The air in the room is a little bit chilly from the soft breeze outside that blew in through the small gap of the sliding door. It was quiet, very quiet. Where are all the lively friends of his? Ah yes, they were playing Playstation upstairs, all of them. How about Primo's guardians then? Maybe some of them are in the kitchen helping with the girls, and some could be on the rooftop to have their own privacy to sleep.
Tsuna flinched to your hair strand that brushed against his skin. It smells like a candy, making him to hold back the urge to lean closer to sniff on your hair some more. He just couldn't stand still in that dark room, not because he was afraid of the dark, but because he was with you. His heart starts to pound quickly as you bit your lower lip, moistening it from the wind that dries the surface. He gulped, what would he feel if his lips get to touch yours when there is no one interrupting the embarrassing moment just now?
*Poof!*
'Hiiiii what am I thinking right now???'
"Ne, Juudaime-sama?"
"HIII I mean- Y-yes O////O??"
"So.. did you know about Giotto-sama and Ceres's past story?"
He nod. "Y-Yeah, I asked him to tell me the story during the time when I was in the hospital. O-on the night that you were.. uh.."
You smiled, getting his message. Feeling slightly happy that he was there beside you when you were sleeping while listening to the story of 400 years ago.
"How about you, Riekka?"
"Oh, yes, Ceres told me about it when I was unconscious. You know, telepathy skills?"
"I see."
"After that, I feel glad that she was here now. Giotto-sama too. It may have been awkward for them if she reveals herself, but at least.. they could meet again and have a proper ending of their love together. It's like a long, romance story, right?" You giggled, not knowing Tsuna was smiling to your cute voice.
"Yes, I agree to that too. I don't know if this is my intuition or just a mere lucky guess, but.. I can see that Primo-san looks very sad when he told me about his past life with Ceres. I'm glad that she choose to meet him, although we don't know the outcome yet."
"Uhn." You nod, looking away. "Because.. both of us decided together.. that we will not run away from our problem anymore."
"Problem..?"
You turn towards him slowly. "I just wanted to say.. thank you, Juudaime-sama."
"E-eh?"
"For being so kind to me, for saving my life, and to always befriend me after I.." You paused for a while and continue, "..confessed to you, despite not considering what you really feel about me."
Thump.
"But.. Riekka, during that time was different..! I didn't realize my feelings was just a 'like' but not 'love' to the person that I have a crush at that time s-so-"
He was taken aback. Should he explain it now? It may hurt you like what he did before. No. He should tell his real feelings now since he have found the person that he-
"..And?"
He stumbled as he realized that your face was very close to his. "A-a-and-" Heat rises up to his cheeks, Tsuna tries to balance and hide himself from showing you his tomato face.
"Hm?"
'Hi-HIIII!!!' He shrieked silently, imagining hot gas oozing out from his ears like a boiled water in a kettle when you tilt your head to the side with an innocent smile.
'Sh-sh-she's so cute! W-wh-what should I do?? H-her face is too near!! And-' He gulped twice to your pink lips. 'T-this is bad..! I-'
He blinked as you giggle softly. "Wh-what's wrong?"
You shook your head. "No, nothing. I'm sorry but.. you are really cute, Juudaime-sama."
'You are cuter.' He wanted to say that so bad. "N-no.. I.." He clench his fists, his expression changed. "I-I should be the one who supposed to thank you. You were always there beside me, no matter what. Although you always said that it was your duty as my right hand woman, I feel.. so happy."
"...Eh?"
"Ri-Riekka.. thank you for being here. Thank you for accepting me the way I am, risking your life for your l-" His blush darkened, looking away to avoid your focused gaze. "..l-love for me."
Now it is your turn to blush. There is no intention of him to do this because of pity, no. He was doing it in his typical shy manner, the attitude of trying his best when he couldn't do it. The sincerity and honesty makes you blush like a cherry, makes your heart beats faster, but wanted to hear more and more from him.
"Ah.. uhm.."
You didn't know how to answer to his apology. You didn't expect for someone like Tsuna to gather his courage to say something like that; and when you were about to part your lips to reply, Giotto had stole the chance as he started a conversation to the person who was approaching him this evening.
-------------------------
"Ah, what is the matter, maiden?"
Ceres could tell that the corner of her lips twitched into an awkward smile. 'It's alright, I've always disguised myself as Vongola's no.1 spy during my time, so he can't see it through no matter how strong his super intuition is, so it will be alright..!' She advices herself, keeping the stoic face and trying her best to act like you.
"B-Beautiful night, isn't it?"
-Twitch-
'Beautiful night? Beautiful night?? What am I saying?? That is the stupidest word for the topic of conversation ever made!!'
"It is." He smiled gently, enough to make Ceres's heart melt. How she had longed for his smile that could defeat all the gentlemen in Italy. The moon radiated a warm light, accompanied by the soft breeze that blew the petals of cherry blossom tree to descend gracefully onto the pond.
"It's very peaceful too." He added. There was a melancholy smile on his reflection at the surface of the water. "...If only I could enjoy this moment together with her." He murmured.
"Her..?" Ceres narrowed her eyes, clenching on her dress.
"Ah, I'm sorry."
"Is it your important person?" She asked on purpose.
"Yes, very much." He lift his chin. "Not only me, but my friends too. She may have been with us only for a short while, but her existence was very important to us. Especially me."
"..." She pressed her lips.
"Ah, I'm sorry to rant someone that you didn't know."
She shook her head. "No, it's alright."
He chuckled. "From what I heard from Decimo, she was related to you too."
"Is it.. your right hand woman, Ceres Aria?"
His smile was still there, but she knew it had faded deep within silently. Once again, his hope were crushed when 'you' mentioned that name.
"She said 'her' name?"
G's serious voice echoes again.
"The way she react towards my question prove it all."
It confused him too. If Riekka didn't know about Ceres, then why she asked him casually like this now? And why, her expression changed when Daemon wanted to ask her a question about Ceres? This can only come into one conclusion.. maybe she IS still around, but she decided to avoid him--knowing Ceres, maybe she still blame herself for not protecting him where it was particularly not her sin to begin with.
He nod, his fake smile maintains.
"I wanted to believe that she was here, right now, at this era, at this time, and at this place. I couldn't help myself but to stuck in between of my hope or to face reality whenever my friends mentioned anything that are related to her existence."
"Her.. existence? Such as..?"
His face didn't leave from his reflection on the pond beneath him. "They could hear and they could feel her song, her old melodies. Her power, her personalities in you, her sign of existence.." He paused, his voice was shaky. "All of her." His fingers trembled, pulling himself away from looking down to turn towards 'you'. Ceres shudder to his finger that suddenly brushed against her temple. "Especially her feature that is very similar to you, as if you are the splitting image of Aria."
'Aria'. Ceres pursed her trembling lips to the name. The name that he always called out to her during their times together. She wanted to burst into tears right now; she wanted to reveal herself and bury on his chest to cry, to express out how much she mourned for him. But.. is her heart ready to do it?
"I-I see.. did you.. regret it..?"
"..I regret nothing. I didn't regret in meeting her in my life, I always wanted to say to her, 'thank you for being born to be here for me.' but I couldn't. I didn't get the chance to say it, or even fulfilling my last promise that I made to her."
She grip on her chest tightly to hold back the upcoming tears right after he turn away and his back was facing her.
"She might be here, my intuition could sense it many times. If she does not exist here, your power is not something that holds 'coincidence' as the answer, my maiden. And I know what is the reason would be if she choose not to meet me directly."
She opened her lips to say something, but she stopped herself from doing it.
"Aria had blamed herself for not protecting me. She took all the blame until she become ill. Her last words was an apology before her soul separated from her body, and she must have taken my cursed gift together; ending my Vongola sin forever--because I've noticed that I couldn't use that cursed gift anymore since the day I fulfilled my mission on her." He narrowed his eyes. "She gave me a lot of gifts, her image was always there in my mind when I'm lost in my crisis, guiding me like she always did when she was still alive. But for me.."
He smirked. "If I say this.. she will surely get angry with me." He pulls up his trembling hands, his eyes were blurry from the salty liquid that forms at the corner of his eyes. "For myself.. I couldn't even say the words that I wanted to say it for so long.."
"Giotto-sama.."
"I'm sorry, maiden.." He place his lips on Ceres's trembling hands that rub his tears. "..To let my sorrow overcome me like this in front of Aria's generation. Pardon me."
She shook her head. "Maybe.. I'm not.. Ceres Aria, but.." She breathe in, hesitate for a while and continue, "May I.. know.. what is the words that you wanted to tell her..?"
"I love you."
Her heart pricked a slight jolt.
"I love you, Aria."
Her eyes widen as she could feel her tears coming near.
"..It's such a simple word, but it is sacred. Because to me, the moment to utter this words is very important, and must be treasured forever." He turn around, lifting his eyes to the dark sky above. "A simple yet sacred words that I couldn't fulfill to the very last, or even whisper to her sleeping body, despite knowing the fact she couldn't react to it. Such a short yet meaningful confession that I couldn't say out from my throat, until the day I died that was followed by thousands of guilt."
***
"Why did she stand there like a statue??"
"Ri-Riekka! Calm down!"
"She should say something! Giotto-sama is telling her the things she wanted to hear for so long and yet she look like as if she had been zombified!!"
"O.O zo- what? W-wait Riekka!"
"I have to reveal her disguise!"
"Wai- *smack* ouch..!"
"Ahh Juudaime-sama! I'm sorry..!"
"I-I'm fine.. wh-" Tsuna lose his balance as you scoot closer. "Ri-Riekka! You are too clo- WAH!"
"Kya!"
*Bump!*
Another scene of Tsuna and you were on top of each other. But this time you were the one who is at the top. You realized it when you hear his heartbeat. "I-I'm sorry..!" You about to get up, but Tsuna's arms was firm around your back and your waist. You blushed at this, is he pulling you into a hug? No, it couldn't be! Maybe he was afraid of the dark! "J-Juudaime-sa-" You froze to his blushing, serious face.
"Uh.. uhm.. Juudaime-sama.."
You nearly let out a squeak as his fingers tightening on your waist. "O////O J-J-J-"
"Riekka.."
You blushed more and more, shade after shade, to his determined eyes. He was not in his dying will mode to look cool and handsome like this. You can feel.. he wont let you escape this time. But this is not the time to be dazed in romantic thoughts!! How was Ceres's condition now..??
Your eyes went wide as you could hear Giotto say, "I apologize once again, maiden. I think it is better for you to have a rest for the night."
'N-No..!'
Ceres..! How about Ceres?? What is she doing now?
It was quiet. Did Ceres nod and agreed to Giotto?
'Oh no..! Ceres! Please say something..!'
Silence.
'Ceres..!!'
"Me too."
"Gah!"
Another smack landed on Tsuna's face (that your body reacted instantly to do so-in that trapped situation). Then you crawl as fast as you could towards the small gap to have a peek. If you are not mistaken, that voice just now is not yours but it was..
Giotto swallowed all the words in his mind to the voice. He stood there, didn't dare to turn around to see who was behind him when the familiar voice breaks the beautiful night. It's like he was back in his era again, standing on the small bridge of the pond in his mansion's garden. Glasses of hope rebuild and shines in his chest as a group of red butterflies fly across his cloak, revealing a jet black hair and golden orbs when he turn around.
He gasped to the angelic, petite feature of a serene maiden, the magenta hair that shines under the bright light and alluring yet dreamy golden eyes. The tears that stream down heavily on her cheeks holds a lot of meaning; a deep love for him and only him. Standing here, in front of him like a miracle, like a gift directly from heaven, makes his expression unchanged--full of sadness, joy, sorrow, and happiness.
He parted his lips but couldn't say anything to this moment. He could only pull out his trembling hand towards her. In a flash, Giotto pulls her into a crushing hug. He hold her close, leaving no space between them as he bury her face in her hair while she burst into tears on his chest like how she wanted.
"Aria..! Aria..!!" Giotto's fingers slide through her hair, taking in every scent of hers into his old memories.
"Giotto-sama..!" She choked, wrapping her arms around him. "I miss you.. I miss you.. so much..!" She bury her head on the crook of his neck. "I, too.. I love you too.." She murmured. "I love you.. since the first time you came into my life.."
"Aria.." Giotto pull away, cupping her cheeks to look at her once again. Yes, it was his Aria, and there was no illusion in it. "I'm sorry.. I'm sorry.. Aria.." He hug her again, kissing her forehead. "Please.. don't say like that.. Giotto-sama.." She smiled and pull away this time. "Or else.. I will get angry at you."
A relief sigh escapes his lips as a low chuckle replaced it. "I know. I just wanted to see your frowning, adorable face once more." He placed her palm on his cheeks, kissing it lightly again and again. He smiled to her wet cheeks, rubbing the tears before lifting her chin to a passionate, loving kiss, that had waited for him for 400 years.