Welcome back, everyone, thank you so very, very much for your reviews! You were all so incredibly supportive that I've decided to actually dedicate time to this story again even though I was really insecure about whether anyone would dig this type of thing. Please have all my love!
This chapter was getting into 7K zone, and since I've decided to keep to shorter chapters, it's been split up. So, this is a bit transitional, but I still hope you have as much fun reading as I had writing it. And it's from the POV of a different character (hence written differently), but it's someone many people seem to like ;) Also, this and the next couple of chapters are relatively light-hearted but don't you worry: I'll hit you with truckloads of angst later.
Oh, and to answer a question - hell yeah, Bermuda is definitely appearing here!
Warning: light Skull27 here, some cussing.
Chapter 2. Skull
The hardest thing to deal with was the silence.
The crouching corpse of the castle sprawled across the forgotten grounds, as abandoned as Skull himself. The skeletons of bushes crept beneath darkened windows in complete silence, so at odds with the cheerfully coloured bricks. Reborn had insisted on painting the building pink of all unholy colours just to add more drama to the place, back when they had built it up to be a home. Now it made the whole thing look even more pathetic.
They were all pathetic. The Strongest Seven…
What a fucking joke.
"Don't fail, lackey," Reborn's threatening voice rang through the pacifier. "Unfortunately, you are the only one situated outside, hence the first ghost the Sky will make contact with. If you fail…"
Skull barked in laughter.
"And if Skull-sama fails, what will you do? What can you do?"
Reborn would never stoop to gritting his teeth, but Skull heard the sentiment all the same. Wanted to burst out laughing yet again.
Oh how the tables turned. Death was the greatest equaliser of all, and those words had never rang truer. Not when the others finally got to taste the curse of not-dying that had ailed him even when he had been alive. Alive and the weakest of them all.
Dying for good, Skull shed his fear of the others with ease. The only thing left was regret, regret that he'd allowed them to scare him at all. It was like constructing beasts and villains out of night-time shadows lurking in the room only for the morning light to dispel them into a pile of clothing discarded on a chair.
Funny how death humanised the monsters of his youth.
Funnier still was the fact that the Arcobaleno, the greatest monsters of the world, were the only ones he relaxed around.
Skull's anxiety had always been his biggest issue when alive.
He didn't know why it happened, but whenever he was around people, he just didn't behave like himself. It reminded him of those people who laughed nervously at jokes or in situations that weren't funny, but couldn't stop themselves.
He couldn't stop himself either.
It's what made him create 'Skull' in the first place – someone loud and ostentatious, a persona for his shows to hide the insecurities behind. He could never explain that he didn't act this way on purpose. It was something that just happened no matter his wishes, and he simply turned it into an advantage. Let people think he was arrogant and confident, when in reality he was anything but.
Then again, even if he did explain... he doubted it would have helped him.
Reborn was the worst.
He would always prod Skull, test him and mock him. In the mafia you had to speak, be it with words or fists. Skull wasn't proficient at either, and apparently that reduced his value as a human being in Reborn's eyes. That man mistook anxiety for stupidity and the fact that thoughts were hard to put into words for Skull not having thoughts at all.
Oh well. It didn't matter anymore. Now, all of them were in the same boat, and sometimes, despite the silence that gnawed at his insides, Skull was actually glad about the curse. About the fact that they were ghosts. He always felt bitter, giddy gladness that Reborn was finally suffering, and it was a feeling probably mirrored in all of Reborn's victims everywhere.
It probably helped that he had known about the Curse beforehand. Him, Skull, the only one to know.
All the others assumed he was as crazy about Skies and their Attraction as them, but they forgot two vital facts: one, he was the weakest of them all (barring Colonello, who wasn't supposed to be an Arcobaleno at all but forcefully wedged himself into the position, for all the good it did to him and Lal), and two...
He had been a civilian. Unlike the others, he hadn't been raised on the ideals of Harmony and, a few occasional pangs of emptiness aside, he still wasn't sold on the idea.
Reborn assumed things, as he always did, basing it on Skull's close relationship with Luce. But Luce had been special. A true friend.
She gave him what he desired most at a time when Reborn's words had truly hurt him.
She had pulled him aside and told him all about the impending Curse, telling him that he, as a civilian, would not survive with his morals intact after being cursed. That there was another Cloud almost as strong, and he had a chance to escape.
Skull didn't. He was loyal, dammit, and he would have never left his friend to brave the Curse alone.
He was a Cloud, he valued the freedom of making his own decision even if they put an end to it.
In the end, he accepted with quiet vindictiveness, and watched Reborn suffer and break the way Skull had, silently, before.
A sign of trust and a taste of revenge. Luce had been a dear friend to her very end, and he valued it more than the vague notion of a 'home' that Skies promised.
The only Arcobaleno whose fate he did regret was Lal, because she had been the one to teach him fight, and for all her violent attitude (then again, she was most violent with Colonello, whom she loved) she had subtly cheered him on. Taught him to defend himself. Colonello hadn't liked that, of course.
And now, Reborn and the others were expecting him to play nice with some guy or chick just because they were a Sky. Reborn was already enamoured with this person just because of a single characteristic, the way he had despised Skull because of his characteristic – him being a civilian, being noisy (anxious), incapable of defeating mafia bosses with a single scary smirk.
Skull would have liked to take it all out on the Sky just out of spite, to shoot down Reborn's chances, but unfortunately he wasn't built like that.
He couldn't summon enough hate for an innocent, damnit.
So, he sat down and waited.
A figure appeared on the horizon, stumbling out of the overgrown bushes. Sky Flames blazed the way, and even from this far Skull felt-
Oh. Wow.
That's... that's some Sky.
Damn. He... hadn't quite accounted... for this level of Sky Attraction.
And physical attraction, too, to be perfectly honest.
Okay, that's a Sky all right. With Skull's senses duller than those of others', he hadn't felt it from afar, but now...
He was happy he'd decided he wouldn't do anything malicious towards the Sky. Hell, he wouldn't have been capable of it anyway because damn.
He had never felt this hot and bothered when alive, and now he was a goddarn ghost with a pacifier as his body! Yet waves of heat raked through him, stronger and stronger, and had he any blood left, he would have blushed. A lot.
At least he couldn't get a hard-on.
Always look for positives, he told himself. Meanwhile, the Sky neared, and Skull resisted a wolf whistle because that would definitely not be any type of courteous behaviour, and Lal would kill him (he did somewhat care for her), and the Sky would probably slap him, and-
Hot damn. The Sky was pretty as hell, too. Definitely the type Skull would have banged in life. (Sucked for Reborn that it's a guy though. But Skull, the pansexual beast he was, had never thought much about his partners' gender).
An old, forgotten wave of insecurity mounted in him, stumping Skull, because now he actually cared if he fucked this up!
The Sky came even closer. He struggled with the luggage he dragged behind, thus not noticing the ghost but by Lord did Skull notice him. And ogle. Yeah, not to forget that, because that Sky had lots of things to ogle.
He was rather short, taller than East-Asian women tended to be (and Skull could see that the Sky was East-Asian, perhaps Korean? Japanese?) but shorter than the Arcobaleno, even Viper or Lal in high heels. Long auburn hair gathered in a messy side ponytail, leaves and twigs sticking out of it, as if the Sky had taken a tumble down a bush or thirty. Skull valiantly resisted all thoughts of where he could take the boy to tumble.
His features soft and mouth downturned, there was something heart-wrenchingly sad about this Sky. As if grief always plagued him. Grief or... a sense of longing?
Skull wanted to wrap him in a blanket burrito and even moved forward to be a total creeper and hug the lights out of this stranger Sky-
No. Sky Attraction.
Skull gritted his teeth and shuffled awkwardly, not feeling the earth beneath with his very undead, ghostly legs. (Ghostly they may be, but they were very darn good legs. Skull was happy that death returned them to their adult bodies – if he had to be dead, he'd rather be dead with style).
Then, the Sky looked in his general direction.
And-
Did Skull gain a body? Bodily functions?
-Because he couldn't breathe, and that's surely impossible for someone who's been a floating corpse for twenty years?
The Sky's eyes... were a vibrant, gorgeous orange. Bright, as if flames illuminated them from within, more beautiful than the sunsets he had spent travelling the world. Nostalgic and invoking feelings Skull thought he'd lost a while ago.
All right, he probably shouldn't fuck this up. He was going to introduce himself, smile, and stump that darn Sky into speechlessness like he used to do with his fans before the shows.
He took a deep breath, forgetting yet again that he needn't breathe at all, and-
"BOW AND BEHOLD THE GREAT SKULL-SAMA, THE DAMN GREATEST GHOST YOU'LL EVER FIND ON THIS LAND! NO, NOT LAND! HELL, THE GREATEST GHOST IN HISTORY!"
-well. He hadn't meant to do that.
The Sky dropped the handle of his luggage with a thump. Stared.
Skull mentally hit himself. Apparently, his anxiety only stopped being an issue around the Arcobaleno.
The ensuing awkward pause and rapid eye-blinks made him want to add a kick to that for a good measure. Well, Skull had stumped him into speechlessness all right.
"Um... Nice to meet you?.. G-great Skull-sama?" the Sky asked-said, scratching his cheek. He tried to pick up his luggage, only to stumble over it – how was that possible? – and join his possessions on the ground.
The Sky, sprawled clumsily near a puddle, looked like he wanted that puddle to drown him. He decidedly avoided looking at the ghost. Skull... sensed a kindred spirit.
"Um," Skull started awkwardly. "I'd offer you a hand but..."
He waved it, and it went through the tree beside him.
"Ah, no, that's- That's fine!" The Sky jumped to his feet, sweeping a hand through his hair and scooping out a twig. Then another. Then there were ten leaves. He glanced at Skull nervously before smiling. "It's nothing new, really. Just- Don't tell my Uncle. He'd try to put me through that whole 'You'll be graceful by the time I'm through with you, Tsunayoshi' thing again. Never mind that it's never worked the last five times he did it."
"Yeah, I can see it didn't."
Oops. Perhaps Skull should pay more attention to what his mouth was saying rather than stare at the Sky's.
Reborn wasn't physically there, but Skull somehow sensed his scary aura. Oh well. He mentally flipped Reborn the bird.
The Sky didn't take offence.
"I didn't know you lived here, S-skull-sama? I wasn't told- Oh well. It would have changed nothing, with that guy," the Sky muttered the last part under his breath. Ruffling his hair again, he grinned when he found no more leaves there.
"Some people just can't take 'no' for an answer." Skull nodded understandingly. Strangely, now that he and the Sky were talking, he could keep his GREAT SKULL-SAMA thing at bay.
"Yeah. That's why I'll be sharing your living space for some time. Ah, but don't worry! It's just a vacation. I'm pretty sure he'll get bored with watching me suffer soon and I'll be free to go home." The Sky beamed, and it was a sight that would make grown men believe in angels. Because one was standing in front of Skull.
Too... shiny...
"Some people... never get bored with watching others suffer," Skull found the strength to breathe out. He pointedly didn't look back at the pacifier connecting him to the others.
"I like to believe in the best of people," the Sky told him with a wry, self-deprecating smile. That sadness was back. Skull wanted to wipe it away except that...
There was nothing he could do.
And it was Sky Attraction making him behave this way anyway.
The Sky perked up then. "I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself. I'm Tsuna. It's a pleasure to meet you, Skull-sama."
He bowed.
He grinned at Skull as if it really was a pleasure, and this... was a very novel idea when it came to Skull's interaction with Flame Users.
"Yeah," Skull said softly. "A pleasure." Swiftly, he slipped on a smile. "Are you coming to live here alone? Isn't it dangerous, living in a haunted castle now that you know it's haunted."
"Well, I suspected I'd find someone... like you." Tsuna had enough tact to not say 'someone dead like you'. "And as I've told you, I didn't exactly have a choice. Someone important asked me."
Fondness sparkled in the Sky's eyes. Perhaps Skull misread the situation and that person wasn't like Reborn at all.
"Besides," Tsuna continued. "I might not end up as alone as I think. A few friends will likely join us. They're... like you. And then there is a friend like me who'll probably come here."
Tsuna sighed. He looked very resigned.
"Why didn't your 'friend like you' come to help you? You obviously have a bit of a problem with your luggage."
An endearing blush dusted Tsuna's cheeks.
"You are misunderstanding the situation," the Sky mumbled into his collar, shoulders hunched. "I never said he's supposed to come with me. He's just... very good at tracking people."
"Is he a policeman or something?"
"He's my stalker."
Skull scratched the back of his helmet.
Well. They did say Sky Attraction was a fearsome force.
"Skull-sama is looking forward to meeting him, then! If he stalks you again, I'll protect you!"
Tsuna laughed.
"That's really sweet of you, thank you." He sent a look full of warmth at Skull, and the ghost was uncomfortably reminded of the moment he made friends with Luce. "But you probably shouldn't. He's scarily smart and might find a way to hurt you even in your state. Besides, he's very... stormy. With a chance of dynamite."
"I understand what you mean about smart, scary friends." Skull threw a look at his pacifier on the ground, dull and half-buried in leaves. Reborn would want to kill him for this, which was the perfect reason to say what he said next. "By the way, you do know I'm not the only ghost here?"
Tsuna blinked a few times before sighing in defeat and plopping down to sit on top of his luggage.
"Yeah. Of course. This is my life, after all."
Skull grinned.
"Hey, cheer up! Not all of them are totally horrid!"
There was a spiritual, angry tugging on the pacifier that bound them all. Skull didn't give a damn.
"Me aside, there are six others here."
"Joy."
"Skull-sama is the best of all, of course." Skull winked. He wanted to sweep back his gorgeous purple hair but then remembered the helmet and huffed. It was criminal that his beauty was hidden from the world.
"Why do all people I see have such big egos?" Tsuna whined softly before blinking up at Skull. "Okay, I'm all ears. Just hit me with it."
"Hit you with my charm and awesomeness?"
"Oh, no, you've already staggered me with those. Tell me about the others."
"Sometimes I feel like the most under-appreciated character of a crack anime," Skull mumbled, the sound muffled by his helmet. "Well, first there is Lal Mirch. She's a tsundere. You know, a classic one."
He valiantly ignored enraged hissing from the pacifier. Tsuna looked around in bewilderment before sighing and saying, "Yeah, never enough of those in my life."
"She's pretty awesome – although not as awesome as me, obviously – unless you're being stupid."
Tsuna wilted.
"What if I'm always stupid?"
"You're fucked," Skull told him bluntly. "But hey, at least she'll do her best to teach you some nice stuff. And she doesn't hit as hard once she's warmed up to you. She only sent me flying through the wall about seven times after we started training. That can't be said about her other former student, Colonello. He lives here, too. Look for him in the highest tower – oh, and Lal lives in the dungeons, by the way. The torture chambers."
"Of course," Tsuna said with beautiful and tragic eyes. "My life can't be complete without torture chambers."
"Trust me, it's fine unless you meet her pet," Skull promised. He lied, of course. But he was actually getting pumped up about this Sky and didn't want him to flee yet. People were selfish beings, even dead ones. Especially dead ones. "In the dungeons you'll also meet Viper. He inhabits the treasury. He's a proof that all you need to be happy is money. Lastly, there's Verde. He's a scientist. I know he's somewhere in the dungeons, too, but not exactly where. He's never shared it with the class."
Knowing Verde, it would probably be somewhere creepy.
Then again, Skull doubted it would be a loss to either Tsuna or the scientist if they never met. Verde had never really displayed any desire for a Sky – unless it was dissecting a Sky, but he didn't really think Tsuna needed that type of interest.
Actually, Tsuna already looked more and more down with every word Skull spoke.
"So, that means there are two more." The brunette looked happy. Not.
"Yep," Skull popped the last sound cheerfully. "Fon is in the kitchens. He's an okay guy, actually. Smiling, kind – that kind of stuff. You'll never know you've offended or irritated him somehow."
You'll never know you've offended or irritated him because by the time Fon got irritated, the people who caused it ended up with a strange case of death by Storm Flames. A lovely reason to never trust people who always smiled.
Tsuna watched him suspiciously with a flicker in his pretty orange eyes. Skull remembered vaguely something about Skies and their instincts. Intuition?
"And then there is Reborn." Skull's spectral body shuddered. The glass of his pacifier on the ground gleamed brighter.
"What is this Reborn person like?" The Sky smiled, pretty and indulgent.
Skull pitied the boy for what was to come – he definitely didn't deserve that. There were many ways to describe Reborn. Some of them complimentary, others not very much so. Even the ways to describe what Reborn would do to a person using the not-very-much-so option were very telling. In the end, he settled on-
"Reborn is what you get when all you have in life is a small gun and many anger issues."
Next Chapter: some info on how Necromancy works, Uncle Kawahira (which means bits of plot because Uncle Kawahira is like that), very soft 1827 in a flashback (I know, literally no one wants to read about Hibari being socially inept with a crush on Tsuna but I can't resist), and another Arcobaleno (which one, how do you think?).
- If you think the last sentence was Skull making a 'small dick' joke, you are right.
- Don't know if you'll be happy or disappointed, but in the end I've decided to include Tsuna's Guardians in this. Wouldn't it be sad to leave them dead and lonely back in Namimori? So, again, if you think this means a bit of subtle one-sided Guardians27, you are right.
- Thank you again for reading and commenting!
