There it is ! The chapter two ! Hope you'll enjoy !
Chapter 2 : Tracking.
Bel wasn't even surprised. It wasn't a secret that the Vindice had been looking for the pineapple man for at least three months. But what was shocking was the fact that the little frog sounded a bit frightened. It was probably just due to the phone, though, because it seemed impossible the teal-haired boy could be afraid. Okay, he was used to being afraid of the Vindice, but that was long ago. He couldn't still be, right ?
Those were Bel's thoughts as he walked across the corridors of the hospital. But at the moment he saw the boy, who looked years younger, holding the hand of an injured girl, he understood.
That M.M. girl was the older sister figure to Fran, the girl who took care of him all those years. If she was hurt, no wonder why he was ready to fight his own demons.
-Shishishi... Okay, Froggy, the Prince has a lot of interesting stuff to do, so hurry up. Let's kill those mummies and eat some sushis after...
The boy jumped of surprise. Of course, he didn't hear the Prince coming, so deeply immersed in his thoughts he was.
-Fine, W.W., said blankly Fran, acting as his usual him. I have to go. Old hags should rest, so stay here.
-Fuck off, brat.
Without a glance at her, they left the room.
-But, why do you think the Prince could help you finding your master ? Asked Bel while they were on the car.
-You always pretend to be a genius, senpai. Let's say we're playing hide-and-seek. A genius should easily find a pineapple hiding... But there are others players, and I'm sure your competitive spirit will lead you to be first.
-Shishishi, not too bad... You're lucky the Prince decided to help you, be grateful. Well, let see... He probably didn't leave the country, because the Vindice are clever, they are probably watching over all the airports and the train stations. He coul be on his best behaviour, but that's definitely not the case of his pets. Those peasant would be noticed as soon as soon as they would open their mouth. So, no bus either. I can conclude they're still in Kokuyo or in Namimori. Any idea ?
Fran moved his head from the right to the left thinking.
-Shishishi... The Prince has an idea of who we could ask...
Parking his red shiny car in front of a house, Bel went out of the car. Fran had no idea of where they were, nor of whose house it was.
The Prince rang the bell and a cheerful voice was soon to be heard.
-Tsu-kun ! I have to watch the oven, could you please open ?
A few seconds later, the 10th Vongola opened the door... And closed it as soon as he recognized the Varia. Then he opened again. And closed. And opened. Like if the Varia was going to disappear.
-Are you having fun, Sawada ? Finally asked Bel, amused by the reaction.
-Wh...Wh...Why are you guys there ? I promise I didn't do anything ! If you received a weird letter it was probably Reborn ! I have nothing to do with this !
-Bel senpai, your stupid face is scaring him and he looks as dumb as you now. Why did you take us here ? He's just an incompetent guy.
-Hey, don't talk like this to older people, you ! Said Tsuna, with the tone he used to speak to Lambo. He then noticed Fran was a Varia and a scared look appeared once again on his face.
-Shishishi, don't mind, Sawada, this toad knows no respect. The reason I came here is because I think you can help us. You know, since you pretend to be our boss, that's the very least you could do.
-Wha...? I never agreed with this idea of becoming a boss ! I don't want to lead a group of murderers ! Wait... You said you needed my help ? How could I...?
-We don't have time, interrupted Fran. Have you seen my master ?
-Your master ? Mukuro ? No, why ? Did something happen ?
-Listen, Sawada. The Vindice wanna kill the pineapple, and since the only free time we have in the Varia is when this toad is ar from us, we don't want Rokudo Mukuro to disappear. Varia and Kokuyo are like a divorced couple : the kid have to go in both families. And we're pretty sure he's hiding somewhere nearby.
- Is Chrome okay ?
-I guess so. She was having a pajama party at a certain Haru's place. She doesn't know anything.
-But, said Bel, knowing the words that would make Tsuna help them, as soon as they will be killed, be sure the Vindice will attack her. And kill anyone who's on their way.
-Kyoko, Haru, Chrome, whispered the 10th Vongola. I'm coming right now ! Mom ! I'm going out !
-Okay, don't be late for dinner !
Tsuna rushed outside without noticing the small baby with the yellow pacifier slowly taking the phone.
-What's your plan ? Namimori isn't that big, but it's going to be hard to find him.
Grinning, Bel looked at Tsuna who shivered.
-Let's use your hyper Intuition... And my car.
Seeing the car, Tsuna gulped.
-Wha...Wha... What's the heck ? How expensive is this car ? How much are you paid to buy THIS ?
-Shishishi, I'm a Prince, after all. My pay must be a Prince's.
-Senpai, of course, you know princes are not being paid, since they doesn't work, right ?
-Shut up and jump onto the car.
Tsuna was a little bit anxious. And not only because he was with two killers, looking for a third one. No, it was more because his intuition told him that Belphegor was feeling conerned about Fran... Who was deeply worried about Mukuro. Yeah, it was that worry that scared Tsuna. If even him, who knew Mukuro for that long, was afraid he could lose to the Vindice, then it was a serious situation. He once saw Mukuro on the precipice of defeat – his student was playing cards without worrying.
-So, I guess you're not feeling him, or whatever verb could be used to describe this ?
Tsuna was about to give a negative answer when he felt a strange sensation. This special one he had only when...
-Turn left, then right.
Bel obeyed with an annoyed sigh. He didn't like receiving orders.
-It's here.
Tsuna knew it, the big building was the one they were looking for. But the place was the last one he would have thought of.
-What is it, senpai ? It looks like... A school. Why would be Master at school ? On a Saturday, furthermore.
Bel was about to answer when he noticed a dark aura around the school. Something gave him goosebumps. The murder intention was clear, it was so exciting... He saw Tsuna stepping back, scared.
-Oh, look, someone's fighting on the roof.
Bel looked at where Fran was saying. He could see there was a fight, but it was hard to know who. But no doubt, a Vindice was implicated. He saw Fran hesitating a little moment, apparently still a bit afraid of the guardians of the prison. Then Tsuna just rushed towards the building, his hands rummaging through his pockets. He finally found what he was looking for, those blue little pills, and changed into the Hyper Mode to fly to the roof. Not having the opportunity to do that, Bel and Fran used nevertheless the ultimate technique of the Varia : defying gravity, they ran on the walls. Bel was sur he heard Fran calling, in a small voice, his master.
On the top of the roof, the fight was still going on, with Tsuna trying to stop it. And, facing the Vindice, there was...
-Oh, it's only the Cloud Guardian. Said Bel, disappointed. Hey, Fran, you should relax, looks like Rokudo's not here.
He looked at his partner... Who was petrified, unable to make a move, staring at the Vindice.
-Tch. Still afraid, you frog ? Come, then. We'll find him by ourselves. Sawada, you're sure he's here ?
-Yeah. Simply answered Tsuna while standing between Hibari and the Vindice guy, stopping them with his flames.
Bel shrugged his shoulder, took Fran by the arm and forced him to jump. They were at maybe five meters from the ground but they both landed as if it was nothing.
-Senpai, where are you going ? Said Fran, recovering from his fear and watching Bel leaving.
-I've got an idea of a good hideout if you're hurt... Shishishi, don't forget I'm a genius.
Fran followed Bel until the gymnasium. They opened the door (which wasn't close, reinforcing Bel's idea) and walked towards the stockage room. Kicking the door, they saw...
Nobody. The room was empty. Bel didn't make a move. He was sure of his theory, though. He started pouting at Fran.
The teal-haired boy entered the room, looking everywhere. He then closed his eyes just a few seconds, and made a little smile.
-Master, I'm impressed. As good as your illusions could be, it's rare you can hide so much your presence to me. That could mean only one thing... Who's injured ?
A slight mist appeared, revealing two bodies lying on the floor and another one standing thanks to a trident.
-Apparently, the three of you. What happened ?
Mukuro looked at his student with a proud look.
-Kufufu~ Congratulations, little one, this illusion wasn't one of those I made to train you... How did you notice ?
-First, it kills me to admit it, but Bel senpai's instinct is never wrong. He said you should be there so you had to be there. Then... Your existence is so gruesome that my own instinct told me to run away as soon as I entered the room.
The trident stuck into the Frog Hat. But, apparently, it was the only way to keep Mukuro standing, and he collapsed. Fran helped him by letting his master leaning on him.
-What happened ?
-The Vindice... They attacked us at Kokuyo Land while we were preparing... You know what I'm talking about. Whatever, they injured Chikusa's leg and M.M. saved us with her Burning Vibrato. She said she was giving us time so we should hurry... We escaped and I wanted to leave ths town as soon as possible, but with Chikusa's leg, that was impossible.
-Mukuro-sama... I'm sorry... Whispered one of the two bodies laying on the floor.
-Oh. So they're alive, then. Said blankly Fran, watching all the wounds. But, Master, this is way more than an injury on the leg. They're covered with blood – and look at you, you can't even stand alone.
-Yeah, I wanted to find a place where we could heal him, and we were just passing in front of this school. I didn't want any problem with Hibari Kyoya – it was not the time for that, so we just decided to hide into the gymnasium. But, before we arrived there, the Vindice caught us up. We fought back, but they were four against three. Ken and Chikusa stood in front of me to protect me, that's why their state is worse than mine. I succedeed in defeating two of the Vindice but doing all those illusions exhausted me. I dislike to admit it, but that guy saved me...
-That guy ?
-Hibari Kyoya. He arrived, furious that there were some murders in his school. Og course, when he saw me, he wanted to take care of me, but... Kufufu~ Seems like he didn't like somebody else took care of his best ennemy, so he said something like "I'm gonna kill you after, let's first bite to death the ones who can stand..." so we managed to escape until here.
-Master, you mean... You escaped like a coward ?
-Shut up, little one. Ken and Chikusa are injured, and don't be worried, it's only a postponement. Whenever I want to fight, this guy will be ready. But an illusionnist should know his limits, and I'm far beyond them.
Fran was about to answer when he felt something strange, almost creepy. He just saw Bel throwing a knife at him – but the impact never came. Instead of that, a metallic noise was heard.
-Shishishi, be careful, Froggy... The Prince isn't gonna save your life all the time...
Curious, Fran wanted to ask what his senpai was talking about, when he noticed the chain ended by a spike driven into the wall. He understood the knife deviated the chain from its race, but just how strong had Bel thrown that knife ?
-Master, you're right. Don't move and watch how good is your student – I mean, how better than you he is...
-Little one, aren't you supposed to be afraid of them ?
Fran had a sad and furious look that made Mukuro shiver. It was the first time Mukuro saw those scary eyes on his student.
-They hurt too much people so that I could forgive them.
And, without any other word, he left the room together with Bel to face the Vindice, awaiting.
And the illusion started. It was the first time Fran's illusions were used in an offensive , it was just to cover Bel while he was killing ennemies, but this time, Fran wanted to participate. Bel quickly looked at him, so Fran made copies of them to distract the Vindice. Bel was okay to be the bait, so Fran could go a little farther.
While his senpai was attacking with knives the Vindice, the boy started to calm down. It was his illusion, he could feel everyone trapped in it. A vivacious, excited heart was beating not too far. Bel's. And three others, quiet, cold beatings were on the middle of the gymnasium. The Vindice's.
It was time for Fran to use this illusion he never learnt, the one that was the signature of his predecessor. The Viper Mirage R.
But which limit should he impose ? Not allowing them to move mas useless, since they were as immobiles as statues. Not breathing ? No, he wasn't even sure they were, so this limit was risked. And what about... Yeah, that was the best idea he could have. Slowly, he opened his eyes, whispering the name of his attack to give him courage.
-Viper Mirage R, Frog's version...
Quickly, Bel stepped as far as he could. He witnessed once that this power affected every people on the room, so the farther the better.
One of the Vindice, the one Fran was staring at, moved his hand to his chest, and, after around ten seconds, he fell down on the floor. Dead. Fran noticed it was his first murder on his own, and this made him losing all his concentration. His illusion waved a small second – enough for the Vindice to destroy it. One of them moved towards Fran while the other sent chains to Bel.
-ENOUGH ! Said a loud and scary voice. The mummy stopped at one meter away from Fran, the chain at five centimeters from Bel's head.
Another Vindice entered the gymnasium. It was enough to make Fran faint, but he was too scared to make a move – even collapsing was impossible.
-We recieved orders from Bermuda. Said the Vindice. The Varia and the Vongola captured in an hour five of the criminals we were looking for, in exchange of those persons' freedom. We have to let them live... For this time.
Nodding silently, the Vindice disappeared, taking with them the worpse of their colleague.
-Shishishi, the Prince thought he was going to die... Said Bel, a little bit paler than usual. Fran didn't say a word. He felt like his body was about to explode. His head hurt, every muscle was painful.
-What... Did they mean ? Asked Mukuro blankly.
-I called the Varia and the Ninth, said a tiny voice at the front door. The Vindice were going to kill my student and two of his guardians... I couldn't let them doing this. So I negociated with the Vongola and they accepted. In exchange, I had to promise that Yamamoto Takeshi was going to train with Squalo twice a week for a year, and a bunch of services... But I still have to see if Tsuna's alive... I mean, if Hibari didn't bite him to death. Oh, and I also called an ambulance.
And, on those last words, Reborn left the room.
The ambulance arrived a few minutes later. They gave to Fran something to eat and put a blanket on him (he was starting to getting tired of this), did the same thing to Bel and took care of Mukuro, Ken and Chikusa.
During the time they were in the ambulance, if Bel saw Fran crying silently, he didn't say it, but he took his hand, saying something like "Look ! The Prince's hands are sooo cold !" and he didn't let go until the hospital.
In the waiting room, the doctor came to see Fran and Bel (but he was reading a tabloid and didn't dare looking at him).
-About your friends... They are alive, but in the coma... And honnestly, I don't know if they will wake up.
-They will. Said simply Fran. We have something important to celebrate. Don't worry. They will wake up.
Determination was seen in his green eyes as he clenched his fists. Whether his Master and his "brothers" would awaken was up to the fate.
'Kay, the next chapter's going to be te last one ! Don't forget to leave a review ! I accept anonymous ones too, so please, that would be lovely !
