Target 07: Grandmother – in which Tsuna met his Grandmother and with the meeting, starts wondering if his ranking had risen in Fuuta'a list of People with Bad Luck and People who encounters Weird Situations
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After the whole revelation of Rikuo being the heir for the third, to the relief of everyone in the Nura Clan; their young heir took to the role and responsibilities like a fish in the water. The boy would shadow his father and tries to be involve in Clan matters (the retainers and allies of the clan kept their thoughts to themselves as they observe their human heir.)
Most of all, Rikuo took to pranking with a talent that some yōkai envies, with his most favorite targets of said pranks are his grandfather and father, with more emphasis on his father.
The young child's pranks at first was as innocent as they came; water on the top of the door and sticking "kick me!" signs on the back are one such example. However, as the number of times Nurarihyon and Rihan escapes his pranks increases, the young boy's pranks and mischief became more polished and somewhat dangerous. Years of being under the tutelage of Reborn gave the former Mafia Don ideas.
Rihan swears that if it weren't for the fact that most of them were yōkai and have tough bodies, they might be injured or incapacitated already. Though, Rihan falls deeper in love with his wife upon witnessing said woman avoiding and dodging the pranks with practiced ease. Had he asked, Wakana would have told him that this is the norm in the family; after all pranks, if you looked at it in another point of view, are excellent training for setting up traps and spotting it (at least that's what a certain Sun Arcobaleno told the children of his students- which in turn caused the impressionable children to take his words to heart, thus creating the Vongola Tradition of prank wars.)
Nurarihyon found the whole thing hilarious while everyone else was just hoping that Rikuo would let off with the pranks when Rihan falls for it (and by the looks of it, it won't be for long. They thought to themselves, taking note of the hassled and disgruntled looks their Second sent towards his smiling and innocent-looking child.)
So far, everything is peaceful albeit too chaotic.
That was until the news of a certain guest visiting became known. It set off the lesser and traumatized yōkai to become alert.
"Are all ingredients prepared?" Kejōrō calls out as she quickly chop the meat.
"Yes!" A Rokurokubi answers back as she helps out cleaning the fish while the smaller yōkai cooks the food while some prepares the utensils and plates needed.
This busy scene enters Rikuo's eyes as he peers inside the kitchen with the purpose of asking Kejōrō if she can include some motchi and dango for desserts. The young boy winces upon hearing the loud crashes of pots colliding- and then the sound of Kejōro's scolding.
It reminds him of the scene in the Vongola kitchen- just more human chefs running around and cursing each other violently whenever they made a mistake. (He ignores the fear that comes with that memory. There's no such thing as flaming pots and pans flying around and no, there's no such thing as mad cackling. Nope, never. He wonders what made his usually violent guardians and guests flinched whenever they so happened to catch sight of a smiling cook or kitchen staff. He has no idea at all.)
"Rikuo-sama?" Natō Kazō calls out upon noticing the brown haired child standing by the door peering into the kitchen with wide eyes.
"Do you need something?"
Rikuo blinks in surprise before smiling cheerfully at the yōkai before him. "Hi, Natō Kazō! Do we have a visitor coming? Who are they?"
Natō Kazō freezes at the question, the image of the surprisingly strong woman violently stomping on the yōkai that was hunting around her home and children still fresh on his mind. He shudders, remembering how a stomp puts a foot shaped hole on the pavement.
"T-The person visiting," He stutters, body shaking from fear. "Is Wakana-sama's mother." He finishes.
Rikuo's smile visibly widen, noting the way the yōkai within hearing range stiffens and shudders at the mention of the guest. His eyes sparkles in excitement.
A grandmother! Tsuna thought to himself, maybe he'll be able to find out more about his mother's background now? Based on everyone's reaction and how the entire household seemed to be quite panicked about this visit, his grandmother of this life may be quite a personality.
Waving goodbye at the bewildered and scared yōkai, Rikuo runs away; leaving Natō Kazō wondering what their heir came for.
Rikuo hides outside, mentally getting himself ready for meeting his grandmother; and by consequence, avoiding his parents that want to tell their little mischievous boy on how to act in front of his surprisingly traditional grandmother.
Though, Rihan wants to warn his child about Wakana's mother; also known as the most dangerous and insane human that the Nura Clan had ever met.
...…
His grandmother arrived at the afternoon. Rikuo notices her arrival when all yōkai with human forms waits at the gates of the house, where a black sleek car (which reminds him so much of the usual car the Vongola uses) is parked.
The door to the backseat of the car opens and a middle aged woman wearing black and orange kimono with long white hair steps out of the car. She slowly walks, each step firm and dignified.
Tsuna couldn't help but nods in approval at her gait. Really befitting of a boss!
"Welcome, Nanako-sama!" Everyone cheerfully greets.
Rikuo made a face at the name, a forbidding sense of the arriving chaos made the young boy's rosy cheeks turn pale.
Surely his grandmother's name is just a coincidence… right?
He ignores the tugging from his hyper intuition with practiced eased; those things that Tsuna wants to deny, he stubbornly deny it with a passion that makes a certain sun guardian admire him more.
Rikuo watches from up above a tree as his mother walk up to his grandmother, a bright and cheerful smile on her lips.
"Mother! I am so happy to see you!" She greets, hugging his grandmother with bright eye. Nanako smiles and kiss Wakana on her forehead, orange eyes softening.
"You don't know how much your words mean so much to me, dear." She gently answers, the picture of grace and fragility that it seems so familiar.
It makes Rikuo think of his previous life. It makes Tsuna remember his own daughter who looks like a soft and easy target but is actually a wolf hiding behind a timid sheep's clothing. He shudders, remembering the time when his little princess beat up a rather persistent suitor and then crying out to him and his numerous aunts and uncles that about said suitor and how harassed and troubled she was. Such move released the bloodthirsty hounds on the poor boy.
"Oh mother!" Wakana's smiles widen, her eyes twinkling in happiness and love for her mother. How she misses the feel of that warm flames curling up to hers, giving her comfort and warmth to her cold and broken flames (so painful, feeling the emptiness from the bonds that used to be there.)
"Now, now child," Nanako chidingly speaks, her smile bright and cheerful.
But that didn't hinder Rikuo from noticing the pained and guilty look she sends towards Wakana. It made him wonder what made his grandmother have that look on her eyes.
"Oh my! I'm so sorry mother!" Wakana breaks free from the hug and ushers her mother inside the house; where in Rihan and Nurarihyon waits inside the receiving room.
"No need to apologize," Nanako laughs as she follows her daughter.
Rikuo watches the two woman enter the house and sees everyone standing outside suddenly collapsing or siting on the ground, shivering. Raising an eyebrow, the five year old eavesdrops upon their conversation.
"Finally that crazy woman entered the house," A mirror Tsukumogami whose human form was that of an albino lolita lets out a sigh of relief as she sat on the stone pavement.
A yokai next to her hums in agreement, "It's so weird seeing her look like a fragile old woman."
Everyone pauses, remembering the previous scene of Nanako and Wakana embracing and shudders. Mama! That image is too terrifying, especially when the last time they had seen the woman; Nanako was threatening their Shōdaishō with a gun that suddenly appeared out of nowhere when she found out that her darling daughter was pregnant and was on the middle of giving birth (She left soon after though, someone calling her for something; hence why their heir hadn't met the old woman yet.)
Rikuo's lips quirk up into an amuse smile as he listens to them talking. Hearing no information about his grandmother aside from how they found her to be scary, Rikuo decided to join his elders inside the receiving room.
Jumping down the tree, Rikuo quickly went inside.
He ignores the surprised sounds everyone made and their collective mutterings about how they hadn't noticed the child at all.
...…
"By the way, where is that grandson of mine? I didn't have the chance to meet him yet because of family matters from my father's side." He hears his grandmother speaks cheerfully asking about him as he slides the door open.
Hearing the telltale sound of the door sliding open, everyone turns to look at the entrance. They see the topic of their conversation standing by the door, a bright smile on his face.
Rikuo blinks upon noticing the surprise look his grandmother was sending him.
"Rikuo! Come and greet your grandmother." Rihan waves his hand, beckoning his son to come forward. He looks at his mother-in-law curiously to see the woman stare at Rikuo with stunned bright orange eyes.
Hearing the words of his father, the child energetically made his way inside the room. He settles down to his seat which was between his parents. Smiling brightly at his grandmother, Rikuo notices the longing in his grandmother's awfully familiar orange eyes.
…Isn't those eyes be what a sky, whose flames are one of the purest, would have if they frequently use their flames and enters Hyper Dying Will Mode too many times?
Rikuo keeps his smile firmly into place as his mind starts to fall into a panic. Hieee! Tsuna mentally sobs, why is this always happening to him?
"Hello! My name is Nura Rikuo~"
His grandmother's eyes softens at Rikuo's direction.
"I'm very happy to finally meet my only grandson," She laughs, reaching over to pat Rikuo on the head.
"For a second there, I thought that you were father." She murmurs softly, speaking those words in Italian.
Hearing those words were enough for Rikuo's impeccable sense for Weird Situations (honed by the antics of his guardians, his strange physique for attracting trouble and the chaos Reborn drags him into,) to start blaring.
He's starting to feel like Fate is playing with him again, Rikuo bitterly thought to himself. What are the odds that his grandmother will turn out to be his previous life's daughter? Knowing his luck, probably a lot.
Later on, he cursed himself for thinking of that. He just have to tempt fate, huh?
Looking at his grandmother (possibly his daughter), Rikuo smiles brightly. His corners of his eyes crinkling up.
"Obaa-chan, please tell me about yourself and Okaa-chan! I want to hear childhood stories of Obaa-chan~" He begs instead, not daring to ask his grandmothers name. Too scared, he's too scared. Tsuna doesn't know how to face his daughter who broke her ties to the mafia (he doesn't know what she sacrificed in order to leave).
Nanako's smile widen further, relieved to know that the child is comfortable enough for him to act spoiled. "Alright, if you also tell me about yourself." She exchanges.
Everyone hides the amused smile on their faces as they watch the five year old nod his head, appearing like a pecking chick. Filled with curiosity, everyone listens as Nanako tells some of her childhood memories.
Rikuo kept his face attentive no matter how much he wants to hide as he realizes how familiar those stories are.
It just had to be his little princess, huh? He wryly thought to himself. Feeling warm flames reaching out to him, Rikuo smiles gently.