Chapter 6: The Truth?
"Oh Tsu~kun who your little friend?" Nana asked her son curiously as he walked through the door with Lal on his shoulder.
Before Tsuna could reply Reborn cut in saying a sickly cute voice, "She's a friend of mine from my company. She said she would tutor Tsuna since I'm so busy tutoring Sora-kun. Is it alright if she stays here mama?" Reborn looked at her using all of his cuteness.
Nana giggled slightly and answered in a equally sweet tone, "Of course Reborn! I would be love to meet more of your cute friends!"
A thought then crossed Tsuna's mind and almost yelled in a deeper monotone voice, "Kaa-san! What about the thing you showed me yesterday? She'll follow me around like how Reborn follows Sora-san around. It could get dangerous couldn't it?"
Nana stopped for a second, and put on her soft frown face meaning that, she's thinking. Her head shot up and her smile was even brighter than before and asked, "Why don't show her what your new job is Tsu~kun and how did your voice get that deep?" At this everyone looked at Nana in a confused way, but then they stared at Tsuna wondering how that happened or (Gokudera and Lal) what they're talking about.
"I took one of these." Tsuna answered taking out the 'Chill Pill' container and showing it to them. Lal, Gokudera, and Sora looked at Reborn only to see him rubbing his face.
"Sorry mama, It seems that Tsuna took one of my company drugs that under development. It should wear off soon so can you tell us about the job Tsuna got?" Reborn asked after he finished rubbing his head. His eyes sharpened and listened very closely. Lal and Sora nodded their heads to Reborn's question.
Gokudera eyes seemed to glow as he yelled, "Tenth's brother already got a job, as expected of someone who is related to the Tenth!"
Nana ignored Gokudera's outburst and answered the question with relative ease with, "Two days ago I showed him what it was and yesterday got a job along the way. I'm so proud of him too, but we have to leave now if we're going to make on time Tsu~kun."
"Kaa-san you're leaving too?" Sora asked getting curious on what's going on. Since Reborn told him about his Kaa-san acting strange he started wondering where she goes to every so often.
"Yup, I got a job there that was during school hours so I would always be home when you guys are here, but I got a promotion so I have to train the new employees, like Tsu~kun and his friends, so that they're ready for the job." Nana answered with a bright gleam at the beginning but a sad smirk at the end. Reborn took note of the sorrowful smirk and added it along with all her other suspicious activities.
"Where do you guys work at, and how is it dangerous?" Lal asked as soon as Nana finished. Nana couldn't help but think, 'I forgot that kids sure ask a lot of questions.'
"We work at the 'Redemption Cake Store.' You know the one with the slogan, 'The taste will redeem your spirit', and it's dangerous because of the knives, fire, and wet floors." Nana answered a-bit quickly. "Now if you'll excuse us we need to hurry or we'll be late. Come on Tsu~kun!" Nana shouted while hurrying out the door.
"Ah, Kaa-san, wait up!" Tsuna yelled chasing after her. He was in such a hurry that he barely saw Satou, Itou, and Watanabe floating right beside him.
He was about to tell them to tell Nana to slow down, but before he could Lal landed square on his head stopping any idea of that happening. "Hurry up or you'll be late for your first day on the job." Lal nearly yelled
Tsuna calmly agreed with, "Hai." Tsuna had a feeling that he'll know how Sora feels after his 'tutoring' sessions with Reborn. Tsuna was able to catch up with Nana, a block from the store and he could feel his legs about to drop from right underneath him. When they finally got the store he dropped to the ground from exhaustion.
"Get up brat! You look pathetic! Get up and show yourself like you have some pride!" Lal yelled at Tsuna.
Tsuna let out a small, "Hai." as he was trying to push himself off the ground and catch his breath at the same time.
Nana saw this and grew a small sadistic grin. "Hey Tsuna, isn't that your crush over there?" Nana asked pointing to a random direction. Tsuna gave a "WHAT!" and nearly threw himself off the ground looking at the direction where his Kaa-san was pointing only to realize that there was nothing and that he just fell for the oldest trick in the book.
Now Lal started growing a dark smirk while saying, "So your weak spot is your crush huh?" and with that, Tsuna knew that he had just screwed himself over with one simple action.
Fortunately for Tsuna, before Lal could do anything his Kaa-san cut in with a cheerful manor, "Alright you two we need to get in their before the crowds start to show up."
Tsuna made a sigh of relief before he stepped inside the 'Redemption Cake Store', but before he could fully step inside the store, Lal yelled, "Hurry up maggot!" and kicked him inside. Tsuna was pushing himself off the ground when he found a hand in front of him.
"Need help Tsuna-kun?" Kyoko asked with a smile that could rival Nana's. Hana saw this and started glaring at Tsuna.
"Better not Kyoko. You might catch his dame disease." Hana mumbled as she continued to glare at Tsuna.
Kyoko started pouting/glaring at Hana saying, "That's not very nice Hana-san." She was stopped when she noticed Tsuna was pushing himself up.
"You don't have to Kyoko-chan, I can do it myself." Tsuna replied fully pushing himself off the ground. His eyes then went back to the original size and his face started growing a slight blush on his face. Tsuna then continued with, "Thanks for the offer though," in his regular voice.
"So I'll take it that that's your regular voice?" Lal asked in a somewhat skeptical voice. She was already dreading the answer.
"Ye-yeah, anyway we should hurry before Kaa-san get's upset." Tsuna replied while he started to put his apron and his hair net getting ready for the crowd that his mom said would come. Kyoko and Hana nod their head in agreement and prepared for the crowd in their own way.
"So, which of those girls do you like maggot?" Lal asked curiously, watching Tsuna turn bright red and turned away from her.
"I-I do-don't l-like anyone." Tsuna nearly shouted while he cursed his stuttering in his head.
"Tsu-kun! Don't lie to infants like that," Nana yelled at her son playfully. She then got a playful smirk her face, "And Reborn told me all about your little crush on," Nana pulled Lal and Tsuna close and whispered, "Kyoko."
Tsuna face practicably glowed red while Lal and Nana shared looks that meant, 'So how do you want to torture him first?'
Before any orders even came in a person came out of a office saying, "Numbers 23, 27, 87, and 95 under group leader number 77, you have some 'take out' orders." Hearing their numbers being called Tsuna, Kyoko, and Hana looked at Nana who was walking towards the man.
"Why were we called?" Kano asked as he appeared out of nowhere scaring Tsuna. Kano shook his head and sighed at his reaction, but still waiting for his answer.
"We were called for a take out order." Hana answered in her regular annoyed tone.
Kano just nodded his head, and and calmly stated, "I'll start the car, let the leader know." with that said, he walked away taking off his apron and hair net to reveal, that he was wearing a business suit with the word Redemption written on the upper back of the jacket.
"Come on kids, we got two regular orders here in Namimori and special order in Midori. Oh and Lal, can you stay here? All of the cars here only have five seats, so we can't take you, but you can observe the rest here. I told the rest, and that man to not mess with you and he said he would spread the word." Nana stated
"Alright Miss Sawada but, please hurry back." Lal said with a little bored and distant tone. Nana grew a small frown.
"You know you can call me mama, like Reborn right? I don't like how Miss Sawada sounds, so if it's alright with you just call me mama." Nana informed with a sad but hopeful voice.
Lal looked a little uncomfortable while saying, "Alright, I'll try Miss Saw-sorry mama." Nana gleamed as she nodded her head and turned to the kids.
"Alright kids let's go." Nana announced as she noticed one was missing. She then asked, "Uhh, where's Kano-san?"
"He said he'll start the car," Hana informed her, "We should hurry, he doesn't like to wait long." At that Hana, Kyoko, and Nana took off their aprons to reveal business suits, with a skirt instead of pants though. When Tsuna took his apron off it revealed his school uniform.
Feeling left out, Tsuna asked, "Why is everyone wearing suits?" on their way to the car. Hana grew a small tick mark and mumbled something about a, 'dame-monkey'
Kyoko decided to answer with, "They're given to the group members by Redemption. They're made so that it's easy to move around in and so they don't rip that easily. It takes about a week for them to be made so it might take a while for you to get yours." They then arrived by the car and got in. It was a shining black 2000 Monte Carlo with 'Redemption Cake Store' written in red on the sides. Kano was in the front passenger seat waiting for the them. Nana started the car and they drove off.
"You kids know that the two regular orders are actual orders right?" Nana asked looking in the rear view mirror to see their reactions. All of them nodded their head. So she then asked her next question, "And that the special order is an akuma, right?" She again looked in the rear view mirror to see everyone except Tsuna nod their heads.
Tsuna then remembered Nana's fight with the akuma, the combat spirit barrier and what happened there. He then had a question that formed in his mind which was, "I wonder how the combat spirit barrier works?" Once he realized that he asked his question out loud he looked down to hide his blush.
"It's a barrier that forms when an akuma or a group of akuma want to devour a soul or souls. Humans can enter but they risk their souls when they do. Akuma can also drag humans that are still living into the barrier and eat their souls like that. In fact un-timely deaths that doctors say are caused by heart attacks, are actually caused by akuma. Also when we're in there, nobody can see us, the akuma, the fighting that takes place in there, or any spirits that might show up during or after the fight." Nana explained after she heard her son's question as she drove.
After the two deliveries in Namimori, Nana drove to Midori. She stopped near an alley way that no one was in. The second Tsuna stepped outside the car he saw the words 'AKUMA ALERT' in the upper part of his vision and an arrow that was pointing directly into the alley.
Nana stretched as she announced, "Alright this is the special order so Tsuna and Kyoko, please call your spirits." Kyoko nodded her head, while Tsuna stood there confused.
Before Kyoko could say anything Tsuna asked, "Kaa-san? What about Kano-san? Shouldn't he also call his spirit?"
"My spirit doesn't leave my side, so I never have to call." Kano informed them with his first words since they left the store.
"Oh alright then." Tsuna mumbled slightly embarrassed. His eyes started to glow light blue as he chanted, "Come forth Satou, Itou, Watanabe." After that they formed right by Tsuna.
"Aww, why did you call me Tsuna? I found this great public bath house near that store. You should've seen some of the girls there." Wantanabe complained with a dreamy look in his eyes. He was then smacked on the back of the head by Itou.
"Dirty hentai. Why did you call us here Tsuna?" Itou asked irritated at first but showed concern when talking to Tsuna. Satou then sniffed the air.
"I smell akuma near by. Are we going to take care of it?" Satou asked in a deep and serious manor. After hearing the word 'akuma' Watanabe and itou got right into business mode. Satou had his claws out and his teeth showing, Watanabe had his hand on the handle of his sword, and Itou had metal needles in between her fingers and eyes narrowed.
"Yeah we will but we're waiting for Kyoko so hold on for now." Tsuna answered turning his attention towards Kyoko and the rest of the group. Who were looking at him with questionable looks. Tsuna blushed and nearly whispered, "Please don't mind us, continue on."
Kyoko gave a small nod and chanted, "Come forth Amane, Chiyo, Eri, Ryo." as her eyes shined light blue. After saying that a small, purple color fur cat, an old woman who was holding cane that had a spike on the end, a dark haired woman who looked liked priestess, and a fully armored man who had two swords on his sides, his whole outfit was black or dark tinted.
"Did you want something Miss Kyoko?" asked the the cat. It floated down onto Kyoko's head.
"I was hoping we could take down an akuma together, if it's alright with you guys." Kyoko asked her spirits.
"I don't really wanna though," the cat spirit whined. It then said, "But if you really want me to I guess I could put the effort in.
The priestess the grew small tick marks around her head. She then yelled, "How dare thou Amane. Thou should have accepted right away if Mistress Kyoko asked for thou's help."
The old woman with the cane then stepped up saying, "Now, now Amane, Eri. Let's not fight in front of Kyoko and Ryo," she gestured towards Kyoko and the knight. Her eyes then sharpened as she continued, "Unless you want me to kill both of you again."*
Kyoko's grin faltered and fumbled out, "Uh, thank you Chiyo." She then looked at the rest of the group, bowed, and saying, "Sorry for their behavior" Nana grew a small smirk and walked into the alley. Everyone else then followed behind her. She stopped about dead center of the alley and so did the the kids.
Nana turned back and while saying, "Remember all you have to say is the phrase." Once she saw everyone nod, she turned around and chanted, "Entering combat spirit barrier." After she finished she disappeared.
Then Tsuna, Kyoko, Hana, and Kano all chanted, "Entering combat spirit barrier." and then a strange circle appeared around them, the sky turned the purplish black, and the buildings into the neon light blue color. In the barrier there were four akuma. One was shaped like bull with three tails and three skulls. The one on the right side was a human shape skull, the middle one was a bull skull with three horns, and the one on the left was a snake's skull. Another one was a human shape, dressed like a magician, but had small horns growing out of his skull. One had the body of a human with skin like a crocodile, and the skull had sharp teeth. The last one had the shape of a gorilla, over 8 feet tall, and had an orange stone in place of skin and fur. Half of it's face has returned and it seemed to holding onto a girl around Tsuna, Kyoko and Hana's age.
Nana was holding a pistol at the group and sternly yelled, "We are from Redemption, put the girl down and go to hell now or we'll be forced to use force." At that the akuma started laughing.
"We're not doing either of those, so come force us lady!" The magician akuma nearly spat out. He was so busy laughing that he was barely able to dodge a cross that was sharp on all of it edges that was heading straight for it's chest.
"She won't have to, because I'll do it for her." Kano nearly yelled at him. Kano, with the help of Kane, directed the spirit to an isolated part of the barrier and started to fight the akuma.
The bull akuma started charging towards Hana while Kano was directing the akuma. The akuma was able to snag Hana's jacket by the sleeve and started dragging Hana along the ground while leading her to an unknown location within the combat spirit barrier.
While Kano and Hana started defending themselves against the akuma, Kyoko was forced into a corner by the akuma with crocodile like skin. The akuma was about to stab her with his claws when Eri grabbed it's wrist. The akuma jerked it's hand away, and jumped back. It was then nearly hit by Chiyo's cane. Chiyo grabbed the end of her cane and pulled it to reveal a chain and started twirling it around. The akuma was paying so much attention to the chain, that it's arm was sliced off by Amane who was spinning like a saw in mid-air. When it's attention was away from Chiyo it saw that Ryo was swinging his swords downwards. The akuma moved just in time. The akuma then ran with Kyoko and her spirits chasing in hot pursuit.
Tsuna, who was still new and inexperience, was looking at the gorilla akuma with dread not knowing what to do. That was when Nana whispered to him, "Tell Satou to posses you and have Watanabe and Itou turn into your weapon."
Tsuna nodded his head and turned toward his spirits saying, "Satou, possess me please. Watanabe and Itou please be my weapons." The three spirits nodded their head. Satou turned and jumped into Tsuna. When he did, Tsuna's eyes darkened, his hair grew enough for it to reach his shoulders, and his muscles bulged. Itou and Watanabe glowed and turned into claw like gloves that fell perfectly onto Tsuna's hands
Tsuna looked up at the gorilla and commanded in a voice that was a mixture of his and Satou's, "Put the girl down or I'll tear you apart." The gorilla laughed as he started putting the girl down.
"Fine, I'll eat your soul first." Came the gorilla's reply. It then moved at an incredible speed for it's body and punched Tsuna with such power that the force knocked him 20 feet away.
Tsuna pushed himself off the ground with his instincts taking control and blood lust starting to increase. "Is that all you got!" Tsuna roared with a fiery rage before he charged towards the gorilla-like akuma. The speed he went was going was able to close the gap between them in a instant and he was able to get a punch to the akuma's stomach, cracking some of the stone.
When Kano decided that he and the akuma were far enough, they fought with there bare hands holding each other off. The akuma quickly got bored of the street like fight and flicked his wrists revealing poker cards that were hiddened in his sleeves. The akuma tried to attack Kano, but he dodged the attack. His clothes were not as lucky and were sliced by card. Kano moved slightly backwards and prepared for any surprise attacks.
"How do you like my magic trick? It's neat right!? HAHAHA!" The akuma laughed in a chaotic manor. Kano just gave a small smirk and glared at the akuma.
"You little pest, think you won when I've already caught you in my trap." Kano said with a slight smirk playing on his face.
"What are you talking about?" The akuma asked confused. Kano then started chuckling as he started to walk away.
Kano yelled back, "Kane! You can come out now!" as he was walking away. The akuma looked around only to frantically, only to feel a sharp pain and his lower body suddenly start to become very numb. Looking down the akuma saw a large bright cross cutting it in half.
"So I can still fight like this!" The magician yelled. Kano just snapped his fingers and another cross impaled the already cut in half akuma. Giving a final yell, the akuma exploded and the crosses vanished.
"Baka didn't even realize that I put my spirit inside of you." Kano mumbled as he stopped to watch Tsuna fight the large akuma.
When Hana had enough of being dragged around, she gave a forceful tug and ripped off her sleeve to her jacket freeing her arm but forcing her to roll across the ground forcefully. Getting up quickly, Hana grabbed her Purge and started to charge it. She looked up to find the akuma only to see it ram itself into her stomach, making her drop the purge, pushing her away and making her topple over.
"Stupid human," the akuma spat, "you think that just because you have those fancy tools you can win? We know how heavily you regular humans rely on those puny weapons to prove yourself useful to the real Redeemers." It approached Hana slowly, planning to stomp her and then devour her soul.
"That's slightly true," Hana's voice barely escaped her lips, "but that's not all that we rely on." The akuma gave a confused look before it heard a click. It looked down to see a small blue ball before it shined a bright sky blue light making the akuma scream in pain before it dissipated. She smiled and started walking over to where the rest of the group was.
Kyoko was feeling tired, and light headed. Being a spiritus Pugnator meant that she had to give each one her spirits some of her soul power, in order for her spirits to power up their attacks, and with the akuma dodging each attack that came at him, was tiring her out.
The akuma saw this and mocked her by saying, "Tired already? Not really used to battle are you?" It then did a back flip over Amane who was trying to saw him in half. It then ducked a swing of Ryo's sword and rolled over to Eri who was about to punch him with a talisman wrapped over her fist, but the akuma stopped early and kicked Eri's legs from underneath her. He then pushed himself up while saying, "I'll kill you right know!" and he charged at her with his hand ready to kill stab her.
"Not yet." Kyoko replied forcefully as she was out of breath. The akuma was about to ask what she was talking about but it felt a pain in it's chest and was forced to stop moving. It looked behind him to see Chiyo holding the chain that came out of the cane earlier, it was now wrapped tightly around it's chest. Kyoko yelled, "Ryo now!"
Ryo appeared behind the akuma saying, "Yes ma'am!" and cut the akuma into fourths. The akuma gave Kyoko one last glazed glare before exploding. Kyoko fell due to exhaustion and tried to go help Tsuna as he fought the akuma, but fell asleep before she could catch a glimpse.
Tsuna was holding his own against the akuma but that was about it. He could only block a punch with his entire body and he couldn't reach the akuma with his own fist. The akuma tried to do an upper cut but Tsuna ducked under it and put all of his power into a punch directed towards the stone's cracked area to make an opening. When it landed, the akuma was pushed back.
"You're not half bad, huh?" The gorilla acknowledged. He then went on to say, "Too bad I still have that girls soul!" It turned and threw it's hand at the girl he put down earlier only to find nothing there.
"That was a close one." Nana said putting down the unconscious teen on the ground. She then turned to Tsuna and commanded, "Tsuna destroy him now."
The akuma was about to chase after Nana when he heard the younger redeemer yell, "FULL SPIRIT THROTTLE" behind him and that same redeemer bursting through his chest. The akuma's face showed surprise as he yelled, "THIS IS SOME BULL SH-!" before he exploded.
Nana asked, "Are there any spirits in here?" She looked over to Kano who, beside the ripped jacket, looked normal and shook his head. She then saw Hana holding on to her jacket with the arm that didn't have a sleeve also shaking her head. She later found Tsuna and Kyoko passed out on the ground with their spirits over them.
Nana mumbled with a sorrowful tone, "I guess not. Kano please pick up Tsuna and Hana will you pick up Kyoko? I need to carry this girl." as she pointed to the girl that the akuma was holding before.
After everyone awake was ready, they chanted, "Leaving Combat Spirit Barrier" and Nana didn't expect to see her there.
"I see that you're back. Good, now maybe someone can explain to me on what the hell I just saw!"
Reborn was watching his student get tutored by a genius when his phone rang. He checked it to see he got a new video, and what he saw he will never forget. "Sorbaka, stop. Go get me a hammer I need to take care of something right now." Then Sora and Gokudera left to try and find a hammer. When they found one they gave it to Reborn.
"Why do you want with a hammer?" Sora asked.
Reborn face showed relief when he grabbed the hammer. He then answered with, "So I can do this." He then started smashing his phone.
"Wasn't that Tsuna's phone?" Sora asked.
"Yes, yes it was, but there was only two contacts so I used it. Well that was until I got a 10 hour version of Jim Carry scratching a knife and fork on a plate." Reborn answered with a headache.
Thank you for the reviews TsuKiLo(x2), Yuki, Antlersmoon18(x2), Hikaru Einsberg, mister x, genericlinc, Yorutsuki-Lunia, otaku908, These Heroes We Shall Remember
Here's the new Beta chapter 6. I've actually really wanted to redo this one for a while so it's a victory for me! Please review about what you think about the new chapter