Obscure Sympathy

By: PhoenixJustice

Disclaimer: Katekyo Hitman Reborn! is owned by Akira Amano. I only own this story and make no profit from this.

Warning: Rated Mature for swearing, violent situations, sexual situations, yaoi, etc.

Pairings: eventual 6927 (Mukuro/Tsuna), with some S80 (Squalo/Yamamoto), Shamal/Gokudera, Ken/Chrome/Chikusa, etc

Setting: Post-TYL!arc, spoilers for the series up to the Ten Years Later arc.

Summary: He didn't understand what it all meant, at first. Then he learned what liking someone truly meant. That would have been the end of it if he wasn't the next Vongola Boss and the person he liked was a ex-Mafia guy who wanted nothing better than to take control of his body to destroy the very Mafia that he came from, and which, Tsuna would soon be apart of. And that was the least of their worries.

: :: :

Part Six

: :: :

It didn't take all that long to get to Kokuyo; Yamamoto stayed outside the dilapidated building where Chrome, Chikusa and Ken lived, keeping lookout, while Gokudera patrolled around inside. It hadn't been easy to convince him to leave the Tenth, that Ryohei would be more than capable of looking after him (not to mention the fact that Tsuna could also fight for himself now) but finally, with a final look at Tsuna, he goes off to patrol.

There wasn't a real big chance of something actually happening to Tsuna or anything, but it was better to be safe than sorry. So with that Tsuna and Ryohei head off to where Tsuna remembers fighting Mukuro, thinking it to be the best place to start looking for Chrome. He was right; they were all there.

Ken was kneeling on the floor while Chikusa stood, both of them looking down at a prone Chrome, who was laying on the floor, either asleep or unconscious.

"Chrome-san!" Tsuna suddenly exclaimed, hurrying into the room.

Mukuro's two friends? followers? both turn sharply, Chikusa taking out his yo-yo and Ken taking a battle stance. They relax, slightly, when they see that it's Tsuna standing there.

"What happened?" He asks in concern, kneeling down to get a better look at Chrome. Reborn, who had been surprising quiet the whole way to Kokuyo, heads over to look at her too, small brows furrowed in what looked like deep concentration.

"..."

"...it started when Hibari Kyoya first showed up." Chikusa said reluctantly. He and Ken both seemed to not want to talk, but having to anyway as the situation was calling for it.

"He attacked Kaki-pii," said Ken, looking at Chrome's unconscious form and not at Tsuna. "Then he demanded to know where Mukuro-san was. He found him and the next thing we know, we hear Mukuro-san cry out."

"We rushed over to see what had happened, and saw her," Chikusa said, pointing at Chrome. "on the ground. Hibari said he didn't attack her or Mukuro for that matter. I didn't believe him at first, but he gave off this aura of being..."

"Pissed that he couldn't fight like he had wanted," Ken finished. "She keeps waking up and getting knocked out. Calling out for Mukuro-san...I don't know what's going on with him." Even though Ken was not looking at Tsuna, he could still tell that he was worried about Mukuro. Him and Chikusa both.

"M-Mukuro-sama," Chrome suddenly cries out softly. Her body twitches and shudders for a few moments, her face clenching as if in pain before suddenly clearing up. Her eye opens and she looks up at them. "Boss!" Chikusa and Ken back away a bit.

"Took you long enough to wake up, like we want to look over you all day! Feh!" Ken says, standing up and looking away. Tsuna nearly smiles; they weren't so inconspicuous about their feelings for Chrome as they would like to think they were. It was nice to see them worrying over her.

She starts to sit up, with the help of Tsuna, and looks at him seriously.

"Boss. It's Mukuro-sama, he...he was on his way to see you but..." she stops, looking uncertain.

"But?" Ryohei asks, having walked over to where they all were. "What the hell happened?"

"He...I'm not sure of everything; I only saw quick bits and pieces. But there seemed to be people there, around him. I'm not sure what was going on exactly, but I know that it...it wasn't good." She looked a bit green around the edges and that, combined with what she just said, made Tsuna pale.

It made him want to get to Mukuro even quicker now. Something was going on, something more than just what he heard about in the letter that Xanxus had sent him. But what? That was the question that no one, not even Chrome (who had the closest ties to Mukuro) could answer. He stands up, helping her up, looking at everyone seriously.

"We were on our way to go see him anyway." Tsuna said. He quickly relays the contents of the letter that he received. The Kokuyo group gasps and look a combination of angry and confused. He turns to Chrome. "That's why we came here. We need all the Guardians. And you're not only half of the Mist Guardian, but you also have the closest ties to Mukuro so you can tell us better than anyone what is going on. Even if only by a little bit. Will you come with us?"

Chrome looks up at him, seriousness in her gaze.

"Of course, Boss."

Tsuna smiles, relieved.

"Don't forget about us," Ken says, stalking forward with Chikusa following at a more leisurely pace. "This has to do with Mukuro-san, so we're going. Don't think we're going to get all buddy-buddy though; we're just looking out for Mukuro-san."

"Of course," Reborn replies, finally breaking his silence momentary silence. "We would not expect any different, isn't that right, Tsuna?"

"O-of course." Tsuna had the strange feeling that he was missing something here, but he wasn't sure what.

"Good. Now that that's out of the way, we can finally go." Reborn says, making his way over towards the door. He turns and pulls out a couple of guns. "Now hurry up or I'll shoot you all."

He grins.

: :: :

The plane lands down smoothly and she quickly leaves the airport, giving the driver that was waiting for her the directions to her destination. Which just happened to be the castle where the Varia lived.

The Varia were the Vongola's top assassins, so good in fact that people referred to some things as "Varia quality" for how good it was. They were better than good, better than the best.

Only once had they, after they had all been gathered together, ever been defeated.

This was a defeat that none of them would ever forget, but all of them for different reasons.

Xanxus was not only the leader of the Varia, but he was also the Ninth's son. His adopted son. His previous attempt years back to overthrow the Ninth had failed and he had been frozen by the man's Zero Point Breakthrough for years. It had not made his hatred lessen, it fact it had made it grow all the stronger.

Again he tried to take the Vongola, this time with a brilliant plan to eliminate Tsunayoshi Sawada and his "Family" and take the place of the Tenth. It failed. He had underestimated the young man and his Family. They had grown, and grown strong, and Xanxus had not been able to take hold of the title of Tenth, partly due to the fact of Tsunayoshi and partly to do with the fact that he had none of the blood of the Vongola running in his veins, something they all learned was a must for those who wished to take place as the leader of the Mafia group.

He had not become soft after this event, no one would ever call Xanxus "soft"-not and live that is-but he had become slightly less angry than before. Minor differences, some of which that few knew of or could tell, but ones that made a difference.

It was with these thoughts in her mind that she thought of what she was going to say to him, to Xanxus. It was important that she speak with him; not just for one person's sake, but for many. She was so distracted that she could barely take in the absolutely breathtaking countryside that Italy had to offer. The driver, who was employed by the Vongola, seemed to sense her urgency and gets her to the Varia's headquarters rather quickly, for which she was both grateful for and unhappy about.

She was nervous about meeting with the Varia; she had heard stories after all and she didn't have much time to prepare anything she wanted to say, so she was going to have to wing most of it, and she wasn't sure how well that would work.

She takes in a deep breath and lets it out, exiting the car.

"Shi shi shi, look; new blood."

Belphagor grins.

: :: :

She looks around at the corridors interestingly, though still wary enough to keep an close eye on Belphagor who was walking with her. After introducing herself and explained who she was, he decides to take her to Xanxus, leading the way because he was "a prince" like that made any sense, but he was Varia and she didn't expect it to.

"Where are the...other Varia members?" she asks, taking a look of a painting on the wall that seemed to be of Vongola Primo and Vongola Secondo. Hmm, interesting.

Belphagor either doesn't hear her or decides to ignore her-she rather suspects the latter-and instead leads her to a dining hall where, at a long table, sat Xanxus. He looks up at the intrusion and his eyes narrow.

"Who the hell are you?"

: :: :

After finally gathering everyone and getting the plane schedules in place, Tsuna and company make their way to, not an regular airport, but a private one that was specially used for the Vongola and the Allied Families. They all stood in awe at the sight of the private jets. They were sleek and top of the line, white and silver in color and stood larger than life to them, even Gokudera, who was used to many luxuries as a child-he had lived in a castle for goodness sake!-stood awestruck at them; they all did.

Other than Reborn, of course. He was more than used to this sort of thing and didn't blink an eye at the sight. He merely ordered some of the men standing by to take everyone's luggage and get everyone seated.

Tsuna had to admire Reborn's take charge attitude, even if it seemed odd coming from a baby. Or from someone who looked like a baby anyway. There was something there about the Arcobaleno's after all, that still hadn't been properly explained yet. With all the hassle and constant worries that had taken place in the future, there hadn't been any moments to ask Yamamoto what he knew of them and after everything had ended and they were back in their own time, Tsuna promptly forgot.

He'd make sure to ask his friend soon though.

He gets seated; on board with him-other than the pilot-was Reborn, Gokudera, Chrome, Chikusa and Ken. Yamamoto and Ryohei were taking a jet with Bianchi and the kids (though she was unhappy that she couldn't be on the same plane as Reborn, she finally backs off) as there was not enough room with Tsuna and everyone. That, and Chikusa and Ken refused to leave Chrome alone. "To keep an eye out for Mukuro-san and make sure that nothing happens to her so Mukuro-san can come out when he can." was their answer.

Hibari was taking the last jet with Dino. An arrangement no one was in argument with. Hibari "biting" everyone before they even took off the ground would be bad, after all. He seemed to at least be alright with flying with only Dino; well the pilot too, but the man would be behind a door and Hibari wouldn't have to see him.

They finally take off, with Tsuna sitting back in his seat, eyes closing. He felt weary already and they hadn't even gotten to Italy yet.

Everything seems to catch up with him and he nods off within moments of take off.

: :: :

She tries not to let the tone of the man's voice or the look in his eyes bother her. He was doing his best to be intimidating, she realizes. And he was. It wasn't all an act, after all, but all the same, if she didn't show a little backbone then she would never be taken seriously at all.

So she straightens her shoulders ever so slightly and walks over to where he sat leisurely in his chair, legs crossed, cheek resting against his hand.

"My name is Sawada Mara," He visibly twitches when he hears what her last name is. "I have been working with Iemitsu-san and I'm here to-"

"Sawada," he all but growls. "You're related to that trash?"

She does her best to keep her face blank, but cannot help her brows furrowing a bit. "I am a distant cousin, but I have never personally met Tsunayoshi; and I only met Iemitsu-san a few months ago-"

He waves a hand at her. "Hurry up and say what you need to say and get out of my fucking sight; I have enough on my plate already without being bombarded by more Sawada than needed."

She discreetly wipes one of her hands on her pants, straightening her jacket, and begins to tell him the reason for her visit.

: :: :

Hours later they touch down, but it isn't until Gokudera gently shakes him awake that Tsuna realizes that they had made it to Italy, and just like that all the nervousness that he had done his damnedest to push in the back of his mind starts coming back in a flood.

They were really here, he was really here, and for all the constant complaining he did about not wanting to be a Mafia boss he still grabs all of his "family" in an instant when he learned that something was going on with Mukuro. With a member of his family. Yes, that was it. Something was happening to one of the Guardians, and he couldn't have that, even if he was uncomfortable with dealing with any of the matters that the Mafia dealt with.

Mukuro...

As if just thinking his name was a trigger, he stills in the middle of heading out of the jet, the room seemingly spinning away into darkness. He looks around in panic,and finally, in the distance, he sees something. He hurries as quickly as he can toward it, feeling it slipping further and further away from him, just barely managing to get close enough to get a glimpse of it.

"Mukuro-san! Mukuro! Wait, where are you going? Come back!"

"..nth. Tenth. Tenth!"

His eyes pop open and he finds himself on the floor of the jet, the faces of his friends staring down at him in concern.

"Are you alright, Boss?" Chrome asks, brows furrowing in concern.

"I-I'm fine." He starts to stand up, feeling deja-vu as he does so. It seemed to becoming a common occurrence, didn't it? "Really. I'm fine." He adds at Gokudera and Chrome's look. He looks at one of his Mist Guardian's. "Did you, uh...did you feel that?"

"Feel?" She looked confused. "Feel what, Boss?"

Now it was his turn to feel confused. "You didn't feel Mukuro just now?"

That statement finally got Chikusa and Ken's attention from where they had been hovering somewhere near the door and they move over to where he was.

"Mukuro-san?" Ken asks. "What was that about Mukuro-san?"

Tsuna glances at them all; Reborn was being surprisingly quiet and was not looking at any of them, instead he had his hat pulled down a little and his face was turned away from them..

"I-I uh...I felt Mukuro's presence just now. Or I thought I did, I could have been wrong," he adds hastily, waving his hands rapidly back and forth.

Before anyone else could get a word in edgewise, Reborn suddenly decides to speak up.

"Enough of that. It's time to go."

They went.

: :: :

He stares at her for a long moment, completely silent. The look in his eyes pierces through her, as if trying to dissect her and learn all of her secrets; she does her best to stand firm. Well, sit firm. After a couple of minutes of talking, Xanxus, irritated at her standing for so long, makes her take a seat at the long oak table near him.

"And so Iemitsu sends you here." It was a statement not a question, but she nods anyway. "What the hell is he thinking? We're the Varia, not some fucking babysitters-"

That started to get her hackles up. "I don't need a babysitter. I'm perfectly able to take care of myself, fight for myself-"

"You're what...Sawada's age? And Iemitsu's trusting you with such important things?"

"My age does not matter." She says slowly, looking up at him, letting him know with her eyes that he wasn't going to scare her off that easy. He was powerful, obscenely so, and maybe he did scare her some, but regardless she would do what she was here to do. "Just let me do what I'm here to do and I'll...get out of your hair soon enough."

"You mean all of you will get out of it soon enough," he sneers. "Fine. whatever. One of my men will show you a room you can stay at." He waves at her, obviously dismissing her.

She stands and starts to leave, glancing back to see him looking away from her, deep in thought.

: :: :

It was dark, dark; it felt like there was no escape from it.

He reaches out for something, anything, anyone to help him. He was in pain, such pain. He tries to scream but nothing seems to come out.

"Mukuro-san! Mukuro! Come back!"

He turns quickly around.

Tsunayoshi!

He tries to call out Tsuna's name but again nothing comes out.

He felt helpless, and he hated it. And he hated more than anything, the fact that he could not protect Tsuna from everything that was to come.

I'm sorry, Tsunayoshi.