Title: Blade and Blood
Disclaimer: I don't own KATEKYO HITMAN REBORN, AMANO AKIRA does. I will only be borrowing the characters.
Chapter 20 recap: Everything had been set, or is being set.
21
Everyone had been positioned, doing what they were best at. Tsunayoshi stood at the front line as Byakuran suggested. The supernatural beings stood cautious and waiting for something. Byakuran stood with Timeteo preparing to DO with Xanxus' follower. Gokudera and Yamamoto joined Tsunayoshi's side. Both sides waiting for the gamer start that very well could decide the fate of the world.
Byakuran faced the coffin that seals Xanxus' follower. He concentrates as he tries to open the seal, contrary to what he had told Timeteo. He had other plans, not sure if it would succeed though understood that it have a greater chance. He wants to talk to the one in the coffin, reason out despite everyone's opposition.
"He is still suspicious Nono-sama." One of Timeteo's guardian whispers eyeing Byakuran dangerously. Had kept a close guard on Vongola Nono and Byakuran like the other guardians.
"Agreed. We should keep a look out." Another guardians spoke.
Timeteo understood his guardians' suspicions. He can't deny that he is doubtful of the sudden rescue that the fallen angel did, appearing suddenly before them. He nods, appeases the hunters. "I understand. I will have someone watch over him. Make sure that everything will go smoothly for us. And if anything happens, QUICKLY report back to me."
The Guardians of Vongola Nono took immediate action. Did what they deem necessary.
Meanwhile, Xanxus stood proudly, with three of his followers -
Leviathan, is a large vampire always following Xanxus' words like an obedient child though have a difficulty in expressing himself.
Belphegor, is a former prince in the B.C. turned vampire. He met Xanxus and formed alliance with the pureblood.
And Mosca, a large person wearing a metal suit to hide his form. Nobody had seen his body all except Xanxus.
"What should we do?" Leviathan asked more than eager to do Xanxus' bidding. He who often received the nickname of Xanxus' dog.
"We should just strike." The willful Belphegor utters. "Get Squalo last out there. We couldn't have predicted his capture. I doubt that he will be of any use to us in reuniting." He played with a blade he picked up in one of his excursion.
"How about I take care of where Lussuria is?" Mosca offers in a low bored tone. "Moving alone will be effective. I doubt that there is anyone strong to take us out. HUNTERS are pretty useless against us as well."
Xanxus stays quiet deep in thought, channeling out everyone's voices.
"Xanxus-sama?" Leviathan addressed cautiously knowing that an enraged Xanxus is a threat even to them vampires.
"OI, XANXUS!" Belphegor fearlessly called, eyeing Xanxus who had remained still. He couldn't help feel annoyed.
Xanxus raised his head; his line of sight fell on Belphegor. "We will take care of ALL the hunters. Mosca, bring back Lussuria here." He understood that out of the three he has, Mosca would be the smartest choice to send out to Lussuria, the man second to Squallo he trust to make wise decisions regardless.
Mosca nodded accepted Xanxus' order of him.
Xanxus continue with his order. "Advance the troupe forward. We will show them upfront that they have no chance of winning. That their STRUGGLES are only slowing down the inevitable end of their pitiable lives."
Belphegor's eye glistened with interest. "Ushishishi…" He looked like he is looking forwards stirring trouble that will happen. He hoped for destruction as Xanxus.
Leviathan looked forward to accomplishing the given command of Xanxus.
-O-
Inside the hunters' headquarter, where the coffin that the hunters had retrieved – a lot of smoke filled the room that caused the hunters within distance to be alarmed. Some hunters sprung into action to see the cause of the smoke that filled the room where Byakuran is suppose to be sealing the coffin that contained a vampire within Xanxus' ranks.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" a hunter standing guard on Byakuran shouts seeing the smoke filled room. He prepares to launch an attack on the fallen angel.
Byakuran ignored the hunter that attacked him, sidestepped the hunter easily. He allowed some room from the coffin as it slowly opened. He stood eyeing the coffin; let the smoke slowly lift until there was none, the coffin visible once again in human eyes. 'Now, show me what you are capable of Squallo.' He stares at the dark figure slowly emerging out of the smoke screen.
Timeteo who had merely left for a minute returned; stepped forward at the immediate summon of the incident ready to fight Byakuran along with his guardian hunters according to the report. "You- What have you done?!" he leers at Byakuran as soon as the smoke had cleared up.
Byakuran aware of the increase in number of the hunter near him turned, faced Timeteo free of guilt. "Hoping to buy us time." He could hear the noise from outside with his super hearing; he could tell that the hunters are having a hard time fighting the enemy. "We might as well use this guy to push back Xanxus and learn of his plan."
Timeteo stares at Byakuran blankly. "What are you saying?! So you had no intention of sealing that vampire?"
"I knew that he could not be trusted!" a guardian spoke in an attack position, cautiously trying to read the situation.
"We need to fight fire with fire." Byakuran showed no fear though faced with a large number of hunters. Perfectly capable of protecting himself against the number of the hunters, he did not fear the weapons or the hostility that were directed to him. "Besides, I have heard of Xansus' personality; this one can control that guy A BIT. He is SOMEONE we can rationalize with."
Timeteo stood gauging the situation. Byakuran who had lied to him about sealing the coffin is currently proposing another plan. He doubted Byakuran's intention more; however, there is a small light inside him that trusted the fallen angel. He sensed that if Byakuran would desire to, the fallen would leave them at a heartbeat – yet the angel had not done so. "Are you sure about that?" He had reasons to give a slight chance that Byakuran might really be doing something for them to be able to survive, even if it is clouded.
At where Tsunayoshi is – the front line.
Tsunayoshi couldn't stand it any longer as the people around him fell one by one – defeated by the zombified vampires, according to Mukuro and Hibari at least. His desire to help was strong, though he could not leave the protection of the black shadows that surround him like a fence. It is like déjà vu, he alone getting protected once again. He saw it unfair – why it had to be him. He wished he had power to protect everyone; just maybe if he had the ability to control the black shadows, he might also have the chance to protect his late mother.
"Takeshi!" Tsunayoshi calls Yamamoto, left his post. He couldn't take any longer the onslaught being done to everyone. He wanted to do something himself to stop everything, the only thought that came to him to end the onslaught. "I've got a plan. I know it will be different from the original, but at least it will diminish the damage on our side." At least he said to himself.
Yamamoto stares at Tsunayoshi, eyes fixated on him pleading. He looked at the hunters, most were already too weak to continue. He had to agree that compared to the force that they were fighting, they were receiving a much greater damage. He faced Tsunayoshi, nods; agreeing to whatever plans that Tsunayoshi might have concocted. He trusted that Tsunayoshi might be able to salvage the situation, though it might mean another thing as well recalling how the brunette sacrifices to get information from Byakuran.
-0-
"Hayato?!" Bianchi called in surprise as Gokudera returned to the headquarters in panic.
A lot of injured hunters who barely managed to run back to safety – there were some who were unlucky and had died in the field.
"That idiot made a stupid move." Gokudera declared. His body aching from the wounds that he had received. He ran just to deliver the message after finding out a certain someone had disappeared.
"What?" Bianchi looked confused, puzzled what her brother had meant. She could tell that whatever it is, it had to be important at least.
"That bastard ran away!" Gokudera enraged shouts out. He had taken wrongly Sawada Tsunayoshi's disappearance as escaping.
Meanwhile, Tsunayoshi with Yamamoto and few other new appointed hunters were stealthily making their move within the enemy territory. They managed to slip pass the fence of defense thanks to Mukuro's handy work.
"So, what will you do when you face Xanxus?" Mukuro mused. "Talking with him would be of no use." He had not heard any of Tsunayoshi's plans, found it interesting though since he is the type to play it rough.
'Not sure yet.' Tsunayoshi thought staring at Mukuro – he had no intention of telling it to the others, especially to Mukuro who might have read his trail of thoughts already. "Just follow my lead for now."
Yamamoto wonders why did Tsunayoshi choose to have Mukuro join them rather than have Hibari who is much more obedient to the brunette.
-0-
Following a long corridor, Mukuro calls his companions' attention to a stop noticing a parting way. "Wait a minute!"
Everyone stopped, turned to Mukuro.
"What?" a hunter voiced in anger.
Mukuro scowls, in an unhappy tone he informed his companions. "We are near Xanxus." He looked in all direction as if in search of something. "I can sense him; his power much stronger."
"Xanxus…" Tsunayoshi stares at Mukuro.
"As you have wished." Mukuro mused. "We will meet him."
Yamamoto stood, worrying. Somehow, he doubts that the plan to go to Xanxus head on is not such a good idea.
-o-
At the guild, Iemetsu hears that Tsunayoshi had gone missing. He vents out to Byakuran standing in waiting beside the coffin. "What have you done?! Where have you taken him?"
"I don't know where he is." Byakuran answers, Iemetsu's hands on his collar. He slapped away Iemetsu's hands, stepped back away from Tsunayoshi's father knowing that the hunter might do something to him. "You can look for him all you want here, doubt you'd find him though." He eyed the other hunters in the room who trailed after Iemetsu. "I've been here all the time." He turned to the hunters that had been guarding him. "Ask them yourself. I didn't leave here. Tsunayoshi did not visit here either."
Iemetsu made a fist; he didn't know where he must search to find his son. Or WHO he could ask.
Byakuran eyed Iemetsu. 'That boy, I don't think he would be stupid… However…'