Tsuna was in the shower and Reborn was making something to eat when Mukuro knocked on the door. Reborn could tell who it was immediately because none of Tsuna's or Reborn's friends knocked. They just found a way to come in.
Reborn tried to contain his groan, slipping his face into neutrality as he answered the door. Mukuro seemed completely nonplussed, trying to edge his way inside the minute Reborn opened the door.
Reborn put his hand on the door frame, blocking Mukuro from entering, and leaned in closer to Mukuro and said coolly, "What do you want, Mukuro."
"I would like to speak with you privately," Mukuro said calmly. "Please, come with me."
"We talk here or no where at all." Reborn said evenly.
Mukuro raised an eyebrow, thinking like this was a joke. But he relented, showing his palms placatingly. "Your house, your rules."
Reborn let Mukuro inside, shutting the door sharply behind him. Mukuro was rifling through things on shelves, looking through Reborn's math notebook that was out on the foot table, looking through everything he could. He knew it put Reborn on edge too as he saw the mild annoyance reflected in Reborn's eyes.
"I know that you have feelings for Tsunayoshi." Mukuro said bluntly. He dropped Reborn's math book again and turned to face Reborn fully, crossing his arms.
Reborn wasn't shocked by what Mukuro was saying. Mukuro loved jumping to conclusions. This was a correct assumption.
"What's your proof?" Reborn asked, going back to cooking.
"That's not the point. I'm not here to provide proof of anything. I can't have you taking Tsunayoshi away from me though. Certain people are...looking for him, so to speak." Mukuro grinned snarkily as he saw Reborn's shoulders rise.
Reborn didn't let Mukuro get to him as he relaxed almost immediately, his face still as blank as ever. "I'd love to see them try. It's full of idiots."
"Oh, are we not giving them a name?" Mukuro asked coyly. He stepped through into the kitchen. Reborn could see his reflection and eyed it warily as he turned everything off.
"No, we aren't."
Reborn dumped everything onto two different plates before turning to Mukuro. He didn't have time for this. Tsuna was either eavesdropping or still in the shower. Either way Mukuro needed to be gone.
"If that's all you wanted to tell me, please show yourself out." Reborn said. He shouldered passed Mukuro to the sink to dump everything in.
"Well, what do you say that we fight for Tsuna then. Since both of us want him we can fight for him."
Reborn sighed. Where did he even begin. "Tsuna isn't a prize to be won. And we'd be caught in no time if we fought in the dorm."
"Oh? You seem to know your way around. I heard you fought Skull though."
"Because he's Skull. He's a damn idiot and was asking for it. You can follow in his steps if you don't get out of this dorm, or you can do the smart thing and leave."
Mukuro laughed, blocking the exit to the kitchen. Reborn resisted the urge to sigh, staring impartially. He didn't have time for this and he refused to let Tsuna walk out to see the one person he'd rather avoid. Mukuro seemed to have other plans though and seemed insistent that they fight.
It suddenly dawned on Reborn that Mukuro was trying to get a rouse out of him. The idea just made Reborn want to laugh. Alright, thought Reborn. I'll do the exact opposite to what Mukuro wants.
"What?" Mukuro breathed. "Not going to do anything to me? I thought you would've wanted me out of here as soon as possible, seeing as precious Tsunayoshi is just down the hall."
"Get out of the way," Reborn said flatly.
"You're content to just letting me do this? What kind of person would let somebody else be taken underneath their nose? Sold off even. Surely you know-"
Reborn grabbed Mukuro by the collar, cutting off the rest of what he was going to say. He shoved Mukuro against the nearest wall, his hand gripped around Mukuro's throat as he leaned in and said low and dangerously, "Say one more word, Mukuro. One. More. Word."
Mukuro smiled, holding his hands up in surrender. Reborn dropped him, obvious red marks where his hand was.
"Leave before they aren't just marks." Reborn said. Mukuro knew when he had lost and showed himself out. Tsuna inched his way out around the corner, peeking up at Reborn meekly.
"I-Is he?" Tsuna asked quietly. Reborn nodded.
"He should be gone. There's food on the counter for you. I have to make a call."
Reborn stepped around Tsuna, grabbing his phone in the living room. Tsuna watched him curiously, narrowing his eyes as he watched Reborn straighten up immediately, his phone still on the coffee table.
At Tsuna's confusion, Reborn said, "It died. I have to meet my mom and you're coming with."
"Oh", Tsuna muttered. "Do I not get a...choice?"
"Do you trust me?" Reborn looked down at Tsuna, his eyes taking on a pleading note.
Tsuna thought about it, frowning. Was Reborn trustworthy? Was there a reason not to trust him? Yeah, Reborn pulled pranks occasionally but they were never that bad. The worst threat of anything had been instant hair dye in his shampoo. Yet Reborn liked to have this mysterious air around him that made him feel untrustworthy.
In the end, Tsuna said, "No...I don't see why I wouldn't trust you."
Reborn had a satisfied smirk on his face as he ushered Tsuna into the kitchen, placing the food he made in front of Tsuna.
"If you had answered immediately, I would've had to teach you better." Reborn said as an afterthought.
Tsuna sat between Reborn and Giotto uncomfortably, trying to make himself as small as possibly. Reborn boredly picked at his cuffs but there was an obvious edge in the room. He would much rather be out there decking Mukuro but he had a reputation to uphold. Reborn didn't rush into things no matter how badly he wanted to.
Luce swept back into the room with Verde, making Reborn make a disgusted scoff. Tsuna was the only one who seemed curious about that. It wasn't the time to ask though as he looked back down at the floor.
The group was in a conference hall. Reborn had immediately pushed Tsuna inside and told Luce's secretary to call her in. Somehow, Giotto was in Japan too and was waltzing in the conference room. He looked impressive and terrifying all the same and it didn't help Tsuna feel safer.
Reborn handed a plastic ring to Tsuna, leaning to his ear, "Put that on your finger and twist it around. It won't cure your nerves, but it'll give you something to distract yourself with."
The rush of gratitude and emotion Tsuna felt was sudden and he smiled brightly and widely up at Reborn. He looked away, seeming to hide his face for a split second before being able to rearrange his face back to his neutral one.
"Why am I being called in here?" Luce asked. "You said it was urgent so it better be."
"Mukuro's targeting Tsuna." Reborn said nonchalantly. "When Tsuna was in the shower he tried to intimidate me into fighting him."
"Did you?" Luce asked, leaning on the table.
"No. I was near a stove. Food and health safety." Reborn looked levelly at Luce, adding, "I could've beaten him in a minute but the dorm is too cramped and I'd have to clean up his blood and dishes."
Tsuna let out a small laugh as Luce hung her head. Giotto and Verde seemed indifferent and Verde adjusted his glasses, trying to edge out of the room. He had more important things to look into than Reborn's petty fights.
"How are they targeting Tsuna." Giotto asked. He leaned forward an arm, all business.
"Leave." Reborn said at Verde, Giotto, and Tsuna. Tsuna was shocked at the sudden turn but wasn't going to argue. Giotto wasn't so ready to give up though.
"We aren't leaving, Reborn. You called this meeting yourself so explain who is targeting Tsuna and what is happening." Giotto sounded calm but he was glaring at Reborn with such heat it could cook an egg.
Reborn turned to Luce and said something in Italian. Tsuna and Giotto looked at each other in curiosity. Giotto only spoke Japanese and broken Italian. Luce and Verde seemed shocked though and herded the brothers out, Verde closing the door behind him.
Giotto rounded on Verde the minute the door was closed. "What did he say?"
"For an Italian police investigator, I thought you'd speak better Italian." Verde said.
"I mainly do desk work." Giotto snarled. "I can only read it now what did he say."
Verde shrugged. "Who am I to tell?"
Tsuna did not want to be caught in the middle of the following conversation so he thought it was the best time to leave. He could hear Reborn discussing in a low voice in a language he didn't know. Luce was responding in a second language, different from Reborn's. Just hearing that made Tsuna peace. He was going to get confused and having Giotto with him wasn't going to help.
Nobody noticed him leaving and he sighed in relief. There was a lot of things flying around and Reborn would probably be angry but it was too hard to think. He just wanted to take a nap. He'd most likely highjack Reborn's bed though since it was easier for him to sleep in there.
Somebody put a hand on the small of his back as he was walking down the hall. Tsuna thought it was Reborn and looked up, expecting black eyes. Instead he got blue eyes and dread. It was Mukuro of all people walking with him. In this sick twist of fate, Tsuna had to look into the eyes of the one person he wished to never see again.
"Hello, Tsunayoshi", Mukuro purred into Tsuna's ear. It used to be fun and heartwarming to hear the tone Mukuro used. Now it just felt like a bucket of ice water was being poured onto him.
But he smiled, looking up at Mukuro with the biggest smile he could manage, and said, "Hey, Mukuro. How was your day?"
"Not good. Everybody had been talking about this picture and it broke my heart." Mukuro showed Tsuna his phone and somehow, there was a photo of Reborn and Tsuna asleep in the hospital bed. Tsuna didn't know how to even begin explaining it because he had no idea what had happened himself
Mukuro slammed his hand on the side of Tsuna's head, making Tsuna cower away and into himself. Tsuna hated that he was pressed against the wall; he could feel Mukuro press against him and his throat closed off.
"T-That was just something to calm me down; it didn't mean anything!" Tsuna screeched. He had no idea if that was the truth but considering how much pain he had been in, that was the best guess.
"So you were just playing with Reborn's feelings like that? Tsuna," Mukuro shook his head, making a tutting noise. "That's so rude, Tsuna."
"What? No, I just meant that-" Tsuna was cut off when his face started stinging. He touched his face and felt blood starting to pool.
"I don't want to hear your lies anymore, Tsuna." Mukuro hissed. He gently cupped Tsuna's head in his hands, his face growing soft. "Come on, let me take you back to my dorm. I have a few DVDs we haven't watched yet."
Tsuna just nodded. He was too scared to do anything else. He just froze trying to think if there was any way he could signal to somebody he needed help. But the halls were deserted the entire time. Of all the times for nobody to be around, it had to be this one.
Mukuro shut Tsuna in, guiding him to the back of the dorm where his room was. Tsuna just followed along, his anxiety increasing as it went.
This was so unfair, why was it always him? He always got the bad draw. First it was his stupidity and how he couldn't get a passing grade to save his life on any assignment. Then it was how his mom died and he was left on his own virtually with an out of touch dad. Now he was probably being kidnapped because what else was he going to do? Scream? His throat was already past the point of being sore, it was raw now and Tsuna knew it was from yesterday.
Mukuro pulled Tsuna onto the bed with him, gently cupping Tsuna's face, and kissing him tenderly. "I'm sorry. You know I didn't mean that. Please, Tsunayoshi, that was terrible of me."
Tsuna wasn't sure he believed Mukuro. He was tired. He just wanted to curl up in his bed and sleep with Reborn running his hands through his hair. Was that too much to ask?
"Tsunayoshi", Mukuro purred. "Please say something. I'm beginning to worry."
"You might still love me, but I can't love you anymore." Tsuna blurted out. He jerked away, scrambling off of the bed and away from Mukuro. His entire being shook as he felt Mukuro staring at him. It was a warm stare either. It was full of venom and contempt for what Tsuna just said and he knew it..
Mukuro got up slowly, cat-like, and stepped towards Tsuna. He ran his finger down Tsuna's side, making Tsuna hold back a shiver of fear and tears prick his eyes. "I don't see how you can act so brave, then shiver like a scared dog the next."
Tsuna didn't say anything, looking up at Mukuro and just waiting for what was next.
And he really should've seen it coming but Mukuro slapped him again. It didn't help that it stung horribly. Tsuna clutched at his cheek, staring at the ground. He bit his lip, trying to keep his tears in his eyes, when Mukuro grabbed him by the hair and started pulling him somewhere. He didn't know where but he was too scared to ask why as he just let himself keep being pulled.
Mukuro had dragged Tsuna into a room underneath the school pool. Under the pool it was more like a storage room, with old desks piled high, chairs pushed and scattered throughout the room, and odd things here and there. The heaviest thing in the room was a blackboard with iron legs. That's where Mukuro handcuffed Tsuna too. It wasn't the prettiest but Mukuro was not chancing Tsuna getting away from him.
"Mukuro, please," Tsuna tried to reason. "I-I'm sorry, I can't love you anymore but this isn't going to h-help."
"It was never about your feelings, Tsuna." Mukuro said evenly. He looked back at Tsuna from where he was near the door. "I never wanted to date you in the first place. Angelo has something important to me hostage and this was the only way."
Reborn was the one in control of everything once everybody had gathered. He was cold and calculated as he talked and everybody was kind of afraid to talk. All except Giotto and Luce really.
"Would you mind telling us why we aren't calling the police?" Giotto asked. He had a voice that meant business, driving the stiffness of everybody up as well.
"Luce knows why we aren't so I don't have to explain it to you." Reborn said. He stared Giotto down before moving on. "If you want places to look, have a team start in the top floor and down then take another team going through the basement going up. There isn't much Mukuro could do if he hurts Tsuna because he'd be weighed down. Mukuro could be in his dorm but check there last. There are a lot of small niches you can hide in when there's a building this size."
"And how are we going to get people?" Giotto asked.
"Tsuna's friends are quite loyal. We can all split up in teams of four. I also have some people coming in to help out." Reborn glanced up at the door, nodding to it to show who he meant.
It was an impressive sight to see a bunch of teenagers look so intimidating as the Disciplinary Committee has. Everybody that went to Namimori middle school tried not to make eye contact with their leader, Hibari Kyoya. He seemed angry already at the amount of people in the room and glared heatedly at Reborn, waiting for instructions so he could leave.
"Just in time, Hibari." Reborn said. He wasn't bothered but his voice sounded less cold. "You'll be with me, Hibari, but the rest of your team will be paired with others in this room. You can wait outside since you know your assignment."
That was enough for Hibari as he gave a small huff before flouncing out of the room. He had a jacket balanced on his shoulders that flared out when he left, giving him a more impressive look, even though he was shorter than half his team.
"How did you get him to listen to you so easily, Reborn?" Yamamoto asked in slight awe.
"He tried to fight me and I broke three ribs and sprained his shoulder." Reborn didn't let the comment linger as he moved on but everybody looked in mild fright at Reborn. If he could defeat Hibari, what had he fought before him?
"Gokudera and Yamamoto will pick two people from the Disciplinary Committee. Make it quick. Ryohei will take two Committee members. Bianchi, Haru, and Kyoko will take one member." At the sudden protest from Ryohei, Reborn looked at him. "They can handle their own; don't underestimate them."
That seemed to stop the complaints and Giotto and Luce were told to make sure there were undercover squad cars around the building so nobody escaped. Everybody had grouped up and left, splitting up at different levels of the school. Reborn was the last to leave, calming himself down so he wouldn't be caught off guard by anything. Reborn had told everybody that Hibari and him would take near the janitor's closet and underneath the pool. Hibari wasn't going to co-operate if there were too many people on the same level.
Luce waved him away as she was sitting by her secretary, making phone calls. She seemed nervous despite knowing Reborn's history and how much worse everything's been before.
Leave a review and tell me what you think of this chapter!
-Gate