A/N:
Third one. Keep safe everyone.
Anyway, go on.
Chapter Thirty-Three
"I'm sorry I took you by surprise, Reborn." Tsuna apologized as he walked beside the hitman.
"So that was your plan all along."
He nodded. "Yes. And I'll ask for your opinion after the ceremony happens."
"Sure." Reborn replied.
Reborn watched the brunet smile at Klaus and Frances who opened the door for him. As the former walked in, he followed and the other two behind him. True to his words, the ceremony did not start without Tsuna. If he could roll while laughing at the little Decimo's logic, he would already had.
His whole view about Tsuna from the party up until now changed. From wimpy little push-over to a graceful sunny boss. The boss can defend himself verbally and physically. A genuine personality with an innocent sass. He's smart enough and decisive regarding about matters with the consideration of others' opinions and the process of elimination by weighing the pros and cons of each choices provided. He knows when to act strong, show weakness, and to have his own breakdown moments.
Maybe his emotional and mental states aren't really stable. But those instabilities make Tsuna more compassionate, considerate, forgiving and thoughtful. Perhaps these aspects make him do things that sane people won't yet also the reason why people love him.
Reborn looked around the vicinity. The guardians aren't here yet. He became worried. To be late of all occasions...
"Tsuna." He called.
"Yeah. Maybe they ditched." The boss shrugged as he walked near the stairs of the elevated platform. "Well, that's better to be honest. I don't want people who can't stand me alive."
"Ever thinking of forgiving them?"
"Hmm... Yes. I mean I have to forgive them since they're just cruel humans. But not now. Not yet."
Tsuna stopped walking just before Nono who was standing at the platform. The people tensed up as the Decimo straightened up and looked at Nono who smiled at him. He smiled back. Reborn stood to the side. And momentarily glanced at the closed door then to the scene in front of him.
The venue of the ceremony is terribly beautiful. They are facing the big windows that over looks the exquisite garden that the Vongola Decimo loves so much. There are no need for any lightings for the sun that rose from the east illuminated everything, making every things so nice and lovely. There's a platform in the front where the Ninth generation guardians are, and below the stairs is the brunet who is basked in the warm sunlight, looking so serene like an angel smiling while praying.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Reborn slid his eyes to see Shamal, the trident doctor, whispered to him while staring at the brunet. "Sometimes, the most beautiful gems are the most damaged ones."
"Well, before we can say a piece is perfect, it must go through a lot of process to be one." Reborn countered. "I peg it you're here to pledge your loyalty too?"
"It's hard to resist such sky who sees you as you in a whole and not your outside appearance." The doctor stated, fixing his for-once straightened formal attire. "Especially an encompassing one."
"True." The hitman seconded.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. Now, we will commence with the passing of Vongola ring and Vongola sin to the Tenth generation of Vongola." Ganauche announced.
Coyote approached Nono with an opened box on a pillow. "The Vongola rings, Nono."
Nono looked at Tsuna with gentle eyes. "Tsunayoshi Sawada."
"Yes, Nono." Tsuna responded.
"Do you assume the position of Vongola Decimo from its title alone to all of its corresponding responsibilities?"
"I will, Nono."
"Do you take on the position of the Vongola Decimo as the protector of the famiglia?"
"Yes, Nono."
"And are you willing to be the man who will carry on all the burden of Vongola?"
"Yes, Nono." Tsuna's eyes went orange for seconds before returning to caramel brown. The sheer determination of the brunet is so pure that even the Ninth guardians did not need to hear verbal affirmation.
Nono took the Vongola Sky Ring. "Come here, Decimo."
Tsuna took on the steps and stood in front of Nono.
"I give you this as a sign that you are now the official Vongola Sky guardian."
Nono placed the ring in the open palm of Tsuna. The latter stared at the round sky blue jewel of the ring that shined brightly in the sun light. He breathed in softly and wore the ring in his right middle finger. And he exhaled as the ring lit up with sky flames, the other rings responded too.
"Presenting, the Tenth generation guardians of the Vongola Sky." Schnitten announced and the door opened.
"Goodness. Those bastards didn't even matched up with us. Aho-shi could've done the work for us."
"Now now. Don't talk like that, Hayato."
"He just announced that I'm stronger than those idiots and the weakest among all of us."
"But aren't I the weakest?"
"Nagi, you are not weak."
"Thank you Mukuro-sama."
"Just extemely think about it, Octopus head! If you didn't fight your counterpart, you won't know how extremely strong they are!"
"Heh! Pineapple was right. Those people have weak flames. They can't match up with Tenth's."
"Kufufufu. Of course. We are the only ones who can stand beside Tsunayoshi after all."
"Hn."
"I can't get over the fact that Bakadera just announced that I'm the weakest."
"Just get over it, dumbass."
"I'm so gonna tell this to Tsuna-nii! Bleh! He'll definitely scold you while hugging me!"
"You little-"
"Maa maa. No fighting."
"Here they go again."
Tsuna stared at the seven people who are walking so leisurely on the center aisle. The way their suits sway with wind as they approach and the noise they make that makes the tension in the air and in his body ease up.
He fucked up.
He started to feel panic bubble its way to his stomach. Where are Satomi? Why aren't they here and they are here? What happened?
Tsuna's eyes widened when the group quieted down and went down in one knee below the stairs. Tsuna can't... Talk. The painful lump in his throat keeps him from uttering one word or even make a sound. To see them up close and within arm reach makes him happy. But it also accompanies worry for their safety, anxiety for their anger and rejection and sadness for their future.
"Storm guardian." Nono called.
Hayato bowed his head. "Hayato Gokudera, storm guardian of Vongola Decimo Tsunayoshi Sawada."
"Are you willing to be the wind that fiercely whirls about and continuously attacks the enemy?" Coyoted asked.
Hayato looked at the elder storm. "And go home to my sky alive and breathing, yes. I am willing."
"H-Hayato." Tsuna called. The silveret looked towards his direction and smiled.
"Rain guardian." Nono addressed.
"Takeshi Yamamoto, Vongola Decimo Tsunayoshi Sawada's rain guardian." Takeshi replied.
Schnitten looked at the noiret before smiling softly. "Without even asking you, I know you'll be the shower that washes away everything for the sake of the family."
Takeshi raised his head to see his predecessor and laughed. "Yes. Not for the famiglia but for the family. Just like how Tsuna will do the impossible things just for me, for us."
Tsuna pursed his lips. His throat hurts. 'Stupid lump.'
"Sun guardian." Acknowledged by the Ninth.
"Sun guardian of Vongola Decimo Tsunayoshi Sawada, Ryohei Sasagawa." The white head presented, without his usual catchphrase.
"Do you..." Nie started before shaking his head with a smile. "Illuminate the sky with your sunshine, Ryohei."
Ryohei looked at his sky and beamed. "Just like how Tsuna helped me in many ways, I will."
"O-Onii-san." Tsuna whispered as his eyes stung.
Lambo bowed his head. "Lambo Bovino, Lightning guardian and brother of Tsunayoshi Sawada."
"A brother of Decimo but a Bovino?"
"Maybe he's adopted?"
"Why is he a lightning? Why not a sky?"
Ganauche stepped in front as he roamed his eyes to their witnesses. "Lambo Bovino, the lightning that is willing to take on any attacks for his older brother like how the Decimo will protect you." Lambo raised his head. "I saw how powerful your flame is, just how strong your will is to protect the family. You are the right Lightning guardian."
"Heard that Tsuna-nii?" Lambo gloated with a childish smile. "That Theodore Smith will never match up with me."
Hayato raised up and bumped the teen's head. "Do that later, Stupid."
Tsuna's tears streamed down to his cheeks.
Nono chuckled before looking at two specific people. "Mist guardians."
"Chrome Dokuro, one of the two mist guardians of Boss Tsunayoshi Sawada." The girl with patched right eye presented.
"Kufufufu. Mukuro Rokudou, the other mist guardian of my sky, Tsunayoshi Sawada."
"M-Mukuro Rokudou?!"
"The Vindice! They'll come for him! He's the escapee of their prison!"
"Mukuro Rokudou, any reason why you're under Tsunayoshi Sawada after destroying many mafia famiglie over the years?" Croquant asked, making the hall silent.
"Hmmm... For Tsunayoshi, of course." Mukuro looked at Tsuna who put a hand on his heart. "The Decimo does not take credits nor take any payment for all the kindness he gives to this cruel world. He saved me and my companions from our pursuers and cut Vindice on our tail. Tsunayoshi is a worthy leader to be followed, thus I want to walk beside him."
"Do you know what a Vongola mist must do?"
"Isn't the answer obvious?" Chrome answered softly before looking at Croquant with her eye. "Protect the sky at all cost by deceiving the enemy with our illusion. Yes. We are mists. But Vongola mist guardians does not deceive others for their sakes only, we deceive them for our family's sake. That's why we are the illusions that cannot be caught."
"Remember, from real illusions, the illusions are created, and hide within it. Within the truth hides the lie, within the lies hide the truth. That is the Mist." Mukuro chirped in before giving out his unique laughter and looked at Tsuna who is close to breaking down. "Don't cry, Tsunayoshi."
"M-Mukuro. Chrome."
Chrome beamed at him. "Boss."
Croquant gave out a small smile. "You have my blessing."
Nono put a hand on his mist before looking at the last person. "Cloud guardian."
"Hn."
Tsuna sweat dropped with the others. "K-Kyouya."
The noiret looked at the brunet. "You will be my second sky after you drove away the first. I asked you if you were any different, but you said you'll try."
"I'm sorry." Tsuna sobbed as tears marred his cheeks. "I'm sorry, Kyouya."
"Do you remember your words, Tsunayoshi? You said you'll try and you did not promise anything. From that you became different from my previous sky. You thought of my happiness and freedom as a cloud. You considered how my sky treats me not only as an element but as a person too. So how can you be so stupid to think that I'll let you take on a different cloud?"
Tsuna sobbed.
"I am Kyouya Hibari, Cloud guardian of Tsunayoshi Sawada, the Vongola Decimo." Kyouya proudly proclaimed with his head down.
"Any words, Visconti?" Nono asked with a smile, feeling so relieved with the words of the young cloud.
"I don't need to say anything, Nono. Hibari already announced that he will not permit any cloud get closer to Tsunayoshi without his permission." Visconti shrugged before offering a small smile. "I like these kids though."
"I second you." Ganauche chimed in.
"The doctor." The Ninth nodded to Shamal.
Shamal kneeled beside Kyouya, smirking at the unbelieving comments from the audience. "Trident Shamal, assassin doctor and personal physician of the Tenth generation Vongola."
"The Shamal?"
"Even the Trident?"
"Now, the adviser." Nono called upon.
Many gasped when Reborn kneeled along side with the guardians and the doctor. "Reborn, the world's greatest hitman and internal adviser of Vongola Decimo."
"I..." Tsuna hiccuped. "I claim the world's greatest hitman, Reborn to be the Vongola adviser."
"That means he also has a claim on the external affairs."
"Just how did the Decimo get a hold of Reborn when any other famigli tried to get him?"
"Guardians, Doctor and Adviser, do come here." Nono said.
One by one, the guardians stood up with Reborn and Shamal. The guardians proceeded to the platform while the hitman and the assassin doctor went for Tsuna. He took a hold of the brunet's hand where the sky ring is, kneeled and kissed the heirloom. Almost all of the mafiosi witnessing the ceremony gasped in total astonishment to what he had done. And their reactions were only answered with a tearful smile from Tsuna directed to his adviser.
"I give my loyalty to you, Tsunayoshi." Reborn swore.
"So does my faith and loyalty to you, Reborn. Thank you." Tsuna responded as he helped the man in his feet. "God. I knew you want everything to be perfect, but I'm such a crybaby." He whispered.
"If I was inconsiderate, I would've kicked you or punished you. But since they took you by surprise, I'll let it pass."
"Thank you."
"Let me kiss that ring already, you crybaby." Shamal teased as he took Tsuna's hand and kissed the gem. He corrected his posture and wiped the brunet's cheeks. "I won't say anything about your guardians. But keep an open mind, alright?"
"Okay."
"Then adios." The doctor bid. "I'll see you at the reception. I'm gonna entertain some ladies first."
"Don't harass them!" He threatened, hiccuping at the end as the man only laughed and made his way to the side.
Each tenth generation guardians faced the ninth generations. When Coyote was about to put the Vongola storm ring in Hayato's hand, the door opened and sound of running followed.
"What are they doing here?" Osamo asked, bewildered.
"You lots... They attacked us." Yeok stated for the guests to know.
Lambo laughed obnoxiously. "Duh. We're here to take our places beside Tsuna-nii."
"Places? That's our place. Don't claim what's not yours in the first place." Satomi vaunted with a smirk.
"Eh? But we were the first to harmonize with Tsuna. And you're not even harmonized up until now. Can't you feel it?" Takeshi smiled with mischief in his eyes. "Or maybe you're too weak to know what our flames feel like?"
"You little-"
"Maa Maa. Extremely no fighting. Tsuna won't like that to the extreme." Ryohei placated.
Mukuro huffed with a smirk. "Well then, if you really think you can have the places you seem so eager to have, do take the honors of taking the rings."
Hayato smirked, taking Mukuro's lead. "Then after that, try lighting it up with your flames. Let's see if the rings accept your wills."
"And if you fail, I'll bite you all to death."
"Can I have a say in this?" Tsuna asked Reborn.
"I don't think you can. Not when your guardians are trying to show that they're the only ones who can lit those rings." The hitman replied.
Tsuna sighed.
The newcomers accepted the challenge and ascended the stairs. Feeling generous, the guardians didn't move an inch. But when they saw Tsuna's worried face, they went for him. The newcomers followed them with their eyes as they go and surround Tsuna without any noise, then went to focus their attention on the rings.
Feeling rather amused with the theory, Nono nodded to his guardians. The newcomers took the rings and wore them on their middle right finger. They looked at their rivals and smirked before trying to lit the rings, only to get nothing. They concentrated for seconds, even minute passed but nothing happened.
Hayato looked at Mukuro who covered his mouth to tatter. He shook his head before looking at his boss who had his head bowed down. His eyes softened and he stood in front of Tsuna and took the brunet's hand. By rubbing the back of the latter's hand, the silveret smiled to the Decimo who looked at him in surprise.
"No need to be worried, Tenth. We know what we're doing. Just focus on how to understand me when I start teaching you how to tie your four in hand. I could've tied it for you, but we needed to beat them up first so we can replace them in this ceremony."
"G-Gabriel?" Tsuna blurted.
Hayato chuckled. "Yes, Decimo?"
Hayato left Tsuna with his mouth agape in shock. With Ryohei's lead, they went for the rings that are placed once again in the hands of the Ninth generation guardians. He raised a brow on his counterpart, Haruko Satomi, before taking the ring with a respectful nod towards his predecessor and put it on his middle finger.
He eyed it thoughtfully then looked at his companions who were staring at their rings.
"You know, dying will flames are from our regrets we wanted to do. Like turning off the stove before you left home, but since you died, you regretted forgetting about it." Takeshi explained, making the audience laugh.
"It's called dying will flame to the extreme because we gained it after we tried so desperately to stay alive." Ryohei added on as he lit his ring with magnificent sunny yellow flame. "Our will to survive and live manifested into flames thus we held it."
"But it is not only those reasons why we gain them." Chrome looked at Echizen. "We can lit them up with strong emotions."
"Such as irritation." Kyouya gave on, making the nine, including Tsuna and Reborn, laugh. "I did produce my flames with that emotion because of certain herbivores who act like carnivores, yet cowering in fear whenever they see me. Stupid insects."
"And they got extremely reduced to insects." Ryohei guffawed.
"Thank you for your wonderful example, Kyouya." Chrome said with an amused smile in her lips.
"But the strongest feeling is the will to protect." Mukuro relied as he lit the mist ring he took just as Chrome lit her hand. "The will to protect those people you care..."
"It's one of the reason why Tsuna-nii is so strong." Lambo hummed, with soft awe and admiration in his voice. "He gives so much love to those people he really cares to the point he'll sacrifice himself for their sakes."
"Lambo." Tsuna whispered.
The curly noiret looked at the rejected guardians as the ring in his finger gave out a green flame. "You know that very well, don't you? Since you were saved by him a couple of times. Not only in the past, but until the time you spent here in the mansion."
The rejected guardians looked elsewhere.
Kyouya growled as his ring burst into purple flames. "Worthless insects with no gratitude to Tsunayoshi."
"K-Kyouya. There is no need to-" Tsuna gained a heated glare from the skylark. "Alright. I'm not gonna say anything. I'll just..." He went behind Reborn who followed him with his head. "Hide behind Reborn."
"Oh Tsuna." Takeshi cooed before chuckling. "Don't be afraid, you little Tuna-fishy."
"Just when did you got that name from?" Tsuna asked in horrified.
"Eh?" The noiret asked. "Your Dad always calls you that." Tsuna gaped at him, but Takeshi looked at their counterparts, ring lighting up with blue flames. "Yeah. We admit you were the first ones to know him, even have fun with him. But, we are the people he had acknowledged as his guardians. Those people he trusted enough to make him smile, laugh, happy and contented. Trusted us enough to keep him breathing and feel alive."
"In other words," Hayato's ring fluttered with red flames just as the air tensed up. "keep your hands to yourselves, never touch a hair of Tenth and stay thousand kilometers from him. Cause if he ever makes a sad face or even twitches just because he heard your names, we will hunt you down one fucking by fucking one and beat the shit out of you. Got it?"
"Just who the fuck are you to threaten us?" Satomi argued.
"Huh. Don't you already know? We're the Tenth generation Vongola guardians of our Sky." The silveret gloated with a smirk. "So we have the rights to make you scram."
"Hmp." Kyouya huffed before he brandished his tonfas. "I'll bite you to death then."
Tsuna covered his face with his hands and stifled his laughter as his guardians cheered on Kyouya. But behind the laughter, his heart is breaking with sadness for their safety.