A/N: I swear there's smth about Takeshi's parts that loves making me typo ffs
TripOverFlatSurfaces – It really is. To be fair, he's probably good at his job when it doesn't involve his family. Mukuro is a nice guy, he's one of my favourite people so he deserved a place here. Huee, I'm trying to write more so .w.
Skylar18 – Aha, thank you. Hm, it's only the important characters that know him really. I'm convinced that's pretty much it. Ah no for the side pairings. I sort of have this headcanon that Gokudera is asexual (but not aromantic) anyway. It just seems to suit him somehow. Eh, sorry that I made them seem like pairings, but there is no 5927 or X27 – I've tried to make that more obvious in this chapter. Uh, I guess just take everything as 100% platonic unless it's explicitly not? I'm a firm believer that romance as an ideal is horrendous, and platonic relationships are the best basis for romantic and/or sexual ones.
Guest – (I'm not sure if all the laughing guests are the same person or not, but whoever you are, I'm glad this amuses you so.) Same, their relationship can only turn out interesting .w. I doubt he has any intuition to be honest. I'm afraid I made him a pretty big asshole here.
farronewp – Haha, glad it was funny enough eh
Hime-chan Natsumi - Thank you .w.
Naevys – I will '^'b Thanks
Cielo-Caelum – Thanks. It seemed a shame that I skipped over their years together, but then it's be too much to write for my attention span to last ~ I don't think they'll be in this, honestly. Takeshi and Mukuro were sort of last minute addition. Thank you yo
With gritted teeth, Tsuna forced himself to loosen the grip on his phone, and put it aside. Every morning, after waking, he checked for messages from Xanxus, yet each day, none had arrived. Tsuna knew the Varia leader wasn't one to be sloppy – it was how they became acquainted in the first place; no assassin leader would let it pass if they found out someone else had taken their hit – so the details he'd given him on the phone just a week ago couldn't count for shit. Xanxus would have called again – or if not, texted at the very least – and provided a full report of what exactly he was inviting Tsuna into. 'Paris in a week' was almost as sloppy as saying they should go out to dinner sometime.
The young brunet didn't like how things were starting to look. The recent attacks against Vongola practically screamed revenge. Xanxus went to follow up a lead – and Tsuna wasn't sure what exactly he was looking for, but it was with an almost one hundred percent certainty related to the Vongola hunt. The Varia leader wasn't an idiot, and only an idiot would let such a blatant attack of their family, by an unknown enemy at that, go on without immediate action. So if Xanxus went to find the people attacking them, and then went silent (because he should have called by then – it might have sounded like paranoia to others, but Tsuna knew Xanxus, and he knew the Mafia, and he really should have called already) – then obviously something went wrong. When the attackers seemed so adamant in getting rid of the Vongola, the choices were grim. Either Xanxus was already dead, or captured to be made an example of. Despite the odds to the contrary, Tsuna was leaning towards the latter – not only because his hyper intuition agreed with him, but because he thought that the enemy would have declared Xanxus' death, mounted his head on a pike for all to see and despair – so to speak.
A noise shook Tsuna out of his thoughts, and the young assassin looked up to see Hibari standing in the doorway, a questioning look on his face. The brunet shook his head with a sigh. He'd have to call Hayato over and see what their plan of action was. It would have been easier if Hibari let the tactician stay with them, but the skylark was fiercely protective of his home, so Tsuna couldn't really expect otherwise. He was glad at least, that the older assassin allowed him to stay – not that they hadn't practically lived together for a while, but you never really knew what went through Hibari's mind. Unfortunately, his own apartment wasn't suitable to host his mother in (if only for the multitudes of weapons stashed there, or all the incriminating evidence, and the computers – and really, it wasn't ideal), and Tsuna had wanted to stay close to her. Throughout the day, he'd go back to visit Hayato and see how he was coming along – which was splendidly, despite a few minor setbacks (which only served to make Tsuna more suspicious; no organisation capable of targeting the Vongola would be discovered so easily). Though now the week was up, and Xanxus was still silent, it was high time they decided on a course of action for themselves.
The Varia leader was their main source of contact with Vongola – and it was an unofficial alliance at best. Tsuna hadn't wanted to go near the Ninth or the CEDEF in case his identity was discovered – he honestly had no idea how his father would react to the fact that he was an assassin. Either way, it would be messy and far too personal, and Tsuna had, in part, wanted to keep the two identities separate originally, so that his new persona of strong assassin wasn't tainted with the old one of pathetic bully victim. Plus he genuinely liked Xanxus and the casual relationship they had – no doubt any official alliance would be tedious and full of formalities, ad was wont in the Mafia. The older assassin was much like an uncle or a cousin to him, which Xanxus actually acknowledged once in a blue moon, to Tsuna's delight. It was nice to have a family.
Which was why, Tsuna summarised, grabbing his phone once more to call his right hand man, that they would not abandon Xanxus. Vongola may officially be responsible for him, but Tsuna was his family too, and he was more than capable of finding out what was up without relying upon the strongest Mafia family in the world.
"Hayato? No, he hasn't called. Yeah, gather it all up, and come over to Hibari's, okay? Nah of course he won't mind. I'm sure; see you here in half an hour."
With a sigh, Tsuna got up to go get ready. He grimaced, wondering how in hell he'd explain this to his mother.
XXXXX
The leader of Vongola's CEDEF had to reign in his anticipation. He'd arrived in Japan just under a week ago, to the burnt remains of his family home. The first few days were spent investigating who had done it, but it was a dead end. Whoever perpetrated the attack had long been wiped out, and there were no leads left. It did reinforce the idea that Alauda lived in Namimori – the assassin was brutal and fiercely protective of anything he considered his own – and after a week of stealthy investigation and planning, Iemitsu had finally figured out the identity of the boy. One Hibari Kyoya – and with the boy's familial ties, it was no wonder. Now finally Iemitsu knew where the boy was staying, and had called for backup, just in case. They had arrived that morning, so the mission of going in and retrieving the assassin named Alauda could commence. Any other time, the CEDEF leader would be hesitant to have such a violent approaching on finding a lead. But this was Vongola under attack, his family under attack – and if he could find out who had propositioned Alauda, and what the assassin knew of the attacks in Namimori (since being a Hibari, it was highly likely that he did know). There was some apprehension in stepping on the toes of the Hibari family, but it wasn't as if they were going to kill the boy – unless, Iemitsu thought, with grim determination, he's done something to my son.
"Is everyone in place?" The CEDEF leader whispered into his mouthpiece. Various affirmatives came back into his earpiece, and the blond finally relaxed when all his agents replied. "Then let's go."
Steadily they advanced upon the entrance of the Hibari mansion, stealthily and in formation.
A movement in one of the windows had Iemitsu freezing. He trained his gun upon it, waiting with baited breath until it seemed apparent that no one was there. They started advancing again, only to stop in their tracks at the sound of a cold voice.
"What do you herbivores think you're doing on my property?"
Hibari Kyoya stood in the mansion entrance, seemingly unarmed. Behind him stood his right hand man, and despite the lack of information upon him, Iemitsu recalled they had found out his name as Kusekabe Tetsuya. Glad that they had the right target at least, Iemitsu stepped forwards, not entirely lowering his gun, but tilting is downwards, as he did so.
"Codename Alauda," the blond called out, watching intently as a flicker of surprise crossed the raven haired boy's features. "It has come to our intention that you were targeting the Vongola, specifically the family of the CEDEF."
A moment passed, before, to the surprise of everyone present, the young assassin scoffed.
"Don't be ridiculous, herbivore. I did no such thing."
Iemitsu grit his teeth. His family was no laughing matter! "We have intelligence that you received a hit on Sawada Tsunayoshi. Don't try to deny it."
"Your intelligence is greatly lacking if you couldn't figure out that I didn't take it."
The blond Mafioso raised his gun higher, trailing it directly upon the Japanese youth. "Then where is my son?"
To his irritation, the young assassin didn't even seem fazed. "Sawada Tsunayoshi is safe. I do not harm the citizens of Namimori, past or present." Hibari paused for a moment. "However I will make an exception for you, if you do not evacuate my property."
Past? Iemitsu frowned. Why did it seem as if he was completely out of the know?
The blond was about to bark another question before a voice interrupted him.
"Kyoya-kun, who's at the door?"
That high pitched voice was one he would know anywhere. Immediately, Iemitsu dropped his gun to his side, half panicking about being seen with it, and half ecstatic that his wife was alive and safe.
"Nana?" He called out.
The door opened slightly, and out peeked the brunet head of the woman he loved more than anything in the world. Wide confused eyes met his, and Iemitsu immediately felt a happy smile overtake his face.
"Nana!"
"Iemitsu..."
The blond winced. She wasn't calling him by her usual endearments.
"What are you doing here? Why do you have a gun?"
The blond visibly flinched that time, trying to find the words to explain why he'd turned up with a crew of Mafiosi and a gun at the house of a nineteen year old. Before he could reply, the low voice of a third person came from inside, and Nana looked backwards at someone. After casting one last look at her husband, she went indoors.
"Wait, Nana!" The blond called out, before he looked at Hibari. "Let me in, I want to talk to my wife."
The assassin glared, before hissing. "No. Your wife is safe, now leave."
"I have the right to talk to my wife!"
"This is my property herbivore." Hibari was getting visibly irritated. "If your wife doesn't want to speak to you, it is not my problem."
The CEDEF leader raised his gun once more, prepared to shoot his way in if he had to. Hibari hissed, taking out his own weapons from god knows where. The tension rose, and Iemitsu had a finger on the trigger, before a loud roaring broke the atmosphere. A motorcycle came into view, its rider clad in leather and hidden behind a helmet. Iemitsu's backup immediately had their guns trailed upon the newcomer.
"Fuck!" The rider swore in Italian, stumbling off the bike and taking off his helmet. Bright silver hair came into view, and the frowning face of Gokudera Hayato met them.
The bomber looked around in distaste before snapping something in Chinese – at least Iemitsu thought it was Chinese, it might have been in some sort of dialect – at Hibari. The assassin muttered something back in the same language, and Gokudera said something Iemitsu was sure was a curse if the reaction of Hibari was anything to go by.
The blond was getting irritated at being ignored, and he cleared his throat loudly, attracting the attention of the two conversing teens.
"Smoking Bomb Hayato, how do you know Alauda?" The bomber was a notorious lone wolf, he had few ties besides his family and doctor Shamal. There was no reason for him to be there.
Hibari snapped another phrase in the Chinese dialect, before turning around and going inside, slamming the door behind him. The silver haired teen sighed, before switching to Italian.
"Mutual acquaintance." He paused for a moment, before asking a question of his own. "And what is the Young Lion of Vongola doing here?"
Iemitsu was somewhat impressed. From what he heard, the bomber had an explosive anger problem, but it seemed he'd matured some.
"Alauda was asked to take a hit on my son." Iemitsu repeated.
"He didn't take it." Was the immediate answer. "Your family is under Hibari protection as citizens of Namimori. What's the problem?"
"He won't let me see them!" Iemitsu snapped, annoyed he was getting the same answer each time.
"If they're safe then you should be glad." The silver haired teen grimaced. "You know what the Hibari clan are like. It would be unwise to waste the resources to step on their toes just to talk to your family when you know that they're safe."
"How can we trust that you won't go aid the opposition?"
"We have no reason to do that." Another voice rang out, and the blond was honestly irritated at all these interruptions.
Everyone looked towards the doorway to see a brunet teen walk out from the house. At least, it appeared to be a teen, it was hard to tell with the medical mask on his face and thick rimmed glasses. From the distance he was at, Iemitsu couldn't tell if they actually were real or not. The newcomer had his hair pulled backwards with a band, but a few strands fell into his face. With a jolt of surprise, Iemitsu realised who it was.
"Caelum?"
"Yeah, hey."
The CEDEF leader blinked at the casual attitude of the young teen – and Caelum really was young. They didn't have a record on his age or nationality but the boy looked young, younger than they had expected really. It had been difficult to predict anything from the few pictures they had on the assassin – and even in those he was fully clad in that full body suit and mask of his. The blond thought that he must wear contacts too, given that he always appeared to have bright amber eyes rather than the brown he had there, although for the life of him the CEDEF leader couldn't tell which ones were fake. Given how well he'd hidden his appearance, it was only the presence of another mask – albeit a completely different looking one – that he recognised the assassin by.
Now with the appearance of another assassin, things were getting even more confusing. On some level, the blond was slightly reassured – Caelum had an M.O. unlike other assassins, and he only really took out the scum of the Mafia. Drug lords, Human traffickers, Pimps, he was even rumoured to be involved with the take-down of the Estraneo. The Vongola weren't the nicest family around, but they didn't go that far, so the brunet in front of him shouldn't be an enemy. Caelum wasn't the sort to help in an operation like the Vongola hunt.
On an entirely other level, Iemitsu felt slightly out of his depth. There were far too many independent assassins involved without his knowing, and this time it was his family on the line, as well as his famaglia. He did admit to neglecting them, often immersing himself in other work as not to be tempted to visit all the time, but still, they were just as important as Vongola to him.
"What are you doing here?" The blond asked.
Caelum seemed to look him over, an odd expression in his eyes.
"I'm staying with Hibari for a while." He said slowly. "Hayato's bringing my stuff."
Iemitsu blinked. "Wait you live together? In Namimori?"
"More or less," Caelum replied, the same time Gokudera asked: "Do you have a problem with it?"
"As far as trust goes," the brunet assassin continued in an even tone. "I'm sure Hibari can be trusted to look after the citizens of Namimori. Hayato's birth family is allied with the Vongola; it's pointless for him to attack them. Plus I have friends there, so really, you shouldn't be so hostile."
The CEDEF leader sighed. He knew he was emotionally invested in this case – more so than usual, but the quiet chastisement of the brunet made him see how hot-headed he was being. It was evident that their Intel was out of date – though very few families could get any information on good freelancers, the Vongola were the best, so it really should be inexcusable. After all, if what Caelum just said was correct, he had ties with Vongola members they hadn't even known about – and such loose ends were dangerous.
"Let me call my boss."
Caelum nodded, shifting from foot to foot. "Be quick, Hibari hates people in his territory."
Seemingly content for now, the brunet assassin turned to Gokudera, who had been standing surprisingly quietly on the sidelines. Although they did live together, so there must be some level of trust between the two. Both teens regressed into the odd Chinese dialect the bomber had used earlier, ignoring the presence of the CEDEF leader as they talked.
Iemitsu blinked, before fishing out his phone to call the Ninth. While he was waiting, he signalled his men to stand down, and wait outside. He honestly didn't want to anger Hibari any more by letting them loiter. The phone rang a couple of times, before the tired voice of the leader of Vongola came through.
["Iemitsu? I trust everything is okay."]
The blond laughed sheepishly, but kept his voice quiet. "Fine. Hibari were keeping my family safe, but I can't get in to see them. I might have stepped on a few toes trying to speak to them. I saw a glimpse of Nana though, she looked fine."
["That's wonderful,"] The Ninth's pleased voice came over the speakers. ["However, please refrain from stepping upon any more toes. The Hibari clan are valuable to us, not only with the protection they provide for your family's home town, but also with links to the arcobaleno and the Chinese Triads. Nothing too serious happened, did it?"]
"No, no." Iemitsu reassured. "But it seems unexpected players are involved. Both Caelum and Smoking Bomb Hayato were there."
["Oh– ah, please wait a moment Iemitsu. We've finally gotten the report back from France."]
The blond nodded, before realising he couldn't be seen and spoke an affirmative. A few moments of what sounded like paper shuffling passed, before Iemitsu heard a sharp intake of breath.
"Ninth?"
["Bad news, Iemitsu."] The Vongola leader's voice was grave, shaky in some parts, but remaining even otherwise. ["We've confirmed that we've been cut off from Xanxus. The rest of the Varia survived whatever attack they were in, but two of them are in critical condition. The remaining members claim he wasn't killed, but taken – presumably to be experimented on."]
The CEDEF leader flinched. He didn't like the leader of the Varia much, but with Frederico gone missing, and his status still unconfirmed, Xanxus was the last son the Ninth had left, and the blond wouldn't wish for the man to lose all his family.
"I'll be there right away. Xanxus can still be saved, Ninth."
At the sound of the Varia leader's name, Caelum and Gokudera perked up. The brunet assassin frowned, as if contemplating something. After a few lines exchanged in the same dialect from before, he approached the blond.
"Excuse me, did you say Xanxus?"
["Please put me on loudspeaker, Iemitsu."] The voice of the Ninth carried through, and the blond man complied.
["Now, Caelum is it?"]
The brunet assassin blinked behind his glasses. "Yes."
["Would you like to inform me why you are interested in my son?"]
Caelum twitched at the wording, but otherwise replied with an even tone. "We're..." he stopped, contemplating. "Friends. He and I were going to meet up in Paris this week, but I lost contact." The young assassin paused for a moment, before continuing. "I was going to go there to find out what happened myself, but if you already know, I'd appreciate you telling me."
The Ninth seemed to consider things for a moment, before replying. ["He was captured by the Estraneo."]
Caelum hissed, and besides him Gokudera swore under his breath.
"We're going after him."
Iemitsu blinked at the rash decision, but Gokudera didn't even seem fazed. In fact, the silver haired teen simply seemed geared up and ready to go. The Ninth, unsurprisingly enough, took it all in stride.
["We will be sending someone to retrieve him; there's no need for you to go out of your way."]
The brunet gave an impression of frowning, despite the fact that most his face was hidden. "I owe Xanxus my life, a few times over. I wouldn't just sit and do nothing when I know he's in danger." And plus, they were family. If Tsuna did one thing, he made sure to take care of his own. The recent brush with danger that his mother encountered only had the sky even more on edge about those he cared for.
Seemingly expecting this answer, the Ninth replied. ["You're welcome to join the retrieval team, if you so wish."]
"Who else would be on it?" Caelum asked, glancing at Iemitsu as he did so.
["No-one you've met so far."] The Vongola leader evaded. ["Unless you would like to decline, although I must warn you, I don't suggest a solo operation. We can't have people interfering with Vongola retrieval processes lest they be mistaken for an enemy."]
Caelum sighed, resigned. The Ninth was good. "I'll join."
XXXXX
Tsuna swept through the Hibari mansion, pulling his hair free from its tie as he did so. He slipped the mask and the glasses into his pocket. A disgruntled Gokudera walked behind him.
"You can't trust them."
Tsuna sighed. "I know, Hayato."
"They're obviously using you." The bomber continued. "The Ninth managed to keep you close to keep an eye on you, but in a position where they could easily get rid of you if they wanted."
Tsuna sent the bomber a smirk. "Worried about me, Haya-chan?"
To his amusement, Gokudera blushed and spluttered. He knew better than anyone that the silver haired teen didn't have a crush on him, as many people who saw them interact assumed. It was just that the bomber was so sensitive to such comments; he tended to overreact, often in a funny way. It made it all the more fun to tease him.
"Of course I am." Gokudera muttered. "I can't support you as usual if the Vongola are running this. You'd be on your own."
"On his own, where?" A cold voice cut through the conversation, and Hibari came into view, Nana in tow. The older assassin had obviously gone to relax, the smell of tea wafting off him, presumably so he didn't murder his old partner's father. Tsuna noticed this, and thought it was sweet, in a Hibari like way.
"He agreed to join the Vongola in saving Xanxus."
Hibari frowned, and Nana looked between the two, confused.
"You're not going alone, omnivore."
"It's not like I have a choice. It's either with them, or against them."
Nana blinked. "Who's going where?"
Tsuna coughed, shifting a little on his feet. "Uh, a good friend of mine was captured. I want to save him, but I have to join up with people we might not be able trust to do it."
"Definitely can't trust." Gokudera muttered, and Tsuna discretely elbowed him. He didn't want his mother to be worrying the entire time.
"Then why can't you go with someone you do trust?" Nana tilted her head to the side in question.
The young assassin tried to seem confident under the stare of his mother. "Well for one, there's no one available–"
Hibari scoffed. "I will come with you."
"But don't you have to take care of Namimori?" Tsuna argued, subtly indicating to his mother as his did so.
"My parents will be arriving in a few days."
Tsuna blanched. Hibari's parents were fearsome. The brunet never really recovered from their first meeting. Although he couldn't really argue against their presence; they were more than capable of taking care of Namimori.
"I need to leave tomorrow." Tsuna added weakly.
"You'll be going to the Vongola base before setting off for France," Gokudera interrupted. "There's enough time for Hibari to catch up."
"Do you not want Kyoya-kun to go with you?" Nana asked, looking at him curiously.
'Damn those innocent eyes,' Tsuna thought. It wasn't that he didn't want Hibari with him, but he knew how dangerous it was. He'd be worrying about the prefect the entire time – despite knowing how strong the other boy was. Tsuna generally had a habit of going into danger alone, but it seemed he wouldn't be able to get away with it that time. No doubt the prefect would find a way to go after his regardless of his or Vongola's interference.
"Of course I do," the brunet relented. "Kyoya can come if he wants to."
Hibari smirked, triumphant. "As if I would let my omnivore go alone." Satisfied with the result, the prefect turned and walked away, most likely to prepare.
Tsuna felt himself going red. He buried his face in his hand, groaning to himself to the background sounds of Gokudera's protests and his mother's giggles.
Omake:
"No."
"You don't have a choice, herbivore."
"I said no."
Hibari raised an eyebrow in challenge, but amusement danced in his eyes, ad he held up the offending object that had Tsuna protesting so vehemently.
"Goddamit Hibari, get that dress away from me!"
Tsuna lashed out, as if to swat the article of clothing away, but Hibari was faster, moving it out of the brunet's attacking range.
"The mission requires for you to wear this."
Tsuna scoffed, looking at the dress in distaste. It was a soft champagne colour, made up of a silky material. There was a high waist, adorned with simply jewels from which a secondary, flowly fabric came down from. Above the waist, the bust moved into two thick shoulder straps, which was adorned with more jewels. They kept going, until cut off by the dress' low back. All in all, it was a beautiful dress that was suitable for the formal function they were going to – elegant but simple enough not to be gaudy. The cut would help accentuate his nonexistent bust, and the length would allow him to hide all manner of weapons upon his legs. That didn't mean he wanted to wear it.
Hibari sighed. "Herbivore."
Tsuna was silent for a moment, before he gave the older boy his most pleading look. "Hibari, do I have to wear this?"
"Yes." The response was immediate.
"I don't even look like a girl!"
Hibari made a show of looking him over, before replying, "You'll do."
The brunet assassin made a face, but held his hand out for the dress regardless. It wasn't as if he didn't know this was the easiest and safest way to get in an out without being discovered. The target was a young heir this time (Tsuna wouldn't have liked taking a hit on someone so young, if the person wasn't equally as vile), and he could only really be caught at the one of the highly sophisticated functions that they were planning on infiltrating. It was mostly for young couples, hence the need for a dress.
But still, Tsuna grumbled as he removed his own clothing and struggled to find the opening in that death contraption of clothing. It wasn't as if he had to be the one who dressed up as a girl. Hibari could probably pass as a girl too.
The brunet attempted to imagine the older prefect in a dress, and promptly choked on his own spit. Try as he might, Tsuna couldn't imagine that scenario ever playing out, sadly enough.
Now, how the hell was he supposed to get in this thing?
Struggling to find an opening – was he supposed to step into it, or put it on like a jumper? – Tsuna briefly worried that it might not fit over his special new appendages (much to his embarrassment, there was special underwear to make him seem more like a girl), before quickly dismissing the thought. Girls managed to fit into these things all the time, it wouldn't be that difficult.
Five minutes later, the brunet found himself with his arms raised high in the air beneath the dress that was supposed to slip over his head, but was too busy being caught on his fake bust. No matter how much he wriggled, it just wouldn't go down. Sighing, he resolved to try the other way, and step into the dress. Hopefully the neckline would be wide enough to accompany going over his chest.
Slightly annoying with all the material in his face – because he couldn't see goddammit – the brunet wiggled some more, trying to get a grasp on the clothing to pull it back over his head. It proved fruitless, and feeling more irritated than ever, he wriggled harder, trying to escape the confines of the blasted silky material. A small sound that was oddly similar to ripping met his ears, and the young assassin froze. Shit.
Frantically checking to make sure he didn't rip the dress – because it didn't belong to him, and he hoped Hibari himself didn't actually own the thing – Tsuna failed to notice how his struggles had him moving about the small room he was changing within. It was with a yell that the brunet found himself tripping over some invisible object, landing on the floor with a painful thunk.
His hands still caught raised above his head, and with no means to see, the brunet was stuck wriggling about on the floor. Half fearing that he would be stuck like that forever; the young assassin called out, his voice high and panicked.
"Hibari, help!"