Title: Wedding Rings and Whores

Rating: T
Genre: Romance/Angst
Pairing: 80/59 slight R27

Setting: Normal!Verse But everyone's around 19.

Warnings: Language supplied by Hayato

I was annoyed, really annoyed. Not that niggling type of annoyance that buzzes at the back of your head every now and then, it also wasn't that slight curl of the stomach where you wanted to sit and stew on something for a while.

No this was that type of annoyance that pooled deep in your stomach and caused you to feel as though you needed to launch something across the room.

He'd done it again, and this time I had caught him red handed at it. That wasn't to say I was spying or anything, not at all. I trust Takeshi; it's just he can sometimes be misled. Plus Haru's a sneaky little bitch, and she's obviously trying to get into Takeshi's pants.

Like hell I'm going to let that happen! So it seems pretty clear to me that I need to supervise my fiancée. (Yes, we're engaged, what of it, and for your information he proposed to me!)

Thus here I am hiding behind a potted plant in the middle of a busy shopping centre.

This had all started a week ago you see. Takashi has been talking to Haru during one of the Vongola's impressive party's. Now this only bothered me because I had made it perfectly clear that I didn't like the girl and only tolerated her for Tsuna's sake.

But whatever, point was my fiancée was in deep conversation with someone I really didn't like and it was bothering me. So naturally I went over there and pulled him away like a jealous child. But I didn't care Takeshi was mine and I was not willing to share him with anyone, let alone a whore like her.

But amazingly, despite knowing that I don't like Haru, he still turned round smiling and told her they would talk about it another time.

To this day I still haven't found out what "it" was; although this was mostly because I had been drunk for the remainder of the party and had forgotten to interrogate Takeshi. After all as soon as he had kissed me I had forgotten pretty much everything, considering those light kisses had soon erupted into "other activities"

So the question of what "it" had indeed had remained unanswered. Well until now anyway. It wasn't the last time they had "talked" either.

I'd started catching them having quiet conversations with each other. Then as soon as I entered the room they would abruptly stop talking and all would go quiet. At first I'd sent Takeshi questioning looks, but he'd only enter a staring contest with the ground. It had really hurt, knowing something was going on between them.

But I'd left it and not said anything about it, which was really against my nature. This was the effect Takeshi had on me though. He made me do and say things I normally would never do.

But today I had had enough of keeping my silence, and my well buried curiosity had boiled and spilt over.

So as soon as Takeshi had said he was popping out and had denied me the chance to go with him, I knew automatically something was up.

So I followed him, not like a stalker, but followed him all the same. I had to the right to know what the man I was marrying was up to.

Lawn Head allowed me to borrow his car. There was no way I could get away with going in my car. Takeshi would know it straight away and know I was here. But if on the chance he saw Lawn Heads he wouldn't run away and hide.

So I ended up following him all the way to a posh shopping centre just outside of town, which immediately surprised me. If all he was doing was shopping, why the fuck couldn't I have come. I after all had more of a shopping sense then he did any day.

This was until I saw him meet up with Haru. Fucking slag!

This brings me back to where I'm currently hiding behind a potted plant, watching Haru practically clinging on Takeshi's arm; yes my fiancée's arm like she's his girlfriend or something. Which by the way she isn't, because he was fucking taken by me!

Plus what was pissing me off even more was the fact that Takeshi wasn't doing anything about it. He was willing allowing her to drape herself all over him. He's fucking engaged! I should be the only one allowed to do that. Don't you ever tell him I said that though.

But never the less here they were acting like the perfect couple. Wow that stings.

I then watched in pure horror as they walked into a jewellery store across from me. Haru was loudly exclaiming that "this was the one!"

I felt myself frown. Why were they going to a jewellers? What an earth could they possibly need to go there for? No offence but Haru doesn't have the style for such a place.

This called for a closer look.

I ducked away from the plant and raced towards the store and moved quickly to find a new hiding place, eyes glued to the two people I was following (not stalking). I soon found a place to hide, right on the opposite side of the store in the far corner, pretending to be browsing over woman's toe rings of all things.

My eyes flashed back to Takeshi again. He was now standing with Haru in the engagement and wedding rings section. What..?

What the hell were they doing there?

I watched as Haru suddenly pointed out to a couple of sets of wedding rings and the man behind the counter chuckled and pulled them down for them to get a closer look at.

It physically hurt when Takeshi smiled and pulled out the wallet that I had brought him for his 18th birthday last year.

This, this had to be a lie right? There was no way that he and Haru were here shopping for wedding rings together.

Of course it only got worse as Takeshi slipped one of the rings onto Haru's ring finger. She instantly melted into a smile and squealed happily, jumping into Takeshi's arms waling about how "perfect" it was.

I don't think I've ever felt so cold as I watched him hug her back laughing. I was too afraid to watch what would come next, and so I ran. I ran away from the shop with tears blurring my vision as I reached Lawn Head's flashy car and slammed my foot down on the gas.

I had seen enough.

The problem was that when I loved someone, I fucking loved them. This meant I was possessive of them and who they spent their time with. It meant I was greedy and selfish and wanted them all to myself. I didn't want them near anyone else. I was scared that they would leave me like mother had. I didn't want to lose anything ever again. But clearly I had. I had lost Takeshi…

Oh god.

Somewhere along this line of misery I must have swerved the car, from driving so fast and not being able to see through my own tears, and hit something. But it got a little blurry and I don't really remember what happened properly.

I think I may have totalled Lawn Head's car. Oh shit he was going to kill me, if I didn't kill myself first…

When I did eventually wake up I was surrounded by this annoying beeping noise, a dull pain was aching all over and there was lots of white.

I felt myself groan as my still lagging mind began to piece it all together.

A hazy car accident, plus waking up somewhere unfamiliar, plus a dull pain that is clearly dull due to medication… Shit I was on hospital.

Crap.

A chuckle replaces the beeping, and I place it instantly. Shamal; oh fucking joy!

"Don't laugh at me" I attempt to tell him, but I can hardly find my voice. It's coming out all gritty and it hurts slightly too. I go to move the oxygen mask and rub my eyes.

He's laughing again, despite the earlier warning.

"You've been unconscious for two days Hayato" he tells me, to which I jerk up on the bed and stare at him in horror.

Oh God, Tsuna must had been annoyed. He had only given me a one day leave after all. Obviously not knowing I was off to stalk my fiancée.

Oh yeah, Takeshi. He's probably not even noticed that I'm not there keeping his bed warm; too busy with that whore Haru.

I turn back to Shamal again, this time with a sad eyed look, which I'm sure he takes note of, not that I care I'm past that already.

"Have you told Tsuna where I am?" I ask him, and I really need a cigarette now.

Shamal scratches his head nervously and I know instantly that he hasn't.

"Well when the hospital called me, and told me you had been in an accident, I sort of just rushed down and didn't think about it. I was really worried you know, 'cause this isn't the normal Vongola hospital" he laughs again. "You know I'm surprised you've still got me down as your emergency contact"

I turn away, slightly embarrassed. It's really obvious as to why I haven't changed it. It's because I know that no matter what happens between us Shamal will always drop everything and come and get me. Not that I'd ever tell him that.

"Well you are my Godfather you know, and I'm too scared to have Bianchi down. She'd try and 'nurse' me back to health and kill me in the process"

He looks me over and sighs when he finds whatever he's looking for.

"What happened?" he asks. "You're a careful kid, but I'm sure this is 'cause you don't want to cause any trouble for that boss of yours. I know for a fact you wouldn't speed unless you were being chased by someone trying to kill you"

I say nothing in reply; but apparently he isn't taking my silence as an answer and presses on.

"It's Takeshi isn't it?"

How the fuck can he read me so fucking well! I swear to God I hate him so fucking much. But something inside me breaks and I suddenly feel like I need to tell someone and if that person has to be Shamal then so be it. I can always find a handful of his girlfriends and tell them what he's really doing when he makes up excuses for not seeing them, if he tells someone about me breaking down that is.

"He was shopping for wedding rings with Haru, it would be two days ago now" I tell him mournfully, as my vision drops down to the blanket my fingers have made their residence in.

I can almost see him frowning in confusion.

"So? It's not like he's marrying her. He's engaged to you isn't he?"

My head whips up to him angrily.

"Don't fucking count on it!" I snap. "He fucking proposed to her, I saw him do it!"

Okay so I didn't see him drop down on one knee like he did for me. But what I saw was enough to back my suspicions. After all how many people get engaged to one person and then go around shopping for rings with another person and slip a ring on their finger.

Shamal looks horrified as he gaps at me like I've told him I'm pregnant.

"He did what?" he asks me in a mortified tone.

The tears are falling before I can stop them and my heads back staring at the blanket through blurred eyes. Then suddenly I'm telling him everything that's been happening in the past two weeks.

By the time I'm finished I'm telling him that I want to go home, even though it's around 10pm, and pitch black outside.

"You can't stay there when you're in this state Hayato. Come on I'll get you discharged and you can come stay at mine until you're feeling better"

The offer is spoken so sincerely that I don't have the heart to refuse him and hey, maybe it is for the best. Who knows what I'll do if I'm around that idiot for too long.

So not long after my sleeping arrangements were decided I found myself sitting in the front seat of Shamal's flashy car smoking on a much needed cigarette.

Shamal glances at me from the corner of his eyes and I know he wants to say something.

"Do you want to go back to the mansion first?" He asks me. "I know you'll want to tell Tsuna everything's okay" he adds as an afterthought.

A swell of guilt rises in my stomach. I really hope he hasn't been worrying about where I am. I usually always call in every now and then to tell him how things are while I'm away for long periods of time. As I grew up I had begun to mature a lot. I found myself realising that bothering Tsuna all the time wasn't helpful and only stressed him out more. I had also begun to call him by his first name instead, as he had wanted from the start. It was better I found, we were closer now, it was like a gap that had been there before was now mended.

"Yeah…" I reply softy.

We were there an hour later. Shamal didn't come in, only saying he would wait in the car. I didn't question him, if wanted to wait then that was up to him. He probably didn't want a scolding from Reborn if anything. Now that Reborn had got his adult body back he was scarier than ever before.

The mansion was empty when I first stepped in, but I knew even at 11pm Tsuna would be up, and mostly likely to be found in his study pouring over paperwork sent from the 9th. He hadn't yet taken full reins of the family and still had the 9th peering over his shoulder to make sure things were still running smoothly.

I was correct in my assumption of Tsuna being in his study, the light peeking out from under the door gave it away instantly.

He was sitting at his desk, lazily picking away at the paperwork that was sewn around him, looking as though he were about to fall asleep at any given moment. No one would have blamed him if he did either. He glanced up as I made my way in and within an instant was on his feet, his face morphed into a look of shock and then relief.

"Hayato!" he gasped and then broke into a warm smile that reached his eyes. "Where an earth have you been? I've had people looking all over for you! We thought you'd gone and gotten yourself killed or something"

A wave of guilt passed over me. I really hadn't meant to worry him. It was Shamal's fault for not calling him I told myself. Not mine.

"Sorry Tsuna. I didn't mean to worry you. Something sort of cropped up and I ended up having to deal with it. Nothing to worry about of course" I ended up half lying in the end. It wasn't like I wanted to, but for now it was necessary.

"Oh" was all he said and I knew that he was aware I was lying, but as normal he wouldn't press if I wasn't willing to tell. As long as no one got hurt and I came back reasonably unharmed he was willing to let it go.

I watched his eyes then light up, and for some reason a pool of dread consumed me.

"I should call Takeshi. He's been really worr-"

"NO!" I suddenly yelled leaning across the table in an attempt to grab the cell phone he had taken from his pocket out of his hand.

His eyes widened in shock, before lowering his hand slightly sending me a confused look.

"I, erm, I want to tell him myself that I'm home. You know surprise him…" I trailed off meagrely, hoping it would appease him.

"Oh, okay, sure" he shoved the phone back into his pocket and went to sit down again. "Are you sure everything's okay?" he re-asked me again.

His hyper intuition was a real nightmare; he knew straight away when someone was being less than honest. It was likely that he had already seen straight through me.

"Well actually" I began. "Would it be alright if I spent two days over with Shamal? It's just I met up with him in town and we got talking, and I haven't seen him in a while, and you know how persistent he is…"

"Stop talking Hayato" he suddenly said, causing me to whirl round and stare at him. Was he angry?

"I know it's something to do with Takeshi. There's been something up with him for the past few days too. He won't tell me, but I know something's wrong. But sure you can have two days off. Just make sure when you get back that you sort this things out between you. You know I don't like friction between you guys"

"Yes Boss" I say before leaving, unsure of whether I feel better after seeing him or not. I would have to sort things with Takeshi eventually. But it would not be tonight.

Our shared room was down a set of three corridors and not too far from Tsuna's room really, and although people complained about how big the mansion was once you got used to it wasn't so bad. Upon standing at the door I could see the light wasn't on. This meant Takeshi was either asleep or not here. I was hoping for the latter so I wouldn't have to speak to him.

The Gods hated me though. For there he was lounging on the bed without a shirt and showing off that amazing body of his. The urge to go and curl up next to him came over me, but was quickly snuffed out by the memory of what I had seen two days ago.

I made my way over the wardrobe instead and pulled down an overnight bag I hadn't used in a while before I began stuffing a load of clothes into it.

The noise must have woken him because the next thing I knew he was calling out my name.

"Hayato?" he sounded confused and still half asleep. I had to admit it was cute. "Hayato" he called again, no longer was it a question. "Oh God I've been so worried. Where have you been?"

Like hell he had been worried. More than likely he had been decided what flavour wedding cake he and Haru wanted; or who to invite to the joyful occasion. Never the less I didn't answer him again instead keeping quiet and trying to decide whether or not to take anything that held any connection to Takeshi.

"Hayato" he called again shifting on the bed. "Wait, what are you doing?" he then asked sounding a little panicked.

He then tumbled out of bed and came rushing to me as I headed back for the door content I had enough to last me two or three days. He grabbed my arm and turned me towards him.

"Where are you going?" he asked me, giving the overnight bag a harsh look.

I had to grit my teeth to stop myself from punching him. After all in my eyes he had no right to know that anymore. But to pacify him I answered anyway.

"I'm staying with Shamal for a while" I told him shorty, folding my arms away from him.

He stared stupidly at me.

"Why?"

I rolled my eyes beginning to get annoyed. I might as well tell him now and get this stupidity over with so we could all just move on with our lives.

"Stop acting dumb, you know why I'm doing this. The games up Takeshi I already know" All the while I can't look at him.

"No Hayato I don't understand. What do you mean 'game'?" he then says as I turn to glare at him. To be honest he does look confused, like I'm speaking a different language all together.

That's when I explode.

"I saw you with Haru at the fucking jewellery store. You friggin' proposed to her!" I'm seething and literally shaking with fury. In fact if I keep this up I'll be in tears again in no time.

He only stares at me again for a moment before realisation dawns in those beautiful eyes of his. I really shouldn't be thinking about them right now, but I can't help it. Even now I know I still love him.

"I didn't propose to her" he tells me, and he sounds hurt, and I'm trying not to care but I can't help but feel bad. But my anger at him trying to deny it makes me furious again.

"Don't lie to me!" I snarl. "I know what I saw! You put the ring on her finger and then she'd suddenly jumping all over you saying how perfect it is, and you don't even stop her, you just stand there hugging her back and laughing" I yell at him, hands shaking and itching to punch him square in the face and walk out. But I don't, I just stand there feeling so hurt, cut up and close to tears.

God dammit!

"You're wrong!" and then he's yelling. Mouth set in a hard line and eyes flashing with a determined look as he grabs a hold of me and slams me back against the wall.

I go to yell at him and lash out, he must have seen it too because he's gripping my wrist harder and placing himself closer to me so I can't move.

"Listen to me" he then hisses and I find myself falling silent at the command, because I've never heard him so angry before.

"Haru has the same ring size as you" he says as though it all suddenly makes sense. Which it frigging doesn't and what the hell has that got to do with anything anyway?

"She was helping me find a wedding ring for you, because I had said I wanted to surprise you. She told me at the party that you two had the same ring size. Something about you two talking about it after you showed her your engagement ring. She offered to help with it and so that's what you saw. She just gets excited. For God's sake Hayato there's nothing going on between me and her I swear!"

He's crying…

That's all I can think as I stare at him trying to process everything. I suddenly remember talking to Haru about ring sizes the day after me and Takeshi went to get my engagement ring re-sized, because Takeshi had brought the wrong size. Then I remember how she had hugged me and worked herself up into some weird euphoria over the fact that we both had the same ring size. I remember being a little creeped out.

So she really just had been helping? To make sure he brought the right size this time?

I watched him let go of my wrists slowly, he wasn't looking at me. In fact he backed off from me and then just stood there.

"You don't belie me do you?" he then asked. "You really think that I love her? How can you even begin to think that? After I proposed to you and swore that I was going to marry you no matter what"

I glance away. Deep down I know what he's saying is true. He's always proving he loves me. Doing stupid things like waking up beside me with a smile or holding my hand out in public, sitting with me in the library even though he hates being there. It then dawns on me that I'm wrong, very wrong.

"I'm sorry" I whisper, holding my arms and looking to the side. "I over reacted again didn't I?" a humourless chuckle bubbles from me. I always do this. Get angry and overreact an come to the wrong conclusions.

A laugh hits me, but it isn't the same joyful one I'm used to. This one sounds tired and strained. But he comes towards me anyway and holds me, even though this whole mess is my fault.

"You need to learn to listen to other people more, instead of jumping to your own conclusions"

I may not like the fact that he just said that to me, but I guess I need to hear it. He kisses my forehead and then everything seems to be okay again. Because before I know it he's enthusiastically showing me the wedding rings like the argument never even happened.

I glance out the window for a second only to find Shamal isn't even there. It clicks in my mind that he probably knew this was going to happen. I told you he knew me too well.

"What do you think?" I look up toward Takeshi again, breaking my thoughts away from Takeshi to look down into a small satin box, which I take from him.

Inside is a band of silver, shiny and fairly heavy. It has a slight dainty look to it that Takeshi's is lacking. How should I say it… More feminine looking maybe? Not that I mind because I already know that Takeshi sees me as the female in this relationship. Not that I let him get away with calling me 'babe' or anything stupid like that.

I'm smiling before I know it. I can't help it because I love it. So I kiss him to show it. I think I might have shocked him for a minuet because I don't normally initiate kisses. But this situation calls for it. He was thinking about me the whole time, and all I think about was what a bitch Haru was and how Takeshi was cheating on me when he wasn't.

The kiss becomes more heated, but surprisingly Takeshi pulls away and grins down at me before leading me over to our bed. For a minuet I think we're going to have sex. But when he simply pulls me down into his arms and sets the ring on the bedside table I realise that's not the case. I can't say I'm not disappointed. But I have to agree, sleep doesn't sound like a bad idea.

So I drift to sleep with the soft words of "I love so much" being whispered to me. Yeah I really can't help but smile.

The next morning when I go down into the kitchen I find Takeshi stood over the cooker, attempting to make us breakfast.

I smile and walk over to loop my arms around him. I catch the smile on his face as I do. I know he likes it when I attempt to be affectionate.

"Well I could get used to this you know" he tells me.

"And I could get used to you cooking for me 24/7" he tell him back. "If you're really going to marry me you had better keep me in the life I'm accustomed to"

He only laughs and tell me "no promises".

I make my morning coffee, just as Lawn Head walks in yawning. He soon catches sight of me and takes a seat next to me. Clearly he's just got back from his morning run judging by the smell coming off him.

"Hey Hayato, your back to the extreme!" he exclaims loudly pulling me into a one armed hug, thanks to which I nearly spill my coffee.

"Yeah" I murmur, lacking his spirit.

He grins again.

"Oh yeah I forgot to ask, did you being my car back with you. Cause I can't find it…"

Oh shit.