Chapter Thirty-Nine
The room was terribly quiet.
Blue eyes went to Tsuna then to the man they called Spade Daemon, before to Lady Shoyou and lastly to Kozato who was between him and the brunet. It's as if all four (except for him) were waiting for something to drop as the five of them drunk tea in the receiving area of the store that looked like any other places in traditional Japanese houses. Nagisa could feel the thick tension in the air that he could not even dare cut with a knife, although it seemed like the three out of five didn't mind it at all. Especially Tsuna who reached out for a biscuit.
"Lady Shouyo, you disfigured the biscuits again." Tsuna said suddenly, making Nagisa and Kozato flinch.
"I did? What did I do now?" The old lady humored, feigning innocence.
"Why does this biscuit have a kanji of 'Tsu'?" The brunet questioned, turning the biscuit for them to see the usual dots forming the said kanji. "Am I gonna expect to spell out my name with these biscuits?"
"What?" Lady Shouyo laughed. "No way. Of course not, Sawada-kun. You're just reading too much."
Nagisa sweatdropped, but seeing how Tsuna smiled a little, he couldn't help feeling lighter.
"Can I spell my name here as well?" Nagisa's hackles rose when the man butted in. "I can see some of my letters."
"If you can." Lady Shouyo indulges.
"You're playing favorites, Lady Shouyo." Tsuna pointed out.
"I am not." The old woman denies again, grinning. "Should I ask Nanami-chan to message Dosei that you've arrived safely?"
Nagisa eyed the tea cup Tsuna handed to him. "Not yet. He'll kill me if he gets a hold that I have a dangerous ancient criminal in front of me and sipping tea with him. Don't even start with me with how painful Miwa-san's disappointed stare."
He couldn't help staring at the brunet who ranted on and on about his three managers. It's like it's Nagisa's first time to see the brunet so loose. So, at ease as he talked more. It's a subtle change that he couldn't help pointing out, cause it was new—something he intimately knew. The Tsuna they wanted to see has arrived. The one who could laugh freely and talk more about his opinion and thoughts.
"Can we end this charade here?" They all turned to the man who put his cup down on the table. His deep purple eyes stared down at Tsuna, trying to intimidate the latter who didn't seem to be so. "Answer my question, child. How did you know I was possessing Katou Julie?"
"You teleported from the floor you pushed Kozato from, to the ground right when I was talking to him." Tsuna replied in a relaxed manner, taking another biscuit from the plate. "I'm a past hacker as well. I know you by words. Even the Simoun registry. I know what a Dessert can do in his domain, and what can he do when he's out of it."
(Sawada facts no. Forty-eight: He's a hacker.)
"That doesn't give me a full answer." The man hissed.
"The Ancient One has given me a riddle to solve, Spade-san." Tsuna sighed as he brought down his cup. Nagisa took in the fluid movement of leaning back, legs crossing with his hands clasped by the knees. The brunet looked straight at the man. "As the white of the sea and the clover of the rainbow ease the pearl of the clam, the elements of the lion will slowly settle in. However, the lion's suns will need his blessing as their sands get washed. The Earths are nearing as well... Do you know what those words mean?"
Nagisa sat straighter when purple eyes turned to him before they went to Kozato then to Tsuna again. "You left some things out."
"Would you like to have a deal with me then?"
"Tsuna." Nagisa called, worried.
"A trade for a trade. I'll give you half of the riddle and you leave the Simoun's alone." Tsuna continued, reaching out to the teal-head's hand to pat it.
"That's not a balanced trade." The man argued. "I am living off in Katou Julie's body. If I leave this body, I will drift off as a wondering soul."
Nagisa gulped as his mind registered that the man in front of him was not just a person, but a ghost possessing a living body. Someone who has been roaming around for years and tried to kill the redhead beside him who was still sporting some wounds that Tsuna helped patched up with his own expertise of first aids.
"You could always possess inanimate objects." Lady Shouyo suggested. "My granddaughter can make a doll that looks like you."
"You are suggesting that I possess a doll." The man drawled.
"Yes." Lady Shouyo confirmed, undeterred with the man's tone. "It is the most plausible answer to your dilemma."
"I agree with Lady Shouyo." Tsuna seconded. "Instead of possessing another body or even an animal, why not a doll instead? It's more of a convenience for you since I can carry you around and if you do talk, we can say that it's pre-programed on you or a built-in device that can record voices. If you do want to disappear, you could just vanish your body. It will be lighter as well."
Those purple eyes narrowed a little, suspicious. "I can see you two laughing."
"Hm?" Lady Shouyo hummed. "I'm more of worried how to tell the body you are possessing what happened for the past times you've been possessing him."
"He'll be fine." Spade answered, hand waving off. "He can see what I do. I act accordingly to what he usually does."
"So do we have a deal?" Tsuna questioned, pulling out a phone. "Varia is arriving here in Tokyo any minute now, and they expect me to be fine. It's a good thing since I want them to assist the Simoun once they go back to Namimori. Of course, if you do agree to our deal, I will be the one responsible for you until you get bored of me."
"Entertain me well, then." The man smirked. "If you don't, I'll possess your body and kill every person I met that belongs in your circle."
Tsuna smirked back. "If they don't kill me first with you inside me."
Almost like a banter, but it felt so wrong.
After that discussion, Nagisa found himself relaxing beside Kozato. Tsuna went out with Lady Shouyo and the man, with phone in hand. Since this was a new discovery as well, he pulled out his notebook and turned it around to list off another numbers of facts about Tsuna that he has been gathering since the brunet taught them English. Nagisa couldn't help smiling at how Tsuna's facts filled up most of the notebook's spaces than Koro-sensei's weaknesses. The yellow teacher would surely sulk if he discovered this.
(* Sawada Facts no. Forty-nine: Suits look good on him.
* Sawada Fact no. Fifty: He can negotiate. (And get most of the benefits on his side. No wonder he can convince Koro-sensei and Karma.))
But honestly, Nagisa didn't expect such changes on the brunet in just three weeks. Although Class E did change a little in terms of attitude after the painful but life changing encounter with old man Matsuka, it was still not enough to change a person fully. What Nagisa just witnessed awhile ago was a 'Tsuna' he never saw. It's like those times he watched the brunet move when Karma jumped to bait Koro-sensei, back in Kyoto, in Okinawa, and back when he was baking and cooking. It's like Tsuna was leaps and miles away from being caught.
He turned to Kozato who still looked shaken. Reaching out, he fixed the suit jacket Tsuna draped on the redhead's shoulders. Compass gold eyes gazed at him in astonishment. He gave a meek smile and patted the other's shoulder, a friendly gesture he learned from Sugino, Isogai, and Maehara. If Tsuna said they needed to keep him safe, Nagisa would try to do so.
He couldn't help sighing though. He wanted more elaboration on what was happening.
"Nagisa? You okay?"
He looked up to see the brunet coming in, with scary looking men behind him.
"Ah. You have never met them, right? This is the Varia, the elite assassination squad of Vongola. They're the ones Karma and I have been talking about." Tsuna said, gesturing at the people who started to trickle in.
Nagisa stood up and bowed in greeting. "Nice to make your acquaintances."
"You're Tsunayoshi's friend?" Nagisa stared back to those scrutinizing crimson eyes. The man with scars smirked; amused. "Good. You have spine."
"This is Xanxus, Nagisa." Tsuna introduced; motioning him to sit, which he did. "He's my uncle."
"O-Oh." He uttered, staring at the scary man who sat at the couch in front of them. Then he remembered all the things the man had done for Tsuna. "Thank you."
Xanxus rose a brow at him. Blue eyes' momentary glance to the brunet's way, who was gently introducing a flamboyant assassin to Kozato, gave the older one a hint. He scoffed. "It's family."
"Oi, Squirt." Nagisa sweatdropped at the nickname the man with long silver hair called him. "You're Lovro's student, right?"
"Eh? You know Lovro-san?" He gawked.
"He almost died after getting attacked by that imposter." The tallest man in the group informed him. "Along with other hitmen associated with your mission to kill the Octopus were targeted as well. It is still on-going."
Nagisa felt like his brain short circuited.
"Is he on the move again?" He turned to Tsuna who sat beside him. "He's being a pain in the ass."
"It won't be long for him to target you." A small person perched on a blond's arms said. "You can just give us the order and we can dispose him for you, Tsunayoshi."
"I could." Tsuna nodded. "But then again, vengeance is never sweet without a good doze of humiliation, right? If your hitman gets a hold of this fact, I think he'll do the same thing. After all, his friend's reputation was soiled by a fake."
"Your vindictiveness never fails to amuse me, Baby boss." The blond said then snickered an 'ushishi'.
"Fine." The small person said. Nagisa felt eyes on him. "So, this is your main storm."
"Mammon." Tsuna admonished.
"You can't expect them to be civilians forever, child." The small person, Mammon, said. "The moment they met a hitman is the same time they entered our world as you officially did. Might as well identify your elements, Tsunayoshi. It will help you in a long run."
The brunet only sighed and glanced at him. "Tomorrow is the exam, right?"
Nagisa snapped out of his reverie, from all the questions relating to what has been said in front of him, and turned to Tsuna. He nodded at the question. "Y-Yeah."
"Since we are waiting for Lussuria to finish checking on Kozato, do you want me to teach you?"
He found himself nodding. "Yes."
Tsuna smiled.
They spent some hours going through the two weeks' worth of lessons he could have learned from Koro-sensei if the accident didn't happen. Having a one-on-one study session with Tsuna—in his three-piece suit without the jacket—was the most intimidating moment he experienced though. The brunet was precise. He explained things in the most understanding way Nagisa could comprehend. It's like Tsuna knew just what to say for him to understand the lesson. Okuda must have felt the same too. It's like he was expected to do good after understanding the lessons taught to him. Nagisa could now relate a lot.
The Varia chimed in every once in a while. Mostly Belphegor, the blond guy who was holding Mammon in his arms. Tsuna introduced him as a prince of a country and specialized in short knives. He's some kind of a genius too, taking a glance on the book and started to add things on Tsuna's explanation. Nagisa wondered if Karma could beat the blond in terms of examination points.
Mammon was some kind of an information broker. Tsuna stated that if he knew a lot, Mammon knows everything. But her information came with a price though. The more specific and important the information was, the higher the number to pay. Only few knew that she's a girl; outside that circle, she's referred as 'they' so her gender was not determined. Nagisa kinda considered it as a good undercover trick to confuse pursuers and such.
The one who called him 'Squirt' was Squalo. He's the one who went head-to-head with Karma using his left sword hand. The teal-head gaped in awe as Tsuna told him how the man defeated a lot of swordsmen and become the Sword Emperor himself. Although his loudness was his strength, Nagisa knew the man was as scary as the waters when he went silent. Tsuna even described him as a shark with how vicious he was.
The one who informed him about Lovro, the tallest in the group, was called Levi. Full name: Levi A Than. Tsuna said the man was very loyal to Xanxus. Never say he's not fit as the lightning guardian, or they'd face a livid monster who would pull out his umbrellas that strike lightning charges.
"You can ask away, you know." Tsuna permitted while putting last touches on Nagisa's notes. "I also want to explain things to you, but I don't know where to start."
Nagisa contemplated. "Won't that make me fully enter the 'world' Mammon-san mentioned?"
"You will. But at least you are aware what to get involved to and not to."
"What really happened with Kozato-san?" He glanced at Kozato who was being pestered by Belphegor while being checked by Lussuria, the doctor of the group. "Who is Spade-san?"
Xanxus, who was watching them, eyed Tsuna too.
Tsuna explained everything to them.
Simoun family was the sister organization of Vongola family. Both were known as vigilante groups four hundred years ago, and not mafia families. The first bosses of both families were best of friends, even their own 'elements' were friends with each other. But after Spade's wife died in the hands of enemies, the man accused that the Vongola was weak so he tried to get rid of the Simoun. Primo (it means 'first' in Italian), the Vongola's first boss, staged a fake massacre with his 'guardians' (another term similar to 'elements' and family members but blood), saying it as the Simoun's death in order to deceive Spade and put the family to safety. Since then, until Primo's death, the two bosses had been exchanging letters.
Spade, on the other hand, put Primo's cousin Secondo on the boss' position after betraying his own friends to make Vongola 'strong'. He poisoned the thought of Secondo and started the bloody reign of Vongola in the underworld as a mafia family. It went until the recent days. Simultaneously, Spade used his 'inhuman' vengeful state to become a ghost and possess people to keep track of Vongola's reign. At some point, he was able to discover the ploy of his dead friends regarding the 'massacre' and went to search for Simoun family. He did discover the Simoun island and infiltrated.
As what Tsuna has stated when they were able to get in the bookstore, Spade tried to use Tsuna's biological father's face to kill the Kozato family, to end Simoun Cozart's—the first boss of Simoun—lineage. He didn't succeed and instead possessed one of the family members (not Katou) because that time—almost nine years ago—was the theorized month Tsuna's biological family left the brunet there in Tokyo. The opportunity didn't come back so Spade was forced to take house in Katou Julie's body to get close to the heir and family. Eventually, he was said to be the Dessert guardian and triumphed.
That afternoon though, Spade tried to kill Kozato after saying painful things and pushed him off the balcony. If Tsuna wasn't there at the right place and time, the redhead could've splatted, intending to die. For a short while, Nagisa realized that the brunet gave Kozato a reason to live. That it wasn't really Katou who was trying to kill him, but a ghost of the past that was full of misplaced vengeance and being taken by Tsuna to entertain.
"I... I cannot tell you about Brovski-san, Nagisa." Tsuna spoke with honesty when he asked about the hitmen involved in their assassination mission getting hunted. "It's sensitive topic. Although I can assure you that they are safe. Brovski-san is safe with Varia's assistance."
"Lussuria tended on him personally." Xanxus said. "We are also catering some of those hitmen who didn't die on the onset attack. Good thing they were able to endure, because out of many, ten are only in critical condition and the rest are alive."
"Then what about this imposter?" Nagisa questioned. "You said he's impersonating the greatest hitman."
"No. He's impersonating the greatest assassin." Tsuna corrected. "Have you heard of mixing up stories, like when you retell a myth of a Tokyo Shrine and an old woman will admonish you because you heard the story wrong? Although they sound same, they aren't but similar alone? The greatest assassin and the greatest hitman are different from each other. They are friends, but they cannot imitate each other."
"Then who are they?"
"All of them are in Japan right now. One is actually near with both of us, interacting with us. The other is being kept somewhere, trying to make a man out of a buffoon." Xanxus laughed at Tsuna's words. "Of course, I'm giving him benefit of doubts, Xanxus. But we can't just trust a snail to become fish so suddenly."
(Sawada Fact no. Fifty-one: He knows where the greatest assassin's and greatest hitman's locations.)
Nagisa thought through the information. "And we're up against... The imposter who is acting like the greatest assassin?"
"Yes. An apprentice who thinks he can replace the original. He is trying to revive a living legend." The brunet affirmed.
"A fool." Xanxus snorted.
"He can be anywhere, and he longs for the head of Koro-sensei. Don't worry. Even if he does get in to you, he won't succeed killing anyone of us." Tsuna assured with an easy smile. "We are taught by great teachers after all."
Nagisa felt his heart flatter, causing him to smile back. "Yeah."
"I haven't officially introduced to you myself." Tsuna started off while staring at those compass gold eyes. "I am Sawada Tsunayoshi, a pleasure to meet you."
"K-Koz-zato E-Enma." The redhead said back, unsure.
Brown eyes cataloged those fidgets, those tense shoulders. He looked around to see if anyone would come inside the receiving area. Nagisa excused himself to browse on the books of the store. The Varia was tasked to check the hotel room Simoun was staying at before they take the whole family to Namimori. Spade is with Lady Shouyo and Ogawara, picking his color for his little doll (and probably trying to make a perfect fluffy replica of himself).
So, in a sense, he could talk to Kozato all the things he wanted to say.
"Can I tell you a secret?" He queried.
"E-Eh?"
Tsuna popped the button of his sleeves before pulling them back. He presented his marred arms, especially the wrists. "Out of my peers, you are the only one I will talk about these early."
Compass gold eyes widened at the sight.
"I got bullied a lot too. I recently got friends. And it has been a while since I did it. Sometimes I itch to cut, but then, I remember that I'm trying to survive and I will worry my teacher, so I don't. They're petty, right? But I did feel what you felt. I was there—is there. But it's fine to feel like you want to die; just don't die so easily. People will mourn for you. Sometimes, your own satisfaction is more important than others' words. And it feels good to know that people will do cry for you when you die, so you have to meet a lot of people, be good to them, have good memories with them then let them enjoy your company so they could carry good opinions about you."
"Y-You think s-so?"
"Yeah." He answered with a nod. "Maybe you should get stronger too. To keep those people you love safe and sound."
"Yeah. I felt helpless when Julie said I'm weak and I can't even protect Rauji." The redhead whispered in disappointment.
"You'll meet a good tutor in Namimori if you go with the Varia." He recommended. "All you need is to ask him to help you protect your family and he'll teach you all the things you need to know. He doesn't like a perfect student, but he likes determined ones. Those who will strive for the sake of others and eventually, for themselves."
"I-I don't know... Don't you think he'll get disappointed?"
He reached out and patted Kozato's head. "You know to yourself what is disappointment, Kozato-san. You know what frustration feels, helplessness, even desperation. But accepting is different from knowing. You accept yet you also want to change it. That will make him want to teach you. The Earth's elements are solid as the Earth itself. You need to get stronger for your elements so they get stronger as well. You get me?"
Gold eyes stared at him as understanding floods them. "Yes. But what about the ghost?"
"He's mine to worry." He assured as he pulled his hand away and started to fix his sleeves. "As long as he is entertained, he'll be fine."
"B-But t-the explanation you told Shiota-san-"
"That's also a point I need to make him see." Tsuna pulled out the pocket watch he took from Spade and opened it to see the inside of the lid where a small picture was pasted. It was the whole first generation Vongola with Elena von Byron. "I have to make him realize that with Simoun, Vongola is undefeated and stronger. It needs allies, not snakes."
"T-That's Elena von Byron?" The redhead gaped. "She's beautiful."
"Love can either protect or destroy, Kozato-san." He stared at the picture. "Spade-san wanted to protect, so he destroyed."
"Adding good intention to wrong doings is equal to bad outcomes."
"Yes." He closed the pocket watch as the door opened. Lady Shouyo came in with a doll in hand and Levi following her. "It's time then?"
"Yes." Lady Shouyo answered as she tossed him the doll that looked painstakingly like Spade Daemon.
He caught the man in the safest way and cradled it. "Careful."
"That old hag." The man scowled.
"Come, Kozato-san." Tsuna beckoned the redhead who stood as he did. "Let's see your family."