The song I used is "Mirai no Oozera e", which is not mine. It's a character song for KHR! created by those who own it.

Epilogue

The day after they return…

Giannini woke up from a horrible dream of being killed by Reborn.

"Oh my… Reborn's threat has really gotten to me, hasn't it…hahaha…" Giannini laughed nervously as he peered into the shadows of his room. He still remembered how shaken up he was when Iemitsu called him, relaying the message Reborn gave Iemitsu. He shuddered again and went back to sleep.

…

Around six in the morning, Giannini awoke with a start. He sat up, wondering why he was awake, and why on earth was he so frightened.

Nothing in his bedroom moved. He scanned it thoroughly and his head snapped back to the door. To his horror, the door to his bedroom slowly creaked open... He pulled up his covers and shook with fear as he waited for the door to reveal whatever was behind it, helpless to do anything else. He gulped.

The door swung open and the early sun revealed a very, very, dangerous man.

"O-O-Oh, my," Giannini stuttered and tried for a smile. "I-I didn't know that you returned, R-R-R-R-Reborn…eh…d-d-did you have a-a-a nice t-trip?"

Reborn stepped into the room. His suit was as black as ever, and his fedora covered his face. He said nothing. As Giannini waited for an answer, he saw the most terrifying thing in his life.

Reborn slowly lifted his head and smirked.

…

Gokudera came in around seven thirty in the morning to find Giannini's door unlocked. He shrugged and walked in without a sound. He examined the kitchen and living room. They were filled with inventions, but no sign of the inventor. He walked up the stairs quietly and found Giannini in his bed, bundled up.

"You got a lot of nerve to cause us so much trouble and not apologising…Tch. And you don't even bother to reply when someone enters your room." Gokudera chuckled evilly and lit a few of his dynamite.

The day after…

Giannini lay in the hospital with burns, two broken legs and arms, one twisted ankle, five broken ribs, a bleeding lip, two black eyes, a broken nose, three broken fingers, and just about a thousand bruises all over him.

He fainted twice due to the pain. He was awake at the moment, trying his best not to move. The only thing he dared do was breathe and blink and even that, he found risky. He had a private room all to himself with a nice view outside and a vase of flowers beside him. Then he heard someone approach.

Eh? Who could it be? The doctor just left, so it can't be them. Giannini panicked. C-Could it be? Reborn came to finish what he started? Oh god…please…don't let it be him…

Giannini watched the door…

He saw the shadow of a figure stand in front of it…

…And the door opened to reveal—

"Yo!"

"GOOD MORNING!"

Giannini recognised that voice. He stared for another long moment before closing his eyes and let out the breath he was holding. Ryohei was grinning from ear to ear. Yamamoto was dressed in plain jeans and a sweater with the hoodie pulled up to cover his face. After sliding the door shut, he pulled it off and gave Giannini a friendly smile. He approached the bed. Ryohei followed him and stood on the other side, grinning.

"Ah," Giannini said carefully. "Hello, Yamamoto-kun, Sasagawa-kun. I'm sorry you had to see me in such a state."

The baseball player laughed. "Well, I hope you get well soon! I brought you some sushi!" He examined Giannini's injuries from top to toe and whistled. "Man, whoever did this to you was merciless! I was shocked when I heard about you in the hospital! Any friend of Tsuna's is a friend of mine!"

"Ahaha…that's good, that's very good…" Giannini smiled slightly. Whew! I thought that I was going to get beaten up again…good thing Yamamoto has such a kind soul…

"Whoever did this was extreme! I must ask him to join my boxing club! TO THE EXTREME!" Ryohei swore, passionately. Giannini's ears were in pain and he couldn't even reach up to cover them.

"Please lower your voice, Sasagawa-kun…the nurse might come in…"

"Right! I'm extremely sorry about that!"

"Oh, by the way, Yamamoto-kun," Giannini said. Yamamoto pulled up a chair and sat on it with the back rest in front.

"Mm?"

"Why were you hiding your face?"

Yamamoto laughed sheepishly and scratched his cheek. "Well…the last time I visited Tsuna in the hospital, I got kicked out, and Tsuna suggested to hide my face under a hood when I went to see you."

"Ah."

"Hm, but is it really that serious? You're starting to look like a mummy!" Yamamoto nudged a casted foot curiously.

"A-A-Aaahhhhh….." He was in so much pain it hurt to scream. "Y-Yes, Yamamoto-san…it…it hurts that much…it's very painful…"

"Huh." Yamamoto nodded his head solomly. "I hope you get well soon, Giannini-san!" Yamamoto laughed and patted his shoulder friendly-like.

"You have to be like a man, inventor-san! This is nothing!" Ryohei roared. "I was once in a full body cast and I still went on with my training!"

Yamamoto laughed and sweatdropped. "Senpai, that sounds very extreme. You should have rested!"

"Y-Yeah…uh, don't you two have homework or something?" Giannini wheezed out.

Yamamoto's eyes widened. "You're right, I do. Well, I'll come by to visit you later!" Yamamoto gave a wave as he left. "Come on, Senpai!"

"Yosh! Get well soon! We'll be cheering for you extremely!"

Who would have known that even they could cause me so much pain! "Ow…"

Sawada Residence

Reborn went into Tsuna's room and stood by the bed. He took out his gun and cocked it. Tsuna jumped in the air and landed back on his bed.

"OW!" He was still hurting all over from the injuries conflicted on him by Hibari and Mukuro, as promised. Oh, and don't forget Reborn's promised toru-ahem-training. And for some reason, his face was saved from the beatings. He wondered why.

He scrambled to get up.

"R-Reborn!"

"Get up, Tsuna."

"Why? There's no school today!"

"That's because there's a festival."

"What festival?" Tsuna untangled himself and looked at the alarm clock: 7:15. He groaned.

"Does it matter? There's a festival and you're going to be performing with your famiglia."

"Reborn...could you stop dragging us into your st—crazy antics? We only came back from the past a few weeks ago!" This earned him a kick.

"You're going to sing and everyone will sing with you."

"Even you?" Tsuna piped up, curious.

Reborn smirked. "Your concert will be a failure if I'm not present, so of course I'll be there. Get changed!" Reborn pointed to the shirt on the desk.

Tsuna EEP'd and went to do so. Reborn left the room to go downstairs for Nana's breakfast. His student came down minutes later dressed in a blue t-shirt

with the Japanese characters "Dying Will!" on it.

"Alala! Good luck on your concert, Tsu-kun! Here's your breakfast!" Nana giggled and continued to hum as Tsuna ate.

"Where's Lambo and I-Pin?"

"They're doing things for the performance."

"EH? Lambo's willing to help out?"

Reborn's fedora shadowed his eyes. "He didn't have a choice."

Tsuna twitched. "Reborn...what exactly are you making us do this time?"

"You'll be singing."

"Yes, but singing what?" In Tsuna's mind, he thought of mafia related songs, or embarrassing things. Reborn tossed him a rolled up piece of paper hit his forehead.

"Those are the lyrics. Memorize you parts before five in the afternoon—that's when you're performing."

"H-Hold it! You need Hibari-san's permission before doing anything big that gathers a crowd that's on school property!" Tsuna smirked inwardly as he found a flaw in Reborn's plan. Reborn smirked right back. He showed his pupil an official document signed and stamped by the Disciplinary Committee, stating that they were allowed to take the stage for five minutes with two minutes for sound set up. They were to get off after that or risk being bitten to death. Tsuna's jaw dropped at the sight of the paper. So far in history, no one—no one— got permission from Hibari personally, to do something at the festivals this big. It was usually his right hand man, Kusakabe who dealt with it.

Tsuna dropped his chopsticks and unrolled the paper. It was two sheets long, for goodness sake! He opened his mouth to complain but shut it when he read the lyrics.

…

For the rest of the day wherever he went, he made himself memorise the lyrics. It was actually easier than he thought it would be. As he looked through it, he saw that the rest of his Guardians were in it as well as Dino, Basil, Haru and Kyoko. Although he was willing to do this, it didn't mean that his stage freight was gone. What if the audience thought they were cheesy and threw rotten cabbages at them? At four, he had a snack from the kitchen. Reborn was the only one with him at the moment, since everyone else was already making their way to Nami-chuu.

"Reborn…are you sure about this?" Reborn gave him a look. "Forget I asked." Reborn smirked. "Kaa-san! We're leaving now!"

"Alright~!" She hummed. "Have fun!"

They walked for a while with Tsuna dodging bullets and Reborn doing the shooting.

"Oh, shoot!"

"Shoot?" Reborn repeated and reloaded his gun.

"Hiiie! No! Not that! A-As in, shoot!"

"Yes, shoot…"

"N-no! I mean, DAMN!"

"What?" Reborn asked and put a pause to the training.

"Hibari also has parts to sing! How are we going to make him to that?"

"You're the boss. It's your choice. Make sure he sings his part, or else."

Tsuna gulped. They continued on.

"Hiie! Reborn! You're going to ruin my clothes if you keep on shooting!"

"Then dodge the bullets!"

…

At school, he saw the stage set up for them. The rest of the student body was also staring at it. Tsuna sighed. Who wouldn't stare? It was the most interesting thing on sight. Who was brave enough to ask Hibari for permission for doing something like that? Everyone else had small stalls where people could play and win prizes, or buy snacks.

"Nyahahaah! It's baka-Tsuna!" Lambo cried and jumped on Tsuna as an attack. Tsuna caught the boy before their heads could collide. He noticed that Lambo's cow printed clothing was switched for one that was the same t-shirt he wore.

"Lambo!"

Tsuna looked over the afro and saw Haru and Kyoko walking towards him with bright smiles on their faces. He blushed at the sight of Kyoko smiling cutely at him. Both wore the t-shirt as well.

"Tsuna-kun!"

"Tsuna-san!"

"Kyoko-chan! Haru!"

"Haru is so excited for this-desu~!" Kyoko giggled as her friend latched herself onto a cringing Tsuna.

"Kyoko," Hana said when she spotted her friend. "Where do you want to go next?"

"Oh…sorry, Hana, but I'm going to be performing something with Tsuna-kun and Onii-san." Hana's eyebrows raised and looked at Tsuna, who was trying to pull Haru away from him.

"With suna?"

"Hana, it's going to be wonderful! Everyone is excited for it!"

"Hmph. And who's that?" Hana gave Reborn a look-over from head to toe.

"Tsuna-kun's tutor."

"Tsuna, it's time." Hana fell in love with the voice instantly.

Tsuna, Haru, and Lambo stopped bickering. "A-Ah…Kyoko-chan. Let's go," Tsuna called over. They all left. Kyoko waved back to Hana.

"Hana! Come and watch us!"

"O-Oh…okay—wait! Hold it! You're…You're the group that booked the stage! Aren't you afraid that Hibari-san's going to hurt you?"

Kyoko laughed. "It's okay! Come watch!" Hana frowned at them for a moment, but decided to go. After all—her best friend was going to do something and she was determined to get a front row seat. And, she thought, I could pull her out of there if something goes wrong.

All of them met at the back of the stage where the second curtain blocked their view of the actual stage.

"Juudaime! As your right hand man, I will make this a success! Oh, and also, Juudaime," Gokudera leaned in to whisper to Tsuna personally. "That stupid inventor, Giannini, won't be bothering you for a long time."

Tsuna's head snapped to Gokudera. "What did you do to him?"

"Haha! This is going to be fun!"

"This is EXTREME!"

"Kufufu. I am only doing this because Nagi kindly asked me to come."

"M-Mukuro-sama…thank you for coming…"

"Sawada-dono! We've arrived as well!" Tsuna turned to the left and saw a slick black car. Beside it were Basil, Dino, and Romario.

"Basil-kun! Dino-san and Romario are here too!?"

"Hey, lil' bro!" Dino gave him one of his smiles.

"Everyone's here!" They were all wearing the light, sky blue Dying Will t-shirt. He then noticed that his was a deep, navy blue.

"Reborn…?"

"The boss stands out, Tsuna."

"I don't want to stand out!"

Mukuro switched his normal green jacket and misty background t-shirt for the plain Dying Will one. Chrome kept her Kokuyo uniform's skirt and changed the top for the t-shirt.

"There are two minutes before we go on," Reborn ignored Tsuna's complaint. "Where are those two?"

"Who?" Tsuna looked around. Gokudera was getting into a heated argument with Ryohei and Yamamoto was trying to calm them down. Lambo and i-Pin were playing tag. Mukuro and Chrome somehow picked up a conversation with Dino and Basil. Kyoko and Haru were talking about something while humming the song they were soon to sing.

"Reborn-san! We are here! We're setting up the sound before we start!" A muffled voice said from the other side of the curtain. Tsuna peeked out and exclaimed, "Shouichi-san and Spanner?" They also wore the t-shirt.

"Yo, Vongola!"

"Tsunayoshi-kun!" The two were crowded around one large speaker, fixing the wires.

"You're here!"

"Reborn-san asked us to help out!"

"Since Giannini is useless right now," Reborn said in a low tone. Tsuna sweatdropped. "Well, how's it going?"

Shouichi pushed his glasses up. "We just finished fixing this speaker. It was acting up a little, but it's fine now. All we have to do is get ready, turn up the volume, and make sure all the microphones are working. Then we can play with the music."

"You know how to play instruments?" Tsuna was awed.

"No, we're just using technology based sounds," Spanner supplied. "Okay! We're on in one minute! Get everyone ready!"

There was a moment of rushing before everyone got their microphones. Tsuna peeked out of the curtain and saw that only a few curious people were lingering around, but not daring to approach.

He turned around and saw Hibari leaning out of view in the dark. He looked menacing. Tsuna gulped and approached, inch by inch.

"H-Hibari-san…" He looked up. "Hie—did—did Reborn show you the paper we're going to sing?"

"Hn. Yes."

"D-Do you want to—"

"No."

"P-Please, Hibari-san? We really need you!"

"Hn."

Tsuna drooped.

"Herbivore."

"Hai!" His head shot up, wondering if Hibari changed his mind. Seeing the look in his eyes, he knew that Hibari had not changed his mind.

"If you're not finished by five minutes, I'll bite you to death.

"H-H-Haaai!"

"Oi, Tsuna! Introduce it!" Reborn said and tossed Tsuna yet another microphone. It had a faint hue of purple and he assumed that it was supposed to be Hibari's. He'll hold onto it for now. His blood bumped with adrenaline.

"Okay!" Spanner said and gave them the OK sign. He and Shouichi were to the left of the stage, also invisible, where they could man the controls. They both had headphones on. Romario stood beside them to keep an eye on his boss. Tsuna took a deep breath and closed his eyes to calm himself. The rest of the family stood a few steps behind him, spaced out to give everyone enough room, and to move forward to the centre when it was their turn to sing.

Shouichi pressed a button and a sweet, delicate melody blasted out of the speakers accompanied by the sound of drums. The introduction wasn't supposed to be long, but they extended it so that it would give Tsuna more time to talk and for the crowd to gather. Plus, they were ahead of schedule, thanks to the brilliance of the two mechanics, and were off to a great start.

The curtains rose and Tsuna saw the large amount of unfilled space in front of them. With him standing in front with all his friends supporting him, he felt comforted. Slowly, people started to notice where the music was coming from. It was louder than the speakers at the stalls, and they were curious to see what was happening. Even more so, they saw Dame-Tsuna standing at the front of the stage with his popular friends behind him.

Gokudera and Yamamoto fan girls ignored Tsuna and squealed to see their idols on stage. The males saw Kyoko and ran to see what was happening and why she was up there, knowing she might get bitten to death. The rest just followed because a crowd meant excitement.

"Hello everyone!" Tsuna shouted into his mic. "My friends and I have a song that we'll like to sing to everyone! I hope you will enjoy it with your Dying Will!" His smile grew at the last part, knowing that Reborn was probably smirking. "The song's title is 'Mirai no Oozera e'!"

Another sequence of the song played before he and Reborn began singing. Reborn moved with him to the front of the stage and their high and low voices combined:

"If you're in discouraging times, reach out your hands high in the sky!" Tsuna did so as Kyoko and Lambo started the next. He and Reborn moved back, and he was jumping inside. He could believe they were actually doing this! It was so fun—he'll never admit that in front of Reborn, though. He gave Lambo a high five as Lambo and Kyoko moved to the centre. The rest of the group mingled around and moved to the beat. Kyoko was holding Lambo sweetly as Lambo had a big grin on his face. Instead of a mic, they gave him thin headphones that had a small mic attached. This way, he and I-Pin could keep their hands free.

As they sang, Tsuna swayed and moved forwards a bit, in seeing Hibari's prefect jacket at the curtains.

He didn't know what possessed him, but he was so giddy that he threw Hibari's microphone to him.

It was quick and hard. The crowd gasped as they thought that Tsuna was going to ruin the song they were also getting a feel into. They didn't expect Hibari's hand to fly up to his face to catch the mic that would have broken his nose. He gave Tsuna a glare, but Tsuna didn't seem to notice since he was looking at Hibari expectantly.

Hibari snorted. It wasn't as if he said he wasn't going to sing, right? He stepped into the spot light. To Tsuna's surprise—or not, Hibari wore the light blue t-shirt as well, with his ever present black jacket over his shoulders.

The crowd's eyes widened. Tsuna—their Dame-Tsuna, had the guts to throw something at the Disciplinary Committee Leader, Hibari Kyoya! And to add to that, Hibari's smooth voice began to sing.

"Suddenly, the clouds flow." Just those words had the crowd go oozy. Who knew that Hibari had such a voice?

The girls instantly looked at Hibari with new eyes. The girls looked at their friends with the same determination in their eyes. They couldn't believe that they didn't do this before! They had to make a fan club for Hibari. Why didn't they do this before? Oh. Right. It was because they always avoided him out of fear and never tried to look at him in the face in case he became violent. His attitude also stopped people from looking or talking to him, so they never noticed his looks at all. But now that he wasn't glaring, they saw him. But before they knew it, his part was over and he stepped back. As he did, he gave Tsuna's head a punch and Yamamoto walked to the centre, a hand raised and waving at the crowd, singing.

Then a soft and sweet voice rang in the air. "Come to the place where the rainbow forms…" Chrome was shy and didn't want to stay in the front of the crowd. As she sang, she walked to the centre. Yamamoto gave her a reassuring glance. She smiled and did a little twirl before moving to the other side. Reborn also walked to the centre at the same time and sang his line.

"Wasn't that a Kokuyo girl? That's their uniform!" someone from the crowd hissed.

"No way! The school that had some kind of grudge on us!"

"Who knew that their girls were so cute!"

Kyoko came out from somewhere behind the group and Haru from another direction. They jumped and giggled when they reached the middle and the crowd blushed. They brought their hands out and gestured towards the students watching.

"Your smile, our smile!"

"Who's that girl?"

"Looks like she's from Midori! That private school that's very tough!"

"Sawada's friends with her?" someone asked in disbelief. "How are his grades still so low?"

"Not only that, how did they become friends in the first place?"

As they finished singing, Gokudera gave Haru a scoff and Haru stuck her tongue out. Gokudera found this very offensive and started mouthing name callings at her. Haru's eyes widened and she jumped to him, trying to land a punch. He laughed quietly and darted away. Gokudera fans watched with surprise and jealousy.

Then their attention was torn to the ones currently singing. It was the most ridiculous combination ever! And who was that guy with the pineapple hairstyle?

Ryohei, Mukuro, and Hibari were singing.

"Even fighting, even being different," Hibari was…was singing! Oh, his new fans could just die. And then that handsome man beside him…hm…and what! For once, Ryohei was calmly singing with only the slightest hint of extremeness!

"Missing the days running for one's lives." By now, the commotion with Haru and Gokudera had spread to most of the group and they were running around. Tsuna was laughing quietly and trying to get his family under control. Haru ran to the front and sang her part enthusiastically. With her gone, they seemed to stop messing around.

"How much time has passed by?" I-Pin jumped into Haru's arms. "Treasures glowing from our hearts!" They left while Basil gave them a slight bow. "Humming a melody…"

Tsuna sang while he opened his arms as if to embrace the world.

There was a pause in their singing as music played. Tsuna gave Shouichi and Spanner a glance and grinned. My important family. Reborn, that's so true. I don't know what I'll do without them.

Then Lambo and I-pin ran up.

"Gulagulagulagala! Lightning also shines in the dark! Take a deep breath, let us calmly endure these tears!"

Dino approached with Basil following close behind. Their verse made Tsuna think of his own clumsiness and how Reborn always pushes him, forcing him to get back up even when he didn't want to. Gokudera finally sang and his annoying fans held their breath, anticipating the wonders of Gokudera Hayato.

"The rising storm…"

"The rising SUNSHINE!"

"Hidden in the mist of the future…"

"It continues to the blue sky!" Tsuna sang. Gokudera and Yamamoto came up to Tsuna. As their friend moved to let them take the stage, both of them flung their arm around him to make him stay. Tsuna panicked for two seconds before relaxing. For once, Gokudera wasn't going to make Yamamoto let go of Tsuna. Once.

"What kind of dream, what kind of miracle." The audience squealed at the two most popular guys (Mochida was kicked off the list after Gokudera shunned him) in their school sang a duet. Cue pictures being taken. At least Tsuna didn't look so no-good at the moment.

"I wonder what is waiting to face us!"

By now, Chrome was getting into the song and was impatient for her next part to come up.

"Come on, Chrome-chan!" Haru giggled and grabbed Chrome's hand.

"Even if I can't see it, even if I don't know of it, it'll surely be a tumultuous story!" was sung as if replying to Gokudera and Yamamoto's wondering. They all smiled at each other and moved off to either side to let Dino, then Lambo, then Kyoko to sing their lines.

"The ones close by…"

"Are the best family," Reborn finished off and the entire group moved and scattered around to get ready for the next verse after a twenty-seven second break.

Tsuna and Basil came up. Tsuna loved this part. It spoke out what he truly thought in his heart.

"All the things, all the people," he gestured to his family and gave them more smiles, "supported my life!" Hibari and Dino walked forwards. Hibari made the best effort to stay away from Dino. He glared at the Cavallone boss:

"I know, no matter what…" Ryohei sang, pumping a fist. Yamamoto came up beside him, "It's alright! Facing the future!" He sang and made eye contact with the crowd, as if he was talking to each individual. The time when he attempted to suicide. Tsuna convinced him to go on, and face the future. Now, he will tell everyone out there to never give up.

"Cycling the seasons," Mukuro gave the crowd a sly smile. Gokudera glowered at him.

"With my family!"

At this, balls of scrunched up papers fell in the crowd. People ducked down to pick them up to see what was in it.

"Sing with us!" Tsuna shouted when he caught on what was going on. The students and a few of the teachers present smiled and opened their mouths to sing this song. They sang as one.

"Your smile! My smile! Looking for the page to be drawn!" People started to swing their friends around and laugh, enjoying themselves.

"Even fighting! Even being different! Missing the days running for one's life!" That part they didn't really understand. But the ones in the mafia understood perfectly. After everything they've been through together, Tsuna just felt that he couldn't sit still in his normal life.

Tsuna looked around and gestured for Spanner and Shouichi to join them for the last part. At first they blushed and refused but Tsuna stomped over to them and pulled them out with Yamamoto and Ryohei's help.

Seems like whatever drink Reborn gave Tsuna still had its effect...

"How much time has passed by! Treasures glowing from our hearts! The one humming the melody…Is my IMPORTANT FAMILY!"

Back in the past…

During one of those rest periods they had, Lampo slammed his fist onto the table where Asari and Knuckle were playing a board game.

"Ore-sama has had it!"

"Now what are you going on about?" G sighed and put his legs up on the table.

"Ore-sama needs to know!"

"Know what?" Giotto asked. He was sitting by the window, lying down on a two person couch with a book in his hands.

"About G and Jules!"

"What about them?" Asari looked up from his game with a laugh.

"Ore-sama want to know what happened when they met, why Jules is so fixated onto G, how it was Giotto's fault, and just…the history! I think it's about time I know about this deep, dark secret!"

"Dark?" G raised his eyebrows.

"Secret?" Daemon chuckled. He had just walked in and sat on the remaining plush seat.

"Why should we tell you?" G snorted and glared at Lampo.

Giotto tried to reason with them."Lampo is part of the family. We're going to have to tell him one day."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean today."

Alaude, who was in his own corner, just sighed in annoyance. "I'm leaving," he grumbled.

"So, let's get on to the story," Giotto said and sat upright from his place. Lampo grinned and grabbed a plate of snacks for the story.

Asari and Knuckle continued playing as they listened to the retelling.

"It started a long time ago, when…how old were we?" Giotto looked at G for an answer.

G growled "It was six years ago. Eighteen years old. The worse year of my life."

Giotto nodded. "Right. So Lampo, most of us were eighteen. And we were…what were we doing…ah, yes. I was following Alaude home."

"You were what?"

Giotto grimaced. "No, Lampo, I wasn't stalking him. I just wanted to return something he dropped. I don't remember what it was. But anyway, G wouldn't let me go alone, so he came with me, along with Knuckle and Asari. Daemon…hm…yes, I think you were with us."

"Nufufufu. No I wasn't," Daemon said.

Giotto nodded. "Yes you were. Although you were invisible at the time."

Daemon narrowed his eyes as he chuckled. Giotto shrugged and continued. "It was then that we were introduced to Jules, and she wanted us to stay for a while."

"You're forgetting that Alaude doesn't live there," G put in. "That was Jules' home and Alaude was paying a visit."

Lampo stared at them in horror. "Alaude…paying…visits?"

Giotto chuckled. "Stop interrupting, if you want to hear the rest of it." He waited for Lampo to quiet down and continued. "At the time, I was already feeling a bit unwell. I was getting a headache, but I didn't think much of it. After our meal, Jules asked me if I wanted to row with her across the river to pick apples. I promised that I'd go with her. But later, Alaude came to me and told me that if I wanted to live to a ripe old age, I should avoid going."

"He didn't listen at all!" Asari exclaimed with laughter. "He actually wanted to go with her!"

Giotto's face flushed and he continued on quickly in a louder voice. "Anyway, I collapsed because of a fever and was brought to the guest room. At the time, I was thinking that it wouldn't be nice to leave Jules to go on her own, so I asked G if he would go in my place."

"And he just agreed?" Lampo gaped at G. "G, what were you thinking!"

G glared while Giotto chuckled. "G was reluctant to go with her, since he said that I was the one who promised, so I should go with her, fever or no fever. He was about to drag me out of the room and onto the boat."

"I could have done that, since you were so weak," G muttered.

"Then why didn't you?" Lampo challenged.

Giotto raised a finger and waited dramatically. "I fainted when he knocked my head against the door frame."

Lampo looked at Giotto with an expression that said, "Seriously?"

"And G will have to pick up the story from there!" Giotto grinned at his best friend, who glowered back.

"So? What happened?" Lampo turned to G expectantly.

G gave up and sighed. "We went to the other side and got out. Stuff happened and we ended up staying there longer than we should have. Wild animals came out and I had to fend them off. She saw me as her knight in shining armour after rescuing her from being attacked by a bear and there. We went back and she wouldn't let go of me."

"Nufufu. You don't have a romantic bone in your body, do you? You made it sound like a funeral speech."

"Tch."

"So there," Giotto said to Lampo. "That's the great story of how Julia—known as Jules, Alaude's baby sister, ends up falling in love with G." Giotto bowed in his seat like a magician would after showing a trick.

"But what stuff happened, G? What happened?" Lampo pestered G.

"Stop following me!"

"Come on, you can tell me!" Lampo continued to annoy G for the rest of the day. Who would have know he could be so persistent!

O.o.O

THE END

A/N: Thank you for reading to the end! I hope you enjoyed it :D I wonder...what's your favourite part?

-LLM

Edited 2015-08-01st