A/N:
Yup. Another chapter. Haha.
Anyway, go on.
Chapter Fourteen
With small huffs, Tsuna and others stopped walking and stood in the middle of a clearing. Tsuna looked around before he looked up the blue sky. It's nine in the morning. He wants to get Mukuro as soon as he can, that's why he chose to be early.
Taking a deep breath, he concentrated. Reborn, who was observing him, saw flickers of fire on Tsuna's forehead until it became a flame. An orange flame. Reborn gulped. Hayato smirked while Takeshi exclaimed a 'wow' of excitement.
Tsuna gazed his dull orange eyes to them. He has this calm aura around him. His usually passive expression became serious. And the way he stand became confident.
Reborn was amazed. He has seen orange flames, but to be able to activate it freely is something incredible. At most of what he heard from the Ninth, all of the Vongola heirs went through a rigorous training to control their flames. They even used dying will bullets. Well, he won't be using it to Tsuna anyway. The brunet will lock himself to his room if anyone sees his body scars.
Tsuna raised his hand to the air. He concentrated before he opened his palm and faced it up to the sky. A wave of energy gathered around his hand before it blasted upwards. It created a firework display with the colors of the rainbow, then it rained down at them like small colorful particles.
"Wow." Takeshi interjected as he marvelled them. "You're really amazing, Tsuna."
"I am not." Tsuna denied, looking away from his friend who laughed.
"Tsuna can't take compliments pretty well."
"Hey!" Hayato chided.
Tsuna brought down his hand as the flame on his forehead extinguished. "They're coming any seconds now."
Right on cue, a black portal appeared. Takeshi and Hayato assembled in front of Tsuna. Takeshi swinged the bat he was holding, and it turned to a sword, while Hayato took out his dynamites, unlit stick between his lips. Reborn was just standing behind the brunet, ready to move in case something happens.
Three men went out of the portal. They were wearing matching hats and coats that are worn by aristocrats in the days. The middle one stepped forward and glared at them.
"I'm sorry to trouble you Jaeger-san." Tsuna apologized before bowing.
"Tsunayoshi Sawada." Jaeger said.
Tsuna straightened up. "How are you?"
'Did he just...?' Hayato and Reborn thought at the same time.
"We're fine. You look livelier though. Not looking for ways to die anymore, I see." Jaeger pointed out.
Tsuna nodded. "Things change. It's been three years already."
"So what is your business? You did that flame burst, didn't you?"
"I did. I want to talk to Bermuda-san."
Silence settled between them. Hayato tensed up.
"Very well." Jaeger answered as he turns around. "Follow us."
Reborn immediately checked his mouth if it hanged open. The whole scene in front of him is unbelievable. To see the second in command of the boss of Vindice talk casually to Tsuna, and comply to his student's wish... Too unbelievable.
He snapped out of his reverie when Tsuna took his sleeve and gripped it. He watched the kid's expression morph into a scared look. It was his first time seeing him like this. The brunet is not ready to go there again, yet for the freedom of Rokudou, he'll do everything even if it means for him to go back to his nightmare.
Reborn tapped his forehead. Tsuna looked at him. He nodded and went to his side. Tsuna took a deep breath before exhaling it. With the assurance, Tsuna walked towards the portal and went through it.
Hayato, Reborn and Takeshi followed Tsuna to somewhere. The place is dark except for the dim lights that help them see Tsuna. They stopped in front of a door. The brunet knocked three times, waited for a sec before he opened the door.
A man wearing the same clothes with others is sitting behind a big table. Tsuna bowed, the others followed him except for Reborn.
"What do you want to talk about Tsunayoshi?" The man asked making Tsuna stood properly.
"I wanted to know every details about Mukuro Rokudou." Tsuna answered straightly.
'J-Juudaime...' Hayato winced inwardly. 'I really hope they won't kill us.'
"What about him?" He asked again.
"I need to clarify things." Tsuna replied.
"Mukuro Rokudou is a convict who escaped from the mafia prison. He killed many mafia famiglie with his companions, and tried to kill a family if we didn't catch him."
Tsuna's mind wandered. "Is he like me?"
Silence stretched.
Tsuna's eyes watered. "H-He did it for revenge, Bermuda-san."
"But it made an uproar, Tsunayoshi." Bermuda responded.
"How long has he been down there?"
"Two and a half years."
Tsuna's legs almost gave up on him if Takeshi didn't caught him.
"Tsuna." Takeshi called worriedly.
"Can't I take him? Please? I don't want him to suffer further." Tsuna asked.
Bermuda stared at him.
"I'll comply to any condition you want."
"What if my condition requires you to go back?"
Tsuna began to tremble, memories flooding his mind. "I-I..."
"You're not supposed to be here, Tsunayoshi."
"I had to. I had a premonition that I'll visit this place. And if I want to go, I had to do it for a good reason. And Mukuro-san is a good reason for me."
Bermuda winced. "Very well."
The gate keeper stood up from his seat and went past them. Reborn followed immediately, leaving Tsuna to his friends who was comforting him.
"I know you're curious, Hitman Reborn." Bermuda said, looking at Reborn by the corner of his eyes. "But the child is far more knowledgeable about his story."
"Why are you complying to his wishes?" Reborn asked.
"Because he did us favors." Bermuda replied casually. "The kid himself is enough to scare every living man in this world." Then he looked at Reborn. "Those who had seen him stood before the person he is now, shake in fear for his wrath."
"How damaged is he?"
"Know his story, you'll know the casualties."
Reborn looked back to Tsuna. The brunet is exercising deep breaths. He was obviously panicking and scared. Sighing, he went back to his housemate, grabbed him by the shoulder and smack his head upside down. Tsuna blinked in shock before gaping at his way.
"Stop thinking of anything weird, Stupid Tsuna." Reborn chastised. "You're not going back inside. If he wants you to go back in your past tube, I won't allow it. We're here, Tsuna. I'm here."
"Reborn-san is right, Juudaime." Hayato seconded. "Besides, you have a reason to be here. That damned pineapple is what we came here for."
"Come on, Tsuna. I think he's waiting for you. He might've thought that you were kidding when you told him you'll free him. So let's show him he's wrong." Takeshi encouraged with a grin.
Tsuna stared at them and nodded. "Right. I-I'm not here to come back. I'm here to get Mukuro-san."
"Good." Reborn said.
The hitman watched as Tsuna stood up properly, took a deep breath and opened his eyes. A flicker of orange passed by his eyes before they became dull brown again. He let the child walk ahead before he followed him.
Bermuda was standing in front of a steel double doors. When he saw Tsuna and gang, he opened the door. He watched as the brunet take a quick breath before entering the room with him.
He peered at the thirteen year old boy beside him. The last time he saw the teen was almost three years ago. The child was extremely thin and very dangerous even if he sees him silently sitting on the corner of the room. His soulless eyes will always hunt him to the depths. Of course, he's not scared of the kid. He's just cautious of what he can do.
Because as how unpredictable he is, the more chaotic he can be.
"Don't worry, Bermuda-san. I'm not going to do anything drastic." Tsuna assured.
"You're an enigma to all of us, Tsunayoshi." Bermuda asnwered with honesty.
Tsuna winced. "Don't say that."
"Tell that to the world's greatest hitman."
Bermuda opened a door again and waited for Tsuna to enter. Tsuna gulped, thought of Mukuro before going in. He surveyed the area. It's the same as ever as he can remember. A dark room with only lights coming from the water tanks lined in columns and rows. Some were occupied with people wearing masks attached to tubes and wires with hand to mid-arm cuffs.
The Vindice boss guided him all the way to the back. A shiver ran down Tsuna's back when he saw his past tube unoccupied. They stopped two rows before his and stopped after three tubes. He stiffened at the sight in front of him.
Tsuna recognized Mukuro even without his weird hairstyle. He was sleeping as he floats in the water, a metal oxygen mask on his face and cuffs in arms. Tsuna stepped forward and placed a hand on the glass tube. He can't contain the worry, sadness and a ting of happiness that he feels now that he will free a man out of his hellish suffering.
"I want him to join a famiglia." Bermuda stated.
"But he hates mafia." Tsuna reasoned out.
"I'll take care of that." Reborn interjected as he stood beside Tsuna.
"Very well. Take care of him, Tsunayoshi." Bermuda said as the water in the tank slowly drains.
Tsuna watched as the mask on Mukuro removed itself from the user. The cuffs unlocked as the tube lowers too. He went closer and reached out. He took Mukuro by his shoulder as the tube finally disappeared in sight.
He breathed a sigh of relief before he heaved to lift the older teen and pulled him out of the elevated area. Takeshi and Hayato met him by the ground, towels in hands. They wrapped it around Mukuro before taking the guy from Tsuna.
Tsuna stared at Mukuro. He was cold because of the water he was submerged in awhile ago. He sighed. They need to go to the hospital. Reborn and Bermuda got the problem. So the latter opened up a portal before turning around to leave. Tsuna, who was nearest to it, faced the direction Bermuda was and bowed.
Reborn nodded to the two teens. They followed the silent order and went in. When Tsuna straightened up, he took Reborn's sleeve and ushered him in the portal. After crossing, they found themselves in front of an office. The hole closed behind them as they went inside.
Shamal was already attending Mukuro. Tsuna neared the doctor and asked what he can do to help. Shamal instructed him, not even thinking that the person he's ordering around is a teen. Reborn just watched by the side with the other guardians.
Tugging the five layers of blanket up to Mukuro's chin, Tsuna sat on the stool next to the bed and stared at the mist user. The man is covered with layers to warm him up. Even the heater inside the room is in maximum level. But although he wanted to sweat a lot too, he can't. Seeing the man submerged into the water makes him cold. It scares him as his own memory comes back to him.
He sighed. He lifted the blankets, sat on the bed and laid beside Mukuro. He curled against the teen and closed his eyes. He's not sleeping because he's sleepy. He wants to sleep because he wants to escape his mind.
Reborn almost facepalmed. He went out just to report what happened to Nono, and when he got back, Tsuna is already asleep beside Mukuro. He's surrendering. He can't understand the kid.
He sat down on the stool beside the bed. Leon jumped on his lap and stared at him. Reborn just sighed and smiled at his partner. The chameleon smiled back and turned into a mallet. The hitman chuckled and shook his head in refuse. Leon went back to his original form and nodded before jumping on Tsuna's head and closed his eyes.
Reborn just sat there. Watching the three sleep, especially the brunet. Whenever Tsuna's brows furrow, Reborn will put a finger between them. It relaxes the child. After the fourth time he did that, Tsuna took his coat sleeve and held it. The brunet murmured incoherent words before sighing in relief. The hitman didn't dare move. It was a sign that Tsuna was having a bad dream again and he perfectly stopped it.
Tsuna woke up when he felt someone move beside him. He thought of what happened before he slept. He sighed and opened his eyes. A black colored fabric came to his sight. He looked up, knowing its owner and smiled unconsciously. His guardian is sleeping.
The brunet released his vise grip on the clothe and slowly got up. He sat up, removed the part of blanket on him and arranged it on Mukuro before moving to the couch. He took an apple on the nearby basket and started eating it.
He was halfway done when the door opened. Shamal shuffled in, obviously drunk. Tsuna watched the man sat beside him and sleep on the other side of the couch. Tsuna waited again. He had finished the apple when the door opened again. Takeshi and Ryohei walked in. The two nodded on the brunet before surveying the area. They both gave small whistles before settling themselves on the floor.
"Onii-san?" Tsuna called.
"Yes Sawada?" Ryohei asked.
"How's Hibari?"
"Discharged an extreme hour after you went out."
Tsuna's brow furrowed. 'Hard headed as always.'
"Maa. He'll come back." Takeshi assured with a big smile.
Tsuna nodded. "You're right."
Tsuna watched as the two slept. He was silently recalling the things he had with them when the door opened again. Hayato with Lambo entered the room. The two went between Tsuna and Shamal. Hayato rested his nape on the couch rest while Lambo crawled towards Tsuna and cuddled him. The brunet combed the child's hair as Chrome materialized by the door.
The girl rushed towards Mukuro and looked at him. More of gawked at the teen. Tsuna stared as she cries in happiness. He blinked when Chrome turned to him. The girl went in front of him and bowed.
"Thank you for freeing Mukuro-sama." The girl expressed.
Tsuna nodded. "It's nothing."
Chrome raised her head and stared at him in confusion. "You're so kind even though we deceived you."
"It's the only thing I can help you with. Besides, he's been there for more than two years. I only stayed for a little time and I thought I was going crazy. I'm really amazed that he withstood that mental torture."
"I-I don't know either." Chrome answered. "I-I met Mukuro-sama when I was in hospital. H-He's the one keeping me alive for creating my missing organs."
Tsuna lowered his gaze. "Accident, huh?"
"Yes. I was already dying when I heard his voice."
Tsuna's eyes brightened up a little. "So you're the reason why he survived. Thank you. You're a life saver to him. I envy him for being strong, yet thankful that he survived too."
Chrome smiled. "We are really grateful of you too."
Tsuna reached out and patted Chrome's head. The girl blushed a little because of the affection. Tsuna retreated his hand, sensing that the girl felt awkward and not used to that kind of gesture. He can say that she didn't get the affection she wants from the people around her.
Chrome went back to Mukuro's side. While Chrome stared at the teen, Tsuna reached out for an orange and started peeling it. He was munching the first piece when he noticed that Chrome fell asleep. He felt at ease now.
He surveyed the room and smiled unconsciously. He feels happy that everyone is okay. That they aren't experiencing anything bad.
'Hope they can still accept me after I tell them my past.' Tsuna thought as he closes his eyes.