A/N: Hello again guys! Sorry if it took me 2 weeks to update this! I've been busy with my finals and I had to rack my brains with a certain story.
Anyway... before I forget.. again... I would like you to check out this fascinating and awesome poem made by Yoshikuni Itoe! Namely~ 'Their Boss A FanFiction of A FanFiction'! I hope you would check it out!
Also I would like to thank Itoe-chan for the poem! It made me really happy! *Sniff*
Anywho~ please enjoy!
Beta'ed by Icy-chan!
Chapter 34
Something was wrong…
Something was totally wrong…
They couldn't understand. They did what they were told to do. They accomplished their task and now they're willing to accept Tsuna once more and start over…
However…
Why won't Tsuna do the same?
It was another day of school – and another day of Tsuna's strange behavior. Ever since the day they had successfully got him back to his body. He had… reacted differently.
Flashback…
"You guys ready?" Yamamoto asked as they surrounded the broken ring.
Everyone nodded, hesitation still slightly recognizable within the group.
One by one they held out their rings and lit them. And just like last time… they watched as the shattered ring sucked in their flames. It didn't weaken them like how it usually does when their flames are sucked. Instead, they could feel warmth slowly consuming them. It was the warmth of their pure feelings for Tsuna.
They all shut their eyes and concentrated.
They'll get Tsuna back…
No matter what.
And then suddenly… a voice rang in their heads.
Everyone… good luck…
They were shocked - it was just any voice, it was… it was Tsuna's. No doubt about it.
Resolve filled every part of them and their flames grew bigger.
They'll surely get Tsuna back!
The sky ring glowed brightly. It blinded them but they kept their rings lit. Then the voices in their heart resonated…
Tsuna… please come back.
We won't let you down Juudaime!
Sawada! We EXTREMELY need you…
Boss… I'm sorry for everything.
You're becoming a nuisance herbivore…
But then…
NO!
They all shot their eyes open.
"W-what was that?" Yamamoto panted; sweat glistened on his forehead as he wiped a tired hand over his face.
"It can't be… Juudaime?" Gokudera muttered, trying to cover his disbelief.
"Look! The ring!" Ryohei exclaimed, pointing at the small item. They immediately approached and smiles formed on their faces (except for Hibari who just snorted). The ring was finally fixed!
"Haha! Now what?" Yamamoto scratched the back of his head.
Chrome carefully picked it up "Now we must let Boss wear it."
They all approached the unconscious boss. Chrome tentatively held his cold hand and gently guided the ring towards his middle finger.
'Boss… please wake up.'
Chrome stepped back as soon as she had accomplished the small task. Then…
No lights…
No warnings…
Just a small flinch of the brunet's finger and slowly he opened his eyes.
They all remained stunned as the young boss struggled to sit down. His chocolate orbs remained hidden behind his bangs.
Suddenly, the door opened revealing a familiar auburn haired girl.
"O…onii…?" she was interrupted once she saw the conscious Tsuna,"T-Tsu…Tsuna-kun?"
Tsuna turned to her for a moment before looking away. Kyoko was stunned by the action.
Tsuna opened his mouth and spoke in a low and hoarse voice…
"Why?"
End of Flashback…
They couldn't understand why he asked that. Why he wanted to know the reason for reviving him. Wasn't it oh so clear? It was because he was their boss… their friend… or better yet…their family.
And so after that… practically everyone Tsuna knew learned about the news in less than an hour. Nana had come running in. Eyes filled with tears, she had hugged her son with such ferocity even Gokudera looked away. Fuuta, I-pin and Lambo demanded for a celebration and of course… not a single one objected to the request.
However… despite the fact that that would've been one of the most memorable moments of Tsuna's life, the brunet never cracked a single smile. Aside from the fact that he would occasionally eat or maybe respond in some minor questions… he was lifeless as a doll. He was better off in a coma.
Sadly… the trouble didn't end there…
Reborn suddenly came back…
And once he was aware of the situation… he gave all the guardians (except for Lambo) harsh punishments in the disguise of training. However, not one objected this. For they knew they deserved this.
Luckily… the return of Reborn brought a bit of light in those dull brown eyes of Tsuna. They would occasionally be found talking (mostly Reborn) to one another. Almost like a therapy. And most of the times Tsuna always looked a little reluctant when he and Reborn would separate. The hitman found this a bit amusing.
And so earlier before school started…
"Tsuna… start preparing yourself. You're going to school today." Reborn said turning to his student who sat up on his bed.
"Do…I have to?" the brunet asked quietly, but bluntly.
Reborn sighed. Usually he would mock the boy to get him moving… but he knew better than throwing childish insults to a fragile person, "Yes… you have to. Yamamoto and Gokudera are waiting for you outside."
No reaction. Reluctance flashed in those dull orbs before he stood up and obediently followed Reborn's order. Reborn watched as the brunet entered the bathroom before standing up from his mini couch and going out of the house to speak with the rain and storm guardian.
"Yoh kid!" Yamamoto greeted Reborn with a small smile.
"How's Juudaime?" Gokudera asked.
"He's fine." Reborn "He's already preparing for school."
"Really? Tsuna's finally coming to school?" Yamamoto's smile grew wider.
Apparently, the two always dropped by Tsuna's house to just ask if he was okay or if he needed anything. They had been doing this for a week after Tsuna was released from the hospital.
"Ah… and I expect you to fulfill your role properly this time." Reborn crossed his arms.
"Of course Reborn-san!" This time it was Gokudera who spoke up, determination flaring up inside the guardian.
"Good."
The door to Tsuna's house suddenly opened, revealing the impassive looking brunet.
"That was fast." Reborn said turning to him, "Did you eat breakfast?"
"I'm not hungry…" the brunet murmured.
The arcobaleno's mouth twitched into a frown, "It doesn't matter what you feel… you need to eat."
"Maybe later." The brunet replied shortly.
Yamamoto and Gokudera exchange worried looks.
"Uhm… hey Tsuna." Amber eyes met with the others dull ones, "Welcome back." He gave him the heartiest smile he could muster… but Tsuna didn't waver.
"Ah… arigatou…" he really didn't sound so grateful.
This kinda' depressed Yamamoto a bit.
Tsuna turned away from the two and stared at Reborn. The Hitman immediately knew what the brunet was silently trying to convey, "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."
The brunet merely looked down, making the bangs that had grown quite long for the past few weeks cover his eyes. He made a small nod.
Yamamoto and Gokudera watched the exchange, slight jealous growing in their heart. They couldn't help but wonder why Tsuna wouldn't open up to them. Why only open up to the Arcobaleno? Does he know something that they don't?
"Stop acting like a child Baka-Tsuna…" the Hitman gave the brunet a small flick on the forehead, "You know you're older than that."
"…" The brunet didn't say anything but just nodded once more before walking away. The two immediately followed.
"J-Juudaime!"
"Tsuna! Wait up!"
-LINE-
'I… don't wanna go…'
'Decimo… you have to… your younger self is already asleep… all preparations are complete… the guar-'
'Wake him up…'
'De-'
'Wake him up or else I'll do it.'
'You mustn't-'
'This isn't my body! This isn't my life! I don't belong here! What's the point of pretending to be the person I used to be and just repeating the same routine every single day? It's not helping me at all! It never did! It just haunts me and reminds me of the things I know I'll never have!'
'Please remember… this was your wish Decimo.'
Tsuna was staring blankly outside the window of their classroom while totally ignoring the teacher speaking in front of the class.
It was a stupid wish…
That was the only thing his mind would always say.
He then remembered what had happened earlier when he entered the room. Everyone immediately surrounded him and kept asking him if he was okay. To Tsuna, it was strange. Why did they care? Actually… since when did they ever care?
All of them are just the same.
They'll never learn to give importance on stuff unless they're gone…
Not that he was saying he's gone… but it would've been better if he was gone for good.
He couldn't stand this kind of life anymore. You have your ups… then your downs… again and again! He had no idea how people do it. How can they maintain their sanity? Why won't they finally snap?
Why?
"Hey Tsuna." The brunet turned to Yamamoto silently.
The baseball star smiled at him, "Let's eat lunch together."
It was lunchtime?
"I'm not hungry…" the brunet muttered, "Go ahead and eat without me."
"Haha! Come on Tsuna! You know it's not good skipping lunch." Yamamoto grabbed the young boss by the arm but before he could even give his friend a light pull, Tsuna had already yanked his arm away from the other. Surprising both Yamamoto and Gokudera, who had arrived in time to see the scene.
Dull eyes flashed before being hidden behind his long bangs, "I'm not hungry," he repeated.
Gokudera and Yamamoto exchanged looks.
"Now that you mention it…" Yamamoto grinned, "I guess I don't feel hungry too."
"I ate a lot this morning…" Gokudera grumbled.
The two grabbed a chair each and sat in front of the brunet's desk. Tsuna could only watch the two silently with a frown.
"Oi! Why are you sitting in front of Juudaime! Let's change seats!" Gokudera demanded.
"Haha! Maa, maa, you're still near Tsuna, what's the difference?" Yamamoto said.
"As Juudaime's right hand man, it is my rightful duty to sit right in front of him and behind of him and also beside him!"
"Really? Then where do I sit?"
"Nowhere! Just stand like a bodyguard or something!"
"Haha! That's a nice joke!"
"You-"
"Why?" the small question had cut off the two's conversation. Yamamoto and Gokudera turned to their boss, "Why are you still here?"
Gokudera made a determined smile "It's because it's our duty… Juudaime."
Yamamoto's gaze softened, "You don't deserve to be alone Tsuna…"
It was so bright…
The way his two friends smile so purely at him. They were so bright that it made him realize how different they were from each other. How he fit in the darkness more.
They weren't meant to be with each other.
He unconsciously looked down on his own Vongola ring. He was tainted. The main proof was the breaking of the ring. He was so tainted that the ring broke. And the only thing that's keeping it together was the pure feelings of his guardians.
But he had a feeling…
He was going to taint them too…
Suddenly… his lips moved by themselves.
"You're right… Yamamoto…" he said in an audible whisper.
The two looked at him hopefully. Did they finally reach him?
"I don't deserve to be alone…" it felt like he was being controlled again… controlled by that mysterious blackflame. Tsuna could feel himself smile… but he had a feeling that this smile held malice.
"I do deserve more…" the pen sticking out of his desk was looking quite sharp today… maybe he could test how sharp it is? But where should he… test it? Maybe the sensitive nerve behind his neck would do the trick? The brunet touched the pen and his best friends seemed to notice something was wrong as their smiles immediately dropped.
Tsuna looks up with narrowed eyes and a creepy smile, "I deserve to die and rot into the darkness..!"
Before Yamamoto and Gokudera could process what he had said… before Tsuna could even reach out for the pen… and before those dull caramel eyes slowly turn into scarlet… a loudBANG made all heads in the classroom turn to the trio and… to the arcobaleno standing on the brunet's desk.
"Wake up. Baka-Tsuna." The arcobaleno's gun was pointed in front of Tsuna's shock face.
With eyes widening, Tsuna seemed to have realized what he was about to do and immediately dropped the pen. Yamamoto and Gokudera both stood up from their seats in worry.
"Juu-"
"Take him to the nurse's office." Reborn ordered.
"I'm fine." The young boss said in a firm but small voice.
Reborn suppressed a sigh, "Do you really think anyone would believe that obvious lie?"
True enough, Tsuna looked paler and he seemed to be trembling. And if you looked closely, the small teen seemed to be terrified.
"Juudaime what's wrong-"
"Don't touch me." Even though his voice was silent… it sounded shaky. He abruptly stood up and ran out the classroom.
Yamamoto and Gokudera was about to follow but Reborn immediately stopped them.
"Don't bother." And with that the hitman soon followed, leaving behind confused students.
Gokudera clenched his fists "Tch."
Yamamoto's eyebrows furrowed, "I don't understand… why are we always so… useless?"
"It's because we're not good enough. We're never good enough!" Gokudera grumbled before giving his classmates, who were currently murmuring to one another, a glare.
Yamamoto bent down to pick up the fallen pen, "We need to do something about this…" he gripped the pen, "I want Tsuna to trust us again."
The storm guardian snorted, and made a determined face "You're not the only one, idiot."
Tsuna was leaning against the fence while fingering the sky ring. If he breaks this… will he finally disappear? He had a feeling that this time for sure… once the ring break again. He'll finally… finally be gone.
His grip got tighter… expecting it to break. But…
"You're going to fall herbivore…"
Tsuna stopped what he was doing and clutched the ring in his hand, "I really don't care…"
Suddenly the brunet felt a hand grab him and pull him off the fence.
"Don't make me repeat myself." Steely gray eyes flashed dangerously.
"…"
Hibari's eyes narrowed "Cut your bangs."
"No."
The skylark's eyebrow twitched, "I'll bite you to death…"
"Stop Hibari." The two turned to Reborn who had entered the roof top, "I don't think fighting him would be such a good idea."
"Akanbou." Hibari acknowledged.
"I have a feeling my student won't even bother fighting back." Reborn walked towards the brunet, "And I bet you don't like challenging people who won't even defend themselves… right?"
Hibari pursed his lips before grunting, "Whatever." And with that he left.
Reborn watched Hibari leave before turning to Tsuna, "Get some rest and stop looking so depressed."
"I'm tired of pretending…" the young boss murmured.
"You idiot…" Reborn hopped on his head and gave him a light flick on the forehead. "Since when were you the one who liked pretending?"
"…"
"You may have kept a lot of secrets Tsuna… but at least I know those smiles and laughs you shared with your family…" Reborn smirked, "…they were never forced… now were they?"
"And what if they were?" Tsuna suddenly spoke up, surprising Reborn.
"Then you seriously need a psychiatrist." Reborn hopped down and pointed at the door, "Now get to the nurse's office and rest. I won't take a 'no' as an answer."
"But…" Tsuna clutched his ring in his palm.
"Do it or else I'll be forced to knock you out." Reborn said firmly.
After a few seconds, the brunet reluctantly nodded and slowly left the rooftop. And once he was completely out of sight, the arcobaleno sighed and suddenly spoke, "Stop hiding you two."
Yamamoto and Gokudera came out from behind the door.
"You did well, hiding your presence." Reborn crossed his arms, "You've improved."
"I appreciate the compliment kid… but…" Yamamoto wasn't wearing his usual smile anymore.
"We… we want to know what we can do for Juudaime, Reborn-san." Gokudera said.
Reborn's expression didn't change and just merely looked away.
"You can't do anything with your current situation…" the hitman looked at the sky, "You'll never be able to do anything at all."
Gokudera clenched his fists "Reborn-san, I beg you!"
"Let us help Tsuna!" Yamamoto exclaimed.
The hitman suppressed a smirk, "Hm… sou?" He turned to them, "Fine then. I shall test your resolves. As well as the other guardians."
"Eh?"
"I am going to give you a little test… and once you pass…" Dark onyx eyes each gave them a calculative look; "I'll reward you with a little travel to a certain place. And with this travel… you may understand Dame-Tsuna a bit better and probably help him."
The two exchanged looks. A challenge? They didn't hesitate as they both turned towards the Arcobaleno with pure determination.
We accept!
End of Chapter
See ya next time!