Chapter Nine
Return of 27
"Hmm, it should be almost time." He said as he looked at his companion, the two of them sitting in his ever white office. "It should be interesting to see what he'll do this time around, especially since that one defeated me in that world."
His companion nodded his head in agreement and a small smile. "Still can't believe you can see things like that, though with the power you hold it shouldn't seem so impossible."
He smiled at his first friend before sighing and standing up. "I suppose we should go, I don't want to be late to pick up my newest acquisition." He said, picking up a bag from his desk. "Let's go before we miss our chance and before you have to return as well. I don't think you have much time left, correct?"
The other nodded his head with a smirk. "Correct but the others know what I am doing so they don't have much choice. I have the car already pulled up in front so we may leave immediately."
A smirk appeared on his face at this as he walked out of his office. "Perfect."
TN
The burning in his head had increased tenfold since he had returned to this place and he was hating it more and more with each passing second. Normally the soft orange of the liquid he floated in did nothing to bother him, but now it seemed to hurt him and cause pain all over his body.
He wanted it to stop and he wanted it to stop now!
"It seems that he's fighting the programming this time around." A female said, the voice slightly garbled due to the water he was in, but he could still hear almost perfectly. "It seems that Experiment 027 doesn't want to reform to the programming and is causing damage to himself by fighting it. If we don't do something about it then he'll over heat and destroy his body."
"He's using his flames to battle the program?" This was a male voice and it grated against his nerves as he twisted in the liquid. "I thought you had those sealed until he was done."
"I did. But it seems that he was able to unseal them." She said and he could hear high heels clicking against the floor and then what sounded like clicks on a keyboard. "I'll have to put him into a deep stasis like sleep. We don't have much more time to work on him with that freak coming to pick him up soon. I still can't believe he would want an unfinished project and to pay so much for it."
"Well, the more he pays the better for us I say." The male said just as the sweet scent appeared and forced him to breathe deeply.
He could only thank whoever was watching for the chance of slipping away from the pain.
TN
"So, what's the plan anyway?" Yamamoto asked as he looked at the illusionist that had just been his enemy only days ago.
Mukuro sighed in annoyance as he glared at the baseball player. He had explained the plan several times already, dumbing it down quite a bit so that the idiot would get it. Apparently he still hadn't been able to wrap his head around it leaving Mukuro ready to skewer Yamamoto on his trident.
"Shut up baseball freak!" Gokudera yelled a moment later as he glared at Yamamoto as well as Hibari. The only ones who weren't glaring were Ryohei, Lambo, Ken, Chikusa, and Chrome, all of whom were sleeping at the moment. "He's explained it several times already so just shut up and go to sleep!"
Yamamoto frowned at the bomber but nodded his head and closed his eyes, gripping at the bag that held his sword within it.
All of them had been transported to Italy the day 27 had been taken. It being decided that it would be safer to have all involved in the incident at the main Vongola headquarters. This also meant that Iemitsu was forced to bring Nana and anyone else in the house along as well.
The woman had been delighted to go to her husband's working facility while Iemitsu finally tried to explain fully what he did that kept from home most of the time.
Once Nana finally understood she just smiled at him and patted the blonde man on the cheek as if he was a child. "Don't worry about it Iemitsu, I already knew you weren't a construction worker. This just finally solves the mystery for me is all." She had said calmly before asking where the kitchen was.
The teenagers had all watched this with wide eyes and unable to take in the fact that the civilian woman had taken in such news so casually. Eventually all of the younger generation had slipped off into a room that held several couches and recliners and tables where each of them proceeded to claim a seat to sleep or speak to another.
Ken, Chikusa, and Chrome held a couch to themselves, leaning up against each other.
Ryohei, Lambo and Yamamoto all had a couch with each other as well, Lambo sleeping in Yamamoto's lap while the baseball player's feet rested in the boxer's own lap.
Hibari was on the floor in a patch of sunlight with his head on his arms, glaring at Mukuro furiously but remained where he was.
Gokudera had a recliner that faced Mukuro's own matching recliner across from him. "Are you sure this guy is trustworthy?" Gokudera asked once he was sure everyone but the three of them were asleep.
Mukuro chuckled as he twirled his trident in his hands and shrugging. "Kufufu, who knows? Especially since I met him by chance about a year ago. He's quite eccentric and impulsive as well. I can't quite determine what he'll do for sure." He explained calmly even though Hibari and Gokudera both glared at him viciously.
"Then how can we just let him do this for us then? How do we know he won't betray us in the end and just take that stupid Cyborg for his own!?" Gokudera snapped but kept his voice low so that he wouldn't disturb the others in the room. He had no intention of having to deal with the boxer and baseball players again, they had annoyed him enough already that day.
Mukuro sighed as he shook his head at the bomber, feeling as if he was talking to the boxer and baseball player again, even though Gokudera was much smarter than those two he was rather repetitive for some reason. "I cannot guarantee that he won't since he could very well do just that." He replied calmly. "I can only hope that he does not and does what we have asked of him."
Gokudera scowled but took it grudgingly. "Alright, I'll believe you on that part but what about what he asked in return? That was rather strange for him to ask of Vongola, wasn't it?"
Mukuro frowned before nodding in agreement. "It is strange especially as Vongola doesn't actually have an heir. I am still confused by what he requested."
"That herbivore knows more than what he's letting on." Hibari spoke up from his place on the floor. Neither Mukuro nor Gokudera could disagree on that.
TN
The sound of laughter rang around the house and he smiled at the sound. He had always loved that sound for as long as he could remember and he didn't want to ever forget what his mommy sounded like. She had taken care of him and loved him even though his daddy was always gone.
"My little Tuna, come here my brave little boy!" Mommy called him and he went running straight into her arms with a laugh. "Oh my little boy is so strong and brave! Your daddy will be so proud of how strong and big you're getting." She exclaimed as she held him close.
"Yeah! I can show daddy how strong I'm getting and how my grades are getting better!" He agreed eagerly as he knew that his grades was a sore point for his Mommy and Daddy but he kept trying so that they would be proud of him and love him.
Mommy smiled at him gently with saddened eyes that he knew that she was still hurting over the fact that he wasn't as smart as the other kids and that he was far behind the others in terms of education and intelligence. His smile dampened because of that and he knew that his mommy was hurting because he wasn't smart nor strong.
He was going to say something to his mommy when everything around him began to disappear. The couches and chairs and TV disappeared first and then the walls and floors and then finally his mommy disappeared, leaving him floating in a darkness that scared him. He didn't want to be in the dark alone but he knew instinctually knew that there was nothing he could do about it.
He floated in darkness for a long time, clinging to his knees and hugging them to his chest tightly. Then there seemed to be a bright orange light that appeared not to far from him, not dispersing the light but brightening the area it was in a little to a grey. He knew that he would be safe there somehow so he moved towards it and hugged it to his chest, clinging to it desperately as his mind began to go blank and he lost sense of up, down, sides, and anything else. He fell asleep like that, holding that small ball of light to him tightly.
TN
Male sneered up at the glowing tube of orange florescent liquid as she typed on the computer rapidly, continuing with the erasing of whatever else might be within the being in front of her. She couldn't let the chance of this thing's memory returning no matter what, it would be a catastrophe. She could not let all of that hard work go to waste.
"Has he given into his programming yet?" Bestia asked as he walked into the room. He held a large slab of raw meat in his hand and traces of blood around his mouth. "We're running out of time, he's on his way."
Male snarled at the information before shaking her head in annoyance. "I need day's even months to get him to where I want him! I can't just do all of this in a mere two days!" She shouted as she tapped hard onto the keyboard, almost cracking it devastatingly.
Bestia frowned before walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. "Calm Male, I know it can be irritating but you must do what you can. Do not fret either as if something does go wrong with him after he has been given, we will be a long way away from them and undetectable." He stated as he sniffed at her neck before licking it and then biting at it.
Male groaned at the sensation before nodding her head. "You are correct my dear Beast. We'll be long gone before they even realize that something is wrong with their purchase." She stated with a smirk that would've made a shiver run down anyone's but Bestia's spine.
"So finish what you can and I'll help get him ready, that freak is going to be here soon." Bestia said as he stepped back to allow his wife to work. "I have faith in you my malicious little wife." He stated with a smirk.
Male smirked as well and soon was away at her keyboard, doing what she could before their client arrived.
TN
"So you're just going to go to sleep?" Gokudera sneered at the illusionist from his seat, watching as Mukuro made himself comfortable in his own.
"That's right, after all I have someplace to be and the best way to accomplish that is if I go to sleep." He informed the bomber. "Chrome will remain behind and keep watch out for the Vongola Boss's guardians and if they do come she'll be able to contact me using our connection." He explained as he leaned his head back and then clasped his hands together over his chest.
Gokudera growled but nodded his head in agreement. "Fine, just hurry up, I'm not sure when the Vongola's guardians are going to check on us next." He snarled out. "Don't waste time and go."
Mukuro nodded his head and then leaned back and closed his eyes. He was asleep instantly.
"You think he'll be able to do it?" Yamamoto asked as he looked at Gokudera with worried eyes.
Gokudera shrugged his shoulders as he looked away from the illusionist and towards the baseball player instead. "No clue, but we have nothing more to do than wait now." He stated before turning to the only girl in the room. "What about you, you know more about this than any of us do."
Chrome nodded her head shyly as she looked at the bomber with hunched shoulders. "Mukuro-sama is the best at what he does, no one can stand up to his illusions." She explained softly, ignoring the glares from Hibari and the loud counting from the boxer who was doing pushups at the moment.
Gokudera nodded his head before growling and throwing a pillow at the boxer. "Count in your head lawn-head!"
"I extremely can't! I have to count aloud or I lose my place!" The boxer replied as he stopped mid pushup.
Gokudera just about screamed in annoyance while Hibari stood up from his place on the floor, ready to destroy everyone in the room.
TN
"Sir we have arrived."
He smiled as he looked out the window and back towards his assistant. "That's great, let's go and take care of this then." He said as he waited for his door to open and then go out himself, holding onto his bag of marshmallows. "Will you be able to stay in control once we've come into contact with our targets?" He questioned as he looked at his companion.
The man was nondescript and plain looking really. His black hair was cut short with a shaggy look about it with plain brown eyes. He wore the white jacket and pants that was required by the Millefiore boss and held onto his clipboard with schedules and information on it. "Kufufufu, I'll be fine, especially as I'm just here to lend an illusion or two." The man informed him calmly with an eerie smirk on his face before it flattened onto a small smile. "Will you be able to handle the two bosses of the Estraneo, Byakuran?"
Byakuran smiled at his 'companion' with slit lavender eyes. His spiky white hair swayed in the wind and the purple triangles underneath his eyes was the dead giveaway of who he was. He wore a white jacket with white pants just like the rest of his subordinates. He only smiled at the other while he continued to pop marshmallows into his mouth. "Shall we go then?" He questioned as he looked at the nondescript warehouse that would hold their prize and targets.
The two walked into the warehouse and soon they saw two other people standing there with what seemed to be a large box that could hold a human being. "Bout time you showed up." The man spoke up as he growled at them, showing off fanged teeth.
"Calm my love, they have arrived, that's all that matters." Male spoke as she looked at her Bestia. "Now show me the money and I'll hand over the experiment." She said as she turned to look back at Byakuran.
The white haired boss smiled his fox smile as he nodded his head at Mukuro. "Show them my dear assistant." He ordered and Mukuro hefted up the large suitcase that appeared out of nowhere and opened it. Bills upon bills of money sat within. "I do hope this will suffice for my prize." Byakuran said happily.
Male and Bestia smiled as they moved closer, Bestia hauling the box with him as he walked. "We have it right here." Male stated as she motioned towards the box. "It's ready for your use, all you have to do is command it to pledge its allegiance to your Famiglia by stating your Famiglia's name and to who exactly within the Famiglia it will have its allegiance to." She explained bluntly and simply, knowing that while she was brilliant, others were rather dull and stupid.
Byakuran nodded his head happily while he motioned for Mukuro to hand over the briefcase while the box was pushed right in front of him. "If you don't mind staying long enough for me to program him, just to make sure he's operational you understand." He said simply back.
Male frowned but nodded her head while she handed the briefcase full of money to Bestia and then crossed her arms to watch.
Byakuran motioned for Mukuro to open the box and the illusionist did as told, staring down at the lying figure within as he did.
27 lay within the box, but he looked slightly different that he had before. He looked a few inches taller and lither and toned instead of the lanky and gangly figure he had been. His skin was tanned more and his hair was now a white gold blonde color that seemed to sparkle within the light of the warehouse. "Oh, he looks marvelous." Byakuran said as Mukuro stepped away so that the Millefiore boss could stare down at his purchase, taking in the black t-shirt and white vest and the white pants. "You even dressed him in the uniform I requested, how nice of you."
"It wasn't a problem." Bestia grunted out as he remembered sliding the clothes onto the limp figure. "He won't wake until you command him to."
Byakuran nodded again as he popped another marshmallow into his mouth. "Alright then. 27 I command you to awaken to your master." He stated rather dramatically as he spread his arms out to the side. Mukuro snorted while Male rolled her eyes and Bestia raised an eyebrow.
It was only a second later that bright neon orange eyes opened up and stared at the white haired man before getting up and into a kneeling position. "Who am I to follow my master?" He questioned back with a monotone voice.
Byakuran hummed for a long moment as he looked down at the prize before a large smirk fell onto his face. "You will remember your pledge to Vongola Nono and his heir Project 27, is that understood?" Byakuran questioned as he turned his eyes onto the two shocked and horrified Estraneo bosses.
27 blinked at the command as he quickly ran through all of his coding and memory database. Mukuro soon realized that it would take some time for the experiment to bring up the memory as it had most likely been either deleted or hidden. "He'll be a minute with that command, we should take care of these two before they decide to run." Mukuro said as mist surrounded the host he was within at the moment and soon dispersed to reveal himself.
Male narrowed her eyes at the boy while Bestia snarled. "So you're alive, how nice to find out that my son lived." She stated calmly as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a gun, pointing it at the illusionist.
"Kufufufu, I owe it to you dear mother, after all the possession bullet was your creation that just so conveniently fell into my possession." Mukuro stated with a smug smirk as he tightened his grip on the trident. "Now why don't we finish this once and for all Marshmallow-kun?"
Byakuran nodded his head in agreement as he popped another Marshmallow into his mouth. "But of course, this won't take too long after all and they won't be able to get away with my Funeral Wreaths waiting outside of the building for them if they do somehow get away from us." He explained as he brought up his flames and then revealed a white box within his grip. "I'll have to thank Verde for finishing this Box Weapon for me." He said as he opened his eyes to stare at his targets.
"Kufufufu, I'll have to do the same." Mukuro stated as he brought out his own indigo box.
With that they released their box animals, Mukuro's snowy owl Mukurowl and Byakuran's Dragon Marshmallow. "Now attack them!" The two spoke at the same time while Male and Bestia prepared themselves for the coming attacks.
"Bestia, attack mode!" Male called out and as she said this Bestia fell onto all fours and seemed to transform, the fangs he bared grew longer while his hair grew wild and longer, converging on his face until only the area around his eyes, nose and mouth were left uncovered. His amber eyes turned a bright yellow while claws appeared on his hands his back changed to look more like an animal's figure. "Attack with Wolf Rage!" Male yelled.
Bestia leapt up at Marshmallow with a howl of rage and began to swipe his claws back and forth viciously and quickly. His arms moved so fast that they blurred but it was obvious that he wasn't fast enough when the white dragon twisted its long body to wrap clear around him and then bind his arms into place before squeezing even harder.
Male watched with horror and anger as Bestia was squeezed to the point of a loud 'CRACK' resounding in the warehouse and her beloved fell limp with a gurgled howl still in his throat. She knew that his back had snapped under the pressure, no matter how strong she had reinforced her husband's body, he was still only so strong and durable.
She turned away from the sight of her husband and looked at the owl that was flying around her screeching angrily. "Damn you!" She screamed as she raised her gun up and shot towards Mukuro, only to blink with the figure disappeared and then multiples of him seemed to appear around her. "Show yourself you bastard! How dare you do this to your creators! How dare you betray us and turn on us after everything we've given you!" She screamed in rage, shooting her gun at the multiples of the illusionist.
"Kufufufufu, I don't believe you have any right to that title you vile woman." Mukuro snarled at the end of his sentence as snakes appeared between his illusion selves and then wolves and tigers. "You won't make it out of this one." Mukuro stated as all the animals converged on the scientist.
Male sneered as she aimed her gun at one of the illusions and shot at it with deadly accuracy.
Mukuro's eyes widened in surprise as the bullet slammed into his stomach and he grunted in pain as it lodged into place of his body. "How?" He asked as he looked at the smirking woman as his illusions all disappeared before they could leap at her.
Male smirked triumphantly as she walked over to him and held the gun to his head. "I created you, I improved your skills, I led you on that first path, and I did everything to make you what you are now!" She stated triumphantly and cruelly. "I tried so hard to make Nagi the same as you but she failed and then the procedure also destroyed her organs." She said sadly.
Mukuro snarled at that and tried to wave his trident at her but then stopped as his body wracked with coughs and blood splattered out of his mouth and onto Male. "You wench." He spat at her, blood spattering onto the woman's face this time.
Male smiled viciously as she pushed the gun into the middle of Mukuro's forehead. "Why thank you my dear son, I'll make sure to send your sister after you soon, I promise." She said as she was about to pull the trigger.
That was when Mukuro smirked at her instead, eyes glowing with his own triumph. "I'm sorry but you won't be able to send me nor Nagi to hell anytime soon." He informed her as mist surrounded his figure. "You'll handle the rest, won't you Marshmallow-Kun?" Mukuro questioned as all that could be seen of him was his sapphire and crimson eyes.
Byakuran appeared to the side with his dragon moving around while Mukurowl disappeared from view as well. "I'll take care of the rest Muku-chan." Byakuran cooed as the mist finally disappeared to reveal the assistant that had come with him earlier. "If you'll hold on Guido I'll get you to the medics soon."
Guido coughed up blood as his hand fell onto his stomach and smiled at his boss. "I'll try my best boss." He said as he fell to his knees and then onto his face as he breathed as deeply as he could as he waited on his boss.
Byakuran hummed before he turned to a stunned Male. "Forgot he could possess people didn't you?" He asked with his fox like smile before motioning for his dragon to wrap around the woman and squeeze her. "Well, either way this is the end for you." Byakuran stated as Marshmallow gave one more vicious squeezed that not only snapped Male's spin but popped her like a balloon and splatter blood all over the floor and the two males.
"Well that was fun." Byakuran said as he clapped his hands before having his dragon release the corpse and pick up Guido and flew him off back to the Millefiore base. Byakuran stayed behind though as he walked back over to the still kneeling experiment, who hadn't moved an inch during the short battle. "Well, have you found it?" He questioned as he popped another Marshmallow in his mouth.
27 stayed silent for another ten minutes before he replied. "I have pledged myself to Vongola Nono and his future heir and only him. I thank you for retrieving me and allowing me to continue the previous pledge that I made." He stated as he bowed his head to the Mafia Boss, staying in his kneeled position. "Thank you Primo Millefiore Boss."
Byakuran hummed happily as he looked down at the experiment. "Your welcome, now stand up so we can return you to the Vongola." With that the white haired Millefiore turned and began to walk out of the warehouse.
27 stood up slowly and followed just as slowly. His memories were slowly returning of the time he spent in Namimori and with the Varia. It was all rather overwhelming with the amount of memories that were returning but then there were glimpses of other times, times he didn't remember happening.
He was confused and startled by the new development but he would do what he could to keep the memories this second time around.
TN
Nono stood outside at the entrance of the Vongola mansion, scepter in front of him with both hands resting on it in a relaxed posture. Behind him stood all of his guardians ready to fight and protect their boss and behind them stood the teenagers that had come to Italy with them. With them stood Nana, Iemitsu, and Reborn, all of them waiting for a certain someone's return.
"They're taking too long." Gokudera muttered grumpily as he huffed out a cloud of smoke, ignoring the glare that Hibari sent him and the disapproving look several adults gave him.
Mukuro chuckled as he spoke. "They were on southernmost part of Italy and it is known to take some time to traverse an entire country." He stated calmly.
Gokudera snarled at that. "We're in the mafia with the fastest modes of transportation at our disposal, it shouldn't take this long." He informed the illusionist.
Mukuro's brow twitched as he sent a glare at the bomber. "It doesn't matter how fast the transportation is, it'll still take time you imbecile."
"What did you call me Pineapple head?" Gokudera yelled and then yelped as he ducked down to avoid the trident.
"What did you just call me?" He shot back and the two were instantly trying to kill each other.
It didn't help with the prefect jumped in with his tonfas ready to go and then Ryohei jumped in ready for a fight no matter where or how it happened. Soon it was a potluck of mayhem.
Nono ignored the bickering that was obviously starting up behind him, even his own guardians jumping in to try and break up the fight but instead got involved with the battle. He only laughed and ignored the mayhem as a weight settled onto his shoulder. "Well, this is definitely a ruckus isn't it Reborn?"
Reborn hummed as he hid his eyes underneath the brim of his hat. "It seems that it's not only the teenagers that need to be trained." He stated with a smirk on his face and Leon turning into a gun in his hand. "Shall I retrain your Guardians for you?"
Nono chuckled at that before shaking his head. "No don't worry about. This is actually the most fun they've had in a while." Nono informed as he glanced back at his bickering guardians and the teenagers, Iemitsu had jumped in at this point as well while Nana stood to the side giggling at the antics of everyone.
Reborn nodded his head and then looked back at the front where a limo was now pulling up and coming to a stop at the end of the steps where Nono stood. The group behind all came to a slow stop as the door to the limo opened and a figure stepped out. "Hello everyone!" Byakuran exclaimed as he looked at the group. "Vongola Nono! I'm finally glad to meet you!" Byakuran said as he walked forward and offered an open bag of Marshmallows to the older man. "Marshmallow?"
Nono laughed as he shook his head at the offer. "I'm afraid I can't, I'm unfortunately on a strict diet right now and my sugar intake is being watched closely. Thank you for the offer though and I'm more than happy to meet you too Millefiore Primo." Nono said as he held a hand out.
Byakuran nodded his head as he shook the wrinkled hand. "Yes I know, such a pleasure to be in my presence." That got another laugh from Nono while his Guardians all roared in displeasure behind him. "Now I believe I'm returning something you lost." He said as he moved aside to reveal the second figure that had been in the car with him.
Nono smiled at the blonde haired teen in front of him, taking in the differences in both appearance and the aura that experiment now had. "It seems that you have changed within the last few days being away from us." Nono said as 27 walked forward and then kneeled in front of the old boss again.
"Forgive me Nono for I have broken my agreement to you." 27 said as he placed a fist over his heart and bowed his head, staying in his kneeled position. "My programming was erased and I was sold to Primo Millefiore. If you shall allow it I will restate my vow to you and your future heir." He said as honestly and capably as he could.
Vongola Nono smiled gently at that. "You have not broken your word to me as you have returned to me and the Famiglia. I shall allow you to restate your vow though if it would reassure you of where you stand."
27 nodded his head as he stayed in his kneeling position and then spoke the same vow he had given from the beginning.
"I, Project 27 of the Estraneo Famiglia, pledge myself in body, mind, and spirit to Vongola Nono and to future successors. I will give my blood in turn to save the head of the family and to keep the family safe in turn. My hands will gladly become stained in blood to protect the family and I shall follow any order that Nono or future successors give me. I pledge to you Vongola the Ninth and to your future successor."
Nono smiled before he waved for 27 to stand up and only once the experiment was doing so did he speak. "Welcome home 27."
27 smiled.
TN
A.N. Okay to explain, Byakuran is actually as old as he was in the future instead of the present, yes I know that's weird and all but that's how I want it. Also how he met Mukuro, you'll have to imagine that yourself.
Just to let you know as well there's only one more chapter and that's probably going to be shorter than a lot of the other chapters had been. Also know that I'm getting bored with this story so yes I know it could be better and maybe I might make it better but I wouldn't count on it.
Well review and tell me what you all thought. Blackwolfhunting out!