A/N: I didn't want to back myself into a corner trying to write the Future Arc so Byakuran decided to join instead. That and Tsuna wanted a break. Sorry for the wait everyone.
As usual, I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn or Xiaolian Showdown.
Shoichi Becomes a Criminal for Science
Byakuran had followed Tsuna back to Japan like a lost puppy. Tsuna never knew that he could meet another human being that made him want to strangle them. Unfortunately his intuition was telling him that Byakuran would make a better ally than enemy. And the nightmare he had on the flight back made him more wary of the teen.
Shoichi was a welcome addition to his group of friends, given that he wasn't trying to destroy anything or have a violent disposition. The teen had severe anxiety and stomach pains whenever he was stressed out. And Byakuran was stressing him out a lot.
"Why are you staying at my house?" Shoichi asks the older teen, Byakuran shrugged. "Tsu-chan doesn't have room in his. And I paid your parents so you'll have a college fund."
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Tsuna?!"
"And you're still in denial. Poor Tsu-chan."
Tsuna had to restrain himself from setting the teen on fire again. I survived Reborn, I can survive this jerk. Tsuna thought.
"Juudaime, how was the convention?" Gokudera asks, giving Byakuran and Shoichi a glare. The red head grimaced and Byakuran just grinned. "And you must be Tsu-chan's lap dog. How cute."
Both Tsuna and Gokudera glared at the teen. Jack didn't want a repeat of the convention so he quickly changed the subject. "Ever wanted to see a real dragon?"
Everyone looked at him strangely. "You mean that small salamander we saw during the showdown?" Tsuna asks.
"It looked more like a gecko to me." Gokudera comments.
Jack's red eyes glittered with mischief. "Want to catch one?"
XoXoXoXoXo
Somehow Tsuna managed to weasel his way out of Jack's latest scheme by claiming that he needed to study for a test with Yamamoto. The baseball teen was oblivious to the death grip that Tsuna had on his shirt. I was already kidnapped by that guy, please don't make me go! Tsuna inwardly begged, unaware of the puppy eyes he was using.
Yamamoto patted his best friend on the head. "You've been hanging out with Jack a lot since he moved here. Now it's my turn!"
Tsuna felt himself being dragged off by his Rain, wondering if he was always able to make sparkles appear behind him. Maybe he was part Mist? That would explain a lot about his personality.
"Tsuna-kun! Yamamoto-kun! It's been a while!" Kyoko says cheerfully, Hana shadowing her as always. Tsuna winced, he'd been so focused on not getting the girls involved with the mafia that he missed their monthly cake day.
"Ha ha, it's been pretty busy lately." Tsuna says sheepishly, Hana raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"We've been doing a scavenger hunt with the kids." Yamamoto says with a grin. "Aw, you're such a good brother!" Kyoko cooed, making Tsuna blush in embarrassment.
"Don't know how you can stand those little brats." Hana states. Usually by leaving them with Mom or Bianchi. Tsuna thought.
Kyoko clapped her hands. "I know! You can join us on our monthly self appreciation day! There's a new coffee cheesecake that you might like."
"Why would you add something so bitter to something like cheesecake? It should be a crime against humanity!" Tsuna exclaims.
"Wow, I didn't know you hated coffee that much." Yamamoto comments, Tsuna deadpanned. "You would too if you associated the smell with the devil." He says bluntly.
XoXoXoXoXo
"So we're really going to see a live dragon?" Shoichi asks, his face almost as pale as Jack's. Jack rolled his eyes. "He's not scary at all. Now Chase is terrifying when you piss him off." He says.
Byakuran pouted. "But catching a peaceful dragon sounds boring!" He whines.
Gokudera glared at the white haired teen. "If you keep complaining I will toss you out of this plane!" Gokudera hissed, much to the terror of their fellow passengers. Irie stood up with a shaky grin. "He's just kidding everyone." He says, wondering for the hundredth time why he hadn't stayed in Namimori. Oh yeah, science.
"If dragons actually have the ability to make a person immortal, then we need to get a sample. When we find the genome that allows that to happen, think of all the scientific breakthroughs that could happen!" Gokudera says, thinking of a life where Tsuna was an immortal boss of Vongola.
Jack sighed. He had a feeling whatever he thought up involved Tsuna somehow. The teen meant well but he wouldn't be surprised if being near explosives so much made him partially deaf. Especially to other's opinions.
"Being immortal sounds boring." Byakuran states. "You'd have to move around when people would notice you weren't aging and agencies would probably try to dissect you to figure out what makes you tick."
Shoichi and Jack gave the teen an uneasy look. "Why does that sound like you're speaking from experience?" Shoichi asks nervously, Byakuran shrugged.
"There's a lot of parallel worlds. Eventually you run out of things to do." He says.
"Yeah and once you think about it, after you take over the world it's quite tedious to stay in power." Jack says, thinking back to the future when he actually did take over the world.
"Finally, someone who understands!" Byakuran exclaimed, Jack just shook his head. Tsuna better be grateful for him distracting two of his biggest sources of stress.
XoXoXoXoXo
Tsuna had almost forgotten how relaxing it was to be around teens that weren't flame active like his guardians. Several Namimori students glared at him when they saw him with their school idols but he was used to it by now. It didn't hurt as much now that he had actual friends. He didn't even mind when Haru joined the group and they ended up shopping.
Haru had dragged Tsuna over to the men's clothing section, trying to get Tsuna to try on several suits. Kyoko and Haru squealed at how sophisticated the clothing made Tsuna look while Hana just rolled her eyes. "An Italian suit can make even a monkey look good." She says, not meeting Tsuna's pleading gaze.
Takeshi had already wandered off to get more work out clothes, citing that his current ones had multiple cuts in them. Haru pouted. "No fair! Haru wanted to dress up all of Tsuna's bishie friends!" She whines.
Tsuna blinked. "What are you talking about?"
Hana rolled her eyes. "You honestly haven't noticed that you've become friends with everyone even remotely attractive in Namimori?"
"...no? It's not like I can really be picky about friends when no one else wants to be around a loser."
Hana slapped the back of his head with a scowl. "Are you saying we don't count as friends? That you could do better?"
Tsuna's eyes widened, shaking his head. "Not that at all! It's just that I'm Dame-Tsuna and all of you could do better."
Hana gritted her teeth and even Kyoko lost her sunny smile. "Tsuna, you are not useless no matter what the monkeys at school say. Who was the one that stood up to Mochida when he wouldn't take no for an answer? The one that saved Yamamoto from himself while everyone else just watched?" She demands.
"And you saved Haru too, even after trying to beat you up!" Haru chimed in. Hana raised an eyebrow and Haru blushed. "It was a misunderstanding." She added sheepishly.
"You aren't useless at all and next time anyone calls you that, we'll punch them for you!" Kyoko says with a protective gleam in her eyes.
"Please don't Kyoko." Tsuna pleads.
Reborn watched from a distance. It seemed that Tsuna was still having some self-esteem issues. Just this once he would give his student a break. And perhaps rethink keeping the girls out of the mafia so he could have a support system.
XoXoXoXoXo
"You'd think that security at a Xiaolian temple with mystical weapons would be stronger." Gokudera says bluntly as the teens hid behind a variety of bushes. Jack snickered. "They must have dropped their guard since I haven't tried breaking into the vault recently."
Shoichi wanted to groan. Was he the only one having second thoughts on breaking and entering to abduct a sentient creature? Byakuran gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "Just think of it this way Shoichi, they'll get him back in one piece."
Jack took out a metal collar. "If we get this on Dojo, he won't be able to escape by increasing his size. Gokudera, you have the distraction?" He asks, the bomber smirked. "These bombs should make enough noise and not leave any damage. Byakuran, still confident that you can take on four elemental martial artists?"
Byakuran grinned. "Shouldn't be a problem."
Gokudera lit several of his "boom sticks" and threw them into the center of the temple grounds. The monks rushed out of the buildings to check on the noise and Shoichi felt himself being pulled by Jack. "Come on, we'll need to get past the old man to get Dojo. Hurry!"
Shoichi caught a glimpse of Byakuran with flame wings, spouting off what looked to be some sort of villain monologue. "I wanna go home." He whimpered as Byakuran cackled with glee.
To their luck Dojo was already slithering out of one of the buildings. "Just what is going on out here?"
"Grab him!" Jack yells. Dojo yelped as Gokudera and Jack both lunged for the dragon, Shoichi just watching the chaos around him. Does this mean I'm a criminal? I'm watching an abduction in progress and not doing anything about it. No, I'm just here for the science. An accessory, that's what I am. Shoichi thought, slowly beginning to dissociate with his surroundings. Mom is going to kill me if she finds out.
"Shoichi! Use the taser!"
And assault is about to be added to my list of crimes. Yay. Shoichi thought with a sigh.
XoXoXoXoXo
Dojo violently squirmed in his fabric prison. This was his worst nightmare, being kidnapped by Chase Young's number one fan boy. There was only one reason that Jack would go out of his way to capture him. There was a loud zip and he was dumped out of the bag head first onto a steel gray table. The metal collar on his neck was drawn to the magnetized table, rendering him unable to move. There was what looked to be medical equipment on a steel tray, Dojo gulped.
The makeshift muzzle on his mouth had come loose and he quickly shook it off. "Please don't feed me to Chase Young! I'm too young to be soup!"
Gokudera deadpanned and Jack looked offended. "Why would we do that? We're just going to take some samples and you'll be free to go. We're scientists, not monsters." Jack states.
"Well you could've just asked!" Dojo exclaims, inwardly sighing in relief.
Jack snickered. "I may not be Heylin anymore but I'm still a criminal. And the look on your face was priceless!"