"T-t-that is soo romantic!!"
Kyoko nod while rubbing her small tears as she hand out a packet of tissue to the crying Haru beside her.
"My, my, girls, you cry too much..!" Ceres rubs on their head followed by a soft giggle.
"Aria."
Ceres turned her head to the man who was standing beside Tsuna and his guardians.
"Ah, Giotto-sama." She smiled. "You are following Decimo-sama and his friends today?"
"Yes, I really insisted him, though I'm not sure if I could understand the latest technology now."
She shakes her head. "No, I'm sure you can do it."
"Kyaa what a romantic conversation!!" Kyoko and Haru whispers to each other, despite it can still reach to Tsuna's ears as he sweat drop from it.
"Then I will send you off."
Ceres stands up but Giotto held her hand, preventing her from doing it.
"It's alright, you don't have to."
"Yes, since the door is just a few steps away." G mutters.
"But.." She pursed her lips. "It's been a while.. b-because.. it's like my everyday routine to do it when you are going for a mission last time."
The first storm guardian's eyes start to twitch.
"They are at it again." And he facepalmed to both of the girls who were busy 'Kyaa-ing' and 'Hyaa-ing' everytime this lovey-dovey couple spoke to each other.
"Thank you, Aria." He pulls Ceres gently, and glances to you who was standing next to Chrome, and to Tsuna who tried to create a conversation to you, but keeps on pulling himself back from doing it because of the awkwardness.
"So.. you had a talk with Decimo-sama last night?" His lover whispered.
He smirked and turn his head again to look at Tsuna.
"Yes.. and that is why he acts like that now."
-Last night-
Tsuna rubs against his wrapped, swollen forehead while leaning against the wall.
"Great.. just.. great."
'I've decided to clear things with Riekka, and yet I did something that confused her-'
The memory of him hugging you and trying to kiss you--two times, literally, flashed back in his brain.
"akshdffgfgff O/////O!!"
"Your body will be unhealthy if you sleep too late, Decimo."
"HIIIIIIIIII!!! P-P-PRIMO-SAN?? S-since when you-"
"I've called out to you many times, but your face is flushing like a tomato."
'H-HE SAW IT O////O???'
He chuckled. "Another problem, Decimo?"
"Hu-huh..? O-oh.." He clasped his hand firmly around the glass of warm milk and took a sip from it before he nod to Giotto.
"I see.."
"I-I already.. apologised to Riekka. B-but there is no respond from her."
A small smile crept on Giotto's lips as he cross his legs and lean against his palm, pretending that he is listening to Tsuna, while waiting for the right time to hit the knot in Tsuna's problem.
"And then.. I made things complicated again! Now.. I just don't know.. what to do.."
"I see.."
"Un.." He took a sip again.
"Do you like her?"
"PUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!" He splurt out the milk instantly.
He chuckled. "Nice reaction, Decimo."
Tsuna quickly grab a tissue and wipe on the wet floor with a blushing face. "W-wh-what was that for???"
"The only way to solve it is by understanding your heart first."
"M-my heart?"
"Yes. Basically, your feelings. Your real feelings towards her."
"My.. feelings..?"
'Towards.. Riekka..?'
"Is it a love at first sight?"
"First- that's-"
He remembered the day that you were transferred into his school. There is a mysterious aura around you which he couldn't describe. You are cute, he admit. You are nice and friendly. There are times that you will get serious, especially the common line that you always said,
"As your right hand woman, I will always be at your side forever until the day I die."
From that, he admired your devotion and passion to your duty, to the point that you sacrificed your life many times because of him. 'Sacrifice..'
You trained yourself since you were small in order to protect him in the future.
You came all the way from Italy to fulfill your duty.
You hold onto guns and swords--a weapon than a cute dress that a normal teenage girls always did.
You were kidnapped by Varia because of his clumsiness.
You released and nearly exhaust yourself when you revealed your celestial mode to stop Xanxus from hurting him.
You protected Kyoko and thought it was only a small matter, despite the way Tsuna look at you at that time.
"...!"
'If she had fallen in love with me for so long, then.. that time she must have-'
Tsuna clutch on his chest.
'She knew.. that I'm in love with Kyoko. But then again, she protected Kyoko, she hold back the pain from her injuries, she still maintained a smile even though I.. stare- no, glared at her coldly..'
You would always avoid yourself away from him whenever he wanted to apologize.
"And.. I didn't even think of her feelings when she confessed to me.." He tighten his grip. "And.. she still..!"
Tsuna grind his teeth to your panicked expression as you pushed him away as far as you could so you take the bullet instead of him.
He didn't realize that tears was forming in his brown orbs. It dripped onto the floor when he recalled the future you were separated from him as the walls collasped between you and him. How about the child within her..? He could have been a murderer to it because of his selfishness..!
Drip.
Drip.
'What..? Am I.. crying..?'
Giotto pats on Tsuna's shoulder lightly.
"Decimo. It is better if you keep on trying, no matter how awkward the situation will turn out."
"But.. I.. even to the future Riekka.. I-"
"Maybe she didn't respond to your apology because she was shocked from it."
"...Maybe.."
"A woman pour everything when they are in love. Even if that person already had a precious someone, their love will still remain no matter what. They express their love by making a wish."
"A wish?"
"A wish of eternal happiness for the one that they love."
"...."
"'Your happiness is my happiness. That is all that matters', they said."
"...How about you, Primo-san?"
"..Aria and I had a same mutual feelings, but we couldn't tell to each other because of the wall between us. And you know who it was." He smirked.
"..Your.. elder.."
"Yes. Then what do you think your wall will be?"
"W-wall..?"
'Wall between me and Riekka.. the gap that makes our mutual feelings couldn't be reached in such a short time..'
"My.. heart."
'Yes, my heart. A heart that couldn't differentiate a real love with a mere 'like' feelings..'
"A mutual feelings, a wall that separates our fate and destiny, and the same bloodline and feature. It's like a repeated love, isn't it?"
"..Un."
"Decimo?"
"Huh?"
"Your answer is..?"
"Wh-"
"Do you like- no, do you.. love Riekka?"
"...!" Tsuna gulped; his heart beats fast when 'love' word was mentioned. He blushed again to the obvious answer that his heart gave this time.
"U-uh.."
"Alright then." Giotto turn the door knob. "Good luck in solving this problem, Decimo. Because.."
"...?"
"A freshly bloomed rose is rare to be found in a wide, cold ice field."
-------------------------
"My, isn't that my woman's love philosophy that I told you last time?"
"Well, it's quite handy when it comes to pure love topic."
"Oh, please don't say such embarassing stuff..!"
"You are really adorable, Aria."
G: I need a gun. Oh wait, I'm dead already.
You sweat dropped to G and turn to the lovey-dovey couple.
"Now, now, Ceres, you wanted to send Giotto-sama at the door, right?"
"Oh yes, I almost forgot ^///^!"
***
Tsuna glances to you and scratch his cheeks when you avoid his gaze as usual.
"Uh.. Riekka.. I.."
"P-please becareful on your way."
"Oh.. uh.. yeah.."
You took a quick glance to his forehead.
"Did you.. bump into a wall?"
"Eh? Oh..! This?"
You nod.
"Uh, yeah, somehow.. ahahaha.."
'GAHHH THIS AWKWARD!!'
'Hyaaa I couldn't hold back my trembling fingers..!'
This is awkward like Giotto said, but he wont give up and keep on trying.
"Ri-Riekka!"
"Y-Yes??"
"T-that's.. uh.. I.."
"...."
"T-there's something I wanted to give you after I come back..!"
"Eh? F-for me?"
"Y-Yeah..! So.. uh.. yeah! I'll go now..! Goodby-"
BONK! (Tsuna bump onto the sliding door)
"Juu-Juudaime-sama??"
"Ahaha..! I-I'm fine!! Ouch ouch..!" He kept on rubbing on his swollen forehead as he run out clumsily.
---------------------------
'Something.. he wanted to give.. what could it be..? No, it can't be a letter about him firing me as his right hand woman, right??'
"Riekka! The soup!"
"Huh?" You blinked to the overly boiled soup.
"KYAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
"Wait, Riekka..! Put on the mitt first..!"
Too late. You touched on the hot surface.
"HYAAAAA MY FINGER!!!"
"Riekka-chan!! Haru-chan, quick! The first aid kit!!!"
Meanwhile, Hibari on the outside..
"*Twitch* Such a ruckus inside there.."
***
"Ouwie.." You suck on your burning finger. You can't help but to admit to yourself that you still have feelings for Tsuna. You knew; your clumsy actions told everything. You are always cool and collected, but it would be the opposite when your focus change its direction.
"Here, let me tend to it." Ceres pinch on your pink cheeks lightly and entwine her fingers with yours, caressing it gently with full of love.
Your lips formed into a smile. "This really brings back memories.."
"What is..?"
"You always did this everytime I injure myself since I was small."
She sighed and put her entwined fingers to her cheeks. "Yes, how quick the time goes by.."
"Wait- Ceres-"
"Ahh~ I can still remember your cute, crying face when you chase after Reborn-san when he was about to leave the house for mission. The way you tripped on yourself is really adorable~!"
"There she goes..=_=."
"And there are times you will run to Lal-san and Luce-san's room because you had a nightmare..!"
"Ce-ceres..! That's- wah O.O!" Before you could stand up, Haru and Kyoko bumped you and you fall to the side.
"Really?? Riekka-chan is soo adorable!!"
"Wait.. Haru.."
"Can we hear more of her stories from you? How was she like when she was small?"
"K-Kyoko too?"
"Of course!"
"Ceres..!! That's embarrassing!!"
"Why not, Riekka-chan?"
"B-because that's.."
"We just wanted to get to know you more and more.. because.. Riekka-chan.. you just got back from the hospital and we never get the chance to talk to you properly."
You clench on your chest. How could you forget about this girls?
"Riekka-chan.. we don't know a thing about you at all. You are always cool and mysterious, and yet, you hold a lot of painful memories within yourself. We just wanted to be there for you; to listen and share to your problems.. we.. are best friends, right?"
"...." You pursed your lips tight--the tears flow down on your cheeks even though you tried your best to hold it back.
"Ri-Riekka-chan?? What's wrong?"
"D-did we hurt your feelings?? We are sorr-"
"No.." You sniffed. "No.. it's not that.. it's just.."
You sobbed.
"It's just.. I'm so happy.. to have met you guys.."
'Happy. I'm so happy. I never felt like this before.'
You were isolated from the kids of your age since you were small. You will always sit on the swing just by yourself in that wide, lively park, watching every kids playing together happily among their friends, their teams.. their parents.
"Riekka-chan is very weird!"
"You know how to shoot with a gun? That's scary..!"
"It's like a murderer's job!"
"Hey, did you hear? I always saw her sitting alone in the class. Well, I bet there's no one to hang out with her. She's weird. Trying to be the best and all, but she is totally different from a normal girl..!"
Gossips. Whispers. Hurtful words.
The typical talks among the citizens, where you can only do nothing but to wear an expressionless face on the surface. Every day, every night, every hour, and every year.
You fake the way you talk to new people, pretending that you are the right hand woman and a girl that people would expect of--matured, independent, obedient and flexible to anything. The truth is.. you were afraid. You were afraid of leaving Italy, you were scared if you fail your duty. If you have failed completely, then what was all the sacrifice that you did? The sacrifice of leaving your life as a normal girl and joined in with the life of those who will see blood that was made with their bare hands?
But today.. it is all worth it.
"What are you saying, Riekka-chan..! You are like a hero to us in the future..! When we were uneasy with the surroundings, the future you was there to give us courage..!"
"So please.. Riekka-chan.. don't ever keep all the hurtful things to yourself. Please share with us even just a bit. We, too, are glad that we have met you."
You nod, still crying. Kyoko rub your tears away, and lean closer towards you with Haru into a warm hug.
Ceres smiled to your crying form. 'I'm happy for you, my dear child. The tears that you have shed had turned into pearls to brighten your lonely past.'
She clapped her hands. "Alright, girls! Now shall we do something while waiting for all the prince to come back? Ah, how about.. some storytelling?"
You rubbed the remaining tears and blinked twice. "And the topic is about..?"
She giggled and tuck your hair behind your ears.
"It's about.. how I met you."