A/N:
@arisasonoda84: Thank you as well. Yihee.
@ethdsjordan: A pleasure. Haha.
Thank you for all the reviews! So, here's the second of the three updates of the week. Hope you don't mind the grammar and spelling mistakes, and also the chaotic kind of writing it in third point of view. (I was envisioning it as all around point of view, like at one point everyone's emotions can be described by the author, but those feelings are hidden from the others (characters). So yeah. I think it didn't work. oh well.)
Anyway, don't mind me. Onwards!
Chapter Ten
"Mukuro," Tsuna called, taking the man's hand to his and stared directly to the latter's eyes. "I want you to listen carefully and do not react not until I say so."
"Sure." The mist nonchalantly answered, but the unspoken concern is there.
Tsuna took a deep breath. It was a good thing Lambo was taken by Hayato for a walk and Kyouya is out, doing spars with the others. He really wants to talk to Mukuro cause he can't get the subject out of his head. He feels so guilty of doing and knowing things that the man didn't even know nor permit him to have knowledge about.
Besides, Mukuro is already healed and just dressing up while Lambo is already out. Hayato took the teen for a walk so the latter can get used to the people inside the mansion. So deemed that now is the right time for him to make the mist sit on the bed and sit in front of him too for better understanding and no conflict to ensue. If Mukuro understands, however.
"I saw your past in a dream." He said in a direct manner.
The man stilled.
"Maybe what you saw in the Bovino mansion reminded you of what happened in that place that's why your flames went to me and you showed me what happened to you in an unconscious way. It may have been my fault too. I didn't know you have that kind of past. If only I knew, I won't have to send you there. Or at least made you wait until I'm there to assist you. I sincerely apologize for my insensitivity." Tsuna tightened his hold. "I will also apologize for being very touchy. It's my fault why I saw it. I was holding your hand when we were here, sleeping."
"Do not pity me, Tsunayoshi." Mukuro muttered.
He shook his head. "I will never pity you, Mukuro. And I believe I admire you for being this strong and willed enough to push through such hardship. But it still pains me to remember what I saw. Those sick people..." His grip tightened. "They do not deserve to live. They're despicable. I know it's bad to kill, but they deserve it." Tsuna smiled a little. "So good job bringing them to hell, Mukuro."
"Kufufufufufufu... You're such an inscrutable man, Tsunayoshi." The other complimented, looking proud.
"I'm an open book, Mukuro. It's not that hard to read me." Tsuna responded with a cheeky smile. "Regarding your friends, the blond and the guy with a beanie,"
"Ken and Chikusa. They were taken by the Estranos." Rokudou supplied helpfully.
"Yes. I asked Grandpa to assist the search for the famiglia. Yesterday, Bouche said they found the base. If everything goes will today, if you want to come and are sane enough to go, we will go to the site and do some operation on them."
Mukuro nodded with a thoughtful look on his face. "Hmmm... You've planned ahead."
"It's the least I could do since you saved Lambo." Sawada let go of his hand.
Mukuro curled his fingers to a fist, missing the warmth from the brunet's hand. "Thank you, Tsunayoshi."
"You're welcome, Mukuro. Now get dressed. We have an adoption to make."
Mukuro tilted his head. "Adoption?"
Tsuna nodded. "I'm adopting Lambo."
Rokudou stared. Just stared. "What family are you in, Tsunayoshi?"
"Ah, Vongola Family." Tsuna smiled warily, gauging the other's expression. "I was going to tell you sooner or later, after we save your friends but since you asked... And I figured you hate mafia so I didn't say anything. Not that I'm keeping it a secret. I just want to make you decide regarding it, if you want to still hang out with us or leave. I'm not forcing you to stay."
"Huh..." Mukuro mumbled before chuckling. "Okay then. I'll think about it."
Tsuna took Lambo's shaking hand and held it, filling the spaces between fingers with his. He squeezed reassuringly. It made the kid look at him. He smiled before reaching out for the kid's head and brought it to him. He closed his eyes as he nuzzled on the teen's afro hair. He felt Lambo relax, so did he.
No. No one is going to take what's his.
Hayato looked at Kyouya who was standing at the farther end of the room. Mukuro is on the other side. Tsuna made them go and stay apart since the two was already at each other's throats when the mist went out of the clinic. He smirked when he saw the two vicious men relax as sky flames flooded the whole room. Even him indulged himself to the comfort of the flame. He can just sleep there if he wants, as long as those comforting flames are basking on him.
It's actually possessive. He can feel the sky flame curling around his storm ones, hugging and comforting it. Nuzzling on him, almost tickling him for fun, but still there. Just like Tsuna.
Spending his time with the brunet made him truly know the other's personality. Tsuna is a happy man with strong will and protective nature. He likes to help people he knew or doesn't, be it far away or just near him. He also has this kind of touchy tendencies just to comfort others. Like holding their hands, hugging them directly or by the shoulders, and patting them on the head or shoulder. What he really likes though is the praises. Tsuna praises them with full support, like kids that are doing their baby steps. Probably insulting since they're all grown ups now. But the way Tsuna does it, it's like he's giving them reassurance that they're free to do every thing they want as long as they won't get hurt.
He's not even demanding. He's just there, supportive and cheering. Waiting and watching. And instead of ordering them around, he asks them for hopeful favor. He's okay if they do it or not. He doesn't expect or assume things. He's just hoping.
"Tsuna-nii. I don't want to go." Lambo whimpered.
"And I'm not letting you go." Tsuna responded, tightening his hold. "I'm not letting anyone take you from us. Hell or high water, Lambo. They'll have to kill me first before they can even touch you."
The teen hugged the brunet back. "Thank you, Tsuna-nii."
"Always, Lambo. We're brothers, right?"
Lambo nodded. "Yes."
"Then rest assured, I won't hand you over to them." Tsuna looked at the others and quirked a brow. "Who's in for something adventurous after this?"
Hayato huffed before smiling. "I do."
"Hn."
"Kufufufu... Inviting people, aren't we Tsunayoshi?"
"The more the merrier." Sawada answered as Lambo removed himself to him. The brunet straightened his shirt and nodded to the door. "Let's go and get this over with."
Kyouya pushed himself from the wall he's leaning when Tsuna walked towards the door. Hayato went on first and opened the door for them. Kyouya let Mukuro go first after Tsuna and Lambo, feeling a little protective of their backs.
The skylark saw Tsunayoshi straightened his back as he went in front of Lambo to hide the kid a little. Hayato was on Lambo's side, almost caging the child with the brunet from the other famiglia that is present in the room. He went for the wall and leaned there. Relaxed but vigilant. It's good that he learned Italian. With that knowledge, he can now understand them and react immediately if things get out of hand.
"Tsunayoshi, this is Don Bovino." Nono introduced.
Tsuna nodded. "Honour to see you, Sir."
The Don growled, displeased. "You're saying that after taking my child? Impossible."
Tsuna smiled sweetly, eyes going for an innocent look. "May I remind you that you're in the Vongola territory?"
The don stilled with his men. Nono's brows raised at the question, seemingly impressed at the blatant threat. Ninth's guardians, lightning and mist, chuckled lightly at how bold the young man.
"And no offense, but you kidnapped the child first from my territory after he ran away from you. So it's my right to take back what's mine."
"What does this mean, Don Bovino?" Nono questioned, eyes going back and forth between the two parties.
The Don refused to respond and kept his mouth shut.
The current Vongola Don turned to his grandson. "Tsunayoshi?"
"I'm adopting Lambo Bovino as my brother." Tsuna stated, staring straight at his Grandfather's eyes.
"You cannot take my son away!" The Don pounded his fists on the table between the two parties and almost stood up in anger.
Hayato, Kyouya and Mukuro shifted at the same time, causing some tension to rise.
"Then why don't we ask the child then?" Nono suggested in a calm manner to placate the irate Don.
Tsuna looked at Lambo and the child looked at him. "Do you want to answer? It's okay if you don't want to."
The ravenet shook his head. "I want Tsuna-nii." Lambo said in Italian and Japanese as he hugged the brunet by the side. "I don't like it there. They kept on experimenting on me."
Nono's eyes widened while staring at the child before turning back to the Don who went quiet. "You're doing experiments on a teenager?"
"Since child." Mukuro supplied, and some papers materialized in his hands. "Here are some evidences that they monitored the child inside and out of their territory. Data regarding the child's experimentation and every thing that was done to him."
"In terms of aftermaths," Hayato added as he eyed the papers Mukuro put on the table. "Lambo is now having panic attacks, trust issues and phobia to everything except to Tenth, me, Kyouya Hibari and this man." As he pointed Mukuro who chuckled.
"They're lies!" The Don hissed.
"Evidences do not lie, Herbivore." Kyouya responded, eyes glaring at the opposite party. "Saying they're lies also telling that Vongola is lying."
The don clammed up.
"Alright." Nono said with finality. "If you have any countermeasures regarding these proofs presented by these gentlemen, might as well put them on the table, Don Bovino."
Tsuna braced himself as his intuition rang. The Don and his men pulled out weapons that aren't familiar to them. Before Tsuna can even react, they fired. Nono's eyes widened. Kyouya had his tonfas out, as well as Mukuro's trident while Hayato was about to grab Tsuna away.
Lambo, who saw what's happening, shouted Tsuna's name and clutched the brunet's shirt so tight that it almost ripped. Lightning bolts suddenly came off from Lambo's body, creating a shield for the five of them and disabling the attacks. It lasted for seconds before Lambo stopped his flames. He glared at his father and his men before giving them a thumbs down.
"Don't hurt my family." Lambo growled and lightning bolts from the sky striked through the roof and straight to the men.
(Lightning and sky harmonized instantly.)
Tsuna covered Lambo with Hayato while Ganauche, Nono's lightning guardian, shielded his sky from the strong attack. Kyouya smirked at the scene with Mukuro laughing maniacally, clearly enjoying the torture the Bovino's are in.
The lightning went gone after some seconds. The toasted men dropped on the floor, unconscious. Lambo hugged Tsuna tightly, rubbing his cheek on the brunet's back since he was told to hide there.
"Wao." Kyouya exclaimed, making Hayato and Mukuro cracked up while Tsuna just smiled, amused.
"Now there's the answer." Ganauche pointed out before sighing. "That was one heck of a strike."
"And it's all for Tsunayoshi's sake." Nono motioned as he watched his grandson interact with his friends. "A good sky brings out the best of its elements."
Bouche 'hn'-ed. "The small family is getting bigger."
Nono bobbed his head in agreement. "Indeed."
Tsuna hugged Lambo tightly and let him go. He ruffled the kid's hair with affection. He really thought the flame was raw, not controlled. Thank God it is.
"So you're lightning." Hayato mused.
Lambo gave a prideful smirk. "I am. And I'm good at it."
"So why aren't you using it?" The silveret asked with a raise of his brow.
All eyes went to Lambo who fidgeted. "It's the reason why they kept on tinkering me. Because I'm a lightning, I can harden myself. But I don't know how to do it when I was a kid. I only learned how when I escaped... And you took me in. I only used it now out of whim because Tsuna-nii is being attacked and I'm near him."
"They sure have weird weapons." Mukuro chimed in.
"I want to take my weapons they confiscated when I was still little. They have my name and I own them." Lambo whined to them.
"Don't worry. We'll take them back with the help of Kyouya." Tsuna assured.
Lambo and Mukuro stared at him owlishly.
"Well, you see, Kyouya is really vengeful." Tsuna tried to explain briefly, scratching his right cheek and trying to meet his friend's eyes.
"What Tenth mean is that the skylark is really protective of him. I want to blow them up myself, but I'll have my fill by destroying their mansions. And if the Ninth permits tho." Hayato elaborated further for the two.
Tsuna smiled sweetly. "Oh. He will, Hayato. Grandpa never liked inhumane experimentation. I, myself, would want to take them on, but I'm still restricted, you see."
"But you aren't restricted tonight." Kyouya stated as he sat on the edge of the table.
The brunet nodded. "Yes. We're going to save Mukuro's friends and turn their kidnappers to Vindice."
"Tsunayoshi. You know we're being hunted by those mummies." Mukuro tried to enlighten.
Hayato can't help his tittering. "I'm scared of them, but the way you put them as mummies is utterly hilarious."
"You're going to see those police?" Lambo questioned.
"We're going to see them, Lambo. You're coming with me. I can't risk leaving you here like that last time even if I trust my family's security." He affirmed.
"How do you know he's safe with you?" Mukuro can't help questioned.
Tsuna smiled. "Because I'm the one defending him. And don't worry about Vindice. I'm certain they'll listen to us."
The four men looked at each other. The brunet spoke with confidence, so it can be trusted. They all trust Tsuna but they can't help getting skeptical about the listening part. When did the Vindice ever listen to their target's plea of justice?
"I want to scold you, but really," He said with exasperation, but the amazed smile gracing his lips tells otherwise. "you're such a cloud, Kyouya."
"What does that supposed to mean, Little Animal?" Kyouya threatened as he kicked a getting up guard in the head. The latter instantly went unconscious on the ground.
"Oh nothing. Just saying you're a life saver." He sang before nodding to Mukuro. "Do your magic, Mukuro. But don't be hasty. Tell me when you find them, and I'll come with you."
"I can take care of myself, Tsunayoshi." The mist argued.
Kyouya snorted as he kicked a table to the wall and blasted it open. "He's hopeless, Little Animal."
A tick mark appeared on Mukuro's temple. "Kufufu. Do you want a go, birdie-chan?"
Kyouya whipped his head towards the mist, face in a scowl. "For calling me that, I'll bite you to death!"
"Hayato?" He called as the two give themselves a go for their own little fight.
"Yes Tenth?" The silveret responded instantly.
"Take Lambo with you and gather some evidences." The brunet instructed before eyeing the teen noiret. "I'm really hoping you know how their minds work, Lambo. And know how to make a shield to keep Hayato safe as he takes some proof that Mukuro and his friends are innocent."
Hayato snickered, waving his hand. "It'll be the other way around, Tenth."
Lambo huffed before smiling at Tsuna. "I'll keep Bakadera safe."
"What did you just call me you brat?!"
"Bakadera! Baka plus Gokudera equals Bakadera!" Lambo gloated with a taunting smile.
He sighed as the two continued to argue before tugging Mukuro's sleeve, who happened to skid to his side. "Where?"
Mukuro looked at the two people bickering in front of them before answering in an amused tone. "Left."
"Kyouya!" Tsuna called out. The man, who was pulling himself out of the rubble he made when Mukuro kicked him hard, snapped his head to the brunet's direction. "Keep doing your rampage."
"Hn." Kyouya nodded. "I'll kill piney later."
"Sure, birdie-chan." His partner bid with a small wink to the cloud.
Tsuna could only shake his head when Kyouya started to destroy more walls. He let Mukuro led him to the inner corridors of the establishment and stayed behind the man. They went further inside the mansion, down to some halls until they stumbled upon a hallway with transparent glasses.
Tsuna felt dread flood in his system as he gazed at the people inside the rooms. He can feel his anger slowly bubbling as he stared at one of them. He could only clench his hands in fury as his intuition confirmed to him that the people inside were already dead.
Outside of the hallway, three people flinched a little at the sudden surge of feelings inside their hearts.
Mukuro slowly pried him off from the windows and tugged him by his sleeves to keep him going. Tsuna tried to contain his anger by taking deep breaths to calm his nerves and chanting 'focus' in his head. The mist gave a mental applause for the brunet's resilience.
Intuition giving him a heads up, Tsuna poked Mukuro on his shoulder and pointed a thumb to their right. The man almost didn't got the message if he didn't see the readiness in the brunet's posture. Mukuro laughed a little before making some moving vines and mummified the incoming men using his creations, then led his companion to their agenda again.
They were rounding a corner when Tsuna's head ached. Mukuro halted when he saw him wince. It was a bad move for he unconsciously lowered his guard. Being a little disoriented, Tsuna almost didn't notice a blur coming towards them. Acting on instincts, he pushed Mukuro out of the way to take on the attack that was meant for the mist.
Tsuna and the thing that attacked flew meters away from the original spot due to the momentum, while Mukuro regained his balance before he hit the wall. The latter's ears perked up when he heard a muffled scream of a familiar voice.
"Tsunayoshi!" Mukuro shouted before running towards the brunet's direction.
Tsuna, on the other hand, is gritting his teeth as he felt sharp nails pierce his skin while straightening his arms to keep the creature away from him. The beast snarled and growled on him in retaliation. Salvation came in the form of Mukuro. The mist's trident embodied itself on the creature's shoulder. Seeing the attacker distracted, Tsuna removed the hands on his shoulders and moved away a little.
Mukuro created chains and it wrapped itself on the attacker and embodied itself on the ground like a rock. Tsuna cautiously approached the violent creature. It snarled, growled and tried to pounce like a wild animal. No. It wasn't an object. It's a man that was forced to be an animal with rolled up eyes.
Mukuro stared at Tsuna when tears started to pour down on the latter's cheeks. There is so much sympathy, so much hurt. He tensed up when the brunet reached out and held the hand of the man in his grasp. He can see the Tsuna trying to stop himself to come closer. Maybe stopping himself from hugging the man into creature.
"We should go, Mukuro." Tsuna sobbed out before letting the hand go.
"Are you sure?" Mukuro questioned warily and careful.
Tsuna nodded and gave a strained smile. "Yes. We need to get Ken and Chikusa."
"Are we going to let this man go?"
"Knock him out?"
Mukuro did the suggestion. He can't risk Tsunayoshi seeing something not from his dream. The brunet is too pure for gore. He doesn't need to get into his head just to figure out the innocence the man in front of him possess.
They went on. Mukuro led him in front of a door. Before Tsuna can even step up, Mukuro opened the door, trident ready. They peeked inside. Low sounds of groans and moans of pain were heard, accompanied with snarls of distaste and anger.
Tsuna pushed the door wider. He eyed the scene. There are two people inside: a blond with spiky long hair with a bleeding horizontal wound across his nose bridge, and wearing dirtied white clothes; and a man with neck length blue hair, with a barcode on his left cheek and wearing the same type of dirtied white clothe. Both were chained to the wall, hands levelled to their heads with wrist shackled.
Unable to stop himself, Mukuro stepped in, alerting the two people. Tsuna hissed softly at the reaction, a little pissed because it was the same with Lambo, only much more worser.
"Ken. Chikusa." The mist called out.
Ken, the blond, snarled angrily while Chikusa glared at the man.
"Can you peek in their minds, Mukuro? I don't think they recognize you." Tsuna silently suggested, staying on his spot.
Mukuro tried the suggestion then snarled in dissatisfaction. "They think someone is posing as me like every other day during their stay in here."
A bout of silent deliberation.
"Will you let me approach them?"
Mukuro looked at Tsuna, eyes wide in surprise. "Tsunayoshi-"
"I don't think they'll see me as someone threatening. I'm scrawny, and too coward looking." Then he smiled a little. "May I?"
Mukuro didn't know what to feel nor think, but he unconsciously sidestepped. He doesn't know why he became hesistant. Or even became protective of Tsunayoshi. Maybe because the man that looked like a teenager promised him so much and even provided him his basic needs without expecting any payment. Even gave solace before he thought of needing one. Perhaps it's because he found company with him and the other three. Or because he was saved by him awhile ago.
Mayhap it's the curiosity of what will happen since that feeling stayed to him from the beginning of their relationship.
He watched as Tsunayoshi approached the two. He was going to suggest to the brunet to use his flames but he couldn't voice it out. The interest of what will happen is too strong for him to intervene. To see how will the brunet approach the two without using the influence of his flames to calm or gave him an easy access to approach the two.
"Hey there." He heard Tsunayoshi softly greeted as he kneeled in front of Chikusa.
Chikusa only glared.
Tsunayoshi sighed through his nose. "Do you see the man behind me? That man with pineapple hair style and trident?"
"Kufufufu. That stung, Tsunayoshi." He can't help himself to comment.
"Yeah. He's not an illusion or any types of hallucination. That's Mukuro Rokudou, one of the best mist users I ever encountered." The brunet stated in a sincere voice.
The pertained mist can't help himself from getting flattered with those words as they wormed their way in to his heart.
Chikusa looked at the man, eyes slowly going wide. "Y-You-"
"We're here to save you and Ken." Tsuna smiled as he took hold of the shackles on Chikusa's both ankles and break them with both hands. "I'm Tsuna, by the way. It's nice to meet you."
"Get away from Kakipi, you fucking-"
"Ken." Chikusa chastised. The blond stopped talking, but glowered dangerously to Tsunayoshi.
"I approached you since I know you can keep him in control." The brunet explained as he yanked off the chains on Chikusa, breaking them in the process. "But I won't hesitate knocking you out if you attack me, Chikusa. I'm here to help, and help is what you get."
Mukuro can't help laugh a little. "No argument there, Chikusa. He's very good in debates."
"Hey! At least I am always on the reasonable side of the debate!" Tsunayoshi pouted at him before turning back to Chikusa to inspect any damage. "A little malnourished since you've been held for two months. Some wounds here and there. Good thing I have sun."
"Sun?" Chikusa questioned, voice hoarse.
"Yes. Sun flames. Is your throat damaged? Did they hit you? Or is it because of unuse?"
"Unuse." The bluenet answered.
"Hmm..." Tsunayoshi placed his hands in front of Chikusa and sun flames shined. "I like your hair. But you look good in your beanie and glasses."
"Huh..." Chikusa uttered, staring at Tsunayoshi.
The brunet retrieved his hands as Chikusa felt a little replenished. "There. Help me with Ken?"
Chikusa nodded. "Sure."
Yup. Mukuro figured Tsunayoshi is interesting with or without his sky flames.