TW: Character Death
noun: time to come
The room is bigger than any he's ever seen, a red carpet as long as the room is wide in the form of a cross on the floor. Tsuna stands in the middle of it, his Guardians standing behind him. And behind them, with a respectful distance between them, stand the core of the Vongola Ninth Generation, the most essential figures to the family right after the Ninth and his Guardians.
The rest of the Vongola family, as well as the branch and allied families from all over the world stand on the bare floor outlined by the carpet, lined up by affiliations and in order of importance. Tsuna only recognizes a few faces, the CEDEF, first in line at his right, the Varia a couple of lines down, the Cavallone at his left, third in line, and the Shimon, also at his left at the very end of the room, near the doors.
Reborn stands alone first in line at his left, closer to him than even the CEDEF. It's a place of choice, of honor, and Tsuna wonders if it's the Ninth trying to win him over.
Reborn has yet to give him a definite answer, has said that he'd only watch over him to the end and nothing for after that, but at his right there's an empty spot next to the CEDEF at the same level Reborn stands, so Tsuna still has all his chances.
The Ninth walks inside the room, his Guardians following after him. They make their way to them, and the core of the Tenth Generation-to-be steps on the carpet from the audience to follow in their wake. The Ninth stops a few feet in front of him, everyone following after him stopping too, and the silence is so heavy and solemn, Tsuna could hear the sound of a pin dropping on the floor.
"And now, the Inheritance Ceremony," the master of ceremony says, standing aside at his right at equal distance between the Ninth and him. "We shall commence the passing of the Bottle, which is proof of the Vongola Boss since Primo's generation. It will be handed on to Vongola Decimo, from Vongola Nono."
A tall, bald man standing with the Ninth's Guardians but further aside from them steps forwards to stand opposite the master of ceremony, carrying a red cushion with a black box on it. The Ninth steps forwards then, Tsuna doing the same, and they meet in the middle, stopping in front of each other.
The Ninth opens the box, showing its content to him. It's a small bottle in an upright position, with a red liquid in it. Blood, Tsuna knows. The one of Enma's and his family's ancestor.
"I, Timoteo Vongola, Vongola Nono, pass this on to you, Decimo," the Ninth says. "This is war blood that must never be forgotten."
But forgotten it was, twisted into something it was never meant to become. How much more blood would have been spilled in its name, if not for the Vindice showing them the truth? How much more blood would have been spilled in its name either by Enma and his family or Tsuna and his friends?
Tsuna takes the box, closing it on the Sin, relieved they won't have to stain with more blood and hate what has always been a show of trust and loyalty. An oath of friendship, hoping it would survive the years and generations. "May I pass it on to the generation after mine."
The man who carried the box to them walks away, as another one steps forwards from behind him, carrying another, red, empty cushion. Tsuna puts the box on it, a light layer of his Sky flames coating it so to hide the Mist flames at work.
He feels no guilt. The Sin belongs more to the Shimon than the Vongola, and they've paid more than the price for it long enough.
The Ninth and he let the man steps back with the box to Tsuna's side first, before going back to stand in front of their Guardians.
"And so the Sin has been passed on from the previous generation to the next," the master of ceremony says. "We shall now witness the passing of the Vongola Rings, from the Vongola Ninth Generation to the Vongola Tenth Generation. Sun Guardians, please, step forwards."
Ryohei and Nie Brow Jr do, meeting in the middle, face to face.
"I, Nie Brow Jr, Vongola Nono's Sun Guardian, pass on this Sun Vongola Ring to you." He slides his half of the Vongola Ring down Ryohei's finger, joining it to the other half Ryohei's wearing, then kisses the complete Vongola Ring. "May you destroy all misfortunes that will attack the family, and shine brightly upon the family for generations more to come."
"So will I, Sasagawa Ryohei, Vongola Decimo's Sun Guardian, make it so."
"So shall it be," the room answers them as one.
"Storm Guardians, please, step forwards."
Ryohei and Nie Brow Jr step forwards, walking past each other to stand in each other's former position, Ryohei behind the Ninth, and Nie Brow Jr behind him. Only then Hayato and Coyote Nougat walk forwards to face each other, and go ahead with the Inheritance of the Storm Ring.
"Lightning Guardians, please, step forwards."
Lambo steps forwards, but stops next to Tsuna, then holds on his pant. His other hand clutches his jacket, and he tries not to look at anyone, but at the same time can't help but glance at everyone around him.
Tsuna kneels down on one knee, and puts his hand on top of his head. He smiles once Lambo looks up, nodding encouragingly. Lambo swallows thickly, letting go of his pant to instead clutch at his jacket with both of his hands. He resumes walking to where Ganauche is already waiting for him, trying to look proud, to keep his head and back straight.
Ganauche smiles indulgently, but still respectful. He constructs a chair in front of him, helps Lambo on it, then kneels down on one knee to be at eye level with Lambo as much as he can.
"I, Ganauche III, Vongola Nono's Lightning Guardian, pass on this Lightning Vongola Ring to you." Tsuna doesn't let his eyes wander to look for any sign of suspicion so not to give it away himself, even if he has the urge to. But the ring is the real deal, and his Sky flames once again hide the Mist flames at play underneath, and it's not just any Mist flames either. Still, he looks closer at Ganauche than he did with the others as he joins his half of the Lightning Ring with the one Lambo's wearing around his neck, then kisses the complete ring. "May you be the lightning rod of the family, taking on the damage aimed to it, so to shield the family for generations more to come."
Lambo straightens his back, squaring his shoulders, and doesn't let his voice shake even as he clearly sounds intimidated. "So will I, Lambo-san from the Bovino family, Vongola Decimo's Lightning Guardian, make it so."
"So shall it be," the room answers them once more.
They walk past each other, and Tsuna's shoulders sag ever so slightly once Lambo stands between Hayato and Ryohei.
The Inheritance of the rings continue with Hibari, who doesn't say his part of the words, but it seems to have been expected and to be deemed acceptable as the room only exchanges glances and smiles in amusement. Chrome goes next, then Takeshi, and then…
"Sky Bosses, please, step forwards."
Tsuna does, keeping his eyes on his Guardians behind the Ninth instead of the Ninth himself, only catching the Ninth's eye when he blocks the sight of his Guardians with his figure. Once more, they stop in front of each other.
The Ninth smiles, his eyes kind and proud. He nods. "It's not uncommon at all for the two Bosses to exchange a few words before going through with the Inheritance of the ring. And I already asked Croquant to give us some privacy."
"You know," Tsuna says.
"Vongola's blood runs through my veins too, though my Hyper Intuition is not as sharp as yours."
"And you still came?"
"Of course," he says with an indulgent smile on his lips. "All those years ago when I stood where you now stand, I swore to lead Vongola to my best of abilities until my dying breath. I've never imagined it would end like this, but it's my duty to be here, though I'm not unwilling either."
Tsuna looks past him at his Guardians again, taking their faces in. "What about your Guardians? You brought them too."
The Ninth chuckles. "I could not have not brought them with me, Tsunayoshi-kun."
"But do they know too?"
"They don't." Tsuna snaps his eyes to him, not sure what he feels at that, what name to put on it, if not for fierce, confused indignation on their behalf. "They don't, but I have no doubt in my heart they would still be here even if I had told them," the Ninth soothes. "They've sworn me loyalty, friendship, and family, wherever the path I choose should lead them to." He looks past Tsuna's shoulder, and a grateful, loving look Tsuna knows all too well takes over his face. "Guardians… Quite the wonderful, invaluable, unexpected treasure to be found in a world like the mafia, isn't it? This, at least, I trust we both agree on, don't we, Tsunayoshi-kun?"
"Yes," Tsuna says right away. "Yes, we do." He averts his eyes from his. "Grandpa…" He trails off, wondering if the Ninth will call him out on what he has every right to see as manipulation, maybe even cruelty[—is it?—], if he will throw his words back at him and tell him he doesn't get to—
To what? What is he asking him, what does he expect to hear?
"Would it help you to hear that I don't hold it against you, don't resent you? Because I don't." He takes his hand in his, the one with his Half Sky Ring, and cradles it in both of his. "I am willing to be here, Tsunayoshi-kun. I have failed all the sons I had, and I'm happy to be able to make it up even an insignificant amount to the closest person of a son I've still left, even in this way." Tsuna sharply looks up, almost scoffing, disbelieving, [angry], but looks back down as quickly. If this is what he wants to make this out to be, so be it. Tsuna can let him have it. "I'm afraid my Guardians won't be as willing as me, but my flames will give you the moment you'll need. Tsunayoshi-kun." He squeezes his hand, and Tsuna looks up into his eyes. "This is the path you chose, and I hope it will give you everything you hope from it. Do not falter."
"I won't."
The Ninth nods, and Tsuna watches his smile fall from his face, his eyes take on a solemn, closed-off look, his figure straightening in a dignified way, unreachable and superior to all in the room. He watches Vongola Nono stands in all his glory, and for the thousand times resolves he won't let any of them become like that. "I, Timoteo Vongola, Vongola Nono, pass on this Sky Vongola Ring to you." He slides his half of the Vongola Ring down his finger, then kisses the complete ring. "May you understand and accept your Sun, Storm, Lightning, Cloud, Mist, and Rain; may your Sky understand and accept the family whole; and may you lead the family to prosper for generations more to come."
"So will I, Sawada Tsunayoshi, Vongola Decimo, make it so," Tsuna says, and in a way, doesn't even feel like he's really lying.
"So shall it be," the room answers them one last time.
"And so the Vongola family has been passed on from the previous generation to the next," the master of ceremony says loud and clear, solemn and reverential. "May we flourish under Vongola Decimo and his Guardians." He kneels down on one knee, bowing his head.
"So shall we make it so," everyone says as one, kneeling down on one knee too, bowing their heads, and only the Ninth, the Arcobaleno in the room, and his Guardians him and are left standing.
Tsuna keeps his eyes on the Ninth, and feels nothing but serene and steady. He won't falter.
He lights his ring.
The Ninth glances at it, then smiles, wistful. "You'll have to forgive me, but I still can't help thinking what a shame this is. You'd have made a wonderful Boss, Tsunayoshi-kun."
"You're wrong," Tsuna says, because this he can't let him have. He offers his hand, the one without the ring, and as promised the Ninth gives his easily. Tsuna puts his hand with the ring on top of it, and the Ninth brings his other hand over his too, careful of his Flame from his ring, but it wouldn't have burnt him anyway. It won't burn him even as it will harm him, but he won't feel any pain from it. "You refused to hear me out all the other times I told you these same words, but, Grandpa… Ninth." Tsuna catches his eye. "I was never going to become Vongola Decimo."
To flourish, or to perish.
The Ninth only smiles, closing his eyes. Tsuna lights the Flame on his ring taller, stronger, and his flames lit up the Ninth from his hands to his arms, down his chest to his legs and up his neck to his head, petrifying his body in their wake. Tsuna shifts his flames from soft to hard, washes them over the Ninth, and his body shatters.
To perish.
The Ninth's flames disappear from the room, and all hell breaks loose.
The Ninth's Guardians scream, rage and grief and pain all in one sound, their flames burning the very air, replacing it with wounded, bleeding fury.
His Guardians light their ring, their Flame almost as tall as them, and wide enough they overlap with each other's, lighting them under fierce Dying Will Flames, as if standing in the middle of a pyre. There's two Flames of Mist, Lambo's figure vanishing in Mist flames to reveal Mukuro's instead.
His Guardians lunge forwards, Mukuro leading the charge. They clash with the Ninth's Guardians in his back, a shock-wave slicing through the air full of the two set of Dying Will Flames, sending flying most of the people in the room against the walls.
"VOIIIIIIIII!" Squalo screams, slicing the air in front of him with his sword. "Sawada, what the fuck is this?"
He takes a step forwards, but Chrome's and Mukuro's Mist barrier around them flares, forcing back the ones still standing to give them room. Inside the barrier their box animals stand guard at the edge of it as a warning, while Hibari's Cloud flames act as a barrier around the room, Lambo's Lightning flames cackling inside them.
The Ninth's Guardians and his have spread out around him, their battles raging on. Mukuro laughs, genuine delight like Tsuna's never seen before on his face, has never heard before in his voice. He relishes in every blow he deals on his enemy, his flames feeling nothing but gleeful, relieved. And for this alone, no matter how this ends, it would all still have been worth it.
"Sawada!" Squalo screams again. He hasn't retracted his sword, and the rest of the Varia stands ready to act on his cue, but they're clearly unsure on where to go from there, Squalo included.
If Xanxus was there, would he have led an attack on them, lost in his wrath? He'll hunt him down after this, either to fight it out to the death with him or something else, that much Tsuna knows for sure. So be it.
His dad looks so very lost, frozen in utter confusion, incomprehension, deaf to his men's words who can't act without his guidance nor explicit permission, whether they want to or not. He looked so proud earlier, fitting for a dad who doesn't know anything that matters about his son. He looks at him now, like he's seeing him for the first time in years, maybe even the first time ever, and the light in which he's seeing him under might mean he never comes to like the sight in front of him. So be it.
Dino looks torn, looks sad, looking back and forth between what remains of the Ninth and him, his shaking hands tight around his whip. He looks understanding under the bitterness, maybe even admiring. His older brother, whom Tsuna has admired so much since day on, but this isn't a path he can follow in his wake, even if it means they might not ever be brothers again. So be it.
Reborn meets his eyes head on, sees his path to the end like he said he would. His face is unreadable, his eyes an empty, dark sea to even him. This might be where they'll part way, or worse, he might make them face each other to separate in even worse terms. Tsuna's heart sinks.
But even this, so be it.
He won't falter.
The Ninth's Guardians slip by his, aiming for him, but his Guardians are faster, take position in a circle around him, their back to him. They take the Ninth's Guardians head on, Dying Will Flames clashing against Dying Will Flames, then push them back.
"Little animal."
"Boss."
"Bossu."
"Tsuna."
"Sawada!"
"I'll have all the fun by myself, Sawada Tsunayoshi."
Tsuna puts on his gloves, and closes his eyes. He soaks in the warmth inside him, reaches for its heart, lets it embrace him whole. His Flame lights his forehead, the soft material of his gloves turning into cold steel, but warm under his flames all at once.
This won't set them free fully, he knows. Whatever will be left of Vongola will come after them in retaliation, maybe even to make them take responsibility for rebuilding upon the ruins they'll leave behind. They might even pass down their grudge to the generations after them, but isolated attacks will always be easier to deal with than the most powerful mafia family in the world trying to tie them down to their world.
This is as much freedom as he can give them, and give it to them he will.
Tsuna opens his eyes, looks ahead of himself, ahead to their future. He sets his flames ablaze, pulsing strong and tall, lighting the way.
May Vongola never rise from its ashes again.
So shall he make it so.
A/N: I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START. Also I don't want to say too much because I'm super curious to hear your thoughts as they are, but, well, let me clarify a couple of things anyway.
SO. I asked in the last chapter what you thought was going to happen, and among those of you who came forwards, none of you seemed to have expected this, so now I worry a bit this comes as too extreme and/or OOC lol. I don't think so though, because I've been thinking about it, about how Tsuna has painfully grown into the resolve he really doesn't want his friends or him to have anything to do with the mafia anymore, and has to get them out of it before it does irreparable damages to them. And like it's been said in the previous chapter, I've also been thinking in what way he could do that that'd be worth trying, and in the case they succeed, would make getting their freedom back worth the risks that'd come with it, and this is the result.
Which is obviously not gratuitous murder out of revenge or something lol. But Tsuna's plan is built on two key points that only matter if they coexist, that are, 1) he has to legitimately become Vongola Decimo in the eyes of the mafia law, and 2) he has to become the only person legitimately able to be Vongola Decimo in the eyes of the mafia law. So he kills Nono, and with the help of his Guardians kill Nono's Guardians too, because having earned the rings and with Tsuna leaving them no other options, he figures they're legitimate figures enough for the Vongola family to rally behind to keep them from falling apart. And once they do that, Tsuna's first and last action as Vongola Decimo is to proclaim the end of Vongola, which he is well within his right to do, as Primo said, and then to turn down the title. And because it comes from Vongola Decimo's mouth, it effectively backs everyone into a corner, and shrinks considerably their options for retaliations without breaking mafia law (and earning themselves a one-way trip to Vindice), should they want to take the risk of retaliation at all.
Which makes a lot of sense to me as a plan to free themselves from Vongola/the mafia, but idk what you guys think about it? Also you might feel a bit cheated that Tsuna technically still became Vongola Decimo even when I said he wouldn't, but like I said he had to accept the title, even if only for the time he needed to turn it down thoroughly in a way no one could force it back on him again.
But what about Iemitsu, I hear you ask? And you're right, I say, it's undoubtedly a risk to let him live, but also, you know, he's Tsuna's dad. And Tsuna just doesn't have that in him, no matter how precarious their relationship is (and even more so after this). It's a gamble that Tsuna had to take, and that works in his favor, because no matter how precarious their relationship is (though unbeknownst to him), Tsuna is still Iemitsu's son, you know. So I like to think he stays within Vongola a bit after all this is said and done, making sure no one will come after Tsuna and his friends as much as possible, and tying up his loose ends in the mafia before leaving CEDEF, effectively letting it crash and burn alongside Vongola. No matter how reluctantly he does some of that, or how conflicted he feels doing some of that.
And what about the rings? Well, they keep them actually. I mean they've earned them, literally bled and almost died for them, so they're well within their right to now want to use them to protect themselves and their freedom. And not only they've earned them, but in a way no other generations before them had done before. Like, the rings are theirs more than they had ever been anyone else before them, more than they are the Vongola family's at this point, so even on that point they have the mafia law on their side should anyone want to contest the fact they keep the rings. And if nothing else, Tsuna has seen what the rings come to be used to bring violence and devastation, so he wasn't about to let them in the hands of a desperate, falling apart family.
And what about the Shimon? They've kind of disappeared at some point in the chapter lol, and though I wanted to mention them again I didn't find a good opportunity to do that. But they're definitely there as all of this takes place, on standby, because Tsuna has still to give them the Sin, but also because Enma had every intention to step in and help him should things had turned for the worse. And once the dust is settled, Tsuna does give them the Sin, which they use to revive their rings. And after seven days, once their rings are as powerful as before, then Daemon acts up.
Yeah, that's right, I did not forget about him zsdxgvcb! And he wasn't happy when the Vindice revealed the truth about the Shimon & Vongola history, and was absolutely seething with rage as Tsuna started/proclaimed the destruction of Vongola, but, like, what was he going to do? He still needed the Shimon to get their powers back so he could manipulate them effectively, so he bid his time until then. But in this verse the Shimon arc just ends up being Shimon & Vongola vs Daemon right away. Which I guess would make the Shimon & Vongola bonds less strong than canon? But they can always get there again after that, and this time by building their bonds on a healthy foundation.
Okay, this is a long author's note, but I think this should clear away any confusion you might have. Most of it anyway I hope lol. Though if you still have questions, by all means, ask them away! Because I kind of actually have an overall idea of what the aftermath of this looks like. And it actually looks good! I know this is quite the dark note to end the story on for that "hopeful ending" tag, but they win, and get their freedom back, and everything's better after that! ! And half of it is thanks to Tsuna's plan, but the other half is thanks to the universe that just so happens to work in his favor for once, securing the aftermath of his plan. Which as it is is quite short-sighted and leaves them open to terrible consequences and retaliations, but remember he's only fifteen years old, and he did to the best of his abilities.
Alright, this is the part where I thank you guys so much for getting on this ride with me. Especially the few of you I've become quite familiar with your usernames, you know who you are, and know that I'm super grateful for your continuous, enthusiastic support. But of course thank you so much to all of you who read and commented and favorite-d and followed the story, whether you did only one of those things or all of it and everything in between.
I hope you enjoyed the story, and let me know what you think of the ending! Any and all review are appreciated.
Thank you for reading!
- Hope
Answers to Guests' Comments:
Mori: ZERTFGHDF THANK YOU SO MUCH! i really was very nervous about this chapter so seeing your excitement is really comforting. and tsuna most definitely was never going to give in, that's the whole point of the story! he couldn't possibly have done so, not after all he went through, not after seeing for himself just what the mafia is and what it does to people. thank you for your comment!