Romantic Scenario Numero Uno

by: Paio Ichiris Jin

The third chapter in a series of stories designed to entertain myself.

And the first in a couple of sappy romantic scenarios.

NOTE: These scenarios are not connected.
Each scenario is separate from each other.

It was the nearing the evening. Exactly five o'clock. The restaurant was lit dimly by crystal lamps, hanging from the ceiling, and at each table, a single candle sat in the middle, glowing like little flames of undying hope and passion.

Tsuna sat at one of the tables, fumbling with the edge of the table cloth. The chair opposite of him was empty and he smoothed out his slightly formal suit before continuing to stare down into his lap, a light brush of pink burning upon his cheeks. His fingers flitted up to fidget with the edge of the table cloth again and his brown eyes peered up to scan the room in curiosity. Then, his eyes dropped down to the table, examining the candle sitting in the middle.

A faint memory started to surface in his mind as he stared into the candle flame on the table...

He was standing before a large building with many formally dressed adults walking in and out, smiling and chuckling together in a reserved and sophisticated manner. The people all towered over him in a frightening way and he trembled every time the people walked close to him, engulfing him in an overbearing scent of cologne and perfume. Even so, Tsuna couldn't help but keep his eyes upon the building and the people going in there. He stared at the building with wide eyes full of wonder and curiosity. His dad had once mentioned that the building was a restaurant and only really rich people went to eat there because the food was very good and very expensive... Tsuna sighed and lifted a finger up to his mouth. It would be nice if he could go there one day, too... But it was an impossible wish...

Someone's finger tapped him on the shoulder, interrupting his thoughts. Tsuna blinked and turned around, large amber eyes staring innocently over his shoulder. A small daisy poked him in the nose and the little brown haired boy backed away, surprised by the soft touch. He tripped over his own feet and fell onto the grass under him.

"Juudaime!" He heard his friend call him cheerily, as though he were singing the name. Tsuna laughed as the daisy thrust forward again to tickle his face. "Juudaime!" His friend repeated again in his childish voice.

"Gokudera-kun?" Tsuna brushed away the flower and stared at the silver haired boy kneeling beside him, clothes all soiled with dirt and grass. "What are you doing here? Why are your clothes all dirty?"

Gokudera grinned brightly and handed the small daisy towards Tsuna. "I picked this for you!"

"Eh...?" Tsuna blinked once, staring at the plain flower curiously. "But why? And how did you know I was here...?"

The smile gracing Gokudera's lips wavered slightly and he glanced down at the ground, "Eh... well..." He blushed faintly and then grinned sheepishly to himself, "Sometimes I like to follow you around for no reason... you seem to come here a lot, so..." The silver haired boy twirled the flower slowly in his fingers, "Anyway... I just came... to say goodbye."

Tsuna's eyes widened. "Good... bye...?"

"Yeah... we're moving..." Gokudera forced on a weak smile, "I can't stay..."

"But..." Tsuna continued to stare at his best friend with large, disbelieving eyes, "...when?" Gokudera stared at Tsuna for a moment and then closed his eyes, turning his head away. Tsuna's eyes started to water. "You're leaving soon...?"

"Hayato!" A girl's voice called from a car across the street. "Hayato! Stop playing around! We have to leave now!" Gokudera hastily turned his head in the direction of the girl, feet refusing to move from his spot.

Tsuna stared open-mouthed at Gokudera, still trying to process the all-too-sudden information. Gokudera... would be leaving now...? To who knows where and for who knows how long...? A tear dropped onto his cheek, leaving a wet trail behind. The little brown haired boy stood frozen on his feet, staring blankly in front of him. When Gokudera faced Tsuna again, his eyes widened slightly. He bit his bottom lip and then he lifted a hand up to wipe away the tears trickling down Tsuna's face gently.

"Listen, Juudaime." He started to say in a strangely mature and serious voice, "Let's make a promise."

Tsuna sniffled a few times and gulped down the lump hardening in his throat. "A-A p-promise...?"

Gokudera nodded and pointed at the expensive restaurant with the daisy in his left hand. "We'll meet back here again in ten years and I'll treat you to all the food you can eat." The pounding sound of footsteps were coming ominously from the direction of Gokudera's car. "What do you say, Juudaime? Promise?" The footsteps were coming closer and closer.

"Hayato! We don't have much time! If we don't leave now, we'll miss the plane!"

Gokudera continued to stare directly into Tsuna's eyes, unwavering. "Promise...?"

Tsuna stuttered in confusion, vision blurring from all the tears welling in his eyes. "I-In... in ten years...? At this exact t-time and date?"

"Mm." Gokudera nodded. Tsuna wiped away his tears hastily and after a brief pause, nodded to the silver haired boy.

"Mm."

They hooked their pinky fingers together and swore, keeping their promise locked deeply within the core of their hearts. They kept their pinkies linked together and they watched each other hopefully, refusing to break apart. An adult, towering over them, swooped down to grab Gokudera under the arms, pulling the boy away from Tsuna. Their pinky fingers slid apart from the force of being pulled away and Gokudera extended his hand out to the little brown haired boy who was gazing back at him in devastation.

"No matter what, I'll be here in ten years...! I promise, Juudaime! I promise...!"

And then the door to the car shut, muffling the sound of the silver haired boy's voice. As the car rolled away, Tsuna fell down to his knees and then sobbed, staring sadly at the only thing left behind of Gokudera: the little plain daisy, lying abandoned on the grass.

Tsuna sighed as the memory replayed itself in his mind for nearly the hundredth time this day. He looked up and his eyes darted from entrance to entrance. Only five minutes had passed, yet the time had felt so long. Maybe... he wasn't coming... Perhaps... he had forgotten...? Tsuna smiled sadly to himself and stared down at his lap. It had been ten years already. Gokudera could have easily forgotten... Anyone would have. Only someone as stupid as him would remember such a childish promise. But... why did that thought aimed to comfort him... why did it only seem to pain him more?Suddenly, someone's finger tapped him lightly on the shoulder and his head shot up quickly. Tsuna gulped once and then slowly turned, heart pounding against his chest at a rapid pace. He faced the person behind him. At first, his eyes went round with awe. And then, they softened. A small smile, saved for the people most intimately connected to him, lit up his face.

"Jyuudaime...!" The now rough and deep, yet familiar voice sang once again in Tsuna's ears, greeting him with its tone full of unabashed care and happiness.

Gokudera stood behind Tsuna's chair, grinning like a newlywed and dressed in a formal tuxedo. A few heads of bright red roses peeked out from behind his back and Tsuna chuckled silently. The silver haired boy knelt down on his knees and brought the bouquet out from behind him. This time, Tsuna accepted the flowers gently. Their hands brushed against each other as the bouquet of roses passed from one hand to the other and their faces lit up like the flames of a candle. The two boys paused for just a moment, waiting for the tingling sensation of their hands meeting each other to stop.

And when time seemed to speed up again, they smiled at each other.

Gokudera stood upright again and took his proper seat across from Tsuna.

And then the lost time that had stopped between them those many years ago finally began once more.