Omake: A fleeting dream
For the past five millennia, he only remembered being summoned for seven times. The recent millennium was a total no summon because he always stirs away from any summoning circle on the ground. If possible, he won't go out of the house and rot there for eternity. Not like there are anyone living there other than him, aside from Reborn who occasionally comes and sleeps in the house. Even Verde holed somewhere in Noerim for the past three millennia. The only one time they got together was when they got into power play that resulted them to become babies.
So it was ultimately unintentional and a mistake for him to step on a summoning circle in his animal form. It wasn't his fault that he turned to his animal form to get to the house from the town. Nor is it his fault that the summoning circle appeared right where he was going to step. He could only sigh inwardly while lamenting his bad luck.
He was surrounded by humans with same uniforms when he appeared to the Human world, or what they now call as Mundane world. He immediately backed away when some tried to approach him. He can see variety of faces with different ethnicity, nationality and personality. He's probably in the academy. But damn. It was quite overwhelming since it has been years, past five millennia, when he experienced this kind of attention.
He looked back and snarled at the human who tried to touch his tail. A lot of the female population backed away in fright while some courageous (or just plain stupid) males tried to come at him. He was going to growl at them to make them completely turn tail when he heard a door slammed open.
It was like those movies he used to see in the human's cinema when he was still enjoying the company of the creatures. All people looked back to see who it was before they started to whisper and murmur among themselves of something along the lines of 'here he comes.', 'accurate radar', 'we're dead' and 'the demon is here'. The one who slammed the door open must have started to move towards them because the sea of humans parted. Skull stared at the scowling brunet, with almost short hair, brown eyes and in delinquent get up, approaching him.
He can't help gulping when he suddenly compared the teen to Giotto de Vongola, minus the hair and eye color, the intimidating air and the scowl. A descendant, probably? It doesn't even look like the teen is accepted by anyone in the room. Some were even looking at him in disgust and disdain.
Skull almost backed away as the brunet get nearer. The only reason he didn't was because the scowl softened before the kid stopped right in front of him. A foot stepped on the line of the circle. The cloud arcobaleno tensed, but he was rendered speechless when the teen erased the line before turning back.
That means he's free to go back to Fiant!
However, Skull's gut urged him to follow the teen who was already walking away. He did. He stepped out of the circle and traced the path the human took. The brunet didn't even look back to him when they quietly exited the room. They walked through the corridor and turned for the stairs. The human took a couple of steps down before turning to him in concern.
"Can you get down? Or do you want me to open the window?" The brunet queried softly.
Skull stared at the stairs before stepping down with one paw at a time.
"Okay." The human nodded before continuing on going down.
It was tiring to go down the stairs in Skull's animal form. But he only managed with the human's concern. The teen always looks back to him, eyeing him with calculation and sometimes fidgeting to probably help him. When they got down, the teen visibly relaxed and started to usher him to the courtyard. They stopped under a big tree before the human faced him.
Skull mused how beautiful the human from his perspective. With the blue sky as his background, the gentle breeze moving those brown locks and the serene face that replaced the scowl, yeah. The brunet is beautiful.
"You can go back." The teen stated genuinely, bending a little to see his eyes. "You don't need to follow me here."
Skull dropped his ears and looked down as he sat on his hind legs. He doesn't even know why he followed him!
The brunet cooed softly before bending on one knee and cupping the Cloud's face to see his eyes. "I'm sorry. I was insensitive. It's okay that you followed me here. But I didn't want you to feel obligated just because I took you from them. Besides, it's better that you go back so you won't feel uncertain. You can always come back when you're ready."
Skull yipped in happiness before licking the teen's face, causing a short chuckle. At least he got a permission to visit again.
"I'll take that as a thank you. Come back again, anytime." The human bid with a soft, warm smile before standing up and going for the tree.
Skull stared at the human who sat and leaned back to the tree then took a book from the hidden side and started to read it. He decided to come near and sat by the leg of the teen. The latter glanced at him before going back to the text. It didn't take that long. It was probably mid afternoon when he went back to Fiant.
He's definitely coming back to visit.
Skull went back to the Mundane in his human form. He didn't transport himself with his own portal. He went for the human camp in Viwox and entered the castle through there. It was terribly easy. When he got out of the tower-like, he went for his animal form and started to pace around with his invisibility so he can't be seen.
He searched for the brunet. First, he went for the courtyard where he left the kid, but he wasn't there. Second was in the canteen where most students he saw went to, but no brunet in sight. He went for the second floor. He paced around, regretting why he didn't put the human's scent in his brain so he could just sniff him. He was about to give up after an hour of searching when a door got blasted off its hinges.
Skull immediately went on alert when the door reached its opposite wall and a groan was heard. The brunet he's searching for was leaning on the broken door and wincing in pain. He looked at the threshold of the broken door when a noiret went out of there, sticks (that obviously looked like tonfas) in hands. The Cloud slowly sat on his hind legs, eyes going back and forth from the brunet to the noiret who were staring at each other.
It was a minute before the noiret stepped forward and was about to attack when Skull gave a whine to get their attention. They both stopped and looked at his direction. While the brunet's face lit up, the noiret's brows furrowed in confusion.
"Time, Kyouya. I have a visitor." The brunet demurred as he slowly back away from the door.
"It's Hibari to you, Tsunayoshi." The noiret, now Skull knows as Kyouya Hibari, growled.
Tsunayoshi, the brunet, grinned mischievously at the other. "Don't be unfair, Kyouya. You call me by my first name, I'll call you in your first name too." Then he cooed at the Cloud, not minding the noiret's snarl of warning. "Hey there, buddy. What brings you here?"
Skull yelped and wagged his tail as Tsunayoshi rubbed his fur. He earned an amused smile that caused him to jump on the brunet and lick the latter's face. He likes his human.
"Okay okay." The human laughed and tried to placate him. "We should eat lunch, perhaps? Or walk around the courtyard?"
"Classes hours, Tsunayoshi." Hibari reminded.
"Not like those teachers want me in their classes." The brunet retorted as he stood up, a hand on the right side. "You got me good on my right. I just hope you didn't break any bones."
"You broke my door." The noiret pointed out.
"You broke your door." Tsunayoshi emphasized before slowly walking. Skull followed. "What I broke was your sofa and table. And I didn't attack first."
"You called me by my name." Hibari frowned.
"I thought we were in the first name basis because you called me by my name first." Tsunayoshi jeered before waving a hand. "Anyway, fight you later. I have a visitor to attend."
"An invisible demon again?" The other asked.
The question made Skull stop from walking and stare at the brunet who shrugged. "It's not my fault I can see through their invisibility and understand their language, Kyouya. I assure you, they won't touch anyone as long as I'm here."
Skull immediately followed the brunet again. He was still shocked at the information he acquired. The brunet can understand demon language and see invisible ones. Now, Skull is certain that this kid is Giotto de Vongola's descendant with a demon blood in him, because only those who has demon bloods can understand their language.
The other is obviously having a hard time walking with his side burning. Who knows what hurts other than that injury. Since the Cloud is pretty big and he can let the brunet take a ride on his back, he took the human's back of shirt with his teeth and twisted his head to put the surprised one on his back.
Tsunayoshi laughed before wincing and lying on Skull's back. The Cloud took the initiative to sniff the brunet's scent before tracing it so he can locate the other's room. As he walked, he felt warm with how the teen's body heat gets absorbed by his own. Tsunayoshi is like a heater in a good way. He can feel the contraction of the chest to breathe air, the beating of the fragile heart that almost sounded like a lullaby to his body and the warm protection of like a blanket.
When they arrived by the door that has more scent of Tsunayoshi, he nudged the latter awake. The brunet stumbled off him and opened the door. Skull stared at the vandalism on the door and the walls that obviously pertains to the human, before he entered too and closed the door with his leg. He sat by there and watched the brunet go for a cabinet and started to rummage in it. While the human is at it, he looked around the room.
It's rather plain except for the table with pens and papers on it and one side of the room with some stacks of books in there. By the side of the bed, there are stacks of books too and two on the pillow. The windows are pretty wide and they give natural light. Other than that, the place is clean and looked like a regular room. Why is Tsunayoshi alone in this room without any roommate?
"Should we go out?" Tsunayoshi asked him while removing his blooded shirt. "Sorry if the place is not much. I don't have much things as you can see. And I don't have any roommates because they don't want to associate themselves with colorless people like me and be targeted by bullies because I bully bullies."
Skull stared at the scars, bruises and healing wounds on the lean pale body. The brunet noticed him staring and looked down on his body before laughing.
"Ah. Don't mind them. They're my battle scars. You can't fight others without getting whipped too." Tsunayoshi waved off as he took a shirt.
Skull padded closer when the other winced in pain and cupped his side.
"Hibari really nicked me on the side. It hurts like hell." The human grimaced before putting his shirt on and smiling at him. "So, what do you want to do?"
The Cloud concluded that the teen needs a rest. So he pushed the other to the bed and laid on top of the brunet. Tsunayoshi yelped in surprise before groaning in pain when his back hit the bed. The human patted his head and asked him to get off, but Skull let his weight go down more, causing a choking sound on the brunet's throat.
Tsunayoshi relented and asked him if he wants to move to the bed properly. Skull grinned and went off. The brunet chuckled fondly before turning and crawled for the pillows. Skull followed suit, laid on his paws while facing the human who yawned and closed his eyes. It didn't take long for Tsunayoshi to fall asleep.
(Skull left the Mundane after draping a blanket on the human in his human form.)
(He didn't know Tsuna saw his form.)
"Are you sure about this?" Doctor Furikawa questioned again with his brows furrowed in worry and uncertainty. "Tsunayoshi isn't someone you can get along so easily. Other than that, you'll get targeted by his enemies too."
Skull nodded with an easy smile. "I am well aware of that. But there are no extra rooms and the only bed that can accommodate me is in his room. And maybe he'll take mercy on me."
The chancellor hesitantly nodded. "Tell me if you don't want there anymore. We'll gladly arrange something."
"I'll keep that in mind."
The two looked by the door when three consecutive knocks resounded from there. A familiar brunet opened the door and walked in with fluid strides while gently pushing the door close. Bored gazes appraised them. Like any day, Tsunayoshi looked at his fellow humans, there's calculation and doubt in them. It's something Skull understands from the brunet.
Tsunayoshi is hated in the academy. Sometimes, the brunet will be ambushed by students who bullies other students. Most of the female population eye the teen with disgust and condemn. Some even try to enter his human's room, good thing it has a good lock. With all that, Tsunayoshi never minds.
Skull noticed how Tsuna is always on the victims' rescue, be it human or demon, for the past months he was visiting. The teen even has this revised spells to break contracts between a summon and its contractor, whereas the latter will suffer the burn of being stripped off his contract.
With all this happenings within the months they had been together with Skull in his animal form, the Cloud decided to enter the school as a student in his human form. It's not that hard. He just has to regress his height a little, be a little presentable and take the tests required to enter. All to provide company to the brunet who needed someone to hang on or at least feel that he's not alone. What pained Skull though was when he said goodbye to the brunet as the wolf.
It wasn't that hard. When he went on with the day, accompanying the brunet while planning how to say his goodbye, Tsunayoshi beat him to it. The brunet asked him what's the problem and if he has something to say. Skull only dropped his ears and looked at the teen with a guilty expression, who pursed his lips and smiled softly and understandingly. Tsunayoshi only hugged him, told him to take care of himself and never get summoned again when he doesn't want to be overwhelmed.
Skull doesn't know whether to admire the human for being that compassionate, or cry because he knew how to let go of those things important to him even at his young age. Seriously, he can't believe that Tsuna is a colorless human with how understanding the latter is. He fits as a rain or even a sky.
"What do you want me for, Doc?" Tsunayoshi asked as he stood beside Skull.
The stuntman stared at brunet and realized that the latter is just by his shoulders. Huh. Vertically challenged.
"This is Skull de Mort, Tsunayoshi. He will be your roommate since there are no more rooms available." Doctor Furikawa introduced.
Brown eyes glanced at him. "Okay. What aura?"
"A storm." The chancellor answered.
"I'm a cloud." Skull corrected and opened his palm to show a condensed shape of purple aura. "The machine is broke."
"What?" Doctor Furikawa gawked.
Tsunayoshi's lips quirked upward before a chuckle made its way out. "I like this one. Come on. We need to make some adjustments in the room since the bed is not in its place and I have some things to place somewhere. Is this the only bag you have?"
"No. I also have a bag pack." Skull answered, eyeing the suitcase that the brunet was fiddling. He watched tge latter pull the handle from its hidings and gripped it lightly. "Do you want the bag or you want to play with that?"
"I can use this to attack some bullies on the way. Do you mind me using it?" The teen queried innocently with a glint of danger.
Skull shrugged. "Cool."
They left Doctor Furikawa gaping at their platonic interaction.
The walk for the room was silent. Skull kept his distance, trying to retain the image of his human pulling his suitcase. Tsunayoshi looked so cool. And it's Skull, the famous stuntman in the past, who said that. Skull saying that is a big deal. It will take a lot for a creature to look graceful, respectable or cool in the eyes of others. Sometimes experience matters with practice too. But Tsuna put anyone to shame with how he does it effortlessly.
When they got to the room, Tsunayoshi instructed him to drop his bags by the side of the made bed and help him open the windows to keep the dust from staying in their room. They moved the books in the middle of the room and started to arrange the foundation of the bed before putting the mattress that was covered with a cloth. He was helped in putting bedsheet on it before he was given some extra pillows from the brunet's own bed. After that, they were done.
It was already evening when they finished so they were asked to go to the canteen. He invited the brunet to eat but the latter waved him off while stacking his books. He resorted to eating his share before taking a good tray for his roommate. When he got back, the room was clean, the books were stacked in a corner and the brunet is reading some papers.
"Here." He said as he put a knee on the floor and placed the tray of food gently in front of the teen. "You should eat your dinner too."
"Ah." The brunet blurted before nodding a thanks. "Thanks Skull."
"No problem, Tsunayoshi?" He asked, feigning innocence since the other doesn't know he's the wolf.
"Tsuna is fine." His human waved off, eyes returning to the paper he was holding. "We're roommates now."
Skull beamed and nodded. "Okay."
Skull's sleep that night was pretty satisfying.
The Cloud stood up when he saw Tsuna walking in the canteen with a busted lip, bloody face and limp leg. He left the table of humans, who invited him to eat after their class, and ran towards the brunet. Tsuna rose a brow at him as he approached. The purple head reached out and inspected the damage. Not that excessive. Possibly an unfair fight. Mostly aren't Tsuna's blood even.
He ushered the other to the latter's usual table when he saw Kurokawa go for the counter and probably take a food for Tsuna. He made his roommate wait when he ran back to his previous table to get his bag. He apologized to his lunchmates when he got it and ran back again.
It has been a usual thing for him to see Tsuna more ragged up. Sometimes, it takes for him and Yamamoto to pull Tsuna out of the fight because the brunet never stops until he defeated all of his opponent. He's so bloody sometimes too, that the child's blood and his enemies' blood mingle on the same clothes. No wonder Tsuna has to buy new ones every tri-month whenever they have to burn the ruined clothes.
"Ow ow." Tsuna winced in sting as Skull dabbed alcohol soaked cotton on the split lip.
"Sorry sorry." The Cloud apologized as he gently gripped the brunet's chin and raised it a little more to have a good look on the wound. "Bear with me a little, okay?"
"It's fine." Tsuna replied, staring at him. "Thanks for patching me up again. You're a great help."
"At least you know how to say thank you." He joked.
The usual teasing smirk graced the brunet's lips. "You don't want me to blackmail you, Skull. Don't make me remind you of that one time I have to put you on your bed after you fell from it."
Skull blushed. "You're bad."
Tsuna laughed merrily. "Or that one time you fell while going out of the bathroom in the middle of the night."
"I was sleepy." He defended.
"Figures. You even went to my bed to sleep with me." The brunet jabbed, causing him to go redder.
"Tsuna." He whined.
"Fine fine." His human surrendered. "Patch me up already."
"Here's your meal, Sawada." They looked up to Kurokawa who put a tray of food on the table. "Patch up, eat up then go back to your room. You don't want Madam Cara to find you."
"Nah. Skull here is her new favorite. He'll save me whenever she's there. Let's just hope no one will try taking her attention from him." Tsuna waved off, causing Kurokawa to roll her eyes while Skull to duck his head in shyness.
"Fine. See you around." Kurokawa bid and walked away.
"Bye bye, Hana-chan!" The brunet cheered before facing him again with closed eyes. "Go on."
Skull contemplated whether to kiss his human's lips or not for closing his eyes and openly offering himself. The Cloud resorted to swipe a heavy drenched cotton on the brow wound, eliciting a cry of pain, before patching the brunet more. Tsuna accused him of doing that on purpose which he denied. It's his fault anyway.
After patching up the brunet with all the bandages and band-aids (they don't know the word 'shame' and 'shy' when in terms for patching up Tsuna) and making him dress in a new shirt (Tsuna was carrying that one), Skull put his first aid kit away while Tsuna started to eat. He was going to ask where was the disinfectant after noticing it missing, when a food suddenly got inside his mouth. He stared at the brunet who cracked and almost choked with how much he was laughing. Skull resorted to silently chewing the food before opening his mouth again to take another one. Tsuna gladly fed him.
He forgot about the disinfectant bottle.
Skull jumped away from the fireball that was going to hit him square on the stomach. He raised a brow on the humanoid dragon who was attacking him with its summoner, Nicholas Coe. He wonders how he got found though. He had been avoiding the young man since Tsuna warned him. Not only that, he doesn't interact with anyone not lenient enough with his human and does not have the same class as him.
The dragon was about to give him another attack when he flared his aura a little. Just enough for the semi-demon to hesitate and back away. He should probably tell this to Hibari. It is stated in the rule book that summons cannot attack humans even under their contractors' orders.
"What?! Attack him!" Nicholas commanded.
"He won't." Skull answered for the blond, dubbed prince charming by Tsuna in a sarcastic way. "He can't match up with me."
"Match up? You're just an ordinary human who doesn't have any summon." Nicholas taunted.
He can't help chuckling at that and raised the paper where his chosen course is written. "As you can see, hunters do not need any summons. Nor do exorcists."
"Huh. I thought you're a summoner too. Aren't you Sawada's bitch?" Skull blinked at the blond's assumption. "You're always around him, dude. You're basically like a dog following him anywhere."
Skull blinked again before craning his head to the left. Well, he doesn't feel necessarily attacked with the assumption. He was called worse by many other than a bitch. What he wanted to know is if he and Tsuna look compatible from afar, near or just being there.
For the past months they have been together, he got to know how enjoyable it is to be with the brunet. Tsuna is the most talkative human he met. He'll wake Skull up just to tell him a fact or say a theory about the summoning circle or the contract incantation. There will be a time that Tsuna will blurt a random fact and tell him all the things he knew about it. He can talk an ear off by just saying something about the book he read. Like what he likes about it, what he doesn't like about it, what was wrong in the book and what kind of other missing things in it or was it satisfying for him or not.
Sometimes, Tsuna can be the comedian between them. He'll go all out just to make Kurokawa laugh, or Hibari chuckle. Most of the time, Skull is the target of all the antics. He'll go invite him to run in the morning, or play card in the afternoon. Skip classes just to visit Hibari in his office, play hopscotch in the courtyard, read at the stairs of any of the towers, minus Blood tower, and talk or sing all night just for the heck of it.
There will be times that Tsuna will be quiet all day and keeps on reading books too but by the next morning, he'll be back to normal. The brunet looks so passive and bored in the outside. Feral, dangerous and hushed even. He is known to he ruthless when it comes to fighting. Once rumoured to enjoy beating the lives of his opponents. But there's this childishness, impulsiveness, carelessness and naivety to authority in Tsuna that Skull can't help feeling fascinated with it and looks forward to see again.
"Cat got your tongue, De Mort?" Nicholas questioned with a shit eating smirk. "It's true, isn't it? You kept on following him around like a dog. I wonder what do you gain. Immunity of being a bullied? A lap dance? A blowjob? That guy is a pussy anyway. He has this twisted way of thinking that he has to save the others like a hero. Too bad he's not being rewarded accordingly."
"At least he's not associated with you." Skull leaned back a little as he crossed his arms while giving the other a leveled stare. "You thought you're so tough because you have a level seven semi-demon on your back? What of it if that summon of yours disappears? Can you face Tsuna in an one to one battle like how Hibari and him do?" He grinned when he saw the prince charming's expression went sour. "Never thought of the possibility, did you?"
"Why don't we try it now?" They all looked up to see Tsuna crouched on the window stool, staring at them with amber eyes. He looked furious with how his eyes blazed, his face expressionless and the way he has this smirk on his lips that has a ferine edge on it. "I'm itching to use my revised exorcism spell and null contract spell."
"Tsuna." Skull uttered in shock.
He watched as the brunet jumped and landed beside him. "There is a rule around here, Coe." Skull stared at the warm hand that was put on his shoulder as his friend gave his warning. "You don't bully the weak and you don't touch my friends."
"I didn't bully him." The blond denied.
Sawada chuckled hollowly. "Right. And I didn't hear you call Skull my bitch. Can you step back a little, Skull? I need to pound some shits and fucks on this one."
"Wha-"
Skull watched how everything turned out in front of him. Tsuna didn't even gave Nicholas enough time to breathe when he attacked the latter with the summon. The brunet is too anger ridden, in adrenaline rush and extremely on high alert to even get scared of being hit by fireballs or get scratched by sharp claws or slapped by a heavy tail. He kept on attacking and whipping the two offenders' asses. And Skull honestly felt loved.
The only one time someone avenged him was when Reborn, the strongest arcobaleno, a powerful sun and the greatest hitman in the Human world, saw him sitting at the house's porch, scorched and bloody. Cause even though his sempai bullies him with stupid things, Reborn will never let one of his own get hurt without his consent. Other than that, no one did something for him like what Tsuna is doing right now. He wonders if Tsuna and Reborn will click nicely once they met.
His brows furrowed deeply when his stomach dropped and his heart clenched at that thought. Huh. He feels jealous and possessive over Tsuna. Must be the fact that he classified Tsuna as his human and he doesn't want to share him with anyone.
"Skull!" Purple eyes went for the brunet who was gripping yellow locks of barely conscious Nicholas. "Do you want an apology?"
Skull shook his head. "I'm okay."
Tsuna shrugged before letting prince charming go. "Sorry about that. He ticked me off big time."
"No. Thank you." He expressed with utmost sincerity. "This is the second time someone defended me."
Brown eyes stared at him with calculation before a warm hand took his and got dragged to who knows where. "You're worth of everything, Skull. Too kind sometimes, but I like that about you."
Skull blushed. Too straightforward. "Thanks."
"One of these days, I'm going to break your shell to dust and I'll pull you out of your comfort zone." Then he got graced with a big warm smile that made his heart skip some beats. "By then, you'll feel more confident of yourself and we'll have more fun together."
Skull dumbly nodded, speechless and flattered.
(He suddenly has this feeling that Tsuna knows something he doesn't know.)
Skull opened his eyes when light attacked his hiding place. Tsuna stared at him with unreadable expression from the door of the closet. The Cloud resorted to hugging his knees closer to his chest and dropped his head down on them. He wants to hide more in embarrassment and sadness.
It all began with a nightmare. He woke up with a fright. He dreamed of his family being burned again. How his wife, Evangeline, and son, Luke, were gunned down by Eric and burned with fire. He should be dead too, if only he wasn't a demon that can't be killed by simple means. It was supposed to be a good day too. It was Luke's birthday and their anniversary they were celebrating. However, who knew it will be their death anniversary too?
Every year, he mourns for that day. He loved his wife and son. Really. Evangeline was a sweet lady full of grace and unending wittiness. Luke was an embodiment of the sun with how cheerful and cute he is. Sometimes, Skull wondered what would've happened if the two weren't died. Will he have his own lineage running around like how Giotto's blood does? Will he be recognized by any of his descendants whenever his picture from years ago get passed down to their generations and they see him in person?
Nobody knows.
He looked up when he felt Tsuna shuffled to go in the closet and close the door when the latter got comfortable. They sat in complete darkness and silence. Only silent breathing was heard. It was dead of the night and they're inside the closet by the hallway, hiding from the world. Frankly, he expected for the night to be his alone. He doesn't even know how Tsuna found him cause he swore he moved silently when he went out. Intuition, as Tsuna always reasons, probably? Who knows.
They stayed like that for a long time. Him at the other end of the closet, with the other on the opposite side. Skull doesn't mind since he's used of not moving for a long time ever since everything went stagnant for him. The numbness on his legs, arms, back and neck won't bother him. He's a demon. But what concerns him was Tsuna. How can the human tolerate such stillness and not move or twitch a single time to keep his body comfortable?
"Tsuna?" He called out, soft and low, almost unheard.
"Hm?" A small croon.
He hesitated. "Why are you here?"
"Well, someone almost caused me a mix of panic attack and heart stroke after I didn't see that someone on his bed when I checked. So I planned to search, but then I heard someone breathing inside the closet so I figured he's here. It's good I found him." Skull felt a gaze on him. "Good thing I found you."
Purple eyes gazed at the direction of the brunet. "Sorry. Nightmare had me bad."
"No problem. I guessed it was that since you always come to me whenever you have a problem or you don't understand something."
"Thanks."
"Takes your time, Skull. And no worries, I won't pry."
"But why are you staying?"
"Cause you'll need the company." A simple answer. "Nightmares shouldn't be dealt alone, Skull. Sometimes, they shake us that bad that we'll have fears."
"Do you experience it too?" Skull almost cursed himself for asking a stupid question.
A chuckle. "Most of the time. Since I came here in the Academy." Skull stilled. "Sometimes they're bad. Sometimes mild. Sometimes too much that I couldn't sleep for days. They're just nightmares, it may or may not happen, but it still had this stupidly strong grip on us that we can't help overthinking about."
"What do you usually dream about?"
"Hm. I usually dream of my family dying. Or like Kyouya get mauled by demons for being sadistic most of the time. Being unable to help anyone because I'm weak and shackled. Or Hana-chan getting feasted by those shits and suddenly see her shaded. They sound simple things to you but they're big deal for me. However, I won't require you to tell me the same thing, Skull. I'm sharing this to you because I know how it feels to wake up without anyone to cling on. It's not that nice to feel like you're alone, battling against the wild of your imagination and feel burdened about it for so much time. You have your own reason to hide it from me and I'm not obligated to know about it. So take your time."
He felt a lump on his throat and his eyes stung as he croaked a question. "Can I...?"
"Go on. I won't mind."
His eyes watered and heart fluttered at the permission and broke at the memories of his family.
Skull remembered crying his heart out. He remembered saying sorry over and over again. He remembered getting guided to a warm tight embrace. He remembered falling asleep. But he doesn't remember moving to their room and being hugged by Tsuna. Heck, he felt so snugged on the brunet's chest.
(He admittedly wanted to kiss Tsuna's full lips when they were the first thing he saw after he woke up.)
(His heart doesn't feel heavy anymore whenever he recalls Evangeline and Luke.)
(He moved on.)
Skull glanced back to Tsuna who was panting a little before running faster. Both laughed after they almost bumped themselves to the wall when they turned to a corner. When they arrived at the site, both halted and took deep breaths to calm themselves. It wasn't a joke to run from the tower of sanity to the examination place. It was like running from Aqion to Noerim!
It was out of whim to pull Tsuna to the examination spot where they check individual auras. Well, it involves something about his friend. Skull had been thinking of this theory of his since he met the brunet. If Tsuna was classified colorless by the machine, and Skull was told to be a storm, what if the machine is really broke? What if Tsuna isn't really as colorless as he was being called? What if Tsuna wasn't just a recommendation?
What if Tsuna is a sky like how he suspected him to be?
Skull may be wrong since Tsuna isn't the sky type with how he looks. The delinquency and the hushed personality with a sprinkle of snobbish, devil may care attitude can classify the child as a cloud. The proud personality and scheming mind to pay back the bullies make him a mist. His cool nature and calming effect whenever there's a situation make him a rain. His protective nature when if comes to Skull, Hibari and Kurokawa talks volume of how he can be a lightning. He can also be a storm with his impulsive and destructive nature. Then a sun with how he can bring hope and be cheerful when needed. But what makes him a sky is how welcoming and accepting he is.
But doesn't a sky contain all elements, which Tsuna almost shows every time?
"What are we doing here?" Tsuna questioned.
Skull took the warm hand again and started to pull the other to where Doctor Furikawa is. "I'm gonna test a theory."
"Oho? You're becoming a theorist too. Hana-chan and I are bad influence for you." Tsuna joked causing him to laugh.
"Of course not. It's good that I have you two with me. I can exercise my brain just to keep up with you. Even Hibari can keep up with your conversation." He reasoned as they got nearer. "Sometimes, I feel like I'm the least intelligent among us. I mean whenever Enma comes too, he can points out some things too."
"You're too humble." The brunet harrumphed. "You may have troubles keeping up with the upbeat version of us, you still know plenty of the history that I don't even know of. You're like a walking historian."
"And you're the walking library." He countered as they stopped by the machine. "Good afternoon, Doctor Furikawa."
"Good afternoon." The chancellor answered back. "Why are you here?"
"Just have this theory to check." He said before saying a small 'excuse me' to the next in line. "There must be something amiss with this machine if it gives off the wrong aura type."
"Maybe we should give it a good kick?" Tsuna suggested, suddenly getting excited.
Skull gave him a deadpan. "No."
The brunet depleted with a cute depressed pout. "Aw."
The Cloud pulled out the tools he borrowed from the school janitor and started to open up the side where the wires were hidden. He inspected everything but nothing was amiss. His brow furrowed as he put it back and stood up. He gazed at Tsuna, who was smiling at him with exuberance. Skull can't help smiling and gestured to it.
Tsuna started to dance on his balls while pushing him to the side gently. With a good spin, the brunet gave the machine a good kick. The mechanism stopped for a beat before it ran again. Skull immediately put his arm on it and stared when the machine said 'CLOUD'. He can't help grinning before beckoning Tsuna to come nearer.
"I don't think so, Skull." The brunet smiled nervously. "I'm said to be colorless, you know."
"Tsuna-"
"I mean what if I am colorless? What if I'm really just here for my brain? You even bothered to prove your theory just to justify that I have an aura or something, and-"
Skull offered his hand, cutting off the rumbling teen who stared at him with fear of rejection. He smiled reassuringly, like how his human smiles at him when he has problems. "Trust me."
He saw the hesitation before surrender took over Tsuna's expression and took his hand. He guided Tsuna to put a hand on the machine. Brown eyes shut their lids in fright while Skull stared at the machine. Slowly, the screen formed letters before a verdict was given.
A sky.
Tsuna is a fucking sky.
He whooped loudly and hugged Tsuna who was laughing afte he checked the result himself. The brunet hugged him back and repeatedly expressed his gratitude and appreciation.
Damn. He badly wants a contract with the brunet.
(He felt flattered when some of the students voiced how good looking they were and how good they look together.)
(Madam Cara's and Headmaster Angelo's expressions when they discovered that Tsuna is a sky and the machine was broken a long time ago was priceless.)
(Tsuna didn't give them fucks.)
(He didn't notice how Tsuna snuggled on his warmth and sniffed him with a smile.)
"Don't you wanna go to Fiant?" Skull queried as he tried to fix his tie. They were asked to wear their complete uniform whenever going to Fiant. "We should go today."
"Why so?" Tsuna asked from his spot on the Cloud's bed, flipping for the next page.
"Because you'll see those things you want to see." The Cloud pointed out. "Like the Jolly fishes of Viwox. The gold trees of Noerim. The ice flowers of Mios and the rainbow falls of Aqion."
"Are they even real?" Purple eyes looked at the doubtful sky who glanced at him with worry. No one knows but the two of them how bad Tsuna's insecurities were. Sometimes it's about himself, sometimes it's his environment. Tsuna, regardless of how confident he is all the time, has his own flaws and self-doubt.
"If I tell you they are, will you believe me?" He asked, fixing his shaggy hair. "I can even navigate them with you."
He felt so light when Tsuna beamed at him.
Tsuna stared at him with understanding and a small warm smile. But Skull can't help sobbing out as he started to complete his demon form. The brunet gathered him in his arms and hugged him with the sweet melodies of assurance.
He didn't mean to do it. He was just so angry at those students who tried to attack Tsuna with these dangerous stuffs. He didn't mean to let out his demon form out of spite. He didn't mean for Tsuna to know the truth or make him see his hideous appearance. He apologized, but why?
Why would Tsuna make him stay and smile understandingly at him? Why would he forgive him? Why would he hug him like he's not ugly, or he's acceptable or he's not shunned? Tsuna... Why?
"You're fine, Skull. Calm down. I told you, I beat them all up." Tsuna placated in a silvery voice.
"That's not what I'm apologizing for!" Skull yelled, indignant of how accepting his human is. "Why would you accept my apology when I lied to you?! I'm a demon! I didn't tell you the truth after all the time we've been together in this room! You should be angry that I lied! That I'm ugly or I'm not needed here or I'm as devil as the other demons in Fiants!"
"Wait. You're apologizing for that? I thought you were sorry because you got angry?"
"Tsuna!" He shouted but a merry laugh was Tsuna's answer to his fuming call.
"Okay, calm down." The brunet coaxed. "Come on. Deep breaths."
They both did the breathing exercise. Slowly, Skull relaxed and pulled back his demon form. Tsuna went off the floor to reach the Cloud's blanket from the bed and put it on the latter to cover him up. They sat on the wooden floor like idiots who never thought that there's a comfy bed on their either side or chairs are within reach.
Skull eyes Tsuna who was beaming. He looks so happy that the demon can't help be curious about. Why would Tsuna be happy?
"I've known you were a demon since I saw you in the Chancellor's office. A human within my age can't form a condensed state of aura except if he's as awesome as me or Kyouya." Tsuna's smile went for an amused turn. "Ever wondered why I don't question your abundant amount of knowledge in history? Because I know you lived long enough to know how did those things happen. I only got the idea that you're a high demon and pretty feared by many demons because my friends won't want to dine with us unless I said so or you permit them. I even had to threaten all of them to spill me what they know about you."
Skull's eyes widened.
"Yeah. I know you're an Arcobaleno. Specifically, Skull the cloud arcobaleno. More than five millennia years old with this humongous demon form. But they also stated that you're the kindest Arcobaleno since you never injure demons for your personal entertainment. You even help them if they need it. One also told me about your family."
"About Evangeline and Luke?" He gawked.
Tsuna smiled sympathetically. "Yeah. They were parts of what made you as you now, so I'm thankful to them though, regardless of how painful how they died."
He nodded, depleted. "Yeah. But I already moved on."
"Hm. That's good. Anyway, don't mull over it. It's not a big deal for me."
"But why? I didn't tell you the truth and-"
"The question we should be asking is did I even ask you about it?" Skull's mouth snapped shut as Tsuna reached out and ruffled his locks. Why didn't he think of that logic? "You didn't tell me the truth because I didn't say anything about it. You are entitled to keep your own secrets, Skull. I did tell you that in the closet remember? So don't fret about it. I'm even grateful that you made me see this form of yours. It was pretty terrifying and beautiful at the same time, but how many people have seen this kind of transformation in my generation? Or even meet an amazing Arcobaleno? None. Only me. Just think of how you made me special."
"B-But-"
"What is it?"
Skull stared at the human before slumping down. "I don't know anymore."
Tsuna cackled before giving him one of those gorgeous smiles. "Let's just say that all we said here will stay here. You're my friend, Skull. The best even. Nothing will change between us. Who cares if you're a demon in a boarding school and studying among humans? Or the other demons fear you? Or I'm rooming with you? Besides, no one will know as long as no one is listening to us or you won't tell them yourselves. And as long as I'm here, no one will tell you to drop dead or leave. Fuck them and their stereotypes. Although I won't mind sleeping with your animal form again. Do you know how soft your fur is? I've been itching to tell you that since day one."
"What?" Skull gaped.
The brunet tittered. "Oh man. I've known you're the wolf who had been following me around."
"H-How?!"
Brown eyes twinkled innocently. "When you made me sleep after you stopped my fight with Kyouya. I woke up just when you transformed into your human form and put a blanket on me."
Skull's jaw dropped.
(Tsuna never lived that reaction down.)
(He did fall on Tsuna's request of sleeping next to him again in his animal form.)
(He will never admit out loud that whenever he's certain that Tsuna is asleep, he goes out of bed to become human again, put some clothes on and cuddle with the brunet.)
(He never understands why he becomes the small spoon sometimes though.)
Skull grimaced as he pulled his contractor away from Reborn. The two (Tsuna and Reborn) glared at each other in hate. Nope. They didn't click as he thought they would at first sight. The moment Reborn started to tease him and bully him just as he entered the vicinity, Tsuna jumped on the hitman with series of curses and attacks that it took persuasion and chasing them around to take his human out of the hitman.
And that was the first time he heard his summoner curse like a sailor.
"I don't fucking care if you're the strongest demon or the greatest hitman. Ridicule Skull and I'll fucking pull that vocal cords of yours out of your throat so you won't be able to talk again." Tsuna threatened, sky aura flooding the area with dry heat of anger.
"Can you take me on? You're just a human." Reborn challenged.
Skull facepalmed when Tsuna attacked Reborn again. One volatile summoner is enough. Why add another headache?
"You're in love with Tsuna, aren't you?" Reborn jabbed.
Skull scrunched his face at the hitman to hide his blushing cheeks. "You went here just to tell me that?"
"And pester Tsuna." Reborn shrugged as he walked around the room to inspect their things. "Not that he'll mind since he's being tolerable of my personality lately. Just feral when it comes to you."
He can't help smiling when he remembered Tsuna researching about guns and how to dance around the bullets by knowing what kind of velocity does one type of gun has. "Yeah."
Amused onyx eyes glanced at him. "See. You are in love."
"Sempai-"
"No worries." The hitman hummed while taking a book from one of the shelves. "The kid is head over heels in you too."
"Ha? What do you-"
Purple eyes opened with a start and stared at Tsuna's and Reborn's faces hovering on him. The two blinked simultaneously then craned their necks to the right before they looked at each other and laughed their asses out. The cloud arcobaleno sat up as the two moved away. He rubbed his face with his hands and lamented what he dreamed.
More like depressing over the fact that it was all a fucking dream.
"Skull? You okay, buddy?" Tsuna asked in concern. "Do you want to sleep more? We can go home if you want."
A purple eye went out of its hiding to look at the beautiful brunet. "How the heck am I gonna be okay if the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes were your faces?"
"I can relate about it with Reborn. I mean I've been seeing his face for a billion time-"
"You just implied that you dream of me, you daydream of me and you think of me even after seeing me in the morning, all day, all night and before we go to sleep." Reborn pointed out with a smirk.
Tsuna went incredibly red in embarrassment. "That's not what I meant!"
Skull watched the two ran around in circles, bantering and laughing at their own antics. As he watch them, he can't help feeling a little guilty for desiring someone who can't be his even in the long run. Regardless, the dream was beautiful.
He suddenly remembered where they are and why are they there. They're by the lake where the Jolly fishes were since Tsuna wanted to say goodbye to them. Skull was pretty tired when they arrived because of being unable to sleep well that night so he laid on the grass and took a nap. Only to stumble on that dream he had.
Having feelings for someone that was already taken isn't something to be joked around. But what can he do? He can't force Tsuna to look at his way and tear him apart from Reborn. They deserve each other. Besides, he already contented himself of seeing Tsuna happy with Reborn. To see those eyes twinkling with adoration, love and appreciation with gratitude, he's already happy with that.
He feels okay with that.
"Sorry, it cut short." He looked at the lake where the fishes were swimming. "It was a beautiful dream. You needed that." A bubble popped on the surface of the water, the owner, a yellow fish with a mix of orange, was eyeing him with kindness.
"We all needed that." A bubble burst somewhere, correcting the other.
"Tsunayoshi deserves everything." Another fish, a blue one with silver mix, stated, eyes looking at the laughter's direction. "He's beautiful, isn't he?"
Skull looked at the brunet who was laughing his heart out while tickling Reborn's sides. His heart ached with a good flutter. "Yeah." 'So beautiful.'
"We already gave our blessing." Another fish, a maroon with light red streaks, bubbled with a cheer. "Look after him for us."
"Believe in him and he'll bring light." A bubble popped again before its owner turned tail.
The Cloud beamed. Really, even the fishes love Tsuna with their own little hearts. "Thanks."
"Skull! Save me!" Tsuna squealed. Skull opened his arms and caught the brunet who jumped on him. "Reborn is going to tickle me!"
"We should run." He commented as he stood up and ran away from the hitman, who was chasing them, with the brunet in his arms. "Did you say your goodbyes to your friends?"
"Yeah. They said it was okay and they gave a blessing that Reborn told me as a luck. Who knew what will happen now with Lady Luck with us?" The teen shrugged with cheekiness.
"Well, fortunate event?" He queried, causing the other to chuckle.
"Come back here, you two!" The hitman yelled causing the two to laugh and run faster.
