Happy new year guys! Just telling everyone- I'm going to change the rating from K+ to T due to swearing and possibly a little more mature themes that I may introduce.
I love you guys for such positive reviews on the omake- I was really worried it wouldn't be as funny as I hoped lol~
Also I swear to god next chapter will be happier! Probably...
Ummmm... Anything else to say oh!
To the anonymous people out there who made comments thanks! I'm so happy I made your day/night! XD
Now I hope you all enjoy!
A Sickness, A Shaken Doctor And A Feeling of Fear
Weeks. It had taken weeks but finally he had gotten a step closer. Tsuna threw back his head and laughed triumphantly like how he'd seen the caped men do on the TV show that Ieyasu seemed to like. Personally the brunette thought the whole show was kind of dumb- the so-called heroes never seemed to capture the villains who always manages to escape in the last minute and there is never proper judgement upon the crimes. No, the Vindice were definitely way cooler than those neon colored characters the boy decided stubbornly.
Looking at the flame in his hand, the brunette mentally patted his back. It was a brilliant yellow and deep indigo all at once, as it flickered one could see the edges were almost blue in color. Three different flames all in harmony.
It took a while and a lot of trial and error but he had finally found the perfect ratio for all three flames to co-exist as one, by adding Sky-san to help calm the other attributes the flame is able to stabilize its form. It was hard, there were quite a few accidents resulting in various burns (luckily these particular flames were already quite controlled compared to the more chaotic Storm-kun or unpredictably wild Night-san) however pure resolve pushed the child to continue on. Tsuna couldn't wait to see if his hard work has finally paid off, to see the proud glint in the eyes of the people he loved not to mention the rare look of surprise on their stoic faces. He giggled at the mental image and as he turned to skip out of the training grounds the brunette stumbled. 'Eh?' Suddenly his vision was blurring from reality and his tiny body felt heavy and unresponsive. A sense of fear and confusion clutched inside Tsuna as his mouth failed to make any sound but a sickening gurgle. Then there was darkness. And a sense of falling.
"Yo Tsuna I freaking heard a cras- CRAP TSUNA ARE YOU OKAY?!"
Jack spent no hesitation as he rushed over to the three-year old's side. He may have been dead for a long time but he recognized a sick person when he saw one. Without even thinking he lifted the boy up bridal style and rushed over to the Vindice Boss.
"BOSS, TSUNA HAS COLLAPSED IN THE TRAINING GROUNDS!"
"What?!" Immediately the arcobaleno was on top of Jack's shoulder looking down at the unconscious brunette in the taller one's arms. Feeling with tiny bandaged hands the youngest boy's forehead he swore under his breath. "His fever is high. Too high. Get some antibiotics from the medical infirmary." The baby ordered.
Something was wrong with Tsuna. And taking account the fact the boy practically lives in a very sanitary almost sterile environment as they never allow him near the prisoners and the guards themselves are unable to hold illness, whatever that's wrong with the child was no ordinary sickness.
Once the red-head laid the child on a nearby couch and practically dove into the portal the Vindice boss summoned Alejandro as well as any other guard that owned sun flames or had medical knowledge. Bermuda cursed the fact almost all the intelligent geniuses that were Arcobaleno had such weak bodies and died throughout the process of losing their pacifier. No it wasn't their fault. It was that damned Checkerface's. Everything can be blamed on that bastard. And no the boss of Vendicare would not say otherwise.
Word quickly spread like wildfire on the child's distressing condition, it wasn't hard for it to spark considering Tsuna was and will now always be a top priority in the Vindice. Jailers left and right kept rushing in and out of the boy's bedroom with various medicinal items and advice on how to handle the sick.
"I'll get tha cooks to whip up some chicken soup!"
"I have heard green onions to be effective when placed on the patients body."
"Maybe some fresh water from the Swiss Alps would help? We will obtain it right away."
"Chinese medicine in my day seemed to do wonders. Once Tsuna wakes up maybe he should try drinking some of these brewed herbs."
"Pupipu pipippupi uppipup."
"There is recent information that suggest the Bovino familigia has invented some sort of healing equipment. They have also been close to breaching a few laws and I'm sure..."
"Consuming dried antelope intestines were a practice used when sick in my village..."
"Keke I can go get some fresh blood to make..."
"Live cobra heart in a glass of its own blood..."
"Bath filled with sulfur rock from an active volcano..."
Needless to say Bermuda who hadn't once left Tsuna's side through the whole ordeal was earning himself quite a headache. What was worse was despite everyone's hardest (and increasingly disturbing not to mention morally greying) efforts the child showed no signs of recovery. In fact he was getting worse. By the time Gia and Jäger had procured a few vials of what they insisted was filled with the blood of Primo himself (which for their sakes better not have been the vials of blood they had been promised to protect), the Night Arcobaleno had just about had enough.
"If thoughst doth not shutteth up. Thy will find thyselves under thou wrath." The baby boomed in his 'boss' voice, hollow and deep as it practically commanded all that heard it to immediately follow.
All chaos (not panic- the Vindice did not panic) immediately ceased. Though Bermuda had learnt to hide it, once their boss got extremely angry or beside himself with another emotion (but they had yet to see that) the baby would tend to slip into his old-fashioned terms of language used in his old life. It told the guards two things about their mysterious boss. One- was that it reminded them on how long this endless accursed cycle had been going on in history and two- the man was very, very pissed.
All was silence other than the irregular breathing of one sick brunette. "C-c-cold." Tsuna managed to groan out and almost immediately the brunette was buried in various blankets. Bermuda groaned. Apparently when one goes so long not caring about living things and being dead they become completely stupid when the time comes for one in taking care of someone.
"H...hot.." Came the muffled whine of the brunette and just as quickly was the blankets gone. The attention was turned once more to Tsuna. The bag of ice that was resting on his scorching forehead a few minutes ago was reduced to water, the child's rise in temperature was alarming to say the least and already the room was getting unbearably hot from just the mere heat radiating off the bedridden figure.
They had no idea what the child was ailed with. They had no extensive medical knowledge to help with. And they barely had any medical supplies to utilize if it takes a turn for the even worse. But they will not just sit and watch helplessly as their little sky dies. They had one last card in their deck. The jailers were hesitant to use it as once drawn information on Tsuna's existence in Vendicare could very well be compromised. However the Vindice will still be able to protect the boy with all their strength, what they couldn't protect was someone already dead. And if they didn't do something soon Tsuna could very well die.
With a silent nod to three of the guards Bermuda left (though unwillingly) Tsuna's side and at the same time the trio opened a portal ready to bring their last card out of the deck.
To say this was one of the biggest scares in Shamal's life was a freaking understatement. A few seconds ago he was hitting on a very beautiful blonde and now he was face to face with members of the most feared enforcers in the underworld. Quickly he wracked his mind to find any reason for such a situation to have occurred. A few restraining orders, parking tickets and slaps to the face come to mind but no actual mafia laws being broken. Maybe the blonde beauty was who they were looking for?
"Trident Shamal." Shit. "Under orders you are to come with us to Vendicare in which what you will see will never pass through your lips."
Well if that didn't sound terrifyingly ominous the man didn't know what did. Of course there wasn't much he could do to refuse, especially to the Vindice of all people. So he forcefully willed himself to nod in reluctant acceptance, inwardly praying to any female Gods for some miracle that could save him from what he could only think as a fate worst than death. Obviously no miracle appeared.
Once the guards were certain the terrified doctor will not run away the trio dragged the chained man through the portal, instructing him to hold his breath as individuals not holding a night flame could find themselves suffocated and incapacitated- possibly dead depending on the length of time subjected to the dark matter. It was the polite thing to do after all. Apparently Shamal didn't seem to think so based on the growing paleness of his face.
The doctor expected chains, he expected torture instruments maybe even a few scary scar-ridden muscular criminals. What he didn't expect was a scorching hot room where a small delicate feminine-looking boy was curled up on a bed. It didn't take an idiot to know why a medical genius like Shamal was brought to this room. He opened his mouth to protest.
"Oh no. No, no, no see I only treat fema-" However one glance at the menacing aura emitting from a horrifying large number of bandaged cloaked jailers successfully stopped the words of resistance from leaving his mouth. The guard behind him holding the chain bindings released the living man and pushed him (a little harshly not that the doctor was going to complain) toward the boy. "You will heal the child." Came the harsh raspy order that sent chills down the grown man's spine. The 'Or die trying' wasn't said but the doctor could read between the lines and unconsciously gave an audible gulp.
Not wanting to waste any of their time nor wanting to stay in this grey hellhole any longer than necessary the womanizing doctor moved closer to the sweating yet shivering form of the brunette. Going straight into professional mode Shamal began looking for symptoms as clues for whatever was plaguing the kid. He rested a hand on the boy's forehead, only to quickly retract it like he'd been burned- and to his surprise he actually was. Turning toward the guards in a mix of scientific curiousity and cool professionalism. "Has the brat-" "Tsunayoshi." One guard corrected in a growl. Shamal cleared his throat a little nervously. "*ahem* Yes uh, has... Tsunayoshi-kun had any previous association with... Dying will flames?"
The silence to come was awkward and though Shamal couldn't see any change in the bandaged jailers' outward appearance somehow he sensed... Sheepish... Guilt? The pause was quick however and the doctor could only wonder if it was his crazed imagination finally caving from all this pressure. "Tsunayoshi has been able to access all his flames at age two."
A dark eyebrow was raised at that. 'If what they said was true than this child was very well a prodigy... Wait. All?' At that the eyebrow rose a little higher. "What do you mean all of his flames?"
"That is none of your concern Trident Shamal." It was already killing them that they had to reveal their Tsuna to an outsider much less one that came from the mafia. The Vindice did not wish to reveal anymore information than necessary that could attract unwanted attention to the child they so desperately wanted to protect from the inevitable darkness that will one day too consume their pure innocent Tsuna.
"It is my concern. And yours and Tsunayoshi-kun's." The doctor was a little surprised by his own firm tone but quickly continued lest such attitude wasn't appreciated in Vendicare. "What I mean is that from the strange sudden symptoms Tsunayoshi-kun could be suffering from a disease from a consequence of Flame overuse. If I don't know anything about his flames it would be like searching for an ink stain in a black room with no light." Another lull in the rather short one-sided conversation was made as the jailers considered the living man's words. Then one of the more shorter guards stepped up though he couldn't see the other's eyes, Shamal could feel the intensity of the glare. 'Strange- this particular Vindice guard didn't seem as stoic as the others.' The doctor noted absentmindedly as he took a small step back just enough to get out of punching range. Apparently this guard also knew no personal space or he did and the jailer didn't very well give two damns as the shorter male moved intimidatingly closer like a lion stalking prey.
"You listen here fucking greenhorn-" Wow it had been a long time since anyone has every called him that. "-none of this information will pass out of your lips if you want to see the outside world again."
Once satisfied at scaring the shit out of the very willing to comply doctor, the short jailer stepped back, satisfied, into the mass of bandages, black cloaks and top hats. The moment the short guard seemed to disappear from view another guard whose black wavy coarse hair was revealed through wraps of bandages stepped up. This one if possible was even more intimidatingly fearsome, he could see the taller jailer's eye with its black sclera and white pupil and worst of all the power he exuded made the experienced mafioso doctor want to sink to his knees. A little part of Shamal wished for the shorter guard to come back. Only a little part though.
"Tsunayoshi is in possession of and able to manipulate ten types of flames." Despite the spine-chilling hollow voice that the doctor swore could haunt his nightmares it was the content of the words that caused his other eyebrow to shoot up, meeting with the one already raised.
'Ten dying flames?! I wasn't even aware there were eight flames but ten?!'
"Fascinating." The doctor murmured genuinely curious at this new piece of information. Suddenly the child in front of him wasn't just a simple patient, he was a complex phenomenon defying years of what everyone thought on Flame capabilities, capable of changing the course of scientific history itself. However only if Shamal could save him that is. Which if what he learnt already about the boy and his symptoms would be a tremendous feat.
"It seems to be a mutation of Skullitis from the markings appearing on the child's torso." The womanizer explained as he lifted up the small boy's shirt revealing a small image of a skull. The cloaked jailers said nothing, showed no indication of emotion or response yet internally their minds went into overdrive.
Skullitis was a fatal and very rare disease that came from flame overuse, when the first marking is visible the victim will have only 2 hours to live. A cold dread seeped into each and everyone of them. "But Skullitis has no other side effects like what Tsunayoshi is going to." Jack spoke up, his voice still hollow and raspy was holding a slight waver as he tried his best to repress the emotions from reflecting through his voice.
"Yes that's right but as I said before this is a mutation. Therefore there will be a variation of symptoms, a different time limit and... Possibly will need a different cure." Another pregnant pause until- "How long will it take?"
Shamal sighed, "It will be hard but at my best maybe two and a half hours. I'm sorry." And he really was. However the jailers were too busy seething at the unfairness of it all. It was just like them to finally find their happiness only to have it taken away before their helpless, soulless eyes. "You will do it in two hours." The scariest jailer practically gritted out through the bandages, his one eye flashing with the silent promise of death if the other failed. Gulping the man nodded and was quickly warped to the medical room by the same trio that had chained him up before (he thinks- they all pretty much looks identical to him). He didn't even had time to question why the child was so important to the jailers, yes this child's existence was probably the scientific breakthrough of the century but the Vindice had never actually cared about anything but the Mafia Laws. They had no reason to even care for this kid, they were cruel and held no remorse for anything.
So why?
These questions and more however had to be pushed out of Shamal's mind. Right now he had a cure to create in an almost impossible time limit even for his medical genius.
It was literally do or die.
Time was running out for the doctor. Luckily he was very close to a possible cure as he isolated the genes for a new strain of Angelitis- a virus used to negate Skullitus. Unfortunately he needed 15 more minutes for the new strain to reproduce to a usable amount and he only had... 14 minutes. Now that may not seem like much more but Shamal was pretty sure a group that spent their life upholding the laws of the underworld with strict authority wouldn't appreciate one being late by half a second. And he wasn't keen on testing the theory out either.
'Come on! Come on goddaMMIT!' The mosquito wielding doctor swore in his head as he looked at his watch and then to his virus. This could easily be the most life-threatening situation in his whole life. He couldn't die here! Not in this godforsaken place where the devils go to die! He hadn't flirted with enough females! Even worse he would die with none of those beautiful flowers known as girls in sight! Well maybe one of those guards were female but he hardly thought they counted and- "YES! OH SWEET MARY JESUS GRAZIE, OH GRAZIE!" Only ten seconds left and somehow the mutated Angelitus strain was complete. Triumphantly he poured the viral solution onto one of his trident mosquitoes- Angela's- trident shaped stinger then encased the bug into one of his capsules ready for transportation.
Now all he could do now was to hope - for Tsunayoshi and his sake.
Tsuna's breathing was loud and erratic, his body temperature which had always been high had shot through the roof- even when the jailers tried to place ice near the boy it would melt a few feet from the sick child. It irritated and worried everyone present to the point of feeling sick which at the back of their minds they thought was strange considering they had no internal organs to feel sick on. They could all sense Bermuda too was deeply agitated as well from the fluctuations of night flames inside their bodies, they couldn't help but feel sorry for their boss. They couldn't afford to reveal the eighth Arcobaleno's existence and it must have almost killed the Vindice boss to be unable to be by their beloved brunette's side in his time of need.
"ah-ah-aaaAAHHhH!" The boy who had become in so much pain that he could no longer talk, only whimper suddenly began screaming. Tears were welling up and falling down flushed cheeks, sizzling as they ran down. It was a horrible sight as the brunette's frail figure thrashed around revealing more and more skulls appearing on his white skin; Jäger, Jack, Small Gia and Alejandro all rushed to restrain him not caring that their mangled flesh was burning- they couldn't feel much pain anyway since their nerves have dulled. It stabbed their nonexistent heart when the boy cried, sobbing everyone's name pleading for them to help stop the scorching pain. Never did they want to see such hurt and despair on the child's face again.
It was at that time Ario, Emilio and Fico came back with the doctor at their side. Not even waiting for a greeting Shamal opened up the capsule he held unveiling a mosquito with a trident shaped stinger. The bug made no hesitation in stinging Tsuna and though they were all aware of Trident Shamal's techniques they tensed as they watched the sharp stinger pierce the lithe body.
The reaction was instantaneous. Tsuna calmed down, his tear soaked eyes fluttered shut tired from the ordeal and the room temperature went down to more tolerable levels. The Vindice let out breaths they didn't know they held, sending disguised looks of gratefulness and appreciation at the doctor (they didn't want the man knowing how close the child was to them however if the man broke a small mafia law they wouldn't mind letting it slide with a warning once). Shamal was too busy watching over the child's vital signs for any fluctuations to even notice the subtle behavior anyway. With an exasperated sigh he turned to the jailers. "Well Tsunayoshi-kun's worst is over however I need to watch over his condition as he recovers for about two weeks tops."
Honestly after seeing how worried the supposedly emotionless monsters were (they may try to deny it and hide it but Shamal had seen his fine share of patients loved ones, no matter how discreet, cold or subtle they were the doctor knew grief when he saw it- though it honestly did take him a little while to notice) Shamal felt a little safer. Or at least confident enough to know they wouldn't kill the guy while he still had use to them. Probably.
The next few days the boy was still weak and bedridden resulting in at least twenty Vindice guards ('it's like they never sleep!' Shamal mentally grumbled.) by the kid's side constantly. Sometimes at the corner of the doctor's eye he would see a shadow of a figure that could almost have been an arcobaleno... Great. Now he was hallucinating Reborns and that meant it was a good time for a quick nap.
Honestly in all the years he had lived and experienced, he would have never prepared for the moment of when the brunette opened his eyes. Which by the way were so goddamn big and cute Shamal almost doubted for a second the boy's gender. Instantly the room was filled with bandages and black cloaks. The doctor didn't know anymore to be petrified, impressed or slightly bemused at the sudden arrival of what seemed to be every jailer in Vendicare.
If he saw past the intimidating appearance and wasn't aware that these umm... Individuals were well who they were the doctor could almost think they were doting on the admittedly adorable brunette and were being quite -God forbid- cute. At first this thought was promptly pushed far away from the man's mind and mentally burned into a crisp. This was the Vindice we are talking about! Cruel, cold monsters that have again and again been questioned of their humanity. Yet as the days went by as he took care of Tsunayoshi Shamal found himself slowly changing his opinion, even if it was a little bit. He also found himself understanding why such heartless beings had actually become attached to this one little kid.
"Shamal-sama thank you for saving me."
The doctor coughed nonchalantly hiding a slight blush and flutter of joy at the compliment as he continued taking the young boy's temperature. "I told you Tsunayoshi to drop the -sama suffix. And you have already thanked me an indefinite amount of times already."
"But I want to show you my appreciwation- it's the right thing to do! And I told you to drop the -yoshi part of my name." Tsuna added with a playful whine which couldn't help but get the older man's lips to twitch upward in amusement. Shamal wasn't easily swayed by brats but... Admittedly the kid had a certain charm in him, the brunette held a maturity that most adults didn't have as well as a kindness that could rival a saint and Shamal like that in a person. It also helped that he looked very much like a girl but the doctor wasn't going to say that out loud what with all those overprotective jailers around.
"Annnd... 54.7 degrees Celsius." The doctor raised a brow. "I think this is your normal temperature..?" The younger male nodded with a big grin. "Everyone says cause I have so many magic flames in me my normal temperature is around the mid-fifties." Before the doctor could even think how amazing the human body could stand such conditions small, warm hands tugged on his rugged large one. "C'mon Dr. Shamal-san let me show you around!"
"I don't think -" whatever form of protest died off as the elder made the mistake of looking into the little boy's wide imploring eyes that reminded him of a puppy dog- an exceptionally adorable puppy dog. It was a critical hit that not even Bermuda himself could come out unscathed from. Shamal never stood a chance.
"And here's the throne room where Boss usually sits. And here's -"
"Wait why is there a throne room just for sitting? Isn't there the Boss's office we passed a while back?"
"Yes but the throne room is for sitting and uhm.. I think everyone calls it giving a friendly greeting to the newcomers."
Shamal shuddered at that. He was getting way too familiar with the interior of the inescapable prison, to be fair apparently Tsuna was only allowed on the ground floor and one of the lower floors that contained a training ground as well as a very beautiful library but still it was pretty huge. As Shamal passed by the throne room as Tsuna excitedly showed him around the man wondered absentmindedly if the throne was anything like the sheer decadence of a certain Varia leader's.
"So where is this kitchen anyway? I'm starving and you-" Shamal gave a pointed look toward the clumsy brunette he was currently bandaging after a particularly nasty fall over- 'seriously?'- thin air. "You need to eat more. Honestly is your mother even feeding you?" He immediately regretted the last question leaving his mouth as the smaller figure stiffened in response. Shamal couldn't see the brunette's eyes under the fluffy brown bangs but he could feel the hurt emanating from the child, he didn't want to pry into such wounds not when it was obvious the other didn't wish for it either so quickly he changed the subject. "You know I'm not that hungry anymore. Hmmm... Do you know how to play go fish?" Any negative tension residing in the boy disappeared as Tsuna immediately perked up at the mention of cards. With a cheerful nod he jumped up and ran toward his room to grab a deck. Shamal thanked God for making children so damn easy to distract.
"Dr. Shamal-san do you have any twos?"
"No."
"Dr. Shamal-san do you have any twos?"
"Agh dammit Tsunayoshi fine here! Go fish!"
"Jack-san do you have any kings?"
"..."
Tsuna narrowed his eyes disapprovingly.
"Go fish." Reluctantly bandaged hands gave the card to a grinning brunette. Shamal could hear the other make a disapproving noise that sounded suspiciously like "freaking hell". Tsuna couldn't help but smirk slyly at the despairing two. He did so love being good at things.
As the doctor gave the final okay to the child's stable condition the jailers could only give a slight nod as a sign they were listening. To any outsider it may have seen like the usual stoic emotionless Vindice jailers but really they were deeply troubled. And remained so even up till when Tsuna said his goodbyes, making the doctor promise to visit and even when leading the doctor back to the outside world.
This sudden illness, the shock of it, the idea of how close to death the boy could have been sobered them all up from their delusions of happiness. They were the Vindice. Cold, ruthless monster only fueled by hatred and despair. Their life goals were revenge against the one who has wronged them or to die trying. They were the chaotic elements who had lost their sky.
And yet despite everything they had found a new one. Small, weak yet so full of kindness and acceptance that they had refused to crave. The little Sky loved the Night that had been shunned by all. And the Night in return grew to love the little Sky.
But as they watched their beloved charge- their beloved /child/ suffering as he lay on the bed they realized that the brunette was not like them. The boy was innocent. Untainted. Alive. And the thought weighed on them like a ten tonne hammer. The time for the passing over of the Pacifiers will come this century as well as the time for the Vindice to take revenge. But to gain the revenge they lived for they had to sacrifice their own lives. Could they do that now that they had Tsuna? To leave him alone?
The other option was no better either. They would all have to watch the human they cared for age and perish before their eyes, for not even they could stop the hands of time nor the turns of cruel fate. And could their heart take such sadness? Would it once more stop beating?
They thought about the idea of reviving the child with Night flames however the person revived wouldn't be Tsuna, just an emotionless being driven by hatred just like they had been. They had changed because of a miracle. Tsuna was their miracle. Reviving the child would just be prolonging the suffering, wallowing in denial and slowly pushing away the inevitable hurt. No. Once the boy leaves the world they were sure they could never get him back. And somehow that revelation shook their very core in fear.
The future was so far away yet at the same time so close for the beings that haves lived for so long.
However as they looked at the sleeping brunette who had drifted off to the land of dreams whilst trying very hard to listen to their weekly meeting everyone couldn't help but give a smile, it was a faint shadow of a smile but it was genuine.
They had spent their whole afterlives upholding the laws of the mafia and if God would grant them one act of selfishness it would be to let every jailer spend every moment in the present with Tsuna.
As the meeting finally ended each guard stood up, walked past Tsuna and gave him a gentle pat on the head. Some took the time to ruffle his fluffy hair. Some whispered hoarse words that only the jailer and Tsuna would ever know. Finally as everyone left the room to go back to their usual duties only Bermuda remained, sitting on the sleeping child's chest.
With small bandaged hands the Night Arcobaleno pushed a few stray hairs from the boy's face. He hated how useless he was in his accursed body more than ever as he was forced to watch and worry in the shadows, out of sight. It had been bad enough that he was unaware of Tsuna's family situation at home but now this? For the first time in probably forever Bermuda felt like a complete failure and he didn't like this new feeling at all.
"I am so sorry Tsuna."
"Don't be." The voice was soft with an undertone of drowsiness. Behind the bandages Bermuda blinked. Then he lightly yet firmly placed his hands onto the now awake brunette's chubby cheeks looking straight into those caramel brown pools. "But I am. When you needed me I-I could not be there for you. I have failed you." The Vindice boss was surprised at the waver of his voice however he quickly accepted that vulnerable part of himself, after all it was because of Tsuna and that is a reason in its own. Even though it was dignified, even though it wasn't strong of him, Bermuda couldn't look the young boy in the eyes anymore. It was laughable how the ex-strongest arcobaleno, the boss of Vindice who uphold the laws of the mafia, to protect those wronged couldn't even help the small sky that had accepted who he was. All thoughts stopped as warm hands encased his own chubby cheeks.
"Please look at me Bermuda-san." Looking up he could see Tsuna's eyes glow a faint vibrant orange filled with strength and resolve. With hope. And love. "You have not failed me. Nor have you left my side in my weakest moment." At this a soft smile graced soft lips. "A part of me knew you were there, watching over, silently protecting me like a knight in the shadows."
Bermuda was at a loss for words. In his whole life he had to strive for perfection, to be the strongest, to uphold the mafia laws to a tee. Even the slightest failure was unacceptable or at least horribly punished. Yet here he was being forgiven. Being accepted. From unable to grasp a single form of a word in his head, four words suddenly appear more prominently than ever. It had always been there, echoing in his head but the arcobaleno never voiced it, in fact no member of the Vindice had voiced it yet. But right now it seemed so right to say, the words which should have been so awkward for Bermuda who had not ever been so emotionally close to another living being, was rolling off his tongue smoothly like melted chocolate.
"I love you Tsuna."
Tsuna looked shocked and for a split second the deceitfully younger looking male thought he made a huge mistake. Then caramel brown eyes crinkled in teary joy and cherubic features changed from determined to pure ecstatic happiness. Flinging arms around the bandaged baby Tsuna muffled words under his sobs and into the black feather lining of the other's coat. Words only the two Night flame holders could hear. Words only for the two.
"I love you too."