Holy crap this one is really long. To be honest I was considering splitting this chapter into two but decided against it because I wanted to tackle both Mist and Cloud in one single chapter. So a lot of things are going on here so take it as you will as maybe, two or three chapters in one.
Disclaimer: I don't own KHR.
Warning: Contains fluff.
When he came down that morning he saw Bianchi, Fuuta and I-pin huddled together by the living room door, staring at something. Curious, he went to take a look himself. Mia sat on the porch with her legs tucked underneath her. Her eyes were closed and her expression was enticingly serene.
"Why are you guys watching Mia?" he asked Bianchi.
"She hasn't moved for two hours."
Tsuna's brows disappeared into his bangs. "Not at all?"
"Mia-nee can be really weird sometimes," Fuuta commented. I-pin stared long and hard at Mia with great fascination. Tsuna didn't bother thinking about it too deeply. I-pin was still shy around Mia but he knew the little girl admired her a lot. Bianchi tugged on his shirt and pointed towards the kitchen. Wondering why, he followed her there.
Bianchi rubbed her temples, frowning. "Tsuna, did you know where Mia went yesterday?"
"I thought she was resting here?"
The poison scorpion's frown deepened. "Tsuna. She was gone for at least ten hours. I went to check on her an hour after you left. She wasn't in your room. I went looking for her after that."
Tsuna sunk in one of the chairs, feeling a growing unease in his stomach. "Did you find her?"
Bianchi shook her head. "She came back later in the afternoon looking better than ever." He sighed in relief.
"Eh? Then what's wrong with that? Maybe she just went out for a walk after feeling better." Bianchi slammed her hands on the table, startling him.
"You don't understand. I checked on her temperature before you left. It was thirty-nine degrees."
"Bianchi, maybe she's just a fast healer – "
"Tsuna." The way she said it so seriously made Tsuna know that something was wrong. "Mia had asked me to keep this quiet but that girl has no sense of self-preservation. Her health was steadily declining for the past few days because of an infection she had on her wound. She shouldn't have been able to move on her own with the way she has been."
Mia had been sick before she had the fever? He knew she was often tired lately but he never expected it to have been so serious – how was it that he never noticed it before? Because she knew how to hide, a small part of his brain whispered to him. Because Mia didn't like worrying others so she keeps to herself. That's just the way she is. But Bianchi had a point – where had she gone?
"She couldn't have been able to move by herself. Someone had to be with her."
"But everybody was busy with their training and you and the kids were here at home with mom so…" his words slowly fell. There was one other person who they didn't know that came and went as he pleased. The masked fox. Who was he exactly and why was he so close to Mia?
"Tsuna, do you have someone in mind?" Bianchi asked him.
"Yeah," he said with a low growl. "He won't tell us his name but he wears a fox mask."
"From the sounds of it you don't like him all that much." Tsuna scowled. He was about to begin a long and winding rant about him when Mia came in with Fuuta and I-pin at hand. He put on a smile for her immediately though the corner of his mouth did twitch a bit.
"Morning Tsuna! What do you want for breakfast? The others already had theirs." She asked him. He carefully searched her expression. If he had to put it in words, Mia seemed oddly pleased about something. He knew that look.
"Anything would do I guess," he told her. Beaming, she went to start making him breakfast while all the while chattering with the kids. Bianchi and he shared a look. He had training with Reborn soon; he wouldn't be able to be around to watch over Mia. Bianchi took his silent request and nodded. He turned look at Mia just in time as she nearly dropped a hot pan but caught it just in time from hitting the ground. The three of them gave out a collective sigh.
Bianchi patted his shoulder. "I'll try to make sure she won't hurt herself."
"T-Thanks Bianchi."
Mia looked at Hayato apologetically. She didn't mean to bring Bianchi with her but the older woman wouldn't budge. It was likely her fault why Bianchi followed her the way she did. She honestly forgot about how worried Bianchi would have been. Hayato gave his sister the wary eye but Mia knew he needn't have worry. Bianchi had her goggles on. They were at Namimori Middle's clinic.
"You okay Hayato?" she asked her friend. He tore his eyes away from his sister to her.
He instantly brightened. "Of course my Lady! I'm as ready as you can expect of me!" He thumped his chest to emphasize it. "Just watch me defeat that eye-less freak!"
"Just don't take it too far okay?" She gently pulled on his arm. "Be cool, be rational. If anything happens, don't pull anything crazy." This was rich coming from her but this wasn't about her. This was about Hayato who can arguably be more reckless than she is.
Hayato's eyes shifted uncomfortably away from hers. "Understood my Lady." His smile was strained.
"I'm serious. Winning isn't everything."
His expression contorted into frustration which was a first for her. "We already lost two rings and the Lady had to take a penalty. I can't afford to lose!"
"It would be pointless if you die. Start using that brain you're so proud of having Hayato," Bianchi told her brother off. He didn't take kindly to that and glowered hotly at her.
"Stay out of this! What I do doesn't concern you!" He spat.
"Not unless it affects your boss!" Bianchi shot back.
There voices began to get louder and louder and Mia decided to wedge herself between them before they start bringing out their weapons. She pushed an advancing Hayato away from his sister and turned to face Bianchi. She shouldn't have come with her. She knew they didn't have the best relationship but to think Hayato could get that hostile that much when he wasn't down…
"Bianchi, come on. Let's go out." Then to Hayato she said, "I'm really sorry for this."
He turned away. "It's not your fault my Lady." He sounded sorry too. "Don't worry about me." His eyes, which were green, reminded her of spring leaves. They brimmed with assurance. She smiled hesitantly at him.
"All right," she said. "I trust you." He looked surprised. He didn't have to be. Mia trusted all of them and there was no one who wanted to be a Guardian as much as Hayato did. He faltered for a moment and she had never seen him look so vulnerable like he did then. He chewed his cheek, looking like he wanted to say something her.
"You shouldn't baby him, Mia," Bianchi chided her. Hayato reddened and Mia thought it was time for her to leave. She pushed Bianchi towards the door. She bid Hayato a hasty goodbye and dragged Bianchi all the way outside. Once outdoors she rounded on the older woman disapprovingly. Bianchi met her gaze coolly.
"Did you have to do that?" she interrogated her.
Bianchi tossed her hair back. "If Hayato wants to become Tsuna's right-hand man he needs to learn. He's flailing around like a baby – did you see him? He's still unprepared."
"He's unguided. Shamal can't be the best teacher in the world."
"You've no idea what Shamal means to Hayato." Mia pulled back, shocked at the biting words. Bianchi continued on, "You may think you are helping him but all you have been doing has been holding him back. He's a child that grew up in the mafia – if you keep treating him like that one day it could get him killed. Do you understand Mia? In our world, softness isn't a luxury we can have."
She heard it. Knew it even but it hurt her. A lump was stuck in her throat and her heart squeezed painfully. But even though Bianchi's words struck her, she had to disagree. She didn't feel like she had done wrong.
"That may be true but Hayato isn't with the mafia now – he's with Tsuna and in Tsuna's world, everything is different." Without another word she spun on her heel and briskly walked away. She didn't look back on how Bianchi reacted but as soon as she turned the corner, a black leathered glove pulled her to the side. She felt a ripple, the sensation as if she had been pulled underwater and watched as Bianchi stopped in front, looking around for her.
"Where…?" Bianchi asked herself before running off into a completely different direction.
She slapped the hand that was holding on to her shoulder away as soon as Bianchi disappeared. Ian peered at her through his mask. "That wasn't very nice." She breathed sharply through her nose and exhaled. The tension flowed out of her leaving the hurt behind but with Ian around, she was more annoyed. "You know what else wasn't nice as well? Leaving me like a vegetable yesterday. Do you have any idea what you did to me?"
"No, so why don't you tell me?" she hissed at him.
He jabbed a finger to her collarbone. "I couldn't move for two hours. Your mental tsunami left me drained. Is that how you give thanks to someone who helped you from dying?" Okay, he got her there. She felt a little bit guilty especially when she recalled the lightning storm yesterday. It rained a lot before, so Ian must have been soaked to the bone. It would explain his testy mood.
"I'm… sorry?" she half-asked. She could feel his glare burning through his mask.
Disgusted, he shook his head. "Daft girl – have you been meditating?"
"It's much easier than before," she informed him. "Although it took me a while I've managed to catch into it." With his mask on she couldn't tell what he was thinking but she had a feeling he might be displeased. "Did you watch the match?" she instead asked him.
"I did," he replied as he began walking. She hurried to catch up to him. "Xanxus is quite the character isn't he? Nice man. I bet he's quite fun if he has that circus act following him." Sarcasm was dripping from him like thick honey. She didn't know whether to laugh inappropriately or snort agreeably.
"Where are we going?"
"Oh? There's finally a 'we'?" He said rather teasingly.
Mia shut her mouth, horrified she had said something so friendly. Her cheeks colored. "T-That's um… I still think you're an asshole."
"Careful love, otherwise I'll start thinking you're interested in me," he said flirtatiously in English. Her blush darkened. She may dislike Ian but she couldn't deny his attractiveness. Damn college guys. He chuckled. "Such a girl," he chortled. Mia forced herself to watch as people pass by them without a single glance. She figured it out for some time that Ian's range is bigger when he's standing but when he uses his camouflaged illusion while moving his range becomes limited to a few meters around him. As long as she stayed close, she can hide within his illusion. It was a good distraction. So good that she pulled out her small notebook from her pocket to write down her findings.
"Back to your original question," Ian started, leading her to his bike that was parked in an alleyway. She looked up. "We'll be observing Master Decimo train today."
When Tsuna arrived at school after being assured by Hayato earlier, he saw that Mia was waiting at the school's front gates. But she wasn't alone. The fox stood behind her like a shadow. His face immediately turned into a scowl at the sight of him. Bianchi apologized profusely when she lost Mia and now he knew why. Mia appeared to be troubled by something but the fox bent and whispered something in her ear. Her frowned deepened only to disappear when she caught sight of him. She ran towards him. "How was your training?" she asked him.
His eyes flickered towards her mysterious friend who stood rigidly in attention when he came close. She caught on. "It's okay," she whispered. But it wasn't okay with him. There was something about that guy that got under his skin and he wasn't talking about his obvious jealousy. He felt familiar and not in a very good sense.
"Stay with me tomorrow?" he asked her. She agreed to it without thinking twice. He felt himself smile. The others began arriving shortly after and they headed inside the building where the supposed match was to take place. Hayato still hadn't arrived. They gave each other worried looks but Tsuna reassured them. His Storm will come but that conviction was hard to maintain when the Cervello began counting down his disqualification if he didn't show up in time. Mia was chewing her lip nervously while Tsuna started biting down on his nails.
Across from them, Belphegor laughed in his creepy laugh. "Shishishi did he turn tail and run? I don't blame him. He doesn't stand a chance against the Prince after all."
"The Prince should just shut up and polish his tiara. Hayato will come," Mia said scathingly.
She struck a nerve. "It is a crown, not a tiara you peasant!"
"Who's asking?" she shot back.
"I should have cut off your tongue while I still had you under my blade." His knives slipped into his fingers.
"Voooooooiiii Bel! Quit bitching! She's right – it looks like a goddamn tiara!" Squalo ended up joining.
The Prince Reaper turned to his teammate, angling his knives dangerously to kill. "Would you like to turn into a classic piece of modern art?"
"You can't even paint for shit!"
"I paint with blood old man."
"Vooiiiiiiii who are you calling old man you fucking brat?" The other members hardly reacted to them, it was either they were used to it or they really just didn't care.
They stared at the scene blankly. "They started fighting among themselves," Takeshi commented off-handedly. Ian coughed something that sounded suspiciously like 'circus freaks' that set off a chained snort reaction off from their group. To their immense relief, Hayato finally arrived. Fashionably late in true bad-boy fashion, Mia thought if girls were around, they would have swooned at the sight of him. But at his arrival, it meant that it was time to commence the battle.
The Cervello explained the field. The entire floor would be rigged with storm turbines that would start blasting randomly but set to explode after a certain time limit had been reached and would blow the entire floor apart, killing the participants if they haven't pieced together the ring by then. It was certainly in every gritty sense, a battle of storms.
"Meaning in the worst case scenario, it would be all right to blow the Storm ring as well. He must be the one who thinks the Guardian's rings don't matter," Reborn deduced grimly from his place on Takeshi's shoulder. Tsuna physically bristled and Mia's eyes narrowed.
"These designs for the Guardian fields… who decides for them Cervello? You or Xanxus?" she asked the masked women, her voice quiet with a slight edge to it.
They sensed the shift in her demeanor and straightened. "We create fields suitable to the Guardian's role that draws out the participant's full potential. Xanxus-sama has no influence over these decisions."
"If that is the case." Mia stepped forward. "Why set up a field that could blow everything up including the Storm ring?" Even the Varia had gone silent to watch her but she wasn't paying attention to them. Her eyes were focused solely on the Cervello. "Just because Xanxus declares he has no need for the other rings it automatically gives you the go to kill them both? I'd say he does have some influence over your plans."
"If the candidates are truly inept then they should finish the match under the time limit. If they fail it means neither is worthy."
"A man's worth isn't measured by your standards but by their actions." She quoted, saying what her Nonnino told her when she was going to move to America. He told her this so that she wouldn't feel like she had to change herself just so she could fit in. A Guardian's role isn't something to fit into – it was something to grow into. "For mediators you're quite biased aren't you?"
"Now, now ladies, no need to fight. Is there anyone here in need of medical assistance?" Shamal suddenly appeared, shamelessly encircling the high-strung Cervello in his arms. He saw Mia and winked. "Every day Mia-chan you're looking more and more like a Roman Goddess with that wicked sharp tongue and condescending look. Well, I suppose it runs in the family ne?"
The Cervello elbowed him off and he fell to the ground, rubbing his pained jaw. "What do you know about my family?" she asked the doctor.
"Only from what Reborn told me." He got up and pulled her by the waist to his side. "If you'd like we can talk about it after this match and some dinner." He wriggled his eyebrows roguishly. Mia never gave him a reply as Tsuna kicked him by the back of the knees. She disentangled herself from him as he toppled down and went to stand by Tsuna's side.
"What the hell are you even doing here Shamal?" Hayato asked his teacher in disgust.
Shamal winced from his position on the floor. "I came here because I heard an explosion. I thought Mia-chan here was hurt – " The cold and heartless stares directed at him made him change topics. "I also came to watch your match." He pivoted to face the Varia. "I'll be with them," he declared to their faces. They looked like they swallowed a couple of lemons when he said that.
Mia knew Shamal was sort-of amazing but to see the Varia acting like a hundred million had walked away from them made her reevaluate the doctor. It was only Belphegor and the huge guy in the back that seemed to enjoy what was happening. Sasagawa-senpai began to pull on Hayato's arm to draw him in a circle. The bomber refused, saying that it was too embarrassing.
"Hayato," Tsuna called out. "I think we should do it." They all turned to look at him. He smiled at them. "This may sound cheesy but when you go in there fighting, just know we have your back. We're together in this – all of us." He pulled out a pair of horns and held them out. "Doing this reminds us of that. What say Hayato?" Mia and the others beamed at him proudly.
The bomber's eyes grew glassy and he nodded. "You care so much for the family – !" He bowed his head. "I had no idea Tenth!"
Tsuna waved it off. "Come on then," he invited his friend. The others, sans Shamal, Ian, Basil and Reborn, gathered in a circle. They cried Hayato's name loudly.
"Must be embarrassing to be young," Shamal commented.
They ignored him as they watched Hayato face his opponent. "Now both of you, please come to the center," the Cervello said.
"Tenth, I will go and fight, and as your right-hand man – I won't shame you."
Tsuna gave his friend a steady look and nodded. "Don't be reckless Hayato."
"Hayato wait!" Mia called out.
"My Lady?"
She grabbed his face and pulled him down to kiss him on the cheek. "For luck," she said to his dumbstruck face. He stared at her as the red bled into his cheeks which quickly paled to horror as he turned around mechanically to face his boss. But Tsuna wasn't angry or jealous. He looked more like he was trying hard not to grin. Hayato visibly sighed in relief. He gave the two of them one last nod and headed towards his opponent while Mia and Tsuna went with the others to the spectator's area where many monitors were set so they could watch. Infrared lines sealed them inside.
"No fair Mia-chan, how come Hayato got one but not me?" Shamal complained.
Her eyes were glued to the screen. She ignored him. Would he really be alright? At the Cervello's signal the match began.
Hayato had been cornered. Even though the Lady informed them that Belphegor used knives, it wasn't an advantage at all. He slightly underestimated his opponent. A blade whizzed out of nowhere and scratched his cheek. How did he do that? He was outside in the hall! Another set of blades came at him, grazing his side.
"Damn it! How!" he exclaimed in frustration.
Belphegor laughed at his cry. "Jackpot already? It doesn't say much about your boss if his Guardian of Storm is like this. What's more, you're wasting a Lady's favor – if you can call her that." He snickered. Hayato's jaw and hand clenched at the insults. Belphegor hadn't just insulted the Tenth but the Lady as well.
Think he told himself. Think.
Back in the spectator's area, Mia had her hands clasped together tightly. To think she had been able to get away from that. Belphegor smirked as he showed a fan of knives to the screen before releasing them into whirl of blades heading straight for Hayato. It happened all too quickly - there was a sickening sound as the blades found their mark before they saw it. The body crashed through the door. But it wasn't Hayato but an atomic figure.
She squealed and embraced Tsuna when their friend appeared unharmed. He figured out Belphegor's trick and was beginning to prepare himself for his counterattack.
"Bombs?" Tsuna wheezed out, still trapped around Mia's arms.
When Hayato unleashed his attack, the bombs' ends popped and they changed directions, avoiding the powerful wind gusts and hitting Belphegor straight on. A maniacal grin spread across her lips and she cheered, finally releasing Tsuna. She listened to Shamal's explanation and had to admit that Bianchi had been right. She was glad she was wrong about Shamal. But her exhilaration quickly fell to wariness as Belphegor began to laugh madly despite his many wounds.
He charged wildly towards Hayato, throwing his knives without aim but even if her friend still dodged them, he was still getting cut. Could Belphegor be using the wiring? She looked behind her towards Ian who twiddled his fingers. Her brows knit together as a memory floated to mind.
"Careful not to be caught in my web."
She snapped her head back to the monitor just as Hayato was trying to put distance between himself and the sociopath. He was limping and injured. Things just happen to get worse when it was announced that in six minutes, the entire floor would explode. Hayato ran out of the camera's visuals, followed by Belphegor who moved like a possessed string puppet.
"He's in the library!" Takeshi pointed to the left monitor. Hayato was hiding behind a bookshelf.
"There's only one entrance in the library," Tsuna said, his eyes wide. "He's planning on taking Belphegor on in there!"
Belphegor jumped into the room to collide with Hayato's bombs and like before, sliced without touching it's target.
"It's like kamaitachi," Sasagawa-senpai said, his usually loud and boisterous voice muted down in worry.
Mia had no idea what that is and she didn't have enough time to ponder over it for long. Hayato was trapped. "Just how much can he do with wires?" she asked out loud.
"You figured it out Mia?" Reborn asked her. She nodded, eyes still attached to the scene.
"Well spotted then," Shamal said as Reborn explained to the others Belphegor's trick. The doctor began into explain into deeper detail. Tsuna's hand found hers and she looked to him. He was worried as she was but he there was a gleam in his eye that told her not to give up. Her words from earlier came back to her. "I trust you." She meant it then and she'll mean it now. She tightened her grip around his hand.
"The end." They heard Belphegor say through the howling wind.
Hayato looked up, a fire in his eyes. "For you."
"H-Hayato," Tsuna said beside her, almost awed. He jerked his head. "Can you hear that?" Mia listened intently, hearing abrasive hissing.
Ian whistled appreciatively. "Nice touch." The split power all around Hayato found their destinations. Bookshelves exploded, engulfing the entire area with black smoke. Hayato stood among it, standing and whole. This time it was Tsuna who got a little more than enthusiastic as he pulled her into a one-armed hug. Hayato strung his bombs along the Prince's wires with hooks.
This was the Storm of the Vongola. Belphegor exploded in black plumes. Hayato threw a set of rocket bombs after that. They cheered. "F-Fearsome," Tsuna said a little weakly amongst the noise the boxer was making.
She smiled against his shoulder. "He is your Storm after all. It's part of his job."
But just as when they thought they won this match, Belphegor reached out a burnt hand and grasped Hayato's ring just as he was to take his. Driven by some mad obsession, Belphegor struggled with inhuman strength against Hayato and they rolled on the ground trying to take the other's ring. Hayato had difficulty fending the freak off and was slowly weakening.
"The bombs!" Ian warned but the first had already gone off setting a chain reaction.
"Hayato!" she shouted, pulling herself away.
"If he stays he'll die!" Tsuna cried.
"What are you doing octopus-head? Hurry!" Being so close to the Library, the shouts carried over to him. They rolled around the floor.
"Shut up! I know!" Hayato growled through the monitor. They topped over shelves, books rained on them heavily.
"There's no other choice – " Tsuna rudely cut the doctor off.
"Hayato! Pull out!" he bellowed.
"B-But Tenth! With one win and three loses, we'll be finished! I can't shame you here! I can't fail as your Right-Hand man! I'll win if means I have to die!"
"Knock that off!" Tsuna growled. "You think we're fighting for more than just the rings. For each other, for the things to come – damn it Hayato we still need to graduate from Middle School! Then you'll follow me into High School and after that…I can't have a right-hand man if you're dead!"
The last turbine beeped and the library exploded. The monitors had gone static but everybody couldn't tear their eyes from the screens.
"Hayato?" Tsuna whispered. "Hayato!" both he and Takeshi shouted. Mia couldn't move and stay rooted to the spot, her eyes wide. Her shoulders trembled. Hayato couldn't be dead. He couldn't be. Her breath fell short and it suddenly became hard to breathe.
"That idiot." Shamal turned away. Basil gritted his teeth and Ryohei released a cry like a wounded bear. Tsuna swayed from his position, unable to believe it while Takeshi numbly stared at the screen.
"Over there!" Reborn suddenly pointed out. A figure appeared in the smoke, staggering towards them. The infrared had been turned off and they all rushed forward except for Mia. Ian stayed behind, quietly watching as he always did. Tsuna was the first to reach him. Reborn looked back on his other student who didn't join in the heartwarming moment. He walked towards her.
"Mia, its okay. You can go to him." Reborn watched her cover her face, heaving deep breaths. He watched as she tried to forcefully regain her breathing and not fall deeper into shock. "That's right Mia. One, two, three." The hitman counted with her until she was able to calm down enough. "Go." It was with slightly trembling legs that she approached the happy group. They saw her and fell silent. Hayato looked up at her with deepest apologies in his eyes.
She didn't want that. Tsuna cautiously held him a bit away from her in case she tried to slap him. It was good that he did that because chances were she probably would have. She could also have given him the worst tongue-lashing of his life but she didn't. She was relieved. Relieved that she didn't lose her friend, she sunk to the floor in front of him then pulled him into a fierce hug.
"M-My Lady?" Hayato spluttered. "Y-You'll get dirtied."
"Shut up," she said, sniffling. "I don't care about that you dumbass. Now hug me back or else I'll cry."
Hayato flailed a bit in her grip before settling his arms around her awkwardly while he looked around helplessly. Tsuna gave him a look that said 'You deserve it.' Hayato gave up. He looked over her shoulder at Takeshi.
"Baseball nut… the rest is up to you. I-I don't want to be asking you! You of all people…"
Takeshi grinned in return. "I know."
Hayato closed his eyes and sagged unconsciously against her.
They lost this match but Mia felt that it was alright. What mattered was that they were all okay. The next match to follow was Rain. Mia turned her head to Takeshi.
"Try dying on me and you'll know what's coming to you."
"Haha that may not be a bad thing you know." Takeshi grinned at her. She hiccupped tearfully and he froze. "I promise I'll be okay. You'll see." He tried to placate her. "Tsuna!" Takeshi turned to his friend for help but Tsuna wasn't willing to save him from Mia. "Come on man that's just cold."
Tsuna shrugged. "Not my problem. Now if you made her cry deliberately that's a different story."
Takeshi blanched.
Ian sought her out after the match. He separated her from the others just as Dino showed up and brought her to an empty classroom on the floor below. With the two of them alone, Ian pushed her towards the teacher's desk. "He's different." He all but growled.
"I don't get it," she said, not knowing why his knickers were in a twist. "What do you mean by that?"
"I'm saying – " He shoved his face to hers. "That you did something."
Her hip bumped painfully against the desk. "I didn't do anything! Tsuna's training has been going well! When his turn comes he'll be ready."
"Rubbish. Sure, he might be on fighting on equal ground with Xanxus with that technique of his but he lacks the firepower to overwhelm him." He ripped off his mask, exposing his angry emerald eyes. "I told you did I not? He needs to reach his full potential."
"The Flames of Wrath? That's what you're talking about?" She had no idea how he knew that.
"Didn't I teach you how to see the Web? I saw it as soon as I got close enough. The shrimp has avoided using it." He can do that? She accidentally voiced that one out loud. He scowled at her, trapping her in his arms from either side as he leaned down on her on the desk. "I can do more than that."
She shoved him off her. "What if Tsuna decided it by himself? That he didn't want it?"
"Wrath isn't an emotion you can just shake off. He can try to suppress it but it's there… simmering in the darkest pits of his heart."
"Tsuna isn't like that," she hissed but her mouth went dry. Angry maybe but Tsuna wasn't capable of something so… dark. However doubt began to creep. She had seen it in his eyes before, the overwhelming intent to destroy. She felt the wrongness when she touched him during the Lightning match. With her new ability to sense, she felt just how raw his wrath was. He had been wronged and he wanted to right it in the most unrestrained way.
"Look at you lie to yourself." Ian circled her, all the while scoffing. "You really believe he would win with a technique he's still struggling to learn? You saw how hard he was trying."
"Tsuna won't fail," she said with certainty. "And he doesn't need power like that."
"Mark my words love, he'll lose to Xanxus without it." He stopped behind her and leaned over her shoulder. "You can try stopping it but as long as you're around that power will never go away." He whispered in her ear. She jumped away from him, her heart racing.
"What do you mean when I'm around?" she asked him. Ian smiled eerily at her. Unsettled, she hadn't realized that he had backed her against the windows until she felt it. Feeling trapped and nowhere to go, her breath went short when he slanted his head in front of hers as if he was going to kiss her. If anything, she thought he was going to spawn fangs and rip her face off because that's exactly what he looked like.
"Poor little Mia." His breath made her shudder. "So smart. So clever. Yet oh so oblivious. I feel so bad for him."
The door rattled loudly as it was forcefully opened. "What are you doing to my student?" Reborn asked, his tone low and dangerous. Ian straightened and calmly put his mask on again.
"Just having a little chat." Ian sounded light but through the slits in his mask, his eyes were flashing warningly at her. Then he strode out, passing the shadowed hitman as he did so. Mia blinked and licked her dry lips. Reborn approached her.
"Did he do anything to you?"
Knees weak, she heavily slid down on the floor, her head falling into her hands. "Reborn… the Flames of Wrath… will you tell me more about it?"
Reborn considered it. "Why do you want to know?"
She looked up. "I want to know how it works. Why Tsuna has it when he's a descendant of Primo and not Secondo. Is it hereditary?"
He didn't question how she knew about it, that Tsuna had it. He probably expected it. "I can't say. Xanxus is the only other person ever recorded to have it after Secondo."
"Primo and Secondo were cousins. Both were able to use dying flames but they had never been more different."
"Dying Will Flames differ from one person to another Mia and in some cases, shows exclusively special traits. You've seen mine."
"Yours is yellow."
"And it heals," Reborn added. "That' not something Tsuna could do. Now give me your arm, I heard everything from Bianchi." Mia seized up in guilt but did as she was told. Reborn began to heal her and casted a soft light from his pacifier, illuminating the dark room and filling it with warmth. "You should have come to me earlier," he reproved her.
She bowed her head. "You already had a lot to do Reborn. I didn't want to bother you."
"Stupid child. You're making me look bad as your tutor." Even though the words were harsh, they were spoken with a kind of tenderness that the hitman rarely showed.
Despite being fifteen years old, Mia felt like a little girl in front of the strange baby. She felt small and shameful. "You didn't have to take me in as your student. You could have just gone on teaching Tsuna."
"True," Reborn agreed. "But you were interesting and it didn't look like you two were separating any time soon. Are you unhappy as my student?"
"No," she said immediately. "It was… hard sometimes but I never hated it."
"Then it's pointless to ask in the first place."
She smiled a bit. When the itching started to become unbearable, she decided to return to their earlier topic to get her mind off it. "The saying was that when Secondo got really angry, his Flames become destructive to the point it could reduce things to ashes. But does that mean that when he's not angry, his flame is normal like Tsuna's?"
"False. He only showed his Flame when he was angry and he always was."
"So in other words he just had a really, really bad temper."
"That's a mild way of saying it. You know how bad he got with his 'tantrums'." She cringed remembering the Vongola Documents.
"And Xanxus?"
"Even I don't know much about it Mia. Xanxus is a man shrouded in mystery. There's not much that can be said about him. The Ninth heavily guarded his sons."
"Apparently not enough though," she murmured remembering the other dead candidates. Reborn didn't say anything to that. "But Flames resonate with emotions right?"
"They do."
"What about hatred?" The glow faded and the room was slowly engulfed in darkness once more. "What happens to the Flame if you're filled with hate or anger?" Reborn gave her a look.
"Are you seriously trying to rationalize this?" She nodded as she expected her half healed arm. He released a short sigh.
"It would probably boost the Flame's destructive properties because that's what anger and hatred makes you feel like doing – destroy."
There was a pause as she let him confirm her theory. She stared at the ground, unwilling to accept it but unable to deny it. She closed her eyes. "I didn't know Tsuna had it in him to feel like that."
"Anger is the result when you feel threatened or wronged in any way. Hatred is when you can't let go of that anger and it grows. It's normal for humans to feel that way Mia. Tsuna may be the most forgiving naïve guy there is but he's still human." Even so… she drew her knees to her chest and placed her head on top. She felt Leon crawl up her pant leg to her arm where he flicked her hair with his tongue. "Are you worried?"
"I'm scared," she whispered. "I don't want Tsuna to be like Xanxus."
"That's stupid," says Reborn. "Tsuna will never be like Xanxus."
"I know," she groaned. "I know it's stupid. Please Reborn, can't I be stupid every once in a while?"
"No. Get your ass up already and let's go before Tsuna notices how long you've been gone." At first she didn't want to move but eventually she had to agree with him. Leon crawled to her shoulder as she slowly got up. "And Mia?" She paused. "Never mind."
"Eh? Reborn?" But the hitman was already leaving. She quickly followed him outside where the others except Hayato were waiting. Tsuna looked relieved to see her.
"Mia," he said. "Where did you go?"
"The toilet," she answered immediately. Her eyes flickered around for a mask but there he wasn't there. Ian had told her everything he wanted to say and left.
"Are you okay? Your face is pale."
"How's Hayato?" she asked, deliberately avoiding the question.
"Romario is currently tending to him," Dino told her. That was good, she thought with relief. Tsuna looked like he was going to talk to her but Reborn drew him away so as they walked home, she had time to brood over on what the hitman told her. Flames were so hard to understand. She wished someone had written a book about it so that she wouldn't have to rack her brains trying to find an explanation for everything. This was borderline supernatural… completely out of the realm of science.
When they got back to the Sawada Residence, Bianchi was there waiting for them with a bowl of steaming hot poison cooking. Mia swallowed heavily. She had a feeling that it might be for her. Bianchi's eyes zoomed in on her and she smiled.
"Mia ~ " Bianchi sung her name.
"Uh… Bianchi…" Tsuna tried to intercept her but the older woman pushed pass him and headed straight for her. Mia didn't wait for Bianchi to come to her. She went ahead and grabbed the bowl from her fingers. She chugged it down without looking at it. This was her way of apologizing to the woman. As she imagined it to be, it was absolutely vile. Her innards churned and she had the strongest urge to throw up but through the force of her own will, she handed the bowl back to a shocked Bianchi.
"Thanks for the meal," she croaked and staggered past Tsuna, who was freaking out.
"That was poison! Are you okay? Does your stomach feel like exploding?!"
"It's not so bad," Mia laughed out weakly. "Tastes better than Pa's cooking…" she passed out.
Tsuna couldn't understand sometimes how he fell for someone so crazy like Mia. What kind of person willingly drinks poison and walks it off? Granted she did collapse afterwards but still! Who does that? Apparently, Mia Matteis. Even though Bianchi assured him that she would be okay, looking at her twitching face didn't comfort him in the least. He spent the whole night asleep while holding her hand. But he didn't have a very nice dream.
He had been wandering the halls of Namimori Middle, alone. Why was he there? Oh, now he remembered. He was looking for something. But what was it again? He continued to walk. The sound of his footsteps bounces off the walls as he walked deeper and deeper in the never ending hall. Eventually he stood in front of a door. His slid it door open and stepped into a lush green glade filled with flowers.
Sitting on the middle of it all was Mia but at the same time she wasn't. She was younger, probably around eight years old. But he recognized her for the shape and color of her eyes. Her hair was tied into two braids, she wore short overalls and had a smudge of dirt across her nose. He approached her and knelt down beside her.
"What are you doing?" he asked her.
Little Mia looked up at him and showed him a snake. "Snakey!" It hissed at him, its sharp fangs gleaming dangerously.
"Hieeeee!" he slapped it out of her hands. The snake didn't seem to like that and rose, hissing and spitting. He picked Mia up and ran like his life depended on it while the snake chased after them, slithering like a damn demon from hell. He charged into the forest, Mia giggling and laughing on his back. They manage to lose it in foliage of trees. Tsuna sighed and they stepped out from their hiding place. Mia pulled on his sleeve.
Her blue eyes were mischievous. "Let's play! Let's play!"
"What would you like to play?"
"Tag!" And so they played. He chased her even though he never caught her. Whenever he was close to catching her, she would dart away from his finger tips as if she had an extra dose of energy. She actually managed to lose him but he could hear her laughing. It was all around him. The whole forest twinkled with it. He chuckled as her laughter faded. "Alright Mia. I give up – where are you?"
When she didn't answer him he started to worry. "Mia?" He pushed through several bushes, calling for her name. He squinted and saw a flash of blonde hair. He went over to where he saw it. He saw her standing in a shadow, her back turned against him. "Mia?" She slowly turned, her little blue eyes filled with terror.
"I don't want to play with him Tsuna," she whimpered.
"If you don't want to, don't. It's okay." When he took a step towards her she backtracked deeper into the shadows.
"I can't stop playing with him," she said, her eyes and voice steeling. "If I do, he'll come after you."
"Who?" The entire forest had gone silent.
"The trickster," she whispered. Her head angled to the side as if she heard something he couldn't. "He's coming." Dead leaves crackled as the weight of the faceless monster as it came closer towards them but the sound didn't come from one direction – it came from everywhere. He twisted around trying to pinpoint its location while Mia remained completely still. Her ever sharp blue eyes were transfixed on a form that was approaching her that he couldn't see until it was too late. Her scream shattered the silence as she was suddenly yanked down to the ground. Tsuna only had a fleeting glimpse of her leg locked in the jaws of a black fox with dark green eyes and her terrified face before she was dragged, braid and all into the abyss, her screams leaving behind a haunting melody.
He woke with a start. Tsuna lay on his back, panting heavily as if Reborn had him run around Namimori. A thin sheen of sweat covered him and he ran a shaky hand through his hair. He looked to his side where Mia was sleeping undisturbed, her hand held out where he was gripping it before. He must have slid down when he fell asleep.
It was just a dream but it had been so vivid. He couldn't forget the look on her face… he pressed his hands to his face. Why did he have such a dream? And why did it make him feel uneasy? He glanced at his clock which said four in the morning. Deciding he won't be able to go back to sleep so soon he went downstairs and fixed himself something to eat. He wasn't a great cook like Mia or his mom but he can make himself something… like instant noodles.
Reborn found him slurping noodles midway. He stared at his tutor, a long noodle dangling from his mouth. There was a wet sucking sound and the noodle was gone.
"Mia would disapprove," the hitman told his student.
Tsuna swallowed. "Well she's not in any condition to do so."
"You're not usually awake at this time," Reborn noted. Tsuna thought back to the dream and considered telling his tutor but decided against it.
"Nothing, I just wanted to start earlier – I need to master this and soon." He stared into his now empty cup. For two days he had been trying to master the First's technique. He knew the theory and its repercussions – something that he wouldn't tell Mia – but whenever he tried to apply it, he runs into a mental wall he can't get through. He couldn't focus long enough to lower his Flame enough into the negatives and it was starting to frustrate him.
"Rushing will get you nowhere. This technique requires patience."
"But how am I supposed to learn it if I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong?!" He pushed back away from the table and looked towards his tutor for help. But Reborn didn't give him any.
Instead, the hitman asked him, "Why are you fighting?"
"What do you mean why?" His brows furrowed. Wasn't it obvious? To protect his friends!
"Just answer the question Dame-Tsuna."
"To protect the people I care about," he automatically replied.
"Is that all?" Reborn pressed him. "If that were the case then why is it that you look like you want to rip Xanxus' head off every time you see him?"
"Maybe because I want to," he growled to the faint surprise of his teacher though the difference between a surprised Reborn and a normal one was hard to tell.
"Is it because of Mia?" Reborn quietly asked.
Tsuna glared at the wood. "No."
"But she's mostly the reason."
"… Yes."
"I see. Be ready in five minutes. We're going."
Tsuna didn't understand why Reborn asked him those things. Five minutes later he was dressed and rearing to go. Seeing the reflection of a much-better looking Mia on his closet mirror, he hoped that she wouldn't be strong enough to leave the bed and met with Reborn downstairs. When they got to his training grounds, Tsuna looked around for his sparring partner.
"Basil won't come until later," Reborn told him on top of a high rock. "We're going to try something different today. Sit down." Unsure of where the hitman was going with this but decided to roll with it, Tsuna sat down on the ground. "I've told you what this technique can do – how it can easily kill you at the slightest mistake – you've learned how to enter the state needed to perform it but so far you're actually unable to do it." Being reminded of his constant failing didn't exactly fill him with encouragement. It felt like someone shot him with a dozen arrows each time he remembered. "I'll admit. This has only been passed down from Boss to Boss in the family so my knowledge of it is limited. What I've had you doing for the past few days are based from what I could deduct but it seems I failed to look deeper into it." Tsuna blinked in surprise. Reborn failing? It was beyond unheard of. For the first time ever the teen could see a crack in the apparently infallible hitman and it was… incredibly humbling.
"Mia helped me understand something."
"Mia did?"
"Most of the time that girl is trouble's daughter but her insight is remarkable for someone so young." Tsuna thought that the way the hitman worded it was sad. Reborn distantly looked into the horizon, looking aged despite his young appearance. "There are two conditions to fulfill: first your body has to be able to stay in Hyper Mode for long periods of time and second, your ability to control your flames needs to be at a level where you can freely shift in all three states… Hyper, Median and Negative or we could call it Plus, Neutral and Minus. There is one other condition that I haven't realized until now… your psychological state."
"Wait… can I actually be crazy like everyone else?" Reborn slapped his head with a Leon crop. "Ow!"
"You've got issues Dame-Tsuna – whether it's a byproduct of your crappy childhood or daddy issues – it's interfering with your training. Sort it out."
Tsuna stared at his tutor in disbelief. He couldn't just sort it out. "I can't do that!" he cried.
"You can and you will if you want to beat Xanxus. Whatever internal turmoil it is that you have, you can't concentrate long enough to shift."
He would like to do that if he knew what was wrong with him. He wasn't emotionally unstable or anything. In fact, he felt fine. At loss of what to do, he sat there stumped. He hadn't the faintest clue where to start. Reborn can't help him in on this because apparently this was his problem.
"If I may…" Tsuna's brain froze. "Perhaps I could assist you?"
He hadn't been able to turn fast enough when Reborn suddenly struck with lightning speed. There was a small blast as the newcomer was blown off his feet and hit a wall of rock. Tsuna jumped to his feet. "Reborn?!" The hitman had disappeared from his spot and was standing over a groaning form clad in black.
"Where did you come from?" Reborn demanded. Tsuna recognized the fox mask.
"Eugh… I followed you here." The fox replied, wincing as he held his injured side where Reborn kicked him. Followed? Tsuna stood beside his tutor, expressing confusion. How was it that neither of them was able to detect him?
"I'm giving you five seconds to explain why, where and how." Tsuna thought that was unreasonable but he didn't say anything. He was curious too.
The fox seemed hardly fazed in the face of his tutor's threat. "I simply kept my distance Master Reborn and appeared when I thought best. It seemed that Master Decimo has been experiencing a bit of difficulty as of late. The Miss shared her concerns about it and I decided to ease her worries." Mia was worried for him?
"I don't need your help," he said indignantly, his ire rising.
Leon elongated to a sharp pike that Reborn drove with inhuman strength into the rock right next to the fox's neck. "Men like you are troublesome."
The fox unflinchingly stared back to what Tsuna would have been shaking to already if it had been him. "Perhaps. But is now really the time to be picky? The eve of Master Decimo's battle is drawing nearer."
"And what can you offer that I can't?"
"It's worth a try Sir. Surely a few minutes can be spared at least?" He picked himself up from the ground and rose to his full height. Reborn's eyes narrowed dangerously from under his hat. The fox dusted his coat. "Please, allow me to assist."
"If I refuse?" Reborn asked.
The fox shrugged. "I suppose I shall keep the miss company."
"What do you have in mind?" Tsuna beat his tutor less than one second. Reborn gave him a look and he tried not to feel like a moron. His cheeks were tinged with pink. The last thing he wanted was to have this fox around Mia.
"Since my stupid student insisted on it, fine." Tsuna winced at the irritated tone of his tutor.
"Let us commence then Master Decimo." The fox had him sit with his legs tucked underneath him and do breathing exercises while he was in Hyper mode. He didn't see the point of doing this when he was already calm and opened his eyes to fix him with an impatient stare. The fox didn't seem perturbed by it at all and it annoyed him. "For as calm as you look, your mind isn't in the same state of tranquility."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that your head is full of clutter. You must clear all that."
"I feel, think and act calm. I. Am. Calm."
"Not with that attitude." Tsuna wanted to punch him so bad… "Let's it put this way then – discard whatever thought or worry you have until you have nothing to think about. Everything that distracts you must be ignored, focus solely on your breathing or your heart."
"Are you teaching me to meditate?"
"Good grief you're a handful. The miss is much more cooperative than you are."
"Doing what?" Tsuna couldn't help but ask with suppressed jealousy.
The damn fox tilted his head and kept his silence but Tsuna could feel the smirk hiding behind that mask. The implications that came with the silence slowly brought his blood to a boil. He wants to get a rise out of you, Mia's voice came up in his mind. Don't mind him. Easier said than done especially when he just knew he didn't like him.
The fox let out a chuckle. "Now Master Decimo – distractions, you have to let go of all of that. That includes your charming princess." The way he said it so obviously had him blushing to the tips of his ears though to his credit he kept his face cool. Inside he was screaming at how crystal clear his feelings were that even a goddamn fox who he barely knew can figure it out.
He cleared his throat a bit, trying to regain his dignity. "Alright, I'll do as you say but you have to tell me something first."
"Of course."
Since the cat was out of the bag, Tsuna thought to hell with it. "Do you like her?" Thank god he was in Hyper mode otherwise he would have stuttered and further embarrass himself.
"Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point."
What language was that supposed to be? "What?" he said, bewildered.
"I have given you my answer, shall we proceed?"
"That was an answer? I didn't understand it!"
"Yes well, you didn't say I couldn't answer in French."
The goddamn nerve of this fox… Tsuna had the strongest desire to perform a triangle choke. He had never tried it but he would sure like to test how long the fox can last under his fangs. Mia was a smartass but she never grated his nerves like this one did. Lord knows he needed the patience and everybody knew how bountiful his god-given trait was.
"He had you there Dame-Tsuna," Reborn unhelpfully commented from the sideline. "Enough chit-chat you two and get on with it already." Tsuna shot a glare at his tutor. But… a deal was a deal no matter how cheated he felt. While he didn't grumble, he sulked.
Three hours later, Tsuna finally felt like he was moving forward. The fox was irritating, the first person he had ever considered strangling and a dick to boot… but he was also a good teacher which he loathed to admit. As long as he didn't think, he was good. He felt the change at the first shift and heard Reborn grunt approvingly, meaning that he did something right at last. Then the second… third…. His flames began to flicker abnormally; it's faded roars like a continuous blast of wings in his ears. However staying so long in Hyper mode was hard on his body and eventually he had to give in to the exhaustion. He fell back, panting hard, his t-shirt soaked with sweat and feeling like he had been trampled by a horde of horses.
When he opened his heavy lids, he saw Basil looking down at him with awe.
"That was marvelous Sawada-dono!" The lad clapped for him. Tsuna struggled to smile but his facial muscles were tired too. At the edge of his vision, he could see the fox getting up.
"As for maintaining that focus in battle, I suggest you come up with a thought to anchor yourself to." Tsuna managed to push himself up by his elbows and thoughtfully considered it. It was true that it would be harder to keep himself focused in the middle of the fight and he would also be very vulnerable. He wouldn't be able to move while performing this.
"I'll keep it in mind," he said. Ugh, just agreeing with the fox left an awful taste in his mouth.
"One hour Tsuna," Reborn told him. Too tired to complain that he probably needed half a day to recover, he let himself fall back on the ground and shut his eyes. In a matter of seconds he was out cold. Seeing that his student had worn himself out, Reborn sent Basil down the mountain to fetch a cooler filled with ice. He was serious about the hour-long break. If Tsuna didn't wake by then the hitman would. "You're staying right here by the way," he told the ominous fox that tried to escape his notice.
"I had the impression I wasn't welcome."
"You're not," Reborn replied curtly. "But I'm not letting you out of my sight. I don't know how Mia had gotten herself tangled with you but it's clear you have ulterior motives."
"Who doesn't?" The fox said cheekily with a dignified shrug. "Worry not sir, I can assure you that we have the same goal."
"And what is that?"
The fox eyed the teenager sprawled on the ground. "To put Sawada Tsunayoshi on his rightful place as Vongola Decimo."
Reborn inwardly cursed at how inscrutable this person was. It wasn't just the mask, his entire presence was perplexing. He couldn't get a read on his true intentions. It was like the man before him was the personification of the Japanese Kitsune. Oh how he hated cunning little tricksters. In his line of work they were the most troublesome to deal with – they were difficult to track and they loved leading people into circles while watching from the shadows with glee. Reborn hated to be played with but the fox had him where he wanted to be. He could threaten the damn bastard and hopefully more but unless Mia gave him permission to do so he can't lay a single finger on him because of his oath as their tutor.
But did Mia really understand what she was doing? He hoped she did otherwise it would be a first for him to break his word.
It was around mid-afternoon that she had mustered enough strength to get out of bed. Bianchi's poison cooking definitely deserved to be feared. She didn't know how Hayato managed to live through all that. Her admiration for the bomber just grew then. She managed to take a shower and head downstairs to the kitchen where Fuuta was writing in his book.
"Mia-nee!" he happily greeted her. "You're not dead!" He said as if he was saying, 'You're awake!'
"Who are you and what have you done to my adorable Fuuta?!" she pointed accusingly at him but Fuuta smiled at her as sweetly as he always did before melting into a mature frown.
"Try to think more about your health Mia-nee," Fuuta told her off patronizingly. "You made everyone worried." She didn't talk back, knowing how he had every right to be cross with her. "It's bad enough that Lambo is in the hospital and that Maman is getting mad at Tsuna-nii." Okay, since when did Fuuta get so good with guilt-tripping? Wait.
"Auntie is mad at Tsuna?" she asked, hardly believing that the woman had it in her to be mad.
Fuuta sighed sadly. "Maman wants to know what you guys have been doing but… we can't tell her."
Mia deflated as she took a seat in front of him, feeling suddenly glum. Not telling their parents was the hardest part of the whole thing. She could only imagine how scared and confused Tsuna's mother must be feeling and was grateful that her Pa was out of Namimori. Hiding the truth would be harder with her Pa around. Thinking about her family suddenly reminded her of her grandfather's arrival and she straightened in her seat. She had forgotten that, she thought with panic. Her Nonnino would be arriving tonight. Things had become so complicated that she could only bury her face in her hands.
"Mia-nee? What's wrong?" Fuuta asked her in concern. He closed his book.
One thing at a time, she told herself. But how was she supposed to hide this from her Nonnino? There was no way around it – she had to miss Takeshi's match. It wasn't that she thought that her Nonnino was more important at the moment – hardly really when your friends could possibly die – but she couldn't simply fib out of this one. Her Nonnino was a sharp man and it would be dumb of her to make excuses in his presence.
"Mia-nee?" Fuuta had abandoned his seat as he appeared beside her. He pulled on her t-shirt. "Are you okay?"
She gathered him into a hug. Placing her chin on the top of his head, she looked up at the clock that hung over the doorway, in a few hours Takeshi's match would start and she would be at the hotel where her Nonnino will be staying. Despite being overwhelmed by everything happening around them, she couldn't help but look forward to seeing her Nonnino again.
"I'm okay," she assured him earnestly and pulled back. She fondly brushed his bangs aside and stared into his young eyes. "I just had an idea." For some reason, Fuuta looked terrified at the thought. "W-What's wrong?"
"B-Because whenever Mia-nee comes up with an idea it's either insane or downright suicide."
"Where did you hear that from?!"
"Tsuna-nii." Her facial muscles started to twitch as she tried to maintain her smile. Whatever lingering effects the poison had on her body it was all quickly washed away by the burning urge to throttle her best friend. "You're not mad at Tsuna-nii are you? He's really just worried." Nice try, she thought but patted his head comfortingly.
"I'm not." She just had the strongest desire to tackle him. Fuuta had this apologetic look on him that she knew wasn't meant for her. With one last final pat and some parting words as to where she would go, Mia left the house to Takeshi's dojo. Mia had been quite surprised at first when she found out about it. Yamamoto-san was kind to have shown it to her when she expressed an interest in swords after seeing him hold his knife in a unique way during the time she worked at Takesushi. Sadly she couldn't trust herself to wield a sword in case she accidentally impaled herself. She wasn't sure what Takeshi had learned from his father in this short amount of time but she trusted her friend.
The dojo was named Asarigumi. Coincidence? Mia thought not. As she stood outside the dojo, staring at its sign, she wondered if this is where the kind Asari Ugetsu had settled all those years ago when his boss left Italy behind. It wouldn't surprise her if he did and that Takeshi was somehow his descendant. It was just speculation for another time though and she left herself in. Takeshi was practicing his footwork when she knocked against the door.
He turned around and beamed when he saw her. He wiped his forehead and set his shinai down. "Yo Mia! What are you doing here?"
"Came to give my best wishes before the match."
Takeshi frowned. "You're not going?"
She let regret seep into her features as she looked up at him. "I'm sorry Takeshi, it's just that my Nonn-Grandfather will be arriving shortly here at Namimori. Pa expects me to be there to greet him."
He smiled slowly in understanding. "It's too bad you won't see me be awesome." Right, Takeshi's opponent would be Squalo. Now she really felt awful. He noticed the look on her face and quickly led her inside. "Hey now, I'll be alright."
"I don't want to miss your match Takeshi," she said as she plunked down on the mat. "But I can't ditch my grandfather. He's… I…" She fumbled for words. Eventually she gave up and hung her head. "I'm just really sorry."
Takeshi knelt before her and gripped her shoulder comfortingly. "It's okay Mia. I get it."
He was going to fight Squalo, who was meant to be the Varia boss and she wouldn't be around to see him. He could get hurt or worse killed. While her friends would be fighting for their lives she would be sitting with her Nonnino having dinner like nothing was wrong. Pathetic. Useless. Weak. But she expected this didn't she? She once told Hayato how glad that he was around because she knew she wouldn't be able to help much in a fight. She knew how much of a burden she would be but it still felt awful no matter how much she tries to reason with herself.
Takeshi suddenly pulled her into a one-armed hug. He sighed into her hair tiredly. "Mou Mia, you're gonna turn Tsuna green with envy if you keep worrying about me like this."
She blushed and pulled herself away. Takeshi grinned mischievously at her. "Tsuna envious?" she let out a laugh. "Of what?"
"Of this!" She shrieked when he suddenly picked her up and bounced her in his arms. "There's nothing that can make a guy feel like winning than a pretty girl telling him to do his best. So, where's my 'do your best'?"
She gave him an unimpressed look which would have been unnerving if she wasn't blushing, Takeshi cocked his head to the side, seemingly thinking about something. "I've got a better idea!" he exclaimed. "Ne Mia, say 'Do your best onii-chan!' and make sure you say 'onii-chan' really cutely okay?"
"What?! Screw you baseball nut!" Her face was an impressive shade of red. She couldn't believe the nerve of this idiot. Takeshi just laughed at her. He bounced her in his arms again, startling her.
"Come ooonnn…" he whined. "If I'm gonna win this, you gotta say it!"
"B-B-But…"
"I thought I was like a brother to you?" he pouted. She wanted to bite her tongue. She did tell him that. He was also a few months older than her.
"F-Fine," she conceded at last, burying her face in her hands once more. Takeshi set her down and when she lowered her hands she found a phone awaiting to capture this embarrassing moment. She immediately went to grab it but Takeshi held it high where she couldn't reach it. She glared at him. "No," she flat-out denied him.
The grin never left his face. "Think of it as my good luck charm," he said but at her stubborn refusal he sighed and dropped his grin, disappointment showering his features. "Okay."
Mia hated it. First Fuuta now Takeshi. What was it with people today and guilt-tripping her? She groaned in frustration. "Fine!" she all but cried. "Just stop it with the face!"
Takeshi instantly brightened. He reminded her of a dog eagerly waiting to be fed. She let him take the video and instantly sought a corner to seriously rethink her life's decision. Meanwhile Takeshi was chortling with mirth as he watched it. He later patted her head and she looked up. He smiled down at her and she thought how befitting the role of Rain was for him. His easy going nature would be able to balance the high-rising tempers in their circle, including her own. If they lose him… she nearly had a panic attack with Hayato but for some reason, looking into his chestnut eyes, she could ease herself of the worry just a little bit.
Takeshi could take care of himself. She had to trust him with that.
Tsuna listened wordlessly as Mia talked to him on the phone. A sense of relief just seemed to stretch all across his nerves and he just lived in it. Somehow he felt it was safer for her to be away from the Varia. Unlike Mia though, he didn't forget about her Grandfather's arrival in Japan. He hadn't even met the man yet but already he had the strongest impression not to provoke the old general. He doesn't plan to and he hoped to the heavens he never has to.
"I understand. Try not to worry so much alright?" he told her.
She snorted. "That's what I should be saying."
"I'll hold the fort while you're gone," he promised her jokingly. He heard her chuckle from her end and his insides squirmed but not in a bad way. He wanted to tell her so much… it wasn't the right time yet. This much is enough for now.
"I better get ready soon. Call me before you guys start the match alright?"
"Don't worry, we won't leave you out."
After saying their goodbyes, an interloper decided to grace him with their irksome presence. The fox had been listening in on their conversation the whole time while standing two feet behind him. In some ways he still wanted to hurl the fox off a cliff but he was grateful for the lessons he learned so maybe he can act a bit nicer around him.
"Did the miss not ask for me?"
"She didn't know you were here," he replied, irritation quick to rise.
"Why didn't you tell her?"
"Because you're staying with me today!" he snapped. Okay, nice was out of his hands.
The fox backed away, seemingly horrified. "Why… I never knew I was so interesting to you Master Decimo. Forgive me, I rather like girls."
Tsuna's jaw dropped. He wasn't… he thought he was…? He started swearing incoherently in Italian. He was so done with this bastard! He let out a loud and frustrated snarl that had Basil, who was ten feet away from them, startled and dropping his weapon. He didn't bother looking at the fox in case he did something rash. He angrily stomped away but despite his angry outburst the fox stayed. He was rather quiet the whole way too. Tsuna preferred he stayed that way.
When they gathered once more at school, Tsuna found that he didn't have to tell the others about Mia. Takeshi beat him to it but he hardly seemed bothered by it.
"Did Mia visit you?" he asked.
"Yup!" Takeshi cheerfully replied. "She gave me an awesome good luck charm!"
"What are you waiting for Baseball idiot? Are you gonna show us or not?" Hayato said restlessly, curious as everyone else was. Takeshi waved them to be closer so they gathered around in a circle around him as he took out his phone. He played a video. In it, Mia was blushing like a cherry as she stared bashfully at the camera.
Slowly, in a sweet manner that was rare for her she said, "Do your best onii-chan!" Then she clapped her hands over her face and the video ended. There was silence for a few moments before Onii-san began roaring into the sky, so filled with envy was he.
"YAMAMOTO THAT'S REALLY UNFAIR! I WILL EXTREMELY GET KYOKO TO DO THAT FOR ME TOO! DAMN IT WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT?!"
With a sharp snap, Takeshi put his phone away. "Hahaha that would be great senpai but in terms of cuteness, Mia wins hands down."
"Is that a challenge?!"
"Maybe," Takeshi shrugged and laughed.
"Challenge accepted!"
In the back, Tsuna could hear Basil asking Dino if Mia and Takeshi were related which the older man replied with a perplexed no.
"T-That was…" Hayato said shakily then just as quickly became angry. Takeshi clamped a hand on his shoulder before he blew a fuse.
"Maa, maa don't make such a scary face. I'm not the one who got a kiss from her!" At the reminder, the bomber quickly sobered. He looked away, unable to admit the baseball ace's claim. Tsuna meanwhile, merely pulled out his own phone.
"Ne Takeshi, can I have a copy of that?"
Unaware of the shenanigans going on between her boys, Mia turned to face her Nonnino as he stepped out of his hotel room. Weathered by age he was, he still possessed a large amount of vigor and offered his arm to her like the gentleman he was. Clad in a simple cream dress, she took his arm with a smile. Nero Matteis' eyes flickered once at her strange bracelet and bandaged arm before returning to his granddaughter's face.
"Did you have a nice flight Nonnino?" she asked him.
The old general smiled obscurely. "It was pleasant but not much compared to seeing you my dear."
(1) "Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point." - The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of. (Blaise Pascal)
Author's Note:
The funniest scenes to write were the ones between Tsuna and Ian. Ian knows their feelings towards each other and doesn't hesitate to exploit that.
I know there wasn't much romance here but other than being a romance fic, it still is an AU. The whole story doesn't necessarily revolve entirely on Mia and Tsuna's love but for the sake of the readers who have been gnawing on their nails for the long awaited confession... well you won't have to wait that long. If you guys thought this chapter was long, you won't believe how much I've planned for the next one. But in the meantime, I hope you guys enjoy the fluff between characters.
If there is one thing I regret not including in this chapter it would be more of the Varia. Frankly I wanted a bit more of an interaction between them and Mia but I thought it would be better to save that for when they go to Italy instead. That and a scene where Mia goes to the hospital to encounter Nana Sawada. There were things I wanted to address about her character which were rather negative but with the chapter being so long I decided to omit it instead as it didn't fit with the 'tone' I had going on. It's rather depressing and grim.
Thanks for reading!