A/N: Another sad one coming up! At last some characters are coming up and get a clue what is going on...maybe. So much stuff to do this week and this chapter was kind of hard to write since I changed it so many times!
Disclaimer: I will never own KHR (T.T I don't even have a book, so thank you public libraries!)
Chapter 7
She's gone
(but we're here)
Tsuna blinked away and tried to get his balance back from the time jump he had to go through. He a familiar sound of fighting, so Tsuna focus on his hearing. He was stared at the woman gracefully fighting an assassin with a black mask. Well at first anyways.
"You will pay for even thinking of hurting him!" She screamed at the man as she realize he was just toying with her.
Tsuna naturally summon his sky flames (strange how his coat didn't caught on fire) and yelled out, "HEY! Leave her alone you crazy yakuza assassin!"
Said assassin turned to Tsuna and growled, "Quit following me you foolish pawn!"
Tsuna just responded by flying toward the man, but he shot around Tsuna, disappearing within the debris. Tsuna mentally groaned that he lost sight of the man, again.
"Interesting sky flame boy," the woman fixed her kimono. How she able to fight in that, is beyond Tsuna. Before he could respond, a little boy went running toward the woman, "Kaa-san!" It was Takeshi-kun. Yep Tsuna is completely not surprise. Only that it was quite fast he found his guardian even if he is younger by almost more than 7 years.
"Take-chan, are you alright?" the woman checked the giggling boy.
"Hai! I am fine," the little boy turned to Tsuna, "haha, thank you for helping Kaa-san!" He bowed as he smiled widely. Tsuna bowed back, "No is alright, she is very brave." Tsuna wasn't sure how to act around a cheerful boy with his mother still alive right there. I wonder if I can save her too...
"How about as a thank you, a free meal of sushi, neh?" the woman offered. His intuition whispered him to keep his guard up.
"Er...no is alright..." Tsuna tried to turned down the invitation.
"Yay sushi!" Unfortunately Takeshi-kun's excitement to have someone else, won out. Tsuna smiled nervously.
Tsuna smiled nervously at the strange man in front of him. Said strange man was glaring murderously at Tsuna, "Who is the kid?"
Times like this Tsuna cursed his small height even if he is little taller before meeting Reborn. Tsuna stopped that train of thought and decided to introduce himself to the man he thought he knew, unless I have entered to an alternative universe after all, Tsuna bowed in greeting, "Hello sir, my name is Yoshi, a traveler on seeing all the sights in Japan."
"An Italian tourist?" the man glared suspiciously at Tsuna.
Before he could respond, Takeshi put in, "Tou-san! He helped Kaa-san with the creepy man with the mask!"
Well there goes the theory of a possible evil twin of Tsuyoshi Yamamoto-san, Tsuna sighed. How this man who looks like he never smiled in his life will become the good-natured man who lets even the most craziest guardians eat in his shop and be ok about it, he doesn't even know. Must be a Yamamoto family trait or something, Tsuna thought back at his rain guardian strange thought processes and doing the impossible.
Tsuna barely snapped out of it when the man ordered Takeshi-kun to clean up for dinner and reminded him of his lessons. Tsuna wondered this is why his best friend is very good with his swords with the whole practicing since he was little. After all, last he checked, Takeshi-kun only played baseball when Tsuna knew him before the mafia chaos.
After they ate sushi, Tsuna was left alone with Takeshi's mother. Tsuna was tired and out of it that he just calmly walked back to wash his dishes. This made the older Yamamoto woman suspicious, "How do you know your way around this place like you been here many times before?"
"Er... I use to come here often?" a mother scorn is a scary thing to be directed at, which it was no wonder Tsuna's mind went blank and responded badly to defend himself. Fortunately his intuition kicked in and sense an attack behind him. He ducked a sword that almost cut his head off. Hiiee! Takeshi's dad is scary! Tsuna thought as the man began to attack him.
"Cutting it close don't you think," growled elder Yamamoto-san at his wife. Tsuna meanwhile felt partially insulted at being treated like a low life immature assassin at being ignored during their exchange, but better that than show more of them he is much more. Speaking of his skills, his intuition yelled the crazy assassin is back again.
"No time for this nonsense," Tsuna muttered and summon his flames to sped up to the dojo leaving behind shocked parents.
A glass broke and a cry of pain is what Tsuna first things he heard when he saw Takeshi throwing fast balls at the annoyed assassin. Taking advantage of the distraction, Tsuna pushed back Takeshi-kun behind him protectively, "Leave now or suffer the consequences," Tsuna threaten as he increased his flames and summoned Natsu.
The Sky lion cub growled as he began to grow bigger.
"Oh no! It is you who will suffer the consequences you, Kawahira's messenger boy!" sneered the assassin. Tsuna frowned as he saw the outfit of the assassin. Grey suit, mask, the gun...wait a minute...this whole time.. "You were the multiplying assassin!"
"Hohoho, aren't you the funny one," Tsuna twitched at the mocking tone, though the man was confused by Tsuna's reference, "there is no way I am letting you warn him about me!" Tsuna barely heard the click of the gun when Tsuna whirled behind him, pushing Takeshi-kun to the ground. There were many shots above them as they felt the debris of the wood being punctured. Unfortunately grazed Natsu who disappeared. Tsuna was so shocked at the sudden disappearance that the assassin took advantage of it.
"Yoshi-kun!" Takeshi-kun cried out as Tsuna was abruptly pulled away from him crashing to the outside. Tsuna tried to fight the chokehold the assassin had of him as he glared his opponent.
"Sky flames, I wonder..." Tsuna went wide-eyed as he felt the man forcing him into Dying Will mode, but not any Dying Will mode. Ultimate Dying Will Mode.
His intuition going overdrive that Tsuna could barely even think as he already knew it is bad for him to go into that mode. It began after everything calm down from those battles, Tsuna had felt something shift within himself and he was afraid of going into that mode feeling uneasy. So when Tsuna recovered from the battles, Reborn tried to train him into entering Dying Will mode without the pills. It somehow led him into Ultimate Dying Will Mode.
It was no surprise in hence sight why Tsuna panicked after his flames went out of control. He barely just had enough control for Reborn to escape. Lets just say after it was over, the affected area remained dead as if the area was deemed dangerous to even be near...like a different plane existence or something. Of course Tsuna almost died in that attempt of holding in his flames. Reborn swore he would not let Tsuna go that far until they gradually increase his flames and control it. It was kind of nice to see his tutor freak out on his behalf. Not so much when Reborn just doubled his training for that thought.
Now he is being forced into UDWM as he felt his flames swirled around them and felt something else, a different power awaken even more. Unfortunately this was what the assassin was waiting for because the chokehold tighten and felt the budding energy leaving him, going toward the assassin. Tsuna could only screamed as he felt something tear away from him.
"Well, well," Tsuna feeling now numb as his flames flickered around them as the assassin talked calmly, "he actually send you of all people, how naive of him." Then everything began to warp around them, "better get rid of the competition, no?" Just as everything began to disappeared, Tsuna heard as if glass shattering around them as a ball aimed true and slammed into the assassin's mask.
Before Tsuna could see behind the mask, he was abruptly dropped on the burnt grass. Tsuna barely glanced toward the broken dojo, seeing the older Yamamoto couple staring behind a worried Takeshi with a bat in hand. Tsuna's whole body was in agony from the released strong flames. He just hope his flames were not damage. He still had to make sure the Yamamoto family are safe, after all. First thing first thought, sleep. Well his body said and Tsuna had no choice, but comply.
"You know of our line," the woman narrowed her eyes in suspicion at a confused Tsuna, "sky flames are from bosses of a mafia famiglia and you are not taking him." Tsuna began to sweat nervously at the woman's questioning that began just as he woke up.
"We left that kind of life ever since Take-chan was born, and only one group of fools was not fooled by our 'supposed deaths.'" Tsuna was now awake, his body getting use to waken up the weirdest ways and this was nothing.
"You can't escape the Mafia forever, even if you live a supposed 'normal life'," Tsuna muttered remembering how his own father tried to shield him from such of life, but now look it got him. Don't get him wrong, he made his choice and maybe now he is truly accepting it.
"Well, it wouldn't hurt to try," glared the woman. Tsuna for this once wasn't afraid as he looked instead of a mafia seasoned fighter, but a mother who prays that her child wouldn't be tainted by her sin. Instead, Tsuna felt guilty and remorse that thanks to him, it just would not be so.
"I'm sorry," Tsuna wanted to look away even if his eyes were already covered by his hood, yet he looked at a heartbroken woman face on. The silence stretch at the implication of what could Tsuna meant.
"...So long as those flames stay pure and do your best to protect him, I wouldn't hate you, much," she stood up and left Tsuna to his thoughts.
I will still do it even without promising you because we all going to fight together and come back alive to see the fireworks together, Tsuna gripped his blanket.
Both boys were picking up all the baseballs the little boy had hit. Tsuna at first was shocked at even now his best friend was also crazy for baseball. Tsuna was wondering if he was shot at or had a baseball thrown at him. Nope, there really is no difference whatsoever.
"Kaa-san and Tou-san are trying to get a better life because of me," Takeshi-kun breaking the silence as they clean up. Tsuna turned to Takeshi-kun in confusion when he reached for the baseball bag.
"Is it because I'm bad, they fight?" Takeshi-kun went on.
Now that is simply not right, Tsuna thought and felt an eerie deja vu.
"Yoshi-kun, what should I do?" Takeshi-kun pleaded to Tsuna.
At this, Tsuna remembered it was when Takeshi-kun asked him for advice and the next day he wanted to jump off the building. All because Tsuna gave him bad advice. Tsuna gulped wondering if he might make this worse as well. Then he saw the genuine worry and confusion at his best friend's eyes, begging for Tsuna to help him. Tsuna just couldn't just ignore him. Especially to one of his precious friends.
"Just do your best and cheer for them. It isn't because you are bad, is because," Tsuna remembered the conversation he had with Takeshi's mom, "is because they love you so much," he thought about his big family,"they will do anything for and your job is to support them and smile," the boy just stared at Tsuna still confused.
"I still don't understand."
"You will one day, but for now just know you wont be alone and have your parents with you who will always love you."
They heard fighting when they arrived the closed shop of TakeSushi. Just before they opened the door, it was slammed opened. Takeshi's mother left in a huff in some kind of black suit, not even noticing them. Confused they entered, facing an upset older Yamamoto.
"No training today, son," Takeshi-kun blinked and Tsuna wondered at the change of character, "the food is wrapped up in the back and Yoshi-kun, would you keep an eye on my son, I need...a breather in the dojo." Without waiting for anything he left. Tsuna felt dread and for the next two days it began to grow bigger.
It didn't help that his best friend's mother has yet to return and the older Yamamoto appear. So on the third day, Takeshi-kun dragged Tsuna out to look for his mom.
They were already too late.
Tsuna suspected Tsuyoshi knew of their mission and followed them. Probably to keep an eye on them. Now though they are facing couple of bodies that are no longer breathing. Except of one who is barely. Tsuna guessed by his intuition that these are the people who knew of the lie of the Yamamoto family
"Kaa-san?" Takeshi-kun asked worried for his mother. Tsuna was rather perturbed by Takeshi-kun's lack of reaction to the blood, but he is more focus on the dying woman.
He heard a chocked sob behind him. Tsuna was about to step back to give them space when the mother pulled him toward her.
"Please don't take him," she pleaded. Tsuna wondered for a second for the plea and realize she fears he came for Takeshi-kun's power.
"Don't worry I will give him time to enjoy his childhood, but when I come back, I will give him a choice and I will do it with all my power to fulfill it," Tsuna whispered to her. She must had seen his resolve and somehow knew it will be so.
"Thank you," she let go of him. Tsuna took a step back and barely heard them talk
"...smile for me, neh?" she muttered to Tsuyoshi who gave her a small smile as Takeshi nodded as he cried.
"Find friends who will always be at your side and wish to protect," she whispered to Takeshi.
The funeral was on the next day, which was a quiet affair. After wards the two Yamamoto males shut themselves in their rooms. Tsuna not sure what to do, decided to just wait outside of Takeshi's room and gave him space. He only bothered the boy to leave him leftovers and greetings to show Tsuna is outside if he needs anything. Tsuna only waited 4 days before Tsuna decided to make a conversation.
"Takeshi-kun," Tsuna began as he knocked, "you shouldn't lock yourself any longer, is time for you to move on..."
"Shut up!" Takeshi-kun yelled from his room, Tsuna waited calmly for the boy to go on.
He did, "You don't understand! I am now alone and the one who truly loved me is gone!"
"What about your father," Tsuna spoke up, "what about helping him since he is hurting just as much as you are and besides," the door opened to the teary little boy. Tsuna smiled at his lonely rain who one day will be surrounded by laughter and chaos just like him one day, "I am here."
They went downstairs and froze as they stared at the open, crowded TakeSushi restaurant. There was so much laughter. They wondered why they had heard nothing..
Tsuna twitched at the sight that greeted him. It is very similar to his time (though it still linger a little grief in the air). At the counter stood a laughing Tsuyoshi as he cut up sushi to the customers. Poor little Takeshi stood on the edge of first floor, wondering what was he seeing. Tsuna wondered how he was going to snap out of the shocked boy when the older Yamamoto saw them, "Glad you're back Takeshi! Can you clean yourself up and help me," he sheepishly smiled, "it will seemed that I have forgotten some of the menu items." The customers laughed at the man good naturedly as the man finish off, "Yoshi-kun, if you can help serve the tables?"
"H-hai!" they both nodded and quickly went to work.
So for the rest of the night their spirits were up as they served the customers until it was closing time. Just as he was cleaning, Tsuna felt he was back at his time in the restaurant where he and his friends meet up and hang out. Tsuna had to shake his head before his thoughts turned to worry of how he will return, and finish up cleaning as the last customer left. Turning to the owner of the shop, Tsuna asked, "Is there anything else, you need me to do, Yamamoto-san?"
"Well-" The man began to speak when the door bells ranged as someone opened the door.
"Ah, sorry good sir, I'm afraid we just closed the shop for the night, if you can come until tomorrow, we can serve you," Tsuyoshi giving a apologetic look.
"Pardon me Mr. Yamamoto, I come to speak with...ah Yoshi-kun there you are," Tsuna looked warily at the green kimono man who looked too calm for Tsuna's comfort. The boy nodded warily in greeting, "Kawahira-san."
"I wish for us to talk before you leave," Tsuna wondered if Kawahira was involved in this as the assassin tried to implied.
Before Tsuna could respond to that, he felt someone tugging his dark orange coat, "Yoshi-kun, are you leaving already?" Takeshi-kun looked up sadly at Tsuna. Tsuna sighed and gave him a small smile. Then his pocket glowed somewhat, Tsuna kneeled down to Takeshi's level knowing what would happen soon, "Never forget, you're not alone Takeshi-kun, I am always will be with you," Tsuna poke Takeshi-kun's chest and his finger transferred some of his sky flames that surrounded the little boy for a second. Tsuna mentally frowned wondering why his flames subconsciously does that to only his guardians...
His thoughts were interrupted as he felt the bazooka shot itself out and engulf Tsuna, leaving behind orange smoke. Freaky moody bazooka.
"Eh?" Takeshi-kun blinked at the sudden disappearance of his new friend.
Meanwhile Kawahira sighing, "So close too..."
A/N: Well, well one that was an interesting review from the last chapter, makes me wonder if she/he was reading my notes :3
Thank you for your support and reviews and just couple of chapters to go. In other news, one of my favorite authors that stop writing a KHR fanfiction story for a long time (that help inspire this story) has come back, YAY!
Ahem, anyways till next chapter: I love to fight in the Sky Touch arc.
