DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN KATEKYO HITMAN REBORN
Natsuki's POV
"Tell me that you secured I-pin's safety." I felt the weight on my arms increase as he lost the feeling in his knees.
"S-she's back in Namimori." I threw him to the ground. I abandoned everyone pushing myself through the forest to the beach shore. I stopped seeing how high the tide had risen. The night had already taken over that it was impossible to see where our boat was. Or even see if it was still attached.
"Natsuki, it's no use." Mammon floated next to me scanning the area and depth of the water.
"Then transport us back. Make an illusion boat with Mukuro. We have to get back to Namimori. Not even Lambo is there to protect her. If the enemy gets their hands on her then we'll be at their mercy since Tsunayoshi-kun wouldn't dare attack with her as hostage." I thought to how scared I-pin was that night. She wouldn't be able to defend herself if they truly did do something.
"Even if we rush back it wouldn't make a difference. They could be bluffing for all we know. First we need to contact his family to see if they even are in danger. If they are then we need to think of a plan so that the Vongola would agree to. We still haven't heard the story of your disappearance yet. It looks like they know more about than we thought so we need to understand everything as well. Don't forget that right now you're also their main target." My eyes went down to my hand. The Star ring twinkled in the moonlight.
I turned to him, pulling him into a hug. Normally he would have pushed me away but this time he stood still. 'This week has too many twists.' I rested my head on his shoulder. This was probably the first time that I held him since he turned back to an adult. His size only reminded me that this was all true. The Tri-Ni- Sette was thrown off and there was someone out there that was using that to their advantage.
"You're going to deliver a perfect execution, aren't you?" I let out a weak laugh at his attempt at joking.
"If it's what you want then I'll listen. Can I ask for a favour though?" I felt him nod, not saying a word as he rested one hand on my back. He didn't make any extra movements letting me tighten my hold on him. "These people are pushing me to my boundaries both mentally and physically. Whatever I plan, please do not stop me. I need to know that you'll support me."
"Are you going to do something reckless again?"
"I have to. If I don't I fear the worst and I'm not referring to the Earth's balance." In the logical sense, of course I had to care for the Earth's system but to me nothing was more important to me than Varia. My squadron already posed as an example of what happens when I don't play by their rules. "Can you just support my plan?"
"If it was anyone else then I would have liked to hear it before agreeing. But since it's you then I'll play along. Hopefully the Celeste tactician side is still in you."
I released him. "Thank you. For now we'll need to meet up with Tsunayoshi-kun and learn all that we can for now. I'll tell your and Bel's specific tasks together."
"You already have something in mind?"
"I've been wanting to try something like this for a while. I just never thought that I would have to resort to such a method so soon. I wanted to wait a little so that I could finalize a few things but like I said, they're pushing me to my limits." He nodded and we went to the Shimon's headquarters.
We all gathered in their large dining hall. We sat with our respected groups each person feeling the tension in the room. Most of it coming off Tsunayoshi who looked half dead. Gokudera, who was next to him, placed his hand on his shoulder. He jumped slightly at the touch. Tsunayoshi seemed like he wanted to speak when he couldn't find the right words.
"Juudaime, don't worry." Gokudera turned to us. "After Shadows had rushed off we used the Shimon communication to contact Juudaime's mother. She thought that I-pin was with us, so we can say that she's been missing since yesterday morning. We then called Yuni who said that Fong went missing this afternoon. He left without any note, leaving us to assume he went after the enemy like they wanted."
"And what does the Vongola Neo-Primo plan to do?" Tsunayoshi flinched at Xanxus's question. He dropped his head, clenching his eyes shut.
"To me, getting I-pin and Fong-san back is the main concern. We already knew that they were a threat because they attacked the Vendice but today even my hyper intuition didn't see that woman. I can't get the two of them back without all of your help. That being said I don't want anyone else to get into trouble either. I need everyone to, please, help us." He stood up, bowing to us.
I pushed my seat out, turning my body to Xanxus. I lowered my head first then met with his eyes. "Xanxus-sama if I may, I have a plan that would like to offer. I ask for permission to collaborate with the Vongola Neo Primo on my own actions."
"Nat-chan are you-" Lussuria was cut off by Mammon shaking his head at him. With Mammon on my side they wouldn't have the right to say that I was being reckless.
"Mammon, have you heard it yet?"
"No boss. Natsuki has simply asked for some assistance from Bel and I. From what I hear, she has been anticipating something like this and has been scheming something of her own as a counter." He nodded looking back to me.
"Are you acting as Fia or Shadows this time?"
"A mix." His eyebrow quirked.
"That would be the first time you're bringing yourself into a mission. Is it because that apprentice is someone you know personally or because the Storm Arcobaleno holds a pacifier?"
"Neither. I'm bringing myself into it because it makes it easier for me to work. My mask isn't the only thing that covers up my thoughts. Sometimes a smile can do the same." He scanned over my confident posture. He sneaked a glance at Tsunayoshi who was gripping the edges of the table. Xanxus smirked.
"If you're going in the direction that I'm thinking about then I give you permission. As long as you take up the possible consequences that may occur. If anger arises, you'll take care of it."
"No arguments there." I gestured for Tsunayoshi to sit back down. He plopped down seemingly relieved that I had a plan for them. "Then Tsunayoshi-kun is it okay for me to start us off?"
"Yes, please. I'm counting on you Natsuki-san." I held back my laugh.
"First things first, I will explain all that I learned about this book and the Tri-Ni-Sette. Then I would need to secure a few things for my plan, privately. Tomorrow all of us will return to Namimori so that I can explain my plan in through detail. I have to warn you though, Tsunayoshi-kun. I have permission from Xanxus-sama and Mammon to act as I please. Once I receive yours then you'll be treated as the Vongola Neo-Primo in my eyes. Meaning that I won't be sugar coating anything for you."
"I understand but like I said, I-pin and Fong-san safety is what I want. As Haunting Shadows or Natsuki-san, I know that your skill is exactly what I need right now." I held back my grin, returning to my seat.
"Please be more patient, Squalo-sama. I just needed Bel and Mammon to run a small errand for me. Then we could get started. They still have five minutes." Varia and Tsunayoshi's family sat in living room of Tsunayoshi's home, finding it the most convenient place to meet up. We had returned to Namimori early in the morning. At first our two groups split up so that we could have time to discuss things on our own. At that time I had sent Bel and Mammon to get something needed for my plan.
"Well they better get here soon!" I bet that Tsunayoshi was hoping the same thing so that we stop crowding in his small house. At exactly the time needed they arrived, shooting Tsunayoshi up from his seat to open the door for them. They gave me their attention the moment that they walked entered the room.
"Did you get it?" I asked. Tsunayoshi walked in behind them, wondering why they weren't carrying anything on them. Bel grinned at me taking the seat closest to me.
"Yeah. Everything is in place." I nodded watching Tsunayoshi move back into his seat. I scanned each of the members of his family seeing that, besides Mukuro and Hibari, they had their own set of bags under their eyes. Even Chrome had her own worried look glued to her face from yesterday.
"Then I'll get started. Like we figured out already, the maps inside this book points to different parts of the Tri-Ni-Sette. On my map it points to the Stelle and Buco Nero stones. Knowing that, I plan on using this book to find the enemy's location. At that point I will infiltrate them and retrieve our two targets. I already studied all that Elena wrote, so I understand that I'm the only one that can handle what the owner throws at me. And seeing that they know a lot about me, I can say that they want me as a hostage. If it comes down to it, I may have to go for a trade."
"No way is that happening Natsuki!" I grabbed Squalo by the shoulder pushing him back down.
"I agree with him, Natsuki-san. There's no way that I can allow you to sacrifice yourself."
"I wasn't finished. Trading is a last resort. The percentage of me using it will change on your part Tsunayoshi-kun. What I ask from you is the help from three members of your family as a support unit. With my squadron being out, I need a few extra hands. Of course, I will provide any other needed resources and a week's worth of training to make sure that there are no loose ends. They just need to follow my lead." Tsunayoshi opened his mouth to respond when Reborn raised his arm to cover him.
"I disagree with these terms." I resisted my urge to click my tongue at him. I knew that Reborn was going to be the hard one to please in all of this. Nonetheless, he wouldn't be able to come up with a route for them to escape.
"So what you're saying is that you'll be taking three people from my side to help you in going directly into the enemies' base?" Tsunayoshi asked to clarify. Hearing Reborn's refusal must have scared him.
"That's all. We don't need to create a big fuss. I can't fully handle my power yet so we shouldn't rush anything. We just need to get in, get them out, and leave." He looked back at his guardians. None of them agreed with me after seeing that Reborn had an opposite opinion.
"What do you think about it Reborn?" He didn't look in my direction knowing that it wouldn't change his assumptions of my words.
"Tsuna, how badly do want I-pin and Fong back?" He was caught off guard but didn't waver in thought.
"I couldn't care less about the Tri-Ni-Sette. I-pin is a child and doesn't deserve this. Fong-san the same."
"If you believe in those words then you have no choice but listen to her. Unless you come up with another plan soon, Natsuki is the only option that you have. Understand Tsuna, that you are the one to have the final saying." He glared at me, understanding the general idea of what I was planning. Tsunayoshi nodded, but I doubt that he fully got the weight of Reborn's words. Or mine. He gave each of his guardians a glance at. They made eye contact with their boss, silently agreeing to follow his decision. He looked back at my smiling face.
"Are you sure about this? Won't it be dangerous for you? Especially with the Stelle ring?"
"Well that's why I need your members. Think of it as both sides of Varia and Vongola putting something on the table for the sake of their safety. Just what you wanted." Behind me I could tell that the rest of Varia had seen where I was leading to. Yet only Mammon and Bel were fully aware of the exact plan.
"Okay then Natsuki-san. I agree to your plan."
"I'm just going to make everything official. You, Sawada Tsunayoshi Neo-Primo, agree to allow me, Natsuki of Varia, permission to lead on a small group containing three of your members into enemy territory. And since I only need these three I ask that you leave everyone else, including allies, to stay out. In return, you have my word that the former Storm Arcobaleno, Fong, and his apprentice, I-pin, will be freed from the enemy." I put my hand out in front of him. He took it giving it a shake to symbolize our contract. He pulled his hand back looking at Gokudera and Yamamoto.
"Great, so the three of us will-" I waved my finger, clicking at him. Reborn adverted his gaze knowing that this was the turning point.
"Not so fast Tsunayoshi-kun. I already decided the members that I want to take." He wasn't bothered and innocently understood.
"Alright then. Who did you pick?" I grinned brightly at the staircase.
"Sasagawa Kyoko, Miura Haru and the Poison Scorpion." All colour was drained from his face, turning to where I was looking. He stood up seeing Kyoko and Haru standing there. His mouth moved but no words came out. He shook his head, half of the energy being from his shaking body.
"W-what? W-hy? H-how are- How long have you been listening?" He quickly faced me. "Y-you want them? You brought them here? No. No way am I letting them to follow your plan."
"NEITHER AM I!" Sasagawa yelled at the top of his lungs.
"You can't do that Tsunayoshi-kun, Sasagawa-san. I clearly stated everything in our agreement and you shook on it. It's not my fault that you didn't think of them. They were even in the room the entire time and you didn't think of them at all."
"T-the entire time?"
"Of course. It saves me some time in not having to explain everything. What did you think that Bel and Mammon were bringing to me? I knew that Mukuro would be able to sense if Mammon transported them in, so I had the two of them work together. Bel can lose himself in killing but when it comes down to it he's the best at controlling his sound. Mammon had helped moved them through your room's window and Bel quickly showed how to remain quiet. They were sitting on the stairs, in full view, listening to everything that we had to say. They just had to come down when everyone's attention was on Bel and Mammon's entrance."
"Why them? Why them out of all people?! They have nothing to do with this!"
"On the contrary, they have everything to do with this. As a member of your family they hold the responsibility to listen to their boss. But since you desperately want to know, I'll tell you why I picked them. The point that they have that not even Varia could manage is that they don't have a blood thirst. A key point that each Mafiose have is being able to find people out from that. Yet if it's not present then most people to miss it since they already make their presence known. Plus, woman naturally have smaller bodies so if I wanted they could probably crawl through smaller spaces that your guardians can't. In fact, you probably don't even know this, but this is the second time that they managed to eavesdrop on you. Now all they need is to master the rings that I gave them."
"Second time? Rings?" Tsunayoshi looked to the two girls who refused to meet their eyes. They walked over me. Without saying a word, they pulled on their necklaces showing off their rings that were hidden under their shirts. Judging from everyone's faces it seems that this was the first time that they've seen them.
"You gave them rings?!" I saw the orange flash in his eyes that he was reaching his end point.
"Actually, this would be a great time to bring in my second surprise for you. I know that replication is important to prove a point. The point right now being that people without a murderous intent are prime for picking in hiding their presences. Your mom was the one to give them their rings. Isn't that right, Nana-san?" I saw his body tense up not daring to look back. Nana walked out of the kitchen, not meeting the eyes of her broken son.
"I'm sorry Tsu-kun. But I couldn't argue with her friends' words. You said that I-pin-chan was with you. Can you imagine how scared I was when her friends told me that she's actually been kidnapped?" She clenched her hand to her chest. I stood up placing my hand on her shoulder, giving her a small pull to sit in my seat. "I'm worried for the girls as well but from what I hear, Natsuki-chan's way seems to be the only one."
I looked at the scene unfolding in front of me. Not only did I have his greatest supporters on my side but his very own mother. "I don't care how much proof you show me. I won't let you take them."
"Too late for that. Boss's word is absolute. There's nothing I can do to change that."
"I'm not their boss! I have no control over their lives."
"And yet just minutes ago you were ready to throw Gokudera-san and Yamamoto-san under the bus." He looked to the two of them shaking his head.
"I-it's not like that! I just have complete trust in them." Yamamoto went up him holding onto the small boy.
"Don't listen to her, Tsuna. She's just trying to get you to fall for her words."
"I wouldn't want to hear anything like that from you Yamamoto-san. I've heard all about how you joined his side. He prevented you from suicide, was it? Ever since then you've been his loyal guardian even having your own father murdered in the future just from association. You're in no position to argue who is right or wrong with your bias. All I'm saying is that the complete trust that he speaks of is knowing that they will listen to you without complaint. I mean, why wouldn't you ask your strongest guardian, Hibari Kyoya? Or even your two Mist guardians who can literally possess people to do their bidding?"
"Hibari-san and Mukuro don't work well together. If they were sent to go save I-pin they would only end up fighting."
"And, yet from what I've seen from Skull's Arcobaleno trail those two listen to you and show off the best of their skills when they're together. You even saw how Xanxus-sama asked a few questions on my plan. And since you brought up I-pin, once more I never did hear that your guardians say that they wanted her back. I never even heard it from anyone besides yourself. Only them saying that they will bring her back or that she was fine to help soothe you."
"Of course we want to save I-pin and her master!" Lambo yelled, jumping onto the table. I leaned down to glare at him. He held back his tears, sniffling his nose at me.
"And how do I know that you're not just saying that because I'm accusing you? You've been known as a liar on multiple occasions that I don't trust anything you say." Lambo tripped over his feet, falling off the table. Kyoko went over to help him when I stopped her. She looked at me pleading that she wanted to at least check on him. I shook my head at her making her step back.
I patted the worried Nana on the shoulder jutting my head in his direction. She didn't waste a second, running up him. He buried his head in her chest, crying loudly. All of us listened, hearing him beg for me to get out and that he just wanted I-pin back. Tsunayoshi walked over to me.
"Why are you doing this?" I scoffed at him, rolling my eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about. You're the one making me look like the bad guy. I never forced you nor the girls to agree with me. I told Bel and Mammon not to touch them or do anything that would scare them. They came on their own free will. I stated everything that I needed in our agreement, I let you have this morning to plan anything you wanted, I let you consult your tutor, and I'm offering the three of them training. You're the one that didn't state any terms that you wanted. You should be considering yourself lucky."
"Lucky?! You're dragging two innocent girls into the middle of a battlefield with crazy people that won't bother killing them! You know full well that I've been trying to separate them from me for the longest time. How on earth are you calling me lucky?"
"Because I'm still holding back on you. Haven't you realized by now? You have given me full permission to do whatever I want to them in exchange for I-pin and Fong. With such loose terms, I don't even have to assure their own lives." He took a step back finally seeing the main problem.
"Y-you wouldn't..."
"Who knows? From the lack of terms on your end I can literally do anything I want with them. I can strip them naked and throw them into a brothel, hoping that the enemy is into that kind of stuff and takes them back to their base. I can even kill the three of them for the fun of it. Even if I didn't pick them I could make the prideful Mukuro licked the bottom of my shoe for the rest of his life. As long as I get our two targets to freedom then I would have fulfilled my side of the agreement. Notice that I said get them to freedom, since that's important as well because throwing them into the ocean can be counted as freedom as well. Do you consider yourself lucky that I'm so nice now?"
"Reborn... Please do something..." He desperately fell to his knees.
"I can't. Like I said earlier, if you couldn't come up with your own plan then we'll be playing in her hands. This is Mafia play." His statement didn't stop him from scowling at me.
"I wouldn't have agreed if I knew that it was them."
"Now that everything's been settled." I looked at the two girls. "I want the two of you to pack a few of your things that can last you a week's worth. If you need anything else, I can supply it. Make sure to include comfortable excising clothes. I'll inform Bianchi-san later and the three of you will meet up at Namimori Shrine at 8pm sharp, today. If even one of you chickens out, then the contract is broken, and I will not go forward with the plan. Keep in mind that I will be leader of this group so anything that Tsunayoshi-kun tells you, minus his order to accompany me, is under mine. Understand?"
They reluctantly nodded. They both met Tsunayoshi's tear filled eyes, neither said saying anything. They looked away quickly, rushing out of the house. I watched the two of them slam the door shut.
I walked over to Nana still trying to soothe the crying Lambo. I offered her a handkerchief from my pocket. She thankfully took it using it to wipe his face. I moved over to Tsunayoshi with Gokudera holding back his spit at me as he sat by his side watching the poor boy. I crouched in front of him grabbing his chin to make him look at me. "I warned you."
I sat at the bottom steps of Namimori Shrine looking at the time as seven bodies walk down the path. The three girls I wanted walked with small gym bags in hand. I stood up to greet the four boys following them with tense glares on them. Only Reborn seemed to accept that there was no possible way to argue. They reached me, placing their bags down for the minute. "You guys really didn't have to accompany them."
"Please Natsuki-san, can't you reconsider?" I sighed annoyingly at him.
"Fine. I can reconsider after I hear what Kyoko-chan and Haru-chan have to say." The two of them looked at each then at Tsunayoshi. Sasagawa looked straight at her sister seemingly about to cry at her.
"Natsuki-chan, you're sure that you can bring back I-pin-chan?" Haru asked first.
"I promise it. If you follow my plan then I can ensure their safety. Better than what Tsunayoshi-kun could ever offer." I said with full confidence. They both nodded at one other. They took another step forward, distancing them from the boys.
"Then we'll follow you." Kyoko answered.
"Kyoko!" Sasagawa yelled at his sister. He resisted the urge to take his sister away.
"Kyoko-chan, Haru you don't understand. Infiltrating their base, even just to get someone out, is dangerous. I've been on only one and even with the help Shoichi-kun gave us, it pushed us to our very limits."
"Oh the failure that was the Melon base raid. Mentioning that only proves your inexperience. Your report consistent of you getting found the moment you entered, getting knocked out and ended using Spanner's, who was an enemy at the time, technology. Not to mention your guardians getting separated and getting beaten to a pulp. If Irie really was a villain all of you would have died on the spot. Meanwhile, Varia's raid secured 2 fake Mare rings and the Italian headquarters. Myself, going on thousands of missions and killing hundreds more each time."
"Onii-chan, if Natsuki-chan said that we can bring back I-pin-chan then I'll help her. Natsuki has already proven that she's our friend. We trust her. We get that it's going to be dangerous but when her friends came to talk to us neither of us could deny that we wanted to be a part of your meeting, even in secret." That's right, I knew the feelings that these two had towards the Mafia. They didn't want to avoid it like most people. They chose to stand by our sides that I had no doubt that they would agree to follow me.
"Does that make you feel a bit better Tsunayoshi-kun? It's 8:03 already. We'll be leaving now." I put on my mask, signaling for my car to come now. I scanned over the girls shaking my head at them. I put my mask into its spot walking to Bianchi.
I stuck out my hand asking for Bianchi's bag. She pushed it into my hands. I placed it on the floor, zipping it open. I dug a bit through her clothes pulling out the small tracking device. I gave the bag back to her, moving to Kyoko. I tugged on the back of her shirt at the tag. She flinched but didn't move as I brought my staff's knife to her neck. I cut out the paper seeing the budge from something between the paper and fabric. Finally, was Haru. I pulled her hair tie, letting her hair loose. I showed the three items out in palm.
"Nice try Gokudera-san. My mask was developed by Verde and I. You think you wouldn't input a frequency scanner. I would have found these trackers one way of another." I threw the items on the floor in front of him. He clenched his fists seeing it lie on the ground.
My car pulled up to the curb. Unus stepped out bowing to me. I nodded at him letting him return to the car. Kyoko gave her brother a hug, Bianchi trying to reassure her's and Haru trying to look strong. I gave her a push into Tsunayoshi's chest giving them all a minute to say goodbye. By their own will they placed their bags into the trunk and joined me in the car. I gave Unus the signal to leave. I spotted through the window Tsunayoshi watching us drive off.
The car's arrangement had Unus driving in the front with the rest of us in the back. The three girls sat on one side facing me. Bianchi sitting between the two them, holding their hands. They sat in silence not knowing how they should start the conversation. "Don't look at me like that Poison Scorpion. I'm not doing anything wrong."
"Wrong can be a very subjective term."
"Fine. Then I'm going to tell you some things that's going to happen this week. First note, each of you will continue your daily lives. Bianchi-san is going to train in the morning while Kyoko-chan and Haru-chan are to attend school without my training getting in the way of your student duties. Each of you can visit home if you ask beforehand. After school is finished you are to return to the place we are going to right now as soon as possible. However, none of you are allowed to speak of anything that happens in training to anyone or of our plan. That includes each other and Tsunayoshi-kun. The only one that you speak to about your training regime is myself."
"What's the point in letting them go back to school? They'll be worked to death if they spend all day in school and all night training."
"It's because there's no reason to take them out. Even Tsunayoshi-kun and I had to continue school while training. I also don't need people questioning the disappearance of two female students. I understand how the human body works, including its limits. I'll be watching over it. If they can't keep up, then it will be on them." I crossed my leg over the other.
"Tonight I will assess each of your own capabilities and will formulate a routine specific to yourselves. We will then go off that. To limit the chances of the hostages getting badly injured we must act fast. We will be moving out in one week's time." They all nodded.
"When we successfully get inside the base, and learned the location of our targets, we will be splitting up. The three of you will be going to find Fong and I will find I-pin. Let me make one thing clear here so that we all understand. After we split up there will be no communication." Haru suddenly sat up.
"D-don't you think that's a bit r-risky? They say that there's power in numbers. I-It would make Haru feel a bit better if we were all together. Or if we could at least call for help."
"No can do. If we had communication then you'll be too reliant on calling me over the smallest problem. Not to mention that your mind will waver if they manage to hack the system. You guys are still rookies that haven't hyphened your senses. With an ear piece you would not hear around you or will get confused with my sound."
"Then how about splitting the teams evenly? Two-two. Or switching targets where you get Fong and we get I-pin? That makes it easier for us to grab her and will help soothe her if she's with us instead of you." Bianchi reasoned.
"You're forgetting that they don't care who I-pin is. To them they only see her as the thing that keeps Fong in place. The only thing that's keeping him from rampaging is her. The security will be lax around him knowing that. That's why if you manage to get to him, you will tell him that I've rescued I-pin. He will then be your new form of protection. If we split it two to two then it would only bring me down in the harder part."
"But how can we know if you have her if you said that we don't have communication?" Kyoko asked.
"Just lie. Let him loose and escape with him. This week you'll be meeting a few members of Varia so you'll be escaping with them. Who exactly is undetermined yet. Don't worry about me."
"Wait just a minute. I won't follow through with the plan unless we confirm I-pin's safety ourselves."
"You don't really have a choice. The moment one of us gets our target, security will be flared. Say you get Fong and you wait for me, you risk the chance of all of you getting captured. Fong is strong, no doubt, but we don't know what kind of condition he's in. At most he would be able to help all of you to at least to safety, not hold them off forever. Then there's scenario number two where I allow communication or we meet up to prove that I-pin's safe. At that point all defenses will be focused on Fong and we won't be able to free him. He's the one they want in the end. Are you willing to let a part of the Tri-Ni-Sette rest in their hands and having I-pin feel worse for leaving him behind when he went there to help her?"
Bianchi bit her lip at me. "No."
"Wow you guys really are siblings." Her eyes slanted. I looked at the two girls on her side. "And you two. Neither of you have any training and I really doubt you touched your rings since I gave them. This week you're going to see a side of me that you never have before. If training becomes too hard then know that this is exactly what you asked for when you asked how you could help Tsunayoshi-kun. I'm not going to hold back in my actions or words and I won't tolerate any acts of weakness."
The car pulled up to the edge of Namimori forest. Unus opened the door for us, letting me step out first. After the girls got their bags we walked deeper into the forest. There lied a mansion that Mammon covered with his illusions. After all the damage that the Vendice caused at our hotel we had decided to build a separate base in Namimori. We were lucky that it finished construction by this time. It was smaller than our Italian base but had enough open space to make up for it.
We caught sight of the building when Mink ran past their feet. The girls flinched, instinctively jumping back. Levi soon flashed behind them almost knocking them off their feet. They looked into the forest that they disappeared into. "What was that-desu?"
"Varia type of training. Levi is kind of slow on his feet so chasing something like Mink in the forest is one way he tries to increase his agility. Don't mind him too much." They shook off their shock, following me. The members stood outside observing his training seeing me bringing in our newbies. Lussuria skipped over giving the three of them a look over.
"You sure about this Nat-chan? They look kind of tiny."
"Ugh you sound like Tsunayoshi-kun. Don't worry, I'll take good care of them." I directed my attention to the girls. "Girls, meet Lussuria. Like Sasagawa-san and Kyoko-chan, he's a Sun user. He'll be the first person you'll be seeing if you get injured. This would actually be a good time to introduce everyone."
I stood in front of the group. I first gestured to Squalo. He took one look at the girls then looked back at Levi in the forest. "This is the second in command, Squalo-sama. He'll be staying with us in case of any problems that arise in this week. If you ever feel that something's off, then you should talk to him. Next up is this small fellow."
I attempted to wrap my arm around his shoulders when he stuck his arm out, blocking me from coming closer. I stuck my tongue out at him. "This is Mammon, he'll be here to put up a barrier around this forest. Don't even think about having Chrome-san or any other illusionist try to break in if that's what we're thinking Bianchi-san. I'll take it the wrong way."
She didn't look at me only making sure that the Varia members don't try anything funny. Bel walked next to me with Mink resting around his neck. Mink jumped onto my shoulders circling a few times until he got comfortable. I scratched his head then pointed to Bel. "This is Bel who is only here for the sushi."
I looked behind them at Unus walking over. "One of the members from my squad, Unus. Duo is surveying the area right now but these two will be observing the two girls just in case."
Levi stepped out of the forest glaring at Mink for stopping his training. "You've already meet Levi."
He scoffed at the two, returning to Xanxus's side. "Finally, there's my boss, Xanxus-sama. Don't worry too much though as Levi and Xanxus-sama will be returning to Italy tonight to take care of their own business. The building is also quite large, and the men will be resigning in the right bracket. I'll be with them too so that you can have a bit of privacy. They wouldn't dare go over to your side for the time being. We'll also be providing food, but you are welcomed to eat separately from us."
They didn't speak but looked at each other. "Is something wrong?"
Kyoko shyly rubbed the back of her neck. "Well after hearing how you talked to Tsuna-kun and having all of them tell us how scary your friends are, we thought that you guys would have been stricter. You're even letting us go home if we wanted."
"That's only because I know how it feels to be trapped in." I sneaked a glance at Xanxus who knew exactly what I was referring to. "This is simply a part of the process. I don't plan on breaking your spirits or turning you into a hard core Mafiose. Don't be fooled though."
I petted Mink on the head. "This thing around my neck is a box weapon. It can literally spread flames for more than 100 feet of radius. Right now, it sits on me with the potential that could burn me to a crisp. In a week's time you'll be faced with people that hold almost the same amount of threat. You will only survive this mission if you train hard. I meant what I said to Tsunayoshi-kun about not ensuring your lives. If you think that because you have freedom that I'm going to go easy on you then you're wrong. Get that into your head now."
They straighten their backs only having Bianchi still refusing to tolerate me. "I'm only here as a representative of Vongola. I don't attend on getting friendly with you. You can give us all the freedom in the world and hide behind your mask all you want. That does not change that we're going on a suicide mission. The moment we finish you're going to get all that's coming to you."
"You mean the satisfaction that I managed to rescue two hostages? I'll happily accept that. All of you go inside. Get changed. We're going to get started."
Thank you to all readers.
Especially to the Guest who commented, I'm happy that you think that my story is unique.