When I had posted chapter 17, my sibling found a way to resurrect the laptop. I am so fail. The 7000+ words I typed were way different from the one I gave you.
Oh right, in case all of you were wondering...
...if you can't stick with this fic, I'm not forcing you to stay. But if you will stay till the very end, then know that you guys are the main reason why I'm still typing this story despite the projects, papers, reviewers and deadlines. My grades are on the line, and I honestly don't care. I'm not stupid for letting this little fic get the better of me but... aww, heck who cares? For staying and believing in me, I give my thanks. If you express outrage for my love with 5995 but still believe in me, thanks a lot. You won't be disappointed.
I can't give you cookies. But I will send my love via this chapter and the next- the most dramatic ones to date. In my opinion. XD
Thursday-
"Love"
(Yep, since Thursday ain't over yet)
Me.
"Tsuna-kun?"
If I can describe one major feeling whenever I'm with him, I guess I'll just describe one thing: nerves.
He turns, and oh gawd I just can't look.
"E-Eh..." I forgot the question I was supposed to ask the instant he looks at me. I sigh and wonder why before, I can stare him down in times good and bad,
I wish that I still hate him. Instead of... er, being cool when he's around.
"Haha, I forgot what I was supposed to ask," I say, infuriated at myself. Why the eff am I so absent-minded?
"That's fine, I often forget what I'm supposed to ask too, whenever I look at Kyoko-san."
"S-Stop teasing me," I blush. Why can he say those things all too easily? What's wrong with him?
"I'm not teasing Kyoko-san," he smiles confidently without a trace of shame.
I just stare. This is what I'm annoyed at.
We just walk.
Frig, and he has the same raincoat as me- what the hell is wrong with this world?
"Oh right, err, I was just going to ask something about Gokudera-kun..." I say, kicking the puddles randomly. We're now walking so close together that it's making me feel so weird.
"About him seeing how Haru-san turned out?"
"That and... something else you probably will just laugh at."
"By the looks of things, he probably sent Haru-san home,"
"R-right..." I just agree with him before kicking the final puddle and setting of once more. "And you don't mind that Gokudera-kun left us?"
"No... why, Kyoko-san?"
"I had hoped that Yamamoto-kun would swoop down and Gokudera-kun will come back to... er, talk to you again."
"But there's nothing to talk about."
"Oh, sweet Sanmyaku there's a lot to talk about! Y-you're his friend right?"
"I think you've been watching a lot of anime series, Kyoko-san. That doesn't usually work in real life..."
"Gawd, you two are a bunch of stubborn asses!" I say exasperatingly. "And you're his boss, dammit! Shouldn't you be doing the work and talk with him more?"
"Eh?"
I'm considering of hitting him now for being truly no-good right now.
"Gokudera-kun... I think he's pretty lost right now since he told me that he liked me," I look down. "Shouldn't you be... telling him either 'back off' or 'you win'?"
"I... don't know. Even if I'm his boss, I'm still his friend. When it comes to matters like this, I can just cheer him on. He has to make his own decisions now. Besides... he already has Haru-san giving him a hand."
"Ooh... you sound quite bitter Tsuna-kun."
"T-that's not true, Kyoko-san..."
"Bitter Tsuna-kun!" It kinda makes me happy to be able to tease him now.
He gives me now the silent treatment.
I stick my tongue out at him.
In the end though, three minutes of doing that kind of wore me down.
And we just walk.
"Umm... sorry about that..." I apologize.
"S-sorry Kyoko-san. I just didn't get enough sleep last night. Had been patrolling the town all night so-"
"Just by yourself?" Dude, this guy can be pretty extreme.
"Yes... but only because nowadays everyone has been busy doing their things and since I can't ask anyone to help..."
"What about Chrome-san?"
"She's patrolling the Kokuyo area by nightfall."
"Oh..." I just stare at the ground. Tsuna-san... apparently he loves his subordinates way too much to even let himself do things by himself. "I'll ask Gokudera-kun to help you out then."
"Ahaha, he's busy practicing for the presentation, right?"
"Oh... right..." Damn, and I thought this will be a way for them to be best pals again...
"Kyoko-san... can I ask you something?"
"Er, you can." If he's going to ask when I'll choose between him and Gokudera-kun or about Yamamoto-kun I'll-
"Do you have the schedule for the exams next week?"
"Uh yeah," I was about to fumble with the insides of my bag to get my notes when he cut me short.
"You can just text me when you get home," he tells me, taking out his pen and my hand and-
"Woah, dude!" I turn red as he scribbles on my dry palm his number.
"Thanks Kyoko-san," he grins, and punch his elbow.
"Smooth move, Tsuna-kun. What a clever way to find my phone number."
"It's still up to you if you want to text me," he laughs and stows his pen onto his bag. "I'll be waiting for the schedule."
We stop. We've just reached our house.
"Tsuna-kun, j-just don't push yourself ok? I'll ask Reborn-chan about this. From the looks of things, I'll probably ask either Onii-chan or Hibari-san to help you patrol."
"Thanks," he bows before turning to leave. I swallow.
"Tsuna-kun!"
He swerves to ask why.
"Umm... I-I was just going to ask if you're going to the prom." Whut? My mouth didn't ask what my mind was telling it to say.
He looks at me in puzzlement. "You don't need to ask that. Of course I'll be there to be your partner."
He turns around.
"T-Tsuna-kun!" Come on Kyoko, just say it!
"What, Kyoko-san?"
"Err... onii-chan told me your practice usually ends when we leave. Why did you leave at five or something?" WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU MOUTH?
"I had to talk with Hibari-san about something. It's pretty confidential."
"Umm... ok then..." Why can't I just ask him.
"I'll be going then Kyoko-san," he tells me. I just stand there, tongue-tied and utterly confused.
Why can't I ask him?
He was gone when my mouth finally found the words.
"Do you know what will happen when you choose your right hand man?"
I look at my hand. If I find the strength, I'll just ask him. The numbers were still there, cleanly-written.
I gape. His handwriting was far worse than Gokudera-kun's. Sweet maman.
~K27~
Him.
"Just what the fuck are you doing?"
"Can't you see? I'm dying..." she mumbles as she stumbles onto her bed. "We're practicing nonstop for an hour already! And I still haven't eaten any dinner..."
"Then tell your folks to-"
"Mom's overseas and dad won't be back till eleven..." she sighs grumpily. "And no way in hell can I cook!"
"Then let's just ignore our stomachs and continue!" I throw the guitar beside her.
"Don't wanna... I want food! Food!"
Fuck. I don't want to hear her rant anymore. Screw her and her annoying voice! I stand up and placed the guitar on her study desk.
It had already been just one hour since she handed me her dad's polo shirts and other clothes to wear and she just won't stop complaining. I knew I shouldn't have listened to her pleas to dry up in her house instead.
Kyoko-san's house was bigger compared to the hag's. The hag's room, with its dusty synthesizer, electric guitar and two acoustic base were shoved in one corner to make room for the bed. Shelves with books as thick as tree trunks were stocked up nearly touching the ceiling, giving the room a suffocating feeling. Her study desk was at the left on the door. Papers full of doodles and pictures litter the sides. A big ashtray full of grey matter and a lighter managed to keep the papers from fluttering away.
And... there are gymnastic trophies and other talent trophies stuck on the ceiling, giving the room a cell room feel.
Never mind all the bullcrap I'm spouting, this hag seems to love smoking with the pile of ash in the tray.
"Give me some smokes, will you?" I haven't been smoking for two weeks now, thanks to Kyoko-san. But I can't actually quit. Always in my bed I continue to itch having a cig.
"What the-?" she was texting away in her bed. "I-I don't s-smoke!"
"Eh, then what's this crap?" I point at the ashtray.
"Err... that's my LG," she sighs before placing her cellphone at her left ear to call.
"Kindly explain, hag."
"My 'Lovers' Gravesite'. See the pics?" she tells me impatiently as she waits for her answeree to pick up.
I look at the photos. They were 2x2 sized pictures of the guys I saw on Kyoko-san's list before.
Only about 6 were left.
"I burn them to remind myself I've moved on with their bullcrap," she tells me and flips her phone again to text.
"Uhuh..." I stare at them. The baseball freak's photo, of course isn't here yet. But a familiar face was in one and seemed to be the oldest one, with spots on the edges. He was still youthful and kindly looking here.
"Dammit, I guess I'll try again later. Takeshi-kun..." the hag mutters and I hear a soft thud. She must have gotten out of bed. The thuds became closer and I finally felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Oh... ahaha, there's still Tsuna-san there," she remarks, chuckling a little.
"I almost forgot. He told me he bumped into you earlier." So the hag... after three years she still kept this photo intact. She still hadn't forgotten her feelings for him. "Did you two talk?"
"More like I raved at him," she said, her voice getting softer. "Ahaha, and dammit! He seemed to have read the stuff I said from my text quotes book, that shrewd bastard!"
She then became quiet.
"Ahaha, well he already warned me about Yamamoto-kun and he kinda knew what happened between us yesterday, can you believe that?"
"What happened to your date with the baseball moron?" I asked out loud.
"Oh that... do you really have to ask?"
"What did that idiot say now? He'll break up with you?"
"Umm... no. The conversation was still light in the beginning. We were still laughing and all that. Then he asked me where you were."
"Did you tell him?" the thin line of my mouth returns.
"All I told him were you had to do some errands for me. He was kind of ok then. Well, we walked and stuff... then he suddenly blurted out stuff... stuff that was kind of scary and offensive for him to say."
"How bad?"
"Not that bad. But what he said was kind of disturbing about Kyoko-chan. He... well... he kind of asked me if I can choose between him and Kyoko-chan in the end."
"What did you say?" I bite my lip.
"I didn't answer him," she shoves her hands into her face. "Lol, what can I say to him?"
"How disturbing was it actually?"
"He said things about what kind of friend Kyoko-chan is... and said I should leave her ... Listen, was he always like that?"
"The baseball freak? No."
"Then why-"
t Tenth and I aren't as close as before, anyway because of Kyoko-san. You should be careful with what that Yamamoto. He might hurt you if you don't do something you know."
"But I can't let him go."
"I'm serious about this."
"Well, I love him and I don't give a damn."
"Then you say you'd choose him over-"
"Of course not!" she retorted, rocking back and forth her stool. "I... want to give him a second chance."
"And what if he blows it?"
"Then I'll give him a third, a fourth, I don't care," she looks at the clock. It was nearing seven. "He's the true guy I've ever liked. I mean," she takes a small book from a drawer under her desk and flips the pages feverishly. "Loving is not how you forget but how you forgive, not how you listen but how you understand, not what you see but what you feel and not how you will go but how you hold on."
I sigh and snatch the book away from her to find a quote to make her see. "It hurts when we risk our heart and it ends up being broken. But what hurts even more is when we still hold on when we already know we're waiting for nothing. Is this what you want?"
She smiles at me in reply.
"It's always better to have found the courage to love even if you lose it in the end rather than never found love because you were too afraid of the challenge."
Good grief. What a tough nut to crack.
"He's not answering your calls and texts, correct?"
"H-How d-did-"
"Geez, you were too obvious hag," I roll my eyes. "Whatever. You'll definitely cry in a friend's arms when the time comes."
"Aww, I'm so hungry!" she totally ignored me with that comment.
"Fine then..." I snarled. "Let me borrow your cellphone. I'll treat you for pizza." Damn, one month of my savings down the drain just because of this hag...
"But I want sushi!" she wails, now clinging on my sleeves.
"Dammit woman, you have to be picky now!" I bellow and throw her off me.
"Sushi! Sushi! Sushi!"
"Then pay for it! I don't have the moolah to feed you, ya hear?"
"Eh? I want real food... I had enough of the seaweed crap my dad keeps bringing home..."
"Do you have a stash of food we can actually cook in your fucking kitchen?"
"Maaaa... I already told you that dad's the one who brings the food!"
She now sounds like the baseball freak.
"Oh right-o! There's a noodle stand a few meters away from Kyoko-san's house. Maybe before we play at Kyoko-chan's, we can regain our energy there. My treat!"
"You're not kidding me, are you?"
"Yup!"
"No mind games?"
"Err... why should I lie to you?"
"Fuck, never mind. I'll treat myself."
"I don't care!"
She now keeps staring at the pictures with a small frown on her face.
"Hey hag!" I do so care to interrupt her reverie and point at the small book. "Can I borrow this?"
She keeps looking at the photographs, acting oblivious. "...I don't mind."
"I'll return it along with the clothes on Saturday," I told her.
"Gokudera-san? Uh, can I ask you to leave for a minute?" she said suddenly as she takes the lighter in her hand and a picture from the six. "I have something to do. I promise we'd practice after."
I nod and suppress a laugh. I already know what pic it is. It's the oldest one in the pile, after all.
"It's time I finally do this. After three years, I finally understand how stupid I was before. I should've done away with this pic a long time ago," she says with a small smile.
I close the door. I hear a sound of 'farewell' and see the shadow of a girl with a picture to burn behind me.
~K27~
Me.
Well, it's not raining. And right...
I can't understand his handwriting.
So in the end, I never managed to text him.
Gah! I nearly threw the textbook I was reading because of annoyance. I'll probably give the schedule to him on the way to school. He often goes to school with me. I'll just apologize to him tomorrow.
I look at my watch. It was nearing 9 o'clock. My brother had left earlier for a movie marathon with his friends. I should remind him to use his time for studying.
Since I finished studying for tonight...
It's time to lock n' load.
I finally unleash the fury of my rifle with its paintball bullets. I need to practice for Yamamoto-kun's demise. I had already pinned several pieces of paper on almost all the insides of my bedroom, excluding the bed, of course! I just hope that the paint is really washable, so onii-chan won't scold me at the mess I'll be making.
BAM! I shot at a paper target and missed the bulls-eye by a couple of centimetres! Tch, I hate this!
I was about to aim another one when I heard something outside... It... reminded me of... guitars...
One can predict what I'll do next.
~K27~
"Kanae no Kimochi"
(I should've thanked her.)
Him.
This.
This is the most nerve-wrecking thing I'll do. Period.
My hands won't stop shaking as I strum the guitar.
"You'll be fine!" the hag tells me behind the gate. "I'll give you the signal when I'll start. This is it, Gokudera-san! Know that you're wooing her! Let her know that you'd even do this to make her see how much you like her!"
"B-but-!" I hiss. My stomach's still stuffed from the noodles we had earlier. I probably will belch a loud one in one part of the song-
Relax, goddammit! This is your chance, you idiot!
"Wait hag-"
Too late. She has started plucking her part. It'll be soon when I'll be doing mine- oh shit- I can't do it-
The parts- damn, where am I supposed to play again-?
"Hey, what's taking you so long? It's your turn now!" she whispered a little loudly.
I- I-
Hag I-
I just can't stop trembling. I can't do it. I really can't do it.
"Hag, sorry but-"
"Shush! Look! Kyoko's windows are opening-"
Oh my god.
I now am sounding like the hag. Can things get any worse?
"Play you dummy! Play!"
Hag sorry. I close my eyes and try to visualize myself. Dear God, why now are my hands having a seizure?
"Go!"
ARGH, shit. I stare at the guitar. The hag's probably killing herself off now as she keeps plucking the opening again and again. And I was the one who kept pushing her to play despite her moans... DAMMIT, WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?
I bit the inside of my cheek and just struck the guitar.
"Idiot! That's wrong!"
Well sorry-
Damn you, hag!
And I finally played my part right.
I look at my hands, and they keep moving without my musing of the parts I'm supposed to tell my fingers to pluck.
I listen carefully to the hag's playing, and finally I can feel the sound.
It makes me a little angry at myself for not realizing how beautiful the music was.
I continue playing the strings.
I think... I had been laughing at the hag's choices for a long time now. I should've... err, listened to this song for real, instead of practicing it like a zombie all night.
Haha... I feel like one real bastard in ignoring the hag's rants for this.
I actually grin when I feel it. The constant strumming of the hag for hours made her fingers rather rough.
She probably had always constantly played these kind of stuff since she was a kid.
For the first time, I could actually feel the hard work she had probably put through this kind of stuff.
She's not perfect yeah. But she'd doing her best to help me.
I should thank her for that.
I didn't notice that Kyoko-san's window was open.
~K27~
A Hopeful Transmission
from Mylo Xyloto
(Did you receive it yet?)
Me.
…I cried.
There he was- Gokudera-kun, in a pale polo shirt and faded cargo pants, wearing slippers while playing the guitar. He really... he really was playing the guitar.
For me... really, for me.
I have to open my window. I really have no choice.
His long fingers exquisitely plucked the strings in such a graceful manner it made me truly astonished. The way his eyes remained closed as he touched the strings effortlessly was a sight to ogle at.
He was amazing.
And my amazement was enough to wash my worries for a moment.
It was enough for me to realize to stop, and ponder for awhile.
It was enough to make my tears just trickle down.
~K27~
(A song in the Osamuraisan vol. 1)
(Hag! I can't read the kanji of the title!)
Him.
I didn't see the Kyoko as I strummed the final notes.
That's okay though. The windows are open. That is all I need to see.
I smile at the window before I depart.
The hag slumps a little once I return.
"Eh? She didn't invite you in?" she wails a little.
"Hag, don't worry that much about it," I pat her on the back and straighten her up. "Let's go home now."
Meekly, she stands up and obeys. Her guitar limps at her side as we make our walk home.
"I'm so full! I love the noodles!" she sings out.
I roll my eyes.
Quickly, she strums her guitar.
"Hey dude, play along with me!" she invites.
"I don't know that," I sigh.
"You're the genius here, just tag along." She now adds her strums with a gentle thumping on the wood.
"This will be my thanks to you, alright hag?" I tell her and now plays my guitar too.
She just smiles at me.
"It stopped raining, what the eff moon?" she remarks as we looked at the waning crescent.
We play on. I snort.
"Course it will. The moon wants to listen to us play."
She elbows me. "That's because I sent the moon a message about our small gig."
I punch her playfully.
"I'll be borrowing the book, don't forget."
"Add my dad's clothes."
"Pfft, your dad's belly's so huge."
"Hehe, I'm so going to tell on you..."
With that, we continue walking as we play.
I'm... not just satisfied at what happened this night. I'm genuinely happy.
These past consecutive days since the hag came along, were one of the best days that I've ever experienced. Fuck, I don't know why I should be this happy! But...
"Hey hag, lend me that Byosuko and Osamuraisan CD's, won't you?"
"Aha! So you finally like my taste! I told you soooo!"
She didn't see her head get hit.
"We've just reached your house, idiot," I say as we stop. "Where should we practice tomorrow?"
"Er.. I'll try reporting that Hibari to the principal so we can use the music room. If that doesn't succeed, you can go to my house."
"How the fuck can we really practice on your house? It'll be crampy."
"Well we can plan on the staging and stuff there until dad gets home," she shrugs off. "Besides, if all else fails, I can just rely on the park and my cellphone. We can have loads of room there. Are we going to dance anyway?"
"Depends on what we can come up with. Let's talk about it tomorrow," I yawn.
"Eh ok. Gokudera-san, thanks again," she smiles at me. "You know, for earlier."
"Yeah," I stick my tongue out. "Let's meet at 6 again tomorrow. You promise you'll be buying the flowers and chocolate."
"Kay!" she waves and snatches the guitar from me. "Tomorrow, bring the guitar you used to practice in your house!"
"I borrowed that from my next-door neighbour, stupid. Later."
I raise my hand and turn.
I look up at the sky. My face continues to change color.
I still can't say a thank you.
~K27~
Friday-
Confrontations, my lovely companions~
Can you be postponed for now?
Me.
"Tsuna-kun, I'm sorry that I couldn't text you last night. I just can't seem to decipher the number you've written on my hand... sorry."
"Don't fret about it, Kyoko-san," Tsuna-kun laughs at me light-heartedly. "I wouldn't be able to answer you if you do text. I had been patrolling Namimori all night and- don't worry, I asked Ryohei-san and Hibari-san to help me."
"O-Ok..." so that's the real reason why Onii-chan came home at midnight! "I-in that case... here," I thrust him the schedule I made. "Umm... I wrote my cellphone number at the bottom right..." I point at my number.
Tsuna-kun smiles. "Grazie."
"D-don't start speaking in Italian all of a sudden!" I chastise, before cooling down and proceeding to walk faster.
"Haha, if that's what Kyoko-san wants..." he trails off.
I bite my lip. The guitar thing that happened yesterday left such a bittersweet taste in my mouth all of a sudden.
"Tsuna-kun..." I murmur.
"What is it, Kyoko-san?"
"Umm... about Saturday..." I look down and stare at my shoes. Should I say it now? Oh gawd, shouldn't I?
"Do you want to go then?" by the sound of 'Saturday', his eyes lit up with obvious glee.
"I..." I peer down and bite my lip before putting up a fake smile.
"Ahaha, I'm not forcing you or anything. It's just... it will make me really happy. I've been... having a lot of things that have been lingering in my mind lately and if you do come, at least a little of my petty burden can be driven away," he was such in high spirits that the word 'no' refuses to come out.
He's probably stressed at the things that are happening. The mafia business... his studies... his oncoming match... gawd, even I can't put up such a calm facade like this guy with those commitments buzzing in my head.
And for me to then refuse him after all his constant nagging...
Guilt, why are you such a pest?
"We'll see," I beam at him, hating myself all the more. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't an answer either.
That was enough for him to be contented along the way.
"Kyoko-san, I promise I'll be there at the prom. I won't be lying, I really will be there." He assures me. I couldn't keep up my happy face when I hear these words.
He trusts me too much.
~K27~
"Melancholic"
(Kagamine Rin FTW, Gokudera-kun!)
(Hag... the fuck, this song's from a program?)
Him.
"Immature love says, 'I love you because I need you'. Mature love says, 'I need you because I love you'."
"What if a bird fell in love with a fish? Where would they live? Who keeps the fins and who loses the wings? It's an irony but that's how cruel yet poetic love can be."
"You never lose in loving. You only lose in holding back."
"The greatest challenge in our life is to find someone who knows our flaws and differences and yet still willingly embraces you with so much love."
"Love doesn't seek what's not there. Love accepts all pains to bear. Love that doesn't die is love that we can't see. Love is waiting so please just wait for me."
"Bleargh. Now that's cheesy."
"But seriously, this is probably my fave!" the hag says, screaming happily at the top of her damn lungs.
I ignore her.
"Listen to this one, To love is like playing the piano. First, you must learn to play by the rules. Then you must forget the rules and play from your heart. Hmm..."
I ignore her again.
"Let's just get this over with!" I say finally with a stab of disdain at her. That stupid book really gets on my nerves. I want an extra copy, dammit!
"Ehehe, sorry..." she trails off and we begin practicing again. My voice is getting more and more strained at what we are doing. The mistakes keep on coming.
"What are you doing?" I yell at her as she texts away.
"Er... I'm texting at Takeshi-kun. He hasn't texted me since last night so..."
"I'll stamp the fucking gears out of that phone if you don't take this seriously hag so get your ass up-"
"Sheesh, you don't need to be go all-out Medusa on me. Ok, ok. From the top."
We continue playing again.
"Say..." I began. "Why did you like the baseball idiot in the first place?"
"You really have to ask that?" she asks, trying to do riffs.
"It's just annoying. I mean- he values his family a lot more than he does girls- and for you to like him still despite the things he did to you..." Tch. The hag has made me actually amazed.
"Ahaha... I guess I'm just a nut to like him. But it's obvious right? He's just such a preppy person, it's hard not to like him... when we're alone, he doesn't change. He's just real. What I see is what I get."
"Are you so sure... with the things that happened yesterday?" I leer.
She snickers. "I understand him, and I don't mind. That's why when the Prom comes long I'll definitely tell him that I like him."
"Good luck on getting rejected," I roll my eyes and continue to play. She folds her arms in retort.
"Speaking of which... I've been dying to know as well. Since when did you start liking Kyoko-chan?"
The question catches me off-guard. My hands hover at mid-play as I struggle to find my voice.
I don't know when I actually started liking her. I can remember that night, when I slept inside her room about my admiration for her- of how that admiration waged a battle against my admiration for the Tenth's.
Then that time in the forest- when that admiration finally won, and blossomed into something more.
"To be honest, I don't give a shit when," I look at the piano keys. "I don't know. It just came to me that I liked her."
"Then what made you like her?"
I nearly had to hit her for badgering me with those types of questions. I don't know the answer to this question either. It wasn't her looks, nor was it her attitude. Nor was it because of the Tenth's taste...
"I might sound like a retard now if I tell you I don't know either," I laugh. "I like her. It's not because she's pretty, or because she's hardworking and different from the girls I've met, or because the Tenth likes her... I just do."
"Good grief, you love-struck idiot," she laughs as she pats my head, to my annoyance. "That's amazing. You like her just because."
"Tch, whatever," I brush it off and notice the beeping of my phone. Hastily I take it out from my pocket and look at the screen.
"Ooh. 'Tenth XD' texted you. What's that about?" the hag asks interestedly.
"Get out," I push her away and clicked the damn button to open the text. I just stare once I read the contents.
"Ooh, this will be interesting~" the hag didn't heed my orders. I'll kill her later.
U. Me. 4 PM. TC. Talk. About Her.
It made my blood crawl. The message didn't beat around the bush.
~K27~
Her.
This time, the roses are blue.
Prick, Gokudera-kun must be wasting his allowance just for this. And he had to send me this box of Royce chocolates, my gawd...
"Kufufu~ so you've decided to skip your dance practices for today then?" I hear someone say from behind.
I turn around. There was PH-kun, looking refined and gentlemanly like yesterday. Yet there was a distinctive gleam in his eyes as it lingers at the box.
"I have to get the job done now," I say to him, trying to pick up the dignity I have left. I carefully return the flowers back to the locker and stuff the box inside my bag. I clip my pushy-pushy pen in front of my tie. "Umm... PH-kun, can you also just tell me if you're behind me, ok? You're kinda... creepy."
"Fuuu... I scared the little lady then~?" he says teasingly, now in front of me. I jump back in astonishment. He was a meter away, a second earlier...
"You freaky bastard!" I clutch my heart. "D-Don't ever do that to me again, you hear?"
"Oya, oya, your wish is my command~" he smiles, and I look away. If he goes too far toying with me, I'm so going to shoot him! No kidding. I open my bag and readies my rifle as he comes closer to me. "Kufufu... so pure... so passionate, my sweet~"
"G-Get off!" I cry out and backtracks. I manage to hold the gun handle inside my bag. "I-If you get closer I'll-"
And before he fully catches my eye, a strange sensation suddenly makes me freeze. My back tingles a little, and an eerie sensation creeps past my back.
"PH-kun," I whisper. "If you have no qualms of me putting a stop to your attempt harassment... I think someone's watching us."
"Kufufu~ you're a sharp little lamb," he murmurs as he places his right hand on top of my head. "Do you want to know who it is?"
"Maa, maa, Mukuro-san, you have to spoil it?" He finally reveals himself from the left side, his tall figure emerging from the shadows of the lockers. "Kyoko-san, you greatly disappoint me. Must you really have to go this low and string another guy for your harem?"
"He started it!" I fume angrily. PH-kun's trident materializes on his empty left hand. My eyes shift continuously from PH-kun to the baseball bastard. My eyes widen when they see a katana spouting blue flames on his right hand.
"Sasagawa Kyoko, at the count of zero, I'll attack. By then, I want you to run a safe distance away and shoot him once and for all, do you understand me?" he murmurs.
I nod assiduously. I grip the rifle handle tighter.
"Three."
"Eh? What's that Kyoko-san?" smiles Yamamoto-kun in a sweet way that nearly made me think twice if he's really the bad guy. He steps closer.
"Two."
"Yamamoto-kun, you're a real asshole. No offense," I say bluntly.
"One."
"Eh? You really hate me that much?" he asks, his blade now ready to strike.
"Zero!"
Instantly, Yamamoto runs forward. PH-kun's trident meets his blade just in time.
"Yeah. And don't involve my friend's feelings in your sick delusions, you baseball bastard," I add firmly before sauntering backwards. I shake off my bag and reveal my rifle.
Showtime.
~K27~
Him.
"Tenth?"
"T-Tsuna-san, what are you doing here?"
"Where's Kyoko-san?"
"Eh? She's not here, like seriously?"
Her shock still cannot eclipse mine as we walk inside the TC- WITH THE TENTH.
"So... Tsuna-san's here to finally practice with Kyoko-chan... but Kyoko-chan's not here..." the hag trails off. "Bad timing much?"
"Hahaha, I guess so..." the Tenth shrugs. "Haru-san, can I borrow Gokudera-kun for a moment?"
"Yeah sure," the hag says, giving me an evil grin. "Hope you guys finally settle things this time..." she adds, sneering.
The Tenth thanks the hag voraciously before signalling me to follow. It kinda made my toes quake a little as we go to the left and backstage. I manage to spy Buckinghorse teaching my glasses-wearing sister on the last steps of the waltz.
"I thought that I will be able to practice with Kyoko-san, since Ryohei-san had told us to cool down today. Looks like luck didn't smile on me to have the opportunity to..."
I don't reply. This was the first time I managed to have alone time with the Tenth again. It made me feel heavy all of a sudden.
"I've been meaning to ask you too..." I look down as he said those words. Dammit, I pray he won't ask about Saturday! "... about Yamamoto's strange behaviour."
I breathe a quick sigh of relief before letting myself get stressed yet again. "I noticed it since last Tuesday Tenth... when Kyoko san left. The baseball freak said things to her. When the hag and I were dancing, I saw her expression change suddenly. Remember when she left us?"
"Actually, Yamamoto threatened her that time," someone hooted and we turn our heads to see a walking Reborn-san. "Because of you two."
"What?" Both of us said at the same time.
"You two weren't on speaking terms anymore since you both said you liked Kyoko that time."
"T-The Tenth also s-said to Kyoko-san..." I look at the Tenth, flushing. That must be why Kyoko was flustered all this time. She really had to choose between us.
"Yamamoto Takeshi figured out that it's probably her fault that your friendship was breaking apart. Kyoko wanted to do something about it and decided to settle things on her own."
"Then where is she now?" the Tenth thunders.
"I don't know," Reborn-san says as he tilts his fedora down to cover his eyes. "Yamamoto also didn't show up here. Do you see the connection, Dame-Tsuna?"
"Reborn..." he grits his teeth to control himself. "Gokudera, I want you to go to the right side of the grounds. Check every room, every corridor within the vicinity. I'll take the left."
"If I were you, I won't involve myself if I don't want my friendship with Yamamoto to break," says Reborn-san curtly. "You don't have to conduct a search party," he takes out his chameleon to transfer into a small tracking device. "He's at the girl's locker room, five minutes away from the training center."
"You told him something about Kyoko's whereabouts didn't you?" the Tenth whispers, making a chill run through my spine. His tone sounds deadly.
"Who knows?" Reborn smirks as he walks away. The Buckinghorse comes by Reborn-san's side and asks what the matter was. He probably noticed our faces. Reborn-san ignores him.
"Gokudera..." murmurs the Tenth as he pops a pill in. Immediately, a flame pops out. "Come."
His gloves burn up, and he doesn't give a damn as people from all directions stare at him.
I nod, and he surges ahead, flying in cloth and flame past the back door. I run too, and let my flames flow from my ring and onto my shoes.
The Tenth is so cool! The thoughts keep coming back as we zoom past.
As far as I know, there are two locker rooms for girls in Namimori.
Deep inside, I wish that Reborn-san told the truth.
~K27~
"The Show"
(I'm just a little girl caught in the moment. I'm so scared but I WON'T show it I-)
Me.
Setting: A locker room, engulfed in a sea of blue flames.
"Hey, I can't get a good aim!" I holler as more lockers try to fly and hit me to the face. I run and dodge at the same time. It's annoying me a lot, since I move far slower than usual.
"Kufu~ so Yamamoto Takeshi will really go to such great lengths to hit a girl," PH-kun smirks as his steel clashes against his in an epic battle of sorts. His trident this time emits a blazing indigo and roars mightily. Yamamoto grins in return.
"Haha, if this is the only way to make Kyoko stop harassing our friendship-"
"Hel-lo? It was you who started it first!" I bellow in retaliation as I straighten my aim. Four bullets left in my possession. I have to make them count!
"Oh no you don't Kyoko-san!" Yamamoto grins and swings his swords at lockers, hereby flattening them and sending them straight at me like he was swinging some ball with a bat. Geez, this guy's strong.
Thankfully, a double PH-kun comes to my rescue and knocks the massive hunk of metal aside. "Kufu~ let my fellow Rokudo handle fighting that fool. In the meanwhile..." he aims the tip of his weapon down. Instantly, magma spouts from random directions. One nearly hits Yamamoto-kun's arm, and his evading made PH-kun seize his chance to stab him.
"Oops, close one!" And HE HAS TO MISS! Yamamoto runs to other still-unscathed lockers and hits each of them with amazing strength as he strides by. He raises his blade up, at a direction I didn't expect him to come from, straight at the original PH-kun... and PH-kun doesn't notice it...!
"LOOK OUT!" I screech and quickly aim the rifle at Yamamoto-kun's head and shoot, with the double PH-kun manhandling the soaring lockers.
BANG! The bullet flies in purple smoke as it surges at Yamamoto-kun.
Or was it Yamamoto-kun?
Instantly, the Yamamoto-kun became a spout of blue fire. Where the hell-?
"SHIT-" I hear PH-kun say, his trident suddenly lengthening at my direction.
I didn't know what hit me.
And there he is, suddenly flying on top of me, his eyes on fire, and his eager blade ready to slice me in two-
-SUCKER!
I shift my locker to hit him by the butt. His arms met my gun, and he falls to the ground.
And he becomes blue flames again.
"Look out!" I yell. I see Yamamoto-kun again, and the land of flames. The flames are now mercilessly plunging in all directions and now seem to reach the ceiling. I look at them in alarm. And yet when they reach my hand I feel so light... so calm...
"TCH!" I snap back to reality. PH-kun's movements are slower as he fights toe-to-toe with Yamamoto-kun still, and his double keeps protecting me from the lockers that persist on going at our direction.
"Mukuro-san, your illusions won't hold with the rain flames that continue to pile up. Soon, you'll also give way, and Kyoko-san will have her bullets confiscated-"
"WHO TOLD YOU ABOUT THE BULLETS?" I say in fear. Something's definitely wrong.
"Reborn-san informed me," Yamamoto says pleasantly, as he swings his sword still.
"HE WHAT?" What the heck is that kid thinking?
"Ahahaha, Kyoko-san can you just concede?" he smiles as he slashes steadily at PH-kun, whose movements were faltering. "If we continue, I won't hesitate to knock out Mukuro-san..."
"Shut up!" I retaliate and pull the trigger. It's a good thing that PH-kun led him to a corner. I can finally say goodbye to Yamamoto-kun!
The bullet hits PH-kun in the head. He slumps to the ground.
I stare. His double disappears.
Yamamoto-kun's smile grows wider. "Maa... nice one, Kyoko-san."
~K27~
Him.
"She's not here..." the Tenth says quietly.
The lockers were all lined up innocently, jeering at us two for rushing at the wrong place.
Time's running out. Who knows what the fuck happened with the baseball idiot and Kyoko-san.
"There's a locker room down inside the school building at our right, Tenth!" I suggest quickly.
"Thank you for being helpful, Gokudera-kun," he says in real gratefulness that I swallow.
"L-Let's hurry Tenth," I tell him.
"After this stuff's over, let's talk a little more."
I smile at his words.
It's enough to make my storm flames blaze a lot brighter.
~K27~
"It's War"
(MBLAQ, your music video is so cliché)
Her.
The end is most definitely not near.
"Kyoko-san, please surrender." Yamamoto-kun says.
"As if," I snort as I uneasily aim my rifle. The flames are now falling apart. He's letting his guard down... THE NERVE-!
So you think I'm really not that an obstacle compared to PH-kun, eh?
"Don't try to aim your rifle. Your aim's pretty bad," he laughs. A vein throbbed in my temple. H-he really had to openly make fun of my shooting skills- in front of me-
I grin. It's best to not let him provoke me. He runs now, his blade preparing to strike at the right possible moment.
I close my eyes and my hands subconsciously attempt pulling the trigger.
Give me strength-
I get thrown aside. I open my eyelids and see myself, my left side facing the ground. The rifle's a few feet from me.
His katana now stabs the floor on my right side. Quickly, he runs through the jacket of my uniform long daggers, which follow the socks I'm wearing.
"It's over, Kyoko-san," Yamamoto grins, and somehow, it made me scared. He walks to the rifle and looks at it for a moment. He then snaps it cleanly in two, making my jaw drop. Gawd, I'm sure he can crack my skull in a second. He now sits, his feet planted on the ground, and arms resting on his thighs as he continues to smile, with eyes closed at me.
"Oh please, you don't have to crow about your victory too much," I snort. Never in a trillion years will I yield to this dude. "I might smell your bad breath. It's not good for my skin."
"How cheeky," he continues to say pleasantly, now kneeling down to my face. "Didn't I warn you last Tuesday about what will happen if you try getting closer to either of them?"
"Yeah, you did..."
"And what were you doing the last few days?"
"I was with them. So what? You can't boss them around! Can't you just tell them how you feel instead of bottling those negative feelings inside you?"
"Please don't try telling me what to do," he continues to lean closer to me. I hastily bite my pushy-pushy pen out of my pocket and aim its tip at him.
He knew instantly. He manages to back off in time but that was the thing I needed. I manage to wrench free from the dagger binding my left arm, ripping a small portion of my sleeve in the process. I grab the pen by the left hand.
His instincts do their work and he grabs the katana to pry the pen off me. But I was faster. I manage to take of the dagger with much stupendous effort off my other arm. I aim the pen at him, panting steadily.
"Hope is the last to die," I push the pen.
His katana manages to shield his face in time.
OH SH-
His blade now has my arm pinned to the floor wall this time (much to my great discomfort with my socks getting ruined) making the pen fall from my hands.
"Oops. Looks like plan B didn't work."
"Well," I bite my lip and thank my lucky stars for thinking of sewing a pocket on my right sleeve. "I always have a Plan C."
The new pen finds my hand as I straighten it down. I hold him using my feet this time. Just two seconds are all I need to do this. His two seconds of shock are enough.
Well Yamamoto-kun, this time I'm sure I won't miss.
I push the damn thing straight to his forehead.
Looks like I managed to use all the bullets now.
~K27~
Him.
When we kicked the door open, I didn't see this coming.
Lockers, all mashed up were littering the place. I even saw that pineapple girl unconscious on the right corner. By the left was Kyoko-san, with legs bruised, and one hand trying to take off the katana now pinning her left. The baseball freak had a bullet wound on his forehead and whose eyes are closed as he slumps to our direction.
"Hey," Kyoko-san says, sounding a little embarrassed at her situation. Instantly, the Tenth and I crowd around her, She shakes her head as we ask her if she was hurt.
"Oh don't worry about these scratches. Just make sure you guys carry Yamamoto-kun and PH-kun safely back..."
"PH-kun?" Tsuna-san asks, a little bewildered.
"Err... Mukuro-san. What? Chrome-chan? Oh right... I forgot. Split-persona thingie."
"Did that bastard pineapple try to hurt you, Kyoko-san?" I swiftly ask, my voice hard.
"Ahaha, he was a lot of help. I shot him though. But it'll be ok. The bullets I used can't kill a person."
"Did Reborn also put you into this?" Tsuna asks her, now turning a different colour.
"Haha, he told me to do this... yeah. Don't worry, I won't go lengths like this to make things right again. Oh, and next time, make sure you guys listen to what Yamamoto-kun has to say so he won't become such an evil baseball freakazoid," she giggles.
"Why?" the Tenth questions.
"Well, he wishes that you guys would go on gimmicks together. You know, like old times. He was kinda worried that you two hate each other, with what happened and all..."
"I'm sorry then," the Tenth apologizes.
I nod too. So the baseball freak was worried about our friendship waning. I feel a punch to my gut as Kyoko-san and the Tenth smile at each other.
"You know, I should've told you about this sooner. Then maybe things wouldn't have turned out like this. Sorry about that," Kyoko-san laughs and walks slowly up to the pineapple girl.
"L-let me carry her!" I say quickly and run to her as she walks by the girl's side.
"Umm... thank you," she beams as I carry the girl on my back. I look at the Tenth who was also carrying a much-bigger baseball freak. I should've carried the baseball freak so the Tenth wouldn't be working so hard!
"I'll go to Reborn and ask him the story once we bring these two to the nurse's office," the Tenth says icily.
I gulp. The Tenth is probably really furious at what happened to Kyoko-san these past few days. And with Reborn being the center of the madness going on... I fear the worst.
"Gokudera-kun..." he says and I stiffen up.
"Y-yes Tenth?"
"Let's meet at the gym later. Just the two of us."
"F-For what?" But I already know the answer.
The Tenth smirks. "I want you as my final sparring partner."
~K27~
Her.
By the time I shooed the guys from the clinic, I had put the chocolate in Chrome-chan's bag along with a thank you note.
I hope that the two of them will get the message.
I told Tsuna-kun that he should inform Hibari-san about the mess we made in the girl's locker room so he'd do something about it not falling prey to public eye. Gawd, I almost let it slip about the 'bullets erasing memories' thingie. I heave a sigh of relief.
By the time I return at the TC after letting that weird doctor Shamal take care of my scratches, it was already noon.
Tsuna-kun, it turned out was still not back from his meeting with Reborn-chan. Gokudera-kun continues to tense up. Even Haru's obliviousness to the whole thing didn't make him happy enough.
Something's popping up again. Sigh.
"The final dance that we'll be learning will be the waltz. It's one of the simplest dances you guys will know, compared to the Tango and Rumba. I'm really sad that this will be our last lesson. Thanks guys for the memories. Sniff..."
Goodbye Dino-san. I'm glad to see you go so we can study!
Most of the student body though didn't relate. Others actually cried, while some expressed sentiments, as if someone had died. Haru shed a tear.
"We won't forget you, Dino-sensei!" she sniffled.
"So, for the last time... Music, Romario!"
My heart beats more loudly at the sound.
It's a song I actually like listening at Haru's iPod, after all.
A Thousand Years...
"Kyoko-san." Tsuna-kun's voice is unmistakable.
I hesitate for a moment, actually. I still can't believe that... he's... here.
He's dancing with me.
He takes my arm and squeezes it gently. I place my hand on his shoulder. I look up.
Tsuna-kun really has grown so much after so many years...
"One. Step. Closer..." I hear the song. He pulls me in. My cheeks burn.
And as I peer into his eyes, I notice real trouble for the first time. It seems to be looking at something else. A thin line forms at his lips.
Did something bad happen with his talk with Reborn-chan?
~K27~
"These Times"
(I'm telling you, these times are hard but-)
Hours later-
Him.
I open the door and can't help but curse myself.
I want to help the Tenth badly, but I figure the baseball freak will be a better replacement than me with stuff like this.
The Tenth pats my shoulder.
"Don't be nervous. Just think of it as doing me a favour. Pretend I'm Yamamoto and pummel me as much as you want."
We now walk to the doors and to the lockers. We changed quickly and left. Each ticking second was agony. I just want to get this over with.
"Let me help you with that," he said kindly as he tied wrapped the bandages in my hand. "I apologize Gokudera about this. Most of the club members don't like sparring with me, and Ryohei-san said he had to pick up Kyoko-san." I feel a pang when I hear her name.
"I-I'm not really good at this than they are. The baseball freak is probably better than me anyway," I try my best not to grumble. Dammit Lawn-head. When I get my hands on you, even if you are Kyoko-san's big brother I'll-
He pats the gloves he had wrapped on my hands.
"But you have a good reason to be my last sparring partner," he grins and begins to put on his gloves too in astonishing speed. "You're my rival for Kyoko-san," he finishes preparing after he said those words I dreaded to hear.
Dammit, I knew that he'd want to pummel me because of that! But what else can I do but accept? The hag will probably know about this and tease me as a wimp. I don't want that to happen.
He remains so damn calm even as he said that. No wonder he's the Tenth! Dammit hag, see! The Tenth is really such a guy that doesn't deserve a person like me as... as... a r-rival.
Easily we go to the ring and the Tenth was kind enough to help me on the ropes.
Once we reached the center of the ring he holds up his left glove.
"Let's get our fists to do the talking," he grins and I want to flee. This really is no good. No matter what situation I see it, I won't win.
But then I remember what the hag said about me valuing myself more for once. I touched his glove with mine.
"You really sound like the lawn head now," I snicker. He throws me the mouthpiece. I nod in thanks as we proceeded to our respective corners.
"I like it though. Men should settle this like men," he points out. His gloves punch the button. I hold out my hands and stuff the mouthpiece clumsily to fit in my gums.
The bell rings, and I prepare myself for whatever will come.
He's right. We're men. The world tamed us. It's high time stuff like this happens. I try to remember whatever basics this sport has.
I've got to feel the rhythm. I let my right foot slide back, picking up speed. I try to gather as much strength as possible. The Tenth doesn't move and remained planted on the ground.
Dammit, my rhythm's somehow broken once his eyes, now looking eerily similar to his Dying Will ones stare at me. Cold sweat trickles down.
The Tenth's pressuring me by barely doing anything.
My jaw clenches.
"You're not going to charge?" he asks, smirking. "Then-"
Damn, damn, dammit! His eyes widen, and he suddenly moves forward. Dammit, this is not good. Another foot finds movement. If I let him charge then I'll be a goner. He gains sudden momentum. I protect my face and charge.
I receive an all-out jab to the face.
Damn, I still can't keep up with the Tenth-
I throw a punch and he does a cross-counter, which I manage to block in time. Even I am surprised at myself.
Too surprised, that I didn't keep my guard up and receive a body blow.
"This is your time to get back at me, Gokudera!" the Tenth tries to encourage me as he waits for my time to show him my answer to the punches I had received.
Ah, here goes nothing-! I throw as many punches as possible now. It's great- uh, annoying- because the Tenth manages to evade them all.
But I was ready.
I manage to hit him on the jaw. Hard. It's a counter, yeah, so...
He wobbles a little.
T-This is my chance-!
B-But the Tenth- if I do hit him again- then it will seriously wound his pride- he might not be able to do good tomorrow- that won't be good!
Dammit, what the hell should I do?
"You almost got me there, congrats." (I'm so happy that the Tenth congratulated me only-) "But you should never hesitate. Even if it's your Boss you're facing." With that, he lands a punch to my chin.
~K27~
"T-Tenth what happened?"
"You were out cold. I should have pulled my punches a little, and perhaps taunted Gokudera-kun a little more... maybe you would've fought better. I guess I'm not really good at playing the bad guy," he sighs deeply.
I sit up. The Tenth was nice enough to take out my mouthpiece, my gloves and my headgear while I was knocked out. The Tenth is really the kindest person I've ever met... without counting Kyoko-san yet... I still can't measure the kindness between the two.
The Tenth laughs and looks at me for a long time, probably scrutinizing my look. Shit, I think I should have a haircut or something, to make sure my hair will grow back the way I want it to! He can't have a subordinate like me...
The uneasy feeling in my stomach returns. Right... I forgot that I chose to go to college. I should probably tell the Tenth now about my decision...
Should I still call the Tenth by the Tenth? I don't know now.
"Tell me, do you like Kyoko-san so much?"
Oh shit, the Tenth has to ask that out of the blue. I look at my shoes.
"I do. Yeah," I say rather sheepishly.
"Haha, well done!" he now walks to me and pats my back proudly. I turn beet red and refuse to meet his eyes. Shit, shit, shit! A r-rival shouldn't be happy about having his rival admit that he likes the same girl as her.
"And it just came to you, that you like her right? You ignore the thought at first, but that feeling keeps on persisting and then you understand whenever that girl looks at you, talks to you, walks with you that the great part of loving isn't wishing that the person loves you as much as you do but in feeling that you love that person far more than you thought you could. Do you feel that way when you're with her, Gokudera-kun?"
I nod. S-so he must know what I must be thinking right now. The Tenth... for him to be kind and insightful... while I to be ignorant as ever... he doesn't deserve a subordinate like me.
"Gokudera-kun... I'm sorry that I was never a good Boss to you and Yamamoto-kun."
"D-don't say that!" I protest, startled at his words. He just bows his head and stares at the rubber mat. He buries his face more with his knees. "The Tenth is probably the best Boss I've ever known-"
"If I was a good Boss, I would've asked you guys your problems, to prevent disasters like this occurring. Gokudera-kun, I should've asked you two if you actually wanted to be in the Mafia and lose the actual thing of starting a family of your own, the normal way but I-"
"T-Tenth, that's not true!" I object. He smiles bitterly in my feeble attempt to make him see he was wrong.
"Gokudera-kun, I'm sorry."
He isn't looking at the floor anymore as he murmurs those words. His eyes were hidden by his knees.
"T-There's nothing you need to be sorry about, Tenth!" I try to laugh it off. But my tone betrays me. The Tenth was acting strange. The one who needs to apologize is me, not him.
"You are terribly wrong, Gokudera-kun," he says. "This is my fault. If I had consulted with you much, much earlier... if I had realized you liked Kyoko-san then..."
"T-Tenth it's okay-"
"No, Gokudera-kun." His voice is now barely a whisper. "Instead of me shelling out my mistakes, it's you paying the price."
I wait.
I wait, and pray.
I pray that he won't say those words.
I pray he won't say those words that I used to dream him saying to me, whether I was awake or asleep.
"You'll be leaving on the 15th, after the Prom for your test."
I bite my lip.
This cannot be true-
"You're going to be my Right Hand, Gokudera-kun. I had given out my decision before we left Italy. They were pressuring me, because time was running out. The preparations need to hurry, and they even doubted you'd even pass the test..."
I feel... void.
I feel like an abyss, were even feelings cannot reach me.
"I'm very sorry. I should've waited. I should've told you. I-"
"Tenth, you don't have to apologize. The Boss can never do anything wrong-"
"Gokudera-kun-" he finally reveals his face.
His face is wet with tears. He sniffs slightly, and I clearly see the Tenth I met three years ago.
The abyss cannot fathom anything right now.
But I manage to smile.
"Tenth... it's ok. I understand. Even if I refuse, there's nothing I can do about it. Ahaha, and I was going to ask you if I can go to college with Kyoko-san... Sorry about that."
"Y-You could've punched me harder..." he whimpers as he wipes his tears. This man... this man doesn't remind me the Tenth who changed over the times that came and went.
I place my hand on his shoulder.
"I can't do that. A Right Hand never involuntarily hits his boss. Never." I pat him continuously. The smile stays on my face.
You know, it makes me laugh because for the last four years of my existence, all I was keen about was becoming the Right Hand Man.
And now that I have finally reached that goal, I won't be satisfied. I won't be... happy.
I don't need to cry. The Right Hand cannot cry. He should be the one doing the wiping for his Boss.
In the end, that damn book was right. You can't fight life. Life always wins.
~K27~
"Say..." I tell the hag as we stand outside the school gates. She thinks that Yamamoto was hospitalized because of a baseball practice gone awry. We're waiting for him so he'd walk the hag home. It's a good thing she's gullible, or else I'll have another headache.
"What? Didn't we already decide we'd practice for the presentation tomorrow morning?" she says impatiently as she keeps stealing glances behind us.
"Nah, it's not about that," I snort. "It's just... you know. I realized something."
"What? That it's bad that you made Tsuna-san cry earlier? Kyoko-chan was brave enough to bring him home."
"I-It's not my fault!" I spat at her. "And it's not about the Tenth. It's about Kyoko-san. I think, it's just best if we stop doing all the mushy stuff."
"Eh? You're serious?" the hag stares at me.
"Yup," I nod, still letting my smile hypnotize her. "Thanks to the book, I've seen something about loving. The best part of being in love is when you just love a person and be happy about it. Even if that person can never be yours, even if you know that it can't last forever. That's the true essence of love," I inhale because these words rang true. I now understand that I like Kyoko-san... because it made me happy doing so. "It's not about winning someone, it's not about being happy because you know you've loved someone. It's about being guiltless because you know you didn't take away someone from anybody. You just love and love unselfishly."
She stares at me more. "What did you fucking say? I didn't hear it right, did I?"
I nod. "You sure did, hag."
"Oh my god-" she screams hysterically, seizing the book from my bag and stuffing it onto hers. "I shouldn't have given this thing to you- d-don't listen to it dude! Not all of the stuff's written there are true!"
I shrug and just laugh at her.
Sure enough, a near-oblivious baseball freak comes now, grinning widely.
"We'll be having a thing going on at Sunday," I tell him. He just looks at me blankly before returning my high-five.
"Oh right, I forgot. I added a band you might like too with those CD's!" she says as she hands me the things I wanted to borrow.
I just look at her for a moment. In the end, this hag- no, this girl- really did try her best to help me. In the end, they were all in vain.
She waves goodbye, and by the time I turn to walk at home I find how awfully stupid I am.
I forgot to say thank you.
~K27~
Salim: Pfft. None taken. xD This is just another delusional fic to satisfy my zany thirst for thinking out of the box. And lol don't most people change after three years?
Umm... don't worry everyone. There will be no plot twists next chapter. I promise there won't be any. I'm sorry guys but in the end, I still can't write Saturday without breaking down and crying.
Bye-bye 5995. ;A;
Next two chapters will be on March. C:
Lol it's 1 AM when I finally publish this... XDD
And...
Feedback please? :3