KatekyoHitman Reborn
The Selkie's Secret
By: SakuraSamuraiGirl
Katekyo Hitman Reborn, its story and its characters belong to Akira Amano
Chapter Three: Presents
Tsunami felt someone's presence over her as she was asleep. She was between sleep and being awake. That moment when you're aware that you're asleep and wanted to stay asleep. But the presence she was sensing loomed heavily on her. Her nose wiggles and she sniffs gently. She smells someone masculine, with a hint of a musk, sweat and alcohol. Her eyes snap open and she sees her father. Iemitsu had just put something around her neck. It was a bit dark in her room, but there was a bit light streaming through her open curtain from the streetlight for him to see what he was doing. Iemitsu freezes when Tsunami became wide awake. Her eyes shown through the dark like headlights. They were wide with surprise then narrow when she makes a growl in her throat.
"Papa?"
"….Hehee, morning Tsu-chan!"
Tsunami sat up and turns her lamp on. Putting a hand on her chest she finds a chain and lifts it. On the end of the chain was one of the Vongola Half Rings! She snatches it off her neck so fast that it caught in her hair. She squeaks in pain and tries to untangle the chain. Iemitsu chuckles and gently bats her hands to help untangle the chain. Tsunami pouts in silence. Her leg bounces under her blanket.
"Heh, you're usually a deep sleeper! I got to be more careful!"
"Hmph!"
"Aww, don't be that way."
Iemitsu frees the chain from Tsunami's hair. Tsunami moves away from Iemitsu but he grabs her hand and places the ring in her hand.
"Tsunami, it's yours."
"I don't want it!" She hisses. "I don't want to be a part of the mafia! It's nothing but trouble! I'm going to be a priestess!"
"I know you're training to be a priestess. I'm not going to stop you. You can be a priestess and a boss for the Vongola."
"Not happening! Ever since Reborn moved in with us, this mafia stuff has been stressing me out! I've hardly have time to train but my meditation has increased!"
She looks away from Iemitsu and focuses on the clock. Noticing the time she slips out of bed. Iemitsu is pulled off her bed and directed to the door. Tsunami was going to get ready for her early morning meditation, thank goodness. Without a word he was pushed out the door and it was closed in his face. He asks Tsunami if she wanted breakfast, but Tsunami replied that she wasn't hungry. Within minutes she was dressed in her priestess attire with her bag in her hand. She gives Iemitsu a quick good bye in passing and leaves the house. Iemitsu sighs and rubs the back of his neck with a small smile.
"So, that's my little girl."
"She isn't so little anymore."
Iemitsu looks down on Reborn. Reborn had his little hands in his pockets. Iemitsu chuckles and nods his head in agreement. She had grown a lot. She was growing up to be as beautiful as his Nana.
"We've accomplished a great deal since I arrived. She even taught me a thing or two." Reborn shrugs.
"Oh really? That's a surprise. I was even more surprise when she defeated Mukuro with her spirit magic thing. I knew that Nana's family are priests and they take their job very seriously, but I didn't know how useful their abilities were."
"Didn't you know that they do stuff like that?"
"Well, not in detail. All I knew was that they handled a lot of funerals. The Tejinaka were mostly involved with the dead and all that. I guess I saw them as ghost whisperers."
"Hmph, they're a lot more than that."
"But, their ways can't be of any use against real mafia."
Reborn smirks, 'If only you knew!' "She does still need more training. We have lots to do still."
"Heh, heh, I know, I know…then I leave everything to you then."
"….You really should talk to her."
"Hm?"
"Don't 'hm?' me. Do you realize how upset she is about you?"
"Me? She's upset with me?" Iemitsu points at himself.
Reborn sighs and shakes his head. "Nevermind. It's not my job to handle real family affairs."
After her early morning meditation, Tsunami's mind was clear and calm again. The half-ring was in her bag. She was going to give the ring back to Dino who she hopes was there. At the hospital, there was a crowd of onlookers standing around outside. They were talking and trying to peep over each others shoulder. As she drew close she heard from the people that visitors weren't allowed in until the investigation and the police leave. Something had happen last night. Police cars were parked close to the entrance of the hospital. Policemen were running in and out. Searching the grounds and cutting off certain areas with police tape. A group of police were by the building search amongst the grass and bushes for evidence. Tsunami knew it was Dino's hand on her shoulder before he made his presence known to her. Looking at his expression it was serious and full of worry.
"Dino?"
He looks up at the window. From below, you can see police at the window. One poked his head out and looked down on the police below. He shakes his head and shrugs, seemingly dumbfounded.
"That's Basil's room," said Dino. "I'm unsure of what happened. We can't go in, though we were the ones that brought him. We can't get involve with the police."
Tsunami bit her lip. Basil saved her and her friends life! What if something happened to him last night? She hears a meow and looks down to see a cat. The cat brushes against her legs, walks away a few feet and looks over her back. Tsunami follows the cat with Dino following curiously. Away from the hospital down an empty street that cat looks up to Tsunami and sees Dino behind her. She flattens her ears. Tsunami waves her hand.
"It's okay Cat-san. You can speak to me in front of him."
"…You can understand cats?"
"Well, I am part animal…" shrugs Tsunami.
The cat meows mournfully. Tsunami crouches down to the ground and opens her arms. The cat hops into lap and buries her face into Tsunami's neck. The cat mews and cries in her lap and as it made noise. Tsunami clutches the cat tightly and whimpers. Dino watches as tears filled Tsunami's eyes and ran down both of her cheeks. The cat turns her head and licks the tears off one of cheeks. She meows again and climbs off her lap disappearing into the shrubs.
"Tsunami-chan?" Dino reaches down and helps her to her feet.
"N-N-Nekomasa-sama…" she whimpers.
"Yo!"
Dino looks behind him and sees Takeshi approaching them. He had a wide smile on his face but it quickly melts away seeing Tsunami in distress.
"Tsu-tsunami-chan, what's wrong?"
"Nekomasa…sama…He's dead! He was killed last night…protecting Basil…from that man!" Tsunami covers her face. "Nekomasa-sama is dead!" she sobs.
Takeshi takes Tsunami from Dino and hugs her. He strokes her hair and her back. He could feel the tears soaking through his pulls away from him and digs in her bag. She sobs and rips the half ring on a chain out and holds it out for Dino. Recognition shows in Takeshi's eyes.
"Hey! That's…"
"Dino! Take it back!"
"W-what!?"
"I don't want it! This…this thing…this stupid ring is the reason why Nekomasa's dead! That man was after those fake rings! Nekomasa is dead because of these rings! Take it back! I don't want it!"
"But…but…" Dino stutters.
"I have one of those too!" Takeshi pulls another ring-half from his pocket. "I got it in the mail. So, it was from Dino-san, right?"
"Why do you have one!?" yells Tsunami.
"Because they have been chosen," Reborn appears by her side.
The rings had been sent to each member of Tsunami's familgia that are deemed worthy of being able to protect the next Vongola boss, Tsunami. The first seven members of the Vongola's inner circle passed down the rings to certify the succession of the next rings' handlers. They had been passed down for many generations. Each member of the inner circle is unique and had distinctive traits that match the ring given to them. Tsunami's ring was the Sky and belonged to the first generation boss. It was said that the first boss was like the sky. The firmament over all that possessed deep understanding and tolerance. In his inner circle of lieutenants, each of them resembled the weather. The Rain ring: the passing shower that cleanses; the Storm ring: the gale that blows with fury; the Cloud ring: the drifting cloud, unbounded; the Sun ring: the orb that brings the day; the Mist ring: the fog that creeps and obscures and finally, the Lightning ring: the bolts that pierce the air.
"I don't care about all that!" Tsunami yells after Reborn explanation. "These things make us targets! That man with the long hair killed Nekomasa!"
"So, it was that guy again. More than likely he took the fake rings from Basil. But, he'll be back when he discovers they're fake." Said Reborn.
Takeshi looks at the ring and goes into thought.
"….So he's coming back then?" He clutches the ring.
"Yup, I estimate that he'll be back in about ten days," Reborn smirks knowingly.
"Ha, then I'll keep it!"
"What!?" Tsunami whips her head towards him.
"I don't like to lose!" Takeshi grins. "If he comes back he may try to hurt you! I got to get ready so I'll be able to protect you from him!"
Tsunami stares at him in shock. Takeshi touches the cheek that was still wet.
"I'll get him back for taking your kitty. Don't cry anymore." He leans in close and kisses her forehead before turning to leave running away.
"We won't be able to beat the Varia with two guardians. We have the other guardians to train."
Tsunami jumps when she looked back to Reborn. He had changed clothes and was dressed in his Master Pao-Pao disguise! Before she could ask why, the reason shows up with Ryohei coming at full sprint up the street. He was on the other side but he noticed them and drags to a halt before crossing and coming up to her.
"TSUNAMI-CHAN!?...Huh…why are you crying!?" he grabs her face.
"Uh…" she was speechless.
"Perfect timing."
"Ah! Master PaoPao! You summoned me to train me?"
"Train you? D-do you realize why!?" asks Tsunami.
"I know about the rings and the timetable." Ryohei becomes serious staring into her eyes. "There's an extremely big match coming up and you need my help! So I'm going to help you!...Is that why you're crying!? NO WORRIES! I'll be on your team and make sure that we win!"
"With that, I have a friend of mine that would assist in your training," Reborn's pacifier flashes.
From above, Colonello comes down from the sky with his pet eagle. The eagle sets him down on the ground and settles in the blonde baby's hair. He smiles at Tsunami and winks at her.
"It's been awhile, kora!"
"Colonello!?"
"I have arranged a tutor for the wearers of the rings."
Colonello looks Ryohei over. With his long rifle he pokes at Ryohei's chest and abs. He snorts unamused. Reborn agreed with Colonello's observation. Ryohei could use some work. But the blonde baby smiles and accepts the challenge. He tosses Ryohei a bandana like his own with the number two and leads Ryohei away for his possibly intense training regime. Ryohei was fired up and followed without question! Tsunami's head was spinning. Dino holds onto her and squeezes her shoulders in comfort.
"I'm sorry for your lost, Tsunami-chan. I'm sure everything is overwhelming. I'm afraid that I have to go and see my student that Reborn has chosen for me."
Tsunami grabs her hair and growls. Not an angry human growl of frustration, but it was very animal and her fangs gnash together. She runs away from Dino and Reborn to home.
"Aren't you going to start your training with her as well?" asks Dino.
"…later. You know training with her isn't easy because of what she is."
Dino nods.
Tsunami finds her father in the yard throwing Lambo and Ipin in the air.
"PAPA!" she yells.
Iemitsu is startled and forgets to catch Lambo. Tsunami reacts quickly and catches Lambo before he hits the ground. Iemitsu was surprised and laughs at her. Tsunami sets Lambo down and grabs her father by his shirt dragging him away from home. She lets go of him after a block and half and stops in an empty lot. She grips her hands and bites her lip before turning to him.
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" she screams.
"Tsunami-chan?"
"Look you! I know that you're part of the mafia! Reborn had told me a long time ago!"
"Tch, Reborn…"
Tsunami stomps her foot. "I'm not as stupid as mom!"
"Now, Tsunami…" Iemitsu turns serious.
"I don't want to be a part of your mafia! I hate the mafia! It brings nothing but trouble and death! Nekomasa...Nekomasa is dead because of your mafia!"
Iemitsu sees the tears on his daughter's face. They were heavy and were soaking her cheeks. Her eyes were red before she started crying. She had been crying earlier. Nekomasa must have been a friend of hers. Iemitsu bit his lip. A friend had died because of the mafia.
"I…I didn't know. How did it happen?"
Tsunami sniffs, "…he was protecting a boy name Basil."
She hears her father tense, "I was told…that…the man with the long hair found Basil and he stopped him from killing him. But he…" she covers her face.
Tsunami is wrapped up into the large arms of her father and brought close to his chest. His large hand pets her hair. Just like he always had done when she was small, he covered the crown of her head, nestling his fingers between the spikes of her hair and combs them down the length of her hair to the tip. He held her as close to him as possible with his other hand holding her back. It's been so, so long sense her father held her this way! So long! She had felt so safe and loved in this embrace. She whimpers and buries her face into the center of his wide chest. Her hands grip his chest and she starts crying again.
"Papa…I hate you!"
Iemitsu stiffens and looks down on her, "What?!"
Tsunami looks up and Iemitsu's heart broke. Her wide honey-brown eyes were shimmering with tears. Her nose was snotty and her lower lip was drawn in under her teeth. He wipes her cheek with a thumb.
"I hate you! I hate you for leaving me! I hate you! I hate you for bringing your mafia business here! I hate you for lying to Mama…!"
"Tsunami-chan…"
Tsunami wails and clings to her father.
After crying, the two of the walked together in silence hand in hand. Tsunami held his hand tightly. Her face was red from embarrassment. She hadn't cried that hard in a long time. Not since she realized that her father may not be coming back when she was younger. Iemitsu sighs deeply and rubs the back of his neck.
"Tsunami. I didn't want you hurt you. I had to go."
"The mafia. It's starting to sound like an easy excuse…"
"But, it's the truth. I didn't come to see you because it would have put you and your mother in danger. Some would have realized my patterns of my visits to Japan. I only stayed away to keep you and your mother safe."
Tsunami kept herself from snapping that right after he left them an assassin came to the house to kill her. But her mother killed him instead.
"What changed now!? Why do I have to get involved with mafia now?"
"I can't say no to my boss. I was ordered to make you a candidate. I promise you, if I had a choice…I wouldn't have!"
Tsunami couldn't argue against that. Her grandfather had that much power over her clan as well. If Buiiro told you to do something you do it! Buiiro was a terrifying being to stand up to. She remembers him negotiating with the Vindice on his terms and he didn't budge and had no problem in causing harm to get what he raises her hand to his lips and kisses it. He smiles down on her and she blushes. Her father was roguishly handsome! No wonder her mother got flustered! She looks away from him and he chuckles. It had gotten dark and the streetlights had lit up by the time Tsunami and Iemitsu returned home. Nana meets them at the door and she gathers Tsunami into her arms. Her mother had heard through the animal grapevine that Nekomasa was dead. Iemitsu felt bad that even Nana knew who this Nekomasa was. Strange kisses her daughter.
"I…I don't know if it's a good time but…you got some presents from home."
"Presents? Oh! From grandpa!"
"Yes, you were expecting them, right?" She smiles. "They're in your room."
Tsunami nods and goes upstairs. Iemitsu stops her and pulls her back to kiss her cheek. She blushes and rushes upstairs. He chuckles after her. Nana sighs in relief. Iemitsu looks at her questioningly.
"Oh! I'm just glad that Tsunami and you are getting along again! For a little bit, I thought she hated you!"
Iemitsu pulls his wife close to him and kisses her. Nana moans and wraps her arms his neck. Then, it was Iemitsu was pulled into the kiss and he growls. His hands wander up and down her side. There was a cough and they broke a part and look down to see Reborn. Reborn was watching them. Nana blushes.
"Ara! Reborn-chan! Um…why don't you hurry upstairs and open Tsunami's presents?"
Reborn smirks wider and he pulls down his fedora, "Yes, ma'am."
He hops up the stairs. Nana giggles going into the kitchen. Iemitsu pouts and goes into the living room.
Tsunami finds the packages waiting for her on her bed. She picks up the smallest package and opens it with a claw. Mukuro appears and leans over her shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I am now."
Opening the box she finds a long string of black rosary beads. Each bead was as small as a started counting them but stopped after thirty. It was so long! Mukuro tilts his head curiously. Tsunami finds a letter an opens it. Buiiro didn't understand computers and still wrote his letters by hand. Tsunami thought his ink brush strokes were beautiful and keeps them in a special box. Reading the letter, Buiiro explains that there were one-hundred black beads. The beads act as a tracker for Mukuro's good deeds. For every good deed, the bead would turn white. Tsunami holds the beads and thinks. She remembers Mukuro running a bath for her.
"Let's see. Mukuro's first good deed," She looks on the first the bead. "Mukuro ran a bath when I was upset…is that a good enough deed?"
She gasps as the bead turns white, "Yes! It counted! 1 out of a 100, Mukuro-kun."
"Fantastic." Mukuro sighs.
Tsunami decides that she would have to keep it on her at all times. She would hate to forget a good deed and not mention it to the rosaries when it happens! Moving onto the next package Tsunami had to rest it on the bed. It was rather heavy! Opening it and moving aside the packaging popcorn she finds seven large rosaries! They were the size of a full tangerine! What shocked her was that each bead was of the seven colors of the rainbow just likes the Vongola Half-rings! The rosaries were dull in color and had markings on the inside of them. Tsunami recognizes the characters of Sanskrit representing the seven chakras.
"What is that, Tsunami?"
Reborn was on her bed looking over the colorful rosaries, "They look like the Vongola Half-rings colors."
"Oh the irony!"Mukuro chuckles.
"I've seen some members of my clan with this weapon."
"It's a weapon?"
"It has several uses, but yeah it is a weapon. But to use it I have to meditate over each bead and what they represent!"
"Which is?" Reborn takes a seat on a pillow.
Tsunami reaches out to the red bead. She lifts it out of the package. She holds it in the palm of her hand.
"The Red Chakra: Muladhara; represents the physical body. The physical body houses the soul and is the base our support of our soul. Our base, our body allows us to connect with others on the physical plane."
"Funny. Red is the color of the Storm ring," said Reborn. "He strives to be your main support as your right-hand. Didn't see him with his ring, must've went straight ahead to his trainer to start training."
Tsunami smiles a little and sets the red bead into the box. She taps the orange bead, "The Orange Chakra: Svadisthana; is the physical energy of the body. It provides warmth and powers up the spirit." She touches the yellow bead, "The Yellow Chakra is Manipura; of the mind. It gives one the ability to understand and think. The mind must be open and clear to perceive the world."
"Definitely matches up with the Sun ring's description," said Reborn.
"I'm starting to agree with the Arcobaleno. It's almost eerie how similar these rosaries are becoming like the rings."
Tsunami continues on, trying to remember what she was taught, "The Green Chakra, Anahata is an extension of the mind, the emotions. It is the link that connects the body with the spirit. Emotions are powerful things. The most powerful emotion is love."
"Well, the similarities had just been broken. That's nothing like the Lightning ring…"
"I don't know. Lightning is like emotions. They can change in a flash."
She picks up the blue bead. The color was the same color as Takeshi's Rain ring. "Visuddha is tranquility and truth. The body and mind must be at peace to become one in spirit. To be at peace, you must know the truth about yourself. Once you know the truth you can learn the truth of others."
"Now were back on track that is of the Rain."
"Anja the Indigo Chakra; also known as the third eye or the mind's eye. It is the spiritual energy giving one intuition, insight and focus. We use this chakra to connect with ghosts and spirits. It also develops psychic abilities. Some of my family can communicate telepathically. I would love to learn that! I would be able to communicate with ghosts more easily or better yet with my friends! I can already track you and the others by your soul! And last but definitely not the least, Sahasrara, the Violet Chakra. To be one with one self, with your spirit and be able to project yourself into your spiritual form. That would be a tough one to do."
"How does it work?" asks Reborn.
"Well…." Tsunami goes back to her grandfather's letter.
To start the process of using the chakra rosary the user must bond with the beads. To bond with the beads Tsunami must input her spiritual energy inside the beads. It would only have a spark of her powers. For the beads to awaken Tsunami must focus on each individual chakra and put all her energy of that chakra from her to the beads. It takes much concentration and energy. Sometimes the beads would activate when she faces a trail or powerful spiritual moment relating to that chakra. Tsunami takes each bead out of the box onto a pillow.
"Okay, so each bead needs a bit of might energy to bond with me…"
Tsunami sits cross-legged on her bed. She holds her hands over the beads and closes her eyes. She remembers her training and readings. Each chakra had a sound used to call out to it. These sounds are heard in meditations of monks and priests of the Buddhist sects. The Tejinaka didn't limit themselves to one set of techniques. They have adopted many spiritual techniques from a variety of Asian religious cultures.
"Lam…." She whispers to the red chakra.
"Vam…" to the orange chakra.
"Ram…" the yellow.
"Yam…" the green.
"Ham…" the blue.
"Om…" the indigo.
"Ng." to the violet.
She repeats her calling to the chakra and loses herself. She doesn't feel Reborn or Mukuro, who were watching quietly as she slips into meditation. The characters in the center of the beads brighten brighter and brighter. She does this for half of an hour and the beads slowly rise one by one as she called each one. In a flash, the large glass beads shrink and wrap around her wrist, held together by a string of her soul. Tsunami gasps feeling the warmth of the beads energy around her wrist. She lifts her hand and stares at the beads.
"Wow!"
"Indeed!" Mukuro comments.
