Chapter 15: October
1st October
"Aww... you're bringing your baby brother with you. That's soooo cute! Can I hug you?"
Tsuna, Reborn, Takeshi and Hayato stares at the girl who suddenly block their path and saying that line out of blue.
"Okay." Hayato said, staring at the girl. "Too much questionable fume is not good for brain. I think I'm gonna skip chemical class today."
"Seconds." Takeshi agree.
"Mou! That's bad!" The girl pouted. "You can't give bad example to baby!"
Tsuna want to facepalmed. He really want, but if he didn't "held" Reborn and cover his mouth, who knows what damage might've done. "You know, that's not a nice thing to say." He said. "You don't just come out of blue and saying that you can hug someone. That's beyond rude, Stranger-san."
"I'm not stranger." Huffed the girl. "I'm Miura Haru and I've been watching you walking your brother everyday."
"Every... day...?" Tsuna's eyebrow twitched.
"Stalker." Hayato shuddered. "Pedo Stalker."
The girl shot him an offended look. "WHAT?!" She shrieked.
"Exactly as he said." Said Tsuna coldly. "You were stalking a boy you never meet, never knew his name, just because you were attracted to this guy," he pointed at Reborn, who's looking like he gonna bite Tsuna's finger off anytime soon. "And since he's looks like kid, that attraction is NOT normal. Pedo-Stalker has nice ring to it."
"I'm not pedophile!"
"You didn't deny the Stalker part." Shot Tsuna. "And you might've want to rethink on how you behave around people. Not everyone is as patient as us."
The girl leave, stomping all the way, muttering about "evil older brothers and his henchman around pure angel" or something like that.
Once she was out of range, Hayato turned to Tsuna. "Should I call Ambulance?" He had nearby Mental House's hotline number as gag joke. Never he thought he would need it as badly as right now.
"Call her parents and tell them what their daughter's been up to." Said Takeshi. "Clearly they went wrong somewhere in their parenting if their daughter turns out that way."
"Yes. It was a shame." Sighed Tsuna.
"Don't tell me you had crush on her."
"Hell no!" Tsuna balked at the mere thought. "No. It's just that she look similar to Vongola Ottavo's potrait, I thought she may related. Like grandchild through bastard child or something."
Now that he said it... that Miura girl did look rather similar to Ottavo. Some potential lead to investigate.
Tsuna's right. It's shame her mind isn't in the right place.
"By the way, Gokudera." Called Takeshi. "How did you come up with Pedo-Stalker term?"
"I've been wanted to say it for years." The silverett shot. "Particularly after Bianchi goes crazy for Reborn. Admiring his skill is one thing, completely head over heels for someone who appears and sounds like toddler is another matter entirely. You have no idea how many civvie think she's pedophile when they're together and she's on La La Land. Had she's been around Surface World more often, someone's bound to put hit on her head!" He ranted.
"Too bad your stomach get in the way."
"Ugh! Don't remind me..."
Reborn thought back on very rare "date" he's gone through with Bianchi. Oh. So that's why people are looking at him with pity and worry. Bianchi know he's Arcobaleno, not normal baby, but those people didn't, and they got into first conclusion they draws.
It's both blessing and curse. In one hand, he can ditch Bianchi easily once she's gotten tad too Possessive for his likings. In other hand, he's bound to treated like toddler when in reality he's around Tsuyoshi's age group.
Not for the first time, Reborn curse the bastard who thought up this thrice damned curse.
13th-14th October
Reborn is selfish little git. Unfortunately, the said selfish little git share birthday with Tsuna. Or to be exact, his birthday was right a day before Tsuna.
As such, he ropes everyone into celebrate "shared birthday", goes as far as inviting (read: threatening) Dino and his men to come. Nana is painfully easy to conviced. Hayato just plain terrified to go against him (though he keep shooting Tsuna a wary look, which amuse Tsuna). Dino is even more terrified than Hayato ever be. Takeshi goes along with the flow, as do Lambo who make nuisance out of himself... again. Fuuta is fine with the stuff. Kyoya is Kyoya. End of story.
Tsuna raided nearby pharmacy for aspirin.
Finally the day come. At night, when Tsuna was tired (some Trash Idiots who's new to the town making nuisance and he take out his frustation onto them) and all he want to do was take a bath and sleep.
Of fucking course the party celebrate at NIGHT.
And so, Tsuna with bloodshot eyes is forced to attend the party. The music alone made it impossible to sleep. He really want to cut nearby stereo into small piece.
And The Game. Reborn ranked the Gift he received with number. Dino got sixty. Takeshi seventy-one. Hayato fifty. Nana got ninety. Lambo got ten. Fuuta Ninety-five. There's several of Dino's men too, but Tsuna too tired to count.
And Tsuna's turn. Well, he just presented him a cup of strong, well-blend hand-made coffee, in cup that mimicked Reborn's Fedora, only upside down. Well, originally it was just the coffee cup, but Tsuna had been drinking caffeine to stave off muderous intent.
"Seventy Two." Ah. Reborn probably irked that Tsuna had been drinking coffee and only now share it.
Once the clock went past Midnight, now they're celebrating his birthday. Pushing up various gift on his face and want him to rank them like Reborn.
Tsuna want to scream. He's TIRED dammit!
"Ugh, fine fine fine! 59, 81, 12, 66, 73..." in that order, Hayato, Takeshi, Lambo, Reborn, Nana, several grunts, and "...is that copy super rare history book from Mafia Land I haven't read?" Tsuna eyeing the book Dino presented as gift. "100."
Reborn hid a scowl. How come his no-good student get perfect score when he only got sixty-six?
The next morning Tsuna found small box of high grade matcha on his locker. The purple ribbon alone is enough clue who put it here.
22nd October
Tsuna's first clue that today is going to be pain was when his Intuition told him to dodge.
He avoided the small red blur that zip where his head used to be.
Tsuna looked at the red blur, which was actually a toddler, no more than four or five, wearing a red cheongsam and black shorts. The head was shaped strangely with small tuff of black hair pulled into braid on top of it. A braid that, mind you, stand rather upright. It was kinda bizzare Tsuna can't help but likens it to an egg. The eyes were slanted, rather badly in fact. It was almost like lines!
Well. Considering Tsuna have been to Clock Tower... the kid is hardly the weirdest thing he saw.
"Halt!" The kid said in Chinese. "Kill!"
The Kid let out series of very familiar martial arts move, and pulled out a familiar bun that had a rather horrid, yet also familiar stench coming out from it.
It was the sense of familiarity that made Tsuna able to see the movement and evade them, which made the kid increasingly frustrated. The movement become quicker, more desperate. Tsuna was rather amused by it.
Then something bizzare happens. Suddenly from the kid's forehead, appears mahjong-like tattoo. One that clearly magical in nature. It start from nine, then turn to eight.
Tsuna's Intuition warned that he won't like what happens if it reach one. Luckily for him, the kid cling to his leg, allowing Tsuna to easily stop the countdown by knocking the kid out cold. Just simple pressure on the neck. He then pull the kid by collar, like picking up a kitten.
"Hoo boy. Kyoya is not going to be amused."
And amused was the farthest thing Kyoya felt when Tsuna show up in his home, carrying the kid. Kyoya take one look to the kid's clothes, scowled, and very very very reluctantly types a series of number. His expression didn't show it, but Tsuna know it pained Kyoya greatly to call that number.
It didn't take long for other end pick it up. "Mosh-moshi. Kyoya? It's... unusual..."
"Kid. Four or five. Head shaped like egg with small braided hair. Wearing same clothes as you with black shorts instead white."
The other was silent, before replied. "That's... I-pin. How do you know how she's looks like? I don't remember I've show you her photo."
Oh, so the kid is a girl and her name is I-Pin. Nice to have confirmation. It's pain to call her "The Kid" all the times.
"She's suddenly show up out of nowhere and attacks me." Piped Tsuna. "I also found a photo on her pocket, I guess she was sent to eliminate this man. Lucky for her, that pea-brain idiot made mess in TakeSushi and Tsuyoshi-san took deep offense to that. Buuuuuuttt... mind telling us why you allow a kid go through kill mission?" His note had taken saccarine turn at the end.
"I... see... May I have a moment?" The man on other end ask, and after a momentary silence, the two teens heard yelps and screamings, accompanied by sounds of something break. Either furniture or bones. Eh... probably both. It took some more time before the other end picked up the conversation. "Long story short, some idiots who's now red soup paste on floor, think that since I took her in six months ago, coupled with her heritage, was capable enough to go for kill, nevermind her age. Please send Tsuyoshi-san my regards for preventing that. No kids should go through first kill before they truly understood the weight."
His voice held tinge of regrets and sorrow, which made Tsuna and Kyoya involuntarily flinched.
"What heritage we're talking about?" Ask Kyoya.
"Pinzu-Time Bomb. She's literally walking, living human bomb. Granted, she won't get hurt, but the trauma is not something I want to inflict." You could practically hear the grimace. "Tsuna. Can you let her stay over at your place? I-Pin held some... affection to me. It's platonic, thankfully, but I don't think she should be around Kyoya. Not until after I seal her gift."
Kyoya stared at the phone. "You're coming in." He said in blank tone.
"Unless you know how to seal her gift without killing her, I have to."
It was clear both of them don't looking forward. There's some friction between them. Granted, it was neither of their fault, but still...
"Okay! Are you staying, Fon-san?" Cut Tsuna, trying to lighten up the mood.
"With Reborn around? Not a chance." Fon scoffed. "I've never attend Arcobaleno meeting for years and I'm not too keen showing up. That being said, keep him away from me."
"Give me a call when you're in airport."
23rd October
It was very easy to get Reborn busy with something. Tsuna doesn't have Sun, Lightning and Mist yet. Storm is toss-up, it depends whether Hayato can get through the fear or not. Lightning, however, is still empty. Tsuna refuse to bond with Lambo on principle he could've drag the brat deeper into dark side. In few years to come, maybe. Right now? HELL NO.
So all he just need was mention how many Sky in Mafia who has full set of guardians. Not Actual, Full Set. That lits metaphoricl fire under Reborn as he determined to seek out suitable candidate. The criteria is simple. One, strong enough Flame Potential, Active is preferable. Two, he or she won't irritate Tsuna to point "diced out".
Once Reborn sufficiently distracted enough, Tsuna had Takeshi keep Hayato and Lambo away from town. Or at least, area where Hibari Mansion are.
"I-Pin." Tsuna called out to the girl. Thanks for fluent in Chinese, he can tell the girl that her target is dead. The fact they hit optometry and get I-Pin a pair of cute glasses with right prescribtion also helps. "Someone want to meet you. Let's go greet him."
"Broccoli Monster come?"
"No. He'll be elsewhere."
"Oh... Okay."
Tsuna didn't know whether I-Pin dissappointed or reliebed or what. Emotions is Takeshi's forte, not his. He shrugged it off and pick her up.
It doesn't take long before arriving in Hibari Mansion, and I-Pin's eyes widened when she saw someone coming off from the bus. "Master!"
The person is tall. About twenty-ish with long black hair pulled into tight ponytail, wearing red changsan with white cuff and white pants. A boast of his skill. He turned, revealing a face that mixed Chinese and Japanese just right. Just like Kyoya.
"I-Pin." Fon took the girl off from Tsuna. "Did you behave well?"
I-Pin blushed. "Tsuna is nice... but Broccoli Monster made fun of I-Pin!" She rambles. "Tsuna knocks I-Pin out and scolds Broccoli Monster."
Well, at least Tsuna know how to deal with her gift, albeit only temporarily. "Thank you, Tsuna."
"You're welcome." The brunette smiled and take the lead.
The mansion is well-kept by few servants. I-Pin wonder why they are either black-haired and red eyed, or white-haired and black eyed, or white haired and red eyed; or why did her Master hid a grimace at their sight and resolved to keep his eyes ahead. Never once paying the servants any of his attention beyond the necessary one.
"Master. Tsuna-sama." Sakuya greeted them as he guard a room. "Young Master is waiting."
"Thank you, Sakuya-san."
Inside the room, indeed Kyoya had been waiting for them. There's incense burning at the corner. A strong, lavender-scented incessant that Kyoya only use when he's dealing with something big.
And this is indeed big stuff.
I-Pin gasped in disbelief when she saw Kyoya, who is completely identical to Fon.
"...Kyoya." Fon called. His voice heavy with raw emotions. "You've... grown well. Did it works fine?"
The Cloud nodded. Didn't dare to say anything lest his composure breaks. Fon notice this, and let out a heavy sigh.
He can't blame Kyoya for his reluctance. Really. The fault lies on Kyoya's Mother and rest of Hibari Clan.
"I-Pin." He called out to his apprentiece/foster daughter. "He is Kyoya. Your Big Brother." I-Pin gasped. So that's why! "I think... it would be better if you lived here, with your Big Brother. People back there is not nice. They tricked you. It's dangerous. Is it alright for you?"
I-Pin blinked. "Will Master come?"
Fon sucked a breath and glanced at Kyoya, who spare brief moment to meet his eyes, before shrugged in do-what-you-want. Fon flashed him a grateful, happy smile.
"When I have chance. You can call me, if you feel lonely." He answered. "But first, let me seal your gift. Can't let you destroy your new home or hurt your big brother, can we?"
Once I-Pin gift sufficiently sealed, with the key was in Fon and/or Kyoya's hands, Fon kiss I-Pin a goodbye/see-you-later kiss. He turned to Kyoya and raise his hand in head-ruffing gesture, before Kyoya notice this and stiffened. Out of reflects, Fon stopped and retracted his hand.
Ahhh... that's right.
"I'll... take my—"
"Drink."
It was soft, nearly inaudible. Fon would've missed that if not for his superhuman hearing. As such, he stares at Kyoya in surprise. Kyoya didn't dare to look up. He instead focused on fixing a cup of matcha.
"You better appreciate it." Was all Kyoya said.
Fon was shocked. Kyoya... he never do this before. But who was he to pass this chance? Thus with great happiness and hope, he settle across Kyoya and pick the glass. Fingers briefly brushed against Kyoya, who took his hand so quick as if it was burned. Fon ignore the sharp pain in his heart and decide to take a sip.
"...it's good." He said. "You do well..."
Kyoya say nothing.
Fon say nothing more. Only drinking his tea. Anyone who know him well would notice that he drink it too fast, especially for expensive, well-blend tea like matcha. Once his glass is empty, he bowed in thank you, and leave. He didn't looking back.
Once the ward tell him that Fon had leave, Kyoya nearly collapse if not for Tsuna caught him on time.
The brunette say nothing when his Cloud latched onto him like desperate, thirsty man found an oasis. Not when Kyoya, for all his death grip gonna leave Tsuna bruised all over, was shaking like a leaf.
"Tsuna." He rasped. Eyes blown wide and they are filled with shaking purple plame. "Stay." He almost begged.
Tsuna nodded. Knowing well that Kyoya need him right now. Need the reassurance that it was okay. That he will be fine.
After all it was never easy for Kyoya to talk to his Father. Much less meeting the man eye-to-eye.
TBC
AN: This Chapter. Is. Fighting. Me. In. Every. Single. BLOODY. STEPS. Coupled with Social Distancing due Corona Virus, it's hard to get inspiration come by.
I actually planned to leave Kyoya-Fon relatioship mystery a little more, until I remember I-Pin was taught by Fon, and in canon has crush on Kyoya simply because he looks like Fon. Gee. Thank you I-Pin
