A/N:
@arisasonoda84: You'll know why in the future. :)
First update for the week. Got a bit early because of some unforeseeable circumstances.
Anyway, go on.
Chapter Twelve
Tsuna sobbed as he hugged his hands to his chest, knees bended and reaching his mid-section. He's in a fetus position, curled on the coach, attempting to hide himself in the darkness and protect himself from the unknown.
They're back in Japan. After two days of rest, he made Kyouya visit Namimori cause he know the latter misses the hometown he loves to protect. He also left Lambo under Hayato's care, and Mukuro, Chikusa and Ken with their own devices.
And now, he's dreading the fact that he whisked those people away for their sakes. Because after this episode, he knows he'll have to go somewhere out of their reach again.
'Stupid Tsuna.' Tsuna degraded as he let himself loose from all the crying he did.
Deeming himself calm enough, he sat up and combed his hair. He stood from the couch and went for the bathroom to wash himself up. After doing so, he went out, took his suitcase and left the dark room.
Kyouya savoured the peacefulness his home emits. He has never felt this for years. And thanks to his friend, he is home for the meantime.
Like years ago, he implemented the rules in Namimori. The discipline, the peace and the protected atmosphere. The return of the demon sent fear to every living thing that remembers his reign. No adults can ever forget the horror of being chased by a child with tonfas with his coat flattering in the wind. And those who defy him can live to tell the tale.
But Kyouya knew they saw the difference. The town of Namimori compares the now and then of Kyouya Hibari. The past Kyouya who loves to beat people who crowds and disrupts the peace of his beloved town. That Kyouya who's oozing with bloodlust to fight worthy 'carnivores' in order to get stronger. And now the present Kyouya. The present who can hide the lust of battle, tolerates the talking, but still scowl at the crowding. The one who patrols the town in the late night to ensure himself of no deviants present in the streets, and leaves the morning works to his revived committee. The Kyouya that is somewhat calm, in equilibrium and unrestrained by the unknown.
And they like the present one, even though it gives them the feeling of doom. That doom was tested for the first time when he stepped inside the premises of Namimori, and beat down a lot of delinquents and gangs lurking in his beloved town in just a day.
Oh how they love the restrained power that gives them the feeling of fear.
Breathing out, Kyouya didn't open his eyes to see who opened the sliding door of the room he's in. He knows very well who's brave enough to do so, since he did permit the person to enter anytime, as long as it's important.
"Kyo-san." Tetsuya Kusakabe called as he sat on the floor, legs folded. "The committee has done their daily patrols and are stationed at their posts as usual."
Kyouya only nodded. "Hn."
"Is there anything you need?"
Kyouya drank on his tea first as a disguise while thinking. "Search for the profile of Tsunayoshi Sawada with any means."
"Alright." Kusakabe replied and was about to close the door when Kyouya called. "Yes, Kyo-san?"
Kyouya hesitated for a bit but gave in. "Good job."
Kusakabe nodded, although a little confused with the praise. "Thank you."
Later that night, Kyouya has his hands inside his yukata's big sleeves and stared at the phone on the table. For a reason, he has this unsettling feeling in his stomach. The cause? Tsunayoshi Sawada.
The Little Animal hasn't called nor texted yet. Not that the brunet promised anything, but knowing the worrywart, fussing motherhen, he'll call to ask if the noiret arrived safely to the town. And apparently, the cheerful man hasn't yet.
He sighed. Man. He never sighed. Not even in his elementary, middle school, high school, or even when he was with his unharmonized sky. He only sighs when it involves the brunet. He brought out a hand from the sleeves and was about to reach out when he felt a sudden pain on his chest. He made a visible flinch.
Kusakabe, his mother and his father who are with him inside the room saw the flinch and gazed at him worriedly. Kyouya never flinch.
"Are you okay, Kyouya?" His father asked.
Kyouya's brows furrowed.
"It must be your sky." His mother said. Kyouya looked at her. "What? Don't you have a sky? Your flames are harmonized, dear. It's the reason why you feel so calm, right?"
Kyouya frowned. "I do not have a sky at the moment, Mother."
"Hmm? That's weird. You're flames are in equilibrium. Almost tamed." His mother hummed with a knowing smirk on her lips.
His father chuckled. "So the pain you felt, I think it's the sky you're with. Might was well check up on him, Kyouya."
Kyouya didn't need to be told twice. He reached for his phone before standing up and went for the patio. He entered Tsunayoshi's number and was about to dial when he felt eyes on him. He looked back to see his parents and Kusakabe looking elsewhere. He scowled at them before looking outside after pressing the dial and put the device by his ear.
He waited for a familiar ring but a dial tone was only heard. His brows furrowed, almost knitting. He dialed again but the same thing happened. He removed the device from his ear and stared at it.
"Kusakabe." He called.
"Yes, Kyo-san?" The said man responded.
"Ready the car. I'm going back to Tokyo tonight."
"Eh?" Kusakabe blurted.
"Ha?" His mother uttered.
Kyouya went in and out of the room. Damn the Disciplinary Committee, they can protect the Namimori without him for a while.
Hayato is doing his paperworks. As stressful as it sounds, he needs to finish it to cut everything. It's been rough but he knows- knew- that it'll be a worth it decision. Good thing Kyouya and Tsuna taught him.
He looked at Lambo who was laughing his head off from the cartoon movie he's watching. He suppressed a smile that wanted to place itself on his lips. Although he's irritated most of the time since they bicker about all things, he can't deny the fact that the afro kid, who likes cow patterns, really made his house a little like home. However, he won't give the kid the satisfaction of admitting that. He'll be in serious situation if he does.
He looked at the picture frame on the corner of his table. It contains a picture of him with Lambo, and Tsuna, with Kyouya and Mukuro on either side of the three. It was taken after Tsuna found a camera inside the clinic. No wonder Lambo and Mukuro are in hospital clothes. Both vicious men are apart since they're always on each other's throat. He can't really get the gist of those two's rivalry.
He sighed inwardly. He was about to continue when he felt a sudden pain in his chest.
Lambo looked at Hayato. He's face scrunched up when he saw him reading papers again. He notices the same thing with Tsuna from the first time he went out of the room, back to that time his brother saved him. God. He hated those papers, they took his brothers' attentions from every single thing.
Well, he sees Hayato, Kyouya and Mukuro as his older brothers too. They were there when he needed them whenever Tsuna is somewhere he is needed. And the latter always entrusts him to them, so it's not a wonder he also calls them his brothers. Except Hayato. He'll never call him Hayato-nii or Haya-nii, not unless needed. Bakadera always has a good touch. Beside, he likes how they bicker.
Lambo stood up and placed the bowl of popcorn he's eating on the center table. He readied himself to jump on the desk to make Hayato angry when he felt a sudden pain in his chest. It was so unusual and surprising that he fell on his knees.
Both minds raced for the reason why the sudden pain came. And they went to one conclusion.
'Tenth.'
'Tsuna-nii.'
Hayato and Lambo looked at each other. An unusual understanding clicked. The former immediately reached for the phone and dialed a number while Lambo muted the TV and waited on his place.
"Is Tenth with you?" Hayato asked when the line connected.
"No." A curt reply was heard.
Hayato turned the speaker on. "Where are you?"
"On the way to Tokyo." Kyouya answered.
"Oh God. Tsuna-nii is hurting." Lambo whispered, but it didn't bypass the ears of both men.
Hayato looked at the telephone when it rang. Not bothering to cut Kyouya's line even though international call is expensive, he answered it.
"Is Tsunayoshi okay?"
"You also felt that, Pineapple?" Hayato questioned, confused.
"Obviously, yes. That's why I'm asking you." Mukuro answered, a little bit sarcastic.
"We need to go to Japan, Bakadera!" Lambo stated in panic. "It's gnawing!"
Hayato's face contorted into discomfort. "Fine."
"Kufufufu. I'm coming then."
"Piney will come?" Kyouya asked.
"Oya? Birdie is also on the line. Search Tsunayoshi. I bet he's not in his usual place." Mukuro suggested.
"Hn."
Hayato and Lambo looked at each other. It was the first time the two agreed on something.
"We're taking the earliest flight." Hayato informed.
"Use Vongola." Mukuro suggested. "You're close to them right? They own private jets."
"And Mukuro-nii can't go out of Italy cause he's wanted." Lambo explained farther. "No offense, Mukuro-nii."
"Kufufufu. None taken, Lambo-chan."
Hayato sighed. "I'll see what I can do. You check on Tenth, Skylark."
"Hn."
Mukuro kept his eyes on the little pond in their backyard. Not that he wants to marvel it- Nope. He'll be lying to himself if he says that. It is worth the praises. The Vongola Decimo is really great at doing things. Even choosing the right house for the three of them.
How convenient.
To pamper them like this just to make them comfortable and relax after all the ordeal is such a sin. In Mukuro's opinion, it won't be long if Tsunayoshi dies because of how kindhearted he is. No wonder the skylark and the puppy are very protective of him.
He hummed a small tune he heard from the brunet as he spread his mist around the house to check on his subordinates. Chikusa is sleeping, and Ken is snoring. Those two have been very thankful of Tsunayoshi and him. They also opened up to Kyouya, Hayato and Lambo. He can't deny that he too is grateful to the three.
He feels at home with Tsunayoshi in his side. And knowing he's always welcome to come to the latter, it makes him so happy. Besides, being with the brunet infuriates the territorial Skylark. He hasn't tried fighting Hayato, but he can see a potential in the puppy. Regarding Lambo, he can see a good child with so much resolve in a form of protecting the man who saved him. Not that Tsunayoshi is hoping or even expecting any payment of some sorts.
The brunet is rather peculiar. His mentality is really strange for Mukuro's opinion. While other people expect exchanges for the things they've done to others, Tsunayoshi does not nor even thinks about it. All he knows is the fact that he can help and he will help. Maybe being good and safe is what he hopes as an exchange.
Mukuro chuckles. 'Such a head-scratcher you are, Tsunayoshi.'
He continued to idle himself with the scenery and the tune he's humming when he felt a sudden pain in his chest. Sudden but familiar, he blinked at the hurt. Then he analyzed it. It was that kind of pain that yearns. A pain that is caused by a self-loathing demon.
A little skeptical, he knew something happened to him those past days he was with the misfits Tsunayoshi is running. Being accustomed to his flame very well, he concentrated his mind to find his core. Alas. He did find it... And it's being mixed so well with an orange flame, hovering and protective, secures and accepts.
Such warmth.
No wonder he felt a sudden pain. It was his sky's flames.
"My sky." Mukuro murmured before chuckling devilishly. "Such cunning man you are, Tsunayoshi."
He stood up from his seat and went for the phone. He picked up the paper placed near it and dialed the number written on it. He leaned by the wall with closed eyes as the other side rang. When they picked it up, he spoke first.
"Is Tsunayoshi okay?"
He's panting. He can't breathe properly. It's cold and he's starting to feel numb due to it. He fells so sluggish too. Like he'll fall any minute now. He was okay awhile ago. So what did he do to feel like this?
'Will someone... Ever...'
"Hey? You okay? Oh... You're burning up... -to do. What to do- Ah! Do you-... Hey? Apartment? Home?"
He tried to open his eyes.
"Okay then. Let's do it this way." He heard.
Then suddenly he felt warmth embracing him.
"Better?" He nodded. "Can you tell me your exact address? Not that I'm gonna rob you or something, but you're burning up and I'm homeless at the moment cause I'm searching for a new place here, since I'm from Tokyo and this is Yokohama. So yeah... Where do you live?"
He can't help himself from chuckling after the long reasoning. "Star hotel, thirteenth floor room one-one-one-five. The key-" He went to a coughing fit, and he felt a small hand rub his back in comfort. "-is inside my jacket's pocket."
"Left or right?"
He tried to think.
"Oh never mind. You'll hurt your head. Just take a rest. Before you know it, I have you tied in a chair showing you off how many jewels I robbed off on you."
He laughed a little, letting the darkness take him. "You have one good sense of humor there."
"Hmmm... Maybe."
And there goes his plan of not going to get attached to anyone once he arrived in the town. Tsuna sighed as he fished out the key from the jacket of the tall guy (he's literally tall and putting all his weight on Tsuna who's hurtfully admitting that he's short) he's helping and inserted it on the keyhole of the door. He twisted the knob once unlocked and opened it. He didn't bother turning on the lights. He'll do that after he dumped the tall guy on his bed.
After doing so, he turned it on, brought down his bag on the floor and started to rummage in the room. It's almost empty except for the small suitcase, a duffel bag and a long bag for a sword perhaps. Without any other choice, he went for the suitcase and opened it with a small apology for the sudden intrusion on the property. He took out some loose shirt and pajama pants. He quickly changed the man's clothes before tucking him in the thick blankets of the bed and turned off the aircon of the room.
"You have to sweat it off if you want to get better." Tsuna whispered to himself before going out. "Let's see what can we make so you could eat something."
Turning on every lights as he made his way to the kitchen, he grimaced at the loneliness creeping in his system while remembering the rowdy hotel room he also had in Italy. He immediately shook it off and focused at the task at hand. He looked inside the fridge and cupboards but there aren't any available food.
Muttering between 'eating habits' and 'malnourishment', he went for the phone and dialed the hotel service. He asked for food and some towels. After that, he went to the bathroom, filled a basin he found in there with water and went to the man's room. He then rummaged his bag for some medicine and put it on the bedside before going out to get the room service he asked. He smiled at the staff who asked what's happening. He made a brief explanation before thanking him for the help. The staff member was a little happy with the gratefulness.
"Okay." Tsuna told himself before sitting on the side of the bed. "How will I wake you up? I can't obviously do the Vongola style cause you're sick. Let's go for the normal one."
He started to shake the man's shoulder. The latter didn't budge. Remembering an effective way to wake up someone, he touched the man's ankle with his cold hand. The man squirmed. Tsuna chuckled before shaking the foot up. The man stirred and eventually opened his heavy eyelids.
"You need to eat." Tsuna cooed.
"I don't wanna." The man replied sleepily.
"But you won't get better if you don't." Tsuna whined before forcefully helping the tall man up. "If you eat now and drink medicine, I'll let you sleep till eight tomorrow."
The man looked at him with weak, disoriented, brown eyes. "You will?"
"Yup."
"Okay."
Seeing the man is not capable of feeding himself, Tsuna did the effort. It was really nice to have a sleepy patient. It's not awkward in any ways while he feeds him the porridge. After the small meal, Tsuna made him take some medicine for the cold and tucked him in again.
"There. Now sleep tight." Tsuna said with a relieved smile.
The man stared at him with half lidded eyes. "You won't go right?"
Tsuna smiled. "Nope. I'm not a good doctor if I leave my patient without recovering."
A hum. "I'm Takeshi Yamamoto."
"Nice to finally know your name, Yamamoto-san. I'm Tsunayoshi Sawada. You can call me Tsuna!"
Takeshi laughed a little. "Takeshi then."
Tsuna's face softened before reaching out and covered Takeshi's eyes with a hand. "Sleep. You need rest, Takeshi."
"Hmmm..."
When he deemed Takeshi's asleep, Tsuna went off the bed and settled himself on the floor with an 'ooff'. He rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands before staring at his phone that kept on flashing Kyouya's name for a second before 'blocked' replaces it.
"I am so dead." Tsuna muttered before looking outside the window. "But worth it."