Whoops, it's been three days but here it is! Sorry for the wait!
A/N: At least Calen was more patient than Kyoya -
Calen was getting impatient. He fiddled with his metal bracelets as he waited for Dia to get ready to leave. It has been some time since getting their memories and just when he was headed out to the old man's store that day, Dia demanded to come along. Normally, Calen would ignore and basically leave her. Dia in general, if she didn't need anything, would do the same. Though they were siblings - Kyoya wanted to bite that fact to death - he wasn't his sister's keeper after all. Unfortunately, Mukuro wasn't the type to stay out of the way. In fact, he loved and tended to find ways to get inside and on people, on their nerves, in their minds, and in their bodies - both the human possession kind and the sexual kind. How people found him sexually attractive was lost to Kyoya. Mukuro was an absolute herbivore. No, an invertebrate.
It was unfortunate that Dia was that invertebrate. Dia was annoying, and manipulative at times - Not that Calen ever fell for her tricks. He always outsmarted her - but to Calen, she was meh. At the very least, tolerable compared to that pineapple invertebrate. Now that says a lot.
Then again, Calen was a little more patient than Kyoya. Just a tad bit.
But because his mother insisted that they should go together, Calen was being forced to wait and even he was getting irritated at how long Dia was taking.
"Thank you for waiting, brother." Dia finally appeared from the corner with a twirl, examining herself in the mirror. She smirked in contentment as she flipped her hair back.
"You've wasted too much of my time already, Dia. Let's go."
"Kufufu… Farewell, beloved mother!" She called out with a regal wave.
"Be back by dinner!" came the reply.
'Dramatic.' Calen rolled his eyes as he locked the door behind them. They started walking towards their destination which was a good 20 minute walk away.
"I saw that birdy. You can't cringe at me being dramatic when Hibari Kyoya had a kink for such things." Dia said with a snicker.
"I did not." Dia placed a thoughtful finger over her chin.
"Mmm… Let's start with the gakuran over your shoulders. Ah sorry, not the gakuran. It's a cape. A fucking cape. Now let's move on to the dramatic one-liner that you love so much that you've practically overused it."
"You're spouting nonsense."
"I bet you really liked the dramatic sound of -cue Kyoya imitation- 'I'll bite you to death' that you kept repeating it. It's honestly so lame. I should know; I'm the one who hears it the most... But frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn -
…
- Now that's how you deliver one-liners!"
Calen resisted the urge to groan. She was getting excited for no apparent reason. Fate just had to mix Mukuro, female hormones and puberty all in one package that was his sister.
They were in public so he couldn't just pull out his tonfas and bite her to death on the street. (Kyoya definitely does not say that line because it sounded cool -ehem-inhishead-ehem.) Calen wouldn't want to make a scene in the street. Especially when he knew everyone in his neighborhood because of his parents' classes and so consequently, they knew him as well.
Dia continued, "Kufufu… And pompadours? Really? You had your subordinates style their hair pompadours? Donned by the Elvis Presley, that's grand in itself already! I will bet one more trip to hell that you've tried it yourself but failed miserably. How unfortunate, I think it would have suited you."
That girl better be thankful that Calen was more patient than Kyoya and that he cared about not disturbing the public peace in broad daylight. Otherwise, she would be dead where she stood. A million times over.
"Pineapple invertebrate, if you don't shut up. I'll bite you to death when we get to the old man's store."
"Tut, tut you damn mollusk. Why not now? Oh! Is it because you're planning on how to make your epic entrance? Are you timing when that obnoxious piano plays when you walk in?"
"There is no such thing."
"Kufufu… A piano follows you around, Kyoya. Why do you think people know you're coming? Because there's always this piano that plays."
Calen rolled his eyes for the second time as Dia started humming what she claimed to be Kyoya Hibari's 'theme.'
Soon enough, they finally arrived near Talbot's store which was located at the end of one alleyway within the shopping district. Right before they entered the alley, Calen eyed the street vendor sitting beside the building and selling small trinkets on a small mat. The vendor was there when he and his father visited the store. He didn't see anything that piqued his interests back then but now there were a few accessories he wouldn't mind acquiring on their way back home.
Calen and Dia entered Talbot's shop. The old man looked up from his counter and immediately gave a knowing toothy grin.
"It has been quite a long time. Kyoya Hibari and Mukuro Rokudo." He greeted.
"Mr. Talbot." Dia gave a small wave.
"I want to find Tsunayoshi."
"Kufufu… Always straight to the point are you? Oh, I still hear that piano playing."
Calen glared at her but she merely ignored it, opting to passively glance at the dusty shelves filled with stuff. However, Calen could tell that she was anticipating Talbot's response.
"What makes you think that I would know where your Sky is?" He asked with a chuckle.
"You knew who I was the day I came here with my father."
"That's because I can hear the spirits, my child. I heard the once-dormant, now awakened whispers of Kyoya Hibari and his flames within you just as I can hear Mukuro Rokudo's awakened spirit."
Now Calen was never one to believe to the superstitious. However, considering he once lived a life that was filled with dying will flames, illusions, time-traveling, parallel universes, and the like, he couldn't necessarily dismiss Talbot as being a crazy old man. In addition, he had seen the old man work his magic.
"... Then listen and find Tsunayoshi's voice."
Talbot shook his head. "As you can guess, I am quite old -"
Dia scoffed and mumbled, "No shit, Sherlock."
Calen found himself agreeing with his sister.
"- and therefore my hearing is not as good as it once was. I can hear yours because you are near. From here, I can hear three - nevermind, only two spirits. However, regardless of distance, it would still be difficult to find a Sky."
Calen frowned. He knew that there wasn't much Talbot could do to help them and he wasn't interested in biting him to death for it.
"Then our time here has been a complete waste," Dia commented uncaringly. A small glint at the corner of her eye caught her attention. When she turned to it, she smirked. She approached the familiar trident leaning casually in the corner of the room.
"Or maybe not… Kufufu…"
"... Do you have anything that belongs to Tsunayoshi?"
"Ah, I only had one, his animal ring. I sold it yesterday."
Immediately, weapons were drawn. Calen brought his tonfas and Dia pointed her trident at Talbot's temple, "And why in 6 hells would you do that, Mr. Talbot?"
Talbot shrugged, unfazed by the killer auras emitted by the two teenagers. "I have to keep the shop running, children. While I am capable of hearing more than what is considered possible, I am not gifted in premonition. I was not aware that you both will be here today."
"That doesn't grant you the right to sell what was once Tsunayoshi's." Calen practically snarled.
"To a mere stranger nonetheless," Dia added.
"Who did you sell it to?" the unvoiced, answer or I'll bite you to death, was not lost to Talbot.
"If it brings you relief, Tsunayoshi's animal ring is in the hands of the one who carries the dormant spirit of Skull, the Cloud Arcobaleno."
Calen's brow twitched in annoyance as he gripped his tonfas harder remembering the herbivorous of all the Arcobaleno.
"Unfortunately, that does not bring us relief in any amount. In fact, it is the opposite. What did he look-" Dia took one look at Talbot's blindfolded eyes and shook her head, "What can you tell us about him?"
"Her." Talbot corrected, "She claimed to be quite a traveler going on various dangerous expeditions. Unfortunately, I am unable to provide you a name."
"Are you able to provide a reason why we shouldn't bite you to death right now?"
"Patience, Kyoya. Both of you are taking on a difficult quest. Though if I may describe my observations of my living these past few centuries, it would be that spirits do not venture far from where they once lived for long periods of time. It at least narrows your search to here in Sicily where you all have spent much of your adulthood or in-"
"Namimori." Calen finished and Talbot nodded.
Calen put away his tonfas as he remembered his beloved Namimori. He wondered how it was doing and if it still maintained its simple yet beautiful sceneries. In addition to finding Tsunayoshi, he must visit Namimori.
"Of course, they are not bound. Perhaps your Sky resides in Namimori but is currently in the Philippines taking a vacation, perhaps not. We have no way of knowing. I shall recognize him if I encounter him but that is as much as I am able to do. You are also aware that your Sky can be in any form, a newborn, a woman, etc. There are only three others who will be able to tell you his identity much more efficiently." Talbot explained.
"Kufufu… I'm assuming Checkerface is among them."
"You are correct. The remaining two would be the other Trinisette Skies. Given an uncertain amount of time, Sepira's descendants will be able to foresee their meeting with another Trinisette Sky and at least know their name. If the spirit of Byakuran Gesso is awakened, he will know not only Tsunayoshi's but also other spirits' reincarnations through his experience and knowledge from parallel universes."
"So you're saying we are to find Yuni's reincarnation or Millefiore's reincarnation?" Dia asked.
"For Byakuran Gesso, yes. As for the former Sky Arcobaleno, she is still alive and remains in the form you once knew her. She is after all, an Earthling just like Checkerface. Last I heard, she was in Namimori with him."
"Hmph, then our time here has not been wasted. First, we go find that bastard Skull to get Tsunayoshi's animal ring and then we fly to Namimori to Yuni."
"Don't order me around, invertebrate."
"Kufufu… I'm just reiterating birdy, calm down. Now, give me money. I want to buy my trident back."
"Like hell I'm going to give you any money."
"Then give me one of your expensive bracelets. I'm sure we can do an exchange."
"Touch my bracelets and I'll bite you to death."
"They do absolutely nothing except being an annoyance and wasting money."
"The same way you waste money on hair products?"
"I do not!"
"Oh my bad, the same way Rokudo Mukuro wasted money on hair products just to maintain that ridiculous pineapple hairstyle?"
"Kufufu… You're asking for a fight."
"Bring it on."
"Ehem, children. I would appreciate it if you didn't fight in my store…"
Calen and Dia left the shop bringing more than when they first entered. At least, Dia was. Calen fiddled with his metal bracelets, content with not spending any money or exchanging his bracelets while Dia dragged her trident in one hand and holding a large paper bag in the other.
Just as they exited the alleyway, both Riccio siblings glanced at the street vendor. He was still there albeit asleep with a third of his merchandise now sold.
"When you came in, did you see the street vendor by that building? - yes? - Ah, how irking. He has been stealing some of my customers as of late…"
Calen crouched down and browsed through the vendor's trinkets. Just as he picked up a small spiked ring, the vendor's eyes snapped open and turned his attention to Calen. After a moment of deciding, Calen bought some accessories without much conversation with the man.
Dia eyed the vendor carefully.
"Take the trident, Mukuro. Instead of payment, I ask you to take these instead."
"These are…" Calen and Dia looked at the items Talbot brought to the counter: Boxing gloves, a bunch of black bones wrapped together in a saran wrap, cow horns and the Simon Earth Ring.
"We have no need for these. We are only seeking Tsunayoshi."
"The Young Sky died at the age of 27. His Elements have only been with their Sky for only 13 years before they separated. A Sky and its Elements often stay together for much, much longer than that. Many centuries have passed since and I have yet to see them reunite and complete once more. This time period is the most I've encountered awakened spirits. If it's you, I'm sure you will be able to find him."
Dia gave a bitter frown while Calen glared angrily at the counter. "That was Tsunayoshi's fault." He said.
Talbot shook his head, "You must understand why he had to make the sacrifice that he did."
Sensing no reply, he continued, "Family will always find each other, no matter what era or life. It's been long overdue, however, I believe that you will find your Sky in this life. Not only will the Sky be reunited with its Elements but also with its fellow Sky and Earth cousins as well."
The vendor returned Dia's gaze with a lazy look before returning to fix his items on his mat.
"Dia. Let's go."
"Right…"
"Be vigilant for you don't know when you will meet a fellow Element. -"
Calen and Dia were deep in thought. They approached a crosswalk and waited for the light. Calen looked around and noticed two parents talking with each other while holding onto a stroller with a sleeping infant. There were two high school girls, three adults, and an old man beside him waiting with them at the crosswalk.
"It may be your grandfather. It may be the newborn that was just born 5 minutes ago. -"
It was then Calen and Dia realized the feat of what they aim to do. Like what Rus said, there were 10 billion people in the world, about 6 million in Sicily and more than 100 thousand in Namimori. It would not be easy. Not to mention, they were still dependents under the Riccio household and had school.
"Feeling worried, birdy?" They proceeded once the walk sign turned on.
Calen thought for a moment before smirking, "Not in the slightest."
After all, Calen was more patient than Kyoya. Nothing was going to stop him from finding Tsunayoshi. Even if it took him a year, a decade, or an entire lifetime, he will never stop until he finds his Sky. So that...
"I will find and bite Tsunayoshi to death."
"Kufufufu… As expected."
"Oh my god!" came a panicked voice.
"Somebody help him up!"
"- Or it could be the person who is about to die in the next hour…"
Calen and Dia quickly turned to see the old man collapse. The people crowded around him while a doctor who happened to pass by checked him over. The siblings crouched to get a closer look. Being in the mafia required some medical knowledge and both of them concluded that the old man was having a heart attack.
Oddly enough, the old man turned to them and gave a fond smile. Immediately, Calen and Dia's eyes widened and understood.
"What's your name?!" Dia asked quickly.
But the old man didn't hear her. His vision clouded with black spots and so he knew his time had run out. But he was grateful that after many years of searching, he had finally found him just in time.
"G-Good luck…" He managed to rasp out.
"Of course, it won't always be an Element."
The old man closed his eyes and passed away peacefully with a smile.
Good luck, Kyo-san.
"It may be an old friend."
.
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Ehem, sorry? Hehehe... I thought it was important to really establish the depth of what Kyoya and Mukuro wanted to do. It's not going to be easy after all. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter! I really dropped quite a few things and I hope it wasn't confusing.
Also, I suppose it's redundant to reiterate it again that there is slight OOC of characters as you might have seen with Dia. I was a little worried about that but I couldn't just let Mukuro take over (no pun intended) when she is a new person. Same goes with Calen and other characters to be introduced.
A/N: - But Tetsuya was more patient than both of them.
