Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed last chapter. If I didn't reply to you I'm so sorry! But thank you anyway.
Lady Ariadna: Thank you so much for your comment. You're right; the Varia in my universe should act like that. I can't wait for that connection either ;) thank you very much for reviewing! Stay awesome!
For your info: This is over 10,500 words... there is an A/N at the end, it's long so read it if you like.
Please enjoy despite the spelling and grammar errors I am prone to.
Beta'd by the wonderful mercyn ~~
The knots that Tie and the Strings that Bind.
Invitation to battle the Sun.
Tsuna's morning was wonderful. Lambo and his other sibling had decided to stay the night with Tsuna- in his room he might mention- and had woken their big brother up with happy laughter and wonderful childish babble.
Tsuna had been more than happy to get out of bed an hour earlier than usual to make them a wonderful breakfast- of which he made enough for all the residents of the home. Once they were finished they settled into the living room for some family bonding that Tsuna had been missing out on since deciding to take on Reborn's training.
Though it didn't last long.
Reborn entered- Tsuna's espresso in hand and fedora nowhere to be seen- with a somewhat overcast expression. "Mamma called earlier, she's going to take the brats swimming today so asked that they be sent home when they were awake and fed." Lambo looked the most devastated, having had the least amount of time with his Tsuna-nii, but even his expression didn't compare to Tsuna's.
Tsuna scowled at Reborn with hurt eyes. He wanted time with his baby siblings today- it was his day off dammnit!- but he helped the kids into their shoes and jackets, kissed each one and sent them home with some cookies- they had baked the night before- for their mother. None of them had bags with them, and that was because they had decided to keep clothes at Tsuna and the guardians' home seeing as they spend a growing amount of time with their older brother and the boys they would gladly –with only a little bashfulness- call their brothers also.
"See you later, Reborn-nii. We love you Tsuna-nii!"
Tsuna was warmed by the greeting and the subsequent rush of warmth that assaulted his waist and chest from the strings. Then his ochre eyes were drawn to Reborn as he stood lazily against the doorframe leading from the hallway into the living room.
The Hitman shifted subtly, he took another drag of Tsuna's wonderful coffee while watching the young boss before him. Reborn was still awed sometimes by how easy it was to bow to the brat. Sometimes he saw his own protective drive swallow his rationale and all his normal cognitive processes. Even during training his protectiveness roared in outrage as he pushed Tsunayoshi beyond his limit. Sometimes his aim left an even larger breadth from Tsuna; so much so that, once, Tsuna noticed but didn't question his tutor's distracted moment. But the bullets and the constant pushing were in the name of protection and that was all that stood between his rational side and the protective beast he only recently rediscovered.
"What else is there Reborn?" Tsuna only asked because unease flickered across the chameleon string as it shifted momentarily to a dull grey colour. The string was generally translucent, like fishing line, with a subtle hint of yellow blazing in its core, but when Reborn's emotions were particularly spiked there was a shift in the colour of his string, even if his outward appearance failed to shift with it.
If Reborn was surprised by his protective instincts, he was blown away and then calmed by Tsuna's. For a boy who lived a life filled with failure- and Reborn wasn't talking about the academic or athletic kind because those were average at worst- he had a burning charisma that left many of those arrogant and narcissistic completely floored and putty in Tsuna's hands. Already, two very powerful, very independent men were following and fighting over Tsuna; for his attention, his power, and his affection. But Tsuna was not stringent with his affection, oh no. Tsuna was as liberal with his affection towards his guardians and siblings as Reborn was liberal with his bullets during training. Every single person under Tsuna's protective wing knew it with their entire body and soul. Not one person Tsuna had promised himself to - his protection, his affection, his life, his soul- didn't know it. It was humbling and powerful; the best bit was that Tsuna didn't even know it.
"I passed Takeshi this morning; he's gone to train with his old man. Hayato was out the door late last night restocking and training with his tutor." Reborn stated calmly, he knew that Tsuna was less stressed when he knew where his guardians were; a beautiful quality in a boss. "But I have some errands to run and I won't be back until early tomorrow morning..." he drifted off then when he saw the tension in Tsuna's shoulders.
He was taken aback slightly. He was not an imbecile; Reborn saw the strangeness in Tsuna, the way he moved sometimes- as if avoiding invisible obstacles- and the way his hands moved in unconscious ways. The sad look in his eyes when one of his guardians tried to hide something form him; as if he knew what they were hiding before they were hiding it. But Reborn was most highly aware of Tsuna dependence- though Reborn knew that was the wrong word- upon him. To think that the teen grew tense and uneasy when Reborn was not with him, when only a few months ago Reborn was the cause of the boy's unease and stress, was touching and made the protective beast in his chest growl with something like pride but not so cold. It made Reborn tense and –almost- upset to see that tension in Tsuna's shoulders and neck. It wasn't healthy for such a warm, charismatic boy.
His callous hands rubbed at Tsuna's shoulders as he stepped into the room to comfort his ward. Reborn was nothing if not thorough in his job. It helped that it wasn't so difficult to fall for Tsuna and his calm persona. "Your hyper intuition acting up again, Dame-Tsuna?"
Tsuna closed his eyes as he concentrated on the smell of tobacco, coffee and rich cologne and the feeling of the strong hands unwinding the unconsciously knotted shoulders. It wasn't Tsuna's fault that he was dependant on Reborn's presence. Tsuna was nothing if not subtly paranoid. Having Reborn in his home assured him that his friends were safe, since the Hitman's intrusion in his life Tsuna had not slept right without the Hitman close at hand- after all, no enemy or incident would approach or happen with the world's greatest Hitman in their home.
"Un," Tsuna began "Something is going to happen tonight, Reborn, I don't know what, or if it's good, but something is going to happen." Tsuna opened his eyes and watched the onyx flicker as the Hitman made a new decision.
Another spark at his chest told Tsuna that Reborn understood his unease and would try to ease it if he could. "Alright, Tsuna. I'll try to get the mission finished earlier than I already had planned." His hand rested on Tsuna's shoulder and his scent drifted around the boy calming him as Tsuna felt the protective wave rush across the orange-bound-chameleon string.
"Don't rush it though, Reborn, I'd rather you home late and safe, than early and wounded."
Reborn actually smiled at his ward. He didn't often smile, but found it so easy to do around Tsuna. He ruffled the boy's hair affectionately, hoping- and succeeding- to ease the boy before the smile dropped into his familiar smirk. "Don't worry Tsuna; I never do a job half-assed." Another spark of the strings- this time with warmth of promise- and a casual backwards wave left Tsuna alone in the living room with his intuition flaring like a bad headache and his string flashing in time.
"I guess I might as well get some house work done while no one is home."
Kyouya stalked into the kitchen, his steps seemed purposeful and unchangeable and Tsuna signed even before the flash of resolve hit him from along Kyouya's string.
"I demand answers, Omnivore." He started with a cool voice that was smooth against Tsuna's banging headache. "What is it you do to know what is about to occur?"
Tsuna knew he could not back out. He had been waiting for the black-haired disciplinary to confront him about the strange feelings, and tightness that they discussed only lightly in the confines of the skylark's bedroom during their evening tea drinking. But something about actually confronting the issue still left Tsuna nervous.
Kyouya had every right to know. Being the only guardian who showed total awareness of the strings, it wasn't right for Tsuna to keep the boy in the dark, especially when Kyouya was like he was.
Tsuna has never met another so determined to have all the answers and break down whatever obstacle that threatened to deny Kyouya those answers. His cloud was straightforward and strong, he was neither naive nor distant; but when he wanted something he got it, and Tsuna wasn't one to deny his friends anything they wanted anyway.
Sighing painfully and instinctively gripped the strings on his chest for comfort, Tsuna folded to his cloud's demanded askance. "Okay, we'll meet up with Mukuro and Chrome in an hour or so and discuss what exactly it is that has been guiding my hand."
"What do the Pineapple twins have to do with this?" Kyouya's tone was harsh and biting; while he held no distain for Chrome –the girl was quiet and got in no one's way- the male illusionist found it his sole mission to irritate and get in Kyouya's way and that had earned the male-pineapple the permanent promise of a bitten death. It never failed to amuse Hayato and Tsuna, but in this instant it would serve to make the next advance a little difficult.
"They have everything to do with it Kyouya, as the only other people in my life to know about the strings."
So Tsuna's beautiful, calm morning had clouded over as mist scuttled the streets of Namimori. All he had wanted to do was relax with his sibling. It had been so long since he had last been able to just sit on the couch with them and talk. Tsuna prized family above all else, and since his family's rapid expansion he found it difficult to accommodate for all his precious people's dire needs. And his own at the same time.
It was only nine thirty but it felt like the entire day was already pressing at his back. All Tsuna could be thankful for was the peaceful atmosphere within the cafe they chose. There were few patrons in the cafe, a few older couples and one or two teenagers, but otherwise quiet and without interruption.
They ordered their coffees- a sweet herbal tea for Chrome-and some breakfast – toast for Chrome, a blueberry muffin for Mukuro, some French pastry for Kyouya, and a bagel for Tsuna- before dismissing their waitress who attended to the other patrons.
"Where do you want me to start?" Tsuna was, to say the least, apprehensive. He was not worried or intimidate in the least about confronting Kyouya, he talked with the man almost every evening over tea in his room. But there was something different about today.
"How about with the idiotic murmuring from this morning with the baby?" it never failed to amuse Mukuro or Tsuna when Kyouya referred to Reborn as a 'baby' and it all had to do with the small necklace Reborn wore that resembled a yellow pacifier. When Kyouya has first seen it he had lost all respect for the man and only a vicious spar later was Reborn's Carnivore status restored; the nickname on the other hand remained strong.
"Reborn and I were talking about my Vongola Intuition. It is a blood rite passed down from my four-times-great-grandfather, Giotto Vongola, and is uncharacteristically strong in me." Tsuna began, "Not even my father or Nono possess such concentrated, potent hyper intuition."
"That I understand. But is this 'intuition' that tells you the things you know?"
Of course Kyouya was talking about the way Tsuna mumbled about things to come, or seemed to act moments before strange happenings. Kyouya had caught Tsuna in the midst of saving Haru from tripping over a toy left discarded in the hallway –seemingly on instinct with no conscious influence- even before the girl approached the toy. There were other things too, they way he could read even Kyouya himself, or Reborn- the emotionless baby gave even Kyouya's stoic nature a run for its money- with an ease that should not have been humanly possible.
"Yes and no, my hyper intuition is more battle concerned. It gives me an insight into living things- the way they move, speak, and act. I can tell if someone is lying right away and can asses a person's next few moves from the motions of their last." Tsuna explained; he had no qualms about revealing the secret of his blood rite. It may make for better teamwork in the future. "The reason I know about these 'things' you mention is the enhancement of my intuition from the fate strings I can see and manipulate. I have a theory that it is actually this ability to see the strings that first gave Giotto the hyper intuition and from that the genetic inheritance in my family line."
Kyouya was silent for a moment, trying to digest to radical information. His first thoughts were that Tsuna was trying to fool him, but the sincere look in the ochre eyes, and the begging for acceptance made him think twice. "How could these 'strings' help your intuition."
Of course Kyouya knew about fate strings; he also minored in philosophy and had delved into the Buddhist tradition for a term or two. If he were to assume that the faith was right, it still didn't explain Tsunayoshi's inhuman abilities and foretelling insight.
"Skylark, the strings are Tsunayoshi's intuition, they are one in the same, not separate things." Mukuro tried to elaborate. The illusionist could feel the tension in Tsunayoshi's movements and speech. The boy was secretive- rightly so- and now he was trying to explain something he had never had to explain before to someone with no prior experience in the subject. Not to mention that Tsunayoshi was emotionally involved in said subject. Mukuro would have purred with delight to see Tsunayoshi squirm, but Mukuro didn't like the fact that one of the people he deemed unworthy –albeit being the most worthy of the lot- was learning the trio's secret. If Kyouya was going to learn it Mukuro was determined to make it so the skylark completely understood it and was not a liability in the future. Mukuro would personally ensure it.
When Tsuna sensed the tension between the illusionist and skylark he stepped in. He could almost smell the testosterone spike and knew a fight would break out if he didn't quell the raging clouds and direct the thickening mist.
"Mukuro is telling you the truth, Kyouya. It's the strings that told me how to fight you, who the Varia guardians were, even when one of you is hurt or lonely." Kyouya stiffened a little, because the other day Tsuna had barged into his room with a medic-kit and had stripped away Kyouya's shirt muttering about how grateful he was for strings and how irritating clouds were for their constant hiding of wounds.
Kyouya has miscalculated the number of thugs in his latest brawl for the safety and peace of Namimori and has a rather unfortunate slash to the ribs because of it. Until their conversation in the little cafe he had no idea how Tsuna figured out he was wounded.
"Herbivore, that doesn't explain why I can feel them."
"I don't know. Mukuro and Chrome know about them because they are mists, maybe because you are a cloud?"
Tsuna had a theory. He wasn't certain yet, but he was almost sure he was right. Mists- specifically illusionists- were almost entirely aware of the fate strings, they could not manipulate them, but if they were strong enough they could see and follow them- interact if you will. Clouds – strong ones- could sense the string, Tsuna figured this because Kyouya could not see them but was completely aware of their presence- especially and increasingly after meeting and interacting with Tsuna. Now skies were unique, Tsuna theorised that all skies could see the strings, but they had to be 'awakened' to their presence. Vongola intuition, Tsuna theorised, was born from a mutation in the sky flame and allowed Tsuna to manipulate the strings. That ability was passed from Giotto's father –unknowingly- and transferred both into Nono's line and Tsuna's own. Tsuna didn't know if Nono could see the strings, but seeing as the man had hyper intuition Tsuna would bet he could. As for Xanxus, well, Tsuna couldn't be certain until he saw the man during the battles that loomed in the near future. For now, looking at his cloud, Tsuna had other things to worry about.
Tsuna made some exaggerated movements as he collected the wonderful purple string in his hand. It was warm today and gave off irritated but protective waves as usual. Sending waves of understanding and respect down the string Tsuna was pleased to see Kyouya stiffen slightly before the tension in his shoulders left with a nonexistent sigh. "You can feel that right? This is yours."
Tsuna offered the purple-grey string up to Kyouya and watched as the man's pupils dilated and contracted. He shifted a little, as if to touch and make himself more comfortable, but then his sight seemed to vanish as his pupils contracted again, leaving an irate expression furrowing his eyebrows.
"I don't think the Skylark~ can see it, Tsunayoshi-chan." The pineapple-illusionist smirked dangerously, as he made fun of Kyouya's inability. Tsuna wanted to chastise him, but Chrome spoke up before he could.
"After all, Tsuna, storm, sun, thunder and rain don't seem to be able to see them."
"But TYL!Lambo acted like he could."
Tsuna was so frustrated by that fact. The Lambo from ten years in the future had grabbed their connected string- even if only for an instant- and has been able to send a jolting energy reminiscent of electricity into Tsuna's being. The energy was so soothing and refreshing. But that didn't explain why the man knew about them.
"Maybe, Tsuna, we should show him?" Chrome spoke up again having seen the frustrated, tired look on Tsuna's face.
She knew better than anyone how scared Tsuna was about Lambo being in the mafia, he saw Lambo –TYL or not- as his baby brother and to know he was fighting and had taken a life, that he was training and had the threat of dying hanging over his every child-like dream, terrified Tsuna and left him dreamless or running sobbing into the dreamscape he shared with Chrome herself, and Mukuro.
But she knew that one thing scared Tsuna even more: his guardians knowing about his ability.
Not that she- or Mukuro- blamed him though. When someone has kept a secret closely guarded and without anyone else knowing it, the thought of that secret getting out, to people you love and cherish, is something immobilising and destructive. The backlash of disapproval and abandonment was Tsuna's biggest fear.
Tsuna looked on at his fragile, female mist with care and brotherly affection. The girl's gentle outlook and peaceful problem solving never failed to make Tsuna believe that a peaceful Vongola, one that was safe for his friends and siblings equally, was possible. He looked down at his hand and smiled softly when he felt and saw Chrome's hand tighten around his. It pleased him to know that the simple gesture of brushing or holding hands calmed both him and his mists, he knew while looking at the female-illusionist's delicate, pale hand that even if he was afraid that Kyouya would reject him, even if he was lost in the agony of losing one of the people he was fated to meet, his two mists- scarred, lost-but-found and ever accepting, insane mists- would never even dream of leaving him.
Though that only lessened the stress of showing Kyouya his word a little.
He signed with near resignation and changed his eyes to Mukuro. The man had been silent for most of the conversation; he was watching the strings in his hands with morbid fascination. But when he felt the rush –pain, anxiety, fear, hope, love- down the woven indigo-orange string he looked up to meet the golden-brown of a worried, tired teen.
Mukuro was neither sentimental nor truthful, but looking into Tsunayoshi's eyes made him think that maybe he could be. He was disgusted by it but he found himself dependant and thriving off of Tsunayoshi's protective glance and his naive outlook. To know the boy depended on him also set alight a part of Mukuro that only Chrome, Ken and Chikusa had ever been able to spark; even if Mukuro would later try to convince himself that it was all for the purpose of possessing Tsunayoshi and exacting revenge upon all the Mafia in the world.
Still, when Tsunayoshi's eyes begged for support and comfort, Mukuro couldn't help but smile softly and push the protective expanse of his mind against Tsuna's and let flow the promise of protection and support across their twisted strings. He wouldn't notice Chrome giving him approving glances from next to Kyouya.
"Could you do that, Mukuro? Show Kyouya and Chrome what it is I see every day?" Tsuna instinctively reached his hand towards Mukuro's, and instinctively the male illusionist let their fingers weave together in what was fast becoming the one thing that could calm Mukuro when in a rage, and soothe Chrome when in despair.
"Of course, Tsunayoshi-chan~" was Mukuro's only reply before he and Chrome reached for their illusion covered tridents and began the melding of their mindscape and perceived reality.
The cafe was empty of all but staff at that point in the day. The breakfast rush had ended and the lunch rush wasn't due for hours. It was perfect for Mukuro and Chrome to work their illusionary magic upon the surrounding of their boss.
Mukuro, being a conjuror and the one with the strongest link with Tsuna's mind- short of full possession that is- used his own sight and Tsuna's vast knowledge of the strings to set an illusion on their surroundings that mapped out every single string, knot, and fate within a three meter limit. He used the distance to illustrate Tsuna's power while still maintaining the purity and strength of the illusion. It took more power than he thought it would, Tsuna's mind was vast with knowledge and understanding, to map out every string and try to get their meaning and emotion into the illusion was testing, especially while making the illusion only visible to the individuals at their table. Mukuro knew he would not have been able to do it without his dear Chrome.
Chrome, being an enhancer was able to feed off of her own mental link with Tsuna and Mukuro and added substance to Mukuro's map. She plotted out the emotions and the weight of each string. Her abilities allowed the solidity of the illusions cast by Mukuro and gave each string depth and intricate, delicate detail; the kind of detail that was often forgotten. While Mukuro's illusions were as physical as illusions came, Chrome gave them reality. Fire from Mukuro would burn you, but with Chrome's added touch the air around you would scorch and writhe. Neither Mukuro's nor Chrome's illusions alone were weak, far from it in fact, as both were powerful and more than apt, but together Mukuro and Chrome found that their world was more real and more controlling. Two minds saw the word differently; together their illusions had a natural perspective and depth. Without it, the mapped world of strings would not have been anywhere near as spectacular as the scene that unfolded around them in a burning indigo haze.
Chrome wasn't often allowed to see her boss' thoughts, he was careful to control the influx of unease and rattled emotions into the fragile girl, not wanting to damage of emotionally/psychologically wound her, and even now, while being permitted to see exactly what he saw and felt, Chrome was awed. She would have never imagined the scene all around them had Tsuna not been so aware and so entangled with the strings, their meanings, and the sheer weight of their emotional substance.
Cool air settled over the group with the indigo haze fading away as the scene from Tsuna's vision filtered into their awareness. While the scene was nothing new to Mukuro or Tsuna- though Mukuro was surprised by the sheer detail- Chrome and Kyouya were left stunned into silent appreciation for what it was their boss saw everyday for his entire live.
Red.
That was all that seemed to flood their vision. Strings scattered and knotted all around the group of teens with no seeming end or beginning. If one were to try and describe it, it would be as if a ball of red yarn has been thrown around the room and the threads had hooked and knotted on every single surface available, except you would not be able to see where the strings were hooked because you only saw a two meter sphere of where the threads were before the red began to become translucent, eventually disappearing altogether.
Tsuna sat in the center of it all; strings crossed his vision and strings just floated in front and behind him. Some were attached to him- his arms, neck, legs, fingers, hands- and some seemed to be attached to no one. There were red strings crossing right across Kyouya's nose, brushing just lightly enough not to be annoying, but physically connecting enough for him to be- albeit suddenly- aware of their presence. Both Chrome and Kyouya noticed that Tsuna was not the only one who was tied up, even they and Mukuro did not escape the threads. They all had strings bound to their wrists, and Chrome noted that –with unease because she understood why–Mukuro had far more strings attached to him than either herself or Tsuna.
She also noticed- as did Kyouya though less obviously- that her trident, their rings, and Kyouya's tonfa all had their own smattering of strings and links. She noted- with hesitation- that she and Mukuro were connected by a laced blanket of strings. There were tight braids and sloppy knots. There were beautiful, intricate designs that looked not woven but grown, and there were some classical stitch-like threads between them. But the quilted sheet was beautiful and Chrome could not help but stroke her fingers along it in awe and appreciation. She had always known that her bond with Mukuro was more physical than it appeared.
Kyouya was stunned. He never imagined in all his theories and thoughts, that what Tsuna saw was so intricate and muddled. He wondered how the brunette didn't trip over these strings- physically there or not- because even he was having a time moving his hand to grab at the strings without getting snagged somewhere. He had to reassess Tsunayoshi, if the man could see this and not go insane then there was far more worth to him that Kyouya would have initially thought.
Then their eyes were drawn- even Mukuro's at this point because he was always intrigued by the string-world of Tsunayoshi's- to Tsuna's chest and hands where eight, orange-bound strings lay innocently. They would all notice the protectiveness that radiated from the orange and feel the intense weight settle in their stomachs as Tsuna held the strings. He held them as if they were his very life in tangible form.
"These are your strings." Tsuna explained. His voice held such deep devotion and sincerity that Chrome's eyes misted a little. Never had she been held with such value. Not even by Mukuro or their two friends.
Tsuna proceeded to move each one and explain whose string was which. Kyouya commented about their colour representing their flame type and Tsuna could only smirk. Kyouya caught on fast.
"Look at your ring."
Chrome's eyes widened almost comically as she watched the mass of red and varying degrees of indigo knot around her ring. She had never even felt them before.
"These strings are the strings of the previous owners of the rings. Each string shows that their fate was ingrained or changed by receiving these rings." Tsuna began with a helping of respect in his tone as he handled the seven red strings, each of his guardians felt the same respect having felt the shift in fate from receiving the rings themselves. "This is the Primo generation string." He explained pointing to the dark, aged string that originated from the center of each ring. "And these, are the Varia's fate strings."
Silence reined at the table for a moment as that sunk in. Not even Mukuro knew who all the owner's of the strings were. He had never had the opportunity to ask Tsuna with all the training and stresses. He hadn't the heart to take the brunette away from his work on a whim of his- even if it was in his character to do so.
"How is the Varia's fate concerned with our rings, Sawada Tsunayoshi?" Kyouya ground out. Anyone else would think he was simply being irate, Tsuna though having had months with Kyouya and years with the strings could see that he was angered by the thought of having some kind of chance of losing to the Varia. It was evident in the way he ground out 'our' he was possessive of the rings and of the position promised. What Tsuna didn't know was that Kyouya was being defensive about the position Tsunayoshi deserved.
"I honestly don't know. It could mean that we have a chance of losing." He began and could only smile affectionately when both Mukuro and Kyouya –for all intensive purposes- growled at the statement. "Or it could mean that our paths cross in our future and that our relationship with the Varia is different that we imagine."
Their conversation dropped momentarily as they refilled their drinks and ordered more snacks. When they were sure the waitress was gone and they were suitably ignored once again, Tsuna started up their conversation again, though not before drinking some of his hot coffee.
"You wanted to know how I fought with the strings, right Kyouya?" he asked from behind his coffee mug. He received a curt nod- seeing as the prefect had his mouth full- and turned instead to Mukuro. "The illusion is hiding us right?"
"Of course, everyone else thinks we're talking about school." Mukuro explained as he pulled the top off of yet another blueberry muffin. Tsuna was getting the hint that Mukuro loved the confection.
"Alright then," he smiled, "Kyouya, attack me."
Another bout of silence descended with Kyouya looking at Tsuna as if he had lost his mind. "You want me to what, Tsuna?"
Tsuna would have laughed and taken a picture of the triplet expressions of shock has he been able to. Instead he sighed and smiled exasperatedly. "I'll show you how I fight with the strings. Just attack me; try to hit me with your tonfa."
So Kyouya did just that.
The tonfa passed through the strings relatively easily, manipulating them and pulling them along its path- as if they weren't actually there- Kyouya was surprised but saw what Tsuna was trying to prove. As the metal implement sliced through the air, catching the strings and moving them, a rush flowed through them and as it reached Tsunayoshi- whose eyes were closed- his arm moved up to react to the string. In the process he caught the tonfa before it even made any attempt to harm him.
Upon opening his eyes he looked into surprised onyx and smiled warmly, releasing the tonfa as he did.
"I use the strings to see movement. They tell me when someone is moving or if something is coming for me. In the same way I can use them to attack by threatening someone's fate. When I was young I honed my killing intent and focused it into the string while I punched a bully; the boy who attacked me ended up in hospital with a broken jaw." Tsuna looked sheepish ad he scratched his face. What he didn't expect was the unbridled laughter from his mist and the approving smile from his cloud.
"Hn,"
"I think it's time we head home, your puppy and his minder should be arriving home now and I quite like our home unscorched." Mukuro suggested as he played with the indigo-orange string that connected them.
Tsuna smiled warmly, our home, eh? before nodding his approval. "Yeah, I have some things to do and I need to meet up with Takeshi and Hayato a little later anyway."
The illusion slowly faded away as they got up to leave. Tsuna was curious about whether- like his ability- Kyouya's sight would improve now that he had been exposed and was more consciously aware of the strings. Part of him wanted the skylark to know about them because Tsuna knew that Kyouya would be practical and reap the benefits, but a part of him hoped that the cloud guardian forgot about the entire thing; Tsuna was still terrified of rejection.
As if the day could have gotten worse Squalo from the Varia arrived just as Tsuna met up with Takeshi and Hayato to do some grocery shopping.
Tsuna was pleased with the battle for the most part, completely confident that his friends would beat the shark into his place and secure the potential of their Decimo candidacy. He wasn't prepared for the utter emotional fatigue that would later drown him when he watched his two brothers almost sliced and diced before his eyes.
He blessed all the deities in the world for Reborn's arrival and made a note to himself to get the man to do some blind-side training.
He would not lose them again or get anywhere close to it.
Then the day got worse again.
A letter appeared in the mail slot in the door close to eleven o'clock, it was addressed with simple lines 'Vongola Decimo candidate; Sawada Tsunayoshi and guardians' in elegant, emotionless script.
Inside the letter were the conditions for the first battle that was to take place two days from today at Namimori high at precisely eleven o'clock or else be subject to elimination from the battle.
Tsuna tensed as he read the words and watched the writhing sky flame at the top. There was something painful about Nono's flame. It sparked recognition in Tsuna's infantile memories, but nothing solid enough for him to call upon. All Tsuna knew was that the flames making the letter of battle official were painful and crying. They were guilty and were sorry. Tsuna wanted to extinguish the seal to get the pain away from him; there was one final line though, and he needed to keep the letter as some morbid proof of his candidacy.
"The Battle for the Sun rings shall be the first."
Tsuna looked over to his Nii-san with tired, stressful eyes. Ryohei was as bright as ever, his string burning with warmth and precious confidence, Tsuna almost fell back on the string, but he was far too tensed to allow himself the moment of peace.
"Are you ready for this, Nii-san?"
Ryohei regarded his otouto with kind eyes. He was unused to the protective gaze upon him from anyone. His parents –when they were around- rarely regarded him with any kind of affection, least of all protectiveness, and Kyoko when she was young always had a bemused, exasperated expression that was overflowing with love. He felt somewhat invincible when Tsuna looked at him with those aged-golden brown eyes. But they didn't suit him. Ryohei knew that the mirthful brown that were on the edge of laughter-tears, or smiling browns that held no worry or stress better suited Tsuna. He hated the new tired, dead, worried eyes Tsuna wore around their home. Though, Ryohei couldn't bring himself to hate the man that brought the change. He was simply determined the rid the tiredness from the brown that should be full of life and confidence.
"Of course Tsuna! I am ready TO THE EXTREME!" Nothing was going to stop him winning, or returning Tsuna's carefree laughter to his eyes. "You don't need to worry at all, Tsuna."
Upon hearing the steadfast declaration Tsuna couldn't help but smile. Nothing ever fazed him if his big brother told him not to worry.
He was right after all; Ryohei was nothing if not a brilliant brother.
"Alright then, I guess we should go have a spar?" Tsuna tilted his head as he asked the question; a small, genuine smile lifted his lips, only to broaden with the answer he received.
"That is an EXTREME idea Tsuna! I will beat you TO THE EXTREME!"
So the guardians gathered. For the two days before the match Ryohei sparred and learnt and found a balance. He didn't really improve much, but at that point he would either improve massively or not at all; and certainly wouldn't improve with any more of Reborn's tutelage.
When Tsuna had strolled through Namimori with Takeshi and Ryohei, the day before the battle, trying to get the boxer's nervous excitement quelled, his hyper intuition had practically smashed his brain against his skull when they passed a store selling accessories.
Curious, and also quite shocked by the sudden burst of pain in his brain, Tsuna walked into the store. Now, like usual there were many items with strings tied to them- not many seeing as the store was rather generic and most of the items were mass-produced- but there was one string that flashed orange and yellow. A beacon if Tsuna ever saw one.
Picking up the sunglasses Tsuna examined them curiously, they weren't as generic as the other sunglasses, but they weren't expensive either. They were darker than the usual blue-grey tint fashion glasses had, so Tsuna was curious as to why Ryohei's string was telling him that these visors were important. Ryohei didn't seem like the sunglasses type.
Still, his mind was screaming at him to give them to Ryohei, so he presented the sun guardian with the glasses with a curious expression on his face.
"Hey, nii-san, mind trying these on?"
The ice-blonde looked curiously at the sunglasses, Tsuna was right, he wasn't one to typically wear them, he found that they just got in his way when he was training, and never had he had a problem with glare when it was sunny outside. Still, if his almost-year with Tsuna had taught him anything it was that Tsuna never did things without reasons.
Once they were on his face, Ryohei was pleasantly surprised to see that the dark glaze muted all of the annoying glare the various mirrors and glass that the store presented him with. The glasses were sporty and snug to his cheekbones and hooked over his ears with a comfortable tightness. The tops of the rims sat perfectly under his brow bone, and Ryohei was surprised to feel how formfitting the glasses were. Throwing a few punches –being careful to avoid any merchandise or customers- and a few jump-ducks, he was even more surprised to find that the glasses didn't move and didn't impede him in any way.
In fact, Ryohei found he preferred his punches with the glasses on and without the added glare that had never bothered him before.
"These are some EXTREME glasses Tsuna! I think I'll get them TO THE EXTREME." He didn't know what pushed him to buy the glasses, be it Tsuna's actions –which again he knew were always for something- or his own attachment to them, Ryohei simply knew he needed them and that he should fight with them from now on.
They didn't stay long in town, Takeshi and Ryohei wanted to go for a run and Tsuna knew very well that he could not keep up with them. Besides, there was something about the two sportsmen that made them able to understand each other better than Tsuna could, he figured it was because both did sports and understood the feelings of battle, that rush before facing an unbeaten opponent.
So Tsuna went home and let them go off jogging. Not many people were home, if they were they were busy or sleeping, and Tsuna felt so alone and so scared. His first guardian was about to go into battle and suddenly everything began to seem so real.
He could say he was going to be Decimo and the second upcoming Primo; but could he be Decimo?
He could say that his guardians would win; but could he handle the consequences if he was wrong?
He could say that he was prepared for everything; but how was he going to explain the tears and his shaking body when his guardians came home?
Warm hands ran along his back in a soothing manner. Tsuna knew immediately who it was but just allowed himself the moment of weakness in front of the only man he knew that would not insult or take advantage of him. Tsuna knew that none of his guardians ever would, but Reborn was the only person Tsuna felt he could break down in front of. If Tsuna was his guardians' rock, Reborn was Tsuna's.
"Dame-Tsuna, you forget that you don't need to carry this all by yourself." He soothed. Cigarette smoke clung to him and the subtle scent of death floated around his fate-string. But somehow just having Reborn at his side soothed something deep inside Tsuna.
"I'm just so scared Reborn. I know we will not lose. But what if, for once, my intuition is wrong and I can't save one of them?"
Reborn hummed lightly, he heard the hint of paranoia and hysteria entering his ward's tone, and he had known that this was exactly what was going to happen to Tsuna during the time before the first battle. Reborn only wished that he hadn't had a mission earlier that day. He could have bound Tsuna with his presence and subtle reassurance and made this outburst so much less painful.
"You are right to worry, it is only natural. But, you can only have faith and give your guardians support. Nothing more will ease your worry. Just let them know that you have all the faith in them. That alone will make them invincible."
Tsuna knew that Reborn was right, the man always was. But the words weren't what really soothed Tsuna. There was total and overpowering energy flowing from Reborn's string into Tsuna's, and the strings that bound his entire body glowed in agreement. Reborn was worried too, more so than he had been for any other ward, but he had faith and that alone warmed Tsuna enough to dry the tears.
"I know, Reborn. We will win with our dying wills."
That evening Tsuna made snacks, he knew that no one- not even Ryohei- would be able to eat much, even Lambo, who was the most unaware of the fights that were to take place seemed to be able to read the atmosphere and was not all that hungry. Though Tsuna cooked the food and pressured everyone to eat some, the minute he tried to consume anything deep nausea hit him. Knowing that throwing up would only prove to cause mass panic in his guardians Tsuna simply smiled and said that he had eaten earlier.
Slowly ten thirty clicked by and everyone moved as one to leave. Ryohei warmed up as they walked the five-minutes to their school and Tsuna could only watch with unease and awe. Lambo was with them, as the Cerevello letter demanded, but instead of walking he was firmly gripped in Tsuna's embrace; this was both for protection and for Tsuna's selfish desire to have that unconditional love of his sibling near him while his mind and heart tried to tear each other apart. Lambo sensed his brother's unease and didn't complain- not that in any other circumstance he would have complained anyway.
They arrived at the school twenty minutes before the expected time, Reborn trailing slowly after Tsuna to protect and ease him, and the Varia were nowhere to be seen. The cool air did well to make Tsuna vey aware of his surroundings, the crisp stillness alerted him to incoming people and animals, even if the strings were just a moment or two faster. He gripped Lambo in his arms as they stopped before the ring for the fight.
Tsuna heard Kyouya growl under his breath as they saw the large, caged ring in the center of the school yard. That hadn't been there that afternoon and Kyouya knew that. "They're disturbing the peace of Namimori; Kamikorosu."
In a signature move of unease and annoyance, Kyouya had his tonfas out and glimmering in the bright moon light. Even if the entire group no longer attended school –with the exception of Reborn's homeschooling which didn't really count- Kyouya and even Ryohei still did their duties in Nami-high. Kyouya, being the main disciplinary of Namimori, had a duty to uphold the school's name and integrity. Though, he had other reasons for staying in Namimori, he too had been reading up on the Primo generation.
"I am going to resurrect the Vongola 'police' force, Tsunayoshi." Kyouya had explained to a very shocked Tsuna one evening while they were relaxing in the cloud's room. "I am going to make Vongola what it should be, what those herbivore's ruined. My first move will be resurrecting Vongola's internal disciplinary faction; their police force."
Of course Tsuna hadn't known what to say to the straightforward declaration, though, as the strings thrashed excitedly and his eyes misted Tsuna couldn't really say that he disapproved. Tsuna wasn't dense after all; he had noticed the similarities between his guardians and Primo's, even between primo and himself. To know that Kyouya supported and was following Tsuna in his decision to rework Vongola did more to warm Tsuna than anything any of the other guardians could ever do. It was one of the reasons that Mukuro –somewhat but only lightly- approved of Kyouya being part of the famiglia; at least more so than the other members.
Tsuna looked at his cloud guardian, the man was standing to his far right, moping about the damaged done to his school- because a member or not, anything in Namimori was by default, Kyouya's property. He could only smile and watch as Kyouya nodded mutely back. The man knew his boss well, and his boss knew him even better.
"Tsuna! What are those lights TO THE EXTREME?" Tsuna was cut from his musings by his guardians, Hayato and Ryohei were slowly circling the ring, trying to figure out why it didn't feel like a typical boxing or fighting ring. Something about it was just different. And not in a good way.
"This is the sun ring and it will be the arena for the first battle."
Now, it is a testament to Tsuna's seriousness and anxiety that he both didn't react to and didn't notice the arrival of the Varia and the Cervello, because suddenly the group arrived on the rooftop just in front of them. Xanxus was not present, but Tsuna felt a deep burn in his ring that told him that there were hidden reasons behind the absence. Everyone else was there though, including a monstrous humanoid that sent both the strings of Tsuna's ring, and his intuition pounding painfully with a mix of grief and anger.
But he didn't have time or capacity to think on the string.
"Both sun guardians will battle in this ring, it is equip with high powered lights." One Cervello announced.
It never failed to put Tsuna on immediate edge when they spoke, for their words were monotonous and lacked all emotions they could have.
"For if you are truly the Vongola sun you should be able to shine through anything."
Tsuna stiffened when the Varia sun guardian descended from the roof. He landed swiftly and cast off his feathered jacket and dress shirt swiftly. When Tsuna analysed the man he was deathly worried. This man- and he only knew this from the interest he took in martial arts when he was young- was a muay-thai fighter. He was dangerous.
Ryohei regarded the man for just a moment. All he needed was a moment. Then he smirked and pulled his own shirt and vest off. He wrapped his hands once more and slung fingerless gloves on before stepping into the sun ring.
"Ohm, you're just my type~" the Varia fighter practically wiggled around as he analysed Ryohei's tanned, gleaming torso. Lussuria was flamboyant and rather feminine, but he was insanely strong and intuitive. Seeing as he was trained since birth to fight he had an innate sense of space and could detect movement almost instinctively. He was not an opponent to underestimate.
Ryohei could see the man was rather, outrageous and overzealous, but he was also aware that that could all be a distraction; though the strange wiggles made Ryohei think that it wasn't a front but a natural distraction. It never paid off to underestimate an opponent, especially not one whose body seemed to have been modified to intensify a fight style.
He fell into his stance quickly, his fists raised and feet apart. The ring flooring was a very similar to a boxing ring, though it was much firmer and would mean he had to be careful when he landed and where he put his feet.
"Boxing?" Lussuria sounded almost offended. "Why are you using such a common style? This is Japan! So rich in culture and martial arts and you choose boxing? Well," Lussuria placed a hand on his hip and almost seemed to pout. "I am disappointed."
"Wait to feel my resolve before you say that you're disappointed." Ryohei look straight into the eyes of his opponent and Tsuna saw the shiver that fluttered down the Varia member's string.
"Now that is exactly what I like to hear." The man practically purred as he licked his lips and got into his own fighting stance.
"I hope each competitor is wearing their half of the rings," when both hold up the rings suspended on chains the Cerevello continues, "the battle will take place in this ring, when the lights turn on you will begin."
"First to submit or is unable to continue will loose and will be forced to surrender their half to the winner."
Suddenly, without warning or care the lights flashed on with blinding intensity. Within a minute of them being lit, intense heat billowed out from the ring and eradicated the evening's chill with blasting warmth. Though it did nothing to ease the viewers of the match, because Tsuna could only watch, pale-faced and shaking almost unnoticeably, as Lussuria struck out with his leg for Ryohei's chest.
If Tsuna could say one thing about the intensity of the match, it was that he was never so happy about his intuition. Without the sunglasses it was clear that Ryohei would have been at a disadvantage.
Lussuria, who was incredibly strong and an obviously apt fighter, had sunglasses that were evidently made for him. He fought with incredibly intense, accurate kicked and jumps, his whole body seemed to coil and lash out, but he was not consecutive. He took time to get from one volley of attacks to another, and his footwork seemed more act than useful; almost wasteful in effect.
Ryohei threw in sequences of equally powerful and precise punches while dancing artfully around the Varia's sun. Tsuna would say though, for all the exaggerated, graceful steps and kicks, Ryohei was much more the focus of the fight. He almost shone in the light of the area, though people called him thick, Tsuna knew that Ryohei was instinctive, he fought and moved and acted with a natural talent that could never be taught into a man. Ryohei was a natural fighter, when he boxed it became apparent that his body was born to fight and to throw the amazing boxing punches and ducks for the perfect feints.
Though, Tsuna knew that it couldn't all be so perfect.
A flash shook through his chest as the yellow string bucked. Only a moment. The flare was but a second long, but Tsuna saw the consequences immediately as another wave of nausea sent his pallor paling suddenly and his grip on Lambo near desperate.
Lussuria, in an instant of pure adrenaline, clipped Ryohei's face with a snake like strike and knocked Ryohei's glasses clear off his face. As they careened across the ring they stuck the lights and shattered instantly with the weaker plastics melting away to useless waste. What was worse, Tsuna was horrified and almost heaving to realise, was that Ryohei's face was suddenly coated in a sheet of blood that dribbled into his eyes and cause the boxer to be immediately blind. Though even without the blood it would have been impossible for Ryohei to see with the brilliant lights of the sun ring.
Tsuna immediately froze. His entire body becoming ridged as Lambo called his name in an effort to get his brother to calm. His calls became increasingly more desperate when Tsuna didn't respond and his breathing became more panicked and shallow.
A wave washed across the gather guardians. Such horror and pain, guilt mixed into the string of emotions startled all the gathered boys and Chrome. The Varia didn't feel it, but even the sky string of their leader quivered under the rush of emotion.
Mukuro and Chrome were at Tsuna's side before Tsuna's breathe became panting; they had felt the sheer panic even before Tsuna's strings had told the others of his panic. Their shared consciousness was filled with images of pain and anguish and the sight of a defeated Ryohei, Chrome was sickened, but the images were quickly whisked away by Mukuro before they could do any lasting damage; though they did leave a distinct reminder to Chrome – and Mukuro- about how fragile and steadfast and vulnerable Tsuna was about protecting his friends. Their hands were on Tsuna in an instant, they were not the only ones soothed by the brushing and connection of their hands after all, and their incessant words of nothingness and protection did nothing to calm Tsuna. Even Mukuro, strong arrogant Mukuro, was terrified to think that for a moment he couldn't soothe Tsuna; that for a moment he was going to lose the one person other than Chrome who was precious to him scared him to his core. That he cared at all startled him more.
Kyouya was overwhelmed by the sheer protectiveness of the emotions and was left to stand and watch the herbivore break a little. Never had Kyouya experienced the feelings- for himself or directed at him-, and he was much more aware, suddenly, of the resolve Tsuna held over them all to shield them- form the mafia, from themselves. It made him want to fight for Tsuna even stronger, and he wasn't exactly sure why.
"Juudaime?!" Hayato spun on his heel when he felt... something... it was as if there was a connection between Tsuna and himself, because he hadn't seen Tsuna stiffen- he was standing just in front of the brunette-, and had turned even before Lambo called out his brother's name. But suddenly he was completely aware, as he had never really been before, that his boss and friend was a civilian. He was not raised amongst the blood and the pain and torture of the Mafia. Suddenly Hayato wanted to cover Tsuna's eyes and block his ears. Suddenly Hayato was filled with overwhelming awe; Tsuna knew what he was getting into and still insisted on protecting and shielding everyone- including Hayato himself who was tainted and wrong.
"Tsuna!" Takeshi was literally stunned by the sudden change in his friend; but he understood why. He joked with Hayato that this mafia business was a game; he tried to lighten the mood and show Tsuna that he still had his innocence and could still make a joke out of serious situations. After all, it was only during games that he got serious. Life was just about living; games were about surviving and winning. That wasn't to say that Takeshi wasn't disgusted and traumatised by the seriousness of the battle Ryohei was participating in. He simply put it into the only context he could understand and compartmentalise.
"This isn't like any match we've been in before, Takeshi." Ryohei has confided in him during their jog. Takeshi was aware that Ryohei was talking in terms of their sports. "We could very well die during these matches. These people are serious."
Takeshi knew of course, he had almost been sliced by the swordsman of the Varia. If Reborn hadn't arrived... well Takeshi didn't even want to imagine the look on Tsuna's face, because the one instant that the boy realised that he and Gokudera were in trouble still haunted Takeshi, the sheer determination Tsuna held to sacrifice himself scared Takeshi. He could not imagine, in all his horrors and nightmares, a world without Tsuna living in it. He wanted to be strong; but not to fight, only to keep his precious friend safe.
"I know sempai. But, I'm willing to kill for Tsuna, if the need arises."
Ryohei has looked at Takeshi with a seriousness that was usually masked perfectly by the blazing power and enthusiasm of his personality.
"I hope you realise the seriousness of your statement, Takeshi. These men are setting out to do just that to you."
"Yeah, but sempai, I know you're willing to do the same."
Takeshi was awed by Ryohei's perseverance and strength. He wished he was even half as resolved. But looking at Tsuna, his eyes glassing over as his panting quickened and his pallor became an unhealthy white, Tsuna knew his resolve was strong. Tsuna had lived without friends for years, Takeshi had watched with a kind of detached awe as Tsuna went through his school years without a friend. He watched his friendships crumble and the boy moved on- with seemingly little care or amazing strength. Takeshi always thought Tsuna was tough. Takeshi knew he was not so strong.
Yet, Tsuna was here, standing in front of him as his friend and family having a panic attack- that not even Reborn or Mukuro seemed to be able to stop- over the thought of loosing Ryohei, and Takeshi knew- innately with no doubt or second thought- that if it were him bleeding and at a disadvantage Tsuna would be going through the exact same thing.
There was something centering and overwhelming about that.
"Tsuna you need to calm down." He tried to center himself, tried to pull out that tranquil quality Reborn always muttered about. It didn't seem to work, though it focused everyone else. Tsuna just seemed to spiral further and further into his fear.
"Tsuna!" the glassy eyes immediately snapped up to Ryohei who had taken significantly more damage and whose face was streaked with blood and sweat. There were bruises forming all over his body, Tsuna tensed again but was shaken from his stiff stance when Ryohei smirked at him. "What did I tell you before this battle?" the boy paused, because he could feel the pure terror gripping his little brother even from inside the caged arena. "I will not lose. TO. THE. EXTREME." The last bit he added out of comfort for his little brother.
Suddenly the elder teen danced forwards and sent Lussuria skittering back with a punch square to the chest until he slammed into the wall of the cage with a cry of pain. The cage had long ago become super heated and burned with just a single touch.
Standing in the middle of the ring, his stance loose but firm, sun flames danced and flickered around his bloodied knuckles. Squaring himself and coiling his first, sun flames exploded in a show of light and resolve so strong that even the cackling blonde from the Varia was silenced as the punch shot the flames unto the ceiling of the cage, thoroughly smashing the lights.
Darkness descended in the cage, the only form of visibility being the dim flood lights that lit the school grounds. But the fight did not finish. Free of the burning light, Ryohei wiped away the blood and smiled as he dove back in.
Ryohei was still sparking with sun flames, and they seemed to energise the boxer into a frenzy of punches and movements that left the exhausted, burned Lussuria limping to catch up.
Then there was an awkward movement as Sun flames assaulted the flamboyant man's body. A sickening snap resounded in the area – enough to make Chrome look pale and queasy- as Lussuria crumpled to the floor in a useless heap.
Sun flames were for healing, Ryohei was in the process of learning that, but too many flames, too intense or concentrated just right, were a biological weapon used to decompose and break the body of your opponent. As Ryohei has promised, he was to do anything to protect those precious to him. Tsuna soul crushing fear had only heightened that resolve of protection.
Ryohei, like his opponent, walked into the ring knowing that a consequence of the battle could be death; Ryohei took every spar, competition and fight seriously, with the same caution in mind.
"I can still fight!" Lussuria babbled. He tried to stand, and Tsuna winced as he crumpled again.
"You've lost. Don't try to deny it."
"No! I can still fight!" the man was desperate to continue. He tried and tried to stand again, but Ryohei only gave him three more tries.
He stooped down to snatch up the sun ring from his opponent and slid the halves together with a definite click. He would not be aware of it, but once the ring halves were together again the yellow strings that represented Ryohei from each half braided together in a beautiful display of intricate weaves. The Varia string dulled, but Tsuna wasn't as upset as he thought he would be. It was as if the string was holding its fate. As if it was waiting.
But no more time was given to pondering that thought, because almost as soon as the ring was in Ryohei's possession there was an explosive boom that sent Tsuna spinning to cover Lambo- who was still in his arms. But he had no need to move, because the target was the downed Varia fighter, Lussuria. Blood leaked from his back as the man's breathing grew shallower and shallower.
Tsuna immediately covered Lambo's ears and pressed the boy into his chest so he wouldn't see.
"The Varia's way of dealing." Reborn mumbled. The tone cryptic and disapproving.
"Decimo candidate; Sawada Tsunayoshi has won this battle. Please leave the fighting stage."
Ryohei walked away from the ring with a wide grin. He had won fair and square. While part of him was disgusted by the disposal of his more than worthy opponent and disappointed the way his opponent tried to carry on- tried to ruin Ryohei's pride- he was accepting of the fight anyway. He would later have to find Reborn for some centering, but the death and brutality of the Varia did not shake his resolve one bit. He was willing to do anything- even kill the man -for Tsuna; he had done everything for Ryohei and more than Ryohei could ever ask for. Luckily he didn't have to make his bones just yet. But he was willing to none the less.
Tsuna handed Lambo off to Chrome –who hid Lambo in the same way as Tsuna- and walked up to embraced his sweating, bruised brother, not bothering about the blood smearing his own face or looking at the ring he held as prize. "Welcome back, Nii-san. Congratulations."
Ryohei only embraced the brunette back with a widening grin and finally a pumped fist as they broke apart. "The win is EXTREMELY ours."
"The next battle," Cervello called in their monotone, "is the lightning battle."
Warning!: Long author note... read if you want... nothing too important I guess...
So this was a little longer than I originally intended (read: a lot). But I have some reasons for that. The next few chapters are going to be shorter- for obvious reasons- and so this is to make up for that. Hopefully they will be updated sooner that way, but will be shorter.
This arc will be longer than the rest, I am doing one chapter per battle, plus roughly 6 others to introduce the next arc and other characters that I- and you ;)- have been desperately waiting for.
... Now... you may be wondering why I put the cafe scene in... I had been getting reviews about how people were having trouble (wrong word but can't think of another) imagining what Tsuna's world looked like or how he kept tabs est. on all the strings... I was hoping that by writing the scene introducing Kyouya and Chrome to Tsuna's world I would answer a few questions about String-seers and also give you a better glimpse into what exactly Tsuna sees and how difficult it is for him to keep himself sane and upright.
Thank you ever so much for your patience and your support! It means the world to me to have so many followers and those who have stayed with me since the beginning get my undying love! My new readers get my love and cuddles too of course.
Please review, it means more than the world to me.
Happy New Year dear readers!
~~Bleach-ed-Na-tsu :3