Chapter 9
Being with Vivaldi had taught Reborn many things, one of which is "Expect the unexpected".
His teacher's actions are at best haphazard and at worst downright destructive. Reborn was so used to his teacher's attitude that the teaching has been automatically ingrained in his mind. That was why, when Vivaldi asked him back after a few years of serving under Vongola, only to send him in a one month vacation to California, he was stunned.
Since, as he observed, this particular action was considered as one of the 'expected' actions that a teacher would do to their students.
That teaching soon becomes "Expect the unexpected, but don't forget to expect the expected".
Though, that was years ago. Reborn was now a fine young man of the age of 23 years old. He had learnt the way of seduction and wooed countless of ladies, and Reborn knew he could brag it to his teacher, who, he knew, remains single throughout his stay with Vongola.
Reborn knew that his teacher's failures were due to her child like features. She would've succeeded had she tried to woe a teen instead of a young man, though Reborn is not going to tell her anytime soon.
He expected for there to be some sort of black horse high official in the Vongola hierarchy, he also mused on the possibility that this black horse might be someone who does not seem like it, perhaps a grin too goofy or a face too stupid.
He did not expect for someone like that to actually come in the name of 'Iemitsu', a blond that seems too stupid on his own, who holds the same type of flame as Nono.
Iemitsu, unknown last name, unknown origin, though Nono seem to trust him inexplicitly. Iemitsu, as he had observed, was completely new to the mafia five years ago. Within the five years he had, he had risen in the ranks into the President of CEDEF.
That inexperienced Mafiosi had now learned to mask his body language that Reborn no longer know what to read from him, and that does not sit well with Reborn.
(His teacher seems like an all knowing being that Reborn could bet his life that she knew the color of the underwear he is wearing today, the brand, texture and the materials used to make it, so why can't he try to be like that?)
"Reborn!" Iemitsu called out with a goofy grin as he saw the door opening. "You're right on time! Sit! Sit! I have sooo many things I have to tell you about my wife!"
(Unknown to the two talking men, Vivaldi, who had been using her flames to spy on Reborn, crushed her wine glass. He is married to Nana and I, the cupid, am not even invited?)
"I refuse to hear anything related to your wife. I'm here for work, not for your disgusting… cuddles."
"Oh, come on! My super duper lovey dovey wife is pregnant for 4 months! Any father would be elated!"
(Far, far, away, Vivaldi noted that the 5th month from today will be empty to visit Iemitsu.)
"As if," Reborn scoffed. "Where's my file. I'll be leaving right after I get my hands on it."
Iemitsu gave out his trademark grin as he patted a brown envelope on his desk. "I won't be giving you though. I want you to stay and chat with me."
Reborn's brows furrowed distastefully. His mind immediately came to the easiest and quickest yet effective course of action.
Reborn took out his favorite gun and cocked it in Iemitsu's direction, but Reborn know such small threat is not something Iemitsu would bother, so he pressed the trigger and shot.
Iemitsu, still sitting on the chair, pressed closer to the desk. "Hey! No gun shots in my CEDEF HQ! My men will automatically go on an alert!"
Just as he said that, the door banged open, revealing men in tuxedo, holding various guns pointed at Reborn's direction.
Hard to believe that a man like that has underlings such as these men.
"Intruders! Alert!" A glassed woman shouted, seemingly acting as the leader of the men.
"Oregano! Calm down!" Iemitsu shouted in panic. "It was just my acquaintance showing off his gun!"
Oregano looked on skeptically as she ordered the men to return to their post.
When Iemitsu faced back to Reborn, he realized that Reborn was nowhere to be found, and the files under his hands were no longer in sight.
"Reborn!" Iemitsu whined, "That's no fair! Using the chaos to steal the files like that… That's cheating!"
Reborn, up in the ventilation system, just snorted.
.o0o.o0o.
Reborn was drinking his espresso in a famed Italian café, hands touching a letter – a mission request – from someone. He was just about to open said letter when a ring tone he dreaded oh-so-much rung from his cell phone.
10 years of not listening to his dear sadistic mentor. 10 years of freedom without torture. 10 years of ignorance bliss immediately ended.
Reborn took out the phone and slowly, dreadfully, pressed the call button.
"Hello, hello? Reborn?" came the voice of his mentor.
"Yes, Teacher?" Reborn answered, "I hope this will be useful, or else I'm hanging up now."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. 10 years of separation and you're becoming more daring and rebellious. And this is important. For me, anyways." Vivaldi hummed through the phone, "You've manned quite enough. I can hear it in your voice."
"Teacher, please, straight to the point."
"Oh, don't worry. I've confirmed that you still have an adult voice. I was worried that I will be hearing some squeaky baby voice."
"I failed to see how this is important." Reborn answered.
"Of course you don't. I was not even supposed to warn you, but I'll give you a fair warning, and heed my warning, Reborn."
"Teacher? What is this about?"
"Watch out for the gentleman of the chess. It will not end well for you."
"Teacher, what are you even blabbering about?" By now, Reborn would've cut the phone connection, but he refrained. Vivaldi's tone held the urgency; he can't just close the phone when his teacher warned him seriously.
"That was as much as I dared to tell you." Vivaldi continued on. "Keep your guards up. I can tell you just so much; the rest is up to your decision. That will be all."
And the beeping of the closed phone call was heard, leaving Reborn to wonder just what had happened.
Reborn sighed. 10 years and his teacher had not changed at all, still the ever frivolous tornado that comes and goes as she pleases.
His attention returned to the letter on the table, his mind wondering what kind of mission it will be. He had had fun in the first few missions, but the fun started to decrease gradually. The missions were getting boring and boring. It was always Vongola mission: kill this boss, random mission: steal this, random mission: destroy this, Vongola mission: info gathering and so on and so forth.
He opened the seal and took out the letter.
'Dear Reborn,
I have a mission request, and I have asked you, together with a few others, to collaborate in this. There was an item that I would like to have stolen. The mission will be hard, the pay will be high. For security purposes, I am unable to write the details, but if you would like to accept this mission, call the number below, then I'll inform you of the briefing spot.
CheckerFace.'
Reborn hummed… it looked interesting…
Reborn flipped his phone open and pressed the numbers.
"Hello?" he asked when someone picked the phone, "is this Checker Face?"
.o0o.o0o.
"Oh my, oh dear…" Vivaldi muttered to herself as she looked at the projection in the crystal ball made out of her dying will flame, where an image of Reborn calling Checker Face was made. "Just when I warned him. It can't be helped, I guess…"
The crystal ball dissipated into wisps of smoke and returned to Vivaldi as she leaned back on her chair, stacks of paperwork in front of her. She surveyed the piles of paper tiredly, all of them containing information and reports that she needs to know. She would've burned them, but she can't just bring herself to! Not after what happened the last time when she accidentally burned parts of the building together with the papers (And burning herself along the way).
"Hot! Hot! Hot!"
Vivaldi scowled when she remembered the incident. It's certainly not pleasant. Vivaldi suddenly noticed a small letter peeking out of one of the piles.
She scrutinized it, feeling that she had seen the letter's seal somewhere recently…
Ah… Kawahira's – Checker Face's letter!
Blood drained from Vivaldi's face when she realized what this implied.
"I hope that's not what I think it is…"
Vivaldi took the letter warily, opened it, and read it.
When she was done, she chuckled warily as she placed the letter on her table. "What the hell? This Great Vivaldi seems to catch a rather unwanted attention, and to think I dreaded getting someone's attention. Can you even use my flame to run the Pacifiers?"
What's worse was that she can't really decline the offer. It will be too suspicious, Checker Face's offer is too… wonderful for someone like her to pass, at least, to the eyes of the public.
Vivaldi reread the content of the letter.
'Dear Reiss,
I have a mission request, and I have asked you, together with a few others, to collaborate in this. There was an item that I would like to have stolen. The mission will be hard, the pay will be high. For security purposes, I am unable to write the details, but if you would like to accept this mission, call the number below, then I'll inform you of the briefing spot.
CheckerFace.'
"Creative," Vivaldi said, "Very creative. I'm sure you sent the other future Arcobalenos the same letter, so for your creativity, I'll make sure your life as Kawahira is a living hell. It is a good thing I marked him with my flame already. Huff, troublesome immortal."
.o0o.o0o.
Reborn strode into the meeting room, fashionably right on time. He searched around the room and saw some people – extremely famous people – sitting around a round table.
Luce, Boss of Giglio Nero, bringing her baby in her arms. Viper, the illusionist for hire and fortune teller. Verde, the scientist that Reborn has the urge to kill due some vendetta. Skull, a stunt man that just won't shut up. Fon, master in martial arts. And Lal, one of CEDEF's – Iemitsu's – agents and trainer.
But one person, certainly out of place, caught his attention easily. A tattered black cloak, similar to Viper's, dragged on the floor, the hood hiding the eyes, and a face mask covering the lips and nose. The person was just slightly taller than Viper, but Reborn can't discern if it was her true height – he can't see her feet since the cloak was too long.
"It seems that we're complete," the unknown cloaked person said, the voice mechanical due to a deep voice scrambler which made Reborn scowl, it just made it harder for him to search who this… unknown person is. Is this Checker Face? "Checker Face, please come out now." the cloaked person continued, proving that, no, Checker Face is not him.
A voice sounded, laughing a delighted laugh as he appeared in wisps. "As expected of Reiss Famiglia's representative!"
Reborn scowled. This cloaked person is a part of his teacher's famiglia? He had never heard of anyone like this… Sure, his teacher is silent about the Reiss's business, but he had seen few of Reiss's spies (guys in dress, perverted old men, high-rank officials, porn stars, basically anyone from the expected to the unexpected.).
"I am the center of the world's information mills." The person said, "I am the best there is. You may call me… Ace?"
"Is that a statement or a question? It seems that you just thought of a name there." Verde commented.
"I did. It was millions of choices and one to pick."
Reborn filed that information in. He noticed Viper doing the same.
"I am a student of the Reiss," Reborn said. "I had thought the information centered on your Boss."
"I know. The Lady talks about you. The Lady is our face. But I am the one who takes care of the business."
Reborn scoffed. Of course his teacher is just a face, she won't be able to do any real work.
(Vivaldi, who guessed what Reborn is thinking, immediately had the urge to smack him over his fore head.)
"The Lady wants to know of Checker Face's information. She wishes for a tea party with you." Ace said, addressing the man. "Preferably not with your partner in crime. If she sees him in sight, she will drown him in, preferably, in Antartica."
"Perhaps one day," Checker Face said, slightly surprised this... 'Lady' knew about smiling Wonomichi, but annoyed since the other Arcobaleno representatives now knew of him. "Shall we start the briefing?"
"The Lady said that 'Flame, thy Flame, 'Tis flame shall empower thou, but thou be warned, for 'tis flame is no other.'"
"Of course, of course," Checker Face smiled, but he inwardly scowled. This Reiss… knew of the Arcobaleno and Fated Day! If the flame refers to Dying Will Flame, then ''tis flame' refers to the special flame that Reiss handled, then 'thou' refers to the Pacifiers. "Shall we begin now?"
.o0o.o0o.
XTRA!
Vivaldi gapped at the slight info she found by accident.
She was just killing time by rereading the mountain stacks of information she had in her Malaysia HQ, a normal civilian house. She would've gone to her beach house in Vietnam, but the after taste of the Vietnam War is really, really bad.
(Just for curiosity's sake, she had slipped into Vietnam during the Vietnam War, though she forgot to take into account the bombings and the dangerous gas. Not only did she get caught in bombs which made her clothes charred, she experienced lung problems due to the gasses the Americans gave out. What made it worse was that it happens around 30 years ago, a short time for her. She don't think she will be going to Vietnam anytime soon either.)
So Vivaldi had been rechecking all those information. Who knows what kind of blackmails she can get? Though when she built up the relationships of the descendants, she cannot believe what she found.
Yeah, sure, to find out that Yurei Nana is a second cousin to the Sasagawa twins is not that shocking, considering the future Kyoko's flowery phenomenon and Nana's cheerfulness is rather similar. This other bit of info, though, is totally unexpected.
Namimori sure is a small town…
Somewhere in Giotto's descendant's line, one of his grandchildren spawned two children, a girl and a boy. The boy continued the Sawada line, and the girl was married into another family.
And this family is called the Yurei family.
Basically, this means that Iemitsu and Nana are cousins a few times removed.
And to think that they are married…
Then, what about Tsuna and Kyoko, if they are marrying?
Vivaldi promptly fainted.