Title: "People Like Us"
Summary: They all came from different pasts, from different backgrounds. They were broken, shattered, or close to it. And when everyone, even those they had loved, had given up on their existences; he came into their lives with an outstretched hand. "After all, people like us have to stick together."
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the amazing characters of Katekyo Hitman Reborn! I own the plot of this story, though, but I do not own the original KHR!
Chapter Title: "Melody of Solitude"
"I hope you are capable of becoming a great boss, Tsunayoshi Sawada."
"Tch," Gokudera mumbled, walking with both hands in his jeans pockets. Despite the dress code his parents had set up specifically for him, he wore black ripped jeans, and a plain long sleeved shirt. The main torso was white, while the sleeves were bright red, representing his temper. A silver skull ring was on either of his middle fingers, and his belt buckle was also a skull.
His face was twisted in a furious expression; silver-green eyes squinted in a hateful glare. His mouth was pointed down in a frown as he walked towards his destination, trying to ignore the maids whispering as he passed by. The silver-hair that was styled like his old mentor's shifted as he turned his head a bit to listen secretly.
"Did you hear?"
"Yes, I did. I can't believe that…"
"His sister, did she really…?"
"Yeah. It was unexpected."
"Does that mean that the young master…"
"That's what I heard."
"Tch," he said once again, glare intensifying as it was directed towards the gossiping maids, "Do you realize how much your gossip causes trouble, stupid women!?"
They jumped at his loud voice, clutching at one another for protection. His silver-green eyes showed the inner rage that he had tried to hide for so long. It had caused the fear of his family. It caused the fear that everyone had of him. But he didn't mind. Fearing him meant that they would keep their distance, something that was crucial to keep his sanity intact.
"Hayato," a deep and soothing voice called out, making the feared silver-haired teen turn around. One of his family's most loyal butlers was walking towards him, looking un-afraid unlike the rest of his fellow servants. A calm smirk was placed upon his face, earning high-pitched squeals from the maids.
A small smile was placed onto Gokudera's face, an unusual sight for him. The butler his parents had 'given him', Reborn, was his only companion. They didn't have a deep bond, but the silver-haired male had high respects for the other. Someone as talented as the butler could have been anything than just a butler, but he chose the work anyways.
But Gokudera didn't know if the man was just a butler, of course. Reborn had only become a servant of the silver-haired teen's family three years ago. Before then, there were no records on the man. Suspicious, but not something that worried the 'young master'.
Reborn had dark black hair that spiked up in an unusual, unique fashion, a style not many could pull off. He wore the regular tailed coat that every male servant of the family wore, but had a yellow tie instead of the usual black. White gloves covered his hands, and a silver pocket watch's chain was decorated on the front of the coat.
"You need to come with me to get ready," the dark-haired man stated in an orderly tone. His dark eyes looked over his 'young master', not showing any disgust for the clothing. In his opinion, a teenager could wear what they wanted. That is, in their free time when no one of higher standing was watching. "Your guest is waiting for you."
"I don't need to," Gokudera protested against his piano lessons, though didn't sound as threatening as he usually did. His silver-green eyes were still sparkling in admiration, and the butler swore that he saw gray dog-ears and a tail appear on the teen. "I'm just as good as that stupid pianist! There's no point in going when he can't teach my anything!"
"Whatever do you mean," Reborn asked with a smug smirk placed on his face. His voice was secretive and mocking, as though he knew something his 'young master' didn't. "It isn't that no-good teacher that has come to see you. Just someone who has found an… interest in you."
"An interest? In me," the green-eyed pianist commented with sarcasm lacing into his astonished tone. Who would want to meet him? He wasn't even known by that many people in the noble class. Just people from the underground that he'd conversed with when he ran away.
"Please, come with me to your room," the butler stated, putting his hands on either of the teen's shoulders to steer him to get changed. The smirk never left his face, and when he left his 'young master's' room for him to get changed, the pull of his lips seemed devious.
Gokudera tugged at the tie around his neck; repeatedly taking it out from his jacket and then tucking it back in. He was currently seated in the tearoom that his parents would often discuss matters with other families. It was odd for him to be the one seated on the coach instead of listening through the door.
A sudden tugging sensation painfully made him aware of the changes that were happening around him. His eyes became misty as he saw an image of his late sister. She was the only one that had really gotten close to him, despite the problem that whenever he got near her his stomach churned sickly.
Bianchi hadn't been the best cook. And sadly, just to appease her, the silver-head was forced to eat everything she made. From Italian dishes to Chinese, he had to eat it all. And his parents didn't even need to eat a crumb, because she had always wanted him to tell her what he thought.
"Mother and father would just lie through their teeth and say that it was great," she had explained one day. One of her pale hands tucked her purple-brown hair behind her ear, and a soft smile spread across her face as her eyes closed. "That's why I have you try everything I cook. You'll give your honest opinion, and I thank you for that, Hayato."
"If you had stayed," Gokudera mumbled sourly, eyes shadowed at the memory. His hands clutched into fists where they rested in his lap, his desperate attempt to keep from shouting. "I would have kept telling you my opinions of your damn cooking if you had just stayed, if you didn't leave me here in this place…"
The green-eyed teen's head snapped up when he heard the door open, his attention turning over to the two that entered the room. Reborn entered with the usual smug smirk on his face, his expression seeming more amused than ever. Gokudera's interest didn't stick to his butler, though, and instead turned towards the person walking in behind him.
Another man, about ten years older than himself, walked in. They wore a black suit with the jacket unbuttoned, revealing the orange button-up dress shirt underneath. The black tie around the man's neck was loose, as though put on in a hurry. He had chocolate brown hair that defied gravity, sticking up in odd directions.
Deep caramel brown eyes were turned over to the teen sitting impatiently on the couch, a hidden fondness playing inside of them. Curiosity hid it well from the teen, but Reborn could see it. It was funny how amused he felt at the sight of the brunet.
"My name is Tsunayoshi Vongola," the brunet greeted, shaking hands with the silver-head out of respect. A cheerful and almost timeless smile was on his pale face as he took his seat on the opposite coach of the teen. "I'm the boss of the Vongola family."
"So?"
The brunet adult blinked at the harsh tone, the smile still not falling from his face. The rumors were true; he thought while apologizing, He really is the 'punk type'. That's good. He'll fit his role well.
His eyes met dark black ones that shined with amusement. Reborn stood behind the couch Gokudera was sitting on, arms hanging on either side of him as he stood patiently, just like a good butler should. A smile pulled at the brunet's mouth at the sight. Reborn, a butler? What ridiculous world was he brought into?
"Would you mind playing for me," Tsunayoshi asked. One silver eye brow was raised at his question, making the adult chuckle a bit, "I had heard that you were an excellent pianist, and was wondering if you'd place something for me, hmm?"
Silver-green eyes blinked over at him, confused. This man didn't seem to fear him at all. Those brown eyes were looking at him, through the barriers that he'd set up to keep everyone out. They had gotten taller, wider, and thicker since his sister left, but this man just seemed to go right through them.
No, he corrected himself mentally, standing up silently and heading towards the glossy black piano in the room. It was put next to the window for a view of the gardens, something his parent's had done to try to please him. But the cheerful flowers and bright skies just made him angrier. Everything was perfect in appearance, but that was all.
He doesn't just go through…
The black case that covered the keys was lifted as he numbly sat down. He stretched out his fingers before touching the white and black keys lightly, humming at the smooth feeling underneath his calloused fingers. His silver-green eyes closed as he pressed the first key, the bittersweet sound of the piano filling the otherwise silent room.
And from there, his fingers moved on their own accord. They hit each key precisely, in a perfect combination. The melody was original, something he had written when he got the news of his sister. She had left him alone, deciding to take the easy way out. The same one that he had used two years ago when his parents had fired his mentor. The same escape route that she had pulled him back from.
The sweet melody took him away to better times. When people surrounded him that he loved. His sister, despite her bad cooking, had been his only friend. His mentor, a perverted doctor that hit on every female in sight, was his only true teacher. And they had left him.
He had cut himself off from everyone. His parents. The servants. Even the other heirs of his family's contacts. Everyone that had attempted to get close to him was pushed away, because he knew there would only be two people that truly cared for him.
The song of his heart came to an end with a calm and sad mixture of keys, the ending note resounding in the silent room. Gokudera's silver-green eyes opened once again, glazed over with his feelings that he had always been able to keep at bay. His pale hands shook slightly as they rested on the smooth, glossy white keys.
Arms wrapped around his neck loosely from behind him, soft locks of hair rubbing against his cheek as his 'attacker's' face was rested where his neck met his shoulder. The embrace was gentle but comforting, radiating a sort of harmony that could calm even a charging bull. Warm puffs of air hit the teen's neck as his guest hugged him silently, once again bypassing his walls.
"You always keep everyone at a distance," the boss of Vongola mumbled softly, looking at the teen sadly. His brown eyes were deep and inviting, telling the pianist that he was there for him. "But those that you let in, they left you…I won't leave you, though. I can promise you that, Hayato."
He breaks them down, Gokudera completed, one of his shaking hands lifting up. It clutched desperately to one of the clothed arms wrapped around him, holding on as though it was his lifeline. His silver-green eyes closed, and a serene look covered his expression.
The two of them forgot about everything around them. The piano, Reborn, the maids that were obviously cooing from their hiding spot outside the door. Tsuna stayed standing, while hugging the troubled teen he had come to save. A small smile was on his face, and his brown eyes held fondness in them as they closed.