Il Cielo dei Tre Regni
by Lunar Wave
Disclaimer: This story borrows the setting and characters of the Koihime†Musou series and borrows multiple elements from Katekyo Hitman Reborn. I own neither series as they both belong to their respective owners. Also, considering Koihime†Musou could be considered a fanfic of the Three Kingdoms, I'd like to say I don't own anything related to the stories of the Three Kingdoms.
-()-
Gifts from His Father
-()-
"Let's go! Kamien!"
"Damien, calling a turtle 'Kamien' really, really isn't that smart." Mikoto coolly said as she sat at the side as Damien ran around the backyard, trying to incite his newly received box animal to run at his speed.
"It's a tortoise, though?" Aster chuckled, as he pets his striped white cat, which he insists is a tiger. He named it Pleiades, and insists that it's female. Despite Box Animals having no inherent gender.
Kamien, the black-shelled tortoise, merely looked at Damien before taking one step towards Damien's position. Then took the time to try and turn to the right as Damien has already moved in that direction.
"The poor thing just wants to catch up to you, Damien. At least slow down." Iris laughed, as an orange bird sat on her head. She named her bird Plume, after the long beautiful tail the bird has.
"NO! How would Kamien ever be able to catch up to me if he doesn't try hard enough!" Damien cheerfully replied.
"How do I open this thing?" Kazuto muttered, as he pondered over the box he got from his father as a birthday gift. He knows that it's a box animal. But why is it so difficult to open?
"It's rather a bit of a shame that your box animal needs more hoops for you to go through to get, huh?" Damien grinned, as he settled down into the seat. Kamien slowly started making its way over to the table.
"Dad did say that they worked on your animal the hardest." Aster chuckled. "So it must be a good one. But not as good as my Pleiades!"
"Oh hush now." Iris sighed, "Let's not rub more salt into their wounds… both of them."
"One day, dad will figure out how to make Earth Flame Animals, and you'll be sorry." Mikoto grumbled.
"I'm pretty sure Uncle Enma is working with Uncle Byakuran for that." Iris smiled. "I'm sure they'll figure it out before we graduate from high school."
"They figured out Box Weapons for the Seven Flames of the Sky. I'm sure dad will figure it out eventually." Aster laughed.
"I think a creature that can manipulate gravity would be very scary indeed." Kazuto nodded. "Even if it's something as big as an elephant, it'll be able to fly up and then crush you in its weight."
"What makes you think I'll get an elephant!?" Mikoto asked.
"Hey, elephants are not bad Box Animals." Iris argued.
"Elephants are too smart! I'll be dealing with an animal that would remember grudges for longer than my lifespan! If I get an elephant, and I did smash it against an enemy, the elephant might get angry at me instead!"
""""That's what you're worried about!?"""" All four of them could only blink at her argument.
Mikoto coughed, trying to regain her composure. She then turned to Kazuto, "So have you asked anyone about the conditions to open your box?"
"They either don't know, or they're not allowed to tell me." Kazuto grumbled.
"That means it's your job to figure it out, huh?" Damien sighed. "So whatcha gonna name it when you get it?"
"I'll decide when we get to that point." Kazuto shrugged. "It feels wrong to name him when I don't even know what he is." He sighed forlornly before putting away the box.
"Well at least you have an animal." Mikoto grumbled.
"So you are sore about it."
"It feels terribly unfair that only Seven Flames of the Sky users have boxes…"
"The main box researchers of the world are all Seven Flames of the Sky users. The Lightning Arcobaleno Verde, the other two box designers, Dad, Uncle Shouichi, they're all either users of Seven Flames of the Sky or part of a familia that primarily uses Flames of the Sky. While Seven Flames of the Earth users are just as numerous as the other, not many have the resources to invest in it as the Shimon." Aster pointed out. "There's a reason why Shimon has a monopoly on Seven Flames of the Earth users right now. And we already said that Dad's working with Uncle Enma, right? You'll get your animal, don't worry."
Damien coughed, "So, did you get anything else? It would be a bit cruel if your dad's birthday gift turned out to only be a box you can't open?"
"I got this wooden sword that transforms into a katana. We're calling it Shigure Kintoki version Bokken." Kazuto shrugged. "Although, I think this is more Uncle Takeshi's gift."
"Sweet! Show us!"
Kazuto admitted that he really was whole-heartedly disappointed that he got a box without instructions on how to open it. He really wanted to at least show it off. But his sword is a good secondary gift, he supposed.
-()-
The creature was a black-furred dragon-like creature. It has a body resembling that of a lion cub, including its paws, but the head and tail are both resembling that of a dragon, albeit having fur rather than scales. Orange flame burst from its neck, forming that of a mane. It comfortably stood on its owner's right upper arm, feeling almost weightless on it. It's draconic, furred tail, wrapped itself around his body. It is not a big dragon, like the child or baby of its species, and, after the initial shock of its appearance, some of the girls would admit that it's pretty adorable. Regardless of its appearance, however, the descent of such a creature in the empire can only be considered a sign from the heavens. The dragon's orange eyes, similar in color to Kazuto's under Dying Will Mode, surveyed its surroundings, before hopping onto its owner's head, and curling its body up to rest on slightly unkempt hair.
The owner of said creature, however, merely turned his gaze towards the child-like woman at his side. "A dragon." Sawada Kazuto confirmed.
"A Lion Dragon, specifically, but yes." Aunt Uni nodded cheerfully. "Do you like it? We spent quite a bit of time working hard to get him for you."
"I… I thought mythical boxes are impossible without the power of the Mare Rings or the Vongola Gear?"
"Which is why he needed all seven flames of the sky to open." Uni nodded, before frowning at the dragon. "Although, it's a lot weaker than I expected. I suppose beginners with just A Class Rings wouldn't bring out its full potential."
"He… he could be stronger?"
"It's a box animal that scales with how well the six guardian flames meshes with your flame, after all." Uni nodded. "Simply put, for it to achieve the best it could be, it needs powerful guardians that you can trust wholeheartedly."
"So why a mythical creature?" Kazuto asked. The Millefiore kept a close guard on the details of summoning creatures from ages past or mythical. The Vongola never had a mythical creature as a partner. Kazuto is very much the first one, at least chronologically.
"Byakuran mentioned you wanting a dragon when you were young."
"I think any kid the age of six, upon seeing a dragon, would want one. I'm already se-eighteen, Aunt Uni." Kazuto bluntly replied, "Also, I get a dragon, but Iris gets a bird?" Wouldn't you be accused of favoritism, was the unasked question.
"That's a strange way of saying phoenix, but yes. We sort of themed our gifts for you and your friends a bit." Uni laughed. Kazuto grunted, before trying to remember the box animals of his friend group. Iris has a bird (because frankly, any bird as a Box Animal is a flaming bird, unless it's from Lightning Flames), Damien gets a turtle, and Aster got a tiger…
"The Guardians of the Four Cardinal Directions?" Kazuto blinked. "Vermillion Bird, Black Tortoise, White Tiger and Azure Dragon?"
"Yup." Uni laughed. "It felt appropriate. Your friend Mikoto's getting a dragon too. Although the plan is to make her dragon more western to differentiate hers and yours."
"To complete the group." Kazuto nodded. "… But isn't Damien's tortoise… a normal tortoise, though?"
"It actually has a snake hiding in its shell." Uni smiled. "Glad it worked out, really. By the way, don't tell Mikoto anything just yet. Let it be a surprise. We're almost done with it and hope to give it to her on her birthday."
"I'm not going to be able to tell her anything, not as I am though?" Kazuto laughed. "But seriously, we get dragons? Isn't that pretty… above even the animals of the Vongola Gear?"
"While the animals of the Vongola Gear are truly rather normal compared to mythical animals, the Vongola Gear are in a class of their own." Uni smiled. "Natsu is far, far stronger than Leone Drago di Cieli." That's… a bit disappointing, Kazuto would admit, but he'll take it.
"So why do you call him a Lion Dragon?" Kazuto asked, "Kazuma doesn't really look that different from Uncle Byakuran's dragons…"
"It's furred, rather than scaled." Uni cheerfully replied.
"That's it?"
"To be honest, it's actually more like Natsu than Byakuran's White Dragon. His appearance is from Millefiore, but at its core, it's probably better to consider it the same as Natsu. Tsuna initially wanted to just get you a lion cub as a first box animal, but… let's just say, Byakuran and Uncle Reborn got involved."
"Reborn's involved too?"
"As long as it involves Bakazuto's training, I'll have final say on the matter." Uni tried imitating Reborn's adult voice. "So Byakuran-san and I pulled out all the stops. Reborn provided some sort of material for us to work with, coming from Leon. Byakuran helped hybridize the lion of the Vongola Family and the dragon of the Millefiore. And I… designed the colors." Uni sheepishly laughed. "I basically gave it black fur to distinguish itself from Byakuran's White Dragon… Although Byakuran wanted it to be grey. Coloring it blue was an option, but considering the result, it's fine." Uni shrugged as the dragon's fur suddenly shifted colors to a slightly blue tinge, before returning back to a black color.
"… I see…" Kazuto sighed, finally understanding. Simply put, Byakuran and Reborn got together to give him something ridiculous, at the expense of his father, with Aunt Uni helping out. Also, what's this about Leon?
"I'm sorry, but please stop right there!" Touka interrupted. "There's far too many things we'd all like to comment on at this point!"
Kazuto and Uni looked at each other before nodding and turning to the others.
"Get it out of your system now." Kazuto gestured to them, and a flood of comments came out from the others' mouths.
"That's a dragon… A real genuine dragon!"
"That box had a dragon this whole time?"
"So he really is a messenger from heaven… to have a dragon as a familiar of all things."
"Umm, can I hold him?" Paitan asked.
Kazuto looked at the dragon and the dragon merely moved its head near Paitan's hands and Paitan slowly petted it.
"I… it's real." Paitan squeaked.
"So, can I ask something?" Aisha asked. "Why now? Kazuto-sama had that box long before we met him. Kazuma could have helped for many fights all these months."
"First of all, none of us expected Kazuto to ever be in a situation where he would ever be separated from Uncle Reborn. Uncle Reborn's skill as a hitman pretty much guarantees that he's the best person to protect Kazuto from danger. For all intents and purposes, Reborn was supposed to be by his side to help him form his guardians. Second, frankly speaking, Kazuto took far too long gathering his guardians. We half-expected him to have guardians years ago. If he had gotten one Guardian, we could've goaded him to try letting the Guardian open the box. But Kazuto had always put it off. Kazuma isn't just a weapon for Kazuto to use, it's originally meant to be a reminder for Kazuto to begin gathering guardians to his side. Third, Kazuma is also an experimental Box Animal, to test the possibility of a Box Animal having all seven flames melded into it."
"That means it can use all seven flames' abilities?" Kazuto asked in surprise.
"Hmm, why not try using your sword?" Uni teased, and Kazuto nodded, pulling out his sword. Immediately, the almost weightless dragon on his head hopped down onto his wrist and his sword. Kazuto immediately imagined Yamamoto Takeshi's Shigure Souen Ryu, and, as if responding to that thought, Kazuma turned bluish once more before spewing blue flames onto the sword, setting it alight in Rain Flames. He immediately imagined the red flames of Gokudera Hayato, and Kazuma turned reddish before responding by setting his sword ablaze with Storm Flame. Uni smiled, "When you have a full set of Guardians, and they're in sync with you, Kazuma will probably be able to do much more than just making your sword capable of using the other flames, but as you are now, that's it."
"I… I see… It's a bit surprising that it works this well with my Shigure Kintoki."
"But of course. The sword is part of the set with Kazuma, after all. They're meant to synergize well with each other."
"W-what?" Kazuto recoiled, "I thought this was just…"
"Just a weapon to complement your use of Shigure Souen Ryu? That's part of it, but there's a reason why you received both the sword and the box at the same time. It's also a bit inaccurate to call your sword 'Shigure Kintoki'. After all, Shigure Kintoki is a sword meant for the sword style, while your sword can turn into a blade whenever you want." Uni smiled, "The proper name for it is Hidden Sword of the Sky. It's made specifically so that it can use and channel all seven flames through it, even if the user is not skilled with its use. It's a proper, genuine box weapon made for Sawada Kazuto to use."
"I… I didn't know…" He always just thought that his sword was a consolation prize for not having a box he could immediately open.
"It's your fault for assuming things." Uni scolded, "Your hyper intuition might be able to help you make decisions on the fly, but it's not omniscient. And you should try to at least recognize the difference between your intuition and your assumptions. You know that assumptions, done poorly, have ruined entire countries." At those words, Kazuto's Guardians resolved themselves to curb Kazuto's failings. It wouldn't do if Kazuto assumed something is true only for it to fail him.
Sensing a bit of trouble from behind him, he shifted the conversation back to Kazuma, who had returned to his perch on Kazuto's head, "So… what else can Kazuma do?" At the mention of his name, Kazuma opened his eyes before looking at Kazuto.
"I did call Kazuma a Lion Dragon." Uni teased once more, "What is the signature skill of a Sky Lion?"
Kazuto nodded, before pointing Kazuma to an empty part of the training grounds. "Rugitto di Cielo" Five archery targets stood at the end of the field. Kazuma nodded, standing at attention. He looked at the targets and opened its mouth. ROOOOOAAARRR! From the mouth of the lion dragon, orange shockwaves burst from its lips. As for the targets, where once five targets stood, only two stood at the edges. The three in the middle had toppled, with scorch marks all over it. The other two targets were not unharmed either, being lightly burnt. Regardless, the result was clear. This is a powerful attack. And… are those targets partially petrified?
"… W-well now… I wonder what would have happened if I had Kazuma when I fought Ren." Kazuto nervously laughed, his ears slightly ringing from the roar.
"I don't think anyone would've died from that attack unless they receive it head-on." Uni pointed out. "That attack lacked focus. It spread out too much."
Kazuto nodded. "So, uhh, do I have to have my Guardians put their flames in every time I need to summon Kazuma?"
"Not necessarily." Uni shook her head. "The six gems on the box are actually similar to batteries that can hold quite a bit of flame. As long as all six gems are lit, you can just summon Kazuma whenever you want."
"Got it." Kazuto nodded, putting Kazuma's box back onto his belt, and Kazuma laid back down onto his head. Kazuto chuckled a bit. "Lazy animal."
"Animal Weapons inherit quite a bit of their personality from the one who summoned them." Uni teased. "If he's lazy, then at least some part of you are too."
That actually hurts a lot more than he thought it would. He then felt an increase of weight on his head. "Ren?" Kazuto blinked, as he saw the redhead, with her arm outstretched to reach Kazuma. Kazuma lazily reached out its head and rubbed it against the hand reaching towards him.
"Good boy." Ren murmured.
"Ah, no fair, Ren! I want to touch Kazuma as well!" Touka complained, running forward as well.
""Me too!"" Rinrin and Chiihou exclaimed, and soon Kazuto had to suffer each of the girls wanting to reach onto his head to touch the dragon.
Uni smiled at the sight. "Seems we were worried for nothing."
"Eh?" Kazuto could only look confused at Aunt Uni's gentle smile, the one that he's seen all throughout his life. The side of her that is willing to tease him, the side of her that seems to be constantly evaluating him, those are sides that he isn't too familiar with. But it still feels right; after all, she's his friend's mother. While she's not as close to Aunt Uni, she's still someone that is welcomed as though family.
Uni simply continued smiling, reaching her hand out to touch Kazuma as well, touching the orange mane that the others dared not to touch, "Don't worry about it."
-()-
As much as some of them would've wanted nothing more than to spend some time talking with Uni or touching Kazuma, today's not a day off for most of them. So they soon all had to part ways to take care of business.
As much as Kazuto would've wanted to keep Kazuma outside of the box, Kazuma, being a dragon, would cause far too much commotion if he's allowed to just freely remain outside. In fact, Aisha, Rinrin, and Sei had to immediately leave to quell a bit of unrest due to the two roars Kazuma gave out. How they'll do it, Kazuto isn't sure.
Kazuto thought Uni would've left by now, as there really isn't much to do here, but she insisted on shadowing Kazuto throughout the day. Considering her outfit really wouldn't be too out of place for a noble, they really caught everyone's eyes as they walked through the city. However, seeing as she's accompanied by him, the so-called Messenger from Heaven, they quickly moved on with their lives. Some of them even called out to him, to try and get him to spend a bit of coin for skewers and such. Uni had declined, so he only bought enough for him and his other companions.
"Kazuto-san mentioned that you're a seer, Lady Yuni?" Paitan asked, holding onto her skewer as she slowly walked through the city, with Yue as her aide.
"Mmhmm, although my daughter, Iris, is most certainly reaching the point where she's stronger than me."
"Really?" Kazuto asked, amid bites.
"My ordeal as the Sky Arcobaleno has left my power of Divination weakened." Uni chuckled slightly. Ordeal? Kazuto blinked. What ordeal? What happened with the Arcobaleno? Wasn't it just a title given to the team that was formed from seven of the world's strongest people? "Besides, the future is a complicated thing to look at. I mostly use my abilities nowadays to divine another's mental state."
"E-eh?" Denden asked, confused. "I don't get it."
"You can read minds?" Touka asked in surprise. Kazuto reached up to touch Touka's head. Good, she's starting to learn to interpret complicated words. She's a leader; she needs to handle people trying to talk around her. Touka pouted as she realized exactly why Kazuto is doing so and pinched Kazuto's side for it. Stop, it hurts.
Uni laughed, "Not just minds, but emotions as well."
"So that's why Iris can beat me in poker any day of the week." Kazuto sighed. "So she really did have a stronger ability compared to my Intuition." He knew about the future seeing part of her ability, but mind-reading too. Now that's just unfair.
"Hyper Intuition would still be better in a fight, Kazuto. Hyper Intuition basically allows your mind to skip thinking and just react, whenever necessary. A slight disturbance and your body is already moving to dodge a bullet before your mind could even realize it."
"… But I've been using it for cold reading this entire time." Kazuto sulked. "Reading other's minute movements to figure out if someone's lying to me. The ability to read minds would be much better than having to guess what exactly a twitch in the shoulder means exactly."
"The fact that you can even do so is the fruit of your labor." Uni smiled at him.
"So that's how Kazuto-kun always figures out when someone is lying to him or not…"
"What if the person actually does believe that what he's saying is the truth though?" Paitan asked, pointing out something about Kazuto's method.
"If it's just passing on a message, then yes, I can't figure it out." Kazuto sighed. "I'm not omniscient after all."
"I see…" Paitan nodded, before coughing a bit.
"Are you sure you're fine today?" Kazuto asked.
"I should be fine, after all of the healing sessions." Paitan smiled, "I'm just unused to long walks."
"Oh dear? You're ill?" Uni said, surprised.
"Ah, yes. Due to circumstances with how I was rescued by Kazuto-san, I've been struck with quite a bit of weakness." Paitan courteously replied.
"Swamp flames injected into her body." Kazuto informed Uni. "The vestiges of the Swamp Flame are gone now, but she still needs for her body to recover from it." He knows, because he practically burned it all away while she was completely naked, so it should, in theory, be completely wiped from her body.
"Then you should be resting, and eating healthily for a good few days." Uni told her. "Overexerting yourself is not good for you."
Kazuto nodded, then walked over to Paitan before leaning over, "I'll carry her on my back, would that be enough?"
"I wouldn't want to intru-" But a small push from behind caused her to stumble into Kazuto.
"Go on." Touka smiled, and Paitan nodded slightly before handing her skewer to Yue.
"You've grown so strong." Uni smiled, "It's a shame that Iris is not here."
"I wouldn't want her to." Kazuto shook his head, "This world is still rife with war. I wouldn't want any of my friends here."
"Your kindness truly does remind me of Tsuna." Uni smiled. "When I asked your father to protect me, he did so with barely any hesitation. He took me by the hand and ran away."
"That sounds like the story of a romance." Paitan said.
"Oh no, I don't like Tsuna in that way." Uni laughed, "He's like a big brother that is unreliable most of the time, but becomes completely dependable when you need help."
"Is that so…" Paitan said, slightly disappointed. "But Kazuto-san's father sounds like an interesting person."
"He is." Uni smiled. "Sawada Tsunayoshi can certainly be described as an interesting person, in our world." In the world of crimes, crooks, murderers, and danger, Sawada Tsunayoshi is a beacon of light in comparison.
"I have a lot to live up to." Kazuto resolutely said.
"I suppose you do." Uni nodded.
Touka silently looked at Kazuto from his side, before reaching out for his arm.
"Eh? Touka?"
"Indulge me for a while?"
"Fine, but don't pull too hard. Paitan might fall."
Touka smiled.
Uni looked as the group started pulling ahead. "… Truly… it's a shame that Iris isn't here. Otherwise, she might have had a chance for her own happy ending."
"Aunt Uni?"
Uni shook her head before nodding, "I'm coming."
-()-
"I would've thought you would have taught her a few Italian songs."
"They speak Japanese, Aunt Uni."
"Some of the songs you taught her have English loanwords sprinkled all over them."
"I had to teach her some of it." Kazuto smiled. "But I'm glad Paitan is having fun. She's honestly a bit too serious." Paitan seems to be enjoying the upbeat cheery music as Chiihou danced on stage. Touka and Yue are both properly minding her, but Denden had already reached out for her tonfa and started swinging them in time with the beat, treating them as if they were glowsticks. She didn't even know what glowsticks are, Kazuto thought.
"So it really is for that one's sake that you brought us here." Uni smiled, "Is there a reason?"
"I'm not going to lie and say there's no ulterior motive, but I just want Paitan to be exposed to Chiihou a bit more before I spring something onto her."
"Hmm?"
"What has Reborn told you about this world and my friends?" There's no reason to risk revealing Chiihou's birth name if Uni already knows. Reborn already finagled the name out of him a long time ago, so there's a chance that they know.
"Barely anything." Uni shook her head, "All he said is that your training is going well and that you've begun gathering your guardians. I think Tsuna's getting a much more detailed report, but Tsuna isn't sharing either. Naturally, Gokudera-kun's silent as well."
"I wonder why…" Kazuto murmured.
"… I think I do know." Uni sighed, "There's a growing faction among the Vongola that wants your younger sister to be the next Vongola head."
"I already know that part." Kazuto pointed out.
"Then, you've already figured out that they're trying to use your sudden disappearance as a reason to push Yoshiko into the role. Tsuna refused to make a decision on that matter, saying that you're the heir and that you're just in training."
"They're desperate." Kazuto grimaced, "Forcing papa to make a decision on his heir when he's barely in his forties? It's like telling him to die."
"That might actually be the reason. Your father may be amazing, but he's not well-liked. Especially not by people who dislike the policies he's enacting. And that might be the reason why they are keen to push you out of the role. They know that you are someone who intends to continue Tsuna's will. You pretty much declare to do so every time someone questions your status as heir."
"They want the ruthless Vongola back. And Yoshiko is a young girl who they see as easy to manipulate."
"She's certainly easier than you would be." Uni shook her head, "After all, her guardian candidates are all from the world of the mafia. While you were raised so distantly from the mafia, Yoshiko grew up with them. Between you and Yoshiko, Yoshiko would certainly be easier to influence."
"Even if Yoshiko does become the eleventh, they'll find it hard to get her to do anything for their benefit." Kazuto shook his head, "I know Yoshiko; she won't ever be someone else's puppet."
"… Yes, Yoshiko is a very stubborn girl." Uni nodded, looking back towards the stage. "Much like yourself. But, in the end, they only have two choices. You or Yoshiko. If Tsuna, you and Yoshiko die, Vongola itself will collapse. The Vongola Rings will burn anyone who wears them that is not of Giotto's blood. And without a leader with Hyper Intuition or the Vongola Gear, the Vongola Familia will be devoured by the vultures of every other familia."
"The Millefiore among them?"
"To take revenge for your deaths, certainly." Uni nodded.
"Scary." Kazuto shivered at how matter-of-factly she said those words.
"Regardless, the Blood of Vongola and the Vongola Gear are assets that are too important to Vongola's position as the world's strongest mafia family. No matter how many strong people are in Vongola right now, those same people can be lured away from Vongola. That's why some members of the Vongola are pushing for Yoshiko. Especially now that you are stuck here, 'in training'. If Yoshiko becomes the Vongola Heiress with no challenge from you, then they will have won."
"… I need to go back."
"No." Uni shook her head. "Not yet."
"What? Why?" Kazuto half-yelled.
"Now that the Vongola is certain that you are safe, they can direct their gazes at those who are pushing for Yoshiko's ascendance. They can investigate their backgrounds, they can look at their allies. We can cast reasonable doubt on them all." Uni smiled.
"… I see…"
"Besides, you still haven't discovered a way to get out of this world." Uni shook her head. "Let Tsuna worry about the Vongola. Your era is still far away. If anything, Tsuna might just spite you and live long enough that the Vongola Eleventh would be your kid instead."
Kazuto had to laugh at that thought. "He just might. He just might."
And that was the end of that.
-()-
Uni breathed a sigh of relief as she plugged out of the device. It feels strange, how her mind seems to be exhausted, but her body is not. Stepping out of the chamber, as Gamma quickly directed her to a table where her lunch is. Uni smiled gratefully at her husband.
"So? What's your evaluation, Uni?" Reborn asked, as he started piling books into the chamber, which Gamma had insisted on being removed for Uni's comfort. Now that Uni is done, it seems he intended to go in as soon as possible.
"Hoy, KORA! I'm supposed to go next!"
"Uni already proved that Arcobaleno can go in." Reborn coolly replied, "There's no need for you anymore. So go away, idiot."
"I'll get you for that, Reborn!"
"Hush, Colonello." Lal sighed, "Also, Reborn at least listen to Uni's report first before preparing to go in."
"It's fine." Uni laughed, "Uncle Reborn is a home tutor. He's supposed to be at Kazuto's side. The sooner he can, the better, right?" Reborn merely smirked in response. "And anyway, what Uncle Reborn has reported is true. Us former Arcobaleno really do go through to that world with the appearance as though we were cursed once more."
"Really now?" Lal hummed. "And the brat?"
"Kazuto is doing well." Uni laughed. "He even managed to open his box."
"You told him?" Reborn sharply asked.
"That was the agreement, yes?" Uni raised her eyebrow, "That we'll tell him when he gets at least one Guardian."
"His Lightning Guardian remains undecided." Reborn scoffed. "The other five are more or less decided and I approve of the choices, but Chouhou is not suited to the position. Both she and Kazuto knows this."
"Is that such a problem?" Lal asked, "The last Lightning Guardian is not exactly a combatant when he was recruited either."
"The cow has always been a combatant, no matter how ineffective he was, or how much Tsuna preferred if he stayed out of it." Reborn scoffed. "There has yet to be a single Guardian who truly didn't have any skill in combat, and the Lightning Guardian is the Guardian whose role really is about being in the frontlines, more so than any other Guardian. Putting a bard in that position might as well be asking for her to die so that another can take her place."
"Che, the Vongola's criteria still annoys me." Colonello scoffed, "It has nothing to do with the flames they can use, but everything to do with their role. I would never have been suited to the Rain Guardian role if I had been considered."
"Well, you're the idiot who got cursed because he was trying and failing to be a hero, unlike us." Reborn smirked.
"Shut up, Reborn!"
"Lal would've been a perfectly suitable Rain Guardian if she had been considered." Reborn continued smirking. Even as he continued stacking another book into the growing pile in the transporter.
"I said shut up!"
"To be fair, Reborn, you're not exactly Sun Guardian material yourself." Lal smirked. "Or at least, not when you were chosen for the Arcobaleno." Reborn merely shrugged.
"Not like I remember such an old story."
"Let's get back to the topic of Kazuto now, shall we?" Uni interrupted. "The Vongola's traditions are their own. Other families or groups need not follow their example."
Lal shrugged, "You're right. After all, in the Vongola's eyes, the Sun Guardian is a role for combat and inspiration, but practically speaking, they should be focusing on their ability to heal."
"Reborn-san, the room will not have enough space to send you through if you keep stacking all those books!" Giannini complained in the background. "The communicator is not meant for transferring more than just a person through!"
"If it works, it works." Reborn dismissively said. He then turned to Uni, as he stacked yet another book into the cramped space."So what else did you want to say, Uni?"
"Isn't Kazuto-kun a bit of a womanizer now?" Uni asked ponderingly. "Isn't that a bit troublesome?"
"Not my problem." Reborn shrugged. "As long as Bakazuto doesn't shirk his work and doesn't become a predator who would actively look for women, I could care less about his proclivities."
"Oy, oy, the Vongola Heir having multiple mistresses is no joke, Reborn!" Lal argued. "If that happens the blood of Vongola would be spread too much!"
"That's a problem that Bakazuto will have to take care of himself." Reborn shrugged, "If he intends to go down the route of a gigolo, then he'll have to deal with both the pros and the cons."
"… I feel sorry for my daughter." Uni sighed. "Her first love is going up in smokes."
"Iris should already know that her love is impossible." Reborn dismissed.
"Not unless Yoshiko becomes the heir." Uni pointed out. "If Yoshiko had become the heir, then Kazuto would be free to marry either Mikoto or Iris."
"Do you really think I'll raise a boy who won't succeed in being the Vongola Heir, Uni?" Reborn laughed, "Kazuto will not become the first black stain on my record. As long as I'm that boy's home tutor, I'll raise him to become the best successor to Tsuna."
"I suppose you're right." Lal shrugged, "But Yoshiko does have significantly more talent."
"Talent." Reborn laughed, "If talent was good enough to decide the Vongola Heir, Tsuna will never have had the chance to ever become the Vongola Tenth. Talent in anything but the ability to lead is nothing more than bonuses to the position. And in that regard…"
"Yoshiko gathered her Guardians first." Lal pointed out. "That shows better quality as a leader, I think?"
"Kazuto gathered his Guardians without the connections of the Vongola Family." Reborn smirked. "The gathering of Guardians is not a race, but a careful selection process."
"I have yet to meet Kazuto's Guardians. Without that, I am leaning towards Yoshiko's Guardians being superior. After all, they have access to all the advantages of the modern era, including better weapons, gear, and tools."
"So you really will stand by Yoshiko for the position of heir then, Lal?" Reborn asked.
Lal shrugged, "There simply is more advantage to Yoshiko inheriting the position."
"You say that without even seeing the boy with your own eyes as he is now." Reborn chuckled, "And regardless, the position of heir will be decided by Tsuna and Basil. Us outsiders have no right to decide on their behalf."
Reborn then clambered into the cramped room filled with books, before tilting his fedora over his eyes. "If a Ring Conflict were to happen between the two siblings, I wonder if you'll be singing the same tune when you see the boy and girl face off against each other."
Giannini activated the machine, and Reborn's mind is already gone, projected through the repaired bronze mirror.
"Were you two seriously comparing students?" Colonello chuckled. "Didn't think of you as the competitive type, Lal."
"Hush you, or you're sleeping on Falco's perch."
"Not even the couch!?"
"We don't have a doghouse, after all."
"Oh right, Yoshiko's home tutor is Lal-san, huh?" Uni idly said, as she finished her meal. "Sorry. Last I remembered, your job was when you were teaching Iris and Mikoto."
"Certain members of the Vongola wanted an Arcobaleno to teach Yoshiko so that Kazuto doesn't have an advantage when it comes to being taught." Lal shrugged.
"You did forward the names of the people who told you to do so to Tsuna-san, right?"
"Of course I did." Lal smirked. "Anyone who wants to cause an upset when it comes to the inheritance of the Vongola is suspicious after all."
"Che, it's a shame I can't get in the machine to doodle on that prick's face." Colonello grumbled as he looked at the sleeping Reborn.
"Please don't! You might disrupt the machine!" Giannini begged. "It's already a stress to send all those books in with Reborn-san!"
"Not like you'll be able to get in, Colonello." Uni chuckled, "I think one of the biggest reasons Uncle Reborn brings those books in is so he can barricade the room with it."
"You mean a freaking book fort!?" Colonello yelled, with an incredulous look on his face. He looked at the machine to see that Reborn did, in fact, barricade the entrance to the machine with books. "You're not a kid anymore, you prick!" Colonello yelled at the sleeping Reborn.
Uni stood up from her seat, with Gamma gently escorting her by the hand. "Now then, I suppose I should go report to Tsuna-san about what happened on the other side of that mirror."
"Why can't my husband be just as gentlemanly as him?" Lal smirked, as she watched the happy couple move on.
"The answer is that you don't like me doing that in front of others." Colonello scoffed, reaching his hand to squeeze the woman's shoulder. "Well let's go, since we're no longer needed here."
"Very well." Lal smirked. "So what else should we do on this impromptu day off?"
"Th-that's!" Colonello sweatdropped, as he wracked his brain for an answer.
"I hope you still remember how to treat a lady." Lal pulled the man out of the room.
Irie Shouichi, who had remained quiet the entire time turned to the man next to him. "Hey, uhh… Spanner."
"Yeah?"
"Isn't Lal the one with the higher pay between the two?"
"Yes." Spanner smirked.
"… I suddenly feel sorry for him."
"Don't be. That's the reason why neither of us married." Spanner replied, "Speaking of, can I get back to my robots? I have more Moscas to work on."
"Sure. I'll continue monitoring the connection between the two realms." Shouichi waved him off as Spanner closed the door, not having even waited for Shouichi's reply. "If we can figure out how this mirror works, we might finally be able to crack the code that Byakuran failed all those years ago."
"That is if the theory that the mirror links to a parallel world is correct." Giannini added from the side. "But it's also possible that this is instead a pocket dimension contained within the mirror." Giannini hummed.
"If that was the case, then the world would've been reported to be broken during the time between the breaking of the mirror and us fixing it. But Reborn mentioned that Kazuto noticed nothing of note, and neither did any other residents. Also, Kazuto would not have been able to transfer in when it was broken." Shouichi argued. "Since breaking the mirror caused Kazuto to be transferred through it, it's more likely that the mirror is a gate."
"Ah, but if it is a gate, then why did Kazuto not exit at the other side of the gate?" Giannini argued. "Instead, and Reborn quotes, he went full shooting star."
"Maybe it has to do with how the mirror was destroyed." Shouichi pointed out. "The gate breaking would result in the coordinates being shifted."
"I see. Then it's possible that the location that the communicator appeared at first is the other gate?" Giannini pondered.
"Possibly." Shouichi nodded, before sighing and holding his stomach, "Uuuuh… why is this so difficult…"
"This is metaphysical stuff we're dealing with, Irie-kun." Giannini pointed out, "None of our theories have any basis in research. We're practically starting an entirely different branch of physics!"
Shouichi nodded, pushing himself up, moving his hand to briefly push against his glasses, causing it to glint. "Let's keep at it, then. We'll get back our heir and learn something new once again." Truly, it was a blessing to have become a member of the Vongola Famiglia. He probably would not have had this chance if he was in Millefiore instead.
-()-
Time passed softly and slowly. The threat of Enshou's inevitable retaliation is still present in their minds, but being too worried about it would just hamper them more than help. So they put it to the back of their minds and began their inevitable everyday lives.
-()-
In an isolated location near their main base, Kazuto hovered steadily over a nearby stream. He wasn't in Hyper Dying Will Mode, so it's taking all his effort to just remain steady in the air. Now that he caught up with the schoolwork he missed, Reborn lessened the hours spent on general education lessons, and begun teaching him fighting techniques. Like flying.
"Bakazuto." Reborn smirked, as he pulled out his gun, "Don't get hit."
"Riiiight…" Kazuto nodded, and Reborn started shooting.
*BANG* Kazuto dodged the first bullet. *BANG* A second bullet almost hit him from where he was dodging, causing him to swerve a bit. Kazuto grimaced as each bullet started whizzing around him. Without a physical presence, Reborn's bullets wouldn't actually kill him, but they damn hurt.
"You don't have time to be thinking worthless thoughts!" Reborn barked, and with a *BANG*, another bullet whizzed towards where he was just mere moments ago.
Eventually as Reborn amped up the training, so too does Kazuto's ability to keep himself steady in the air without thinking about it.
*CHIRP*
Then he got beaned by a bird, and he dropped…
"AAAAAAHHH!" … He twisted his body around…
… into the river below. He did manage to catch the bird though, as he crawled out of the river.
"I said don't get hit Bakazuto!" Reborn scoffed, but there was a gleam in his eye that told Kazuto that he was in for something more annoying soon.
And sure enough, subsequent training sessions eventually started using a trained squadron of birds led by Reborn to try and hit him out of the air.
On the plus side, his aerial mobility is improving. On the downside? He might not be able to look at Uncle Takeshi's Kojirou when he gets home.
-()-
Naturally, Kazuto isn't the only one doing things at this time.
Touka started poring through some of Reborn's study materials. Mostly, she studied the health books and beginning to enact some policies for the sake of hygiene throughout their territory. Naturally, those policies had to go through the Suikyou Student Trio and the Raiden twins in terms of feasibility. She also spent some time with Kazuto in being taught how to keep a poker face by Reborn. Not quite lying, but playing Old Maid certainly has pushed her quite a bit to be able to try and fool people. She's also getting some sword training in with Josho.
Aisha and Sei didn't really spend any more time on the study materials, mostly content to just attend Reborn's lectures whenever they're free. In turn, they helped integrate Ren into the army, and soon, a lot of the wariness to Ren has started to fade. They also started incorporating her flame into her spear's swings. In the meantime, they spent a decent amount of time looking at applications for jobs like guards, soldiers, or government officials/lackeys, hoping to root out any potential spies before they gain any leverage against them.
Rinrin's studies weren't going as well as the rest, as she's more of a physical learner than theoretical. So Reborn went with her to medical stations in the territory to examine various patients of illnesses and how to combat them. Kazuto usually went with them. Reborn explained to her that there are tiny soldiers (White Blood Cells) in a person's body that helps combat illnesses, and Rinrin should use her flame to activate said soldiers when a person's sick. In this way, Rinrin is being taught how the body's immune system works, even if only in passing. It's very simplified and not exactly as accurate as they could be, but if it helps Rinrin understand the concept, then it works.
The Suikyou Student Trio, Shuri, Hinari, and Josho, took to Reborn's study materials like a fish to water. They quickly picked up on possible improvements to agriculture, infrastructure, and some strategies, and started drafting plans for their potential use. Naturally, this is all theoretical and done in times with little work, but come springtime, they'll be trying all sorts of new tricks. They also tried to do some vague weather predictions, but they don't really have a lot of calibrated tools for anything accurate. With winter coming, they might be able to calibrate a few tools for temperature measurement, although finding a liquid that is sensitive to heat might prove challenging. On a side note, Hinari has learned to light her ring, while Shuri had begun training with making her illusions a bit more three-dimensional.
No message came from Sousou about Chiihou just yet. Last they heard of her, she had actually annexed Rakuyou, and beginning to manage the city that's slowly trying to rebuild itself. Kazuto has been against being the one to make their move about the verbal agreement to send Chiihou to meet her sisters. Being the one to approach might mean Chiihou could potentially be put into an unfavorable position. And so, with no message, Chiihou's activities continued as usual, and as harvest time ended, her activities actually ramped up as more and more people become free to watch her shows. Paitan had given her some critiques that she took to heart and Sosou could only be thrilled at the increased revenue from Chiihou's merchandise.
Soon enough, Chouseihei stepped down as the group's economic advisor, citing wanting to go back fully into his merchant lifestyle. With Chiihou's business, they had more or less paid back the debt they had with him at the start of the year in full. So he voluntarily demoted himself from economic advisor to merchant representative. Rairai happily took his place, with Denden providing support. They, after all, joined specifically to become officials.
Reborn was there off and on, but on days that he is not busy teaching others, he helps the Suikyou Student Trio with some of their projects. Essentially, his job is more to look at their plans and point out anything they potentially overlooked. On some level, Kazuto is not surprised that everyone has begun referring to him as Sensei. Kazuto probably will never do so. Reborn is Reborn. And the bird army showed him that Reborn is still somehow searching and finding ways to train him, even limited as he is.
Paitan is starting to become much healthier, being able to move around their admittedly large residence without having a hard time breathing anymore. She generally either helps with Touka's paperwork, or go with Kazuto to Chiihou's training. While friendship is probably too strong a word to describe Paitan and Chiihou's relationship, seeing as the two generally only end up meeting during dinner on the occasion that Chiihou's in town and not tired out from her job, they are at least more than acquaintances and has spent enough time with each other that they are friendly with one another. Kazuto is just waiting for the perfect time to reveal to Paitan about Chiihou's former life.
Yue and Ei continued working as servants slash part-time paperwork helpers. The senior servants have, more or less, acclimated to the two, on account of Yue's gentleness. There's some jealousy, but Kazuto has had to glare at a few servants who refuse to work professionally with the two. He pointed out that they're still getting better pay than the two, on account of their seniority. Regardless, the two have fit in well enough.
Ren and Nenene spent a lot of time hunting down and defeating any bandits that started popping up as the harvest season ended. Their hard work does not go ignored either, as people are slowly starting to open up to them. They'll probably never be friends with those whose families were lost due to the events of the Anti-Toutaku Coalition, but they're at least no longer dealing with suspicion. now. In the meantime, Ren's army of dogs soon found the orphanage and started eagerly playing with the children there, as Ren silently watched from afar. Nenene, however, was forced to join. The children had thought of her as one of them, and Nenene can only mildly complain about it.
And so…
Kazuto looked out of the window, as a cold breeze blew in and touched his face. He breathed the air in, as his Dying Will Flame burst from his ring to warm him up. Winter is fast approaching.
"Master!"
"Yes?" Kazuto asked as Josho rushed into the room.
"Sousou… has…"
"Has she finally sent a letter for Chiihou?" Kazuto sharply asked. The others in the room, Touka, Shuri, Hinari, Paitan, Yue, and Ei tensed at the question.
"No." Josho shook her head. She then breathed in a bit, before breathing out. She then stood up straight. "Sousou Moutoku of Kyoshou has declared war against Touken Kyouso of Joshuu. Touken has sent out a message asking for aid."
"What?"
-()-
Chapter End
-()-
Chapter Release Date: February 21, 2020
Last Edited: August 25, 2020
-()-
Beta Reader: Seraphius
Phew, I took a long time to get here. I still don't know if the next chapters would be long enough to constitute an arc or if I'll just continue labeling them as part of the same arc as this one.
Anyway, this will be the last chapter from me until I successfully write up the next chapters. With so much time since I started posting weekly for this story, fourteen weeks, you'd think I'd have a bit more backlog, but I don't even have the first chapter of the next arc finalized. But we're a little beyond Koihime Musou canon right now, even SKM canon. I have to sort of logic my way through on "What is the path this story is most likely going to take?" There are guideposts that I'm using to decide what the path moving forward is but as a general rule of thumb? If I like it and doesn't contradict anything prior, I'll go for it.
So what are my plans in the meantime as I go on hiatus? Here they are.
Things that I'm going to be working on from between this chapter's release and next chapter's release:
1) The next arc, which might be a continuation of this arc, "Decision Days", or the start of a new "Joshuu Arc". Depends on where I take the next chapter, really.
2) Combing through all 26 released chapters for possible inconsistencies and/or things that need reclarification. Feel free to drop a few critiques on things that I probably need to change. I'll take it into consideration. Speaking of one possible thing I can change, should I change Batou Juusei's gender from male to female? I doubt it will affect my story either way. If I turn Batou into a female, it would line up better with SKM and Kakumei's description of Batou.
3) Translation of Kakumei Profiles for all characters. That is 82 characters... if I'm counting right.
4) Translation of Eiyuutan Profiles for all new characters, including the relationship charts.
5) Playing Shin Koihime Musou -Kakumei- Ryuuki no Taibou. Possibly play Songo no Kechimyaku if I think it's necessary. I'd play Souten no Haou too, but both Ryuuki and Songo are already long stories by themselves and I don't really want to subject myself to a long story that I'd barely understand any of.
6) Taking care of my own life, naturally.
Things that I'm considering for this story's future:
1) I'm starting to consider at least occasionally dropping the Past Event sections at the beginning of each chapter. I'm just having a hard time coming up with them lately, especially since I sort of want to at least semi-connect both the past event and the main story. And with Reborn here now, I don't think I need them all that much lately. I think I outlined Kazuto's life well enough before his arrival here.
2) Should I bring in other KHR characters as mentor figures? And by that, I mean, should I make Shouichi and Giannini successful in making it possible for non-Arcobaleno to enter the room and get transferred into the communicator as a DWF Projection? I'm currently against it if for no other reason than that I don't feel like making a big deal out of the communicator. It doesn't sit right with me if Kazuto has to rely on the KHR cast to get anything done in this world. He already has capable companions in the KM cast, and he himself isn't a slouch in the "being capable" side of things. He really doesn't need the KHR cast aside from Reborn here.
I think that's it for now. Hope you've had an interesting time reading this story. The next time I update, I'll have a bunch of chapters ready to go up weekly again. I don't have an estimate on how long it'll take. Will I hit a slump in the middle of writing? Will I lose interest only to come back again? But regardless, I hope to see you next time, hopefully before this year ends. See ya~