Clear to cloudy
Target 8: The fiery red rose
Given the literal law of nature that seems to happen around Kotsu after Reborn came into his life, NOTHING can go right for him and his mom naturally agreed to just… let Cotton live there without any issues. In fact! His mother was even almost HAPPY to have a cute girl to take care of. Cotton… was not. She just wanted to make a ruckus, but Kotsu's mom had a way of calming her down to just a normal child.
-NII-
It's been a week now of Cotton living with them. She tried to murder Kotsu on multiple occasions, but Tsugemora always stopped her. She'd grown quite fond of Tsugemora in fact. He never reacted when she pulling his hair when laying on his head. Something she quite enjoys it seems.
Tsugemora is currently walking patrol around the house looking for intruders, everyone but him being certain that there are none at all. Kotsu's mother comes down the stairs with Cotton in her arms. "Kotsu! Tsugemora-kun! Ren! Would you guys mind taking Cotton for a little walk?" She says happily and Tsugemora almost teleports in front of her with how fast he goes bowing to her.
"Yes ma'am!" Ren and Kotsu come down the stairs, Ren happy as always. Kotsu… not so much.
"But why mom…?"
"Reborn-san said that it is a good exercise for you,"
"Of course he did…" Kotsu says as he's handed Cotton who without pause just punches him in the face before jumping onto Tsugemora's head.
"Cotton-heika likes this one better. Tsugemortal is a comfy mortal!" she says hugging the top of his head. "You make Cotton-heika feel safe," She adds and Tsugemora just blinks a little.
"Um… okay…" However he turns back to a smile. "Glad I'm doing my job then Cotton!" She bangs him on the head angrily.
"Cotton-heika demands that you call her either Cotton-heika or lady Cotton!"
"I only call Nii-san by a special high-authoritative name!" He says and Kotsu sighs. Is Nii-san really such a special high-authoritative name? Probably not…
Ren is already at the door. "Alright you three! Let's go for a walk!" He says happily and Kotsu just ends up forced to go along.
They walk out onto the street and Ren stretches happily. "And just like that lil' bro! We're doing something together again!" He says happily and Tsugemora gets in between the two brothers looking quite upset at Ren.
"Hey! Don't step too close to Nii-san! You fooled me into thinking he was you so you might be planning to fool Nii-san as well!"
"I… never did that. And I'd never lie to my lil' bro. Or fool him in any way," he adds on top. As they reach a little cross-section Cotton suddenly jumps from Tsugemora's head and onto the ground sprinting back the way they came, having felt something she did NOT want to feel.
"Cotton! You can't go on your own!" Kotsu says going after her soon followed by Tsugemora and Ren.
"C-Cotton-heika forgot something at home! S-she will return shortly! S-she knows the way home!" She says and they all stop going after her a little. Ren suddenly feels someone turn the corner they were just at as the person bumps into him and fall as the person was running, while Ren keeps his balance.
"Iteee! Watch where you're walking idiot!" A female voice yells and Ren turns around with an apologetic smile on his face.
"Sorry about that miss. But I was standing still…" He says holding out his hand and as soon as he does he feels two shadows looming over him making him get a slight chill. Kotsu and Tsugemora both hear the start of a conversation and turn to look seeing three strange people, one of whom Ren just bumped into. That person being the only girl among the group. She looks to be around 15, same as Ren, with incredibly long crimson-red hair, set over one of her eyes and then falling in front of her body in a three-strand braid, yet it still reaches her thigh. He looks to the other two boys. The first also appears to be around 15 also and like the girl he has crimson hair and his is just as long as hers. It falls in two long thick tufts down his back, then fold upwards meeting in a very large hairclip, but it's so long that it does the same thing over and over again at least 5 times. 'These guys just LOOK like trouble!' He thinks and Tsugemora is instantly in front of him holding out his wire.
"I will not let you get to the amazing Nii-san!" He yells, however, the boy seems more concerned with Ren as he's helping the girl stand up.
"Oi! What do you think you're doing to my sis, Bro!?" The smaller boy says angrily. "You ain't got a snowball's chance in hell with her got it!? You really think you've got that chance?!" he adds getting right up in Ren's face with Ren holding up his hands in defense.
"Oh. No. Not at all. I just helped her up after I made her fall," The boy grabs Ren's collar making as intimidating a face as possible and Kotsu gulps wondering when on earth he'll be able to meet someone sane.
"So you made my lil' sis fall did ya!?" The little sister grabs the boys hands and makes him let go.
"Who cares Cane?" She says and the boy just puts his hands behind his head pouting.
"Just trying to protect my lil' sis is all, Cocoa," He says and the oldest boy grits his teeth and clears his throat. He looks a lot older than the rest. Around 22. He's much taller than Ren and therefore towers over everyone present and his hair, like the other two, is also crimson and the longest of them all. By far the longest hair any of the three have ever seen. It is set in a long waterfall braid around his entire head and the braids that would fall in his face are instead slicked back and held in place by a hairclip. The hair in the back folds outwards making it look a little bit like wings. Each of them are wearing a similar style of clothes. A pair of loose dark jeans with matching tank-tops for the two boys and a criminal t-shirt for Cocoa.
"Be quiet you two," he says bonking them lightly on the head authoritatively, not to hurt them. As such both the younger crimson-haired people quiet down and bow their head at the older boy.
"Of course Jute-nii-san," They both say and the largest boy, Jute, smiles and pats them both on the head as if to correct the 'damage' he just caused.
"It's always good for siblings to fight occasionally, but only… if they make up afterwards. That's what we're all about and also why we're here. Remember that," He says and both his siblings nod and smile at each other. Then Cocoa and Cane hug.
"It sure is," they say in unison.
Meanwhile Ren, Tsugemora, and Kotsu are just looking rather strangely at the three siblings.
"hey… Sorry for making you fall," Ren says not trying to get in the way of their sibling moment. Cocoa just tsks happily his way with a flattered wave of the hand. Kotsu can almost feel her royal 'aura' from where he's standing.
"Oh don't worry. If either of us had been looking where we were going it wouldn't have happened. It's just as much my fault as it is yours," She says with a little laugh and Ren grins holding out his hand for a handshake.
"I'm glad we both feel the same. I'm Ren. Ren Niruo," He says and Cocoa shakes his hand much to Cane's dismay.
"Good to meet you. I'm Cocoa Rossa…" She introduces, and Kotsu recognizes that last name, but he can't quite put his finger on where he heard it. "This doofus is my twin brother Cane Rossa and…" Cane raises a casual hand trying to look cool, which kind of works.
She's about to formally introduce Jute when he takes a big step forward. "I am Jute Rossa. The heir of the Rosa Rossa family," He says and Kotsu gets a little afraid once more at his giant stature, his hair only emphasizing his size. It finally snaps in Kotsu's head as the Rosa Rossa family is none other than Cotton's family as she mentioned back when Kotsu first met her.
"A family huh…?" Ren says realizing it must have something to do with that 'game' Kotsu's playing. "So you guys play that mafia game too? Nice to meet you," Jute smiles as well.
"Indeed. We are looking for our little sister. Her name is Cotton," He says and everyone takes a little step back. Was… that why Cotton ran away…? She felt them nearing her…?
Ren points back the way they came. "She went that way just now. We were taking her for a walk," Cane grabs Ren's collar again looking angrily into his eyes.
"So you bastards kidnapped that little brat!?" He declares before instantly letting go feeling Jute's authority looming over him.
"Cotton is no brat Cane. She is a valued member of our family," He says and Cane just takes a step back and tsks.
"Not at all. She's useless. Even father doesn't approve of her. And he's the BOSS!"
Just then Jute hits him over the head quite a bit harder this time sounding almost angry. "Do not speak ill of our little sister! And using father is NO excuse for disliking her!" He yells and Cane slowly stands up shaking his head. "Where is she Cocoa?" He asks turning his attention to his sister.
Cocoa closes her eyes before pointing in a direction which is not where Kotsu's house is. "That way Jute-nii-san,"
"Very well," he looks at Kotsu and his group. "Let us go together. It appears you are searching for her as well correct?"
Kotsu snaps out of his almost trance. "Y-yeah… she suddenly ran off… I think she doesn't… want to see you guys…" He says and Jute sighs.
"Sadly that is true… but our father has ordered that she returns with us to Italy," he says avoiding using the term boss since he still doesn't know about Kotsu's involvement with the Vongola. "There're some quite dangerous people here in Japan and a little girl such as her shouldn't be all alone…" He says clearly very worried for his little sister's safety.
Ren smiles at the statement. "I feel your worry. But no need for it! She's fine living with us!" He says with a thumbs up.
The group begins walking with Cocoa leading up front with Cane by her side and Jute following behind with Tsugemora watching closely for any actions that might put Kotsu in danger. Which very likely won't even happen. "I'm sure she's doing just fine with you Ren. But… our father has quite a lot of information which Cotton knows that might… compromise our family," He says and Ren chuckles a little.
"It's for that mafia game right?! My lil' bro Kotsu here ALSO plays that game. He's been chosen as the next boss of a really 'strong' family you see!? It's called the Vogla family or something," He says like it's no big deal. Kotsu gets a little scared now that these people know who he is.
"I see… so you are the next vongola boss? That must be why you have found Cotton. Before she ran away she said she'd find and kill you to prove that she was useful. And so she could take over the universe," He finishes and Kotsu can easily that's something Cotton would say. But only the second part.
"She… wants to be useful…?" Kotsu asks looking a little confused.
"There she is!" Cocoa declares pointing frantically at a little red spec running along the ground in between people's legs.
"Cane!" Jute yells and the young boy nods before setting off.
"Got it! Cotton!" He yells and the little girl jumps in fear before speeding up trying to get away but naturally Cane is much faster.
"W-wait!" Kotsu tries. "S-she's scared!" He tries and right before Cane gets to her someone blasts right past him grabbing up the little girl in his arms. It's Ren.
"Nice catch!" Cane says and Ren smiles at him.
"Thanks," Cotton tries escaping as Cane holds out his hand.
"Now hand her over so we can both get on our way," However at this point Ren takes a little step back.
"Not happening. You might be her big brother, but she didn't exactly seem to want to go with you," He says holding her away and Kotsu and Tsugemora get in front. Jute and Cocoa also walks up to them, just in time for Cocoa to hold Cane back before he attacks Ren.
"Now now Cane. Getting angry will do the opposite of what we want. We simply want our little sister to come home. I'm worried about her," Jute says holding out his hand and Cotton cowers a little. Very atypical behavior from what they all know. "I see… So what now?" Jute asks well-knowing that if they really wanted to they could easily snatch Cotton away from them, however doing so would likely create a WHOLE lot of trouble. With Kotsu being there and Tsugemora too.
"What now…?" Ren asks not really having thought things through but Kotsu steps forward a little.
"W-what do you MEAN what now!? W-what is there to do!?" He tries and Cane grits his teeth.
"Shut your face kid before I shut it for you," However Kotsu notes Jute calming his younger brother again.
"Careful now Cane. That boy is the next head of the Vongola family," He says and they all have a bit of a stalemate for a few minutes no one daring to make a move, except Cotton who's just clambering to Ren's chest.
"This is getting boring to watch," A voice says from a rooftop and Tsugemora quickly takes out his fiber wire to confront the person, but quickly packs it away again seeing that it's Reborn.
The Rossa rosa siblings all recognize him. "You are the hitman Reborn, correct?"
The hitman nods jumping onto the ground straight from the roof easily. "that's right. I've been assigned as Kotsu's tutor, to teach him the mafia ways. So going through him is the same as going through him," He says and Kotsu seemed a little more confident in their stance until the last part.
"What does that even mean!?"
"Go ahead and attack. I won't stop you. It'll be a good practice for them all. You are Jute correct? That's even better. Shall we see who's the strongest then. The heir of the Rossa rosa family, or the heir to the Vongola family?" He tries and Kotsu can do nothing but watch it happen.
"I don't think that's a good idea… I didn't come to Japan to fight. Simply to get my little sister home safe," Jute adds and Reborn sighs.
"Disappointing. But oh well… then I propose-" He starts but suddenly Cotton manages to escape Ren's arms.
"Cotton-heika will not be kept as prisoner!" She yells managing to catch the nearby cross-section before it turns red. The group run to it seeing her disappear on the other side.
"This is bad! S-she could easily hurt herself," Kotsu tries and Cane is about to step out to stop the traffic, but Cocoa stops him.
"We don't wanna cause trouble more than necessary idiot!" She says and they all impatiently wait for it to turn green again, rushing over as soon as the signal is given. However they quickly realize that they've lost her. Cocoa quickly identifies where she is again. Seeing it now Kotsu is lead to wonder exactly how she does that.
"She went this way!" She declares and everyone starts running. She leads them all around Namimori, but it seems that somehow Cotton keeps being elsewhere.
"W-what's going on!?" Kotsu yells as they once more stop at a place where Cocoa said Cotton would be.
"S-she… keeps getting away. This shouldn't even be possible! I KNOW she has the hair on her!" She says in frustration and disbelief that she's been unable to find her.
"What hair?" Tsugemora asks with a tilted head. Cane just tsks again.
"Quiet idiot. Her burning radar OBVIOUSLY uses hair she's planted at placed to find them again. Duh!" He says and Kotsu is just… flabbergasted. HOW is that obvious!?
However before anyone can ask him to explain properly there's a scream of a little girl. With the pitch and volume of such a scream it could ONLY be Cotton. Tsugemora this time leads the front. "WHATEVER! We can follow a voice MUCH better!" He yells and Cane is right behind him.
"Shut it! Her radar GOT us here didn't it!?" The two almost have a bout right there, but are interrupted as they arrive at their location. An alley with five large men holding Cotton by her hair, with the little girl squirming like crazy.
"Let go of Cotton-heika mortals! Or she will rain divine punishment upon you!" She yells angrily and the thug holding her just holds up his hands showing a tattoo on his arm. A wolf with cyan eyes, which Reborn seems to recognize.
Cane steps forward looking angrily at the thugs. Each of them is taller than the young boy by at least a head, but he looks unfazed. "Let go of her. Or I'll crush ALL of you!" Tsugemora joins him.
"Yeah! Nii-san cares about her! So I will also break you guys!"
The thugs all laugh loudly. "You're kidding right!? What's a bunch of kids going to do!?" One of them yells and Reborn pushes both of them back, before pushing Kotsu forward.
"Nothing. It's just going to be this guy," He says calmly and Kotsu panics looking at them.
"W-what!? A-are you crazy Reborn!?" He tries and Ren seems to understand.
"Oooohh… this is part of that game too!?" he says thinking there's no way Reborn would ACTUALLY put Kotsu in danger. But Kotsu knows better. He's likely to just get… pummeled.
"W-what!? Ren! Talk him out of it!"
"No way! You're the main character of this game, right?! You'll win no problem and save Cotton right!?" Kotsu looks back seeing Cotton look really frightened, though she's hiding it behind anger and the squirming.
"B-but… there's no wa-" He tries before feeling himself getting shot in the back of the head. 'Again!? I-I'm dying… Leaving this world forever. If only I could've done something… saved Cotton…' he lands and the thugs all look really confused at Reborn as Leon transforms back into a lizard on Reborn's hat.
"W-what'd you just-"
However they're cut off as Kotsu's clothes burst off except his boxers and he is forced to his feet, the purple flame bursting out from his forehead. "RE… BOOOOOORNNN! I WILL PROTECT COTTON WITH MY DYING WILL!" He yells much to the Rossa siblings' surprise. Kotsu charges forward towards the thugs.
"D-don't come closer or we'll kill her!" The thugs tries but Kotsu suddenly kicks a brick laying at the side of the alley straight into the thugs face.
"COTTON WILL NOT BE HURT!" He yells jumping forward, ramming his head straight into the stomach of the man holding Cotton making him let go before flying backwards. She lands on his head clamping on for dear life as Kotsu throws a few punches knocking every thug down with one powerful strike and they all limp away in a hurry as Kotsu yells off the top of his lungs. "FIRST THREAT ELIMINATED!" He yells and Cane steps forward once more.
"Good job. Now ha-" he tries as Kotsu takes an overexaggerated step backwards.
"SECOND THREAT APPEARS!" He yells and looks angrily at Cane as Cotton looks down at him.
"M-mortal-kun…"
"SHE DOESN'T WANT TO GO WITH YOU!" Kotsu yells on top and Cane grits his teeth.
"Enough of this nonsense! WE HAVE ORDERS!" He yells and everyone swears they see his hair spark with electricity before Cane suddenly feels himself almost physically get weaker from Jute's stare.
"Since you like to follow orders then here's another Cane. Stand down. There will be no fighting," He says and Kotsu's flame starts disappearing and he passes out falling backwards.
"Mortal-kun!" Cotton yells jumping off and landing on his chest. Reborn goes forward picking him up.
"here is what will happen now. We will go to Kotsu's house. We have things we need to discuss. Such as those thugs," he says looking at Tsugemora specifically and Tsugemora seems to know what he's talking about.
Jute nods. "Indeed. There is a solution to this that doesn't involve a conflict between our families."
-NII-
They reach Kotsu's house and go inside. Kotsu's mother looks very strangely at the three new characters who all have the most insane hair they've ever seen enter the house.
"Um… hello," Kotsu's mom starts and Jute smiles at her.
"May we come in? We have something to discuss with you all," He says and Reborn just nods.
"They need to speak with me over Cotton specifically. They are her siblings who wish to bring her back to Italy with them,"
"Oh my! Well come on in then!" Kotsu's mother says, jumping almost excitedly Reborn handing Kotsu to Ren who carries him upstairs much to Tsugemora's dismay.
Jute looks at Kotsu's mom and smiles very gently. "And you must be Kotsu's sister," He says knowingly causing her to blush.
"Oh you… I don't look that young. Please come in. I'm Masumi Niruo," She's flattered beyond belief and the three of them go inside making sure to take off their shoes.