Chapter Sixty-Six
(Day One: New World)
"What do you mean you don't know?!" Bakugou shouted. "There must be something! Tsuna was just coughing! Like pneumonia or allergies or something!"
"K-Kaachan. Calm down." Midoriya tried to mollify before turning to the teachers. "Maybe some quirk-related encounter? We did battle out a lot of people during the internship."
Shouta shook his head. "They already did the diagnostics, and they found no anonymous quirk in his body except for his."
"Fuck!" Bakugou growled and punched the wall.
The others looked down and clenched their hands, thinking how hopeless the situation is.
"Instead of wallowing there," They all turned to Reborn who is walking towards them. "get inside. Having visitors for the sick is a blessing. The more the visitors, the more the possibility of recovery."
"Is it okay, Sinclair-sensei?" Todoroki questioned, unsure. "I don't think I heard such story."
"Yeah. It's not the ICU." Reborn opened the door and went in. "Tsuna isn't like the others who loves quiet places. He prefer louder ones so he can wake up immediately. You'll hear him say the same thing if he's awake."
"I just hope Tsuna wakes up soon." Midoriya wished as they went in.
Shouta watched the four of them, including the quiet Hitoshi go in. Rather than following them, he stood up from the bench and walked away. Todoroki and Hitoshi glanced at each other, as the ones who noticed the man leaving, before the latter promptly closed the door. Shouta wandered off, mind blank.
They almost lost Tsuna twice. The doctors kept on reviving him, knowing the brunet will never ever give up on living with how much he helped others. Seishin Narazaki, Tsuna's doctor, broke them the news after observing his son for an hour. Tsuna is okay despite the two heart attacks. His lungs are alright, which doesn't explain his coughing though. His x-ray didn't show any kind of unknown symptoms in the body. In conclusion, nothing is wrong. Shouta would've been celebrating that Tsuna doesn't need the oxygen anymore because he's starting to breathe normally.
The problem is he's in comatose.
There is no response to his brain, but he's not brain dead. It's as if he's sleeping soundly with no indication when is he going to wake up. All the doctors could do now is to monitor Tsuna's progress and attach a brainwave detecting machine on his temples, with his IV drop on the side and the vital monitor. Narazaki didn't apologize though, unlike the other doctors. The man told him that he had met Tsuna during the latter's stay in the hospital for Endeavor's welfare. The impression that the brunet left on the doctor is someone who will never give up. Someone who will prioritize both himself and others. And Narazaki asked him to hold on for his son and fight with him. He could only nod.
He blinked when he found himself opening a door. It was too late to back out when the door swung open. He looked around to see that he's at the rooftop of the hospital. Shrugging, he went in and closed the door behind him. The sky is already dark and there are no stars. Shouta stared up ahead, getting more negative when he remembered Tsuna being frequent visitor of their rooftop apartment.
He remembered waking up on a seven year old Tsuna moving away from him that one rare evening he stayed in. He kept himself placid, not wanting to alert the kid that he's up. The only time he opened his eyes was when he heard the door closing. He remembered getting up, scouring his room for his sweatshirt and immediately followed his son. When he saw the elevator closing, he tried to see where the compartment is going. Instead of going down, it went up until it reached the top floor, so he followed by going for the emergency stairs. When he got there, he noticed the door for the rooftop was opened, so he investigated. He saw Tsuna there, staring at the sky with expectation. He hid and waited. In a sec, both of them heard a sharp whistle then something soared to the sky and made a loud sound accompanied by a scatter of light in the sky. That time, while staring at Tsuna watch the fireworks, he saw the happiest expression on his son's face.
He remembers that every time there's a fireworks show, he'll go out of their room with a foreword that he's going to secure the area. Tsuna will wave at him with a smile before he takes off. But in reality, he's just by the next building's rooftop, waiting for the brunet to come up and see him get all excited and happy as the first firework shoots off to the sky. They'll stay there until it ends, until Tsuna decides go back inside. He'll go around the area before going home to see the brunet watching some anime on their TV with snacks on the table.
Right then, he heard a sharp whistle to his left. He turned his head to where it is coming from and saw a familiar beam shoot off to the sky. Then with a loud 'boom', the beam exploded and scattered beautiful lights in the night sky. Shouta's chest clenched so hard at the thought of Tsuna being with him and enjoying the show.
"Dad! I have a message for you!" He looked down to his pocket when he heard a familiar voice. "Dad! Come on! Get your ass off there and come get your phone! I have a message for you! Hahahaha!"
He took his phone out and stared at the lit screen. Right there is a message. He double clicked the message and it went directly to downloading the file before it appeared. A voice clip. He clicked it. Since when did Tsuna changed his message alert?
"Ahem ahem." Tsuna's voice resounded. "Well, this is kinda awkward." Then he laughed lightly. "Anyway, hi Dad! It's probably ten in the evening now and your somewhere in the hospital. I think the fireworks show also began, but they said they'll test it first so I still have five minutes. I've always wanted to invite you to watch them. Maybe when I get the courage, I will. I know you're wondering how I knew what's happening, but trust me, I just had this feeling that you'll go all depressed and something because I'm in coma. I assure you, there's a reason for that.
"Back when your world's Reborn died, I went for Sir Nighteye to solidify his bones. I also went to him to see my future. He told me I'll be in coma in a distant future, so yeah. I figured the time, and went ready for it. Please, do not ask what he saw or what I know. I don't want to change the future so much that it will lose all the possibility I know that will happen. It has some good points, and I want to stick to that. The reason why I'm saying this is that it is connected to why I'm in coma."
His hand gripped his phone tightly.
"My flames had been eating me after Eri-chan's safety operation. I don't know how it happened. The next thing I knew, my intuition isn't as on-point as it is and I've been coughing a lot. Right now, I feel weak and I'm cold. But don't worry, nothing a good old jacket and sweaters can't help. And your warm hugs, of course." Then a soft laugh.
Tears streamed down Shouta's cheeks as he remembered how Tsuna always craved for his hugs the past month. If only he told him more reasons, he could've never let him go.
"Now now. Don't cry. Right now, I'm at my twenty-one percent of my flames. Everytime I used too much, it goes down."
His brows knitted before his eyes widened in realization. During their talk with Shirakumo, Tsuna used too much of his flames that time...
"Okay. I already know what you're thinking. Don't beat yourself for that. I have fifty percent that time. Nothing to worry. And I wanted you to let go, Dad. I don't want you beating yourself for something you didn't do. Uncle Hizashi and you need it, and I'll gladly be of help for you. Besides, this happened because of the lack of harmonization of elements on my part. I needed to harmonize with an active flame user to balance my flames, but the problem is I can't. I don't want to drag people in my troubles. I already dragged you and Katsuki. And you're enough."
"Idiot." He hissed as more tears streamed. "You should've said something."
"All I want to say to you Dad is be there for me, okay? Don't neglect Eri-chan though. As much as I need you, she needs you too. I hope you're not crying. I hate it when you cry and I'm not there to wipe your tears away."
He fell on his knees and cradled his phone with both hands. "Idiot."
"Remember when you cried while telling me what happened to Oboro and what you feel about it? I know I'm mean, but I like it when you cry. Not only does it mean that you're human too, but because you're as handsome when you smile. That I get to wipe your tears and let you know that I'm there for you. I feel so proud of having you as my Dad. I bet Oboro will say the same things."
"Why do you sound like your dying..." He whined softly.
"I'll try my best to come back to you, Dad. You know how much I love you, right? Not that I'm blackmailing you, but I really will if you don't take care of yourself. Eat on time, sleep too. Always shave and don't forget to never do something I won't do. If you feel lonely, try listening to the playlist I sent you for your birthday. Always do the right thing, okay? And trust your guts. Everything will be alright."
"Don't go." He sobbed, closing his eyes and putting his clasped hands to his forehead. "Tsuna, don't go."
"Dad. I love you." Tsuna's voice cracked. "Stay strong for me. I'll try my best to come back. I promise." A short take of breath. "Please. Don't cry."
"I can't." He whispered.
"I'll be going now. Watch the fireworks for me, okay?"
His sobs and hiccups mingled with the loud explosions of the fireworks. The thought of losing Tsuna pains him so much. At least Tsuna was alive and moving when he gave Shouta space to think, regardless of how painful it is of not feeling the brunet's presence in their home. But the fact that Tsuna's in coma, not moving, not hearing him laugh, talk or joke around, not seeing him smile, pout and make faces just breaks him. Even if Tsuna says he'll try his best to come back, how long? Days? Weeks? Months? Years?
He'll die.
He looked down to his chest when he noticed something warm in there. Under his shirt, a light is peaking. Remembering the pendant Tsuna gave him, he took it out. It was glowing orange. As if sensing distress, the light glowed brighter until it started to warm up and suddenly, Shouta is calming down. His pain heart eased up as he felt the familiar warmth and solace. He can't help laughing as he realized what was happening.
"Even in coma, you're still looking out for me, Tsuna." He whispered before gazing up to the sky where the fireworks are still lighting up. "I love you too."
He took a deep breath and tried to relax. He thought of what Tsuna said in his voicemail. He thought of holding on. The brunet promised, and his son, as far as he knows, is not someone who will break his promise as long as he's breathing and technically, alive. In addition, he can't slack off since the fifty-plus-years old in Tsuna will kick him and scold him for being irrational and worrying about trivial things (which is not, but Tsuna will be adamant that it is). Besides, Reborn will do it for his student, boss and 'son'. That century old man is so unpredictable sometimes. Him and Tsuna.
Like what his son requested to his voicemail, Shouta watched the fireworks for him. But this time, with a calm heart and a hopeful mind.
(Day Two: Old World)
Caramel opened and stared at the burgundy colored ceiling. He blinked before he tried to look around. He's in a luxurious room that looked so... Familiar. He turned back to the ceiling and inspected his body. Well, he feels fine. None of the weight he can feel on him, or the threatening cough at the pit of his stomach and in the middle of his throat. He decided to sit. Tsuna sat up and swung his feet to the side. He went off the bed and stood up. Huh. The floor feels warm under his feet.
He wonders...
Since he's decent enough to go out (he won't question why he's wearing all white, the reason will never make sense.), he opted for the door and opened it. He stepped a little out and looked left and right to see someone. He closed the door behind him and tried to check if his intuition is working. It buzzed back happily, as if happy to be with him again. He shook his head at how 'alien' his intuition is. It has its own mind sometimes that slave drives him. Anyway, it said go for right, so he went for right.
As he went on, he can't help wrinkling his nose at how familiar the place is. Well, what Nighteye only said was that he saw him waking up in another world and met a bunch of people Tsuna was sure his guardians with how the hero described them. Maybe he's in the Vongola castle? He almost gave his intuition a deadpan for nodding a 'yes'. He was going to pass by a painting when he noticed it. He walked back and stared.
It was a portrait of Leon.
Caramel eyes widened in remembrance before he persuaded his intuition to tell him where to go. His alien complied and instructed him where. He grinned and started to jog to shorten the distance further. They went to a lot of turns, which was expected with how big the castle is. But it didn't take long though. He wasn't even panting when he got to the Vongola museum. He opened the door and looked around until he spotted the person he's been wanting to see.
Aeturnus Sinclair appeared just like how his father looked at the age of twenty-seven (or when Reborn got his original body back). Black suit, black dress shoes, black fedora. But he knew, despite all the black, the eyes of the baby he always had in his arms back then were grey. The child he nurtured, regardless of the harsh training, is softhearted and someone who will keep his pain to his heart. Someone who came with him and Reborn. And seeing him, alive and in flesh, is so good for Tsuna's heart.
"Aeturnus!" He yelled as he ran forward, gaining the young hitman's attention. "I'm home!"
"Wha-"
He laughed and jumped on the kid who caught him. He stared at those grey eyes and smiled. "Have I told you how I love your eyes, Aetu? Reborn told me that it's like a mix of our eyes. Caramel brown and onyx black. It's stupid because that's not how color mix works. But I still love it. It's like having a silver lining amidst the dark clouds." Then he grinned teasingly. "Yie."
"Tsuna!" The young man exclaimed, tightening his hold on the brunet.
"Eh?" He blurted in confusion. "You believe me already? That's no fun."
Some blush dusted the young hitman's cheeks. "You're the only one who'll call me Aetu right on my face. And you've told me that whenever I'm upset about something even if I don't tell you."
Tsuna stared at those grey eyes before hugging the kid. "It's okay now, Aetu. Tsuna is here. Even for awhile, let's have fun, okay?"
"I missed you." Aeturnus murmured, hugging him back. "You and Papa. I missed you both."
"I missed you too." He mumbled on the provided shoulder. "If I have to make up for the past twelve years of absence and the next more, I'll do it, Aetu."
"I know you will." The other mumbled.
"So you need to get Kawahira?" Aeturnus questioned from his stool.
"Not necessarily right away." He answered before placing the mug of chocolate milk in front of the young hitman. "Drink up."
"But why?"
"I explained already." He sighed and wrinkled his nose. "I don't even get it why I'm in my teenager's body, or why I woke up in my old room instead of the cemetery. I was expecting I'll be in a casket again." He rested his hip to the counter and tapped his thigh with a hand while the other is hanging by the edge of the counter with his elbow. "I'm wondering why I got here instead of being trapped between my consciousness and subconsciousness."
"Well, since you said you lacked harmony in your new world, maybe your flames brought you back here where your bond is still intact?" He looked back to the young hitman who raised his mug. "Think about it. If you don't feel comfortable in a place, won't you wanna go home? For example, a man has his own family and a house, aside from his parents and siblings. But because his wife is being unreasonable, he decided to go back to his original home to become whole again. Until his wife becomes reasonable and feels like his family become comfortable, he can't go back."
Caramel eyes blinked. "That actually made sense."
Aeturnus grinned widely. "Of course it does."
Tsuna chuckled at how cheeky the other is.
After their reunion in the museum, they decided to get a pair of shoes for him before going for the kitchen to discuss things. Aeturnus persuaded him to eat since he's super lightweight which the brunet denied because he ate a lot back with his Dad. While the young hitman cooked for him, Tsuna filled him up to what happened to him in the other world and informed him that his Papa is in his new world. He even filled him up why he was brought there. After the meal, they reversed.
He came to know that Aeturnus has two college degrees. One as a teacher for Science (but knowing the Sinclairs, they can teach any subject), and two as a Chemical Engineering. Aeturnus always had a knack of making things explode with his sun flames, so it wasn't really a shock. As he figured, the other is a young hitman under a new name. He is not the advisor of Vongola but their pillar. It's not because he has a long way to go but because he wants to enjoy his life more. Tsuna knew the other is downplaying his abilities, since Reborn gave him a heads up how great his son is. Although his hitman won't admit it, but he knew the other preens on how Aeturnus surpassed him.
"Na Tsuna."
"Hmm?" He hummed, turning back to Aeturnus as he took an orange from the fruit basket.
"How long are you going to stay here?" The other questioned.
"Why? Tired of me already?" He teased as he peeled the orange skin.
"No. Just asking."
"I have a month and a half." He replied as he opened a lid by the surface of the counter and tossed there the skin. He stared at his hand before shrugging. He's still familiarized with the castle. "I have to idle a month and half before going back with the help of your Papa. So in a sense, you're stuck with me until I go."
"You're not going to meet the family?"
Tsuna broke the orange in half and gave the half to his companion. "I don't want Xelena to feel pressured because I'm here. I know how important my figure is in this world. As a mafia boss, a vigilante leader and a company owner. If I suddenly come and invite myself here, she'll feel like she has to live with my expectations, and I honestly don't want that. From what I can see, she's doing a fine job already. I want her to live with her own expectations and wishes to surpass and make Xanxus proud."
"You are going to meet anyone? The kids? Hayato-"
He reached out and flicked the other's forehead. "Uncle Hayato."
"Okay." The hitman winced. "You are going to meet Uncle Hayato? Uncle Takeshi and the rest?"
"I have a month and a half, Aetu." He smiled as he ate one piece of orange. "There's time for everything. And before I do those, I have to meet Uncle Kawahira, Byakuran and Yuni. And Enma. Man. I suddenly missed my best friend. Are they still in the island?"
The young hitman nodded. "They are."
"Okay. Now my problem is," He made a face as he swallowed the orange he was chewing. "how am I gonna get some money... Hmm." He didn't look at the incredulous look on Aeturnus's face while nibbling another piece. "What do you say about pickpocketing the Varia?"
"I could provide the money, Tsuna."
"But you earned that." He argued before smiling. "Besides, I want to at least have my own fare when it comes to buying something for Enma. I miss that loser." Then he ate the last one.
"Fine. But I'm buying you parfait after this." The young man huffed as Tsuna took the empty mug for the sink and washed his hands under the tap. "You still like that, right?"
He gawked at the other. "Large parfait?" He got a nod. "You got a deal!"
It didn't really take Tsuna a lot of time to pickpocket some Varia subordinates. Being efficient with the fact that the subordinates train at some time of the day, he went for the locker and took some bills from the wallet. He apologized silently before going out to meet Aetu with his car. He bragged the money he got to the young hitman who could only smile at his antic.
They went for the commercial center to get a basket of fruits and some chocolates before going for the port. Tsuna knows he can borrow some boat to the Vongola, but he's supposed to be dead and even if Aeturnus is as eccentric as his Papa, it doesn't mean they won't question where he went. So they went for the normal way. And besides, it won't hurt being normal, right?
Renting a speed boat was simple. Searching for the invisible island is simpler. He grinned widely as he sped through the barrier while flaring his flames as a warning. Like always, the Simon Island is beautiful even from a far.
"That was the fastest boat ride I ever experienced." His companion commented as they ducked.
"Huh? Reborn can go faster than me." He waved off as they stepped down. "But since he's not here and I am, you can ask me things you haven't experienced. I mean, I know how hard it is to not experience things. The first time I rode one of these babies-" He patted the boat. "-was when me and Kyouya were on the run and your uncle was shot so I had to drive it with Reborn's instructions on the phone."
"Oh."
"We can hijack a rollercoaster if you want." Then he clapped his hands. "Let's go for the amusement park tomorrow. Probably kidnap one or two of your cousins?"
A mischievous smirk formed on the young hitman's lips. "Alright."
"Good! Now let's go and attack the Simon with our awesomeness!" He charged.
They talked a lot of mundane things as they trekked through the forest of the island. It was mostly Tsuna who was talking, recalling his teen life, pre-war, during the war, post-war and when Aeturnus was already alive. His intuition urged him to speak a lot of them, as if wanting the young hitman to understand him. Tsuna doesn't know for what reason, but he'll comply.
Tsuna lifted the tree branch to see the mansion they made at the center of the lake. He marvelled how beautiful it is. Other than the clear water Kaoru maintains for the water animals, there are also three falls surrounding the mansion, adorned with stones. He loves how the floras grew beautifully. He made an 'uwaah' when he noticed the beautiful archs by both ends of the bridge connecting the island and the mainland. Those weren't there when he was still alive.
"How much time will it take them to notice that you're with someone else?" He queried as they stepped out and walked for the bridge.
"Seconds. After we cross the arch." Aeturnus replied.
Tsuna stared at the arch before he laid his hand for the other to hold. "Hold me, Aetu. I don't want to get lost."
"You're being childish." The other insulted, taking the hand and squeezing it.
He smirked as he squeezed back. "You love me being childish." Then they crossed the arch. "Won't it be nice? Taking care of the person who took care of you when you were little."
"Are you giving me permission to baby you?"
"Huh? Who said that?"
Aeturnus punched his shoulder. "Shut up."
"Nah. It's fine. I'm practically your baby brother in this form. I'm a teenager with a mentality of a fifty-plus-years old. This has been one of the things I lament everyday. Can you believe that?"
"You have a forty-three years old body once, but you have a mentality of a ten years old, does that make sense?"
He pouted. "You're being mean, Aetu."
The other sighed. "I forgot how you love to be babied by me."
He beamed, earning another fond sigh.
They gazed up ahead when they heard running. As they came up for the mansion's island, they saw the big doors open and a certain redhead came into view.
"It is really you." Enma gaped, compass eyes tearing up at the sight of the brunet. "You stupid stupid stupid Tsuna."
"Oi. I'm only useless, not stupid." He argued before gesturing for his best friend to come while Aeturnus let go of his hand. "Come here, Loser."
"Stupid useless Tsuna." Enma cried as he ran the stairs of the porch and walked in front of his best friend.
Tsuna smiled and wiped the tears of the fifty-six years old man. "I'm home, Enma."
He chuckled when he got enveloped into a hug. "Welcome home, Tsuna."