Word Count: 10,472
"Fuck!" I roared and felt Ryohei flicker in confusion. "Bro, get ready, we're about to intercept Kikyo-san of the Funeral Wreaths!"
"Oh, this is going to be so EXTREME!"
That, I thought to myself, was not the desired response. But the expected one, honestly.
I shook my head with a short laugh and loosened my hold on the motorcycle grip.
"Ready, bro?" I crackled and got an audible cackle as a response. "Let's show 'em why we're the worst and best pair in Namimori!"
"To the EXTREME!" my brother boomed and zipped ahead, his figure eclipsing mine to all who saw.
I huffed and took a right, disappearing behind an empty building structure as I heard the clash. My lips twitched, and I slowed to a halt just around the corner, Kikyo and Ryohei hovering overhead in a kind of dramatic stalemate.
Good, keep doing that. I chewed on my lip as I dismounted my bike, Ryohei's own discarded somewhere out of sight.
With a quick prayer of thanks and apology to Giannini, I waited for Ryohei to manoeuvre Kikyo into position. Then I grabbed my bike in a white-knuckled grip and threw it into the air, pumping dangerous amounts of Sun into my muscles to pull off the act.
There was a distinct screech from the audience ranks as my bike collided with the Millefiore man, but I gave it no heed as I followed its trajectory, not willing to let this chance slip.
Ryohei was at my side in an instant as I entered the air, Icarus Units extended and beating. He gave the order, and I dove, getting up close to the Cloud and into his space.
The Funeral Wreath barely winced when he had been grazed by the bike, but he grit his teeth when I got in his face and made a swipe at him. Kikyo dodged out of the way but ran headlong into Ryohei, who beamed as he prepared to send a Sun fuelled punch into the man's face.
Kikyo tilted midair and sent Ryohei flying into me with a kick to his stomach, but instead of crashing, I wrapped my arms around my brother and took off to a higher altitude.
"This is going well!" Ryohei decided, nodding his head. "We're not dead yet!"
"You need to heighten your standards, bro," I sighed before hissing when I caught a Cloud marker out of the corner of the Sun Visor. "Incoming, five o'clock."
My brother shifted and circled in my arms until he had slipped to dangle from my hands, our grips mercilessly tight to avoid catastrophe. He tightened his core muscles and pulled up his feet until our soles were aligned, both curled and tight like a spring.
"Deploy shells!" Ryohei cheered and I couldn't help but laugh as be opened his arms and gave a loud "wee!".
Ryohei kicked off my feet just as I pumped power to my legs, our collective strength rocketing him towards the target enough to pull at his cheeks and warble his yell.
Kikyo seemed to stare at us for a moment, perhaps wondering just what kind of species we were, before he dodged out of the way. The Cloud circled back, his attention gained by our antics, an eyebrow raised in amusement.
"So you're the one Byakuran-sama kept locked in the bottom storage," Kikyo greeted, brushing his ponytail from his shoulder.
"So you're the one who never got out of his edgy phase," I retorted, before booking it out of the way as Ryohei signalled from down below.
Ryohei gave a roar and sent gravel shooting up off his fist, a blast of air sending the airborne Cloud careening. My brother cackled loudly and soared up to join my side, latching onto me as my Icarus Units hovered, preserving his Flames.
"All set?" I asked, getting us out of the way as Kikyo prepared to attack.
"All set, bro. Giannini-san's gonna hate us after this!" he snickered before I deposited him somewhere safe for him to kick start his Flames into the Sun Ring.
I kicked off the roof of the skyscraper and plummeted towards the streets below. The Icarus Units stretched and caught the air just before I hit the ground, parachuting me the last few metres as Ryohei and Kikyo battled above, their clashing audible.
"Sorry, Giannini-san," I murmured, the man no doubt hearing me over the audience displays. "It's for a good cause I swear."
I then proceeded to punt Ryohei's motorbike into the sky, pumping wave upon wave of Cloud boosted Sun into my arm. There was a quick snap in my Flame and Ryohei ducked out of the way just in time for the motorcycle to bounce off of Kikyo's shield.
The distraction of befuddlement of having another motorcycle flung at him was enough for Ryohei to get behind the man, and I shot into the air as well, the two of us on either side of the Millefiore Cloud.
"Okay, bro, give me the rundown on this guy," Ryohei called across the bridge of the Forge.
"Kikyo of the Funeral Wreaths," I said aloud, letting the man eye us both in an amused fashion. "He's got high speed and manoeuvrability with those boots of his as well as the Mare Ring's shielding ability. Watch out for his hands, they do a weird tentacle thing."
"Ew," Ryohei grimaced, scrunching his nose.
Kikyo narrowed his eyes at me from across the distance, obviously bringing up as much as he could remember from what his Boss had told of me.
"He's been filled in on every battle that has happened in other planes," I continued, "So we're going to have to be extreme, brother!"
"EXTREME!" my fellow Sun boomed, hyped up beyond all compare, Flames burning bright.
"Spilling secrets, are we, Daiki-chan?" Kikyo asked, suddenly very close to me.
"Evening out the playing field, Kikyo-san. Poor Ryohei's a bit behind, but he'll be with us in a moment."
Just as I said this, I shoved Kikyo back and sent him into the course of my brother's Sun-fuelled fist. Ryohei continued to assault the barrier that was thrown up against his attack and I dropped out of sight, flying high to get a perspective on everyone in the field.
Tsuna had connected with the Mists, the ripplings of his Flames telling me all was going to plan. Takeshi's Flame had spiked a while ago, and the little specks suggested that he had released his Box Animals and was engaged with Genkishi at the moment. Hayato was yet to connect with the three unaccounted for Clouds; I bit my lip in worry but thought his chances were better against those individuals than against Kikyo.
"I'm lucky I've got Ryohei," I breathed to myself and got a spark of affection from my brother down below.
Shoichi and Spanner still in their original spot, which was promising. But I couldn't let this continue for too long, as much as I hated to admit it, we were all outclassed against the Funeral Wreaths of the Future.
"Bro!" I called and dropped to their height, "We're not going to win this-"
"But Daiki-" he began, but clenched his teeth as I grabbed him and snapped us out of the way as bellflowers scattered across the space we once occupied. "What's that?!"
"Bellflowers," I answered, "Don't touch them, they drain energy. They're a pain in the ass."
"Sound like it," he wheezed. "Why can't we win this? What if we Synchronise?"
"We're unpractised, brother," I confessed, watching Kikyo make his way over to us. "And he's got at least ten years on us. He'll wear us down, that's what he's good at."
We were forced to move, and I dropped as Ryohei surged, allowing his body to eclipse mine from perspective as I wound through the cityscape that was our battlefield. I took deep breaths to calm my Flames as Ryohei took the brunt, still trying to beat his way through Kikyo's shields while dodging those bellflower seeds.
"Bro! I know you think we aren't going to win this," he crackled, and I paused my flight pattern for a moment. "But we can't just throw in the towel! Come on, Daiki!"
I blinked, before letting out a laugh, the sound bouncing off the buildings and echoing loudly.
"Who said anything about giving up, brother?" I sparked and beat my Icarus Units, Sun Visor shifting image until the world was all grey-scale and coloured fire. "We're not giving up, we're just cutting it short."
"Takeshi," I called on my receiver, wincing as it crackled to life and the Rain's voice slipped through. "I need you to give me a signal when your fight with Genkishi-san ends. It will give Ryohei and I a moment of advantage."
'Got it, Daiki,' he responded, breath slightly laboured.
"But, love," I signalled, disregarding the radio to speak to his Flame directly. "This will hurt."
"You'll be there, won't you?" he stated, despite posing it as a question. I smiled despite myself and let my fire caress across his own, barely a graze from this distance.
'Be with you in a moment, then!' Takeshi announced from the radio, those without a Forge unaware of our exchange.
"Confident, are we?" I snorted, before hanging up and snatching Ryohei by the hands as a whip of flowers came too close. "You're really taking the brunt of this fight, bro."
"Yeah, pull your weight!" he complained, making a pathetic attempt to kick me.
"Takeshi will be sending a signal soon, don't worry. We'll have our chance then," I whispered to him, circling the space, Kikyo watching us with a thin smile.
A spark in the distance and a thunder of pouring Rain was all I received as warning before I lurched forward and pulled my brother close.
"Now," I growled, making Ryohei crease his brow in concern as Kikyo stilled with a wry smile.
"Don't think too badly of me for this, Genkishi-kun," Kikyo sighed, shrugging idly. "I concealed my Campanula Di Nuvola seeds inside your armour, ready to grow with Cloud Flames. You were to be eliminated when you proved to be of no further use. Under Byakuran-sama's orders, of course."
Ryohei squeezed me when I flinched at the name, giving a gentle reminder to breathe.
"He's-" I cleared my throat for a moment, "He's distracted, but only slightly. He likes to gloat, remember? Do some damage now, brother, I'll need the advantage soon."
"Got it," Ryohei nodded, before saying sternly, "Breathe."
"Yeah."
Ryohei dislodged and took off at Kikyo, who continued to mock the fallen Mist for his misfortune. Even as our hands slipped apart, I felt myself follow along, his figure eclipsing mine as a grander Flame, but the spark I had left with him keeping him centred as a support.
I sighed and touched Takeshi's Flame, wishing I could get closer as panic sparked all over his tinders. He wasn't focused enough to do this properly, but he reached back, the tips of our fingers touching across the distance.
"Daiki," he called, trying to hold tighter. "Why is it always my opponents?! First Squalo-san and now-"
I took a breath and kissed the back of my hand, concentrating on that feeling to send him an echo of the sensation. He wasn't breathing right, and his Rain was stumbling.
"It's not your fault, love, I promise," I hushed, "The people above them are the ones who do this, not you. Just hold on, I'll be with you soon."
"Is it always like this?"
I paused and stared ahead for a moment, before I softly uttered to him, "That's why we're here. To make a place where they don't need to die, shujin-kun."
There was a beat of silence before Rain surged and wrapped around me, making me gasp and cuddle in tight despite how he shouldn't have been able to reach me so fully. It bubbled and kissed my heart before pulling back, like an elastic band.
"Bro!" Ryohei called, Kikyo clutching his shoulder.
"You got him, brilliant!" I panted, grabbing him out of the line of fire. "How are your reserves?"
"Getting tired," he huffed, sweat on his brow. "You need to hold your Flames for a while still, right? That plan of yours needs them."
"Yeah, and I'm not the best front on fighter, you know that," I hummed, looking to the Cloud below us. "I'll need you to keep his attention for this, one last effort, brother and I should be able to weaken him for you...but try not to look too close."
Ryohei squeezed my hands for a moment, and I smiled at the support before I flooded him with Flames to boost his own depleting tinder. He caught the wind and engaged Kikyo again before I curled my Units and began to drop rapidly.
Kikyo gave a soft grunt as I grabbed his black uniform and dragged him down with me, the man not even bothering to struggle. He just looked at me and scoffed, unaffected by the fast incoming concrete, confident in his Flames.
I gave him a smile, and fixed my hold on him, before reaching with my Flames and crushing.
I felt his gasp, the sound snatch away by the wind but the feeling of his confusion loud and clear against my Flaming claws as he finally began to struggle. His purple Flames wriggled and his hands began to scratch at my arms, nails glancing over metal arm guards harmlessly.
"W-What the hell are you doing?" he coughed, face going pale and eyes slowly losing their shine even as his heart beat faster under my fingers.
"Getting a roadblock out of the way," I breathed evenly, squeezing my fingers like I squeezed his Flame. "My husband needs me, I need to get back to him."
"You bast-" Kikyo scrambled to make a barrier, and I saw it begin to form.
We hit the ground.
I stood up on shaky legs before Ryohei tugged me to his side, throwing my arms over his shoulder as he helped me step out of the mess I had made. The impact was still rattling my bones, and the broken, smokey remains of what might have been a shield were fading away in their shards across the floor.
There was a deep, laborious groan from within the crater and the shaky outline of Kikyo stepped into view. His uniform was dusty, and the seams were burst, bruises and scratches were touching his cheeks.
On the left side of his face was a nasty gash that bled sluggishly. The slice started from below the corner of his brow and ripped through his cheek, ending finally at his jaw, 'ruining' his 'pretty face'.
"You bitch."
"He has another form," I warned my brother. "He's barely showed us his real skill. We need to stop him now before he can try anything else."
"Grab him, and I'll take him down."
Our Flames reached, and we clicked. We both burst forward and Kikyo scrambled to keep up with us, taking Ryohei's punches with his flesh as I latched onto his Flames and stomped them down whenever they got too big.
Ryohei stepped back, and I snapped forward, slamming my knee into the Cloud's stomach before dragging him by the hair right into Ryohei's fist. We were buzzing, synchronised and vibrating down to our very Flames as we moved in and out, stepping in time and winding around one another.
Kikyo gasped and made to rise his fire again, but I grabbed him by the collar and shoved both his physical being and Will into the concrete beneath us, Ryohei hovering close to help press it all down. The man's complexion became pale and his breath came short.
"Ryohei," I called, ears ringing.
My brother lashed out, and the Cloud fell slack in my hands, bruises forming on his temple from the brain-rattling knockout.
We panted for a moment, still high-strung and holding the unconscious body down. Then a beep echoed in Ryohei's earpiece - a small mercy for me - and he relayed the scenario.
"Kikyo'-san's down," he explained, holding his hand out for me. I grasped his hand and the moment we touched skin a spark jumped down my arm even as he pulled me up and leant against me, tired. "Yeah, we'll head to the marker"
"We'll be there soon," I continued for him and spread my Units. With nary a glance to Kikyo who remained unmoving on the floor, I brought both of us into the sky and moved towards the single Flame of Sun which had yet to move for the whole Game.
"Tsuna!" I called, "Take a moment to think."
'What do you mean?' he asked, before there was a beat of silence and a curse crackled along the radio. 'Mists, God, I'm starting to see why Kyoya is impatient with them.'
"Work your way out of it, we've still got time. Ryohei and I are meeting with Takeshi, you focus on yourself for now."
'The Base is being attacked!' Shoichi shouted over the radio and I winced at the unexpected voice.
"You've got Hayato and you've got guns," I snapped.
"Bro," Ryohei soothed slightly, and I felt guilty for a moment before I huffed and beat my units, drawing us closer to where Takeshi shattered the barrier.
"Takeshi!" I called, and he snapped to look at me, as I dropped Ryohei and hit the ground beside them. "Let's go!"
Takeshi ran forward to where Daisy was sat, the limp-haired zombie staring with wide eyes and a pale parlour.
I took a breath and sat down on the floor, Ryohei hovering close, and I grabbed that spark of Sun and smothered it in the coals. I felt Daisy struggle against me and then heard the gasp as Takeshi's sword pierced their chest.
Then, like a candle in a cup, Daisy's Flame was snuffed out in my hands. Takeshi didn't kill them, he didn't have the heart, but with Daisy thoroughly weakened, it was all too easy to snatch that last bit of life away.
But I kept the cup there. I didn't lift off; I didn't dare.
"A moment please," the Cervello announced, and everyone ground to a halt. "The Millefiore Target, Daisy, has been eliminated."
"Shoichi Irie is still active," the other continued, and I felt a leap of hope, dread and relief all at once even as I focused on suffocating sunshine.
Oh, God. Oh my God, I've actually done it. I've done something to change a key element.
"Daiki," Takeshi panted, kneeling beside me and cuddling close. "Daiki."
Ryohei pushed against my shoulder and pumped Sun into my core, helping me push Daisy down. It felt so cold. Like pressing my hand against the drained, cooling body of a butcher's carcase. I wanted to let go, to stop feeling that pathetic, gasped struggle against my fingers.
"The victor of this Choice Battle has been decided," the Cervello in front of us announced, and God, I wished she'd hurry the hell up before my grip slipped. "The winner is the Vongola Family!"
It's done.
I wheezed and collapsed against Takeshi who caught me without hesitance, arms wrapping tight around me as Rain washed across my being. I coughed and cuddled into him, nuzzling his throat as I tried to warm my hands against his chest.
"We won," I shuddered, still reeling. "We won."
"We won," Takeshi agreed, cupping my cheek. "We changed what you knew."
"TO THE EXTREME!" Ryohei roared, and I laughed against my darling's shoulder.
"It's been changed. Thank God," I panted, "Thank God Kikyo-san came for us."
. . .
When we arrived, we were at war again.
I should have known Byakuran wouldn't let things go that easily. Whether or not we won the Game is just a minor detail to him.
"Anybody going to fill me in?!" I asked as we all ran towards the transportation system which had brought us here.
"Daiki-chan!" a small girl gasped, appearing beside me. "How are you? You're looking very well!"
"I'm- Uni-san?!" I gaped, seeing just how small this child was.
"Daiki knows Uni-san?" Tsuna asked, and Takeshi only laughed, holding my hand tightly in his own as he ran beside me.
"Of course Daiki-chan knows me!" Uni smiled freely and winked in my direction.
I blinked, befuddled, before letting out a long-suffering sigh, wondering what that me, ten years later, had been up to.
"Non-combatants go first!" Spanner called, urging Haru, Kyoko and the children they cradled into the mobile base for shelter, Mephisto barking behind them, his lead in Kyoko's hand. "The inside is Trinisette-proof, hurry!"
Hibari had flooded the streets behind us with his hedgehog's, Bari-Rat's, needles and caught a fair portion of the Millefiore chasing us.
"Boss!" Chrome called, and Tsuna spun, his eyes hardening when he saw Byakuran racing down towards us, propelled by Sky-expelling boots.
"No matter who or what opposes me, I won't be stopped!" Byakuran announced, the voice ringing out and sinking its claws into my ears.
I took a sharp breath and backed away before I even noticed my body moving. My teeth clicked shut behind my lips before arms wrapped around my waist and Takeshi tugged me again his chest.
"Daiki," he hushed, angling our bodies to put me behind him. "Get into the Base. I don't want you out here, go now."
"You too," I wheezed, "I won't let him near you."
"I need to stay out here and help make sure everyone gets away safe," he denied.
"Then no," I dug my fingers into my darling's arm and pressed to his back. "If you're here, I'm here too."
Takeshi was about to snap at me, his eyes sharp in a manner that proved he wasn't willing to deal with backtalk at the moment. Before he could order me away, however, Tsuna jumped, and I stiffened as a familiar Flame bloomed to life and what was once a constant, unrealised hum, became a true presence.
"Won't be stopped? Don't worry, Daiki-chan, he's just blowing his horn," came the smooth voice, and Chrome gasped as her trident burst into indigo fire. "I'll stop you."
Ten Years Later Rokudo Mukuro stepped out of the Mist and brandished his trident, effectively throwing a wrench into the works. He scoffed at the incoming Sky as he stood between his Family and their enemy, meeting his attack head-on and responding with his own, fire and lotuses bursting from the ground in a pillar.
"Long time no see, Tsunayoshi Sawada," Mukuro greeted, his back still turned to the Vongola party.
"H-hi," Tsuna responded meekly, before lurching forward. "But what about your injury!?"
"Tsunayoshi-kun's right, Mukuro-san," Byakuran hummed, sounding almost concerned.
Mukuro twitched minutely and the Vongola Sky winced, the familiar 'hyee!' sound escaping his lips before he scolded, "Don't bait him!"
"I was so sure that I obliterated you when you possessed my subordinate," Byakuran continued, ignoring his fellow Sky to pester the Mist man, lotus vines and indigo fire still hanging off him. "At the very least, I should have made it impossible for you to make illusions like this."
"Kufufufufu," Mukuro huffed, "I certainly thought it was over for me when I fell into your trap and got shut into that sealed space...If I had been alone."
"Oh? I see," the Sky uttered, "So your comrade made a hole from outside."
"Eh...it'd be a bit much to call that kid a 'comrade'," he shrugged, "Anyway, the damage I received from you was rather bad. I couldn't do things like this until just then."
I measured my breaths through the interaction, words going over my head as I squeezed Takeshi's arm. I didn't have the focus to decipher the words that were being exchanged over the roar of Mukuro's fire, but the sound of Byakuran's voice was more than enough, still, to make my blood go cold.
Rain wrapped around my Flames as Sky became volatile, defending my Sun from suffering any contact with that man. Takeshi kept me close against him, stanced to physically separate me from Byakuran, his body tense and the hand holding mine digging in its nails.
The pain was grounding, however, and I used his warmth to keep me steady.
"Put the Flames into the transportation system, quickly," Mukuro ordered and Takeshi squeezed my hand before releasing and channelling Rain into his Ring.
The Vongola Family charged the machine and, for a split second, my eyes connected with those of the Millefiore Sky. Byakuran smiled thinly, before he waved and cooed, "Bye-bye Daiki-chan. See you soon!"
I closed my eyes and tucked my face into Takeshi's shoulder, hiding away as he pressed his back against my chest.
'Rocky landing, watch out,' I signalled to my brother, before uttering the same to Takeshi who got a better hold on me.
As I had said, we touched down in varying states of disarray, the portable base releasing fumes from its engine and a few of us stuck in trees. Takeshi groaned and rolled off my chest, having landed rather heavily on top of me and leaving me winded.
"Sorry, Daiki," he apologised, helping me to my feet, patting me down while touching at the dissection line in my stomach, making sure he hadn't damaged me in the fall.
"It's okay," I assured, checking his face and the crack in his jaw, satisfied that the fracture hadn't shifted. Then I stepped back and addressed the group, Ryohei digging himself out from a bush. "That transporter needs to be destroyed so the enemy can't follow."
"Daiki-chan is right," Uni announced from within the base. "That's the only transporter, the sooner we destroy it the better."
"If that's the case, we can leave this to me," Hayato huffed, stepping forward, Weapon Box in hand. "If that machine absorbs Flame, then I'll use this Warhead!"
His Box Weapon latched onto his arm, skull cannon's mouth gaping with a grizzly-looking missile bullet in its jaws. His contact lenses gleamed as he locked on target and aimed, Flames roaring to life and pooling in the Weapon before he shot.
The transporter gave a mighty boom and groaned, shrapnel and debris falling. I watched as it phased out of sight, a frown touching my lips.
"It's gone back to the Millefiore's side," Spanner sighed, looking at the empty sky.
"This is no good," Reborn grunted, "It may come back in no time carrying the enemy."
"Shit," Tsuna cursed, gripping his hair to try to ground himself. "We don't have any time then!"
Kusakabe appeared and spoke to Tsuna, but I was more concerned with watching the sky, a sense of dread and trepidation filling me as the transporter returned. It gave a loud, guttural noise and spat out the Millefiore Wreaths across Namimori.
"One of those pieces has fallen somewhere near Nami-chuu, I'll go take a look," Kyoya uttered, and I stepped forward, stopping him just before he left.
"Kyoya," I called, and the Skylark of Namimori paused, eyes narrowed up at me. "Take this with you."
Takeshi held onto my hand even as I pressed a gift into Kyoya's palm, watching as he settled it down in a safe spot.
"I won't need it, Handler," he scoffed, "...but thanks."
Then he spun and ran off, disappearing down the stairs of the shrine, Kusakabe and Dino following close behind.
Takeshi gave a laugh beside me and I smiled at the loosening mood, cuddling up against my darling's side. He glanced to me and kissed my cheek.
"We should hurry and bring Uni-san to the underground base," Tsuna said and both his closest Guardians nodded. "We need to get ready and catch Lal Mirch up with the situation."
"Let us use your communication room!" Squalo snapped, Lussuria still trying to get his hair to sit right on his head. "We need to report to the shitty Boss and get him to send troops."
We all gathered in the main room of the Base, Uni looking around the interior with a happy gleam in her eye. Takeshi still hadn't left my side, holding my hand the whole journey over and running his thumb over my knuckles now and then.
"We're safe in here," Tsuna assured Uni as we finished settling everyone in.
"Our Base is hard to find and even if the enemy finds this place, it's not easy to break through our strong security," Giannini smiled. He had been sending Ryohei and I rather poisonous smiled since connecting with the group again, and my brother and I pretended to be innocent of our lack of motorcycles.
I held my tongue as they continued to assure the young Sky Arcobaleno, urging the Family down and to relax.
"How about you guys get changed out of your formal clothes, we'll look for some clothes for Uni-san," Bianchi recommended.
We began to disperse, but I grabbed my brother and held onto Takeshi, pulling them both close before I whispered to each.
"Fifteen to thirty minutes. That's all we have."
I felt them both tense and felt guilty, knowing they were already so tired.
"Do we know who's coming?" Ryohei asked, and from across the room, we saw Hayato glance at us with intrigued eyes.
"The magma man," I answered, lowering my voice further now that Hayato had his interest sparked. "...Let's hang out in my room. I need to check my stitches."
"Huh- oh yeah, sure."
"Why can't we let the others know about your ability?" Takeshi asked, still holding me tight. "They should know too, they can help!"
"It's not them," I sighed, pressing the button beside the door and walking in. "It's the Arcobaleno and upper Vongola ranks. Even the CEDEF. If they found out then..."
"It wouldn't be great," Ryohei finished, understanding.
"Yeah."
"...Keeping secrets like that can cause a rift, love," Takeshi warned, sitting beside me on the stripped-down bed. "When we get the chance and it's safer, we should tell them."
"I suppose," I admitted, leaning against him. "But right now the main issue is Zakuro-san, the Wreath who is heading our way."
"A Wreath found us already?" Ryohei breathed, crossing his arms. "That's an EXTREME issue."
"He's coming, but we have time," I breathed, trying to nail that message home for them. "Anywhere between fifteen to thirty minutes of rest and we need to take it. Get changed and eat something; drink something. Do something to regain your strength, power nap. We'll be running for a while afterwards, and I don't want either of you hurt."
Takeshi touched my arm and wrapped his around my shoulder, keeping me close as my brother nodded.
"Okay, I'll meet you back here in fifteen minutes," Ryohei said.
"Yeah," Takeshi acknowledged, "Get some rest, Ryohei."
"You too, Takeshi."
The door slid shut, and I sighed as I got to my feet, reaching to undo my tie and start dressing down. I was stopped, however, when Takeshi pushed my hands aside and stood in front of me, taking my role and began to tug my clothing off my frame.
The Rain slipped my tie from around my neck and peeled off my jacket, sliding it down my arms and tossing both onto the bedframe. He picked at my buttons, undoing each carefully then began to pull at my belt.
"Takeshi?" I asked quietly, noticing how he hadn't risen his eyes to look at me once.
"You should have gone into the Base when I told you," he murmured, unbuttoning my pants and working the zipper down.
"I couldn't leave you there," I sighed, stepping out of my pants that pooled on the floor and reached across, beginning to undress the Rain. "The thought of that scared me more than seeing that man."
"I'm meant to protect you," Takeshi insisted sharply.
"I'm meant to protect you too," I soothed, taking his jacket off and working at his white shirt. "We're meant to protect each other, my love."
"He hurt you."
"And it was painful, but if he hurt you..."
Takeshi frowned before shrugging off his shirt and cuddled into my chest, the skin-on-skin contact the most soothing thing at the moment. He pressed his cheek to my shoulder and as I continued to work his pants off, he bit at my shoulder and throat.
"You bite too much," I huffed, helping him keep his balance as he kicked away the black slacks.
"I'm meant to protect you, it's my job as your husband," he breathed softly into my throat, giving my pulse a soft squeeze with his teeth. "Just let me protect you, wife."
I flushed and wrapped my arms around him, holding onto him for a while, running my hand along his spine. My eyes fell to the scar that still marred my husband's shoulder and a wave of guilt hit me in the stomach, as it always did when I saw the wound. I let my fingertips trace the discolouration in Takeshi's skin before I bowed my head and lightly kissed along his scar.
Takeshi hummed into my ear and dragged his nails through my hair before he pulled away and looked down to the white bandaged which still wrapped my stomach. His expression warped into softly expressed pain before he lowered himself down onto his knees in front of me.
"Hey, the ground's hard," I uttered, trying to pull him back up, but he tugged himself free and pressed his lips to my stomach, following the line I knew he had seen. He kissed up and down, before he paused for a moment, letting me pet his head. I gasped as he leant forward and kissed the front of my boxers, jolting away from his hold on my hips and curled defensively, face blushed a dark red as I shoved my arms between my thighs to block his sight. "Takeshi!"
"Sorry," he apologised, cheeks flushing as he put his hands on his knees and bowed his head. "I just...Sorry, I shouldn't have done that without asking."
I groaned and dropped to sit on the floor across from the Rain, my knees drawn to my chest. I watched as he waited for a moment, before crawling forward and sat cross-legged, putting my feet in his lap and rested his chin on my knees, peering up at me.
"You've done it to me now," I sighed, touching the bandages on his face. "Which means I get to do it to you at some point."
Takeshi blinked before he smiled, cuddling into my knees as he nodded and said, "whenever my wife wants."
'Wife'. I smiled meekly and ducked my head with a wheezed laugh, still trying to get used to the way my heart leapt when Takeshi called me that. I felt him smile against my skin as he watched me fluster, fingertips idly tracing my calves.
"Come on, let's get some clothes on," I breathed, untangling myself from the Rain.
The only clothes that I had at the moment were slightly oversized since my Namimori uniform had been thoroughly ruined upon arrival. All it took was a glance at the tatters of the material to leave me sighing in defeat and I pulled back on the suit pants, not wanting to be pulling up my trousers while running from the Millefiore.
"Here, love," Takeshi hummed, handing me the lavender-coloured shirt I had been wearing lately.
"Thank you."
The Rain walked around the room and picked up the clothes we had discarded as I tucked the shirt in and washed my face in the sanitary sink in the corner, sweat and dust coming off my skin and staining the tissues slightly.
Takeshi and I then moved to the make-shift futon we had constructed from the sheets of my medical cot days ago. He crawled on top of me and laid down on my chest, greedily covering my body with his own and purring as I lightly scratched at his nape.
"How much time do you think we have left?" he asked, rummaging through a bag near our heads to pull out two protein bars.
"...Not long," I admitted, taking the piece he broke off and pressed to my mouth, a light laugh coming at the action. "I can feed myself you know?"
"I wanna feed you," he pouted, kissing the tip of my nose and making it scrunch up. "Love you so much."
"I love you too."
Takeshi smiled wide and offered another piece to me before popping some into his own mouth. He happily chewed through his bar as he rested atop of me-
Then the Base went 'boom'.
"Daiki, Takeshi!" Ryohei shouted, appearing in the doorway.
"They're here," I grunted, the Rain and I on our feet and thundering down the hall where we joined up with the rest of the Vongola Family.
They were all shouting at each other, trying to figure out what was going on and the barks of Mephisto rung out underneath the voices. I winced at all the noise and gave a sharp whistle, not enough to distract the humans but in seconds the white pup was at my side, ears plastered back against his skull in distress.
"Hey, puppy," I hushed, kneeling down to his height and ruffling his fur, letting him scoot closer and hide in my chest. "It's okay, we'll make it out and then you can nap in your bed at home. I'll let you get under the sheets and everything."
I felt him flinch as the wall behind Squalo was obliterated, the sound deafening to my ears and very possibly damaging to Mephisto's had I not sensed the rise of Flame and cupped my hands over them protectively. He whined before growling as footsteps came from the rubble, and with Storm Flames in hand, Zakuro stepped out of the destruction.
"Found you, Uni-sama," he grumbled, locating the young girl among us.
"Mama," Lambo whimpered, wriggling his way through the group and over to me where I accepted him with open arms. "Who's that man?"
"Zakuro of the Wreaths," I answered him, taking Mephisto's lead in hand as I pulled my son to sit on my back, ready to run.
As if hearing his name, Zakuro shifted his attention and dug his gaze into mine, something passing behind his eyes. A certain distaste.
"I see your back on your feet, Daiki-san," Zakuro commented, scratching his scraggly beard.
"...Do I know you?" I asked slowly, wondering if there was some kind of personal history here. The Vongola rippled around me, all of them seeming very against me having any contact with Millefiore ranks.
"Of course, you know me," the Storm scoffed. "You know everyone."
I didn't like how he said that.
There was a pause, but Zakuro didn't elaborate his point, instead, moving to dig through his own pocket and pull out a busted up transmitter. He gave a half-hearted whine at his misfortune before yawning wide, tearing up at the intensity.
"Mama," Lambo murmured to me, cuddling into my shoulder as I turned my head to look at him. "Where were you and Daddy? Lambo-san wanted to stay with you."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, baby," I apologised, craning my neck to kiss the top of his head. "Daddy and I were talking about something important and didn't want to upset you. You needed to rest and relax, and we thought it better for you to play with I-pin and the girls."
"But I wanted Mama and Daddy," he sniffled, grabbing little handfuls of my lavender shirt.
"I'm here now," I hushed, letting him nuzzle my cheek. "Mama's here now. I won't leave you again."
"Daiki, come on!" Tsuna called, tugging at my arm. "We're running! Squalo-san and Lussuria-san will stop them, but we've got to get Uni-san out!"
"Got it," I nodded, before latching onto my sister Flame and called out to them, 'Luss-onee! Zakuro-san knows every move you've got, all the Funeral Wreaths do! You're going to have to figure out something entirely new to get passed him!'
"Ah! Thank you, Daiki-chan~!" Lussuria cooed, waving me off with a handkerchief, before leaning over to his Rain, filling him in.
Squalo sent me a look over his shoulder but didn't persist and I didn't hang around for him to do so, already running down the halls with more members joining our fleeing.
It was only when we were out of the base and debating where to go next did a swell of dread fill my heart, the realisation of who we were going to run into springing to mind. I felt unwell as I held Lambo tighter in his piggy-back position.
"This way! Kawahira Realtor is just around the corner!" Haru guided, my steps feeling more and more foreboding. "Miss! It's Haru, please open up!"
Lambo shuffled in my hold as we waited, Haru banging on the door desperately as I felt Storm struggle against Rain and Sun. Zakuro was doing worse than I remembered him doing, but the presence of Lussuria there to back up Squalo was no doubt a saving grace. Nonetheless, all he had to do was slip out of their hold for a while for him to be able to follow us.
"What are you lot standing around for? Hurry and get inside, you're being chased, are you not?"
That voice made my heart go cold, and only when Ryohei physically dragged me into the shop did I go.
We all filed in, Ryohei pushing me from behind when he deemed me too slow. I tried to duck my head and stay unnoticed as I passed, but just before I slipped away, a hand grasped my shoulder and a sense of dread welled up in my stomach.
Kawahira, Checkerface, said nothing as we stared at one another. He just continued to give a close-eyed smile for the long, tense stretch of time, my heart beating both too fast and frozen in my chest.
Then he gave a soft 'hm' and gave a pat on my shoulder, pushing me the rest of the way inside.
"Go on, I'll deal with the Funeral Wreaths."
Takeshi grabbed me and dragged Lambo and I into obscurity behind a large filing cabinet, backed by a divider. It was more than enough to block out my large frame and accommodate the two smaller bodies of Mephisto and Lambo with me, but Takeshi was forced to hide somewhere parallel, within eyesight but far enough away that tension riddled my body.
"Shh, Bo-kun," I warned, hugging my son to my chest and urging Mephisto down into silence.
The wait felt like so much longer than it should have been. Perhaps because of the anticipation and tension which riddled each of us, or perhaps because of the greater time it took for Zakuro to rid himself of his pursuers.
Then I felt the approach of a familiar Storm and hushed my Flames down to bare embers, smothering Lambo's face into my breast to quieten the sound of his shaky breaths. Loud voices and the sounds of conflict came soon after and Mephisto burrowed under my legs, knowing he had to hide.
The doors slammed open, and we all held our breaths, hearts beating in our ears as we waited.
"...God damn it," the floorboards groaned as the sound of boots travelled deeper into the room.
I hugged Lambo tighter and hushed our Flames as Zakuro stopped less than a metre from us on the other side of the divider.
I could just barely see Takeshi and Hayato, both of them tense and with their Rings at the ready should our cover be blown and one of us spotted.
"I'll just have to burn down one house after the other; smoke them out," Zakuro scoffed, igniting his Flame.
Lambo twitched, and I rubbed his arm soothingly, pressing my nose into his hair.
"W-What?! Burn it down!? You can't!"
The sound of a scuffle and then a spike in Mist Flame made me turn my head slightly before Zakuro ran out of the shop and his Flame disappeared into the distance.
"He...left?" Tsuna asked softly, peeking out of his hiding spot.
I let out a long, deflating breath and began kissing around Lambo's face, trying to calm him down as he rattled in my arms. Mephisto came out from under my legs and sniffed us both, making sure we were okay before he licked my cheek and made for Lambo's attention, the teary child petting the pup.
"Good job, Bo-kun," I praised, wiping away his tears. "You did such a good job."
"Mama," he sniffled, and I cradled him to my chest as I got to my feet, Takeshi quick to join my side as the group collected in the centre of the room. "Daddy."
"Daddy's here," Takeshi soothed, gasping Lambo's hand in his own. "Daddy's here, Bo-kun."
"Bro, shit, he got really close to you," Ryohei whispered, putting a hand on my arm.
"I know," I wheezed, "God I know. I never thought I'd say this, but thank God for Kawahira-san."
The two Guardians blinked, very obviously latching onto my words as they glanced to the man with circular glasses, seeing him in a new light.
"I saw someone, a young boy in a school uniform running towards the junior high. Is he with you?" Kawahira asked, and the group rippled.
"That's Kyoya! He's facing off with one of the Funeral Wreaths!" Tsuna connected, hoping the man would have more information.
"I wonder if he's alright," the Original sighed, "I just hope he's not underestimating their power."
I blinked and tilted my head slightly, feeling a faint tug. Then I smiled and cuddled Lambo, bouncing the boy in my arms, suddenly feeling a little better.
"You look like your unconcerned," Kawahira idly commented, watching me from across the room.
Takeshi and Ryohei stepped closer, the Rain pressing himself to my side in a protective manner even as I planted a kiss to his cheek.
"Kyoya's not one to underestimate," Tsuna began, and I looked to him in surprise, not remembering there to be more conversation. "He's more likely to go all out, no matter who he's fighting."
"Yeah," Takeshi agreed, touching the back of his head and wincing, like the memory of an encounter with the Hibari boy still hurt to this day.
"The bastard will be fine," Hayato huffed.
"Daisy-san's supposed to be unkillable right?" Ryohei hummed, before grinning wide. "I bet Kyoya will find an EXTREME way around that!"
Kyoko and Haru glanced to each other before they burst out into giggles, something in the interaction pleasing them beyond compare.
|H.K|
"Hey, you lot," Kyoya grumbled, the sound of a window shattering grating on his nerves. "You'd better stop wreaking havoc in Nami-chuu."
Why was it that whenever those Herbivores got together for extended periods of time some part of the school gets destroyed? The Handler will pay for this.
"You all need to be punished," he continued, before kicking the limp body of the Bucking Bronco back to his subordinates.
Kyoya frowned at the state of his schoolyard and twirled the handcuff around his finger, before catching it and allowing a mechanism to unlock and thorns to line the cuff. The Handler had warned him of this strange lizard-person named Daisy; she had said they would know most of his moves. Kyoya would need to create something new.
The Cloud swung his cuffs another time before he let it hang, eyeing the metal rings. Then he let out a huffed breath.
Daisy kicked off the ground and shot forward, Flames propelling off their arms until they clashed with Kyoya head-on. Kyoya met the assault with his tonfa, but every swipe he made was blocked or batted aside, even his least-used, hat-tricks disregarded easily.
The Millefiore Sun made to punch Kyoya, but he ducked beneath the scaley handed swipe and snapped his cuff around their wrist. He then swung, blunt end of his tonfa soaring towards Daisy's temple -
He felt the resistance slip and with a wet sound, Daisy's arm came apart, a chunk of their flesh hanging loose in his cuff and stunning him for a moment. He watched, alarmed as their scaley flesh grew back in thick tendrils, and in his moment of stupor his opponent punched him, full force in the face. His nose gave a sickening crunch under the bite of Daisy's Ring and he was sent flying back, impacting with the wall of Nami-chuu.
Something gave inside his arm and a white-hot pain pulsed through him. It singed his nerves and made it hard to breathe - but then his Handler's gift stirred and he knew it was on the move. The gift crawled through his veins before it pulled at his wounds and he felt it, down to his very bones, how he was being mended. It sewed his skin and realigned his bones, before it returned to its spot, low in his chest, and burst. His Flame surged, suddenly high and active, ready to be used and put to work.
"You can't just hit them, Kyoya, they're not Namimori thugs," he remembered his Handler telling him, whispered under her breath as she gave him a gift. "You'll need to grasp the situation more."
Kyoya cursed suddenly as the chunk of flesh in his cuff morphed and grew fingers. It latched onto his neck and squeezed, however; it was still weak, and he banished it with a swipe of his tonfa.
He couldn't just hit them.
"Then I don't need it," he announced, tossing the impact weapon aside.
"Huh?" Daisy uttered.
"I don't need tonfa if it's so useless," he continued, and with a flash of Flame, he had a second pair of handcuffs, twirling them both in time. "I'm going to arrest you for the crime of damaging the Namimori school buildings."
"No matter how many there are, it's still the same thing!"
"Maybe if there's one or two, but how about...thirty or forty?" Kyoya asked idly and the two cuffs in his hand latched onto Daisy's wrists.
The Cloud surged his Flames, his Ring flashing to life. Cuffs of all sizes burst into place, locking onto Daisy's body and clenching down in a series of heavy, metallic clangs.
"I haven't heard about this!" Daisy shouted, the sound tight and choked out.
There, Handler. He grasped the situation more.
"Let's tighten up," he scoffed and pulled on his cuffs, hearing the groan of Daisy's bones and the fleshy tear of their scaley skin.
"I haven't heard of this! I haven't heard of this from Byakuran-sama! That these handcuffs become like this!"
Daisy screamed long and loud, voice catching and becoming scratchy in their pain. Then a burst of blood and saliva bubbled from their lips and they collapsed, boneless under the weight of the metal cuffs.
"The reason why you can't die even though you want to is that active Flame of Sun in your body, right?" Kyoya hummed, crouching down beside his fallen opponent. He reached out and plucked it off the scaley, reptilian finger. "As Prefect, I confiscate this."
The Namimori Skylark stood back up and pocketed the Ring before he paused and felt at his core. He frowned a bit, finding the last of his gift still settled against his Flame. He played with it for a moment, debating whether to use it up or return it to its owner.
The Cloud tucked it against his Flame, feeling it settle down nicely. He decided to keep it for later.
He felt something, almost like the vibrations of someone laughing. Kyoya huffed and walked over to kick Dino until he felt better.
|H.K|
"Tsuna-kun, can you hear me?"
I winced sharply and yanked the earpiece from my head, a shaky breath slipping through my teeth. I was too on edge for the crackling, electric voices of our allies right now, with Kawahira lurking my peripheral.
Takeshi squeezed my hand in his own and kept me close, filling me in on the situation with a soft voice that soothed my bristling nerves.
Lambo nuzzled into my shoulder from his place in my arm, nestled against my chest since we had come out of hiding. The stress wasn't good for him and his age was beginning to show as he took every opportunity to take comfort from his chosen parents. I-pin was settled in Haru's arms too, and though she seemed to be handling it better, the grip she had on the older girl's blouse was herculean.
"He said Hibari-san defeated Daisy of the Funeral Wreaths!" Tsuna gasped and the room burst into noise, relief and pride palpable in the air.
"It's alright now, with this Uni-san can't be found," Bianchi sighed.
I frowned and shifted my weight, knocking into Takeshi's shoulder. He turned to me before rearing up and kissing my cheek, then he whispered, "What's wrong?"
I tilted my head and pressed my lips to his, using the kiss to hide the movements, "We will be found."
"How?" he asked, putting a hand to my cheek and obscuring our conversation more as the celebration continued around us.
"Bya...He can see as much as I can and further. He will find us in a world where there is no Kawahira-san, and he will drag that knowledge back."
Takeshi frowned against my lips before giving me three soft kisses and then pulled back, urging my head to lie on his shoulder. He made gentle hushing noises into my ear and pet Lambo's head, lulling his wife and son as tension riddled us.
"I won't let him hurt you," my husband assured, "Either of you. I won't part from either of you."
Takeshi kissed my cheek and Lambo's brow before he faced his friends and let a smile spread along his face.
"Daiki and I are going back to the Base," he announced, completely at ease as he threaded his fingers with mine again. "We're going to check on Squalo-san and Lussuria-san."
"What?!" Hayato snapped, spinning around.
"You're going back?" Tsuna blinked, "Really?"
"Yeah," Takeshi nodded, "We're talking about those two here, so I'm sure they're still kicking, but just in case."
I thinned my lips, and he squeezed my hand. Ryohei was giving us looks, obviously debating who to go with.
"I disagree," Reborn chipped in suddenly from Bianchi's shoulder and the grip on my hand became crushing. "Daiki-chan should remain with us; she is Ryohei's subordinate, after all."
"Bro isn't my subordinate! She's my partner!" the Sun corrected hotly, a look of indignant discomfort obvious in his expression.
"All the more reason not to separate them," he continued. "They are meant to be together."
"Daiki's mine though," Takeshi laughed, nails biting into my skin. "She needs to come with me."
"We are dodging Millefiore attacks at the moment, having Daiki-chan's sensor ability will be advantageous to us."
Hayato, who was about to say something, choked then. He grit his teeth and dropped his eyes to the ground, scuffing his sole on the floorboards.
"I'll stay with them," I murmured lowly, and Takeshi whipped around, staring up at me with eyes that cut. "Flame sensory is something they need at the moment. You'll be fine on the way back to the Base."
"Daiki," Takeshi urged, his voice edging onto dangerous.
"I'll be with Ryohei," I smiled thinly, my brother coming up from behind, his brow creased in concern. "I'll be fine."
"It's decided then," Reborn grinned, looking smug as hell. That expression alone made me want to take back my offer and just run with Takeshi, but the hesitant and troubled looks marring Hayato and Tsuna's expressions made me bite my tongue. "Daiki-chan will stay with us. Yamamoto-san, you will head back to the Base."
"Don't worry, Daiki-chan," Bianchi soothed, putting her hand on my shoulder, something sad in her eyes. "I'll make sure nothing happens to him."
"Me too!" Giannini added. "I'll show the way to the secret entrance, it's the safest route."
Takeshi's jaw was clenched even as I bowed my height and kissed him with as much warmth as I could muster. When that didn't shake him, I sighed and unravelled my hand from his to press my palm against his chest.
"Remember, you still have my gift," I breathed, and he put his hand over mine, our rings catching the lights of the room. "You will know if anything happens to me. And I will know the same for you...So go."
Lambo stirred in my arms as I watched Takeshi and his entourage slip out the door, my brother at my side, his hand on my shoulder.
'Get ready, Ryohei,' I warned, feeling Flames appear on the horizon.
"Just a warning," I called, breaking the group's discussions off and they all turned at once. "We're surrounded. They found us."
"...What?" Tsuna gulped, face pale.
"They don't know we know, though," I continued, and moved towards the door and pressing my hand to it, a slight frown on my lips. "And not all the Flames around us are Millefiore."
"Who else could be here?" Hayato asked, his hands in white-knuckled fists.
I tilted my head but didn't recognise the Flames. My silence didn't bode well for the rest of the group, unrest filled them.
"I don't recognise them...But we should prepare for the worst, right, Tsuna? What are your orders?"
The Sky thinned his lips before he stood straight and squared his shoulders, "Shut every exit! Cover all vantage points!"
"Ki-nee, give us a breakdown of the situation please," Fuuta urged, helping Ryohei thoroughly seal the front door.
"At least three of the Wreaths; Cloud, Rain," I answered, closing my eyes and scanning the horizon, clutching Lambo to my chest. He was Lambo, of that I was sure...but something felt wrong. I jolted and snapped around, hand coming off my son as I tossed him to Haru.
My hand reached out and grabbed I-pin. She struggled and made unintelligible shouts for me to stop - but not once did she fall to her natural tongue.
"And a Mist," Tsuna finished for me, looming overhead with wide, HDWM eyes.
"Where's the real I-pin!?" Kyoko gasped, as the child in my hand turned to mist and slipped out from my knuckles.
"Check around and get under cover!" Hayato ordered, and they followed without question.
"Ah!" Uni yelped, lunging off of the couch she had been sat on, only to be grabbed by the upper arm and yanked into the Millefiore Mist's chest.
"Block the exits!" Tsuna shouted and Hayato, Ryohei and Basil all lined the door.
I twitched before cursing loudly and ran for the door. I grabbed the two Guardians and booted Basil out of the way, before throwing the two, just in time for the windows to shatter and the doors to cave as an external attack struck.
"Daiki! Bro!" Ryohei coughed, dragging me out from the rubble. "No self-sacrificing today!"
"Okay," I wheezed, my arms grazed to hell.
Another round of shells hit us, quite literally, as Bluebell released her Box Weapon upon the area. I stumbled and fell into my brother's chest, who spun us around and took the brunt of the flying shrapnel.
"Black Spell!?"
"Oh, it's the Black Spell guys," I uttered idly as my brother and I ran out into the street where the rest of the combatants were gathered.
We blinked and watched as Tsuna intercepted an attack, effectively protecting both Uni and Gamma with a single attack. I huffed as his fists glowed, eyes harsh and fierce as he stared down the Funeral Wreaths in front of him.
"He's really coming into his own, isn't he?" I breathed and the Guardians glanced to me before they turned their gaze to their Sky.
"Chrome," I called, the girl jumping at the sudden address. "You're time to shine, baby bird. Help your Sky out."
Chrome blinked before she firmed her expression and nodded. She plunged her Ring into her Box and in moments donned Deamon Spade's Magic Lense. She guided him around in the sky, projecting her voice with the most intensity anyone had ever heard from her.
Ryohei nudged me in the side suddenly and I followed his hard gaze to the floating figure of the Millefiore Cloud, Kikyo, who glared down at us with pure venom in his eyes. There was a fresh cut splitting the side left side of his face, the place he had impacted the ground from my attack.
I blinked up at him. Then my brother and I stuck our tongues out at the man.
Kikyo's expression became livid, and he moved towards us - Tsuna's X-Burner filled the sky a burning orange. The Mist's husk of a body began to fall and his comrades were forced to abandon their attacks to catch him.
"They're retreating," Ryohei snorted, lowering me onto the ground where he began to push sunshine into my body. He wasn't well acquainted with healing, but the fuel was enough for me to redirect myself.
"Daiki! Are you okay!?" Tsuna shouted, landing down and running over. "You got everyone out of the way but you took the blast."
"You should see Ryohei's back, he's got a bunch of shit in there from that tiny blue bitch," I snorted, able to sit up with my own strength. "Where'd Shamal-sensei go? He'd be useful right about now."
"He left after the Game," Reborn answered, "Apparently something came up."
"What could come up at a time like this?" Hayato asked, nursing a jolted elbow that was blooming with bruises from where I had thrown him. "We're in a war! We can't have members going AWOL!"
"Leave him alone," I sighed, missing the way the Storm paused. "We don't know much about this future. There may be something in that heart of his yet."
I thought of the necklace that hung around the doctor's neck and how indignantly protective he was of it. A light huff burst forth at the memory.
"We have to move," Tsuna announced, his breath shaky, fresh out of HDWM. "It's not safe here anymore."
"Yes, Boss," Hayato nodded.
"Let's go, baby," I cooed, lifting Lambo off the ground as he ran over and let him climb onto my back securely. It hurt but compared to other wounds, this was barely an annoyance. "Hold on tight, Bo-kun."
"Okay Mama," he murmured, cuddling my nape. "When's Daddy coming back?"
"We'll see him very soon, love. Mama always knows."
"You do, don't you?"
I blinked and turned. Hayato walked past me, purposefully hitting my shoulder with his own. I stared, dumbfounded before a cold dread settled in my stomach.
The Vongola Storm looked at me from over his shoulder, mint eyes alight with suspicion.
Shit.