A/N:
@MichiruLeIdiotah: Probably. I don't really know myself, but he does have demon blood in him. Like 0.00000001? About Tsuna's mentality, it's like if Tsu-kun disappears, all his memories will disappear too. If Yoshi disappears, Tsuna will not understand things. But if Tsuna disappears, I think he'll become Ira in a way yet not demon like (though he's already the demon of SA, how cliche). Let's just say Luce made Reborn feel special things that others didn't. Like any fanfics, Luce will always have a special place on the hitman's heart because she's his first sky. I just think that he loves her that much. And honestly, this will be my first fanfic that will reach 70 chapters. I'm always at 30 or 40.
@Michiko-chan27: I agree with you about those R27 fanfic. There are some that really broke my heart. Like 'In another life' that ended up as F27. I teared up on that. Regarding the rant you read on the previous reviews, no. It won't be the same. Girl Tsuna will have limitations. She'll be nerdy or just well-read like Hana, she'll only have self-defense and will not be regarded as a delinquent. She won't smash some heads nor be friends with Kyouya cause that will cause a love triangle (or any polygons that will happen). She'll be pretty emotional and too conservative since she has to act lady-like. And I don't want a female lead cause I already have those in my original stories. (I mean come on. I'm here for Tsunayoshi Sawada, not Tsunahime, Tsukihime, Tsunade, etc. Just plain ol' Tsunayoshi.)
@RedB: The last chapter was inspired from my unrequited crush seven years ago (God. I'm old). It was painful cause I really liked him and he likes this girl in my class that really hates me. Well, at least they're mutual but aren't meant to be together. Anyway, thanks. And likewise!
Sorry about the lengthy responses. Thanks for the other reviews! I'm at the stop road of writer blocks at the moment cause I'm struggling how I'll write the story. Viper and Tsuna's contract is two chapters more after this. I just need Tsuna to have a motivation on what he'll do, so please be patient with me.
Anyway, go ahead with the chapter. Sorry for holding you up.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Viper's gaze were really penetrating even under his hood. Tsuna lightly squirmed at the worried eyes that follow him everywhere in the room. Even though the Mist tried to be invisible, the young man can still see him. However, he played along and never looked at the Arcobaleno's way. The brunet suspected that he won't see Mammon if the latter uses his mist to hide, not their ability to be invisible. And until not needed, Tsuna won't say a thing.
The Mist sighed and dropped himself on his feet to stand on his legs. The Arcobaleno house was a mess with Reborn's rampage, but he expected much on Tsuna's case. The child looked like he never slept well. Again. But instead of physical exhaustion, he can see emotional lassitude. It's as if the human has been holding up on something for three days straight he hadn't visited.
What happened?
"I know you can see me, Tsuna." The Mist sighed. The brunet chuckled weakly. "You look like a mess, child. What happened?"
"Nothing. Just... This book." The brunet responded as he arranged the books in the shelves.
"Tsuna's trust relies on how well you'll accept his problems, and what measures you'll do just to understand him even if you don't know what he's saying." Yoshi's voice echoed in Viper's mind after the reply.
"What about it?" The Mist noticed how the little Sky stilled and almost dropped the book he was sliding inside the shelf if he didn't catch it on time. "What's the book about?"
"Y-You wanna know?" The brunet asked, glancing at him. The demon shrugged. "It's a story. There's this... Guy who was in love with a creature. They were friends and made a contract after one of them asked for it."
The demon breathed out a small relief, even though he knew who was the people in the story.
"At a certain time, this... Guy started to have glimpse of important events from the creature's memories. He was really entertained because it was the past of the... Creature. Then the time came when..." The Mist saw the child's eyes became sorrowful as he stared at the books in the cabinet. "That guy saw a good memory. A memory of which the creature fell in love to someone."
"Wait-! What?! Reborn fell in love?!" The Arcobaleno exclaimed in total astonishment.
The brunet looked back to him and sighed. "I knew it will be too obvious."
"What do you mean Reborn fell in love?"
"That's just it." The young man shrugged as he continued his work.
"Who?"
The Sky looked at him with a deadpan, as if saying 'Seriously? You're asking me that?'
Viper started to wonder in the past, finding specific memories, observations and things that confused him... The demon's jaw slacked when it clicked. "He fell to Luce?"
The human didn't responded.
"We were always a cluster whenever we go for a mission. Me and Skull, Fon and Verde, Lal and Colonnello then Reborn and Luce. And everytime we have this conversation, the two will share smiles and laughs, as if they had their own inside jokes."
"They were the closest." Tsuna smiled sadly.
"No wonder they always have this connection. Why he was always protective of her." Viper muttered. Then he looked up to see the silent Tsuna and realized what he just said. "Tsuna. Sorry."
"Nah. It's okay." The brunet dismissed. "Do me a favor and tell Lal that I finished the hat? She can pick it up later."
"I'll... Tell her that."
Tsuna eyed him and smiled pleasantly. "Really, Mammon. It's okay. We aren't compatible anyway. And it's the past. I'm seeing Reborn's memory of Luce being pregnant and the Arcobaleno meeting Kawahira."
Mammon winced at his nickname. "You forgot my face, but that nickname didn't go away."
"It did stick." Tsuna laughed, easing the mist arcobaleno's worry a little. "It was a certain name that tasted nice in my tongue."
Viper huffed. "It tasted nice because you're using it to tease me."
"It's our little secret, Viper." The child chimed merrily as he continued. "Go on. Come back later. You've been here since three in the morning. You should really adjust that visiting hours of yours."
"The house was noisy. Reborn is having his fits. He was searching for this thing early in the morning and we don't know what it is because he won't say anything when Colonnello or Skull asks."
The young man paused on his work and looked at him. "Maybe you should really go. It's probably the fedora. Tell Lal to get it."
Viper blinked, noting that Tsuna was right. "Yeah. I should go."
"And Mammon?"
"Yes?" Then he groaned, making the child chuckle.
"Don't tell anyone about his first love. It's just us."
Viper didn't give a verbal response as he disappeared from the room and appeared in the meadow. He sighed, hiding the new information he got from Tsuna. Who knew Reborn fell in love with Luce? No one even considered it. Not even him who was good at reading people. He's known as an esper for a reason. Damn it.
Patting his cloak to get rid of displaced dirt, he walked up to the door and opened it. The house was quiet, but disarrayed. Some furniture were overturned, a lot was broken. He snapped his fingers and closed the door behind him, invisible hands started to clean the mess that was made by a certain black clad demon. He tugged his hood when he heard some footfalls and Skull's head popped from the dining room door.
"How was Tsuna?" The Cloud queried, expectant. "Did you tell him that I'm sorry cause I couldn't visit him?"
"Tell it to him yourself. He's coming here later." He replied.
"Ah. He finished it?" Lal asked while descending the stairs.
The Mist nodded. "Yes. He told me to tell you that get it quickly. Reborn was probably searching for his hat that's why he's flipping the house upside down for a dozen of times. But just take him along. He needs a breather."
"Ah. Right." The Mist-rain nodded as she hurried for the door. "Be right back."
"Be careful!" Fon called out just as the door swung close. "She could've told Reborn that the hat was with Tsuna."
"She might have thought that it wasn't the reason." Skull shrugs before smiling to Viper who sat on the couch. "So how was he?"
"He's..." Mammon contemplated what to say. "Alright. He's sleeping well after I got rid of that mental parasite."
"Mental parasite?!" Skull blurted out, gaining some attention. "What kind?"
"Incubus."
"Impossible." Verde, who just went out of his room, spat.
"No. It can't be." Fon negated with a sharp look to the Lightning.
Viper got the gist. "It wasn't the bogey. It was the youngest."
Skull's eyes widened.
"Good grief." Fon sighed. "Of all demons to attract."
"What happened?" Skull questioned, seriousness dripping in his voice. "To Tsuna?"
"He was exhausted when I helped him." The Mist informed. "Good thing he held in. If he didn't he could've died."
"Of course. With that intent, he should be gone by now." Verde commented while resting his arms on the railings. "I don't even know how he can withstand such powerful assaults and looked like it was just a breeze for him."
"It's the way he was brought up." Viper replied. "He had a harsh childhood involving the society."
"Not his parents?" Skull asked, skeptical.
Mammon shook his head. "His family is pretty nice. The ones who don't like him was his peers. Just like in Saint Academy. It doesn't show a lot, but his upbringing can be seen if we chose to look for it."
"Huh. So you and Tsuna become close."
The Mist didn't turn around to see Reborn. The hitman's footsteps started to go down the stairs before he appeared by the door of the dining room. The sun arcobaleno looked different. His spiky hair is tousled, the usual neat suit isn't iron-plated and he looked angry, dissatisfied and confused.
The room went quiet as the hitman tinkered inside the kitchen. Skull studied Viper while the latter didn't give any emotions to hint the Cloud. Cloud and mist are always close. Some might say that they contradict since the mist can't touch the sky as well as the cloud, and they've had a long running dispute, but those people didn't know that these two elements have the strongest connection. As strong as the sky and its sun.
Skull's eyes are observant even though he is the youngest among them. Or probably the oldest because he can't be that wise as he shows if he wasn't. Viper might not know, but he has a hunch. As accurate as Reborn's instinct and Tsuna's intuition, his senses are always right too. And it was telling him to be careful although he could trust. Fon and Verde aren't that dangerous to him, but Skull is a fifty-fifty.
"Yo!" They looked at Colonnello at the side of their eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Verde answered as he pulled away from his position. "If you talk to Tsunayoshi again, tell him that I have books he can borrow if he wants them. They're written in Latin and Hebrew."
"That's alright." Skull assured Colonnello and Viper with a smile. "He can read those languages."
"I wonder if he can speak them too." Colonnello asked out loud, earning a lot of interested gazes that made him smile. "Yeah yeah. You're with me."
"Tell him that yourself. He's visiting." Viper dismissed.
A clatter from the dining room was heard.
"I'm gonna ask him for a contract though." Another loud sound. The Mist shrugged while the others shook their heads. "I stalled too long."
Mammon grinned widely when he felt a spike of miasma from the kitchen. Just as he was about to say something more, the house shook with great intensity. They braced themselves as it continued for more seconds before it stopped. They looked at each other before they nodded, same thoughts crossing their minds.
They're under attack.
"I wasn't going to come with you. You're here for the hat." The child huffed as he handed the hat. "There."
"Don't you want to see the others?" Lal asked, handing the head wear back. The brunet didn't reply quickly, so she jumped on the opportunity to reason out more. "Skull and Fon wanted to see you. Even Colonnello. Verde might give you some books."
"Lal, I can't go. I have so much to do." He explained, gesturing to the mess in his room.
"No." The woman said in a commanding voice. "When I say you come, you will."
The brunet stared at the demon before smiling softly, already surrendering. "You won't let me go."
"Not until you see them. Those people can be pretty annoying if I arrive without you in tow."
"Fine. Just let me get some papers." And he turned around to look for them.
The brunet cringed as he stuffed the papers inside his pocket. It's not that he doesn't want to go. He's ecstatic to see them even. He can't wait to see Colonnello and Skull and talk to them, and let Fon and Verde be filled up with assurance that the seven sins didn't really touch him except for Lust's incubus (he doesn't even know why Lust sent an incubus. It has to be succubus because he's man for Pete's sake). But seeing Reborn again? He doesn't know.
They hadn't been in contact for almost two months. The last time they talked was when the hitman tucked him to sleep. Almost a year ago, Tsuna was able to stand his right to see the demon. But now... He doesn't know where to stand anymore. He respects Reborn, and as he sees the other's past, his feelings began to deepen more. As much as he feels in love, he is also ready to feel hurt.
It's part of his wish, isn't it?
But where should he really stand in the hitman's life?
Shaking his head, the brunet went to Lal and closed the door. They walked for the Blood tower. Arriving there, Tsuna just crossed the world without acknowledging any eyes. Right after they left the camp's barrier, Lal transformed into her animal form. The young man's mouth went agape.
Lal is a big bear with berry blue fur, wearing her visor on her forehead. She's so big and stood tall like she won't care who crosses her path cause she'll slaughter them all. Just like a Mama bear. The comparison made Tsuna chuckle, earning a glance from the animal's red eyes. The human made a 'don't mind' hand wave before mounting when Lal lowered her body. Before the lady demon straightened her body, Tsuna whispered how powerful she looked, only to nearly fall when the Mist-rain whipped her head to glare at him. But the young man swore he saw a small smile on Mama bear's lips.
They zoomed through the forest. Tsuna can't help himself from enjoying a little, a hand gripping the hat. The stream of wind that hits him makes him feel refresh. Maybe staying in the castle for too long is not good. Especially when negative people surround you more than the positive ones.
They were nearing the Arcobaleno clearing when they felt a strong earthquake. Tsuna fell from Lal and groaned when he hit the ground, but he didn't get up immediately. The ground is still shaking. When it stopped, a wave of dust suddenly erupted from the meadow, quickly invading the nearby forests.
Tsuna coughed to the smoke as he put a high level barrier on the hat. Lal, who transformed from a bear to her human form, rolled her eyes on him for protecting a single hat. The brunet smiled a little while getting up, not even dusting himself, thinking that the woman will understand if she only knew the importance of the hat, just as how important the sunglasses is to her.
The Mist-rain demon took a gun from her infinite arsenal before ushering the brunet to run. Tsuna did with a hand gripping the invisible box-like barrier with the hat inside. He kept running as bullets flew off from everywhere, helping here and there in disposing some demon who got past Lal's little perimeter.
The clearing is covered in dust, hindering the pair from seeing the Arcobaleno house. Tsuna suspected that they're getting way past the little building as they ran though (blame his intuition). Coughing again, he tried to tap on Reborn's aura, calling mentally but the other won't respond. He could only exhale a breathe of exasperation before halting just as his mind told him so.
"Oi! What are you doing?!" Lal yelled.
"Waiting." Tsuna replied calmly.
The female demon was about to say something when the dust got swept away by a strong wind. The meadow became clear enough to see the attackers. Readying himself, Tsuna tossed the hat high up in the air and started to attack those enemies that are near him. With swift attacks and few pops of bones here and there, the demons fell down like heavy trunks of trees. And just as he finished round housing three demons, he caught the hat in midair and went for a run to help Lal who was being ganged up.
"Stay-"
Tsuna kicked a demon in the head, just as the Mist-rain demon was going to tell him off.
"Never mind." Lal chuckled.
The brunet didn't do some fighting this time. He just pushed the demons to Lal's waiting limbs and watched them fall on the ground one by one. Wanting to make sure that they stopped moving completely, he kicked them a little by the thighs, but no twitch so he let go. Lal gave him a quick signal that she'll check on the others that he nodded at. He gave the field a quick look, and concluded that the demons who attacked the Arcobaleno were either semi or low level demons. Probably those who got affected with the Arcobaleno's missions these past months.
Since no one was moving except for the ones who won their little spars, Tsuna checked the hat. He turned it over here and there to check for any damage. So far, none. The barrier was really impeccable. Not a peck of dust got inside the little box.
The brunet smiled as he stared at his little fix, proud of how he was able to do it without a practice for a long time. The first time he got the fedora, it has big tears on the top and the brim. It was dirty too and there are a lot of holes inside the crown. The orange band was almost gone too if the small part of the clothe didn't hang on. He had to use two of his silk black shirts just to cover the tears, buy black and orange threads from Kyoko (Hana's summon), and spend three sleepless nights to get it right (include the part where he always goes for the water works whenever he remembers that... Certain fact).
"You had my hat?"
Tsuna stiffened before his head snapped to his left where a furious Reborn stood.
"What did you do to it?!" The hitman angrily questioned.
The brunet didn't say anything. He removed the barrier before stretching his hand out for the demon to take and said in a small voice, "Here."
"I'm asking you what did you do to it?!"
"Nothing." The young man replied softly before stretching his hand more. "Take it. Lal found it and gave it to me so I can hand it to you. You just came in time."
Reborn snatched the hat from the waiting hand, black eyes glaring. "You're lying."
Tsuna stood his ground and stared back. "I am."
"What did you do?!"
Tsuna kept his shock in when Reborn tried to grab his collar. His instinct flared and made him step back. The hitman stared at him, and he gazed back. After a second passed, the man lounged at him. The brunet evaded him and started to dodge. He didn't do anything to retaliate, nor pick up his papers to encage the raging demon. It's useless to fight back against the strongest demon of Fiant.
"Fight back!" Reborn yelled. "Fight back, Tsuna!"
Tsuna shook his head just as they stopped with few meters apart from each other, enough not for the demon to reach him.
"You-" The hitman muttered curses.
The brunet gasped as strong hate washed on his system. "Reborn..."
Onyx eyes glared, stand imposing and fedora fixed on his head. "You're pissing me off. You kept sending me signals here and there. Why can't you just go on with your life like you used to?"
The human looked away.
"You succeeded on blocking me off that one time. Why can't you do it again?"
The young man bowed his head in resignation, eyes swelling from the hate he can feel from the other side. "Yeah. I wonder why I can't."
Silence.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were being infected by an incubus?" A question.
Tsuna didn't look up, eyes still shadowed by his hair. "I was sending you distress signals for a month and a week. Shouldn't I be the one asking here? Asking why didn't you respond to my call?"
"How can I? Viper helped you because you told him." The hitman growled.
"He showed up on the fourteenth, at the lake. I had to tell him because-"
"So you prefer him over me?!" Reborn accused, making Tsuna look up. "Just because he told you he wants a contract with you, you got closer suddenly!"
"Reborn-"
"You know what, bullshit!" Tsuna stepped back. "Go accept his contract. I don't care."
"Wait-" The Sky tried to call up, only to be cut off.
"I mean it." The demon answered with hard certainty. "Go accept his contract. It's for your own benefit, Tsunayoshi Sawada. And just so you know, I won't forgive you if you did something to my hat."
A beat went by. The young man nodded, unable to say anything. How can he when he's not allowed to talk? He stared at Reborn form for the last time, then gave a small smile as a parting regards before turning his back. He didn't say goodbye. He doesn't trust his voice not to crack with so much emotions swirling inside him. He just want to hole up inside his room and cry.
It hurts...
It freaking hurts.
Without looking back, he walked towards the forest. When he deemed that he's covered by the trees, enough for the Arcobaleno not to see him, he ran. He ran as fast as he could as tears cascaded down to his cheeks.
Why did it have to end up like this? Did he do something wrong? He just blocked him just that one time! And he tried his best not to bother Reborn! Maybe he did something wrong... Maybe he-
"Tsuna!"
The addressed human went for a slow jog before stopping completely. He looked back to see a blond in military get-up getting nearer. Remembering he was crying, he tried his best to wipe off the tears from his chin and the tear stains on his cheeks and under his eyes. Just as Colonnello got near enough, he put up a good smile. The Arcobaleno will always have his smiles.
Colonnello stared at Tsuna. Red eyes, red nose, hastily erased tear stains, and quivering smile. If what he heard from Viper awhile ago was true, then this must be the look of their favorite human being a mess. God. And Reborn made it worse. Or was it the contractor who made the summoner like this from the very start? Good thing he followed the child when the latter ran off. He would've regretted it big time if he didn't.
The Tsuna in front of him looked like he needed lots of hugs and comforts. The brown eyes looked hurt, betrayed and sorrowful. Other than those, his body screams exhaustion and resignation. Just what the hell happened? No. He needs to get him home first before he starts to ask questions.
"Let's get you to the castle." Colonnello said.
Tsuna perked up, staring at Rain's face. "What's with the serious face?"
"Tsuna." The blond called before smiling softly. "You don't have to act like nothing is wrong. I'm a friend. You might not tell me, but you can still show me."
Colonnello's heart broke when those brown eyes teared up before water drops fell. "It just hurts."
"Get on my back."
Tsuna went for a piggyback ride. And before he knew it, he's riding a big white eagle. The brunet wanted to see how beautiful Colonnello is, but he couldn't. Not with a broken heart. He just laid on the eagle's back and cried.
He doesn't even know how they got past the barrier. All he registered was his back hit the soft mattress and he curled under the blanket. He heard the Rain sat beside him before a good cool washed into his tense body and he just let the darkness consume him.