Disclaimer: KHR belong to Amano Akira
Meeting in the Past
Chapter 4
All guardians of Tsuna and Enma were gathered in the Sawada small front garden. Even Hibari and Mukuro were here.
"What ?! Jyudaime disappeared ?!" Yelled Gokudera.
"Lower your voice, Mama is still in the house." Warned Reborn.
"What do you mean he disappeared ?" Yamamoto asked calmly but with one of his rare serious expressions on his face.
"Is Boss alright ?" Asked Chrome.
"Thanks to Talbot we know where he is in time." He pointed toward Talbot who was sitting on the patio drinking tea, Iemitsu next to him, listening attentively but not participating.
"In time ? Do you mean Jyudaime went to the future again."
"No, this time he is in the past, Primo's time to be exact."
A stunned silence welcomed the news.
"I extremely don't get it !" Yelled Ryohei.
"How hard is it to understand the situation Lawn-head !" Irritatedly asked Gokudera.
"Mah mah. Senpai is as worried as us about Tsuna."
"Maybe he should be, after all if Sawada Tsunayoshi is in Primo's time it means Daemon Spade is there too." Said Mukuro bringing a chill upon the group.
"That's true but from the information we know, it should be before his lover's death and so before he became obsessed with a strong Vongola." Explained Reborn.
"And ? Why gathering us here, that must mean this," Hibari showed his Vongola ring, "is needed to bring the small animal back." He looked straight at Reborn, irritated at being made to stand near a group.
"Correct." More specifically you need to bring it to him."
"You mean going in the past as well ?" Gokudera eyes widened.
"I only came here at the request of Chrome, she can fulfill the role of Mist guardian in this instance."
"I have no interest in the past." Said Hibari turning away.
"There is plenty of strong guys over there you know, and you won't have a choice anyway."
"It might be fun." Smiled Yamamoto. "And we'll see Tsuna."
"Why am I here though, I'm not a guardian, although I'm worried about Tsuna-kun as well." Said Enma, raising his voice for the first time since getting here.
"It's more interesting that way." Bluntly said Reborn. "Well since everyone is here let's not lose any more time." And he clicked a button that they just noticed in his hand who was relied to the Ten-Year Bazooka in Lambo's hair. Light began to emit from it and in turn from the rings.
"Ahh ! Reborn stop ! It's scary !" Wailed Lambo.
Ignoring the cow-child, Reborn handed a letter to Gokudera.
"Pass that on to Tsuna." He told him and then they were gone.
Tsuna was woken up by an explosion and alert began to look for the threats, nearly expecting Reborn to come out with a big weapon between his hands and a lesson that a boss always must be on his guard. However nothing jumped out at him and he slowly lowered his fist before a big yawn escaped him, he rubbed his face before getting out of bed.
'Right I'm in the past." He remembered looking around. He stretched then tried to find the bathroom, getting the right door on the second try.
Finally ready he wondered if he should stay here until someone came to get him but his empty stomach and the thought that something happened to cause the explosion lead him out of his room by himself. He wandered a few corridors before happening upon a maid dusting a tapestry.
"Buonjiorno Sinore Tsunayoshi." She bowed respectfully, making Tsuna uncomfortable, he still wasn't used to the deference people working for Vongola showed him even in his time.
"Would you like to take your breakfast ?" She spoke in fluent Japanese surprising the brunette.
"Ah, yes, thank you." She lead him a moment in silence before he asked about the explosion.
"Master Giotto and a few of his close friends are doing their morning training."
"Do they train every morning like that ?"
"Yes, depending on who it is. Some train more than once a day, though Master Giotto is often too busy for that."
Tsuna felt awe at the Primo generation, even this strong already they continued to train, he felt some shame as well since unless an enemy appeared or Reborn forced it on him, he didn't really train or even use his flame and Vongola Gear... He shook his head, he didn't need to train since he was leading a perfectly normal existence and didn't intend to become Vongola Decimo.
He was nearly finished eating when Asari Ugetsu arrived.
"Good morning Asari-san."
"Primo asked me to show you around, Alaude is a bit too antisocial for that, Daemon is busy, Lampo is still sleeping, Knuckle is busy as well since he came back from a mission yesterday and G is helping Primo with his work, so that only leave me I'm afraid."
"Oh no, it's fine." Of all the guardians he probably felt the most relaxed with Asari-san, maybe because of his ressemblance to Yamamoto, his rain guardian presence always calmed him down.
"But is it alright to show me around, you don't think I'm an enemy ? I'm not ! But well..."
"It seems rather imprudent on our part ?" Finished Ugetsu.
Tsuna made a sheepish expression.
"Sorry."
"It is a valid question. But we trust Giotto's intuition and he trust you."
Well now he felt a bit guilty. He didn't actually have anything to be guilty about, the only thing he wasn't saying was more about the future and that was probably preventing a whole worm can from opening. However he was deliberately keeping the fact that he had been chosen as the tenth boss of Vongola. But in his defense it would just lead to more questions about the future he could not answer, it wasn't just because he didn't want to think about it.
The tour took nearly three hours, though they did rest some in the impressive garden. Tsuna had never been to Vongola HQ in Italy in his time, so he didn't know how much it might have changed in over 200 years or even if they had changed Headquarters, but he thought the place was rather beautiful for being a mafia stronghold.
As they went back inside the mansion, Primo was talking with a group of men, or really the most important looking one, a portly man dressed in finery and seemingly over himself to flatter Primo.
"Who is that ?" Curiously asked Tsuna, forgetting it probably wasn't his place to know.
"The land owner in a neighboring region, he came to ask the Vongola for protection I think. I try not to involve myself in the local politics too much, I leave that to Primo and the others, it wouldn't be appreciated much by people here for a foreigner to butt in."
"I don't see why not, I think you seem like you would give good advices." Sincerely replied Tsuna looking up at him, eyes shining with the confidence in his words.
"I think so too, that's why I involve Asari anyway." Primo joined them as his guests had apparently departed.
"That, and that make less work for you." Mumbled G loud enough for everyone to hear as Giotto made a face, Ugetsu laughed indulgently at his friends and Tsuna gave a small smile.
"So, did the two of you finish the tour ?" Primo turned to them conversationally.
"We just did." Confirmed the japanese man.
"What did you think ?" He addressed Tsuna directly this time.
"It was very impressive." The awe unmistakable in his voice.
"Well good. And since you've finished do you want to come into town with me this afternoon ?"
Tsuna looked at his ancestor trying to determine if the blond man had some hidden motive but if he did, his poker face was extremely good and anyway Tsuna intuition wasn't reacting at all, it was perfectly alright surrounded by the three first generation. Still there was one problem.
"Won't my clothes stand out ?"
"Ah, that's right you don't have anything to change into. I'm sure we can find you something in your size."
"Even if we don't, they're already used to Asari weird outfit anyway, so it can't be as bad." Commented G, next to him the japanese man kept smiling serenely.
He was given what he was told was Giotto old clothes though it was mostly in good condition, only a few stitched back part showed it was well-worned. He was also given a cap to hide his face as it looked too similar to Giotto's.
Then he was climbing in a carriage in which Giotto, Asari and Lampo were already sitting, G was on the coach seat with the driver.
It was his first time riding a carriage and he was curious at first but by the time they arrived at the town half an hour later, his backside hurt and the swaying made him slightly sick. Thankfully he got down before he truly became nauseous, it would be really embarrassing somehow if he throw up from being carriage sick in front of Primo and his guardians.
Even in the town the road were dirt paths, but from what Tsuna could see it was not a big town, but it definitely had the charm of an European countryside town like he'd imagine one to be.
What truly surprised Tsuna though, was the people attitude toward Giotto and his guardians, they didn't look afraid of the Mafiosi men like one would think, rather they smiled and called out to them. Tsuna couldn't understand all that was said but he thought when the guardians answered they knew people well and asked about them and their families too.
"You seem to be really loved." He said out loud and in a surprised tone who might have been insulting if Asari didn't have a good temper.
"They are thankful for the Vongola protection in those time of unrest across the country. And this is Giotto and G birthplace, of course everyone know them." He smiled a bit wistfully, maybe thinking of his own childhood home.
Primo came back toward them at that time.
"So, do you have anything in particular you want to see Tsuna ?"
His brown-haired descendant shook his head after thinking about it.
"Not really."
"In this case, we'll show you around while taking care of our business in town."
Tsuna nodded, he didn't have a preference either way.
For the next hour Tsuna mostly followed the group and listened to their remarks on this or that place. He saw the church where Knuckle worked when not busy with Vongola business, ate some bread from a bakery, it was a bit harder and dry than what he was used to but it had a distinct flavor making up for it.
While he was eating he thought he could feel a gaze on him and raised his head but didn't see anyone looking at him.
"Tsuna." Giotto called out to him.
He hurried to catch up and climbed back up in the carriage to return to the Vongola mansion.
They were about ten minutes out of the town when an explosion rocked the carriage.
"Stay here." Giotto told him seriously, a steely glint in his eyes as he exited the carriage followed by Ugetsu who already had a hand hidden in his sleeve, holding his weapon, Tsuna was sure and Lampo who was looking like he'd rather stay behind hiding with Tsuna.
Rapid Italian was heard from the outside and sound of fighting.
Tsuna unable to keep himself from worrying about everyone and not doing anything himself clenched his hand around the Vongola ring while peeking outside.
A dozen of men were surrounding the carriage, at least three had guns and the others had long knife or wooden sticks. Ugetsu was fighting against the men armed with blades while G took care of those with wooden weapons. Lampo was protecting the driver and horses from the attacks and Giotto was focused on the ones with the guns. With his speed he took two down quickly and was gonna take care of the last one when another man suddenly throw a bottle with with a burning rag in it toward the carriage.
Instinct took over Tsuna and in one gulp he'd swallowed a dying will pill and transformed his ring into his X-gloves with which he propelled himself out of the carriage. His bright orange eyes took in the situation and quickly he took down the two closest enemy before landing back on his feet.
Giotto and his guardians meanwhile, though shocked at Tsuna appearance and fighting ability took care of the remaining riffraff and Ugetsu used his rain flames to stop the carriage from burning. Then they turned to Tsuna.
The younger boy closed his eyes, the dying will flame on his forehead was extinguished and reopening his eyes they were back to their normal brown. His gloves went back to a ring form too.
A bit embarrassed to be caught and nervous about the first generation reaction, Tsuna fidgeted not meeting Primo's eyes.
"We can't stay here, we should go back to the mansion." Said G, breaking the silence, cautiously eyeing the surroundings.
"G is right. More enemies could be coming." Ugetsu turned to Primo who nodded before finally taking his eyes from Tsuna and the group began to walk back, the scorched carriage following behind them.
Tsuna didn't say anything either and began to walk.
