Here is a new chapter, the next one is almost done. Thank you for your patience and keep the reviews coming!
xXx
Target 21
It was on the last day of September that Iemitsu Sawada finally paid a visit to the Hibari house. His daughter Tsunako was still in critical condition though no longer in immediate danger of losing her life. The doctors expected that with time and patience, the damage done to her body would heal and she would be back to her normal life. They decided she had to be moved to a hospital in Tokyo which had the equipment needed to facilitate that recovery.
Iemitsu had ignored the Hibari family, but it was finally time for a long overdue visit to negotiate the release of their son from the juvenile facility. After talking to Reborn about Hibari Kyoya and his tremendous potential and possible asset to the family, Iemitsu made up his mind and decided to go back to Namimori. He was not alone. Reborn and Bianchi (always loyal to the baby), had tagged along; obviously still weary and suspicious of his actions. He could hardly blame them though. It was his rash actions that had put his daughter in danger and damaged the relationship between himself and his wife.
At least, now they knew what killed people who had their dying will ability sealed. The blood poisoning affected the blood cells and caused a fault in the immune system. With the seal now removed and thanks to the serum created by the genius Verde, recovery was a matter of retrieving the small amount of unaffected bone marrow within the body so that a stem cell transplant could be performed allowing for growth of healthy blood cells once again.
The procedure had begun a week ago, and her body had a positive response. It will take months for her body to get better, how much her mind needed was uncertain, but they had the best medical care the Vongola could buy.
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The Hibari house was an old style Japanese compound. It was located in the forest that surrounded the city, a good 30 minute drive from the city outskirts. It appeared old and imposing. They were greeted by a maid as soon as they got out of the car and lead into a study which had been furnished in a western style, contrasting greatly with the aesthetics of the old Japanese estate. They were asked what they wished to drink and told to wait for the masters of the house.
Ten minutes later two maids arrived carrying tea trays and snacks, who were followed by Hibari's parents.
Lihwa Hibari was a beautiful woman even while wearing little makeup and an unflattering Chinese style plain gray dress. Her ebony hair was pulled into such a tight bun that any rational person could see it would requite great discipline to deal with that level of discomfort. She had a severe expression on her face and the contempt within her eyes was proof enough that if it wasn't for the circumstances of her son, they would never be welcome within her house.
Aizen Hibari was a deep contrast to his wife with his more relaxed way of looking imposing. He was extremely handsome, wearing an expensive brand name suit, slicked hair and a strong cologne. He was a business man in appearance and presence, being able to keep his thoughts and emotions from bleeding through to others unlike his wife. Based on their body language and the distance kept between them, it was very obvious to the three visitors that they were not a close couple. This was most likely not a happy marriage.
Iemitsu, who wanted to return back to Tokyo as soon as humanly possible since circumstances had demanded that both of his children were currently in the same city, decided to get straight to the point in what he wanted from the Hibaris and their son.
Hibari's parents listened in silence. It didn't matter what the man wanted, either way they were going to agree. When Hibari's mother finally found out that the Vongola family were the ones keeping her son in the correctional facility, her world had fallen out from beneath her feet. They were no match to the influence of the mafia family. After asking for advice from her father in China, she and her husband had already discussed the situation and had realized how useless it would be to show any resistance. They would have to meet all their demands to have their son freed and returned alive.
But there was something that they hadn't expected, The wretched man wanted their son to join the Vongola family by becoming one of his daughters guardians.
"You cannot force my son to join your family." Lihwa said incredulously.
"You want my son to become a criminal?" Aizen questioned angry at Iemitsu.
At this Bianchi rolled her eyes and Reborn scoffed. Iemitsu remained silent, he was going to let the baby handle this part.
"Because he is such an upstanding citizen right now." Reborn quipped sarcastically.
The woman had the gall to appear taken aback at the suggestion about her son's character.
"What are you implying?" Lihwa's husband asked unaware of his son's extracurricular activities.
"It would seem you are not aware of the behavioral quirks your son has acquired." Reborn began, "Abuse of authority, extortion, theft, wanton acts of violence..."
"Stop!" Lihwa screamed over Reborn. But the baby continued
"...a bonafide wannabe gangster. Extorting money from small business with the help of the school's disciplinary committee. I can assure you, becoming a Vongola guardian would be an honor compared to what he could find himself becoming if continuing on this destructive path of his. He will be taught discipline and trained properly to release those violent tendencies in a more constructive manner, you can take my word for it."
"Lihwa-san, I know that you are the daughter of one of the most powerful triad clan in China." Iemitsu said looking at the woman straight in the eyes.
The couple tensed. Lihwa's family history had been kept a secret from everyone they knew in Japan.
"I'm also well aware that if it wasn't for the Vongola, your father's 'business' would have gone under and your husband here would have never gotten the money to expand his business nationwide"
"What do you mean by that?" Aizen asked, but Iemitsu wasn't sure if the man was asking him or his wife. So he remained silent.
It was his wife who answered. "Before I met you, there were two groups that were interfering with my father's business. He needed investment money and he needed some politicians killed. My brother told him he knew someone trustworthy that could provide those services which could never be traced back to him. I didn't know who it was at the time, but after this whole mess I called my father for advice and he told me everything. He borrowed millions from the Vongola and still owes them money"
There was a long, tense silence in the room. It was Hibari's dad who finally spoke up. "If we accept to your terms, when can we have our son back?"
"You can pick him up first thing tomorrow morning." Iemitsu answered the man.
Bianchi pulled some documents out of a business case and passed them to the couple.
"All you need to do is sign at the bottom and we need to make sure you use your seal." She said flatly.
"So we'll be paying for half of the girl's medical bills, our son will be released and all the charges dropped and he will be joining your mafia family, plus we will have protection from the Vongola?"
"That is correct. Everything will be taken care of. You just need to make sure your son keeps his part of the bargain"
xXx
Gokudera was currently staying at the Sawada's home. He had been babysitting the house ever since they all left for Tokyo. He was waiting to be picked up so that he could be traveling with Reborn and his sister to Tokyo and stay with his precious Tenth until she recovered. He had been happy to stay in the home since his apartment was in a rather poor complex and didn't even have a private restroom facility.
It had been a difficult time for him ever since the incident that put the girl in the hospital. He was suddenly left alone in a new school surrounded by people he didn't consider friends. Kyoko friendliness was borderline irritating and her brother was a total loud idiot. Then there was Hana who was too cynical and sarcastic, not unlike himself, but he still found her extremely abrasive. Finally there was the baseball idiot, who just did not get the message to leave him alone.
Yamamoto always wanted to walk him home after school or force him to his house so that he wouldn't feel lonely. Sure he felt lonely and the food at Yamamoto's restaurant was delicious but he sure as hell didn't need that idiot to point that out. He still held a grudge against the black haired boy, especially after he found out the reason why Reborn was so adamant that he should be one of Tenth's guardians.
On his last visit to the boy's home, Gokudera had discovered that behind their house was a Dojo. When he asked Yamamoto why there was a Dojo located at his home, the boy told him that his dad had been training him in sword play since he was a little boy. He had laughed, admitting he wasn't really interested but his father had insisted that he was the only one left to carry on the Shigure Soen Ryu sword style. It was their duty to preserve such a flawless and invincible technique. The boy had mimic his dad playfully and told Gokudera that it wasn't anything special.
After Gokudera had done some research about this sword style, he grudgingly had to admit that Reborn's insistence to keep the boy had merit. It pissed him off since it made him realize that it was indeed himself the one farthest behind in unique skills to serve as a guardian. Depression had set in and his anger at the baseball idiot flippant attitude towards something so important made it near impossible to spend any time with him. He stop attending school. He had begged Reborn to take him with him and finally the baby had agreed. So here he was, waiting to be picked up.
It was Bianchi who knocked on the door and greeted Gokudera. She was thankfully wearing her goggles.
"Let's make this quick Hayato, we're leaving right away. Do you have everything ready?"
"Yes I do. I also have more changes of clothing for the Tenth's mother."
"Good good." Bianchi looked around trying to chose her next words carefully, "Hayato, there is something very important I need to tell you. When you get to Tokyo you are going to meet two new people. One of them is Tsunako's half brother."
"What?! The Tenth has a brother?! I never heard anything about this before!" The boy was surely surprised.
"Yeah, well join the club. It seems Iemitsu has been keeping too many secrets. The other person is the boy's bodyguard, quite a nice boy really, but still not really on our side. Reborn really needs you to keep your wits about you and pay attention to anything happening around you, we don't know just how much we can trust Iemitsu and the Vongola council at this time."
"But... he's the Tenth's father. Are you asking me to spy on him?"
"Spying, eavesdropping, casually overhearing a private conversation, whatever you want to call it."
"O...kay?" The boy stated questioningly.
"Just remember you work for Reborn. You report and answer to him. You are also going to protect Sawada Tsunako and her mother while you stay with them. Is that understood?"
The younger boy nodded dumbly. Gokudera usually never paid much attention to what his sister said, but when Reborn was involved, she didn't mess around. She had been Reborn's partner for a really long time now. He grabbed the bags and followed her outside.
"And don't forget, until we get to Tokyo and are by ourselves keep your explosive personality in check and limit your outbursts in front of Iemitsu and his men."
Confused, a little upset and full of questions the silver haired boy followed his sister and got into the car where Reborn and the Tenth's father were waiting. Reborn greeted him as usual and the other man nodded in his direction. They drove to Kokuyo City Airport and took a private jet to Tokyo.