Chapter Forty-Three
"You did a good job." Tsuna praised to Itona after they got out of the flood way.
"I won't give up if I didn't trust that Octopus." Itona huffed.
The brunet couldn't help his lips from quirking as he put a hand on the other's head. "I'm glad you're safe."
"Shut up." The teen huffed, blushing a little.
Tsuna dropped his hand from Itona's head and watched the agents of Japanese Government carry the body of the imposter. Yeah. Karasuma-sensei was able to defeat him after Tsuna hit the latter's hand and arm before he could even fire that mini-gun he has at the index finger.
"He was a man of outstanding skills. But he overestimated those skill much too much." Karasuma-sensei said. The brunet handed the man's suit jacket to him to cover himself. "Thank you, Sawada-kun." Then he turned to the unconscious man again. "As a person, there was a part of him that was immature. And so, he had an opening."
"In a sense, he might be the same as Bitch-sensei." Yada pointed out.
"Yeah." Kurahashi agreed.
"But still, why?" Taisei questioned, cringing. "I don't understand how you should want skills so badly that you'd destroy your own face."
"Apparently, it's due to an experience from childhood." Karasuma-sensei explained. "After witnessing a hitman's high leveled skills, it seems his consciousness completely changed."
Tsuna eyed Nagisa who has been quiet since then. It's predicted that his clap wouldn't work on that imposter. Regardless of him being an imposter, he was still an apprentice of the greatest assassin.
"The one who influenced him was foolish." Koro-sensei stated. "With this much talent... Originally, he should have used his skills in a more proper way."
"Whether you give life or you kill..." Karasuma-sensei contemplated, a hand under his chin. "I guess it depends on the world and people around you."
"Exactly." Koro-sensei agrees, patting Nagisa's head.
"I disagree." They all turned to Tsuna who was also looking at the 'God of Death'. "Both of them were wrong. Yes. Maybe his teacher taught him of all things. Of those needed skills. But it's the student's choice where he'll use those skills. If he tried to see past that hunger to gain skills by killing people, he could be a better man. Besides, it wasn't only the teacher who nurtured him. If his prior environment gave him a better education, he won't admire that assassination skill. He won't go to the path of assassination." Brown eyes turned to those inky black eyes. "Don't you think so, Koro-sensei?"
The teacher stared at him, surprised of his opinion.
"I think Sawada has a point." Hara seconded. "We experienced this too. Like what happened three weeks ago. If we didn't see what kind of life Matsuda-san had, we won't see our mistakes. This guy researches about his targets first before he assassinates them, so he could've seen something in their profiles that could've made him realize that he shouldn't kill his target because he is doing something good. That he should have standards on what target to finish off, what kind of crimes they did to pass off as targets."
"They could have morals, standards and principles if they wanted." Chiba dittoed.
Koro-sensei and Karasuma-sensei were unable to say anything when they heard something from behind. All of them turned around to see Irina-sensei freezing at their eyes. Then she moved slowly, further away. And it prompted the class to chase her.
"Ah! Forget it- Do whatever you want!" The blondie yelled, not even trying to struggle against Takuya's and Taisei's holds on her arms. "It's only natural that I'm punished since I betrayed you! The boys and and their concentration of daily animal lust! The girls and their daily jealousy of my beauty! Go ahead and release all your gender-based rage on me as much as you want!"
"Her imagination's running wild, isn't it?" Kimura said aloud.
"Hearing that actually makes me wanna do it." Nakamura sighed regrettably.
"Forget it and just come back to school like normal. Don't go disappearing for days on end." Ryouma dismissed.
"I wanna hear the rest of that story, where you tricked the Arabian royalty and you stopped right before the war." Yada remarked.
"If you don't come back, I'm not returning that French edition of Hanadan that I borrowed." Kataoka threatened lightly.
The blondie stared at them in surprise before she went somber. "I was right before the point of killing, all of you."
The class beamed at her as Sugino gave a wincing, "Yeah."
"I've done a lot of things in my past. Things that would make you draw back." Irina-sensei warned.
"Is that a problem?" Takebayashi queried rhetorically. "Betraying people, and doing dangerous things, isn't that precisely what a bitch is?"
Taisei and Takuya pulled the lady to her feet.
"If we can't even enjoy our school life with some bitch, what's the point of us being hitmen and middle school students at the same time?" Nakamura said as the class nodded in agreement.
"That's right." They all looked at Karasuma-sensei who walked towards Irina-sensei with a rose in hand. He presented it to her with this kind of determination. "That flower isn't something I borrowed from the students. Through my own will, I obtained it after defeating the enemy. For your birthday, will that do?"
The blondie teacher flushed with a merry smile on her lips. "Yes."
Tsuna chuckled as the class silently cheered (except for Kurahashi who lamented the fact that she called dibs on Karasuma-sensei at the first sight).
"Heh. Not as smooth as I did it, but fair enough." Spade complemented (unheard) while resting on the brunet's arms.
"However, Karasuma-sensei. I would like to say one thing before this develops into something lascivious." Koro-sensei spoke with a snicker.
"That would never happen, but go ahead." Their P.E. teacher permitted with an equal deadpan.
Tsuna closed his eyes as he accepted the pat on the head from one of the fingerpads. Always so soft.
"Hereafter, by no means do I wish for the students to being involved in such dangerous a situation. A safe environment to kill and be killed, I strongly request that you creat one."
"I know." Karasuma-sensei agrees. "I've thought of a way."
After a small check up on their conditions, they were escorted home. Tsuna was with Nagisa, Karma and Itona. They parted by the intersection; Karma on the left, Nagisa was straight ahead while both were to go to the right. They were nearing the apartment building when he felt his phone vibrate. He pulled it out to check and he blinked at the unknown number.
Just then, his intuition pinned him down, asking him to stay on his place. He waved Itona to wait as he answered the call. He pressed the phone to his ear and kept it there, not talking.
"Brat." A familiar gruff voice.
"Xanxus." He sighed in relief. "What's up? My intuition is keeping me from entering my apartment building. And you're using a different number."
"Someone discovered your location." He froze at that. "I think Iemitsu dispatched some of his men to check it out. He's also monitoring my other line. Mammon is taking her time to remove it completely with Bel."
He waved at Itona to follow him, going back to the road they've taken awhile ago. "Itona, can you call Karma? Tell him that we need a place to crash in."
"I don't have his number." His housemate answered. The brunet fished his other phone from his pocket, unlocked it and went for the contact then opened the one named 'Demon'.
"Spade-san, can you cover us? Xanxus? Status?" He inquired to his uncle after his instructions. He didn't need to look at the doll in his arm to check since he felt the flames wrapping on them.
"They don't know you're alive. It's fifty-fifty. They want to make sure we really did the job."
"Damn it." He cursed under his breath before he sighed. "It's fine though. I transferred rooms right after you caught up to me here. They'll think the place was never used again for months with how dusty it is. I even left some molding things there to make it believable."
A laugh. "You're a fucking genius, you know that?"
"Not to that level. Just... Survival. I'll chat you up if we arrive at Karma's safely."
"He said he'll meet us by the intersection." Itona told him, slipping Tsuna's other phone to the latter's pocket.
"Sure. I'll tell Reborn that he just saved you."
"E-Ek?!" He choked and went on fit of coughs. Itona instantly patted his back until he felt okay. "H-He was the one who told you about this?"
"Yeah. You know that guy. He's always suspicious of things. I won't be surprised that he knows you're alive because I didn't want to kill you and we are in contact, so he gave me a nonchalant information."
"And the only reason he's not hunting me is because?"
"Hitman instinct."
He took Itona's hand and advanced forward. He didn't see Itona's eyes glued on their joined hands. "Trust him to think of the welfare of the thing he's interest about. Tell him I said thanks."
"Alright."
"And," He pursed his lips in contemplation.
"And?"
"And in exchange for his little 'kindness', tell him I have a way for the rainbow's condition. If he wants to know more, please do contact me. I'll set the conditions."
"Is this related to the kids' silent adventures?"
Are Byakuran and Yuni still at it? "Yes."
"This better be something I know I can take part of."
Tsuna chuckled. "Always, Xanxus. Always."
He held his phone after the Wrath cut the line. They were by the intersection when Karma appeared, the upper part of his P.E. uniform was shed, leaving a white shirt, the P.E. uniform's lower and a pair of rubbershoes. Karma looked relaxed when he greeted them. If it wasn't for those coiled shoulders, they could've been convinced.
(Karma raised a brow at Itona, while glancing at their joined hands. The teen shrugged and returned the hold. Jealous, the redhead took the brunet's free hand in a guise of leading him to the right direction.)
(Itona rolled his eyes at his classmate's antic.)
As they went for the redhead's house, Tsuna gave them a briefing of what happened. Karma was awed, frankly. The redhead admitted that he knew a lot of devilish things, even come up with the stupidest things to scare people, but he's not the survival type. The switching rooms, that thought of making Vongola believe that he really died—which he succeeded, asking Itona to say he doesn't know a person named 'Sawada Tsunayoshi' like how he convinced the other neighbors who call him 'Chairo', and the fact that he could just think of doing it again but in more careful way while living his normal life were—of what Xanxus had worded in lack of better terms—genius. The redhead grilled him of what he would have done after this event, which he answered equally.
Itona was quiet. Probably thankful that they switched rooms before. His things could've been jeopardized. But Tsuna felt the teen squeeze his hand in comfort every time he mentioned being dead.
When they arrived at the redhead's house, Tsuna stared at the mansion in front of them. He then turned to his outfit that looked dirty with those little brown patches on them. He winced a little as they entered the gate, not even doing the doorbell.
The place was quite well off. Two-story with yards on both sides of the pathway. Heck, the brunet wouldn't even wonder if the road they were walking on could fit two cars. Karma took out a set of keys from his pocket as they ascended the small stairs for the porch. He keyed the doorknob and turned it to open the door. A middle-aged man and a lady in a maid outfit greeted them as Karma toed his shoes off while Tsuna and Itona went down to unknot their combat shoes. The brunet apologized for intruding, which Karma waved off.
"Jack, Anne, these are Itona and Tsuna." Karma introduced to the two. "They'll be staying here for..."
"Three days." Tsuna supplied softly.
"Yup. I wanna share rooms with Tsuna. What about you, Itona?" Karma questioned to Itona who looked up to Tsuna.
The brunet felt his hand getting squeezed softly before Itona replied, "I want to stay with Tsuna."
"Alright." Jack nodded. "We will ready the futons inside your room, Karma-sama."
"Okay. We're going for the kitchen." Karma bid as he took Tsuna's free hand.
The brunet glanced back as they walked for the kitchen. The two snappily went to work, turning to the opposite side of the house. "They seem busy."
"A little. We have this hunch that my parents might pop up anytime this week."
"Oh?"
"Don't worry." The redhead assured as if knowing what the brunet was thinking. "You didn't come at the wrong time. I think this is a good timing to introduce you to them."
"Are you sure?" He queried. "You don't mean to introduce me as your lover or something, right?" Tsuna quirked a smile when Itona laughed while Karma chuckled with a small blush. "Alright. I won't wish they'll like me. We aren't that compatible."
"What do you mean we aren't compatible?" Karma demanded as he pushed open a door. "As you've known, we are the most unbeatable couple they'll see."
Tsuna waved a hand to Koro-sensei who waved back before turning back to what he was cooking. "Not you and Nagisa? You seem like the best couple to see."
"We're talking about the two of us, not other people." Karma stated firmly.
The brunet blinked and felt his cheeks warm up a little. "That is a good way to make a lady blush."
"He got you." Itona cheekily pointed out as he sat on one of the stools. It made Karma try to angle Tsuna to him which the latter tried to evade.
"I'll have you to know, Itona, that Tsuna has the catchiest pick-up lines." Karma swore as he pulled the aforementioned brunet to the stool between the redhead and Itona. "He'll relate everything to what I do to something cheesy. Like, 'Oh. You should eat candy again, so we can do it together', or 'I like how you read mathematical equations. It reminds me of how much of a genius you are'. If I was a girl, I could've blushed."
"Well, it is a standard for an assassin to learn how to flirt in both genders. If you can make a man blush, then you are guaranteed to master the art since you can also make a woman smile with that." Koro-sensei informed as he put their dishes on the island. "It is good that you two are practicing this kind of technique."
"Karma started it." Tsuna pointed out.
"And this is my first being able to make him blush." Karma retorted before they chorused 'Itadakimasu'.
The brunet took that time put some of egg rolls on the redhead's bowl. "There. Keep healthy. I don't want you to get sick."
"See!" Karma almost whined before putting his arms around Tsuna's shoulders and squeezed him into a light hug. "I could just suffocate you to death."
"Don't worry." Itona remarked after swallowing. "He does the same thing to me."
Karma's jaw slacked, and he stared at Tsuna in horror. "Are you two timing me, Tsunayoshi?"
"Hm? I wouldn't if you're my lover." He grinned, earning a pinch on the cheek. "Aw."
The other three laughed more.
After eating dinner, Karma invited them to bath while Koro-sensei flew off somewhere. Tsuna made Itona bath first before he did. He was already sitting on their designated futon when Karma came in. They talked a little about things and joked a lot. It didn't really take long for Karma and Itona to fall asleep. Tsuna, on the other hand, cannot.
Getting out of his bed, he walked out of the room with his phones at hand. Just in time for a maid to show up, Tsuna asked for the balcony and got directed there. He looked around to appreciate the good view before reading the time. It was eleven in the evening. He sat by the chair there and clicked open his touchscreen. His eyes caught a notification from Xanxus in Messenger, so he opened it. Only to get a lot of messages.
King (Xanxus): Oi. I'm waiting.
King (Xanxus): Squalo is gearing up. The shit wants to go there and check if you're okay.
King (Xanxus): Bel is asking about Itona.
King (Xanxus): Is that kid with you?
King (Xanxus): The brats contacted me.
King (Xanxus): That Giglio Nero girl said they got the mummies for you, knowing you'll be busy.
King (Xanxus): That administrator guy can go there alone, they said.
King (Xanxus): All we need is Jii-san, right?
King (Xanxus): They said we need some kind of design that you only know to lure him out.
King (Xanxus): Is that some kind of a trap?
King (Xanxus): I talked to Reborn.
He cringed at the last message before typing some reply.
Baby King (Tsuna): Sorry, late reply. We did some mission awhile ago.
Baby King (Tsuna): I told you the imposter moved three days ago. He attacked this day, saying he took our language teacher as hostage.
Baby King (Tsuna): We were in a pinch but Karasuma-sensei and Koro-sensei saved us. That imposter got defeated by Karasuma-sensei.
Baby King (Tsuna): Itona is with me. He's sleeping right now with Karma.
Baby King (Tsuna): I'll give you the blueprint when you get here. I'll make it tomorrow or the other day.
Baby King (Tsuna): Just not tonight.
Baby King (Tsuna): You talked to Reborn? Ok.
Tsuna perked up when the other replied.
King (Xanxus): He wants to know what do you mean about the cure.
Tsuna's brows furrowed. For some reason, the tone of the message was different. The way it was constructed is too straightforward. He analyzed the sentence thoroughly. The pronoun used. The words used...
Then his intuition cackled as it clicked. Of course. Very clever of his Sensei's counterpart.
Baby King (Tsuna): I'll tell if he agrees with my conditions.
King (Xanxus): He will agree once you state the cure.
Baby King (Tsuna): Then no information at all.
Tsuna grinned mischievously when it took seconds for the other side to reply.
King (Xanxus): He's threatening to spill to Iemitsu that you're alive.
Baby King (Tsuna): I dare him.
He cackled literally when the next message was sent immediately.
King (Xanxus): Fine.
Baby King (Tsuna): So, I'll enumerate my conditions. Is it fine, Reborn-san?
A second.
King (Xanxus): Yes.
Baby King (Tsuna): One, don't attack Checkerface nor run away from the Vindice once they arrive.
Baby King (Tsuna): Two, do not ask things to those people who know me. We'll meet in the future, either way.
King (Xanxus): Information is everything, child.
Baby King (Tsuna): But aren't you a fan of surprises?
Baby King (Tsuna): Three, restrain your Vongola student and his family once I get there. We don't want a blood bath, do we?
Baby King (Tsuna): Lastly, four, ask Verde-san to come after I alert you when I'll arrive.
King (Xanxus): Verde and I aren't buddies.
Baby King (Tsuna): Will he say 'no' if you give him a small of the details I'm about to give you?
King (Xanxus): Any more conditions?
Baby King (Tsuna): No more.
Baby King (Tsuna): So do you agree?
King (Xanxus): Why are you doing these?
King (Xanxus): Do you know you're helping strangers?
Baby King (Tsuna): Since when did Tri-ni-sette make sense, Reborn-san?
Baby King (Tsuna): I don't really care who benefits with the cure.
Baby King (Tsuna): Also, I'm doing this to strike a deal with Verde. You're just a mean to gain what I want.
Baby King (Tsuna): So, do you agree?
Tsuna stared at the chatbox as time passes by. "Now what will you do, Reborn-san?" He whispered.
"Reborn?" He turned around to see his yellow teacher behind him. Koro-sensei looked at him with disbelief in his eyes. "How come you know him?"
"Eh?" Tsuna blurted, surprised that he said the tutor's name and the teacher heard him. "D-Did I say that?"
"Yes, Tsuna-kun. You said that name. How do you know him?" The yellow octopus pressed on.
The brunet went quiet, contemplating before he looked at the teacher with determination. "Will you believe me if I say that I have memories of Reborn-san being my tutor and teaching me of how to become a mafia boss, Koro-sensei?"
The teacher stared at him.
He was about to say another thing when he felt his phone vibrate.
King (Xanxus): I agree.
Baby King (Tsuna): There's only much I could say.
Baby King (Tsuna): We need all elements available to free you.
Tsuna didn't move when Koro-sensei peered at what he is doing.
Baby King (Tsuna): As you've read from my earlier replies to Xanxus' inquiries, we need a blueprint that I have to make so a device can be created.
Baby King (Tsuna): We need three consents to make this possible. The Vindice who is vital to this operation and will be the administrators of this device after, Checkerface who will hand over the position and the one who gave me words in order to push this through, and Talbot-jii-sama who will create the device and will deliver it to us on the day I arrive.
Baby King (Tsuna): The process is complicated to explain over the chat. But I assure you, this will work. It worked in a parallel timeline, so it will work here also.
King (Xanxus): Are you like Byakuran?
Baby King (Tsuna): No.
Baby King (Tsuna): I learn from past mistakes.
Baby King (Tsuna): Now return my uncle's phone to him. He needs to know I'm safe before he suddenly shows up here tomorrow.
Tsuna looked back to his teacher who was patiently waiting for him. "Koro-sensei,"
"I think a full explanation is in order, Tsuna-kun." Koro-sensei said calmly as he sat in front of the brunet with his usual grin. "Please start from the very beginning."