Destination Unknown.
A fan fiction by Aoi Kitsukawa
Disclaimer: Katekyou Hitman Reborn belongs to Amano Akira and its related companies; I only borrow the characters in the manga/ anime. Please enjoy reading it!
Author's Note: After posting the previous chapter, I went for holidays in Langkawi Island (check Wikipedia if you want to know more, hehe) and going there with my mother, you people can guess how hard to do the chapter. Going to the geo-park with boat, exploring a very Jurassic cave, and riding the world's most steeped cable car are the experiences I got while visiting the island (aside of window-shopping with my mother, well mostly on chocolates, he he)! Speaking the cable car, I actually have little bit of phobia with the height so when I was about to reach the second terminal and on the highest 'curving' road in the world, I almost screamed in fear and wanted to go out so badly! But the scenery is very beautiful, and if not because of the time limit, I'm sure I could stop by at the last terminal and took lots of pictures!
After my worst chapter (chapter 5), it seems like I was having some sort of 'recycling' feelings. I hope that I won't extend the story too long like before, since I know it's hard to read such a long story.
40 favs, and 66 followers, thank you very much for those who kept on supporting this story and me! Love you all so much!
lifesucxs: Well, you can say like that. Thank you very much for your review and I hope you can keep on reading this story.
Mitsu21: Thank you very much for your review. Regarding of your question, Yuni's actually in 19-20 years old. I check from reliable sources, saying that in the Future Arc, the story started 9 years and 10 months; not exactly 10 years future, and since Yuni looked like 9-10 years old during the Curse of Arcobaleno Arc, she's mostly in 19-20. However, I prefer that she is 20 years old, since this story is exactly 10 years later.
Sera: I really glad that you love this chapter! You see, actually this chapter is really hard to make since this chapter concerning of the mysteries that surrounded the Vongola Family, and what kind of clues they will get. I really laughed hard when I made the chasing-shooting-bombing scene! Hahaha! And I knew both Timoteo and Reborn (especially!) would LOVE enjoying the scene.
I tried my best to reveal what exactly Tsuna's crime so please keep on reading!
Morgan: Thanks for the review! I really appreciate it!
Uh oh, lots of mistakes? I check the chapter after reading your review and much to my embarrass, it DID have LOST of MISTAKES! Urgh, it must be because of me wanted to finish the chapter so much that I forgot to re-check it! I'm so sorry!
Hina: Thank you very much for reading this story. Please be patient, as this story is going to be interesting!
Backstage-worker: Woa woa, easy my dear, easy! Don't be too mad, I know what the Family and friends did on Tsuna was not good, but please calm down. Cool, alright? By the way, thank you for read and review my story. I'll try my best to update it fast.
Mona: Well, most of your review is about how you feel about Tsuna, some of them did made sense. Especially when you mentioned about Tsuna's childhood, however I don't think he was mistrust or being treated very badly. I don't think Tsuna did not having friends during his childhood, it's just that he probably did not having close friends with him until he entered middle school.
You like Suzume? Wow, never thought my OC got a fan, and it is you. XD
So, you do have an account in this site. Well, it's alright if you want to PM me. You know, there are lots of people who did not send any of their stories and just being lurkers. If you want to ask me about the fanfic-making, well…I don't know what to say. It's ok if you want to ask me, I don't mind.
Yuri Warren: Finally…my best friend of this site had reviewing my story! Thank you very much my girl! Hahaha! Your comment can be expect as always!
Hibari's…out of character? Well…since you mentioning that way, I do think I did him a bit OOC! It's one of my bad habits when it comes to write the original characters, and because I made Hibari is related to the Katagiris, I tend to make him more out of his character! Seriously, and I know you're dying to know what exactly Tsuna was accused. I tried my best to reveal in this chapter so…enjoy it!
Summary: He left. Framed with a crime he never did, he believes nobody would ever forgive and remember him so he left the family. Little did he know that everyone had been tracing his footsteps ever since he was gone...
Destination 6: Sinking Into the Deep Water
Just because their eyes don't tear it doesn't mean his or her heart doesn't cry.
And just because they come off strong, it doesn't mean there's nothing wrong happened to them.
It was raining when she woke up.
Autumn has finally reaching Namimori as the tree leaves slowly turned from green into brown and red; some even turned golden, making the scenery of the view very beautiful and magnificent. The schoolchildren started to wear their autumn/winter uniform regardless male or female; despite the rain and the air had became colder than the previous month, all of them cheerfully talking to each other on their journey to go back home.
For Sasagawa Kyouko, there was nothing to talk anymore.
Everything was destroying her happiness ever since that incident happened.
That was what she heard through the phone call that came from Italy.
'He…he did…what...?'
Kyouko closed her eyes as she suddenly remembered the day she received the horrible news. It was after a celebration at her workplace where she worked as a waitress at one bakery café in Namimori that she received the phone call. At first, she thought it was Tsuna since he promised her to call her that day. However, the caller introduced itself as a butler of Vulpa Family from Italy, and informed her about the tragedy.
She thought her world was destroyed forever.
Kyouko almost broke down the moment she received the phone call. She tried her best to stop her tears from came out, afraid that her colleagues could see her troublesome face. It was a good thing that she already on her way back home, therefore none of her friends could see her current state. The same night after the first call, the same person who offered her to sponsor the ticket and all the accommodation to Italy had contacted her. She accepted it without hesitation thus flying straight to Italy two days later.
Her sudden meeting with Tsuna had broke into huge fracas and it ended up with Kyouko slapped him hard, cried that she hated him, telling him that their engagement was off and left the place with tears in her eyes. She did not care what happened afterwards, even if Tsuna's PA were there, and her brother witnessed the incident. She knew she should move on, leaving everything behind and started a new life. Even she tried to find new love and lover. She thought that she can do it and forgot everything about Tsuna.
She couldn't.
A month after the incident, Kyouko found out it still hard to get over it. Fortunately, for Kyouko, none of her friends and colleagues, even Miura Haru –Gokudera Hayato's fiancée, knew about her broken engagement therefore they just kept on encouraged her to be closer to Tsuna. She even thought that it was a miracle that Haru did not know what had happened. She suspected the Storm Guardian probably kept everything secret from Haru. Even now, although there is one guy who's tried to flirt with her, Kyouko found out she even more reluctant to start her so-called new love journey.
Lately she felt too tired to keep on her life, so she took several days off, and she was lucky since she rarely took days off ever since she started her work. She started her day off since two days ago, and today, the third day of her day off, she just slept on her bed, listening to the fallen rain outside. She could feel her tears gathered on her eyes again, when suddenly she saw the gold ring on her left ring finger. Narrowed her eyes, she slowly reached the ring before grasped it tightly. She intended to pull it out, opened the window and threw it away. However, as she touched the ring, the face of Tsuna's PA named Katagiri Suzume suddenly appeared in her mind. Face held nothing but calm and cold eyes, but said to the crying Kyouko without hesitation:
"Are you sure you really want to throw that ring away? Can you really do that?"
Kyouko tried her best to pull out the ring from her finger, tried her best to grasp the ring away and threw it away through the window, but after minutes passed by; her hand still grasped the ring that still attached onto her ring finger. Kyouko was unable to hold it any longer, slowly slumped against the window glass and slipped down to her bed, still clutched onto the ring. Tears fell onto her hands, as she kept on calling what Suzume had told her moments before she left the mansion in tears:
"Are you sure you really want to throw that ring away?"
The elder woman said to her with such eyes that contained determination and trust that Kyouko did not know what should she said to her, that time. However, her questions kept on ringing in her ears, over and over.
"Can you really do that?"
I…
"Can you do it Kyouko?"
I…
"Can you?"
I couldn't…
Kyouko covered her mouth as slow cries escaped, tears strained down her face more than before. Curled into fetus position, Kyouko was unable to suppress it anymore, letting go of her crying agony and pain that she held ever since her last meeting with Tsuna.
"I couldn't do it…" She sobbed, hands held near her chest. "But what should I do? Whom should I trust after everything had happened? What should I do…oh, I'm so confused…" Shaken hands slowly grabbed the light orange phone, given to her by Tsuna on her 20th birthday, and scrolled down the numbers. Finally found the numbers, she pressed the button and waited for someone to pick it up.
"Hello, is this – "
"What should I do!?" Kyouko cried, as the receiver picked up the call. "I can't throw the ring away! And worst…"
"WHY I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH HIM!?"
The receiver just silent, listening to the young woman's cries as well as the downpour of the rain…
Which happen to be at the both side of the phone callers?
-Autumn, Day 8 of Tsuna's Disappearing, Vongola Mansion, Sicily, Italy-
"You have new information on Tsunayoshi-kun!?"
Everyone in the meeting room stared at the red-haired Simon Family's Boss, who's now was sitting in front of Timoteo, Reborn, Iemitsu and Gokudera. Kozato Enma tried to calm down himself after he revealed the information that he managed to gather alongside Adelheid.
"Last week, about the morning after he left the mansion," Said Adelheid as she looked at her notes. "There's a witness claimed that she had been help by a young man with brown eyes and hair, and that he was on his way to take the Siberian-Train Railways."
"Siberian's…?!" Said Gokudera, shocked. "I…I never thought that…Juudaime…"
"How did you two found out about this?" Asked Suzume.
"Well, the old lady's things dropped down when we took our rest at one of Sicily's cafes," Said Enma as he scratched his back neck. "So when I helped her, she asked if we're from Japan, because last week, a young Japanese gentleman helped with her things too…"
"How did she know that you two are Japanese?" Asked Verde, whom this week managed to come to the mansion to help the poor Family.
"Well…she heard us talking in Japanese so it gained her attention though…thus bringing up the said matter…" Said Enma, nervously.
"So you find it with coincident…" Said Reborn as he pulled down his fedora.
"We showed her Tsuna-kun's photo and she claimed 'That's him'. We never thought that we finally get some clues on Tsuna-kun!" Enma sighed as if he was shouldering something so heavy.
"Do you have anymore information?" Asked Yamamoto with hope. Everyone could see his eagerness regarding Tsuna's information that was obtained by the two Simons.
"We asked her which direction Tsunayoshi-kun was heading," Said Adelheid as she flipped her notes, "And it appears that he was heading to Sicily Railway Station."
"The railway station!?" Cried Ryohei, shocked.
"Where he's heading to?" Asked Chrome.
"We asked one of the staffs at the counter and showed up his photo. It appears that Tsunayoshi-kun was heading to St Petersburg," Explained Adelheid.
"EH!?"
"Ho-how come…!? I've check on the transportation list; air, ground or sea but none of these were connected!" Cried Shoichi as he slammed his hands on the table, hard. Surprised, it was Suzume who chuckled inside the tense meeting room.
"Kikiki…how naïve you're Irie-kun…" She said darkly. "If it's me, I already know the reason."
"Kufufu…Suzume-san, would you kindly explain to us, the reason why?" Said Mukuro as he glared at the said woman. Suzume, smirked darkly, said with such cynical tone:
"Disguise."
That had ticked in everyone's head as all of them finally understands what exactly she meant by the 'reason'.
"He's disguising himself!?" Cried Yamamoto, shocked. Lambo and Chrome looked at each other with wide eyes, Ryohei glanced to Gokudera, Mukuro and Hibari stayed silent.
"But…he didn't change his appearance, right?" Asked Dino, who came back immediately from Poland after he was informed of the search's new leads. "If he did, the staff wouldn't identify him."
"It's simple. It's not his appearance that changes," Suzume's words echoed within the room, loudly. "It's his name!"
"EH!?"
"His…his name!?" Said Iemitsu, surprised. Suzume had to hold herself from face palmed and wondered how come he became an Advisor of CEDEF in the first place.
'To think that even the special police organization can think far than him…I'm seriously dead!' She thought as she sighed silently.
"Yes, when we asked the staff if there's anyone that had book any tickets on the day Tsuna-kun's disappeared, he said that only one passenger that booked ticket in such early morning, and his name is Samuel Gerald," Said Enma as he read his notes.
"Samuel…Gerald…?" Muttered Hibari.
"What a name…" Smirked Mukuro, although everyone could see that it was strained and painful. Even Mukuro had to admit, the missing sky had give him some effects so much.
"In other words, we have to go to St Petersburg and search for Tsuna there!" Said Dino as he stood up eagerly. The Guardians (minus Mukuro and Hibari), the Simon Family and the rest of the meeting members nodded their head. Only Suzume looked frown, something that Reborn thought was not normal for the sadistic PA (Reborn decided after she beaten the Guardians half death that she's on the same level as him as sadistic assistant!).
"By the way…" Aoba (Forest Flame-user of Simon Family) said as he pushed his glasses nervously. Everyone looked at him with question on face. "What exactly happen to this mansion?"
As if on cue, everyone looked at their surrounding and realized that almost the whole mansion was in a state of needing an emergency repair! Not to mention the Guardians themselves were wrapped in bandages and plasters; both Hibari and Mukuro wore only white shirt, black pants and shoes without their formal suits since they fell into the fountain twice, and Chrome was the only one who sat without any injuries or changes. While the current meeting room was located at the northern building, the east and south buildings were the ones that having the worst damages! With the middle patio with fountain were almost burned to crisp and many holes on the ground, courtesy of bombs, it was a miracle the area surrounding the middle patio was still intact. The roofs of both buildings were either crush to the ground, had holes or simply flew away by strong typhoon (well, since these people don't know WHO caused the strong typhoon in the first place). The walls had either bullet holes, shurikens stabbed onto them (Julie almost shouted "ninjas!" if not because of Adelheid's glare), large holes or simply were burned. Even the hallways were cracked, and all of them knew the only people who can do these much damages were none other than the Guardians themselves.
Except that, they did not do the shurikens and bullet holes. Heck, none of them was using guns as main weapons, aside from Reborn but he was not a Guardian. So who else could do it?
They watched the servants and staffs quickly cleaned up the mess, sweeping the ground, taking the crumbles to the other side of the mansion, checking if the walls need to knock down or not etc. However, not long after that, small drops slowly fell onto the ground and turned onto the ground. All of the staffs and servants had to stop their cleaning progress as the rain poured down heavily. Good thing the meeting room was safe, or otherwise they had to move the meeting to another side of the mansion.
When the rain poured down heavily with thunders and lighting in the sky growled loudly, was the moment Reborn realized why Suzume looked so tense and stiff in the first place. Each time the lighting struck the sky followed by the thunder; Suzume would flinch and grabbed her head as if she was in deep pain. Many occupants of the room realized her actions later on, as they realized how pale her face was. She looked terribly in pain, as her body slowly shook and she held her head with both hands. Hibari, knew something was wrong with his cousin quickly came to her side.
"Nee-san, are you alright?" He asked Suzume who slowly shook her head. Her eyes were tightly closed, she looked so afraid and painful and he could see sweats already gathering on her forehead. "Do you want to go back to your room?"
"Yes…please…" She said with such low voice that Hibari almost widen his eyes. He slowly felt a sense of déjà-vu came to him, but as he tried to stand her up, suddenly a very, very loud thunder struck with such force that everyone jumped in shocked, and blackout happened.
That was the moment where Suzume finally snapped and screamed:
"NOOOOOO!"
Everyone was shock to hear her scream, but the darkness in the room had forbid them from seeing what had happened to Suzume. Although the lightings sometimes appeared, they only saw her fearful face with tears strained down her face, before she fell down hitting the chairs in process.
"Suzu-nee!"
"Suzume-san!"
"Katagiri-san!"
"Katagiri!"
"Suzume-kun!"
Finally, the light came on and the door was pushed open, revealed Basil and Oregano. Basil wanted to check who was screaming during the blackout, and saw everyone was encircled Hibari (in a length that won't make him bite them to die) who was holding his shaking and crying cousin Suzume. He looked a bit panicked as he tried to calm her down, since Suzume rarely shown this side of her. Reborn, Colonello, Lal Mirch and Fon saw the blue scarf, which usual was wrapped around her neck had loose and fell onto the floor. What he and the others heard made them stared at the family relatives in shocked.
"Nee-san, nee-san! Calm down! Everything's alright…"
"No…no, everything's not alright! It's never alright in the first place!" She cried as she clenched to Hibari. "THEY destroyed everything!"
"'They'?" Hibari glanced at Dino who was kneeling next to him, who shook his head in return. "What are you talking about, nee-san?"
"I really…hate…rain…" She said as she closed her tearful eyes. "Because of 'that battle'…I lost everyone and everything important to me…just like now…!"
'The battle?' Everyone looked at each other, and wondered what exactly she said.
"How many times…how many times…they will satisfy…?" Everyone now stared at the half-unconscious PA with shock, as her voice started to rise.
"HOW MANY TIMES THEY'RE GOING TO STEAL EVERYTHING AWAY FROM ME!?" With the last scream, Suzume fainted and collapsed in Hibari's arms.
"Nee-san/ Suzume-san!" Hibari shook the fainted Suzume while Dino touched her forehead. A little bit hot, but not too high. Dino glanced at Hibari who nodded his head slowly, cradled her bridal style and stood up. Reborn, after the commotion stepped in.
"Hibari," The said man looked at the hitman whose fedora shadowing his eyes. "Do you know what exactly she's talking about?" Hibari just shook his head as he adjusted his cousin in better position. Gokudera quickly ordered one of the staffs to fetch a doctor; not Shamal due to his perverseness in dealing with patients (he only treats women right? That old man…), to treat the fainted woman. After the commotion ended that slowly, Chrome turned her head to Reborn with hand grasped the blue scarf.
"Reborn-san…" She said timidly, earning everyone's attention to her. "The wound on her neck…"
"So you also saw it Chrome?" He said as Reborn pulled down his fedora. Chrome nodded her head, while Mukuro stared at her questionably.
"Judging from the length, it's pretty wide," Fon said, while Lal nodded agree. "It's not an ordinary wound…"
"It's a scar of being slaughtered alive!"
"WHAT!?"
"Suzume-san was…!? But-but she never said anything about it!" Cried Basil.
"I also shock too, because with that kind of wound, chances of surviving is almost zero…" Said Reborn with hardened expression. "The artery could be cut off and caused blood lost unless you get immediate treatment or otherwise you're going to cross the river (1)."
"Do you think Hibari knew about this?" Asked Yamamoto, causing all eyes fell on him. "I can't help but feel that he might know something, but even he looked really surprise with the commotion!"
"Or it has something to do with the said 'battle' she said before…" Ryohei trailed off, as he too, did not know what to say. Everyone just kept quiet, with the raining down poured heavier than before…
-Autumn, Day 8 of Tsuna's Disappearing, Namimori, Japan-
"How's his condition?"
Uh…Who was that?
"Well, judging from his condition, I believe he must be in depressing for several years…OPS! Sorry, for several days…"
"Are you tried to joke with me? You're lucky Hime-sama isn't here…!"
Hime? As in 'princess'?
Do they know each other?
Do I know these people?
"Or otherwise she'll kill me. Yeah, I know, I know that Ryuu."
Oh…So it's a woman after all…no wonder why…
Wait!
Where was he?
What is going on here?
What happened to him?
"So he's just depressing? Then what the heck with his fever? Not to mention that he looks so fragile and weak!"
"I'm not finish yet! Yes, he's suffering from depression and exhaustion, but it seems that he had some kind of emotional trauma that affected him so much! Also, from what I know from Nana-san, he endured five days journey without any rest! And with an air transport! Do you have any idea that kind of situations also can contribute to his current state?"
Eh…?
"Suzaku and I just came by two days ago. Hime-sama didn't tell us what had happened to him regarding his health except that it's in terrible condition.
He stirred a little as he slowly woke up, but the light seemed stabbing his eyes so he grunted a little. But none of the men realized that he slowly awakens, due to the fact that they stood outside the room where the young man was laying down. Tsuna could hear small mutters before a gasp was heard.
"Are you serious?"
"Does I'm look like to joke around? Preposterous!"
"Both of you stop that! Look, the man's awaken!"
"Really Suzaku? Please call Nana-san!"
Sounds of walking footsteps were heard and soon Tsuna opened his eyes, saw several people looked at him with concern, and worry expression that obvious on their faces.
Where is him now?
"Are you alright?"
Tsuna looked at his right side and saw a boy with a pair of black crystal eyes, covered by glasses that shown wisdom and maturity despite his 18 years old appearance, short, messy black hair but long bangs at the sides, adding his charming and handsome face. His aura seemed cool and calm, like a leader who is always on rational state no matter what kind of situation he was. Calm and gentle, Tsuna could feel the feelings that he almost speechless if he did not realize what was going on with him.
"Where…am I?"
"You're at the Sawada Resident, Tsunayoshi-sama," Said a young woman who came by, as she looked at her other companions. "Could it be he's a bit confusing due to the fever?"
"Maybe," Said a man with brown hair and glasses, which Tsuna remembered it was the doctor that treated him before –Andou Kazumasa. "After you told me just now, I think it's more than what we could see."
The girl named Suzaku raised up her head, looking towards her companions. She was a girl in no more than 17 years old. She had blue-sky eyes that shone like clear crystal, full of life and optimist, long red hair that if people stared at her hair, they could feel warm and comfortable, slim and had average height. She fit perfectly what people would believe, energetic, cheerful and lively.
Tsuna just sighed weakly as his mother walked into the room and sat next to his side. He wondered what had happen to him after he fall asleep, aside that another two strangers were inside his house now. After he was treated by Andy (Andou) and fell asleep due to medication, inside the dark world where everything was nothing but emptiness, the nightmares had haunted him once again. All the nightmares; regardless during the incident or the present time, all of them came like a large army that came to attack other enemies territories.
He had tried to protect himself from all those nightmares, but failed.
There was nothing that could protect him in the darkness.
Nothing at all.
Could it be because he ran away from everything without defending himself?
It will never change the fact that he was accused of doing such crime that would never be forgiven by the people who associated with him. Now he ran away from the problem, he was certain that nobody would ever believe him anymore.
Never.
And he knew he deserved to be forgotten by everyone.
Really…
He…
"Stop thinking such nonsense young man!"
He quickly glanced up and his weary eyes met with cold, dark eyes.
How did he know what he was thinking?
"It's obvious that you're running away from someone, or better I say…"
"Your Famiglia, isn't it?"
Tsuna just looked down to his clasped hands. Afraid with such eyes that seemed to dig deeper into his soul, and Tsuna could feel that his soul was stained with dirt and blood; the sign of his crimes. He however, quickly shook his head, which later on he regret on doing it, as it added more pain to his throbbing head.
"Wha-what are you trying to say, Andy-sensei? I… I don't know what you're…talking about…"
"I know about your background," Tsuna stopped his small laugh as he heard Andy's said. "I heard it from your mother, and through Suzume's acquaintances Suzaku and Seiryuu; that you're the 10th Boss of the World's Strongest Mafia –the Vongola. You're the direct descendent of the first Vongola Boss named Giotto, or his Japanese name is Sawada Ieyasu. You came here due to one incident that troubled you so much, am I right?"
Tsuna was speechless. His expression changed completely that even Nana could see it clearly. Slowly looked down Tsuna mumbled in a horrid expression, "No…No, you're wrong…I am not…! I am not…!"
"Tsu-kun, please," Pleaded Nana that shocked Tsuna to hear it. "I know you told me before, that you're having a fight with your family. But, from what I see on you, it's obviously more than just a fight! Even you're having a fight with your family you never ran away and crying –just not like this!" Tsuna tried his best to calm down, but deep down, he felt like shivers ran down his spine, and tried his best to block certain images that slowly turned into his mind.
"I heard everything from Suzume-san but I want you to tell me, tell us what had happened to you, Tsu-kun!" Nana pleaded tried to convince her son to spill out the beans.
Tsuna, despite his best efforts to act as if nothing was wrong, became completely and utterly lost in his own thoughts and troubles. Andy was not blind and could clearly see his dismay but was unsure of how to deal with it. He knew that he had to act, especially after what he knew from Nana and from Suzume through Seiryuu and Suzaku, but he also knew that he would have to act carefully if he wanted to find out anything relevant.
"It's not about your usual fight with your family, right Tsunayoshi-kun?" Andy spoke softly but firmly. "You might feel better if you tell me about what is troubling you…"
Tsuna looked over at the doctor with the deer-in-the-headlights look etched on his face. He knew that there was no way in hell he was going to be able to fool his mother and Andy, and pretend that nothing was wrong, but he thought he would be able to at least fool them a little longer than this.
"I-I…doubt that…" He stumbled out with a fake chuckle.
"Try me," Andy replied dryly, while shifting his seat slightly.
"…" Tsuna hesitated. It looked like he was having an inner battle on whether to spill or not. Even Nana could see how much tense and depress her son was, which worried her a lot.
"I…I can't tell you…" he finally confessed.
"And why is that, Tsuna-kun?" Andy spoke while fixing his glasses. "I was under the impression that we were to the point where you could open up to me…"
"Well, I…" he stammered frantically. "It's not tha-that…I…I wan-want to…" tears suddenly started to spill forth from his eyes in a rapid downpour of emotion.
"Ah…" Tsuna whispered as he reached up to his face to touch the swiftly falling tears. "I-I'm sorry…"
"Don't apologize, Tsunayoshi-kun…now tell me what is going on." Andy replied in a much gentler tone. He knew that what Tsuna had experienced until now was something very big that it tortured him so much that to see him cry made him worry and he wanted to know the cause of his sadness.
He was met with silent sobs and sniffles. He glanced over and nodded to Nana, Suzaku and Seiryuu. Now they finally confirmed on Tsuna's state; he was in a full blown breakdown. He had since given up on wiping his tears from his face and it seemed he was concentrating on sniffling and trying to even out his very uneven breathing. He was trying his very hardest to cry without making any noise, though he was failing miserably. The sight was positively pitiful.
Nana sighed and slowly reached out to her son. She knew everything from Suzume although just from the other side; Suzume herself asked her to ask Tsuna himself about what exactly happened to him. She almost having a heart attack while listening to the PA, everything that happened that led to her son's runaway. It was hard to believe, but Suzume asked her to keep her faith in Tsuna, since he almost had no one to be with, and everyone he knew including his father were no longer trust him.
The bell of the house suddenly ringing; someone had arrived at the Sawada Household during the raining day, though she doubted that Tsuna noticed but it was now or never. Suzaku stood up and raised her hand, as she went out and greeted the guest. Andy sighed, realized that the problem might be bigger than what he had thought. He clenched his teeth and sighed again while Nana tried to make Tsuna talked. "Tsu-kun…" she used her softest, kindest voice she had and gently held her son's shoulder as comfort sign, "please…tells me…tell us everything…"
Tsuna turned to her, stunned. He felt so cold, too cold that he believed right now, he was in the deepest part of the darkness, a pure darkness where not even the ray light could reach him. He had worn his mask; the false face he had just to show how strong he was, without letting anyone including his Family to see his true face. The face of the weakness, the face of his own fears…because he believed he was strong, very strong to face the obstacles that appeared in front of him all alone.
Was he really that strong?
Right now, he felt like he was sinking into the deep water of the dark ocean, cruelly swallowed him and left him all alone into the darkness without anyone lend their hands to help him. Then suddenly these people appeared, lend their hands to him, not caring if he was a sinful person or not, and they let their lights to reach him, helping him…
For them to say it now…he must really…
"I-I can't stay there!" He wailed mournfully so sudden, which shocking the occupants of the room, Tsuna were breathing heavily. "The-they said that I-I am guilty for-for ra-raping Solaris Salkind!"
'Solaris Salkind?' Thought Andy, Nana and Seiryuu as the three of them looked at each other.
"Tsunayoshi-kun, calm down alright?" Andy tried to sooth the poor man. He was frantic and now that he decided to spill his troubles, it was as if a dam had broken and all the water was rushing forth. He was rushing everything out in a fast-paced jumble taking little time to breath.
"Th-they said that-that I had raped her whi-while I was dru-drunk! Th-they want me to be-be re-responsible wi-with th-the incident a-and ad-admit th-that I-I am wrong! I didn't even have any drinks that day! I told them countless time! Some-someone put something…in m-my dri-drink, because I…I just have a pla-plain water that time…and then…I felt di-dizzy! Then I-I woke up on th-the floor with loose clothes, ev-everyone was the-there, lo-looking at me…! She was on the bed, half-naked…said that I-I h-have rape her while drunk! I didn't do it! I didn't raped her! She-she lied to me, bu-but everyone…even Dad…th-they believed her!" He gasped as he continued to sob endlessly.
"Calm down" Andy said emphatically. He was barely able to follow what the hysterical man was saying. But he was getting the basic story…
"Everyone…they couldn't l-look at me…! Only Suzume…san and Arashi-san…and Romario-san…stayed with me…that they…believed in me…Grandpa…didn't believe in me…too," Andy narrowed his eyes as he heard this. "My…friends…they no longer…trust m-me…! Th-they even wondered…if I had…changed…! I didn't change! But they left me, and I'M SO LONELY THAT IT KILLED ME SEEING THEM TOO FAR AWAY!"
No wonder why Suzume was desperate to ask him to hide this man from everyone; they were the ones that caused Tsuna to break down this horrible.
"S-so…so…" He bawled, "Her father…wanted me to get responsible…on-on his daughter…he-he said I could m-marry. T-that way I would be safe…from the troubles…he w-wanted me to marry his d-daughter." He was gasping for air and being more panic by the second. "B-but I can't…I don't love her! I don't even…kno-know her! …I c-can't marry h-her! I on-only lo-loved…Kyo-Kyouko!"
"Tsunayoshi-kun," Andy said softly as he gently touched the young man's face. "I need you to calm down and breath…slowly…I can't make out what you are trying to tell me."
That was a lie. He had been able to, though with great difficulty, make out everything Tsuna had said but it was such that he felt he needed to hear it again for the information to register in his brain.
Tsuna was, from Andy's observation, definitely in a terrible state after he finally finished what he had to say; though it still sounded like he was mumbling rushed and fevered words though Andy couldn't make them out for the life of him. He must have been dwelling on this for, if not days, maybe weeks to months (2), finally his wall came crashing down, and now he was flooded with emotions that had no real outlet.
Tsuna was still struggling to breath and his tears had long since run out though he continued to sob with relentless vigor. He was hyperventilating; Andy noted as he tried everything that he could think of to get him to calm down. In clinical terms, it was like he was having an anxiety attack…if he continued on in this way he was going to…
Thud.
Tsuna slumped forward over onto Andy with a soft impact. Both Nana and Seiryuu gasped in shock as they saw how the situation had turned out to be. Nana was about to turn around and grabbed some wet towel when she realized Suzaku was standing at the door with another person at her side, staring with wide eyes.
"Pass out…" Andy whispered as he laid him back into the futon and grabbed the blanket. He looked at the tearful and paled-face Tsuna before he saw Sasagawa Kyouko was standing at the door with shock at her face, as he sighed heavily, "That was why I wanted you to calm down, stupid Tsuna…"
Suzume, you own me one for this…!
It was raining.
Again.
The rain fell down that evening, and not the normal one, with loud thunder and strong wind, giving people fear and wariness of the sudden storm. The rain heavily poured down against the window, harsh winds blew the trees and leaves, thunders and lighting struck the dark sky, making the occupants of the large mansion looked at the outside with worries. Hibari Kyouya, the Vongola Tenth Generation of Cloud Guardian, closed the files that contained certain reports before headed towards the huge window that almost occupied one side of the wall in his room. The reason for the size of the window was that Tsuna knew Hibari hates nothing more than to be confined.
The cloud guardian just huffed at the thought before pushing the curtains that covered the window and stood by the glass. He leaned his head against the glass and shut his eyes, trying to imagine his beloved hometown, Namimori. Despite the harsh weather, Hibari felt contain, until he remembered the incident this morning.
Everyone loves rain, except for one person.
He flinched a little as another thunder growled loudly in the sky. Once again, the huge raindrops fell from the darkened sky and drenched anything, which had no sense to shelter from the weather. The rain was even hitting itself on the glass window of Hibari's room.
Relentless.
Uncaring.
The rain continued to fall despite the wishes of those beneath the heavy downpour.
At the same time, he knew his cousin must have been awakening due to the loud thunder. It was not something he should be surprised since he knew, Suzume hated rain for some true reasons he really did not know.
Yes.
The reasons that only Suzume and her family knows, that not even him as her cousin could grasp it.
Her dull and cold eyes slowly opened and stared at the surrounding. Inside the large room that can be considering as bedroom-living room-kitchen room, the owner of the eyes just silent before slowly came out form the queen-size bed and blanket. The room only had the tall bed lamp as the source of light, and the room mostly covered up with the darkness.
Oh, how much she hated the current weather.
Katagiri Suzume slowly pushed the dark curtains that divided the room between her small living room and bedroom, before she lit up the candle that sat on the coffee table. A bit romantic, but not towards the owner of the room. Looking at the rain reminded her of her family, and her younger brother who's currently in Kyoto.
Despite what had happened to them 16 years ago, Arashi liked the rain, or at least he didn't mind it. Kyouya too, did not mind the rain, as it also made him feel calm whenever he listened to the rain's melody. Both of them liked rain just as the others would do; friends and companions too, didn't mind about the rain except if it has something to do with laundry and walking back home from school…which is the main enemy to them especially during their school life.
But both her and her late sister did not found this amusing.
She sat on the sofa next to the coffee table, before her eyes landed on her right arm. Several faded scars seemed to be visible again on her skin. She stared at it before stand up, grabbing her large shawl and exited the room. Staying in the room would never benefit her, so she decided to go to one of the living rooms in the eastern wing of the mansion. Although hers and Arashi's rooms were separate a little and located near the garden of eastern wing, the pathway was connected to the small building where she currently lived.
She pushed the oak door and entered the room where a large, black classic piano was inside the room. Opened the piano lid, she sat on the chair and put her fingers on the keys. Once again, she saw the scars were again.
Oh, no need to remember how much she hated raining day.
Hibari sighed.
He could feel his cousin woke up and will surely in bad mood all night, since the rain did not having any signs to stop down poured.
With Arashi in Kyoto and the other sister already passed away, Hibari was wondering who could stop Suzume from becoming berserk if someone dares to disturb her. Living with the said person for almost three years (until Hibari was about to enroll to Namimori-chuu), fighting against the said person during raining day can only led to more fatal injuries.
He liked the rain.
Whenever the rain fell, he felt contain. It was the way he seemed to just stare off into the distance, his face blissfully calm, his chest slowly raising and falling, in almost a state of meditation; even Arashi always said like that to him every time the cousin saw his state like that. His cousin, whose people always said to him that he is more likely a contrast version of his elder sister but with some of her personality, especially her quiet personality. Hibari usually chuckle or smile; actually Suzu-nee is not that talkative either.
Suzume, on the other hand, did not like the rain. Hibari, as far as he could remember, he failed to find when she ever liking it. There were, but very rare. Especially after an incident that happened 16 years ago; when he was in schooldays, he even couldn't understand why the tomboy girl always had such dead look in her eyes whenever it was raining, especially when it comes with thunder and lighting. Up to the moment when a heavy lighting strikes the sky, she would suddenly scream painfully, totally in fear that she always ended up collapsed or in shock that she cried hysterically.
Although everything finally went down after she was discard from the hospital along with her siblings and the injuries were healing slowly, it never stopped her from becoming moody during raining day.
"Scowling at the weather will not make it go away."
He once had said to her, during their prep time at home. They both had homework that day and were silently doing it when suddenly the rain fell down and alerted the two children at the Hibari Household's living room. The young girl blinked, quickly drawn back to the present by her companion's words.
"Ahh," she breathed half-heartedly, a small smile appearing on her lips. "I…I just don't like the rain."
Hibari did not say anything; although he found out that it was strange for Suzu-nee to say like that, but he just made a soft noise, seemingly acknowledging the other. He also realized that the same thing happened to Arashi and Suzume's late sister, Suzuran.
Even the rain. Why would Suzu-nee and others be afraid of rain?
Until when his uncle told him the reasons that he understood why Suzume was so against the raining day.
His uncle told him before; as a young child, her own mother was mistreating her, worst, she had abused her own daughter that finally led to the parents' divorce and the said child's custody fell onto Hibari mother's hand. Therefore, there was no one to calm her fears as lightning crashed outside. When the trip she went with her siblings involved with earth-sliding accident, most of her love ones died during the rainy days, and she hated it so much that it caused a deep fear within her heart.
The scars that were still visible in her heart, and they will not go away very easily.
The rain continued to strike against the roof, creating an almost rhythmic sound to the random raindrops. A soft beat against the foliage.
Hibari stepped away from the window and walked to his bed, flopped down lazily. Stared aimlessly, he suddenly heard melodies that came from one of the room in the eastern wing. Since the eastern wing of Vongola mansion was a living quarters for the Guardians (although they had their own respective mansions around the HQ), it was not hard to hear such noise. Grabbing his tonfas, Hibari left his room quietly, and went through the stairs.
As he was about to descend the stairs, he heard a very, very familiar song came from the large piano in the main room that connected to the main stairs.
Ludovico Einaudi-Nuvole Bianche.
That was the only piece of music that everyone could recognize as Suzume's favourite song. Since the late Suzuran was famously known for her talent in piano, mostly people would just thought that Suzume was not as good as her twin sister. However, this piece was one of the rarest music she loved to play that even Suzuran failed to play it without the music sheet.
Hibari stared at his cousin whom playing the piece of music with eyes closed…and tears that strained down her face. Pale face, blue pants and a loose, dark blue tube with two small strings attached to each shoulder, he could see many visible scars on her back, shoulders, arms…
It happened again…
"It's a 'Nuvole Bianche' by Ludovico Einaudi (3), right?" Gokudera's words almost made Hibari to act on his reflect, however seeing Reborn and the other Guardians were sitting two steps behind him without realizing he too, had sit down, he calmed down.
"You woke up too?" He asked as he saw Reborn leaned against the railing.
"You can say so," He said as he glanced at the woman whose now playing the music. "I don't know Suzume can play piano too."
"If Suzu-nee the pianist, Arashi is the violist," Said Hibari. "Unlike the late Ran-nee who's expert more on classic music, nee-san had the ability to play the notes just by listening and even can make her own mosaics."
The Guardians said nothing. Just like Hibari, they too, heard the mosaic played at the main hall. All of them thought that it must be Gokudera's, however seeing him at the hallway made them realized that someone was played it instead. As they went down the decorative stairs, they heard it clearer and saw Hibari already sitting on the stair, watching the player silently.
Although it was not an original piece, listening to the melodies had made them feel like they were within the deep ocean; the cold-warm water slowly pulled them down deep into the water, swallowing them. The piece sounded even more tearing, but in the middle of the sadness, they could sense a small trace of hope and determination; as if it told them to keep on living and don't ever give up, there were still people out there that can be reached, can be protected…
A hope to be given while the self was sinking into the deep water.
All of them were too focused to hear anything that they seemed to forgot the time flow, until a cell phone was ringing that they realized it was midnight and the rain fell down again. Wiping her tears off, Suzume picked up her cell phone while glanced at the Guardians (she knew they were there when she finished her play) and answered it.
"Hello, is this – " Suzume was unable to answer when she heard a high pitch cry on the phone. Narrowed her eyes, she just stayed silent, listening to the cries as well as the downpour of the rain…
As she felt herself fell deeper and sinking way down to the deep water.
Just because my eyes don't tear it doesn't mean my heart doesn't cry.
And just because I came off strong, it doesn't mean there's nothing wrong happened to me...
It's the same thing happened on them too.
HINTS OR EXPLANATIONS:
1) Crossing the river –It means to go to Nirvana or anything that closer to the Life After Death. Usually it related to Japan's Buddha-Shinto religion. Reborn was referring to Suzume's old scar on her neck, indicated that such injury usually fatal with no chances of surviving. However, seeing Suzume had that wound made Reborn and the others wonder how can she survived.
2) "He must have been dwelling on this for, if not days, maybe weeks to months" –The meaning of this sentence is that, from Andy's observation, Tsuna had kept his troublesome feelings for such a long time that it finally burst out like an explosive volcano. However, Andy did not know that the incident was only happen a month and a week ago, therefore he thought it might be turn to months, like he always analyzed on his patients.
2) Ludovico Einaudi-Nuvole Bianche –I found this piece of music while searching the KHR doujinshi in youtube. It's very lovely but also very sad. Any of you that interesting to find the doujinshi with this piece of music, just write down 'Tsuna's Death'.
Finally done with this chapter! At last, Tsuna's accused crime finally revealed! I guess it's really a shock to know what exactly Tsuna was accused for right? And to write down this chapter is also very troublesome too… XP
I did search for some famous pairing in KHR fandoms and, according to my friend (if I'm not mistake); she said the most famous ones are 1827 and R27, with others like GokuYama (forgot the shorthand), 6996, D18, 6927 etc. I was like…jaw dropped, especially during my first time in this fandom. There are 'Het Pairing', but mostly the stories were based on 'Alternate Pairing' or even 'Slash'! Well, there are also Future Story, Present-Future 'Continuation' and 'Alternate Universal', which are quite popular too. However, to find K27 stories are quit hard, and usually it's more on one-shot than long type story.
I'm not a fan of Shounen-ai or even Yaoi, I'm more to het relationship and of course, pairings like K27, GokuHaru, 6996 and 18OC are my preferences. Talking about 18OC, I found out that most of the female OCs are the ones he would like to fight or call as 'carnivore', expert in fighting and cold. It's too cliché to me. I don't know how to say, but it just makes me feel like the stories are having crazy or nonsense elements (sorry for the comments!), and if you ask me, I just like the typical gentle and kind woman for Hibari, especially if the story is about the adult Vongola Tenth Generation. She's not too strong but also not that weak, but she understands Hibari more than other people minus the Vongola Family. If there is an OC that stronger than Hibari, I just made her as someone he respected, like Suzume.
Why am I bringing these matters up? Well…let's just say that it has some sort of spoilers, hehehe! Somehow my mind was trying to make some sort of ecchi story of 18OC…kukukuku~! Please read and review. Thank you for your kindness to read this story of mine. –Aoi Kitsukawa.
