Chapter Forty-Two
Karma eyed everyone in the room. It was a futile attempt, just as predicted. Although they did not underestimate the flower shop guy, he was still on different league. Also, they didn't expect that Bitch-sensei's betrayal stung that much even if they were already given a warning by Tsuna.
If he didn't encounter Squalo back then, he would have felt his heart racing in fear and sheer devastation of their situation. He wouldn't be able to look at the flower shop guy in the eyes like he has now. Well, he had looked at Xanxus in the eyes whenever they wanted Tsuna for themselves alone. If the God of Death was scary, then Xanxus was scarier with his crimson eyes. He wondered if that Greatest Hitman Tsuna had told him has far more scarier eyes. The brunet was quite adamant on separating the greatest assassin and greatest hitman from each other.
He pulled his gaze away from his classmates, away from a daze Nagisa (who failed with his clap), and instead looked at the monitors. He knew Tsuna was already aware that they were all captured. The brunet had confessed to him the things he planned. From Ritsu's antivirus that has probably been running since the start of the assault, his plan to remove every CCTV outside and other things. Well, he couldn't help smirking honestly. Trust the two weeks and a half Yakuza Boss to plan a counter attack all by himself. He wondered what would their classmates and teachers think once they figured that Tsuna was affiliated to two of the strongest underworld organization in the world. No wonder he is so talented.
"What are you smirking about?" He hummed as he turned to the flower shop guy. "You look like you've won when you've not."
"Take a look at your monitor, God of Death-san." He chirped. "Looks like you made another mistakes in calculation."
The man turned to his monitors to see Karasuma-sensei with Koro-sensei in a dog suit, sniffing by the entrance of the building. "How did he know?" The man whispered.
"Koro-sensei and Karasuma-sensei!" Some of his classmates exclaimed in relief.
"Wasn't Koro-sensei in Brazil?"
As if knowing that something would happen, Karma leaned back just when Tsuna's face came up on the monitor. The class shouted in surprise. The brunet's caramel eyes were vivid. He even laughed, eyes closing at the gesture, like he knew some of them got surprised with his sudden appearance. He was upside down too. Then he mouthed something that the redhead couldn't read before all of the monitors blacked out. He did look back to Mimura who 'oh'-ed.
"H-How did-"
"No signs of struggles." Karma said, turning to Irina-sensei who looked surprised. "No red marks. He said you could've been caught the night before, however, that doesn't mean you didn't struggle. Regardless of how good your sleep is with sedative or none, you will still move to get comfortable, creating friction and red marks on your wrists, thighs and ankles. The way you were in that picture he sent to Ritsu was too obedient. As if you complied and pretended. There was no blindfold too."
"Sawada-kun has his own set of skills." Kanzaki said. "Although he doesn't seem like it, he's quite a competitive guy. If he sees someone greater than him in some things, he'll work steadily to top him." The girl glanced at Karma who huffed a small laugh. "Isn't that right, Akabane-kun?"
"If he hears you, he'll deny." He jested before nodding at the two. "I know what kind of scary people Karasuma-sensei and Koro-sensei are, but good luck with Tsuna. He's quite a vindictive fellow." His eyes went to Nagisa who is still dazed then to the others. "Especially after hurting us."
Karma watched panic and force calm settle on the blondie teacher while the God of Death imposter looked back to the blank monitors. There were some unnamed emotions that flitted in those abyss eyes.
Heh. The seed had been planted and is currently sprouting. Good.
"Good evening, Koro-sensei, Karasuma-sensei." Tsuna greeted to the two teachers who turned to him.
"Tsuna-kun!" Koro-sensei exclaimed in relief. "Where are the others?"
"They're inside, caged." He answered as he looked at the building. "The God of Death-" He glanced at the yellow teacher. "-took them by using Irina-sensei as a 'hostage'. But it's more of having her as an underling to his plan to kill all of us."
"W-What?!" The two questioned.
"Don't worry. I butchered his plan two steps ahead." He waved off as he pushed the door open. "Let's come in? Ah. And don't be surprised about Irina-sensei. It's a matter of being professional."
The moment they entered the room, Tsuna placed himself beside Karasuma-sensei and made his presence as little as he could, although he could not bother since he has some flames covering it for him. It worked its magic since the two didn't even notice his disappearance, except if they looked away. The two kept on checking on him, assuring themselves that he didn't sleek off.
Honestly, he would have if he didn't do already what he needed to do during that time the class tried to deceive that guy and rescue Irina-sensei. All he has to do now was make everything play out and probably help here and there.
"Tsuna-kun," Ritsu's voice called from his earphone. "I have hacked his phone. What do you want me to do?"
"Just be on standby for now." He whispered. "Good job with the cameras."
"Thank you."
Tsuna staggered a little when the floor shook a little. They all turned to where they felt presences. It was the Imposter dressed in black flow-y thing until to his neck with a gun on his left hand, and Irina-sensei who appeared as if her hands were tied behind her back.
"Irina!" Karasuma shouted as Koro-sensei yelled, "Irina-sensei!"
"You... The flower shop guy from before!" Karasuma-sensei gritted. "You're behind all of this?!"
"Yes. You never asked," The man replied cheekily. "About the name 'God of Death'."
Tsuna shifted a little to Karasuma-sensei's side.
"Are the students somewhere in here as well?" The yellow teacher questioned.
"Yes, they are, Koro-sensei. As long as you die, I won't kill this girl here or the students." That man assured with a smile before pushing the blondie to their direction, causing her to fall. "She and all the students have explosives attached to their necks. I can detonate them at my signal."
It took a second for Koro-sensei to say something. "... That's quite coercive of you. Did you think I'd die quietly from a mere threat with hostages?"
"Hmm... I wonder." The man said.
Tsuna clenched his hands to fists as he watched Koro-sensei get distracted with Irina-sensei's assault from the ground. It was just a nick on one of his tentacles from the gun disguised as a shackle cuff. The homeroom teacher didn't anticipate the floor from opening up to swallow him. Even Karasuma-sensei was surprised.
When Koro-sensei was about to reach out, a pellet was shot at him. It caused the teacher to panic, and got shot at his every attempt until he completely fell. Ritsu reported to him that Koro-sensei fell on the cage where his classmates were. He followed behind Karasuma-sensei when the latter followed Irina-sensei and the flower shop guy.
They came into a room with iron bars caging his classmates and Koro-sensei who fell from the hole. It looked simple enough. There was even a monitor at the side that was blanked out. Probably where the cameras he destroyed were connected. He just loves to destroy the man's cameras.
"Do you like it, Koro-sensei?" The imposter questioned cheerily. "This is the place you'll meet your end."
"Everyone..." The teacher trailed off, looking around. "Where is there...?"
"This is a flood way built by this country to counter flooding. I secretly connected it to my hideout." The man answered for them. "If I give the order from the control room above ground, two hundred tons of water will flow in here every second from the nearby river. That fearful water pressure will steal your freedom, and push you against the sturdy anti-sensei cage, and you'll be cut up into little pieces of jelly."
A beat of silence. Tsuna took silent deep breaths as Karasuma-sensei blew up from that information. "Wait... Do you plan to kill the students too?!"
"Obviously, I can't wait now." The bastard, on the same level as Shiro as Tsuna perceived, answered. "Jamming him in there together with the students was part of my plan too. If he tries to get violent and escape, the weak little children would get involved."
"Irina!" Karasuma-sensei turned to their blondie teacher. "Knowing that, you still-"
"I took actions prioritizing results. Just like you wanted, right?" Irina-sensei remarked, not even looking at the government agent's direction.
"Nurufufu. Indeed, this is that troublesome anti-sensei material, but, my body has overcome this." Koro-sensei grinned.
"... Really?" The man challenged.
Tsuna watched veins become prominent on the teacher's head. "I will show you for the first time... My special bodily instrument!"
Tsuna refrained himself from choosing between laughing and face palming as Koro-sensei went on his knees and started to lick the iron bars created from anti-sensei matters.
"Trust your teacher to be stupid sometimes." Spade sneered as he materialized over the brunet's head. "Well, it cannot be helped. After all, desperate times need desperate measures."
"I created this tongue by coating it with digestive fluids. I can melt this cage like this in just half a day." The teacher elaborated.
"That's too slow!" Class E shouted.
"I'll just say this, but if you keep it up with that licking, I'll set off everyone's collar." The bastard warned.
"Eh, no way!" Koro-sensei gawked.
"Now, should I get a move on? I don't know what other abilities you're hiding." Then he turned around. "Come, Irina. Let's hunt the last student then we'll go occupy the control room and let the water flow in."
They all watched as Karasuma-sensei put a hand on the bastard's shoulder, stopping him from advancing further to the door. It clearly started the flower shop guy.
"What's with this hand?" The bastard questioned. "Is the Japanese Government going to stop my assassination? I admit it's a bit violent but, are you going to tell me to let the greatest chance to save the world slip by? To begin with, Karasuma-sensei, I was planning to defeat you and add you to the hostages. You can't stop me with your skills."
It took a second for them to see a reaction from the agent. There was a sigh, as if he's relenting with the idea, and before they knew it, the teacher hit the bastard on the cheek, surprising all the witnesses in the room.
"I'll convey the Japanese Government's opinion to you." Karasuma-sensei started off while adjusting his necktie. "These twenty-eight lives weigh heavier than the earth. If you still plan to kill them too, I will stop you."
"Karasuma-sensei!" The class exclaimed in relief and happiness.
"Hee." The bastard uttered.
"I'll say this, Irina." The agent stated as he removed his coat. "Being a pro isn't something so carefree. What will you do, 'God of Death'?" He taunted. "This plan to also kill the students by drowning, if you continue with it, I'll defeat you right here."
Tsuna sidestepped when the man rushed out. "I'll take care the situation in here, Karasuma-sensei."
"Thank you, Sawada!" The man shouted as he ran after the coward.
"Be careful on the way!" He shouted back.
"Karasuma-sensei! Switch your transceiver to on!" Koro-sensei added, phone in hand.
The brunet bended a little to get the discarded coat.
"Hmph." Irina-sensei harrumphed as she pulled her collar off. "Trying to defeat him. How reckless. It's true that Karasuma's inhuman too, but he's beyond that. He even caught this octopus no problem."
"So, you know that guy was planning to kill us too?" Maehara questioned.
"Why...?" Okano asked as well. "We thought you were our friend."
"You were scared, right?" Karma taunted. "You, who always said pro this, pro that... You started to forget your hitman's intuition from the la-x school life. So, you want to kill us and make a point. 'I'm a coldhearted hitman'."
Tsuna jumped with a start when the blondie threw her collar to the cage. "You don't know anything about me." She whispered before it became a shout. "It never crosses my mind! That I could live my life in a normal world like this! Having fun with kids that are like my little brothers and sisters, worrying about love... That's not right." Her voice went somber. "That sort of dazzling world isn't my world."
For a second, they all went silent before the blondie moved, as if hearing something from her ear, and taking out a small gun from her breasts with a small affirmation before going out.
"That wasn't nice, Karma." He admonished to his best friend who only grinned.
"It wasn't my fault her mentality is unstable." The redhead shrugged.
"Sawada!" The class shouted for him.
He waved a hand. "Ritsu-san, can you turn on the CCTVs now? The monitors here especially." He took Spade from his head and held him tight. "Ah. Koro-sensei, tell Karasuma-sensei that I was able to dismantle some of the traps that coward set up while scouring around."
"Oh sure." The teacher replied.
"What did you do anyway, Sawada?" Isogai questioned.
"Scoured the building for any relation to anywhere while waiting for Ritsu-san's program to restore from being hacked." He answered as he inspected the cage. "As he said, this tunnel is connected to some flooding way. Of course, I rattled some people there and made some of them go before inserting Ritsu-san's program to their computers to get it hacked easily. Even if he does think that he can kill you by drowning, he can't until I give the signal."
"It's like you became his boss or something!" Fuwa gushed.
He gave a small smile at that. "Then I dismantled some traps I found on the way in and then out to kill some cameras outside. Pretty ingenious, if I was stupid. As I did those, Ritsu-san worked on hacking all the systems available within the vicinity even his phone."
"Except for the two cameras in there, Tsuna-kun." The AI stated. "It seems like they aren't connected to the same line as the others."
"It's fine." He assured. "Not like our classmates don't have a solution."
"I've been thinking about it since you said it on the camera." Mimura assured.
"What did he say anyway?" Taisei queried.
"We're on production." Mimura answered as he beamed.
"Ah!" The class exclaimed in understanding.
"So, what are you planning now, oh great Tsuna?" Karma turned to him.
"I think this cage operates on computer." He answered before eyeing them. "It will probably take a while for Ritsu to overdrive it, but knowing you, you could already find a way to remove those collars on you."
The class grinned as if they're on the kill.
They focused a little on Karasuma-sensei's quest. As what Tsuna said, there were harmless traps (as harmless as like those scary dogs) that were left on the way for the teacher to dismantle. At that point though, Class E has determined how awesome and scary their P.E. teacher was. To counter every trap on the way as if they were nothing on him was another whole level. If their homeroom was another kind of monster, what more when it's Karasuma-sensei?
Brown eyes analyzed how the teacher moved as well. From that door with the explosive which he used free-running to receive minimal damage, then those fast reflexes that caught every single thing on his way. The brunet could almost see Kyouya of his counterpart leaning forward in interest, impatient to have the agent in a battle. Surely, Reborn would be impressed as well. That hitman used to be much more agile and quickly decisive in his old body. His counterpart's Reborn joined his student in exercising after gaining his original body, just so he could have a feel with his physique again. It was cool, except for the teasing though.
At some point, they all saw the coward confront Karasuma-sensei as Irina-sensei arrived. The coward bombed the high wall of the place they were in to trap their teachers. They did get trapped, almost killing them if Karasuma-sensei wasn't superhuman in some sense. Irina-sensei was trapped as well. They saw half of her body being trapped underneath a rubble. If it weren't for Kurahashi's and Yada's words for him to help her and motivate him to see past the professionalism of things and Isogai's assurance, he wouldn't move.
"Tsuna-kun, I still need more or less five minutes to hack the cage." Ritsu reported.
"Take your time." He said, still sitting in front of the cage, eyes going for the class then the monitors to check in both teachers. "We can wait."
"Are you going to stay there, Sawada?" Okajima questioned to him as they removed every collar. Good thing Irina-sensei showed them how to remove it, and they have Itona to analyze it properly. "You'll be seen."
He freely smiled. "Won't that anger him more?"
"Sawada is really vindictive sometimes." Nakamura pointed out as their cuffs got removed too.
"I just like to make them angry." He leaned back to his hands he planted behind him as he watched Sousuke color the back of others with the wall's color. "It makes them lose their composures. It will really add up to his panic too once he sees me here and you are all gone." He dramatically waved his hand in a slow motion in front of him with the others watching. "Magic."
"Have I ever done you wrong, Sawada?" Okajima queried cautiously.
"Oh none." He observed the other sigh in relief. "Yet, though."
The class laughed when their classmate gaped at him. He only raised a peace sign that made them double over.
"Anyway, go on. It will be minutes for you to assemble yourself and stand still." He waved off.
"Oh yeah." Mimura snapped up, and started to arrange them.
"Tsuna-kun, he's about to reach the control room." Ritsu informed to them.
"It's fine." He assured as the class started to assemble themselves, selecting those who could be the foundation so they could carry two people on their shoulders. "He'll be the one to stall his own time. Just tell me if he started to slaughter them."
"What about these collars?" Taisei queried aloud.
"Let's hide them." Fuwa suggested as she took her jacket off. "It will make him angrier and think we were really able to escape. Sawada-kun will be the final blow."
"I'm still convinced that detectives can be one of the scariest criminals in the world if they were given time to create their own kind of crime." Tsuna praised to Fuwa who laughed like a maniac while arranging the collars under her coat that Takuya sprayed with paint as well.
"Thank you for your wonderful praise, Sawada-kun." The girl winked before she ran for the others to get arranged as well.
"Tsuna-kun, he is slaughtering him."
"Okay." He nodded as he stood up. "Koro-sensei, where will you be?"
"Eh? Eh?!" The teacher panicked. "Mimura-kun!"
"You should fill in our gaps, Sensei!" Someone frim them who is already blending suggested. "I bet our shoes will be seen if you don't cover them!"
The brunet chuckled as he turned to the monitor for the teacher to have time undressing. "Go on, Koro-sensei. I won't look."
It didn't take seconds for Koro-sensei to blend in as well. Tsuna hummed lowly under his breath as he waited. He looked up to the camera when Ritsu told him that the coward was done. Although it was not appropriate to call the bastard a coward since traps and hostage taking were quite normal in assassination (given the fact that his counterpart experience most of them during his reign and having Reborn as a tutor), it didn't change the fact that he was still going to kill the students of Class E. In a sense, that's a low blow.
"Mic on, Ritsu-san." He said.
"On." The AI answered.
"Too late, Bastard." He stated. "They all escaped even before I came here." He didn't look back to see the collars exploding. "Awtsu. Poor guy. Back to zero again." He smirked. "Come and find us if you can."
"He ran out, Tsuna-kun." Ritsu informed. "You did anger him rather nicely."
Brown eyes watched the monitors for the man. "Guys, don't move yet. He has his phone with him still."
"Sawada," An authoritative voice called out from his earpiece.
He straightened up. "Yes, Sensei."
"Where is he?"
"Coming back to your area. Can you do something to his phone? Ritsu-san is about to get the final defenses of the cage." He suggested.
"Alright."
"Ah." He uttered as he tried to pat the agent's coat. "Sensei, you don't have any spare guns somewhere here, do you?"
"Huh?!" The class blurted in unison.
He sighed. "I'm not gonna kill him. Karasuma-sensei is enough to do the deed."
"At least you have some kind of faith on me, Sawada."
"Sensei, even if I don't, you'll still do it. That guy can die all he needs. I won't care." Tsuna patted himself. "I should've taken at least one of Ota-san's for times like this- Ah." Then he turned to the monitor. "In five, Sensei."
"Roger."
From Ritsu's take, Tsuna could see Irina-sensei entertaining the bastard before Karasuma took him out. Just when the cage got lifted, the brunet immediately turned for where the two fell and watched them exchange blows, while hearing the others speculate with Koro-sensei. From their spot, Tsuna could see the skull of the bastard, face ripped. Probably for better disguise.
It's quite magnificent to watch such thing though. For someone who was yet to acquire that set of skill for himself, Tsuna took in what he could learn. All the possible things he could get from Karasuma-sensei, and begrudgingly, from the bastard. They were skillful, and they knew more because of their experiences and age. Those were the reason why they could keep up with each other.
The brunet admits that he had some skills. The speed despite his small stature, the unexpected strength for an underweight like him, and the intelligence he has regarding everything aided with his intuition. However, he still needed to learn. There was so much to learn.
"I'll tell you the truth, Karasuma-sensei." The bastard said amidst their fight. "Honestly, I was raised in an extremely wealthy household without a single want. It was a complete lie that I grew up in a tragic environment. I just added some flare to an acquaintances story and made it my own. I used my talking skill to win over that girl." Then he laughed.
"You-"
"But my Dad was killed by a hitman." He confessed yet again. "Because he was in a business that brought on all sorts of grudges. He was even tyrannical at home, and I wasn't particularly sad when he died. Instead..." His voice held a tone of admiration as he continued on. "The movements of the hitman that instantly killed my Dad right before my eyes, made me think, 'Wow, what a beautiful skill'."
Tsuna shifted when the assassin threw his knife away after a failed attempt on Karasuma-sensei.
"Watching the beautiful catch of a pro baseball player right before you, even with just that, there's enough impact to change the course of a young boy's life. In my case, that change led to assassination. I decided to become a hitman on the spot. Killing methods, knowledge, interpersonal skills; assassination is the amalgamation of a number of beautiful skills. If I kill people, I obtain skills, and the reputation I received as the 'God of Death' from killing people, has brought about more jobs and skills."
Right as he reached out for something from his clothe, Tsuna aimed his gun as well. He could feel his classmates' stares. The brunet pulled the trigger three times after the man threw that 'thing' he took. It didn't need a genius to say that he hit the other straight on his arm and hand.
"Magnificent aim, Tsuna-kun." Koro-sensei praised.
"If I can shoot you, what more when against a normal person?" He grinned back.