DISCLAIMER
I do not claim to have created or own Katekyo Hitman Reborn and its characters.
Although, I wished I owned Yamamoto Takeshi. HOTNESS!
I do claim to have created my own characters and this fangirlfiction.
- Target 11 -
The First Movement
"Isn't this cool?" Takeshi beamed, waving a CD in his hand. Reborn was, as usual, perched on his broad shoulder.
The seven of them were walking down the long stairs. It was half past ten in the evening and they have officially learned the whole dance routine on that same day. Shimomura and Kurosawa were worried at first that they might not be able grasp it all in one day, but with Kagawa's strict no-nonsense policy—and the help of Boraboratutu-sama—they did. It wasn't perfect, but they did manage.
Each group received a CD given by Kagawa to practice with, and were expected to comeback within three days. For the first time, Lia was pleased to be given the chance to participate in this event. She wasn't ready to admit it in public yet, but, secretly, she liked being in the team.
"You're too enthusiastic, baseball-freak," Hayato claimed, lighting up a cigarette.
"Someone's in a bad mood today," Takeshi laughed.
"Tsuna-san," Haru cried out. "You were fabulous just now!"
"Mhmm," Kyoko nodded.
Tsuna could not recall the number of times he had been shot with the Dying Will Bullet within the number of hours they spent learning and memorizing the whole dance routine. And he thanked God that he didn't have time to change into a fresh pair of clothes every time the will died out, or else he wouldn't have any to spare at the moment.
"Of course," Hayato snorted, as he puffed smoke out from his mouth. "This is the Vongola's Tenth Boss we're talking about!"
Tsuna smiled. Gokudera-kun…
"The tenth will win this stupid bet for sure," Hayato added.
"And what? We will lose for sure?" Lia flashed a sarcastic smile.
"H-Haru h-had nothing to do with it!" Haru blushed. "B-But how did you know?"
Hayato growled. I am definitely stuck with the stupid one…
"What's going on?" Tsuna asked, confused.
"Hayato had plans to sabotage our group," Lia announced.
"Now, now, that's kind of exaggerating, don't you think?" Takeshi grinned at her, rubbing his palm at the base of his neck. "I mean, all Hayato said was, he wished either of us sprained an ankle or something."
"I mean, we'll just have to do our best and play fair," Takeshi added, swinging his arms around Hayato's shoulders. "Right, Gokudera?"
Hayato growled in response.
"Those who cheat will be severely punished," Reborn stated.
"What do you mean, Reborn-chan?" Kyoko asked.
"There will be no helping the other group unless you're in it," Reborn continued. "No sabotaging the other groups too. Don't dare and try; I will find out if any of you do try to pull something off."
The reality of what Reborn was capable of doing sent shivers down both Tsuna and Hayato's spines.
"Haha. He's so cute when he's strict," Takeshi commented to the little guy who sat on his shoulder.
Hayato growled silently as he glared at his dancing partner.
"Hahi!" Haru squealed, hiding behind Tsuna for cover.
"Oh, you are such the gentleman… Smokin' Bomb Hayato," someone said, joining in their less than jolly conversation.
At the bottom of the stairs, a handsome blond leaned against one of the columns. Surrounding him were men dressed in black suits, looking daunting and protective as always.
"Dino-san," Tsuna called out.
"Hey, little brother Tsuna," Dino greeted.
"What are you doing here?" Hayato snarled, obviously having issues with people older than him.
"I was just enjoying the show," Dino laughed as he joined in their walk. "And, dare I say, you are a pretty wild dancer."
Tsuna blushed with embarrassment. Dino-san had been watching…
"Oh, but don't worry, Tsuna," Dino said, observing him. "If you practice hard enough, you'll do fine in three days."
"Yeah, Tsuna-kun," Kyoko chirped, giving Tsuna the confidence he needed.
Tsuna sighed. "Thanks, you guys…"
"Right," Lia started as they stopped at a junction - it was her street. "I'll see you guys tomorrow in school then."
"I'll walk you," Takeshi offered.
"Oh no, no, no," Lia shook her head. "Thank you, but I'll be fine."
"No," Takeshi interjected. "I insist."
"Uh, OK, I guess," she sighed.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow," Takeshi said as Reborn jumped off his shoulder.
"Good riddance," Hayato muttered under his breath.
"Huh? Did you say something, Gokudera?" the innocent Takeshi asked.
"No," Hayato replied.
They waved and continued walking as the two of them disappeared into the dark bend.
"Uhm, Tsuna-san," Haru started, interrupting the silence. "Is it OK if we practiced together?"
"E-Eh?" Tsuna sounded. He wasn't sure whether he'd like to practice with Haru. I mean, sure she's practically like our cupid and all but…
"Oh Haru-chan!" Kyoko squealed. "That would be great!"
"Sorry, no can do," Reborn interrupted.
"E-Eh?" Haru looked at the baby, confused. "Reborn-chan?"
"I feel like making it more interesting…" Reborn announced. "No group shall help one another."
"What?" Hayato couldn't believe what he was hearing. How on earth is he going to help the Tenth now? Oh I'll think of a plan…
"Yes, you heard me right," Reborn simply said. "And like I said earlier, if anyone tries, I'll see to it personally, that they will never see day light again.
"Err, isn't that going a little overboard, Reborn?" Tsuna asked.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Reborn shot back.
"N-No," Tsuna sighed. Is there no end to this mental torture?
"Oh Tsuna-san!" Haru exclaimed theatrically, slapping her forehead with the back of her hand. "Is this our farewell? Will I never see you again?"
"Don't be silly, Haru-chan," Kyoko laughed. "We just can't help each other; it doesn't mean we can't see each other, right, Reborn-chan?"
Reborn was going to answer when something stopped him in his tracks – Dino's mobile phone was ringing.
Dino looked at him apologetically as he pulled the flip-phone from his pocket. Giving Reborn another look, he walked further away from the children.
Tsuna stopped to look at Dino. Something was wrong, he could tell. It was a short conversation that left Dino shaking his head.
"What's wrong?" Tsuna asked as Dino joined back into the group.
"Sorry," Dino sighed. "I have to go... Reborn, can I talk to you in private?"
o o o
"You really didn't have to do this," Lia started, staring at the dark road.
Oddly, it was quiet. Sure, it was night time but it was still early. Since when did the citizens here go to bed early?
"Nah, it's fine," Takeshi said. "Besides, we need to coordinate our time. So when do you say is good?"
"Uh, well, you can't do mornings..." Lia recalled.
"…and we can't do school hours…" Takeshi continued.
"…so that leaves us with after school…" Lia chimed.
"…but only after I'm done with my baseball practice." Takeshi concluded.
"Of course," Lia nodded.
"Uh, don't you think it's too quiet," Takeshi asked, suddenly realizing the sound of his own voice amidst the silence.
"Yeah, a little," Lia agreed. Something doesn't feel right. Like there's someone watching us... or something…
They were almost at Lia's front door when she realized something amiss. The house was supposed to be empty, but the lights were aglow. Waves of fear suddenly crashed over her, and she whirled around to face Takeshi.
"A-Anyway, I think you should go now," she said, hurrying to put on a smile.
"But we haven't even—" Takeshi began, but they were interrupted with the opening of the door behind her.
"But it's still early," a woman stood behind Lia now, holding the door wide. "Lia, don't be so rude; invite the young gentleman inside for a drink…"
"But, he's just going…" Lia told the other woman without turning around. Her eyes never left Takeshi's as she silently mouthed, "Go…"
"Y-Yeah," Takeshi said, dumbfounded but still understanding Lia's plea. "It is late and I have to go."
"Oh, that's too bad," the woman said sorely, pulling Lia into the house.
"Be safe…" Lia prayed silently as she gave Takeshi a small wave - a wave that was meant to fool Takeshi, to let him assume that everything was OK.
Before the confused Takeshi even had the chance to wave back, Lia disappeared from his view. The woman had pulled her inside in a manner that somehow disturbed him. He wanted so much to ask who this lady was, but thought it would only cost Lia more trouble than she already had.
The lady was grinning sickeningly sweet as she waited for him to budge. As much as he didn't like it, he got the hint and started to move away from the gate.
"By the way, young man, be careful walking home alone at night - it could be dangerous…"
o o o
"What's going on, Dino?" Reborn asked as soon as the both of them distanced themselves from Tsuna and the rest.
"Someone is taking down our allied family one by one," Dino said importantly as he glanced back to the kids who displayed smiles and unvoiced laughter.
"Which families are down?" Reborn asked.
"The small ones," Dino replied. "But this isn't good. We haven't many resources especially after the ring battle."
"And the ninth is still under intensive care" Reborn nodded thoughtfully.
"I don't know…." Dino continued. "Maybe a deal went wrong somewhere. After all, who would attack the lower families when you can just attack the top?"
"Like a building structure, you only have to remove to bottom part to topple the top," Reborn looked at the Dino.
"You think so?"
"It is a possibility that must be looked into," Reborn said sternly.
"Yeah," Dino sighed. "Either way, I'm must go back to Italy as soon as possible to investigate the matter."
Reborn nodded.
"I will leave some of my men to watch on that girl," Dino added, with a weak smile. "Just in case…"
"No, take all your men with you," Reborn said. "You'll need every single one of your family, should the need arise…"
"Surely you don't—"
"Just in case…" Reborn smirked.
"Guess I better get going." Dino smiled back, sighed, and then tucked himself deeper into his jacket.
"Guess so…"
"Romario," Dino called out to one of his subordinates, and in an instant the man was by his side. "Gather everyone up this instant – we're going home."
"What about the girl, boss?" Romario asked. "Should we recall back the surveillance team as well? We do have enough men to spare."
"Yes, call them back. We might need them all…"
o o o
Her heart skipped a beat when the door closed behind the older woman. Lia knew whatever chance she had of escaping through the door was now zilch. Clutching the worn leather strap of her sling bag even tighter, her mind raced with ideas to get away. But it came to a sudden halt when she realized the woman pulled out and gun and aimed straight at her forehead. Feeling empty and somehow scared, she backed into a wall.
"I really do not understand why the boss would send a flimsy girl like you to do his important bidding," she started, the metal barrel still steadily aimed at her face.
"Who are you and what do you want with me?" Lia squeaked as she struggled to find her voice. She could feel the palm of her hands start to sweat.
"Don't flatter yourself, little girl," the woman replied slyly. "I'm not here to want anything from you. I'm here because the boss wants the rings."
"B-But I don't have them yet…" she stammered her reply.
"The boss knows that," the woman simply said, as the woman closed in on the scared girl. "And that's where I come in."
Lia whimpered silently as she felt the cold metal rod come in contact with her skin. She tried her best not to show that she was scared, but like a beast or a wild animal, the woman can smell fear.
"I'm here to serve as a warning," the woman continued, apparently satisfied with the effect she had on the helpless girl. "You are only given three days more for the rings."
Then without warning, the woman grabbed Lia's hand and pinned it above her head. Lia could feel the warm vapors of her breath traveling in her own mouth as she pressed her body against hers; adding more pain to her back as it pressed against the hard concrete walls.
"I have to admit," the woman breathed as her free hand steadily wandered through Lia's hair. "You can be pretty if you worked really hard on it."
Fear leaked from the barrier she mentally built inside her and the more it spewed out, the more Lia's eyes widened. This time, she couldn't hold it back. Like paper caught on fire, horror took over her hastily. Her heartbeat raced along as her knees start to get weak. The woman's hand found her neck and gripped it tighter - just enough to leave her breathless and alive. She knew her legs would abandon her soon, but then she only felt the pain of being dragged up against the wall. Somewhere in between the mixture of pain and fear, she realized that her feet were no longer touching the ground – she was suspended in mid-air with the help of this woman's abnormal strength. Her hands soon gave way too, as it fell limply at her sides.
"Here's a little present by the way," the woman added slyly as she raised her gun. "From the boss…"
o o o
Takeshi found himself walking back from where he started, back to the gate of Lia's house. Something inside him wouldn't sit still; something inside him convinced him to turn back and make sure that everything was OK as she had made it out to be.
He was almost there when he heard it.
A scream.
Followed by a gun shot that silenced it.
Author's Little Ramblings
I'm sorry for the late update. Heh. I was busy playing Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, which I have to say, is AWESOME. If you haven't played it, play it. I tell you – play it. Play and get your heart broken like me. Anyhow, I hope I still have some readers out there…
Credits to my beta-reader, FuyuSarah, for the wonderful help.
The usual, please review, even if you don't like it. You may complain or compliment. Just tell me what you think. It would certainly help me with the flow of this story and make my day.
