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Prevaricating.
Tsuna had become somewhat of an expert in doing that, especially after Reborn's glorious arrival into his life.
Currently he was prevaricating like his life depended on it, like humanity's existence depended on it, like there was no tomorrow for him, or anyone else, for that matter.
A curiosity filled gaze pinned on him, followed by, "Hey Dame-Tsuna, how did you—" had had his foot 'accidentally' come in contact with Takahira's bleeding torso, making the other break out into litanies of familiar curses. It had immensely helped that his classmate had—still was; Tsuna suspected that his 'accidental' kick was partially responsible for it— been lying on the ground.
"Oh shit, I'm so sorry, I'll, um, go get water or something. For the blood. Yeah," Tsuna had said hastily, before fleeing from the scene and clinging to Lal like, again, his life depended on it.
If there was one thing Tsuna had learnt over the past few hours about the other five, it was definitely that the five were scared of Lal and preferred not to get within a foot of her presence. Which was kind of ridiculous, now that Tsuna thought about it; not that he was complaining in the least. It prevented him from answering questions which had the potential to reveal who he was, after all.
On a completely different note, Lichi and Hibird stayed stuck to him like glue.
Tsuna was on the floor, playing with the two while Lal was busy talking to someone on the phone. Tsuna could feel Natsu wanting to come out, but since five eyes were trained solely on his existence, Tsuna coaxed the Sky Lion to stay back, promising to release him some time in the night.
"Sawada," Lal's voice broke in, and, still rubbing Hibird's head with one hand and tossing a gleeful Lichi into the air with the other, Tsuna gave the woman an inquisitive look.
Lal raised the phone in her hand, "For you."
Tsuna paused, placing Hibird on his head as Lichi scurried up to his shoulder, before getting up and taking the offered phone.
Arashi saw Dame-Tsuna press the receiver to his ear. He couldn't hear the conversation because the brunette was far away from them, and as much as Arashi was curious, he valued his life and preferred it not to be anywhere near Lal Mirch.
His thoughts went back to what Dame-Tsuna had done, glad that he had been fed pain killers which were currently allowing him to think without wanting to groan and moan and roll on the floor with pain.
It was impossible. Absolutely impossible.
For him to come out, with the exception of a bleeding toe, unscathed was not possible.
It shouldn't have been possible; this was Dame-Tsuna for Buddha's sake! But there he had been, weaving through paraphernalia used for murder and shedding blood like it was nothing!
Arashi grit his teeth. It took him a moment to realize that he was jealous. Of Dame-Tsuna.
How was that possible?
The only thing which made the revelation a bit better was that he knew that the other four felt the same, too.
"Really?!"
Arashi's eyes zeroed to Tsuna, noticing the somewhat dopey grin on the brunette's face.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Tsuna gushed out happily, "Thank you, Shamal!"
Arashi paused. 'Shamal'. Was he talking to Shamal, the perverted doctor in Namimori Middle who hit on girls but was never kicked out on the charges of sexual harassment? Since when did Dame-Tsuna and he get chummy enough to talk over the phone?
Tsuna's voice quieted down again, as the brunette gave an unfamiliar laugh, warm and sweet and—
Okay, now that is just plain creepy. Since when did Dame-Tsuna's become warm and sweet?!
Tsuna handed Lal the phone back, not replying to the questioning look the adult tossed at him. He shook his head instead and grinned to himself. Lal shrugged but did not pry.
Just about then, a familiar cry of a hawk pierced through the air. Lal looked up, and so did Tsuna, used to the familiar bird's cry. Falco came into their peripheral vision a few minute later, swooping down to land on Tsuna's head, Hibird shifting aside to make way for the larger bird.
Lal took the letter perched in between the bird's beak.
"Is it from Collonello?" Tsuna inquired.
"Yes," Lal replied, slipping out the paper from the envelope. She read through it, looked at Tsuna and explained, "He's nearby. He's asking us to meet him there, if possible."
"Will we?"
Lal shrugged, "Why not? But," her voice turned scornful, "judging by how ridiculously weak your classmates are, and the condition they are in, it will be impossible for us to move immediately."
Tsuna thought for a moment, "What about Sun Flames?"
"There are no Sun Flame users."
"What about the nurses?"
"First aid, only. And Sasagawa's not with us, either."
"I think my Flames will be enough, actually."
Lal gave him a bewildered look, catching on quickly, "Your Flames can heal?" Her voice was tinged with fascination.
"A bit. I don't know how it works, either, but Reborn says that it is because Sky Flames have the attribute of Harmony."
Lal thought for a moment. The Nono's Sky Flames couldn't heal, though. Maybe it had something to do with the purity of Flames? Lal was impressed—at this rate, Tsuna could easily become the strongest Vongola Boss, surpassing even Primo.
Lal really wished to become his tutor.
"But they need to be unconscious first," Tsuna continued, almost to himself, glancing at the students, "It will be less painful for them and I don't want them to see me with my Flames."
Lal grinned, "I'm on it."
She then proceeded to knock them out cold.
When Takahira had woken up an hour later, after being whacked on the head with something suspiciously resembling a monkey wrench, he had felt rejuvenated.
That word, however, had felt like an understatement. He had felt warm and safe, satisfaction thrumming through his veins. It had made him wonder whether he was a masochist because, surely, getting a mild concussion was, in no way, satisfying.
Lal, on the other hand, had given his awakened form one, long look, before announcing:
"Get up, get ready, we're leaving."
And then she had dropped a bucket full of leeches on him, watching with amusement as he had screamed and tried to desperately pry the invertebrates from himself.
They were trekking again, walking through the dense jungles. The initial feeling of rejuvenation had been soon replaced by lassitude and mild terror. The other four were in the same state, and Hinata and Hanabi were murmuring under their breaths about maggots attacking them. Alessandro, who had joined them minutes after the leech incident, was limping but easily walking ahead of them.
Further ahead of the Italian were Lal and Dame-Tsuna. The latter had a monkey on his shoulder, a ball of yellow fluff on his head, while an eagle flapped about excitedly, circling the brunette's head. Tsuna, on the other hand, it seemed, was tossing treats towards the bird, and said bird was busy snatching them from mid-air.
Every time the bird did some impossible feat and twisting-in-the-airs whilst in the process of capturing the treats, Tsuna would whoop in joy and the bird would look suspiciously satisfied.
"There's an octopus!" Hinata said in awe a few fifteen minutes later, staring, wide eyed, at a red animal perched on a branch, it's tentacles wrapped pathetically around it.
"It's Oodako!" Tsuna declared worriedly, rushing up to the weakly thrashing sea-creature, "He's injured!"
"Skull must be nearby, then," Lal declared, barely glancing at the creature. Which really made Takahira wonder what the woman went through in her daily life because there was an octopus in the middle of a forest and how the hell was this normal in any manner?
"I can heal him," Tsuna announced after, somehow, bringing the humungous red sea-creature down to earth.
Takahira wondered how much it weighed.
The brunette glanced worriedly at them for some reason, and then Lal said:
"I'm on it."
Takahira was knocked out cold for the second time that day.
"Y'know, Lal, there was no point in knocking them out."
"Are you ordering me, Sawada?"
"What-? No! Of course not! I'd never dream of it! What I'm saying is that you could have simply told them to move away or something…?"
"It's not fun that way, and they deserved to be hit. They are weak."
"…"
Tsuna distractedly patted Oodako's head who had, for some reason, after Tsuna's healing powers had come forth and worked its magic, taken a liking to stick as close to Tsuna as possible. It didn't help that as the number of animals sticking to him increased, the more moody and angry Natsu got.
"Where are we going?"
"Skull," Lal said, "He has students with him—we can't possibly leave them with that idiot."
Tsuna nodded, and then his eyes turned serious, "Do you think he was attacked?" he asked as Falco took her place on Tsuna's other shoulder.
"Likely." Lal confirmed, "His ridiculous of a pet was injured, after all."
"His injuries weren't life threatening, though." Tsuna tried, wanting an excuse to believe that no one was in a life threatening situation right about now.
He was aware, after all, how cruel and despotic Mafiosi were capable of being.
"Why is there an octopus with you?" Arashi asked, rubbing his swollen head.
Tsuna paused and turned around. They had been walking slower now, aware that if they decided to stay far off from each other, the chances of the students being attacked would be very high. Lal was obviously miffed by the slow speed, but she had—after enough requests from Tsuna—agreed to walk like a legless turtle.
Tsuna shrugged and answered, patting Oodako's head again, "He just stuck to me."
Arashi scowled.
"You saw the area," Lal continued, ignoring the interruption, "A fight took place."
Tsuna nodded, frowning subtly. If one ignored an injured octopus, the sheer amount of damage the trees had suffered from, followed by the faint vestiges of Flames, was a big give away. Not that it helped matters any. If the students got hurt because of him, Tsuna wouldn't be sure what to do.
He needed to search for something—clues, hints, whatever. The main aim was to reach Skull and the students; he vaguely recalled that two students under Skull's lead consisted of Chrome and Kyoko, and panic swallowed him up whole. If something happened to them, he would never be able to forgive himself.
Sharp eyes looked around, searching laconically for disturbances—anything to give Skull's current location away.
A lightly charred or a broken branch, groves formed by foreign objects on the barks, torn leaves, traces of Flames…
"We take a right from here," Tsuna concluded, "Skull will be there."
Lal looked at him, then around her and said approvingly, "You're getting good at this, Sawada. Right it is."
"And you just listen to him?" Takahira protested, "He can't tell the difference between north and south even if it were to smack him in the face and—"
"It's right; I came to the same conclusion, so shut up." Lal threatened.
"But—"
Lal ignored him, taking a right, with Tsuna following her, an octopus ambling cheerfully behind him and a bird of prey flapping around his head.
They came across another spot, and Lal paused, looking at Tsuna questioningly.
"What do you think?"
Tsuan looked around sharply, and declared after a few moments, "Straight."
"Could be left."
Tsuna shook his head, and said simply "Marks on the fourth and the fifth tree. Whatever attacked them was sharp, and judging by the raised ground here and there, it's straight."
Lal nodded in approval while Alessandro looked impressed.
"This is ridiculous!" Takahira hissed out, "Dame-Tsuna's just showing off! This was pre-planned!"
"It's obvious," Kaneda and Hinata agreed, while Hanabi scowled at the brunette in disapproval.
That's how it went. Every time they paused, Lal would look questioningly at Tsuna, and he would come up to a warped up conclusion, and then all of them would have to follow or else be left behind. It didn't help that they felt like they were fucking third wheels despite there being five of them.
"They're here." Tsuna whispers quietly, a few minutes later, coming to another grassy region.
"I know," Lal mentioned, stepping forward, "You guys stay back," Lal ordered, giving the five warning and disapproving glances, "Do not come forward, you hear? Sawada and I'll handle this."
"Like hell I'm going to listen to you," Takahira seethed, "You're asking him to go with you, Lal-san, and with all due respect, that's the worst plan ever created by mankind! He will not be—"
"Stay back," Tsuna's voice would have sounded pleading if it weren't for how dangerous he looked all of a sudden, "My friends are there, so stay back."
Takahira wanted to nod. He really did, because the conviction and determination and light desperation in the other's voice was reassuring yet terrifying at the same time for some reason, but still. He had his pride.
"Fuck you," Takahira spat out savagely, "There's no way I am going to listen to you of all people!"
Takahira determinately stepped forward, being jerked back by Tsuna the moment a bullet would have shot him dead. It took him a moment to realize that they were under attack and that bullets were flying at them from all directions. Hinata and Hanabi shrieked, ducking reflexively, while Arashi, Kaneda and Takahira were forcefully made to lick the ground by Lal.
"Crap, we're under attack!" Tsuna's voice broke through, panic evident, "What about Chrome and Kyoko-cha—"
"We'll find them!" Lal interrupted, and Takahira heard the unfamiliar click of a gun, "You get out of here, Sawada!"
"But—"
"Look," Lal assured, "they're after you—that much is pretty obvious. Get out of here. Search for Collonello and Fon, but make sure not to die. I swear to God, Sawada, if you do manage to get yourself killed, I will personally summon your spirit and burn you to death, you hear me?"
"I'm staying here and fighting with you!"
"Like hell you are!" Lal hissed, stepping away from the tree protecting her from the bullets and firing a round, "And take the kids with you, and Alessandro. Defeating these guys will be a piece of cake— but with them," here she pointed at the five crouching students, who were looking at Lal, the bullets whizzing by and the gun in her hand with expressions of varying horror, "around? Not a piece of cake unless they are suicidal."
Tsuna felt conflicted. On one hand, the mere thought of leaving Lal here, alone, to fight with the assassins sent to kill him did not sit well with him; on the other hand, there were five more lives to protect, five more people who could easily die if left alone.
Tsuna did not have much of a choice in the matter—it was sad that he never really did.
Gritting his teeth, he grabbed Alessandro by the hand and ran, hearing the other five running after them. They were being followed, Tsuna knew, and though the urge to turn back and defend and protect was almost impossible to contain, he was also rational. Lest the others sent bullets or Flames at them, fighting was out of the question—the chances of the five students (not meant to be a part of the darker side of society) getting injured, or worse, killed, was high.
He side-stepped as something whizzed by—one glance at the direction of the object informed him that it was not an object, but Flames. Storm Flames, belonging to the enemy.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted Alessandro jogging beside him. The Italian's posture was relaxed, despite being in a miniature war-zone. Tsuna found it fishy, but later chalked it up as his imagination.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit!" Arashi cursed, when a bullet—a normal one, Tsuna thought, lightly relieved—grazed his skin, "I did not sign up for this!"
The animals had followed Tsuna, too, increasing Tsuna's worry about their lives ten folds.
They arrived by a little clearing, and Tsuna, with no little amount of dread, realized that it was a cliff. A closer glance at it informed him that if they did decide to commit a group suicide, the chances of survival was zero, and that the chances of their bones turning into nothing but powder was hundred percent.
Great. Just great.
"Fuck, what do we do now?!" Kaneda yelled, horrified.
Hinata's voice shook as she turned around, watching figures with weapons stepping into the clearing, "Thi—This i-is bad. Really bad…"
Tsuna did not feel as worried at this point as he should have been, surprisingly.
Good, a part of him seemed to be thinking, I'm about to be killed. I know what to do. I am used to this.
Twelve men arrived at the clearing, and Alessandro relaxed. He could see the Decimo thinking, trying to figure a way out of this mess. It wouldn't work, he knew. They were trapped, and his Famiglia's men were already there to capture or shoot down the Decimo—whichever; their Boss hadn't specified.
"Who's the one?" one of the men barked out, and as Alessandro readied himself to inform the man—Matthew was his name, if Alessandro recalled correctly—with a cautious and unobtrusive gesticulation, the Decimo announced:
"I'm really sorry for doing this to you guys."
And then he pushed Alessandro from the cliff, followed by the students, before leaping from there himself.
The animals happily followed Tsuna.
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