Chapter Seven
Meetings
The sun shined onto his face and he groaned as he turned over to try and avoid the light. He didn't want to wake up at that just moment, he just wanted to go back to sleep, back to the darkness that had kept him safe for so long so far.
Unfortunately he wasn't going to get his wish as he heard the footsteps in the grass approaching him off to his right somewhere. He groaned again and opened his eyes, squinting as the light infiltrated his eyes. He blinked several times before he could see fully and then sat up on the grass, looking around.
He was in a beautiful area with trees surround him and then a lake off further to the side, a single tree standing near the water. A boulder sat off to the side of the lake as well, opposite of where the tree was though and that was where he was located, next to the boulder. He himself was dressed in a loose white button dress shirt and black dress pants, he wore no shoes.
"Kufufufu, it seems you have finally made a reappearance after so long." A voice stated and he was reminded of the footsteps he had heard a few moments before. His turned to look at a teen that was quite tall with chromatic eyes and purple hair in the shape of…
"Pineapple." He spoke as he looked at the now slightly twitchy eyed teenager. He tilted his head to the side and took in the other's appearance and realized that other wore the same clothes as his. "Pineapple?" He asked.
Pineapple twitched at the reference before his once irritated smile turned into a creepy one. "Kufufufu, I'm not a pineapple." Pineapple stated as he seemed to summon a trident from thin air and pointed it at him. "My name is Mukuro Rokudo and I wish to know how it is you have appeared here again." Pineapple stated.
He tilted his head to the side again before he forced his mouth to form words again. "Mu-ku-ro." He said slowly as if just learning how to talk for the first time. "Mukuro?" He asked to make sure he had said it correctly.
Mukuro's sapphire and crimson eye narrowed at this and he lowered his trident as he took in the form of the other. "Do you know where you are?" the Pineapple haired teenager asked as he came to stand directly over the other.
He looked up at the much taller teenager and shook his head. "No I don't. Where am I?" He asked rather calmly.
Mukuro ignored his questioned to instead ask one of his own. "Do you know who you are?"
He blinked at this and for a long moment he thought on the question. When several minutes passed by he shook his head. "Do you know who I am?"
Mukuro's eyes narrowed as his trident disappeared and he leaned against the boulder, watching the other curiously. "I do not know who you are exactly, but I do know that you are an experiment like I. We were under the hold of the Estraneo Famiglia for a very long time." Mukuro explained bluntly.
"Ex-per-i-ment?" He asked with his head tilted again, trying to make his mind work. He knew that he was supposed to be able to think but he wasn't sure how or why. His mind was really foggy and he felt that if he tried to wade through anything in his head he would only get stuck or hurt. So he avoided doing so but in doing that he was exceedingly slow in thought process.
Mukuro nodded his head at this. "We were changed from what we originally were into something else. I gained the path to the Six Levels of Hell, but I am unsure of what exactly happened to you." Mukuro said as he waved a hand over his crimson eye that he now realized had some kind of symbol or marking in it.
He nodded his head before he turned to look into the trees, feeling that someone else was approaching them. "Another." He said simply and Mukuro was soon looking in the same direction with a small smile on his face.
"Nagi, what a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?" Mukuro questioned as a girl with long violet hair and a white summer dress appeared from between the trees, her purple eyes sparkling with happiness as Mukuro looked at her.
"I came to see you Mukuro-Sama." She said happily as she walked over to him and hugged him. Mukuro hugged her back before he turned her to see their other guest. "Someone else has come here, I thought only skilled illusionists could enter." Nagi said as she looked at the other with wary and curious eyes.
He stared at the new girl for a moment before turning back to Mukuro with his eyes falling half closed. "Ah, it seems that our guest will be leaving soon." Mukuro stated as he took the other's exhausted look in. "I will find you soon enough." Mukuro stated with steely eyes that held a promise within them.
He could only nod at Mukuro before he felt himself falling backwards towards the grass, only he never felt himself hit the ground as he disappeared into the ever comforting and all-consuming darkness.
TN
He gasped in air as he bolted straight up in his bed, breathing hard as his heart pumped a beat more suited to a metal concert. He was covered in sweat and he could feel his entire body tremble. He felt something but he was unsure of what the feeling was and so ignored that part of his brain as he brought a hand up to head and ran his fingers through his hair.
"What was that?" He asked himself aloud before he looked at the digital clock in the room that he shared with the Smoking Bomb. 27 scrunched his nose and closed his eyes as he thought of what had caused him to awaken, but the dream was shrouded in darkness and far away from his grasp. He shook his head before glancing at the clock again and decided that he would get up even though it was only five in the morning.
He quickly and quietly gathered clothes for the day and then left the room to the bathroom. Only once was he in the shower did he contemplate the past few days of his Middle School life at Namimori Middle.
It had started out with a fast speed fight that quickly escalated before it slowed to a pace that he could easily flow with and learn how to effectively be more human. He had made friends and had brought several different children to the Sawada house where Nana seemed to have quite a ball. Especially when one I-Pin had appeared, the little Chinese girl quickly capturing Nana's heart.
I-pin hadn't come alone though and the house held another Arcobaleno for the moment. So to say that the last few days had been exciting would have been very true. With I-pin mixed into the group now, there were multiple explosions each day and the antics of Lambo with the Ten Year Bazooka, Hibari's short temper, Xanxus's none existent fuse, Squalo's loudness, and Reborn's insanity, and everything had turned into a crazy pot luck.
27 shook his head as he rinsed the Shampoo out of his hair and turned off the shower and soon dried off and dressed. It was only ten till six but 27 decided he was going to leave and head to the school early, for once leaving behind Gokudera, though the experiment expected Reborn to follow him as the Hitman always seemed to be up before him.
This was proven when 27 found Reborn sitting on the table with a steaming cup of espresso already in his hand. "Ciao." Reborn greeted.
27 nodded his head at the Arcobaleno before walking to the fridge and pulling out the leftovers from last night's dinner. "I will head to school early." 27 stated as he quickly heated up the Miso soup and the rice before eating.
Reborn only looked at him knowingly, causing 27 to wonder if the infant actually understood his feeling of unsteadiness. Reborn followed him as the experiment left the house after cleaning the dishes he had used, both swiftly moving through the streets of Namimori to Namimori middle. The uneasiness 27 had woken with increased the closer he got to the middle school.
"Something is wrong." 27 said as he picked up speed, running full tilt now as something nagged at him and set him on edge. Reborn noticed this as he easily kept up and only nodded his head in agreement.
Both arrived at Namimori middle, only to come to a dead stop at what lay before them. "This is bad." Reborn said as he looked at the bodies of the Disciplinary Committee scattered all over the yard. Each one was wounded in some way, all dangerously so. "We need to get them to a doctor and quickly." Reborn held his hand out and Leon quickly transformed into a cell phone for the Arcobaleno to use and soon Reborn was talking to someone. "I was going to wait for you to meet my other idiotic student a little while but I don't have much of a choice. He'll be able to take care of them with his private hospital." Reborn said as he hung up his phone and Leon returned to the brim of his hat.
27 nodded his head before looking over the bodies again, looking for one in particular that he knew would have answers that he needed. It took several minutes as all the members of the disciplinary committee had that idiotic hairdo, a pompadour was ridiculous in this modern age. Once he had found who he was looking for though 27 quickly maneuvered around the downed students and to the VP of the DC.
"Ugh." Tetsuya Kusakabe groaned as he was rolled over onto his back. "Kyo-san." He muttered as he opened his eyes just a slit and stared up at the one who had found him. "Kyo-san, where is Kyo-san?" He asked as blood spilled over one eye, causing him to close that one.
27 looked down at the wounded Vice President before he spoke. "I do not know but I would like to know what has happened here? What happened to all of the DC members?" 27 questioned the wounded teen.
Kusakabe groaned in pain before he started to try and remember what exactly had happened. "We had a…meeting…the Disciplinary Committee…that Kyoya had called before school started." He began as his memories began to piece themselves back together. "We had all met outside due to our numbers and Kyo-san had me speak for him as usual…we were almost finished when…four people appeared." The memory of the frightfully powerful team still resided with Kusakabe and he shivered. "Kyo-san attacked first but he suddenly fell over, as if he had already been knocked out…the rest of the Disciplinary Committee attacked to protect Kyo-san but we were nothing to them."
27 frown deepened and his brows furrowed, wondering what could have taken Hibari down so easily without even a fight. "You asked where Hibari was, was he taken by them?" 27 questioned just as the sounds of sirens came within hearing range.
Kusakabe's face scrunch up with shame and sorrow and worry for his leader and friend. "Yes, I saw the one male with strange eyes pick him up." He said as he stared at 27 with large brown eyes. "You are as strong as Kyo-san, please, help him." Kusakabe said. "They said they were looking for the one with the brown hair and brown eyes. A boy no older than thirteen or fourteen. You must not allow him to be found."
27 nodded his head. "I shall try and bring Hibari back and protect this boy." 27 acknowledged and was rewarded with a warm smile before the Vice President finally passed out.
Then the school yard was swarmed with medical teams that were quickly loading the injured DC members up and taking to a hospital. "Yo Reborn." A voice said and a blonde haired male appeared wearing a green jacket with what seemed to be fur lining and brown pants. "I thought you didn't want me showing up till two days from now."
Reborn nodded his head in agreement. "I did but as you can see we have a situation. Namimori is under attack and a hostage has been taken." Reborn informed his former student and now Mafia Boss.
The blonde nodded his head in seriousness as his right hand man came to stand next to him. "All injured have been loaded and are now being transported to our private hospital for treatment." Romario reported.
"Good job, now Reborn, is this your newest Student?" Dino asked as he looked over the young boy with soft looking chocolate hair and glowing orange eyes.
Reborn nodded his head. "27 meet Dino, the Decimo and Bucking Horse of the Chiavarone Famiglia." Dino smiled at the younger boy as 27 stood fully now that Kusakabe had been taken away.
"Nice to meet you 27, wish it was under better circumstances." Dino said as a grim look settled over his features at the massive problem they now had. "Have you called the Varia to inform them of what has happened?" Dino questioned Reborn.
The Arcobaleno shook his head. "It would do no good as the Varia had been called by the Ninth on a mission. They are only to be gone for a few days but apparently whoever did this knew that and took advantage." He guessed as he looked at the experiment. "The group who attacked took out the strongest fighter in Namimori without touching him and then decimated a group of at least thirty without a problem."
Dino's frown deepened. "So they are indeed powerful, what will you do Reborn?" Dino questioned.
Reborn sighed as he thought over his options. "I will have to call the Ninth and ask him to return the Varia so that they will be able to take care of this."
"No."
Reborn and Dino blinked as they both turned to look at 27 who was looking at them with brighter than usual orange eyes. "No? I don't think you understand here kid, if this group took out your strongest fighter in the entire town then we need to call backup." Dino stated.
27 scowled at the Mafia Boss before shaking his head. "No, I promised Kusakabe that I would handle this and I will." His eyes blazed as energy began to form on his forehead. "I do not need the Varia or others to help as I was designed to be the ultimate fighting machine, I will handle this." He informed the two.
Just then there was a bright light as Leon fell off of Reborn's hat and turned into a round ball. The three blinked at the now round lizard. "Leon is making something." Reborn said before he turned back to 27 and nodded his head. "Alright, I'll allow you to handle this."
Dino squawked in surprise. "Reborn you can't be serious! He's just a kid!" He exclaimed in horror and now worry.
"Shut up idiot Dino." Reborn said as he kicked the blonde in the head and sent him flying. "I know my student better than you do, especially since you just met him only a few minutes ago."
Dino grumbled before shaking his head. "Either way you don't even know where these people have gone! How are you going to find them?"
It was 27 who answered that question. "They are not from Namimori or Kusakabe would have recognized them, since it is his duty to know all students that go to Namimori middle. They are outsiders and are likely somewhere that is abandoned." 27 explained calmly. "There is only one place that is abandon and does not house Yakuza or the homeless due to stories of it being haunted."
Reborn smirked at the experiment's deductive reasoning while Dino stared at him in awe and amazement before shaking his head and standing back up. "Alright so you know where they 'might' be, but you can't go alone. It'll be dangerous to enter a place like that by yourself with such strong people."
27 smiled at this as he turned to Reborn. "I won't be going alone." He stated calmly as Reborn easily caught what the experiment was thinking. "I have friends that I can rely on."
Reborn smirked as he tilted his fedora down to hide the pride in his eyes. It had only been a few months since they had recovered 27 and brought him here, but the experiment had already gained a sense of humanity. "Alright, let's go get them then." Reborn stated.
TN
To say that Dino had been skeptical about sending teenagers in to fight unknown people with high skills in combat would have been an understatement.
To say that the kick to the head from Reborn had knocked the Bucking Horse out would have been an understatement.
To say that the trip to Kokuyo Land had been exponentially loud and horrendous would have been an understatement.
And to say that 27's feeling of uneasiness since entering Namimori Middle to find all of the DC members passed out and shot through the roofs as they got closer to Kokuyo would have been the understatement of the century.
27 could only strive to push the feeling away and concentrate on what they had come here to do. He only hoped that Gokudera and Yamamoto were ready for this fight because the experiment could tell that this was going to be a big one in deed.
Reborn felt the same, if only on a deeper and more experienced level than 27. It didn't help that Reborn had been forced to pull out his own .45 Glock since Leon had yet to transform back to his original form. This had Reborn worried since Leon could take days to make whatever he was making at the time. Dino's whip and Enzo had taken a week and then another few days until Dino could be considered worthy of the weapons meant for him.
Reborn hoped that this wouldn't be a similar occurrence now as whatever was happening could escalate fast and 27 was still weaponless. 'I just hope his hands don't get burnt to ashes during this.' Reborn thought as he looked over at the stone faced experiment.
They had already faced several people outside of Kokuyo that had apparently been dispatched to either destroy them or slow them down. Birds and the Twins had been simple enough to defeat as Ryohei had been passing by the Sawada Residence and seen the twins heading to attack Nana who had left to go to the super market. The boxer had dispatched them with swift punches while Birds was taken out by Gokudera's bombs. M.M. had been simple as well as her music didn't affect 27 so he had knocked her out.
The problem came when it was time for a rather animalistic being to appear, he had a resemblance to a dog with his wild blonde hair pinned out of his face and his elongated fangs and a scar stretching from one cheek over his nose to the opposite cheek. Joshima Ken looked truly animalistic. "Che, what do we have here? A bunch of lost bunnies?" He asked as he growled at the four of them.
Gokudera just scoffed at the boy before pulling out a bomb. "Yeah, I don't think so you mutt. We're here looking for the ones that attacked Namimori Middle and that bastard Skylark." Gokudera stated calmly, the cigarette between his lips already lit and ready to be used.
"Hahaha, so if you can help us by telling us that would be great." Yamamoto said happily, though the gleam in his eye told of a danger behind his smile.
Ken snorted before reaching into a pocket and pulling out what seemed to be fangs. "Not happening. Tiger Channel." He intoned before his features changed to slightly more feline and stripes appeared on his face. He roared before he attacked 27 and the others, aiming towards the black haired male of the group.
Yamamoto grunted as he held the feline teen back with his sword, hoping that he could attack quickly and as trained by his father. The baseball player quickly pushed Ken back and towards Gokudera, who at this point had pulled out his mini dynamites and threw several at the tiger like male. "Get out of the way Baseball Idiot!" Gokudera yelled as he dynamite surrounded Ken.
Yamamoto nodded and jumped backwards away from where a loud explosion rocked the area, Ken hidden from view by the smoke. "Think that got him?" Yamamoto asked as he walked over to stand beside Gokudera and 27, Reborn sitting on the retrieved experiment's shoulder.
"No." 27 said as he leapt forward and grabbed Ken's wrists, which were twice the size they had been before. "Gorilla." 27 muttered as he pushed the arms off to the side so that they'd slammed into the ground beside 27.
"Che, that's right." Ken said, a small picture of a gorilla's face on his cheek. "I'll smash the lot of you." He declared as he went to slam his huge fists into 27, only to gasp in pain as the backside of Yamamoto's blade slammed into his stomach. The three could only watch as the blonde was sent flying backwards and into a tree.
He didn't reappear.
"Well that was exciting." Yamamoto said as he laughed, his bat back in his bag and over his shoulder.
Gokudera grunted as he lit a cigarette. "Che, what was he?" The silverette asked and 27 turned and stared at his friend with glowing orange eyes.
"Joshima Ken, he uses 'channels' to change into different animal forms. The 'channels' are the teeth cartridges that he puts in his mouth. A picture of the animal will appear on his cheek and he will take on aspects of those animals as well."
Yamamoto and Gokudera nodded at the information while Reborn's eyes narrowed. The Arcobaleno hadn't known that, he had no information on the aggressors at all, but 27 did. This ad Reborn thinking where exactly 27 had gotten this information. He wasn't liking what he was hypothesizing though. "Let's get going, we still need to find Hibari and the other attackers." Reborn said and the three teenagers nodded their heads in agreement.
The three quickly moved around the Amusement park, looking different areas and different rides, looking for Hibari and any other criminals. "They must be in that building there." 27 said as he pointed towards an old theater.
Yamamoto and Gokudera nodded their heads as all three began moving towards the building, but was stopped by a spray of black needles. 27 growled as he spread his hands in front of them and produced flames that spread in front of them, burning the needles before they could even get close to them.
Reborn frowned as 27 cut the flames off, the once fully healed hands were now a bright red, as if badly sunburnt. "Try not to use your flames, they'll damage your hands and I have a feeling you'll need your hands for a different fight." Reborn informed.
27 scowled but nodded his head in understanding. "I guess this'll be up to Gokudera and Yamamoto then. "I'm almost useless without my flames." 27 said as he looked at his two friends, who were now moving in opposite directions as their next opponent showed themselves.
Reborn shook his head in disagreement. "No, you are not useless, you have skills and abilities even without your flames. Use that database that we placed within you and dig up some information on this next opponent." Reborn ordered as 27 jumped backwards, dodging another spray of needles.
"Kakimoto Chikusa, uses yoyo's that spray needles dipped in poison to attack his opponents." 27 called out as he slid across the ground, avoiding more needles coming at him. "His eyes have been enhanced to see everything, even the skin cells of your body."
Chikusa twitched at the last part, something that he had kept hidden as he didn't want any of his enemies knowing. The white beanie headed boy kept a stoic face though as he fixed his glasses and then rearranged his Kokuyo uniform just slightly. "How do you know about that?" He asked, turning to look at 27, giving Gokudera the clear view of the barcode on his left cheek.
27 blinked as he tilted his head. "It is in my database. All information concerning the mafia and those related to the mafia are within my informational data bases. I can retrieve it at any time I wish." 27 informed as Reborn jumped from his shoulder and to the ground.
Chikusa's eyes narrowed slightly at the information before he shook his head, his hands flying forwards as he released his yoyos once again, spraying the deadly needles towards 27. "Then I must destroy you, I cannot have information concerning Mukuro-sama and the rest of us getting out."
Reborn's frown deepened as he watched the three Teenagers dodge the needles clumsily, 27 more with the grace of a dancer than the other two. 27 had information on these people, information that apparently no one had, at least with the exception of one family. Reborn really didn't like what he was thinking at the moment and he hoped that he was wrong about what was coming next.
Reborn snapped back to attention as he jumped out of the way of needles, almost scuffing at the pathetic attempt of taking him out.
"Gokudera, bombs at three o'clock in two seconds!" 27 yelled as he leapt to the side, dodging more needles.
The Smoking Bomb didn't ask he just lit the bombs and threw them, the explosion going off in Chikusa's surprised face. "Direct hit!" Gokudera called but gasped in surprise as more needles flew towards him.
Yamamoto slide in front of the bomber and swung his sword upwards as he yelled out, "Stance Seven: Shibuki Ame!" With that Yamamoto flipped his blade in his hand so that the back of it was facing forward and spun in a circle, creating a whirlwind that blocked the needles. "How are we going to take him out? He seems to be more inclined to strategy than the last guy." Yamamoto stated as he glanced behind him to a slightly flustered Gokudera. "Any ideas?"
Gokudera quickly become stoic and calm before blinking and nodding his head. "Head into the building and take the first corner you guys see." Gokudera ordered, the baseball fanatic and experiment were quick to comply and ran into the building, the bomber right behind them.
"Hehe, you're just going further into my territory. I know this building like the back of my hand." Chikusa muttered to himself, pushing his cracked glasses back up on his nose, his clothes tattered from the bombs along with some cuts and burns, but otherwise fine. "I'll take you out." With that the Kokuyo gang member ran into the building and swiftly tracked the three down. "I know you're just around that corner." Chikusa muttered as he ran around a corner, only for his eyes to widen.
Dynamite were held to the wall and were just about to go off…right in his face. Chikusa cursed as he realized that he had fallen into a trap. The dynamite blew up into his face for a second time, and for a second time Chikusa was able to dodge a critical blow but still received injuries.
Before the yoyo expert could do anything else though, the back of a sword slammed into his middle and sent him flying into a wall, knocked out cold.
"Good job baseball freak." Gokudera said before turning to 27. "What should we do now 27-sama?" the smoker asked, ready to do as was told.
27 was quiet for a long time before he decided on a move. "I will go on to find the leader, I would like for you two to find Hibari and get him out of here." 27 replied as he looked at his two friends. He was unsure of why but he felt hesitant on taking the baseball player and smoker with him to face the leader of this group, having already come to a realization who it would be due to his database.
Yamamoto frowned. "How do you know that Hibari isn't with the leader, how do you know he's hidden around here in the building somewhere?"
27 raised any eyebrow and held a hand up to Gokudera, who was about to go on a rant to defend 27's intelligence. Once the experiment was sure that Gokudera wasn't about to speak again did 27 point towards a small yellow bird perched on a window sill.
The two teenagers blinked at the little bird in surprise. "Isn't that one of Birds' birds?" Yamamoto asked just as the little bird opened its mouth and began to sing.
The green that trails Namimori
Not large, not small, middling is best
Always unchanging, vigorous and gallant
Let's sing together, Namimori Middle School!
Shining like the morning dew, the Namimori School
Ordinary and usual, middling is best
Always fighting, vigorous and gallant
Let's smile together, Namimori Middle School!
Your and my Namimori
Common and enough, middling is best
Always together, vigorous and gallant
Let's walk together to Namimori Middle School!
The teens stood there for precious minutes as the little bird sang the school anthem, disbelieving on what was happening. 27 smirked as he folded his arms over his chest as he looked at his two friends. "We know of only one person who would even try and teach a bird such a song." He stated.
Gokudera groaned while Yamamoto laughed. "Hahaha, I guess you're right. You think this little guy will lead us to Hibari?" The baseball player asked as he looked at the little.
As if to answer his question the bird took flight and began flying down the hall singing Namimori middle's anthem. "Guess so." Gokudera said as he began to run after the bird. "Let's go baseball freak!" He called behind him, cigarette hanging in his mouth as he ran, just in case he ran into more opponents.
Yamamoto looked back at 27 hesitantly. "Don't worry, I'll be with him." Reborn spoke up from just beside the orange eyed teen's feet.
Yamamoto nodded his head before turning and running off after Gokudera. "Wait up Gokudera!"
"I'm not waiting for you baseball idiot! You should catch up with me instead!" Gokudera yelled back.
27 shook his head in amusement at his friends before turning on his heel and running to a staircase that was demolished, but didn't allow that to stop him as he jumped up and over it onto the second floor. Reborn kept up easily as the two of them ran down several corridors before coming to a wide open area that showed to be a theater room with a worn down stage and a couch on it.
"It seems that we have company." A suave and silky voice spoke from up on the stage, the figure lounged across the couch was obviously where the voice came from.
"Yes Mukuro-sama." A female voice said from next to the couch, a figure stood there to confirm it.
27 blinked at the voices as he tilted his head to the side, searching his memory, not his databases, for where he heard those voices before. He soon gave it up before long and instead turned to look at the two figures in front of him. "Mukuro Rokudo and Chrome Dokuro."
TN
A.N. I'm Alive! Sorry it took so long for an update, I was in an accident back in august and was separated from my laptop, which has everything on it! I'm alright, just minor injuries that have healed since then and I have been reunited with my beloved laptop as well. Anyways I would like to ask you to review and tell me what you thought of this chapter. I love to hear opinions and options and one of my reviews has actually given me an idea for this story, which I will mention once I have that up.
I would like everyone to think about some of the authors on Fanfiction that died recently or a while ago. Some of them died in tragic accidents or illnesses and have left stories unfinished or had others finish them for them in memory. I would like everyone reading this to lower their heads, clasp their hands together and pray for those who have been lost. Allow there to be a moment of silence for wherever you, the reader, are and remember not just the writers here on this site but those who have been lost in your life or in tragic events.
Please remember that life is short and that you should love those in your life while you can and show your appreciation for water comes into your life.
Again, thanks to those who have lost their lives for spreading inspiration through their works.
