Sou.
Gamma- and irritably at that- knew they were late and it was Byakuran's fault. He only told them of Tsuna's pleas for assistance half an hour later because the ex-Millefiore boss had kept his priorities straight. He had been gorging on his second pack of marshmallows that Yuni gave as his souvenir on her business trip when he mentioned, off-handedly, that Tsuna requested for backup.
This sent him on a rampage and made Byakuran quite disappointed that he wasn't partnered with Yuni. He gloomily went off with Bluebell and Kikyo to Hibari Kyoya's house while he and the Giglio Nero boss made their way to Yamamoto's restaurant before going to Gokudera's. Zakuro and Daisy went on to assist Dino.
He was only calmed down by a flustered Yuni, who kept promising again and again to Gamma that she won't give Byakuran too many marshmallows. He was a little embarrassed by then for being pacified by a teenager.
"Don't apologize too much, Yuni-chan," he said as he led her forward. By then, both of them froze, because they heard clashing steel and smelled gunpowder.
This was not like any mundane night.
Gamma rushed on ahead, his cue at the ready along with his volpi.
He catches sight of Gokudera, battling two masked thugs twice as big as he was. He was trying to move past them and reach a body in the corner, where his cat was now lugging it on its back.
On the far left, and the one who made him unable to move, was none other than Yamamoto, attacking another woman, her hair now blowing in the wind. She was the mirror image of her opponent and Gamma realizes why Gokudera kept frantically looking by his right.
Yamamoto was losing, his entire face was caked in blood from the deep gash on his forehead. His chin was also bleeding. Only his left arm was free of slashes.
He now knew who to help first.
Before he was about to take another step, Yuni shrieked his name. As he dashed to her side to protect her from the force she must have foreseen, he heard an earsplitting cacophony of bombs and felt the searing heat enveloping his body. By then, as he was about to die in vain, he felt someone hold his hand. Yuni is by his side, a hand close to her chest as if reciting a sutra, her Sky flames continuing to envelop them.
"I hope my flames reached them in time," she choked, and led Gamma on ahead, her sprightly figure running feverishly as Gamma held out his cue to protect her. Behind their shelter, he could see nothing but devastation. Even behind him, he could not believe how his eyes can only catch sight of orange and red.
He knew Byakuran and his crew will be fine, along with some members of their family. They were on the far edge of Namimori. What he feared, however, was the rest of the populace, who are either in their beds or pissing themselves drunk by the road.
"Thank god," she cried as they come across Gokudera, his hair singed but his body unburnt. Beside him was none other than the body of Yamamoto's dad. He felt his pulse. Yuni sobbed when Gamma confirmed a faint beat.
"Tell the cat to help you move them to Reborn," said Gamma as he now opens his earpiece. He has to find the Vongola Rain guardian. "Byakuran, how're things on your end?"
Byakuran laughed good-naturedly. "There was a big explosion, but I managed to save Sawada-kun's maman and his little friends. Gokudera-kyun's sister managed to warn us in time of a bomb near the lamp post. She said she traced a faint beep a few minutes before. I think Kikyo got to Shou-chan in time?"
"Yes, Byakuran-sama," Kikyo breathed on the other end.
"Umu, got the flames put out on my end!" he heard Bluebell chirp.
"Daisy, how's the Chiavarone head?" he then changed connections.
"Uhuh… there was an explosion… Zakuro nearly got fried…"
"Fuck you! You pushed me on that side!"
"Uhm… he's fine… I think… We haven't seen him…"
"Whatever, just come here to whatever's left of TakeSushi. Assist Yuni-chan. We have to save Yamamoto's dad-"
"Eh, what happened Gamma-kun?" Byakuran asked innocently.
"He was attacked," was his flat response. "Zakuro, please check the other areas. See if anyone's still alive." He felt his stomach drop as he saw Yamamoto, spread-eagled on his back, his katana a few inches from his side. His chest was not rising.
-18-
Dino did not make it when the battle of the Hibari siblings was ongoing. He did not also make it when Namimori Junior High was still intact. He arrived a minute too late.
But he did make it in time to save his tutee.
"Boss-" he heard Romario say, but Dino ignored him and used his whip to climb onto a nearly falling beam, jumping out of the way onto the second-floor window. He ran up into the most likely place that Hibari would be in aside from the rooftop, which was cleanly blown off: The reception room.
Dino coughed and threw his parka aside. He took off his shirt and let it dampen over a broken fountain nearby. He covered his face and crawled through the fire.
It felt like a miracle to see Hibari on the side of the building, his entire clothes and face caked in soot, tucked away at the edge of the room. A weak Roll was getting smaller and smaller as it snuggled beside its master. Hibird was on top of Hibari's head, tweeting intensely at the sight of Dino. He managed to shield himself in time. He sighed in relief.
His limbs were angled in awkward places, and Dino bit his lip until it bled. Someone apparently wanted to kill him, but an explosion happened before he can finish the job.
The reception room was apparently the farthest from ground zero, so Hibari was still lucky. He managed to seize the two metal tonfas a few feet beside him and hoisted them on his belt. He carried Hibari on his back before jumping out of the window, down to a flabbergasted Romario.
"I'll have Reborn here tomorrow to examine the place," he nodded curtly, his other men producing a stretcher for his fallen student. "I can question Kyoya in the morning at what the heck happened here," he scratched his nape. The last thing he needed was another reason to stay in Namimori. Or what was left of it.
"According to the data given to us by Zakuro-san there was a minimum of twenty-seven bombs going off through random vicinities in Namimori," said Ivan.
"How are maman and Tsuna's family?"
"They're fine. So far we have confirmed that Irie Shouichi and co, Kurokawa Hana and co, Miura Haru and co, I-pin, Bianchi, Lambo, and Sawada Nana are safe."
"The Vongola?"
"The Mist guardian and Sawada Tsuna are with Reborn. The Sun guardian was last seen carrying Kusakabe to safety."
"What about the rest of the townspeople in Namimori? Can the hospital be used?"
"Uhm," there was a long pause. "So far the Millefiore and the Giglio Nero are still collecting data. The hospital, according to Kikyo-san, has been destroyed."
Dino cursed. "Okay, what about the Storm and Rain?"
"They're with the Giglio Nero boss."
Good. He can breathe easy.
But something was still not right. Who else had he missed?
He had heard every name, hadn't he? Who else was there?
Hibari stirred somewhat, and as Dino was about to give him the tonfas, they clattered to the ground. Apparently, he did not fasten them properly.
He was about to pick them up when a compartment opened and a slip of paper fell out. Romario was quick to seize it before a strong gust of wind was intent to keep it out of their reach.
As Dino thanked him and saw the contents, his phone rang. It was Reborn. He could barely even concentrate on the paper as Reborn asked if he had seen Ryohei's sister.
-18-
They managed to book a private hospital in the next town. Hibari Kyoya and Yamamoto Tsuyoshi were given private rooms along with Sasagawa Ryohei.
They did find Ryohei's sister, but none of them was able to talk to her at all, even Miura Haru and Sawada Tsuna. She locked herself in her brother's room.
It turned out that an approximate total of forty-five bombs exploded within the vicinity of Namimori, four from Namimori Middle School. Out of the rubble in the Nami-chuu reception room, the CEDEF had discovered a heap of fried or blackened flesh. The total number of skinned faces roughly equalled the total number of disciples in ten martial arts schools spread throughout the northern provinces of China.
Fon was among them. Reborn confirmed this with a fist that cracked the hotel concierge table in half when Squalo grimly gave him the sample.
From the almost three thousand residents in Namimori, about forty percent were either dead or missing. Reborn commended Yuni's and Byakuran's last-minute effort for saving a lot of people, but Yuni left early on, her body supported by Gamma throughout as she sobbed into Reborn's hotel room. She did not show up the rest of the day. Most of the inhabitants decided to live with their relatives in other parts of Japan for the meantime. Those whose houses were almost unscathed tried to live their normal lives. Nana had to come with Iemitsu to Italy along with I-pin and Bianchi, despite her angry insistence that her son comes with. Tsuna refused.
Tsuyoshi survived, but the damage to his hands was so severe the doctors and even the Sun users agreed that he may never be able to use them again.
Kusakabe was luckier thanks to Ryohei's flames; Giannini confirmed that he can replace three of his missing limbs.
Yamamoto, upon waking up two days later after the incident, said nothing. He continued to stare at his bedside window that Gokudera fervently insisted they swap with. He could barely even look at the Storm guardian, and Gokudera never uttered a word of protest at his friend's silent treatment.
Reborn was the only one unharmed from the incident. Chrome suffered first-degree burns when she shielded the baby before making her mist flames finally appear. Tsuna was lucky to get his hand attached. It was still unusable at the moment and was hidden in a thick cast.
"What about nii-san?" Tsuna asked hollowly, three days after the incident. Reborn had to turn to Dino first before straightening his seat.
"According to Kusakabe, a masked man stabbed him in the head. It might be the same man who attacked Hibari, according to Gokudera's testimony," said Reborn quickly. "Sasagawa Kyoko was present when it happened. She said she had karaoke night with Haru and wanted to surprise Ryohei en route to Hibari Kyoya's house when…"
"Shit," Tsuna couldn't control his word outtake. "Fuck, what the fuck-"
"Either the suspect has immense skill, or the blade was too sharp, because it cut cleanly through some nerve endings. It might be a miracle, I don't know even," Dino continued. "But he's still alive. Only, we don't know if he'll wake up."
"What about their parents? What about them?" Tsuna's voice was rising and his feet were tapping on the floor vehemently.
Both looked at each other again, but it was Reborn who answered. "They were near the blast site."
Tsuna buried his face in his hands. "Goddamn Reborn, why didn't she kill me?"
Dino could not even tell Tsuna to stop his string of curses. He could understand Tsuna's frustration. "The Ninth is coming in five hours. He'll tell you everything. I don't know if I can explain it properly, but the Hibari household is not an enemy we must cross."
"Then what am I supposed to do? They destroyed our town, nearly killed my friends and my friend's families, and left me without anything to- to-" Tsuna tried to stop himself from saying any more expletives. "Why didn't they just kill me?"
"Will revenge be the answer though? Is that where you're getting at? It is not a cycle you are ready for. They may kill your loved ones for real," Reborn said grimly. "This is not a matter of protecting your family, Tsuna. This is not like all the past battles you had where you fought to prevent them from getting killed. I can't even assure you that you can even call them to your side. They're not like Mukuro, or Xanxus, or Byakuran, or Kozato-"
"So what do you want me to do then?" Tsuna thundered, his eyes clouded and wet. What do these people know about being powerless? What do these people know about having people who decided to follow you despite being a branch you should prune?
Reborn stared at him deeply, his black eyes unwavering. "I want you to listen to what the Ninth has to say and have an idea of what's at stake here, young Vongola. If I were honest with you right now, I would have gone already on a rampage when I found out they killed my friend. They did not kill yours, did they? Well, they killed my fucking friend!"
Tsuna sat down, unblinking. This was the first time he had felt this brunt of Reborn's rage. He suddenly felt small, weak, silly, tactless.
"If you make the wrong decision, you may end up destroying not only the Vongola, but the entire Mafia. Do you now have an inkling of how crucial your talk with the Ninth will be?"
"Fine. Fine, then let me decide in peace," Tsuna then broke eye contact and walked out of the door, slamming it shut.
-18-
Gokudera did not know which sin weighed more: His failure to the Tenth or his failure as a friend.
Yamamoto's attention was still at the window. Whenever the right-hand-to-be woke up, even during the middle of the night, his gaze did not relent.
He had mentioned already that his father was alive. Yamamoto, his first 'other' friend, only said 'That's swell' before staring off into space again.
He wanted to know what Yamamoto was thinking, but with his current state of mind, he was apprehensive of pulling triggers.
His awakening of measured tact was something he wanted to laugh at with someone, but he did not know to whom to divulge this to. His sister was busy collecting data of the dead with the Giglio Nero, that perverted doctor was- wait, why did he fucking care even where the hell he was? The hag and that retarded cow was out of the question. He was not comfortable with telling that pineapple girl his feelings also because she was a girl and she might secretly judge him for opening himself up. The Tenth… He did not want to trouble the Tenth now, since there was a lot in his mind already, starting with what happened to the lawn head's sister…
"I'm fucking tired," he mumbled to no one in particular before covering himself with the quilt his sister gave him. Being vulnerable was some second skin that took some getting used to. His friend's vacant gaze made him angrier at himself as well, for being unable to offer beneficial support.
Yamamoto did not answer him when he drifted off to sleep.
He wanted to join Tsuna when he went off to visit Namimori with Dino yesterday, but he opted to stay and guard Yamamoto in case he tried doing something stupid again like the time he broke his arm. He did not know why he chose his friend's well-being rather than his chance of getting furious at the damage Hibari's siblings committed. Maybe because he would feel ashamed of knowing his fury will never measure to the Tenth's and Yamamoto's. Namimori was not a town he lived in for most of his life, and he never had a place he'd literally call home like they had. He never had the best definition of loss, his childhood peppered with a sense of not belonging anywhere.
This was also why he felt angry at himself for sympathizing more with Hibari's siblings than with the rest of his makeshift family. He'd also want to blow a place sky high if it reminded him of something unpleasant, or something with unbearable attachment. He saw it in Kei's eyes when he recalled his days in Nami-chuu fondly.
Maybe that was why he stayed with Yamamoto. He wanted to understand him. Why he continued taking covering him with his quilt at night. Why he continued to force-feed him with Uri's help even though his hands clawed through his face as he tried pushing him away.
What the fuck, I feel like a house wife.He chuckled to himself. Just in time before Tsuna opened the door.
"Yamamoto-kun," he panted. "I want to talk to your dad."
"You did not have to tell me." Gokudera turned at Yamamoto's reply. His friend responded, and was looking straight at Tsuna. He looked down. The Tenth did a much better job than me, huh? Of course. Who was he to think that he could make Yamamoto speak? Of course.
"Yeah, but I feel like I have to tell you. Since it involves your mom," said Tsuna, taking out a photo of multiple Hibaris and Yamamoto's parents. "I don't think any of us are ready to face the truth alone."
"Mom… huh?" He could feel Yamamoto's discomfort of even uttering that word. But of course, he'd stand with much difficulty and make Gokudera support him when he walked. Of course, he'd say 'ok' at the Tenth as they led him to the room beside theirs.
Gokudera never knew how to comfort somebody. It was always others who reached out to him. Or maybe, for Yamamoto Takeshi, his presence wasn't enough.
"You're heavy," he muttered, and instead of laughing, Yamamoto said a 'sorry.' For Gokudera, this wasn't what he was apologizing for, but nonetheless, he continued letting him lean back on him as Tsuna knocked on the door and entered.
Tsuyoshi looked worse than he remembered, eyes sagging, his lips dry and parched. But the moment he saw them, his face seemed to age backwards.
"And what do I owe this pleasure?" he lit up, trying to move his hands that were tied securely in front of him. By then, he felt Yamamoto tremble a little. Gokudera held an arm, assuring him of his presence.
His boss showed him another picture, this time of a teenage Tsuyoshi and three multiple Hibaris. One of them unnervingly reminded him of the last Storm Arcobaleno. "Please tell us your story."
Tsuyoshi looked at his son, and then at Gokudera before turning to Tsuna with a mechanical smile. "I've never been able to tell you why I created the eighth form of the Shigure Souen Ryuu, haven't I, Takeshi?" He took a deep breath and removed his head from his pillows. "It was for Saito, Kyoya's father and my best friend. It happened during the middle of a civil war against Saito's elder brother; he called himself Fon."
-18-
Dino sighed after Tsuna left. "You did not have to go that far."
"I wanted him to grow up and stop believing that the world revolves around him," Reborn huffed, sipping the rest of his black coffee. "I thought I taught him enough to be prudent, but he's still as greenhorn as you were on that age."
"He did his best to save Kusakabe though. If he did go to get reinforcements, he wouldn't have made it in time."
"So you are defending him now?"
"You can get really petty sometimes…"
The door opened again.
"Tsuna," Dino stood up. "Reborn was being uppity-"
Instead of seeing the familiar shade of brown, he got a mop of black hair and grey eyes.
"You," the newcomer pointed his tonfa at Dino. His cuts and scratches were already healed, along with his body. "I'll bite you to death."
"Kyoya, now is not the best time-" Dino was about to fling his usual challenge away when Hibari presented the ripped piece of paper Dino had taken a picture of two days ago before returning it.
"If you win, I'll tell you everything behind this," he said with a tone of indifference as he tucked it back in his tonfa.
By this, Reborn and Dino stared at Hibari. He was not wearing his usual smirk.
"And…" Dino paused. "If you win?"
Hibari takes out his Cloud bracelet underneath his school vest and raises it up for them to see.
"I'm leaving the Vongola."
Double chapter update! Plenty of things to do next week and I want to plough through new content already. I am currently reducing the multiple POVs for the B part of the fic. Excited of committing to Hibari's POV soon!
