Chapter 13
Famiglia
05/05/2011
Gokudera stayed somewhere in the hallway just beside the living room where his Boss and mother were while Reborn had left off somewhere else. He could hear sobbing behind his back. Unable to disturb the two in the room, he let them be. It was not his place to disturb his Boss' private engagements. He lit a cigar and patiently leaned his back on the wall. He wanted to support his Boss in any possible situation, to serve him loyally and faithfully no matter what it is the brunette would do. However, right now he knows he couldn't do anything more than to wait silently until his Boss would need him again.
It was almost an hour later when the two went out of the room with Tsuna supporting Mamman upstairs to her room. He asked if he could help but the brunette shook his head and carried on. He nodded his head and gestured he'd wait for him in the living room but he didn't think Tsuna had seen him do so. Still with this knowledge he sat down on one of the couches of the said room and waited. Even when he heard the tenth-to-be walk off to his own room, he just stayed. He wouldn't even blame the guy if he'd fall asleep and forgot about him in a while. He'd actually feel a lot better if his Boss would do that. The guy hasn't gotten any decent sleep for days then suddenly the enemies barged in with a bucket full of problems. And they were more than displeased with this.
"Tch. Stupid people, thinking they could just declare to destroy Vongola just like that," scowling more than ever, he cursed, "Bastards."
"Gokudera-dono,"
His head shot up, alarmed. He hadn't noticed Basil standing in front of him. Hell, he didn't notice anything around him at all. Get a hold of yourself and stop acting like a dope! He mentally slapped himself to keep himself more aware of his surroundings… and awake.
"What art thou doing here, Gokudera-dono? And why doest thou look like that? Hast something happened?" the CEDEF member asked, worried.
"You're late. Those damned weak bastards attacked us last night and we already finished them all off," he answered.
The other was taken aback at the news. Well they should be in his opinion. They should have been here to help protect his beloved Tenth and not arrive right after everything's been dealt with.
"Where have you been anyway?" he snarled at the honey-haired fellow, "Shouldn't you people come here earlier than now?"
"Nono's guardians and the wholefamiglia were all in panic. They were all frantic to protect Nono from anything at all. It was hard to convince them that they won't need us and it was just as important to protect Tsuna," Iemitsu revealed his presence and went to the seat in front of him, "To think we arrived after the enemies had already been defeated. And here we thought all those information we got about that group could be made used to our advantage." Iemitsu went mulling over the delay they had to deal with.
"Sir, I just got a call from our men that the Vendice came. It seems that only four were taken. One was missing. The teams were already looking around," Oregano reported as she entered the room as well, "We believe it was Dalmazio Lombardi, the former Brunazzi assassin."
Iemitsu nodded, he was about to bash on the Italian bomber on why they didn't even gave them a call about the danger they were just in when he noticed the basin and towel painted with blood in the table. His eyes narrowed, "What's that doing here? Did you-"
"No. Mamman saw Juudaime all covered up with blood. She used those to wipe off the blood on Juudaime then she cried. They just stopped a minute before you came in, I think. Mamman and Juudaime were both on their rooms, resting now," he said then pocketed his hand to get some cigarette. He took out the box but there were nothing left inside. He growled inside, Great.
"Nana saw Tsuna…" the CEDEF boss' eyes widened in realization, "…and the kids?"
"I-" Gokudera blinked when he finally remembered those rowdy kids.
"Bianchi-dono hast taken them out," Basil said, as everyone inwardly thanked the poison expert, "Thou hast nothing to worry. Bianchi-dono hast stated none of the younger ones hast seen anything they're not meant to see.*"
Iemitsu had nodded in approval then turned back to the bomb expert. The room suddenly tensed with the CEDEF Boss' sharp eyes and serious face, "Tell me… what had happened?"
Stepping off of his bed, Tsuna took his time to shake off the dizziness he got from sleeping for what he had guessed had been hours. As soon as he had his mind cleared, he headed straight to the stairs. On his way, he was wondering why it has been oddly quiet and –he dare say it- peaceful. He wondered what has rendered his usual noisy and lively home to turn so silent. This feat can only be accomplished during the times of the younger residents' absence, or times of sleep. And since it was in the middle of a Saturday's afternoon it was likely that the said children would be playing outside. He sighed in relief. That, he was thankful for. He had a feeling the children's presence would make things difficult for him; especially now that he was expecting some kind of an interrogation from his mother. Surely, she was shocked after seeing him covered in blood that morning and was not able to prepare her mind for it.
He fixed himself once more as he reached the end of the stairs. He looked to his left and had found signs of guests' arrival. His eyes narrowed, I know when I went upstairs Hayato was here. It was unlikely he'll leave. Slowly, he inspected his surroundings, I don't see any holes on the wall, so it's safe to say that the guests weren't enemies. That's good. He sighed. Composing himself, he walked off to the living area and found something he hadn't expected he'll see in his own home.
Nana was sitting silently on the couch with her head bowed down and her face unreadable. Iemitsu, whose attendance weren't expected by him, had his back turned. It looked as if he was thinking deeply, his eyes distant and unfocused; and his expression so stern and serious that Tsuna wouldn't have believed it was his father if he had not seen him this serious before. Everything about him right now screamed business. And Tsuna had pretty much figured out why. Then, looking straight ahead was Basil inspecting the perimeter on the yard. When the honey-haired fellow had noticed his gaze, they exchanged nods for acknowledgement. The rest of the occupants seemed to have noticed his entry and had turned to him.
"Juudaime…" Hayato had gone to his side from a corner in the room. Worry was still lingering on the Italian bomber's face but it had soon replaced by joy as Tsuna had given him assurance of his well-being. Iemitsu had gestured for him to sit and he had graciously accepted this- in the outside that is, although inside him, hell was breaking lose- while Hayato had placed himself behind.
Iemitsu, with his back still facing them spoke, "Tsuna, my son, it's good to see you looking well."
He nodded back despite knowing his father can't see him. Silently he gulped and bit the inside of his cheeks. He had tried so hard to mask the worry and fear he had inside. He doesn't want his mother to fear him nor leave him and his father because of his tainted hands. He knew he had to take sacrifices along the road he had chosen to take and he had convinced himself that it must be done so he tried to prepare himself for the numerous scenarios he could thought of . But this… this he wasn't prepared for.
His thoughts stopped the moment Iemitsu had set himself in between his mother and him so that his mother was sitting in front of him while his father was on the seat adjacent to both of them. With his head bowed, he took a glimpsed at his mother. She looked like she was in distraught. He may not see her eyes properly but the dried tears on her cheeks had assured him she had been crying since moments ago. He was cursing himself now. How could he be so stupid as to go home so casually looking like a murderer? He could have just stayed somewhere else and had fixed himself before going back, or he could have just quietly climbed off to his room by the window. He could have thought of anything just to prevent this from happening.
He blamed himself for this parody. How he could be so foolish?
"Oregano, Basil, Gokudera… would you three leave us for now?" Iemitsu says, stating an order more than a suggestion.
"I'm sorry but I can-"
"Hayato, do as he says," Tsuna cuts off his self-proclaimed-right-hand-man with finality that left no place for an argument to the dynamite user.
Hayato begrudgingly left the room after the other two CEDEF members had gone out.
"Nana-" the CEDEF leaders halts as Nana raised her hands to stop him from continuing.
"Please…" she muttered in a soft voice loud enough for only the other two males to hear, "Iemitsu don't lie to me."
"I wasn't going to lie to you," Iemitsu faced his wife with sincere eyes that Nana did not even bat an eye with, instead continued staring at the floor.
"I…" Nana said, hesitating for a minute. Biting her lower lip, she continued, "I've known you really weren't doing what you say you do, Iemitsu. I know there's something suspicious going on here especially when Reborn-kun came. It wasn't hard to miss that Reborn-kun has been pushing Tsuna to do more than just studying for school. Bianchi and the kids' arrival weren't coincidental as well. Well, who wouldn't be suspicious if your husband travels all over the world as a construction worker with a paycheck like the CEO from a big company, then a 5-year-old kid suddenly appears looking all professional and declares to be a tutor, plus the undeniable explosions that has been going on around the house… It's not exactly inconspicuous.
"But I kept quiet about all these. How could I say something when I see you so happy whenever you get back home after your years of absence. When… when Tsuna suddenly gains such nice and dependable friends he didn't have before Reborn-kun came. How could I when I see this home so lively and full of laughter every time," tears came spilling out of Nana's face. She kept wiping it off with her hands but it kept on flowing so she continued, "I just couldn't bring myself to reprimand you. Even though it hurts that the people you trust and care about had shunned you out on an important of their world.
"I know you have your reasons for these so I waited for any of you to speak. I waited… and waited. I waited as patiently as much as I could and continue to pretend everything's alright for your own sake…" Nana raises her head to look at them and smiled sadly. Even without saying it directly, disappointment was clearly etched on her eyes but there was a glint of willingness for acceptance and understanding lingering on those brown orbs, "So please tell me now. I've waited long enough, haven't I? Won't you at least ease this woman's dread, distress isn't exactly a wonderful feeling."
"Okaa-san…" Tsuna getting guilty, wanted to go and comfort his mother but he pause when Nana shook her head.
Turning to him, she sweetly smiled at him, "Tsu-kun, don't worry. Okaa-san's not mad at you. 'kaa-san could never be mad at you because Tsu-kun will always be 'Kaa-san's cute little Tsu-kun, ne~"
"Nana, I didn't mean to make you worry," Iemitsu stood from his seat and went to take the said person's hands clasped in between his'. It was silent in between them. Nana's eyes hardened but her smile remained as she took her hands back rather roughly out of Iemitsu's hold.
"Of course, you didn't, dear…" Nana said slowly and smiled, dangerously sweet at her husband, "Now, why don't you go back to your seat and explain everything to me what have you been doing when you're not home; what influence have you gotten my son into, for him to go home all bloodied; and why must I continue to trust you weren't cheating on me before I go get that rifle and TNTs I found on the basement three years ago, kick you out of the house, and call for an annulment. So start explaining dear~"
"H-Hai!"
"Good, good… Tsu-kun~ could you get 'Kaa-san and 'Tou-san some tea and biscuits? And don't forget to bring the knife, ok? I want to make sure 'Tou-san isn't going to lie to me,"
"Y-Yes, ma'am," the soon-to-be-tenth had suddenly sprang up of his seat and mechanically headed to the direction of the kitchen.
"N-Nana… there's no need for the knife," Iemitsu went waving his hand in the air, sweating profusely over the cold and sharp glimmer on his supposedly sweet wife's eyes.
"Oh, and get the lemon, too~ Hurry up with the tea, Tsu-kun. It looks like 'Tou-san needs it so badly,"
"!" alarmed, the younger brunette marched off.
"Explanation please~"
"Now... how should I say this. You know, it's actually funny. You see... uhm... Have you heard of Vongola mafia family?"
Omake:
On the hallway, outside the living room…
Sweating considerably fast, the two CEDEF members and lone Tenth's guardian gulped as they heard Nana's obvious threats to the Vongola advisor. They were now regretting they decided to stay near the entrance to the room were the trio were discussing family matters.
I hath not an idea Nana-dono could act so…. The honey haired Katar wielder gulped.
"I will never l-look at Nana-san in the same l-light again," Oregano tightened her hold over her pistol as if afraid of what will happen to her boss.
Mamman's so… scary. I'm not going to refuse her meal offers again, Gokudera thought as he uncomfortably leaned on the wall, trying to look cool and calm.
"Oregano-san, Basil-kun, Gokudera-kun… do you three wants some tea?" Nana suddenly called from inside. Sweating more than ever, the three shook their head all at the same time then realized she couldn't see them.
"N-No thank you, Ma'am!" they answered like a soldier would to their commander.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Ma'am!"
"Ok~ If you say so,"
*I'm not really good with Old English like how I used to when I- uhh… anyway, yeah. Pardon the eyesore.
A/N: Yay for scary Nana~ and for my first omake. Anyway, the former scene was too serious and mellow dramatic that I just couldn't help but break. Hehe… I hope that didn't looked to corni. I'm not really good with funny scenes.
Anyway, I'll be updating faster for the next few weeks if I wouldn't get any kind of writer's block.
Please say so if I failed doing this chapter. So, review~ please!
