Chapter Twenty Five : of relics and robotics


It's a further few days before the help that they've all been waiting on shows up.

Not that Tsunayoshi knows it at first. Those few days pass first with him trying to work back up to his standard physical conditioning, which requires more eating than he really feels inclined to do, a task made even more difficult by the foreign palate of Italian cuisine.

Naturally Tsunayoshi can't spend the entire time eating in his room and doing various handy exercises that Shioya taught him specifically for the times where he would have neither partner nor equipment to work with, though: that would be too pathetic for even him. It's already been decided that there's no one else that can be trusted to look out for this small, lost group of otherworlders and put their interests first above all else, so that's also something that he still has to do, with his own two hands and with no one to watch his back.

So he comes out and asks after their two comatose members, and drops by the library, and respectfully doesn't seek out those who have parted ways with him.

As rough as Tsunayoshi looks these last few days, Zunetto looks worse, and worse still for not being able to look at Tsunayoshi directly over it. As if Tsunayoshi needed confirmation regarding that person's self-preservation instincts, considering.

But he's not a tyrant and won't become a dictator with such lame justifications as 'for one's own good.'

Only a few days pass like this before those specialists arrive, though - there comes a moment shortly after Tsunayoshi has had another round of thawing out his blankets, and then the hair on the back of his neck stands on end. Even for him, something like that is hard to make sense of or even take seriously though.

The hair goes up and Tsunayoshi freezes like a good little prey animal after a shadow swoops by, too loose and free to be a tree branch and too fast to be a cloud. And yet -

There's nothing to make sense of regarding that momentary impression. No sense of danger, no tension, and the feeling doesn't linger either, to the point that Tsunayoshi starts to wonder if he imagined the whole thing. He usually doesn't, with things like this. But usually it's also accompanied with dread crushing down on his heart, and his back tight, and Haru's bright, glinting eyes, and Takeshi's white sharp teeth grinned into an open wolf-smile.

It definitely doesn't happen in the quiet of the night while he's alone in a bedroom, feeding the hateful ember in his chest that would find the entire world fit for burning if given the slightest chance.

The ice beneath Tsunayoshi's fingers stops melting into wisps of vaporized terror, and he glances toward the door.

There's nothing there, he already knows that. Nothing at his door or in the hallway or even this entire wing, other than the ones he's responsible for and a servant or two that none of them would want to fight. Tsunayoshi goes still and watches, and listens, like good little prey-

(like prey, Tsunayoshi thinks of himself since that's what he's always-always-always felt like, unaware of his own lithe, powerful body crouched in the darkness, motionless and listening, eyes lambent, a thing that only acknowledges one single awful purpose for itself -)

Nothing ever comes of it, to the point that Tsunayoshi begins to doubt that it's something he actually took notice of to begin with. What could he have possibly noticed in the first place? All alone in his room in the early hours of the morning? If it were the distant sound of voices, or fighting trembling through the support beams of the mansion, then it wouldn't have stopped all at once, surely.

Or if it were those things, then Tsunayoshi would be anxious to check on the others, he's pretty sure.

Whatever it is doesn't happen again, and neither does his gut instinct send him searching for the source of it, so eventually Tsunayoshi gives up on the matter and finishes thawing his bed.

He doesn't properly try to go back to sleep like some nights, and overworking his muscles by continuing would only cause harm rather than heal his weakened body. Rather, he turns on the lights in the room instead and practices those breathing exercises Shioya taught him.

It used to hurt to do them to be honest. These last few days, he's finally worked out that breathing that way actually kindles the ember in his chest, though not as quickly as when he feeds it the awful things inside his head. But also, perhaps, that these exercises are a safer way of kindling it than that one.

And then something else happens, a few hours later, and Tsunayoshi too well awake and too well aware to dismiss it this time. It's something strange and unsubstantial. Tsunayoshi inhales in that carefully measured way, envisioning a cycle of respiration, air tumbling in his chest and bringing light and life, and then?

Tsunayoshi flinches. A sudden certainty crashes through: someone has been watching him.

It's a little bit familiar. So many people are always-always-always watching Tsunayoshi anyway, his every move-motive-decision weighed and judged and accounted for. The constant thundering dread crushing his heart, weighing down his head, making his eyes big and shoulders round and knees bent. A tightrope.

Killing him is one thing, but it's another if it makes his mom cry, if Haru becomes sad, if Takeshi won't laugh and smile and mean it.

This kind of attention makes Tsunayoshi want to turn and make eye contact: I see you, too.

It's just that he's alone in the room. Or at least, he didn't notice anyone enter it, and there's no one he can see now. Just some kind of vague impression that someone had been watching him, even now fading like some kind of cold morning chill burning away beneath the dawning sun.

The thing is, Tsunayoshi would doubt his own perceptions, but some white-haired child has been clinging to him so tightly this last month to the point of cutting out his own warmth for Tsunayoshi's sake. Before that, there were years of Hibari Sozui who always pretended as if he could tolerate a 'no' but was never prepared to sincerely listen.

But Sozui is heavy handed compared to Narcisse, and Narcisse is clumsy compared to Tsunayoshi's visitor. Narcisse never hid himself, he's not even entirely sure that Narcisse would know how. He'd been lonely, and scared, and desperate to the point that even Tsunayoshi must have seemed like some stuffed toy or a blanket to hold onto.

Tsunayoshi continues the cycle of breathing, of kindling that awful world-devouring ember in his chest. Something woke him up this morning, and then an hour or so later, someone had come to visit him and spooked when he'd noticed after a while.

And like back in Namimori, here in Italy, when someone new comes around, they always want to come take a look at Tsunayoshi and then provoke him a few times just to see what happens.

At least his household isn't within immediate reach, he reflects with a sigh as he sags into himself on the bed. Naturally, Tsunayoshi can't allow himself to be killed regardless, but this tightrope has a bit of slack and less axes like swinging pendulums to dodge when he knows they can't kill his household for his sin of existing.

Even without a household, though, there are still those other kids that Tsunayoshi has made himself responsible for, so he ultimately gets up from the bed and puts on clothing to the point of relative neatness, and then takes himself to the library to wait for daylight to break.

Overall, the library just isn't any good. In the first place, that small Dino has more or less determined it as his territory, so Tsunayoshi normally does his best not to intrude much. But more importantly, this is Cavallone Dino's library. How should Tsunayoshi find anything written in a language he can read in it? He doesn't know a lot of spoken Italian in the first place, and while he has a better grasp on spoken English, all the little latinate letters crammed into the pages make him a bit dizzy. Whatever looks cool enough scattered here and there in bold is fine, but entire pages without a little katakana or a diagram to break it up?

There are other books that may be written in other languages, he thinks, but they all mostly use the same writing systems, so he's not sure how he's supposed to tell them apart. It's been a while since Tsunayoshi has encountered unfamiliar kanji thanks to Haru's diligent efforts, but this leaves him at even more of a loss.

"Ahh," Tsunayoshi sighs as he puts away another book. "I really will have to get in touch with Itsuki-kun."

If nothing else, Saitoh Itsuki will be happy to be asked for something. That older brother of his has been hounding Tsunayoshi about his baby brother being lonely out in the wider world.

Now that Tsunayoshi is also out here, he sympathizes a lot better.

"Nayo? You're here."

Tsunayoshi glances toward the door and manages his usual harmless dame smile. Reborn had accused the elder Dino of trying to be Tsunayoshi's senpai, as if Tsunayoshi was capable of acknowledging such a thing of him, but? He's been so many people's aniki and chief and boss that even for this small kid who will never align himself under Tsunayoshi's rule, it's easy to pretend he's showing his tender belly.

Anyway, his designs on a kid like this aren't bad, even if he thinks that it won't be cute at all if this small Dino tries to kill him.

At least that Xanxus of Vongola no longer looks like he wants to crush Tsunayoshi's head beneath his feet at every encounter, though his current welcome is only marginally warmer than homicidal intent. His eyes are narrow and red and sharp, seeing a lot more than other people with less inclination to hide it.

That Xanxus probably noticed that first day that Tsunayoshi no longer has 'mold growing on the back of his heel,' given his attitude. Maybe he's even thinking something like what a relief about it, the way one would when they don't have Tsunayoshi's gut instincts.

Ah, if only things were so simple. It'd be easier on Tsunayoshi, too.

"Sorry for coming so early," Tsunayoshi says gently. "It seems like I couldn't sleep."

Xanxus sneers, but this small Dino gives him a doleful look. Obviously he has some ideas of his own why that might be; Tsunayoshi has to wonder if he noticed on his own, or if Xanxus point that matter out to him. It isn't any of his business, though.

Maybe Kyoya would have acted the same way if their own situation had been similar, instead of how things went back in Namimori. Who knows which of them got the better end of that deal?

With things framed that way, Tsunayoshi can only give the two of them a bit of an indulgent smile. "You slept well?" he adds, a bit curious.

"Ah," this young Dino utters, startled. "Yes? I'm getting used to it."

The look Xanxus gives is plenty judgemental even if he doesn't sneer again, but there's a bit of wary consideration. It's not the kind of look that Tsunayoshi would expect if they had experienced his same strange morning. Or at least, if they had, it hadn't been noticed.

There's always that. He's vaguely aware that since he woke up after that month-long nightmare of his teenaged years, Tsunayoshi's entire self has been somewhat raw. Exposed. Hypersensitive. He's always been an anxious, hypersensitive person, but this is-

It's that matter, again.

"That's good," Tsunayoshi says, vague and warm. "It's still a bit difficult for me. My hometown was pretty heavily influenced, but even if the servants that Cavallone has around me understand Japanese, the library really puts things into perspective."

He doesn't mean anything by it, but the young Dino startles again, and then gives him sad eyes. How could Cavallone Dino not seek out his men that understand Tsunayoshi's language to listen in on him? Even if he's a kid dependent on Cavallone Dino's good will, it'd be foolish not to guard against him regardless.

"Then what the fuck are you doing here?" Xanxus demands at last; transparently: what is your intent here?

Even if Tsunayoshi isn't a threat to that kid, and the person who Xanxus is most guarded against isn't here, how can that guy trust Tsunayoshi's intentions? Tsunayoshi can hardly blame him. If any of his own household were here, he'd be a hundred times worse than this, probably.

"How were those servants acting when you two came out this morning?" Tsunayoshi questions instead, pressing his fingernail to the scar of his lip. "Even if they couldn't possibly betray anything, I'd think a person like you would be particularly sensitive to the slightest changes."

Xanxus narrows his eyes while that charge of his glances between the two of them uncertainly. In the end though, there's no time for Xanxus to give an answer, since at that time, the door the library opens once more.

It's a servant, of course. One of the ones that Tsunayoshi doesn't want to fight. He's polite and deferential as he invites them along to breakfast.

Describing it as 'invites' is actually a rather nice way of saying it, Tsunayoshi thinks. Not that they're expected to notice, of course. It's the particular light in that servant's eyes, which are aimed downward, but - ahh, well, Tsunayoshi's gut instincts are terrifying after all. How can someone like this hide their intentions from him?

Because this is one of those who can speak at least some Japanese, Tsunayoshi blinks his eyes and tugs at the buttons of his cuffs. "Will that really be fine with Bianchi Isabella?" he wonders, since it's her and that Cavallone Dino's ward and her own that has keep them separate all this time.

That puts a sort of funny look on that servant's face, somewhere between pity and kinship. How could Bianchi Isabella be any kinder toward her head of the household's minions? Less resentful, less jealous, perhaps. But how could it be easy?

"Not to worry, Nayo-san," the servant says. "This is something that Lord Cavallone has arranged."

"What a relief," he sighs, and gives Nana's appeasing smile to him. "In that case, please lead the way."

Out of the corner of his eye, he can see the kind of guarded look that Xanxus has suddenly turned on him. It's hard to say what's suddenly made that guy so wary, but in the first place, Tsunayoshi has never had any bad intentions toward him.

Any thoughts of beating sense into his head and submission into his heart have only been with his best interests in mind, after all.

It was only thinking about it, anyway.

The servant leads the way, and Tsunayoshi takes up the position beside him while Xanxus and the younger Dino bring up the rear - Dino more than Xanxus. That guy still insists on being between that kid and everyone else, but at least he's being less obvious about it than a few days earlier.

In the meantime, fingers touching his bare wrist and having to settle for the buttons of his cuffs, Tsunayoshi accompanies the servant and observes that the situation shouldn't be anything at all dangerous. It's impossible for him to get any real information out of this servant, of course - even with Tsunayoshi avoiding the topic of why Cavallone Dino has suddenly arranged for a breakfast for them all. His gently probing questions in regards to how long Bianchi Isabella and Cavallone Dino have been a household are rebuffed with equal vagueness.

Of course, Tsunayoshi doesn't really care. For a person like Isabella, who is the same kind of person as Tsunayoshi - however long doesn't actually matter. Tsunayoshi hadn't rightfully managed to claim Kyoya as his household member until after he'd lost his temper and killed people over it.

And even then, if someone hadn't been threatening to steal Tsunayoshi in turn, he's a bit convinced that Kyoya would still stubbornly refuse to accept the matter regardless of whose territory Tsunayoshi might be.

What Tsunayoshi does determine is that nothing dangerous or underhanded is intended for any of them in the end. Cavallone Dino isn't concerned regarding any trespassing or thieves in the night, and there are very few reasons for them to all be gathered together regardless.

They encounter the servant that's gone to fetch Zunetto in the meantime. They seem to be coming from outside, and there are bits of straw in Zunetto's hair. Zunetto startles to see them, and then guiltily flinches and refuses to look at Tsunayoshi, leading to Tsunayoshi puffing out a somewhat frustrated sigh. What an obnoxious brat, he thinks and looks away himself.

Naturally the two servants don't care about whatever weird byplay is happening within their group, but the younger Dino sinks in on himself and looks incredibly awkward over it. His little bodyguard naturally looks down on the whole business, but that one looks down on Tsunayoshi and Zunetto no matter what; would drive one away and kill the other if he could. There's nothing strange about that.

"I wonder," Tsunayoshi says to the servant that's guided them this far, "could it be that one of those two have woken up?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know," the servant says, a bit helpless. He has nothing to hide regarding those two, and seems to think the information harmless.

"That's too bad. It's been so long already," he sighs.

Then again, the one of them with the inclination for witchcraft that should be able to help people has somehow turned it into a thing that's harmful against his own wishes, so how could things work out that easily?

Although, one being a child, and the other trapped within that machine for so many years… how could that witchcraft work even if it were an option?

The hair on the back of Tsunayoshi's neck abruptly stands on end as they approach the breakfast hall. He's not entirely surprised when the servants open the doors and there are a great many strangers within.

The one that immediately draws Tsunayoshi's eye is a rather elegant woman with dark hair cut somewhere between her chin and shoulders. There's really nothing in particular that should be eye-catching - she's only standing there and chatting with Cavallone Dino. It's not even particularly Cavallone Dino's attitude, since that guy isn't aggressive to begin with, so the extra respect he affords her in the way his shoulders tilt and how much attention he gives her shouldn't really indicate much.

It's not even the fact that she so closely resembles that small girl in a coma down in the medical clinic.

Tsunayoshi vaguely remembers that Reborn had said that that Yuni was powerful at the same time as calling Tsunayoshi a scary monster. But if Tsunayoshi is a scary monster, then this woman must be a kami - one even more worrisome than Kyoya's family member.

It's not that she's hostile, or overbearing. It's just that Tsunayoshi looks at her and knows that without even being cruel about it, she could squash him like a bug.

Ah, Tsunayoshi is happy after all that his household is so far away. Bearing the weight of himself alone isn't impossible. There's room for negotiation, instead of those precious few people coming under threat and Tsunayoshi killing someone over it, or dying in the attempt.

That woman doesn't immediately turn her attention toward them, but the other strangers do. It's an odd assortment of people in various levels of jetlagged - some blond guy that could be an all-American Rambo type, what appears to be a twelve year old girl dressed in a cape with what Tsunayoshi honestly hopes is just streaks of makeup on her face, and-

Eh? Isn't that Kyoya's family member?

Tsunayoshi blinks, but this man - he's exactly that same person that Tsunayoshi encountered on the mountain back when he was fourteen, isn't it? Even if he's already an adult, it's been three years since then, so - then this must be this world's Kyoya's family member. Back then, even as an adult, that guy had room to get some more experience on his face, being only a bit older than Kyoya himself.

Any lingering doubts that Tsunayoshi might have had are resolved when that man glances at him and then at the others without any particular reaction at all. The vaguely pleasant expression on his face doesn't falter once. Tsunayoshi indulges in a bit of angst in regards to wanting to ask after the Hibari Kyoya of this world. His fingertips strangle his bare wrist for a moment before he lets go.

"Good, you're all here," Cavallone Dino says with the usual smile on his face, turning his attention their way. "Everyone, let's sit down and enjoy."

Bianchi Isabella and her charge are actually nowhere to be seen, but Verde and Reborn are here, and weirdly enough, of all the people here it's that woman that Reborn has attached himself to. The chair that she's given at the table is noticeably more elegant than the others, and it even has arms, on top of which Reborn settles himself, looking terribly smug.

After so many days of running away, that Zunetto immediately seats himself to Tsunayoshi's left, creating some kind of barrier between Tsunayoshi and these strangers at this massive table. It's threatening to give him something as a headache, so Tsunayoshi immediately turns a blind eye, only too aware that this isn't Zunetto trying to bridge the gap he himself made.

On the other side, the younger Dino is placed as far from everyone else as humanly possible with Xanxus in turn being a barrier himself, even between Tsunayoshi and that kid.

It's not really a breakfast, actually. The servants bring in piping hot drinks and pastries and fruit, but there's not a speck of protein in sight. Tsunayoshi briefly wants to cry about his body's condition, but commits to a cup of coffee and the least sugary looking pastry he can find.

"So," the elegant woman says into a cup of tea, "visitors from another world."

Tsunayoshi is fairly certain that there's not a single one of them who agrees with the description of 'visitors' since none of them had a choice in the matter, but for once Xanxus has gone stoic, while the younger Dino and Zunetto are properly cowed by this woman's presence. Tsunayoshi doesn't feel the point worth bickering until he has her measure and so no one says a thing.

Reborn, sat on the arm of her chair either like a little demon prince or otherwise a lurking panther, perks up. "More or less," he agrees. He has a cup of coffee, but Tsunayoshi has noticed that he isn't drinking it.

"Normally I wouldn't trouble you," Cavallone Dino says apologetically, "but this situation is a bit troublesome."

"Yes, I see how it might be," she agrees with a smile. There's nothing particularly wrong with the smile, other than the fact that it lacks intent, and warmth. She looks down the table at their group of misfits, and out of all of them, she chooses to make eye contact with Tsunayoshi - or maybe he's the only one that's willing to make eye contact with her? "And you have places and people to return to," she adds to them.

The girl in the cloak tsks. "Luce, tell me this isn't a charity case," she says flatly.

Luce's smile twitches, but Cavallone Dino laughs outright. "And what reimbursement could these children give you?" he wants to know, and then adds: "Naturally you can't look to me, either. This is not the kind of thing that can simply not be done."

"It really must be," Luce agrees. "As I myself am involved, then rest assured, Viper, there will be a reimbursement for you. In equivalence to your efforts, of course."

Viper pouts, but even this bratty child seems to respect this elegant woman who is their head of household, and so subsides without further complaining.

"Is a few extra brats really such a big deal?" the blond Rambo demands, somehow managing to sound somewhat respectful himself despite his incredibly coarse manner. "After everything that Verde's said, an operation of this extent will require a lot of manpower and money."

Reborn snorts and rebukes him with a smirk. "You haven't been home in a long time, Collonello, so maybe you've forgotten what a precarious place this is. What do you think would happen to a couple of really helpless kids with their temperament?"

Apparently those are the kind of fighting words required to make a fully grown man want to fight a small child of seven or eight. It's just that like any good spoiled brat, Reborn knows how to pick a fight while he has the direct backing of someone who can and will protect him. Collonello doesn't quite dare to launch himself across the breakfast table and actually take a swing at that tiny demon prince all dolled up in schoolkid clothes that look more expensive than anything Nana has even dreamed of wearing.

There's really nothing childish in the least about the wide slice of Reborn's smile as he watches Collonello blatantly plan retribution with a glower. What good friends, Tsunayoshi thinks, only kidding a little bit.

Kyoya's family member sighs over his cup, ignoring his restless comrades as he turns to meet Luce's gaze. "I have never dealt with anything even slightly similar to an incident like this, so I'm afraid there won't be any quick answers. Perhaps after I've had a chance to study Verde's findings, I can identify a starting place. It's just… I'm afraid that any solution we arrive at…" he trails off without clarifying the matter, simply giving Luce an apologetic look.

"Qianbei is generous," Luce says easily. "If a solution can be found, then naturally we will do whatever must be done." And then she turns and looks back down the table at all of them. "While I can not yet promise that we'll be able to send you home, every effort will certainly be made."

The younger Dino twitches after a moment. "Ah, thank you very much," he exclaims, nervously clenching his hands under the table. He finally can't resist and glances toward Tsunayoshi.

Only then does Tsunayoshi smile, thin and insincere. "Yes," he says, "thank you very much, Luce-san."

It isn't that doubts her words, and anyway, it's also not as if Luce and her lot really owe them, these misfits, anything. That they're willing to make any effort at all is already pretty good.

It's just that no one is ever nice for no reason, that's all.

He doesn't particularly care that this thought is easily read by Luce's household, but he's slightly surprised that in response, Reborn sniggers. Luce herself seems to understand Tsunayoshi's thoughts just as easily as them, but she doesn't seem the least bit offended.

"Nayo-kun, isn't it?" she inquires, meeting his gaze. She gives him the same smile she gave Cavallone Dino earlier: perfectly nice, but also perfectly meaningless. "Why don't you accompany me down to the medical clinic?"

The table stirs. It's not just Zunetto who suddenly becomes uncomfortable with the idea - Collonello tenses and little Viper makes what could only be a gormless expression under her hood. Reborn himself doesn't so much as twitch a lash, but Tsunayoshi thinks that he's no less wary of the idea.

Only Kyoya's family member seems completely unperturbed by the whole situation, but Tsunayoshi is beginning to think that it's just his poker face being that undefeatable.

They can't possibly think that Tsunayoshi is any danger to Luce, is the thing. Without even trying, Luce could flatten him, and it would definitely be 'or die trying' no matter how strong Tsunayoshi's determination is. In this case, being 'capable of anything,' ahh, doesn't mean getting into a fight. It means finding a way to survive without things coming to that. Even people like this should understand that much.

In any case, Tsunayoshi doesn't really have a choice in this matter, so he only says, "of course."

Despite Cavallone Dino's obvious misgivings, he too can only lend them a servant to lead the way, though by the time the dining room's door shut behind them, that servant has thoughtfully moved out of conversation distance. Luce walks ahead of Tsunayoshi, calm and implacable. Detached, more or less, he thinks, following along behind and rubbing restlessly at his cuff button.

"It should be that you're Yuni's family from this world," Tsunayoshi says, since Luce herself hasn't said anything yet. Anyway, that's a bit what he's worried about now - what Yuni's family might want with her.

Naturally Tsunayoshi has no room to speak where it comes to someone else's family, but - ah, Yuni already suffered so much, and it seems as she and Narcisse had worked hard for his sake or something like that, so-

Yuni has the same kind of 'temperament' as Tsunayoshi and that young Dino, after all. Or rather: her witchcraft is the same. If one person can find a use for that, and it's trouble enough to convince these stupidly strong people to go to the effort of trying to send them back, then?

"That's right," Luce agrees easily. "Though Yuni has yet to exist in this world, as I had yet to give consideration to having a daughter myself. How could such a child exist if even her own mother doesn't exist?" She sighs suddenly; the most honest thing she's done all this time. "Even with such power, being omniscient is impossible, after all."

"Is that so," Tsunayoshi says, and doesn't rest assured.

What's so great about blood, anyway? How could such a weak connection as that reassure Tsunayoshi, of all people, who doesn't go home when that man is there, and has wondered many times how he should best crush Clan Hibari beneath his heel as the scum they are so he and Kyoya can finally focus on something worthwhile.

"That child has bonds calling her back to her home," Luce adds as if he's spoken his doubts aloud. "In either case, despite her age, her abilities have matured. There has yet to be a world that can tolerate two of the Luchessi bloodline being active at the same time, which makes this situation… somewhat dire."

Tsunayoshi glances at her, but while a cold chill goes down his back, Luce's words and determination seem to lack any and all intent suited to such words.

After all, one of them is a child in a coma. Resolving such a problem would be less work than a sneeze.

"That kind of witchcraft is really dangerous, huh," he says instead.

Luce glances back at him with that same meaningless smile. "Under ideal circumstances, our 'witchcraft' will only hinder the other, essentially nullifying each other. Under less ideal circumstances… fate- or no: the harmony of the world will naturally seek a return to a more stable state."

The smile drops off her face as she turns forward again. "I will do what I can to protect her from that, but the person that can affect the harmony of the world in such a way… that person isn't here."

"... I see," he says.

How can Tsunayoshi see anything about this situation? He's already doing good to have accepted the sudden birth of something like witchcraft in his world, if only because he himself has seen the proof repeatedly. Produced that proof, to the point that someone who is the equivalent to being part of this Luchessi Luce's household called him a scary monster (while not forgetting to also call him '-chan').

If not for Zunetto being here, how could Tsunayoshi even accept the idea that there are other worlds where Sawada Tsunayoshi had such vastly different experiences? Unfamiliar with the language of his birth, still stuck in that same awful place Tsunayoshi was at thirteen, whose heart isn't so empty, and so unquenchable, that it might never stop tormenting him?

For Sawada Tsunayoshi, who can't even assure his own survival day-to-day, nor the survival of the people closest to him outside of what he's capable of with his own two bloodstained hands - how can he accept the idea that there might be a person so powerful the entire world bends to their will? Or one so important that the world itself can not tolerate their existence?

He's said this and that about kami, but how can even a kami be something so terrifying?

(Ahh, really, that heart of his… maybe he should let it try eating this good-for-nothing world that can't even tolerate the existence of a child.)

Luce says nothing more and Tsunayoshi is of no mind to provoke her, and so they walk in silence the rest of the way down to the medical clinic on the first floor. Tsunayoshi doesn't accompany Luce to Yuni's window; he merely observes this woman who seems untouched by mundane matters as she stands there, looking in on that child that resembles her to such an excessive extent.

"I've been so embroiled in the matters of this world that I forgot the possibility of much crueler worlds," Luce muses, to no one in particular. "A perspective changes as the scenery changes."

She stands there quietly for a while longer before she turns and beckons to Tsunayoshi. He meets her in front of Narcisse's window, though he's not sure why she's walked over there.

He hasn't been back down here to see Narcisse again since that first day with Cavallone Dino and Zunetto. Only a week has passed since then, but already he looks a bit better - his skin softer, his cheeks a bit fuller. There's a hint of color to them, even - with that long white hair having been braided over his shoulder today, his eyes shut and those long pale lashes like white moth wings… he finally reminds Tsunayoshi of that child he was pretending to be at first. Before Tsunayoshi was allowed to take notice of the hospital gown he was wearing, and the knots of flesh on his arm from so many needles being stuck into it for so much time.

There's no sense of pressure this time, so Tsunayoshi thinks this guy is sleeping or otherwise he's not interested in drawing Luce's attention.

"The world isn't kind to begin with," Luce says. "'Kind' is a qualifier that humans came up with, and use mostly to mean for when things go their way. But there are billions of people in the world, with different wants and different needs. How could all of them be catered to that way?

"Looking at things with this perspective, though, that can ruin a person's heart as well."

Tsunayoshi can feel Luce's eyes fall upon him, but he doesn't look away from the young man laying in the bed. Hasn't Luce made her own decisions and become the way she must so that her household won't leave her? Although it doesn't seem like that. It seems like Luce will watch them grow apart from her and not even lift a finger to keep them.

If she can't even do that much, then how could they possibly feel good about staying?

"Those guys sometimes seem a little callous," she continues, seemingly unaware of his thoughts this time. "But that's their own way of protecting me. What do they care if one country descends into bloodshed and chaos over the presence of a few teenagers? There are still billions of other people in the world. And anyway, it wouldn't be the end of this country."

It isn't that Tsunayoshi hasn't had to do his part in class to read history and wars. It's just that he finds it a bit impossible to really grasp matters on such a scale. Narcisse is a tragedy. A country is a statistic.

And anyway, what does Tsunayoshi care about people who have nothing to do with his household?

That also probably makes Tsunayoshi callous. His heart is a twisted, black thing, though; asking him to spare any consideration for scum that are determined to bring harm to the people he cares about is nothing short of madness.

Since this is how he is, how can he ask others to spare him that kind of consideration? So he vaguely replies, "something like that, how can I hold it against them?"

"I'm glad," Luce says, a perfunctory reply of approval. "It would be good if everyone could get along."

"I think so, too," Tsunayoshi says mildly, even though he's already made a fool of himself to Reborn and insulted him on top of that.

Anyway, it isn't as if Tsunayoshi is a difficult person to get along with. He's honestly capable of anything when it comes to achieving his ends - becoming a demon, yes, but also allowing whomever to trample upon him. His household is the one that cares about that kind of thing. As long as it isn't causing a problem, then what does some other person's shitty opinion of his worth mean to him?

Even if something was done to him, then what should Tsunayoshi care, since he's gotten along fine despite it?

"I somewhat had a premonition, before Yuni arrived in this world," Luce continues after a moment. "Something exceptional would happen in Italy. Something to do with the Vongola family. Normally such localized events wouldn't be able to gain my attention, but this was a rather strong feeling."

"Vongola is Xanxus' family, isn't it?" Tsunayoshi asks.

"Yes, though it has much more significance than only that," she agrees, folding her hands together, still gazing at Narcisse. "Things that cause a disturbance to the Vongola family are easily capable of disturbing all of Italy, and sometimes even far beyond Italy's borders. Usually they can handle these matters themselves without any interference or guidance. I can't be sure, but being that you and these other children have landed in Cavallone hands, that would also make you Vongola's problem. And Vongola… is sometimes voracious."

She pauses and glances down at Tsunayoshi. "But any family that tried to absorb you would likely end up with indigestion."

Tsunayoshi glances up and smiles mildly. So what about some Vongola family? He has no interest nor intentions of entertaining the whims of these conceited families.

"I thought, perhaps, to give you some warnings, or some guidance," Luce continues mildly. "Cavallone Dino tells me that you have grown up outside of the natural structures that would support people like us, with powers like us."

Although all along, Tsunayoshi has known the excuse of 'witchcraft' for a lie, had even used that word to prod the others about it - this is the first time someone is openly acknowledging this thing to to his face.

"Although I will certainly seek to return everyone to their homes," Luce continues, "I don't think it would do your home any favors to send you back ignorant. Or rather - the knowledge that you've gained this week is just enough to be dangerous to you, rather than helpful."

"Oh?" Tsunayoshi says, rather startled. And then, "what would Luchessi Luce want in return?"

"I'm not certain I understand Sawada Tsunayoshi enough to set a price," Luce says blandly.

Ah.

He pauses. It isn't as if he's intentionally hiding it, except that Zunetto seemed to think it was a good idea and set the whole masquerade into motion while he was still sleeping off whatever happened between that facility and Dino's mansion.

Glancing up at her, he takes in the same perfectly meaningless, vague smile she always gives.

"Keeping in mind Nayo-kun's means, of course," she adds.

With an abashed smile, he says, "I'm not sure how a dame kid like me could accomplish something that wouldn't be possible for Luce-san."

"Learning to delegate is an important skill for those in leadership positions."

And well, she has a point. There are a lot of things that Tsunayoshi can do to assure the safety of the people relying on him, except be in multiple locations at once. So yeah, that's a thing that he's learned how to do, to have his household lend a helping hand, and those kids with too much free time on their hands and a predilection for calling him 'aniki,' even when they're actually older than him.

"Haaa, so that's how it is," Tsunayoshi sighs, watching Narcisse's chest rise and fall, rise and fall. Narcisse could probably teach him all kinds of things, but he's either playing dead or recovery isn't going as great as Tsunayoshi would like. And anyway, no matter how many questions Luce can answer about witchcraft, she still can't answer the questions that Tsunayoshi has about that month, the facility, and being kidnapped.

There are a lot of things that Tsunayoshi would like to ask him about.

What was the point of picking out someone for him, anyway?

Tsunayoshi wasn't grateful in the first place. In the end, wasn't this just causing him more problems?

But things like that can be pursued later. Anyway, that guy won't die until he's had his revenge, and Tsunayoshi can wait as long as that to pick that bone with him.

"Although it's easy to say - 'try to get everyone home' - something like that… won't be easy," Tsunayoshi says. "Those people failed tens of times."

"Mm. They were also working backwards, though," Luce says. "From what Verde has told me of the situation, none of the staff were our kind. In fact… their staff couldn't be our kind. It never would have worked if they had been. Ultimately, those people were like cavemen trying to use a gun."

Some kind of phantom numbness sparks across the nerves of his fingertips. The smell. "Ah, is that so?" Tsunayoshi murmurs, loosely making a fist. The palms are cool and damp, so it's only sweat.

Roughly speaking, aren't he and his household also the cavemen in this situation, using a gun to bludgeon someone and stupidly unaware that pulling the trigger can spell death?

"Putting people back in their proper places, that would be much easier than removing them." Luce pauses for a moment in consideration. "There is no metaphysical harm in everyone being here. Were there metaphysical harm caused by your presence, I would have become aware of that place the moment the first one was brought over." She glances at him, but doesn't wait longer than a breath for a reaction that never comes. "One can pull a stitch and unhem a shirt sleeve, but the folds will remain, and the cloth will continue to fold that way without much effort at all."

"What a relief," Tsunayoshi sighs, even though he doesn't believe it yet.

Now Tsunayoshi has to decide yet another thing: when - if - Luce presents them with a solution, who should go first? That is to say, who shall they test this method on, and risk them becoming a ghost after surviving this long?

Ah, Tsunayoshi really hates this kind of thing.


NOTES:

* Luce and Nayo's life philosophies are incredibly incompatible. It's good that they're both Skies or otherwise there would have been a fight.

* In this chapter in particular, Nayo is distancing himself, so you see a lot of him referring to people as "that [name]." It's literally just his usual mechanisms kicking in finally.

* Some people know that Nayo is in his home universe, but the others have no reason to suspect it since Nayo wrecked that facility darned good.

Fon thinks this kid really has a startling resemblance to his grandson's sky (really, they're basically the same person, it's not unexpected!) but pffft, if Kyoya's Sky was missing, even Kyoya would let him know, right? Right? RIGHT?! KYOYA?!