Author's Note: Kasumi finally gets ticked off at the others. Who am I kidding, it's been happening the whole time.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kateyo Hitman Reborn
My head hurts. What happened again? "Sato-san!" I hear Kusakabe's voice exclaim. Someone is nudging me. My eyes start to open and I find that I'm in a tank of some sort. I remember now… the invasion of the base. We were all knocked out by that gas…
"Everyone!" exclaims Sawada from outside the tank.
"T-That's…" starts the Storm Guardian. "Tenth!" The Storm Guardian starts to lean towards Sawada. "Ten-" he hits his head on the clear tank. That idiot… "W-What is this?" he asks as he presses his hands on the tank.
"We've been captured," explains Kusakabe. I'm ashamed. Falling for a trap, getting knocked out by gas, and now, taken hostage… The Storm Guardian starts to hit the tank with his fists.
"Give up. You won't be able to break through that capsule with your bare hands," says one of the familiar looking, pink-haired women in the white uniform.
The Storm Guardian shouts, "You're one of those Cervello women! Why are you here?!" Oh that's right… the Ring Conflict judges…
The red-haired man with blue glasses turns around. "You're lives are in our hands. You better not try anything funny."
"Irie, Shoichi!" shouts Kusakbe.
"We need to talk. Pipe down in there, would you?" says Irie, Shoichi.
The Storm Guardain shouts, "'Talk'?! Don't give us that crap after locking us up!" He reaches for a box weapon, but nothing's there. "What? My box…" He holds his hand up. "And my ring…"
"There's no point in resisting," Irie, Shoichi replies matter-of-factly. "Your rings and box weapons," he says as he opens his hand to show us all our rings and then continues, "have all been confiscated."
"What?" Sawada exclaims. The Storm Guardian gasps. Yeah sure, they just dumped us into a tank to contain us and use us as hostage. Of course they would leave us armed. I
"H-How can this be?" asks Kusakabe. "At this rate…" I almost sigh. The adult too? You've got to be kidding me.
"S-Sawada!" shouts the woman that I believe is Lal Mirch. "Don't worry about us! Do it!"
"Lal," says Sawada, his eyes are a bit wide.
"Destroy the device with your own hands!" she shouts.
The Storm Guardian hesitates for a second, but then he shouts, "That's right, Tenth! If you destroy the device, we might be able to return to the past! Forget about us!"
"You can't!" shouts Dokuro. My eyes widen slightly. Mukuro-sama must have told her what it is!
"What?!" exclaims the Storm Guardian. "Are you suddenly desperate to live?!"
"Can it!" I demand angrily.
"Kasumi…" says Dokuro, she looks touched. She turns back to the Storm Guardian and replies, "No… But…"
"Honestly, your ignorance astounds me. You're the ones who will be in trouble if you destroy the device," says Irie, Shoichi.
"What do you mean?!" asks the Storm Guardain.
He turns to the round device and replies, "I'll show you. Pay attention now." The device starts to open. "Due to the Ten-Year-Bazooka, this device…" The device opens completely. "…contains the future versions you replaced!"
It's dead silent as everyone's eyes widen. Then, eyes still wide, Sawada mutters, "The future versions…"
"That's right. Of course, you can only see their holograms right now. In reality, your future versions have been reduced to molecules and are stored within the device. I shouldn't need to explain what will happen if you destroy it," explains Irie, Shoichi.
"W-What's going on?" asks the Storm Guardian. "But our future versions…"
Kusakabe finishes, "Should have travelled back in time because of the Ten-Year-Bazooka!"
"Exactly," agrees Irie, Shoichi. "Usually, everything in the Ten-Year-Bazooka swaps places with their older counterparts. However, this device prevented your future versions from travelling to the past and kept them here. If your future versions were to go to the past and interfere, it would disturb the Tri-ni-set policy."
"'Tri-ni-set Policy'?" asks Sawada.
"How do you even know about the Ten-Year-Bazooka? It's impossible…" asks the Storm Guardian.
"So the one who used the Ten-Year-Bazooka to send us here…was you," says the Arcobaleno.
"Precisely," replies Irie, Shoichi. "Ten years ago, I had access to technology from this time and used the Ten-Year-Bazooka on you. For example, I used the non-Tri-ni-set Policy to immobilize the Arcobaleno."
"I see… That's why I felt like I was paralyzed," says the Arcobaleno. Why is there so much mindless, useless chatter?
Sawada goes back to normal mode. "But why? Why would you go so far to bring us to this time? Answer me!"
"You want to know? Of course you do," says Irie, Shoichi.
The Cervello says, "Irie-sama, you shouldn't say-"
"No, I'll answer him. It's quite simple. For Byakuran-san to take over the world and rebuild a new one, he needed the Vongola Rings."
"The Vongola Rings?" asks Sawada.
"There are many powerful rings in the world, but the Vongola and Mare Rings are in a class of their own. The seven Vongola Rings. The seven Mare Rings. In addition, there are seven Arcobaleno pacifiers. These sets of seven, totaling in twenty-one, are known as Tri-ni-set. And those who make up the Tri-ni-set were the foundation of this world." There are several gasps, but none from myself. Hm, figures. I hear Dokuro gasp, but I don't understand why. It's Mukuro's goal to take over the world too.
"That's just…" mutters Sawada.
Irie, Shoichi says, "Whether your believe me or not is your choice. But the Arcobaleno who become part of the Tri-ni-set to carry out their mission to protect it won't deny it." Is that the purpose of the Arcobaleno? I was never told, but then again, it was never relevant information.
"Eh? W-What does he mean? Are you and the others related, Reborn?" asks Sawada. So, he doesn't know either... The woman, Lal Mirch, looks really tense. I look in her direction blankly. She's one too, isn't she? Hm, no wonder. "Hey, wait! I don't understand what's going on! Explain yourself," Sawada exclaims.
Irie, Shoichi closes his eyes. "That's enough talk." Then he turns to the Cervello and says, "I'll let you handle the rest."
"Yes, sir!"
Sawada exclaims, "N-No way!"
"Sawada, Tsunayoshi, hand over the Sky Ring or you'll be bidding your Guardians farewell. They won't be able to survive one breath of this gas," demands the Cervello woman.
"Wait, Irie," says the Arcobaleno. Irie, Shoichi stops and the Arcobaleno continues, "We're not finished here. Something in your story sounded off." I raise my right eyebrow as Irie, Shoichi just leaves.
The Cervello says, "Stop trying to buy yourself time, it's useless. You have no choice."
Then the other one continues, "We're not negotiating. This is an order."
"Hand over the Sky Ring before we count down from three or we'll kill all of your Guardians." I can't help but laugh quietly at myself a little. Hibari and Dokuro glance at me with questioning looks, but I just shake my head with a small smile. What a pitiful end. Killed for people I'm not even part of. What a meaningless death. And to think, I worked so hard just to die like this. Was it even worth it? I start to wait for the death that will surely come. Once they get the Sky Ring, they'll kill us off anyhow.
"Wait! Hold on! Aren't you a Cervello?! Why are you on the Millefiore's side?! Tell me!" Sawada exclaims as he frantically pulls off his mittens.
"Three," replies the Cervello.
The Storm Guardian bangs on the tank with his fists again and curses at the Cervello. "If you believe that we're your hostages, then you're dead wrong! Tenth! Forget about us and take them out!"
Sawada, still struggling to take off his mittens, exclaims, "B-But I can't do that…"
"Two," says the Cervello.
Lal Mirch shouts, "Do it, Sawada! They'll kill us once they get the Sky Ring!"
"B-But…" Sawada protests.
"Tenth!" shouts the Storm Guardian.
Lal Mirch continues to shout, "Leave us!"
A thought crosses my mind. The adult Mukuro was helping Sawada too. "Just get rid of them. If I'm going to die anyways, at least do something beneficial. Don't lose everything," I say finally.
The Cervello exclaims, "One!" I watch as the Cervello is about to push the button. Guess that's it… I feel myself trembling a little. I didn't realize that I was so scared. Two gunshots ring out. I almost flinch. The remote falls to the floor and the Cervello asks, "Irie-sama…?" Then, they both fall to the floor.
"Don't think too badly of me, I'm just putting you to sleep for now," says Irie, Shoichi. It's completely silent. Then, he drops the gun and it skids away. He tugs at his collar. "It's so hot… I'm drained." He starts to unzip his uniform. "You and your family worried me there, Sawada, Tsunayoshi-kun. My knees are buckling now that all the tension's gone." I watch as he falls to the floor. He rubs his head. "I'm surprised that you made it all the way here. I've been waiting for you. I'm actually on your side."
There are way too many shocked people in this room, there are several gasps. "O-On our side?!" asks Sawada.
"Yeah." He pushes the gun further away with his foot. "I'm not good at this kind of thing. It's so formal."
"But, what do you mean, you're on our side? You're a leader in the Millefiore! Our enemy!" exclaims Sawada.
The Arcobaleno commands, "Calm down, Tsuna."
"But!" Sawada protests.
I look at the Storm Guardian shouts, "Don't let your guard down, Tenth!" It may be another trap!"
"That's right! Restrain him, Sawada!" agrees Lal Mirch.
Irie, Shoichi rubs his head. "I know that it'll be impossible for you to believe me right away, but I want you to at least hear me out."
The Storm Guardian bangs on the tank. "You can't, Tenth!" I look up at Hibari blankly as he stands up suddenly.
"Kyo-san…" Kusakabe mutters.
Irie, Shoichi starts to explain, "My actions were disclosed to Byakuran-san through my subordinates and by constant camera surveillance. But now that you've messed this place up, I can finally talk to you openly. I've been waiting a long time for this moment."
"Huh? You were?" asks Sawada.
He nods. "It was our goal to meet you in this place, under these circumstances."
Sawada repeats slowly, "Our…goal?"
The Storm Guardian asks, "W-What are you talking about?!"
Irie, Shoichi stands up and replies, "It's true that the Millefiore brought you to this time to take the Vongola Rings. It's no surprise, then, that you're here with them."
The Storm Guardian exclaims, "So you're after the Vongola Rings after all!"
I sigh. "Would you be quiet? I don't need idiots on the side jumping to conclusions every five seconds. Don't you realize that it can't possibly be his goal?" I get weird looks.
"She's right. If I simply wanted to take them, I would have needed to summon you here to the Melone Base," Irie, Shoichi explains.
Sawada asks, "Summon?"
"Was that letter…" starts the Arcobaleno.
Sawada gasps, "That letter?" I start to dig through my memory for anything about a letter. Nothing.
"I devised this plan without the Millefiore's knowledge to provoke you into chasing me into the place. In order to…." Irie, Shoichi says and then pauses for dramatic effect or something. "In order to train you all to become stronger," says Irie, Shoichi. Cue gasps…again. "I truly regret doing all those terrible things. It was the only way to help you quickly improve in preparation for the battles to come!"
"Huh? The battles to come?" asks Sawada.
Suddenly, Irie, Shoichi exclaims loudly, "That's right! I'm not your true enemy!"
"Cut the crap! You're making this up! You're just trying to pull a fast one to save yourself!" exclaims the Storm Guardian.
"Gokudera's right! We can't believe his story!"
I cross my arms. "Both of you are idiots," I say matter-of-factly. They look ready to kill me. I close my eyes for a second and open them again as I say, "Do you honestly believe that he would shoot his subordinates and then try to 'save himself' as you claimed Storm Guardian? What kind of idiot does that?! You people were obviously at a disadvantage. Irie, Shoichi didn't need to 'save himself.' If you honestly believe that he did need to 'save himself' and you're not just jumping to conclusions because of your anger, then I suggest you think everything through more clearly. I'm losing my hearing because you can't think straight."
"Who are you to talk?! And what do you mean 'you people'?! You're a hostage too!" the Storm Guardian exclaims.
"How many times must I tell you? I'm not mafia. Get it straight already." I sigh and say, "It's a shame… I probably should have left you in the rubble… Or better yet, leave you with Hibari-san's crazed box weapon. That would have saved us from lugging you around."
"You…!" the Storm Guardian clenches his fist. I cross my arms. There's nothing he can say.
"Wait! Give it more thought! If I wanted to eliminate you, I could have done it sooner! Even if the Millefiore had lowered their defenses, there's a world of difference between your strength and theirs! You couldn't possibly win!" Irie, Shoichi exclaims.
The Arcobalno agrees, "He's right."
Sawada asks, "Reborn?" He looks confused.
"You all knew that we had no chance if we fought them head on. That's why we were desperate enough to try sneaking into this Millefiore base. As a result, you went through many battles and gained strength, before reaching this destination. It's just as he says," explains the Arcobalno.
Irie, Shoichi continues to explain, "You were brought in a few at a time, instead of all at once, so your future selves could provide guidance." I glance at Hibari. It's true…I did receive lots of help from the adult Hibari… Hibari gives me a blank look and I look back to Irie, Shoichi. "Once you arrived, I could've mobilized the base earlier and captured you. But then, you wouldn't have gained any experience. I slowed it down on purpose! That's not all. Do you know why I-Pin, Sawasaga, Kyoko, Miura, Haru, and Sato, Kasumi were brought from the past as well?" Sawada gasps, but he doesn't reply. Irie, Shoichi continues to explain, "People become stronger when they have something to protect. Therefore, it was determined that they were necessary." Motive to work harder, huh? Wonderful… The others in the tank turn to me. I glare at the floor as I start to think. Who is it that I'm motivating? "Right now-" he starts, but Sawada grabs his shoulders.
"What… What if something happens to Kyoko-chan and the others…? And for such a stupid reason! And not just them! Yamamoto, Gokudera-kun, Lal, and everyone else could've died in this battle before they ever 'developed'!" Sawada exclaims angrily.
"Tenth…" the Storm Guardian mutters.
"That was a risk we simply had to take," replies Irie, Shoichi.
Sawada gasps and the Storm Guardian shouts, "What was that?!"
"No way…" says Dokuro.
Irie, Shoichi exclaims, "I've been trying my best! It's been so hard with all these unexpected obstacles! This problem isn't as simple as you think! And you know, your future-self was involved in devising this plan too, Tsunayoshi-kun!" He seems sincere. What he's saying is true. I'm sure of it now…
"What? I was involved?" asks Sawada.
The Storm Guardain looks shocked, "The Tenth?"
Sawada repeats, "I was involved?"
"It was imperative that the plan not be leaked to the Millefiore, so it was a secret between myself, your future-self, the future Hibari, Kyoya, and the future Sato, Kasumi." Hibari looks a bit surprised and glances at me. I shrug. I…was involved too? I think about it again. That's right, my future-self worked with Hibari-san, but… why didn't Kusakabe-san know then?
"Ah! So when you said 'our' goal, you were referring to…" starts Sawada.
Irie, Shoichi nods. "Yes. That's why the future Hibari-kun was able to predict our ambush."
"Unbelievable…" mutters Kusakabe.
The Storm Guardian looks crushed. "The future me didn't know? That's impossible! Why was I, the Tenth' right hand man, ignored by him?!" He turns look at Hibari, who is to my right. Hibari doesn't reply.
"How would you expect any of us to know the answer? We're all the younger versions," I reply quietly.
"Your future-self was worried about getting innocent allies involved. But in the end, you accepted that it was necessary for your past-self to improve," explains Irie, Shoichi.
Sawada finally releases his shirt. "No way… I… I… I brought everyone to this era…to such a dangerous place…
Lal Mirch exclaims, "It's impossible! I know Sawada! He's unbelievably kind!"
"That's right!" agrees the Storm Guardain. "The boss would never let the kids be placed in danger!"
Sawada turns to them. "Lal… Gokudera-kun…"
"Oh, man…" Irie, Shoichi rubs his head. "That just shows you how bad the situation is! Can't you read between the lines?!"
I smirk a little as the blonde man that came with Sawada coughs and comments, "And Shoichi snaps back."
"We have to bet everything to deal with this, or you and all your friends will be killed! That's not all! Many others too! If we screw up, the entire human race will be in danger!" Irie, Shoichi argues.
"The entire human race?" asks Sawada. He looks a bit puzzled.
The Arcobaleno summarizes, "Okay, so it's serious enough that you had to go this far. And it all has something to do with those battles to come, right?"
"Yes," replies Irie, Shoichi.
"Reborn!" exclaims Sawada.
The Arcobaleno declares, "I think we should believe him."
The Storm Guardain protests, "Reborn-san!"
"Hey, Reborn!" protests Lal Mirch.
The Arcobaleno explains, "His explanation answered all the questions that I had." Sawada gasps.
"Thank you," says Irie, Shoichi. "By the way… Your enemy will be…Byakuran-san!"
"I knew it," says Sawada. He gasps suddenly. The Arcobaleno smirks for some reason.
Irie, Shoichi comtinues to explain, "Byakuran-san will do whatever it takes to assemble the Tri-ni-set and make this world his. That's the kind of man he is. He's named his desire the Tri-ni-set. And if he succeeds, we'll all be witness to a hell beyond imagination. He'll obliterate any person, group, or even country, who goes against his will."
"No way…" Sawada mutters.
"There's something I still don't get," starts the Arcobaleno.
Irie, Shoichi and Sawada turn around to him and ask at the same time, "Huh?"
"Why have you been working for Byakuran this whole time? If you hadn't used the Ten-Year-Bazooka to bring the Vongola Rings to this time, he wouldn't have been able to accomplish his goal," says the Arcobaleno.
"Ah! That's right!" exclaims Sawada.
The Arcobaleno continues, "You might have been able to minimize the number of victims if you hadn't brought Tsuna and the others to this time."
"But then…" Sawada starts.
The Arcobaleno finishes, "Tsuna and the Arcobaleno would still be dead. But Kyoko and the others wouldn't have been involved."
"Mm, for a while… But he would have eventually been able to bring you to the future, even without my help," says Irie, Shoichi.
Sawada asks, "Huh?"
Irie, Shoichi explains, "Plus, there was another reason I was partial to this method. This is the only time when he can be stopped!"
"Huh?" asks Sawada.
The Storm Guardian asks, "What do you mean?!"
"Defeating Byakuran-san now is the only way to seal his power!" exclaims Irie, Shoichi.
"Power?!" exclaims Sawada.
"It'll take a while to explain…" he starts. Suddenly he exclaims, "Huh! I forgot!"
Sawada asks, "Huh?"
"Have you heard anything from Vongoal HQ?!" asks Irie, Shoichi.
"What?" Sawada turns to the Arcobaleno.
The Arcobaleno replies, "No."
"Not yet? I see… Not yet…." Irie, Shoichi mutters. Suddenly, he goes to his knees, holding his stomach. "Ow, ow, ow, ow…"
Sawada asks, "W-What's wrong?"
"I suddenly feel very anxious…" he replies weakly.
The blonde man that came with Sawada says, "Shoichi." I guess they know each other well. He places a hand on Irie, Shoichi's back and turns to Sawada. "Don't worry."
"Spanner-san?" asks Sawada.
Spanner explains, "Shoichi's stomach starts hurting whenever he gets nervous."
"Eh?!" exclaims Sawada.
The Storm Guardian sighs. "The boss of this place is prone to stomachaches?" Says the "right hand man" who's prone of fainting at the sight of his sister? I smirk.
"Pathetic," says Lal Mirch. It's not like people can control who they are.
Irie, Shoichi says, "I didn't ask to be this way! Besides, I'm not cut out for this…" He starts to wince again.
"Are you okay, Shoichi?" asks Spanner.
"Spanner…" mutters Shoichi.
Spanner nods. "This is how he normally is."
"U-Um…" Sawada starts.
Spanner replies, "Shoichi is an amazing guy, but even more amazing is how he doesn't look the part."
"Spanner, that's not a compliment," says Irie, Shoichi.
Spanner says with a smile, "It's meant to be."
Irie. Shoichi lets out a sigh. "Anyways, reaching this place is the first hurdle in order to defeat Byakuran-san." He holds up his index finger, "If we consider this the first stage," he says. He holds up two fingers now. "There's still a second one you need to clear!"
"What? More fighting?" asks Sawada.
Irie, Shoichi says, "No, that's not it. I want you to heal up for the time being. Depending on how the second stage goes, that is."
"What is this 'second stage'?" asks the Arcobaleno.
"You haven't heard? There was a plan to launch a united attack on the Millefiore all over the world today," explains Irie, Shoichi.
Sawada seems to just remember. "Ah, that's right…"
"Tsuna and the others broke in here at the same time," says the Arcobaleno.
Irie, Shoichi explains, "If the united attack fails, then things will become much more difficult. The key battle will be in Italy." Hm, Fran's part of it then…
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