Title: Fiamma: The Assassin

Summary: Every assassin have their own rules, yet all follows one golden rule: Never get emotionally involved with your target. Fiamma knows this. Yet, meeting that person, he can't help but break the most important rule of all…

Disclaimer: Katekyo Hitman Reborn! belongs to Akira Amano

Pairing: Eventual!G27

Warnings: AU; Language

Fiamma: The Assassin

Chapter 7

"Renato. Would you like to go out tomorrow?"

"E-Eh…?" Tsunayoshi blinked.

Giotto chuckled. "Would you like to go out tomorrow?" He repeated.

"Ahh, my apologies. I heard you the first time." Tsunayoshi gave a nervous chuckle. "I was a little shocked. You want to go out tomorrow? With who?"

"With you, of course." Giotto replied.

A faint blush spread over the brunette's face. "But don't you have work to do?"

"Well, my pace is sped up greatly with you helping me, so I can spare a day tomorrow." Giotto said. "Well?"

"Sure." Tsunayoshi nodded.

"Okay." Giotto beamed.

'Why is it that I laugh so easily around him? It's like… he can make all my nightmares disappear.' Tsunayoshi frowned. 'My heart seems to beat faster when he smiles. It's like I'm drugged. Why…'

"…I think I'm falling in love."

G promptly choked on his whiskey and started coughing violently. Giotto shot out of his seat in concern, patting his best friend's back gently.

"G, are you alright?" Giotto asked.

"Can you please not say that while I'm drinking something?" G growled.

"S-Sorry." Giotto apologized, laughing sheepishly.

G sighed. "So, who is it?"

"…Renato." Giotto muttered, a blush blooming on his face.

"Ah."

"You're not surprised? That I like a… guy…" Giotto blinked.

"Not really." G replied. "I've known you for almost two decades now, and you've rejected every single women who ask you out. I figured you had no interest in them."

Giotto sighed. "Sometimes, I don't know whether to laugh or to punch you."

"I prefer the former." G replied smoothly. "…But, Renato?"

"What?" Giotto asked.

"…You want the truth?" G raised an eyebrow.

"G, I count on you to tell me the truth. If you don't, no one will." Giotto replied.

"Fine then. I still have my suspicions about Renato." G said.

"Suspicions? On what?" Giotto asked.

"Gut feeling." G replied.

Giotto did not miss the 'for now' implied at the end of that sentence. He sighed. "Your gut feeling is almost as accurate as my intuition."

"Hmm." G nodded. "…Well, since you've just said that you like him, there's no way you're going to back off, right? So, Giotto, just be careful."

"I will." Giotto replied earnestly. "…You know, I have this feeling I seem to have met Renato before."

"…Are you sure?" G frowned.

"Not exactly… Just a feeling." Giotto sighed. "Do you have the same feeling, G? It is likely that if I have really met Renato before, it is after I've met you."

"Renato, huh…" G searched his memories. "I'm not sure. But I seem to be recalling a lookalike..."

"So I'm not imagining things…" Giotto murmured.

"Even so, where do you think you saw him from?" G asked.

Giotto shrugged. The two fell into a silence –a comfortable one, as they sipped their respective drinks.

Suddenly, Giotto broke the silence, "…G? Thank you."

"For what?" G arched an eyebrow.

"For watching me." Giotto smiled.

G snorted. "Know how you can repay me?"

"How…?" Giotto had an imminent feeling, but answered anyway.

G smirked. "Drinks on you tonight."

Giotto's mouth fell open. "Damn. I got ripped off again."

"I am good." G grinned.

Giotto shot him a mock-glare as the two burst into laughing, earning themselves a strange glance from other customers in the bar.

"Is there… anything wrong…?" Giotto asked.

"No…" Tsunayoshi shook his head. "I'm sorry. It's the first I've seen you not wearing suit." The brunette chuckled.

Giotto wore a sleeveless, slightly loose orange shirt with a pair of faded jeans. Tsunayoshi wore a hooded icy-blue jacket with gray sweatpants.

"Well, never do know when someone needs to see me." Giotto grinned. "Still, it's nice to be able to get out of wearing a suit. Wearing it day-after-day is rather uncomfortable."

"I suppose…" Tsunayoshi nodded. 'I guess that's why in Gesso, we use uniforms instead. Well, being an assassin does have its privilege, I suppose. We're practically the only ones who don't wear a uniform –even Byakuran wears one.'

"So… Shall we?" Giotto gestured to the large, double doors.

"Lets." Tsunayoshi replied. "…Exactly… where are we going…?" Tsunayoshi asked after a while.

Giotto stopped.

Tsunayoshi sighed. "You… didn't think about that…?"

"…Not really…" Giotto replied sheepishly.

Tsunayoshi groaned softly under his breath. "Alright then… How about we take a walk and see where it leads us?"

"Sounds like a plan." Giotto smiled.

"…Boss…?"

"What's wrong, Chrome-chan?" Mukuro frowned.

"…I think… I saw Boss." Chrome replied.

Mukuro arched an eyebrow as he looked around. The two were out on a leisure trip, and was currently in the shopping district. Mismatched eyes widened by the slightest fraction as the illusionist caught the sight of a mop of brown hair amidst the crowd, right beside a blond.

'Now… Whatever is Tsunayoshi doing here? Not to mention his… companion.' Mukuro thought. "…Perhaps you've made a mistake, Chrome-chan. Tsunayoshi is, after all, on a mission. It is highly unlikely for him to appear here, of all places."

"Mukuro-sama… Do you know where Boss is working?" Chrome asked.

"Unfortunately not." Mukuro shook his head. "I've always met him in a small café. You, too, should know that mission details are rather… privy."

Chrome nodded. "Boss is fine…?"

"Yes." Mukuro smiled. '…Externally, that is.' He added mentally.

"I hope Boss comes back soon…" Chrome murmured.

Mukuro could only nod.

'We've been chatting about insignificant stuffs for quite some time now… Renato doesn't seem to want to talk about himself.' Giotto thought, keeping a pleasant smile on his face.

Tsunayoshi pressed his lips together as he kept his senses on high alert. 'And for once in my life, it's actually rather bothersome to have so many enemies. I can't even have a good day if I don't keep alert.' Tsunayoshi blinked. '…A 'good day'…? Where did that come from…?'

"Renato?" Giotto called.

"What is it…?" Tsunayoshi stopped.

"Shall we have a little break?" Giotto asked. "I know of a quaint little café that is a small ways from here, if you're not comfortable with the crowds."

"…You… could tell…?" Tsunayoshi asked hesitantly.

Giotto nodded a little. "You… You were looking around, every other minute. It's like… You're watching out for something."

"…My apologies. This was supposed to be a relaxing trip." Tsunayoshi bowed his head lightly.

"It's alright." Giotto shook his head. "Now then, let's go."

Without thinking, Giotto grabbed Tsunayoshi's hand, and began to lead the brunette out of the crowds. The two ducked into an alley as Giotto led them through. Tsunayoshi wanted to pull his hand away, but Giotto kept a firm hold on his hand as they walked.

'Is he treating me like a child? He's not letting go.' Tsunayoshi thought irritably. 'Yet this… It feels…' Tsunayoshi paused in his thoughts. '…It's not the first time someone held my hand. Yet this time… it feels… warmer than it used to be.' The brunette glanced at the man in front of him. '…Why is this happening…?'

Thankfully for the brunette, the two reached their destination quick enough, and his hand was finally free. Tsunayoshi calmed his rapidly beating heart and turned back to the beaming blond.

"Nice little café, isn't it?"

Tsunayoshi turned to observe said café. It was as Giotto had said: quaint and little. The café had a homey feeling to it. There were both indoor and outdoor seating and the outdoor seating had a small umbrella over each table.

"Do you… like it?" Giotto asked rather softly.

"…Yes… It's… very nice." Tsunayoshi found himself nodding.

Giotto smiled. "Shall we then?" He gestured to the café. "Where would you like to sit?"

Tsunayoshi turned to glance at Giotto. "…Where do you usually sit?"

"How do you know I frequent this place?" Giotto asked in return.

"The owner has been glancing in your direction ever since we got here. He wants to talk to you, but he was busy with the other customers." Tsunayoshi shrugged.

Giotto laughed. "Right." He nodded.

The blond led them to his usual table. It was a window seat inside the café that looked out to the relatively empty streets. Each of the table had a small pot of Star of Bethlehem orchids. It didn't take long for the owner to walk over.

The owner was a young adult in his mid-twenties. He wore a sleeveless brown leather jacket over a black long-sleeved shirt that was rolled up to his elbows along with black sweatpants. On his neck were a bone necklace and a mirror that hung on another necklace.

"Giotto! It's been some time!" The man greeted, a smile on his face.

"I've been a little busy lately." Giotto smiled apologetically.

"And this lovely young man is?" The man turned to Tsunayoshi quizzically.

"A friend of mine." Giotto answered. "Talbot, meet Renato. Renato, this is Talbot, a good friend of mine."

"A pleasure to be your acquaintances." Talbot greeted.

"The pleasure is all mine." Tsunayoshi replied.

"So what would you like to have?" Talbot asked. "The usual for you, Giotto?"

Giotto nodded. Talbot noted the order down before turning to Tsunayoshi.

"One double-shot espresso, thank you." Tsunayoshi ordered.

"Oh, and two of your Cannoli please." Giotto grinned.

"G won't be pleased." Talbot chuckled.

"I'm not eating both of them!" Giotto protested with a pout.

"Of course." Talbot nodded and walked away.

Giotto pouted for a moment before turning to Tsunayoshi, who was glancing out of the window, a calm look in his eyes. Feeling the other's gaze on him, the brunette turned back to meet the intrigued eyes of his 'companion' across him.

"W-What is it…?" Tsunayoshi asked hesitantly. 'Is he… observing me…?'

"Oh, it's nothing." Giotto shook his head, smiling. "You're quite the heavy drinker, aren't you? A double shot espresso?"

"…Oh." Tsunayoshi murmured. "A taste I acquired from one of my… acquaintances."

"This acquaintance must be rather close to you." Giotto commented.

Tsunayoshi was taken aback by the statement but managed to hide it well. "Why do you say that…?"

"Intuition." Giotto replied. "Or some really fast logic."

'So… I suppose the rumors are true –Giotto di Vongola does have very sharp intuition.' Tsunayoshi thought. He raised an eyebrow at Giotto, however, in response to the blond's last statement. "How so?"

"Well, in order for your taste to be influenced by your acquaintance, you'll have to see this acquaintance rather frequently." Giotto smiled as he explained. "And, forgive me for saying this, you seem to be someone who would not meet an acquaintance frequently if this person is not close to you." Giotto finished.

"A reasonable line of logic." Tsunayoshi agreed.

"So, I am right then?" Giotto asked.

"…Yes." Tsuna nodded.

Before either of them could say anything, Talbot came back with their orders.

"Caffè macchiato for Giotto, a double shot espresso for Renato, and two Cannoli." Talbot said as he placed down the corresponding orders. "Enjoy."

The two thanked Talbot as he walked away. Tsunayoshi took a sip of his coffee and hummed appreciatively.

"I presume the espresso is up to standard?" Giotto inquired, an amused grin on his face as he took a sip of his own coffee.

"Yes, very." Tsunayoshi nodded. "Perfectly done; not too strong or too weak."

"That's one of the reasons why I declare the coffee here to be best." Giotto grinned.

"'One of the reasons'?" Tsunayoshi arched an eyebrow.

"The other reason is right before you." Giotto gestured to the plate of pastry in front of them.

"The pastry? Cannoli, was it?" Tsunayoshi glanced at the plate.

Giotto nodded. "Try one."

Tsunayoshi arched an eyebrow but did so anyway. His eyes widened with delight as he chewed slowly on the pastry. "…Tasty."

"Isn't it?" Giotto smiled. "It's sweet, but the taste isn't overbearing."

'Once again… He acts childlike. Is this a façade, or is it the real him…? I… can't seem to tell.' Tsunayoshi thought. "Yes. It's no wonder you fell in love with this quaint little café." Tsunayoshi gave a small smile.

"Exactly." Giotto grinned.

The two finished up their drinks and had a brief argument when Giotto decided to pay for their tea break. On Giotto's suggestion, the two walked around the city for just about the entire day, ending the journey with a drink in the bars. They found themselves a booth and sat down to drink.

"Giotto?" Tsunayoshi called.

"What is it?" Giotto arched an eyebrow.

"I was curious… How much do you trust them?" Tsunayoshi asked. "…Your Guardians, I mean." The brunette added softly.

Giotto blinked and straightened up, a firm look in his eyes. "I trust them with my life."

"Why?" Tsunayoshi continued.

"What do you mean, 'why'?" Giotto frowned in confusion.

"Why do you trust them so much? It's… illogical." Tsunayoshi said.

"Why do you think trusting them with my life is illogical?" Giotto asked.

"There's no guarantee that they won't betray you. If that's the case, isn't it more logical to be constantly on guard?" Tsunayoshi answered.

Giotto pondered over the question for a moment. "…I suppose you are right in that there is no guarantee in them not betraying me." Giotto conceded. "But… if we don't take a step forth to trust someone, then won't we be alone forever? Besides, isn't it tiring to be constant on guard?"

"I… suppose so." Tsunayoshi nodded slowly.

"Don't you have someone you trust a lot?" Giotto questioned.

"…I do." Tsunayoshi replied.

"How much do you trust this person?" Giotto continued.

"…With my life." Tsunayoshi answered slowly.

"And there you have it." Giotto grinned.

'It's amazing, how he can draw the positive side of people. It's no wonder why there are so many people following him, and how most, if not all, of his Guardians are devoted to him.' Tsunayoshi thought, taking a sip of his drink. 'My most trusted person, huh…? Said person probably is thinking of tearing me to pieces right now.'

"I like you, Renato."

Tsunayoshi's eyes widened. "E-Ehh…?"

Giotto gasped and slapped a hand over his mouth. "I-I mean… I… You… You're a pleasant person to be with."

'Dammit. G's right. I'm such an idiot!' Giotto yelled in his mind.

'I-Is he… joking…?' Tsunayoshi thought. "T-Thank you…?"

"I'm sorry… For saying something so awkward." Giotto muttered, suddenly finding great interest in this drink.

"No, it's alright. It's… a pleasant thing to hear." Tsunayoshi answered. '…Is he… blushing…? Wait. He meant that…?'

"Right…" Giotto nodded.

It goes without saying that the two had quickly finished up their drinks and returned back to the Vongola estate without mentioning about said comment ever again.

A/N: More interactions between Giotto and Tsuna! Giotto already has an idea of his own feelings, but Tsuna is still in denial?

That's all for this time, peeps. Thanks for reading?