A/N:
@michiko-chan27: I just have this kind of feeling that sometimes we see our siblings like they're still baby and never acknowledging how they grew. Like how parents over react about security even if their child is already thirty years old. (No. I'm only Twenty-one. And I'm still lamenting how old I am. I want to be teen again!) Lal and Colonnello have that kind of sibling relationship, and Tsuna has to right that up. Oh, and yeah! Lal is a tsundere! Like that one time in the future where Tsuna told her they're going for that mission or something, and then she remembered Colonnello teasing her not giving any encouraging word to her students. She was so tempted to do it that she didn't do it. HAHAHA! My update schedule isn't really arranged. I just enjoy posting the chapters. I'm even surprised that I get reviews up until now, or even the fact that you enjoy the story. But I assure you, the ending will be a new beginning. HAHAHA.
Ps. God. I know. Her stories are superb. I do hope she updates soon. Hahaha. I'm excited. My sister was the one who influenced me to read books nine years ago (I got addicted to fanfics last year though). And I bet you, she's far better in making stories than me, although she never writes because she's an extremely lazy and deemed that writing isn't for her. (She's more into arts and things I could only imagine in my head.)
@MichiruLeIdiota: Hahaha. Thanks. I thought I couldn't pull it off. You can keep screaming though. I do scream at how romantic the two are. Argh. They really rub in my face the fact that I'm single. Anyway, why not we make Viper the aunt that we call another Mama? (I can already see Viper scowling though. That Mama is a he. HAHAHA) And I swear I didn't notice they were forming a family if you didn't point it out. Thanks! HAHAHA!
@acertainpasserby: I know right. I couldn't stop laughing at how same the situations were even if Lal and Colonnello didn't plan them together. Ah. No. Remember when Viper finally talked to Reborn? It means they're okay again, right? That Viper's anger was gone and he forgives Reborn. So in a sense, Viper lowered his illusion around Tsuna, but doesn't mean Reborn can freely go to him though. He's still under restriction. We all want to be Tsuna's friend. I like how he's always there if you need him, and you'll be his first priority if ever you call him (like he'll literally drop everything just to help you). With that personality of his, I want to protect him too so he won't get abused by users and such. Hope we all get a friend like that.
So thanks for the other reviews. Here's part 2 of 4 (or 5) of this week's update. Hahaha. I'm blessed with internet this week so, yeah. Wait a bit more and we're done with the Arcobaleno arc.
Note: Italicized context are memories. Don't get confused. Peace.
Anyway, onwards. Go on. Don't mind me here.
Chapter Forty-One
It took three days for Colonnello to come back to Fiant. Lal was pretty jittery when Viper gave her a heads up per requested by Tsuna. She doesn't know what to do or how to deal with her brother after realizing what she has been doing. Does she act normal? Or apologize?
But when the Rain shuffled inside the house with Verde and Skull on his tail, her first reaction was hug him. The blond laughed heartily before hugging back. The Arcobalenos who were present, averted their eyes, knowing they'll get a frown from a specific human if they tease the siblings.
After that, everything went back to normal.
Colonnello eyed his sister from the corner of his eyes before grinning a little wider as he continued to clean his rifle. To be honest, he was fairly surprised when Lal hugged him the moment he stepped in the house. Maybe what Tsuna told her really rocked her mind. If he didn't know how firm his sister's beliefs and mind set, he'd possibly think that Lal became crazy.
The brunet gave him an advice before he left though. He was told to act normal around Lal. Be his goofy self and like a rain if he can. He really heed, and now they're okay.
"How was Tsuna when you left him?" Lal asked from her spot on the couch.
Colonnello glanced upstairs to see if Reborn was listening before answering. "You told him to see Reborn, Kora?"
"I did." The Mist-rain peeked at him with an eye from her arm she draped on her eyes. "He told you?"
The Rain grinned playfully. "Aren't we really siblings, Kora? I told Reborn to see him too."
Lal blinked before letting out a cackle of laughter. "That's so fucked up."
"I know right! You could've seen how red he was, Kora!" The youngest stage-whispered, making the eldest laugh some more.
"Tsuna was skittish. He thought I'll tease him." The Mist-rain confessed.
The Rain chuckled. "Those two really compliment each other. Why can't that douche bag confess already, Kora?"
"Maybe because Viper won't tell him where Tsuna is?"
The blond rested his chin on his hand. "Probable. He didn't even ask where he was when I opened the portal for him there, Kora."
Lal hummed.
"Na, Lal." The blond called.
"What?"
"Do you think we should offer Tsuna a contract?" The bluenette looked at her brother who proposed the idea. "I mean he already gave us something we should pay."
"Do you think Tsuna will agree with just that reason?"
Colonnello pouted. "No."
"Then no."
And a week long of pestering happened.
The second time the memories aligned was when they first met each other.
Tsuna can't help himself from laughing when he realized that Reborn was the bird that landed on his shoulder on his first day in Fiant. Since Reborn's animal form was pretty well known as a raven, those demons who wanted to eat or shred him to pieces hesitated after seeing the familiar bird land on his shoulder. It was to keep him safe and claim interest.
From then on, their dreams aligned as significant memories with the other involved played. Both couldn't deny the fact that they were spluttering, blushing, amused and amazed at some point. To know the other's feelings as they travelled back to the memory lane, it felt great to know the reason why they said those things or do those questionable and interesting gestures in the first place.
It wasn't much when the two of them got a hold of the information of how they love each other. Nope. Tsuna didn't cry. He really didn't when he felt the strong emotions of Reborn back when the brunet tried to search for the hitman. (Please note of the sarcasm.) Reborn was so surprised of how Ganauche was able to deduce that Tsuna was in love with him after getting clues from the brunet's monologue. Nor did he expect for the growing feeling of fondness, sense of protectiveness and something heart thumping feeling to be a growing love for him.
When that time Byakuran and company attacked them, Tsuna felt the turmoil Reborn was in when after his past self questioned the real reason why Tizia Fiore, the giver of sanity, sacrificed herself. He felt how the hitman berated himself for being useless. The brunet felt the intensity of hidden desire when Reborn sensed the wave of pleasure from. And he felt the anger, jealousy and insecurities the hitman hid when the latter started to get the sensation that Tsuna is trying to block something from him regardless of those distress signals.
Tsuna's tears streamed down when comparison between him and Luce started to speculate around Reborn's mind. He couldn't shake of the feeling of helplessness but he was thankful that the hitman's feelings for him was still there. He cheered for Reborn's missions, blushed at how foolish he was for saying the demon was out there and having sex with anyone when it's for a mission, and frowned when the hitman randomly destroys the house after feeling his distress signals and when his hat went gone. The brunet cringed at the protectiveness of the hitman for the only momento of Luce to him, and the swell of hatred when his past self didn't fight back. To the demon, it was as if Tsuna was avoiding the topic.
Then his heart broke when Reborn searched for the line of sky aura within him after past Tsuna put a barrier between their lines. He saw how Viper put the hitman in sleep, and how Reborn started to rationalize himself, only to find out that he was the wrong one in their fight after siding for the hat. He felt like rejoicing when he sensed the strong emotions of dread from the hitman after his past self proposed the idea of removing the contract. He felt apologetic when Reborn started to scolded himself for all the wrong decision he made as he watched the past Tsuna and Viper make a contract. And he felt appreciative when he got to listen to the full version of Skull's talk to Reborn (he should invite the Cloud to do something fun later).
And that was the end of the line for Reborn.
Reborn watched and let the emotions of Tsuna ran through him as the memories played. He mused how Tsuna was able to handle the image of his demon form, probably had an immunity over all the demons he saw in his life and after seeing Skull's demon form. He watched as the brunet asked Hana about keeping everything a secret, only to back down after he considered the fact that demons are proud being. He found out that the young man started to feel insecure and unsafe after they discovered the features of the contract, especially whenever they met and they can't talk about things that may flatter the human's heart and give away what Tsuna feels for him that may cause problem in their friendship.
He watched how Tsuna met Wrath of the seven sins, who introduced himself as Ira. He frowned at the growing sympathy and protectiveness of the brunet for the demon who has to be asleep for more good millennia. He felt shame when he discovered how miserable Tsuna was when he resorted to doing a stupid intercourse with a woman for a stupid mission (he needs to explain that properly). Reborn smirked when he found out that he was the one Tsuna was picturing in his dreams that was giving pleasure to him. Then scowled when Wrath told Tsuna the idea of writing things the human wanted to say to the Arcobaleno, when he discovered that Viper helped Tsuna destroy the incubus that was trying to kill him by the order of Lust, and when the mist arcobaleno advised the brunet to confess to him since the esper now knew Tsuna liked Reborn.
He felt condemning himself for accusing Tsuna of doing something to his hat, when in fact the human spent hours fixing it up, even after discovering the very fact that the sun arcobaleno was in love to the sky arcobaleno. He felt Tsuna's sorrow when past Reborn shunned past Tsuna away. He felt grateful for Colonnello's help, a little conflicted to Viper's anger because the Mist was right when he said Reborn was a shitty contractor for being unappreciative with Tsuna, and how the brunet passed out after putting the barrier up as per teaching of the esper.
He felt the overwhelming sense of pride when Tsuna was informed of being able to graduate as a summoner. He saw how the child answered that thick stack of papers about the only subject he needed to graduate by the use of his stocked knowledge and then fight Kyouya after exchanging pleasantries with the prefect's summons.
And then the past him appeared. He felt the brunet's mixed feelings of happiness for seeing him and sadness of knowing that the past Reborn hates him. He watched how Tsuna mourned the idea of breaking the contract. How the young man relished the first time the past Reborn and past Tsuna made a contract. Reborn's heart broke when Tsuna cried for the thought of losing him and leaving without saying goodbye.
And that's where Tsuna's line ended.
Nana eyed her son who is flushing like a tomato by the dining table. Her fellow brunet is groaning softly, still flushed with eyes in daze, as if he is recalling something embarrassing. Humming like she usually does, the Sawada matriarch put a mug of chocolate drink in front of Tsuna and waited for him to snap back to his senses.
It took two minutes for Tsuna to go back to reality. The young man's face was really red yet a sense of happiness was in there. Nana wondered if it was that guy in black suit who made her son become like this. She really watched how that demon Colonnello called Reborn stared at her son with so much love. To the point that he risked the safety of his presence after taking Tsuna's hand to kiss it. He was fairly romantic. And Nana liked that. She liked that for Tsuna.
"Kaasan?" Tsuna blinked.
Nana smiled. "You're blushing, Tsu-kun."
The brunet went redder if possible. "I-I'm sorry. It was just I felt his feelings when he saw my e-essays and I felt like dying in embarrassment when he started to read them."
The older brunette smiled. "You know Tsu-kun, love isn't really hard to find."
The child's attention got caught.
"It can be to the wrong person at the right time and place. Or the right person at the wrong time and place. It depends. But when you feel it, treasure it. Value the feeling of caring for someone you'll know you'll spend your whole life with if given the chance."
Her son bowed his head. "I know. I just wanted to be by his side when he needs me. Or at least see him even if it becomes painful. I was ready for anything, but I didn't know..."
"That it will give you such intensity?" The child nodded. "Did you know that the deeper it was, the painful it is? When you care so much for a person, the painful it is to let go and forget, the painful it is the damage he gives."
Tsuna's eyes were wide. "Oh."
"Yes. If it's that painful, it means you love him that much. You'll sacrifice everything to ensure his safety and happiness. At some point you'll forget about yourself."
"But loving someone isn't like that."
Nana nodded, smiling at the fact that her son knows what to do. "As you love someone, you have to love yourself too. Know where to stand, when to give up, and what to give instead of taking what you want."
"Just like Tousan and Kaasan, and Jii-jii and Baa-baa." Tsuna whispered, a small smile on his lips.
"If you love him, tell him. At least he knows that you care. And it's up to him to tell you what he feels."
Tsuna nodded. "Thank you, Kaasan."
"You're always welcome, Tsu-kun."
"Tsuna, kora!" Both mother and son looked back to the living room where Colonnello and a lady were standing. "Have a contract with us, kora!"
"Ha?"
"Contract, with the two of us, kora!" The blond said while hugging the scowling lady beside him with an arm.
"Why so sudden?" Tsuna asked as he stood up to greet the two. "Hi Lal."
"This guy pestered me whole week to make me agree of getting a contract with you." The lady, now Lal, grumbled as her eyes looked around and met Nana's. The woman bowed her head in greeting. "Sorry for intruding."
Nana gave a wave of dismiss. "Nonsense. Tsu-kun friends are welcome anytime. Let me get you something to eat and drink as you discuss."
The three watched Nana get up from her seat and walked for the kitchen. Tsuna fondly smiled before turning his attention to the siblings, only to see Lal staring at him.
"What?"
"You sure have your mother's looks." Lal said, a little inquisitive.
"I know right! You'll get really interested with the other two too! You'll like Ietsuna and Iemitsu, kora!" Colonnello advertised as they went for the living room.
Tsuna watched as Lal tensed up. "That Ietsuna and Iemitsu? The hunter and the exorcist?!"
"Yup!" Her brother chirped.
The brunet winced when the lady gaped at him. "You're not serious."
"If I got my Dad's looks, you won't be that surprised." He remarked before humming as he sat on a single sitter. "So about the contract..."
"Ah yes! We would like a contract with you, kora. Both of us." Colonnello answered with a big grin.
"Like us three in a single circle?" Tsuna asked, a little thrown off the loop at the suggestion.
"Yes." Lal responded with a sigh before giving him a curious, almost hopeful, gaze. "You can do that, right? Make one?"
The brunet crooned softly. "What do you think, Jii-jii? Any suggestion?"
"You'll need to overlap two circles, like that one we constructed for Skull. But this time, all contract circles." A gruff voice answered, making the bluenette turn around to see an old man with blond hair and green eyes descending the stairs. "The most we'll problem is where to write the symbols and how will you do the contract with three people."
"Before that," Tsuna eyed the two. "why? Why so sudden? Why ask me? I could understand Colonnello since we both know how fickle he is, but I don't know your reason, Lal."
"Your indifference." The Mist-rain answered in a soft voice. "It always struck me how you never seem to care about our status or who we are. That time you took down two of those semi that was going to attack us in the middle of the night, when you almost killed Colonnello since I stopped you from doing so, that time you made us breakfast with him the next morning, and then act like it was normal for you to meet demons who are stronger of any you've seen so far.
"You didn't even bat an eyelash after watching how skilled we were. And you didn't scold me when you visited after Colonnello and I fought in front of you. You just talked me out from it. It felt like everything happening around you is normal, except for some thing you didn't expect to happen."
"You like how indifferent I am? But that was given, Lal. Why put another human being that feels nervous and afraid in front of you? Why put another human who praises you so much? Why put another power hunger human to offer all of you a contract when I wanted you to be free? I wanted to make you feel normal because that's what all of us strive.
"I talked you out of your trouble because you need it. You were already miserable of asking yourself what set off Colonnello during your mission. I don't want you to feel like I was blaming you because it's wrong and you have the rights to demand him things because you're older. You just went out of the line and Colonnello doesn't deserve that."
"That's it, Tsuna." The Mist-rain pointed out as she leaned in, smiling a little. "You know when to act like nothing happened and when to point the blame. That's what I wanted. A sense of normality."
"Then what can you give me in return?"
"Pull you out of your fantasy." Mama bear eyed him with a hidden glint of sadism. "One way or another, you'll have to put down those books you have and base your opinions on the experiences you'll have to face."
Tsuna rested his chin on his hands with his elbow on his knees. He went for the pros and cons. The reasoning was pretty valid. He just didn't know that he could do that. He eyed his Jii-jii who shrugged when the latter caught his eyes.
"Let me and Jii-jii work on the circles." Tsuna said before smiling at the siblings who visibly brightened. "Thank you."
"No. Thank you, Tsuna." Lal answered with a big smile, eyes squinting in obvious delight.
"Sa. Have some tea." Nana said as she emerged from the kitchen and put a tray of good on the table. "I took your choco from the table, Tsu-kun."
"Ah." Tsuna laughed as he got up and went for the stairs. "Right. It was Colonnello's fault."
"What fault? You forgot about it, I didn't." The Rain replied while taking some of the treats. "Lal, eat some."
"Thank you for the hospitality." Lal expressed to Nana who smiled.
It took an hour for Ietsuna and Tsuna to finish the contract circle. It was rather simple to construct since the two circles they need to use have the same purpose. So after constructing it in a paper and drawing it on the same vacant spot Tsuna used to summon and have a contract with Skull, they commenced with the ritual.
The circle was a combination of two dodekagrams, two overlapping hexagram and four overlapping triangles. The hexagons were firstly drawn before the triangles were placed, filling up those spaces left by the first dodekagram. As usual, the words are written on given spaces, one whole incantation for the hexagons and another for triangles. All except for the sentence on the center of the circle. In a way, the circle looked pretty complicated with all the lines here and there, and the words that has to be written on correct places. They two summons-to-be were worried that Tsuna might find the circle hard to draw, but the kid dismissed the notion like he has been practicing all his life.
If only they knew how much he drew such circles in complete fascination.
"So, how do we do this, kora?" Colonnello asked, looking at the brunet who has his eyes closed with face tilted upwards to the sky.
Tsuna opened his eyes before facing them, Colonnello on his left and Lal on right. "Since we're three, I need to hold one of your hands and your others will be on the spot where you want to put your marks on me. We'll say the contract incantation together. Instead of two desires, we'll say-"
"Three." They chorused.
"-and Colonnello will say his desire first, and I'll answer it before yours, Lal. And then both of you will say the next line. Got it?"
"How about your own sign?" Lal asked.
"The contract circle has enough power to carve my symbol on the same spot you wanted yours on mine. But you have to endure a bit of pain since I won't have my hands to filtrate the symbols from attacking your skins directly." The brunet explained.
"So that's why you cover them." Lal eyes were wide in understanding.
"In the old contract incantation," Tsuna started off as he offered bloody hands to the two. "you don't need to cover it since it will be placed anywhere. But if you did put a hand on the other except for the blooded handshake, your symbol will be there. For example, I put my hand on Reborn's arm, so mine was there."
Colonnello accepted the outreached hand after biting one of his on the palm then lowered the young man's pants to put his other hand on the left side of the latter's hips. "And you just figured that out by doing it once, kora?"
"It doesn't take that much." The human shivered as another cold hand was placed on the right side of his hip, it was Lal. "What's with you two and my hips?" He asked as he graciously took the bluenette's hand.
"We want to act like twins." The Mist-rain shrugged, earning a laugh from the summoner and the other contractor. She smiled. "Come on."
"Okay." The two men responded.
A deep breath and they started.
"Colors of elements, hand and hand, with both bloods, we seal our bond." The three said together, and the inner circle glowed. The dodekagram with two overlapped hexagons and four overlapped triangles glowed as same circle appeared in the sky and made a cylindrical shield around them.
"Knot the wreathe, knot the faith." A big triangle and three small ones from the hexagons shined.
"Three placed desires be obtained." The other triangle and same small shapes brightened.
"I promise to give you the comfort you need and the cheerfulness you won't acquire from anyone else." Colonnello grinned before wiggling his brows. "And probably the pleasure Reborn won't be able to satiate for you" A triangle alight.
"Is he flirting?" Lal questioned to Tsuna who innocently stared at her.
"I don't know, Lal. But I do hope I may give your brother the things he wants and the same comfort he will give me." The brunet eyed the blond who blinked his blue eyes at him. "But I promise you, Colonnello, that you can stick with me if you want to be entertained." A big triangle glowed.
"Thanks." The Rain smiled before nudging his sister.
"I offer you my experience in things you haven't been through. I cannot guide nor teach, but I can give you advices and life worth experiences that you won't be able to see anywhere in the world." Lal uttered softly, almost shy. Three small triangles alit.
"The sense of normality you crave will be given for the whole of my life time. I will never break that." Tsuna pledged with certainty, and the last three small triangles glinted.
"I give the contract," The two demons stated, and the words written on the triangles haloed.
"I trust the end." The human added, the words underneath them kindled.
The young man gripped the hands of his summoners as he stared at two massive demon forms in front of him. They looked almost identical except for the prominent female parts that Lal has. The demons have markhor horns on either sides of their heads, eyes slits with respective eye colors, and their a lot like sharks with sharp teeth. They have scale skins and pointed sticks on their spines. The most noticeable ones were the holes. While Colonnello have one hole on the lower part of his shoulder blades, Lal has her on the center, just below her throat. Their hands are sharp talons and they looked intimidating. Like always, the sight only stayed for seconds before human forms replaced their demon alternate.
"Breach the oath in due time length." They continued on. The outer circle blazed after the guaranty.
"May their lives prosper as what yearned are granted." And they lit up.
Tsuna expected that he'll be the one to keel on his knees when one heavy pressure was damned on him before another was pressed. However, he wasn't prepared when Colonnello and Lal were forced to their knees, heaving as if they were having a hard time breathing. He quickly joined them and squeezed their hands in comfort, forgetting about the pressure he's also experiencing.
Slowly, the pressure on him eased up and a flood of relief entered his body. He sat on the ground, both legs on other sides. His body felt so relaxed and sluggish and he wants to sleep. The things he sees became blurry until he felt himself fall, but someone caught him. He doesn't know if it was Colonnello or Lal. He just knew he felt like sleeping.
"Sleep, kora." A cheery voice said, hand covering his eyes to promptly close his eyes.
"You need it." Lal's voice rang through.
He hummed.
"Thank you, Tsuna."