The Lion, the Witch, and the War-Closet (The weight of his sins is heavy)
~()~
It's a Saturday morning, on the breakfast table, when Hayato subtly slips everyone but Tsuna notes under the table. Chrome passes two of these notes to Ryohei, one for him and one to give to Kyouya. Silverware chinks against ceramic, only to pause as Tsuna looks up from his food.
"Why isn't anyone else eating?" he asks. His eyebrows furrow. "Wait, did I miss any eggshells?"
Panic appears in Hayato's eyes as he quickly reaches for a fork. "It's nothing. I was just thinking about how much of a waste it would be to eat it so quickly. It's a masterpiece, Tenth!"
If a plate of scrambled eggs and toast could be called a masterpiece, Chrome thinks as she unfolds the note. There's only a time written on it, but a time is the only thing they need to know.
Once breakfast is over, Tsuna retreats to his study, back to his shackles of paperwork and babysitting. Chrome spends her time feeding the many animals that roam the Vongola Mansion and leafing through catalog of desserts or clothes.
When the promised time—eleven o'clock—nears, she dog-ears the page she's on and gets up. The promised place has always been the same, and though petitions had been held to change it, she still opens the supply closet.
Up above, lying on the only ledge, Kyouya scowls at her for letting light in. Chrome looks back down. Takeshi offers a wave from where he's sitting. Ryohei glances up at her, and can't offer a wave since he's busy doing pushups with the weight of Takeshi and Hayato on his back. Chrome rolls her eyes and seats herself on both of their shoulders, forming a triangle.
(She thinks about cheerleading routines and the Guardians wearing outfits to match and makes a note to talk to Haru about that.)
Lambo and Mukuro arrive soon. Lambo, still a child, allows himself to be carried in Mukuro's arms, and Mukuro squeezes in the corner next to Ryohei's feet and closes the door.
This is the only way they'll have room to fit everyone in the tiny supply closet. They have held meetings in this closet for the sole purpose of deciding whether to move or not. Ryohei's strength is only going up, Mukuro's arms now have some actual muscle in them, and Kyouya may or may not be developing back pains because of this and still they have not moved.
Chrome cheerfully imagines a stone statue, steadily growing heavier as time goes on like the baby that Ubume hands to travelers, sitting on Hayato's other shoulder and hopes he enjoys the pain they are in because of his stubbornness.
Hayato, steadfastly trying to ignore the extra weight, clears his throat. "So today, we have gathered to hold our eighty-ninth secret meeting. The topic is Tsuna's surprise party. Progress report?"
They go down the list. Everything from decorations to guests to contingency plans for when Tsuna faints are addressed. Chrome needs more time picking out a cake, but Ryohei's finished the guest list. Kyouya is made in charge of security with a warning to take fights to the designated fighting area that Hayato will set up. Takeshi and Lambo go over the plan to lead Tsuna away from the party, and that's when the closet door opens.
They fall silent as Tsuna greets them.
"Hi, so I know you hate it when I go to your secret meetings, but Haru arrived with a couple boxes of decorations and wanted to know where to move them."
Hayato mutters something that sounds suspiciously like "that idiot woman," and Chrome adds teeth and glowing eyes to the statue along with ominous, inky shadows that undulate on its surface.
"She can put them in the third ballroom," he grits.
Tsuna smiles to appease Hayato's anger. "Oh, don't worry. She didn't ruin the surprise. I faint right before the party. And before the party, I was on a plane to Russia and not expected a party at all, so you're fine."
He waves goodbye and walks away. Takeshi moves to close the door, but Tsuna come back in time for him to stop. "By the way, I know I keep saying this, but you really need to find a different place to meet before Chrome murders you."
Chrome smiles sweetly at him and pretends she hasn't been making a army of small, angry statues at Hayato's feet. Tsuna gives her one last skeptical look before closing the door and sending them back into darkness.
"Can we finally move to someplace brighter?" Lambo asks, hopeful.
Hayato lets out a long-suffering sigh that Chrome chooses to interpret as a maybe, so she makes her army chant "pavilion."
If they meet here again for the next meeting, she's either going to kill him or drive him insane, whichever comes before the other. But first, she lights her army on fire.
~()~
AN: If you don't think Chrome won't or can't murder anyone when she grows up, we're having words. Also, the worst part of a surprise is when the recipient's a time-hopper and already knows it's going to happen. And crashes your secret meeting.
Things you should know: Ryohei's a master pushupper so three people is no problem. This era is when kids are already born and Tsuna's usually in charge of babysitting when no one's available. Also because he's been the expert in changing diapers since a young age. The Vongola Mansion is home to many animals, including the flock of Hibirds, some stray dogs and cats, and the goat. You can't forget the goat, because that's a gift from the Bovino. And the herd of horses, great for riding whenever Tsuna manages to stop falling off a saddle, from the Chiavarone. And the peacocks and peahens from Lussuria. And the chameleon. An actual chameleon, not whatever the heck Leon is. (I still say he's a slime)
...I'm going to have to add the Vongola and their mini zoo to my list of chapters to add.