Updated: 2/4/24
Chapter 12: An Afternoon with Hibari
Reborn mentioned to the twins about celebrating their advancement this morning. Tsuri didnt want to, pointing out that the first day jitters were over and at this point they needed to move on with their daily lives and routine like usual.
Tsuri ended up getting kicked in the shin, and was forced to tell her soccer club that she had an important errand to do. Not that they cared, but at least she let them know so they wouldn't use it as an excuse to make her look bad and tell their coach that she ditched.
So here she was, inside a restaurant within the outer side of Namimori's shopping district, staring at a clean wooden board filled with the most deliciously shiny sushi she'd ever laid eyes on. Her eyebrow twitched and it wasn't of hunger. "So I did ditch practice?! And for tuna?!"
"We were going to come yesterday but you were sick," Reborn answered, still chewing his food. Inside a medium sized restaurant stood Reborn, Bianchi, Tsuna, Lambo, Haru. Why was Haru here too? Might as well bring the whole brigade like the usual. "Why not enjoy your youth by eating good food?"
'Because you kill the joy in an instant with your plans'. "Are you not even the slightest bit suspicious by this? Reborn isn't nice for no reason, " Tsuri looked over to her twin who was happily stuffing his face.
"The sushi's really good you know," Tsuna spoke up with a full mouth. "You're missing out."
"Alright, Alright I get it. I'll eat." Tsuri grabbed her share on the table carefully, but quick so Reborn wouldn't steal it. Lambo eyed her plate but seeing as how she lunged for it before he could, he stole Tsuna's plate again. "I'm amazed that you took us to a sushi restaurant Reborn."
"It's to celebrate your advancement."
"Thanks for inviting me too!" Haru bubbled up happily, chopsticks waved in the air to show everyone her feeling.
"It's no big deal," Bianchi long pink hair replied politely.
"Tsuri-san, I'm sorry I wasn't able to visit yesterday! I was stuck doing homework!"
"Its okay Haru-chan really. And what did I say about being too formal? You can just call me Tsuri or Tsuri-chan." Haru shook her head as if the request was too much to ask her to do. Tsuri shrugged her shoulders in defeat. It would stick eventually. Her eyes glinted when she saw the next stack of sushi on her brother's plate. Her chopsticks hovered over and Tsuna had no time to react when she snatched his portion from right under his nose. "I'm taking your lean cut tuna Tsuna."
"Eh? Hey give me that back!"
"Don't worry Tsuna-san! Haru will order more sushi!"
"Lambo-san will too!"
The whole table had laughs and much more sushi to their hearts content. After the millionth plate, the twins leaned back on their chairs and let out a satisfied breath. One of the servers inside the restaurant grinned widely at the pleased expressions their customers wore.
The issue now, was the tremendous pay check the invitee had to pay. But hey, their tutor said it was celebration so of course the twins didn't need to lift their wallets out.
Rveryone ordered a few more pieces and then out of seemingly nowhere Reborn, Bianchi and even Lambo dashed out in a rush. Haru, Tsuna and Tsuri remained, still sipping tea and wondering where their friends had gone. It wasn't until the time hit an hour mark that they were growing antsy at the missing adults who were supposed to pay their bill.
"The bathroom should be that way," Tsuna rose an eyebrow. "Why would they leave? The pay check isn't even here yet."
"Very strange-desu," said Haru.
"Wait," Tsuri paused from her seat, and then put a hand to her growing blue face. "You don't think..."
"DINE AND DASH?!"
"I knew Reborn's kind gesture had some hidden plan behind it!" Tsuri had stress marks beginning to form on her forehead, on top of her hair, and her fists. "YOU REWARD US BY LEAVING US IN DEBT?! WHAT KIND OF TUTOR ARE YOU!"
Tsuna and Haru started to fake cry. "Tsuri-san looks furious and scary!"
"I went along with him this time. I should have objected into coming here!" Tsuna wailed.
"You should have!" Tsuri scolded, wanting to grab him by the spikes of his hair and slam him onto the table. "You're usually the first out of the two of us who goes against what that damn baby says or does!"
"I didn't know where we were going or what his intention was! He only gave me a map and told me to follow it!" Tsuna retorted. "Besides, you went along with it too!"
"I was persuaded by you, dear brother! Did I have a choice!"
"Ahem." The three teenagers rotated their heads to see the waiter with check in hand. "Who is paying? From all the dishes you ordered, it sums up to be about-"
"I don't even want to hear the price!" the twins yelled together in despair. Haru stood next to them while praying that it wouldn't get worse. Wrong. It would. The solution to the check came in with the teens helping out in the back by washing dishes.
There was good timing because the owner came in the store which turned out to have been Yamamoto's old man and their friend. It turned out that the restaurant was TakeSushi, their family sushi restaurant. Tsuri heard Yamamoto mention it several times, and even brought some sushi to them when he could too. Their mother also frequented here on her good days when she had some time to spare for herself. What an expensive and well kept place. Their friend was off pretty well.
Gladly, the adult let them off the hook because they were friends with his son, but Reborn, Bianchi and Lambo showed up again, consuming all of the more expensive sushi and now Tsuna, Tsuri and Haru had to pay the price with their bodies. As in working themselves to the bone to pay 70,000 yen for all the goddamn food the people they knew ate.
Yamamoto, being the kind guy he was, offered to help them and they really appreciated it.
Two hours already into their labor, they started to feel it in their arms and legs. Haru and Yamamoto were drying up some huge bento boxes while Tsuna and Tsuri were washing and drying plates. Tsuri was not looking at him nor speaking to him, clearly pissed that Tsuna got them into this in the first place. They could have avoided the whole ordeal if he had questioned Reborn beforehand.
Tsuna pouted. Sure, he should have refused, but did it look like he also had a choice in the matter? It was either refuse and die or go alone with whatever Reborn had planned. He'd promised he wouldn't make them so anything physical since Tsuri was still recovering but honestly! She could appreciate the fact that it was because of him that their consequence was light! The brother and sister worked together yet, inharmoniously, clearly angry at one another.
Haru and Yamamoto sweat dropped at their tense and obvious behavior and continued to dry up the sushi boxes. Tsuri was too concentrated in her work so as Tsuna turned off the sink, he sighed loudly and reached out his hand to Tsuri for the towel.
"Lets switch. I'll dry, and you wash."
"I'm fine with drying plates thank you," Tsuri replied too quickly.
"I already told you it wasn't my fault."
"But you still went along with it! We were lucky that Kaasan didn't answer the phone! She would've had our heads!"Haru watched Tsuri shudder from head to toe. It seemed as if she had just remembered a most horrible memory from the past.
"Your Mom? She's very kind. I don't think she'd be very angry with you," Yamamoto said honestly.
"She can seem pretty loose about anything serious but she can be dead scary," Tsuri mumbled. "If we told her that we didn't do a dine and dash, she'd believe Reborn of all people if he said that it was us and not them."
Tsuna turned off the sink and nodded. "She would then turn on her sweet demon smile and lecture us about knowing better and maybe add a few intense chores to do while she cooks..."
"It couldn't have been that bad," Yamamoto waved a hand with a smile. When he saw the serious looks on the twins, he laughed awkwardly while beginning to feel a bit scared. "Could it?"
"Tsuna, remember the time I broke Hanakari-san's window with a rock when we played with our slingshots?"
Tsuna shivered. Tsuri pointed at the boy next to her to show their baseball loving friend his face to prove their point. "Don't remind me. I still have to come to dinner about 5 minutes after you do to make sure Kaasan isn't mad."
While Tsuri exclaimed to her brother about what it meant to sacrifice herself for her brother, Yamamoto and Haru stared at each other afraid and were planning to catch a small break when Gokudera came tumbling inside the kitchen looking furious and worried.
"I won't let you hog all the glory!"
"Gokudera-kun!"
"I heard from Reborn-san. You were tricked by Yamamoto's fishy family restaurant."
"Don't badmouth us like that," Yamamoto shot back in a tone that Tsuri wasn't used to hearing from him.
"T-that's not it! You've got it wrong! Totally wrong!" Tsuna defended quickly.
"When you come in, you should ask for the whole story than spouting nonsense," Tsuri sprinkled some water left in her hands at the silver head's face. "Your older sister, Lambo and Reborn came in and ate some sushi without paying."
He growled like a guard dog after being sprayed with water to stop its barring and shrugged. "Well either way. It's my job to help Juudaime when he's in trouble." He lifted his sleeves and pushed Tsuri's body away. "I'll have these dishes washed in no time!"
"Tsuna… stop him before—"
Tsuna turned quickly to stop him from doing any reckless but he was too fast and broke a dish or two.
The twins stared at the shattered ceramic pieces on the ground. It took a minute or too to take it in.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME BAKADERA?! THATS EXPENSIVE!" Tsuri screamed like an erupting volcano.
"100,000 yen...Hahi an endless hell of debt", Haru began to cry. Tsuri rushed to her and began to fidget everywhere.
"Tsuri, Haru calm down! W-We'll get through this!" Tsuna waved his arms all over the air frantically as if the action could convince him too that it was going to be alright. "Gokudera-kun, I'm begging you. Don't move an inch."
"I-I'm sorry Juudaime."
"Yamamoto, I sacrifice my livelihood to pay this debt. Tell your dad I'll pay it with my life," Tsuri dramatically sobbed as Tsuna began to tell her that he would do it too.
"E-Eh? Tsuri-chan its alright. We just have to be even more careful than before", the baseball star smiled reassuringly. "My dad values his dishes but they can be replaced."
The twins decided to complete their task and look towards the positive side. As long as they labored they would slowly pay off what they could. For better or for worse? They had spoken too soon. More sushi was eaten, Bianchi had "changed" her cooking style, and many stomachs were destroyed not only because of the delayed poison cooking, but also because of the HUGE debt the twins would have to pay soon by working more hours at TakeSushi.
…
…
After Bianchi's delayed sushi effect…
"Tsuna, Octopus-head, why don't you guys go walk Haru home?" Tsuri suggested when everyone exited TakeSushi. It had been an exhausting day for everyone and going home hadn't been done in hesitation. If Bianchi weren't so dangerous and Tsuri wasn't terribly bad at choosing the right words, she probably would have gone all Evil Nana on the Italian woman. She did promise to take her to get medicine for her to make up for it. Might as well.
"What about you? I can't let you walk home by yourself," Tsuna objected. "Take Gokudera-kun with you-"
Tsuri flung her hands everywhere as fast as she could to make her brother stop talking. "Nope. Its kind of best if he doesn't come with me. I have to pass by a certain store to go get some stomach pain pills or something to get me off the urgency to use the bathroom every so minutes and his sister will be there. I don't want to be carrying his body." 'Not that I would anyways' Tsuri muttered imagining the heavy weight on her back.
"Don't get kidnapped or anything," Gokudera let waves of irritation show at the female copy. "You have your—"
"Yes, for the millionth time, I got your damn tanuki alarm on." Tsuri lifted her sweater's sleeve to show him and Tsuna. "Now get going. Its getting late and I have to meet Bianchi as soon as possible," Tsuri rolled her eyes.
Tsuna, Haru and Gokudera also began to walk the opposite direction and Tsuna couldn't help but feel a little tingle in the back of his head and that it was because of Tsuri. He ignored it much to his dismay because he knew that his twin sister didn't like to be babied and be protected too much. He did pause and turn to look at her but was met with crossed arms and a raised eyebrow. 'Relax. I'll be fine.' Tsuna bit his lip to restrain his brotherly instincts wanting to take over his nerves and continued on alongside a blushing Haru and still irritated Gokudera.
Tsuri sighed at the success of reassuring her twin and was starting on the way to meet Bianchi when she felt her whole face beginning to heat up like a starting fire. Her feet stopped moving as she looked on to the person standing in front of her. He was wearing the Namimori's Disciplinary Committee's arm band attached to clothes that weren't the school uniform. 'Weird. Did something happen to his uniform?' She raised an eyebrow curiously. When his eyes met with hers she could feel a cold chill creeping up her back. "H-Hibari-san! G-Good Afternoon!" Tsuri bowed quickly.
"Hn. I see you're up and about, Sawada Tsukairi," Hibari's steel eyes scanned the petite body in front of him.
"Yes. Its all thanks to you," she said and smiled when she recalled his actions from the previous day. "I wanted to thank you for nursing me back to health. I hear you administered the IV bag while the perv— I mean Shamal-sensei was out..." Tsuri mentally pictured herself punching the stupid male nurse for walking away and neglecting his duty. Though who knew what kind of pervy move he'd make on her while she'd been out cold. "Actually I had doubts that it had been you... because well... its you..." Hibari glared. Tsuri hid a squeak behind her lips. "B-But... anyways thank you very much! I'm in your debt."
Hibari held his gaze on the brunette for a few long seconds. Tsuri began to wonder if he had anything left to say since the prefect wasn't much for words but as she was going to speak, her voice got stuck in her throat when his eyes turned slightly dangerous. Tsuri's head rang bells and when she spiked up a weird sense that one of his arms was going to move, she moved to the right before to avoid a hit. And quite a hit it would've been.
Hibari smirked at the girl, revealing his tonfa that had been hidden underneath his jacket. "Now that you are well, you owe me herbivore. I want a fight." The female swallowed hard. And it wasn't because of the poison cooking aftertaste. "I've seen that you are pretty strong. Fight me."
Tsuri swore inside her head. Had Hibari seen her fight with Mukuro months ago? That couldn't be possible. He's been out cold due to all the broken bones he sustained on their earlier fight. She blinked.
She wasn't as strong as Hibari, and it was a futile attempt in demonstrating whatever defensive skills she had when she had let her guard down and earned a fresh wound in her abdomen from Mukuro. She promised the person she had trained with as a kid years ago that she would keep practicing combat, but since she had been busy moping about her school grades, her dad's absence and protecting her brother from bullies at the time, she was majorly rusty. If it wasn't for that hyper will shot then her sixth sense would be sleeping. Now for some reason it was way easier to dodge Hibari's surprise attacks but still!
She would obviously lose, and appear all beaten up if she fought with the prefect. If anything she was swift because she had soccer. Thank Nami for a sport that helped with running away because she swore her legs itched to do so at this moment.
As much as her deep instincts were telling her to listen to that urge, Tsuri's body was paralyzed at the hungry hunting glance coming from the prefect. She felt like tied up prey in the middle of nowhere trying to find a way to escape from her predator. "I'm not strong Hibari-san!"
Hibari lunged for another attack and she shifted again but the movement made her stomach hurt. Hibari paused. "You lie." Cue another lunge. Another dodge. She began running for her dear life but was thrown to the floor with one clean hit on her abdomen, which made the feeling in her gut worse. Tsuri clicked her tongue. Was the prefect too stubborn to take a hint of refusal or was he deaf? Hibari stared at the petite body on the ground and waited.
"I-I'm not lying! I'm still recovering, just got food poisoned today and I am not in the condition to fight anyone—," Tsuri got cut off when she felt her pocket vibrate. She pulled out her phone. Bianchi was calling her. She raised herself from the pavement and scratched her head furiously. "Shoot! I forgot I was supposed to meet her at the store now!" Tsuri clutched her stomach in a panicky manner and looked towards Hibari. "Hibari-san I need to be somewhere. Can we discuss this another time?"
"No."
The blunt answer struck irritation inside Tsuri. "I need to meet someone!"
"Where?"
"The store by the post office! I need to pick up a medicine and buy some things I need with Gokudera's older sister."
Hibari seemed apathetic to the female twin but she just blinked once and saw that he was walking the way she was going. Her eyes darted to the road and back to him a few times before blinking again. "I'll go with you."
Tsuri looked at him like he grew another head. She wanted to ask why, but her pain was preventing that and she needed a bathroom ASAP. She groaned audibly. "Okay, okay fine Hibari-san. But I have one request or no deal..."
Hibari remained apathetic but his eyes gave her a look that told her to continue...
…
…
…
Hibari swore that was the first time a person, and a girl at that, angered him with her request. He was currently inside a strange store that looked like a convenience store, but also a shopping one that consisted of clothes in every corner. He still had his emotionless expression on, but he had stress marks on top of his head that wanted to be let out to rampage among the only two people inside the store plus the clerk. He was more responsible for the space being so enclosed and small.
Bianchi was busy roaming among the clothes section while Tsuri had just returned from yet another trip to the bathroom. Hibari wanted so badly to at least bite the clerk to death to release his burning annoyance, but in order for him to demand a fight from Sawada Tsukairi he had been restrained. But why? Tsuri sighed out loud as she picked out some stomach medicine from a counter. Her face was pale. She glanced at the prefect standing next to her.
Surprisingly, he looked calm since not many people were in their space to 'crowd', but somehow she could tell by his aura that he wasn't too content not biting people to death. It was for the best however. He seemed to really want that fight from her though so she asked him to stay put in exchange for a probable thumbs up from her for a spar.
Tsuri walked over to him and gave the prefect a small smile. "Um, Hibari-san? If you want I can buy you a stress ball to keep you calm for now," Tsuri offered. Hibari ignored her and instead had walked away towards the cellphone accessories section. Tsuri ignored the shining smiles of the rose haired woman who was picking out girly clothes by the back and instead followed Hibari. She had a premonition she was buying those to make Tsuri try them on at home. There was no way she was going to stay and watch her do that. Running away and making her think she wasn't there anyone seemed like a better idea now.
She sighed, slowly making her way to hide behind Hibari. He was taller and it was plausible that it'd hide her away from sight. He didn't even notice her change of movement since his interest was focused on a phone charm. Tsuri didn't want to even think it, but the prefect seemed harmless as he gazed at the little yellow fluffy bird charm. The yellow bird even had a little fluff material to go along with its soft appearance and Tsuri reached out for it.
"Reminds me of the yellow bird you carry on your shoulder at school. Do you like this one?"
The prefect glared, but it didn't last long as his face was dusted in a faint pink before vanishing in a flash. Tsuri blushed as well, taken aback. Who knew the prefect liked small little things like a yellow bird? The little moment of innocence caught her off guard and noticing the small wide caramel eyes staring at him surprised Hibari looked away and cleared his throat. "Hurry up herbivore.I don't have your precious time."
Tsuri shook her head to gain back her senses and giggled a little. It didn't last too long as her stomach began to bug her again. As if her prayers were answered, Bianchi had gone away from the store, since she herself figured out that she must have witnessed the pink frilly clothes she was going to bring home and ran away. Once the coast was clear and knew she wouldn't return, Tsuri took a breath of relief and put her stuff on the counter to pay.
Receipts and money exchanged Tsuri searched for the prefect and found him already outside the doors.
She had expected for him to leave after that since their deal was now fulfilled, but before she could tell him thank you and leave, he found the prefect already by the road without looking back, obviously cueing her to start moving her legs and walk. Tsuri blushed. Hibari Kyoya was known to be a ruthless, cold, apathetic and violent person. But a person wasn't born like that at the get-go. He had turned this way for something, obviously personal. He was scary...Tsuri could see that, but instead she found just another guy who reminded her of her brother.
When she and her brother were little and Tsuna had started becoming more and more loser-ish, he began losing friends. Tsuri witnessed how much it affected her brother and sometimes she would sacrifice her then-social nature to be with him and defend him. Tsuna would lash out to her in anger, it didnt even sound like he could do something like that and yet... the younger twin just knew they were his pent up emotions he didn't want anyone to see.
It didn't' erase that sad look in his eyes every time they went from and out of school. And ever since Tsuri helped rescue Yamamoto from the roof she had a high alert to know when people were sad; when they were lonely. Call it some other worldly static she earned from the Anya flashback she got. From that day on she had the weird sense to know when someone was feeling lonely. Hibari didn't show it in any inch of his physical body and emotion, but his eyes did. Hidden somewhere beneath all the glaring and death stares. How did he keep himself away from feeling all of it she wondered, when he hated crowding?
Tsuri shook her head violently. There was no way she was going to start being compassionate to the Demon of Namimori and the jerk who stole her first kiss. He could manage on his own without a stranger worrying about him. He'd bite her to death if she even thought once of doing that.
"So about this debt..." Tsuri began slowly but soon found herself struggling to keep up with the prefect's quick pace. He didn't seem to stop walking. Curse her short height and legs.
"I've changed my mind."
Tsuri raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"For now, I want you to become my helper around the reception room. Our previous secretary has transferred schools. The paperwork is piling up."
"Eh? Secretary?" Tsuri regretted bringing the conversation up again. She hates doing homework and now she was going to file paperwork. Talk about torture after hours of writing notes and retaining lessons.
"I don't repeat myself twice."
Tsuri narrowed her eyes. "No spar or anything then...?"
Hibari stared at the gleaming caramel eyes that looked at him expectantly for him to say no. It strangely amused him. "You still owe me for asking me to stay restrained."
Tsuri puffed out her cheeks in disappointment. "You take advantage of requests don't you Hibari-san?"
"Hn."
Tsuri sighed and crossed her arms while looking away as a sign that she was no longer going to push the conversation for a compromise. Not yet anyway.
The prefect slipped his hands into his pockets and stole another glance at the small girl next to him. She was odd. By a distance, she was always loud, back talked to the weird baby with the fedora, and had a sharp tongue to those closest to her as in Gokudera Hayato or the school nurse when he passed by the halls.
The girl in front of him was entirely different from what he saw every single day by the school. It was a given that she was being polite to him. He was her senpai and a stranger, and someone known not to be messed with. Not that it could stop her though. She had been the one to challenge him back at the reception room fiasco and she even called him a ridiculous nickname that he loathed by hearing at first glance. He averted his eyes and instead watched the road. He would not grow interest in her. He didn't want to attract her crowd to him. But... he really did want to test her strength for himself so maybe it wouldn't be so bad to let her work for him for a while. He'd be able to demand a spar whenever he pleased.
For the rest of the walk, they remained in silence walking together side by side. Tsuri raised her head to see the moon above in the sky, and when she did so, she noticed that they had already arrived in front of a familiar gate. How did he know where she and Tsuna lived? She shuddered. Nope, let's not go there.
"Thank you for walking me home, Hibari-san," Tsuri bowed politely at the raven head. He nodded in response.
"I expect to see you tomorrow in the reception room after your club is done for the day to sign the paperwork and temporary contract."
'Contract? Am I selling my soul?' Tsuri gave an incredulous look. "B-But tomorrow-" The narrowed black steel eyes made her rethink her answer. "F-Fine. But I can't promise I'll be there on time."
"I'll let Kusakabe inform you your duties by lunch hour."
'At least let me have the time to be able to eat for Nami's sake!' Tsuri complained in her head. Tsuri sighed while nodding softly and opened her house gate when she realized she forgot something.
Hibari was leaving but paused when he saw her run to him holding a small yellow bird phone charm. "Wait. I almost forgot to give this to you." Tsuri grabbed his palm. At first he wanted to pull away, he didnt like to be touched by anyone. But her small, warm hands made their way to his own and slipped something inside before he could. It was a charm. The same one they had looked at a few moments ago.
"I don't think you'll say thank you, but you're welcome anyways. Goodnight!" Hibari watched as the little herbivore went and opened her front door of her home and stepped inside. He held the fluffy charm that was still in his hand. He let out a small huff. 'That herbivore can be too innocent for her own good.'
The young girl slipped off her shoes and heard some voices in the kitchen The kids must have gone to bed since the house was so peaceful. It was scary. Tsuri followed the noise and light. Tsuna and their mother were engaged in conversation of something. And the way Tsuna's expression was looking it seemed like it was one that was all too familiar to her. She didn't even want to ask about it so she pretended she hadn't seen it.
"I'm home!"
"Ara Ri-chan! Welcome home," Nana shouted. "Come and have some tea. Tsuna already told me about your stomaches. Make sure to drink your medicine as much as you need okay?"
Tsuri nearly laughed when she saw that Tsuna began moping about his stomach ache again, head on the table while their mother soothed his back comfortingly. She dropped the plastic bag on the table and sat down.
"Reborn-kun told me about what happened today."
The twins gulped. 'What did he say, WHAT DID HE SAY!?' both of them cried inside their still conscious heads. "Did Bianchi-chan really make sushi today? He said you two tried it and fell right after you tasted it! Was it that good?"
"M-Ma na..." both Tsuri and Tsuna said together.
"I think my stomach ache just came back," Tsuri's eyes twitched.
Nana got up from her chair and fetched tea for her daughter, along with two white worn out envelopes. They had mailing stamps like a passport would have at traveling from place to place. She pushed them in front of her children.
"Whats this?" Tsuri asked as their matching caramel eyes met. Tsuna silently apologized because he had wanted to avoid opening this conversation again with her present. He knew just how delicate she took the topic. So, the first thing Tsuri did was to take a breath.
She grabbed the envelopes with her and Tsuna's name on it and opened it to find the first one with personal handwritten letters, and the other with a couple of yen bills. The typical thing they'd get once in a while. Tsuna stared at it and for a moment, Nana saw a flicker of anger pass through the twins' eyes. Both put back the money without reading the letters inside and pushed it back towards their mother.
Nana struggled with a smile, the same as many times when this exact scene happened. "You two can at least read the letter-"
"Why can't he ship off his own body instead?" Tsuri interrupted.
"Tsuri..." Tsuna said, eyeing her a warning to stop so she wouldn't upset their mother. Nana lowered her gaze. Tsuri didn't want to deal with this, she didn't like opening the sealed jar of emotions. It was always this same sitatuon with him. He could never care for dropping by to check in on them and instead thought a piece of paper and currecy was enough to make up for it? She wanted to shout and cry and break something. But Tsuna was right. Their mother didn't need to deal with this.
Tsuri sighed and grabbed her letter, tucking it into her pocket so she could read it on her own. Tsuri smiled only faintly as a silent promise to her mother she wouldn't tear or throw it away but Tsuna could still see the lingering sparks of resentment in her eyes.
"I'm going to bed Kaasan. I'll see you tomorrow." She walked out of the dining room without another glance
and climbed the stairs towards her room. Tsuna's eyes dimmed a little. Tsuri would need him soon. He raised himself from his chair and went to hug his mother good night and go up as well. Nana appreciated her son's gesture and smiled faintly at the retreating figures of her children.
Nana stared at her own letter. "She'll understand one day," she spoke as she stared at the envelope. "You're trying your best to show them how much you miss them from afar, but I think she's right. And she may not show it, but she misses you as much as I do. I hope we see you soon."
Reborn observed the whole interaction between mother and children. He felt a little sorry for them, and a little anger towards the father. Nono didn't have strict rules to limit Iemitsu to contact and visit his family. Why couldn't he dedicate even a week to come and see them when he had the chance?
'Baka Iemitsu. You're constructing a big gap in between you and your family.'
Little did Reborn know that Nana's wish would be heard and that she would see her husband again, but this time Iemitsu Sawada would bring utter chaos with him.
Varia Arc. Let's get it.
-Blu