Skull had to smirk when Reborn finally left. The hitman was wearing an expression that looks like a cross between frustration and shocked disbelief. If Skull hadn't known the man well enough, he would have thought that the Sun was just expressionlessly taking in stride.
"I think you enjoy it too much, Seiryou-sama", Tsunayoshi commented, catching sight of the faintly amused look on the Cloud's face. Even the young Sky could read some of the hitman's expressions, especially after all these years of having him as his tutor.
Skull, Seiryou, hums in agreement. "I hadn't had this much fun in these past six months at his expense."
Tsunayoshi winced. He had known that Reborn and the rest of the former Arcobaleno had bad habits, especially when it concerned the only Cloud among them. It wouldn't be surprising if they had hurt Seiryou at one point for some reason or another. It was something born out of wounded pride and arrogance, something that Tsunayoshi had realised that Seiryou, in the mask of Skull, had all too happily taken advantage of. Even now, he was part amused, and part impressed that he had been too willing to act as the weak coward just to let the rest of the Arcobaleno do the work.
The sheer chaos, should the former Arcobaleno know of it, would be epic. It would serve them right given their attitudes towards the former Cloud Arcobaleno.
"He's going to murder you."
"He can try."
"I'm not going to stand in the middle of what will become a massacre."
"I'm not asking you to. Besides, can you imagine the faces when they realised that the Weakest could easily beat their asses into the dust?"
Tsunayoshi paused. Then he proceeded to bust out in a fit of giggles. "Ok, that's hilarious. Just warn me before you do it so I can film it."
"Alright", Seiryou easily agreed, a spark of mischief shone in those amethyst eyes before they shone with concern at the next stage of the plan. "Petty revenge aside, do you really want to meet with your Guardians? There is no shame in backing out now. I can always arrange for Dion to meet with them and record the meetings."
The air turned heavy as Tsunayoshi's expression went completely blank. Seiryou didn't bother pushing the boy, knowing to let him think it through. It was bad enough that the first week of having the Sky in his home had led to disastrous revelations.
Seiryou withheld a grimace at the reminder. That had been a traumatising experience, more so for Tsunayoshi than Seiryou. However, that had been also extremely informative and had resulted in Seiryou hosting a raging Sky for an entire week while he locked himself in his office and plotted murder.
He had been worried enough with the mafia's cruel and downright abusive habits, especially when it concerned children, that he had forced the boy into an extensive health check the first day into his stay. To his healers and doctors' horror, they had found something. And it had nearly sent all of them into apoplectic fits, to Tsunayoshi's confusion.
Apparently, after extensive checks to make sure that they hadn't actually been wrong, Tsunayoshi had a Seal on his flames, one that rendered both his physical and mental abilities near null. Had it not been because of the sheer strength and power of his flames, he would have fallen into a vegetative state, or worse, died within weeks of having the Seal on his flames. Frankly, Seiryou is relieved that it hasn't been the case. It was already a miracle that he could move about and think normally with the Seal in place. And then he proceeded to surprise everyone by offering the last piece of the puzzle to break the damned Curse despite the Seal.
Whoever that Sealed the poor boy had been stupid enough to leave it on the boy without checking on him in the aftermath. It was apparent that they didn't even know what they had been doing judging by the incomplete and mangling of the Seal. If he ever met the person who put it on the boy, he would have gutted them with no questions asked. In fact, he had already had a suspicion on who it was. He just needed evidence.
Tsunayoshi took a deep, shuddering breath, breaking Seiryou out of his thoughts. "I - I want to do it. I just… I need to know", he murmured softly, voice cracking.
Seiryou frowned but didn't dissuade the young Sky. It is a choice that he should personally make, even if the Cloud wanted nothing to do with the Decimo generation Guardians. Hibari Kyoya, Dokuro Chrome and Rokudo Mukuro aside, the rest of them were barely a good match with the young Sky. The Storm was too obsessive to be able to work smoothly with the gentle and caring Sky. And that is not taking into account his sheer lack of self-preservation. Honestly, even Seiryou would have trouble curbing the worst of the boy's habits.
The Rain was better, but given that he had suffered depression without seeing a therapist and straight-up went into swinging a sword, it is safe to say that Seiryou wasn't happy about it either. Given that he had taken to treating the mafia as a game and focused on it with a single-minded intensity to cope, Seiryou knows that his medical unit is going to have a headache dealing with the Rain.
As for the Sun, Seiryou was actually debating how to deal with him without tearing his hair out should Tsunayoshi desire to bring him along. The boxer was bad enough on a good day, with his sheer exuberance that borders on annoying. Seiryou didn't want to think of him when he got into one of his overprotective spiels. The boxer's stubbornness would be hard enough to curb. Added to the fact that he is a civilian with no idea of how the mafia actually works except for that it is EXTREME.
The Lightning was too young to have been dragged into the horrors of the mafia, much less be given the position of a Guardian. But given that he had been born into a mafia famiglia, it wasn't surprising nor is it actually a good thing either. With him being so young, a Guardian bond, or any bond, would have a devastating impact on a young child. It wouldn't be the first time that a child is made into a puppet due to the person on the other end of the bond forcing their Will onto the child through the bond.
The Cloud had also been bad before Seiryou actually got his hands on him. Despite his relation to Fon, impatience and arrogance doesn't even cover the young man. Seiryou had to actually break character just to literally beat the lessons into the young boy before he actually got a resemblance of a stable and both mentally and physically healthy Cloud. Still, it wasn't until Tsunayoshi snapped and poured his frustrations during one of their spars that he got a good dose of respect for the Sky.
The Mist twins were also problem children, with one of them being a homicidal maniac to cope and another with a notable lack of organs. Seiryou wasn't proud to say that he had gotten fed up by the sheer lack in the Guardians' characters that he had convinced Bermuda to let him wrangle the male Mist into a semblance of health while he was supposed to be in the Vindice's care. And since he is connected to the female Mist, it has extended to her as well. At least he had been easier to convince once Seiryou settled him down to actually learn how to handle his hatred of the mafia.
He's still not going to admit that it was hilarious to use the male Mist to humiliate the top brass of the mafia to obtain blackmail.
"I see." Seiryou was careful to keep his expression neutral. There is no need to scare off the young Sky with his anger. "Do you want a chaperone when you meet with them?"
Tsunayoshi nodded. "Please."
"Hmm, I can have Dion send someone or I can leave an Elite Guard with you", Seiryou suggests, voice calm and soothing with a naturally unique melodious lilt. It worked well to calm Tsunayoshi's nerves.
"Do you think Lafayette would be willing?" There is a vulnerable edge to his words, but Seiryou didn't call him out for it. Instead, he thinks of the young woman that had been growing closer with the young Sky.
Lafayette Linus is a Lightning and Mist primary, making her Mist illusions extremely deadly when it is bolstered with her Lightning flames. Powerful and intelligent, having been one of the children Seiryou had taken in and cared for, she was as good a choice as any. Especially with the budding Guardian bond Seiryou could easily see forming between them. Thank the gods that the Sky hadn't actually bonded to the little bovine. It would be a disaster and a half had they been Sky and Guardian.
"Sure, I can ask for her," Seiryou readily agreed, knowing the influence of the woman on his newest charge. He really should assign Lafayette as Tsunayoshi's personal Elite Guard. Especially as it is apparent that the young Sky wasn't thinking of going back to the Vongola anytime soon.
The sheer relief that showed on his face had Seiryou's expression darkening slightly. But before Tsunayoshi could catch sight of it, Seiryou quickly controlled his expression to an expressionless one.
Honestly, what exactly was the mafia doing for them to make a child so nervous asking for anything? Had it not been because the mafia is a treasure trove of so many things, as well as the fact that it is a part of Skull de Mort's life and thus lead to him, Seiryou would have swallowed the Italian underworld the first time he experienced such abuse of their people, both children and adults, second hand. It was why he had taken full advantage of the Carcassa when they came looking to recruit him into their famiglia after all.
"Thank you."
Seiryou shrugged. "It's not like it's hard. You are well on your way to bonding with her already."
That had, predictably, resulted in a squeak. Seiryou gave the boy a bland, unamused glance.
"What? Don't tell me that you hadn't realised it."
"What?! No! I mean, she is great and all but …" Tsunayoshi trailed off then looked down at his hands. Seiryou sighed. Honestly, these kids.
"If she likes you well enough to initiate a Courting of Elements, then there is no reason why you shouldn't reciprocate. Unless you don't want it?"
"No! I just thought that she could do better than a Useless -" Tsunayoshi didn't manage to finish his sentence as a hard flick on his forehead resulted in a pained yelp. However, it was quickly soothed with a warm and comforting hand placing itself over the injured area.
"Tsunayoshi-kun", Seiryou said, soft, gentle and calm but also firm as his hands cupped the young Sky's cheeks. He moved the burnet's head, turning worried brown eyes to meet intelligent and warm amethysts. "You are not useless. There is no need to put yourself down like that. Sure, you have flaws but which human doesn't? You are trying and that is all that matters. Besides, if Lafayette didn't like you, then she wouldn't have started courting you."
Warm brown eyes flickered amber. Then, after what felt like a long while, Tsunayoshi finally nodded, allowing Seiryou to release the Sky from his grasp. "Okay."
Seiryou hummed, glancing over the boy before giving a firm nod. "Good." Then he looked at the time, noting how late it was. "I'll talk to Lafayette and arrange something. But first."
Seiryou offered the boy a smirk. At the same time, there is a loud knock.
Tsunayoshi stiffened, turning to face the door with a glint of amber in his eyes. He could sense something just beyond the door, something that made his soul, his flames roaring in eagerness.
"Come in." Seiryou watched the young Sky's reaction as the door swung open, revealing a beautiful young woman barely older than Tsunayoshi and five familiar figures behind her.
"Seiryou-heika." Lafayette bowed deeply. "I have brought them as you asked."
"Thank you, Lady Linus", Seiryou said. His eyes looked at the three people she had brought, a fond and warm smile creeping on his lips. "Welcome, Hibari Kyoya, Dokuro Chrome and Rokudo Mukuro."
"Hn." Seiryou withheld a sigh when the Cloud stalked into the room very much as a predator does. However, his steel-grey eyes merely swept across the room, noting the sheer space before settling on his Sky. To anyone else, they would have seen the deep scowl suggesting that he was going to attack. But Seiryou could see the tension leaving his shoulders and the minute curve of his lips.
"Kufufufufu."
The elder Cloud sighed this time. "Mukuro." He gave the illusionist a bland look as he dodged the trident that attempted to stab him. But he didn't stop the Mist when he strode towards his Sky.
"Hello", the voice is soft and nervous, causing Seiryou to smile kindly at the female Mist that came with the other two.
"Hello, Chrome." He nods politely in return. He stepped aside as she hurried towards Tsunayoshi, leaving him with Lafayette. "They're not too troublesome, are they?" He offers a smile at the woman.
He is answered with a shake of her head and a slight smile on her face. "They are delightful. But given that they are of the same Sky, it is no surprise."
Seiryou rolled his eyes. He didn't even try to stop it. "Sure. And you're not biased", he said, watching as her pale skin flushed with colour. He is amused enough to duck when she swipes at him, long blond hair fluttering like the feathers of her Spirit Beast form whenever she is embarrassed. It is cute. Even as a little chicklet.
He grins, eyes flickering. "And that's my cue." He slips past the embarrassed woman, closing the door to the hotel suite and letting the Elements of the same Sky reconnect.
The moment the door closes, his face immediately goes blank. He exhaled a sharp breath, the anger, annoyance and irritation he had kept at bay in the presence of children coming back full force.
"Go follow him", he said lightly, knowing that there are always people around him. "Better be safe than sorry."
He heard the whisper of clothes brushing against each other as one of his guards left at his orders. Once he had made sure that his men knew to keep tabs on the Vongola allied hitman, he finally left for his room opposite to Tsunayoshi's own. He needs time to figure things out.
Hopefully, everything will turn out alright.