I am not Akira Amano, so I do not own KHR.
This is my first attempt at deviating from YGO, therefore please forgive me if the story is lackluster. This is my inspiration after seeing the multitudes of ridiculous (but in no way unappealing) pairings about the characters of Katekyo Hitman Reborn and the borderline insulting use of one of my favorite characters.
I may be a beginner in the fandom, but rest assured this is probably an original work, as I've done with all of my YGO works. And I shall give this equal treatment with my YGO works, namely only Canon romance, straight characters, and minimal OOC-ness.
This story is set post-Ring Battle, Pre-Millifiore. There will not be a lot of spoilers, but I will use the information revealed in Episode 86, so don't try and memorize this story if you haven't watched.
o.O.o.O.o
Trial by Dying Will Flame, Chapter I:
Preparations
o.O.o.O.o
Vongola HQ, Italy
Although being a Mafia Boss required you to protect and serve your Family, there were times that he really wanted to leave them all behind and run away.
Don Timoteo raised his head from behind his large plush armchair, looked up at the high, gem-studded dome of his room and let out an exhausted breath. He was just discharged from the hospital and already he dived into the problem of damage control for all the mess that the Varia made with the Ring Battles. It literally took everything to convince the Vendicare agents not to toss them into prison for all eternity. Yet, sparing them from that horrible fate, he personally made sure that those of the Varia would get befitting, but not deadly, punishments.
He stood from his armchair and trodded over to his luxourious four-poster bed, unceremoniously collapsing into the plush goose-down covers. 'All that work...' He thought tiredly. 'I really am getting too old for this job.'
That thought had reminded him of the doctor's warning before he was discharged.
"Forgive me for saying this Don Vongola Nono, but I must strictly request that you avoid battles like what happened in the 'Cradle Incident' and the Ring Battle. Any more strenuous battles like that and I'm afraid you might become bedridden..."
Heeding the doctor's words. Don Timoteo had stayed at home ever since being discharged, but it only just helped his barely peaking stress level. "It's times like this that I am glad young Tsunayoshi would succeed me." He thought aloud, twisting a small strand of his moustache as he lay on his bed, uncharacteristically lazy for the 9th Don of the Vongola Family.
Then, all of a sudden, Don Timoteo sat back up, the hairs on the back of his head standing on end. The Vongola Hyper Intuition began to activate, telling him that something was amiss in his room.
"Who's there?" Timoteo whispered into the darkness, hurriedly grasping his trusted scepter before igniting its top with his Dying Will Flame.
As the words left his mouth, the room began to darken still, until not even the radiant moonlight, nor the flame on top of his scepter could pierce the darkness.
"Timoteo..." A voice whispered from the darkness, as faint as the night breeze. "Timoteo..."
The 9th Don's Hyper Intuition began to ease, not sensing hostile presences in the increasingly darkening room. Timoteo's grip on his scepter eased as well, and the scepter was now used as a torch, illuminating his surrounding area.
"Do not fear me, Timoteo."
There, within the darkness, a bright orange light ignited, sending the darkness further away. This light became brighter, and as it intensified, it gained detail, form, and appearance. Seeing what the light was, Don Timoteo extinguished the flame on his scepter and relaxed his aged muscles, letting out a sigh.
"You scare me when you do that." He replied, somewhat annoyed. His small smile ruffled his moustache a little, as he looked into the light. The orange light was from a small, floating flame, a Dying Will Flame to be precise, hovering in front of him.
"Forgive me for alarming you." The voice chimed, in the direction of the floating Flame. "But I must speak with you this instant."
Don Timoteo stood up. "What is the cause for this ugency?" He asked the Flame, bowing a little as a sign of respect.
"I must inquire about the young Decimo."
"Tsunayoshi? He has just gained the Sky Vongola Ring in the Ring Battle. It was grueling, but he was able to surpass Xanxus and his Flame of Rage by using a customized version of the Zero-Point Breakthrough. Tsunayoshi is now reccuperating in Namimori, Japan."
The Dying Will Flame, which was up until now bobbing up and down in place slightly, seemed to freeze in midair. The Flame then intensified, sending off embers into the surrounding space.
"The Zero-Point Breakthrough?" The Flame retorted in a huff. " Surely you jest. No soul in my memory could replicate the Zero-Point Breakthrough at that young an age."
"There is no gain from deceiving you." Timoteo replied, again bowing. "Young Tsunayoshi was able to replicate, albeit imperfectly, the Zero-Point Breakthrough, and even more so, created his own version of it, Custom."
The Flame resumed its bobbing motion, but intensified even more. Don Timoteo inched further away from the flame, almost sweating from the heat radiating from the floating Will-o-Wisp.
"Can he ignite his Flame yet?" The Flame asked, its tone suggesting rising excitement and anticipation.
"He cannot ignite it on his own. He requires external ignition via the Dying Will Bullet."
At Timoteo's reply, the Flame's intensity lessened, yet the bobbing motion became more obvious.
"Forgive me for disappointing you." Timoteo apologised, bowing solemnly whilst following the flame's motions with his coal-black eyes.
Silence ruled the room as the Dying Will-o-Wisp continued to bob up and down. slowly the Flame moved to the left, then moved to the right, as if it was pacing. After a few moments of this, the Flame stopped right in front of Timoteo, and intensified again.
"Timoteo..." The Flame began, its tone radiating utmost seriousness. "... if the Decimo can achieve what no one else can achieve, I believe it is only right that I conduct the Ignition Ritual as soon as possible."
At the suggestion, Timoteo jerked back in surprise. "But...Tsunayoshi is only a young boy, for him to undergo that ritual now--!"
Before Don Timoteo could finish, the Flame began to flicker, similar to a flame readying to use the Zero-Point Breakthrough.
"The Decimo is the one I have been waiting for, Timoteo." The Flame said, its tone final. "I will not withdraw my decision."
Don Timoteo bowed his head in apology. "As you command, Capo Di Tutti Capi." (1)
o.O.o.O.o
Namimori, Japan
It was daybreak in Namimori, and in the Sawada household, only one form was completely awake.
Contrary to popular belief, Reborn was not the type of person who perpectually spent every waking moment of the day thinking of ways to 'train' his young student, Tsunayoshi 'Tsuna' Sawada. No, even though he was a hard-trained Hitman dedicated to his missions, there were times when even he needed to stop and smell the roses.
Take now for instance. There he was, sitting on the windowsill, watching the sunrise, a cup of coffee in his hand and Leon, his Chameleon pet and 'Partner', relaxing on his fedora. He was quite glad that he had to wake up Tsuna every morning. Since he always woke up at daybreak, he had a few precious moments to be by himself before the usual routine of chaos began.
'Hmm...' Reborn throught, downing a sip. 'Now I know what the Vongola Primo was thinking when he retired here. The sunrise is beautiful, the towns are peaceful, perfect for getting away from something.
The infant Hitman downed another sip as Leon peeked out from the brim of his fedora. "What is it, Leon?"
The lizard blinked before it turned into a cell phone, which promptly afterwards began to ring before flying to Reborn's hand.
It didn't take long for reborn to answer the phone. 'That's strange...usually I get my missions by regular phone. Only Timoteo and Iemitsu have Leon's number.'
"Ciaossu." Reborn greeted in his usual manner.
"Reborn. I have an urgent mission for you and young Tsunayoshi." The other person on the phone stated sternly.
"Timoteo? You've just been released, haven't you? What's wrong?"
"You needn't worry, I'm not in any harm...but I need Tsunayoshi to come to Italy within the next week."
"So sudden? Tsuna's still recovering..."
"I know, and I wish not to trouble young Tsunayoshi, but please understand...this is the order of the Capo Di Tutti Capi."
Reborn paused, calmly downing the last of his coffee. If you looked hard enough, you could see worry in the infant's pure black eyes.
"What does he command?"
"He wishes to conduct the Ignition Ritual on Tsunayoshi...immediately."
"So early?"
"That is what I told him. But as you know..."
"The word of the Capo Di Tutti Capi is final."
"I shall await your arrival, Reborn. Oh, and feel free to invite Tsunayoshi's guardians. They have full access of the Vongola estate upon their arrival."
"I understand."
Reborn ended the call and looked back to Tsuna, who was fast asleep, hugging his pillow with a smile on his face. 'He must be dreaming of Kyoko again...'
Reborn snapped his fingers and Leon began to transform into a large green hammer.
"Wake up, Dame-Tsuna." Reborn called in a monotone, raising the Leon-Hammer. "You're being called by the Capo Di Tutti Capi, andMafia Law states that 'Appointments must absolutely be respected'.
'Even though that appointment could and would change your life forever...' He added in his thoughts.
o.O.o.O.o
(1) Capo Di Tutti Capi: Italian.Transliterated: "The Boss of all Bosses"
Enjoy your reading and feel free to correct any errors but try to be civil.