To Be A Normal Kid DISCONTINUED REWRITING

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty-One: Guest One - Melfiore

Shoich was pacing nervously in the airport terminal. He'd been there for just over an hour and he still had about that long until the plane he was waiting for actually landed. The reason he was so nervous was because of who, exactly, was on the plane. His boss and his boss's sister had both figured out that he was hiding something. He wasn't about to tell them after he'd promised Tsuna he wouldn't, but he's sure that they both knew who he was hiding from them.

It brings him to his current situation. The two themselves couldn't fly out to Namimori for a few different reasons, so they sent Yuni's pseudo father in their place. He was going to be staying with Shoichi for a week, reporting back when he got back to Italy.

Shoichi was under no illusions as to what was actually going on, though. Gamma was going to be reporting daily, leaving exactly zero details out. Anything Gamma deems important, Byakuran and Yuni would learn about before the end of the day. This wouldn't be a problem if he hadn't promised Tsuna that he wouldn't reveal him to them.

It's a lose-lose situation and Shoichi can only hope to put off the inevitable.

"Irie Shoichi?"

Pulled from his head, Shoichi turned and greeted the man. "THat's me, Gamma-san! Can I help you with your bags?" God, this is so awkward!

The man shook his head. "No, thank you. I've got it."

"Al-alright, then. If you'll follow me? I've got a cab waiting outside for us that'll tae us back to my house."

"Not a hotel?" A test. Everything's a test in the Mafia.

He shook his head, leading the way half a step in front of the visitor. "Byakuran-sama and Yuni-sama insisted that I put you up with me."

A sigh, quiet and barely there. "I'm not intruding, am I?"

"No, sir!" he smiled back at him, "No problems at all!" A lie. A huge lie that will probably come to bite him in the ass later, but he needs Gamma to think that there's nothing wrong. As long as Gamma doesn't think nothing's wrong, then he won't discover anything wrong.

If only fate had been on his side.

When the two arrived at Shoichi's house, they unloaded Gamma's bags and let the car drive off. Upon unlocking the door, it became very obvious that someone was inside the building. Not usually a problem, seeing as the...friends Shoichi has recently made like to break in some times, but now he has someone with him who knows for a fact that he lives alone.

Gamma slowly lowered his bags to the ground and pulled a gun from its holster under his jacket. How had he gotten that past customs? Questions for later. He turned the safety off as Shoichi opened the door a creak.

In order to avoid suspicion on himself for as long as possible - so maybe another few minutes at best - he also brandished a weapon. The dagger he hid in his sleeve was inconvenient at times, but it was much more comfortable for him than a gun. Easier to hide, too.

The entryway was empty, not a speck of dust out of place from how Shoichi left it earlier in the day. That did nothing to make him feel better. Continuing on, the two didn't bother going up the stairs to the second floor yet. Instead, they turned into the kitchen and dining room. Also clear. There was a small shuffle from the living room that alerted the duo to their unwanted company, so that's where Gamma went, firing his gun exactly once.

"Hey!" And, dammit Bel! What the hell was he doing here? The Varia knew he was going to have company starting today!

Gamma didn't lower his gun, but he didn't shoot again, either. "What is a Varia agent doing in a Melfiore owned house?"

Bel spoke before Shoichi could, throwing his arm over his shoulder as soon as he was next to him. "Because we're besties!"

"What."

"No," Shoichi tried to protest, "No we're not-"

Bel fake pouted. "Don't be like that, Sho-chan! And after I came all this way to invite you to the festivities!"

Gamma's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What is he talking about?"

"I don't-"

"The Ring Battle, of course!" Bel cheered.

Shoichi closed his eyes, praying for strength and a way out of this mess.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me! Xanxus is challenging the Vongola heir for the throne!"

"Why would we be interested in that?"

Bel's expression turned dark without him even twitching. His grin seemed sharper and his aura felt more sinister. If his eyes hadn't been hidden behind his hair, they would've glazed over with a murderous gleam. "The Varia has some information that the Melfiore may want to hear."

What was he..?

"Something about the Vongola heir."

No. Shoichi snapped his gaze to look at Bel. There's no way they'd sell Tsuna out like this, right? Xanxus wouldn't. Would he?

"Why would we care about the Vongola heir?" Oh, no. Gamma already knows something.

Suddenly, Shoichi was very aware that he was in a room with two very powerful men. He shuddered under the pressure the two were flooding the room with. He'd have no way to stop them if they got into any kind of altercation here. He had no way of stopping them now as they danced around each other, holding the fishing line of information between themselves like a taunt.

Bel was the one to break the stand off, producing two white envelopes with the Melfiore coat of arms on the front and handing one to each of the two agents. "This is the official invitation." he said, "We hope to see you there." Within a blink, he was gone.

Shit. Shoichi opened the envelope with careful haste, reading the letter contained within.

"I'll have to report this tonight." Gamma tucked his invitation into the inside of his jacket with his gun.

"R-right," Shoichi swallowed. "I'll, um, show you to your room?"

"I'd appreciate that, thanks."