Byakuran
It's not the first time I've seen Tsu-kun unconscious in a hospital bed, looking small and fragile wrapped up in bandages hooked up to all manner of machines. It may be the first time I've seen it first hand, but it never gets easier to see. No matter the world he always seems to attract trouble. He can't help it. Even if he believes otherwise, if there was someone in front of him who needed help, he would do his best to save them. That's just who he is.
I can't help but hate him for it. Just a little.
Why can't he just be a little more selfish.
But, he wouldn't be Tsu-kun if he wasn't a selfless idiot and ridiculously forgiving. Hell, most of his friends and guardians have tried to kill him at one point or another.
And to top off this already awful situation, he's definitely caught the attention of the underground. I already know he's going to hate that. I start slightly when the door opens, but relax when I see it's only Nedzu.
"How long have you been here?" Nedzu asks hopping up onto the other chair.
"A while." I shrug. "The staff have tried to kick me out, but they seem to conveniently forget I'm still here once they leave."
"Fascinating."
"Tsu-kun could do it too if he really felt like it."
"Your quirk and Izuku's are more similar than you let on." Nedzu idly remarks, clearly fishing.
"They are." I agree. "But there are some things you're better off not knowing." Like how until recently, the world's continuing existence was dependent on human sacrifice. And in some ways still is. Or how in an alternate timeline Tsuna killed another me who had become insane.
Or how we are both cursed.
Even though we kept it quiet, we are just as cursed as the Sky Arcobaleno, only in different ways.
Where the Sky Arcobaleno is cursed with a short life, the Mare Sky is prone to madness, constantly having your mind flooded with infinite possible timelines tends to do that to a person. It blurs the lines of reality, and makes it difficult to determine what world you're currently living in.
The Vongola Sky's curse on the other hand, is more insidious. It took us a long time to figure it out, but once you realize what it is, you'll wonder how you could ever have missed it. We all knew that Tsu-kun was sometimes compelled to do things by his intuition, however, no one realized just how deep it went. The stronger he got, the stronger the compulsions, until he finally realized what was happening.
He was losing his free will.
It was galling to see the man who had railed so viciously against his fate of becoming a Don, slumped behind his desk looking pale and defeated. We knew there was nothing we could do, and decided to keep it between the three of us.
In a world so much more violent than his last, I'm sure it's even worse. It's like a sword with no sheath. It may be useful, but you also end up cutting yourself on the blade more often then not.
"Perhaps, but I prefer to know in order to make informed decisions."
"Very well. A game then." I propose, expecting his response. "If you win I'll tell you what you want to know, within reason of course. I will not betray Tsunayoshi's confidence."
"I wouldn't ask you to, what do you propose?"
"It's quite simple really. Answer me this, what is a Sky."
"A sky?" He tilts his head. "Doesn't Izuku call his quirk Sky flames? I never understood why, and he never explained it when I asked."
"He does. I'll give you a hint, Tsu-kun didn't choose the name."
"It already existed." Nedzu reasoned. "Or that's what it was called in his original world."
"Both are correct."
"I believe I'll need some time to think about it."
"Of course, take all the time you need. I wasn't expecting an answer now. Onto other matters, what do you plan to do now thatTsu-kun has attracted unwanted attention?"
"We had a few plans, as we knew this would happen eventually. We just didn't expect it to happen in such a way."
"Tsu-kun does live to exceed people's expectations."
"I've come to notice that." He sighs "Regardless, at this point they only have the bare bones of what he can do, and not what truly makes him dangerous. But it's only a matter of time before they figure it out. I've prepared several tracking devices in the off case they're needed. We've also decided after this atack to have all of the students move onto campus. We'll have Izuku and Aizawa move in early. Of course campus security will also be increased."
I nod, "I feel I have to warn you, Tsu-kun will not take this attack lying down."
He closes his eyes in resignation. "I was afraid that would be the case."
"There are very few things he can't forgive. Kidnapping, human experimentation, and most of all hurting the people he cares about to name a few. This group has done all three. He'll be on a warpath when he wakes up and won't be happy until they are crushed beneath his feet."
He quietly considers his next words. "I know, I've always thought there was something other about Izuku." He stares me dead in the eye daring me to deny it. "I think the same of you as well."
"Most never notice" I laugh, thoroughly amused. "You have good instincts, to look past his deceptively harmless appearance and see the monster."
Skies are an interesting thing. A monstrous thing.
Most commonly they are seen as the leaders of the group, the peacekeeper that ensured the many volatile personalities that come with active flames don't cause the group to implode into a fiery ball of destruction. They were the royalty of the mafia world, someone to be revered and respected. A well deserved title, since they were an integral part of maintaining the underworld, their significance only increased by their scarcity. To be harmonized with a sky is one of the highest honors, and their elements would guard and protect their sky with their lives.
This is all true, but people tend to forget—that for all that they keep the peace, skies can be monstrous beings. Provoking one was equivalent to trying to fight a natural disaster. Futile and suicidal. There would be nothing but ash left in the aftermath. That is if their guardians don't get to you first. For as kind and accepting as skies usually are—once you cross their bottom line, they're the most ruthless of the bunch.
The strongest skies were able to harmonize with other skies. These people were to be feared and loved in equal measure, like a god, a monster. In the face of such power, the very laws of nature could be changed. Ending the world would be but a trifle.
And Tsu-kun… Tsu-kun harmonized with damn near every sky he knew. A monster amongst monsters.
Even though we have no guardians in this world, that just makes us more dangerous. With nothing to firmly ground us, it just makes our rage just that more devastating.
"That's going too far."
"Oh," I study his suddenly angry face and realize, "People have called you that before."
"Don't worry Principal-san, you are most certainly not a monster. You are more human than we are." I assure him. " It's one thing for someone to call you that, it's an entirely different matter when you know without a shadow of a doubt you are monsters masquerading as normal people. It's just our nature."
"I don't understand." He squints trying to make heads or tails about what I'm saying.
"Tsu-kun and I are monsters. He'd be the first to agree with me." I carefully explain. "We've seen the most disgusting bits of ourselves, of the world and accepted them. Embraced them even. We decided what was happening around us was unacceptable and made the world bend to our wills." I smile sharply and he instinctively fliniches back. "We are less people, and more natural disasters shambling around in human form. Once truly enraged there is nothing that will deter us from our goal. Not morals, not other people, not even our own well being. The only thing you'd be able to do is sit back and watch the carnage."
"I'm sure you've seen glimpses of this before. After all there is nothing normal about us no matter how well Tsu-kun hides it." I stare at him, pushing the weight of my flames onto his shoulders. "So, tell me Principal-san, knowing all that, what is a Sky?"
He intensely stares back, unable to look away. I can tell from the look of utter incomprehension in his eyes that he's even further from the answer than he was before.
Which suits me just fine. I cover my mouth so he can't see the cheshire girn splitting my face. He'll figure it out eventually, but it will be far more entertaining to watch him try and fail to reign Tsu-kun in from the show that's about to start.
And what a show it'll be.
I've seen the things he's done second hand from the me of his original world. How he commanded the Mafia with kind words and an iron fist. Him ending up here is the best thing that could've happened. I can't wait to see how this world will inevitably bend to his will. And this time I have a first row seat to watch his ascension to the peak.
This is just the beginning too, the League of Villains may have finally noticed Tsu-kun, but they are woefully unaware of what monster they've just provoked.
Tsu-kun continues to prove his worth as my favorite toy. I brush away a stray lock of hair from his face. This will keep me entertained for a long while.