Hiatus Recap (take 2): Namimori is a global retirement town and/or safe place for the families of active criminals. It's also the hometown of Sawada Tsunayoshi, an anxious teenager raised mostly by his mother and assorted varieties around the town who rightfully fear what this idiot might drag them all into.

Abducted by foreign agents and taken to Italy, Tsunayoshi gets something of a crash course in the local criminal elements and comes to the attention of the global superpower.

AKA: that fic where Dying Will Flames make you yandere, Kyoko is Tsunayoshi's half-sister, the first 20 chapters were all a dream, AU!Tsuna is a Sun-type raised in mafia Italy, baby AU!Dino-and-Xanxus ended up harmonized, and the Arcobaleno AGE SHIFT?!


Chapter Twenty Six: we've met before (but nice to meet you)


After sufficiently 'threatening' Tsunayoshi, Luchessi Luce says nothing more in regards to her intentions or the things that he should have learned when his heart first ignited.

This feeling is almost reassuring in its familiarity. If not for the fact that Tsunayoshi had so recently re-lived his life, he wouldn't have even known why he is finally able to settle down his restlessness. It isn't by any means a good feeling - this sensation of a looming disaster hanging over his head at someone else's whims - but it is a feeling he knows how to deal with.

Anyway, it's fine. In the first place, he doesn't know what price the information will come at, and even so: he has a secondary source of information so long as no one tries to prevent him from meeting Narcisse. It's nothing so drastic that Tsunayoshi feels that he'll do anything to succeed, but - ahh - it should be that both Luce and Cavallone Dino won't want to provoke him into conflict over such a small matter.

Luce is certainly able to squash him like a bug, and he doesn't want to fight Dino, but neither of them are the type to resort to violence first. Wouldn't squandering a resource like him be stupid?

The two of them plus Dino's servant finally leave the medical ward behind and return to the dining hall where everyone else was left. It's just that even though those three or four of them have some things in common with pacifists, the lot that are following them can't be said to be the same. No matter how levelheaded they as leaders are, restless idiots with nothing to do but worry about those leaders all day long, fretting about them being mistreated or taken advantage of, how can they sit politely and drink tea?

In this way, Luce and Tsunayoshi arrive back upon a very chaotic scene.

Front and center are two children, roughly six years of age, covered in red marks sure to blossom into bruises, and bloodied besides. The blond one is trying to get a headlock on Reborn, who has both thumbs stuck into the blond boy's mouth with the intention of stretching it until the boy's face breaks. The twelve year old in the cloak appears to be taking bets from some strangers that Tsunayoshi thinks are probably Cavallone Dino's men given the hapless way that guy is watching them, while Verde has shown up and is having a nice chat with Kyoya's family member over some documents of some kind.

The rest of the room are all various levels of terrorized by this bizarre murder-child deathmatch. That small Dino has been secured in a relatively safe location by Xanxus, while Zunetto gives the newly arrived Tsunayoshi a look of such grievance that Tsunayoshi suffers a moment of doubt over just who wanted to separate from whom.

Ahh, that guy. He really makes it impossible not to know why Tsunayoshi's own household bully him so much.

Zunetto isn't the only one to notice their arrival. The two children having a softcore deathmatch also react; the blond child immediately makes puppy eyes, whimpering out a pathetic. guilty: "Luce!"

Reborn scoffs and finally manages to escape from the headlock, promptly kicking his assailant in the face. The other child isn't quite knocked flying, but he is knocked over while Reborn prissily produces a handkerchief from his pocket and begins to rub the blood off his own face. In true troublemaker fashion, he really appears to not care one bit about any trouble he might get into now that he has been caught red-handed.

Honestly, Tsunayoshi is also a bit horrified at this bloodied scene, but what should he do about it? Even though it must hurt, neither child is crying and he definitely isn't familiar enough with them to come forward without being needed. He fidgets uncomfortably while beside him, Luce sighs and then offers one of her meaningless smiles.

"Everyone, it seems like this will be something that requires our full attention… thank you all for coming on this short notice, and apologies, but it seems that this will need priority. As for this child," Luce adds, and then sets her hand on Tsunayoshi's shoulder, sending a sudden tremble of alarm through him, "it would be best if someone were to lend him a hand."

The entirety of her household seems somewhat shocked. They were already all paying attention to her, including Verde and Kyoya's family member, but even that guy's poker face breaks over that announcement.

That Cavallone Dino abruptly clasps his hands together, shuts his eyes, and begins muttering under his breath.

"You can't!" Zunetto bursts out in a wild panic. He charges forward as if he might grab onto Tsunayoshi's arm again, but doesn't actually get within three meters of Tsunayoshi, only looking at Luce. "How can you - getting him involved in this is-!"

Light eclipses Verde's glasses, rendering his expression difficult to read in full. "Luce, that's my research subject…"

Luce is unrelenting. "Even so, I need him for my own purposes."

No one asks Tsunayoshi what he thinks or if he wants to serve some other person's purposes. Truly, if Luce does arrange someone to teach him, then he does owe her a favor in return, but… it is a bit ugly when it's said that way. Tsunayoshi doesn't really care for it.

But, haha, does he have the right to refuse this woman who can squash him like a bug so easily?

Ahh, ahh, isn't it good that it's just him by himself? It would really stress him out too much if she had the kind of leverage against him that so many others have used before.

The two six year olds exchange glances, little faces like deathly serious adults. "Count us out," Reborn says somewhat grimly, and the blond boy bobs his head in agreement. "Even if that lot won't keep their noses out of this, if it's us, that's just too convenient for them."

"Agreed. Verde is also no good," Luce says, receiving a scoff from the man in question but no arguments. Even Tsunayoshi knows that the conflict of interests there would be too huge, it's better not to tempt him.

Viper sneezes before very diligently returning to counting the money she's gathered off Cavallone Dino's men, and only gets a glance in passing from Luce.

"It's also no good for me to do it," Luce admits after a moment, "but Fon-san needs to focus his attention on the larger problem at hand."

Eh - ehhh? This family member of Kyoya's is… also called Fon? Tsunayoshi has some vague notions that in some places, it's rather normal to have family members share a name across generations, but aren't there some places that also forbid it? Granted, he isn't entirely clear on where exactly this family member and little Fon sit on Kyoya's family tree, but it's a bit odd.

"Eh - but hasn't everyone already been canceled out?" Zunetto says doubtfully. He starts slightly and says with hopeful eyes, "then, isn't it fine to forget about it?"

"How can that be fine?" Xanxus asks critically, and for a brief moment, almost literal sparks fly between those two while they glare at one another. Ah, so Xanxus still wants to crush that guy's head beneath his heel even in the face of these powerhouses.

"There's no need to forget about it," Fon says, sitting back slightly and lowering the documents in his hands. "I'm willing to do it. It won't require much time or effort, so I can continue to think of solutions after such a break."

Not everyone seems surprised about this, but Reborn, who is the closest to Luce and Tsunayoshi, shows a very childish look on his face all of a sudden. It's the kind a kid will show when he deeply, sincerely doubts an adult's intelligence and excuses. "... is that really okay?" he asks Luce while pointing at Fon. "Won't the things he teaches be a little weird?"

Tsunayoshi blinks, thinking: in what way? But a glance to Fon only shows the same mild pokerface as usual, treating Reborn's words as if from a normal child and not Cavallone Dino's tutor.

"It's fine even if it's weird," Luce muses, glancing down at Tsunayoshi. "Nayo-kun's situation is a bit strange, and shouldn't be treated the same as being tutored."

… the implications of that kind of sentence is a little troubling, but in the end, Tsunayoshi is only a child from an island in Japan, what does it matter to him? It isn't as if he has preferences regarding who is teaching him what. Being taught directly is still better than just accepting whatever minuscule scraps of charity are carelessly discarded in his general direction. So long as he thinks about things seriously, it shouldn't make a difference.

Besides, he may have only briefly encountered Kyoya's family member and in such an awful situation, but Fon really is the closest thing to a familiar and trustworthy face right now.

Since that's so, Tsunayoshi turns to Fon with an earnest expression. "Um, I'm a bit stupid, but I'll be in your care," he says, dipping into a shallow bow. Fon blinks and offers a very minor adjustment of his expression, from being generally pleasant to being vaguely pleasant toward Tsunayoshi.

Next to Fon, Verde scowls to the point that even his mouth tugs down into a disgusted moue; it's a bit hilariously childish for this man who has been remote and cold, or even harsh all this time. But-

"Who even is this person?" Zunetto complains, not directly to anyone but still airing his grievances. "How can he know what's good to teach with Nayo's position?" At this, he turns directly to Cavallone Dino. "Is there really nothing that can be done?"

Cavallone Dino peeks one eye open from where he's been steadily praying since this conversation began. His expression is a bit helpless - it's been clear to everyone that Zunetto has wanted to rely on him from the very beginning, but this is a bit awkward. Even Zunetto should have been able to tell that Cavallone gave up his say the moment Luce and her household showed up - what is this guy doing putting this guy on the spot like this?

Tsunayoshi thumbs his left wrist bone and says nothing.

But Tsunayoshi not saying anything is only Tsunayoshi - the blond child who fought Reborn isn't nearly as sanguine. In fact, the change that comes over him is startling, the only childish thing about him is his own diminutive body: the feeling that ripples off him like heat off a summer sidewalk is worthy of crushing others with a casual flick of the wrist.

The fingers on Tsunayoshi's left hand tremble, and he blinks. I see, so it's like that.

"And with what identity is this maggot wailing about things?" he demands, his childish voice suddenly wielded as a weapon, piercing and sharp.

Zunetto startles, staring at the child with wide eyes, but that child - Collonello - doesn't stop. His blue eyes are like flecks of frigid ice, his childish mouth pulled open into a snarl. "What the hell is this kind of thing? You really have guts! Of everyone here, you're the one with the least right to have a say! Ch'. A thing that climbed halfway into a grave he dug himself should just go ahead an' die an' stop causing problems for the rest of us!"

"You-!" Zunetto recoils, going from shocked to the light in his eyes being-

Reborn snickers, pointed and sharp, looking down upon his fellow murderchild with a twisted little smile and sly, black-button eyes. "You know that he's half-dead, but still got mad at him."

"It's really disgusting!" Collonello bellows in protest, successfully distracted. He points exaggeratedly at Tsunayoshi. "Something like that dares to try controlling-!"

Fon lets out a sigh and stands, completely taking the wind out of those two children's sails. "Really similar," he says, then turns a look on Tsunayoshi. There's really nothing special about it, but with just that glance, Tsunayoshi vividly remembers: that man with red-smoldering-black eyes that cheerfully said that Kyoya and his friends only left the one, so settling for a message would have to do.

It's good to remember that behind that same milk-mild expression had burned such an all-devouring fury that Tsunayoshi had been dazzled by its brilliance and still to this day couldn't forget it.

Fon holds his hand aloft and smiles, perfectly pleasant, perfectly meaningless, and - ah, somehow it seems like this is where Luce learned it. "Then, Nayo-kun, shall we begin?"

-0-

It doesn't precisely surprise Tsunayoshi that Cavallone Dino's house has - not exactly a dojo, but a training room. Likely several. He didn't expect their existence, but upon he and Fon being led to one, there is only a mild oh, right. Cavallone Dino's house has its own intensive care unit. Why wouldn't there be a reinforced room and 'equipment' locked up nearby?

It's something that Tsunayoshi files away for further consideration along with many of House Cavallone's other arrangements.

First, he still has to survive whatever explanation that Fon deigns to give him, he thinks as he follows the very measured steps Fon takes before coming to a halt exactly when he means to; turns and looks at Tsunayoshi with fathomless dark eyes.

Tsunayoshi doesn't immediately stop at the same time, closing the gap before feeling that just out of arm's reach is the correct place to be. Everything that Tsunayoshi has ever done has all been based on his eerily accurate gut feelings, starting from even before his body picked up a gun and extinguished five lives with it, but honed after that, again and again - his self the knife, scraped and ground into the shape best suited for his purposes.

That means that Tsunayoshi doesn't always know what he's going to do before he does it. There are natural stutters and hesitations in his movements, aborted actions and sudden starts. It looks a lot like hesitation - insecurity - to people who don't move like that: Clan Hibari, and Old man Yamamoto, and-

Fon.

All of the people from that household exist in a way that makes Tsuanyoshi's head hurt, one step slightly separated from the rest of the world, but it's a bit more obvious in Fon. The way he moves is very natural but also very measured, both with and against the world as if it pivots at the point under his feet.

(If he is a kami, then-)

Fon gives a very natural smile, still one step out of sync with the world but shifting to give the illusion he moves with it. "You were told you have 'witchcraft,'" he says evenly. "This is not entirely incorrect."

Fon doesn't strike him as the type of mentor that appreciates meaningless participation, so Tsunayoshi only shifts his expression enough to show he's listening. He already knows that, but it's a bit interesting to have someone 'in the know' agree with him so easily.

"Predictably," Fon continues dispassionately as he tucks his hands into his sleeves, "where there are those who stand separated from normal society, there is a language to describe this difference, and there is secrecy. Better not break certain rules, so I will continue to refer to this difference as 'witchcraft.'"

"Ah," Tsunayoshi says, enlightened. "That's what Zunetto is worried about, right? The people who enforce the rules?"

"It's a concern," Fon allows. He allows the possibility, but his words refuse to commit or admit, and there is a sideways glance and slow blink that suggests in his opinion, at least, Zunetto's concerns lay elsewhere.

A tremble of tension goes through Tsunayoshi before escaping as a shaky sigh. Ahh, with the direct influence of That Man, what else could be expected? Who all could he learn from?

He feels vaguely sick, and not even the confirmation that there is some kind of secret police that has caused everyone to speak around in circles all this time can soothe it.

Namimori has always known. He saw it first in That Man's eyes, and ever since then, they always cursed him with 'Sawada.' Namimori knows about witchcraft, or at least enough of them do, especially Shioya, and just like Shioya, that Cavallone Dino has shitty expectations of his behavior-

He must not even be wrong, is the thing, because even in a world where Tsunayoshi's witchcraft is different - a world where it's less threatening than what comes to Tsunayoshi innately - people will still turn their backs and guard against him.

"This witchcraft," Tsunayoshi says, "must have some - ah, spiritual aspect?"

Fon smiles, a flicker of approval in those dark eyes. "There is," he agrees. "As well as a physical aspect. It is still largely a mystery how it specifically works, but one part is as important as another. For example, the young Xanxus you rescued started out with the same witchcraft as the Xanxus of this world. However, some aspect of his spiritual self became damaged, and his witchcraft has since changed, resulting in his situation with the young Cavallone Gherardino."

"Ah - speaking of that," Tsunayoshi says, "neither of them - well, they don't seem happy about it?"

"An adjustment period," Fon says easily, unconcerned. "On some level, it was chosen, but they are young and inexperienced. It makes pragmatism difficult."

Tsunayoshi vaguely remembers being thirteen, when 'I don't want' had seemed like irrefutable logic, a law in itself of his narrow, lonely frigid world. He thinks, reflexively, of a cherubic face stained red and a sulky pout of 'a child's heart is soft,' and then the glassy affront Reborn had looked at him with when he himself was an idiot who misunderstood.

Pragmatism is difficult in general, he thinks, recalling all the nonsense his household has gotten up to in the last two years - both on account of their own struggles to connect to one another, and on account of those wretched scum with more pride than common sense, more senseless anger than an ability to learn from their mistakes.

How many refused to consider compromise no matter what, no matter what, no matter what. And then what they did in those last struggles that only accelerated a heart madly pumping blood out of an artery, cut.

Really, Tsunayoshi has never felt that violence is the answer, it's just that so many people refuse to respect any other.

"It's a witchcraft thing, though," he says, feeling fairly certain of his presumption.

"Yes," Fon agrees, and then continues with a vaguely pleasant expression: "if you can recognize that their situation is driven by witchcraft, then you should be aware of your own instincts and urges that people without witchcraft do not have."

Tsunayoshi's mouth trembles and attempts to curl into a smile, but doesn't quite make it. Up until this point, nothing about this conversation with Fon has been uncomfortable, but - ah, this is really starting to make his heart rate kick up, and his shoulders reflexively round. Nothing to see here, just some dame kid.

But it doesn't really make any sense for Tsunayoshi to feel this way. All of Namimori knew what was wrong with him all along, so suffice to say: especially everyone here knows what's really wrong with Tsunayoshi.

Reborn had called it a type of 'temperament,' the way Tsunayoshi's witchcraft is, and one he shared with the others. One he, thinking back, shares with That Man, and Sasagawa Kyoko, and Longchamp Naito - with that Cavallone Dino, and with Luchessi Luce.

A kind of sticky, needy, twisted thing that will die if left alone; needs others to support it, and is jealous about it. Never disliking Kyoko or Naito, but always feeling that it's better if a part of his household speaks to a part of theirs. Of That Man and not going home if Tsunayoshi can help it when he's there.

Encroachment, but being too pathetic to defend against it, and therefore tolerating the violation for his household's sake. Being more dame than usual, dull, clumsy, and never flinching, never twitching even an eyelash if that man's eyes glimmer unnatural colors, if his pressure hammers down on Tsunayoshi and suffocates him.

And especially never allowing his household to meet that man with such vehemence that even as reckless as Haru is, and as relentless as Takeshi is, they obey.

Iemitsu told him 'good job' all those years ago, but has never trusted him since, Tsunayoshi thinks.

(How can it be considered stealing if it is someone left behind? But some people are like that. Even if they don't want something, even if they cast it aside: it's also impossible for them to tolerate another person picking it up.

It's just, ahhh, if the person he wants to protect doesn't agree, then that protection is also from himself, you know?)

"I know," Tsunayoshi admits with some difficulty, avoiding Fon's gaze. "But - that can be avoided, right? Even if on some level, those two chose it, but they didn't choose it with their whole hearts, right? Forcing someone is..."

And then Fon - laughs.

It's a quiet thing, not harsh or mocking nor loudly amused, just a little mirthful; pleasantly surprised. Fon chuckles and somehow seems to lose a little of that sense of him having to carefully, measuredly move through the world to stay in sync with it. Not enough to count for anything, but just slightly.

"Some of the most difficult feats for someone with your type of witchcraft, you really do manage naturally," he says, amused.

Tsunayoshi tries not to stare too hard. Even extensive exposure to Kyoya's everything over the years hasn't made Tsunayoshi immune in the least to that family's good looks. But it's especially not helped by the fact that Kyoya has never laughed like that, thank heavens: Tsunayoshi would die to death if he had, it's really entirely too bewitching. He almost certainly would have combusted on the spot.

"Wh-what do you mean?" he stutters out, like the mess that he is.

The expression on Fon's face is not meant to be alluring, but it is anyway; that expression of an experienced, worldly person that doesn't curse him for 'Sawada' and more than that: actually approves of him. His resemblance to Kyoya, and the long sooty fan of lashes, only makes it exponentially more devastating.

"For one, you dislike fighting," this dazzling threat to Tsunayoshi's sanity explains. "People with witchcraft are very territorial, though what they are territorial over can vary greatly. Those with your type of witchcraft tend to repel others of the same kind. Even if one is weaker, they tend to become… aggressive."

Tsunayoshi blinks, still more than a bit muddled. "Oh," he says, remembering the itch to snuff it out, "but that wouldn't help anything. And neither of the Cavallones wanted to fight, either."

"From what I have been told, it's very likely that the younger was already forcibly brought to submission by you back when you rebelled against that facility," Fon explains. "The elder has had time to learn and control his urges when encountering another of his kind." He smiles then, a little thin and strange. "And he was raised by Reborn. I don't know that a single student of Reborn's has come out normal."

His stomach abruptly tightens and squirms. "I … I didn't meet the younger Dino back then," he objects unhappily. "I couldn't have - I mean, I wouldn't have-"

"Ah." Fon gazes at him gently, but unrelentingly. "You did. According to Verde, you exerted your Will. The younger was weak, and drugged. He had no way of defending himself when you told him to get up and fight."

Tsunayoshi looks back at him in dismay. He had really lost control, if he'd done something like that - although he still doesn't get it. What exerting Will? But he also hadn't understood about the ice until later. He lost control. Lost his cool. And then he'd killed a lot of people he hadn't meant to and also became a tyrant.

"According to our society, you were within your rights," Fon adds, glancing down toward Tsunayoshi's trembling fingertips. "It values strength, after all. You could, and failed to offend anyone stronger, and so: you were right."

He wasn't, actually, but Tsunayoshi takes a breath and feels steadier anyway. He can't just become a tyrant, but that's between himself and what he's willing to do, and as long as it isn't a threat to his household, then he'll deal with it on his own time.

"It really isn't rare for those with your type of witchcraft to stabilize a situation through that kind of strength," he continues with the ease of someone very accustomed to wielding power as he wishes. "They're often pushed into becoming leaders, and leaders must have someone to lead. This creates factions. With limited resources - money, territory, people - comes competition."

It is interesting to hear it all said like this, explained this way, plainly put into words, but in the end… it's only that it's being said that makes it a novelty. Tsunayoshi has known these things for a long time already.

After meeting the others, he had thought that what made him different from those scum in Namimori is the thing he has come to know as 'witchcraft.' Fon makes it sound like Cavallone Dino and Luce aside, they're just as stupid and disgusting as that scum.

"Part of this competition is managing to gather one of each type of witchcraft, and how strong those gathered people are. For example, the elder Cavallone ranks fairly in the middle, and has someone above him that he answers to, which means he's allowed to gather about three. If he gathered more, he would become a target of his neighbors and invoke suspicion from his superior.

"But there is one type of witchcraft that would significantly alter this dynamic," Fon says with a slightly intent look in his eye, like he's making certain that Tsunayoshi is paying attention. "That type of witchcraft is very rare, very powerful, very, very difficult to attract… and even harder to keep. It's a point of pride if a claim can be laid to them, although many will settle for a less profound relationship… through a contract, for example."

Tsunayoshi has a vaguely bad feeling about this even as he sweeps his eyelids down, making a vain attempt to seem nonthreatening. "If that's how they're viewed, I wonder why it's so hard," he says, flat and dry.

Fon makes as if he's coughing into his knuckles, but he's obviously laughing at Tsunayoshi. "Those with your witchcraft have it worse," he points out. "Even if you don't want to fight, others may not agree. They're much older, much more experienced, and have much greater backing than you. If they can overcome seeing you as a threat and leave you alive… not everyone wants to follow the same type of leader. Getting you under their thumb and controlling you, and those who will want to follow you - that's also a type of gaining power."

Those that run herd on others aren't always scum, just like Kyoya isn't scum, but a lot of them are. Some of them are even the kind that know how to negotiate and change their methods if annihilation is the other option. Tsunayoshi had stepped on the worst ones, and the blockheads that don't understand his household isn't up for grabs, and the rest - as for the rest, he didn't care, as long as they stopped acting intolerably. He never even had to check for himself because all those who call him 'taichou' and 'aniki' have done it for him. Relayed concerns to him.

It would have been very easy to take their people and their power for himself if Tsunayoshi had been that type.

There is a certain kind of angry smolder in the charred hollow of his chest. "Yes, I see," Tsunayoshi says, biting his lower lip, the hard line of the scar.

"Do you see?" Fon asks. His tone is still serene, his gaze gentle, with a comfortable lack of tension in his shoulders and feet - but at the same time, there is a hint of a very heavy pressure.

If Iemitsu's pressure is like a sledgehammer fit to collapse a building, then Fon's pressure is like the moon crashing down upon the earth. It's immense, and inescapable. Worse than a planetary extinction event: wouldn't it scatter the very planet itself into an asteroid belt?

Tsunayoshi would probably die if exposed to it more than just this looming suggestion of pressure on the distant horizon.

"A person like you could possibly even lure in one of those difficult people who won't be tied down," Fon says. "You don't want to fight and you don't seem to trigger aggression from those like you and you don't know anything about your heritage. Tell me, Sawada Tsunayoshi, do you understand the situation you're in?"

Tsunayoshi flinches and shrinks back even if Fon probably isn't seeking his submission. He loses nothing in flinching in the face of such overwhelming power.

He does understand, though. This has more or less always been the case: Namimori has long viewed him as a thing they should probably soon kill, but whatever weight Sawada had was enough to both curse him and secure him. Tsunayoshi never rested assured with just that, of course, but-

Yes. He is a very small, very brightly colored fish all by himself in a very large and open ocean.

Better that than have his household with him, though.

"Yes… I - I understand," he stutters, and allows it to mean that he'll learn that Fon is teaching him so.

Even if Luchessi Luce means to use him in such a way and Tsunayoshi currently would not be able to resist, and even if Fon, as a member of her household, intends to inform Tsunayoshi of his fate and warn him off resisting - well. Bugs aren't always helpless and harmless, and a kami can also be slain.

There isn't any need to make someone regret their actions immediately.

And if nothing else, Tsunayoshi has learned very well how to suffer in effortless silence and with a smile.

-0-

It's just bits and pieces, some philosophy, some history, that Fon very patiently explains to him in regards to witchcraft. 'Witchcraft,' still. Luchessi Luce wants to make use of Tsunayoshi toward her own ends, but still they won't induct him into their secret society and give him the truth.

It is all terribly familiar. Thirteen and wandering the streets of Namimori again, having wanted someone to stop but not being strong enough that he could make them in a less permanent way. Narcisse whispering in his ear, also using Tsunayoshi for his own purposes, but from such an awful, trapped position that even as terrible as the whole thing is, Tsunayoshi can't hold it against him.

(If Tsunayoshi had been able to reach the parts of himself that were trapped with his teeth, wouldn't he also have chewed, and chewed, and chewed?)

Fon tells him there are characteristics of such witchcraft. Witchcraft that builds, and witchcraft that destroys, that soothes, that excites, that attacks and defends. None of it describes the wretched thing that seethes in Tsunayoshi's chest, but if he had to take a guess, what else can a world-devouring fire be but something that destroys?

"How do I control it?" Tsunayoshi asks.

That is the important thing here, most of all.

Fon looks away. He has never unfolded his hands for all these conversations - Fon doesn't gesture much, his every move so carefully measured with no wasted motion - but his stance seems to change. "You don't," he says. Then, before Tsunayoshi can react, his eyelids lower, glossy black eyes overshadowed by the ledge of his lashes. "Outside of very rare exceptions, witchcraft requires a tool to manifest. Otherwise, it would be much more difficult to keep it a secret."

"But then - the ice-"

Fon turns back to give him a look of such tolerance that Tsunayoshi's mouth snaps shut and he blushes. One of those very rare exceptions, he is forced to assume.

"In a more normal situation, your greatest concern should be the instincts that accompany the witchcraft," Fon continues. "One would have a great many ambitions while lacking the ability to realize them as well as the discipline to avoid disaster. However, the current truth is this: one like you has long since mastered their instincts, and has even come into possession of a very obscure technique that defies normal restrictions.

"You are, in fact, in a very dangerously precarious position. In essence, your very existence is a threat to the secrecy of our society."

This ultimate condemnation is delivered mellow and mild, lacking both verbal emphasis but also the terrible heaviness of earlier, when Fon had asked do you? To be fair, the spirit in which Tsunayoshi receives this is exactly the same. This information is no terrible surprise. Tsunayoshi hears it, thinks back, and realizes: ah.

That's been the problem all along, hasn't it?

"Then, I should be learning how to handle things without using that, shouldn't I," he says. He does not crassly say again, 'alright, I get it,' since Fon seems to appreciate such things so little.

Fon finally gestures, spreading his empty hands out, all loose shoulders and a helpless expression. "I don't dare teach you any such thing," he says. "Nor do I wish for any demonstration of your abilities. In this case, deniability may buy us some time."

Tsunayoshi ducks his head and grimaces like some dame kid. "Um - would that really work against those people enforcing the rules?" If they're so terrifying - if they can be reasoned with - then he would guess 'no.'

"There is nothing that can save you if they deem you in violation of our law of secrecy," Fon says without so much as twitching a lash. "Even I won't be excused. Taking such a measure is meant to control the fallout with other parties affected by such. Being able to truthfully say that I was unaware with regards to your ambitions and abilities gives both of us more freedom."

After everything, at least this time Tsunayoshi doesn't mistake this unexpected generosity as an overture. This isn't any tangible form of help or assistance, and at worse is simply a gesture to better incline him to submit to Luchessi Luce's will.

Just because others have preferred to use a stick doesn't mean that no one has tried carrots or candies before.

"However," Fon says after a moment, the word tipping precariously, as if Fon himself hadn't been certain he would pursue the topic, "there is something I find myself terribly curious about."

Fon is always so mild - so patient. As if it doesn't matter one iota if Tsunayoshi answers or not, because Fon will slowly find other avenues for answers… and yet, also as if no one would dream of not answering. After all: this man is a kami with the power of a planetary extinction event.

"Earlier, while being briefed by Verde," Fon says slowly, implacably; his bright black eyes pinning Tsunayoshi to the spot with slow reptilian blinks, "I mostly had my attention on the problem of how to deal with the others, rather than your specific case. It was rather… for the sake of my temper that I did so, you see.

"Naturally, the broader strokes were conveyed. While some of my cohorts are willing to lead us into a situation uninformed, Verde isn't one of them. And while he may lack the experience to make connections between some of his data points, I do not," Fon says, his tone slowly growing more and more gentle: an iron fist slipping on a silk glove.

It really should be threatening, Tsunayoshi thinks absent-mindedly, and maybe he would find it that way and react stupidly, but not thirty minutes earlier, Fon gave him a friendly little warning and so Tsunayoshi can immediately tell that the city-destroying force of nature brewing on the horizon won't come to his shore.

"Tell me, Xiao Tian, were you trained to use that ice?"

It would be sheer reflex to smile bitterly and say 'I don't know that I would call it training,' but Tsunayoshi... doesn't. The intense feeling that it would be a very bad idea nearly leaves him breathless.

If it were anyone else, that would probably be the ideal response. The others already think that something was done to him to make him into something - even though with both Luce and Fon suddenly speaking Tsunayoshi's full name, he's under no illusions that what the loudest person thinks is what they all think.

Or what they're willing to let him know they think, anyway.

And as much as Tsunayoshi would like to muddy the waters and imply that there is some mysterious figure in his background, ahh, Fon said it himself: he has the experience to recognize certain patterns. Tsunayoshi likely lacks a lot of the finer details of his situation to bluff his way through it.

Especially with Fon showing his temper now of all times, as if he has a personal stake in this matter.

With a humorless twist of his mouth, Tsunayoshi shrinks into himself again. "You also know, right?" he asks, glancing away. "That ice isn't a good thing."

"It isn't," Fon agrees without inflection.

Exhaling, his rabbit heart thudding under the weight of an inescapable predator's stare, Tsunayoshi admits: "No one has taught me anything about witchcraft. I wasn't supposed to be able to do it."

"Oh?" he utters, tilting his head in a manner that should seem feline except for all the ways it really doesn't.

"I mean-" Tsunayoshi had thought he would have to practice for years before managing even the smallest tricks that Hibari Ikumi played, but with what he's learned recently, also: "if they had taught me about that ice… wouldn't I have been able to get around it?"

In the next instant, Tsunayoshi nearly stumbles - does wobble on his feet, as if the air in the room had suddenly been sucked out. No pressure, but seeing a massive, city-destroying storm churning and roiling in the sky like something alive, like the wrath of a hundred kami, is nothing to be sanguine about - and even less so when between one breath and the next, it disappears without a trace.

A countdown ticking on a bomb that suddenly reaches three and then goes dark.

"'Get around it,' is it?" Fon says, each word so carefully pronounced as if to make certain that he heard and understood it correctly. "I see."

The room is utterly, absolutely still. Fon stands where he has always stood, hands folded together and tucked away, eyes narrowed into glittering slits. There are no twitching of facial muscles, no clenching teeth, no bitter twist of the lips. His chest doesn't rise with breath. His hair does not stir in the murmur of air blown into the room.

All of two seconds. That moment only lasts that before Fon slowly lets out a breath, not quite a sigh, and begins simulating humanity once more. "Yes," he says, less slow and more thoughtfully. "I see. I suppose nothing less could be expected."

Fon spends some more time murmuring to himself, this time not in a language Tsunayoshi understands, which at least gives Tsunayoshi some time to muster his weak grasp on his sanity. To manage his breathing, at least, and wrest control of his body. It keeps insisting on shaking.

First from the adrenaline letdown. Now because the sweat on his skin never managed to even touch his clothing before becoming ice.

Tsunayoshi didn't believe it when Luchessi Luce said something about a person who can control reality, but now he believes it. The shape of such a truth is slowly becoming apparent.

"As... unusual as you are," Fon says, glancing at Tsunayoshi, "I should warn you, that counterpart of yours, that 'Zunetto,' he should be equally as unusual. You should be careful."

Tsunayoshi doesn't dare unfurl from his cramped posture, shivering against the ice he doesn't dare allow to vaporize lest it betray him. His lashes tremble, and he blinks at Fon in confusion. "If you mean about his witchcraft being sick, then he, ah, already told me about it."

Fon smiles, but it's incredibly unpleasant: at the level of that demonic doll, Reborn. "He's destroying himself with something fueled by a person's determination to survive. 'Sick' could be considered an inadequate term to describe it. Yes, in fact, I'm sure it is. He should probably already be dead."

It's said as if Fon is somewhat surprised that he hasn't ensured that already, but at the same time it lacks all intention to fulfill that condemnation.

All this time, Tsunayoshi hasn't really taken much note of how wary the others are of Zunetto, but - ahh, Reborn said it himself, and Fon is standing there confirming it. It was directly said by that blond kid, 'a thing halfway into the grave he dug himself.' None of it has really been unusual, just… slightly odd to watch from the outside for once.

It's slightly starting to really annoy him, though.

"There are some things that shouldn't be meddled with," Fon continues, gazing at Tsunayoshi. "It's fine to sympathize, but Nayo-kun… sometimes when a person is drowning, even if they don't mean to, they'll also drag the person trying to save them under."

"Ah," he says with a wry twist to his mouth, "alright, I get it… I mean, I can't swim anyway, so."

And maybe Fon takes him at face value, or maybe Fon doesn't feel like it's any of his business, but he lets it go at that. But, ah, is Tsunayoshi supposed to be satisfied by any of that?

Won't someone treated that way have no other option but to curl up and die? Even if that's what they want, or at least what they see as fitting, that's simply not good enough.


NOTES:

* legitimately the most frustrating thing about all Tsunayoshis across the multiverse is that they're a cry for help, but they also refuse to accept help. Reborn coped by shooting a lot. Nayo just *gently laughs in angry*

* If she were fluent enough in Japanese to know the terms, Luce would be call Fon 'senpai' or more appropriately '-dono'

* To avoid doing a lot of world building for one line, I just had Fon call Nayo 'xiao tian,' little sky/heavens, rather than attempt mocking up flame lore for China. Although after thinking about it for a while, I'd gamble that China probably called the fulcrum of the flame set a Sky first, and other cultures borrowed that and forgot they did.

* Flame compatibility is at least a bit hilarious. It doesn't so much indicate who can bond so much as how much of a headstart they have in bonding. And it isn't universal! For example! Canon!Tsuna is compatible with most Arcobaleno!Reborns across the multiverse. Nayo very much isn't.

Canon!Tsuna also isn't very compatible with Gokudera or Yamamoto. Nayo is so compatible with Takeshi that even without a bond, Takeshi is secure enough not to have a breakdown every time he gets left behind

Takeshi, helplessly, on the phone: haha, uhh, Tsuna~ did you and Haru go out without me again?

Nayo: uh

Haru: hANG UP THE PHONE We can't let Baseball Idol Takeshi know we commit crimes

Nayo, remembering the trip to the mountains: uM?

* Fon's life is suffering. The more he tries to keep his temper under wraps, the more the world sets out to test it. Can you imagine! This kid who reminds him entirely too much of his grandson's Sky was sealed! Why, little Kyoya's Sky might also be sealed! And who would dare seal a Namimori resident? Timoteo, apparently, if he's reading the signs right. And if Vongola think they're getting their claws into Fon's grandson just because of little Tsunayoshi, maybe the world no longer needs a Vongola Famiglia.

* don't make the mistake of thinking that anyone in the mafia is interested in coddling Skies. You do not coddle a Sky. You just don't. Look at Canon!Reborn for a good example as to why - you let down your guard for a split second and suddenly that Sky has you twisted around their finger and you aren't even their designated guardian, what the fuck.