Katekyo Hitman Reborn
The Selkie's Secret
By: SakuraSamuraiGirl
Katekyo Hitman Reborn and its story and characters belong to Akira Amano
Chapter 2: Dad's Home!
The man was grinning with mad glee. He swings his blade and creates more destruction. More civilians scattered away from danger. The boy with the blue flames clenches his teeth. He jumps to his feet and pulls Tsunami onto hers.
"I apologize, Sawada-sama! He followed me!"
"-Sama?...Wait, how do you…"
"Come! We must get to safety!"
The boy runs pulling Tsunami along with him. Tsunami's head was spinning. This was crazy! Some strange boy she had never met recognized her and knew her name! Said strange boy was being chased by a crazy man with a sword!
"My apologies again, Sawada-sama. My name is Basil! My master has sent me to find thee…"
They turn down a street and the man springs down in front them out of nowhere! The boy named Basil shields Tsunami with his arms as he faces the sword-wielding man. Straightening up, the man glares at Basil, raising his sword across his chest. The man looks from Basil and narrows his eyes at Tsunami. Tsunami frowns in confusion at the man. There was something odd about him. As she was staring at the man, the man was staring at her trying to figure her out as well.
"Who's your friend?" the man demands.
Basil doesn't answer him. The man growls at Basil's defiance and raises his weapon. He swings down upon him. Basil raises his own weapon, a blade shaped in the form of a boomerang. Though Basil raised it up in time, the swordsman tosses Basil into a building. The man was incredibly powerful! The swordsman focuses on her and stalks towards her.
"Voi! What's that kid to you? Spit it out or get sliced up!"
Tsunami shakes her head. She didn't know him! She didn't know why he knew her and tried to protect her. The sound of the fizzing dynamite is heard overhead and Tsunami and the man look up at the same time. The swordsman leaps back out of the range of the raining bombs. He looks over his shoulder at his attacker. Two teenage boys had decided to butt in on the swordsman's business. He growls as he turns fully to face them. The boy with the gray-silver hair glares at him coldly, one hand in his pocket and the other with sticks of dynamite between his fingers. The other boy was grinning like a fool with a katana held over his shoulder at the hilt.
"I strongly advise that you don't lay a hand on her," Hayato declares.
"Yeah," Takeshi continues to grin as his eyes harden, "We kind of frown on that!"
The man snorts, "Hah isn't that sweet!? What are ya', her bodyguards?! Hey! If you defy me…you'll die!"
"Please stop!" Basil raises himself out of the hole. "He would best thee easily!"
The man cackles and rushes at Hayato and Takeshi. Takeshi meets the swordsman and their swords rang against each other! Takeshi was swinging his sword like a bat! The swordsman definitely knew his craft. His footwork was precise and his swings curve and thrust enabling him to deflect and attack.
"You don't know any swordsmanship, do you?"
"Is that a problem?" Takeshi smiles tightly. He was sweating with the strain of the man's attack. With each of his swing his bones shudder and his arms and other limbs felt like limp noodles!
"Your swings are weak!" the man brings his sword down on Takeshi's.
Takeshi withstands the attack, however something whizzed past his peripheral vision! He didn't get a chance to react as a large flash fills the area with a great crack and a boom. Tsunami yells for Takeshi. Through the smoke, Takeshi was seen to take a few steps, before falling over onto his side, scratched and singed. Hayato swears and makes to throw his dynamite.
"Too slow!" the swordsman bursts out of the smoke.
He slashes at the bomber and cuts his dynamite into halves! Following through the movement of his swing, the man bring his unarmed fist into Hayato's face. Hayato was instantly sent to the ground unconscious. Tsunami looks between her two friends. This was getting dangerous! This man was far too strong!
"Hayato…Takeshi…" Tsunami trembles.
"Now then…DIE!"
The swordsman makes a final attack to end Hayato's life.
"NO!"
Tsunami covers Hayato with her body, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She looks the swordsman dead in the eyes, "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" she roars.
With her roar, her fangs and eyes flash. The swordsman takes a step back from her. Reborn watches carefully. The man looked as though he was frightened stiff. He didn't move an inch as Tsunami held his gaze. Was this what her cousins were talking about a month ago? Was it possible that Tsunami's "alpha gaze" could affect humans? The swordsman grits his teeth. In a jerking motion he begins to raise his sword.
"VOIIII! Who the hell are youuuuu!?"
The man snaps out of Tsunami's gaze and swings his sword….
KLANG! Basil with the blue flames puts himself between the crazed swordsman and Tsunami. The man laughs at Basil's persistence. He tears down on him, beating his sword onto Basil's weapon! Tsunami winces, the sound of metal on metal sounded like a funeral bell ringing inside her head. Her pained ears were making her head hurt.
"Tsunami. You need to leave this place, now!" Mukuro urges from the bell.
"I can't! I can't leave them here!"
"Such a sweet girl!"
Hayato's body rose from under Tsunami.
"N-nekomasa-sama!?"
Nekomasa raises Hayato's head and smirks, his acid green eyes gleaming. "Never a dull moment with you all!"
With a bit of a wince, Nekomasa stands on Hayato's feet. He sighs and flicks his hair out of his face. He watches Basil as he struggles against the swordsman. He twists Hayato's face in disgust and covers his nose.
"Ugh, I can't stand that smell!"
"Smell?" Tsunami questions and takes a whiff.
"It's the combination of stale sea water and wet dog!"
The swordsman throws the strange boy away again and points his sword at Hayato. He laughs at him for his persistence. Nekomasa gently pushes Tsunami away from him. He points to Basil and tells her to stay close to him. The man attacks Nekomasa. Nekomasa grins and just when the point tip of his sword was close to between his eyes Nekomasa ducks under the blade and slashes across the man's chest with his claws. The man gasps and leaps away. Nekomasa was still grinning as the man holds his chest.
"Damn you…" he snarls.
Tsunami gasps! The man's voice and his teeth!
"VOOOOOOI! I'll be back you brats!"
The man swings his sword. From the sword, he fires a smoke screen and makes a retreat. Nekomasa snorts and releases his hold of Hayato's body. It collapses to the ground. Tsunami checks over Hayato. He was still out from the previous attack by the swordsman.
"Tsunami! Are you okay?"
"D-Dino?!"
Dino, Romario and his men were hurrying towards them. Basil sits up by her side and sighs in relief. There was a meow. Nekomasa in his own large feline body head butts Tsunami's arm and purrs. Hayato groans as he wakes up. He was in daze for a moment but becomes alert seeing Tsunami's face.
"Boss! Are you okay?!"
"Yes, I'm fine." Tsunami strokes Nekomasa's back. "Thanks to Nekomasa-sama…and him…hey, are you okay?"
Basil nods as he smiles at her. "I am fine…I apologize for endangering thee."
Seriously why was a teenage boy talking like that? Basil's body shudders and he slumps to the floor. Dino helps Basil to his feet, slinging his arm over his shoulders. The police sirens were going off at a distance.
"Tsunami, you and your friends get out of here. Don't worry by this kid. I'm going to take him to get medical attention…"
"Oh, Hayato and…Takeshi!"
Takeshi comes running slightly injured.
"Gokudera and Yamamoto are fine," said Reborn. "They're lucky. It could have been worse…"
"Of course it would have been worse!" Tsunami yells. "Why didn't you do anything, Reborn!"
"I couldn't for that guy was another Vongola."
"…..Another Vongola…why was he attacking us? That makes no sense."
"It doesn't make sense, but I have little information of what is going on." Reborn explains.
"Hmph! Typical mafia. Mafia is filled with nothing but backstabbers." Mukuro grumbles to Tsunami. "My apologies if I wasn't much of service to you."
"As I was saying, you and the others were lucky. At their current skill levels they and you would be dead!"
Tsunami sees Hayato and Takeshi flinch. They were of little help in protecting Tsunami. It was Basil that the man was chasing after that was able to fend him off the most. Tsunami argues that they did their best, but she didn't do anything at all to help herself. Reborn takes her hand and drags her away. He tells the boys to go home. They have some issues to deal with.
Reborn has Tsunami follow Dino to the hospital where Basil was checked in. He had some mild injuries but he would recover. Tsunami learns from Dino that Basil was a part of the Vongola! Dino was very much sure by Basil's actions around Tsunami confirmed that he was indeed her ally. What also confirmed Basil's allegiance was what Romario found in Basil's clothes. Romario holds the case and opens them.
"He had these. I'm sure they are for you."
In the case were seven rings of seven different colors.
"Those rings are very important, Tsunami." Reborn's tone and face was serious. "They're known as the Vongola Half Rings. They're Vongola familgia heirlooms. They were stored in a safe place for the last three years until now."
"…Well, actually! Those rings are fakes…" Dino smiles.
"What!? Basil nearly died over fakes?!" Tsunami yells.
"Calm down, calm down. It was a safety precaution…"
"That's no excuse!" Tsunami continues to yell.
"Where are the real Vongola halves then?" asks Reborn.
"They're with me," Dino pulls out the exact same case out of his jacket.
Dino holds the case out to Tsunami. She takes the case and opens it. Inside were the seven rings, same as the fakes. From looking at them, they were old, but well-kept and well-worn. Each ring had a gem with a color from the rainbow. Tsunami couldn't help but sense some energy from each ring. There was one ring she was drawn to and she reaches out to touch it. It was the color of her flame. But then she looks over to the Basil. The poor boy was almost killed because of these rings. She shoves the rings into Dino's chest.
"I don't want them!"
"But…"
"No! I'm just a student that goes to remedial studies! I don't want to be part of the mafia! I'm going to be priestess! Good bye!"
Tsunami runs out of the room.
Dino sighs and smiles wistfully. Tsunami was stubborn. Maybe she was more stubborn than he was when he was Reborn's student.
"Dino, Basil was a diversion, wasn't he?"
Dino confirms Reborn guess. The one who sent Basil with the fakes knew that this would happen. Basil may have had no idea that the rings he was carrying were fakes and fought nearly tooth and nail to get the fake rings to Tsunami. It was very unfortunate and rather harsh in Dino's opinion. He looks down at the case. Dino shouldn't be the one to give the Vongola half-rings to Tsunami. It should be the man that had arrived to have given them to her. Reborn agreed with Dino.
Tsunami felt bad leaving Dino behind like that. She should be happy to see him, but with Dino came mafia business. She huffs. Mafia! Dino was visiting because it involved the mafia…just like her dad! Walking into her yard she takes notice that the laundry line was full of oversized work clothes. Her eyes widen and she rushes through the door. In front of the door were large, muddy boots! In the hall was a workman's helmet with light and a pick axe. Dread fills her, her heart races! He was here…he really was here! Bianchi was passing by, carrying some large black plastic case, and confirms what Tsunami was thinking. Bianchi told her that Nana had gone out to buy more groceries.
"Your father ate like a hungry lion." Bianchi commented before leaving out the house.
Next to come running to her was Futa and Lambo. Both young boys' faces were bright red with flush and an alcoholic odor wafts under her nose.
"Are you two drunk!?" she shrieks.
Futa was holding the evidence, a tall bottle of sake. Tsunami snatches it away. Futa giggled and said that he was told that it was therapeutic water! Tsunami nearly swore out loud. A curse word was on the tip of her tongue when she sees Ipin! With her round head she looked like a red balloon and would float up to ceiling by the alcohol she had taken. Tsunami puts the sake away in the fridge. She picks up loud snoring coming from the living room. She trembles as she makes her way to the room.
There he was! He hadn't changed at all! He was sprawled haphazardly about the floor in an undershirt tank and his ridiculous boxers. Tsunami hated his boxers! They had such lame designs! Empty trays and plates were stacked on the floor and table. Beer bottles and crushed cans were tossed about everywhere. Tsunami is filled with disgust as she stares at the man that was her father. She groans lowly and grabs her head. Her father was home. She turns away from him and distracts herself by gathering the drunken children and puts them to bed. She felt tired but was on edge. She takes a moment to thank the gods that her father was asleep. She doesn't know how to deal with him yet! Then, an idea came to her. She whips her cell phone out of her bag and she stomps down the stairs. She stands over her father, making sure to take in the destruction of the living in the frame of her phone with her father and takes a picture. Going back to her room, she doesn't see Reborn who had watched her take the picture and returned to her room. He sighs. Tsunami's unhappiness of her father's presence had not gone unnoticed by him. There had to have been a better way for Iemitsu to handle his family, especially Tsunami. He left the girl with nothing but speculation of his disappearance. She was very close to her grandfather. One of the few male role models in her family along with her uncle Yoyori following close behind. Buiiro disliked Iemitsu and probably shared his dislike with Tsunami which may have influenced her opinions of her father, intentionally or unintentionally.
In the Tejinaka temple, several family members close to Tsunami receive a text from her. The text said, "9 years and this…?" with a photo of Iemitsu. Several member sigh. Tsunami was angry. She was trying to vent her frustrations and she certainly wasn't going to share with her mother who was probably ecstatic with the return of her husband. Buiiro's wives had to coax their growling husband to release his cell phone…the screen now had a crack.
Nekomasa was following a female cat and her litter of three kittens. The mother looks back at him and meows.
"Thank you, my lord, for taking time to listen to a request of one of my children!"
Nekomasa smiles and shrugs his shoulders somewhat as he walked, "Even kittens have troubles. Besides, I'm rather curious about this human who risked her life to save one of your kittens' lives."
"It took awhile, but I managed to find the hospital building that has her."
"Is this it?" Nekomasa looks up.
"Yes, my lord!"
Nekomasa tilts his head. This hospital was familiar. He had followed Tsunami and the human child Reborn to this building. It was where that boy with the blue flames was being held. His face twists up when he also picks up a familiar scent that was fresh. It was the scent of stale sea water and the scent of a wet dog again. Nekomasa orders the mother to stay outside with her kittens. There was a dangerous creature inside the building.
The swordsman with the long white hair had tracked Basil's location to the very hospital he was stalking in. He had avoided running into the staff and was able to slip under all security cameras. He found Basil's room by the number he pulled from peeking through the register when the nurse was away from the counter. He slips into the room without a sound. The door he closes behind him didn't utter a click. He goes to the corner of the hospital room where a camera hung and cuts all the wires. Basil was resting in his bed. He notices the closet in the room and decides to investigate it. Inside he finds Basil's clothes. He searches through them and he grins with glee when he finds a case. Opening it, his grin grew wider and wild, bearing his canines. Inside were the valued half rings of the Vongola. He snaps the case shut and pockets the case carefully down his new coat's pocket. He returns to Basil's side. This kid gave him a lot of trouble! He had to give the kid credit for giving him quite the chase. He looked so tired and worn out. Perhaps it would be better if the kid rests permanently! He raises his sword above the boy's neck. A growl from the window and feline screech announces Nekomasa's arrival. Nekomasa leaps upon the swordsman scratching about his face. The man yell's as he struggles to grab the cat! His sword that was attached to his wrist, not being held in his hand, knocks over Basil's IV stand, shreds the curtains and shatters a lamp. The man gets a good grip of the cat by its neck and flings him across the room. Nekomasa lands on his feet like any cat would. His fur was frazzled, his ears flat against his head.
"Hello, sea dog bitch!" Nekomasa speaks in human tongue.
"Huh, so you're one of those wannabe cat gods of Japan, eh? You're no god! You're just as mortal as I am!"
Nekomasa growls in fury, "Insolent bitch!"
Nekomasa lungs at the man! The man grins, this time he was ready for the cat! They dance around each other, taking swipes at each other. With every miss, Nekomasa grows larger and larger; he was now the size of a huge dog. It was getting hard for the nekomata to move around the room. Nekomasa was getting frustrated in trying to catch the man that had insulted him about his mortality. He would show him! He would…
"Stupid furball!" laughs the man. "You cats are so self-centered and think you have everything under control…you've forgotten that I am a 'sea dog' and not human…"
The man moves like liquid and had the speed of a shark creates cuts on the cat's hide. Nekomasa howls and he thrashes about trying to lay his claws on the man. But it was like fighting water! His claws just missing him and goes through him without damage! The man finds an opening. Basil was unprotected and he goes to attack him! Nekomasa had completely forgotten about the boy. The boy had protected his precious person Tsunami. He leaps into the air to pounce on the man. The man turns and thrusts…
Nekomasa gasps and his eye enlarges in shock. His weight and gravity sinks his body onto the man's sword. He was pierced right through his chest. Nekomasa chokes and places paw on the hilt of the man's blade.
"Damn…you…bitch!"
"Stupid cat!" The man sneers.
He turns the blade so the cat slides off the sword. Nekomasa pants and struggles to stand. The swordsman taps the flat of the blade into his hand.
"It's not enough to leave you to die…there's such a high possibility of you surviving this injury…."
"Bitch! Sea dog bitch! I won't forget this! I won't forget this! I curse you! I curse you…I…"
With a slash of his blade…a line of blood splatters across the floor, up the wall and onto the ceiling. Nekomasa's head rolls onto the floor. His body flops down. The man huffs and cleans his blade of the cat's blood onto Basil's sheets. The man contemplates continuing what he had planned to do, but hears the cat's voice.
"Curse you…" his head speaks. "Curse you…I curse you, sea dog bitch!"
The man's eyes looks out the window with a distant gaze, "What can you do to me, cat? I'm already cursed."
The cat's single green eye grays losing the eerie green light of life. There was the sound of running from the hall. The man rolls his eyes. The staff and security sure took their time. Basil was lucky. Thanks to the cat, he was able to live a little longer. The man had what he needed. He leaps out of the window and had disappeared by the time security guards burst into the room.
