Chapter Sixty-Nine
(Day Nineteen: Old World)
"Go play." He shooed away to Aeturnus who looked at him with deadpan. He raised a brow. "What? Not like you played hide and seek when you were a kid. And indulge your cousins." He nodded to Uteki, Aella and Xirene. "At least tell me how fun it was after you played."
Something flashed in those grey eyes. "You'll be here, right?"
He blinked before he smiled understandingly. He reached out and kissed the young hitman's forehead. "If I'm going, you're the last person I'll say goodbye to, Aetu."
"Why last?" The hitman curiously asked.
"Because you're the last one I want to see before I go." He chirped before patting the child's shoulder. "Go. I want to hear how much fun you had with them once we get back."
"Alright." The other sighed before smirking as he got up. "Time to make those kids suffer."
Tsuna watched Aeturnus approach the three who paled and started to run away to hide somewhere. He can hear Uteki's laughter and Xirene's shouts of obscenities. Aella is pretty much quiet, so unlike Hayato and Haru who were always talkative. Uteki is Takeshi's twenty-two years old son, while Xirene is Xanxus's second daughter who is also twenty-two. Aella is just nineteen.
He chuckled when Aeturnus gave him a nod before going for Xirene's path. He can now distinguish Aeturnus's smirk from Reborn's. Well, first of all, both of his hitmans' smirks are dangerous in their own ways. From the curves of those lips and the initial thought of why the expressions are validated to be shown. Second, Sinclairs can never be a Sinclair without having their own versions of smirks. (From where did Reborn heard the phrase, he doesn't know.) And lastly, they just love scaring and riling people so smirks are warranted. Now, if Reborn's smirk is oozing with this dangerous flare, Aeturnus has this mischievous tilt in it. It's not as dangerous as Reborn's, but a little more frightening too since while that smirk promises self-entertainment, the recipient will never know what hit him even before Aeturnus moved. In a way, the young hitman makes it hard for his enemies to read him, sending them to overthink about everything, while the other is just thinking how to kill the other with a small rock.
How cool is that?
"Always the doting one."
"Not that doting." He denied, then paused and winced. "Okay. Yeah. Doting."
The Ancient Earthling chuckled as he sat down beside him. "Welcome back, Tsunayoshi."
He nodded. "I'm back." Then he turned his head to see the white head. "How have you been?"
"Going around here and there. Enjoying life." Kawahira shrugged. "Although it has been forty-one years since you freed me from my shackles, I can't still find a way to fulfill all the things I want to do. It's like there's so much to do even though I'm too old to be here."
"You know you're never old." The man raised a brow at him, making him chuckle. "Physical wise. What I mean is, it's okay to feel like that."
Kawahira huffed. "You're so lucky I'm looking after our family for you and Reborn."
He smiled. "Thank you."
They turned to the forest when they heard a gunshot.
"You have questions?" The Ancient queried.
"I think you know most of them already." He hummed as he made his hand as a brace for his weight from the back.
Kawahira sighed. "Even if I know why you're here, we can only go on with the issue hypothetically. I guess Immortal's analogy about your situation is good. You are here because your bond is here. Your flames needed mending after the long distance stretch of your bond. As a sky, you are bonded to many elements. But because you are a strong sky, you did not only bond with the needed elements, but able to bond elements to elements as you bonded to more. It's the reason why you're here. The accidental travel of Takeshi Yamamoto in your new world was able to temporarily mend some parts of your soul because of your strong bond. But since it has been long, it got damaged again, and here you are."
Tsuna processed the thought. "So my flames dragged me back to where my bonds are because I don't have a bond there. But why now? Why not years ago?"
"As what I heard from Byakuran, you were able to manifest five of the eight kinds of flames. Given the fact that your main element is sky flames, using other flames will drain you."
"But I was assisting them with my sky flames."
"With or without, Tsunayoshi." The Ancient dismissed deliberately. "Imagine you're a lion, can you convert yourself to a tiger?"
"Uhm. Mutation? Liger?"
"Probably, if some divine magic does help you, however it will take a lot of time and energy. It's the same with your case. You have converted your sky flames to sun and have constantly used it for the benefits of others. If you didn't, intentionally or not, you won't be here. If you did, with one or two bonded elements in your domain, you won't be here. Your flames are strong enough to hold on until you find a suitable elements to bond with. But because your will is so strong that they were able to give you access to different flames, it caused you damage. Keep in mind, you are only a sky, not Hayato Gokudera who has every element in his body except for sky and can wield them if he wants to. His was naturally there, while yours were converted."
"More like mutated."
Pak.
"Ow." He interjected while rubbing the back of his head that Kawahira smacked.
"You could've prevented it if you bonded with someone, you stubborn child." He pouted at the scolding. "If no one bonds with you the next five days in that world, you're good as dead in your new world. You'll be stuck here till you die."
He brought down his hand and cupped his cheek while his elbow rests on his bended knee. "I know." He gazed at the forest ahead, eyes glazed with contemplation. "Even if I don't want to, my flames will accept anyone he deems worthy of my presence. It has a life of its own."
"You have life of your own." Kawahira sighed. "It's your soul we're talking about, child. You don't just accept someone you don't seem worthy. Like a king searching for his knights. Like a man solidifying his pride. Regardless," The brunet's eyes closed as the man affectionately ruffled his hair. "it's good that you're back even for a little time."
Tsuna smiled a little. "Yeah. Even for a little. Just a closure."
"You're always welcome here, Tsunayoshi." Kawahira reminded. "We will always be family."
"I know." He sighed and blinked when he remembered something. "Which reminds me, why am I in my teen body? Shouldn't I be like how Enma looks?"
"Your body right now is made of flames." The man replied, taking a sandwich from the container. "It means what you are in your new world is being projected by your flames here in your old world. It means that once no bond is formed with you there, this flame body of yours will solidify to actual human body and you'll stay here until you die."
He frowned. "Can't I do something to get there though?"
Kawahira paused from chewing before gazing at him. "Well, you can do something but too risky."
His intuition tingled. "Too risky like killing myself?"
"The only way is to kill yourself." The man rectified. "It's the same process here. Although that body of yours now is not an actual body, you can still die. Like the first time you got there, your counterpart must die at the same time as you. But since you are your flames in here, all you have to do is kill yourself here, you die there and voila. You're back."
"However?"
"However, you may lose your ability to wield your flames. After all, it is your soul you are using. Instead of mending it, you killed a half of it." Kawahira showed an apple. "When a whole broke into two," He broke the apple into equal parts. "one will certainly go," He passed the other half to Tsuna, who took it. "while the other remains." He took a bite to the fruit. "It will go the same to you. You kill the other half while the other remains. Even if the one that remained with you is still your soul, you won't be called Tsunayoshi Sawada without the other as a whole because you cannot function as one without both present. Get me?"
The brunet bit his lower lip. "Now I'm getting worried."
"Now now, Tsunayoshi." Kawahira appeased as they see Uteki running towards them with a laugh. "You said this a lot of times,"
"Yahoo! I beat Immortal!" Uteki shouted.
"Not so fast!" Then before long, the said hitman is in front of Tsuna, giving him a bunch of wild flower. "Here."
Caramel eyes stared at the flowers in his hands as Aeturnus entertained the kids. "Yeah."
"Miracles happen." The Ancient smiled.
Tsuna smiled too, feeling hopeful of seeing his Dad after twenty-six more days.
(Day Twenty: New World)
(At seven in the evening...)
Katsuki stared at the door beside his. With all honesty, the dorm feels a little empty without the brunet's presence. There's no one humming. No one saying they're going out to eat. No one making them laugh when they're having a hard time studying for their test. No one to tell them some facts about life. No one to talk to when they're individually having a hard time. For almost a year being with Tsuna, the brunet become somewhat their pillar. They couldn't go on a day without looking back to the brunet's desk. The girls have to remind them (especially the three of them) that Tsuna won't like it if they suddenly get sad about his missing presence. Moping does not help their classmate's condition.
Deciding it, Katsuki ditched his door and went for Tsuna's room. He tested if the door was open, and to his utter exasperation, it was open. He went in either ways, pulling out his phone as a flashlight after closing the door behind him. He went over the desk and searched for the switch Tsuna had told him about back before the Provisional Hero License Exam. When he found it, he pressed it and looked over to the wall where yellow fairy lights were attached, surrounding and illuminating the pictures pasted on the wall. Taking the swivel chair, he sat there with his hands inside his sweatpants' pockets.
He stared at the pictures, remembering what was happening during that time it was taken. For the record though, the numbers of the pictures increased, probably because it has been months since he was inside the room again. There are pictures of the class, Eri, some of the teachers, the family, Xanxus (the awesome bastard) is even there. There are some heroes too, like Hawks, Endeavor and Gran Torino. There's a picture of Reborn and Aizawa standing side by side and appeared to be in a deep discussion. His eyes roamed around while counting. There are only two pictures of Tsuna. One is a selfie with 'Dabi' smiling behind him, and another that appeared to be a stolen picture of his during the Culture Festival. His eyes stared at the selfie though.
Tsuna looked relax in there with a peace sign on Dabi's head and a laughing grin on his lips, while the latter smiled like how a normal person does in front of a camera and when a friend of his is goofing beside him. Both looked like they took the picture without thinking much of it. Like Dabi isn't a villain to be aware of. It must be taken back in the summer. When Tsuna gave his Dad a space.
Tsuna isn't really the careless one. He's open about a lot of things, secretive on some, but never the careless one. So it's a wonder for him why Tsuna's door is always unlocked. Why the brunet went to coma because of flame exhaustion. He exhausted himself by using too much of his other flames, they say, by healing others excessively that his sky flames couldn't handle the strain anymore and the balance it put on Tsuna's body tipped since it has no bond to keep balance. No wonder Tsuna always describes his sky flames as an orchestra.
He clicked his tongue as he contemplates. That man, Kawahira, said Tsuna needed bonds. He needed elements. They are already categorized. Even Aizawa-sensei is classified as a sun. All they needed to do is bond with Tsuna. But what kind of bond? How does it work? All Tsuna told him about his flames is how they work, what they do and how dangerous they are. He never said about the 'sky' needing some bonding with other flames. That the word 'element' means potential group mates or something. The other thing that he doesn't understand is where will Tsuna be stuck if he doesn't bond with anyone immediately? The man said Tsuna is 'there' because his 'bonds' are 'there'.
Where is that 'there'?
He turned to the door when he heard a series of knocks from the other side of the door. It opened to reveal Deku. The greenet looked around in wonder of why the lights are off before they went to him. Kawahira said that his childhood friend is a lightning with a sky's personality. He can see it. Both selfless, but the only things Deku doesn't have are being a leader and the insanity. Tsuna will never deny that he goes bat shit crazy when someone gets hurt in front of him.
"I have been thinking about what Kawahira-san said back then." Deku started as he walked in. "Do you remember when he mentioned that Tsuna is the savior Sinclair-sensei's world? That his bonds are somewhere and he said Tsuna is there where he also wanted to see Aeturnus, which Reborn introduced as Tsuna's son?"
Katsuki blinked at the picture of Reborn. The hitman described Tsuna's 'son' as someone who looks like him but with grey eyes, almost like a mix color of black and caramel. An iron. Reborn said that although the cells came from him, the one who nurtured Aeturnus is Tsuna.
"So I've been wondering where that 'place' is, and how did Tsuna got there when his physical body is here." The greenet continued as he stopped beside him and gazed at the pictures too. "Kawahira-san did say that he'll get stuck there if Tsuna doesn't get a bond here because his original bonds that keep him alive is there. What do you think Sinclair-sensei means when he said Tsuna doesn't want to affect the future too much, that he wants to see the 'kids' grow too as Tsuna trusts their judgements. Does he mean us?"
"Dunno." He shrugged.
"What about the Sun Arcobaleno that Kawahira-san calls to Sinclair-sensei and the curse form thing? It feels like Tsuna and Sinclair-sensei have a different world of their own. Like a place that is so different from us. I mean when we entered Yuuei, Tsuna has been very awkward about his second quirk. He won't use it unless really necessary. He sticks to old style fighting, and isn't really supportive about the prejudice between heroes and villains."
"Are you saying you're suspecting Tsuna?" He accused mildly, which brought out a comical reaction.
"No! Never! Tsuna is the most genuine person I know who will never do something bad unless really really really necessary. He doesn't care about what people think of him, even if it builds up and destroys his reputation and image." Deku denied vehemently before looking over to the pictures again, especially at the stolen picture of Tsuna who is grinning candidly while holding the mic. "It's just that it worries me. There are a lot of quirks in the world. Tsuna had presented parallel worlds theories a lot of time, and he really believes in them. So what if... He's not originally from here? That he's really different from us in a way. Although I had an easy time to interact with our friends in Yuuei, Tsuna had it difficult to really open up. He interacts, but it's like he couldn't find the courage to really step up, not until that time we were approaching summer.
"It's like there are walls around him and it's so hard to reach him. He has guarded secrets too, and sometimes his experiences don't coexist with us. We've been with him for eleven years, never interacted with us fully, never befriended anyone and always preferred to be alone. I never saw him with those people he says he has been with. And they're his family, and they're somewhere around the world where Sinclair-sensei came from. That means... He's from an entirely different world, right?"
Katsuki's brows furrowed in thoughts as he processed it. If he remembers right... Someone from those 'people' said the same thing. About Tsuna's... Old world.
"B-But then again, that's totally impossible. I haven't heard of a quirk that can transfer one person from a world to another." Deku took back, sweatdropping at his own theories and doubts.
He didn't say a thing.
"Oi!" Both perked up at the call and turned to the door where Kirishima is standing. "Dinner is ready, you two! And get out of there! This is Tsuna's room!"
"Shut up, you Shitty hair!" He bellowed before standing up and turned off the fairy lights.
"What, man?! It's true!" The other defended as they come closer to the door.
"W-We aren't snooping around, Kirishima." Deku tried to explain. "We just wanted to see the wall of pictures."
"Oh." The redhead hummed as they closed the door. "I haven't seen his collections of pictures. I'll ask him if I can see them once he wakes up."
"Are you insinuating something, Shitty hair?" He threatened while walking for the elevators.
"K-Kaachan." Deku tried to placate.
"Relax, man. Just joking." Kirishima laughed.
The class went rowdy when the redhead told them that he found the two of them in Tsuna's room. He didn't listen to their reprimands and thought deeply of what his childhood friend have said. There is a possibility with so much evidences in hand, all verbatim.
Lips twitching in a scowl, he decided to finish all of his loads and homeworks, cause in that way, he can visit Tsuna for all he likes and interrogate Reborn about it. And before that, he needs to know how to become one of Tsuna's main elements. He will never ever hand down the rain's place to anyone.
(At ten in the evening...)
Dabi was the first one to appear inside the room. Turquoise eyes scanned the dark chamber with critical ones. Good thing the glass wall can give light to the room somehow so he can't use his quirk to light up the room. There are a lot of gifts that vary to kinds at one side of the room. There are the sofa set on his left and the bed on his right, where a blinking blue and red lights, and some lit monitor is beeping. And on the bed is the brunet they wanted to see.
Himeko was the second to appear, with Mister Compress and Twice. Spinner came after and then Shigaraki. All eyes went for the brunet who is asleep. Himeko was the first to move, her jacket wrapped around her torso. She sat by the side of the teen and stared at his peaceful face. Eventually, the others went near, except for Shigaraki and Dabi.
"I told you he's in coma." Twice whispered. He was the first to broke them the news just awhile ago. "He has been here for twenty days and today is his nineteenth night."
"What was the reason?" Mister Compress questioned. He was one of those who stood up immediately after he heard the news. "He won't be like this without any reason."
"They said exhaustion." Twice answered, pursing his lips to pause while caressing his magnet earring. "He couldn't breathe at first, so they needed to take him to the infirmary. The medic there used oxygen to help him breathe, then eventually, they transferred him here." His shoulders slumped as he continued. "He was okay when they were admitting him, although they said his heartbeat was really slow, almost like it had a hard time beating. After a couple of hours, he went to a cardiac arrest. They had to revive him twice. When they got him back, they figured he didn't need the oxygen because he was breathing normally, so they removed it. But he was declared in coma because there was no other signals from his brain."
Silence.
"Why don't we try Doctor Ujiko? Maybe he can help?" Spinner suggested.
"I... don't think that's a good idea, Spinner." Mister Compress denied. "Even though he didn't outright say it, I think he knew what kind of a doctor Ujiko-sensei is and he hates it. We all know how knowledgeable Tsuna is. He knows stuffs before we know of them. Even though he's... Okay with us, it doesn't mean he approves of what we do."
"Then we're going to wait until he wakes up?" Himeko queried. "What if he doesn't? None of us heard quirk exhaustion."
"It's actually flame exhaustion." They all jumped back and turned to the sofa set where a white cup went visible into the light and got placed on its saucer. "With the right people, he might wake up. He just needs to build up his flames again with the other flames that are compatible with him and he'll be fine. He'll wake up."
"Y-You are..." Spinner trailed off.
A chuckle. "Chaos. It's good you visited at the accurate time. Aizawa was hard to kick out so he could look after Tsuna's little sister. It will be trouble if he was here when you got in."
The easy going attitude didn't really diminish the tension in the air as silence settled once more.
"He'll wake up with the right people who have compatible... Flames with him." Shigaraki repeated slowly as he stepped up. "What do you mean by these flames?"
The leader of the Paranormal Liberal army felt intense gaze at him. It was as if sizing him about something before an answer was given. "Tsuna's flames, the Dying Will flames, are literal souls. They are what you see in people, auras as what people say. He needs six different Dying Will flames." Then that gaze went to Dabi. "I assume he gave you a container full of colorful balls."
"I already distributed them as he instructed." Dabi huffed.
"Tsuna explained to you their uses."
"Yes."
"Except for the orange one, he needs the other colors to come from other people in order to wake up. Due to too much usage of those flames other than the orange ones, it exhausted him and his body and caused him to be here."
"So it means there's no point of collecting those balls again and give it to him?"
"No. And if you did return it, Tsuna will throw it at you again the very time he gets a hold that you want to return it. He made it for you lots, so don't waste it."
"I'm not really smart, but your explanation lacks some things." Spinner pointed out.
"I cannot give you more information as long as I am not sure you won't say a thing to the doctor you are affiliated with and the person Tsuna despises the most right now. Tsuna's life will be at risk. If I say more and you tattle it off, no more Tsunayoshi Sawada in this world. He will take him forcefully."
Shigaraki felt like he was stabbed in the gut when he heard the word 'take'. The man is pertaining to his sensei.
"He can be a test subject and I know you won't like it. You did say Tsuna knows what kind of work that doctor you know does. Rest assured though, even if Tsuna has more number of compatible people within the heroes' side, he has two of you in your side too with the same color."
They all looked at each other.
"Don't get me wrong." They eyed the man who took his cup again. "I'm only saying this because he told me to do so. I assure you, I rather have you all crack your heads in finding how in hell you can help him at this kind of state. But he's just a worrywart and he holds all of you dear to his heart. I'm just following orders."
"Orders." Mister Compress repeated in a curious tone. "What do you mean? Is Tsuna some kind of a leader now?"
"He has been." The man snickered. "Just how do you think did he gain those billions of deaths in his hands?"
"That was true?!" Twice gawked. "I thought he was just exaggerating!"
"Shh! Keep it down!" Spinner chided.
"No. It's all true. I was the one who calculated it and gave him the total number. One billion, five hundred nine-seven million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, six hundred and fifty-nine deaths in total." They stilled, eyes widening at the answer. Even Shigaraki's eyes went wide. "Tsuna does have unwashed blood in his hands for years now, and has no plans of removing them, even atoning or repenting. He wants to carry the guilt till his last breath."
"What did he do?" Himeko queried.
"Purged mafia, killed all possible mafiosi all over the world and obliterated a lot of family under his command and with his own hands. Being a mafia boss at a tender age does give you stress, but a lot perks too. Especially when he has to prove his rank among other people who threaten him."
"M-Mafia b-boss!" Spinner spluttered. "You have got to be kidding me! Tsuna is just fifteen-"
"Sixteen." Mister Compress, Dabi and Shigaraki corrected at the same time.
"-sixteen! There's no way he can be a mafia boss at a short period of time!"
"A prince can be a king at age six, why can't he be a mafia boss at a young age too?" The man hummed. "Ha. I talked too much. Tsuna will probably scold me if you treat him differently now."
"No way in hell will we treat him differently!" Twice shouted in an instant. "We will never!"
"Yeah! Tsuna-chan is Tsuna-chan! He was a mafia boss! He's a vigilante now! He won't change!" Himeko seconded with a nod.
"Tsuna is welcome to come to us if he needed a breather." Mister Compress worded. "He may not be part of us, but if he holds us dear, we will reciprocate his care."
Spinner hesitated before sighing in relent. "I never trusted Tsuna, but he's cool. He can talk to Stain without any trouble. And he fixes us when we almost killed some of his friends."
A smirk was heard. "Good to hear some people on the other side care about Tsuna. It will never be nice if it's not balanced out."
"Do you know when will he wake up?" Mister Compress queried again.
"He just will. He might tomorrow, the next week. We'll never know. He's as unpredictable as the weather we have."
All villains turned to the brunet who is still asleep through all the noises.
"Neh, Tsuna-chan, call us when you wake up, okay?" Himeko whispered. "I want to hear your voice. We miss you lot."
"You're the only one who misses him." Spinner negated.
"You're being denial, Lizard." Dabi teased.
"Wha-What the hell?! I don't miss him!" Spinner vehemently denied.
They stayed a little more longer before one by one, they get transported away again. Dabi and Shigaraki were the last ones to leave.
"Who are they." Dabi demanded to the man who has been quiet. "Who are those two people compatible with Tsuna?"
"You two are." The two villains glanced at each other. "The red balls are the color of your auras. Tsuna's orange flames accept you two regardless of what you have done."
Both villains know it's about what they have done to Eraserhead.
"How can I help him?" Dabi asked again.
Intense gaze flitted between the two. "Once you are ready."
Silence.
"Once the first move is done, you can slid in your bonds to his flames. You'll know you did when you feel the feeling you will only experience when you think of Tsuna and when he's in front of you. Beware though, Tsuna is possessive as hell. Once you bond with him, you're good as being a captive of his. He will kill anyone who did you wrong. He'll be like how he was when he threatened you from putting one single scratch on Bakugou."
"I don't care." Dabi stated as he looked over to Tsuna. He took the brunet's hand and squeezed it.
"Okay then. Just remember, all you need to think is your resolve and your pride."
Dabi's eyes narrowed a little in thought before he nodded.
When Dabi got transported, Shigaraki stayed a little more. He stared at the brunet who is asleep. He wanted to touch the brunet, squeeze his hand too, or at least caress it with his five fingers. But he resorted to something else.
Maybe the teen thought he was sleeping that time. Shigaraki was resting, in between consciousness and unconsciousness due to the post discomfort of the pain he had before he got healed, so he knew what was happening. He heard what Tsunayoshi instructed to Dabi, what his tone when he talked about the doctor, and what took place. Twice is much grounded with the method he did. So he felt it. He heard the whisper to him to don't give himself up, try to hold on, and everything will be fine. Then the kiss on his forehead.
He honestly felt warm that time. It's really different from his Sensei. Tsunayoshi cares so unconditionally, and he... He's like his mother, but more warm. Someone who will never abandon him even if it means getting destroyed by his quirk. Someone who will encourage him to idolize heroes regardless of his father's wishes. Maybe if Tsunayoshi was born earlier back then, he would've helped him without thinking twice. But he's not regretting following his Sensei. However, Shigaraki doesn't know what to feel about it. He doesn't know what to do with the affection he's receiving. Does he accept it? Shy away from it? But knowing Tsunayoshi, he'll still shower him with those kinds of affection. He wonders how can he reciprocate such feeling, such care.
Bottom line is, he doesn't want his Sensei to take Tsunayoshi away. He hadn't told him what he felt about the brunet, and he doesn't want him to know. Tsunayoshi is a special case. He's someone Shigaraki will never allow anybody to touch.
With those intense eyes on him, he laid his elbow on the side of the brunet's head. He took a deep breath while staring at that peaceful expression. He wonders if there will be a time that he can touch him with all of his fingers.
"Tsunayoshi." He whispered and sighed. "Come back to us, alright? I haven't done my worse as I promised, and I want you to be there when I do it." He placed a soft kiss on the forehead. "Don't give up too."
Pulling back, he let the teleport quirk engulf him. Tsuna was the last thing he saw before he got back to their hideout.