A/N: Mostly S27 with a side of 8059 and 6927-ish and then eventually XS. Beware of mooshy mooshy mushy love!
Kiss part 2
"So you see, you are actually under a love spell by my love potion, and that's why you kissed the future vongola boss." Giannini explains to Squalo who is currently seated at the dining table within Tsuna's home. The said person is sitting at the opposite side of the table unable to meet eye with the talented swordsman. "So you see, it's a-" The inventor finds himself hauled up from the floor by his collar.
"DON'T YOUUUU FUCKING SAY ITS A MISUNDERSTANDING!" Squalo roars out. "WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU MAKE ONE IN THE FIRST PLACE, YOU FUCKIN' BASTARD?! ARE YOU SUCH A SHITTY LOSER THAT YOU GO MAKE THOSE RETARDED POTIONS! I'M GOING TO-" The man stops when he smells a putrid stench. He looks down to see that the man had wetted himself when the swordsman rose his sword murderously. A vein pops, and Yamamoto quickly has his arms hold back Squalo from killing Vongola's best technician. The shark shouts at him to let go, but the katana brat doesn't concedes to his demands.
Reborn asks Giannini, who was dropped to the floor on his own puddle, "Is there an antidote to this?"
"U-uh," He whispers to the three year old. "No. The one I made was just a prototype which must've worked, but the effects may wear off eventually. I can try to make an antidote, but I would need a few days since I will need to make a duplicate of the prototype, and getting the materials will take time."
"You have a week." The baby has his gun out to persuade the inventor. Giannini runs out of the house to get started immediately.
"OI, DON'T FUCKIN' RUN AWAY YOU BASTAAAAAAARD!" Squalo's banshee-like voice destroys all the windows in the house, and has some of the people around him hear a ring in their ears for a while.
It took a while to calm down Squalo, and have the house cleaned and fixed.
Reborn then tells Gokudera and Yamamoto to leave since they weren't needed anymore for today.
"What?! Noway am I leaving that pedo-shark with Tenth! He might pull something when we're not looking!" Gokudera yells in defiance.
"VOOOI, what the fuck did you say shitty brat?!" Squalo attempts to charge to beat the shit out of the kid, but then Yamamoto holds him back again. "How many times do I have to tell you to let meeee the fuck go?!" He waves his sword at the sushi owner's son who blocks one direct attack with his shifting sword in hand.
Yamamoto looks all serious before pulling out a goofy smile. "Mah, mah, Squalo, if you really want to vent out, then we can have a little training session where no one can get hurt. Okay?" He pulls out a reassuring smile at the fellow swordsman.
Gokudera stares at them, and then feels that conflicting emotion again. He feels his heart pang in pain when the silver hair man agrees to it.
Reborn speaks before the two sword wielders left, "Before you go Squalo, I want to know of how long that you are supposed to stay here?"
"Two months is the maximum." Squalo responds without any ill-will since he respects the baby.
"Giannini should have a cure within a week, but in the same time, the effects will wear off at some point. Do you still have feelings for dame-Tsuna?"
"Eh?!" Tsuna shyly looks at the silverette who looks back at him. The teen looks down as he hopes that the answer is no.
Squalo responds with a small upset tone, "Yeah, I do. But hey fake," He calls out to the brunette who looks at him, "I'm a man with will-power and pride, and I won't let myself lose easily to some retarded potion, so relax! I don't plan on attacking you that way. I'll never regain my pride if I do! So don't worry, alright." He ends that sentence with a reassuring calm tone.
Tsuna stares at the man and realizes that this is the first time that he's seen the swordsman acted...nice to him. He has done a lot of good for him, but this is him making an effort to do something personally good between just them. They barely interact with each other unlike Yamamoto, so he is really stunned. He doesn't realize that he's blushing because it feels really nice to have seen that part of the deadly man.
Reborn speaks, "Is that so. However Squalo, I believe its best that you stay here, so we can keep tabs on how you feel for dame-Tsuna while Giannini is making the antidote."
"Whatever, let's go already!" The assassin walks out of the door with the vongola guardian.
Tsuna thinks to himself that he never realized that the silverette had that nice side to him. It really changed the sky guardian's image of the rain guardian. Despite being completely freaked out of the situation, he felt a little thankful that it happened. He might have not been in this turn of events with Squalo. He then notices Gokudera who has a sour look on his face as if he's been robbed.
"Gokudera, are you okay?" He asks his storm guardian.
The silver-hair teen snaps out of his dark thoughts, "Huh? Uh no! Nothing wrong!" He pulls a reassuring smile, and then glares at Reborn, "Anyway, why are you letting that long-hair idiot stay here! It shouldn't matter of whether his feelings will change while he's here! If it's still the same after a week, then we can just use the antidote! There's no need at all for him to stay here!" He shouts out passionately in hopes of changing the baby's mind, but the hitman had a bubble at his nose.
"It's okay." Tsuna tells him, "I can trust that Squalo won't do anything if he says so. He's too proud to let the potion take over him."
"But what if he does fall in love for real, Tenth! You need to see this in all angles! He's gay after all!"
The brunette is surprised, "How do you know that?"
The bomber pauses as he remembers what happened yesterday. Bitter feelings rises in his chest. He replies, "Because it's obvious at first sight! You didn't know Tenth?!"
"Uhm... no. On the other hand, I don't pay attention to those kind of details." Tsuna ponders to himself about the past when he first met Squalo which was being nearly cut down by his sword in a public shopping area. That wasn't a good first impression to wonder about his sexuality.
"Good for you Tenth!" Gokudera gives him a thumbs up, "Anyway, I should be going now! Have a good rest of your day, Tenth! And stay away from that pedo-shark as much as possible!"
"Oh, okay. Bye." The teen still feels like there is something wrong with the other teen, yet doesn't want to pry. Instead he decides to go about his day to be as normal as possible to ignore his current problems.
At dinner, Squalo comes to the house with a bag of his things. He will be staying in the house's guest room where Bianchi used to sleep in. The woman had to go back to Italy to take care of some family problems since she was the heir of her own mafia family. Tsuna thinks to himself that things are going to get louder as the man had been yelling at everyone and everything until bed time.
DAY 1
The teen wakes up and is surprised to not have Squalo's voice scare him awake. He figures that the swordsman is still sleeping as he cleans himself up for breakfast. Conveniently it's the summer break for him, and already it's gone crazy. At least it isn't putting his life or anyone else's life on the line.
He makes his way down stairs to smell the rich succulent smell of fluffy scrambled eggs, bacon, rice and pancakes. He falls in love with the smell that his stomach growls, but then in the same time, it is odd that there is such wonderful scents. His mother is a great cook, but then this isn't the usual breakfast she'd serve.
He looks into the kitchen to see Squalo in a white apron, and is making a show of his abilities as he sets out the breakfast plates for Lambo, I-pin, Reborn, Fuuta and his own mom. There's also another plate with an empty seat which he thinks is meant for him. He hesitantly takes the seat as he feels kinda out of place to the grand display of mastery cooking.
After the show, everyone gave a round of applause. "Again! Again!" Lambo cried out. I-pin, too.
"Settle down you brats, and eat your breakfast! I'm going to shower now!" Squalo walks out.
The teen has his eyes follow him out before looking down at his grand breakfast. He takes a bite, and he's immediately woken up with his entranced taste buds.
"It's so good! It's such a nice change of pace to have a man cook for me!" His mother comments as she eats with glee. She's practically glowing. "I found him here this morning when I was going to make breakfast, but he told me that he'd do it! I couldn't reject such a handsome man!"
Tsuna isn't sure if Squalo would be so handsome if his mother knew how scary he actually is. But then he remembers yesterday. Having heard the silverette suddenly lower his voice with a tone of consideration, it really rocked him. But he's not falling in love with him! It's too soon for that! He's more freaked out than ever!
"Oh, Tsuna," His mother calls out to him. "Squalo offered to go do the groceries, too, so I could take care of the laundry! Can you follow him to show him around?!"
"What?!"
Reborn says, "It's a good opportunity for you to know him better. It's less likely that you'll actually ever meet Xanxus other than in dire situations. Squalo is most likely the one who you will meet a majority of the time, so take this chance to develop a good standing with him."
"E-even if you say that-"
"What? You don't believe his word." challenges the baby.
The incapable student is caught by that, and then thinks back, "I don't plan on attacking you that way...So don't worry, alright." He blushes. It's such an insignificant thing (not really), but the teen wouldn't mind hearing the silverette talk to him like that again.
And so, in the end, he's been swayed into going shopping with Squalo for the first time. It's also the first time that he's seen the man in casual clothes. When the swordsman walked out of the house, Tsuna had been waiting for him, and was shocked to see the varia rain guardian in normal civilian clothing. It is just a simple long-sleeve navy blue shirt, fitting beige pants with a belt, and black ankle boots. He also has his hair tied.
"Voi, did your mom asks you to come?" The shark questions forwardly.
"Y-yeah! I hope you don't mind."
The man looks at him with an unreadable expression, and then he walks past the teen. He replies, "Follow me if you want!"
Tsuna is a bit lost at first, and then quickly follows Squalo. The walk has started out awkwardly silent. The brunette doesn't know of what to talk about. He thinks that talking about Yamamoto would help, but then he thinks about Gokudera, and then it distracts him of what he is trying to to do. He slowly begins to give in to doing so.
The swordsman becomes pissed at his strange facial expressions. "You didn't have to follow me, y'know! It clearly shows on your pitiful face that you don't want to be here!"
"What?! N-no! That's not it!" Tsuna shouts back honestly. The two stop walking which left them silent while staring at each other. The teen feels pressured to say something despite feeling also really shy and bewildered. He then forces himself to say something to ease the silence, "U-uh, what I meant was that...I was just trying to come up with a conversation, but I really don't know what to talk about since we live really different lives. The only thing, actually person, that makes us see each other again is either the mafia or Yamamoto-related, so...I..." He bows his head down and feels his ears turn hot because he's really embarrassed. He doesn't know what else to say.
"My favorite color is blue!"
"Huh?" The teen looks up at the swordsman.
The man looks pissed to not having been heard the first time. "I said that my favorite color's blue!" He continues on walking having the future vongola boss quicken his pace. "This is what boring people ask to start a conversation right?! They ask stupid trivial questions right! Well my favorite color's blue! What's yours?!"
"I-it's yellow. I just found the color to be really appealing since I was a kid."
"Yellow huh? That's the counter-color of blue. Maybe we really are from different worlds. I don't give a shit about who I cut down, but your mother Theresa. Strangely I don't find that annoying about you."
"What?"
"Nothing!" He walked in strides. "Listen won't you! This is why I always have to scream! Nobody bothers to listen unless I yell from the top of my lungs!"
"Ah, wait Squalo! We're here!" Tsuna announced when they came across the grocery store to buy the necessary groceries. They work together as a team to get them efficiently quick. When they are near finish, the older man asks, "Is there anything you want?"
"No." The teen answers honestly. "I'm okay."
"C'mon!" The man grins mischievously, "We can head out to an adult shop and get you some porn mags! You're a growing guy so it's okaaay!"
"Ah! Shut up! Shut up!" He hisses in a whisper as he look around to see some strange glances at them. He holds the grocery cart to hide his face.
Squalo guffawed at him and slaps his back as he tells him, "It's nothing to be ashamed about kid! Let's get ice cream after this! It's on me!"
Afterwards, they do go to an ice cream shop. The twenty-four-year-old gets rocky road while the sixteen-year-old gets plain vanilla. They head for a park to walk along the concrete. The swordsman has the grocery in both hands. The teen asks if he should help, but the man tells him that he got it.
Squalo then begins explaining to the future boss about how the varia works, and how the vongola is connected. Tsuna asks a few questions out of curiosity despite not really wanting to be in this kind of conversation. Yet, it is pleasant to talk to the man. The varia's second-in-command is very informative, and actually has the patience to deal with his slowness. But then he does have that limit where he starts off yelling which the future boss really doesn't mind. Oddly enough, he's rarely ever been yelled out. He is most likely beatened up, given up on, or encouraged with his slowness. It's scary to be yelled out, but also refreshing afterwards once he thinks it over of how passionate the male is.
They then stop to sit on a park picnic table that is in front of a playground filled with children playing around. They had finished their ice cream, and are now resting. The brunette is sitting straight up while the swords man has the groceries set on the table still in his grip while he lays back to look up at the embracing sky.
Tsuna comments after the long explanation, "Having heard all that about the varia, you have a really stressful job Squalo-san."
"Yeah, but who the hell's going to be able to make those scumbags and trashes do their damn work! The others might handle, but all hell is bound to break loose if I don't beat their asses and yell at them!"
Tsuna sighs out through his nose sympathetically for the man. "It must be nice having a break like this once in a while. It sounds like you've been pushing myself. It also kinda makes me feel more at ease if I ever do end up becoming the tenth boss. Not that I ever want to! I want to have nothing to do with the mafia!"
"Heh,"
"What?"
"Hearing that I kind of talk makes me want to beat the shit out of you until you get it together."
"EH?!" Tsuna fears for his life.
"But I won't." Squalo leans forward and lightly hunches down and sets the groceries at his sides. "I don't know exactly why, but," He looks at him with this soft loving gaze. His grey eyes holding a ring of blue as if clouds were swallowing the clear blue sky. "I'm pretty sure that it's not the potion making me think this. I've always had a hunch that I felt this way about you. Despite my rough and loud personality, I don't mind being gentle to you. Do you get me kid?"
Again, there is that comforting tone that rocks Sawada. A soft rising tension builds between them. The bright embracing sky and the rain. It's like a rainfall on a sunny day.
"GAYS!" A child shouts as he points at them rudely.
Squalo abruptly stands up and screams, "VOOOOOI, what the hell did you say you piece of shit?!" The children screams and runs to their parents as the man continues to roar out like an insane man. Tsuna is first frightened, and then relaxes as he sees the hilarity and the terribleness of the situation. He hurries to get the swordsman to stop, and run before the police gets here if one of the parents did call one.
They get home and have the groceries put away. Lambo, the seven-year-old, hops on his back crying out to play. Squalo tries to shake him off while trying to reach for him which became fun that I-pin joined, too. The swordsman threatens them to get off, but then Fuuta, the eleven-year-old, plays too by having himself wrapped around one leg. This led to a crash to the floor. The kids immediately run away from the furious man with their laughter.
The sword emperor doesn't chase after them as Tsuna checks if he's okay. "Are you alright, Squalo-san? They can be troublesome, but they mean no harm."
"I know that, but damn do I hate brats! Can't be any good unless they get yelled at! Bel was a pain in the ass when he got in the varia."
"Bel was a kid?" Tsuna didn't know the more intimate details of the varia storm guardian.
"Yeah. After he killed his family, he got enlisted in the varia while that shitty boss of mine recently started being in charge. He was only eight at the time and a real damn pain! Always trying to pick a fight and goes on and on about his stupid prince things! I swore that if he wasn't chosen to be the guardian, I would've rid of him years ago."
"You don't really mean that do you?" Tsuna is not sure if this is the right thing to judge on, but felt like commenting on, "You guys have a strange relationship, but in a way, you're all family right? I noticed that you talk about them as if they were some annoying relatives."
"Voi, you really are not made to be the boss of the vongola." Squalo turns away to the stairs to most likely head to his room.
The door bell rings. Tsuna answers it to find both his best friends, Yamamoto and Gokudera there.
"Hey Tenth! I came as soon as I could to check on how you were doing with that pedo-shark around! Did he try to do anything to you?" The silver-hair scary teen questions darkly.
"No, he's actually been nice. He made everyone breakfast, and we went shopping earlier."
"Wow, really?" Yamamoto is pleasantly surprised. "I hope that you don't mind that I take him out for some sparring! I have to keep myself sharp when trouble comes!"
"Tch," Gokudera clicks his tongue annoyed. "You just want to convince him to swing your way, baseball freak!" He then realizes that's a good thing. "That's it! You'll be the everyday distraction, so the shark won't be around the Tenth to do anything!"
"Huh?!" Tsuna doesn't like the sound of that. He means that it is a good plan, but he doesn't want to insinuate that he doesn't trust the varia swordsman. "But Gokudera-kun, Squalo-san won't do anything!"
"You don't know that Tenth! He may have himself pulled together now, but what about later! What if the retarded love potion drives him crazy, and we're not here to save you!"
"Even if you say that, Reborn lives here, too, y'know."
"That's right." Reborn appears at the stair case. "I understand your worries, but this is a good test on Squalo's self-control. It's also a test on whether Tsuna can properly reject him."
"What?!" Tsuna is not aware of being tested!
The baby in a fedora explains, "It's part of the mafia boss's job to be able to reject advances. In any case, you are at least now second place of mafia boss's who can't deny a request on Fuuta's ranking book."
"Eh?! But that's not the reason why I want Squalo-san to be away or around me!" His brow furrows slightly as if he's becoming constipated. "I really believe that I can trust him not to do anything, and I don't mind if he doesn't want to spend time with me. Surprisingly, I like spending time with him. Not-Not that I'm falling in love or anything!"
"We didn't say anything about you being the one to fall in love." The assassinating baby points out. Tsuna becomes embarrassed but still stands with his answer about the varia man.
"That's great Tsuna!" Yamamoto cheers for him, and then makes his way to the stairs, "I'm going to go get Squalo now for a sparring. Want to come watch?" He asks, but Tsuna isn't in the mood to watch them. The sushi chef's son walks towards the room to overhear his fellow sword wielder shouting.
"VOI! I called to know how the shitty dump is doing without me!" Squalo shouts as he finally got Lussuria on the phone with him.
"Oh, everything's just peachy! Levi and I have been keeping the troops organized and our boss is still our lovely cold-hearted boss! How about you Squa-chan?! How are you doing?! Will you still be gone within two months! My, that's the longest vacation you've ever taken!"
"It's not a vacation! I had something important to do!"
"Really? Like what?"
"It's none of your goddamn business! Just tell the boss that I'll be back within half a month, and there better be a varia corp to come back to, or I'm wiping all your asses down the toilet!"
"Alriiiight! Have fun!"
"I told you that it's not a goddamn vacation!" Squalo hears the phone thrum meaning that he has been hang up on. He mentally curses as he breaks his cellphone. He's irritated! Why the hell did he say all those things to the damn kid?! He's supposed to be in control! Not playing with heart strings! He very well notices the blushes and the awed stares with that adoring and somehow knowing smile! Stupid love potion!
He really needs to vent. Luckily, Yamamoto knocks on his door. The two quickly walk out. Squalo first tells Tsuna that he's leaving. The teen tells him to be safe. The silverette coldly doesn't respond with a look on contempt. The future mafia boss notices and is worried. He wonders to himself if they shouldn't have gone to the park after all.
The two swordsmen does their fight within a forest. During their break, Yamamoto says, "So I heard that you and Tsuna went shopping! I didn't think that you'd do something normal like that!"
"Voi, watch your mouth! Even someone like me can do something as simple as you commoner brats!"
"Maaah, but I would've liked it if I could've gone shopping with you." The vongola rain guardian gives him a lustful leer. "You look really sexy in casual clothes."
Squalo punches him in the face. "VOOOOOI! Don't be an idiot! And what about your retarded storm guardian! Did you talk it out or what?!"
"More or less."
"What's that suppose to mean?!"
Yamamoto scratches his cheek. "I try to talk to him about it, but he doesn't want to, and I don't think I can get him to open up at this point. And I don't want to ruin what we have as friends."
Squalo shouts from the top of his lungs, "RETARD!"
"Eh?" The baseball idiot is confused.
"Don't give me that friends crap! If you know about how you feel, then go for it! Otherwise someone else will have him!"
"I know, but-"
"NO BUUUUTS! Dammit, I want to beat the shit out of you right now, but I'll tell you first that you need to stop being a coward! You need to fuckin' grow up, and make the ultimatums or you'll never be satisfied! CHOOOOSE!"
Yamamoto stares at his huffing former tutor. He ponders on his wise advice, and then smiles unsurely. "You're right. I do have feelings for Gokudera, but I like you, too, a lot."
"Idiot! Give up on us! We're never going to happen!" Squalo waves his hands exasperatingly.
"Hearing that makes me sad. Both of you seem to not want me." Yamamoto gives a sad smile.
Squalo's left eye twitches in irritation. "I definitely don't want you like that! I don't want any of you vongola brats like that!"
"But I'm not giving up! Let's make a bet. Whoever gets one single lace of hair from the other, can't have multiple, then the winner gets one thing!" The sushi maker points up one finger optimistically. And the varia man is not one to back down from a real challenge.
DAY 2
Tsuna finds Squalo doing push ups on his living room floor with Lambo, I-pin and Fuuta on his back having fun. His mother is doing the laundry, and Reborn is setting up for his next homework session despite it being the summer.
For the whole day, the sword emperor doesn't say a word to him until late at night when Tsuna exits the bathroom about a toilet session. He finds Squalo at the living room again reading a book that had a plain black cover. The incapable student sees by the lit lamp that the man is wearing reading glasses which matches him very well.
"Squalo-san, you're still up?" The tired brunette yawns.
"Hm, yeah." The swordsman says softly since other are asleep. If it was the varia mansion, then he wouldn't have cared, but he is a guest in his boss's most hated place.
Tsuna walks over to him to sit down next to him. He thought that the couch looks really comfortable so he lies down there just to rest before heading back to bed. "How come?" He yawns again.
"I woke up. It was too much of a pain to try to go back to sleep." Squalo responds, and then tells him, "Go back to your bed."
"Yeah..." But then the teen falls asleep. The swordsman tries to wake him up, but it's useless without waking the others. Instead he carries the helpless male to his room, and places him on the bed. He looks down at the precious-looking sleeping face which soon looks goofy. Squalo rolls his eyes, and walks out.
Day 3
Tsuna feels like the days has gone away too fast for him that Giannini should have the cure ready within four days after today. He wants to do something with Squalo before he leaves. He first reminds himself that he's not planning a date, but a simple day of activities to do together. Luckily, it is a certain special day tomorrow.
"Hey Squalo-san," He calls for him at the backyard where the male is maintaining his sword on the ground. "Do you want to go to the summer festival with me tomorrow?"
"Sure." The male responds bluntly. It is something new to do. "But don't expect me to wear a kimono!"
"That's okay! I'm just glad that you're coming! Yamamoto and the others will be there, too, and we'll get to see the fireworks together!" He quickly adds, "If you want to see the fireworks, that is!"
"It's not like I have a friggin' choice! That katana brat had me promise to go see them with him!" He grumbles indecent words of the idiot.
"Really? Yamamoto seems to really like you."
"Of course he does! He thinks that we're going on some stupid date!" The varia scond in command growls.
Tsuna realizes now that his rain guardian is indeed really liking the man who's currently under a spell for him. He feels somewhat glad that someone will try to pull the silver-hair's heart strings, but in the same time he can't help feeling like Yamamoto's stepping somewhere he shouldn't be.
The door bell rings which Fuuta gets. "Oh, Gokudera-san and Yamamoto-san! It's nice to see you again!" The ranker gives them a kind smile.
"Hey, Fuuta!" Yamamoto greets in a friendly manner. "Is Tsuna and Squalo home?"
"Yeah, they're at the backyard!" He replies. Gokudera makes his way quickly while Yamamoto gives his thanks and is held back by the kids who want to play with him.
"Tenth!" The bomber shouts as he slides the door open. "Are you alright?!" He glares fiercely at Squalo who gives the same one. Tsuna feels really uneasy about the tension.
Yamamoto reaches them while the kids are latched to him, "Hey Squalo, want to go out?! Hey Tsuna!"
His fellow swordsman replies, "Whatever!" Squalo stands up with his sword at hand.
"What?! You're leaving already?!" Lambo begins to cry, "But I want to play with you!"
"Another time Lambo. Squalo and I have something important to do." The katana wielder promises which left the kid pouting for a second before digging his nose, and then placing a booger on both Fuuta and I-pin. The two run after him for that.
Tsuna watches as the two rain guardians leave. He notices the way Gokudera is watching them leave, too.
The fellow swordsmen have went to Yamamoto's room. "Voi I told you that I'm not going to wear a kimono!" Squalo shouts when he sees the robe.
"It's actually called a yukata, and I won the challenge didn't I?" Yamamoto smirks satisfyingly.
Squalo almost made an excuse about the length of his hair, but proud men don't give excuses. "Fine! But I'm not going to change with you watching me! I'm only doing this, so you could make that bomber retard jealous!"
"What are you saying? That's not why I want to go to the festivals with you." Their deal is to simply go to the festival together.
"Why not?! That bomber brat is obviously into you unlike me! Just give up already! I only kissed you to get what I want!"
"And what's that? It was just one kiss, but I'm intoxicated. If you would just explain to me of what you actually wanted, maybe I'll give up."
Squalo hesitates, but then the katana brat is right. He tells him everything, and then waits to be laughed at.
"So...you're in love with Xanxus?" inquires the teen without a hint of laughter. Squalo affirms that he is. "I must say that it sounds crazy, but then you did find your second love with such a coincidence that maybe I am hopeless. But I still want to go to the festival with you."
"Not like I got a choice! I lost after all!" The sword emperor reminds the teen proudly. Yamamoto lets out a laugh.
Day 4
The day of the festival comes, and Squalo came with Yamamoto as promised to the festival in a yukata. Tsuna is there, too, and is having fun with the others. He then finds Squalo alone eating dango.
"Squalo-san, where's Yamamoto?" He asks.
"Him and that bomber brat went off somewhere together. They just began arguing, and then ran off somewhere."
"Shouldn't you have gone after them?"
"What for?! Those idiots don't need me to be their love guru!"
"Love guru?!"
The silverette raises an eyebrow, "You don't know? Those two are into each other that it's frustrating to be the other man even when I'm not!" Tsuna is not sure about what is going on. Squalo says that they are into each other which should be obvious to figure out, but then he seriously had no idea that they are like that. "Where's your bratty friends anyway? You have more don't you?"
"Uh, my mom is with the kids. I don't know where Reborn is, but he must be having fun like the others. I was looking for you and Yamamoto to see if we could hang out together when I lost Gokudera among the crowd."
"Tch, alright. Let's go over at that booth. I want to eat some yakisoba. You can eat anything you like, it'll be on me."
"Ah, that's alright! I can pay for myself!"
"Save that for when you want to buy something more important. You've been saving up on buying some new earphones right?"
"Huh, you remember that?" Tsuna remembers that they talked about when they were heading back from shopping the other day.
"Of course I do! So save your damn money, and let me handle it!"
The brunette thinks that Squalo is being unnecessarily tough for this sort of event, but then he likes seeing this generous side of the man as well. He starts of shy with having to be spoiled, but then as they went to many booths to play games, eat snacks and talk about trivial things to each other, he forgets about his nervousness and actually enjoys himself.
He tries to stifle his laughs when he hears a funny story about Levi and Bel that has something to do with butter and tacos. "He did that?!"
Squalo is grinning with mirth, "I swear! They both smelled like shit when Mammon tricked the both of them during Bel's pranks! It was payback for ruining his room last time! Their faces were like," Squalo makes strange faces that made Tsuna burst out laughing along with the swordsman. His side is hurting that he almost falls to his knees but the silverette pulls him close to keep him upright.
The teen doesn't mind the intimate pose they are showing for the public since he is still too happy to care. His face feels flush as he tries to regain his breathing. He looks up at the blueish-grey eyed varia with a relaxed smile. The very man giving him a look of contentment.
"Tsuna!" He hears the voice of two beautiful females come over to him. It's Kyoko and Haru in their own yukatas.
"Haru! Kyoko! It's nice to see you!" Tsuna lightly blushes at the sight of them looking really pretty. He is still in love with Kyoko, but has also began to develop feelings for Haru as well.
"We just finished our shift from our own booths!" Haru tells him happily with a tone of satisfaction for their hard work.
"We wondered if we could hang out together for the rest of the festival." Kyoko tells him excitingly.
"Sure! Squ..." Tsuna looks to where Squalo should have been, but the man disappeared.
"Is there something wrong Tsuna?" Haru asks.
"Uhm, sorry, but I need to go find someone. Next time okay?"
"Uh sure." They reply, and the teen sets off to find Squalo. He looks everywhere, and then thinks that the man must've went somewhere isolated. He then heads for the hill where he finally finds the swordsman sitting on the grass with a distant look in his eyes as he is staring up at the night sky.
"Squalo!" Tsuna calls out for him, and then stops to finally have a breath from running around.
"What are you doing here brat?! Shouldn't you be with your girlfriends?!" The silverette questions angrily.
"Gi-Girlfriends?!" The brunnette turns red as a tomato. "They're not my girlfriends! I swear!"
"Tch," Squalo turns his face from him. "Just leave me alone!"
"Why?!"
The sword emperor looks at him furiously, "I don't need to give you a damn reason!"
Tsuna is taken back by the sudden change of the man, but doesn't want to back down. He shouts back at him angrily, "Yes, you do!"
"What was that?!"
"I said that you do need to give me a reason! We were doing great earlier! Why are you so angry all of the sudden?! Are you too ashamed to tell me, oh great Superbi Squalo!"
"Nngh!" Squalo is hit by a nail, and growls out, before shouting at the top of his lungs, "I GOT JEALOUS OKAY! I GOT FUCKIN' JEALOUS AT HOW YOU ARE SO OBVIOUSLY LOVESTRUCK BY THOSE GIRLS THAT I NEEDED TIME TO THINK! I WANTED TO JUST TAKE YOU AND LOCK YOU UP SO I DON'T HAVE TO SEE THAT AGAIN! THERE YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED, SO GIVE ME SOME SPACE TO CONTROL MY FUCKIN' FEELINGS!"
Everything gets silent, and then Tsuna becomes determine that he sits next to the swordsman. The teen didn't plan on it. He just did and somewhat regretted it. It felt nice being next to the varia man. "HEY, I-"
"I heard you!" Tsuna shouts back at him. The teen can't believe that he just shouted at the fearsome sword emperor, but continues to tell him with a more modest tone, "But don't you think if I leave, then it'd be like we are running away from the problem. Shouldn't something like this should be solved with the two of us together. Not as lovers, but as two really confused guys."
"What are you confused about?! I'm the one under some stupid love potion!"
"Even if you say that, you're making me feel weird, too!" Tsuna blushes because that really came out as gay.
"What?!" Squalo doesn't mean to shout, but it came off natural to do so.
"You act nice to me, and then suddenly push yourself away!" The teen tries not to sound like he's nagging. "If you were really in control of yourself, you wouldn't act like this!"
"It's not that easy!"
"Maybe talking to me will!"
"ARGH!" They don't say anything next. The silverette is not talking out of arrogant pride. The teen is just uneasy.
Tsuna feels that Squalo should be the first to speak. The swordsman feels the same, so he thinks over their conversation. He should start out angry at the teen for daring to stand up to him! But he also feels kind of proud that the wimp did. Squalo then feels like the teen must be right. He shouldn't have walked away, or push the teen away. But the vongola doesn't get it! He's not invincible! And he now wishes that he had not thought that. He is Superbi Squalo! He shouldn't think he wasn't invincible when he is still brimming with potential!
He rethinks his situation, and comes up with the conclusion that perhaps the teen is right. Even if he does only have less than three days to rid of the potions effects, he should remedy his feelings now.
He says grouchily, "I'm sorry." He tries not to mutter his words, or shout them out or else he might irk the kid. "I guess that I was having a good time with just you that I really got pissed when those chicks wanted to spend time with you! I got jealous and acted like an idiot! Get it now! I'm a fuckin' jealous retarded shit who lost control because of some girls and you!"
Tsuna heard him, and then replies, "If you had just told me that you felt bothered, we could've done something about it instead of making me look over for you. I got worried."
"I said sorry! Geeze!" The man-child cried out.
"I know, and I'm sorry, too." Tsuna apologizes. "I guess I haven't been upfront with the situation like Reborn wanted me, too. Squalo," Tsuna looks at him with a sure facial expression, "Let's just stay friends."
Squalo scoffs at the rejection, and then replies, "What's with this friends crap?! You're even worse than your stupid rain guardian! I don't even plan to stay friends with you after this! We'll just be acquaintances when the varia gets involved in your problems!"
"That's fine by me." Tsuna smiles, and then the fireworks go off. Lovely colors of light wash over them. Squalo looks at them and then at Tsuna who looks back at him. The moment is so peaceful that it's ticklish for the swordsman who's more used to destructive situations. But he naturally swam into the comfortable atmosphere with the teen who's loving the sight of pretty flashing colors.
After that, they went home. Tsuna tells him before entering his room while Squalo's own is nearby, "I had a great time Squalo."
"You're making it sound like a date!"
"A-ah! But it's true! I did have a great time!" Tsuna needs to learn how to word his sentences better. "G-good night." He runs into his room with his face flushed red. They certainly did not go on a date. Plus he already rejected Squalo, but for some reason he still feels like becoming close to the shark despite how vicious he is.
"What are getting all excited for?" Reborn asks on his hammock.
"Nothing! I'm going to bed!" He jumps on it, and tries to act like he is already sleeping. The hitman doesn't pry.
Day 5
Tsuna looks down from his window to see Squalo helping his mother hang the laundry. The teen almost forgets that the man doesn't have a left hand by how deftly he moves with such a simple chore. Lambo is latched to the man's side wanting to play yet is ignored. Fuuta and I-pin is playing a game of mahjong in the house.
The teen decides to try helping him out while his mother starts with lunch since he felt kind of ashamed for making him do the chores when he doesn't do them in his own home. But then as he is helping, he trips having the white sheets fall all around him.
"Voi! Don't move around, you'll stain them with dirt! Stay still!" Squalo orders as he moves and folds the blankets swiftly. Tsuna is now stuck under one sheet that covers his head like a veil.
Lambo teases, "Tsuna looks like a bride! Gwuhahahahahaha!"
"Shut up stupid cow, and get off me!" The swordsman pushes him off that has him cry and take out his bazooka from his still very big afro. The man takes it away from him which is the first time to happen since ever. "Here!" A lollipop is pushed into the kid's mouth which silences him. It is grape flavor which quiets the child to simply trickle down a few tears.
The teen is amazed. This is the first time that anyone had stopped Lambo from switching places.
He tells this to the swordsman when they hang the freshly washed white sheets. They are at different sides of the rope. "Wow, Squalo-san, that's the first time that I've seen someone stop Lambo from using his ten-year-bazooka."
"What's so hard about taking a weapon from a kid?!"
"Well, yeah, I guess everyone's too shock to do anything. I'm always still when he pulls it out of his afro."
"Tch, you guys are hopeless if you can't react properly to something as insignificant as this!" Squalo takes a small step back when he has all the white sheets hung. He is unable to see the teen who is still too short for his own good. He knows where he is though. He could just lean down and kiss the teen's lips easily with how unguarded he is.
The man punches his head to stop thoughts like those.
"Is something wrong Squalo?" Tsuna asks having heard that hard smack.
"I'm fiiiine! I'm going out to drink!"
"This early?!"
"Yeah! And don't fuckin' try to stop me!"
"But-Squalo?!"
"What?!"
"I...I was wondering," He can't help blushing, "I was wondering if we could go to the beach. My friends and I planned on going there, and Yamamoto wouldn't mind having you there, too." He quick adds, "But you don't need to come if you don't want, too! Kyoko and Haru will be there, too, and I don't want to make you uncomfortable because of the potion if you're-"
"I'm coming."
"Huh?"
"I said I'm coming! Open your ears!" Squalo shouts. And then he tones down his voice once he knows the teen can listen. He says, "It's been a while since I swam, and I need to keep myself from slacking off. It's a good thing that I bought my swim suit. What time are we leaving?"
Tsuna is slightly trembling from how nice hearing him talk like that was. "S-soon."
"Then I better get ready."
Everyone in the house went to the beach. Squalo wore a simple turquoise swimming trunks, and didn't bring his artificial hand. Tsuna ponders if the man could swim with just one hand, but has been proven that the might sword emperor could in a fast rate that came in par with Yamamoto when they went on a race. Gokudera grumbles indecent things as he watches them.
"He has a lot of scars." The brunette points out. Squalo has made scars from shark teeth on his abdomen, and a heart surgical scar on his chest from his fight with Jager. Those were the most noticeable scars while the others were faded from past mistakes as a child. The man was formidable in his missions to not receive more than a scratch at most. Despite all those scars, the man stands like a beautiful warrior.
The teen thinks that he's turning weird for having thought of Squalo as beautiful. He occupies his time by playing with the kids and his friends.
He sees that Kyoko and Haru is talking with the swordsman after winning the swimming race against Yamamoto. By the looks from where he is, the swordsman shows no ill-contempt against the two teenagers. Tsuna reminds himself that Squalo is an adult so has that mature side of him to not let his feelings determine how he treats others. The two girls even look like they like talking with the man despite his loud tone.
Squalo bitterly enjoys himself spending time with the future vongola tenth's friends. It's so different from his time with his varia comrades. They aren't scheming, talking back, or being lazy or disgusting pieces of shit. Although the atmosphere is plain and somewhat emotionally exhausting for the man to handle, it's also nice when he looks over at Tsuna and feels like he can easily fall into this gentle life for the moment before he beats the shit out of some assholes.
When the sun was going down, they built a bond fire where they talked about memories, ghost stories and embarrassing stories of each other. Squalo joins in with telling them a really dark scary story that freaks out the children and females. The males except for Reborn tries their best to appear confident. Ryohei is the least convincing out of everyone. The swordsman happens to unnecessarily puts too much gruesome details and suspenseful drama in one ghost story. Tsuna is unsure if he could go to the toilet anymore when he imagines the man's story clearly in his head.
The sword emperor laughs at all of them which adds more to the horror.
Back at home, the kids and hold onto Tsuna for protection for the creeper in the dark. Squalo is grinning at their cowering fear.
In the middle of the night, the teen is far too scared to go to sleep albeit the children didn't have a problem of going to sleep. Reborn wasn't scared so no surprise that he was blowing a snot bubble so peacefully.
He decides to go downstairs to drink some warm milk. He makes a brave effort to go through the dark hallway, and down the stairs where he finds Squalo reading his book again.
"Squalo? Couldn't go to sleep again?" Tsuna asks.
"Yeah." The man replies turning a page. "My stupid boss faxed me some paper work earlier. I finished it, and reading myself to sleep now."
Tsuna thinks that is reasonable, and forgets of why he went downstairs in the first place. He thinks hard, but then is distracted when the man turns another page. He remembers that the couch is comfortable that he'd fall asleep. He doesn't want to indirectly ask the man to carry him to bed again. The last time was an accident, so he didn't talk about it, but now, he's somewhat desperate to find comfort from fear.
"Voi, kid. Are you going to sit down or what?" He whispers angrily.
The teen fears that he's been read, but does as he's told. The couch is comfortable, and being next to Squalo makes him feel ironically safe. The teen falls asleep, and then after a while, Squalo carries him to bed.
Day 6
Tsuna walks down to the kitchen having woken up pretty late for breakfast. He expects to find Squalo to be up with the others, but the man is missing from the kitchen. "Where's Squalo?" He blinks in worried confusion.
Reborn replies, "He walked out after I told him that Giannini had to postpone on making the cure due to being needed for another mission which will take time."
"Where did he go?!"
The baby shrugs, "I don't know."
"Did he at least give a hint?!"
The hitman pulls out his gun, "Is that anyway to ask?"
"Sorry! I-I'll go find him!" Tsuna runs back upstairs to change out of his pajamas, and then out of the house. He ignores his mother who tells him that he should at least have breakfast first!
His mother sighs, "My, I never seen him get so worked up over a guest leaving the house! He must really like Mr. Squalo."
Tsuna thinks that the silverette must've went to the bars, but every window he looked into to find him did not hold the man who he is looking for. Midway of the town, he remembers that he has the shark's phone number after one of their meetings before this situation. It is meant for professional business, but then he is really worried. He knows that Squalo wouldn't be the one hurt, but definitely the type to cause trouble and hurt others.
He then rethinks his situation once he calms down as his phone rings for the male. Now that he thinks about it, it's pointless to look, since he doesn't have the willpower to stop the swordsman unless the situation is really dire. He knows that he's most likely to be the victim instead of the mediator.
"Voooi!" He hears the shark roar, but it's not through his phone. He turns around to see Squalo and Enma!
"Squalo! Where did you go?!"
"I went out to buy some tuna and sake! I also end up finding this piece of trash," he refers to Enma who's a bit messy with bandages on, "Being beat the shit out of from some assholes!"
Tsuna sighs relieved. He also figured that the assholes mentioned must've talked smack about Squalo to have had the man help out Enma. "I got worried that you might have caused trouble, so I ended up searching for you."
"Are you stupid?! I don't need you to tell me what to do! If I want to have a friggin' bar fight, then I'm gonna have one?!" The man roars out indignantly for having been thought of as a lost troublesome child.
"Ye-yes. I honestly don't know why I came running after you even when I knew that. I guess it was more on impulse. Sorry." The teen apologizes as he feels quite embarrassed for his sudden rash behavior that he didn't know he had. Squalo frowns at the teen for being so stupid, but it does feel nice to have been thought about so honestly.
"Uhm..." Enma feels like the uncomfortable third wheel. Not that he minds, but figures that he should be going now.
"Ah, Enma! I kinda forgot that you were there!" Tsuna exclaims feeling more embarrassed. What is with him today?
"It's okay. I can see that you two are having a moment."
"VOOOOI! Don't call it a fuckin' moment! Don't make it sound weird!" Squalo does not want to be lumped with being a lovebird having a moment with his significant other.
"Sorry!" Enma cries out for forgiveness.
Tsuna hurries to say, "Since we're all here, how about we-" His stomach growls.
"Voooi.." The shark seethes out angrily, "Did you forget to eat breakfast?"
The brunette blushes. He can't believe how much humiliation is being brought down on him in one day. He just wants to hide in a turtle's empty shell.
In the end, the three went to a nearby casual restaurant where the swordsman pays for their breakfast. Turns out that Enma also forgot to eat breakfast when he decided to run away from an angry Adelheid in the morning.
Tsuna explained the situation with Enma of what is happening after he asks if they are friends. Squalo denies that which led to the explanation of the fated day, and how things have been so far.
"So you're in love with Tsuna-kun due to a love potion?" inquires the red head.
"Yeah! And it's not wavering in the least bit at all! No matter how hard I try to hate him!"
"You've been trying to hate me?!" Tsuna had no idea at all seeing how the shark has been mostly nice and loud for the past few days.
"Hell yeah! I've been telling myself of how weak, vulnerable, stupid, gullible, lanky, indecisive, foolish and what the hell is with your hair?! Don't you know how to take care of it?! It's like an insult to hair care cosmetics when they see you pass by them from inside the building to the window and even in your own bathroom!"
The future vongola boss feels the weight of already known flaws about him, but his hair was a new added weight. He had no idea that it's been an eyesore for the man.
Enma comforts Tsuna by saying, "It's okay Tsuna-kun. Koyo complains about the lack of skin care I use whenever he looks at me without his glasses." At least, he's not alone.
Afterwards, the two teenage boys thanks Squalo for the delicious and fulfilling meal. The man dismiss their gratefulness to finally get out of the place to do something else. The Earth guardian excuses himself to get back home since he figures that Adelheid and the others may be worried about him.
"Let me walk you home, brat!" Squalo tells him.
"Eh?" Both teenagers are shock by the considerate action from such a rough man.
"It's so painfully obvious that you're going to be beaten the shit out of by whatever fuck comes your way that it's irritating!" He explains. His tone then lowers to that comforting rocking kind that growls, "Just lead the way, and I'll beat the shit out of anyone who comes our way. Don't get me wrong alright. I'm really in the mood to beat up some more punks that comes our way."
"U-uhm," Enma blushes, "Thank you." His hand holds onto Squalo's false one, and they walk towards the male's house. Tsuna looks at their holding hands, and isn't sure of how he should feel about this.
Squalo doesn't mind the whole holding hands since the kid is a clumsy wimp. This would be less stressful than having to help him up every time he falls or even dares run away from a chihuahua like the other guy beside him.
On the way, they did meet some punks that teased Enma of having a boyfriend. Squalo did quick work to have them heavily injured. Tsuna and Enma felt extremely glad that they weren't the victims. The Earth guardian felt especially glad that he wasn't targeted by the swordsman after their last encounter at the arcobaleno battles.
He is finally dropped home. Enma and Tsuna share a smile while Squalo is already walking away. "I hope that we can all get along like this again sometime." Enma says.
"Realy?"
"Mmhm. Squalo-san is scary, so I'm really surprised to see this side of him. It must be thanks to you."
"No! Not at all!" The teen blushes. "I mean he told me that he can't help feeling that he wants to be gentle with me even though I can get on his nerves."
"Do you like him Tsuna-kun?" The other teen questions interestingly.
"Not at all! Just as a friend I mean! It's really nice having Squalo around, but then he's part of the varia,"
"So what if he's in the varia?" Enma cocks his head to the side, "You don't have to keep explaining Tsuna-kun. I understand."
"You do?"
"Yeah, it can't be helped being charmed by someone who likes you right? That's what Julie says anyway."
"Right! Right! I'm just being charmed! Even if it is from a guy. Though Squalo isn't an ordinary guy. I should be going now! See you later, Enma!" Tsuna runs off towards Squalo who is really fast at walking.
Day 12 (Not a mistake)
Tsuna is beyond worried. He knows better than to be for Squalo, but this time he's fighting with someone who's equally dangerous, and that person happens to be Mukuro. He's completely clueless of why the genjutsu user would call out the sword emperor to fight within the forest. The meeting place making it more difficult for the sky wielder to find the two.
How he came to know about this fight is from Reborn who tells him during the afternoon, when Tsuna finally asks of where Squalo is. He didn't ask during the morning because he figures that the swordsman is probably fine. He should've asked earlier. He prayed to whatever god he believed in to make sure that both of the males were not too hurt beyond repair.
As he looks around the forest from above, he can't help thinking about Squalo and what they did the days before.
The mornings of the next days were ordinary with Squalo preparing breakfast, and helping out with the chores. His loud tone having been a pleasant ordinary thing to hear. It mostly only got on the nerves of Reborn who'd shoot at him. They get into a mid-distance battle before the shark is asked to do something from Tsuna's mother.
Tsuna had increasingly grown fond of the silverette who hasn't done anything perverted despite still being in love with the teen. The two of them would go out to the park, arcade or shops with Gokudera and Yamamoto or not. The teen would feel happy, scared, angry, or embarrassed by or with the man. Tsuna would forget that the man was a deadly assassin, and a loyal friend to the man who wants him dead. It would just be them in their world when they become engrossed in their conversation.
Yesterday, Fuuta points at the ad on the newspaper about a new aquarium in town. Everyone wanted to go, so they went together there. Tsuna's mother is with the kids and Reborn as Squalo and Tsuna gazes at the different sharks swimming above the glass arch. Tsuna doesn't usually go to one of these, so is really soaking in the sight of them. The swordsman however looks indifferent.
Tsuna tries to light the mood by asking if the man knew all about sharks as much as he loved them. The sword emperor calls him an idiot for even asking. The silverette acted like an expert tour guide without the happy attitude as he explains everything about sharks to the teen who listened with interests because the varia man sounded so passionate.
"You really like sharks." Tsuna points out, and then inquires, "What made you like them in the first place?"
"Their ferociousness obviously! They are the number one predator fish in the sea! They always stay mobile to not sink to the bottom, and you have to be the best of the best to have the rights to survive in their world!" The man shouted out proudly with his fist clenched.
Tsuna felt inspired to like sharks as well, and asked, "Is it okay if I ask of why you're always shouting Squalo? Is it really because of the varia?"
"No! I've been like this since I was a newborn! My mother never knew how to stop having kids, and my dad just didn't know how to use a damn condom!"
"We're in public Squalo! Please be a little quieter!"
"VOOOI!...Okay. It's not like these pieces of trash needs to hear my story anyway." Squalo was comfortable enough to tell the kid. It wasn't a secret anyway.
Tsuna sighed with relief. "So you had a lot of siblings?"
"Yeah! More than ten actually! And because of that, I was always overlooked since I was a newborn unless I cried! I still had to shout as a kid, so it became a habit!"
"I don't have any siblings so I can't really sympathize with you."
"I don't need your damn sympathy! And no wonder why you're pathetic! If you had a little brother or sister, maybe they wouldn't be so hopeless since they'll get pointers from you!"
Tsuna lightly chuckles at that. He knew that it would definitely be true. And he once wished that he had that more capable sibling to have been taken the role as future vongola tenth. But in the same time, it would've meant that he wouldn't have all the friends he does have, so doesn't wish for one too seriously.
They venture farther into the aquarium, and then took a seat one one of the benches within a dark round room that's illuminated by lights through the glass that reaches from the floor, and covers the ceiling. Colorful fishes are swimming in different patterns The soft glow on their scales adding colors to adore as they move through the translucent water.
Tsuna stared at the beautiful work display until he caught Squalo staring at him. "What?" He asked obliviously.
Squalo responded softly, "I realized that this is the first time for me to go to an aquarium. I usually don't give a shit for these stupid casual things since I am an assassin, so don't tell anyone that I told you this. Promise?"
"...Yeah. I promise."
The man then said as if its such a shocking secret, "I'm glad that I came here." Tsuna was unsure of why that is such a bad thing. The varia man explained, "Everyone at the varia is a dick, and so am I, and to know that one of us is into these simple and somewhat romantic things, they wouldn't hear the end of it of being a softie and weak."
"That's terrible."
"Yeah, but we wouldn't be feared if we didn't straighten each other out. So I feel...glad that I'm here with you."
The teen feels goosebumps from hearing the man say that so sweetly that he feels his whole body slightly tremble from the sugar rush. Without hesitation, the two of them share a simple soft kiss that no one else sees them do since the room was quite dark to see each others face. They have another kiss followed by a third. Tsuna doesn't know what to do. All he knew was that he wouldn't mind having a fourth or a fifth...sixth.
But then the kisses stopped with a third. Squalo apologized. Tsuna told him that it was okay. He got excited, too. He didn't expect his first kiss to be like this. The swordsman questioned if he was serious. The teen was so glad that it was dark, so the man can't see his face when he nods.
"Was it perfect?"
Tsuna felt his cheeks burned as he responded, "Yeah."
"You understand that this doesn't make us lovers or anything right?" Squalo had to make sure since he knew that teens have a tendency to over think a kiss.
"Yeah, I know." Tsuna knew that that kiss was just them being excited, and wasn't hurt when he asked that. But did feel slightly disappointed. "Should we be going now."
"Yeah. Let's get back to the others before they start thinking that we did what we did."
"Yeah..."
Back to the present, Tsuna finally finds Squalo on the ground bleeding just as bad as Mukuro who has cuts and a few gashes on his body. The sword emperor sported some blood dripping, scratches and dirt on his body and clothes. "Squalo!" Tsuna ran to the man.
"VOI! Don't get in the fuckin' way!" The proud male shouted at him.
"What?!" The teen hears Mukuro's signature laugh.
"How nice to see you again, Tsunayoshi Sawada." The male greeted slyly. "Squalo and I are simply settling out our differences."
"Differences! Yeah right, you piece of shit!" The swordsman charged, but then Tsuna reacted, and got in between the two males.
"Stop this instant!" The future vongola tenth ordered the both of them in his hyper mode.
"VOOOOI! Get out of my way brat!" Squalo demanded back.
"Not until I get an explanation for this! Mukuro, why did you call Squalo out for a fight!"
"That's none of you business." The genjutsu user says coolly.
Tsuna doesn't beckon him. He turns to the sword emperor as he exits hyper mode. "Squalo?"
The varia man glares at him, and then lowers his sword.
"My, Squalo, you're letting him order you around? Xanxus would be surprised or better yet, furious. Kufufufufu~"
"SHUT UP!" He forces himself not to twitch in pain. They've been going at it for hours after all. "Tsuna," He calls for the teen in a growl, "We're fighting over you."
"What?!" Tsuna is completely stunned. He never had anyone fight for him like this!
The shark continues, "This idiot here thinks that I overstayed my welcome here, and then made a deal that whoever wins the fight would declare of whether I should be with you or not."
"Don't twist the story like that, Superbi Squalo." Mukuro smirks, "I simply detest you being here."
Squalo rolls his eyes, "Whatever! I only agreed to the fight since I wouldn't let you insult my pride!"
"What pride? Kufufufufu~"
"I'm going to shred you to pieces!" The sword emperor lifted his sword threateningly.
Tsuna isn't sure of what to do. He doesn't entirely grasp what is happening. "Wait, what do you mean that you're fighting over me?"
Squalo roars, "What I meant is that this asshole has a fuckin' crush on you, and doesn't like that I spend time with you!" The brunette is thrown in a loop at the idea that his mist guardian has a crush on him. "VOOI! Maybe I did overstay my welcome! I'm leaving!"
"Running away, Superbi Squalo?" Mukuro questions mockingly while completely ignoring the fact that he's been revealed to have special feelings for the future tenth.
"VOOOI! Fuck you! I don't wanna fight a fuckin' chicken who can't even confess to an idiot! I've wasted my time here! I'm going home!" Squalo walks away.
"Wait, Squalo!" Tsuna runs after him, but the swordsman roars out bitterly that he doesn't want to be followed. The teen really can't grasp the situation. He turns to his mist guardian, "What did you do Mukuro-san?!"
"Hm? I wonder." The male says idly. "I only wanted to play with the varia's swordsman, and he has this confused notion that I did it to take you away from him." He approaches the male with that holding sly smirk.
Tsuna unsurely glares at him. "I don't expect you to apologize, but please refrain from doing these things to my friends!"
"He's your friend?" Mukuro arches a curious eyebrow.
"He says we're not, but he is to me! Now I don't know if I can stop him from leaving, and I'm definitely unsure if he's ever coming back of his own free will!" It may have only been almost two weeks, but he's spent a lot of time with the swordsman during those days that he's not ready for the silverette to leave like this. Tsuna runs for Squalo in the jungle, but then gets lost, and there is no phone reception. He finally gets out after a few hours, but then is too late from stopping Squalo from leaving. The man had already board a private jet back to Italy.
Tsuna is sad to have not been able to say goodbye, and make their separation end smoothly to have the optimistic idea of the swordsman coming back just so he could be able to do fun things without being mocked for it. He has really come to like Squalo's company.
Finally back at the varia mansion, the first thing that he is greeted with is a chuckle from the forever annoying Bel. "Shishishi~ Welcome back captain Squalo."
"VOI! I only came back to get back to work immediately!" He walks pass the blond, and ignores the greetings of others. Lussuria thought that the swordsman is angrier than usual.
Squalo stops at Xanxus's doors to see Levi there. An obvious sign that his boss doesn't want to be bothered like usual. The swordsman isn't angry enough to barge in for work. He is simply pissed off because of the fight with Mukuro.
The damn teen had them fight over an idiot that he's hopelessly in love with. He couldn't help feeling protective and even a bit obsessive to declare his dominance and hold over the greenhorn. He stays pissed over the plane flight because he wants to immediately turn around and hold the brunette in his arms. He wants to see his face, listen to his voice, touch the warmth of his skin, the softness of his inexperience lips, and be given that casual nice attention.
The more the hours go by, and he walks farther away from Italy, his heart is wretched by his actions. For the first time, he doesn't want to beat anyone, but simply submit to his heart.
He forces his heart and thoughts away to bark at Levi to tell the boss that he's here and ready to work! The thunder guardian gives him an undeserving haughty look before turning to the door, and get his face smashed with a glass cup. Squalo walks into the room to see the man he...is not sure of how he feels now.
He sees that threatening glare of wrath that raptured his heart. It still engages him to follow Xanxus, but as something more...Squalo is unsure. He forces himself to stop thinking about love, and get his head back to work. "VOI! I came back shitty boss! Got something for me!"
Xanxus glares at him for his use of tone and words that he bitterly spits out, "Shut up trash. What the fuck have you been doing up til now?"
"It's none of your fuckin' business of what I do on my own fuckin' time! Just give me whatever work you got for me!" Squalo shouts out irritatedly. He really needs the distraction.
The auburn-eyed male stares at his second to notice that something about him change, but he didn't care. He simply gives the work, and a glass to the man's head when he turns around. Squalo shouts out curses and his signature "VOOOOI!" Xanxus smirks at the reaction that he has been missing these passed few weeks. But wouldn't dare tell anyone that he missed anyone.
For over a week, Squalo has been working nonstop. It shouldn't be weird for the varia members who knows him, but then there is this strange yet not vicious atmosphere about him.
Bel, Mammon and Lussuria are at the living room watching an episode about transforming vehicle robots. Squalo passes them with a whole bunch of paperwork that he plans to do overnight again. Imaginary, there seems to be this dark grey cloud over his head that is thundering threateningly to rain on the shark.
"Any idea of what is wrong with Squalo?" Mammon asks curiously since no one else has asked yet.
Lussuria hums to himself, and then replies, "Oh dear, I think I recognize that look now that I think of it. That's the look of love sickness. Our poor Squ-chan is in love!"
Bel and Mammon look at each other despite having their eyes covered. They all have a feeling that they knew with who. Xanxus. But they needed proof or a confession. Bel smirks slyly. Proof is more fun to look for because it meant that he has a validating excuse to ransack the shark's room.
So the three of them sneak into the predator's room to see if they could find anything interesting, but nothing out of the ordinary since the last time that they did this for other reasons. But then Mammon finds an interesting crumpled piece of paper in the trash. He looks it over, and then calls the others to look at it. "It seems to be some sort of poem."
"Poem?" Bel is confused. Squalo and poems never go together.
"Ooh! Let me read it aloud for all of us!" The sun guardian clears his throat.
I remember the translucent water above us
The kiss we shared, and could never speak of
Because we are of two worlds apart
I wish it could be the same for my heart
Weak and fragile as you are
I should be pissed, but no I'm not
Instead I crave to be gentle
Please don't be sentimental
My pride will not stand for it
My pride which you can't understand
But even so, even if we may never do understand each other
Our hearts still try to collide to become lovers
I love you, Tsunayoshi Sawada
Three pair of eyes that had never been seen before stare at the name. The one name that they all knew very very well. They search through the trash to see more poems have been written.
My shitty boss will never accept
But I don't give a fuck
Forever those memory I kept
Thanks to lady luck
I want to kiss you again
These feelings sprung from a potion
My gratefulness never lessen
Responsible for this fateful motion
Let me wrap you in my arms
That one didn't finish, but it is certainly not intended for Xanxus unless there is another shitty boss that Squalo has.
Kiss me again Tsunayoshi
Before I flee
...
I love you Tsunayoshi
...
We are a spring rain
without the dark stormy clouds
Dearest Sawada
...
I write these poems to ease my heart
You would laugh, but perhaps be touched as well
Or freaked out or amazed that I could do literature and art
No one but you would know due to where I mainly dwell
"Wait." The mist guardian spoke. "We don't know if Squalo even wrote this. It may be his room, but we would need confirming evidence such as his name on one of these poems. There seems to be none. Not even a comment about his shark. It won't do well as black mail."
"There is one about spring rain." Bel points out.
"Its a Haiku." The baby tells them.
Lussura speaks, "I don't really care for blackmail. The real problem is that our sweet Squ-chan is in love with the enemy. If bossu figures out, then he will definitely be given the gun!"
The storm guardian sprawls out on Squalo's bed nonchalantly. "And we should care because...Shi shi shi~"
"I just don't want there to be chaos yet when Squ-chan is still so uppity with how he feels! Let's at least do something before our bossu murders him!" Lussuria decides! He really wants to see this through with love and chaos since its almost like Romeo and Juliet!
The two eyeless guardians thinks this over. Mammon doesn't essentially care for what happens, but know that the price of this blackmail that he's holding could rise exponentially! Even if it has no name, simply telling the boss would be enough. Bel simply wants to see Squalo's ultimate doom!