Hi.
After watching 'The Three Idiots', inspiration just skyrocketed. It made me contemplate at what career I should take.
Anyway, enjoy 'The Show'. Sorry if it's only Wednesday and a part of Thursday. Explanations will litter the next A/N.
Wednesday-
"Better Than Revenge"
(He's no saint, HE'S A MUTHAFUCKIN' ACTOR, WOAHHHH)
Me.
Bring it on.
I take a deep breath as I walk inside the school gates. It was a quarter before 6 o'clock when I left the house. Only Hibari-san would be here (being in the Disciplinary Committee).
Okay, time to walk like a Charlie's Angel!
My feet instantly obey, and soon I look like an idiot as I walk to the school where, it turned out, Reborn-chan was waiting for me.
And...to cut the long story short (lots of technical specs and stuff that will probably be too much for me to handle explaining) I managed to learn how to use the rifle before the bell rang.
"Umm, thanks a lot, I guess?" I tell Reborn-san. I still don't know if this is the right thing to do or not. I mean, I'm still a novice when it comes to shooting people in the head so... there will be risks I'll be taking.
"Trust me, Kyoko Sasagawa. You'll be taking a good shortcut once you succeed. Consequences will be skipped and confrontations postponed. All you have to do is put a bullet between his eyes."
All I could do to proclaim my doubt was simper.
"Ok. I'm putting my entire trust in you, Reborn-chan. Don't fail me," I say in feigned cheerfulness.
"Don't pressure me, hun. I'm telling you, no regrets," he pats my shins and proceeds to hop on top of my left shoulder. I then stow the rifle back into my bag.
"Umm... will the bullets work in other weapons except with rifles?" I ask him as I take the bag.
"Yes. Why, you prefer close combat? Yamamoto's a swordsman. He's good at melee combat. Going against him will be like 2000:1. The ratio is still optimistic."
"Uh, let's just say I'm being optional here. I need plan B and plan C just in case."
"I'll teach you stuff later then if you want. Just get to your class."
"Thanks a bunch!" I pat his head and proceeded to walk to the door when it opens. Two people come out.
"K-Kyoko-san?"
"Herbivore...get to class."
Oh god.
"Hibari, she's here under my jurisdiction. We're just going," Reborn explains as my temperature skyrockets- yet again once my eyes and his meet.
What is he doing here, and with Hibari-san, of all people?
"Hn." Hibari-san seemed to care less once Reborn-chan did all the talking. We walk to the door slowly.
"Dame-Tsuna, what are you doing here with Hibari?" Reborn-chan added. I can't help also but look at him and wait for his answer.
He grins a little as he takes off his school jacket. His sleeves couldn't hide the robustness of his arms any longer. His mittens finally become more visible.
"Just a little incentive I have to pay," he assures and his Dying-Will flame becomes visible. Hibari-san's tonfas are bared.
"Hibari, make sure you pound him," Reborn states flatly. I look at him incredulously as we close the door. I swear I can hear loud sounds coming out from the other side. We make a trip down the stairs.
"Isn't Tsuna your pupil? Shouldn't you be rooting for him, instead?"
"His cockiness will be his downfall. That's something he needs to understand."
"K-kay then..."
I look up and remember stuff to ask him. I need to ask him more to be acquainted with the Mafia stuff.
"Can you tell me what's so good about the Right-Hand Man position that Gokudera just wanted to get his hands on the title?"
"To be honest, I think he wanted to covet the title because it's a big position that any Mafiosi can brag about. But it's not some easy job. He's the boss substitute if he does become a Right-Hand. He learns almost all the same secrets of the Vongola like the Boss. He's also going to the more extreme missions than the other Guardians. If I were Tsuna, I'd let Hibari take the cake."
"But you already know that he's all buddy-buddy with Yamamoto-kun and Gokudera-kun, right? He's letting friendship win over his decision." The sounds from the door are getting more...er, extreme. I now dread the fact that either of them are trying to kill each other right now.
"Well, he's an idiot through and through for letting that happen. The Vongola's known for being a family with the toughest trials. Just because Tsuna says that this guy will be the Right-Hand Man doesn't mean he'll get the position right away. He has to take a test first."
"What kind of test?" I ask him, feeling my back tingling a little.
"A test with the life and soul on the line. It's a 50-50 one, and not passing it will cost one's own life. The Ninth's Right Arm, Coyote Nougat's was the toughest of the lot. He had to wipe out a country out of the map to get the position. Women and children weren't spared."
"B-But t-that's..." I could barely speak.
"He had no choice. That country was also an enemy of Italy and specialized in nuclear weaponry. If the tensions ran too far then it would've cost a million more."
"H-How can they let someone do such a thing?"
"It's all in the Big Book. The Tenth one's going to be harder than the last. That's the tradition, naturally."
I bit my lip and couldn't talk the rest of the way.
"If the Right Arm declines then he'll be forced to do it."
"Just stop it, please."
"Or else he'll die."
"Reborn-chan!" I nearly broke hysterically. He at once stops speaking for a minute as I began walking faster.
"But that's the Vongola, Kyoko. Even Tsuna can't bother stopping it."
"Does Tsuna know about that?"
"It depends if he's listening to the Ninth on their private lessons about Vongola History for the last three years."
"Darn it," I mutter. We finally reached the classroom. He at once leaves my shoulder.
"You think you'd let either Gokudera or Yamamoto handle that?"
"Obviously... I'd say no," I whisper. "I don't want either of them to risk their humanity all to become Tsuna-san's...arm or something."
"Good luck then," he tells me. "You'll be needing it."
I continue biting my lip as I open my door and find the teacher still not there.
I breathe. Dammit, another problem came up.
I mean, how the heck can I save someone already marked for death no matter what choice he'd take?
Can I really do it?
I spy Yamamoto once I flutter to my desk. I open my bag and slipped out my trusty pen and notebook.
Well. That has to wait. One problem at a time, brain.
I smirk once I hold the pen and pretend it be the rifle as I locked, loaded, aimed it right on his head, and pushed it. Bull's eye.
Yeah, one problem at a time.
~K27~
"Count on me"
(I didn't know that I'd be able to count on her like this.)
Him.
Bad thing to happen in our plan: Kyoko-san went to school early.
"Look at the bright side, she'll probably be able to see it later. We're going to change to our PE clothes later, right?"
So says the hag.
"Whatever."
I say to just shut her up.
Yes, I wasted about three-fourths of my allowance planning for this and this is what happens. I told the hag we should've made a plan B.
I should be killing the hag now instead of making silent rants but FUCK IT I CAN'T.
I need first to look at her schedule. We only have dance lessons all day (and the Mambo we need to do too, can I really fucking do that dance with the fucking hag?)
No option but to say yes.
"We need to do our best, Gokudera-kun. Once we do, we'd be able to skip classes again and work on the song."
"Seriously, you're considering we do a duet?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"We're going to be screwed. Your voice is awful."
"And your voice is good? Right, I'll write that down as a reminder to compliment you later."
"Just die now, won't you?"
"You're not the one who'd decide when I'll die you know," she winks.
"Anyone here willing to dance the Mambo?"
I hear the Bucking horse right now. Instantly we raise our hands. Haru said we'd be able to finish our session earlier if we do.
"Good, I see some eager hands right there!" the Bucking horse said appreciatively. I just roll my eyes. "We'll see to it that you'd have twenty minutes off your lesson this morning."
The hag claps appreciatively. The others groan.
"Basically, this dance shows your seductive side. Girls, get ready to be moving your hips more. Guys, get ready to be gay."
"Tch." I hate this dance.
Oh right, where is Kyoko-san? She was in the classroom a second ago. I try finding her anywhere. I can't spot her long amber hair. The Tenth is also still absent. Wait- does this mean-?
Then our plan didn't work. Dammit.
"Don't be thinking any funny stuff dude. I saw Tsuna-san in the nurse's office earlier. He looks injured. And Kyoko-chan's in a much better state than yesterday. She's also seventeen now, dammit! She doesn't need a babysitter."
She squeezes my hand and smiles brightly. The music begins and she then lets go. She does her thing swaying her able hips.
I take her hand and let my own encircle her.
"Trust me?" she squints her eyes as we face the Bucking horse and my shades-shielded sis.
We both let our hips do its thing at their direction.
"Let's do this then!"
We then did our thing.
~K27~
Me.
Well, well, well...
My fingers curl around the trigger. My target is going to the Training Center to supervise. I'll laugh because he won't see me inside.
Chances like this should never be slipped by!
My eyes finally locked onto its target. The scope can never be wrong.
Time to party-party-!
"Kyoko-san, what are you doing here again?"
The damn gun nearly slipped out of the roof. I hold it by the end and hastily stole a glance at Yamamoto-kun. He had already gone inside the TC.
Sh!t...
An extra popped up.
"Shouldn't you be training with-?" I was about to chide him when I saw the bandages he was in.
He laughs upon my reaction.
"Don't worry, I managed to win in the end. I just had to pay the incentive to waste his extra hours. So... shouldn't you be dancing with the others?"
"I've got other stuff to do so..."
"Like pointing a gun at Yamamoto-kun?"
Oh my gawd he caught me.
Can this day get any worse?
"Tell me, what has Yamamoto done to you to get Reborn this involved?"
"I-It's none of your business!" I snap, my voice quivering.
He steps forward. Hastily, I take the rifle back in both of my arms and aim it at him.
"D-don't come a step closer or else-"
"Give up, Kyoko-san please. Whatever Reborn said to you, this is not the answer."
"I won't yield," I say firmly and locked my fingers on the trigger. I remembered what Reborn said about Tsuna-san's reason for going to Namimori. "If this is for your and Haru's own good, I'll be willing to do this."
"Then-" the Dying Will flame is now planted on his forehead.
As he runs and I cringe before pulling the trigger a trident comes into view and before I knew it, Tsuna-san was sprawled on the ground, flames extinguished.
"Kufufu~ Think about your injuries first, Sawada Tsunayoshi before stepping outside."
His green uniform, mismatched eyes, and his pineapple hairstyle all eerily remind me of Chrome.
"Ah, I was told by the baby to take down all hindrances on your task, as exemplified with Sawada Tsunayoshi here, kufufu..."
I stand up and look at him furiously.
"You could've done that earlier, idiot! I could've shot Yamamoto-kun by then if you were, I know! Oh... so kind to have taken care of Mr. Hindrance here the moment he opened the damn door!"
"Ah," his eyes expressed surprise at my words before his fist finds his mouth. "Kufufu~ A feisty one, eh? Oya oya, it would have been all too dull if I had apprehended him then and there then."
"I don't need you giving me wisecracks. Just do your duty next time with speed, you hear?" I stow my rifle away. I need to make an appearance there if I don't want to be suspected.
"Your wish is Rokudo Mukuro's weakness, sweet lady~" he bows.
"Err... whatever," I shift uneasily. His voice was seductive and freaky. He's a natural when it comes probably with flirting with girls like me. I shouldn't be too close to this guy.
With a laugh, he disappears once more in that mist haze like Chrome's, just in time before Hibari-san barges in, battle-mode turned on.
"Where did that pineapple go?" he growled at me. I shrugged nervously. Glaring, he sped off.
Pfft. But pineapple? Hm... pineapple head...PH... Yeah, I think I'll call that mystery guy PH-kun.
I stare at Tsuna-san who was still unconscious. I aim by gun now at his head.
"Erase the memory of ever going into the rooftop door just eight minutes ago," I whispered at the gun before pulling the trigger.
By then, I pulled him up and headed straight to the nurse's office, ready to tell the nurse to guard this guy closely next time.
This is so déjà vu. I hate the fact that I'm doing this again.
He owes me big time.
~K27~
Him.
I was worried sick. I'm glad that Kyoko-san managed to be in practice today.
W-well it's not like I'm- well- ah, dammit I sound so stupid.
"Where were you?" the hag asks, looking at her like some demented bitchface she is.
"Ah, I forgot my stuff," she smiled and showed us her bag. I turn pink for a moment when her eyes look at me.
"Geez, Kyoko-chan. They're already dancing the Mambo. Tsuna-san still not going to be your partner then?"
I facepalm. You are so obvious, hag.
"No, he got hurt earlier."
"By whom?" I butt in, my teeth seething. Whoever that person is deserves a taste of the shit he friggin' deserves.
"Err, it was Tsuna-san's fault. Reborn-san told me when I was taking my stuff."
"Who did that to the Tenth?" I insist knowing, my temper flaring up. I'd rather that she just cut to the chase so I can kill that asshole as soon as possible.
"H-Hibari-san did it... but it's ok Gokudera-kun. Tsuna-san was at fault there and not Hibari-san! I'd rather not that you get hurt or anything..."
The hag squeezed my arm rather painfully. Well, thanks for the late reaction, hag.
I simply folded my arms in defeat. "Fine," I mutter.
Her hand finds my head, and I can't help but actually redden now.
"Thanks," she smiled. I nodded and she moved on to find a partner when...
"Can I be your partner?"
That question came out of the blue.
She turned.
Sh-
It- It didn't come from these lips.
"Sure," she said, smiling. But then I noticed something strange in her tone when she took the baseball freak's hand.
"You baldie idiot! You should've taken her hand and whisked her away or something-"
I didn't get to catch most of the hag's ramblings as my direction keeps staring at Kyoko-san moving rather stiffly at the dance floor.
Her tone of voice emitted deep sarcasm. But only a tinge, and barely noticeable. Her eyes too, looked rather funny when it bore into the baseball freak's own.
The way Yamamoto also handled Kyoko-san was rather strange too. He acted a little off when he twirled her and didn't smile much as they danced.
He... I can feel this strange aura from both of them.
"We need to talk later, Miura," I whisper as we also took off.
I know it when two people discreetly loathe each other.
~K27~
"So...you're telling me that... Takeshi-kun has something to do with Kyoko-san leaving yesterday?"
"Are you deaf or something?"
"I don't need your sarcasm right now, idiot. You already know by now that there's no way I'd believe you."
"Right. I almost forgot that you're too lovey-dovey with the baseball idiot to even notice. You're such a good friend to Kyoko-san as people notice. Good for you!"
I continue playing the piano with the disorienting melody. Her idiocy makes it difficult for me to concentrate. It had already been four hours since we were excused from dancing the Fox Trot. I don't fucking know why we need to learn that for the stupid Prom, but whatever. At least we have free time to 'chat' and practice.
"Look, whatever that Takeshi-kun did to make you jump to conclusions is still not enough for evidence. Come on dude, Kyoko-chan's pretty much acting normal anyway. She's smiling and stuff. There's nothing wrong with her."
"She's acting too normal, idiot." Dammit, why can't she use her common sense?
"Shut up. I have been friends with her since junior high school. I know her better than you. Three years were you three gone, and three years I stood by her."
"Then, in those three years, did you ever listen to her problems? Or lemme guess, she was the one lending her ears to your ramblings and not let her talk about hers?"
"W-what the hell are you talking about?" her voice was growing tinier with every second coming.
"Well her parents divorced, her brother left her all alone, and she decided to work everything out all by herself. Haven't you asked her about that?"
"Sh-shut up-"
"Have you asked her why she had multiple part-time jobs? Haven't you asked her why she was quiet all the time every time you'd rant about your fail love with the Tenth?"
"SHUT UP!" she stamped the floor angrily, her tears were glinting at the afternoon sun like diamonds.
My hands paused. I stared at her hard.
Really. I made her cry again without even pulling her hair.
It's just like... like before when that pineapple girl just couldn't stick with me.
Her expression was just the same as the hag's.
"It's pretty simple to know this stuff. I just asked Kyoko-san. She told me so many things with a straight face. I asked her if she ever told you, her 'best friend'. Guess what she answered?"
No matter what that baseball idiot says, this hag and I... we'd never work out.
Even if she'd concede, I'd just batter her with my demeaning retorts.
"What?"
"Eh?"
"WHAT DID SHE ANSWER, IDIOT?" The hag wiped her tears and let out a smile, to my shock.
"Y-you're not leaving? After what I said to you...?" What... just what is happening here?
"Puh-leez. You actually tell me your shallow remarks will be enough to make this nut cry? You barely even left a dent on me LOL!" she smirks and romps around the music room.
I remain speechless, eyeing her beadily as she looks at the instruments, obviously searching for something.
"Pfft! You actually fell for it!" she chortles as she fishes out an acoustic guitar and grabs a chair before sitting beside me. "So, what did she say?"
"She said nothing," I mutter, clearly irked by the developments. The nerve-!
"I guess you'd say that. I mean, duh," with that, she intentionally stuck her tongue out. She took out a pick from her keychain and began strumming some notes. (NOTES, of all things?)
"What the fuck are you doing?"
"I'm playing. Don't you know this song?"
"How did you know how to fucking play a guitar?"
"My real dad taught me. He also taught me how to dance. He was such an amazing guy," she smiled and continued plucking. "He didn't forced me to play guitar or dance. He told me that I won't be happy if I pursue something I never want to do in the first place."
"What happened to him?"
"When I was eight, he decided to go overseas to help us scrap off a living. Then a bomb went off in the plane he was in. Terrorist reasons. He never managed to land on that country's soil."
"How nice."
"Then this new dad came to town and grabbed mom's heart. He forced me to do shit I didn't want to do. Now, he wants me to be a scientist. What the fudge?" she titters half-heartedly. "It's not like I have a choice anyway. That's the only university I applied in."
"I hope you'll fail."
"Bastard..."
"I wish you'd fail so you can be what you want to be."
She laughed. "Oh, so you're saying that it's the same as choosing the Mafia?"
"It's been my dream since I was a kid."
"You're a multi-talented guy. Why not become a pro musician or a scientist instead? With your skills, you'd become famous in no time."
I snicker.
"And besides, if you choose to live normally, maybe Kyoko-chan will choose you."
"Are you an idiot for giving me that kind of advice?"
She continued strumming.
"I'm just offering you a choice."
"Thanks but no thanks, hag. This path is the one I've already been driving in since four years ago."
"I hope you'll die then~"
"Asshole."
"'Evah," she grinned as she strummed the finale.
I roll my eyes.
"This is the part you're supposed to ask me what I was playing, Baldie."
I stand up and pace the music room.
"It's Kanae no Kimochi. I just love 5 Centimeters. Hey, are you even listening?"
"Whatever."
"Kay. I was hoping I'd teach you how to play. You don't know the guitar right?"
I finally succeeded and returned to my seat. With a pat, I laid the guitar in front, my left and right hand at the ready.
"Whoever said that was wrong. My mother was a great teacher."
"She died?" her voice was a whisper.
"Father had her killed."
"WHAT THE EFF-?"
I hit her on the head.
She hits mine too.
"Like seriously?"
"She died through a freak accident. It's over anyway. I don't want to return to my father. He wasn't my real family to begin with."
"Oh my god, we're so the same-!"
"I'm just saying it figuratively. But he's the culprit," I say in a low voice. "I don't want to fucking talk about it. Thanks so much for bringing it up."
"I'm sorry, for your mom and dad I mean," she murmurs, and before long unleashes her guitar again and began strumming randomly.
"My dad doesn't deserve a motherfucking apology," I say curtly.
"He does. He needs to see how grown-up you are already," she grins. "On the side though, to make your mom and Kyoko-chan proud, you need to learn this. It's a pretty easy piece to learn, and I want you to do this live performance on Kyoko-chan's window-"
"FUCK NO!" I bellow, nearly breaking the guitar as she said that. W-what the hell is this woman thinking? She- she really wants me to- to-
"But it's not tonight, idiot," she sighs. "You can do it tomorrow or whatever time you'd be able to master it. It's pretty easy to learn, I promise."
"Just from hearing you, is there supposed to be someone doing the bass and rhythm shit?"
"Err, yeah. Don't worry, I'll be on the shadows assisting yah," she winks.
Beads of sweat began trickling down. Goddammit, r-really? S-She wants me to fit into this romantic archetype? And those things I bought to stuff on Kyoko-san's locker crap-
"Earth to Gokudera, respond! Hey!" She's now knocking my noggin. I push her away. "I still have plans with Takeshi-kun later so let's get this going."
"Yeah, yeah," I wave off. "I'm only following your 'advice' because I trust you. Don't friggin' disappoint me."
"Words that are music to my pierced ears," she says happily. "Promise me you'll walk Kyoko-chan home today before Tsuna, ok?"
"Tch."
"You know," she smiles as she begins to play. "I think I know the song we'd perform."
"Woah, no 'we's'," I say flatly as I follow the early notes in a much slower pace. Compared to the piano, my guitar skills are just notch above average.
"I want to play 'The Saltwater Room'!" she pipes up enthusiastically.
I stop playing. Sh-she really- Why that?
"Words that are music to my ears," I snort. "Is that final?"
"Yep," she nods, her eyes intent on forcing my fingers to do their work. "It was a tough choice but I figure it'll be easier to sing compared to the others. You'll be working on a synthesizer though. That ok with you? I'll be the bass."
"Nah, I think we should just have the music minus one. We're going to be singing for real."
"WHUT?" her eyes widen. "Then you want us to act and have props?"
I nod.
"Fudge, that will require more preparation you know."
"Whatever. We're doing it. There will be a piano the whole time. The piano will be the center."
"This is so crazy-" she squirms
"Will you trust me?" I grab her arm to pacify her.
She stares at me for a moment. I also gaze at her own for a few seconds.
She beams warmly. "Oh my god, this will be quite a challenge to do you know."
"Whatever it takes, if it will help me get my message across, I'll do it."
"Then... you say that you'd choose her over the Mafia then."
"N-no. Where the hell did that come from?"
"It's pretty obvious that you're all leaving soon. If you do actually love her, you'd choose her."
"You know, your stressing me out hag."
"Right... Sorry about that. We should think about your practice for your concert tomorrow."
FINALLY. I clench my fist in triumph as we began to play.
Well hag congratulations for this comeback. You managed to make me uneasy.
...I chose Kyoko-san over the Tenth this time. Will I be able to choose her again, over the family that truly accepted me?
Damn. And Miura, we have another problem.
DID KYOKO-SAN EVER OPEN HER PE LOCKER?
~K27~
"Without You"
(I love you, David Guetta)
Me.
Ok.
Well.
Uh-
-huh?
I was about to get my uniform in PE for tomorrow when the locker burst.
Yes... and... I stared at the culprits:
Sweet-smelling pink roses.
Well, whoever Don Romantico is deserves a hit on the head for lack of originality.
SERIOUSLY, WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE ROSES YET AGAIN?
Anyway... it made me kind of... fuzzy. Well how else can I describe it?
And... this is the first time someone... someone actually gave me flowers.
It's kind of nice.
I could insert a smiley face to prove how good I'm feeling.
Right. It'll be enough to get off the fail mission I had with Yamamoto-kun.
I've been tailing him since morning, and I can't nail him!
Well, just now I nearly had him when he was out for afternoon practice with the other baseball jocks and I had the rooftop all to myself when Haru came from nowhere and kept on insisting that she'd be waiting for Yamamoto-kun. With the guys surrounding him, it was pretty hard for me to aim.
I failed on Day 1.
Anyway, until Day 2 then, I guess.
Dejected, I grab armfuls of roses and place all of them in the paper bag I purchased from the canteen. If I run fast enough and without stopping, I'll be able to save at least ninety per cent of them. Ok, I can do this!
I look at the wall clock. It's nearing five o'clock. I don't want to bump into Tsuna-san. I fear the worst in case I do.
With that, I sling my bag on my shoulder and carry the bag with both hands as I broke into a run.
I manage to reach the door and the gates while running like an idiot before-
I saw him.
"K-Kyoko-san."
The stuttering is now slight there. His arms tightly continue clutching the bicycle's handlebars.
"Gokudera-kun?" I gawk.
"Hi," he begins awkwardly and then spies the flowers in my arms. "Oh. Haha."
"What are you doing here?"
"Umm... I was waiting for y-you...haha."
"R-really?" I also stammer now. What the heck, he's making me feel as uneasy as him.
I notice how his eyes look at the flowers and at me with slightly fearful eyes.
It's obvious. The connection is so obvious haha.
"If you're worrying about the baseball freak or the hag, they left minutes ago."
"O-Ok then..." I trail off. Darn it, what else can I say to make him see that the flowers are dying?
"I-If you need any help Kyoko-san, you can take a ride so we can save your roses."
"Right, Gokudera-kun!" I sigh in relief as I hand him the bag and made my way to the back. "Thanks for noticing." FINALLY.
"Haha... kay," he chuckles and we become just friends again. He lets his feet run through the pedals and we were off, speeding away.
"Did Haru-chan and Yamamoto-kun leave already?" I asked him, to make sure that our conversation won't be dotted with more silences.
"Yeah. They left a couple of minutes ago." We were speeding up now. He gave me a quick assuage with his remark. Then another person flashed through my mind.
"What about Tsuna-san?" I still can't call me 'Tsuna-kun' outside my head.
"I didn't see him. The Tenth must still be practicing."
I bite my lip at his remark. Hastily, I take out my cellphone and madly texted Onii-chan to help Tsuna-san. Oh my gawd, he probably can't even walk himself out of the hospital. The doctor's kinda creepy too with that (horny) stare of his.
I shudder.
"Umm... speaking of which, about Tsuna-san... are you going to watch his match on Saturday?" I ask out loud. I am astonished myself to let those stupid thoughts out.
Silence fell.
We rounded on the curve and I nearly fell. Thank gawd I held onto Gokudera-kun.
Only then did I realize my heart was pounding as he dropped the bombshell.
"I...I'm not going."
~K27~
Him.
What the fuck did I just say?
"Wh-why?"
Her tone expressed the same emotion I was feeling. Dammit, I shouldn't have said anything.
"B-but if I were you, I wouldn't do the same Kyoko-san," I say quickly. "The Tenth would like to see you there." Shit I wish I can take back the things I just said!
I didn't hear Kyoko-san anymore. Only snippets of my pulsating heart kept me concentrated on the road. Goddammit, things aren't going the way I want them to! Maybe I should've stuck with the pick-up lines the hag kept giving me!
"You don't appear to be friends with Tsuna-san anymore, with that tone of yours."
"Then... you say that you'd choose her over the Mafia then."
The hag's comment comes back to me.
"It's pretty obvious that you're all leaving soon. If you do actually love her, you'd choose her."
Clam it up.
"Oh Gokudera-kun," she tries to say brightly. "You're one of his best mates. This is probably the last time you'll see Tsuna-san showing off his skillz."
"If you do actually love her, you'd choose her."
CLAM. UP.
"Besides, all of you might go to Italy after graduation. Shouldn't you guys just be friends and forget m-"
"If you do actually love her, you'd choose-"
JUST SHUT IT-!
"Kyoko-san."
The sounds... it's making me pissed off.
I love Kyoko-san. I love her, hag.
"Actually... Kyoko-san..."
I love her so I-
"I-I want to go to college too."
The last words just slipped out.
"With you."
~K27~
Me.
Those final things he said stunned me.
It nearly made me stomach hurl. Why? Why me, of all people?
I want to cry because it's not fair. My heart's palpitating so madly right now.
"We're here, Kyoko-san."
I can't even process the words he just said. He had to half-carry me out of the bike and past the gates.
Why me, Gokudera-kun? You're taking up such a poor choice right now. Why not Tsuna-kun? Why not the family who accepted you?
"Gokudera-kun?" my voice rang out hollowly. He returns to his bike probably to get the flowers.
I want to tell him he's an idiot but-
"Hm?" he inquires. I hate myself. Just the sound of his words make me feel so guilty.
If that's what he wants, then so be it. But...
"Thank you."
The words just fell.
I scoop up the flowers to hide the surprise. I smile for good measure.
"Thank you for those words. And these flowers." I have to be honest with him. It's obvious. These things... they just want to convey something so simple. Something so, so simple that even reason doesn't want to comprehend.
My heart continues to beat.
His grin made it beat much faster.
"See you later then," he says lamely.
I can't answer him.
It will be soon. He'll probably confront Tsuna-san about his decision.
I just wave at him.
The fragrance continues to heavily allure me as I ran back to the house. I spy Onii-chan making his protein shake while humming some nonsensical melody and run to the living room, putting the flowers in our empty vase.
All of them fit somehow.
Tsk, tsk. Gokudera-kun, you thought about everything.
Oh right, I forgot the water!
I run to the kitchen to get it.
After all, I have to save these flowers. These precious feelings he tries so hard to reach out.
~K27~
Thursday-
"Love"
(We can't thank you enough Yiruma)
Him.
"Congratulations. Just great, baldie. Kyoko-chan easily saw through the flower-ploy!"
I have been hearing her say this for 10 minutes now since we came to school and I kept playing the piano to not let her ruin my moment.
Geez, what's wrong about having Kyoko-san knowing it was I who sent her the flowers?
"Look hag, she didn't say anything bad about it. I mean, she actually... smiled when she thanked me-"
"She'll know you never thought of that idea alone dude! She might find out about us..."
"There was never an 'us'!" I look at her, deeply displeased. "D-don't think that w-we're even-"
"Pfft, not in a zillion years dude," she yawns back. "Don't be all gung-ho about us getting together. The chick and the bald- that'll be a laugh." She strums her guitar carefully. I follow suit while muttering curses at her.
It was the best moments of my life (with the exception of the Tenth saving me) and she has to put her foot down. Great.
"Wow, you already know the finale," she gasps, getting all googly-eyed when we wrapped up.
"I only got thirty minutes of sleep thanks to this," I scoff. "I had to spend yen to have the piece printed and all of my study time."
"Well, that's ok dude," she pats me happily. "What are you studying for anyway?"
"For college," I huff as we play the song again.
"Y-You're going to take the exams?" Her eyes shift at my direction. Her hands kept on playing.
"Yes," I ignore her gaze.
"But K-Kyoko-chan's going to a culinary school. She had already saved up for that. C-can you even cook?"
"She's going to what?" The neck of the guitar nearly met my knee.
"She's going to a cooking school in Tokyo... err... Le Cordon Bleu Tokyo or something? She got accepted."
"Y-you're kidding me..."
"Well, becoming a chef was her passion. And you don't even know how to cook water. How can you ever get in?"
"Oh shut up," I snapped, grinning. "When there's a fucking will, there's a motherfucking way."
"Whatever," the hag sighed. "I'm only going to help you get her. You'll be on your own once college comes around." With that, we both stand up and return the guitar back. "I'll bring my two guitars later. Let's meet at the park, kk?"
"Deal," I yawn. "What dance are we going to have now again?"
"Meringue. I can't wait," she says with her touch of sarcasm. "You'll like that, won't you?"
"You're voice is annoying," I roll my eyes. My grin was still plastered though.
"K-kay, how nice," Haru says, sighing. "It's raining."
My frown returned. I forgot the umbrella again.
~K27~
Me.
Yes. I brought a raincoat to school, and rubber boots.
I had this gut feeling- well actually I noticed it since I walked to school- that the clouds were grey so I packed up a raincoat. Gokudera-kun forgot to return my umbrella, and I handed Onii-chan the other one. That's ok though. Everything's still dandy.
While my classmates were waiting for Dino-sensei to come and get our practice over with (I will think about Yamamoto-kun later after I manage to learn this dance) the latecomers showed up, sopping wet, with Hibari-san egging them with his tonfa forward.
I was about to mutter shit about how Hibari-san managed to enter without getting wet in the rain when Kusakabe-san finally showed himself, with an umbrella and covering Hibari-san with it.
KAY.
I think I admired Hibari-san far too much.
"Herbivore," he said to me, making me freeze. H-he's really talking to me?
"H-Hibari-san?" I squeak in reply.
"Tell Buckinghorse I found these two in the music room, breaching school rules-"
"But we already gained permission from the Music teacher!" Haru suddenly pipes up and goes baloney on Hibari-san.
"If you dare interrupt me anymore I'll bite you to death," said Hibari-san now threateningly raising up his tonfa.
Haru senses the danger and puts up her hands in defeat.
"Fine, I'm going, I'm going. But I am so telling the principal." With that, she retreats.
In the end, no one's going to defy the Hibari. Not even Haru.
Hibari-san grunts and speeds off. I giggle. That's probably his way of crowing about his victory.
"That pompous sonofabetch!" Haru hisses. "Just wait- just wait and let's see if you're still going to show off your cowlick-infested hair again, you git!"
"Hag, just shut up and get changed," Gokudera-kun sighed and held her by the scruff of her uniform and pulled her, lying back to our direction.
My mouth just runs agape at the two.
Good grief.
~K27~
"Kyoko-chan, are you excited?" asks Haru in earnest as she fiddled with Gokudera's hands. Dino-sensei has just announced that our dance is the Meringue and will involve switching of partners.
I just smiled a faltering one at her. What can I be excited about? I'm not a good dancer, and the guys who'll become my partners will just notice my fail dancing.
I continue to look at Dino-sensei nervously.
"So any one here willing to be one of my partners?" smiles Dino-san, making Haru squeal in delight.
She was one of the three-fourths of the population who raised their hands.
I raise my hand too. It's about time I have a partner other than Yamamoto-kun. Come on, Dino-sensei! PITY ME!
"Let's see who I'll pick among the eager beavers here..." he winks, taking out Enzio the snapping turtle from his jacket. "Enzio will now judge our pretty ladies here. Who do you want to be my partner?"
Weird. Why the eff is the turtle the judge?
I raise my hand and attempt to make the turtle notice.
"And... we have the winners. Mitsuru-chan and Niki-chan, please step up here."
"WHAT THE F-" Haru nearly screamed in protest but I managed to place my left hand on her mouth.
"Gokudera-kun," I hand her to him exasperatedly. He nods and takes a handkerchief from his pocket and places his covered hand onto her mouth.
Oh. I should've thought of that.
"Mmf- I can manage on my own. Get your pampered hands off me, baldie!" she squirms about and wrenches him away. With that, she cleans up her uniform. "Yoohoo, Touya-kun~"
I stare at her before gaping. She was pouting slightly, her hands on hips as Touya-san looks at her quizzically.
"Umm... can you help Kyoko-san? She has no partner... see...umm... if it's ok with you, I mean..."
I facepalm as Touya-san immediately agrees by pushing his partner's hand away much to her annoyance.
Damn this girl... what the hell? She can easily get her exes this easily... and she easily moved on with Dino... er the snapping turtle not choosing her.
"Aww, Kyoko-chan. Don't let a snapping turtle get you down. Touya's fine," she tells me encouragingly. I give her a matter-of-fact stare. Of course I won't let a snapping turtle effing make me sad!
With that, Touya nervously takes my hand.
"Music Romario!"
On cue, our steps carefully follow Dino-sensei's. Compared to the dances earlier, this dance was easy to follow.
"Ouch!" I yelp.
But Touya-san's... foot keeps... err, ruining it.
"Ow, p-please watch your steps Touya-san," I keep telling him to no avail. And he keeps hitting the little effing finger... sigh.
He mumbles quick apologies as we tread on. Yamamoto-kun had already assigned spotlights and a disco ball on the ceiling. It was kind of eerie for me. I mean, our dance was a happy-dance and we had all these lights... urk.
"Ouch, haha," I just laugh to soothe the pain. Dammit Haru. I... hate you.
"And one, two, three- switch!"
Eh? D-did I just hear sensei right?
And Touya twirls me around and lets me go on-
"Woah...!" Okay fail. The friggin' high heels we're now forced to wear for practice is betraying me now as I aimlessly skipped to my next partner. Damn, and my feet were hurting me-
"Ah," says my partner who holds my hand just in time to support me. "Please watch your step," he adds as he spins me smoothly.
I gape. I do it... better compared to the fiasco earlier.
WHATTHEH?
"Kyoko-san," says my partner again and whisks me forward, pulling me close carefully and gracefully (?) compared to before. My jaw drops.
Gokudera-kun smiles in return. "Keep holding my hand, Kyoko-san. Relax," With that, he urges me to move my foot forward as he moves his own to the opposite direction. "I'll lead the way. I won't stamp your foot, promise."
I look at him sourly. H-he saw oh my gad!
But I follow his instructions. Soon, I was just closing my eyes and feeling the music as we move. The jumbled thoughts strung together. Dino-sensei's instructions as we danced appeared more like echoes compared to how my feet stepped back and forth.
He taught me the steps. All in two minutes of our partner time.
As he twirls me for one last time I close my eyes.
"Don't try letting them stamp on you, alright?" he cheers me on.
With that, I let go.
Yeah, I will.
I took my next partner's hand.
I open my eyes and looks at him encouragingly. My hands intermingle with his own. He gulps nervously.
"I'm here." I smile. "Don't worry, I'll help you. Ease up ok?"
The fuzzy feeling returns as my eyes linger to Gokudera-kun, who was carefully teaching a girl the steps.
"Ok then," I tell my partner happily. "Just follow my instructions."
It just continues to warm me up. I can't help but just share this feeling I can't hold up.
Even the sounds of the rain above cannot dampen the flame within me.
~K27~
"From Y to Y"
(Before my tears fall, I must move on)
Her.
Oh my god, I'm so, so happy! Everything just went on smoothly without a hitch! Yay!
Ha... this is the best feeling ever. I can't help but give Baldie a thumbs-up. He pulled it off without his usual stammering! Ah, I should congratulate him later.
Uh... well, I should probably continue waiting for Takeshi-kun here... he's making me worried though. I mean... well, he hasn't returned for a long time. I'm worried at what the heck happened. I texted him to be here... urgh.
So I'm right here, outside the school buildings, sitting on the bench. WAITING.
It's only been a couple of minutes. Agh! I hate myself for being super impatient!
But the nagging doubt remained... I bite my tongue. Agh, I hate myself for not believing in him.
"It's raining hard you know," someone tells me from behind.
The pang in my chest surfaces. I know this voice. I know it all too well.
"I have an umbrella, in case you haven't noticed," I snap, lifting the umbrella (Kyoko-chan snatched from his onii-chan for me) higher. "I'm waiting for Takeshi-kun so-"
My voice just cracks. I hate myself.
I hate myself, for feeling so small in front of Tsuna-san.
"Besides..." I tell him, looking up. Those chocolate brown eyes now stare at me back, and my mouth nearly chokes at this sight. They look like deep vats of chocolate I can sink on anytime. "You're the one who's wet. And you're hand-" I point at his casted hand.
"It will heal in no time," he laughs at me, reminding me all too much of the guffaws we shared a long time ago. My chest just hurts more, and I become more tremulous as he shares the bench with me without warning.
"So..." I say to not make the uncomfortable feeling in my chest get the better of me. "What brings you here?"
"You. I was worried..." his eyes now look up at the cloud-ridden horizon. "...about this to happen."
"W-what do you mean?" I ask, a little affronted and a little unhappy at his words. He should've told me that a long time ago- instead of not giving even a farewell to me.
"About Yamamoto-kun's erratic behaviour. Kyoko-san's not giving any hints, and you appear shaken compared to yesterday-"
"Look," I start determinedly. "He was stressed out when he said those words to me yesterday. He has the campus government elections and the Prom on his head then. He probably never meant to say that-"
I hate this. I absolutely hate where this is going.
"Haru-san. Are you sure?"
Stop it.
"Shut up. He's probably not here because he's busy-"
"Haru-san I know that-"
Stop saying mean things to me.
"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT, TSUNA-SAN!" I bellow, now standing up and staring down at him. The umbrella slips from my hands. "I don't... please don't tell Haru all Tsuna-san's lies."
My mannerisms return. Fuck, what is my mind trying to pull now?
"Yamamoto-kun left already," he just says to me.
"Liar."
My mouth moves on its own.
"Haru-san, can you tell me what happened yesterday?"
"Fuck off."
I don't want to hear his voice anymore. I don't want him here in my face anymore.
I don't want to love him anymore, goddammit.
"What did Yamamoto-kun say to you?" he asks again, his tone pleasant and calm and piss-worthy.
But somehow, he lets my voice go on.
"He said... he said that he'll reject me. If I don't ignore Kyoko-san, he'll reject me."
It was ok at first. Our date was swinging. We had ice cream and cotton candy. We had a nice bike ride...
Why did things go wrong? Why would Takeshi-kun ask me that question, why that- of all things possible to ask?
"He's... probably just jesting with me," I whisper. "T-Tsuna-san, I want you to leave now."
"Haru-san-"
"TSUNA-SAN," I start to modulate my voice. "He probably won't come here when he's got his
Boss tailing him. P-Please... j-just go."
I hate him.
I hate Tsuna-san so much.
"And.. will you choose him?"
I stare at him. His question reverberates to my chest. His eyes look at my own. I want to blanch. I want his eyes to be warm, to be gently looking at me.
They're lies.
"Whatever," I murmur before picking up the umbrella. "You don't want me to be happy then? S-so this is your way of taking at me back? D-did you order Yamamoto-kun to stood me up? S-so you can be happy-happy while I-"
He touches my shoulder.
If it was the fourteen-year-old me, I would've instantly melted.
Yeah, if this happened three years ago I would've...
I threw his hand away.
"I didn't order Yamamoto-kun."
"Tsuna-san, I'm amazed. You can lie with such a straight face-"
"I. Am. Not. Lying. Haru-san if you continue to act like a brat-"
"Brat?" I let poison now intermingle with my tone. "I was never a brat, Tsuna-san."
The poison... why when I look into his brown eyes... why won't it work?
"I... actually Tsuna-san, if I was a brat, I would've clawed your face the time I saw your face after you left Namimori."
I... laugh at myself. So it's true, haha.
I can't let the flame of from past embers extinguish fully.
"Tsuna-san, if I was a brat, I would've told Kyoko-chan that I liked you. I would've let my childhood fantasies get the better of me and kept on believing that you like me."
Why? Why am I so fucking weak?
I sag back onto the bench, my umbrella drooping slightly.
"See, haha. I'm not a kid. I know how real love works. You love... you believe... you trust."
Why... do I cry so easily?
"But- you fail haha- you cry..."
Why... why can't he put his hand in my shoulder again?
Why can't he comfort me?
"You move on. So you love again..." The images of my ex-boyfriends run like a movie marathon through my mind. "You invest, you exert, you hope... you fight. But eventually... you become weak, will tire... will let go." I snicker. All those dudes meant nothing to me, compared to the love I felt for Tsuna-san. "Thanks to you, I learned that love doesn't always succeed."
I felt pressure on my hand.
I look to my right.
Both his hands were pressing it.
He stooped down and breathed on it.
"You were cold," he smiles at me.
The tears didn't cease trickling down.
"So you're a young adult now then," he smiles at me, and I bite my tongue again to stop speaking to this dude. To wake up.
To realize that all of this is just a web that will trap me.
"You finally realized that love... doesn't actually last."
My umbrella falls from my hand, but he catches it just in time.
"But it actually teaches us to just let it go, if we can no longer hold on."
The pattering of the rain drowned my sniffles after.
It was consoling- the sound I mean.
Thank God for it.
And actually, I smile as he stops squeezing my hand. Sure, it was cold, and probably my skirt was wet... but I don't mind.
Tsuna-san... he changed so much in these three years.
"You know..." I said finally, beaming at him. I look out at the grounds. People didn't seem to mind us as they return home. "I realized something else after three years. There's a stark difference between letting go and giving up. Letting go's sacrificing what was rightfully yours, while giving up's surrendering what was never really yours. You... in the end I just gave up on you."
I just look at the plick-plock-ing of the rain. I didn't need to look at his eyes now to realize something.
I was just licking on my self-inflicted wounds. I already had forgiven him a long time ago.
I just couldn't forgive myself for not actually confronting this fact.
"I loved you, Tsuna-san."
I can say those words in a whimsical tune now.
He doesn't reply back. I don't mind though.
It's time probably, that I must just continue moving forward.
Heck, I'm only 17 with a full life ahead of me, goddammit!
~K27~
Him.
I... hate the rain. It was ruining everything. If it continues to rain even tonight well I ought to-
I sigh to not let profanities, once again, get the better of me.
I look at my watch. It was nearing five o'clock. It was already dismissal two hours ago.
Where is Kyoko-san?
Sure enough, I saw her in her raincoat and rubber duckie-yellow boots. She still looked beautiful in her attire.
"Ah, hello Gokudera-kun!" she says cheerfully.
"Er, have you seen the hag?" I asked her. It's disconcerting. Yamamoto left right after dismissal time, with the hag nowhere in sight.
I look at my watch again. It's already five minutes past five.
"Umm, I thought she was with Yamamoto-kun...?" she asked me innocently.
I bite the tip of my tongue. Even Kyoko-san doesn't know either.
"She's in the bench at the right side of the second building," someone says from behind Kyoko-san. The sinking feeling comes to haunt me when I see the Tenth. "I talked with her earlier. She still hasn't realized Yamamoto-kun stood her up."
"Yamamoto-kun what?" Kyoko-san perks up at us.
Shit, the situation turned a shade of grey suddenly. I know where this will eventually lead to.
The hag said that I should ride Kyoko-san home. No matter what happens, I should continue doing that.
The Tenth looks at me.
I know what he's thinking- I should make the choice now.
"Kyoko-san... I..."
Tch. Fine hag.
"I have to excuse myself now. Until later... Tenth... Kyoko-san..."
With that, I rush my bike up to the direction the Tenth mentioned.
I snarl a little as I pedal faster.
I'm not someone who heeds orders, except from the Tenth's.
~K27~
Her.
T-Takeshi-kun... where are you?
I damn myself for not having a watch. Of all things to forget, why didn't I bring my watch?
Sigh, whatevah. I should be happy instead that Baldie's there with Kyoko-chan.
"You."
My hopes are now. OFFICIALLY. Dashed.
"W-what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be bringing Kyoko-chan home?" I say at the Baldie. Oh my god, what is he doing here?
"Obviously, I came to pick you up." With that, he throws me a dry raincoat from his bag. "Now come along idiot."
"What about Kyoko-chan?"
"The Tenth probably brought her home. Ride on the back now. Your waiting for the baseball freak is futile. He already went home."
"What?" His words rang, and I'm digesting what the effing shit he just said. He's telling the truth?
"The baseball freak's gone home two hours ago. Now please hurry up," he shoves me the raincoat with his empty hand.
"D-Did Takeshi-kun really-"
"He stood you up, yeah in case it's not that obvious. Now come on!"
I look at the raincoat for a few minutes.
"But... you're wet."
"Obviously, I'll catch a cold if we don't go now!"
"Umm... but this is your raincoat, right?"
"Kyoko-san gave it to me earlier at lunch. She probably meant to pass this to you via me. Now will you just snap out of your cutesy and wear it so we can finally jet off?"
The hell. The feeling in my stomach returned.
Baldie will really... will really risk his chance to ride Kyoko-chan for- for little old me...
I want to cry-!
"If you're going to mope I'm going to fucking leave you. Just put on the fucking raincoat so we can get the bloody hell out to your house to practice."
Right... I almost forgot the fact that sonofabetch of a prefect banned us from the music room.
I want to hit him! Now the Baldie will see the interiors of my room! Invasion of privacy alert!
"Oi! Just get on the bloody bike!"
Now he's swearing fail Brit. What's next, Chinese?
To prevent my ears from being polluted again, I put on the raincoat, stowed the umbrella in my bag and strapped myself behind him.
"This will so ruin my hair ya know," I pout.
"Loser," he smirks.
"Umm... Baldie?"
"WHAT?"
"C-can I call you Gokudera-san?"
"I never forbade you calling me Baldie. Is that permission enough?"
Good grief, he must be saying to himself.
"Umm... thank you, Gokudera-san."
And we speed off.
I hold on to his waist, and I just can't help but grin widely.
His hair isn't long enough to blind my eyes... for now.
~K27~
Actually, 2/4 of this story was typed AGAIN. It made me kind of sad because I had to redo it when the laptop where I originally store the files refused to open. ;A;
Some random facts about me: I am a high school senior, the editor-in-chief of the schoolpaper, and a club president. I will be graduating this March.
Tidbit about the fic: This will be finished on April.
Why am I telling you all this?
It's simple actually, it merely provides the fact that I'm currently drowning in work right now and I'm so stressed out. I mean, our exams took quite a while to end and more crapload that makes me feel so sad. Add to that, IDK if I'm even going to my dream university. (I passed all of the colleges I applied to whether it be UP or Ateneo, and it's friggin awesome). And my sister's laptop, where I usually type my fic every 3AM to 5AM on weekdays sadly won't work anymore. Sigh.
I'm sorry for updating so late, OTL. These last three months of classes are sure hectic that I can't even have time to breathe and update my LJ.
Anyway… thanks for reviewing. I'll probably PM you guys soon. I'll try to. ;A;
And if you're wondering… my birthday's on Valentine's Day.
I'll post the next chapter… when time permits me. :) So no next chapter previews. But it'll be... err... gag-worthy.
I mean, for Mukuro to *insert word* Kyoko? LOL?