Title: Language of Flowers
Rating: T
Genre: Romance/Hurt/Comfort
Summary: AU. After being played and dumped harshly by his lover, Tsuna, a florist, resolves to never fall in love again. Yet, a white rose and an abrupt confession from a stranger is wavering his resolve. /1827/ hints of 6927.

iris – faith, hope, wisdom, valour
rose (white) – purity and love
tulip (yellow) – hopeless love

Chapter 1: Rose

"Oya. Did you think you were the only one? That's not good, little rabbit."

Caramel orbs opened abruptly, sounds of panting filled the silence of the night. Tsuna sat up, the bed creaking at the action. No, not again. He looked outside, a dull look inundating his eyes, such a serene night, and yet such a torturous one. The sheets crinkled as he clamped a handful, fists trembling in a mixture of emotions. How was he to describe his feeling? Hurt. Confused. Anguished. Humiliated. It was indescribable.

He tilted his head up, fathoming the clear sight of the moon. It was probably mocking his pitiful state; heavy purplish bags lay underneath his once full of life eyes, which had now turned red from the sudden bursts of tears, and his petite figure had become thinner. In the span of one week, he had lived through hell in his wallowing of self-pity and mortification. But now, he knew he couldn't keep this up any longer.

Love was supposed to bring him happiness and warmth, yet life shoved him misery and ire. Love was supposed to bask him in bliss, but in the end he received heartache instead. Love was something he did not need; it was a stupid emotion that would only lead him to nothing. It would only destroy him mentally, physically, and emotionally. With a newfound resolve, he gritted his teeth and tightened his clenched fist.

I will never fall in love again.

-x-

"Thank you so much!" said Tsuna with ardour, a bright grin covering his face as he handed over a bouquet of beautifully arranged red roses. Smiling, the customer, a teenager, gratefully took the flowers and, in return, passed over his payment. As he watched the boy exit, Tsuna couldn't help but feel sorry for him. It didn't take a much thinking to figure out the customer's intentions. Judging by his blushing face and his choice of flowers, he was going to confess.

Before turning back to set the other flowers, he offered a sympathetic smile at the boy's retreating back. Hurt, he'd just get hurt, like how that man made him feel. Tsuna shook his head, clearing his mind of the thoughts about him. No, he swore he would forget about him, erase his existence from his life. He could live without love; it wasn't like it was a requirement just as oxygen was to humanity.

"Youthful love is wonderful, right, Tsunayoshi-kun?" Surprised, he jumped a little at the woman's voice, but nonetheless turned around to face his boss, a woman with a small orange flower tattoo beneath her left eye, short dark green hair, and wore a big mushroom-shaped hat matched with her one-piece orange and white dress.

"Luce-san," he greeted. "Love isn't that wonderful." Tsuna whirled around and took a bunch of irises that were in full bloom. He carefully arranged it on the paper on top of the table and slowly rolled it, successfully making a simple bouquet. Content, he gazed at his work, awed at the beauty of such magnificent plants.

"Do you know what an iris means?" asked Luce, walking towards him. She took hold of Tsuna's work and sniffed it. "An iris represents faith and hope alongside with wisdom and valour. It's not wrong to feel sad about lost love, but it's not right to give up on love, Tsunayoshi-kun. Have faith that someday love will bring you the happiness that you hope for and be brave enough to face the shortcomings that you are experiencing." She smiled and gave the irises back.

For a while, Tsuna simply stared at the flowers in his hands before placing it in one of their baskets for display. Luce was indeed a woman of wisdom and kindness, and he admired the woman for that. But the words she had said, he could never accept. First-hand experience had taught him how cruel and painful love was.

Tsuna walked over in front of another basket and gingerly picked up one of the yellow flowers inside. A rueful smile graced his face. "I think a yellow tulip describes love perfectly. Hopeless," he said softly. "Love is hopeless." All of a sudden, he released a wide grin. "But it's fine. I don't need love. I'm already happy with my life. I'm surrounded by wonderful friends and have a great enjoyable job."

Luce simply sighed and sadly shook her head. The sound of the bell atop the door rang. Tsuna hurriedly returned the tulip he was holding and waited for the customer to come in while Luce proceeded to the back room. A raven-haired man wearing a black suit entered, his grey eyes sent goosebumps on Tsuna's skin. "W-welcome to t-the Sky's Flower Shop," he stuttered. This man was definitely intimidating. "How can I help you?"

The man's gaze befell on Tsuna, making him stiffen in fright. "I'm looking for a white rose," he said.

White rose... purity and love, Tsuna thought. Now that was definitely something he didn't expect from the man, he chuckled inwardly, completely different from his impression. "How many do you want, sir?" he asked.

"Just one," came the blunt reply.

One? Tsuna went to the white roses' hamper, delicately took out one, and went back to the customer. "Is this fine?" He received a nod. Tsuna named a price for it and asked, "Would you like a ribbon or card to go along with it?"

"No, just the flower will suffice."

"Okay then." He led the man to the cashier and handed over the flower. The man placed the exact money on the table and just stood there. "Thank you very much for coming to the Sky's. We hope to see you again." Tsuna smiled. Normally the customer would leave immediately after making his or her purchase, but this man continued to stand there, his gaze not leaving Tsuna's brown eyes.

"Uh, is there anything wrong?" he asked worriedly. The man nodded when he asked if it was fine, perhaps he changed his mind and wanted to exchange it? "If you want—" The flower was shoved in his chest. Getting scared, he continued to stutter, "I-I-I'll e-exchange it if y-you want."

"I love you. Go out with me."

"W-what?" Tsuna gaped at the man, sure that he heard wrong. But the stranger repeated his words slowly this time and Tsuna just wanted for the man to leave. "I don't know you. Please leave. This kind of joke is horrible and not funny in any way." He gritted his teeth in suppressed anger.

"I do not joke, Sawada Tsunayoshi," replied the man. "I mean what I say." Before turning around to leave, he added, "I will come back next week."

Tsuna merely stared at the door and on to the table. The enigmatic man left the white rose on the table. He picked it up and tried to comprehend what had happened a moment ago. The man certainly did not seem to be the type to lie; he actually appeared to be the kind to just straightforwardly say what was on his mind. But that did not change anything. Tsuna didn't even know who he was.

...and he had already given up on love.