***50th Chapter! Long oneshot in celebration***
TYL!5986 SHORT-STORY ~ BALL NIGHT
Timeline: Future Canon (after manga end) | Age Gap: +5~7 years
SOUTHERN ITALY, ONE NIGHT
"... you didn't have to wait for me, tsk..."
"Is that how you thank someone going through the trouble of waiting until you finish that stupidly long mission? Ungrateful-desu."
"Like I said, why didn't you damn go first with the 10th and Sasagawa and the others?! I would have caught up with you all anyway."
"Well, Tsuna-san initially wanted to wait for you before we all set off, so..."
"... the 10th did... for my sake...? Damn, how could I let these idiots I was tailing detain me enough to make the 10th delay his planning, kakkowarui (so uncool)..."
"Anyway, that's why Haru stayed behind so that Tsuna-san and Kyoko-chan could go early. Tsuna-san looked relieved and said he'll see us at the mansion, so no need to rush so much now. The sign just now said you shouldn't drive that fast, you know."
TILT. TYL!Gokudera's green eyes caught onto another sign trying to remind drivers that it was indeed safer to slow down along this S-laced road crossing the valley.
After a brief moment of hesitation, his foot relaxed on the accelerator and his left hand went for switching gears down.
It wasn't like he could endanger his passenger just to get back to the 10th's side faster, after all... The 10th himself had entrusted him with the duty of bringing her with him and he will do honour to the job...
The dark blue scenery of the Italian valley slowed down on the other side of the glass, and TYL!Haru lowered it to enjoy the mild night breeze, as the luxurious dark Italian car was smoothly swallowing kilometres of deserted road.
Somehow, she wasn't in a rush to arrive at all... Ever since TYL!Tsuna had officially proposed to TYL!Kyoko and she had officially accepted, attending Balls and Parties for the Allied Families had become an emotional burden. Not that she wasn't happy to see her two closest friends happy together, but something in her heart, something from long ago was still attached to Tsuna and hadn't completely cut at the same time she had cut her hair. Even worse than the actual tingling feeling of envy, she was feeling awful and guilty realising she still felt that way, somewhere deep inside her.
So tonight, she had put on a lot of efforts to help TYL!Kyoko, TYL!Hana, and TYL!I-pin getting ready, trying to delay as much as possible getting ready herself. Her pride would not let her bring shame on the Vongola Family by dressing up sloppily for a Ball, but she had still forslowed it as much as possible, even going until offering to stay behind to wait for TYL!Gokudera who was running late after a reconnaissance mission in some other city.
True... He was on a scouting mission, wasn't he... Yet how come he arrived dressed so neatly, his hair even combed...
TYL!Haru's eyes wandered on the one by her side.
Maybe it was the absence of lighting on this deserted valley road, or maybe it was just the night breeze engulfing the car and slowly agitating his silver hair, or maybe it was just that they were both silent – something rare – but, somehow, TYL!Gokudera looked different.
For someone who was just back from mission, how could he look so unruffled, so poised, so cool... wait, no, she didn't mean cool, she just meant c-composed for sure... yep, for sure...
She averted her eyes and brought them back on the scenery beyond the open window.
Strange-desu... How come she could see so many stars above the valley, now...
"... do you know if the 10th and the others arrived safely?"
The question pulled TYL!Haru out of her star-gazing melancholy.
"The text from Kyoko-chan said yes, and that except the usual mess with Hibari-san and Mukuro-san challenging each other, everything is fine."
"I see... Damn these two, they can't stay put even for a Ball, tsk... If they end up causing trouble for the 10th again, I'll beat them down."
"I thought Hibari-san was stronger than you, though..."
"K-kof! S-say that again?! Definitely not, it's just that..."
"E-eyes on the road, ON THE ROAD… KYAAA!"
SCHREEECH.
The tires skidded onto the road at the hairpin turn and pursued its run like if it had been the regular speed for engaging it.
"Are you crazy?!"
"Right, right, my bad! Now please stop digging your fingers in my shoulder when I'm still driving, damn it!"
"N-not like I ever asked for it, Aho! Your idiotic stunt sent me on you!"
"I said my bad! Here, happy?"
"It's not the problem!"
"Then what's your damn problem?!"
TYL!Haru's eyes started shaking puzzlingly.
Yes, what was the problem with her... Just now, did she just wish they would stop the car... wish they would call the others saying they couldn't come in end... wish even before that Gokudera wouldn't show up in time from his mission to go attend the Ball...
No way... So it really was that she didn't want to attend, in the end...?
"W-w-wait?! What the...?! You're crying...?!"
SCHREEECH.
Another fast skid and the car was parked neatly on the scenic roadside stop area.
TYL!Gokudera pulled the handbrake and switched on the hazard flashers before unfastening his belt to bend over his passenger in panic.
"... o-oy...?" He muttered at a loss of words, trying to make eye-contact with TYL!Haru who had frozen deep-in-thoughts, tears escaping her eyes without her realizing.
"Oy, Haru...?"
The contact of TYL!Gokudera's fingers on her skin as he was slowly grabbing her shoulder made her come back to her senses.
"Y-yes...?"
"Don't 'yes' me, damn it! Are you hurt, or are you scared, or...?"
"... no. What is wrong?"
"… what the…?! YOU! You damn Stupid Woman is apparently feeling wrong! Raah, forget it! Just what was I getting anxious for, tsk...?!" TYL!Gokudera snapped while getting back to his sit and grabbing the belt to fasten it again, pissed to have worried over someone still as stubborn as usual.
TYL!Haru swallowed back a sour after-taste still lingering between her lips as the car left the parking area to dash down the road again.
The night breeze dried the stake of her tears on her cheeks and she gazed at the distant illuminated manor getting closer and closer with as much composure and anticipation as she could.
After all, she shouldn't cause trouble to her friends just because she's feeling a little blue. Parties are always funnier once started, so it won't be hard to get in a better mood once in front of a delicious buffet and with musicians performing live. She will show Kyoko-chan how she managed to twist her short hair into something pretty close to a long-hair hairdo. She will show Hana-san she was able to zip-up the back of her dress alone. She will also teach I-pin the next steps for salsa she didn't have time to teach her the last time. Yes, tonight's party will be fun, it will be!
"... on these heels?"
"W-what?"
TYL!Haru reacted when a pair of green eyes came to stare at her from the other side of the open car door.
"I said can you walk on these damn heels?"
"Y-yes, of course! So rude-desu!"
"Raah, I give up! Whatever you want, so just hurry out of the car already, tsk... You guys, she said no need so just give us these damn badges and I'll sign the registry."
TYL!Haru only realised something seemed off when an electronic badge not bigger than a brooch was clipped on the bandeau of her evening dress.
"Wait, where...? Why...?!"
"Because we came in too late, they already closed the access road to the manor so we have to walk across the park. Didn't you damn listen just now?"
"I... see..."
TYL!Haru looked down at the paving of granite circling around the dark green of the rocky grass garden. If she had known, she would have chosen more stable heels...
TRIP.
"Of course, my butt! And I warned you and all, tsk… Here." A familiar hand grabbed hers to interlock her arm with his and give her support, before resuming the walk at fast speed.
After all, the 10th was waiting...
TYL!Haru didn't know whether to laugh or complain, because it felt at the same time usual and unusual for TYL!Gokudera to care about others thoughtlessly like that – as all his thoughts were usually only for his esteemed Boss.
"... what...?"
TYL!Gokudera had noticed her badly hidden laughing smile and was starting to feel aggravated by what looked quite obviously like mockery against him.
"Nothing..."
TYL!Haru couldn't help giggling, all her previous worries having been demoted, somehow.
Should she tease him about how he couldn't stop looking at his reflection in every passing garden lantern while muttering he should comb his hair again before meeting the 10th...
Should she tease him about how he had adjusted the knot of his tie five times already, and dusted the shoulders of his vest three times already too...
Should she tease him about how he had accelerated their steps gradually, unable to hide his impatience...
Somehow, TYL!Haru couldn't help glancing at the one walking by her side with a laughing smile.
The music could now be heard from the manor not so distant anymore, even if the garden surrounding it would have easily covered the surface of Ueno Park.
The cello and harpsichord notes twirling in the night-blue air were bringing cheerful thoughts as well.
Maybe she could try and see if he knows salsa too, when teaching I-pin-chan...
Maybe she could try and see if he would notice how geometrically complex her hairdo is for a composition with short-hair feigning the volume of a long-hair one, when showing it to Kyoko-chan...
Maybe she could try and see if he would place his hand behind her back on the smooth fabric of her dress perfectly zipped when dancing together...
"Say, Gokudera-san, about toni... KYAA!"
TRIP. BADABAM.
"Ouch!"
"... I should be the one saying that..."
"Gokudera-san!" TYL!Haru rushed back on her feet to spare the one under her, but only to fall on the rocky grass again at feeling the misbalance of having suddenly one bare foot against one wearing high heel.
"Careful!" TYL!Gokudera ranted while catching her back again and ending up back to the earth again.
When they finally stood up and surveyed the mess, the result was rather distressing.
"Looks like it's not fixable, damn..."
"... sorry..." TYL!Haru swallowed back apologetic tears while TYL!Gokudera was picking up the two parts of her shoe that had broken when the heel had come stuck in the narrow space between two paving stone.
"And how would that be your fault, Stupid?"
TYL!Haru lowered her eyes while removing her other shoe, not planning on tip-toeing clumsily until the mansion.
Maybe her previous bad selfish thoughts had called for this bad karma...
At reaching the fountain at the entrance courtyard of the manor, her feet stopped and she let go of TYL!Gokudera's hand who had been making her follow after him for a while.
When he turned in surprise at her, ready to scold the Stupid-Woman-making-them-late-and-even-more-late-although-the-10th-was-waiting, TYL!Gokudera froze mid-sentence at seeing her gaze melancholically at her reflexion in the water basin.
How could she just walk in such important Ball without shoes, never minding the dirt on her dress and her messy hair from the fall...
TYL!Haru's eyes started becoming blurry with tears but she clenched her hands to hold them back, before turning to TYL!Gokudera with a stubborn face.
Her bad karma was her own, so there was no reason for him to walk in with such sloppy appearance just because he had to help her out, once again...
TYL!Gokudera startled at seeing her walk to him before grabbing him by his tie to force him to sit by the fountain.
A couple seconds later, she was dusting away dirt from his vest with her handkerchief, before dipping a corner of it into the water to remove the grass stains from his forehead.
TYL!Gokudera's usual frown relaxed into a puzzled scowl.
What was this Stupid Woman doing when she was covered with soil as well...
"Oy, don't tell me you're not planning to come...?" TYL!Gokudera muttered dubiously while catching her wrist to make her stop her silent play.
A pair of stubborn chestnut eyes met his gaze and withstood his stare. There was more sparks and willpower in them than what he had faced during their entire ride.
Is she just messing up with him...?! She can't be serious wanting to stay behind after they made it until here, right... And wasn't she laughing like an idiot some minutes before...?!
"You know, Gokudera-san, I do not want to bring shame on Tsuna-san and everyone else by showing up late and looking like that on top of it..."
"As if the 10th cared about something like that, tsk... Don't think our Family is as cheap as to bother about how you look!"
TYL!Haru nommed her lower lip at being talked back on such a sensitive topic. Of course Tsuna-san or Kyoko-chan or anyone wouldn't care about that and would welcome her. She loved their Family because of that all. But it was precisely why she didn't want other Families to look down on them...
"It's not that important for Haru to attend anyway, so you should go while I wait in the car. Nobody will notice."
BAM.
TYL!Haru felt her feet leaving ground and before she could shout or counter, she had ended up on Gokudera's shoulder like a parcel to deliver.
"Don't mess with me, Stupid Woman. We can't call it a party if the Family is not there all together, damn it!"
TYL!Haru felt tears tickling her eyes.
But she pouted her cheeks stubbornly before grabbing onto Gokudera's shoulder to throw her body in a front handspring over his head, escaping his catch and running away down the granite path across the garden, TYL!Gokudera hot on her heels.
"Got you!" TYL!Gokudera ranted after having finally caught back on her - after countless jumps and dodges.
"L-let go!"
"As if I would!"
"I said let go, you Aho! Just stop wasting time for nothing and go to Tsuna-san's side already! The party will be finished soon if you don..."
"This party is damn useless if you're not coming along!"
TYL!Haru froze with a faint blush, unable to talk back to the pair of green eyes staring deep into hers.
She couldn't even run away anymore after he had cornered her back to a tree, and now he even had to say these words to her. So aggravating...
"Besides, how am I supposed to face the 10th by leaving you behind, tsk..."
SNAP. A vein of annoyed disappointment bumped on TYL!Haru's temple at his thoughtless follow-up.
"If you really want to protect the Family's reputation and Tsuna-san's honour, then don't ditch the Ball when you're the Right-Hand Man, you Aho!"
"It's not like I'm ditching because I want it, Stupid Woman! But if the entire Family can't attend, then there's no way I'd let a member alone behind. Our reputation can go down Marianas Abyss for what I care, as long as you stay behind, I'll stay with you, you got it?!"
TYL!Haru froze again with a blush, but this time caused by softer feelings.
Why does she feels hot and like crying again...
"... you're a Baka..."
"Tsk, is that how you thank someone going through the trouble of staying behind for you? So damn ungrateful..."
"... that was my line from the beginning of the evening, unfair-desu!"
"Unfair or whatever, I'll stick with you, so is there anything you want from tonight? I could ask the waiters for it, like some food or a glass of..."
"A dance!"
"Wh-what...?"
"Haru wanted to dance."
"Damn, you don't have anything easier...?"
"A dance!"
"Raah, I get it, I get it..."
TYL!Gokudera massaged his neck nervously, while checking out their surroundings to try and remember which way was bringing them closer to the mansion and thus to the music.
"Here, happy?" He muttered with an embarrassed expression after having dragged her at the heart of the rose tunnels down the fountain courtyard, where the concerto notes were the highest and clearest.
A new measure was echoing when he secured her hand in his, and run his other hand behind her back, trying not to mind the closeness too much when she walked up to him.
TYL!Haru giggled as they started waltzing, teasing him that he didn't have to look so serious when it would surely not hurt much if she were to step on his feet while she was barefoot.
Yes, in the end it didn't hurt much... quite the opposite... who would have guessed this Ball would make her so happy...!