Author's Note: Revised 5/16/15
Hope you like the new version xp I know I do~
Luce nervously toyed with the tray. Seven of the underground's elite were sitting in the other room and she was about to serve them snacks. The absurdity made her want to laugh hysterically. She was… saddened by this.
Under normal circumstances, she would rely heavily on the Harmony factor in her Flame. She would use that to sooth them, to ease their anxiety around her… but she would not be the Sky Arcobaleno this time. This time, it would be Tsunayoshi that took them, guided them. He would be their protector, not her.
"Do you need any help?"
She jumped, almost dropping the tray and spinning around. Tsunayoshi was standing in the doorway. He grimaced.
His eyes were a striking shade of gold and amber combined—it was the exact same shade as Primo's when he was in Hyper Dying Will mode if her memory served her correctly. His hair was dark and messy, sticking up in every which direction, but there was a tail that swept down the curve of his back. It cut off just below the base of his ribs and crimped up at the bottom. It was tied back with some sort of silver clasp that kept it neat. His skin was a soft cream. His appearance wasn't strict but it wasn't casual with a white button-up shirt without a tie, an open jacket and a pair of slacks. The first two buttons on his shirt were undone and he seemed to have had a black collar around his neck. His overall appearance was impressive for being so young and he was svelte—toned in some places, lithe in others. From what she could see, he had no markings on his body but something told her that he wasn't entirely unmarked but whether it was scars or tattoos, she didn't know.
"I apologize."
"No… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to start so… violently." She said awkwardly. She put up a somewhat forced smile. "I'd love some help… thank you."
Tsunayoshi was slow and deliberate around her. He was careful not to make any sudden or jerky movements, as though he would scare her away. "I'm not fragile, Tsunayoshi, there's no need to be so careful around me."
"No but I can imagine that being in a room full of the most dangerous people can be a bit stressful and that is not good for a woman in your… condition." He frowned, obviously realizing how his words sounded but not knowing how to fix it. Luce giggled.
"You shouldn't try so hard." She patted his hand.
"Ah..." A small flush rose to his cheeks and he averted his amber eyes. She was embarrassing him. She laughed this time.
"You're so cute." She patted his cheek and handed him a tray of cookies. "Help me take these out to them."
Tsunayoshi looked down and frowned.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"They will not trust you so easily." Tsunayoshi said quietly. "They will not trust me, so easily."
"How do you know that?"
"It is human instinct. They do not trust that which they do not know." Tsunayoshi said.
"That may be… but you are only how old? Fourteen?"
"Sixteen," Tsunayoshi corrected quietly.
"To them, you are still just a child. They will trust you much quicker than a pregnant old maid." Luce winked at him. She heard him huff and stand up and she wondered what she said that offended him. When the door swung after him, she caught the tail-end of what he was grumbling.
"...not an old maid."
She beamed. Maybe there was some hope.
Arco27
Had such emotions been beyond him while he was stuck in this Hyper Dying Will mode, Tsunayoshi would have felt fear the moment he stepped through the door when he realized who else had been called to this meeting. Sitting at the table were several well known freelancers/assassins within the Mafia. First and most memorable was Reborn—also referred to as the Harbinger of Chaos. It suited Tsunayoshi's alias well if he was honest about it. The second most notable was Lal Mirch simply because she was Tyr's Rain Guardian. The little red pin on her collar was proof enough to that. The third was Verde. He was known as the second coming of Da Vinci and Tsunayoshi had no doubt that his mind was working overtime in an attempt to figure out the situation before he did. Then there was Skull who ran the biggest street-racing corporation in the underground. Motor cycles, cars—anything on wheels, he stripped of its valuables and sold to various mechanical based Families. He was also well known for surviving any sort of crash and doubling over as a stunt man in the light. Next was Viper—or Basilisk in the Fog. While androgynous in appearance, Tsunayoshi was not fooled. She was a woman through and through. He was familiar with the presence of the ability she presented herself with. The ability, while it was beginning to manifest, could kill with one accidental gaze. It forced the user to hide their eyes for forty years but when they opened them again for the first time, their illusions would be so much stronger… it was a very strong and unique ability. He had only ever seen it once. And last but certainly not least was the Wind Dragon of the Storm himself, Fon. Tsunayoshi knew him more from word-of-the-mouth than his appearance which was just as well. He was fast enough to stop a bullet with his bare hands and while he was finicky and preferred clean kills, he was far from weak.
All of them were strong and all of them could snap his neck within seconds if he let his guard down.
But then, at the same time, he wasn't surprised. After all, who else would they call The Strongest Seven?
After a few moments of examining the table, he stood, ignoring the stares and walked into the kitchen where Luce was standing. "Do you need any help?" She started violently and he grimaced. That wasn't his intention. "I apologize." He said, inclining his head. He hadn't meant to startle her. Perhaps he should make his presence more known?
"No… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to start so… violently." She said, waving him off a little awkwardly. She smiled but he could tell it was forced. "I'd love some help… thank you."
He made sure to keep his movement slow and somewhat sloppy so that his footsteps would make noise when he moved. She shot him a wry smile. "I'm not fragile, Tsunayoshi, there's no need to be so careful around me."
His response was automatic. "No but I can imagine that being in a room full of the most dangerous people can be a bit stressful and that is not good for a woman in your…" He paused. How to word this… "..condition." He grimaced. That wasn't how he wanted it to sound… how could he fix that?
A giggle drew him from his thoughts. "You shouldn't try so hard." Luce patted his hand.
"Ah..." He tried to force the blood out of his cheeks. Suddenly, Luce squealed and laughed at him.
"You're so cute." She patted his cheek and handed him a tray of cookies. "Help me take these out to them." She said, beaming at him.
Tsunayoshi looked down at the tray and frowned. Did she honestly think they would take these?
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"They will not trust you so easily." Tsunayoshi said quietly. "They will not trust me, so easily."
"How do you know that?" Luce asked, cocking her head in curiosity.
"It is human instinct. They do not trust that which they do not know." Tsunayoshi said with a humorless smile. He may be just a child but this was the mafia and they were trained killers.
"That may be… but you are only how old? Fourteen?" He was offended.
"Sixteen," Tsunayoshi corrected quietly, trying not to let his offense show.
"To them, you are still just a child. They will trust you much quicker than a pregnant old maid." Luce winked at him. Tsunayoshi wanted to growl at her but settled for blowing out a breath through his nose. He pushed past the door and grumbled under his breath.
"She's not an old maid." He muttered, setting the cookies on the table.
"Pardon?" Doctor Verde asked and Tsunayoshi started.
"Nothing." Tsunayoshi shook his head. "I said nothing." He brushed it off. "Snacks courtesy of Don Giglio Nero." He motioned to the cookies before reaching down and grabbing one to show them that they weren't poisoned. After a moment, Fon, Skull and Viper reached over to grab one. Tsunayoshi didn't take anymore after that but he did take some coffee when Luce offered it.
"Hey," Tsunayoshi nudged the side of Lal's foot with his own catching her attention. She turned to look at him but didn't say anything. "You're one of Tyr's, right? How's Nocturna?"
"Bitching up a storm about freeloaders." She hadn't shut up when Lal left.
"Ah… she never did take a shining to Colonnello, did she?" Tsunayoshi sighed. "Damn shame. Tyr wanted him to take your place after you left."
"How do you know that?" Lal asked.
"Tyr and I are… acquainted." Tsunayoshi cocked his head. "I left Colonnello in Tyr's charge when I moved to Germany for work."
Lal paused, giving him a once over and he could read her doubt. "Colonnello doesn't shut up about an old friend of his from "back home". Where is he talking about?"
"Monte Carlo. I have a villa there. It's… the closest thing to a home." He admitted hesitantly. "When I take time off, I take Colonnello to that villa. I… may have fibbed and told him that I spend a majority of my time there."
"Do you?" Reborn seemed amused.
"No. I get a lot of jobs that take me to different places. Right now, I live in Germany. I have a strong feeling that that's going to change by the end of the week."
Luce cleared her throat. "You'd be right. There is a villa owned by Giglio Nero in the mountains of Palermo. Everything will be supplied. I request that you stay there."
"To be monitored?" Doctor Verde asked.
"No." It was Tsunayoshi who answered. "She wishes for me to court you as my new Elements." His amber eyes blazed angrily. Luce flinched.
Reborn stood up angrily, "That's the kind of thing that you tell us beforehand." His voice was dangerous and it was clear that he was not happy.
"Easy. She is carrying a child with her. Do not push her body by emitting a killer intent, assassin. If her child dies because of your stupidity, I will hold you personally accountable." Tsunayoshi was standing in front of her, blocking her from their view. "She had a right to keep that much from you—I would have—however," He turned to her. "I would have greatly appreciated a little warning before you drop something like that on me, Don Giglio Nero."
"I apologize..." Luce ducked her head, ashamed.
"There is a flaw in your plan. I assume you chose me because you believed I have no Elemental Bonds, correct?" Luce nodded. "That has recently changed."
Horror filled Luce's core. Tsunayoshi's head jerked up and he took a step back from her. It took her a moment to pinpoint Kawahira behind her. "Do you, now?" He asked, looking him over. Tsunayoshi's eyes seem to take on an ominous glow.
"You didn't check your facts before you invited us here, did you?" Tsunayoshi smirked coldly at the masked man. "Your chosen is one off."
"It doesn't matter." The masked man said, waving him off. "I'll just use your Rain instead."
"Use him for what?" Tsunayoshi asked, his expression becoming guarded.
"Missions. Difficult missions. They pay very well."
He was lying. Tsunayoshi recognized the icy cold feeling that enveloped his body. The masked man in front of him was lying. He stored that knowledge away for later. He could use that. He would use that. "Why not just hire someone like the Vongola to get them done?"
"Why do that when I have the seven of you? Your prices are far more acceptable than the Vongola's."
Tsunayoshi couldn't argue with that. Private contractors usually were. "You have my interest… but the others may not share it." He motioned to the table that was watching them interact with guarded expressions. "I will be in Palermo with my Rain in one week's time. If you are serious about contracting me, I do not charge lightly and any evidence that links the two of us must be eliminated, am I understood?"
"So you will do it?" The masked man asked.
"A trial. I will do a trial. The trial will span four months. As I am the Sky, I will make the rules. I assume Luce will come in to mediate anything that goes wrong?" He looked at the female Don who nodded. "Very well." Tsunayoshi sighed. "Should any of you be interested," He addressed the table. "I will book seven rooms at the Empire Royale. They will all be listed under these aliases. Should you decide to show up, claim your room and we will depart to the villa at the end of the week."
"Tch, who put you in charge?" Lal asked.
Tsunayoshi gazed at her for a moment. "Did you not hear me? I will be courting you as my Elements. That means that I have to show you how good of a leader I can be as your Sky, your leader. You don't have to follow the rules—you aren't mine yet. I only ask that you know them."
Despite himself, Reborn was impressed.
"I'll do it." Reborn said. He wanted to see what this kid was made of. There was a fire in his eyes that Reborn liked and there was no denying that he was damn good looking too. The kid handed him a slip of paper.
Dark Sinclair.
"The aliases that your hotels will be listed under." He set down a stack of papers. "In the hotel room, there will be various supplies—fake passports, birth certificates, IDs, and whatnot… those will be our identities while we live under the Giglio Nero's care. If you don't like the names, feel free to change them. There will be kits hidden under the beds for such a purpose." Tsunayoshi inclined his head. "Am I missing anything, Checkerface?"
"Checkerface?" Luce asked with a giggle.
"Hn." He smirked. "He didn't give us a name so I gave him one instead." Tsunayoshi didn't look away from the smirking masked man.
"You are an interesting little boy, Tsunayoshi. I look forward to seeing you mature into the Sky I know you can be." The man, Checkerface, moved forward as though to touch Tsunayoshi and then thought better of it. He shook his head and snapped, causing his presence to disappear.
He was gone.
Tsunayoshi rocked back on the balls of his feet and spun for the door. "Where are you going?" Skull asked.
"I have aliases to forge, remember?" Tsunayoshi looked back at them. "I don't have time to waste."
Tsuzukeru.
Thanks for reading~!