Chapter Thirty-Five
"What will happen if I set these paper works on fire?" He asked while passing a couple of papers to Ota who's tasked to check them.
"They'll be printed again and probably multiply." Ota drawled and passed the papers to one of his men. "Take that to Division Five."
The man bowed after accepting the paper and went off.
Sighing, the brunet rolled his sleeves to his shoulders, stretched his arms, and sat straighter. "Let's get this over with."
As if on Dying Will mode, Tsuna did the paperwork in the most efficient time he could. It only took two hours before everything was done for the morning. Leaning back to his legless chair, the brunet eyed the sleeping old man. He turned to Ota who excused himself with some papers in hand, probably going to distribute it away since they are finished. He nodded, telling him to take care on the way and back safely. He didn't see the amused glint in those eyes since he turned his head to watch the Arcadia's beauty in mid-morning.
It has been three days since he came in Gunma and been titled as the temporary boss of the Kurogane. Since his counterpart was technically a mafia boss, adjusting to Yakuza life is like feeling a familiar gun in his hand. It was easy. Well, he had to make some ignorant scenes like making Ota and Shoji-jii-san teach him the ropes first before diving in like a madman. He didn't miss paper works. Nope. Not even an ounce. He pities his counterpart in those memories. In result, he loathes them too, but if he can help the old man, why not?
He sighed as he stretched his legs under the low table propped in front of him, still staring at the garden. The old man's health is getting worse. Kawano Sachiko, the doctor who comes every day to check Shoji-jii-san's deteriorating health, told him that the old man's sickness was a mixture of old age, pneumonia and hypertension. Since the old man gets stressed a lot because of his children, it was something inevitable. There was no number of medicines that can cure those causes. Especially that pneumonia that had suddenly developed seven years ago and caused him to continually cough. To put simply, the disease is not really a simple pneumonia, but a variation of it.
Right now, Tsuna is counting off the days before the heirs discover what's happening around the mansion. Of why all of their reports are going to their father's chamber and his signatures became altered. That instead of the usual seal, it became handwritten. It's Tsuna's ploy. He has now the reigns to determine who is who and who will succeed the small throne from the five. They're quite clueless of what's happening inside their own compound. They kept on talking about mundane things and mostly about their own report. Sometimes, Tsuna just wanna appoint the five of them under the other divisions so they could feel what it feels like to represent a group.
Sighing again, he folded the table and set it aside with the other stationeries he needed to use awhile ago and the chair. He checked on the old man and pulled the blanket higher to keep him warm from the cool breeze of Arcadia as the latter sleeps his morning away. The brunet remembered how he needed to abandon his yet moved breakfast to help Shoji-jii-san with his food. Feeding the latter himself because the old man lost his grip through weakness. To make him feel a little better, Tsuna joked about treating him like a baby which the old man laughed at.
After securing that the old man will stay warm, Tsuna placed his own futon by the door and laid down to at least have a small nap. He deserved that much. He remembers closing his eyes. But he doesn't remember being awake to see himself holding Kanna and Watusei at gunpoint, with Hariko at his side and Miwa at the sleeping old man's side, keeping the previous boss safe. Tsuna blinked his eyes when he noticed bullet holes somewhere near the spots of the two intruders. He looked at his gun in question before pointing it again to the two.
"Are you awake?" Hariko questioned, voice calm and trusting.
"Enough to-" He yawned. "-sleep again."
"Excuse me." They all turned to the door where Ota came in with three folders in his armpits. "Here's the papers you need, Kid."
Tsuna reached out to take it then started to flip, his gun still pointed at the two who looked paler. He soaked in the information in front of him instead of paying attention to them. "Is Ueda-san available tonight?"
"Yes." Ota answered, leaning on the doorjamb.
He drummed his fingers to his thigh as he thinks over. "Do any of you want to go out and play or just stay?"
"I'd like to stay." Miwa answered. It was expected from the man who wants to protect.
"I cook your meals now, so I need to be here all the time." Hariko said, a runabout way to say he wants to stay.
"I'm technically your babysitter, so I can't go." Ota shrugged with a lazy smirk.
The brunet's own lips twitched to a small smile. "Tell Division Seven and Eight to gear up. They'll clean the smuggling. Brief them the details. Kill if necessary and clean up nicely. Wait. Were they Seven and Eight that have the friendly relationship?"
"Yes." Hariko answered beside him.
"Okay. Tell Division Nine to do the clubs. They're many in numbers, so it's fine. Do remind them to keep it in their pants, or all of them will be eunuchs if I hear one single mistreatment of the ladies. Ask some Seven and Eight to accompany them too. Some might get triggered. We don't want that to happen." He said and blinked his eyes several times to hold back the sleepiness. "My God. I feel sleepy. It's been a long time since I got to leisure like this."
"More of you don't have the time to do so." Miwa corrected as Ota spoke to three of his men while handing out small papers.
He dropped the gun and put it to safety. "What happened?"
"They barged in while you were asleep." His restaurant manager waved at the two who are sitting seiza in front of him, as if they got reprimanded. "It must have been on instinct since you started to pull the trigger while still asleep. You stopped when I called your name."
He hummed before regarding the two. "I'm sorry. I was asleep."
They all turned to Ota who choked before he started to laugh.
"You two can go now." He waved off as he put the folders to arrangement. "As you can see, I'm resting." Watusei raised a hand that he noticed. "Yes, Watusei-san?"
"Why are you issuing the orders? You aren't an heir." The second born said, not plainly curious and just indignant.
"Yes. I am not an heir." He nodded while fluffing his blanket. "I'm the boss now, stated on quarter to nine of evening four days ago and declared by the old man." He sighed as he slipped inside the blanket. "You can report to me if you have something to report. Complain to me if you have any complains. But as long as I'm awake. As you can see, I'm hostile and wary when I'm not in my home while asleep. So if you intend to come in, don't barge in like you intend to kill me. Thank you." And he turned his back on them. "Let me nap for a few more hours."
"I'll wake you up if something happens." Someone promised.
He gave a thumbs up. "Don't die."
The next time he woke up, it was lunch time, and he feels groggy. Ota was the one who shook him to consciousness. He accepted the paper works for the afternoon and breezed them off before Hariko came in with their food. The old man was awake by then, sitting on his usual chair after being helped by Miwa, and checking his work. He told him what orders he issued that morning (omitting the other 'things' because they aren't important), and the old man approved of his decision and quite impressed with his works.
Like in the morning, Tsuna left his untouched food to help the old man with his meal. The others turned away from the sight, not wanting to make their boss feel embarrassed with his situation. They were in the middle of joking around when a knock was heard from the inside corridor. Miwa opened the door for Kaen who looked subdued. The brunet looked back after feeding the old man the spoonful they were joking as airstrike plane.
"Yes, Kaen-san?" He queried.
Kaen kneeled and bowed his head. "I-I wanted to greet the new boss."
Tsuna glanced at Shoji-jii-san before regarding the 'greeter'. "Don't bow. It's unbecoming to a child of the previous boss." He didn't dare look at the old man who rose a brow at him. What? They're still the heirs. Although this is a nice way to teach them humility. "Thank you. Have you eaten lunch yet?"
"A-Ah. Yes." The youngest heir answered, completely subdued.
Brown eyes stared at the man before turning his gaze away. "You're dismissed. I'll see you at dinner or if you have anything to say to me later on."
"T-Thank you."
They waited for the door to close and those footsteps to fade away before they resumed to what they were doing.
"They're quite accepting of your coronation." Ota pointed out, pulling a box of cigarettes from his pocket.
"Don't smoke in here, Akashi." Miwa admonished, causing the man to hide the box.
"Don't generalize them yet." Tsuna said as he gave a spoonful to the old man who looks contemplative. "We have two more people to crack. Let's wait till they all have talked before I give my final plan."
"But is this okay?" Hariko questioned. "I don't think they'll appreciate this."
"This is the essence of why I'm here, Hariko-san." He said as he put away the half of the food since the old man shook his head. At least he ate. He took the glass of water instead. "Your boss here wants to test them by appointing someone else as the boss. The first one to absorb this as something like a farewell lesson from Shoji-jii-san, he or she is the rightful boss."
"What if none of them realizes it?" Hariko questioned while the brunet helps Shoji-jii-san on his water.
"Then I appoint Ota-san as the new boss. Done." He responded, as he slowly pulled the glass away.
"What?!" The store manager shouted. "Kid! That's not how hierarchy works!"
Tsuna made his face innocent with a tilt of his head to the right. "Who said something about hierarchy, Ota-san? I'm the current boss, and I'm appointing you as the next boss if ever none of the heirs is cut out for it. Did you really think I'm gonna stay here to do the role? No, Sir. I'm going to free myself from the burden and pass it to you, Almighty one."
Miwa, Hariko and Shoji-jii-san laughed at Ota's dumbfound expression. "You cheeky little shit!"
Tsuna nodded his head, not minding the words. "I am grateful meeting you too, Ota-san. Please don't slave away with the paper works. They multiply like rabbits."
Ota groaned, burying his face to his hands.
Before Tsuna dived to his food, he shot a wink to Hariko and Miwa who chuckled. Well, the misery of others is the happy pill of some people.
(That night, Karma laughed so hard after hearing what Tsuna was planning for Ota.)
(It's a rouse, but the brunet can't help messing around with the man. Let's just say the man is one of the people Tsuna just trust.)
(Ota's face was very worth it though.)
"I do not accept you as the new boss." Suoh said while standing in front of him.
The brunet eyed the man before shrugging. "Cool."
The tension in the air thickens. Tsuna can hear the other four siblings shuffling nervously while the old man's amusement is radiating from where he is. It is a showdown between the eldest biological son and the youngest unregistered son. Not that Tsuna calls the old man as 'Father' or any kind of variation. It is more of grandfather. But oh well.
He placed the fifth folder on the table with the other four folders rowed beside it. He leaned back and crossed his arms. "Even if you do say that, you have no choice other than obey my decisions or get out of this family." The sides of his lips quirked to a small shit-eating smirk. "Easy, right?"
Suoh flinched, hands clenching tightly, as the other four depleted more.
"Alright. Let's give you time to decide. We aren't in a hurry. And since we are here, I have something ready for you." He nodded at the folders. "Considering that I'm the boss now, I figured you five need some leveling down." He tapped a finger to his non-existing left bicep. "I have gotten the report about your everyday expenses the other day and I noticed that most of you have been willy-nilly with how you spend your money. Don't get me wrong, I understand since you were heirs back then, but right now, you aren't, and we need to change that."
All five flinched at his use of past tense.
"I'm going to make you earn your own wages. But instead of monthly nor weekly, I'm going to give it to you by the end of the day." He raised a finger to make a point. "As long as you give me a plausible report."
"Plausible report." Suoh repeated, brows slowly coming together as the other four took their respective folders. The eldest took his folder in a calm way. "We need to satisfy your own category of 'plausible report'."
"Yes." Tsuna unaffectedly confirmed and raised four fingers, making them stop from flipping their papers. "It's either your report is a failure," He curled his index finger as he said so and continued on to make emphasize. "Lacking, satisfying or good. You'll get a fourth," He uncurled his pinkie. "A half, three-fourth and whole of your allowance respectively. In a sense," He brought down his hand back to his bicep. "You won't feel cheated. You'll still get your day allowance out of your fifty thousand yen. That's already plenty, isn't it? Your names are on the folders. You'll report verbally. It will start at five in the afternoon. We're going to start from the youngest to eldest. It's a good leeway for you to skip dinner if you don't want to see my face since you aren't satisfied with your allowance. Any questions? Clarification? Violent reaction?"
They stared at him. Out of five, there were two who gave acknowledgement. He nodded mentally.
"Okay. You're dismissed." He nodded before taking a stock of papers from those of not yet signed.
They hesitated to go, but with Suoh's lead, they went out. He breathed a sigh when their footsteps faded away. He pulled out the paper under the stocks and read it once more.
It's a cheat code of what he is planning.
According to his three advisors (namely Miwa, Hariko and Ota), there are twelve divisions based on the Chinese Zodiac signs. Tiger, Ox, Rat, Dog, Sheep, Snake, Rabbit, Dragon, Pig, Horse, Rooster and Monkey, respectively. Every division has their own specialty. They have their own leaders and qualities they need for someone to join them.
Ota leads Tiger division. According to Shoji-jii-san, the 'convenient store manager' rose to the top of the ranks after joining the division at the age of eighteen. Ota has the quality of his division title: confident, brave, magnetic, idealistic, thrill-seeking, rightfully arrogant and selfish. And Tsuna assigned Suoh there, since he saw and knew how good of a leader Ota is even back then. He wants the man to learn how the system of their organization works since in technicality, although the boss handles everything, it is the Division One that has an access of communication to every division and manages them as a whole.
Division Two, or Ox, is a group of diligence, gentleness, hard work, reliability, patience, materialism and right amount of stubbornness. It is led by Miwa who never fails to be reliable for Tsuna back when he was still a kid, fumbling his ways to survive. It's amazing how such person can do so much in a single day after saying 'alright' to Tsuna. They're more on the resources. Like armories, the food, the technology.
The Rat division is being ruled by Hariko. It is not because they literally betray the family. It is more of because they are the ones who controls the finance and business side of the family. By far, they have the largest number in members since they come hand in hand with Division Ten, the Horse. The personality of Division Rat (that includes being ambitious, charming, talkative, resourceful, private, frugal and critical) balances and is synonymous with the Division Horse (which hold the characteristics of being amusing, enthusiastic, independent, persuasive, irresponsible, moody and opportunistic). The best part is the fact that Hariko is married to the leader of Horse, which is Mio. No wonder Mio established a bakery that fast.
Tsuna put Watusei under Hariko's wings so the second child can assist the eldest when it comes to their business. Although the brunet wants to get them a well-rounded advisor or mentor, he can't. He doesn't want to give up the three 'swords' he earned.
The Dog division accepts recruits who they see helpful, honest, trustworthy, and unselfish. They are usually composed of the maids and chefs. According to Shoji-jii-san, the Fifth Division, which is the Sheep division that Ueda leads and belongs, is the one who balances out the negative traits of Fourth Division. While the fourth can be pessimistic, anxious and timid, the fifth jumps at the other side of the scale with their easygoing, empathetic, creative and cheerful disposition. They can be disorganized a little and impulsive lazy, but the Dogs cover that up. It just reflects the flock of flamboyant sheep being herded by their watch dogs.
Miwa informed him that Ueda falls on the Sheep Division because he likes to know those people who enters the compound by meeting them face to face, thus he acts like a guide. The man explained that Ueda is the first line of defense since he has the sharpest gut feeling, second to Ota though. In a way, Ueda is not really a sheep, but someone who is wearing 'sheep's clothing'.
Sixth and Twelve Divisions, namely Snake and Monkey, specialize in information gathering. Tsuna put Kanna on Snake, while Seina is assigned to Monkey. Shoji-jii-san said that although Kanna is impulsive and hotheaded, she is good with technology, which the Snake is good at. She's a good hacker and knows what to search with how clever, curious, wise and calculating she is. On the other hand, Seina's traits that includes intelligence, subtle optimism, sociability, ability to be entertaining when she needs too, also her fickleness, and secretive and unpredictable nature fall on Monkey's category. The Monkey division is good in field works. They are masters of disguises, spies and lurkers of shadow. They can blend in nicely and can teach Seina not to be callous with things she can gain by just standing outside the compound.
Divisions Seven and Eight are known to be Rabbit and Dragon. In the Chinese Zodiac, Rabbits are known to be kind, sensitive, artistic, romantic, judgmental, timid and refined, while Dragons are outspoken, energetic, generous, intelligent, perfectionist, egocentric and impatient. The two are completely contrasting, given that the Rabbit is technically a 'prey' while the Dragon is a 'predator'. However, Tsuna knew to look beneath the underneath. Kindness to generosity, judgement to perfection, egocentrism to romanticism, outspokenness to refinement, timidness to impatience, energy to sensitivity, and artistry to intelligence. The two are the same that both of them are like siblings and both good in fields. Especially fighting and raids. They usually do the family fights and known as the 'gang' that protects the city. They can never separate. Besides, Rabbit's artistry compliments Dragon's perfection when it comes to doing stupid things.
Pig, or Division Nine, does the dirty work of the family. They are the assassins and labelled as people who are too far gone to even come back to their humanity. They are usually associated with Eight and Seven (which usually prompted Ota to laugh cause he said Snakes are scared of Rabbit, Dragon and Pig because seven 'eight (ate)' nine when spoken in English. Honestly, Tsuna chuckled at that lame joke.). When push comes to shove, Rabbit and Dragon will back up Pig. Maybe because they have a sense of humanity in them that Pig doesn't have. As much as they are perceived to be caring, generous, smart, outgoing, and fearful while impatient and materialistic at the same time— in the den of Kurogane, they are the total opposites.
And Tsuna put Kaen there so the youngest of the five can tell him what is happening in the Division Nine. It's because he knew Kaen is the most emotional among the five, being the last child and the one who wanted to pursue a field where he can save people. At least, in Tsuna's short reign, he can also help those people who others thought have lost their humanity. Regardless of how an assassin loves to kill people, there will always be a part of them that hates themselves for being like that. They will always reflect what their lives had become and think that their only salvation is to die. And Tsuna... He knows how painful that is. How one yearns to be saved and be loved heedless of how they avoid, deny, or even push the given affection away. Someone must persist.
The last division is Eleven, or Rooster. Their adventurous, charitable, funny, and loyal personality that has a dash of being argumentative, self-involved, and boastful, the Eleventh division serves as the 'face' of the family. They usually do the 'legal' things by being a lawyer, contractual engineers, representatives, and other things.
Of course, there are divisions who have feuds. Like how Rooster doesn't like Sheep because Ueda takes up the guide role. Tsuna was careful to pair up Rabbit and Dragon because if he paired up either two to Pig, heaven or hell will fall (proven and tested by Shoji-jii-san). Balance should be maintained, and he needed the real heir to the position to learn and realize that.
"Is it really okay to put them there?" Shoji-jii-san asked after opening the partition between the 'office' and the chamber. "Your condition is almost impossible."
"If they can't do a simple task, none of them is qualified." He answered as he breezed through the documents. He mustered a gander to the old man who is observing him. "I won't set such standard if I knew it's impossible to attain."
"You want them to learn how to gather information and raise concerns to the well-being of the group by reporting to you. It is clever, but will they learn?"
"If they have hearts, they will." He paused from signing to study the paper in front of him. "Your children are volatile as you've said. They need something to calm them down. Something that can ground them when they needed it. Sometimes, it's those certain things that they deem unimportant which their subconsciousness say otherwise. For example, you don't want to rest yet because you are worried for the standing of the organization. I cannot leave yet because I don't want you to suffer the stress." He raised the paper. "You have a letter from Vongola of Italy."
"Oh?" The old man uttered, curious. "What does it say?"
"They are asking permission to enter Gunma for some scouting." He answered as he read through once again, intuition humming. "How interesting. They also want your help to search for a certain person."
"Did they attach a picture?" The old man asked.
Tsuna studied the old man and raised a stolen picture of his. "Yup."
Shoji-jii-san straightened up. "Tsunayoshi."
"Relax." He calmly stated as he pulled out his phone to see if Xanxus knew about it. The letter is dated just that day. It means they're just getting started. "It's the family of my gene donors. They just want me dead for being a threat to their beloved Vongola Decimo."
"Ikakku." Shoji-jii-san called to Miwa who opened the sliding door from the inner hallway. "Call Akashi here."
"Yes, Sir." Miwa said, glancing worriedly at Tsuna before he closed the door.
He set aside the picture and took a clear paper to write a response. "What should I tell them?"
"What will you do if you were the boss?" Shoji-jii-san queried back, a little unsettled but determined to hear him out.
Tsuna's lips quirked to a small playful smirk. "Since you asked, I will give them permission. Let's make some of Snake, Monkey, Rabbit, and Dragon search for a dead person in Gunma with an allotted time of two days. With the number of men you have, it's a piece of cake to search high and low in Gunma. In that way, Vongola won't think that you are protecting the target on the picture." He started to write a response. "A win for me, a loss to them. It's funny how they think I won't be able to know what they're planning."
"How long have you known that you're a Vongola?"
"Jii-san," Tsuna sighed as he writes. "They threw me away, which means I am not a Vongola anymore. Although Xanxus still accepts me as his nephew regardless."
"Xanxus? The hot-tempered boy?"
"Yes. He said if his 'father' can betray him, what more for me? I told you, Vongola wants me dead because I'm a threat to their beloved Decimo. Not like I care. They can go grovel and kiss that throne, as beautiful it is, it's the bloodiest seat a person can have." He elaborated and signed his temporary title before taking an elegantly styled envelop from the racks. "The sins of previous Vongola bosses can never be atoned."
"Of course. You have to burn and destroy it if you can't change it." Shoji-jii-san nodded.
"You said it back then, Shoji-jii-san," He gave a small smile as he sealed the envelope after stuffing the letter there. "Vongola threw away the brightest gem they could've had."
The old man smiled viciously. "And they're stupid enough to underestimate your connections."
The door opened, pulling their attentions there. "Ota Akashi, reporting, Sir." Ota stated, presenting himself in seiza.
"Contact all Family Bosses in Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Kanagawa, Tokyo and Chiba." Shoji-jii-san commanded to Ota. "Tell them not to touch a hair of the child in the picture that was sent by Vongola. He is under the protection of Kurogane. Whoever does within their ranks is a declaration of war."
Tsuna didn't meet his 'advisor's' searching eyes and continued to do the papers.
"Yes, Sir."
"Ah." He blurted when he remembered something, causing the two to turn to him. "Ota-san, tell Hariko-san not to forget my milk."
"Do you need cookies for that?" The Division Leader questioned in a teasing manner, although he really will bring him cookies if he wants.
He shook his head. "Nope. Do you want some, Jii-san? Just a change of pace."
"If you recommend it, I don't mind."
Ota nodded, brows furrowing in a split second when his eyes caught the said picture. "I'm going."
Tsuna watched the man close the door before turning to Shoji-jii-san. "Why did you pick the three of them to protect me again?"
"Because they're worrywarts." The old man answered before taking some of the papers to read.
He only sighed and continued his work.
