Ryca: HEHEHEHEHEHEHH! Finawlly! UPDATES, MINNA!
Malo: I think I got a pretty decent score on the midterm.
Ryca goes berserk and destroys everything in her sight.
Malo: (face-palms) I'll take care of her personally(insert evil grin). Anyways, enjoy!
"Ha..." Gokudera laughed hollowly, a sound of disbelief. The next second, the clearing was erupting with cheers and relieved sobs.
Yamamoto was the first one to dash to Tsuna.
Gokudera felt happy tears welling up in hits eyes. Both Uni and Aria slumped to the ground, tired but glad the outcome was a success.
Irie Shoichi laughed out loud with genuine happiness. Kyoko's eyes were spilling tears, but she was grinning, the merriest expression ever seen on her face.
Yamamoto tried to pounce at Tsuna and grip him in a group hug with Gokudera, but abruptly, the silver-haired teen turned and walked away from the clear grounds, a shadow forming on his face.
After all, I'm the one who killed the Tenth...
He walked away from the clearing and sat on a rock somewhere in the forest.
He sighed and rubbed his eyelids. "God..." He muttered, a hoard of mixed feelings washing over him.
"Gokudera-kun! Where are you?" A bright but worried voice called, only a few yards away. The person being searched for stood up quickly and hid himself behind the trees. He was too ashamed to meet his boss.
However, the sound of a specific someone clumsily tripping and falling down made him shoot out from the shadows, exclaiming, "Juudai-". However, he stopped midway, as he realized he had blown apart his whole "sulking-at-himself-in-an-emo-corner" act.
Brown eyes started at the electronic green ones.
Tsuna waited for Gokudera to speak, anything, smiling uneasily.
But the uncomfortable silence was broken by a turf-head boxer, who tried to reach Tsuna but instead, had slipped on a wet rock and went down, calling, "EXTREME!"
One second.
Two seconds.
Three–
"Hahahahahah!" Gokudera burst out laughing, unable to keep hold of his accumulated mirth and joy.
Tsuna then joined in, relieved that Gokudera was now feeling like himself.
Yamamoto came barging to them, alerted by the turf-head Ryohei's boisterous cry.
"Oh! You were all here!" He said brightly.
Now feeling a lot better, Gokudera ignored Ymamoto (as usual) and turned to Tsuna and switched on his "apology" mode.
Aria and Reborn arrived, and saw Gokudera afflicting pain on himself.
Tsuna had a hard time convincing his Storm Guardian that he was fine, and he understands why he had to do such a thing, and so on, and so on.
As Gokudera stood up with a red spot on his forehead, but grinning, the Vongola Decimo sighed somewhat happily and looked at the sky.
It was good to be home.
"Well then, let's do our thing!" Yamamoto said brightly.
"Oh, you're right, Yamamoto! Let's do that to the EXTREME!" Ryohei bellowed.
Quizzical, Tsuna looked at Gokudera, who just face-palmed.
A few seconds later, Tsuna found himself in the circle made by joined shoulders.
Of course, that. How can I ever forget... Tsuna groaned inwardly.
"Go, go, Vongola!"
"How idiotic..."
"EXTEREMELY reminding me of the past!"
"Stop bellowing, you idioitic Turf-head! I'll-" The aggitated Arashi was cut off by Tsuna's sudden serious words.
"Be silent and get back. All of you."
Everyone stared at the brunette, whose eyes were now shadowed by his bangs.
"Juudaime...?"
Without answering anything, Tsuna closed his eyes. After a few seconds, his right ear twitched. The onlookers widened their eyes in surprise as Tsuna quickly fired a volley of flames at a large sandstone rock.
However, what surprise them more was that a gust of power countered the attack, blocking it effectively.
Tsuna sighed and whisked into Hyper Dying Will Mode.
"Dedekoi, Byakuran. It's time we really end this."
Numerous pair of eyes directed their gaze toward the large rock. A shadow came out and approached the group. "Guess that's a good idea, Tsunayoshi-kun."
"Nani!" Ryohei glared murderously at the newcomer. "Konnoyaro..."
Byakuran just smirked at the furious boxer.
Aria slumped to the ground. "No way... I thought it worked..."
Uni, along with Gamma, arrived at the clearing and the Quickflash ran to his boss. However, Uni stood frozen at the sight of her arch-enemy.
"So that's Byakuran?" A drop of sweat rolled down the side of Gamma's face.
Tsuna smirked. Smirked. Well, Reborn did, too.
"Tsuna, you promised before fighting-"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know."
Byakuran's eyes hardened. "Tsunayoshi-kun, you know this time we can hold back our powers, don't you?" Everyone looked thunder-stricken at the casual comment. "Wha-what?"
"Juudaime... You didn't go all out last time?"
"30 percent." Tsuna stated curtly. No one could say anything. Even Hibari's eyes widened a fraction of a second.
Tsuna looked away from his comrades and put an arm outstretched in front of him.
With no warning, he called out, "O-sora Kahuheki!(Great Sky Barrier Wall!)"
A warm, golden light surrounded Tsuna's allies.
"Sawada, you-you're not planning to fight-" Ryohei shouted in disbelief.
Tsuna smiled slightly, relieved that he wasn't putting his friends in danger. "I am."
"Juudaime!" Gokudera pounded on the barrier wall.
"Tsuna!" Next to him, Yamamoto was whacking at the wall.
Byakuran also raised his hand, and all hell broke loose.
At least that was what was supposed to happen. However, the two bosses suddenly froze, a very startled expression on their faces. The O-sora Kahuheki suddenly shattered with a sharp ring, leaving a very dumbfounded Gokudera and Yamamoto losing their balance and falling to the ground.
"Hey!" Bianchi with Irie Shoichi arrived at the clearing, following the source of the sound of breaking glass. The baby mafioso glanced at the two, then back to the taut-faced boys, observing grimly.
Byakuran looked stricken. "W-What? I-I can't pull out my flame power any more..."
Tsuna was no better. "I-I don't understand." He took a deep breath, and shouted, "Operation X!"
However, the confused voice from his headset stuttered, "B-Boss, I can't get any Fiamma Voltage from you. And the strangest thing is... You're eyes are still.. the color of your flames..." It faltered.
Tsuna stared at his hands. Of course, he didn't have his gloves on, but wasn't he the one that just shot a volley of flames at Byakuran? Cold sweat formed on his forehead.
Byakuran felt vulnerable now. Really vulnerable. He tried to back off, but Reborn was there in a flash, his Leon-gun at his temple. The cold metal against his flesh made him freeze.
Bianchi was staring at the two. A thought in the corner of her mind was bothering her a lot. It feels weird, to see Reborn holding his gun at Byakuran's temple. It's not like anticipation, though. More like, I'm.. Apprehensive, maybe? Meanwhile, Reborn pressed the gun harder again the skull, and stated rather menacingly, "Make a move, and you'll be on your trip to hell."
Bianchi's throat was getting tight. It felt so... wrong, to see Reborn cornering the Millefiore.
"Re-Reborn!" she made up her mind, and shouted. "Don't kill him, so we can ask him questions!"
Several people turned their heads to stare at the Poison Scorpion. Of course, amongst them was Byakuran.
That familiar hair, dark green eyes, and especially that voice, filled with conviction, can that be...? Tsuna noticed Byakuran's eyes losing focus. The white-hair slowly sank to the ground, holding his head with confusion. Reborn jumped off, tensing. However, the next second, both the pupil and the tutor realized Byakuran was trembling.
Somehow, it's so nostalgic... Bianchi thought uneasily.
"Bi-Bianchi. One of the few sisters in Cosa Nostra(Translation: word encompassing all of the Sicilian Mafia), and an assassin in the Gi Famiglia, even though she was the daughter of the chief, Gokudera Venderzzi, the 7th boss." Byakuran said in a hollow voice, catching everyone's attention.
"H-However, reported to have been killed in the Second Mafia War. Shot to death by a hitman from the Corleonesi Commission during an attempt to escape from the cash-strapped Palermo Famiglia. (A/N: This is real fact. I mean, not the Gi Famiglia and all that, but the Second Mafia War and the Corleonesi Commission, as well as their deputy-leader, Salvatore Riina)"
Bianchi's head felt like it was about to burst with shock. She couldn't move. Her, dead?
Gokudera hitched in a breath. Of course he remembered the whole incident.
He stalked up to Byakuran, stood abruptly right in front of him, and demanded. "How the hell do you know about us? The Gi Famiglia had retracted from the Cosa Nostra long ago, and not many people know about that incident."
Byakuran shadowed his eyes. "Do you remember the Polvere Famiglia?"
"I do. But I heard it joined with the bastards from Corleone Famiglia, and..." Gokudera stopped, and whipped his hand out to seize Byakuran's shirt collar.
"Kisama... Don't tell me you're from Polvere..." He said in a strained voice, every word dripping with malice.
"I... was the heir of Polvere..." Byakuran said with a dejected voice. Gokudera's taut face broke into a fierce expression of utter fury, and his hand flashed, punching him squarely on his face. Byakuran fell to the ground, clutching his nose.
Gokudera put his hands in his pockets to look for his dynamite.
Suddenly, Bianchi screamed shrilly, making Gokudera and Byakuran freeze. "Don't dare say anything! I can't think-!" Kyoko rushed to the Scorpion's side, supporting her.
Tsuna stalked up to Gokudera, and caught his wrist. "Calmly, Gokudera Hayato. Calmly."
Tsuna's strained voice immediately stopped the outraged boy. Gokudera glanced at the brunette. "Juu-Juudaime..."
Tsuna motioned the Arashi and Byakuran to follow him. Surprisingly, Byakuran followed without objection. He beckoned two to a big, flat-topped rock next to the riverbank. Silently, the three settled down. Tsuna frowned. "Explain."
"Juudaime, I-"
"I said explain. What the Hell was going on there?"
Gokudera's hand trembled slightly, and sighed. "Very well. Twelve years ago..."
A boy stumbled through the hall, bleeding heavily. He slowed to a stop in front of the battered grand piano, panting and wincing. A shadow loomed over him. The silver haired boy jumped back, hissing and spitting.
"Hayato!"
"Bi-Bianchi?"
The girl held up her purple hair with her right hand. She was in a servant's uniform. No wonder the young Gokudera didn't notice her.
"Where's father, Hayato? Where is he?"
Young Gokudera cowered, shutting his eyes tight. His voice trembled. "I-I don't know. I got separated with him, but before he went off to find aunt Ziela, he told me to open the piano cover."
Bianchi stepped in front of the piano, slamming the top open, almost breaking it off.
Gokudera gasped, and suddenly grabbed her arm.
"No! Don't, Bianchi! That's mom's piano! You musn't-" Shouts were heard outside the door. Bianchi briskly shrugged the small hands off, and worked on the hinges of a small case embedded among the delicate strings of the piano.
"No!" Gokudera shouted.
Bianchi glanced desperately at the door leading out to the hallway, and hissed, "Shut up, Hayato! This is important!"
Hands fumbled with the mechanics, finally popping them open. Dark green eyes widened as the princess of the Gi Famiglia slowly held up a small pistol. Despite its size, it had an elegant design. Silver plates covered its grip, small, intricate carvings decorating the shiny metal. Along the well, small gems were studded, and the barrel was slender and had recoil spring guides.
"This-This is... father's..." Bianchi stuttered, eyes fixed on the small weapon.
The grand doors were blasted open, and a burly mafioso walked through with his minions. Bianchi quickly hid the gun in the frills of her servant dress.
"Che. Dumb milf, cowering here with your servant." The mafioso spat on the ground.
Fortunately, he didn't realize Bianchi was the heir of the Gi Famiglia. Unfortunately, he thought Gokudera Hayato was the heir of the Famiglia. Bianchi stood protectively in front of her little brother, but the mafioso merely slapped her away, making her fall with a cry.
"Don't you touch him, bastard!" She screamed, trying to stop the burly man. She stood up in a flash and pushed the mafioso with all her might. He lost balance, falling backwards.
"You bitch!" Bianchi huffed. Hayato stared at his sister, fear overcoming him. The bad-mouthing mafioso pulled out a gun and aimed it at the little boy.
"No!" Too late. The trigger was pulled, a bang sounded, and the bullet shot through the air, homing on its target-
Until the girl blocked it with her body.
Gokudera watched with horror as his sister slowly fell, blood leaking out of her wound, and landed on the floor with a small shuffling sound.
"Che. That bitch. She deserved that-" Another bang occurred, too soon. But this time, the gun was in young Gokudera's hands. With that, the burly bastard fell too the ground, a smoking hole on his heart.
Light, but quick footsteps echoed across the hallway and a white-haried boy swerved to a stop in the entrance of the blood-ridden room. "Bya-Byakuran-sama!" The other mafiosi bowed.
Gokudera aimed his gun on a skinny mafioso this time, his cold green eyes narrowing.
Bang.
Byakuran saw the mafioso's face melting into an expression of terror, falling face-forward on the floor.
He whipped his head around to look at the boy. Gokudera's cold eyes bore into his, making him flinch slightly. He lowered his eyes, uncomfortable at the searching glance-
to see Bianchi bleeding to death.
His breath froze in his throat. "A-Anchi... chan?"
Gokudera aimed his gun at yet another mafioso. This time, fortunately for him, he realized what the silver-haired boy was doing, and shouted urgently to Byakuran.
"Byakuran-sama! We must escape! He is far to dangerous to be near you!"
The boy in question didn't budge, eyes fixed at the unmoving form of a girl.
Exasperated and desperate, the mafioso grabbed Byakuran and hauled him up on his shoulder.
Brisk footsteps faded away, leaving Gokudera alone with his injured sister.
The flashing gun fell to the floor. Gokudera fell to his knees by Bianchi's side, and shook her shoulders, tears threatening to fall from his eyes.
"Bi-Bianchi... Wake up, please... BIANCHI!"
A dark shadow neared the hall. Gokudera heard it moving too, and again, he glanced at the silver pistol, which already killed two people.
As the small hands touched the grip, a familiar face entered the hall. Gokudera's face broke into a relieve, but a surprised expression.
"Shamal?"
The two listeners were silent. Byakuran's face was unreadable. Tsuna muttered, "So, Shamal healed her, but she lost her memory, didn't she?"
"Yes. That's what happened."
Byakuran was still silent. Gokudera gritted his teeth. "Satisfied?"
The white-hair looked up. "I never knew..."
Again, Gokudera's temper snapped. "Of course you didn't, cause your freaking father ordered the hitmen to kill the heir of the Gi Famiglia. Now Bianchi forgot everything before. The only memories she have is of the restored Gi Famiglia after the Second Mafia War. Her own mind destroyed remaining memories cause it was too damn painful for her to know that almost everyone she knew was shot to death right in front of her!" Gokudera panted, catching his breath.
Tsuna put a hand on his shoulder.
"I-I was her best friend... and her best man. Our fathers told us it was okay to meet that day in the Gi Mansion garden. But when I got there... All I saw was a rubble which used to be a building and you two..."
Gokudera stood up abruptly, muttering, "I don't want to waste time talking to such a pathetic bastard."
Tsuna rose silently, along with Byakuran. The brunette walked a few steps, but a sudden tug on his hand stopped him.
Turning his head, he saw Byakuran kneeling. Kneeling.
"Sawada Tsunayoshi, I beg you, please let me stay with the Poison Scorpion. I won't try anything rash. Please let me."
Tsuna froze in shock. Automatically, concern passed through his mind. How can I trust him? It makes no sense that he will change sides because of a single woman.
Tsuna opened his mouth, when Bianchi stepped out of the woods. "Tsuna, before you say no, please listen to your Hyper Intuition. You know he's not lying."
She glanced at the kneeling one, and continued, "Besides, if he's here, we can ask him about the Famiglia Boss who revived him and gave him orders. It's better to know the extent of your enemy, Tsuna."
Tsuna sighed. His head was beginning to ache. "Fine. Then ask Gokudera not to kill you on sight. If you succeed, I won't kick you out."
Great. His house now had another mouth to feed. To make things worse, that "mouth" was his ex-archenemy. Also, the worst was that he had lost his flame powers. The worst-est was that an unimaginably strong and huge family was trying to eradicate him and the Vongola.
Sawada Tsunayoshi lay on his bed, face-down.
Without any warning, a glinting, black thing fell in front of his face. He shot up, staring at the thing.
Three, two-
"Ehh? A gun?" The brunette stared unbelievingly at the black-suited baby.
The baby hitman smirked, and spoke in a rather tranquil voice. "Since we don't know what happened to you and Byakuran, we'll have to prepare like a real Mafia. I called Irie and Spanner over to Namimori, and they would be investigating your symptoms."
His face turned grim. "Tsuna, this is really bad. If another Famiglia finds out that you've lost your flame power, they might attack anytime soon. We'll have to train you the art of gunmanship."
"We?"
"Yo, Tsuna!"
"You're not lacking off these days, are you, Sawada?"
"Eh? Colonello and Lal?"
They both kicked Tsuna's face at the same time.
"That feels soooo refreshing."
"I kinda understand what you mean."
"Tsuna, the training will begin tomorrow."
Ryca: MWAHAHAHAH!
Malo: This chapter's ending sucks, I know. But the serious part is coming next chapter!
Ryca: (suddenly gets very conspicuous and whispers) The next chapter, Tsuna's gonna be all dark and grim and serious after a pep-talk with Bya-
Malo shoots a drop-kick on her forehead, knocking her out.
Malo: That's enough. You'll see next chapter!
(Brightly) See you next chapter, Minna-san!