R:Btm | Chapter 2: Light and Ties
Staring in a trance at those flickering brown orbs, I tilted my head to the side, appearing to be curious at these newcomers in a calm way. In fact, I was far from calm. Very, very far from it.
Inside my head, deep within my mind, little chibi me speculated theories again and again on how the actual *bleep* was he here?! Should they really meet that early or was this a possible side effect of my coming? A butterfly effect? Heck, I haven't even come out of the house for 6 years! And our house is from the other way of the street, not beside, nor near it. Wait, did mother know his mom since while back?
I look up at the tall figure of my amused mother and her giggling friend. Knowing what I wanted to ask even without me speaking of it, she introduced us to the other. Of course, not without that fleeting moment of laughter at her very own distressed daughter might I add, while spoke in her soothing voice that did its magic in calming my jump nerves, even if it was for a little bit.
"Dear, this here is your auntie Nana and her son, Tsunayoshi-kun. And this is my first daughter and second child, Ketsuron. Now, say hi." Without waiting for my decision nor complaint, with a single gentle push, immediately pushed me towards the smiling woman and her nervous son.
Of course, despite being nervous at meeting this world's favoured son, I still remember my etiquette. With a practised formal bow, I greeted with the same blank expression and calm voice.
"Good morning, Aunt Nana, Tsunayoshi-san." And as much as I want to create a favourable first impression as a calm, scholarly child, my squeaky, immature voice as a child immediately ruins it. Look! Instead of being amazed by this lady's mature greeting, she is cooing at me! At me! Wu, my pride as a grown-up woman, ah!
"Now, now, how about you two go play around while I and your Ma-Auntie go talk around, okay?" Nodding in consent and already knowing the rules, I guided the timid boy out of the house. And as much as I look like I was calm and unperturbed at the other's presence, I was, in fact, jittery and tense behind the exterior. If I was uncomfortable a while ago, now that we were alone, made me even more nervous.
Oh god, do I hurl my stomach out? Faint? Or feign sickness?
Call me insensitive, cowardly, or exaggerated, but if you were in my place, and as an average high schooler that has not seen blood in real life, suddenly meet the future leader of the infamous Vongola family that meets death and injury in their everyday life, how would you feel?
In my state of raging waves and perturbed storms, I never noticed that we were already seated in the dining room. The light from the french window did no injustice at his appearance, appearing even more angelic and pure from the warm rays of the summer sun. Of course, a calming effect would have happened if not for his obvious high-strung nerves.
Now that we were quite far from the chattering voices of our mothers, an uncomfortable silence once again ensued between the two of us. And for the first time, I am actually wishing for the presence of my loud-mouthed brother and kind little sister. They would actually fair more in communicating and comforting the lad than me, a serious, introverted reader that does reading rather than talking.
Seriously, searching my memories for anything we can talk about, I can only find topics unbefitting for us and my age. Like, the memories of the KHR plot. That is my most vivid, exciting memory rather than those plain old book. But who would suddenly tell all of this to the main protagonist of the sad story? And he even has a high intuition (despite the fact he hasn't awakened it) but still!
"Um...Hello?" Bursting me out of my train of thoughts was cute, meek voice. Looking up (just when did I look down?), what greeted me was the image of a Tsunayoshi. Why with an "a"? Maybe it's because of his personality. Despite being nervous, he still has the confidence to ask and tell what he was thinking, rather than remaining as a stone.
Hah, this boy is too kind. Or maybe because he had enough of the awkward meeting and decided to push through it and ask? How brave.
"...Hi. You may already know me from the earlier introductions, but let me introduce myself. I am Sasagawa Ketsuron. You can call me Shu." Ah, he looks quite surprised. am I speaking to formal? Too fast? Or maybe because of my name?
"Despite Shu being far (very, very far) from Ketsuron, I...chose that nickname...since...Ketsuron is too long..." Uma! I feel like a young, bashful lady confessing, ah!
"I...I am Sawada Tsunayoshi. But mama calls me Tsuna! Um...papa calls me Tsuna-fish...um, I am 5." When he raised his hands and five fingers to show me his age, I feel so shaken. Tuna is so moe! So meng! So kawaii!
"Un. I am six. Um, where do you study?" Good. Good. Keep going Ketsuron! You're doing great!
"Nami--more...Prepa--or-tory? I think. And school."
"Namimori Preparatory School? Ah, what a coincidence. My little sister also goes to that school. Say, do you know Sasagawa Kyoko? Is she in your class?"
Small talks were asked and done, and soon enough, we became quite comfortable with each other until it was already one in the afternoon. Which means...
The door to the dining room abruptly opened, revealing small and quite tall figures with differing hair colour of white and orange.
"Good afternoon to the extreme, Ketsuron! Ma said we have guests!"
"Onee-chan!-- Are, who is he?"
And there they go. When you need them, they are absent. When you wish for peace, boom, they appear. Yay.
Breathing out a sigh, I introduced the newcomers and the guest with each other politely.
"Ryohei and Kyoko, my siblings, Tsunayoshi, Aunt Nana's son." This should take care of it. Since they are here, I see no reason to stay anymore.
Standing up from my seat, with a practised jump, hopped out from the tall furniture and to the waxed floor with my short legs, intending to leave the three so they can at least cultivate some of their feelings. Just as I was about to leave, a distinct feeling of a small hand pulling my shirt made me stop.
Turning around, there I saw the culprit. With his pleading brown eyes and cute pout for me to stay, my intention of leaving earlier swayed. Goodness, when they said that beauty can make people bend...and to think it was true...
And that was the reason why I find myself in the middle of this group. With a comfortable Tsuna pinching my shirt, a boisterous loud twin telling his stories, and a giggling sister; life now seemed more loud and bright.
It was warm and comforting to the mind and heart, but...a bit too blinding.
Since coincidentally meeting Tsuna, we both started hanging out together in either house. Unfortunately, because of this, I started going out more and started to spend less time with my books and siblings. Though we really don't hang nor speak that much...
That's why I am now suffering under the puppy eyes of a cute little rabbit.
"Su-chan~! Please?" Which was answered by a subtle twitch of my eyebrow?
Now, if anyone was to see what was happening, they might go and ask what's the problem. And I think that instead of asking me, the older child, they would instead ask the boy that seemed to be bullied by me.
In fact, it was far from that. Instead of him being bullied, I think that it's actually me being the victim.
Ah, pity me.
Today when Tsuna visited the house, we started doing the normal routine of talking. About what? Well, stuff. Anyways, this boy somehow directed the conversation about going to the park. How did he do it? I don't know. How did I fall for it without noticing anything?... I think I was muddleheaded and sick. Yup, definitely sick.
Do you think a fever that can fry a brain can be cold and not obvious?
Now, because I'm "older" than him, I have to take him to the park. Why not asking the adults? They're gone since an hour ago to go to the market to buy food and stuff.
Confused and dazed, I woke up to the soft sound of chairs screeching and thumping footsteps. Though tired and too lazy to get out of the comfy mattress, curiosity still won over. So walking out of bed and opening the door, I immediately saw the slender back view of mom. And it seems like she's going somewhere from.
"Mom?" I called out, my voice almost falling into a whisper. Maybe because of her sharp hearing, she probably knew that I was already there from the time the door creaked open, and judging from how she didn't swerve her head at my direction so suddenly, that most likely the case.
"Yes, hun?"
"Where are you going?"
After she finished reading, she looked down and gazed in my direction with her pampering eyes, talking with her sweet voice.
But somehow, this just filled me with a feeling of dread.
And soon enough, after hearing her words, I knew where that upcoming dread came from.
My eyes were on her slowly moving lips, her words making way on my brain and instilling itself deeply in every crevice of my head as I listened.
I. Am. Going. To. The. Market. With. Nana. Chan.
"Of course, since no adults' going to be present, Tsuna-Kun will be staying here for the meantime. And I am assured that you will be taking care of the house and the children, no?"
Once again, let me say these word: PiTY ME.
•••
I leaned my self closer to the back of the seat. The soft caress of the wind swaying my hair back and forth in comfort, and the lush greenery meeting my eyes under the blue sky; life seemed to pause in this calm and relaxing scenery--
LIKE HELL, IT IS!
The noon sun was high up in the sky, its scorching heat frying the busy people and imbeciles underneath it. Birds chirps...well, they were beautiful to hear but is impossible to appreciate when all you hear is screams and snotty brats running around the park.
Yes, the park. Little tenth somehow persuaded me to go to the park with him and the siblings. I think it was when he said that I can bring my phone?
As for the story on how I got the phone, that's another story for another time.
Anyways, underneath the blazing sun and warm wind, I sat on the bench with an umbrella to protect me and a phone to quench my boredom.
And of course, as a responsible caretaker, I look up from my phone between intervals to see what the kids under my watch were doing. So far, they were good kids.
Tsuna was on the swing, trying to have the swing higher by himself. (Of course, it was no use. That's why he looked at my direction, but was ruthlessly ignored.)
As for my siblings, well, Ryohei there was trying to catch pretty little butterflies with a, once again, giggling Kyoko. Goodness, miss love interest really likes to giggle, huh?
While I continued to read the book of my current interest, a tad feeling of boredom starts to set in. I mean, even if the book was nice and all if the same plot is used over and I over again, it becomes a cliche.
Anyways, just I was pondering whether I should just go search for anything new to do, an obnoxious voice of a boy disrupted me from continuing my thoughts.
Looking up, I saw a group of children circling around the swing. And from the looks of the quivering soft, brown hair, they are likely bullying the boy under my care.
"What are you doing in our turf, huh?! Didn't you know that this turf, is our turf?"
And...the bully is a stupid mongrel.
The boy was annoying in my eyes, but from my view of his big stature, Tsuna is definitely scared of him. I mean, with his short height that is even less than mine, the other boy is practically towering over him!
But the thing is, should I go and help him out? Despite me saying that he was my charge, there are some things that I need to reconsider. I am in a parallel world of the quite famous anime KHR wherein the original line, I didn't exist. So if I help him now, even if he remains meek and self-conscious of his own weaknesses, he would end up becoming dependent on me; a result I wouldn't wish for.
Besides, even if it is bullying, it is also a test of his resolve and patience. This kind of bullying that started even in his younger years will build the Tsuna that his guardians know and tutor acknowledge.
And so, I sank into my seat, looking at the people in front of me.
I was quite far from them, so I didn't hear much of what they said in exception of their loud, childish threats.
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