The first time Gokudera notices Haru –really, truly notices her- is at a small gathering of Vongola and their varied allies. Conversations float about the room in time with the music, glasses of wine are filled at the pace they're emptied and chandeliers create a soft, glimmering sort of half-light that makes everyone look a little different.
Gokudera would be following Tsuna if not for the fact that they're around mostly trusted Families and the awkwardly stuttered request for a bit of privacy in order to talk to Kyoko. Thusly abandoned, he's hiding behind some pillars, sipping at his wine while following the proceedings, ever vigilant and aware of his duty.
It is ironic that his dedication to his duty would be what causes him to notice the figure in red gliding smoothly in the arms of men around the dance floor. He can't quite recognize her -though there is definitely something familiar about the colour of her hair- and so he prowls to the floor, cutting in on the dance between her and Yamamoto. The baseball-idiot has the nerve to grin at him like he knows something he doesn't –as if!- before nodding briefly at the woman. Gokudera is too busy bristling at him to pay attention to his partner for the first few beats. After he's finished glaring, he turns his eyes upon the figure in his arms.
It takes even his brains a while to connect this, this vision, to the little spitfire of his youth that was always ranting about this or that. By the time his brains have caught up, his feet have already started moving through the opening steps of the tango. The floor around them has cleared of couples, giving them plenty of room. When the woman in his arms –Haru, his mind screams, that obnoxious little know-it-all!- molds to his body perfectly and follows his lead with enough skill to almost make him stumble because of the lack of little corrections and adjustments he usually had to make when dancing with someone, he almost groans. He just knows this is going to be trouble.
He's right of course. After the party and The Dance –he feels it's an event worth capitalization- he starts noticing Haru everywhere. It's almost like he's suddenly become aware of a whole new world, one whose existence was a mystery to him before. A world full of chocolate eyes and oddly graceful limbs. A glimpse of hair vanishing around a corner, bright chatter flowing in from windows, he even spots her regularly speaking with the other Guardians.
The feeling he gets when he sees her with them is an odd, bitter sort of feeling that he doesn't dare think about too deeply. It feels too similar to the feeling he gets when Tsuna laughs with Yamamoto and Ryohei, or reads quietly to Lambo. But that's ridiculous, it's not like he has any reason to be jealous of the others for her attention. There really isn't, right…?
Katekyo Hitman Reborn! is in no way my property and I make no money from it. That said, I apologise for the wait with this chapter. And remember, reviews keep happy writers happy.;)