This chapter is one scene that was supposed to be in the last chapter but grew too long for that ^^;
Warnings: OOC, Language, Sawada Ieyasu (he deserves the warning).
Disclaimer: I don't own KHR.
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When Reborn couldn't find his wayward student in any of his usual haunts, he decided to check in with Natsu who, at the moment he found him, was chatting with Knuckle, Asari and Lampo.
(Normally, Reborn would be peeved at being unable to find out his student's whereabouts, but if staying with the Sawadas taught him something, it was that Ieyasu's dodging and evasion skills were inhumane.)
"Where Ieyasu is?" Natsu looked contemplative, "I remember that he said that he was going for some bonding time with G but he didn't explain what type of bonding. But if you didn't find him at his usual places then that narrows our options."
"He could be at Alaude's place," Asari piped in, "He usually goes there whenever Tsuna does."
"No, Tsuna was home when I went to check."
"He could be at the skating rink outside of town, sneaking in to skate on the ice without skates," Knuckle muttered, unimpressed, "That irresponsible brat."
"Wasn't there a shop that's having a sale on shoes that Ieyasu's been dying to get?" Asari looked at Natsu.
"No, the sale ended yesterday," Natsu replied, "There is the practice room. It's been a long time since he went there. I'll take you there, Reborn. Lampo, you're coming with us; Ieyasu may want to start with you too if he's there to practice with G."
With that, Natsu and Lampo waved at Asari and Knuckle, who waved back with 'see you later's, and left with Reborn to take him to the practice room Natsu mentioned.
Fifteen minutes later, the group stopped in front of what looked like a simple, nondescript, two-story building. When they entered, Reborn took in the inside of the building. The word 'practice' seemed fitting to describe the function of the building, a statement emphasized by the mats, climbing bars, wall and ropes, boxing bags, wooden swords, targets set up at the wall with bows, arrows and even guns and a simple pool off to one side (among other things). The word 'room', however, was a bit inadequate due to the size of the place.
Off to one side near the door where there was a bench, G sat propped against the wall, eyes closed and looking for all intents and purpose as if he was asleep.
Ieyasu was standing facing the targets and holding a bow, a quiver slung on his back. Reborn couldn't see Ieyasu's face from where he was standing in the doorway as Ieyasu notched an arrow and let it fly to hit the target dead centre, followed by another arrow and another until he used all the arrows in his quiver and hit many of the targets in the room.
Reborn didn't interrupt his student and analyzed his movement carefully; there was something different about the Ieyasu who was standing there- almost like he was a different person. It wasn't because of the sudden calm and seriousness that took over Ieyasu, but the way he moved his body as if experimenting in his range of movement and familiarizing himself with the body.
Ieyasu walked forward and took out the arrows from the targets and put them back into the quiver. Then he walked over to G, one hand rubbing his face over his eyes then shaking his head. He sat down next to G who chose that moment to wake up and then stand up. G walked around for a bit, doing some stretches while Ieyasu took off the quiver and laid it with the bow on the bench and then looked curiously towards the three still standing in the doorway.
Reborn noted that Ieyasu was back to being himself.
Lampo walked over towards Ieyasu and hopped on the bench, G returned to sit next to them.
"I'll be leaving you now." With that, Natsu took his leave.
Lampo looked at Ieyasu, "Do you want to practice now or later?"
Ieyasu looked at Lampo, then at Reborn who also joined them at the bench and was watching Ieyasu with curious eyes, and then at his watch, "Doing a few more hours here couldn't hurt, let's do it now."
Lampo nodded and leaned against the wall, making himself comfortable and closed his eyes. Ieyasu closed his eyes as well.
A few minutes passed with the two breathing in and out in tandem, and then Lampo relaxed in way that clearly stated that he fell asleep.
Ieyasu took a breath as he stood.
Reborn's focus honed in on Ieyasu at that moment. There it was: the change.
Ieyasu took his first step and promptly fell flat on his face. Reborn snorted, couldn't hurt, huh?
"Ow." Reborn stiffened. That was not Ieyasu's voice speaking, it was Lampo's.
Ieyasu began rolling from his position towards the centre, muttering, "You're too tall, Ieyasu."
It was definitely Lampo's voice coming from Ieyasu's mouth.
Ieyasu sat and began stretching, not sparing the strange act any thought.
Sneaking a look at G showed that he, too, wasn't surprised at what happened.
What the hell?
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End chapter 14