Lambo has never felt as much dread as he does now as Reborn's ship slowly approaches Vongola Manor. It's shadow slowly falling over the boat, engulfing the entire craft as Reborn docked the ship on Vongola's personal docks, skillfully tying the ship before roughly pulling Lambo out of the ship and on to the docks with Reborn by the arm.
The teen is just lucky that Reborn didn't grab him by his already injured arm. He hadn't told the Arcobaleno of his new injuries and scars Lambo has received while he was away for a couple of reasons.
The two main ones are that Lambo didn't want to twist his stories into a negative light, they are one of his best memories he won't let Reborn twist them into something bad, and mostly because he didn't feel like it.
Lambo didn't feel like talking in general.
Reborn shoved Lambo forward, silently telling the teen to walk. Lambo sighs heavily, but did as he was told.
It was only a small relief for the boy when he finally looked up from the ground to see, standing at the end of the docks, arms crossed and patiently waiting, stood Hibari.
When they approached the Cloud guardian, Reborn grabbed Lambo's shoulder, this time it was his injured one, causing the boy to let out an involuntary hiss of pain as Reborn steered him. Making them to move past Hibari.
But the Skylark didn't let him.
"He's injured.", Hibari told Reborn stonily, "I'll take him to Shamal."
"Tsuna needs to know the stupid cow his back.", Reborn retorts coldly.
"He will.", Hibari shoots back without missing a beat, "You will tell him and then take Tsuna to Shamal so he can see him. While you do that, I'll take him to Shamal."
This time, Hibari didn't wait for Reborn to retort or protest, in his own way. Instead, he gently placed his hand on Lambo's uninjured shoulder, gently, but firmly, taking him away from Reborn and led him the rest of the way to the manor.
Lambo immediately relaxed at the change in company, but it didn't last long. The mere sight of Vongola manor caused the teen to tense up once again. Fearful and questioning thoughts running in circles inside his head. Not at all helpful, only causing poor Lambo to become almost sick from the worry and anxiety his thoughts are creating.
Hibari is well aware of this. Unlike what the other's think, the Cloud Guardian knows the Lightning Guardian the best out of everyone in the island.
"It's just been over a week, and I can already tell you've gotten stronger.", Hibari comments lightly, high praise coming from him.
Lambo couldn't believe his ears.
"Really?", he asked in surprise.
A small smirk appeared on Hibari's lips as he leaned down to whisper in Lambo's ear.
"Got any new scars?"
Lambo couldn't help but smile gratefully, realizing exactly what Hibari is doing. He nodded happily.
"Proud of them?"
Lambo didn't even need to think twice over his next answer.
"Hell yes."
Hibari nodded satisfied as they approached the large double doors that lead to the front entrance/ballroom.
"Good. Can't wait to see them Omnivore.", Hibari stated.
Lambo felt warmth run through his chest. He could clearly hear the pride in Hibari's voice while he spoke to Lambo. It brought a small smile to the miserable teen's face.
He hates it in Vongola. But already, like in the past, after Ms. Motina's passing, Hibari is already making things a little better for Lambo.
Unfortunately, despite all the hustle and bustle for all the last-minute touches for the Gala that was tomorrow, it didn't take long for the two to reach Shamal's clinic inside the manor.
Shamal opened the door before Hibari could barely even finish knocking. The doctor's eyes narrowed at the sight of Lambo before jerking his head for the two to follow him inside.
Next thing Lambo knew, he was sitting on one of the hospital beds, face blank, shirt off, tossed off into the trash, it being completely ruined by blood stains and large tears.
As Shamal checked over Lambo, leaving the blood-stained bandages on his right shoulder alone for now. Long story short, he was surprised by what he found. Shamal was honestly a little scared by what he was going to find once he unwrapped Lambo's shoulder.
Trying to put off that certain task for later, Shamla instead decided to question Lambo.
"Where did you get these injuries?", Shamal asked firmly, arms crossed as he studied Lambo.
"Fights.", Lambo said simply, making no move to delve deeper into the details.
Shamal arched a brow at the vague answer, "What about the bags under your eyes?"
"Didn't sleep.", Lambo answered bluntly, expression emotionless.
"Didn't or couldn't.", Shamal pushed.
"Could be either, depends how you look at it.", Lambo states, "But technically, didn't."
"Why not?", Shamal continued to push, sleep is important for the healing process.
If the stupid cow isn't sleeping, Shamal needs to know why so he fix it.
"Reasons.", Lambo answered stubbornly.
"What kind of reasons.", Shamal said through gritted teeth, quickly losing his patience.
"Medical and personal."
"What's the medical."
Health first, that he can easily and quickly attend to. Personal will be longer and more than likely take more time.
"Because of my shoulder, I'm supposed to sleep with a sling so as to not set back the healing process accidentally in my sleep.", Lambo answered easily, finally giving the Doctor a little more details and clues on what he's working with.
"I'll send a sling to your room as soon as I'm done."
At last, they are finally getting somewhere. But before Shamal can even try to push for more, now focusing on the personal side of Lambo's lack of sleep, the door slammed open, and in stormed Tsuna with Reborn right behind him.
Tsuna is no fool. He is quick to notice the multiple healing injuries on the teen. It only made the Tenth Decimo angrier. Why would Lambo leave? Now look what's happen to him! Hopefully these injuries can serve as a reminder for the Lightning Guardian not to leave in a fit of a tantrum.
.
.
.
.
Obviously Reborn didn't tell Tsuna how he got Lambo there.
Shamal could've groaned at the interruption. He was finally getting somewhere with the boy for crying out loud!
Tsuna's eyes first zeroed in on the quiet skylark in the corner before jerking his head to the door, dismissing the Carnivore, "You can go Hibari. I doubt Lambo will try and leave now."
Hibari's eyes narrowed, glinting dangerously, making no move to leave.
So, when it seemed, he wasn't going to leave, Tsuna was about to ask, order, Hibari to leave again. Only for the Cloud Guardian to snarl and storm away.
No one noticed when he gave Lambo's uninjured shoulder a reassuring squeeze right before he left.
As soon as Hibari has left the room, Tsuna was quick to turn to Shamal.
"How is he?", Tsuna asked, voice hard and eyes narrowed as he looked over the short teen, despite asking the Shamal as if Lambo wasn't even there.
Shamal sighed, knowing full well that the faster they did this, the faster he could work on the stupid cow. Maybe Tsuna could even pull more details out of Lambo on what happened than Shamal.
"He has a scabbed over slice on his back, it's hard to tell, but there's a high probability it may scar.", Shamal shows the large cut on Lambo's back before pointing to the interconnect holes located at his lower torso, "He also has four stab wounds in his abdomen as well as his lower back that are already stitched closed, there is some tearing, but it has already been well treated Those will definitely scar. He has some new small burn scars on his right hand, nothing to worry or can be done about. You can tell they're there from by small blotches of discolored skin, and he hasn't slept well in the past, uuhhh, four days I'd say."
Tsuna looks to Lambo with a raised brow, gaze stern and questioning. But Lambo's face remained impassive and he ignored the look.
Sighing, Tsuna looks away from Lamb and turns back to Shamal, nodding at the thick bandages covering Lambo's right shoulder.
"And his arm?"
Shamal winced as he informed the Decimo, "I haven't checked it out yet."
Tsuna gesture for him to go ahead, "Well why don't we do it now. Can't be that bad.
Famous last words.
The moment Shamal took off the bandages and threw them away in the trash. The entire room froze, Lambo's shoulder is a mess of stitches that encased his entire shoulder. Many of the stiches now torn and bleeding thanks to Reborn's unkindly treatment at the docks upon their arrival.
Tsuna gaped openly at the wound; his words being thrown in his face with a slap. 'It can't be that bad.' How the hell has Lambo just sat there without saying a thing? Shamal stared at the arm horrified, wondering how the hell it's even still attached to the teen's body. Not even Reborn was left unaffected, his eyes are wide and they have never once left the mess that is Lambo's shoulder.
It took several minutes for Tsuna to regain the use of his tongue.
"How the hell did that happen!?", Tsuna exclaims, "Reborn! How did that happen?"
For once, the expression on Reborn's face was utter cluelessness. Having no idea what had happened to the stupid cow. The hitman shrugged, almost helplessly, at the shocked Head of Vongola.
Tsuna turned to Lambo with a sharp glare, the teen flinched at the dark look in his eyes.
"Where did you get that?", Tsuna demanded tersley.
"I fought an Eel and won.", Lambo replied tonelessly.
"What about the other injuries?", Tsuna inquired harshly.
"I fought a cat and lost.", Lambo answered easily.
"And your arm?", Tsuna was quickly losing his patience.
"I fought an eel and won."
Tsuna slammed his hand down on Shamal's desk, "Bullshit! The truth Lambo. I'm not standing for your lies anymore!"
"I. Fought. An Eel. And won.", Lambo hissed, eyes narrowed, "I've done nothing but tell you the truth for years. You people just never cared enough to notice. So I left, and found people who do."
"That's enough Lambo.", Tsuna growled warningly, his eyes narrowing down at Lambo, who shook in fear from the glare, but managed to stand his ground.
"Then you took me away.", Lambo spits, ignoring the warning all together, "They're coming. Nothing you can do will stop that from being the truth."
Tsuna walked closer to Lambo, his footsteps sounding very loud in the dead silent room. His taler form towered over Lambo's smaller one. The teen instinctively, hunching in on himself.
"Or maybe, the truth is that you've nothing but a burden to them as well and you telling yourself that they're coming despite the fact that we all know that they certainly won't. Do you know why that is Lambo?", Tsuna's voice is quiet, but sharp and harsh as he spoke cruelly, believing this to be the wakeup call Lambo needed.
Lambo shivered, throat clamed up, unable to answer the looming Decimo.
"It's because you're just a stupid cow."
...
"Are we almost there yet?", Luffy groans, practically vibrating impatiently in his spot on the Going Merry's head.
"It's hasn't even been a minute since you've last asked!", Nami shouts with sharp teeth, her irritation towards Luffy's impatience and worry for Lambo finally starting to get to her after a half day of sailing, "Now I'm saying this for the last time. We're not going to get there until tomorrow morning at the earliest."
"What's the latest?", Ussop asked shortly, fiddling with his gadgets as he did so.
The sniper's hands have to be doing something, or else he might just go crazy from the anticipation of it all.
Nami sighs, "Late afternoon. But if everything continues as it should, we should be there bright and early."
Ussop paused what he was doing, unable to hold back the question that's been bothering him for a while now.
"Do you guys think he knew the Vongola were after him?"
The ship fell quiet, everyone not willing to answer, all too afraid it may have been the truth, and if so, then Lambo hadn't asked for help. If that's really the case, why didn't he ask for help? Did Lambo not trust them? Did they do something wrong?
"Nah.", Zor suddenly spoke up, causing everyone to jump in surprise, not expecting him to be the one to speak up, "When he spoke to that Reborn guy, he looked way too surprise to have known he was being chased. The kid probably had no idea."
A large windy breeze past through the ship at the swordsman's words, as if Merry herself is breathing out a sigh of relief along with her passengers at the new information and knowledge. Every last one of them reassured that Lambo really didn't want to go and didn't have a single clue that Vongola had even wanted him back, were after him.
"Hey guys.", Sanji called up as he brought the food for them to all eat out side.
No one wanted to leave, all wanting make sure the ship was constantly heading to Vongola island as fast as possible. And to do that, they all need to be up on deck on constant alert to the going on in and out of the Going Merry.
"How much do we know between Lambo and the Vongola?", Sanji asked curiously, "I mean, he does consider them his family. He calls them his 'famiglia'. I don't think any of us need to understand Italian to know what that word means."
"What does that word mean?", Luffy asked distractedly as he was gnawed on an empty meet bone.
"It means family moron!", Sanji shouts angrily with sharp teeth.
"Right."
Luffy keeps gnawing, making no indication he heard the cook. The rest of the crew shared worried and unsure looks before turning back to their Captain.
"Yo, Luffy, you okay?", Ussop hesitantly asked.
"Yep. Why?"
"Uh... because I'm pretty sure there isn't any more meat on that bone.", Ussop managed to say nervously at Luffy's weird attitude.
As if broken from a spell, Luffy snapped the large bone in half with his bare hands.
Slowly, Luffy looks up at the rest of his crew, his hat casting a shadow over one eye while the other stared out into sea, in the direction of their heading.
"Lambo's been hurt enough by those guys.", Luffy told them darkly, "You don't leave your family unless they're already gone or if they've hurt you enough to make you. And now they're dragging Lambo back so he can continue to be hurt again."
"I'm actually surprised at how fast he's opened up to us.", Nami says softly, a small sad fond smile on her face as she remembered all the fun and silly times she had with Lambo.
Both young and old.
"When we get there, we're getting Lambo back.", Luffy announced, "And then we kick their asses."
The whole group smirked, nodding in unison, determination and anger shining clear in al of their eyes.
"Right.", they all agreed in sync.
None the wiser to how five Vongola rings glowed brightly along with the Straw Hat pirates speedy approach.
...
Almost the second Shamal finished his check up on Lambo and patching him back up, the Lightning Guardian was practically thrown in room and told they stay by Gokudera.
"You're going to stay here until the Gala. We have enough on our plates right now without trouble from you.", Gokudera had snarled as he shoved a stumbling Lambo into the familiar room, "After the Gala, we'll deal with you then."
Gokudera slammed the door shut, Lambo hear tall tell sound of the 'click' on door. Telling him he had been locked in his room to make sure he stays.
"Tch, stupid cow.", Lambo heard from behind the door, followed by retreating footsteps.
At first, he wasn't sure what to do, so Lambo just stood there in the middle of his bedroom. Nothing has changed.
Lambo doesn't know why he feels like it should have changed. He's only be gone for almost two weeks. But those two weeks half felt like a life time, a dream even, before he was dragged back here.
Wait, Lambo lied. He does know why he expected his room to change. It's because Lambo himself has changed.
For example, the large plush luxuries four postered bed placed in the middle of the wall to Lambo's right. Slowly, Lambo approached the bed and sat down on top of the mattress, frowning in slight discomfort. Despite the fact that the mattress is supposed to make the softest and most comforting bed in the East Blue, it no longer provided that for Lambo.
Lambo now finds that he finds a hammock he's been sleeping in with the rest of the boys in the Straw Hat crew below decks, Nami having taking the only room in bed on the Going Merry, much more comfortable and satisfying then the large luxurious bed Lambo is currently sitting on.
The many games stacked in the nightstand next to Lambo's bed no longer held any appeal to him. All except for the stack of cards he has stowed away in one drawer at the top of his nightstand.
"I win~!", Nami sings gleefully as she placed her last card down proudly, winning for the fifth time in a row.
"Again!? HOW!?", shrieks Ussop, absolutely flabbergasted.
Nami only giggled in reply, giving the sniper a sly smirk.
There is no way she's not cheating. Lambo sweat drops, a little surprised that Ussop hasn't figured that out by now. Or, at the very least, hasn't accused her of it yet.
Nami very well could not be cheating. But Lambo doubts it, he's pretty sure she has extra cards hidden on her person and has been switching them out with the cards in her hand as the game progresses so Nami wouldn't have to draw any cards whenever it's her turn.
Oh well. Maybe Ussop will notice after she wins the next five rounds.
"Wait, are you sure you won?", Luffy asked with narrow eyes, looking between his cards and Nami's winning hand.
Why does Lambo have the feeling that Luffy isn't playing the same game as the rest of them?
"You've haven't placed any matching pairs down at all.", Luffy states seriously.
"Luffy, what game do you think we're playing.", Lambo deadpans.
"Hm? Goldfish.", Luffy says confidently.
"Idiot! We're not playing that at all!", Ussop shouts with sharp teeth, "Is that honestly what you've been playing the whole time? No wonder Nami keeps winning!"
Nami giggles sticking her tongue out at the liar, only succeeding in aggravating him further, much to the Navigator's amusement.
"Lambo! Help me out here!", Ussop cries to the quietest player out of the group.
"Quit trying to bring me into your fights.", Lambo states monotonously as he hides his growing grin behind his fan of cards.
"Some help you are!"
Lambo chuckled at the memory. He'd love to play cards right now.
He just doesn't have anyone to play them with.
The teen sighed when his eyes caught on the last thing in the room that Lambo felt should be changed.
In the far corner of the room there was a large window, and next to it is a desk covered in papers, and books, a book shelf right next to it, books half-hazardly placed inside, and hung up on the wall over the desk is a large bulletin board with a map on it, taking up the whole space. All over the map were pins placed everywhere, the largest being placed on the thick red line that spit the map in two.
It's Lambo's map of places, before Lambo had left, while he still clung to the home that was never here for him in the Vongola Mansion, Lambo had to cling to something. He's been stuck inside the mansion all his life. All Lambo has ever dreamed, is to be recognized as Guardian and to travel the world, going on missions like the others.
There were red pins practically everywhere, those represented the places he wanted to see, and their lied only one singular white pin, placed where Vongola is located in the East Blue. It represented the places he's been. The large red pin was set in the place he wanted to go most.
The Grand Line.
Lambo surveyed his room, noting the differences of himself, eyes slowly liting up as he came to a conclusion.
Lambo has changed.
So should his room.
The teen was very meticulous over his doings, easily picking the lock on his door and tossing all of his games, except for all of his deck of cards, out the door before shutting and locking it once again.
Let Gokudera steam and wonder about that for a little bit.
Next thing Lambo did was find some materials for something new to be added in the room. He quickly found a tent with that came with a long rope in the set. Lambo never did went camping anyway. It took some time, but Lambo managed to cut the rope and tent, sewing and fashioning it together to create a stable and perfectly sleepable hammock. Swiftly tying the new possession over his bed, grabbing a weighted blanket and his favorite pillow it was soft, not fluffy, but firm. With the items in hand, Lambo set up the hommock as the new bed he made it to be.
That only left one last thing in his room.
Lambo turned to his map, a wide smile quickly spreading over his face. He was quick to take down all the pins from the board, only leaving the white one. He added the more white pins to where he has been. Thanks to Nami, it wasn't too hard finding the several places he's been. Where the crew's adventures took place.
Where Lambo has never felt more alive than ever.
Once Lambo finished putting in the last of the white pins, he then grabbed all of his red pins, and then began meticulously placing them exactly where he wanted, leaving the large red pin for last. Lambo grabbed a small piece of paper from his desk, drew a quick little picture and wrote something above it. With a satisfied nod, Lambo grabbed the paper and large red pin and used the pin to put the paper right next to the map, at the end of the red line.
There were no more pins scattered all over the map now. Instead, they were all placed close together, starting at the entrance to the Grand Line and went all the way down to the end of the map, red the large red pin was placed next in the wall. The piece of paper at a picture of a treasure chest, a crown, and the colors for the Straw Hat Pirates. The words 'ONE PIECE' written in all caps above it.
Satisfied with the changes, Lambo sat cross legged in the middle of the room, staring up at the map with wide hopeful eyes. He wants to go to the Grand Line.
He wants to see the world.
"I see you've redecorated."
Lambo whirled around to see HIbari standing in the now open doorway to his bedroom, looking it over appraisingly for a moment before nodding in approval.
"I like it a lot better like this.", Hibari commented with a bright gleam in his when he looked at Lambo's 'Dream Map', as the Cloud Guardian have been referring it as, "Especially the map."
A smirk pulled up on his lips when he saw the picture for the One Piece with the red pin at the end of the map.
"Still want to see the world I see.", Hibari commented lightly, a ghost of a smile on his lips as he regarded both map and teen.
"Now more than ever.", Lambo agreed, eyes pinned to the map.
"Something tells me that you'll get your wish.", Hibari stated thoughtfully, "And something tells me that Straw Hat you speak so highly of, will be the one to help you grant it.
Lambo smiles widely in agreement, his mind already racing with the possibilities, "Something tells me the same."
They both became quiet after that. Just sitting or standing contently in the peaceful silence.
Hibari's eyes caught sight of a deck of cards sitting on top of Lambo's nightstand in plain view. Of course, Hibari isn't an idiot, he saw the mess of games Lambo used to take great joy in tossed aside in a large pile outside in the middle of the hallway.
Since Gokudera was the one summoned to take Lambo back to his room, Hibari has no doubt he had locked the door right before he left. It's not the first time Gokudera had locked Lambo in his room. It's why HIbari taught Lambo how to lock pick years ago.
The evidence behind Hibari in the hall, clearly states that Lambo has not lost his touch, despite the lack of need recently. It wasn't all that much of a shock to the Skylark really.
But the pile of games did surprise him. It was one of the few moments Lambo would be happy, especially after Eliana's passing. Lambo rarely picked up the deck of cards though. It's why they were the only things stuffed in the nightstand's drawer while Lambo's games were stacked neatly beneath, in clear view.
Obviously, things have clearly changed.
So, Hibari's next course of action was simple and easy to do.
"Want to play a game?"
Lambo turns to see Hibari holding up one of Lambo's deck of cards, a challenging look in his eyes.
The teen was quick to nod in agreement.
"What do you want to play?", Hibari asked, placing the deck down as he can pick up the correct on needed for what Lambo had in mind.
"... Goldfish."
Hibari turned to Lambo with a raised brow, who flushed in slight embarrassment.
"I just feel like it.", he mumbled self-consciously as he scratched his cheek.
Hibari's lips twitched, wanting to smile, but the man remained stoic. Picking up the correct deck before sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of Lambo.
"Goldfish it is.", Hibari said agreeably, "How about the next game we play can be 'Old Maid'?"
For a second, Lambo looked at Hibari with wide surprised eyes before nodding.
"Yeah, that sounds great."
...
"Nami~! Are we there yet?"
"QUIT ASKING ME!"
Author's Note:
First things first, I can't post any of my pics/drawings with my chapters. So if you want to see any of the pics that come out, go to my other accounts and check them out. just search up the title of my story on google and this story from quotev will appear. From now on, for anyone that want to see, if there is a pic that I want to post with the chapter, I will anounce that at the begining of the chapter so you can go check it out if you wish.
On another note...
Alright, that's the first chapter, a little bit of angst, a little bit of fluff. Was that good?
In all honesty, I was going to be so mean to Lambo in this Arc. I planned to make Lambo absolutely miserable, his character reverting back to what he was like in the beginning of the story.
Then I realized, that he wouldn't be a 'realistic' character if I did that. With all he's been through and accomplished, Lambo has gone stronger, more confident in himself now. Still has some issues of course, stuff like what's he's been through don't just go away overnight. I had to try and find a balance, and tried to show Lambo warring with himself, trying to remain confident like he was back with the Straw Hats, but also can't help but instinctively hunch in on himself and go back to how he was before. It's still going to how what I initially planned, but hopefully I managed to balance it out well and show some of Lambo's character development from his previous adventures with his crew mates.
I also have plans to show more of that in the Gala, which will take place in the next chapter. Lots of plans and lots of anger.
I know the Straw Hats weren't all that present in this chapter either, but I did give a little hint to what a plan in the great battle for the Vongola Arc. Straw Hat's are all going to get a front seat view to how Lambo has been living his life before becoming a pirate.
They are all going to be pissed and I can't wait!
Hope you've enjoyed! Be Your Best You! Bye!