- Carousel -Part 4-Caffè-
There is a man sitting right in front of me in a crowded cafe. We are in our usual spot( it became a usual when me and him first found it on a random walk over two years ago) near that water fountain he likes to throw coins in.( And every time I would joke about taking some of them for myself, he would always turn to me and say , " Don't do that! You will be taking all the other people's wishes!" )
He does not know it but when he turns I take quick sketches of his profile . He always liked to wear tweed and patterns and stripes that made him look taller, his fashion and style always made him appear like those small English boys from the 1800's or maybe the Rococo period. Other days he would wear street fashion, the usual hoodie, some sneakers ( it was all too comfortable, but he looked like a mess, his clothes wrinkled and un-ironed. )
He does not know this, but I've always had this fascination in my desire to paint him. Truth be told, I have never asked him to pose for me but even so, I'm sure that if I'd ask him to, he'd agree.
I know him to be the sort of person that when you ask something of him, he'll give it to you a hundred times over.
(( I don't want to ask him for anything. I want to take it away from him.)) And I don't really know why.
We are friends, but a part of me wants to hurt him.
"So, explain to me again why you suddenly began to attack Hibari-san?" He seems a bit flustered, shy and fiddled with the napkin laid out in front of him. A teacup by his side. Mukuro knows that it doesn't take a lot to embarrass Tsunayoushi, so he abuses this habit of the man fully.
"I have explained this so many times Tsunayoushi," The Italian lifted his gloved hands and laid them out showing his palms. " My hands and feet moved on their own. The moment that...eyesore stepped into the room I just had to do everyone a favor and get rid of that inconsistency ."
The furniture and chairs were of white colored wood, a large faux tree in the middle of the room; it extended it's branches all towards the rest of the cafe. The rest of the customers dined peacefully as well, they were all a good deal apart( as to give everyone privacy) . Tsunayoushi loved it here, he had told Mukuro that it reminded him of the Gardens of the Hibari family back in Namimori. They were only open to the public every so often, but it left a four year old Tsunayoushi mesmerized..
Mukuro smirked when he saw the other man flinch at his harsh words, ( he always did this, he was too soft.) He liked that about him, yet, it irritated him to no end.
"... Did the both of you meet any time prior?" The brown haired man inquired as he took a bite out of his sandwich.
An exasperated sigh filled the air.
"Not at all." Mukuro's sharp features twisted. His mouth in a flat line. " And why are you only interrogating me? I wasn't the only one destroying furniture."
A hand slammed the table dramatically.
"Because Hibari-san scares me!" The truth can be quite pathetic.
Raised eyebrows yet amused hetero-chromatic eyes glistened when the light hit them.
"And I don't?"
The other ignores his question and starts to devour a piece of bread from his silverware . Unaware, yet wary on the pair of eyes focused on him.
" Tsunayoushi do you still have Nuts?"
The brown haired man stops in the middle of chews to stare at the other.
" Yes, he's with Enma-kun at the moment. I told him to take care of him when I left for the city." A pause. " But I thought I already told you this...about my cat and all."
" I'm aware of that." Mukuro dabs the corners of his mouth in swift elegance. " I was just asking if you still had him, meaning to say if he's still alive."
The other puffed his cheeks up, like a chipmunk. " Of course he is! Why wouldn't he be? Enma-kun is a great cat-sitter! He's responsible and trustworthy!"
You love that damn cat more than you lo-
The two of them continue to talk about nothing, finishing their lunch in laughter, but Tsunayoushi , although unaware of what was going on in the others head, could feel a small force pressuring his sides.( He always felt like this with Mukuro. He always felt sick. But he adored his company.)
The both of them walked side by side through small shops to arrive to the Vongola headquarters, it was only about a thirteen minute walk, and in that time they had more opportunities to chat and gossip about many things. One popular choice of topic was art and dreams. Although Tsunayoushi did not understand art very much ( or draw, god forbid) he loved to admire them. In contrast to Mukuro who was an artist who had his art on display many times. When they would finish that conversation, they would jump to dreams. ( It always finished with that) Which was basically just Tsunayoushi elaborating on his 'nightly terrors' as he put it.
'Tsunayoushi is impossible to draw. Whenever I get my paint sets ready I grab a brush and start off, I can draw his whole structure, his body, the way his hand positions itself when he reaches for a cup of coffee, the way his neck tightens when he is nervous, but when I get to his countenance, I cannot lift a single finger. Everything I try results in failure. I can never draw his face.
So Tsunayoushi goes on without a care in the world. He does not know that I dream as well(I have seen him die in all of them, my hand reaching and pleading for him not to go, another one where I hurt him physically, fire all around us; I'm always trapped in my dreams. In a coffin, or in a tube, a specimen, living but not actually living. Just there.'), he doesn't know that when I asked about Nuts I was trying to hide the eagerness in my voice, I was hoping that animal would just die already and he does not know that I am infatuated with him to the point where I have sketchbooks dedicated to drawing him. But as they say, ignorance is bliss.'
These are the thoughts Mukuro preoccupied himself with as they crossed the streets.
When Mukuro and Tsunayoushi arrived at the front of the Vongola building, the first who greeted them were Yamamoto and Gokudera. The silver haired man's face brightened considerably while the taller's eyes crinkled into his signature smile.
" Yo, Tsuna! Lunch isn't over yet there's like, " Yamamoto checks his digital clock and rolls his sleeves off his wrist " Fifteen minutes left."
Mukuro chuckled.
" He arrived early because I had some paperwork to do." He eyed Gokudera who glared intensely at the other, as if doing so Mukuro would explode into small pieces. They switched to Italian. " Hello dog, , I have brought your master back" The hetero-chromatic man mocked him while he curtsied, showing of Tsunayoushi beside him.
But before the other could even retaliate he had vanished like he was never there, like the mist.
Yamamoto seemed puzzled for a moment, but then proceeded to laugh like it was a light joke. " Ha, How did he go to the elevator so fast? He always does that."
"I tell you, " Gokudera began ferociously. " He's doing witchcraft, you never believe me! I have proof! He killed animals and sacrificed them! You believe me, right Tenth?"
But Tsunayoushi continued to smile pleasantly ignoring the question on purpose. He turned to Yamamoto before the other would go on and recite an incredible in-depth essay on 'Why Mukuro is an eyesore.'
"How is your father doing?"
"Aww, Pops is ok. I mean he gave me a scare and everything when he fainted. But he's doing good. You know my Pops ,hes the strongest guy I know!"
Gokudera's face was plain, showing no traces of anger ( which meant to say he was interested in what the other had to say).
" Yes, I know. I wish for him to be healthy in the future."
Yamamoto smiled warmly at him and snapped his fingers, he had always done that . Snap his fingers when he had wanted to change the topic.
" Guess what I bought yesterday, guys? I was on Amazon the other day and bought an American television show that used to come out when we were kids. Do you guys remember it? It was called, " He switched to his English, it only had a hint of a slight accent. " Tales From The Crypt."
Gokudera and Tsunayoushi both smiled in recognition, looking at each other, trying hard not to laugh.( It was a working office, you know?)
" Ahhhhh, " Tsunayoushi began. " Didn't we call the crypt-keeper Gokudera's boyfriend?"
"T-tenth! That's so embarrassing! I remember," Gokudera began to fiddle with the bottom of his fingers, and Tsunayoushi and Yamamoto both knew that he was playing a piano piece in his head. It made him think better, is what he had told them. "-We watched a marathon of it when we were sleeping over your house Tenth, it was that time that stupid pony came into your room picking a fight."
" I thought he was just coming in to say 'Hello'." Yamamoto crossed both arms over his chest and looked knowingly at the silver haired man. " You had gotten mad at Dino-san because he accidentally stepped over our science project."
" "That bastard!" Gokudera clenched a fist in the air while Tsunayoushi just smiled weakly.
" Anyway, we were watching it, and that was the first time I had ever seen an alien at the window."
" Gokudera-kun, it might have been a trick of the light, or maybe we were watching too much episodes that you just hallucinated?"
Yamamoto knew this would go no where, so he interjected again by snapping his fingers. " Well, I wanted to invite you guys over so we can all watch it together. A guy's night out!"
Before Gokudera could comment over how stupid and pathetic that sounded, Tsunayoushi took a few steps forward and spoke excitedly.
" For sure! We haven't been together for so long, all of us have been so busy so it's a great idea!"Perhaps the reason he kept having these headaches and hallucinations were because he needed to go out some more.
" Well, if you want to go tenth..."
" Alright! Then it's settled, on Friday I'll pick you guys up at Tsuna's apartment."
And there was the first phase of Yamamoto's plan.
It was at a quarter to two when Tsunayoushi's cell phone rang. He mumbled in his sleep, contorting his face in discomfort at being awoken in the middle of the night. It could only be one person who would do this to him.
"Reborrnnnnnn." He moaned. " What do you want?"
On the other end of his new, expensive ,Docomo phone ( courtesy of the Vongola demons), Tsunayoushi could hear loud music and laughter. Perhaps the other was at a night club or something rather.
" Hmph." The deep baritone of the other man droned in displeasure. He seemed to be drinking water, as he kept pausing at certain moments ( or perhaps he couldn't stand talking over the music). " How rude No good Tsuna. Ad ogni modo , che ore sono? "
" What time is it? You called me just to ask me the time! Can't you use your Dolce and Gabanna wristwatch you always wear? How about your state of the art I-phone?"
The half -asleep man could just feel the smirk on the others face.
" Il tempo ragazzo stupido. ( The time stupid boy.)"
" Fine, it's 1: 46 right now."
A hum of approval.
"What are you doing?" Reborn said this as if he were inspecting his nails for dirt, which-in fact, he was .
"Sleeping, what else? " A sigh could be heard on the receiver.
"How dull, I was expecting you to do something exciting today. But then again you are and always be my No Good Tsuna. Only talent in life is to cook."
Tsunayoushi felt a migraine coming up so he quickly changed the conversation.
"Never mind me, and how about you?"
"I'm just here at a nightclub with some clients, I already got them to sign what I wanted."
It's just business with him isn't it? Well that's Reborn for you. Tsunayoushi smiled as he dug himself under the covers. He stretched as he spoke.
"Anyways, I'll be there in at least thirty minutes. I'm sleeping over."
And that was how strong Reborn's personality is. When he wanted something he always said it, no matter how blunt it may be, and it always got done.
"Well," The other began. " I have a couch available." Insinuating he didn't want to share the bed, insinuating ' You will sleep on the couch because you always hit me and take all the covers.'
"Great, you have something to sleep on."
And with that the call was disconnected.
"Wait Reborn!"
"Make me some Caffè ."
Those were the first words to come out of Reborn's mouth as he stepped into the living room , taking off his coat and handing it towards Tsunayoushi( who just sighed).
How did he know he was going to say that?
"No Reborn, it's late and you won't be able to sleep." Tsunayoushi says this as he places the dark jacket on the coat hanger. But the other continued as if he had never said anything.
"Make me a Marocchino with some wine it ."
"I can't make you that, but I can make you some Camomilla Te' , its already done brewing anyways." The brown haired man paused as he noticed the other eying him curiously. " What is it?"
The tall man places his hand on the kitchen counter and places a hand under his chin, observing Tsunayoushi who had already began covering the tea with light whip cream and sprinkling a dash of cinnamon.
"I hardly ever hear you speak in Italian is all."
"Well, you," The young man handed the elder his drink. " Mukuro, Mr. Collonello and big brother Giotto and Dino always speak it so often . It's bound to stick. Besides, Why do you always ask me for food and beverages!Sometimes I don't even know what you ask for and I have to resort to cook books and all that."
Reborn places his Fedora in the space between them.
"Whatever you make is delicious. I can't put my finger on it but coffee doesn't taste the same if it isn't yours." He added as an afterthought, " It disgusts me."
And the bashful man didn't know what to say, but then again in the twenty two years of his life he had never known exactly what to say.
When their midnight snack were finished and the dishes were all washed , there was only one thing left to do. Discuss sleeping arrangements. Both of the men were in the main bedroom, sitting at the side of the bed shoulder to shoulder.
"Why not sleep together?" Reborn suggested , as if it wasn't strange. " When you were smaller you wanted to do everything together, sleep, bathe, defecate-"
"I'm not a little kid anymore, Reborn!"
"And that's precisely why you should crawl into bed with me."
"What?" Tsunayoushi blinked.
"What?" The other mimicked as he through a pillow at the younger one's face.
In the end, they decided to sleep together anyways. ( So why all the fuss?)
"Make some room." Tsunayoushi groaned. " You're hogging all the space. "
"I am not, you are just overweight."
A yawn was heard as they both tried to get comfortable, and Reborn while tossing and turning decided that he will purchase a King size bed for his no good Tsuna . Honestly, has he ever been capable of ever taking care of himself? His thoughts were interrupted as, ( speak of the devil) his sleeping partner decided to speak up.
"Gahh, the last thing I wanted to watch right before I go to sleep was a creepy science documentary about Schrödinger's cat."
Reborn shifted in bed so he could see Tsunayoushi's face. The brown haired male's eyes were closed and already in sleeping position with his blankets, yet he still spoke.
" It was something about parallel universes and quantum physics...universal wave function.."
His soft voice echoed throughout the room.
"Why were you watching that? You wouldn't understand it anyway."
"I decided to watch television for a while while I awaited your arrival. I couldn't find the remote since I hardly use it. So it stayed there.." He went on and yawned again, tears forming in the corner of his eyes. " Next they were going to talk about the end of existence and theories, scary isn't it?"
"Hardly. Do you believe any of that?"
"No, not really... I always really believed...well, I don't know what I believe in ." Tsunayoushi paused and stared blankly at the other.
"Hm."
"What about you Reborn?"
"I don't believe in the end of the world. I believe that in each of our lifetimes, at some point in the future, the world will reset or regenerate and we will simply start over in an endless cycle whether we realize it or not."
Reborn's eyes seemed pitch black, a comforting stone, and they both stared at each other for some time, as if searching for something they wanted to keep. Both of their noses were touching, Tsunayoushi didn't know when the elder had gotten so close to him, and he didn't push him away either.
It was happening again, this time skip, Time stop, whatever this is. This strange world, it's happening again. Everything seems like static, and I can't hear correctly.
Then everything went back to normal when Reborn's facial expression changed.
"Just kidding."
And so they both went to sleep.
In the morning the sunlight gave Tsunayoushi's bedroom an ethereal light. Reborn merely blinked and continued to stare at the wall above him. He started to remember when he was a small boy in Italy, except he really wasn't a child. He had never been, before he knew who his parents were he killed, and before he knew how to kill he knew how to lie.
" Tsunayoushi, what did you dream about today?"
But before all those things he knew how to dream.
"Dead birds."
Right after Tsunayoushi handed Kyouya's breakfast, the three ( Reborn, Hibari and including himself ) dashed to the elevator. ( It was going to be down for maintenance in around three minutes, so they wanted to leave early. )
The three men slipped onto the elevator, quietly and without fuss. Reborn was where all the buttons and destinations were , his arms crossed and eyes closed, his weight being supported by the wall. Next to him was good old Tsunayoushi, a thoughtful face with his arms laced together staring intently at the elevator doors. And Kyouya? Kyouya was on the side of them, a good deal away from them ( well as much as an elevator could provide.) He had his arms at his sides, one carrying his black suitcase, while the other hand was clenched.
Right before Tsunayoushi's eyes, the elevator dimmed to a low rose colored glass , ( which Tsunayouyshi wandered why because it was only supposed to happens when you're in love, his mother had told him so) and he turned to both Reborn and Hibari, because he's scared and frightened and he's wondering if they can see it too. But both of them had their eyes open staring at thin air, but their stares were serious and urgent, very loud stares.( It reminded Tsunayoushi of dead fish eyes and how when he was only two years old his father forced him to eat it. He cried.)
A low humming sound was suddenly heard; a bass, dark and full of ambient. His heart accelerated and he could hear his name 'Tsunayoushi, Tsunayoushi, Tsunayoushi. ' In these moments, when no light would come to him and where time would stop, he felt like he wasn't born. Not yet. He was still stuck in a womb. Tsunayoushi Tsunayoushi.
Remember that one day you will die. Remember the moment of your death. Remember you must die
His head started to spin.
Who. What. Where. When. Why. momento mori momento mori momento mori momento mori momento mori momento mor-
And with that he collapsed to his knees, curling up in a little ball with his arms over his head, and -began to scream.
It was a blood curdling scream that seemed to break off the illusion, or perhaps sent him 'back' Where he was, he had no idea, and where he was sent 'back' he understood that less. . Urgent, desperate, in pain. It was only a second but , out of no where, he sees familiar faces staring above him, and strangers looking at him in worry. Reborn was already at his side , his arms around him in an worried embrace.
And Kyouya could only stare curiously at him. The Herbivore who was in the other Carnivore's clutches, and he couldn't help but think ' I don't like it.'
" Tsunayoushi, Tsunayoushi What's the matter What's going on? " Chaos , Reborn thought.
And Tsunayoushi turned his face slowly( delicately, with wide eyes, stilts) to look at the others face and could only answer in barely above a whisper " I'm loosing my mind."
Reborn carried Tsunayoushi much like a groom would carry his bride back to the apartment.
" You are taking a day off from work. You are in no condition to go. You have a fever."
When the other one protested , Reborn merely shut him up with a glance and spoke.
" I'm ordering you."
So Tsunayoushi stayed in his apartment, covered in blankets courtesy of Reborn, all the while shaking because it didn't matter. It didn't matter because he couldn't stop shivering.
" Reborn, you should go to work, I'll be fine here. I'm making curry today anyway, I'll be busy. It'll be fine. Please don't worry about me.
But the other wouldn't budge, so in the end, neither went to work ( Reborn instead listened to his favorite records all day )and while Tsunayoushi slept he kept hearing an Orchestra, a women's light voice as she hit all the notes. The musical sore of his life and memory could be hit him like a rock. ( because whenever Reborn put on records it made him think about his childhood, the good things and mostly those big, small, painful things that hurt his heart like needles).
And when Hibari was left alone in the elevator he didn't understand why, but he opened his mouth and said
" That was my right."
Kyouya does not want to be in this Herbivore's house, but he was sent here by Reborn for business ( and besides that he had to pick up his dinner). When he had arrived, Reborn had taken off to the corner store for some wine and ingredients. He would never admit that he was thinking about the other seventeen percent of the time. All in all he still couldn't understand the relationship the carnivore and the herbivore had with one another. ( Because usually the Carnivore would have already eaten the other whole.)
"Who is he?"
Tsunayoushi lifts his head up in between a chop of the onion ( today he was making curry) and answers the best way he can describe the man.
"He's Reborn, haha."
But the other man wouldn't let it go and he continued to push; he takes two steps forward pressing onto the situation more, showing how much he wanted to know ( how important it was to him.)
"Who is he to you?" It was more like an interrogation than a conversation and Tsunayoushi is a bit nervous. Hibari's breath could be felt on his neck and he was more than just a little uncomfortable.
"Someone important." he says curtly and quietly. Silence followed, and his arms began to sweat. He knew it was a disgusting habit, but he couldn't help it. Mr. Fon had told him, that when he would sweat like this to eat an orange. ( He had no idea what it would do, but he did it anyways.)
"You always make the pickled vegetables a bit too salty."
That statement was recited one too many times by his mother, ( and only she could tell because everyone else ate it blissfully,) so he turned and gave Hibari a curious expression.
"How would you know that?"
And Hibari told him the truth.
"I don't know."
When the curry was done, Tsunayoushi took out around seven plates. He served rice generously, as well as curry sauce with pickled vegetables. He had to make sure they were in extremely big portions, since everyone he knew was a heavy eater. Reborn had told him to make enough since he was going to his own apartment that night, and he'd drop off the meals( it was on the way).
'Let's see', he said to himself.' One for Mr. Fon , One for Mr. Collonello, one for big brother Giotto and Dino, Reborn, Aunt Luce, and ...I should just add rice for Mrs. Lal since she doesn't like Curry, but she does like vegetables. Wait, I'll call Reborn if Mr. Verde is there as well, he'll probably throw a fit if I give him any..'
He sauntered his way to the living room to grab his cellphone when he noticed a small black notebook on the ground, it seemed out of place and only a few feet away from a suitcase, was a small black notebook. Perhaps it was Reborn's? Tsunayoushi wasn't one to nose around through someone's possessions, but a few scraps of paper were on the ground and he was merely placing them back. In doing so, his eyes were compelled to read the first few letters, but when he did he coudn't help but continue to do so.
'I keep seeing that herbivore in my dreams, and he's always in a coffin. White flowers surround him, and I can't take a step forward. There are others alongside the graveyard, and I look at the coffin but I don't remember feeling anything, not even contempt. This isn't the first time I dream of this, it's my sixteenth time this week-'
Tsunayoushi closed it quickly, because when he had read it he had begun to hyperventilate. Something was coming close, he felt an energy being emitted as he gasped for air.
"Don't touch that."
Hibari stood tall at the end of the hallway coming out of the bathroom, his eyes nothing but bloody murder. And to the mousy man, everything came into place. This book, was in Hibari's suitcase, not Reborn's. This was Hibari's notebook, in which he wrote his dreams, he had wanted to apologize profusely because he had just invaded the othe's privacy , but instead of that he said-
"You record your dreams?"
No response.
"I thought I was the only one I knew who did that...perhaps... your dreams aren't as strange as mine...but I know.. it must have bothered you so much that you had to let them out somewhere."
When someone insinuates that Hibari Kyouya has some sort of weakness, or something other than that cold face he always wore, he tore them apart.
" Stay silent, herbivore. It's pointless talking about this. It's pointless being here and it's pointless talking to you."
And with that he turned around, but he didn't expect a hand to reach his shoulder. The physical contact was enough to stop him, to make him listen. And in the long run, after what he was about to hear would make him re-evaluate Tsunayoushi's character. He would learn that at certain points in his life, the man would have small moments of courage that would make him appear to be above even a carnivore ( and not only did that intrigue Hibari , but that also confused him. Because he didn't know what to think or what to say when the other was near.)
"Pointless things have a place too and even if you have an imperfect life it would be absolutely nothing without the small things."
He had never seen anything so strange. A frail small thing, staring defiantly, and baring his small teeth at him, the predator. Just what was this person thinking?
" That dream, about me being in a coffin...I had it too"
This garnered Hibari's attention, he didn't take his eyes off the other.
" I saw you there too, you just looked at me while some of the people in there cried...and I wasn't scared.. I didn't feel scared because for some reason, I felt content. And all I kept thinking about was how much I trusted you."
The room became still again, trumpets sounded off, the feathers came back again, except they were black, and surprisingly it started to rain inside. A loud downpour hit them both.
" Do you see it?" Tsunayoushi was on the verge of tears. "Tell me I'm not crazy! I'm getting drenched, and you-"
" I feel it. I can see it is raining Tsunayoushi, I can see that the television turned on and I can see it's static."
That's the first time you have every called me by my name.
" I could also see the strange color you saw in the morning ,I could hear the humming in the elevator this morning. I know what frightened you. "
The both of them stared at each other as the rain engulfed them, the curry, the mixes and spices. And right before the water had reached to the ceiling ( It was strange because they could breath underwater) Tsunayoushi moves his lips and extends his hand to the other.
"Me and you.." Tsunayoushi said softly, " are intertwined together."
Hibari feels compelled to do this, and right then he had no self control, so he takes the others hand.
" Let's find out what's going on. Let's find out the difference between dreams and reality."
Hibari could only nod as the papers and his suitcase started to swim around them, but after some time, he blinked and everything reverted back to normal. Everything was in it's place, nothing was damp or wet, leaving no traces of the impossible.
The only thing that remained was the both of them and their hands connected.
And an alliance was born. But what the both of them were expecting, wasn't what they received, and what they received was something bigger than the both of them. And in the end, it wouldn't matter because fate was laughing at them.
♠TITLE♠ Carousel
♠RATING ♠ 13+ later on 15+
♠WORDCOUNT♠ 5,575
SUMMARY ♠ In which a group of people's lives are nothing more than a mere orgel. Destined to spin the same tune over, and over, and over again...AlternativeUniverse