The story so far: Hibari and Yamamoto go on a field trip. Reborn and Tsuna will try to make sure their trip is extended.


Waarii

Yamamoto Takeshi was accompanied by stories when he grew up. He knew of the types that had endings and the ones that don't, the ones you can easily follow and the ones that you could engage in debate with anyone for years, those with a clear line between good and evil and those in deeper shades of grey, stories that were true and stories that were coloured by biases…

It was something he had to wrestle with when the years passed and he grew less of a child. He always viewed life as a story and he wanted to keep approaching it that way. Something with a chronological narrative, where a lot of bad things happen to him but at the end of the day, he will prevail and even if he didn't, it will all be okay.

It was supposed to be that simple. Gokudera Hayato berated him once, told him that he shouldn't view his life that way. That he wasn't a fucking hero most of the time, that it would make him act self-important.

He listened. Well, he did try adjusting his life and perceived it just being a subplot to an overarching story, of Japan maybe the Vongola's, but it did fit him rather nicely. He got to listen to everyone's stories, or at least get a whiff of them. At least knowing how their character development went throughout his time with them made him really proud. Maybe he'll write a book or a comic one day? Gokudera was the one best with words though, so he'll definitely need his help.

It was fun, at least. Trying to make sense of the chaos that he's living in now, even though Gokudera often said it was futile, that people aren't boxed in to change like this because there will be times that they regress, that there were scars that wouldn't heal by the power of friendship, that there were people he can't save.

Now that he thought about it, how did they become friends again? And why did he listen to Gokudera's grumbling when he was egotistic and cared less about them other than Tsuna? Hmm…

His head was hurting. Might as well enjoy the view he's seeing. Hibari had been resting on one of the small cabins for four hours now. He collapsed during their fight, probably from exhaustion and the injuries he sustained. The captain was really mad, but he did assist him in carrying Hibari to bed. His heavy weight turned out to come from his tonfas that he kept on gripping even when he was unconscious. They must be really precious to him, Yamamoto concluded. Probably the only reliable thing he could hold onto.

It was strange, how the events earlier made him shift the gears in his brain to maximum overdrive. He couldn't keep up with his friend's superior level of brain processing, but there was just so much… absurdity that he needed extra bottles of energy drinks and antioxidants (the latter was Gokudera's tip) to push himself to accept. His friends were no longer there to assist him. He was really on his own.

And he couldn't complain. He made this choice.

"I never thought I'd be able to see a Hibari again," said the captain after puffing out a swirl of smoke that swirled into oblivion anyway. "Thought they all died out."

Yamamoto wasn't sure how to answer this. He was unsure of a lot of things that day. Starting with Hibari's ruthless and systematic execution of those men after them without batting an eye, and then his sudden act of boldness by protecting his pets. It chirped underneath the baseball cap he was wearing. He stroked it gently.

"You're coming to Yonaguni, eh?" he said, folding his arms. "Makes sense to see that man. He was supposed to be the last of their lot. I've taken care of the dummy you need to fool that pesky little shit."

"Thank you, that's really kind of you," Yamamoto said first, but then curiosity followed. "Yonaguni?"

"Yeah, it's not a really well-known little island. Folks here call it 'Dounan.' It's the last of the islands here in Okinawa. The ends of Japan," he confirmed, just as a large mass of land came to view and started to block the sun. It was starting to get cold. "Wake your friend up. We'll be landing soon."

-18-

The signal was pretty weak on the island. He could not even post on Twitter and Instagram to telegraph their arrival. He needed to look for any internet cafes if they do exist on this side of the world.

Hibari was a light sleeper. His eyes were open the moment he opened the door. By then, he grabbed his tonfas and eyed him beadily.

"Uhm, Hibari-san we're almost there," he said, also making sure that Hibird wouldn't make a scene underneath his hat and blow the things they prepared in a box they left beside the erstwhile prefect. It was open.

He said nothing as he grabbed the shirt from the foot of the makeshift cot and began buttoning it. But Yamamoto saw. He saw the reason why he had never ever, even in the future seen Hibari without anything covering his body.

It showed a story that was not for him to gossip. It made his stomach churn a little as Hibari made his way out, but not before asking where the cloud bracelet was.

It was at the bottom of his rucksack. "I threw it away a little earlier."

He waited for Hibari to see through his lie, but instead, he continued to walk away.

-18-

It was difficult to understand the dialect spoken in Yonaguni. Add the difficulty of Hibari being uncooperative at speaking to the bus conductor when he already dropped hints that he was able to understand him. But Yamamoto's patience wasn't that thin. He had been friends with Gokudera Hayato after all, and had Squalo as a mentor.

Plus it felt like he was on another planet there in Yonaguni-jima. The bus driver also served as a tour guide while they drove, waving off the fee first to Yamamoto's delight and letting them sit wherever they wanted.

"How you liking Dounan so far?" said the conductor to Yamamoto, ever the eager beaver at the front.

He kept looking at the tall sugar canes waging a bitter war against the grass on both ends of the road. "This place is incredible! It's like I'm in another country or something!" he said as they passed the lighthouse. "How many lighthouses are there on the island?"

"Three, I think," the man said. "Gee, thanks. The tourists were complaining about how there's little to see here most of the time. Really keeps your hearts up to hear good souls like yours-"

Hibari did not seem to mind the noise as he continued to stare at the window. Yamamoto eyed him apprehensively as he then kept an animated conversation with the driver. It energizes him, this kind of genuine interaction no matter how fleeting. He just hopes that the puffball perched on top of his head wouldn't make a sound or make his cap fly off and make the island go underwater from Hibari's wrath.

He nearly made his cap fly off though when he glued his nose to the window. By god, there was a horse! A real horse! He fumbled through his pockets for his phone, only to pass by too late. No sooner though, did he see another horse with a rider back on the grassy knolls and more horses. He pointed at them excitedly.

"Are there lots of horses here?" He couldn't wait to look for internet and tell his good ol' green-eyed best friend Gokudera. He'd definitely get pissed off if he found out a pic of him up close with one. He'd definitely make Hibari ride one too just for the heck of it.

"This is the north ranch. There's a ranch at the east point of Dounan too, in Agarizaki. You can take a ride on them and go cross the beach or something-"

"Eh, for real?" his eyes began shining like stars. He thought this was only common in storybooks he read, so he couldn't wait to jump on a horse, his katana aloft- that would definitely be so cool. Squalo would definitely give him the like he kept depriving him on Instagram with that post!

"Where you from? 'Tis like you never saw a horse before."

"Namimori. It's a small town too but… this place is way different from there though. Here it's all green and quiet…" he laughed afterwards.

"Dounan's been like this when I was born. Never really changed," said the man. "Before after the great war, there's been a black market here with Taiwan. See, that island's just a couple of kilometres away, closer than the nearest island in Okinawa. When stuff in the mainland quieted down though… everyone left. At least that's what my old man told me. Dounan's been like this since."

It made more sense for Hibari to want to be there then. He looked at his friend again (was it overkill to call him that?), who was still preoccupied with the sights on the window. This kind of lonely hamlet smack dab in the middle of nowhere suited him more than Namimori. The horses also seem to be more common than people.

It eluded Yamamoto completely, this lack of violent reactions from the man himself. The sudden shift in mood compared to their very hectic morning made him a little uneasy. Maybe more uneasy compared to the buildup of the mysteries surrounding Hibari Kyoya-san, from those unclear acts of rawness mingling with his cool detachment to killing people and his pets. There was still clearly something wrong with him, not just in the insanity spectrum as his father had vehemently confessed, but also in the way he let down his guard. Like then in that bus, his eyes fixated on the dying sun.

"The last sunset in Japan," said the driver. "On clear days, you can see Taiwan in the distance."

The last sunset in Japan… Yamamoto repeated in his head, hands routinely opening his phone to take a quick snapshot. What were they doing exactly in a place like this?

-18-

Hibari kept his vigil of making things unnecessarily difficult for Yamamoto who had to keep up with him when his hands pointed at the motorbike rental. Afterwards, Hibari grabbed his motorbike ahead before Yamamoto knew what was happening and drove off, forcing him to pay for both and keep up with Hibari's reckless speeding.

He had to put a ballistic Hibird back in his rucksack to soothe it once he did catch sight of him. It was like a total mystery-thriller, with Hibari being the asshole protagonist and Yamamoto the bumbling assistant so it was all cool? He was sure his questions would have answers later anyway, maybe to whatever destination Hibari fancied them to ride off too. If it was another fight, then he had to make sure that Hibari will not commit any intentional deaths and continue his fall down the cliff of no return (at least that was the best he could describe it).

The heavy winds seemed to be a common occurrence there, especially on evenings when instead of Yamamamoto readily immersing himself on the twilight colours of the heavens he had to make sure Hibari's light was still within his line of sight and he did not fall off his bike.

To make matters a little scarier, the roads were like those racing games, devoid of houses and just a long winding path, where some kind of bogeyman may jump scare them at any moment, and it was taking all of his power to not accelerate. Tsuna surprisingly liked those kinds of games since it was less scary than Reborn's training. Whenever they were at the arcade, Yamamoto would be the first to lose.

Night fell rather quickly when they reached the next town, Hikawa. The driver said it was the southernmost point of the island. By then, Hibari finally slowed down as they passed through a throng of shops that were already closed or on the brunt of closing. He was also looking around this time. They might be closer to their stop. When Hibari wasn't looking, he took his cap and Hibird, wearing the both of them. The thought of Hibari catching them was scarier than the ride earlier.

It was a small town, with narrow paved roads and small buildings littering the main town against the foreboding shape of the fields and mountains a little ways outside. There was barely any people there as well, and if there were, most of them were old people. They really did stick out as they rode along. Hibari then stopped and looked at his direction, making Yamamoto nearly jump from his bike, praying his gig still wasn't up.

"Look for a fishing shop," he said. "Bring the owner to me, so I may kill him."

"Wait- what-" this sudden order from Hibari made Yamamoto sweat buckets and let out a large 'o.' His question was answered far quicker than he thought it would. "Is this why we're here, Hibari-san?" He had to lower his voice when an old man passed by.

"Yes, what can you expect from a dead town?" Hibari drawled. "These people are only waiting here to die. We'll be doing them a favour."

Yamamoto was about to protest further when an old lady with hair the colour and shape of cotton balls adjusted her glasses in front of them.

"My, my, you look so much like your grandfather," she chuckled lightly. Yamamoto could see the lack of teeth. "Are you here to visit him?"

This old lady suddenly gave him another clue. By then, Hibari was about to draw his weapon when Yamamoto blocked him from view and shifted his attention to the woman.

"Y-Yes," Yamamoto began to laugh. The last thing he needed was for Hibari's patience too thin by this unexpected interruption and be bitten to death. He almost forgot that this Hibari was making good use of his time "Do you know where he is?"

"It's been years since I've seen his family visit him. I think his fishing shop closes quite late, around 7? It's just three more houses away- ah, in a hurry are we?" his peripheral vision makes sense of Hibari riding his bike and kicking hard on the engine. "Don't make him wait. Ah, he looks so much like his sons as well-"

"Thank you!" Yamamoto bowed, just as Hibari began to drive away and jumped on his own vehicle. "Thank you so much!" he said again just as he also made his way to follow Hibari, who was already slowing down and making a screeching halt in front of the only open shop, the sign 'Hemingway' a little on the droopy side, in front. By then, Yamamoto made use of his reflexes to stop his bike and raise his arms in front of Hibari.

"You are wasting my time," Hibari confirmed, lunging his hand at the doorknob before Yamamoto pushed it away. This made his teeth seethe. "I will give you one more chance."

"Look, I know that your grandpa is one hell of an evil guy because he wrecked your family apart and may have unintentionally made your sister die but maybe we can listen to his side of the story-"

Hibari's blade punctured his hand. The three seconds of shock from the sight of blood was enough for Hibari to wrench open the door. Yamamoto had no choice but to take out his necklace when an old man with pale greying hair and two heads shorter than Hibari looked at them with twinkling eyes. His back was hunched almost convulsively, both hands trembling as they were supported by his handsome cane. He made out a carved bird in flight by the hilt.

"Waarii," he greeted, just as Hibari's eyes widened in acknowledgement and began to tremble violently. Yamamoto then understood and blocked his attack on time with a timed drawing of his blade.

Hibari's tonfa was just a few inches from the man's forehead and still, Hibari's grandfather did not flinch.

By then, he coughed shortly and turned away.

"You've come from a long journey," he said in an airy voice. "I'll be closing shop soon. Do accompany this humble self for the night."

-18-

"You're Tsuyoshi's child," Hibari's grandfather stated as he drove his truck. Hibari refused to sit with them at the back and was at the rear.

"Yeah, uhm, nice to meet you?" Yamamoto scratched his head in embarrassment.

"You look more like Hitomi, but you have your father's spirit in you," he said in a pleasant voice, broken by a slight cough. "He was our best swordsman."

"Dad wouldn't be able to hold a sword again though," he said, attempting to laugh, but found it lacking the necessary emotion he needed.

"My grandson had changed since I last saw him. He's adjusted well with your help."

"Ehehe," Yamamoto turned red. "It wasn't only me though. My friends also did a lot for Hibari-san-"

"Oho, that's good. Back then, I never thought that man would be able to be accepted by society. It had been rejecting him since he was born."

"He was the chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of our middle school though! And he has lots of people who like him-" Actually his goons sans Kusakabe follow him out of fear than adoration, but he did not need to tell his grandfather that. He stopped midway as he stared at the smaller man driving them in his rusting L300. Now that he thought about it, this man wasn't what he imagined the former Hibari patriarch to be at all. "My dad told me about the war and your part in it. I didn't think you to be like this."

"Kakaka…" the man said before fully breaking into a cough and nearly swerving on the side of the road. It was a good thing he was able to grab hold of the wheel in case Hibari does fall off. He won't die, but he'll be pissed. He then said thanks and nothing more. "This humble one thanks you." His words were archaic, almost undiscernible for his contemporary ears. It was strange. He had met Hibari Kei, who wasn't also like the Hibari Kyoya he had been used too. His grandfather all the more. He reminded him of his grandfather, all smiles and chill, accepting and warm, as if already prepared to face death…

The man coughed again. A small frown formed on Yamamoto's lips. It had been years since this man had visitors, the old woman said. He looked at the lighted road in front of them. So he had been preparing for visitors like them, probably.

Hibari was right. He had been waiting in this lonely hamlet to die.

-18-

There was a tenderness about his grandfather as he made his way to gingerly open the door and to let them come inside. He had to beg for Hibari to follow him since he was busy eyeing the old man quite surreptitiously, a sign that he was ready to pounce at any moment. It boggled the hell out of him at how he did not fear Hibari's glare as they made their way to his dingy bungalow. His entire body trembled as he attempted to reach the top cupboard for tea and foraged the freezer for fish to cook, so Yamamoto did it for him. The old man gave him a small, benign smile as he shuffled onwards to the living room. Yamamoto made sure the kitchen door was open in case Hibari did try to finish the job then and began to furiously chop the veggies.

It was weird that neither of them spoke and only the clanging sounds of his knife and the pans he used to fry and cook their food (mackerel and rice) were the only ones that rang through the household. His grandfather must be awkward since this might probably be the only real time he was able to spend this much time with Hibari face-to-face. But now the questions were like a barrage of waves that continued knocking Yamamoto's façade of normalcy. How did Hibari gain hold of this place? Had he been there before? Why was his grandfather not the same character that his father had described him to be, and how did he get to live on this island for a long time and never visiting Namimori? Where were the rest of Hibari's relatives? Were they also there on the island? Whose hand did he unearth in that forbidden room? And was Hibird still on his cap? He touched it and breathed a sigh of relief as the bird pecked his finger. At least one question was answered. He should finish cooking and set the kotatsu.

Both their teacups were untouched.

The old man smiled at Yamamoto as he set the food. He inhaled the smell of the mackerel and nodded vigorously when he took a bite, making Yamamoto's grin warmer and wider.

"Eh, Hibari-san, please eat the fish," said Yamamoto mid-meal when he noticed that Hibari kept spacing out. He had been like this ever since they stepped foot on the island, looking somewhere far away from his ear.

"Let him be," said his grandpa before sipping his tea.

"But the food will get cold. It won't taste as good," Yamamoto pouted.

"He'll eat it when he's done. Or when she's done," he said, making Yamamoto shift his attention at the old man again.

"She?"

The old man's eyes turned glassy. He set the cup back on the table, but not before making a few contents spill. "What is dead will never die. It's the same for me too."

With that, Hibari's eyes shifted back to their direction, as if just waking from a trance. "Make it stop," he grunted.

"Why did you come here, my grandson?" he said, shifting his direction at him, just as Hibari's eyes became the widest he had ever seen, his teeth gnashing furiously. His presence was the wall of sorts, preventing the inner beast inside Hibari from ripping the man to shreds. "I presume that Namimori's gone now."

"Father and uncle are also dead," he said flatly. "And you will be next."

"How will you want me to die?" he then said, making Yamamoto all the more alarmed when he looked at Hibari's expression changing. A sinister smile instead replaced his feral form. "There were a lot of moments you could have killed me. Even if your comrade blocked your blade, you could have used the other one to finish the job. Does her presence make you hesitate?"

"And you will want that, wouldn't you?" he said, his voice getting quieter and quieter. "To die unexpectedly, by surprise. The shock would numb the pain. It doesn't suit you. You deserve to bleed on the ground and recall every sin you have committed to your family."

His grandfather was nonplussed as he continued to stare at his grandson. "I will ask you again, why did you come here?"

"To wipe out every single member of my accursed household, starting with you."

"And then… when all is said and done, will you end yours?" there was a soft melancholy that echoed in every syllable. Yamamoto's mouth lolled open as everything within his line of vision slowly started to crumble. So this was a suicide mission. It makes sense to why he was adamant about not returning.

He never thought he would hear this kind of response from Hibari in his lifetime.

"Yes. Just like you, I find existing meaningless. And… just like you, I have nothing left to lose."

His grandfather's eyes continued to pierce through Hibari's, hazel against silver. "Really? Did you have to come all the way to Dounan to tell me this?"

Hibari did not utter another word. But Yamamoto understood.

He could not find a bearable answer.

-18-

Yamamoto adjusted himself to a routine in the next few days since he became Hibari's mouthpiece and agreed to stay in his old man's house and manned the fishing shop in exchange.

In the morning, before the sun rose or the cocks crow and wakes up the old man, he wakes to make breakfast and feeds Hibird before settling to do the washing. The old man's back hunched due to taking care of the laundry by himself. Yamamoto also makes sure to clean the house, dusting off and sweeping the place before taking a bath, just in time for Hibari to wake up and also enter the bathroom (he takes hours to bathe). By then, Yamamoto would put on a fresh shirt and pants and then prepares their meal. All of them would then sup and make their way to the old man's truck, Hibari always at the back and Yamamoto beside the old man, who would share basic tidbits on the place. He also promised that he would contact a friend (another old man, Yamamoto concludes) to have him on the ranch and learn how to ride a horse.

At work, he would be the one greeting the customers while his grandfather was at the counter. Hibari would be on the wings, retreating on the back when there were a total of five people inside (including the three of them). He does try to goad Hibari into making sales talk with the customers, but Hibari would show a glint of metal and make Yamamoto end up pushing him at the back anyway.

Hibari though was popular with the customers due to how similar he looked to his grandfather (in his younger days, Yamamoto reminded himself).

"Aren't you a quiet one? Reminds me of your grandfather when he was your age!" the old ladies would say, making Hibari retreat at the back, much to Yamamoto's surprise. The old man would remain composed though, and wave it off, telling the women to not scare his grandchild.

"He is so adorable! He might make a good match with my granddaughter!" they would say, and Yamamoto would nearly blurt out the gossip in Namimori that Hibari was asexual and that came from Kusakabe himself.

"Oh really?" said his grandfather when Yamamoto ended up spilling it anyway on the way home. "He really did love Namimori that much, didn't he?"

"Yeah, it's really strange when I figured that the rest of your lot don't like it as much…?" he wasn't too sure about what he said and trailed off at the end. "I mean you don't visit, I just assumed-"

"I might not make the return trip," he laughed before breaking into another fit of coughs that alarmed Yamamoto. "And aside from this accursed age… too many bad memories. Wonder why Kyoya never left when he experienced the worst of it."

"The worst of it?"

"You might have noticed it even from Tsuyoshi, don't you? My cute grandson was never loved by my family. He was the fourth child, and his behaviour was enough for my son to send him to a juvenile detention facility."

"What?"

"Their diagnosis wasn't too kind," his grandfather continued to drone in a measured voice. "But without that, when I first met him, I thought he was a lost cause. The likes of him were never meant to roam free in a world like this one, but I guess she kept him in check and left him with a goal to do: To kill the rest of us."

"Is this Nami-san?"

"Weeks before she died, my son's family came to visit me here. None of them would dare touch him aside from his father and Namimori. She was also an outcast, the second girl born, a castaway, She did not possess the same qualities that would label her as such. But she was a little rebel and tried to emulate my eldest. Maybe that's why she took Kyoya under her wing."

This new piece of information was something he'd definitely share to his friends given the chance. He let the old man continue. "Hibari-san said that his family killed her. Do you think that's because of the ritual or…?"

"That's what I want to know too, Takeshi-kun," the old man said. "But there are also some truths that we're better off not knowing. Those are the truths that you have to relive with until the day you take your last breath."

-18-

There was a shrine of faded photographs in the old man's room that Yamamoto stumbled onto (but not really) when the old man told them to eat dinner without him. Hibari went to bed early, as he usually did and set his caper to action. He dropped the rag and disinfectant spray he was holding as he caught sight, after the collage of photographs, a small shrine for a woman, the number of incense sticks scattered in front. There was a lot.

She looked like the rest of them, only her smile was disarmingly regal. She was half-turned towards the camera, clad in a long Chinese tunic, her hair parted in messy waves across her bosom. There was a hint of kindness in those eyes, but only barely. But any doubts about that was overpowered by her beauty. She was probably the most beautiful Hibari he had ever come across.

The collage showed the images of the woman in her teenage years, along with the old man, who seemed like Fon in his adult form. There were plenty of pictures of his grandfather and the woman with their children as well. It was strange to see Fon as a child and wearing a smug expression. Their sister could rival the woman's beauty, but only slightly. Saito, however, looked the odd one in his awkward smile and a half-raised wave. Then there were pictures of them as teenagers with- Yamamoto's heart leapt- his parents, back in that place they saw the last sunset in Japan days ago. His dad and Hibari's dad were beside each other. Saito's smile was much genuine now. He really did seem happy with them and so unlike the man, his dad pictured him as. Fon's eyes were less haughty though, his swagger barely even there in the later pictures. His expression was the same as the Fon he knew in his brother and sister's wedding day though, all serene and content. The same cannot be said of Akari though. He could feel the irritation underneath that bright grin of hers for the sake of that screenshot as she held onto Saito's arm.

And then there were the baby pictures of Hibari's siblings. They were only two, however. The old man's words struck harder then. There were fewer pictures of Nami and none at all for Hibari.

Or wasn't there really? He managed to see the snapshot of that moment when Hibari Kyoya did come to Dounan and before Nami's death. Her smile reminded him of the old Fon's, but only ever so slightly as she held the V-sign for the camera, her other hand on top of Hibari's nearest shoulder. He did not look like the Hibari he was accustomed to. There was something strange about his expression. He was smiling.

It was a smile of a normal child's.

Hibari could truly make an expression like that.

By then, something began to fall out from his eyes. It was strange, but this kind of real happiness frozen in time, made him all the sadder the more he knew what came after. He wanted someone, anyone, to come and intrude and make him laugh or apologize or just make him stop his tears.

It was the type of story that he avoided like a plague whenever his friends suggested of watching it next because he didn't like it that they couldn't have a happy ending, or that bad things kept happening to them even until before they die. But there he was, stumbling into a family tragedy that felt so familiar and personal, that he wished that anyone would come and interrupt his waterfall.

But no one came. He had to suffer from this knowledge alone this time, in case he does open wounds.

-18-

It was a good thing that he got his day off and had time to ride the horses, get his first horseback ride documented, and beg the neighbour of his instructor for dial-up internet connection.

"And that's how my trip with Hibari is so far!" Yamamoto chirped over the laptop. "I might go watch the sunset later. The last sunset in Japan, guys!"

"Christ, I still can't believe you still scored fucking net connection in the middle of nowhere and posted on Twitter and Instagram," Gokudera groaned. "It's like you get an extended vacation while the Tenth and I cover your ass. I don't find this fair at all."

"You never find anything fair when it comes to me though," Yamamoto said matter-of-factly.

He paused. "Point taken, you asshole."

Yamamoto laughed. "How's Tsuna?"

Gokudera then began to laugh quite nervously. "About that… uh, let's say that the Tenth gave me another job to do. Us remaining guardians had to split. Dokuro's the one guarding the Tenth, not like she's of much use anyway."

"Eh… so where are you?" It was weird to hear Gokudera not complaining about Tsuna's decision to part with him temporarily. "And are you an impostor because you're not really doing a good job in impersonating my friend who is actually clingy with my other friend."

"Fuck you and I hope you get haemorrhoids," Gokudera deadpanned. "I'm still in Italy, but in the eastern parts-" he hesitated. "I'm currently based in our palazzo actually. Tsuna asked me to bring my sister and that pervert doctor along. I don't know where they ran off to though. The last few days were fucking crazy, a total shitstorm. My dad was really happy to see me and has been buying me a ton of suits and footwear. I got sick of it on the third day and asked him to get me an island as a joke, and he gave me one in five fucking hours. Jesus, it's like the shit I did never happened. It's really weird."

"What's weird?"

Gokudera snorted a little before answering. "I've been running away from this kind of life for nearly half of my life, but here I am at the Tenth's request and swallowing my pride. Who knew that I'd come back to this hole and attempt to reconcile with the man I despise the most? Loyalty can make you do the craziest shit."

Yamamoto smiled. "You're amazing, Gokudera."

"How are you holding up on your end? That Hibari doing anything questionable again?"

"Nah, he's been really quiet since we've been here. His grandfather reckons that he's seeing his sister."

"Woah, that's some creepy shit."

"Yeah, maybe that's why Hibari-san keeps to himself most of the time. He doesn't even make a scene when we're assisting his grandfather at the shop."

"The old man seems like a nice country hick. Not how I imagined him to be."

"I thought I was the only one!" Yamamoto nearly cried. "Dad was really mean to portray him like that."

"You think that woman's the same one his grandfather keeps seeing? I mean he did mention that he could see someone else too."

"Yeah, I think so. I've been thinking that you know, like that samurai animé we watch where the MC's first love dies in his arms and makes him a peace-loving badass? Maybe that's what happened to him!"

"Fuck you and your love of pop culture," Gokudera sighed. "But I think you're half-right. But that twist will be such a killjoy, man. That's so fucking cliché."

"Eh, what about coming back to your family and making amends with your distant daddy? Isn't that cliché too?"

Gokudera groaned. "Yeah, well, just don't spill any info over here about your location. I have to go. I'm practising for a recital. Fucker, it's like I'm in preschool all over again!"

"Take care, man."

There was a quick 'you too' followed by a click. By then, Yamamoto stretched his fingers. He only had fifteen more minutes left to use this connection and he had to make the most out of it by thinking the best caption to use when his Line began to ring again, followed by a contact that was the last one he imagined to call him first.

"Hiya Squalo-san!" he said with a grin. "How you doing?"

"How the fuck do you make this shit louder? I can't hear my stupid apprentice over the damn phone-" sounds of crackling and static then followed as the phone got passed around before Squalo could continue. "Give us the tuna's cloud guardian if you don't want the entire Mafia hunting you down."

"Eh, but I can't do that!" Yamamoto exclaimed, but not before adding. "So… you guys know where I am right?"

Squalo grumbled before answering. "No, but we will in a few… Voi, your signal's fucking slow it makes me wonder how you were able to upload on Instagram."

"It took an hour more or less. You do look at my posts! So what do you think of my latest one? Cool, right?"

"It looked like a toddler took your picture and forgot how to use the correct filters. But enough about that! Just give us Hibari Kyoya, and I can persuade the Ninth to stop pressuring Tsuna-"

"Gokudera told me about that though." He did not tell Squalo that Gokudera had split up with Tsuna and was out there gaining support for Tsuna's cause. "It's ok, Squalo-san. I'm not really that stupid. Well, I am stupider than the rest of you, but I know how to count to a hundred!"

"Then let's look at it this way then. We got access to Hibari's files when he was deported to an asylum-"

"It was a juvenile detention facility!"

"That's just a fancy word for Arkham. I'll make it clear to you then: Hibari's not a man you can help. Let me rephrase that with a question: Do you think that people are inherently good?"

"Is that a trick question? I'm not really good at trick questions-"

"You fucking numbskull. You're a fucking idiot, slow at best, a death magnet at worst, but you're not like us." He paused. "You did not live a life like I had, or that Hibari had. You're the same as your stupid boss. I want you to sink it into that thick head of yours that it's futile to save a person born evil from the start. His brain wasn't wired like yours. There is no cure."

"Eh, Gokudera did tell me you'll be calling, you know. Reborn-san told him to warn me about you. He was right. You are good at this kind of stuff." Before Yamamoto could open his mouth, the storm already gave him the necessary warnings in case their call gets long-winded again. He tittered. "I'm too dense to make tempting offers like your lot can, but I'm not too dense to ignore the connotations. Thank you, Squalo-san. You've said enough."

"I'm giving you a chance, you stupid apprentice-"

"You know, we watched a movie once. I think this was after exams. When was it again?"

"Just get on with the story!"

"Ok so there was this part in the movie where the readers were succumbing to despair because their situation sucked and- why are you not interrupting, Squalo-san?"

"What are you trying to say?"

Yamamoto laughed. Squalo might act like he couldn't care less, but he was still there, not hanging up. It might be because they were tracking him, but good luck on that because he was using dialup connection! "Ok, so the main character said that he couldn't do it, and then his friend said that he was aware that this was all wrong, that they shouldn't be there, but they were." The scene unfolded to him quite spectacularly, as if he was immersed in that scene again, where the MC was about to stab his friend due to the evil coaxing him, but stopped midway. "He told him all about this, this great stories, the ones that really mattered, and they were in one, you know? That in those great stories that they were too small to understand then, it stayed with them. That even though the heroes had lots of chances to turn back, they kept holding onto something." That there is good in this world… and it's worth fighting for.

It was an understated scene in that understated sequel that truly stuck with Yamamoto, even years later when he watched it in the theatre with his dad. He had his friends rewatch it with him again a couple of months ago, but they preferred the third movie more than this one.

"But you aren't a hero. What you're doing will only wreck your family apart."

Yamamoto grinned. "Maybe you're right. It was pointless, wasn't it? I can't properly say what I mean."

Squalo's voice was calmer, wearier this time. "When we do see each other, I might battle you to the death again, you know that?"

The rain gulped and replied without hesitation. "Yeah, I know. I still won't kill you though."

"You're not a saviour, you piece of shit!" he boomed over the laptop, making the other sleeping old people with him jerk awake. Yamamoto bowed in apologies as Squalo continued, "You are only a man, and you must be aware of your limits because it will break you."

There was a heart in his sadistic master that he was trying so hard to show with every intonation and every second he poured. He was reasonable, at least Yamamoto was aware of that. But.

"Yeah, I know," he repeated, regaining his smile. "I'm just a supporting character. Always have been, since I joined Tsuna. But you know, the guy I was talking about was a supporting character too, and he saved the world. I don't want to save the world though," he chuckled.

"You are a fool. It will only get worse from here on out. Things won't go back to they way they were."

"Yeah, you're right about that. But your future self also said to me that there's always another day. And maybe it will get better."

Squalo finally lost it. "You fucking piece of shit I'm gonna fucking kill you—"

-18-

Maybe his reasons have changed for following Hibari. Maybe it's not just about his mother anymore, but the truths that were too morbid for even the likes of Hibari to admit. All of them said in unison, everyone he had been with so far, had decided that he was a lost cause, that maybe it was best that he searched for his mother on his own (come to think of it though, that's not such a good idea since he needed a monster like Hibari to back him up) or return back to Tsuna's side and protect him from those who intend to destroy his resolve.

But he was there. He was with Hibari as kept staring at the porch and maybe to his sister. He was there as he rode around Hikawa to pick up his grandfather in their weekly meetings, and he was there as he saw the changing colours of the darkening sky. Maybe that was something.

The five elders were still inside, making chitchat and froze when Yamamoto opened the door. "Uhm," Yamamoto turned around in embarrassment. "Sorry 'bout that, I thought you were finished-"

Suddenly, the four elders were surrounding him, their eyes prodding at him surreptitiously. The only Hibari in the room was looking at him with beaming eyes.

"This man does seem fit for the job. Maybe we can turn things around this year," the old woman said, nodding vigorously at his old man, who smiled in reply.

"He plays varsity in his middle school team. They were second in the Nationals last year."

"We had strong senpais last year. I'm not sure how we would fare now…" Or even compete at all. He almost forgot that his town was blown sky high and rehabilitation might last even until his high school years.

"He'll do. What about your grandson?" they turned at his direction again.

"Uhm," Yamamoto tentatively raised his hand. "I'm not sure if he'd want to take part in anything-"

"Please understand little one," said one of the elders, a greying man with half-moon spectacles. "That we only have this chance to accomplish it. This might be our year, and you might be the key to all this."

"Eh… are you for real?" Yamamoto's eyes shone. This was like those favourite shows of his again, where everyone is counting on the ace. He might be the ace this time, and he won't let these people down.

"But for this to work, you have to make Kyoya-kun join," said the elders, all nodding assiduously. "If you succeed, we'll give you anything you want."

"Anything I want?" Yamamoto echoed.

"Anything you want," They said in unison.

It was a no-brainer. "Fiber optic cables!" Now he did not have to go to the town up north and slave away for half an hour just to upload a picture to Instagram. There would also be unlimited calls to Tsuna and gang. He might even be able to finish grinding his avatars in his apps! This was it.

"What is that?" the adults were stumped, and Yamamoto laughed nervously before taking a deep breath to explain the lengths he was about to do for the sake of fast and accessible internet.


Notes:

- Waarii (ワーリー) is the local term for 'welcome' in Yonaguni. Correct me if my Romanization is wrong.

- BTW LOTR feels!

-Tsuritama too OMFG!

This will be a two-parter. I wrote too much on Yamamoto's end and will upload the rest ASAP