AN: The next chapter is here at last! I'm not completely satisfied with the result, but I hope you will enjoy this!
Despite the good night's sleep she has gotten the previous night, Tsuna feels unease ever since she woke up this morning.
At first, it was only a low buzz, easily ignored. Now, as time rolls to lunch and afternoon, it is a full-blow restlessness, her instincts screaming behind a calm facade.
It's not just because she is nervous about telling Rikuo the truth. No, her Intuition adds to that anxiety by warning her about the upcoming danger — just like when she went to that abandoned building with Kana and the rest of Kiyojūji Paranormal Investigation Squad in search of the yokai the other day, and they were attacked.
In fact, it's the exact same feeling.
She knows that Ukiyoe is rumored to be the hotspot of the yokai activity, but what she could have possibly done to warrant an attack? The only yokai she knows relatively closely is Yoru, and he told her that he and his Hyakki Yako protect humans, as evidenced by the trio of Tengu helping her out in the aforementioned attack at the abandoned building. Not to mention, their meetings were private, so who could have found out about them to consider her a liability? And when are they going to attack? Now? At sunset, which is clearly a yokai's time?
So many questions and no answers! Her head feels ready to burst from those.
But regardless of the inner turmoil she experiences at the moment, she must draw away the future attackers from her family as they surely will not care about casualties in the form of some mortals. While she's confident she can protect them from it, it's best to listen to Intuition and keep them as far away as possible. They didn't deserve to get caught in her mess and teenage drama mixed in with supernatural forces.
Speaking of her family, they notice her mood and tense posture, even though it's clear to them, she tries to hide it. Aunt Sumiko is the first to voice out her concern after the three exchange a glance.
"Are you sleeping well, Tsu-chan?" she asks worriedly. "You look pale."
"And you barely touched your lunch," Kana adds with a look at her mostly full plate. Due to the anxiety rolling in her stomach, she barely managed to swallow more than a few pieces. "Are you sick?"
"Do we need to call a doctor?" Uncle Ichiru follows right after.
Tsuna shakes her head reassuringly at their worry, smiling.
"I'm not sick and sleep well, don't worry," she says, hoping the smile comes off as convincing, and not nervous or something as equally revealing. "Just post-first date jitters and not very hungry. I just need some fresh air."
Aunt Sumiko doesn't seem to buy the excuse, dubious, and eyebrows drawn together in a frown. "Are you sure? Maybe you should lie down."
"I'm sure," Tsuna assures her aunt. It tastes bland, just like the night before when she tried to assure Rikuo she wasn't worried about Sawada Family Secret. Hopefully, it works this time around. "Besides, there's something I need to discuss with Rikuo-kun."
Please accept it, please accept it, the brunette chants inwardly feverishly. Those enemies can strike at any moment, and she needs to get out of here as soon as possible to be prepared for it; and while she feels bad at using Rikuo's name as an excuse — even if it's technically the truth, — it has to be done. They will tell her to stay home otherwise, and who knows what happens then.
Fortunately, her prayers are heard and answered.
"Fine," her aunt says at last after the lengthy pause. "But the moment you start feeling sick, you call me or your uncle, okay?"
"Of course," Tsuna promises, nearly visibly slumping in relief at that, but she reins herself in. She stands up. "Thank you for the food, Auntie. I'll see you all later!"
"Be careful!" Kana calls after her cousin, who made her way to the door.
"I will!" Tsuna answers back. As soon as she is outside, she blows out a breath, her smile disappearing. "That's one thing taken care of. Grandpa, Daniela, tell me I'm not going paranoid."
"You're not," Ottavo is the one to reply as she and Primo appear beside the future Donna. "Giotto has been restless since the last night too. I also feel the danger."
"Do you think it's the ayakashi?" the blond wonders out loud. His Intuition tells him it's true, and that Nurarihyon's kid is involved. One way or another, his identity will be revealed soon, and he can't wait to see the result. Something tells him his old friend is also enjoying this, wherever he is, despite the coming trouble. Those attackers won't know what will hit them anyway, and they will be dust soon enough.
All in all, coming to Ukiyoe was an interesting decision, that's for sure.
Especially, since he has an idea who "Yoru" is now.
"My Intuition says yes, but I don't know for what reason!" Tsuna complains, unaware of Giotto's inner cackling and amusement as she starts walking in no particular direction, her predecessors trailing close behind. "I mean, I only know Yoru!"
"In my experience, some yokai only need to see you're human in the presence of their leader to think of you as a weak spot," Giotto says, thinking back to multiple assassinations on his life during his friendship with Nurarihyon. Which was one too many. "So, that could be the reason," he let out a cough, "especially, considering, uh, his night visits."
"What, they thought he'd purpose her on the spot like his grandfather did back in the day?" Daniela says sarcastically, repeating Primo's words from weeks ago when Yoru came for the first time. She only means them in jest, but Primo's expression says it all. "You gotta be kidding me," she says, deadpan.
"When you're basically immortal, human laws mean nothing no matter the era," Primo shrugs in a "what can you do" gesture. They are pretty set in their ways; once a yokai decides on something, they're going to get it. So they're probably under the impression that their leader is going to take her to clan eventually and want to get rid of the problem before that."
"Just great," Tsuna groans in frustration. The damn problems just keep snowballing faster than she can blink. What even is her life? "Some yokai want to hurt me for simply hanging out with their leader. On top of that, I don't know how to approach the problem of telling Rikuo the truth!"
"You still have time," Daniela points out reasonably. "Why rush?"
"Because I don't want to drag it out like Dad," Tsuna says. "And Rikuo deserves to know what he's getting into. If he decides he wants no part of it, it will be just a bad date and first love that went nowhere in his memory."
"You have a point," Daniela concedes. While this tactic is harsh to some, it's also understandable: better to have one bad memory than have a stable relationship tainted and burdened by secrets. Case in point: Tsuna's parents. Her face becomes regretful."I wish I could give advice on this matter, but my husband was also in the mafia, so it does not apply to your situation."
"The only advice that can be given is just straight up tell him," Giotto adds. "I did the same with my wife when we married."
"Straight up tell him, huh?" Tsuna mumbles thoughtfully. What, just tell him: "I'm a heiress to the strongest mafia family"? Not so blunt perhaps, but something along these lines. Easier said than done even if the advice had logic. She ran her hands through her hair in frustration. "Ugh. This sucks."
"What sucks?" a familiar voice says suddenly in her ear. Suppressing a yelp, she whirls around to hit the person, only to be caught in the embrace, and be met with Rikuo's eyes, which twinkle in amusement. "Gotcha," he says with no small amount of smugness.
"Rikuo!" she exclaims in reprimand. Seriously, what was he thinking by pulling this stunt? "What are you doing here? You gave me a scare sneaking up on me like that!"
"Sorry, sorry," he says, smugness disappearing and sheepishness taking its' place. He gives her a peck on the nose as an apology. "I was on my way home when I saw you by the river, and I thought you heard my footsteps, but I guess you were pretty deep in thought, talking to yourself that you didn't hear me."
"I guess I was," she agrees, looking around. Lost in her dilemma, she hasn't noticed how she ended up at the city river. Daniela and Giotto are gone, wisely out of sight, and while her Intuition is still blaring like an alarm about the danger, it calms slightly in Rikuo's presence, which is a bit strange, but she's glad for it. "Sorry, I'm a bit out of it today."
"You don't have to apologize," Rikuo says, then asks teasingly, "So what sucks? Not me, hopefully?"
"Geez, for someone so smart, you sure ask silly questions," she says half-teasing, and half-exasperated. She playfully flicks his forehead, causing him to pout. "It's not you. Never you. It's the secret we talked about yesterday."
"Ah," the playfulness is gone, replaced by understanding and seriousness. "Do you want to talk about it now?"
Not really, but since the opportunity presented itself, it would be stupid not to use it. "Yeah, let's—"
"Rikuo-sama!"
That voice… Tsurara! As one, Rikuo and Tsuna turn in the direction of the voice to see Tsurara running their way.
"What happened, Tsurara?" Rikuo asks when the other girl reaches them. The air around him changes, becoming one of the leader. Tsuna feels her heart stumble at the shift, entranced by the sight. Is this the way he acts when leading the clan in his grandfather's place?
She wants to ask, but keeps her tongue knowing now isn't the time.
"Trouble at…. the main… house," Tsurara gasps out between the panting breaths. She gives an awkward nod to Tsuna, to which the brunette returns and tries not to look at Tsurara too long.
It will be a while before they will act normal around each other.
"Trouble? Now, of all times? Dammit," Rikuo curses before looking at his girlfriend apologetically. "Tsu, I'm sorry, I know what you want to tell me is important, but I must—"
"Shh," the Decimo hushes his rumbling by placing her finger against his lips. It works. "It's okay, I understand. We'll talk later."
"Yeah, we'll talk later," he promises. Before reluctantly breaking their embrace, he whispers in her ear, "Go to our place. I'll meet you there as soon as I can."
"Okay. I'll be waiting, " and with that promise exchanged, they go their separate ways.
Meanwhile, trouble is steadily getting closer…
"Our place" referred to the outskirts of Ukiyoe. According to the city's legend, upon its founding, one couple planted a wisteria tree as a sign of their devotion to one another. One couple followed their example, then another, and another… By the time Tsuna was born, it became an impressive garden for couples to profess their love and make promises in, with people nicknaming it "Wisteria Alley", and the name stuck.
In short, quite a romantic place.
It hasn't changed much since then. By the time Tsuna arrives here, the sun is slowly setting, falling petals are caught in the rays.
It is just as mesmerizing as ever.
She remembers seeing a similar sight when she was ten.
"Another bad test, huh," Rikuo murmurs sympathetically as Tsuna sulks; a paper math test with a big red 30 in a big circle seemed to burn her hand. She ran away after getting the results as they went to Ukiyoe with Mom before she could have received them in Namimori, but Rikuo finds her at the riverbank anyway. She raises her red eyes at her friend.
"I studied hard, I swear!" she sniffles as another cascade of tears seems to come. "Even used the tips you showed me last time, but it was all for nothing!" she throws the crumpled paper in the river, then buries her face in her knees. "I'm hopeless."
"You are not!" Rikuo protests. "That means you haven't found your method yet. That, and the teacher probably is bad at teaching."
"Or I'm just a lost cause," the brunette rebuffs as she raises her head from her knees, the usually soothing words having no effect this time. "You should stop hanging out around me. The others are already giving Kana trouble. I don't want the same for you. You're having enough trouble with the talks about yokai at your house."
"I don't care, you're more important than some rumors and grades," the younger boy states, but his childhood friend is having none of it.
"Well, maybe you should reconsider your priorities," she says stubbornly, and turns away from him, showing that she deems the conversation over and wants him gone.
Realizing his words have no effect, Rikuo sighs, and tense silence fills the air between them. Having no intention of leaving, Rikuo grows pensive, trying to think of a way to cheer his friend up. His face brightens when an idea occurs to him.
"Let's go," his announcement breaks the silence as he gets to his feet.
"Where?" Tsuna grumbles, not taken by Rikuo's enthusiasm. It doesn't deter him, however.
"Wisteria Alley!"
"Wisteria Alley?" Tsuna repeats, her previous mood overtaken by shock. "That's a place for couples!"
"Well, we don't have to be a couple to visit it, do we?" is the cheeky answer she gets. "C'mon, don't you wanna see trees in bloom?" he implores her, stretching his arm out to her.
Still skeptical over the idea, Tsuna takes the offered hand nonetheless. "Fine," she gives in as Rikuo helps her to her feet. "Let's see the blooming trees."
Rikuo gives her a grin as he uses the shortcut to get her to the Wisteria Alley. They are in luck — nobody bats an eye at the sight of two kids visiting such a place. Not to mention, the trees are in bloom. Tsuna gasps at the sight.
"So pretty," she whispers, an expression of wonder on her face. A wind picked up, ruffling her hair and causing a few petals to land on the girl.
For Rikuo, she's one who looks pretty.
"Rikuo-kun," Tsuna turns to the boy, eyes sparkling with joy. "Thank you for showing me this. I needed it."
"Anytime," anything to make you smile, he doesn't say. He squeezes her hand and winks. "It will be our place."
"Yeah," she agrees quietly, squeezing back. "It will be our place."
Nura Mansion.
"What's the trouble?" Rikuo demands as he gathers his closest confidants in one room. Mom and Grandfather are also present.
"Show him," Grandpa orders Kuro.
Kuro nods without a word, obeying straight away, and tosses something to the ground in front of them. No, someone, Rikuo corrects himself. It was a hebi, one in Mizuno's employ — who himself is one of the minor numbers of the Clan — if Rikuo remembers right.
Only bruised and beaten for some reason.
"This traitor," Kuro says with disdain after questioning gaze from his master prompts him to start explaining, "along with others conspired against you to get Sawada-sama attacked, so she would be driven away from Nura-gumi. Sodaisho was one to alert us, having seen their suspicious behavior earlier today."
Mom gasps in shock, Grandfather looks grim while Rikuo freezes, with his subordinates also being shocked. Attack Tsuna to possibly drive her away from the clan? What nonsense is this?
The traitor laughs at their reactions despite the oblivious pain he's in. "Fools," he wheezes out. "Soon, the mortal will discover the might of ayakashi, and human blood will no longer sully the Nurarihyon bloodline. Perhaps you will find her cold body, boy."
Rikuo growls at that, eyes flashing red. Tsuna dead? Not with the Flames she has, and, certainly, not on his watch. Nobody gets away with threatening his loved ones. And those who dared to do so will pay dearly. With their blood.
And this traitor will be the first to pay the price.
"Dispose of him," he orders coldly. "Find others involved in this and show that being human doesn't make us weak like they think."
"You are still too late!" the bastard gloats even in the face of his demise. "As we talk, my comrades are winning!"
"That's what you think," Rikuo retorts, turning around. "She's stronger than you, backstabbing idiots."
"Go to Sawada-sama, Rikuo-sama," Kejoro urgers as Kuro and Ao went to execute his order. "We'll follow soon."
Nodding his thanks, Rikuo hurries to leave the Main House and go to the Wisteria Alley. While he has faith she will succeed, he still better make haste. This isn't how he wanted to confess his secret, but there isn't anything he can do about it now. And frankly, it doesn't matter.
What matters now is getting out of this situation unscathed.
Still reminiscing at the Wisteria Alley, Tsuna smiles with nostalgia. Looking back on that day now, she knows that was the start of her crush on Rikuo, which led them to today.
Speaking of that day, is that tree still here? Curious, the future Donna passes the other trees until she finds a particular one. To her pleasant surprise, it still stands, and she reads the words engraved in the bark.
T+R=Friends Forever!
Tsuna traces them gently with her fingertips. She remembers the day they did it.
It was shortly before Reborn arrived, and she and Mom went for another family visit. Rikuo wanted a symbol of their friendship to last forever and suggested this. She remembered asking why they didn't include Kana as she was a friend too, but Rikuo simply winked at her and said Kana knows and doesn't mind being just the two of them. Her heart beat too loudly at that declaration back then. So loud that she was afraid he would hear as they carved the words out.
Now, recalling this, she knows it was his sign that he loved her and wonders if he will regret the action when he learns about Vongola.
A derisive scoff and words accompanying return her to the present. "You humans are such sentimental fools."
Quickly donning her mittens, she calmly turns around to come face to face with a snake yokai. They are called the hebi if she remembers mythology right.
They are the attackers her Intuition was warning her about.
And there's a lot of them, Tsuna notes as the enemies surround her in a circle. They think they can take me by numbers. Well, they will be proven wrong soon enough.
"Before we start," she says conversationally, "can I ask what is the reason for this?"
"Because you, human filth, are undeserving to be in our presence!" the leader of the group hisses. His reason is just as Grandpa described. "And why you're not afraid?! You're supposed to be afraid!"
"Now, why should I be?" Tsuna asks sardonically with a raised eyebrow. "Not to boast, but I faced the assassins and the psycho that wanted to rule the universe. At thirteen and fourteen . You're just a snake that's about to be turned to ash."
"Couldn't agree more," another voice joins in. "Mind if I watch?"
Fear floods her veins as Rikuo makes his way to them, with no trace of fear on his face. The leader, on the other hand, smirks cruelly.
"Master!" he says mockingly, the title sounding like an insult. "So kind of you to join! Are you here to instill fear in her at long last?"
Master? Come to think of it, Tsurara also used the sama suffix earlier, and Rikuo didn't bat an eye. No! That doesn't matter now. It's dangerous for him here.
"Rikuo!" she calls. "Get out of here! I'll be fine!"
He ignores her plea, remaining there he is, as he answers the hebi, "No, I'm here to watch you burn," he proclaims with a cold look and a smirk that both look foreign on him. They soften, however, as he tells her soothingly, "I'm going to be fine. And I'm sorry you had to find out like this."
As soon as he says those words, the last vestiges of the sun disappear behind the horizon, and he changes before her eyes: he grows taller, shoulders becoming broader, soft features sharpening, chocolate hair lengthening, dividing in black and white, brown filling with blood, and before she knows it, a familiar ayakashi takes his place.
"Yo, Princess," he says in a deep smooth voice. If it wasn't for the signature cocky smirk in place and the transformation happening right before her, she'd consider it a trick.
But it's undeniable.
For standing in Nura Rikuo's place is Yoru, her nighttime visitor.
AN: Dun dun dun! The moment you've waited for has finally arrived! She knows his identity. What do you think about the reveal?