UNIVERSAL BONDS
Crooked Man.
xx
"Cozart?" The descendant of Cozart Shimon whispered to himself, confused, wonder all written in his red Shimon's eyes. He wore a weary smile, playing with his fingers. Of course he would be confused, Giotto bit his lip. I made a mistake , I.. never thought Enma Kozato would look exactly the same as Cozart.
Giotto never met with Cozart ever since the accident with Daemon, they ensured the Shimon's family safety and for communication, letters were used. It wasn't a surprise if he would be at least—happy. Even though it was Enma Kozato, not Cozart Shimon.
However, he really regretted the fact he just spoke Cozart's name, he originally planned to keep his mouth shut about the switched souls through time, but seeing the situation now, it couldn't be hidden anymore.
"Ara, not good, not good." A man laughed sheepishly, he believed it was Millefiore's boss, Byakuran. With his easy-going attitude, Byakuran continued. "That for that, you're not Tsunayoshi-kun, aren't you?"
All eyes were on Giotto, wide-eyed. Why must I always get caught-? Giotto thought miserably.
Dino raised himself from the chair. "Ha? What do you mean—OUCH!"
Well, there was no Romario, or Dino's bodyguards, it was expected.
Reborn interrupted, "Well, it can't be helped." He looked at Giotto. "I already knew from the start, we can't fool this man after all." The infant jumped to Yuni's thigh. "Also, this girl."
"Kufufu, are you confused, Primo~?" Mukuro teased. "I'm sorry, we forgot to tell you about each family in here." Chrome continued, turning her head to the ground, probably embarrassed that she forgot to tell him that.
On the other hand, Giotto raised his eyebrow confusingly. What on earth did they mean by that? While he was wondering, the cloud guardian finally spoke.
"Omnivore, it's quite obvious. That man is from another world." That caught Giotto's attention. Another world? Which means Byakuran has the ability to travel against dimensions?
"What Hibari meant is that Byakuran could communite his other self from the other parallel world." Reborn explained. "Perhaps, he just want to startle you out, seeing your expression." Giotto looked at Hibari, slightly vengeful while Hibari shrugged his shoulders. "Well, but that's not all. Yuni knows that you're not Tsuna too."
Yuni's and Giotto's eyes met each other, as the younger looked down, embarassed. "Yuni can see the future." Reborn continued.
"I see." Primo nodded. "Then, I guess—"
"Wait a second, trashes." Stop. Xanxus glared at each members in the room. "What the fuck do you mean by that, so the trash isn't the trash?"
"It would help if you address Tsuna as Tsuna instead, Xanxus!" Yamamoto chirped.
Xanxus scoffed. "A trash is a trash."
The two exchanged glances, as Squalo loudly interrupted with his usual shouts of 'voi'. "Would you shut up?" Gokudera glared at Squalo, irritated as Squalo's voice got louder.
"Say that to the mirror, brat." Squalo said. "Then, who the fuck are you ?"
Giotto blinked, the Varias are sure rude. He calmed himself down, and looked at the audience with full confidence. "Giotto, or Ieyasu Sawada as you may call me; Vongola Primo."
-27
Before coming in the building, Asari had excused himself with the storm guardian to talk about something. Even though Asari did suggested they should enter as quickly as possible, he wanted to sort things out. For the best of the trio.
Of course, Tsuna permitted him, it's not like he doesn't need a time to be alone for a while after all. The pressure of being caught was burdening his mind too much, he needed to refresh his mind.
As for Asari and G, they need to talk things out.
"G!" Asari called by his name, voice slightly raising. "Why did you just say that?" He asked. Brows, furrowing with disagreement, disbelieve in his eyes. "I thought you were the one who said we should trust."
"And I did so, Asari." G rolled his eyes, scratching the back of his neck. Pocketing his hands once again, G leaned to the tree without sparing a glance to the Japanese. His bangs hid his fiery red eyes, beneath his pocket, a clenched fist."I just wanted to say it, that's all." He reasoned.
"Just wanted to say it?" Asari repeated G's answer, not believing. The urge to just yell pressed him, yet he continue to hold it. "We both know that it's not true." G looked at the other side, unable to look right at Asari's eyes. Releasing a sigh, the rain guardian sat down on the rock, smiling bitterly."Admit it. G, you miss our boss, right?"
G bit his lips. Almost trembling, he answered. "You know, that damned boss was always there. And here we need us, and he ain't here. Instead, we got a little stranger here who fucking looks like him."
Asari sighed. "Remember what you said in the meeting, G. And he's not a stranger to us anymore; he helped the family. He's a part of the family, we'll just wait until he confesses."
"And.. you're not the only one who thinks that." Asari confessed, bitter.
After a whole minute silence passed by, the storm guardian spoke "Maybe I just want our boss, Giotto back."
"I know." A smile came to Asari's lips. "We all do."
A frustrated Tsuna is a frustrated Tsuna, he couldn't make up his mind very well. A part of him wanted to tell the truth to the guardians, but a part of him doesn't want to—for the sake of the future.
It was like opening a Pandora box. If he dares to even tell the truth to them. But he knew it couldn't be kept forever, everything is bound to be revealed soon.
"Urgh," He mouthed. "This is my worst nightmare ever."
When the two guardians came back, he wasn't sure to what to act in front of them. Instead of Tsuna acting first, G was the one who act first, like nothing had happened. Tsuna's shoulder was circled with G's right arm, the smoke of cigarette close to his nose till he coughed.
"Let's just go. Our first priority is to save Lampo, we'll think about the others later."
A smile came up to Asari's lips, glad that the storm had finally calmed down. Tsuna stared at G's eyes for a second, with widened eyes, certainly not expecting it. He thought they would broke into a one-sided fight, to claim the truth, when G didn't do that.
"Trust in my guardians, Tsunayoshi."
Just when Tsuna remembered his ancestor's quote, before his eyes was a fist from the storm guardian, just stopping there, waiting for an action. Asari glanced at him, before returning the fist. All eyes were on him, waiting and waiting, just for a 'pact'.
They exchanged fist bumps.
After nodding, and exchanging some glances, the three of them prepared themselves, until Asari found something moving at the wall. With curiosity, he jumped and easily grabbed the moving project—"A camera?"
Tsuna flinched, "Huh?" Quickly, he went to Asari's side and looked at the camera. "It's still projecting, I think." His mouth formed a thin line. And more importantly, this place is weird.. don't tell me, that this is an illusion..?
G scoffed. "Ha! Seems like, they're really that sneaky, huh?"
A screen projecting the Primo and both of his guardians turned into pitch black. The camera was destroyed right away by them, more accurately, by G (just to redeem his anger.)
With a smile, he stretched his body, tired of sitting on the chair for hours. The man brushed his hair with his hands, because his bangs were blocking the eyesight. "I need to get a haircut." With ease, the man sighed.
"Saying that kind of things in a time like this," One figure clad in black tested, staring at the masked man sitting on the table before her. "You never learn, do you?" She shook her head, her hands on her hip. It's been years since she's been with him, it pains her that he was too calm."Think they can figure it out?" Their eyes met, as laugh came from the other one.
Beside the man was a little girl, with pigtails. Her innocent red eyes wandered at the place, "Why are we doing this, Bo—"
Her mouth was silenced by a finger pressed on her lips. "Sst!" The man chuckled. "No, that can't do. We must remain anonymous, alright?"
"B-but—" The little girl whimpered, almost in tears. Her head hung low. "What if, they brought him? What if he comes and everything will be ruined for good?"
The woman walked closer to her, crouching, then patted the girl. "It's going to be alright. He won't be there. I promise."
She nodded, satisfied with the older one's answer. Maybe it's just a little comfort, but just a little touch, the girl felt her heart light once again, her worries ceasing.
A smile formed beneath the white, clown mask. "As for your question, o miss Jane." The man looked at 'Jane' before shrugging his shoulders. A laugh escaped his mouth, gagging. "I don't know."
Disbelief in her eyes. What?
"—But it's quite easy." He leaned back to the wall, looking up. "Maybe things were going to be fine, maybe not. We don't know. It all depends in one person, and it's him. We can only hope and believe, and I believe. So you should believe too."
"Hm." 'Jane' smiled, before blinking. "So, this is just a test? You sneaky man."
Cackle.
Acting like a fool in front ot the audience, he never stopped acting.
Don't act. And find the path.
"You know what? Fuck this. Just break this damn wall." G mumbled, his irritation coming up. Seriously, they all had walk around the place, the three paths (only to find many traps and two of them were dead ends), trying to search for the way out (they even slept for the night. It has been a tiring day.) and now, G was losing his temper. They were surrounded by walls.
It was like a maze.
Of course, Tsuna could easily fly using his Hyper Dying Will Flames, but when he tried to do that, an invisible barrier blocked him from doing so.
Asari sighed at his reckless antics, the thing about storm guardians was they always have this short temper. G was currently trying to break the wall with his storm flames.
How troublesome. Asari thought. "G, would you calm down—"
"Well, misters. It's not good to waste your energy, fufu." A person said, cloaked in red. He had their attention, as G stopped. "The wall won't break."
"Huh?!" G yelled in frustration. "Whaddya mean by that? And who the hell are you?" He gritted his teeth.
"I'm called Fal." Fal said, while he removed his red cloak, revealing a curvaceous figure, he was a she. Fal was a woman with tall figure, almost reaching 180 cm. Her hair was short and black, while her eyes were hidden with the sunglasses she wore. She was wearing a rather revealing cloth, something that's not usual in the days, and resulted—
The three of them blushed hardly, heck, even Tsuna who's from 400 years later stumbled and looked at the other way. Well, the first girl he had ever talk was Kyoko, and it was when he met Reborn.
"Y-you-! Wear some freaking clothes!" G shouted out of embarrassment.
Fal raised her eyebrows, and laughed. "Well, sorry, but this clothing is perfect for my style~" She hummed.
"It's not really proper for a lady to wear that kind of clothes." Asari muttered, hiding his mouth as he looked the other way.
"Pfft," She scoffed. "Really now, getting your emotions out of control.." Suddenly, the woman wasn't in their eyesight, their eyes widened, where did she-?
"Is not fitting for a guardian." Fal whispered, just behind G, her breath tickling his ears causing him to flinch. Fal held G's arm tightly.
Fortunately, G reacted quickly, and released himself from her grip. He elbowed her gut, and made a distance between them. G looked at his right arm, eyes wide as his sleeves were torn.
She smirked.
"What's the matter? Tired, already?" Fal taunted the storm guardian. Bare fist clashed with bow. Her speed wasn't to be underestimated. Punches and kicks aimed at him, he either dodged it or deflected it, while some of them hit G by an inch.
G hissed as her fist barely passed his cheek. After making a slight contact, G grabbed her wrist and twisted it, earning a groan from the woman. "Keh," He huffed. "What's the matter? Tired already?"
Fal glared at G, before jumping and kicked G with both of her legs. It hit G on theface, as he stumbled and released his grip. She leaped backward, moving her wrist to regain her control. "Not bad."
The storm guardian smirked, wiping his blood from his face. He pointed his bow at her, and released the arrow. Unfortunately, she dodged it.
"G! Are you alright?" asked Asari with concern. "Do you need some help—"G made eye contact with him, and Asari was silent. Asari clenched his fist, G was really stubborn sometimes.
The fact that G's temper got over him was disturbing. His moves were off, his reflexes too. He needs to calm down, and stop being stubborn.
Tsuna's gaze stayed at the ground. G is really similar to Gokudera-kun.. He scrunched his nose, then held his head high, staring at G who tried to use his Storm Flames to his Fal, which resulted nothing. G's attack range was at disadvantage, his weapon was a bow and an arrow. It's meant for long distance fights, not short.
Considering that Fal continued to attack G with her bare hands, G can't attack the enemy easily. Sure, G can do martial arts too, he excels in it but Fal was faster than him.
G's body was already full of bruises, while Fal had less injury than the man. If this goes on...
"Storm Guardian of Vongola!" Fal called loudly, stopping at a distance between the said man and her. She put her hand to her wrist pouch, "I've analyzed your movements when we were fighting, and of course, your fighting style." She continued, as she pulled out a dagger from her pouch.
"Can't say that I'm.. impressed by you." She growled, glaring behind her glasses. Suddenly, she hit Asari's sword—Asari had blocked her kick with it, Fal pushed her weight to him. She leaped backwards, then went to Asari again, punching as the sword blocked her way again. She kicked the ground.
And Tsuna could see a glimpse of a sphere formed flame beneath her feet. Oddly, the ground looked like it's.. rotting. And that flame looked like a mud..?
Tsuna's eyes widened at this. That ability—Asari's breath hitched as he got punched by the woman, and Tsuna was followed after that.
"Asari! Giotto!" G shouted, anger rising.
"You let your temper go ahead of you, your heart is messed as well as your mind. You are wavering."
G scowled. "And why are you telling this little speech of yours?" He readied his bow, finding the chance.
Fal sighed. "Don't act." She whispered. "Don't act like a little fool who doesn't understand his duty is." Fal made one step towards him. G stepped back in response. "In your current condition, you're just a little kid.."
Her dagger met with flesh.
"—who can't even protect himself."
The sounds of chains clacking filled the entire room. Every time they run, walk, move, the sounds never ends. Their body has gotten used by the tight chains of metals chaining their legs, restraining their movements.
They were slaves.
Every day, forced into slavery, forced to strip, forced to be sold like a thing.
Most of them came from the orphans who had no home and family, they were poor, and their status made the higher-ups selling them as slaves.
G was one of them.
As well as Giotto. They met in the cell, what a beautiful place to meet, right? Huh. Although different, they became friends. Well, one-sided anyway.
Giotto, the one who keeps smiling beneath all his sufferings wanted to be friends with the lone boy, G who vents his sufferings by destroying everything and fought back to the guards yet resulted nothing.
Most of people in slavery would feel desperate and depressed, but it was different with both of them. They spend the days fighting, but getting along. They get the jobs done with fast. No wonder almost everyone wanted them both.
"G, I believe that we can soar high together." Giotto had once told him that. It was the time Giotto was about to get sold to a rich, brute mafia family. Usually before the slave moves, they get a few days to prepare themselves.
"See the birds? They are flying with their wings. And why can't we? We have our brains and brawns as our wings, we can fly like them! We can be free."
Hearing that for the first time, G rolled his eyes, not believing what the boy had said. They were slaves. Nothing is going to change that. And with the small amount of tme G and Giotto had together, it was impossible. "then we are the birds who are trapped in a cage." G replied Giotto with that.
Keh. You can't say anything about that, right? G thought and turned his back towards him. And his ears caught what Giotto said. "If so, then we can break free."
xxxxxx
Smokes filled the entire place, even so, shrieks of joy and cries of victory still echoed. He couldn't believe his eyes, he couldn't believe this fact, he couldn't believe that this was really happening.
The birds actually managed to free themselves, and soar high.
"See?" A grin was formed on that boy's face. "I told you so. You got to remember our bet."
G cackled. "As if." A frown met his eyes. He chuckled, and kneeled. "As you wish, I pledge loyalty to you. And we will form a vigilante group together, protect the citizens from this dangerous world.. Primo."
"There was a crooked man.. and he walked a crooked mile." Fal sang. "He found a crooked sixpence, upon a crooked stile."
"G!" Asari called out his name, stumbling to stand up, he hold where Fal had punched him earlier tightly. That woman's strength was fearsome. His right hand reached his Shigure Kintoki which was beside him, and released his Rain Flames.
G.. He bit his lips, using his Kuzuryu Kawakure stance.
"Stop. Asari!" G stopped the man from continuing his attack, coughing. "This is my fight. And I'll settle this alone."
Asari went towards him, and kicked him by surprise. Fal and Tsuna blinked. "If you say so. But now you're unable to fight. And this is my turn." He said sternly, which was unlikely him. Asari sighed. "Now, as you said before, this is my fight." He grumbled.
"The fuck! I can—"
"What are you fighting for?" Asari muttered, loudly enough for G to hear. "Fal's right. You don't know your duty is, G." Asari stole a glance to the boss as he lunged forwards to Fal.
G punched the floor, hard, while cursing. What the hell? Is Asari out of his mind? What duty? DAMNIT!
Tsuna could only watch from the corner, he knew this was familiar. This sensation, this situation.. He couldn't interfere Asari's fight now. As for G.. Tsuna looked at him. What can I say to him? ... I don't know him as well as Asari-san does, and Primo too. If he was Gokudera..
"Stop being stubborn." Tsuna muttered. "This isn't a famiglia." He said, gaining G's attention.
What is the definition of famiglia?
It means family, in Italy.
And family supports each other.
"G. I thought you were more mature than this." Eye to eye contact, Tsuna's eyes glimmered with passion, determination. G coughed up, not believing. "What is a family? A family is a group of people who cares for each other, supports each other. And doesn't do something individually. I thought you were more mature, I thought you weren't a child who can't control his desire."
"What are we fighting for? We are fighting for us! For the future! So that we can come back home, and have those peaceful days again. We are not fighting, until we die."
"We are fighting for our freedom!"
G smiled.
Metal clashed with metal. Both blades crossing at each other. Adding some more flames, Asari lunged, and put more weight. Fal gritted her teeth, holding the force with just a dagger was hard. And it was more harder when the rain flames emerged into a dragon, and pushed her into the wall with so much force that it broke.
"Gah!" Fal choked.
Asari breathed. Reading her next movements, he pinned her to the wall with his double katana.
A loud bang was heard. And Fal found her right wrist bleeding as her dagger slipped from her grasp. She stared at the bleeding hand, shock written in her eyes. Who—Her eyes went to the Vongola Boss. Don't tell me.. And she looked at the storm guardian, who was holding a gun. Impossible!
"Move out of the way, Asari!" A shout was heard, and Asari could only obey and grin. G dropped his gun, pulling out another weapon. "This is G's archery, you better brace yourself for it." G said, as his finger slipped on the string. The arrow was released with a huge amount of Storm Flames surrounding the thin substance. Such great power.
Fal couldnt't dodge the attack. She crossed both of her arms and hid her face behind her arms, bracing the blow. However, the smile didn't leave her lips. And they all lived happy together, in a little crooked house.
BTOOM!
The explosion made an earthquake in the pyramid, everyone stumbled on their feet, barely holding up.
The little girl shrieked, and ran behind the man, hiding in his cloak. The man sighed, and shook his head, they sure made some ruckus in here. What is the place breaks down? They can't even proceed.
'Jane' regained her balance after steadying herself with a table. "What was that? Was that an explosion?" She said, wondering what did the Vongola do. "I wonder if Fal is going to be alright—"
The man looked at 'Jane' before grinning, "Are you doubting her? She can ferment that easily." He shrugged his shoulders. "And she's a strong girl. She'll be okay."
"Yes, but—" Jane opened her mouth to protest.
"Well, I might as well go." He patted the child's head, as a sign that she should let go of him. The grip on his clothes won't release itself, and he sighed. "I get it that you're worried, but seriously, I'm doing this for.. the future? Haha." He laughed at the last part.
Albeit reluctant, she released her grip. "B-be careful, okay?" As an answer, the man nodded.
A little grin was all it takes for a clown doing his job. "I'll be doing my job now."
Russian Roulette.
A game of luck, one hit finishes it all, no one knows where is the real bullet.
Is it really a game of luck?
Let's play a game, shall we?
"Another weird note.." Asari sighed desperately, massaging his left shoulder. He cracked his neck too, he was a little tired, after battling with Fal and barely escaping the explosion that happened. "What does this mean?"
G growled. "Are we supposed to play this stupid game? Don't joke with me!" He yelled, and coughed up really badly. His condition was no better, after all, he was the one who made the explosion. Tsuna was the same too.
"G, don't waste your voice." Tsuna said calmly. "You already smoke a lot, so—"
A glare. He kept his mouth shut.
"But we might gain a hint about Lampo's whereabouts." Asari said, "We might as well do it.."
"EXCELLENT DECISION, MISTERS~!"
Their attention went to the stairs, where a mysterious man, dressed in a black suit, and a clown's mask was standing at the railing with ease. He had such tall and slender figure, from his body language, they could tell that the man are fast, flexible.
"What?" G fumbled.
"Who are you?" Asari's hand was already on his katana, ready for battle. "Are you the one who kept Lampo?"
The other merely shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe yes, maybe not."
"You-!"
"Sst," He put a finger to his mouth. "Let's play a game first, how about some warm ups?" He suggested, raising his hand to the air.
Deg. Tsuna's heart stopped for a second, for some reason, his whole body felt heavy all of the sudden. He knew this feeling, he felt this before—
"You can call me, Pierrot." The man exclaimed, as he jumped from the stairs to the ground and landed on his foot elegantly. "Does it feel heavy?" He said, in a mocking tone. The guardians were all crawled on the floor, feeling as if the gravity doesn't support them.
Pierrot hummed. He moved his hands, like a conductor. Their bodies were floating, and received a great damage when they were being played at, it was like watching a human version of pin ball.
It was then a woman appeared, with shards of ice surrounding her. The ice launched to the guardians, missing, but managed to make some scratches. "Hello." She greeted. "Remember me?"
Tsuna remembered that woman. She was the same person he met... the person who introduced herself as the Cloud Guardian of Shimon. He wanted to hit himself for that, for letting himself being fooled that easily. It was only a distraction to make him go away from the HQ.
But he doesn't know why did the woman said, cloud instead of glacier.
Tsuna clenched his fist, his flames getting stronger. Then he went into Hyper Dying Will mode, he endured every attack, and fought back the gravity
"X Burner!" Tsuna released a powerful blast of his Dying Will Flames, launching towards Pierrot quickly, even Pierrot was taken aback by the power and speed it has. Flame Enhanced Punch. He coated his arms with Sky Flames and punches Pierrot's face, delivering a fast yet powerful blow.
G and Asari dropped to the ground, finding that gravity had supported them back. They tried to move their muscles in avail, their bones had broken. Tsuna's knees gave out, and he was barely standing.
Asari bit his lips. So it's really..He coated himself with Rain Flames, trying to find the strength to stand up, as well as G.
Jane widened her eyes as Pierrot was sent back to the wall, and a thick smoke formed. She quickly readied her shards of ice and began to attack Tsuna. Some of them hit Tsuna on the arms, legs, but he continued reserving his energy, and when he was ready, he jumped to Jane to use his X Burner, when Jane used her ice as a shield.
As the flames died out, Asari seized that oppurtunity and hit Jane at the gut with the flat end of his sword—which was of course, coated by Rain Flames. But still managed to make her stumble and gave out her knees.
The smokes soon cleared out, and both fighters can check their condition. Tsuna wiped the dirt out of his face, clearing his eye sight. A cough sound voiced out, the masked fighter standing up. "M-my.. Gravity—"
"Gravity Manipulation." Tsuna cut off his mumble. His eyes furrowed, and his fist clenched. His bangs hid his eyes. "Cozart Shimon.. what are you doing here?"
The mask was gone, and revealed the face of Shimon's Boss, Cozart.
-G
"Vongola Primo.. "
Everyone had their eyes wide, except for the guardians who had already know, and of course, Byakuran and Yuni. They had a feeling something would happen, because it wasn't usual when the boss ordered his alliances and set up a meeting with them. They had a hunch, it was something important.
But they didn't expect this.
"Speak something, herbivores." Oddly enough, Hibari was the first to speak up, urging the others to speak. The silence was killing.
His former tutor raised his hand, "Kyoya, you need to be more patient 'ya know." He made a little joke. "This isn't a normal thing that happens everyday, you know.." Dino coughed. "Mind explaining about this?"
Hibari was silent, deciding not to explain. He wasn't going to waste his voice to explain, because it would cost a lot.
"I will explain." Giotto said.
Gokudera huffed, "He'll explain so calm your tits down, Xanxus."
A vein appeared on Xanxus, but he decided to sit back and listen. "Go on, trash." Squalo grumbled, and did the same as well.
And so, Giotto began to explain where it all started—the war, the situation, how he was sent back to the future, and how he adapted to the era with the help of Vongola's guardians. "And that's it. After Tsunayoshi-kun's guardians found out, I don't know how but I met with Tsunayoshi-kun in some kind of.. a dream, maybe. But it's too real for it to be a dream. We talked about many things—"
"Wait, what?!" Gokudera raised his voice. "You met with Tenth? Why didn't you tell us?" He was enraged, did he not trust them enough to tell the information?
"No, I didn't find the right moment. That's all." Giotto sighed,
"... How was he?" Surprisingly, Enma Kozato who was silent all the time finally spoke. "How was.. Tsuna-kun doing there?"
The others seemed to be concerned as well.
".. He's doing real fine." Giotto managed a smile. "We bonded, and I told him to ask for some help, the Shimon Family." At this, the boss of the said family flinched. Enma still couldn't forget what happened in the past, Daemon had betrayed the Vongola and made a war—
Byakuran commented, "Eh? The Shimon Family?" He hummed, confused. "But they're hiding, right? Or Tsunayoshi-kun got transferred into the time when the war hasn't started?"
"Before I was sent here, the Shimon Family was already hiding.. And yes, Daemon.." He looked at the floor, guilty. "But Tsunayoshi-kun is smart, as well as Cozart." He stole a glance to Cozart's descendant.
The Arcobalenos went to Reborn's side, as Reborn nodded. "The Vindice." Verde spoke. "Did they appear at the war? It's a high possibility, that they had some connection to the famiglia you battled with."
Primo blinked, and sorted his thoughts. "Maybe, you're right.." A frown. "But I didn't sense them near the battlefield."
"They are the Vindice. They can do anything, kufufu~" Mukuro said, uncertainty heard in his voice. Of course, he was captured by the Vindice once... Chrome looked at her master, and looked really guilty about it.
"So.. Primo." Yuni coughed. "What are your purpose, of calling us in a meeting? Do you need us to do something..?"
"Quick as always, Yuni." Instead of Giotto, Reborn was the one to answer. "Listen up, we called you all for one reason. To prepare for the battle that's going to happen."
A battle? Giotto widened his eyes. "Reborn, you didn't mention about this—"
"I just got the idea after they-" Reborn looked at the babies. "said that the Vindice maybe involved." He smirked. "Of course, the idea of gathering all of you here was to help regain the technology to bring back Tsuna and Giotto back, but the plan's changed."
Dino sweat dropped, "A sudden change of plans is a bit.."
Reborn ignored his former student and continued, "Let's say that the Vindice is involved, and the Calesse's purpose is to bring down Vongola. Judging by the fact that the two bosses switched bodies within a long time-skip, what does that mean?"
Byakuran got the hint. "Aah~ So, maybe that bullet was still a proto-type and still needs to be tested. The man from the family got the chance to test it on Primo.. And they still have many of that bullets, and that blue prints of the technology they have." He sounded quite easy-going about that fact. "And maybe they're going to—"
"I EXTREMELY DON'T UNDERSTAND!" What a killer-joy. Ryohei suddenly shouted, bringing the mood down again. It really killed the mood—Seriously, Ryohei. Are you asking for death?
Yamamoto laughed innocently, "Haha! Actually, I don't get it either."
"Lambo-san too!" Lambo cried harder.
Ah.. Giotto blanched. The Varia would be..
"VOIIII!" really now..how can we negotiate further? "EXPLAIN IT IN AN EASIER WAY TO UNDERSTAND!"
Giotto took his word back. This would work out. A change of mind so suddenly. Yuni giggled, this is too funny to watch. Even Xanxus didn't speak anything after that.
Byakuran was rather annoyed though. Reborn too, and he vent his anger towards Lambo.
"We'll leave those idiots later." Reborn said with no mercy.
"Ahaha!" With Yamamoto laughing, Squalo and Lambo complaining, and Ryohei's continous shouts of extreme as the background, the meeting continued.
A long conversation finally ended. Reborn had explained the whole plan, of course planning with the alliances as well with smart coordination. Everyone agreed to help, after all, it was the Vongola who needed their aid. And it has been a while since... the long fight had ended.
Some of them thirst for more.
"Mukuro, get your Kokuyo subordinates, and don't forget Fran as well." Verde chuckled, to Mukuro's annoyance.
Mammon looked at her boss for a while, before both of them nodded.
"Oi, Byakuran." Reborn looked at the white haired man. "Get Spanner and Shoichi for back-up, we'll need them." Byakuran just nodded, while munching his marshmallows.
Giotto coughed. "So.. that's all. I hope you all cooperate, even though this is not Tsunayoshi-kun in charge, I hope you all accept the fact that I'm Vongola Primo. And I'll continue protecting the Vongola." It was enough for them, they already knew that.
But no one knew about the boy who was visibly shaking a bit.
The night was tiring to Giotto. He had to listen to the guardian's story about Tsuna for living his life, all of his work, friends, private life (Reborn was the one responsible to that). They told him all from the beginning, how he met with Reborn, the guardians, and the fights he fought together.
Tsunayoshi Sawada is a great man.
They told him that Giotto would need some practice to adapt with the new styles he's going to use in order to fight. Although almost the same, in the future, Tsuna had modified some Primo's techniques. XX Burner, Zero Point Breakthrough:Revised, Big Bang Axle, and other moves including the Box Weapons.
And he needed to go home to the Sawada Household...
Good grief, he would need a paper bag on the way home.
In the morning, they had already gone to their own home. Giotto was lead to the Sawada Household, and acted like Tsuna in front of Nana. She had been worried sick, and immediately prepared a feast for the family. Of course, the children (including Bianchi) were thrilled.
Excusing himself to go to his room to take a shower, Giotto leaned to Tsuna's bed, and glanced around his room. It was quite neat. It wasn't as messy as the past. He sighed, and plopped the pillow to his face, grumbling inwardly behind it.
"Something bothering you?" Reborn asked. "The training will start four days from now, you'll face Tsuna's daily life until then. Except for school, of course. Since this is the holiday.."
Giotto sighed. "It's not that." He sat himself up. "I don't feel right, that's all. Tsunayoshi-kun must really miss his life.."
"And you miss your own too." Reborn added.
He bit his lips. "Seeing Nana-san so happy like that.. Tsunayoshi-kun has a good mother." He clenched his fist. Must be nice, having a mother..
Reborn stared at the Primo before walking to the door. "Come on, Maman's waiting." He called. "Her cooking is the best in the world." The baby smiled.
After eating the feast Nana had prepared (it was delicious), Giotto went out to take a stroll around Namimori town. Nana complained a bit, since she missed her son. But, Giotto couldn't take it if he went too close to Nana.
He was afraid if she would know. Bianchi and Fuuta told him that the woman had been waiting and waiting for the men to tell her the horrible truth about the mafia, but never found the courage. Nana knew there was something they were hiding but she continued to wait and be patient, being a good wife and mother.
Giotto didn't want her to be more hurt.
A mother figure he never had was there, but he can't get close to it.
On his way to the market, he met with a familiar person. "Co—" He bit his tongue, the name almost slipping. "Enma-kun." He called for the boy.
The boy noticed that someone was calling him, and he searched for the voice. A red bean bun was in his mouth, and he brought some groceries. "hmmp—" He voiced out, and swallowed the bun. "Primo.." He greeted back with a slight bow.
"No need to be that formal." Giotto laughed. "What are you doing here?"
"Buying some things.. Adelheid was busy and I wanted to eat some red bean buns too.."
"Ah. I see." Their conversation went dead after that.
It's no wonder. Giotto had heard that the Shimon Family in this era had thought that he betrayed Cozart at that time and attacked Tsuna and his guardians although in the end, Daemon was the one responsible.. his mist guardian was responsible.
"Uh.." Giotto tried to start a conversation again. "Enma-kun, would you mind if you accompany me? I'm new to this era. I'll help you carry your groceries."
Taking up the offer, Enma nodded, and gave Giotto half of the groceries.
"This is the market.. well you already know the definition is." Enma mumbled.
Giotto nodded. "Yeah.." He observed the young boy's personality. Enma is way more shy than Cozart, but maybe it's because Enma hasn't opened up to the boss. He heard that Enma and Tsuna were best friends, and still are. Giotto wanted to be friends with the boy.
"Enma-kun, what's that?" Giotto pointed at the store.
"That's.. an arcade."
He blinked, not knowing what is an arcade. "It's a place where you play.. games."
Getting the information, he smiled and had an idea. Immediately, he dragged Enma to the arcade. "Let's try to go there." The hand Giotto held immediately released itself, and merely went into Enma's pocket. Enma looked uncomfortable with the gesture.
Giotto sighed, it can't be helped, right?
After playing some games in the arcade (Giotto knew no give up, he lost every time in the games and continued to play, wasting the time and money.), both of them stopped at the cake shop.
Enma continued to stare at the childish boss. He really likes cakes, doesn't he? Giotto was similar to Tsuna, yet different. Enma sighed as he looked at the time, I wonder if Adelheid's gonna be worried.
"Urm, Primo.. Can I excuse myself?" Enma stuttered.
Giotto blinked. "Oh! I'm sorry, I must bothered you for a while."
"No.. It's not like that."
"Then, let me take you home!" Giotto offered.
Enma frowned, he clenched his fist, and lowered his head. "Please.. don't do that, Primo."
The said person raised one of his eyebrows.
"Stop being so close to me.. " Enma continued, his voice coming out as a whisper. "Y-you don't see me as Enma Kozato too, do you? You see me as.. Cozart Shimon." He breathed out, gaining his composure. "And I.. hurt your family that time. It's not something you can brush off and say that it's nothing."
"Enma-kun—"
"I-I don't want war anymore.. My family was really crushed at the last battle." He gritted his teeth. "Tsuna-kun.. didn't want it at the first too. He's the same.. I'm not participating in the battle."
The both of them were silent. Enma releashed his inner emotions, and exhaled, he felt good after saying what has been bothering him for hours.
"Enma-kun, why don't we talk at the riverbank?"
Enma had already guessed this.
"So, Enma-kun. Why don't we start?" Giotto started, leaning to the grass. "First of all, sit down!" Enma obeyed the boss shyly. "Well... It's not a lie that I view you as Cozart."
Enma flinched at the truth.
"And I'm sorry for that.. But you're Enma Kozato." The brown eyes glimmered. "And no one else. After you said your opinion with honesty like that.. I realized that I was wrong that I treated you as Cozart, not as Enma." He scratched the back of his neck. "It's kind of a habit, sorry."
He looked at Enma. "And.. about the war. I don't want it either."
The younger teen bit his lips, unable to contain his emotions. "What do you mean by that—"
"But it's for the good of the people, Enma-kun." He smiled. "I formed the Vongola—the vigilante group to protect the citizens, and because of that, war isn't avoided. I've seen many bloods.. I've stained my hands." His eyes looked at the shimmering sky—the moon and the stars were really bright. "We can't avoid that fact. We have to sacriface, even though it's unbearable."
".. Tsuna-kun would.." Enma looked down.
"I get your problem." Giotto sighed, and ruffled his spiky hair. "You.. miss Tsunayoshi-kun, your best friend. And having a stranger in your friend's body.. you can't take it."
He winced, it hit the jackpot.
In an instant, Giotto's eyes looked like they were about to cry and release all of his frustration. Ever since he came here, he never had the chance to have a peaceful chat with Tsuna's friends when he really needed it. But he knew, that they must feel the same way as him missing his own friends.
They just can't bond with each other that easily.
"You know? I was a slave back then." The honesty in Giotto's words shocked Enma. The great Vongola Primo was a slave? "We fought for freedom everyday, with those chains chaining our feet." He smiled bitterly. "Even the marks are still there in my body." He continued. "As for Cozart, he was almost the same."
Enma gaped. "Why..are you telling me this?" His eyebrows furrowed nervously.
Giotto shrugged his shoulders, "I.. just wanted you to know." He slumped. "Like you, I miss my guardians too.. and want to put an end to this war. Would you cooperate.. with me?"
Enma saw the extracted hand of him, and thought hardly. He didn't want his family to get hurt more.. like what Tsuna said once, he wasn't going to let anyone get hurt. And in the end, he participated in the war, then brought victory.. but..
"OI! What are you two kids doing at OUR territory?!" yelled a man from behind them.
They jumped, clearly not expecting an uninvited guest. Enma paled, "Ah—the bullies in this area."
Giotto looked at Enma. "Wait, what? Bullies? What do you mean by that—"
"OH! If it isn't the No-Good Duo~" The man tanted, enjoying the view. "why are you both here? Searching for a fight?" He gave the two his middle finger. "FUCK 'YA! GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE!"
The red haired panicked. He was worried, he can't beat them up here, and Giotto can't too. Giotto was in Tsuna's body! And if the two was seen beating up the bullies—their life would change into a much worser life. He wasn't ready for it. Enma's tactics was just one, run.
Ah. But he's clumsy. The moment he tried to run, he tripped by himself..
Surprisingly enough..after the bullies left, both of them were in bruises, tattered afterwards. "oww." Both of them complained.
"Primo.. why didn't you.." Enma mumbled, wincing as the pain burned again. "Owww."
"Haha. I'm not that good with martial arts." Giotto chuckled, as his sides began to hurt. "Owww."
The two of them looked at each other, before laughing at each other's face.
Enma smiled, and reminisced the time he had together with Tsuna. He wanted him back, that's for sure. He wanted his fellow No-Good back.
They joined hands, and shared understandings.
-27
"Ah. It seems like I got captured." Cozart laughed while he dusted his torn shirt, "Oh man, and this is my favorite shirt too.."
G twitched a vein. "Favorite shirt, my ass! Why are you here, Cozart?!" He yelled, resulting his sides to hurt again.
"Calm down, G." Asari seemed to be calmer than the storm guardian. "Let's just.. patch things up, and talk."
Cozart nodded. "Yup. That's right! Nice, Asari."
Tsuna still couldn't believe that his deduction was really true, Cozart was the one who kidnapped Lampo and made all of this mess? His guardians were injured badly too, and the cause was.. Cozart Shimon, Giotto's friend?
"Ne, Asari, G. I need to talk to you." Tsuna called to them. "Don't you feel weird? Those flames they used.. is very similar to the Earth Dying Will Flames."
"Now that you think about it, yes.." Asari whispered.
"Shimon.." G blinked.
Tsuna bit his lips. "Let's just see.. If the boss comes out, and he has the Earth Flame. Then we'll get the answer."
After dusting the dirt of, Cozart coughed and let himself be comfortable. He stretched his arms out, and groaned. "You've gotten real strong, Giotto!" He grinned childishly.
Tsuna flinched, he had sent Cozart his letters right? Is he acting right now?
"Enough with the chit chats. Cozart, were you the one who did this all?" G interrogated. "The pyramid illusion too, the kidnap, and.."
Before G finished his sentence, Cozart nodded. "Yeah. I did."
"What?" Asari voiced out his shock. "Why?"
"Let's get to the point. The Calesse Family.. is going to start a war."
Their eyes widened. "But we beat them like, just yesterday."
"Apparently, the boss you beat wasn't the real boss." Cozart sighed. "They are planning to start a war, and a big one. You need all of the preparations you need. And judging from some circumstances.." His red eyes glanced at Tsuna who jumped from the stare. "You guys need to toughen up your mental state. Since you're really wavering right now."
"Are you saying that all of this was a test?" G grumbled. "Why just the three of us?"
"We need to avoid Daemon at all cost, and I can't afford to make it all six of you so three it is." He said calmly.
They paled. Yes, Daemon.
"Cozart. You do know the circumstances, right?!" Asari said. "If Daemon finds out.."
".. Then the Shimon family is as good as dead, right?" He smiled bitterly.
"Then why.." Tsuna managed to mumble.
"And that's the proof," Cozart smiled. "That we really trust you guys to that extent."
Tsuna's eyes widened, to think that the letters he sent managed to make Cozart do this dangerous act. Cozart must have really trusted the boy so much.
His eyes started to water, but he held it in.
"Seriously.." G sighed. "You need to be more careful."
Asari shrugged. "Well, Cozart. Your guardians needs extra treatment, right now. And we'll discuss this matter further after everything's patched up."
Cozart nodded. "Great idea." and said that with a fluent English. "And Lampo's upstairs."
Tsuna and Cozart were left alone afterwards.
"So.. Tsunayoshi Sawada, was it?" Cozart started. "It's nice to see you in person. You're really strong." He joked. "I'm Cozart Shimon."
Tsuna straightened his back. "Y-yeah."
"Sorry, I got a little overboard in this test." He sighed. "I need it, so I can really test your bonds with the guardians.. You haven't told them the truth, haven't you?"
The blond haired lowered his head in shame. "Yes, I haven't."
"No wonder they are so tense." He shook his head. "You should consider telling them.."
"I will." Tsuna shrugged his shoulders. "What do you mean, by Calesse starting a war?"
"The information I gave to you wasn't false. They excels in technology. And I have the feeling that something, maybe from the future or the Vindice helped them in making that bullet." His eyebrows furrowed. "It's impossible to make that kind of thing by themselves without something.. extraordinary."
Tsuna sorted the information in his brain. It is possible.
Cozart and Tsuna faced each other, eye-to eye. "And that's why, you need all the help you need."
A/N: Finally this chapter is finished! I intended to finish all in this chapter, and it worked. Damn I'm proud. I'm sorry for the late delay, I'll try my best in updating and writing this to be more better.
Actually, my plan was to make Giotto and Tsuna meet again at the end of this chapter, but decided it wasn't needed. I'm getting writer's block again, I think. Well what do you think about this chapter? Tell me! I'm curious ww, I hope you all like this. Do you get what the crooked man means?;3 If you have questions, just ask me.
Thank you for the review, everyone! I love you guys. Keep giving me encouragement and suggestion, okay? :D See you all soon!