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LEGEND:
"Italian"
"Japanese"
A/N: What just happened?
"Hey, hey, Calen! What's this about you going on exchange to Japan in January?! I saw Takashi-sensei talking to you about your application."
"It's a whim. Don't think about it too much."
Calen leaned on the palm of his hand trying to ignore the excited chatter of his best friend. With his other hand, he rubbed the page between his fingers as he skimmed over what was just taught in the previous class. The two of them sat by the football field where they ate lunch. Despite the autumn chill, many students decided to spend their time outside. With the sun out and skies mostly clear of clouds, everyone seemed to forget that it was 5 degrees celsius.
"Do you even know how to speak Japanese, Calen? I know you've never taken a single Japanese class because I've been to all of them!"
"And so if I can speak in Japanese?"
"Holy shit! You… When did you learn Japanese?!"
"That doesn't matter."
"Yes it does! My pride in being the top student in Japanese class depends on it!"
Calen rolled his eyes and returned his attention to his book.
"Oh, look Calen. Look, look! She looks so cute again today as always!"
Calen glanced at who he was talking about. It was the herbivore whom his best friend had a crush on. Typical. He didn't care for such things. He wondered how he ended up being close friends with a herbivore. Kyoya was slightly disappointed with Calen. Calen shrugged and shook the thought away.
"I heard that her older sister just gave birth. She's been going on and on about her niece. I think she said she was born 3 months ago… That's so nice. To have all her attention just like that…"
Calen frowned. It's been 3 months since they first got their memories; since they encountered Dino through their uncle; since he and Dia went to Talbot's shop and since they met another one like them.
That old man. There was no mistaking the look in his eyes. Those were eyes of recognition and familiarity. They never did figure out who he was. At least, who he used to be.
3 MONTHS AGO
"... was my grandfather. He will always be remembered."
Calen hated the heavy feeling welling up in his chest. He shouldn't have come. He hated funerals after all. In their previous life, he never fully got over Tsuna's death. Not that he would ever admit it. Glancing over at Dia, he knew he wasn't the only one. When Tsuna died, Kyoya and Mukuro hid behind their tough masks and did it in their own respective ways. Kyoya became more irritated and potentially violent whenever Tsuna's name came up. On the other hand, Mukuro feigned disinterest and harshly insulted Tsuna.
Calen couldn't properly control the emotions threatening to show on his face. Dia wasn't doing any better. Calen glanced from the corner of his eye and he could see Dia's body shake. She was forcing herself to look straight ahead, blinking away the liquid about to spill from her eyes. He didn't have to turn around to look at Rus and see his pitying eyes to guess what he was thinking.
He cursed their young bodies. At their age, it was harder rein in their emotions especially when they haven't had to hide it in their current lives. He and Dia were raised in a loving and safe family. Granted that his mother and father weren't the most jubilant parents but they were good parents and normal for once. Compare that to the woman who had begotten Kyoya and the man who impregnated her. They were hardly to be called parents. They were the reason why Kyoya rarely spent any time at home during his middle school and high school years, choosing instead to reside in the school. On the other hand, Mukuro didn't even know his parents but instead grew up as a guinea pig for the pigs that were Estraneo.
(During their highschool years, they had to deal with the second coming of Estraneo, the Neo-Estraneo - how original. Needless to say, Mukuro and his gang had a wonderful time torturing them. Then when Nana found out that Lambo, Ipin and Fuuta were almost experimented on - She was brought up to speed shortly after the Representative Battle - she fatally poisoned every single one of the survivors credits to Bianchi.)
"Excuse me, you two were there when my father passed away correct?"
The group turned to see a middle-aged man; it was the son. He had a kind but tired look on his face. When Calen and Dia nodded, the man nodded in acknowledgement.
"I would just like to thank you for trying to assist us even though it was already too late. I appreciate you coming to remember him as well despite not knowing my father."
"No, no. We're glad you've allowed us to attend." Rus answered.
Rus thought for a moment before he added, "Your father… must have had a lot of precious things your family can remember him by."
Calen and Dia looked up to Rus, knowing his intentions. Their uncle gave them a short and quiet nod before turning back to the man.
"Not exactly. There was only one thing he kept as a treasure and it is far from a sentimental object. After all, it was just an vintage and rusty gun."
"Oh? Do you know the model? Forgive me, I'm an assistant in the Anthropology Department at the university so I can't help but be curious."
The man shook his head in reassurance. He pulled out his phone and tapped a few icons before showing Rus and the teenagers, "I don't know anything about guns. Even if I did, I think a gun that would have looked like this would have been way too old for me to know."
Despite the obviously worn metal on the gun, they immediately recognized it. It was a model developed by Verde, Shoichi and Spanner that Vongola and its allies used in battle. Everyone used it. From Tsuna to the lowest ranking subordinate. This could have belonged to anyone.
When it seemed like they were staring long enough, Rus pulled back and thanked the man before excusing themselves.
Calen and Dia could only breathe a sigh of relief when they left the church the event was held at.
They hated funerals because of the harsh reminder of who they've lost. As crazy as they were, Kyoya and Mukuro were still human. They felt pain and grief. They hated funerals and yet they still attended every single Vongola members' funeral whenever there was one; Despite Kyoya's distaste in crowding, and Mukuro failing to see the point of funerals, they still attended and stayed for the entire service. For them, it was their way of remembering those who've passed away.
Out of all of the Foundation members, Tetsuya left the world first. Tetsuya died shortly before Tsuna did. Kyoya didn't think he would lose two of his closest friends and family within one year.
He wouldn't have if Tsuna just listened to him.
"Oh Kyoya, good morning! Woah!"
Tsuna dropped the cup of coffee he held as he blocked Kyoya's attack. Despite the scalding hot coffee staining his pajamas, Tsuna looked straight at Kyoya. His brows furrowed when he saw the dark look in his Cloud Guardian's eyes. Sure, Kyoya wasn't a morning person however he never acted like this in the morning.
"What's wrong?"
"... I'll bite you to death."
As Tsuna dodged each attack, careful not to destroy the kitchen and hurt Kyoya, he scanned and analyzed his expression that looked darker and darker by the second. A single nag from his Hyper Intuition, he knew.
"Did Reborn finally tell you about that…?"
No answer. A swipe to the right.
"... You have to understand, Kyoya. Woah- That was close... It's a small price to pay after all."
Small? Tsuna thought of it as small? How can he even say that with a smile? Irritated, Kyoya's flames flickered to life, coating his tonfas.
"... The world can burn." He said simply.
The words, 'Just don't leave' went unvoiced.
But Tsuna heard it all the same.
PRESENT TIME:
Kyoya was there until the final member of the Foundation passed away just like how Mukuro was there when Chrome passed away, the last of the Kokuyo Gang. It wasn't surprising that the two strongest Guardians of the Vongola outlived most of their Famiglia.
There wasn't much he and Dia could do since then. Their search for Skull's reincarnation ended up in a flop since their parents wouldn't let themselves venture too far even with Rus' supervision. Considering Talbot's description of Skull, she could have been off to another expedition on the other side of the globe already. On the brighter side, Calen and Dia managed to convince their mother and father to let them go on exchange for the second semester of their current year provided that Rus helped chaperone. Little did they know that they would be there with their own agenda.
"Oh Calen look, it's your sister."
Calen sighed in annoyance, "Why do you find it necessary to point out where someone is? I could care less if she's in the vicinity."
"What a great brother you are. Look at her, she's being harassed again by one of the guys in her class."
"She can take care of herself."
"Are you sure, he looks particularly annoying."
"... Ms. Candia! I just want to know where you got that delicious looking cake!"
"Nice try. You'll have to do better than that for me to even acknowledge you."
"I just want some good cake damnit!"
Calen deadpanned, "She's fine."
"Is that your sister?" came an unfamiliar voice.
Calen and his best friend looked up from their spots to see the recent transfer student in their class.
"Unfortunately." He replied. The transfer student laughed.
"I understand that feeling! Sorry about my younger brother, Draco. He's a bit of a glutton. Ah I'm Oen by the way. Oen Komo. May I sit with you?"
Before Calen could say no, his companion replied eagerly, "Yes! Join us! Here sit beside me, I don't bite but Calen here might, so best if you sit here. Hahaha!"
"Well I apologize for intruding then."
"Don't worry about it! So no offense, but what kind of last name is Komo anyway?"
"I get that alot. It's pretty uncommon after all. I get it from my dad who's from Thailand while my mom is from Indonesia."
"Oh that's so cool!"
Calen internally groaned and laid back to take a nap as he drowned out the conversation. They better be thankful that Calen was more patient than Kyoya, otherwise he would have bitten them to death already.
Later…
Calen wondered why he didn't bite those two to death already. He has now renounced his best friend his status. He is now dead to Calen. Why didn't he tell him that Oen was going to tag along with him, Calen and Dia on the way home?
"You have a little sister too? How old is she?"
"She's only 5 years old. You'll get to meet her soon."
"Kufufu… I've already told you that I'm not interested and yet why do you insist on pursuing me?"
"I'm following my brother to pick up our sister, Ms. Candia. What makes you assume that I am following you? Oh. Did you happen to fall in love with me? You know it's not good to deny your feelings."
"I'd rather go through another hell than fall in love with you."
Annnd because Oen tagged along, he also brought his annoying brother. Because Oen tagged along, they were on a detour to the daycare to pick up his younger sister. Calen could only hope that the young female Komo was similar to Ipin. A tolerable herbivore than her two older brothers.
(Calen could see Dia's fingers twitch. She must be itching to stab Draco with her trident. He could understand. He would love to pummel the younger Komo with his tonfas.)
When they finally stopped at the daycare, Oen and Draco spotted their sister playing with one of her classmates. Once their sister saw them, she quickly said goodbye to her friend to run up to her brothers. She gave them both a tight hug to which they, along with Calen's dead friend, smiled fondly at and cooed (at least in Draco's and Calen's dead friend's case.)
"How was school?" Oen asked as he picked her up.
"It was good! Ms. Thera is going on a date soon~"
"About time," Draco commented, "For someone who's famous for his Ramseian style of handling a kitchen, he sure is clueless on how to woo a lady."
"Hey Komo siblings! You can't just talk about romance without filling me in on the details!"
Calen and Dia stood behind the group, slightly but not visibly befuddled by the sudden turn of events.
"Not that I care much but Mukuro is questioning your choice in friends, Calen." Dia deadpanned.
"Kyoya unfortunately shares the same sentiment. But I say, mind your own fucking business." Calen replied to which Dia gave a shrug.
Just as they were about to follow after the group to finally go home, Dia felt a tug on her finger. Both of them looked down to see the girl that the youngest Komo was playing with. She smiled at them sweetly that the two teenagers couldn't help but feel familiarity with it. The smile reminded them too much of Tsuna. They knelt down to meet her at eye-level.
"Did you both just say Mukuro and Kyoya?" she asked curiously. Calen raised a brow while Dia gave her a polite smile.
"And if we did, what do those names mean to you?"
The girl gave a bright smile as tears welled up in her eyes. She jumped into Dia's arms and clung tightly around her neck.
"Mukuro-kun, Kyoya-kun. It's me! It's Nana!"
Calen and Dia's eyes widened as they both whispered, "Maman?"
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Here we go! Yes, everyone calls Nana 'Maman' hehehe What do you think? Let me know!
So, quick question... What do you think would be the Box Animals or animals associated with the following characters?
- Nana
- Fuuta
- Ipin
- Lancia
- Kyoko
- Haru
- Hana
- Tetsuya
- Levi A Than
- Enma
I'm just asking for no particular reason. ;)
