CHAPTER 4: First meeting in the past

Ieyasu Taru is my best friend when I was in middle school. He was a transfer student coming from Italy and for some unknown reasons he decided to befriend me. He was also my first crush and lover.

Flashback:

"Okay class we have a transfer student coming from Italy, don't worry everyone he can fluently speak Japanese, Ieyasu come inside", Hide-sensei our homeroom teacher said and gestured for the figure to enter the classroom.

As the man entered our classroom, all girls screamed and were love struck at first sight. I who never showed any interest at transfer students just decided to give my attention to the view outside the window but after hearing the squeals emitted by the whole female population I turned my attention to the person in the center and like everyone it was love at first sight.

Who wouldn't admire the transfer student who had spiky golden hair locks and the bluest eyes who could drown anyone who looks at it. All boys where very jealous of the new student's looks and from what I can observe they would formulate plans to befriend the new student.

All the squealing finally stopped after Hide-sensei told everyone to shut-up or he would put the transfer student into another section. It really was so effective that everyone became silent in a second. After looking around the classroom, Hide sensei stated that the new student Ieyasu Taru would have to introduce himself to the whole class.

I was like a moth drawn to a flame when he started speaking. His voice, well I can't just describe it, it's so relaxing and hypnotic that anyone would want him to talk forever.

"My name is Ieyasu Taru, I am from Italy and was born there but for some reasons I have to stay here quite a while in Japan. I am still 15 years old. I hope we can all get along and become friends", the foreigner said. After his short speech everyone bursted once again into squeals and the teacher have to silence everyone again.

"Let's see, Ieyasu you can seat next to Sawada, Sawada please raise your hand so Ieyasu would know you", Hide-sensei said and everyone glared at me very jealous because the new student would be my seatmate. I had forgotten that the last row of the chairs was only occupied by me and I was right next to the window and all the remaining chairs are vacant. Of course all new students have to be seated beside me.

Ieyasu slowly walked towards me after the teacher told him to go to his seat because classes will start after five minutes. I don't know how to face him so I decided to give my attention back again to the view on the window. I felt him stop in front of my seat but I paid it no heed and continued to stare at the window, I promised myself to stay like until a hand made its way to touch my shoulder.

It made me turn around and what greeted me is a dazzling smile from my first crush. It made me freeze that is until he talked.

"By the way my name is Ieyasu Taru, nice to meet you, and you are?"he asked me and sat at his chair. I looked around the room and saw all the female population glaring at me.

"Nice to meet you Taru-san. I hope we can get along for the rest of the year", I said and diverted my attention to the book I had been reading.

"I can say that to you as well, but as I had asked earlier what is your name? I can't call you Sawada forever", Ieyasu asked me again and I prayed to the Gods for any distraction or whatsoever. Outside I may be calm but inside I am already sweating.

The Gods must have answered my prayer because at that moment the bell rang signalling the next subject and our Math teacher Yoshida-sensei entered the classroom. Today we had a test and Ieyasu quickly answered it without even a sweat and we both finished at the same time. The whole class was still answering so I decided to turn my attention again to the book I am reading.

After a few minutes I heard someone whispered at me and turned at the direction. It was Ieyasu again.

"What is your name?" he whispered slowly and once again I ignored him and decided to focus at the book again. The whispering continued for two minutes until it stopped. I thought that he had already given up until I felt a ball of paper flew to my desk. I opened the paper and saw the words 'Your name' on it. I glanced at his direction and saw him sporting a pleading face. He looks adorable like a puppy and once again I ignored him and hid a chuckle.

Morning classes passed and I had successfully avoided Ieyasu's schemes to know my name. Lunch time came and as always I always eat at the rooftop. As expected Ieyasu became popular in the whole school and all the female population are after him. He even had his own fan club made in just half a day. In only half a day I begin to think that he is a perfect person. First of all he is smart, I heard from the principal that he is the only person who got the transfer examination perfect, and only the two of us got perfect during the Math test earlier. Second, he is athletic, the boys' team he is part of won without a sweat in the basketball game with a score of 135-3. Ieyasu was the one who scored four-fifths of the points. Third he is handsome; well you can already guess what I am meaning to say. Lastly, he is rich, rumors said that he was driven to school in a limousine and a servant even opened the door for him.

"That just means that there is a very long gap between the two of us", I whispered to myself.

After thirty minutes I decided to go back to the classroom. While I was at the staircase, a group of girls decided to corner me. Don't get me wrong I know how to fight; while I was young my adopted father and his friends taught me different fighting styles.

The leader of the group of 7 was a classmate of mine, a girl named Rea. Behind her I recognize some popular girls of the school.

"What gave you the right to talk to Ieyasu-sama? You are just a trash compared to us", Rea said and she scowled at me. After that she pushed me hard enough for me to stumble down towards the floor and before she can hurt me seriously all of us heard a voice that was too familiar to me.

"If I were you, I would stop right now. What kind of people are you to hurt innocent ones", Ieyasu said and went upstairs towards our direction.

All the girls tensed up and began to say a string of apologies towards me and towards Ieyasu. Before they can even escape, Ieyasu gave them a threat.

"If I ever hear or know that anyone of you decided to hurt her, I will personally become your enemy", Ieyasu said and carried me bridal style towards the direction of the infirmary.

"Thank you by the way for saving me", I whispered to Ieyasu while on our way to the infirmary. He then gave me a smile and said 'you're welcome'.

"Sawada Tsunayuki", I whispered in a soft voice, loud enough for the man carrying me to hear.

"What?" Ieyasu asked me, confusion evident on his face.

"To Italians its Tsunayuki Sawada, that is my name", I explained to him just in time for us to arrive at the infirmary. Luckily the doctor is not there so he carried me towards the bed.

"It suits you by the way, from now on call me Ieyasu", Ieyasu said and gave me a gentle smile, enough to make me blush.

"C-call m-me Tsunayuki then or anything you like", I said and decided to hide my face under the covers.

My action made Ieyasu chuckle and he got some bandages from the first aid kit and bandaged my sprained ankle. Before I can even ask him how he knew I got injured he told me he saw the scene where the girls pushed me which caused the sprain.

After a few minutes of silence when he was bandaging my foot he broke the silence by saying a single world.

"Tsuna..." Ieyasu said and looked at me with that smile again.

"W-wwhatt?",I asked and that made him chuckle.

"From now on, I'll call you Tsuna, friends then?" Ieyasu said and extended his right hand towards me.

That move made me smile and I grasped his hand and said one word.

"Friends"

A tap at my shoulder made me escape from my thoughts. I turned around and saw Reborn-nii sporting a smile on his face.

"Let's go home, Tsuna"