I LOVE YOU GUYS, I REALLY DO! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FOLLOWS, REVIEWS AND FAVORITES! You guys make my day!
I may not be able to update for a few weeks (minimum two) since my exams are going on, but I'll certainly try. This chapter is short since it's sort of an introduction. Nothing much happens here, though, but I still hope that you guys will enjoy this!
Enjoy!
"The Vongola has arranged a camp for the students of Namimori Middle."
Reborn's declaration was followed by exclamations of pleasant surprise, while Tsuna choked on the morsel of food he was just about to swallow.
"Excuse me?!" he hissed out loud, fixing a glare at Reborn.
Reborn—in Resu's get up—ignored him, continuing, "Tomorrow, after breakfast. Children should rest plenty before that; it will be quite hectic."
Tsuna had no doubt about that, whatsoever. Not that it helped matters any.
"I am not going," Tsuna declared.
Reborn gave him a sharp look, "Of course you are, Sawada-san."
Shit, it's so weird to hear Reborn calling me 'Sawada-san'.
"No I am not," Tsuna insisted firmly, narrowing his eyes at Reborn. He did not care if he were to get shot later on because of his rudeness; he was not going.
"It's compulsory."
"Like hell it is."
"Mind your language, Sawada-san," Reborn admonished, "I am your teacher."
Yes, and I am your student. That never stopped you from trying to kill me, though.
Tsuna would have scoffed or rolled his eyes, but then he noticed how Nezu was glaring at him from behind Reborn (which was funny because Reborn was two feet tall, but somehow managed to look more important than Nezu). It wasn't just Nezu, though. The students were giving him this appalled and stop-being-so-rude-to-the-teacher-! looks that Tsuna could not ignore even if he wanted to. He was being the centre of attention again.
Shrinking back into his seat with a sullen glare, he prodded at his food with his chopsticks. Reborn was saying something, addressing the students while they were eating (lunch), but Tsuna hardly paid any attention to the hitman. He decided that he would ask Yamamoto or Gokudera about Reborn's instruction later, or Ryohei, if the boxer was currently paying attention. Idly he wondered where Lambo was.
"…but since fifteen of your friends can't make it in the next few days, we will be dividing you people into five groups, with six people in each group. Each group will have a leader—a person from Vongola—so there will be no need to worry, if any problems occur."
Problems.
Reborn made everything sound so absurdly easy. It was actually ludicrous.
"We'll be leaving at eight in the morning, tomorrow." Reborn continued, "But before that, we will be dividing you into the groups tonight. Gather at the lounging rooms after dinner."
With that, Reborn pretty much skipped out of the dining hall. Tsuna could feel the glee in Reborn's system. Not a good sign.
"I don't want to go," Tsuna complained to Gokudera once he was sure that Reborn was out of earshot. He still had a feeling that his tutor still knew what he had just said.
Gokudera frowned at him subtly, as if his reluctance made no sense to him, "Why, Tenth?"
"I'm pretty excited," Yamamoto commented from his left.
Tsuna, still being coerced to sit at the head of the table, glanced at Yamamoto. The baseball fanatic, like Gokudera, looked bewildered at his reluctance, and one glance at Ryohei's, Chrome's, Kyoko's and Haru's face informed him that they were, too.
They just didn't get it. As much as Tsuna found it sad, Tsuna knew that they simply did not get it.
He recalled Gokudera's words, Why, Tenth? and his stomach churned unpleasantly.
"I have a very bad feeling about this…"
Arashi's finger twitched. Beside him, Takahira looked equally peeved, and Arashi felt that. The annoyance.
Dame-Tsuna was in their group.
The spoil sport was in their group! Of all people they could be with, why did it have to be that idiot?
Arashi took in a deep breath to calm his nerves. Apart from Dame-Tsuna, there were two girls in their group—Hinata (which he was really thankful for), a shy girl called Hanabi and, thankfully, also Kaneda. That still did not remove Dame-Tsuna from being in their group. He glanced at the sheet of paper given to him, making sure that his eyes weren't deceiving him.
Sawada Tsunayoshi.
Dammit.
After the unpleasant knowledge, Takahira decided to walk about in the mansion. Arashi and Kaneda were busy sulking about being stuck with the only person who'd destroy all the fun, and Takahira understood precisely what his friends meant. He, too, was angry at Tsuna for being with them.
On the bright side, though, maybe he could bully Tsuna again. He hadn't been doing that for a long time. Making a mental note to remind Arashi of the very sparkly silver lining on the cloud, he paused when he heard someone scream:
"I AM ABSOLUTELY AGAINST THIS!"
Gokudera, Takahira recognized. Bringing himself closer to the door of the room from where the voice was coming from, a part of Takahira was satisfied that there was enough gap in between the doors for him to see through. He peered in.
"I can't let the Tenth go on his own!"
"Um, Gokudera-kun," this was Tsuna, Takahira could see, "It's alright, seriously! Nothing will happen to me!"
Gokudera glanced at Tsuna, gaze sharp, "We can't be sure!"
"But—!"
"Gokudera has a point," Yamamoto interrupted.
Takahira could not find it in himself to be surprised to see the baseball fanatic with the brunette. Even though it annoyed him, it was obvious that one of the most popular guys in the school stuck to Tsuna like glue.
"Honestly, Tsuna, I am not exactly comfortable leaving you without one of us."
"Yamamoto, I'll be fine—"
"I agree with Yamamoto," Ryohei added, uncharacteristically serious, "I am not comfortable, either."
"Onii-san!"
"Thank you!" Gokudera exclaimed, "Finally you two are showing intelligence!"
"But—! Chrome!" Tsuna tried.
Takahira could not see Chrome from the measly gap, but he heard her say:
"I agree with Yamamoto-san, Gokudera-san and Sasagawa-san, Boss."
"So! Now that that is decided," Gokudera turned to someone else on the bed—he couldn't see the person since Gokudera was blocking his view. Gokudera continued, "I'm going with him, Reborn-san."
"No." The voice was horribly shrill and downright squeaky; Takahira had a feeling that he had heard it before.
The four immediately started voicing out their protests, even Chrome, which was a surprise in itself since she wasn't exactly the sort to speak. Much. Or at all.
"Tsuna will have to do this on his own. He's been depending on you guys a lot— seeing what he is going to become, he needs to be independent."
There was a squawk from Tsuna, "I am not going to become—! Reborn!"
"Stop whining," Reborn chided. Takahira noticed that the squeaky voiced person's instruction was enough to shut all of them up.
A short silence followed the order, the four allowing Reborn's words to settle in. Their stances showed that they were contemplating the words, but were blatantly reluctant to do so. Finally Gokudera spoke, running an anxious hand over his face, making a move towards his pocket before twitching in annoyance.
"Okay, Reborn-san, I agree. But," he conditioned, "send Tenth with someone else. Not just the leader—someone else from the Vongola. In case."
There was a short pause from the person named Reborn. Even from this distance, Takahira could see how Ryohei, Yamamoto and Gokudera's shoulders were tensed, waiting but not hoping for a rejection. Finally, Reborn said:
"Okay."
Pause.
"Huh, that was…easy." Tsuna commented, voice dripping with suspicion and disbelief, "What are you planning?"
"I'm not planning anything, you idiot. You guys should go to sleep now—tomorrow'll a long day."
When Alessandro had been ordered to go with the Neo Vongola Primo for the camp, he had jumped upon the opportunity instantly. Get to know the Decimo, his Boss had specifically told him. This was just the perfect opportunity to do so. From his position, the dark skinned Italian adjusted his tie, glancing nervously at the others present in the room.
He recognized all of them, as he tried to school his expression.
Lal Mirch, Collenello, Skull, Fon and Oregano.
Except for Oregano, the rest were all ex-Arcobaleno. He was more awed than surprised by their arrival; this was the heir's classmates and Guardians, after all, so their presence wasn't at all redundant. Just about then, the Decimo and his classmates entered. The former took one, short glance at his surroundings, looking just about ready to crawl back to his room like a pathetic dying animal, ready to finally breathe his last breath.
Alessandro wondered why.
Their leader went by the name of Lal Mirch. And she was goddamn hot.
Their group had been appointed to her—or she had been appointed to them, depending on how one looked at it. Her introduction had been curt, short and straight to the point, a cursory glance sent to all the six, nervous students standing in a line. She had then provided them with paraphernalia required for camping, before ordering them to follow her out of the mansion.
Takahira had glanced at the three babies who were also the leaders of other's groups, and had continued staring. The students who were being led by the babies were either busy cooing at their cuteness or sending unsure glances at the infants.
He saw Arashi glancing at the dark haired Italian following them—Alessandro, the man had introduced himself as. Last night, he had told Kaneda and Arashi about the conversation he had heard between Tsuna, his friends and the mysterious man going by the name of 'Reborn', so Takahira knew what Arashi was wondering.
Who is he and why has he been sent to accompany Tsuna?
If Gokudera was the rich one, didn't he need a bodyguard around? Why Tsuna?
The car ride for Tsuna was been horribly awkward. From in front of him, Lal had been sending amused glances in his direction, while Alessandro had been keeping a sharp eye on him. Both were more than a bit disconcerting, but he firmly refrained from commenting.
"Excuse me, Lal-san?" Takahira spoke up, "Where is it that we are going?"
Lal sent Takahira an appraising look, answering, "The hills in the south."
"How long will the journey take? And where is it?"
"We'll be arriving in a few minutes. It is a part of Vongola's property."
"Eh?! Just how rich is the Vongola?!" Arashi asked, eyes wide.
Lal smirked, "Pretty rich. Its power is increasing, and judging by who will be inheriting it, hopefully it will continue increasing."
Hinata frowned, "'Who will be inheriting it'? Is there going to be new Boss or something?"
Lal nodded, giving Tsuna a passing glance, "Yes."
"Have you ever met him, Lal-san?"
Lal looked at Tsuna once again, amusement increasing further as Tsuna tried to look unobtrusive, "Yes, I have."
"What is he like?" Arashi asked, leaning in.
Lal paused, pondering. When she spoke, her words were genuine, "He… he'll grow up to be a good Boss." She snorted then, "Though, he is an idiot; he's reluctant on being the Boss, and nobody knows why. Then again, he's young and horribly indecisive despite everything he has gone through, which is actually pretty annoying."
"Is he hot?" Hinata asked excitedly, eyes gleaming.
Lal snorted, and Tsuna shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "Yeah, right. I doubt you'd call him 'hot', but he certainly does not lack in charisma."
Tsuna could feel his face burning.
"He's only fourteen, after all."
Five gasps erupted.
"He's about our age, then?" Kaneda questioned, "No wonder he is declining to take over such a huge company!"
Lal sniggered quietly, glancing at Tsuna again, "Oh, but I doubt he can do anything about it now. He's in serious debt due to… property damage, and the only way he can pay up for that is by sucking it up."
Tsuna gave a loud, mournful groan at this, prompting seven pairs of eyes to stare at him. Tsuna laughed awkwardly, and pointedly stared out of the window. Finally the car came to a stop, and Tsuna almost lurched forward at the abrupt halt. He saw Lal rolling her eyes at him at his clumsiness and Tsuna grinned sheepishly. The chauffer came and opened the door for them, and Tsuna, exiting, took in a deep breath of satisfaction.
He had always hated cramped spaces.
His breath hitched, however, when hairs on the nape of his neck stood up. His eyes zeroed in on the hill range, noticing, with no little degree of horror, how the aura of the whole chain seemed to practically ooze out evil. Tsuna shuddered, eyes wide.
"I'm getting out of here!" he announced loudly, abruptly, diving towards the car.
Arashi, Kaneda, Takahira, Hinata and Hanabi sent him annoyed glances, but Tsuna repeated firmly:
"I am not going there, Lal, you can't make me!"
Lal smirked, clearly enjoying his panicked state, "Of course you are, Sawada."
"No I am not! I can feel it!" he exclaimed, sweeping his hand over the general direction of the forested hills.
"Stop being a chicken, Dame-Tsuna!" Arashi chuckled.
Lal bristled at the nickname given to Tsuna, but said nothing regarding that. Instead, she forcefully grabbed Tsuna's arm, successfully dragging him, away, ignoring his litanies of protests and squawks. Lal shoved him against Alessandro and ordered, "Keep a close eye on him—Alessandro, was it?"
Alessandro nodded, "Yes, mam."
Lal looked at her team, eyes epitomizing everything and anything unpleasant, and she announced, grinning, "Let's head towards Monte Di Montagna!"
Tsuna gaped at her. It was during times like these that he cursed the fact that he knew Italian so well.
Monte Di Montagna.
He shuddered, mouth and throat drying.
Death Mountain.
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