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Consideration
Hours passed before I stirred and stretched. Muscles yelped at the gentle, morning extensions. I sighed rubbing the back of head. There was no way to tell time here in this underground castle as there was no sun. Some would argue I should've brought a watch but those things, with their metal parts, would only make it easy for me to be located by people I would rather not be caught by.
Two days and I still hadn't found anything. More than anything I wanted to scream but refrained from doing so. I massaged my forehead as I thought about the more recent key that was unveiled. Giotto had sent a letter to Cozart requesting his help in an upcoming war. Since it was a key, it was safe to assume that it was the turning point of the Shimon's fortunes. After this we'll find out the truth. But until then….
Concentrating on meditative breathing I assessed my situation. What was my objective? To get information on the Shimon family and find out the truth of what happened between the Shimon and Vongola. How am I meeting my objective? Concerning the past, I can only wait for the memories Vendice has been steadily dribbling out. To find the information on the Shimon themselves, I intended to find their library. However, considering the Shimon's diminutive size, chances are they had no such library. Many of the major families, like the Vongola and Cavallone, had massive libraries detailing the history of their families along with records of the various treaties they signed, business transactions, budgets etc. I can't interrogate one of the family members as I had no idea what they could do and as such won't be able to take proper precautions to prevent escape and ensure my survival. A dead informant is a useless one. That left only one option: observation.
After a quick scan of the floor below to make sure no one was coming, I slid down the column. The beam I had slept on left its mark in the stinging pain in my muscles. Of course anyone would be sore from spending a couple of nights sleeping on a wooden beam but I was used to it before I came to Japan. Since then, my previous stamina has faltered along with everything else. Yes, I trained before Choice and learned new skills along with the new style of fighting but it wasn't rigorous like the Varia. Superbi had trained me before Choice but most of his attention had been on Takeshi and smartly so. Ah well, it doesn't really matter whether I'm rusty or not. If Tsuna chooses to not succeed the Ninth then I will be hanging up my sword and moving to Japan permanently However, Tsuna might surprise us all and become the Tenth Boss of the Vongola Family. Permitting we survive this I'll find out but instead of reminiscing I should be figuring out what the hell's going on. The sudden bloodlust in the Shimon was odd and I intended to find out why it appeared.
Who would be best to observe? Enma and Adelheid were the most prominent members of the Shimon but they were obvious. I wasn't too sure why but my gut was telling me it was someone more subtle. Julie seemed to be the key though his character seemed to contradict his importance but Dr. Shamal was similar to Julie yet Dr. Shamal has been one of the Vongola's greater allies. Besides, the fact Julie had claimed that Chrome would belong to him in mind and body bothered me. Chrome pretty much belonged to Mukuro and unless Julie could completely override Mukuro's and Chrome's control, she would be safe from him. However, I had a nagging feeling that Julie was a whole hell of lot more than what I have seen and can dream of. There was one problem though, where the hell was I going to find him? Wait a second, I paused, this always works. I concentrated Sky Flames into the palm of my hand, keeping its energy contained so no one noticed it early. Raising my hand, I aimed it at the opposite pillar. Fwoosh! Crack. Stone groaned in protest as it slowly teetered and finally accelerated into the ground. I love gravity. The boom shook the entire cavern, or at least felt like it.
Crap.
YOU DID NOT THINK IT THROUGH DID YOU! Mukuro screamed in my head,
I got a brain that I use! I shot back as I climbed up the pillar and wedged myself between the beams higher up though they were less than 0.5 meters from the ceiling. Thank God for being a twig.
You most certainly weren't using it! Now he was crippled with anger until he roared the last word.
Shut up! Adelheid and Julie emerged from the same corridor.
"What the hell?" Adelheid's jaw was on the ground from the sound of her voice. I felt rather than saw Julie's eyes narrow and scan the roof. Now that I thought about it, this was a crappy spot to hide in. If they found me I'd be hard pressed to make it out quickly. Mukuro didn't say anything but I could hear the gears clicking away as he simmered, smug at the proof of my idiocy. Hey, patience was a learned trait okay?
Shifting carefully I peered over the edge of the beam when I felt Julie's eyes turn back down. I don't know what it is but the entity possessing him but it would be a nasty case of business that makes Mukuro appear pleasant. Mukuro what do you…MUKURO! He wasn't there in my head. It was completely, utterly silent. What the hell? A grin turned up Julie's mouth.
"Whoever did this must be gone." Julie spoke to Adelheid,
"Who do you think it was?" she glanced at Julie,
Julie only shrugged, "My best bet would be Karen Squalo. She is the Varia's prized intelligence agent."
"Intelligence is one thing,"
"But infiltration is another?" Julie interrupted Adelheid, "They are different but Karen is the best in both fields. It is quite probably she rigged this as a distraction so she could go wherever else."
"So then!" Adelheid was ready to bolt back down the corridor she came from.
"The girl ain't an assassin. There's only one name to her and it was self-defence. Or so the sources say."
"So the only thing we can do is be on guard?"
"Yep. Now see yeh," Julie spun on his heel and headed out the way he came, his eyes flicked up connecting with mine. I felt fatally sick. A spade appeared in an eye similar to the kanji for six in Mukuro's except Mukuro's was permanent. The presence I had sensed in him earlier was unveiled. Everything was screaming at me to run. He wanted me to follow him! The further hesitation told me it would be a better idea to not follow him. I could send an illusion but I strongly suspected he would see through it though he might decide to play around. Only I could do though was follow and keep my distance. I knew he would give me some answers if not all. It was also quite probable he would tell me everything and then kill me. During my debate Adelheid had followed Julie out though much more slowly.
An abrupt shift in weight drew my attention to the rock that Talbot had forged my Vongola Ring and box into. It was dominantly blue with streaks of indigo and orange. In terms of proportions, 60% was blue with the remaining 40% a balance between indigo and orange. The crystal was sliding of the drawstring pouch I had strapped to my belt. Swinging around the beam so I was suspended with my feet pointed to the ground I let gravity tuck my Vongola ring back into its pouch. Pulling myself back up, I tightened the draw strings so that only I could ever hope to untie the knot.
Gliding through the halls like the jaguar, I rounded various corners and stayed in the shadows. It was strange that this part of the castle was unlit when the rest had left no room for shadows. Was Julie trying to make it easier for me? Or trying to get me to let down my guard? Whatever his reason, it was making me edgy. Turning a corner I found myself blinded by pure light. Blinking and cringing form the sudden lighting, I noticed I was in sunlit meadow that careened into a sheer cliff. The sun's heat was palpable and pleasant after the clammy haze of the caverns. I can't believe I actually forgot what pure air tastes and smells like. Approaching the cliff I noticed a stairwell that had been carved into the rock and it lead to a series of houses. I instantly went still but there was no sign of action. Recent inhabitation was obvious though I was unable to tell if someone was there. The stone made it impossible to tell if anyone was there. Kneeling down, I saw a series of pressure marks in the grass. Two of them were quite recent, a few minutes before me. Someone had been supported or dragged as there was a long pressure trail. If someone was walking normally than there would be gaps between the pressed grasses. Rising, I stepped down the stairs, remaining pressed to the side. The view was amazing with nothing but ocean waves pulsing into the distance. It must be amazing during sunrise and sunset.
"Over here Karen!" Julie suddenly appeared around the corner.
Standing still, I glared at him, "I'll approach you when you reveal yourself."
"Nufufuf," a swirl of mist and desert sand drifted away from Julie to reveal a tall, slim man. My hair was thrown back as his murder intent was finally unveiled. The hairs on my skin all rose up in a useless attempt to threaten him. Physically, he resembled Mukuro except for the back his hair was light and shorter but this was not Mukuro. Mukuro actually had a tangible gentleness. With this guy I had to really look to find his own lighter side. "My name is Daemon Spade,"
This was bad, "The First and Second Mist Guardian then."
"You're not going to ask how I'm still here?" he smiled playfully,
"I'll ask later. Right now you're pissing me off. Why are you with the Shimon?" I flipped my triple jointed naginata out of my sleeve.
"To destroy this Vongola."
Uh-oh, he's being too honest, "Why?" I asked slowly,
"You honestly think the Vongola is fine the way it is?" he sounded surprised though I doubt he actually was.
"It could be more of what Giotto wanted it to be." I shrugged, my eyes not leaving his which narrowed.
"You sound exactly like Katherine and Giotto."
"Shouldn't be that surprising."
"Of course not, Katherine is your great-great-great grandmother. You look a lot like her actually." I twisted around to block a strike. I couldn't believe I was staring at a scythe. They had gone out style centuries ago. The form I had been talking to rushed in. Dropping my naginata I jumped to the side. "And you'll endure the same fate she did."
Now wasn't the time hold back. If I did, I could tell from his presence that I would die. My pride is my ability to hold to my promises and to protect what is important to me. I promised Superbi we would have a sparring match as soon as we got back home. I won't let anyone be destroyed anymore! If this fails Talbot, you'll be answering to me in the next life if my brother doesn't get you. Rain, Sky and Mist flames radiated from the rock Talbot had forged in its pouch. As soon as it had appeared it was gone. A light constriction formed around my throat. Raising my hand, I found a slim choker made of braided ribbon with a pendant in the middle. From the contours that my finger felt, it was Kaida's, my jaguar box weapon, face. Suspended from the mark of Kaida was a naginata with its blade pointed upward.
Daemon swung his scythe before I could further activate it. Diving to the side I rolled, feeling the edge of the carved path. If I fell from here, I had no doubt the waves would break my skull against the cliff side if the impact of hitting water didn't kill me. Almost instantly a wave of mist flames materialized forming jabbing blades. They should be illusions but I still dodged and thank God I did. They were real illusions. Loosening the joints of my naginata I hurled it at Daemon like a boomerang. Unfortunately I was never good at those but it bought me enough time to activate my new Vongola Gear. As Daemon's scythe swung for another attack, I found myself instinctively using my new gear. I was now wearing a high collared white vest was over a white long sleeved shirt. White trousers ended just above my ankles were anklets that would emit Sky Flames like Tsuna's gloves rested. How I knew they would act like Tsuna's gloves was simply intuition. It was surprising to find my feet bare but I wasn't going to complain. I liked feeling the earth, or rather the stone, with my own skin. Now I have a new, sturdier naginata. The wooden handle was black like ebony and the blade was clearly rippled like a river with tones of blue, orange and indigo darting through it.
Turning onto the offensive I used the anklets as thrusters. The purity of the flame indicates it was the peak-type. Brilliant…I have to learn how to use it on the roll. Not my favourite way of learning new techniques. Swinging the naginata down in a diagonal slash, I unleashed a wave of Mist flames all concentrated into fine points. They only passed through him. Hmm. I wonder what Rain and Sky flames would do but chances are they'll go through him again.
"Done analyzing?" that smile of his was starting to piss me off royally. Not even Xanxus or Leviathan on their really good days annoyed me this much. The smile was playful like Mukuro's but maliciousness was an oozing poison out of a cobra's fangs.
"Yes. Quit playing around and be serious."
"Nufufu. You really are like Katherine."
"I hear a similar thing except it applies to Giotto and Tsuna," I swung my naginata and whipped it around to hit him as he dodged with the blunt end unfortunately. Dancing back, he smirked. "However, I'll point out Tsuna and Giotto are two different people with different histories."
"Obviously. You and Katherine have extremely different upbringings." He lashed out with an illusion. Following my instinct to dodge I heard the clatter of stone striking stone. Christ that would've hurt if it had hit.
"That's a really old but effective trick Daemon."
"Well than, shall I treat you to what I'm really like?" a deck of cards flashed in his hands. Internally I braced. No doubt cards were typical magicians trick but with someone like this man I had no doubt it would be unpleasant. "You are a smart child after all. I suppose you have to be…to live through the things you do." A wave of blackness shot forward like a tsunami fast-forward a few hundred miles per mile. Regal columns of straight cards appeared out of the blackness. Dear God I've already lost control. Mammon's gonna kill me if this guy doesn't.
"Nufufufu…any last regrets?" I spun around to find Superbi striding towards me. Not one of these illusions! They're way overrated, useless, and typical of an illusionist.
"I thought you would use a different illusion. Everyone uses this type." I deliberately put an insolent, bored tone into my voice. In response, everyone else was created.
"You are a brat, unlike Katherine."
"No shit." I drew all of my Sky and Rain flames from every gadget my Choker of the Misty Rain had given me and directed them into the naginata's blade.
Daemon almost lost control of the illusion from laughing. "You think you're going to do defeat all of them with one strike?"
"Yes." I smiled. Of course it was impossible concentrate an attack on one of the illusions and have it destroy all of them. It was going to be one strike but not in the way Daemon clearly anticipated. "My pride lies in my ability to keep my promises. Cielo Grande Onda!" The Sky and Rain flames mixed into a hurricane producing waves that made the 2004 tsunami seem weak and tiny.
