom where the other wiped his ass off. Something as stupid as that can make anyone nervous about their one time lives.
"Are you awake, damn brats?!" Lal practically shouts, earning a screech from the microphone apparently the microphone can't take the loudmouth too, considering it's the microphone, how about take a look at the students? A lot tried to answer Lal's question not wanting to get a Spartan beating after this, but no avail as their head are spinning like something just rolled them over and over.
"Whatever the case, I don't care! You damn brats, listen to what I have to say! We will have our first activity today and the activity will be treasure hunting! Before anyone complain saying that it's childish, as far as I know it is, listen for the prize first!" the students ear perk up at the word 'prize' while trying to clean their eardrums from the shockwaves that Lal's voice sent them. Lal being satisfied from the looks that she got, she continued her announcement.
"The prize will be determined with three ranks. For the third winner who will complete the list will get a free load card for the month! For the second winner, they will get a new room separating them from the other occupants in their room now. No one likes to be with anyone in one room, right? And for the first winner, the prize will be a set up dinner date. You just need to ask that one person you wanted to have a dinner, and you can enjoy the fancy food that especially cooked by this hotel! And I have also assigned all the partners that you will force to be grouped with. Each group will consist of three people, and you have to work together for finding those crap! So brats! Get the damn paper and start moving!" the students hurriedly go to Skull's side where the list of all the things they needed to find listed, and Skull could not help but sigh in despair as he is being shove away as if he's an eyesore or just some attachment that needs to be thrown away. When the students got their list and groups, groans of irritation can be heard, and a brave student from the back raises his hand. Lal notes to herself who the damn brat dared to question her, and quickly calls his attention.
"What is it?!"
"Why is this paper full in riddles?" the boy asks in confusion, the students nod in agreement. Lal twitch from the stupid question, and let a killing aura develops inside the room.
"You damn kid! It means you need to answer it first before finding it! Now, move you idiots!" the students move quickly leaving Tsuna's friends, the Millifiore president and his underlings, while Mukuro stays behind seemingly examining the paper he just got and the group he will go to. Tsuna lets out a sigh, not really liking the people that he just got on his team. Damn them, why so cruel?
Tsuna walks up to Byakuran, only to be stop by someone who has weird eyebrows, a light green haired person, and a red-haired person. Looks like the rainbow has started before the rain today. Raising an eyebrow, Tsuna looks at Byakuran's side, only to find a blue-haired girl leaning over the other's chest while eating a sack of marshmallows.
"Are you moving or what?" Tsuna asks the buttheads, 'damn it, I don't even want to play this stupid hunting game in the first place, and here I am facing the protectors of the Rainbow colors.'
"Who are you?" the one with the weird eyebrow said,
"We've never seen you hang around with Byakuran-sama," the green haired added,
"Idiot, if you're here to allure him, it's not going to work," the red haired man said, this sentence somehow made Tsuna twitch some of his nerves, while trying to restrain his voice for spouting curses.
"Senpai, it's no wonder you don't see me with your Byakuran-sama because I go to different school, and even if I may have gone to your school, do not worry your little heads because I won't ever hang around your creepy Byakuran-sama, got that?" the three snap at the obvious sarcasm of the small, weak person before them, but before they even do an act, a cold menacing voice speaks up.
"Kikyo, Zakuro, Genkishi, don't bother my little rabbit, go to your team, I'll be fine," the three just nodded carrying Bluebell in the process. From the venomous eyes of Byakuran, when he focuses his eyes on Tsuna's well-being, it changes into a pure innocent happiness.
"Tsu-chan, are you on the same team with me?" Tsuna just shrugs and walks away followed by Byakuran behind, when they are about to leave the hotel, a certain fruit came out of nowhere and started laughing, which seems to be weird since nothing really is funny. Probably his trademark, or an opening entrance, maybe?
"Kufufu~ how lucky I am to be the same team with you, Tsu~na~yo~shi~kun," Mukuro said in a singsong voice, while Tsuna just ignore his presence and starts moving out from the hotel's main door. Mukuro did not mind the cold treatment as his eyes are set on his one and only rival who wants him to be dead and floating on the surface of Pacific Ocean as he wants the other to blow up into pops like a popcorn that just been cooked by his mother, or by his underlings, that would be good.
"Kufufu~ I didn't think you would join this activity, Byaku-chin,"
"Fufufu~ same as you, Muku-chan,"
"Kufufu~ a change of image, you might suggest," Mukuro said while his eyes focus on the person in front of them, not caring if they kill each other while walking aimlessly to the soft and hot sand that surrounded their feet.
"Fufufu~ you know Muku-chan that I don't share," Byakuran glares at the pineapple before him while his feet drag him to wherever they are.
"Kufufu~ neither do I," they both glared at each other when a something hard hit their heads. They were about to retort when a neutral caramel eyes stared at them.
"You people will help or not? Because if you won't, I'll just abandon this stupid hunt and let them punish me later," the other two glances at each other remembering the prizes that they are going to get if they win the first prize.
"No~no~no, Tsu-chan, we're happy to help!"
"Kufufu~ same as the old hag," before Byakuran could reply, Tsuna held their hands leading them to a nearby bench, Tsuna fails to notice the slight pink near the other's cheeks and the bloody nose from thinking something inappropriate for a kid who just got born from his mother's womb. It's gross, just don't read it.
"So, here's the first riddle that we need to answer, the note says, I have holes in my top and bottom, my left and right, and in the middle. But I still hold water, what am I? That's what it says," Tsuna knows the answer but he needs these two to cooperate if they really badly want the prize. Tsuna doesn't mind if they lose or not, he just needs to see if they're having fun. 'Speaking of which, where the hell did nii-chan and the others go?' Tsuna thought.
"Tsu-chan! It's easy! The answer is towel!" Byakuran declared happily, while Tsuna looks at him in shock. This is unbelievable.
"Idiot, if that's a towel then why the hell haven't I seen a towel with holes?!" Mukuro exclaimed, although he doesn't know the answer too, riddles are not really his thing. His favorite is a book full with magic tricks, not something that makes you want to think like a detective. It's frustrating and waste of time.
"Then what's your answer then?!" Byakuran asks,
"A mug!" he said chirpily, Tsuna just sweat drop. 'These are the student presidents? Crap, it's a good thing they don't handle the whole country, if they were, the country's economy will drop within one day!'
"Are you two serious?" the two nodded, letting out a sigh, Tsuna answered.
"The answer is sponge, it's a simple elementary riddle, what the hell were you guys doing during your prep school?!" before they can answer, Tsuna just shush them and proceed to the next one.
"Okay, here's the second one. Try to recall your memory. I run over fields and woods all day. Under the bed at night I sit not alone. My tongue hangs out, up and to the rear, waiting to be filled in the morning. What am I? Try thinking it,"
"Ah! I know, I know!" Byakuran cried out,
"What?"
"A shoe!" Byakuran said while sending a smug look on Mukuro's side. Byakuran however did not expect a hand will run through his hair, while patting his head in a childlike manner. It would have caused a world war III if Byakuran did not see the softened eyes and small smile coming out from the brunet. Byakuran feels lost when the brunet stops patting his head - somehow he wanted more of that heat.
"Byakuran-san, that's a nice one. So, let's proceed to the next one, ne? You use a knife to slice my head and weep beside me when I am dead, what I am?" Tsuna scans the whole list, it's a good thing there are only ten riddles, and all can be find inside the hotel. Tsuna practically knows all the answers, but keeps it to himself as he wants to see those innocent childlike eyes and thinking chins from his companions, it was rather odd to feel nice because he's next to people who just bullied his friends, but those innocent eyes makes him feel at ease from these creeps.
"Kufufu~ that's an easy question for me, Tsunayoshi-kun," Mukuro said, he really knows the answer. He can't deny that he's enjoying the company, even if Byakuran is with him, the warmth of those caramel eyes looking at them makes him want to feel like a child, and beg for attention.
"What is it?"
"An onion!" Mukuro said, earning a laugh from the brunet. Before Mukuro can complain, the brunet looks at him in those teary eyes due to laughing, and smiles at him softly while ruffling his rather odd pineapple hair. Mukuro did not mind, in fact he wants more of it.
"Saa, let's finish this quick. So here's another one. My life can be measured in hours; I serve being by devoured. Thin, I am quick; fat, I am slow. Wind is my foe, what am I? That's kind of hard, but can you both think of an answer for it?" the two nod, while thinking of things that can possibly answer the riddle but no luck, they did not come up with one.
"Don't worry, I know the answer," the other two did not say a word but you can see the appreciative smile from both eyes. While they are answering the riddles, groups of shadow are fuming with anger as they see the unfolded scene before them.
When Tsuna left to find his group, Gokudera gathered the two people in his group and hurdled together. In his group, how lucky he is, note the sarcasm to have been paired with Lampo and Yamamoto, the only one needed is that Lawn-head and the group of idiots will be one, but never mind that.
"You bastards need to listen okay? In case you didn't notice, we don't stand a chance on winning considering you are both in my team. But that's a good thing because we're following Jyuudaime," Gokudera said quietly,
"What do you mean?" Yamamoto asks,
"You idiot! I just said that we need to follow Jyuudaime!"
"That's not the question, Stupidera. The question is, why?" Lampo exclaimed,
"Stupid brat! Didn't you see who he was teamed up with?! It's those two creeps!"
"Oh yeah, that makes sense, I'm in!" Yamamoto said, Gokudera whacks his head from the back and hiss,
"Idiot! Of course you're in! That's why we're hurdling in the first place, damn it!"
"Oh, I thought you brought some light colored bracelets that will shine in darkness, so I thought you'll show it off," Yamamoto laughs, while Lampo laughs nervously thinking that there are really stupid people in this world. Gokudera just ignored his idiotic friend, and goes the same way as Tsuna, Byakuran and Mukuro did.
"Okay, since you guys are on my team, you'll follow me!" Giotto explained, exasperatedly.
"What are you anxious about, omnivore?" Alaude asks, not really his business but the close hurdling irritates his nerves that are boiling inside since this morning.
"Tsu-chan is with Byakuran and Mukuro!" he said, the other two looks at him in disbelief, while seeing that the other is not saying 'Just kidding' maybe that is the truth. And if this is the truth, the brunet's mind will be tainted!
"So what do you plan on doing?"
"Stalk him all day," Giotto said proudly,
"Stupid! We'll get detention if we do that!" G exclaimed, not really liking the idea of the chibi hanging around with the two perverts of different school, but not also in favor of skipping the activity.
"G! You do know that we don't stand a chance! Even if Alaude is smart, we're not really good at finding things that we're supposed to find! So it's a clear thing to say that we don't stand a chance!" the other two just nods, not wanting to upset more the younger teen.
"Okay Enma, Asari, we're following Tsu-kun!" Cozart said,
"Ahm, nii-chan. Why do you plan on following Tsuna-kun?" Enma asks, his brother is freaking him out. He never saw his nii-chan this anxious about something so trivial. Although he admits, he wants to follow Tsuna too, worrying for his safety and all. And he has this nagging feeling that wants to get out his body, but can't seem to find it whenever he doesn't see the brunet. It was a warm feeling, but when Tsuna is with another person, he felt hurt, and it was aching really badly.
"For safe reference, those psychos were on the same team as Tsu-kun, so I worry for his safety,"
"Worry not, Tsuna-san can manage himself," although Asari is reluctant, he knew from his experience that the brunet can handle himself. But every time he sees the brunet, there's this urge to his nerves and brain cells that says he needed to protect and care for the brunet, from what or who, he doesn't know. He knows to himself that if he keeps taking the path of being close to the brunet, he knows he will end up being broken, but even if that's the case, being close to Tsuna means everything that warms him up - all the problems seem to be gone whenever Tsuna was beside him, talking to him freely. He loves those moments, even if some time later, he will leave again.
"Asari, even if Tsu-kun can manage himself, it's still not safe for him to hang around with those psychopaths. You can clearly see it for yourself, I know," the two just nods and walks the same path as the brunet did.
"So what do you want to do?" Reborn asks,
"Hn,"
"Nufufu~ I want to follow the little Tsunayoshi-kun, it looks interesting as the others are doing the same," Daemon said,
"They're doing what?" Daemon just shrugs and point at the now leaving image of Cozart's team following the group of Giotto's team. Reborn buried his eyes from his hat, while Kyoya looks in amusement. A moment of silence engulf their group, when Kyoya talks,
"That's interesting, let's do the same," Reborn just nods, while Daemon laughs creepily, earning glares from the two dangerous men in Namimori. 'Damn, why are we on the same place again?' Daemon thought as he follows closely the two who are competing who will lead the way. Talk about being matured.
Knuckle and Ryohei did not join the game as they want to have a sparring in the bar, yes the bar. Where those priceless kinds of wines can be found. They said it's an extreme experience avoiding those wines not to break while they're having their spare. Seems like they'll be having a huge bill after this trip ends. Haru, Hana, and Kyoko were assigned for the next big event for the school. Haru is enjoying it because she gets to create a few designs for the costumes, while Kyoko and Hana work on the prizes that were about to set out after the treasure hunters find their way to the collector. Fon and Dino did not join the game as the number of students was not exact, but they did not mind anyway.
Tsuna, Byakuran, and Mukuro did have a good time, while the shadows in the background did not. It seems like the brunet earns strange friends again. When the two latter goes in to submit their things that they answered and found, Tsuna lets out a chuckle and a grin on his lips, while saying,
"At least I had fun, how about you guys?" Tsuna asks the people in the shadows, and they all hesitantly get out from their hiding spot and looks at the smiling brunet. They thought he would get mad, but he did not even move from his spot and still smiling brightly.
"Dame-Tsuna, you're not some kind of psychic are you? How did you know we're following you?" Reborn asks,
"Stupid-Reborn, I can hear you guys murmuring behind my back you know, and those footsteps that you all left behind, I can still see it from the sand, anyway I enjoyed the treasure hunting although it looks stupid, hope you all did too, anyway see you tonight, I think Lal-sensei is announcing something again," Tsuna turns his heels and makes his way towards Mukuro and Byakuran.
"Great job today, damn brats! Byakuran's team got the first place! Each one of them can ask whoever they want on dinner tomorrow!" Byakuran had already an idea who he will ask, while Mukuro had a sly grin on his face knowing who he'll ask for dinner. Tsuna on the other hand doesn't look interested in the prize so he approaches the person next to him and gives her the recognition that he is one of the winners. The person just thanked him, and Tsuna just nod.
"Okay before you all leave and sleep on you damn bed! Listen to me! We will have the big even on Friday. All the schools must prepare their candidates. Each section of each year must have one representative and your representatives will compete with each other until they reach the position of three. After the elimination, the three representatives of the school will compete with the other three representatives of the other school! Now, I'll give the full details on your teacher tomorrow. Good night, damn brats!" and with that Lal Mirch disappeared from the stage.
The sun is shining. The birds are singing. The drums are rolling, but hey a brunet is running. Tsuna woke up this morning and found unbelievable news that sent chills on his whole existence. Right now he's running away from his classmates, fearing of losing his dignity, when he cannot run anymore, he shouts from the top of his lungs,
"There's no way in six hells that I'm dressing as a maiden, damn it!"
A/N: Oh about Detective Conan? Haha, I finished watching all its episodes. I'm just waiting for the new ones, and they're taking so long! xD But anyway, I finish all of those from the episodes to movies, to ova's, and to magic files. I even finished watching Magic Kaito series, yep I'm a Gosho Aoyama fan. Haha, he's an excellent writer, like Omg! I just I can see more of KaiShin and HeiShin. =.= Ran Community and Aoko Community are more popular, huhu. I quite understand though, since you can't really see who will be the top and the bottom. Oh crap, curse my dirty mind! XD Anyway, until then! :D