CHAPTER 2: THE SECOND ENCOUNTER
Ever since that night, Tsuna decided he would never go in his room ever again. In fact, he never went in his room at all. It had come as a surprise because the Sawada parents had always believed that Tsuna's personal haven, his room, was his refuge since birth. He now resided as a self-proclaimed permanent resident in Nana's and Iemitsu's bed. Together, they both tried to get him back to his own room. But whenever Iemitsu would tuck a sleepy Tsuna in his bed, Tsuna would scream at the top of his lungs and never let go of his father until they were out of the room. Nana had actually tried grabbing Tsuna, (something she never did before because he was a naturally good kid) with her most reassuring smile but Tsuna had clawed at the floor to hold himself there until Nana gave up.
On this particular night, the Sawadas sat across from eachother at the table, not because they were eating, but because they simply had to try to get their kid into his own bed again.
"Tsuna, please, can't you tell us what's wrong?" She held a hand to his smaller ones and watched Tsuna's expression morphed into terror. It always did whenever they brought up this subject.
Tsuna shook his head, "I keep telling you though," he bit his lip, and lowered his voice to barely a whisper, "The boogie man was there. And he's still there."
The two parents exchanged gazes and the young father sighed. "Tsuna, there is no such thing as the boogie man." Iemitsu said, wrapping his arm around Tsuna. "I admit that I was trying to scare you one day, but they really do not exist. I'm sorry. Really."
Tsuna shook his head. Didn't they know anything? Even though he never seen him again, he could feel his presence. Call it crazy, but Tsuna's instincts told him that someone was there. And even if his father had joked there was a boogie man once upon a time, there really was one now. "There is!" Realizing his raised voice, he dropped to a hush, "He's there, really, I feel it. He's watching me." Tsuna insisted, leaning in his seat.
"Tsuna," Iemitsu said as he clamped his humongous hands around Tsuna's small shoulders, "Me and mama would like to sleep together. Alone." There was a moment of silence and Nana coughed politely to hide her obvious embarassment.
Tsuna gave his father a beseeching stare, "You don't want me sleeping with you anymore?"
Iemitsu opened his mouth, and then closed it. When his son put it that way, it was incredibly hard to say no. He was just about to give into Tsuna's whim before Nana cut in and saved him when she sensed his hesitance. "Of course not, Tsuna. We love you."
"But why is mama and papa making me go back to my room?"
"Because Tsuna, as much as we love you, we love each other as well." Iemitsu said smiling as he wrapped an arm around Nana, "And we haven't spent much alone time together for so long. And grownups need privacy."
And suddenly, with a wave of guilt crashing over him, he realized why his parents were doing this. He had only been looking after his own well-being and he had troubled his parents enough, even going as far as to sleep in their bed whenever he was scared. He couldn't believe he was so selfish. Tsuna sniffed and nodding with an air of surrendering, "Okay…I'll sleep in my room tonight."
Nana and Iemitsu grinned at each other and hugged Tsuna with wide, open arms. Their son brightened up a little at this, his parents were so happy now. Nana gathered Tsuna up in her arms and the three of them made their way up the stairs. With each step, Tsuna became more noticeably ill at ease. When Iemitsu and Nana placed Tsuna in his bed, they smiled. Tsuna stared back at them fearfully.
"Are you still scared, Tsuna?" Iemitsu said, grinning. Tsuna nodded earnestly, not bothering to at least lie. Iemitsu glowed happily and whispered excitedly to Nana, "Hold on to him, I think I know how to cure this." Tsuna's face furrowed in confusion as Nana began hugging him tightly, and immediately he could tell something was up. Iemitsu grinned and got up from Tsuna's side to move towards the closed closet. Then it clicked suddenly. Tsuna realized what his papa was trying to do. Tsuna stared in absolute horror as his papa drawn near the blasted hell hole in his room. He was going to get killed! He didn't want papa to die!
"No! No papa, don't!" Tsuna thrashed in his mama's arms trying to stop his papa, "Don't—" Tsuna cut off into a shrill scream as Iemitsu yanked the closet door open. He buried himself in his mother's shoulder, unable to watch his father's impending death.
There was silence, and then Iemitsu spun around to beam, "See Tsuna? There no boogie man here! I probably scared him away!"
Tsuna peeked over his father's shoulder to stare into the closet behind him. His papa was right. There was no monster there anymore. Did he really run away? Well, his papa was very scary to most people. So maybe he did! Tsuna slowly peeled himself from his mother's arms and moved close to his papa. He peeked over the man's leg to get a better look inside. There was nothing there but his clothes and his toys…
Tsuna gulped and gave his father a soft stare, "Will you scare him away if he ever comes again, papa?"
"Of course I will, Tsuna! You know it, kiddo!" Tsuna was grabbed and spun around playfully, "You got to get some sleep, boy! You have school tomorrow!"
With newfound courage, Tsuna allowed Iemitsu tickle him and dump him on his bed. His papa would come if something happened! He was so lucky to have such a brave papa! Nana pulled the covers up to Tsuna's chin and kissed him on the forehead, "We'll see you in the morning, Tsuna."
Tsuna laughed and hugged his parents, "Goodnight mama, papa."
When Iemitsu turned off the lights, Tsuna closed his eyes with a smile in his face, resolute to fall in a quick sleep and dream happily.
—
Or so he thought he would. Tsuna laid in the dark, staring at the ceiling. Occasionally, his eyes would dart around the room to spot anything suspicious…or worse, moving. Tsuna didn't dare move a muscle, if he was here-it would be best to remain as inconspicuous as he could. His nose was feeling ticklish at the most inconvenient time. Fearing he would sneeze, he glanced at the clock to distract himself. It was already three hours since his parents tucked him in. He tried going to sleep—he really did. But his horrific imaginations kept attacking him, jerking him from unconsciousness and back.
It was frustrating. He wanted to go asleep and make this night quick and easy. But if he moved too much—the monster might come out from hiding and bite him to death—wait. What was he thinking? He had papa! Papa was right down the hall! If Tsuna were to call, his papa would come running to save him! Smiling cheekily with a swell of pride in his chest, Tsuna sat up.
"I'm not afraid." He said to the darkness.
When the darkness didn't respond (he really was hoping it didn't. Ever.), Tsuna smiled smugly and laid back down. He wasn't afraid. Now that his papa promised to protect him.
"Is that so?"
Tsuna's eyes snapped open and he stared agape at the blackness, petrified. Had he imagined that voice? He had to, there was no way someone could be in this room but him because his dad scared the boogie man away! He waited, with bated breath, and secretly hoped that his imagination replied instead. He was highly tempted to call for his parents but he was afraid that the boogie man would get him before he even screamed. Then, for the first time in weeks, he saw him again. And only this time, he came out from under his bed.
Tsuna gawked as the boogie man straightened out his suit, soundlessly. Tsuna stared numbly as the man turned to stare down at little Tsuna.
"I know what you are trying to do." The boogie man said in a cold, fortifying voice. "Pathetic little herbivore."
Tsuna flinched away mutely as the boogie man sat on the foot of his bed. His features were hard to see, but his figure was sharp and strangely elegant in a deadly way. Tsuna leaned as far as he could away from him, almost teetering over the edge of the bed. Tsuna's eyes never left the stranger. The strange man that lived in closets and under beds. The boogie man. The dark man continued, his sharp eyes never leaving the boy, "Clawing at the floors, screaming and begging. I've watched you the whole time." He shivered violently to himself and together they sat on his bed, in deep suspenseful silence.
Tsuna gasped loudly as the boogie man's hand shot out and grabbed at Tsuna by his forearm. He yanked him close enough to devour. He felt his sickeningly real warm breath fan out his face and shuddered in absolute horror at the white row of teeth when it stretched. The man whispered, "Live up to my expectations, child. You can never escape your fate, Sawada Tsunayoshi." Tsuna whimpered through chattering teeth as the man repeated with finality, "Never."
"Papa! Papa! Papa!" Tsuna screamed and thrashed away from him, going as far as he could against the headboard of his bed. He was trapped, his bed leaned against the corner of two walls. Only the window was his closest escape and he didn't fancy dying a pathetic death from the second story. He grabbed at the pale hands to pry them away and the boy was vaguely surprised to find that it felt…normal. Not at all slimy, or gooey as he imagined monsters would be like. The boogie man remained calm, just scrutinizing Tsuna's reaction. The boy finally ripped his arm out of his grip and the strange man stood up, straighten out once again, and walked into Tsuna's closet without a word. It shut silently behind him.
"Tsuna?" Iemitsu called loudly through their room. A door slammed open and Tsuna could hear two pairs of feet dashing down the hallway.
"Help!" Tsuna screamed again.
The two parents bursted into Tsuna's room. They did a quick sweep of the room and zeroed in on Tsuna, his knees to his chest and cried between hysterical gasps. Nana immediately made a beeline to Tsuna and cradled him on her shoulder. Iemitsu had a pistol in his hand, not yet off its safety, but ready to use.
"He's in the closet!" Tsuna spluttered between sobs.
Iemitsu darted towards the closet and opened it, pistol positioned determinedly. The three stared at the inside walls of his closet. Nothing. Nothing was in there. Iemitsu gritted his teeth, forcing himself to be calm. His father scared him, almost as much as the stranger had. He also never seen a gun up so close, and it absolutely frightened him to grasp the sudden knowledge that there was one in their house. Iemitsu's voice was hard as he whirled to look back, "Tsuna. I told you, there's no such thing as boogie men."
Nana bit her lip, a quiet, "Dear," escaping softly.
"He just wants attention, Nana! That's all!" Tsuna shook his head, he couldn't speak. He couldn't understand what just happened just now. Was that a dream? Had he imagined that entire encounter? But, there was no way, it was too real. He could still feel the heat of the monsters hand on his arm. "No more scary movies!" The young father scolded, with a ragged sigh, Iemitsu covered his face with his hands and sat on the bed next to Nana and Tsuna.
"Dad?" Tsuna said hesitantly, his hand extending.
"I'm so sorry, Tsuna. I was just frustrated ….it's all too much…" Iemitsu hugged Tsuna one more time before taking his gun with him and walking out of the room sluggishly.
Nana sighed and kissed Tsuna on the forehead, "I'll sleep here tonight, okay Tsuna?"
Tsuna didn't answer his heart still pumping with adreneline. He was too busy staring at the closet.
A/N: Sounds simple enough right? WRONG. This plot will become very complicated as Tsuna grows up. The text seems short here doesn't it? It's because Tsuna's still young. When he gets older chapters get longer.