Hello Lovelies! It's been Seven days, I'm a little late and I hope you can forgive me *Pout* Pwease?
I thought about putting the Author's note at the bottom but I felt that ruined the whole "Dramatic ending!" thing I like to do. So It'll be at the top. There are a couple of important things so LISTEN (READ really).
One, the other Angelo Cielo version, would you like me to continue that way, too? Like a seperate version? Because this is QUITE different.
Two, Um, Tell me what you think. Do YOU think it's boringly the same, kinda different but not really, or completely out of there?
Third, responding to some reviews that caught my interest about the old version
PurpleSong-san: No Nana isn't EXACTLY evil. She was just overworked with Ieyetsu and by accident ignored Tsunayoshi. And yeah, Tsunayoshi shouldn't curse. I'm changed it up a little as you saw in the last chapter ;D. Cielo is the cursey one!
Zleihsh-san: Of course I did! That's what inspired me to do this story! And yeah, it's a little of the same set up so I tried to change it up! I promise this will NOT be like an exact copy.
Ezcap1st-san: You will not be disappointed! Trust me! ;D
OH and do you guys still want the Varia? Because some, ahem, things, will be happening in the next chapter.
That's all, Holla back!
Here's the story!
...
Tsuna really couldn't say he was surprised. Being late to school was habitual for him. For one, the night was when Cielo did his work and that could keep him up well into four in the morning.
And second, he had to rely on his internal clock- which sucked- since he didn't have an alarm clock. He believed firmly that if a single sound came out of his room, Ieyetsu would have an excuse to beat him. And, honest to God, he'd rather get bitten to death by Hibari Kyoya, the demon prefect (and his best friend), then let Ieyetsu beat him. At least then he didn't have to deal with the slurs, degrading him, making him feel small, weak and worthless. And he wouldn't have to deal with that small part of his mind crying "Why?" That small part that was so crushed and so sad, that it was family, the thing that was supposed to protect him, trying to kill him.
Yeah, he'd rather get bitten to death.
Anyway, back to his morning. This one was a little different than most, but not a rarity. He'd awoken to his ears ringing and his body buzzing, his instincts screaming at him "Get out! Get out, Sky! Move!"
He never understood why his subconscious called him sky. But he'd like to think it was because it was his favorite thing. The all accepting sky that never turned anyone away. Not even him.
He was quick, not even the slightest bit slow from his only four hours of sleep and daily beating, he sprung from his bed, praying that Ieyetsu had already left and his instincts were not warning him about an incoming beating, but about Kyoya, prowling around on the streets for him. He knew it was a failing hope, considering that he'd never really considered Kyoya as dangerous. It was quite easy to avoid his wraith. Be good, to him, to his Namimori and don't crowd. Nine times out of ten he had it straight. He had no reason to be nasty to Hibari or his Namimori and he had virtually no friends- he had Yamamoto but he didn't really count. Yamamoto was friends with everybody- so he had no reason to crowd or anyone to crowd with. He only got bitten to death for two main reasons. Being late and being so herbivorous it was irritating. And he could help neither so it was a lost cause.
He felt a strong urgent nudge in his mind that reminded Tsuna to get back on task. He forgoes the shower, knowing that if the cause for panic was Ieyetsu, he'd be out in the hall already. It was a horrible idea. Instead he quickly picked out the essentials for school, out of his carefully constructed messy room and was dressed in five minutes. He glanced at his desk. The first thing he'd got when he first finished a hacker job. He prided himself in that desk. It showed him he could be brave. Because he knew when he'd bought the desk and had it delivered to his front door someone was going to beat him for it. And that time he was going to end up with more than a few broken bones. He gave it a dismayed frown as he saw what littered the desk. Unfinished homework.
Nezu-sensei is going to yell at me again, he thought mournfully as he gathered the half-done homework. Then his frown deepened, a fearful glint entering his eyes. Memories of last night flashed through his eyes as he squeezed him tight, fighting them back and the tears that came with them with a vengeance. T-That one has blood. I-I'll leave it here.
He was going to be missing questions twelve through twenty three but he could hardly care, though he was certain he'd get detention for it.
He gathered up his undone homework, sweeping the bloodstained pages into the trashcan by his desk that was already overflowing with antiseptic, bloodied cotton and bandages and stuffed his homework into his messenger bag.
Then he heard the footsteps. Loud, thundering, dominating, and violent.
His brother.
The door swung open with a bang. Fearful amber-brown eyes made contact with a lighter more furious pair and that was all it took. Tsuna sprang into action, turning his back to the force to frantically unlatch his window, he pulled it up and just as he was about to climb out an arm latched an iron grip on his neck, cutting off his air supply and dragging him back. He gave silent choking sounds as he was pulled back fingers barely gasping the salvation that was the window.
He thrashed, trying to get the bruising, choking grip of his neck. He got lucky. Ieyetsu stumbled back and tripped on some of his old test papers, releasing the grip and Tsuna as he fell. Tsuna didn't fall with him, his right hand still firmly latched onto the window. Shaking with barely concealed terror he shimmied out the window and onto the roof. His heart thrummed in his body like an excited humming bird, but he was pumping nothing but fear and adrenaline through his veins. He panted as he stepped onto the slick tiles.
He needed to escape. He'd rather fall of the roof than face his brother. He slid across the tiles with unparalleled grace, his Cielo persona snapping into place at the threat of violence, at pure fear for his life, hurriedly making his way to the grass of his neighbor's front yard. If he could just get there, then just today…
"TSUNA!"
Even as Cielo, his stomach dropped, he flinched, wobbled, and resisted the urge to throw up in nervousness. He panted, not enough air in the world for his lungs. I'm going to die, the thought solemnly, He's going to beat me again and I'm going to die this time. Oh God. I'm going to die! Hurry, hurry!
Somehow he stabled himself enough to let his foot slip off the roof, he tucked and hit the ground hard, rolling in the grass silently. He was up again in a flash though and he bolted not caring what injuries he was irritating from that fall. Cielo had pretty much bled away from him and he was only running this fast because of pure fear and adrenaline.
After he made it five blocks and was absolutely positive that Ieyetsu was not following him, he slowed down to a walk and tilted his head toward the sky, his burning lungs gulping down air like water.
He was safe, he assured himself. For now.
He walked slowly, taking the back roads this morning, and assessed his injuries from the fall and Ieyetsu. His neck most certainly was bruised. His ribs were also bruised from the fall and his right wrist was sprained. He frowned at that. It looked like he wouldn't be playing for a while. He stretched experimentally. And his back was certainly bruised as well. He'd have to stop by the nurses and fix himself up. His little first aid kit couldn't do much in this situation.
All too soon, Tsuna stood outside Namimori-chu gates, a glaring prefect in his midst. Tsuna sensing his gaze ducked his head, having his fluffy, spiky brown hair as a shield. He was telling the absolute truth when he said he'd rather be bitten to death by Kyoya rather than beat by his brother but that didn't mean that Kyoya-san did not make it hurt.
"Herbivore-" the man hissed tonfas raised to beat down on his fluffy head, but he stopped. Tsuna waited before lifting his head a little and shooting the prefect a nervous smile. Ohayo, Kyoya-san he seemed to be saying.
Hibari Kyoya let out a frustrated, borderline angry, exasperated sigh, before jabbing a tonfa his way, making him flinch, and jerking his head towards his school. "Go to the nurse Herbivore. After that report to class immediately or I'll bite you to death."
Tsuna didn't even hesitate; he scrambled past the prefect with relief deep in his heart. No biting. See? Even as Kyoya's bestest friend he was still in danger of a biting. Kyoya was an enforcer of rules and did not go easy on him just because they were friends…. Okay, maybe he did a little.
As he walked through the hallways already emptied out of students, Tsuna still kept his head down, he did not want to attract attention. Soon he found himself in front of the nurse's office. He was about to open the door when he heard on the other side a very loud, very painful sounding, slap, a screech and then the furious thumping of heels. The door swung open and out stopped the nurse who paused only for a second to glare at him as he attempted to blend with the wall. He was glad that he moved out of the doorway, otherwise he was sure he'd be kissing Kyoya's school floors, and then he'd get bitten to death for getting intimate with his school.
As she stormed down the hallway, Tsuna peered back into the nurse's office, temporarily ignoring his injuries as he rested his sprained wrist on the door frame, bending his bruised back. A man, whose cheek was obviously a very bright red, stood in the center of the room a disappointed frown on his face. Tsuna observed him, feeling a tugging on his mind, as if he'd seen this man before but just couldn't remember where. The man had brown hair that was shaped almost octopus liked and brown eyes, he had stubble along his chin and was dressed in a lab coat.
Somewhere he'd seen this man. He just couldn't remember where.
Anyway he had wounds to take care of. Meekly he peeked his head inside the room. Sliding in cautiously. The man caught sight of him immediately. A surprised expression crossed his face before it settled into disgruntled disgust.
"What?" he grunted, "You got a wound? Well, I don't treat men."
Tsuna simply nodded accepting this. The tugging had gotten stronger at that statement but he ignored it in favor of crossing the room to rummage in one of the cabinets, right arm held closely to his chest.
The man watched the kid with calculative eyes. Sawada Tsunayoshi. The one he'd been sent to guard and heal. He frowned. He kid had not even blinked when he stated that he didn't treat men. Even though the man was sure that if the kid had sent him a pout or some puppy dog eyes he would have caved immediately (The kid did look like the cutest girl/boy he'd ever seen). No the kid just nodded and started across the room, going straight to a cabinet like he'd been there may times before and needed no direction. Like he treated his own wounds many times.
His eyes flickered to the door, the one the nurse, now assistant nurse, had gone out of and he frowned. He guessed that that woman was not a very good person. He frowned deeper. He loved ladies. They were beautiful, strong beings, who managed to do a man's job many times over and still smile like the sun. But he hated when they were ugly on the inside.
He turned his attention to the kid who was now carefully wrapping his wrist tightly, with the efficiency of a pro. He scanned over his form to identify his injuries. The sprained wrist was obvious, but he could also tell by the labored breath his ribs were broken or at least bruised. He had a very large and very ugly bruise on his neck that could not have come from a rope or other malleable thing, so the kid had not tried to commit suicide and instead someone had done this to him. He was hunched, so his back must have been injured too. Well, shit. First day on the job and there was already some trouble.
Though he had to admit the kid was quite beautiful, more beautiful than some girls. He had thick long eyelashes that brought attention to shimmering, warm, amber-brown eyes, that were large, wide and innocent, but filled with all the wiseness and pain of the world. It actually made his heart ache. He had creamy skin that was marked faintly by silver scars and purpling bruises. His lips were plump, pink, and small, and he was sure the kid had a great smile. He had a lithe frame and was quite short, even for a Japanese boy but it added to his charm. And yet he could see a little bit of muscle in his legs. Not much but just enough for the doctor to know the kid had been running all his life.
He sighed.
Tsuna heard the man behind him sigh after he finished burning a trail down his body, but opted to pay attention to his wounds instead. He finished wrapping his wrist and gave it an experimental flick, winced and decided he would not be using this had for a least three days. Which posed the problem of how he would pretend to take notes in class. He supposed that he would have to learn to be ambidextrous now. With that in mind, his fingers skimmed over his ribs deciding if they also needed wrapping, and after a slightly pressured push decided, yes, yes they did. And he took his shirt and tie off. Not even thinking. Normally he was so careful, not to let anyone see.
The doctor frowned. Now that his shirt was off, he could see an alarming amount of bruises. Not just the back and the ribs but all over the boy. Under the fresh, were the old just yellowing bruises and fading ones that marred the smooth skin all over his back and arms. Sawada didn't mind though, just unfolded some bandages and continued to wrap them around his torso.
The doctor sighed again. "What happened to you?" he asked.
The kid jumped and whirled around as if he had forgot that the man was even in the room. And then the doctor could see more, worse, festering cuts, red clusters of skin, bruises, bumps, lacerations, it just about dropped his jaw. When the boy looked down to see what he was staring at the doctor could see him go ridged and make a mad dash for his shirt that he'd carelessly discarded covering his front as he faced the doctor. His eyes flickered from the doctor to the door many times. And the doctor could see he didn't want to leave, he just really wanted the door closed. So he strode over and closed it with a bang, pulling down the blinds, and locking the door. He turned back to the boy and saw he relax just in the slightest.
The doctor crossed his arms over his chest. "Sit down," he ordered, pointing to one of the beds. The boy hurried over to the bed and sat down obediently. The doctor flashed him stern eyes that said, And stay there.
And Sawada nodded, hesitantly.
The doctor turned to the same cabinet Sawada had been rummaging in and pulled out some bruise cream, cotton, alcohol, and antiseptic, along with some band aids and more bandages.
Arms full he headed back to Sawada and started to meticulously clean the cuts, ignoring the boy's wincing every now and then. He deserved it for being an idiot and letting whatever happened happen.
As he was working on a particularly horrible one that seemed to be caused by a butter knife of all things, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked up to an amusing sight. Sawada practically had steam coming out of his ears at how hard he was blushing. His face scrunched up in shy hesitance. And he seemed to say, And what's your name?
The doctor rolled his eyes, idiot.
"Shamal," he grumbled.
And suddenly it all clicked in Tsuna's head as he went still.
Trident Shamal. A doctor and assassin for hire who specializes in chemical warfare. He uses a variety of mosquitos as his weapon all holding rare diseases and cures. Last seen three years ago working for the Tempesta Familiga as the heir's tutor. Has been said that he is friends with Reborn, the number one hitman in the world, and therefore has connections to the Vongola. His personality is highly selfish but is a very efficient doctor. Is said to love women. And will not treat men.
His brain suddenly recovered from its screeching halt and he gave the man a smile, unable to tell him his name. He frowned at that. It was rude. Though he wasn't sure he wanted a mafiosa to know his name.
Shamal rolled his eyes. "And you're Sawada Tsunayoshi." He said firmly.
Tsuna's brain did another mid freeze before he smiled even more nervous now. Trident Shamal hated men. So there was only one reason that he'd remember a man's name. Tsuna could safely cross out that he just cared about his job and memorized the students' names and faces because he was positive he'd only remember the girls. It is said that Shamal can not even tell one male from another. SO, he could only assume it's because of a job. He tensed, sending Shamal a nervous smile in accordance to his worried glance. Which meant one of two things. Someone had sent him to kill Tsuna. Or someone had sent him to protect him. Considering he didn't have the butt end of a mosquito in his neck and poison running through his veins he could say it was to protect him. But that raised another question. Who'd want to protect him? Who from the friggin mafia would want to protect him? He knew his father was in the mafia but that man didn't give a flip about him.
A strong tug. His mind gave a strong tug, and mirth flooded him. Tsuna winced. Sometimes he wondered why his own intuition had feelings. Heck, he wondered why it knew things he didn't. But anyway it was laughing at him right now. He frowned. Stupid intuition. But, he assured himself, I'd tell him when the time was right.
"Well," he was brought back to reality by Shamal who sighed stretching his back. And Tsuna noticed how he didn't hurt. He glanced down at himself and marveled. Every cut, and bruise was expertly dealt with and sealed up with bandages and band aids. He'd never been that good.
He looked up and practically beamed at the doctor. Thank you!
Shamal grunted your welcome.
And before the doctor could do more, Tsuna whipped on his shirt –his ribs hurt at that and he reminded himself that he still had to take it slow- and practically skipped out the room, his messenger bag slung over his shoulder.
The hallways were quiet absolutely silent. And for a stupid, Tsuna-ridden moment, he wondered why. And then,
BAM.
It hit him.
HIE! I'm late for class! He screeched in his mind.
He bolted for his math class. He didn't know what time it was but, he had to think he was majorly late. He could only hope that Nezumi-sensei let him off.
Shamal stared at the open door of the clinic. He hummed. He hadn't even been able to give the kid his pass. Ah, oh well. He was sure that the teacher would understand.
He threw open the door to his classroom, panting heavily, messenger bag astray. He fixed himself as he panted, he hadn't looked at the class yet, fretting over his clothes. ( He'd rather not get bitten to death, thank you.) It wasn't until he could feel burning stares that he looked up. Out of the stares he recognized most of them. Most were mocking stares or exasperated stares, there were a few angry stares such as Nezu-sensei and then there was a downright furious stare coming from his brother. He shook his head. He didn't want to think of his blond brother now. There was only so much his brother could do in school so it was better that he didn't focus on him too much. There was another stare though, Unfamiliar. It kinda burned. A blazing furious heat. But he could tell it wasn't really directed at him but more of the world. He looked up to meet the blazing stare.
A silver-haired, Italian looking student was standing next to his teacher. Obviously he was just as late as Tsuna, but he didn't really seem to care. He looked like a delinquent. But he had to admit he was handsome. His silver hair hung past his ears and shimmered and he had beautiful emerald green eyes that sparkled angrily. He looked strong and his skin was slightly tanned. He was, all in all, very nice looking. Couple that with an askew tie, a shirt unbuttoned at the top a jacket thrown over his shoulders and a skull belt and he was "hot" as the girls said. But he looked unhappy, you know, with that scowl on his face. He looked as if someone had shot his puppy in front of him, squeezed the blood out of it, let it rain over his house, and then did the salsa over its grave.
Yes, he looked that unhappy.
Tsuna's first thought was that he was sad that the transfer student was going to get bitten to death on his first day. He kinda pitied him. And then there was a strong tug. Like something was trying to pull his brain out his head. And he knew. He knew he knew the transfer student somehow. It was just like Shamal but stronger, as if it were more than just knowing about the transfer student (which was frightening enough. The only people he knew were the people from Namimori, where he obviously wasn't from, and the people from his Cielo persona. Which was also very bad because Cielo associated himself with criminals and mafia.) it was knowing the transfer student. He could see something. Something his intuition was trying to hint at.
The transfer student was sad. He was so sad and so mad. Somehow, one day, everything about him, everything he thought he knew about him, about the world, just crumbled under his feet. And like fine china he went shattering along with it. And he tried. He tried so hard to tape the pieces back together by using anger as a way out. Explosive anger. Explosive anger to let somebody know just how hard he was crying on the inside.
And it was just like him. Except Tsuna didn't use anger to cry out. He used not crying out, to cry out. To let someone know, "Hello, something is wrong here." But it wasn't working, for either of them. It just wasn't.
"Dame-Tsuna, where have you been!?" sneered Nezu-sensei snapping him out of his little haze. "You're already bringing down the class average with your stupidity; don't bring down the school attendance too, you degenerate!"
Tsuna's face colored pink as the class was suddenly alight with roaring laughter. He blushed a little harder when he noticed his twin also laughing, just as hard. The only ones who weren't laughing where Nezu himself, who had settled only for a smug look, the transfer student, but then again he looked permanently ticked and Tsuna doubted something as measly as this would get him to laugh, and Yamamoto who had settled for one of his rare frowns of disappointment. Yamamoto met his eyes to give him an apologetic smile. Tsuna quickly looked away before Ieyetsu could see. Yamamoto was Ieyetsu's friend he reminded himself. Any contact with Ieyetsu's friends that didn't involve getting a pounding would result in an immediate beating from Ieyetsu. Instead his eyes settled for the floor.
He didn't need Yamamoto's apology anyway. It wasn't the mocking that had made him blush in shame. Tsuna peeked up from his fluffy fringe of hair at his classmates. It wasn't these people. No it was different with them. He feared them, yes. He feared his father, he feared his brother, he feared what could happen to his mother, but also, on some level, he had a deep disappointed pity. Instead of choosing to help the person who couldn't help himself, the one beat, hurt, stolen from, and sad, they choose to mock him, and Tsuna wholly believed one day they would regret their actions. But right now he had settled on a simply definition of them.
They were not good people.
Their opinions held no weight with him. So no matter how hard they laughed, it would probably never reach him. And no matter how hard they hit his small, frail body, he would never allow himself to break, to cry, to shout. Not with them.
No, what had made him blush was the presence of his brother (Who often wasn't in class, but somehow was still the class favorite) and the presence of a new person whose opinion had not been judged yet.
Tsuna dipped his head at his teacher, giving him acknowledgement without respect, and walked to his desk. The roaring laughter had calmed into loud snickers and whispers, and without meaning to, he listened in.
"Look its dame-Tsuna."
"Geez, I wonder why he even bothers to come to school, he'll just FAIL like always anyway."
"I know look at him, he's pathetic!"
"Useless!"
"Who needs him? He's worthless."
His disappointment came back with a vengeance but he simply continued on to his seat, carefully avoiding the array of legs and desks. Sure, once in a while, he scaled buildings with nothing but his fingertips, and walked across ledges while dodging bullets, but those times were Cielo. Those were Cielo's doings. So he had to be careful. Because he was Tsuna.
He liked Cielo. He liked compiling all his good points into a single personality and doing something. Cielo was different. He was confident and strong and agile and he would not back down. He liked that. More than he liked the real him.
As he took his seat he heard Nezu clear his throat. "Now class, this is Gokudera Hayato. He is transferring in from Italy. Please be kind to him. Anything you want to say Gokudera-san?"
"Gokudera Hayato," he said coolly, meeting the eye of everyone in the room. And then his face scrunched in rage, "I hate you all." As his eyes met Tsuna's, Tsuna could hear the, especially you, he hadn't bothered to add.
Tsuna merely blinked as the class went into uproar. Girls "Kyaa~"'d over his bad-boy attitude and the guys roared at him for the insult. And Tsuna felt a tug. And then there was a block. As if his own intuition was hiding something from him. He frowned.
Gokudera che'd, and strolled down a row of desks, not even bothering to ask where his seat was, honestly, Tsuna didn't think he cared. He walked past Tsuna's desk and seared him with a glare, before his eyes flickered over to his twin, who sat front row, and seared him with an even hotter glare, before he then came back to Tsuna. Tsuna simply observed him, finding more and more evidence to support his previous idea. The way the boy carried himself, like he was always expecting an attack, shying away from contact. The hardened posture and haunted eyes that told of someone who saw things no child his age should see. It burned beneath the anger in his eyes and beneath that was sadness that could be seen in the set of his shoulders.
Tsuna's eyes softened as he peered up at Gokudera.
Gokudera scowled at him, a confused, analytic tint entering his eyes.
Tsuna just hoped his face could convey everything he felt right now.
Sorry, he wanted to say, sorry.
Sorry, the boy seemed to be saying. Yet there was no movement of his lips, the kid simply stared at him. It was like an unspoken word. But Gokudera could tell that the bastard was not sorry for whatever he believed he'd done to upset him but sorry for him. It was like the little bastard had taken a peek into his soul and Gokudera didn't like it. So he kicked over his desk. The kid fell with a flail and it stimulated a roar of laughter in the class. But the kid barely minded them, simply righting his desk and gathering his supplies, ignoring the jeering insults being shot at him.
Gokudera would never admit it, but he actually felt a little bad afterwards, as the kid looked up at him with a deeply hurt tint to his brown eyes. But he ignored it, and settled into the seat behind the kid, intent on watching this "Sawada Tsunayoshi". His eyes also flickered to the other twin, "Sawada Ieyetsu" and his glare darkened. That one was the one. The one he was going to have to fight for his position. And he'd be damned if he lost. But he was also very curious. His eyes turned back to the kid. Why Reborn would give explicit instructions to guard over this kid like a god damn hawk. He could see that the kid was a tad bit on the un-athletic side, but still. As the supposed tenth's brother, he should be able to do something.
Class started. And one Sawada Tsunayoshi could feel the burn of the calculative glare of Gokudera on his back, but paid it no mind.
Tsuna had been right when he had stated that today, was not going to be his best day. He was also right when he said that he was going to get detention for not doing his math homework. And then, the one time he'd wished he was wrong, happened. And it turned out that Ieyetsu did see him look at Yamamoto, and yes, now, he was paying the price for it.
He silently gagged, as someone foot logged itself in his stomach, and another slammed down on his bruised back. Someone's fist clipped him on the cheek, and absentmindedly, the thought of how his mother would react to that, and then he shook that thought out of his head because he knew he would never let his mother see. Someone's elbow slammed down on his head making him go dizzy with the pain, and finally he let himself collapse on the floor, curling inward to lessen the target. His whole body ached. But not a single sound came from his mouth, blood, yes, but not a sound. He just clutched at his head, and curled himself up, only leaving his sides for the slaughter. And they did a damn good job too. Someone's foot slammed down on his bruised ribs, and he let out a silent scream of pain as his bruised ribs became his broken ribs.
Morbidly, he thought about how now he would have to go see a doctor. He hated hospitals with a passion. One, hospital bills were charged to his erratic father who would come back from "mining" just to beat the shit out of him. Two, injuries meant his mother fussing and worrying about him and never leaving his side. Three, with Nana always by his side would mean that Ieyetsu would sit and prowl, slowly building up, and up, until Tsuna was better, and then he'd unleash, more ugly and more violent.
Honestly, his relationship with his brother confused and disturbed him. Because on one had he loved his brother more than the world and would do anything for him. Anything. On the other hand there was this fear, this all-consuming fear that just wanted him to run. Run far, and fast, as far away as he could get before being dragged back. And then there was another part, that was so outraged, a part that drowned out the part that was sad, and screamed, and screamed, and screamed at him. Telling him to do things he did not want to do. And currently he was forcing that part the backest parts of his mind, lest he become a murderer of some sorts.
With one last kick to his broken ribs that had waves of unaltered pain rushing over him, the bullies sneered at him. "That's what you get for looking at Yamamoto with those love eyes, freak. You sicken me."
Ah, so that's what Ieyetsu had told them. That Tsuna had been crushing on Yamamoto. Tsuna pondered this to get his mind off the pain. Yes, Yamamoto was handsome, with a strong jawline, a prominent tan, spiky black hair, and bright, sparkling mocha eyes, and an ever entrancing smile on his face. But Tsuna just didn't see him like that. He didn't see anyone like that. Not even, kind, beautiful, Kyoko. He acknowledged beauty, yes, but he'd never found someone, male or female, that made his heart beat like he'd have a heart attack at any moment.
He heard a snort, and through eyes lidded with pain he glanced up at the retreating figures as his assaulters. He then painfully and slowly dragged himself up. He felt a weight. A sadness, an anger, a weariness. And his mind blanked out. He knew what he had to do, where he had to go. He dragged himself until he was upright, leaning on the wall for support, and then continued to drag himself, down the hallway, to the stairs, up six flights, and to the roof. Mentally, in the backest part of his mind, he calculated the odds that Hibari would be there. And immediately the prefect's schedule (Which he had not hacked.. Okay maybe he did. Well sue him, Hibari is scary when you interrupt his nap) popped up in his head. A meeting at noon. Good, he would not be on the roof. He did not want the Skylark to fuss over him today. ( Yes, Hibari Kyoya fussed. Because he was a possessive bastard who didn't like his property injured in any way shape or form.)
He stumbled to the steel door of the rooftop, his body burning, but he ignored it. This was something he needed for his soul, he could care less about his body right now.
He pushed the door open, struggling and straining his wounds, and immediately a small, almost invisible smile slide onto his blank lips as a soft breeze playfully ruffled his blue school vest. Carefully, he shuffled his way to the ledge of the school, which separated him from his end, with a fence. He sat and leaned against the fence, taking heavy labored breaths. It was lunch now. He was sure. He was also sure he'd be starving this time around. But that was in the back part of his brain.
He licked his lips readying himself for what was coming. They flooded him, as he expected. All his emotions; the pain, the sadness, the anger, the desperation, the grief that was ripping him apart, and the terrifying fear.
He opened his mouth, and sung.
~Worn, Tenth Avenue North~
"I'm tired I'm worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes to keep on breathing"
A gentle, hoarse voice. So beautiful, melodious and heavenly flowed from Tsuna's lips. Like a true Angel. A pained, fallen angel, on the verge of death. It shook with barely concealed emotion.
"I've made mistakes
I've let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed by the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left…."
Hibari Kyoya was a very simple person. He despised many things, and he made it very clear exactly what he despised. His sister, who had been a very gentle soul, had once told him not to resort to violence so quickly and instead explain to the person you're angry with why you're angry. And when she passed, he took it to heart.
Though, sadly his vocabulary when irritated proved to be very small. Consisting only of "You are crowding." "You are violating Namimori Rules" and "You are irritating." Most of the time. It was very hard to get his feelings through. But hey, he tries.
One of the things he despised most, was being awakened from his sleep. He ruled Namimori. And contrary to belief, ruling did not all consist of fighting and "biting people to death". It also consisted of a horrifying amount of paperwork, and meaningless meetings. He rarely really slept. But this time, today, he had managed to intimidate the herbivores to end his meeting early so he could take a nap with his Hibird on the roof, when god damn it, the roof door opens.
He hears dragging footsteps and heavy almost pained breathing and he hisses under his breath.
Whoever the herbivore was, he was going to bite him to death.
He stretched like a cat and yawned, flipping to his side.
Tomorrow. Right now, was Hibari sleep time.
And then he heard another deep breath, more controlled than the others and then….
Sound.
"I'm tired I'm worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes to keep on breathing"
Soft, melodious, hoarse, and, Kyoya hated to admit it, it sounded like an Angel. The hoarseness added a lovely affect that deepened the pained voice and added to its natural beauty. It was heartfelt, true, and pained. And familiar.
He frowned. It was that herbivore. His herbivore. Hibird tweeted sadly from his shoulder, and Hibari nodded extending a finger for him to land on. Hibird stopped there briefly, before shooting off and spiraling down from the upper part of the roof top.
"I've made mistakes
I've let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed by the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left…."
Hibari stretched again before sitting up a frown on his face. Stealthily he jumped down in front of his herbivore and observed the damage.
Sawada Tsunayoshi. His friend of seven years, since the herbivore broke into the security system of the Disciplinary Committee. An extremely delicate herbivore, who had the soul strength of a lion. Hibari had no doubt that the herbivore could become a carnivore, if he tried. But, the damn copy-herbivore, also known as Sawada Ieyetsu, would not let that happened. And his herbivore could not be convinced to go any other way. He would not let Hibari bite the irritating herbivore, or intimidate him. Hell he wouldn't even let Hibari protect his herbivore! Hibari hated being helpless. He hated it with a burning passion. So he made a point to bite the copy-herbivore as hard as he could without sending him to the hospital (which then would result from disappointed, betrayed looks from his herbivore) or his early grave.
Hibari's eyes scanned over his herbivore's lifeless frame as more notes came from his mouth.
"Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn
I Wanna know the a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life
And that's dead inside can be Reborn
Cause I'm worn"
His breath was heavily labored, possible broken ribs. His face was bruised and cut, possibility of an infection if not treated soon. Wrist was definitely broken. And, Hibari would never admit it, but that made him actually sad. He enjoyed the herbivore's music. And more importantly he enjoyed how the herbivore enjoyed his own music.
"I know I need to lift my eyes up
But I'm too weak
Life just won't let up
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left"
Hibari saw a slight hateful glint enter the herbivore's eyes. Hateful of himself. Hibari's frown deepened into a scowl. Focus. He was hunched uncomfortably, possibly bruised back. He had a split lip, and winced uncomfortable at every flex of his stomach, possibly bruised stomach. He had a black eye and a large cut on his cheek from where a boot had scuffed him.
Suddenly his herbivore's voice strengthened and his head tilted towards the sky.
"Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn.
I wanna know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead can be reborn
Cause I'm worn
My prayers are wearing thin
And I'm worn
Even before the day begins
I'm worn
I've lost my will to fight
I'm worn
Heaven come and flood my e-"
His herbivore spluttered, lifeless eyes going wide with alarm as he broke into a series of very painful sounding coughs. Immediately, Hibari was there, gently patting his back and stroking his fluffy hair. His herbivore whimpered, curling into Hibari, eyes rolling into the back of his head. And he held him. Because Hibari knew that his herbivore was in no shape to do anything except rest, and no matter how much Hibari wanted to prowl around his school and viciously bite the offending herbivores who had done this to his herbivore to fucking death, the state of his herbivore was more important. Tsunayoshi could recover from his broken bones but Hibari doubted that his lion hearted herbivore could recover the broken fragments of his heart without him.
Though when Hibari saw blood splatter onto the pavement, he realized that simply holding his herbivore was not going to be enough and if he didn't get him to a doctor soon, Tsunayoshi was going to be much, much worse.
Hibird barely moved from his perch atop Tsunayoshi's head (tweeting in a failed attempt to comfort the Herbivore that his master and he so liked) when Hibari lifted the herbivore into his arms. Hibari took it slow. He didn't run, not wanted to jostle Tsunayoshi in his state, but he took long steady strides to make up for it (Occasionally, though, he growled when Tsunayoshi made a pained noise, because he was not going fast enough). And soon (Not soon enough) he kicked down the door to the nurse's office, faintly noting the startled look of the new management.
"Heal him." He growled out.
He saw the doctor about to refuse with that dreaded statement about how he didn't heal men, before his eyes glanced down at who was in his arms. His eyes went impossibly wide before narrowing in concentration.
"Put him on the bed." The doctor ordered.
Hibari obediently, carefully laid his Tsunayoshi on the cot, eyes softening the faintest amount when the Herbivore grunted in pain, before settling himself down in the chair beside him and sending the doctor a dark look.
He saw the phone in his hands.
The doctor made eye contact with him and he growled, "No hospitals."
The doctor didn't even blink just placed down the phone and strode back over to the bed to do his work.
His herbivore whimpered, eyes briefly flashing open. Disoriented it took him a while before he found Hibari but when he did he stretched out a hand to the demon prefect, mouthing brokenly his name.
Hibari instinctively took the hand, his eyes focused on Tsunayoshi and he did not remove it at all during the whole procedure.
Kyoya.
Reborn fucking loved his job. And he loved to be ahead of it. He loved to be informed. Because misinformation could get him killed, and he did not want that to happen. His job was a dangerous one with few highlights. He got rid of the scum of the world, got good target practice, and helped out Non at the same time.
And honest, he treasured the moments where he got to teach. He always got a certain feeling of pride when he taught and a student learned something. He'd never had kids. And he probably never would, it was too dangerous a world for any kid he wanted. So he treated each of his few students as if they were his children. He was fiercely protective, but left them room to grow.
And he would never admit how happy he was when Nono called and told him he had more students to train. The miniature hitman hummed, wiping blood from his Leon gun as he thought back.
It had been a day where he'd kill to do something different. . Not that he didn't kill already.
When his phone rang. His personal phone. The one reserved for emergencies, Arcobalenos, and Nono.
He flipped it open. "Yeah?"
"Reborn, I have a mission of you." Nono said, in his old withered voice.
Reborn withheld a sigh. Probably another assassination or recon mission. "Yes Nono." He said anyway.
"As you now Reborn, I'm getting on in age."
"Yes," Reborn answered hesitantly not knowing where this was going.
"It's about time to train a new heir. With my sons gone I had been trying to hold it off but, Reborn. I have a grandson. Two really."
Reborn hummed into the phone sensing something. Something interesting was about to happen.
"Reborn, I'm entrusting you with the tutorship of my grandson, Sawada Ieyetsu, to become Vongola Decimo. But you must promise me to keep his brother out of it. He is not to know about the mafia."
Reborn just about grinned. "Yes Nono."
He ended the call and dialed a new number.
"Frederica? It's Reborn. Get me everything you can about Sawada Ieyetsu. From his daily routine, to his enemies, to his friends, to his friendimies. I want everything. Ah, and everything about Sawada Tsunayoshi, the twin."
He scrunched up his nose at that name. It was hard not to know the Sawada boys when you knew Iemeitsu. Though oddly enough Reborn remembered Iemeitsu stopped talking about the twin about nine years back. Ma, whatever, he'd figure it out.
And damn, Frederica was good. He got everything from his favorite slippers to how beautiful he thought the sunset was on a scale of one to ten. And he put that shit to good use. He called in a favor on Shamal after considering how injured the twin got often, and how injured his new student was going to be. He gave the man explicit instructions to treat his male patients or Reborn was going to put a bullet through his skull. And then he'd moved Gokudera into play, setting up the three fouths Italian to protect the twin and watch the Decimo candidate. And then he'd told Bianchi about his movement to Japan and made sure the Bovinos knew exactly where he was going, so they could send the irritating cow child. He set up cameras all around Namimori through associates he knew and scouted possible guardian candidates through them. Though, the one place he was not able to camera was Namimori Middle, the most important. Because apparently the Disciplinary Committee did daily sweeps and Hibari Kyoya, head of the Committee and Cloud Guardian Candidate, did not appreciate being spied on. Ma, no matter. He'd find out what he needed to know. He was a hitman after all.
"After you Reborn-san," the Japanese flight attendant said. He started up the steps to the Vongola private plane with a smile.
"Thank you"
Once apon a time, Tsuna had thought that floating in and out of consciousness was a peaceful non-painful experience. Though soon after his hopes were crushed. All it really meant was that you'd have to deal with the pain in silence, which he guessed he already did often enough. He only made sounds with Kyoya. Because Kyoya was Kyoya. He was safe. Unlike most he could not be bribed, or intimidated into submission. And he was strong. He couldn't be beaten. So he didn't have to worry about his brother gunning for Kyoya. In fact he had to worry just the opposite. He now had to be on the lookout for Kyoya gunning for Ieyetsu.
Despite his exasperation it truly made him smile when he saw how protective of him the Skylark was. And he was reminded how it was Cielo who had brought them together.
Well, he was floating through consciousness, he might as well take a trip down memory lane. He remembered that day. It was the day he'd first read up on hacking and wanted to try it out, and he'd gotten detention just they day prior and was hoping he could fix that…
"I am so stupid," Tsuna whispered to himself, as he gnawed on his lips, staring at the library computer screen.
I was still speaking then, Tsuna mussed.
But well he'd already began, might as well continue. Attentively he started to type and it wasn't long until he got really into it. So into it that he temporarily forgot who he was. Shy Tsuna all but disappeared.
Half an hour later, he snorted. Already used to the Disciplinary Committee server, and hastily took down another firewall. Too easy. It wasn't long until he was in and he smirked. He was good.
"One Sawada Tsunayoshi for detention after school, Friday?" he mumbled under his breath, "Oh no, no, no, I think not." Grinning he deleted that entry and logged off the server.
With a satisfied smile on his face, he returned the book about hacking back to the shelves, shut of the computer, and said good bye to the librarian. Dinner that night was Salisbury steak his favorite.
Hmm, Tsuna mussed as he came into consciousness. Back then covering my tracks never occurred to me. And god I remember the next day, when I thought that Salsbury steaks was going to be my last meal.
The next day was a fairly easy day for him. He went to school smug. Went to class smug. And was going to walk home smug, without detention, when a tonfa mysteriously lodged itself into his throat as he was pinned up against the wall of Namimori Elementry.
He remembered that a seven year old Kyoya was no different from the now Kyoya. Except maybe more vicious. He was terrifying and angry.
"Herbivore," Hibari growled.
Young Tsuna squeaked, pure fear in his eyes. He never thought that Salisbury steaks was going to be his last meal. But then again he'd never thought he'd die by biting either.
"Are you the one who illegally entered the Disciplinary committee data base?"
Tsuna merely shrieked. Hibari then pressed the tonfa deeper into his throat. His vision started to get spotty. Alarm started to settle into his bone and in a rare display of the power he was sure he didn't have, he gave a battle cry, grabbed the arm that held him with both hands, twisted it and slammed the body that held him to the ground. Leaving Hibari stunned from the sudden blow.
Then he shot up and ran away with a loud "HIE!"
From then on the fearless Skylark stalked him, interested in the power the cute little herbivore displayed. And each time he'd have to sneak up on him (Because if Tsuna saw him coming he'd run no matter where he was. Hallway run. Outside run. Recess run. Classroom, jump out a window and run.) Only to be flipped and dropped. And then the Herbivore would utter a loud scream and run off. The herbivore had even hacked his computer to download his schedule just to avoid him. How did he know? The herbivore had still not learned how to not leave a trail and after visiting the library so much, as he identified where the source of the hack was, the librarians remembered him. And finally, finally he cornered the cute little bunny (till this day Tsuna was sure that Hibari despised his weakness of cute, defenseless animals) and…
Tsuna floated back into consciousness. He tried to grasp back onto the remainders of the memories but they slipped away. He frowned. Fine then he'd wake up. With a groan, he blearily blinked open his eyes, trying to refocus on the blurry figure in front of his eyes.
"Tsunayoshi."
Tsuna hummed happily. It was Kyoya! He rolled his head around a bit seeking out the room, before they returned to the Skylark. "Kyoya!" he said cheerily. "I-" and then another figure came into view.
Trident Shamal
And he clamped up, his throat uncomfortably clogging. He tried to give a noise of distress but it didn't work. He glanced mournfully at Kyoya.
"Herbivore," Kyoya sighed. Tsuna's hazy mind winced at the change of title. He was called herbivore when Kyoya was disappointed in him. Then Kyoya turned his head to Shamal. Just a slight incline, his sharp eyes still trained at Tsuna who was pouting at his inability to speak. "How long will the morphine last?" he demanded. Tsuna smiled happily. Because Kyoya doesn't "ask" he thought cheerfully he demands.
"For another half hour or so." Shamal answered in a relaxed tone.
"Hn." Hibari grunted. "Then I'll be taking him." With that Kyoya scooped him up and continued to walk towards the doorway (The door lay in shattered pieces on the floor), crossing the threshold into the hallway. The hallways were silent, and devoid of life, not a soul except for Kyoya and Tsuna.
Finally Tsuna's throat cleared again as his arms encircled Kyoya's neck getting comfortable in the arms of his best friend bridal style. "Where are we going Kyoya?" he inquired with a tilt to his head.
Kyoya grunted, looking straight ahead. "To my office, Herbivore."
Tsuna giggled cutely.
"Shut up, Tsunayoshi." Kyoya growled.
Tsuna pouted. Mean Kyoya.
While Hibari really didn't mind listening to the Herbivore's voice, which he didn't get to hear often, he knew if anyone, anyone else heard his herbivore they'd tell the other herbivores and then somehow it would lead to the annoying copy-herbivore who would then proceeded to beat his Herbivore. And he did not want that to happen.
Anyway the Herbivore was too cute for his own good. That slight innocent incline of his head, sent Hibari's heart racing uncomfortably fast. He'd have to remind the herbivore to stop doing that. And then get checked out by a doctor, in case, you know, he was at risk of a heart attack. He did rather like this new Tsunayoshi. He guessed a drugged Tsunayoshi was happier. He smiled more, and more freely, he giggled, he talked. And Kyoya thought he was wonderful. He liked his Tsunayoshi. And he would like if his Tsunayoshi could be happier like this one. Then, Kyoya thought, maybe he himself could be happier. His Tsunayoshi talked very little. He remembered how shocked he was, when one day after three years of friendship, his Herbivore came to school after weeks out for a car accident and refused to talk. It hadn't taken little Hibari long to figure out someone had done this to him, but no matter how much he pestered and pleaded and threatened, the Herbivore would just smile at him sadly and shake his head, sadness and terror in his eyes. And then it had taken Hibari two years to finally get it out of him, why his normally loud and energetic herbivore was silent.
He went ballistic. Understandably. It had taken Tsunayoshi, three teachers, Tetsuya, and his sister to stop him from murdering Ieyetsu in cold blood. And to this day he regretted that he ever let anyone stop him.
Hibari bent down to open the door to his office, kicking it closed behind him and locking it. And then he set a pouting Tsuna on his couch and slide behind his desk with a mound of paperwork waiting for him, to wait out the morphine.
Trident Shamal already hated and adored Sawada Tsunayoshi. Hated him for making his first day at this whole "heal and protect him" thing so hard. And adored him because the little bunny was damn hard to truly hate. He was too damn cute. He was polite and mentally strong and just like a damn woman. With a heart of gold, he managed to do a man's job many times over and still give a little smile here and there, despite everything he was going through.
Shamal didn't know where the earlier injuries had come from but he was absolutely sure that the later injuries had come from bullies. And for once, Shamal found himself truly and genuinely hoping that someone, anyone helped the boy. He had placed his hopes in the fiercely protective Skylark who had glared at him every time he moved, mentally. His eyes never strayed from Tsunayoshi, but it was like the Skylark had eyes on the back of his fucking head, because sometimes he could feel an intense glare on him as if daring to hurt the injured boy on the bed more than necessary. He saw how the Skylark had never moved his hand from Sawada and the worried tint to his normal glare. And how he twitched when Sawada gave a silent scream when Shamal set his ribs back in place.
He truly hoped someone helped the boy. Shamal sighed and readied himself for the verbal thrashing Reborn was going to give him over the phone. With a groan he lifted his personal cellphone to his ear and mentally debated which of Reborn's numbers to call. Deciding that this indeed was an emergency he dialed his person phone. He listened as it dialed before a click sounded.
"Do you want to be gutted?" Reborn answered.
"I'd rather not," Shamal said smoothly and then he turned serious, "I have news."
Reborn paused for a second on the phone. "Which one?"
"Tsunayoshi."
He could almost see Reborn raise his eyebrow at the familiarity, as he usually called Tsunayoshi "the twin".
"Do tell," Reborn's voice was amused and serious at the same time.
"Today alone, Sawada Tsunayoshi, sustained a slight concussion, three broken ribs, a split lip, a black eye, a cut on his cheek, a bruised neck, a heavily bruised back and stomach, and a broken wrist."
Reborn practically growled over the phone. "How?"
"I wouldn't know," Shamal answered coldly, "But by the way the Skylark's hand itched towards his tonfas every five minutes, I'd guess he was bullied and it was not an accident."
"Hibari Kyoya?" Reborn questioned, "Possible Cloud Guardian?"
"Yes," Shamal took a breath. The next news he was going to deliver was probably going to send Reborn tearing out his hair, if he wasn't already. "There's more."
"What more could there possibly be?" Reborn snarled, "You've already ruined my espresso."
"This wasn't the first time."
"What?"
Shamal took out a file, one he had compile of Tsunayoshi's injuries he'd seen and memorized and of a log of previous nurse and hospital visits that he got from the school. He cleared his throat. "Over the past five years Sawada Tsunayoshi has been in two car accidents, has been admitted into the hospital fifteen times excluding the accidents, has sustained at least a hundred cut wounds caused by knives and other sharp objects, has been whipped, choked, and has broken bones multiple times in the arm, leg and chest area and is mute, most of the time."
Reborn was silent. The silence was stifling. Shamal was baking. "Reborn, something is wrong here."
"My information is wrong." He heard Reborn growl under his breath. Louder to him he said, "Look after him, make sure he does not sustain anymore major injuries, I should be in tonight."
"Yes, but Reborn," he paused, "I can feel that… the kid is more than he seems."
"What the hell do you mean by that? Talk Shamal, or I'll shoot you."
Shamal swallowed, knowing that the threat was not hollow. "I-I don't know. I can just feel like there's something different. I didn't feel it when the other twin was here earlier. It's just him, like he's hiding something."
"One bad thing after another." He heard Reborn grumble under his breath. "Watch him."
And then the conversation was over. Reborn hung up. Shamal slumped in his seat suddenly tired. He didn't know what it was but something about Sawada Tsunayoshi made him want to root for him as hard as he could.
And pray for him.
Tsunayoshi groaned in his mind as he awoke from his sleep, shifting of the very comfortable soft thing under him. His body hurt like a bitch. His head throbbed in time with the burning on every inch of his skin, especially concentrated on some parts of his body.
"Tsunayoshi."
His eyes fluttered at the familiar voice. "Kyoya." He said groggily when his eyes focused on the blurry form above him.
"Swallow. Drink." Kyoya ordered, holding out two white pills and a glass of water. Had it been anyone else Tsuna would have hesitated, but this was Kyoya, so he just popped the pills washing the down with the water. He then rolled over so he was facing away from Kyoya and snuggled into what he now identified as the couch in the disciplinary committee room.
"Time?" he asked.
"Three fiftee- Do not move Tsunayoshi." Kyoya said sharply as he saw Tsuna start to struggle up. "I have canceled your detention. You will rest here for another hour and wait for the morphine to kick in before you go anywhere."
Tsuna pouted, secretly very happy. Only him. It was only him that Hibari would break the rules for.
"Fine." He grumbled settling in for a nice nap. He hoped he wouldn't sleep to long. Cold dread tried to grab him by its icy tendrils but he shook it off, remembering that Kyoya was here. He was safe with Kyoya.
If only for a little while.
Meanwhile
Sawada Ieyetsu stood by his window, watching as the sun faded by the horizon changing the sky to a dark orange. He hated this time of day and much more preferred the dark night sky.
"Ieyetsu, you okay?" asked one of his "friends".
"Yeah," he shot the boy a smile. "Just wondering where my brother is."
The boy snorted. "Don't worry about that loser. He's probably lost or in a ditch or something. He'll crawl his way out eventually."
Ieyetsu faked a sigh. "Yeah I guess so. So, what are we playing now?"
"Tomb raiders," his friend grinned as he settled himself down on a cushion in front of his Tv.
Occasionally though, as he whooped his friends ass in Tomb raiders, he'd glance at the quickly darkening sky and smile. A dark, promising smile.
When that Dame fucking brother of his got back he was going to wish he was never born.