"This…should be the place," Vero commented aloud when stopping at his supposed destination.
He looked around and realized that his destination was in a small clearing in a forest, seemingly in the middle of nowhere in Japan. In his opinion it would have been better if someone had been there to greet him at the airport, but he also agreed with the reasoning behind sending him to a remote location on his own.
He turned off his phone after double checking his location and then glanced around cautiously before continuing. "No one's here yet though and it's about the right time for our rendezvous…"
Vero waited a moment longer in the stillness, and then it started to rain - the kind that started lightly at first then before it quickly changes to a heavy downpour. The young boss flinched and froze as the sky went dark and the rain put a heavy pressure on him, making it hard for him to sense anyone's approach.
"Don't move," he heard a male suddenly state seriously from behind him. "Were you followed?"
"No, not to my knowledge," the blonde replied with a relaxed confidence despite feeling a sword point in his back.
There was a minute of tense silence before the point was withdrawn.
"Well you grew up fast, kid." The male then mused, seeming more relaxed as he chuckled.
Vero followed suit before turning only to see a tall dark figure. Remarkably he could still recognize the male's voice as the Rain Guardian Yamamoto and concluded that it wasn't someone using his voice, so he deemed that the man was trustworthy.
"Follow me, and make sure not to wander." He continued while turning to leave. "It can be pretty easy to lose your way in this rainfall."
The young Cavallone boss tailed the guardian obediently through the downpour until they arrived at an opening hidden between some rocks a few miles away from their meeting place. Vero expected to see rocky cave walls when entering through the opening but was surprisingly greeted with a smooth cement lined wall instead.
"Sorry about that," Yamamoto stated with an apologetic smirk. "All of that was a precaution to make sure you weren't followed or someone else using mist flames for a disguise.
As he finished he withdrew a small sky blue box from inside his suit jacket and held it out towards the cave's opening. The box opened and a tiny flame with the same color flew in and entered before it closed. With it came an abrupt end to the downpour.
"Could've given me a warning before I got soaked to the bone though." Vero commented while wringing out the water from his clothes.
The rain guardian simply chuckled in response as he then procured two towels and tossed one his way. While the young boss dried himself off he happened to get a better look at the older guardian.
He had definitely matured and while he seemed his usual laid back self most of the time, he was largely a bit more serious. He was wearing a simple black suit and tie, all over a blue button up dress shirt. He also had his sword in a special case slung over his shoulder and was wearing his Vongola Gear Rain Bangle on his wrist.
Once the two of them were dry enough they moved on further into the base.
"Woah, this place sure is impressive," Vero mused aloud with wonder as they traversed the winding maze-like halls. "How long did it take to build all of this?"
Yamamoto paused in thought for a moment. "About…five or six years I'd say. We're about eighty percent done at this point."
"It'd be nice to have an underground base like this." The young boss continued with a slightly bittersweet tone in his voice. "If…m-Rosetta had someplace like this then maybe…"
"Hey kid, no good comes from dwelling on the past for so long." The rain guardian suddenly advised, taking him by surprise. "You'll lose focus on what matters now in the present."
"You're right," Vero finally admitted after some thought.
Yamamoto smiled approvingly as they shortly arrived at one of the many doors lining the hallway they stood in. Upon entering they found themselves in some sort of study as bookshelves lined the walls and there was at least one desk and chair present.
That wasn't the most eye catching area however, as everyone who was seated or standing near the long couch facing the coffee table in the center of the room.
On the opposite side of the table were two single armchairs and Vero was instructed to take a seat in one of them. While he did Yamamoto took his own place among the others, allowing him a good look at everyone else present. Gokudera sat with him on the long couch and they were positioned in such a way that it left an empty spot between them.
The storm guardian still looked like he was ticked at everything like before but he had mellowed a little over the years. He wore the same black suit and tie like the rest of the others over a red dress shirt, various earrings and rings, and his Vongola Gear Storm Buckle was set on his belt.
Ryohei stood squarely behind the couch, looking as extreme as ever with his hands bandaged up to his knuckles and a piece plastered to his nose. He wore a yellow dress shirt and his Vongola Gear Sun Band on his upper arm.
Lastly, standing in the farthest corner because he still never liked crowds was Hibari. The cloud guardian hadn't seemed to change at all. He wore a purple dress shirt with his suit and his Vongola Gear Cloud Wristbands.
"Some of you are missing…Where are the Thunder and Mist Guardians?" Vero asked with concern when realizing that not all of them were present. "And where is Uncle Tsuna?"
"Juudaime sent Lambo, Chrome, and I-Pin to assist Antonio, so they're stuck at wherever he is." The storm guardian replied seriously before clicking his tongue and complaining. "Honestly this is one heck of a mess Nero's roped everyone into…"
"And it's a mess we need to do our part in cleaning up. We are allied with the Mezzanotte after all." A male suddenly announced responsibly and all guardians tensed up in response for their boss had entered the room.
If anyone had matured the most out of all the Vongola it was definitely Tsuna, though his hair was still as unkempt as when he was a teen. Like the others he wore a full suit as well but with a yellowish orange dress shirt with the collar messily turned up. To complete the look he wore his X Gloves Version Vongola Gear, which were red with orange flame accents.
He walked into the room calmly and took his seat between Gokudera and Yamamoto, then asked casually, "So, you've ventured here on your own, Vero-kun…but why exactly?"
"I'm sure you've heard that Nero is currently rising in power, so before he could get his grip on the Cavallone family, I told my men to lay low and snuck over here under the radar." The young boss explained. "Once Nero finds out my true connection to the Mezzanotte, I am sure to become his next target. I came here seeking to become stronger with your help so I can defend myself when he does come after me."
The Vongola boss sat silent in thought for a long time while everyone waited for his answer. "I accept your request and am willing to comply," he stated before turning to the other guardians. "But will you all assist me in training him?"
The storm guardian looked to the rain and sun members who in turn nodded affirmatively, then replied with, "We will follow your lead, Juudaime. If you're wanting to train the kid, we'll help you."
"And Hibari?" The boss added as he turned his expectant gaze to the cloud guardian, having noticed that he didn't answer.
The male in question shot a glare at Vero from the corner of his eye and then closed them before stating, "I owe a debt. I think now is the time to repay it…"
His comment intrigued Vero but before he could ask Tsuna spoke up.
"Very well, everyone is in agreement. My friends here shall train you to become strong enough to face Nero, and then I will test you in the end." He concluded. "But before we bring this meeting to its conclusion, there is something we have been holding for you."
He then gestured towards Gokudera with an open hand, who withdrew from the inside pocket of his suit jacket a small yellow orange colored box. He then placed it on the coffee table in front of the young Cavallone boss.
"Dino and Rosetta commissioned this to be specially made for you and had us hold onto it - until now that is." He said.
Vero stared at the small cube fore a moment, then picked it up and turned it over in his hands. "Is this one…a box animal?" He asked curiously, instantly getting affirmative answers from the others in his room.
"It was certainly a nice sentiment, but I have little idea how to use boxes…or rings."
"Don't worry. I'll teach you when I'm able." Gokudera offered in response.
The blonde nodded and voiced his thanks aloud as he pocketed the box.
Tsuna then commented on how late it had gotten and then continued with, "Hibari, I believe your schedule is the most free tomorrow, so you will be starting your training with him first. If it's not too much trouble I request that you guide Vero to his room too please."
The cloud guardian didn't vocalize his response and instead went to stand by the door while the young Cavallone boss said his final thanks and goodbyes for the night. After that had been done he followed Hibari out into the quiet halls.
It was now that Vero realized he could ask what he had been curious about.
"So, uh…" he said after they had walked a while. "I was wondering…what was that debt you spoke about earlier?"
His question seemed to fall on deaf ears as the raven haired male continued to walk silently. Finally he stopped at what Vero assumed was his room, but didn't allow him to walk by and enter it. They stood like so for a minute before Hibari spoke.
"Many years ago someone risked the loss of their life to spare mine. I have tried time and again to repay the debt I owed but they would never accept it." He explained. "Now I have my opportunity to lift this annoying debt by training you." - he then turned to his new student with a somewhat strict glare - "We start at six tomorrow morning. If you're even one second late, I'll bite you to death."
"Oh, y-yeah," Vero stuttered after flinching slightly. "Don't worry. I'll be there, bright and early…"
The cloud guardian then silently walked off, allowing the blonde entrance to his room.
Vero immediately went inside and prepared to get some well needed rest for his first day of training with Hibari, who he heard was the strongest of the guardians…