Creaking Cycle – Chapter 8
Characters in the chapter: Skull (as main POV), Tsuna, Reborn, Shouichi, Spanner
Pairing: Platonic!R27
Rating: T
Warnings: The chapters follow the Canon!Events with some alterations however, due to the Platonic!Soulmate!AU and to Immortal!Skull. The A/N note gives information about the timeline and the POVs that regularly switch. The Chapters are in Skull's POV as well as the Epilogue. The Interludes switched to someone else. It will be precised.
Skull has suicidal tendencies that made an apparition in his lack of self-preservation and recklessness. Swearing. Mention of death, emotional trauma, and a fall into madness. Mention of violence and questionable morality (because Mafia). SPOILS for anyone who hasn't read the manga until its end. Ah, and Tri-Ni-Set weird explanation on a later chapter.
A/N: This chapter is set between chapters 290 and 291. Skull's the main POV with insight in Shouichi's thoughts.
Hope you'll enjoy nevertheless!
Skull watched Tsuna's Storm run out of the courtyard, looking excited and determined. At Tsuna's exclamation, he hopped on the wall and threw a casual greeting.
"What is it with all of you climbing on walls?" Tsuna exclaimed in fond exasperation. "There's a gate for a reason."
"It's more fun this way." Skull replied.
"Isn't it rather because it's easier to observe your surroundings?" The brunet corrected absently, stepping closer. "And to put you in a more equal position with whomever it is you're talking to. It's a pain to always lift your head up to stare at someone else."
"You're starting to think as a Mafioso, that's good." Reborn piped up as he jumped beside Skull, smirking.
"No, no, no, no." Tsuna made a face at that as he denied it frenetically, shaking his head. "I figured it was just something you would think, that's all. For the umpteenth time, I don't want to have anything to do with the Mafia."
"Little bit too late to think like that." Skull pointed out bluntly. "Isn't there some kind of Inheritance Ceremony coming up?"
Tsuna shot him a betrayed look. Reborn nodded at the Cloud, ignoring his student.
"Indeed." He confirmed quietly, dark eyes scanning the other pensively. "You're coming."
"I don't know yet!" Skull instantly protested the command. "I don't belong to any Family and I would like to keep it at that. Going to the Ceremony might mean that I'm willing to submit to Vongola's authority. As much as I like Tsuna, there's no way I'll do that."
Said teen released a low desperate keen from the back of his throat, whispering once again that he wasn't a Mafioso, and certainly not a boss!
"I am an independent hitman, lackey." Reborn reminded his fellow Element. "It doesn't stop me from going."
"That's different." The Cloud instantly argued. "Firstly, you're Tsuna's tutor so obviously, you're going. Secondly, you have a contract with Vongola, stating that you are allies of sort."
"They are all sort of Families going though." The Sun carried on in his persuasion. "Most of them are allies, some are neutrals and the rest are enemies who came to either spy or cause chaos. Going by yourself would only mean an interest of your part."
"Maybe but how many of them are unaffiliated Arcobaleno?" Skull shot back. "I will be watched way too closely for my liking. If I'm friendly with Tsuna, they'll think that I'm under Vongola's thumb. If I'm cold, then that must mean that they are in my disfavor. And if I'm neutral, then that means that I don't give a flying fuck to the Ceremony and would consequently offend every single Mafioso in the room. Besides, I hate crowds."
"You're overthinking it." Reborn sounded amused. "Going to this Ceremony doesn't equal to – where do you think you're going, Dame-Tsuna?"
Tsuna flinched at the tone as he paused in his steps, turned towards the previously mentioned gate. He tilted his head towards his tutor, defiance in his eyes.
"I need to take a walk." He stated calmly. "I would rather fly but it would bring too much attention on me, right? I have my pills too, just in case."
"Gokudera just left." Reborn instantly argued. "You're not going anywhere without a bodyguard."
"Then, you won't mind if I'm going with him." Skull butted in, ready to take advantage of any occasion. "What better protection can you ask for, sempai, than an Arcobaleno's who can't die?"
Tsuna's eyes flashed at that as his Hyper Intuition confirmed him that it was no lie. The front door suddenly opened, Bianchi appearing.
"Reborn, something came for you." She waved him inside. "It's from Nono."
Reborn narrowed his eyes in annoyance. He hated the thought of letting Tsuna out of his sight but he couldn't ignore the Ninth.
"Fine." He relented. "I'll join you as soon as I can. Don't be an idiot Tsuna, and lackey," he turned dark eyes promising eternal torment on the Cloud. "Protect him well."
They nodded wordlessly, unwilling to risk him changing his mind, and left quickly. As Tsuna walked rather fast down the streets, Skull hopped on his left shoulder.
"So, what brought this on?"
"I'm looking for someone but I don't want Reborn to know." The teen admitted as he glanced behind him, and deeming that he was far enough from the house, broke into a sprint. "It was rather difficult to find their address too. I can't believe that Lambo's Family, the Bovino, knew it."
"You managed to speak with another Family without Reborn knowing?"
"Oh no, Reborn definitely knows." Tsuna took a sharp turn and winced when the Cloud grabbed and pulled on his brown locks to stay stable. "I just persuaded Lambo to distract him for a bit."
Skull let out an impressed whistle.
"I don't know a lot of people who would have the guts to do that."
"Well, I kind of hope that he'll never find out." Tsuna admitted. "I don't even want to imagine the hell he'll put me through for doing that."
"At least, you know that he won't put a bullet through your head." Skull absently commented, watching a mother wiping some dirt from her child's face. "He has a weird way to show it but he cares."
"I know." Tsuna agreed quietly. "People see him like some kind of monster but he's not. It's true that he's difficult, sadistic, arrogant and downright insufferable. And yet, he's incredibly intelligent, cunning and when he promises you something, he keeps his word. His words are harsh but his intention is genuine."
"…You really like him, huh." Skull simply said, keeping to himself the fact that Reborn was certainly not like that with everyone. There were a few exceptions, like Dino, but Tsuna was the exception among them all.
"As I've said before, he's the first one who reached out to me when I was just Dame-Tsuna, the boy who was worth less than dirt." Tsuna slowed down as they approached an apartment complex. "It doesn't matter if it's just a job for him. He was there when I needed someone. I won't forget it."
Skull thought of Iemitsu who, in his foolish ignorance, had abandoned a wife and a son who needed him. Oh, the Cloud had no doubt that the Sky wouldn't forget it. By refusing to talk things through with his son and by also playing the buffoon, Iemitsu was quickly losing any chance he could have to form a bond with Tsuna. In fact, Skull reflected as they climbed up the stairs inside, it was probably too late for him.
As forgiving and accepting Tsuna was, he was still human and therefore, some lines were not to be breached. Disrespecting his mother in any way, shape and form, was indubitably the first means to get on Tsuna's bad side.
As the brunet stopped in front of a door, Skull spotted the name Irie. If he recalled correctly, Shouichi Irie was the genius guy who played a huge part in Future Tsuna's ploy to stop Byakuran. He infiltrated the Millefiore, getting a rather high rank as he was the boss of an entire base, and managed to avoid suspicions from within. A shame that Byakuran already knew almost everything, considering the nerves and the mental strength that was needed to infiltrate an entire group of enemies for years while plotting their dooms. It was truly a feat. Skull respected the kid, knowing who he could be in the future. However, he didn't see why Tsuna was there. They weren't exactly friends for the moment, were they?
Tsuna shifted on his feet, feeling nervous. They didn't have to wait long before they heard a familiar voice signaling their approach. The door opened to reveal a surprised Shouichi.
"T-Tsuna-kun?"
"Hello,Shouichi-kun." Tsuna greeted him with a sheepish smile. "Sorry to come here without any warning."
"What are you doing here?" Shouichi then blushed slightly in embarrassment at the rather harsh question. "I-I mean, it's not that I'm not happy to see you, it's just that I'm surprised."
His unexpected guests smiled at his awkwardness, not the least offended. Tsuna sobered up quite quickly, shooting him a vaguely guilty look. Shouichi understood that whatever brought Tsuna here was a serious matter. He stepped back and gestured them to come inside. He glanced at the Arcobaleno, wondering why it was the Cloud and not the Sun who was accompanying the heir of Vongola. He led them to his bedroom and went straight to his computer, unplugging his headphones. A familiar blond head with a red lollipop could be seen working on some project.
"Hey, Spanner, Tsuna-kun's here." Shouichi called out his friend as he positioned the screen to make it face the bed where both teens went to sit on.
"Oh, good to see you, Vongola." Spanner greeted him absently, eyes still fixed on whatever he was doing.
He consequently missed Tsuna's grimace.
"Call me Tsuna, Spanner." He sighed in frustration, muttering about not being a part of Vongola. "It hasn't been too complicated to find each other?" He asked then in curiosity.
"No, we already knew that we'll meet, or rather, that we should have met, at a competition during high school. It was only a matter of leaving messages in forums linked to these types of events, patience and luck." Shoichi answered with a shrug as he got up to rummage through different piles of paper.
"Since we got the same idea, we found each other pretty quickly." Spanner continued, unwrapping another lollipop. "We're actually working on your lenses and headphones now, Vongola."
"Tsuna." The brunet corrected him automatically. "Really? You know, you don't have to. I mean, you can choose to stay away from the Mafia if you want."
Skull, comfortably sitting in Tsuna's lap, observed the two genii. It was obvious for him that they wouldn't try to leave Tsuna's sphere of influence. Spanner probably didn't give a lick of care about the Mafia. If he could create anything he wanted as well as satisfy his endless curiosity about Dying Will Flames without getting too much troubles in return, he would certainly not let the opportunity escape him. It was different for Shouchi though. At first, he had been involved due to Lambo. Then, it was a sense of responsibility and guilt that had led him to join Vongola and stop Byakuran. In theory, he could step back and stay away from Tsuna's Family.
However, by doing so, he would renounce to the friends he had made, the acceptance he had felt by being at Tsuna's side and the fun and comprehension he had with Spanner. He would perhaps lose contact with Byakuran who despite all that had happened, had been to some degree, his friend too. Shouichi would miss that. Dearly.
That was why it wasn't surprising to see Shouichi straighten up and face Tsuna with determination, holding his gaze as evenly as he could.
"No, Tsuna-kun, I won't leave your Family."
"Yeah, Vongola." Spanner agreed. "It's too much fun and so interesting to stay with you and your friends. We'll get bored if you were to butt us out."
"Fine." Tsuna sighed in defeat after a moment of estimating their resolve. "If you really wish so. You still have to call me Tsuna, Spanner."
"Sure thing, Vongola." Spanner replied, a mischievous smile curling his lips up as he exchanged his stick for a lollipop.
Shouichi relaxed, relieved to know that he wouldn't be left alone. He sent a curious look at Tsuna.
"So, did you come here to tell us that?"
The brunet ruffled his hair nervously.
"No, not really." He admitted. "I have another reason to come."
Shouichi patiently waited, recognizing when someone gather their courage to speak due to his own experience. His eyes flicked to the Cloud Arcobaleno, observing everything without saying anything. His name was Skull, wasn't it? Was he a part of Vongola? In the future, Skull wasn't part of any Family after the destruction of the Carcassa. Was he still a Carcassa member or did his presence here mean that he had left this Family to join Tsuna?
And why wasn't Reborn-san there?
"Shouichi-kun, do you have Byakuran's number?" Tsuna finally blurted out the question that he had been struggling with, efficiently bringing everyone's attention on him.
Skull instantly understood why the Sky had refused to tell anything to his overprotective Sun. Reborn would certainly not have permitted his soulmate to contact the man who had been – at some point – known as the instigator of Tsuna's death. Even Skull watched with disbelief the ever-forgiving Sky, wondering why on earth would he want to speak with the madman.
"…I do." Shouichi admitted quietly, obviously still hesitating between contacting the Sky that had been both his close friend and his worst enemy. "I haven't called him. I… can't."
He averted his eyes from Tsuna's soft and understanding ones. No one blamed him.
"Why do you want to contact him, Tsuna?" Skull asked, voicing the question on the two genii's mind.
"I have questions he may have the answers to." The brunet answered simply and truthfully.
"What makes you think that he will tell you? For all we know, he may be no different than the one in the Future." The Cloud pointed out, ignoring Shouichi's flinch.
"He's not." Tsuna protested instantly with absolute certainty. "And I think that both of us know exactly why."
Skull narrowed his eyes.
"Nothing will happen to me." Tsuna assured them all. "We will just talk. Through a phone. No Flames will be involved." He paused before slyly adding. "You trust me, don't you?"
"Of course, Tsuna-kun!" Shouichi instantly replied, sounding a bit offended.
Skull, clearly not fooled, scowled at the Sky. Shouichi went to his desk to retrieve an alphabetical list that was not really used. He handed it to Tsuna who copied down the number with one of the pens laying around and without any hesitation, added his own contact details. He gave it back with a grateful smile.
"You're spending way too much time with Reborn." Skull mumbled at the easy manipulation.
There was a snort from Spanner who then asked to also have Tsuna's address and home phone number. Tsuna's smile vanished as he checked the time on the computer. He abruptly got up and scooped Skull in one movement.
"We should be going or Reborn will find out." He muttered under his breath. He turned to his two friends. "Thanks for everything, Irie-kun, Spanner."
He didn't let Shouichi lead him to the door and leaving the apartment and rushing down the stairs, he was out in a matter of minutes. He quickly walked away towards the town center, Skull riding his shoulder once again.
"I don't know what you're trying to do, Tsuna, but watch out." Skull warned him not unkindly. "Reborn is probably one of the worst adversaries that you have yet to meet."
"I know." Tsuna agreed quietly as they vanished into the shopping crowd. "It's still worth it."
A/N: Thanks for reading, don't hesitate to point out any mistake or ask a question!
See you next chapter~