Lady Ariadna: Thank you again for reviewing, I am encouraged to know that you are okay with the parallel-universe-type direction this is going in. I try my best to rationalise my choices in character action or plot because it annoys me too when the characters are OoC without any kind of reasoning besides an author 'not liking the Canon' so thank you so much for your encouragement. Well here's your Hayato! Thank you for reviewing! Stay awesome dear reader!
To any guest reviewer I didn't reply to I'm sorry! Thank you all who have reviewed, favourite and followed this story and me, thank you, thank you!
Beta'd by mercyn~~
The knots that Tie and the Strings that Bind.
Quell the storming resolve.
Hayato's fight was both concerning, and relieving for Tsuna. Now that Lambo's fight was done and dusted he didn't have to worry about the weakest of his guardians; in fact he didn't really have to worry at all.
Something was telling him to watch Hayato closely though. The boy had shown to be incredibly loyal to Tsuna since his decision to become Decimo, and Tsuna knew why; he knew Hayato's painful truth.
In the living room corner there was a baby grand piano. It had come with the house when they had bought it and had been well cared for by the pervious tenants. Tsuna hadn't thought much about it until he heard the soft twinkling of keys in the house when he had been sure only he was home.
He had crept down the stairs silently, it was part of his training to mask his presence wherever he could, and crept into the living room. The light cast shadows through the room as a sole person sat at the piano. Tsuna was amazed to see his storm play such delicate, gentle music; he knew that Hayato has gentle, precise hands- he made his own dynamite after all- but he never imagined such hands could produce such music. It was truly something to be awed about. Tsuna would have clapped if not for the sheer agony behind the notes.
"Who taught you how to play so well, Hayato?" Tsuna slipped into Italian, because it seemed only right to do so around Hayato.
The boy didn't startle, to Tsuna's relief, as he stepped into the room and took a seat on the floor behind the piano bench Hayato was sitting on. He leant back so his head rested against Hayato's mid-back. As Tsuna settled the music continued, a little lighter now even if it still had a sad ring. Tsuna pulled his knees to his chest and rested his elbows against his legs as he got comfortable on the floor.
"My mother taught me, before she died." Hayato explained, continuing in Italian with a small smile. "She was allowed to see me only for my piano lessons, though my father only allowed that because he fell in love with my mother through the piano."
"She must have been quite a beautiful woman, to have such a wonderful son." Tsuna hummed, he enjoyed the sound of Hayato's music, but was pained when their connected string bucked uncomfortably. Hayato was not used to compliments and that part of his past was still touchy.
"She was, but not because of me." Hayato drifted off, his fingers no longer lingering on the keys, instead falling dejectedly onto his lap.
"What happened, Hayato?" Tsuna didn't really expect an answer, but he figured he'd show he was willing to listen if Hayato needed to speak.
"She died." He almost sobbed, "She had a disease that was stealing her hands, she was on her way to see me on my fourth birthday and crashed her car." his voice broke and sobbed in the most painful of ways. "My father killed her, wouldn't give her the money to get treatment, she died suffering."
Tsuna was silent, nodding against Hayato's back, he knew that Hayato didn't understand or appreciate physical affection, so unused to it. That alone made Tsuna's eyes burn. What child was unused to affection? "But she loved you. It didn't matter if she only got to see you once in a while. She loved you no matter what."
"But that bastard! I left that damned famiglia as soon as I found out, I was seven when I left. Trained under my mentor for a year and tried to find my own way. That bastard wanted me to take over his famiglia." Hayato scoffed behind his sobbing voice, "He was ignorant and an imbecile."
"I was turned down by so many famiglia, because I was a bastard child. So many people looked down on my talents. I tried so hard." His voice cracked for a moment, "I ended up in a coma when I was eleven, it wasn't very long, maybe two weeks, but I was immediately kicked out of the only famiglia who had given me a chance because I didn't die for their cause." Tsuna could hear the tears and suddenly he understood why Hayato's skin was so scarred, why he would have such contemplative looks when Tsuna was affectionate or worried. It hurt Tsuna to think that he hadn't been there when his friend was so wounded.
The strings seemed to reflect the sheer pain Hayato was in while he was confessing his past, it made sense why Hayato's string shows flickers of unease and distrust, why the string with his mother was so delicate yet beautiful. His mother gave her life to ensure that Hayato was not killed off for being a Bastard-child. It was beautiful as much as it was painful. Tsuna held the red-silver string in his hand and allowed the silent tears to hit it. If his guardian wasn't going to cry then Tsuna would cry for him.
There was a comfortable silence at that point, Hayato played gentle notes in that wove in the silence peacefully; it wasn't really a song, but nice, well placed notes that accented the amiability of the silence.
"You know that I ran away from the mafia, don't you Tsuna?" Hayato had divulged as Tsuna sat with his head against Hayato's back. Tsuna nodded and Hayato continued, "I never thought I'd be a part of it again; that I'd ever trust another man who was a part of that world! I was adamant that I would kill whoever was trying to bring my back sooner than I would join him."
"Hayato..."
"But I met you... you who doesn't want to make a mafia... you don't want us in the mafia...you don't want to be Vongola; but you're doing it to keep us safe." Hayato's words drifted off with confusion and sorrow. "I... I don't really understand why you would so that, but Tsuna, I'm going to make sure we win, because I believe in your family, Juudaime."
A rush of pain, understanding, and sheer protectiveness bathed Tsuna as he turned to look into resolved green eyes. There was something pure about Hayato despite all his talk of being a filthy Mafioso. The red-silver string that had been so sharp and so painful to hold became soothed as Tsuna pulled Hayato into an embrace and asked Hayato to continue playing.
"Never stop playing your music, Hayato." He spoke softly even if tears still laced his tone. "It is such a wonderful talent." Such a talent reflected in the way the fate strings wrapped around the piano keys and glowed as they were struck, adding a ethereal song to the already beautiful notes.
Of course, Tsuna trusted Hayato with his life and knew that the boy wasn't following him just because he was Mafia, Hayato was so ardent and defensive because he knew what the Mafia could do to people and how it could destroy civilians. Tsuna knew that Hayato was simply scared for him. Scared of losing his family to the Mafia's greed once again.
"Remember what we fight for, Hayato." Tsuna spoke softly, his hand on Hayato's arm as they walked a few paces behind the rest of the group. Takeshi was standing on Hayato's other side, his sword in place and a frown marring his face. "You are too important to us to risk it for a ring."
Hayato was silent for a moment, his eyes closed, listening to the music in their steps and their breathing. He would never tell Tsuna or Takeshi, but their breathing, steps, movements, everything, sounded the most beautiful out of the entire group. The three together made the most beautiful music.
"I know, Tsuna." He whispered softly as he gripped Tsuna's hand quickly before dropping it. "I'm fighting for Juudaime's Famiglia today, but I'm also fighting for my family. I'll be careful."
He smiled softly at Tsuna, showing his friend that he understood what Tsuna was saying. It would be hard for him to abandon the fight if he had to, his entire upbringing was 'win' and 'sacrifice' for the famiglia. Even Tsuna's gentle teachings could not yet fully overcome an ingrained instinct. It would be an internal fight as much as an external fight for Hayato. But he would not lose. He had trained not to lose.
Tsuna relented as they arrived on the third floor on their main school building. Everyone was already waiting for them. Tsuna's eyes drifted immediately to Xanxus, it was something about skies, Tsuna mused, that made they automatically drawn to each other. Xanxus held Tsuna's gaze before Tsuna caught the minute nod of appreciation. Tsuna would bet that too few held Xanxus gaze for very long. Even Tsuna admitted it was somewhat cowardly and rude.
Slowly Tsuna's eyes drifted to the red string connecting Hayato and Belphegor together. The Varia guardian was tall and sinister. Tsuna became uneasy as his gaze was met with the tiara wearing teen. Though he could not see his eyes, Tsuna was sure the boy was glaring intently at both him and Hayato. There was sheer brilliance behind the blond fringe; it was a mirror of Hayato, a sinister, rule-less version of Hayato's intelligence. This battle was going to be dark.
There was blood; so much blood on Belphegor's string, Tsuna could practically smell it and it sent his stomach twisting uncomfortably. This person would not hesitate to kill if he was bored.
"Dame-Tsuna, don't show weakness in the face of this opponent." Reborn murmured behind him, he rubbed a quick circle on Tsuna's back before the hand disappeared. It wouldn't do to show that Tsuna needed support in the face of these dangerous people.
As they settled the Cervello began to explain the rules of the match. Tsuna blocked out most of the common rules when a loud roar had him almost flashing into HDW mode. However, he watched the windows beside them break under the weight of all the desks and chairs from the classroom before he could change his state.
"These hurricane generators will create hurricane-like conditions. If a candidate is hit by these they will most likely be ejected from the field and thereby disqualified. So please be aware." The first spoke with smooth monotone.
"They are generated at random." The second began, "If you are truly the storm then you will be able to survive or avoid these hurricanes."
"But there is a time limit." The first explained in tandem with the second.
"If you do not complete the match within fifteen minutes every generator will explode." The second began again. "In which case the competitors will most likely die."
Suddenly all confidence Tsuna had in this battle was gone and the panic from Lambo's match began to writhe in his stomach. He forced himself into a calm state, concentrating on the presence of Takeshi and Ryohei on each arm, feeling the comfort of Chrome and Mukuro's strings, and feeling the calm of HDW settling in his chest. He couldn't show Hayato that he didn't have faith in him. If Tsuna showed any kind of panic- Hayato understanding it was because he was precious or not- the bomber would probably lose all faith in himself.
"You herbivores are destroying the peace of Namimori. You had better prepare yourself. Kami korosu."
Kyouya could see Tsuna's slow spiral downwards and his protective streak ignited. Not only was his school under serious threat, but now the boy under his care was also under threat; it was a threat form from his own mind, but it was being ignited by these strange women and these useless fights.
"Your school will be repaired by the Cervello; you have no need to be alarmed." One of the women tried to appease the cloud guardian.
"That isn't the point, you-"Kyouya was cut off mid-sentence as Reborn placed a commanding, strong hand upon his shoulder and shook his head sternly. Kyouya respected the infant enough to back down with only murmured curse.
Just as Hayato was about to move off to fight, Tsuna approached once more and stood in front of the bomber, his eyes were gleaming with concern as he watched Hayato warm up slightly.
"This match is for all of us... but I don't want to lose anyone for these rings." Tsuna elaborated, he was unaware of it, but every guardian had looked upon their little boss with a gentle smile. Each one, in their own way, was often ignored and was skipped over when it came to affection. But never by Tsuna. "Make sure you're not one of the ones I lose, Hayato."
The match started as each group was sent to an observation both at either end of the floor. Tsuna watched with interest as Belphegor gave Hayato encouraging words before moving off again. Something in Tsuna's gut twisted as he watched and the red strings bucked uncomfortably. The problem was that the screens they were watching from were not the best of quality. Tsuna couldn't make out many of the fate strings and couldn't understand what they were trying to tell him.
The battle started off sourly, almost immediately Hayato was surrounded by knives and was on the run. Even Tsuna didn't understand how the knives worked but could be adamant that the reason Hayato was having trouble was because he was mostly brains. He had this amazing ability to hunker down his fiery attitude and become the most observant, quick firing person Tsuna had ever met. But against the sheer genius of Belphegor- mixed with the lack of care of his own life- Hayato's line of thinking was not an advantage.
However, there was one thing that Hayato was better at, and that was reading the winds. Tsuna wouldn't be slow to admit that Belphegor was extremely adapted, but he was rather ridged in his movements, too confident in his skills. Hayato adapted quickly.
He was caught unawares by one of the turbines, but not again, soon enough he was using them to his advantage. But unfortunately he was only on-par with Bel at that point. Belphegor knew how to use the turbines and their violent winds to negate all of Hayato's dynamite.
Then the impossible happened. The knives Belphegor used to fight were going through the winds as if they were nothing. Tsuna could see it, but only faintly. There were strings everywhere in the battle arena. All were so thin that Tsuna only caught it because the winds gave the strings a more obvious background. Red strings- Bel's strings -were everywhere.
Hayato obviously couldn't though, because he was soon hiding in a classroom, bleeding and confused as Bel stalked the halls.
Tsuna's emotions kept flip-flopping as he watched the storm fight. At one point Bel would have the advantage without a doubt, but then Hayato would pull out a new bomb or a new strategy and Belphegor would be the one running. Tsuna was feeling the sheer effort of the emotion in the form of a painful migraine. He could only imagine what Hayato was going through.
Every single guardian on Tsuna's side could see the whirring of Hayato's mind as he tried to figure out what exactly Belphegor was doing to get the knives to fly so true and seem to levitate. Not one of the guardians was worried that the man would figure it out. He had a bear-trap of a mind after all.
Tsuna was completely confused. Why couldn't Hayato see the red strings attached to the knives? Surely something so strange in colour was so obvious. He stepped forward to protest and call out to his bomber when Mukuro walked forward and pressed his gloved hand against Tsuna's mouth.
"Those are fate strings, Tsunayoshi, not even Belphegor can see them." Mukuro divulged, his brow crinkled when he saw Tsuna's eyes widen.
"No one can see them?" he gasped it sounded like a question even if it wasn't one.
Tsuna was so preoccupied with watching Hayato's mind whirring that he didn't notice the new string appears in his vicinity. When he finally did he was surprised to see that the string had a yellow gleam to it. A man in his mid thirties had entered their viewing area with a sever frown, in his eyes pure worry. Tsuna analysed the man and found his eyes drifting to the red string- Hayato's string- and the way it wove together with this man's own red-yellow string.
"You must be Hayato's mentor." Tsuna asked slowly, unsure if he was right.
"You must be this amazing 'Juudaime' the brat keeps harping on about. My name is Shamal." The man was dressed as a doctor, but there was a dangerous aura to them that had Tsuna immediately on edge.
"He isn't a brat. My name is Tsunayoshi, but you can call me Tsuna."
Shamal seemed to contemplate that for a moment, he stared into Tsuna's eyes, and was surprised to see the teen hold the gaze. Irises dyed that rich, beautiful orange of HDW, Tsuna did not waver. Shamal understood to a point exactly why Hayato has decided to follow this Mafioso and no other. The boy wasn't mafia. The boy was the embodiment of everything free and selfless.
Shamal looked over the fight with keen eyes. "They weren't mistaken when they said Bel was 'Varia Quality' that boy there is a certified Genius. He's using the currents to his advantage perfectly." The doctor leant against the wall of their viewing area with a nonchalant shrug, as if his student wasn't struggling for his life.
"But he's over confident." Tsuna expressed as he continued to watch the screens, almost unblinking. "He doesn't understand that Hayato is just as brilliant."
"Yeah, Doc." Takeshi elaborated, "Haya isn't going to lose so easily." The swordsman smirked happily, and Shamal could only stare.
"Tako-head is powerful TO THE EXTREME!"
"H-Hayato isn't weak." Chrome whispered while wringing her trident.
"Kufufufufu, if my dear Chrome says so, it must be true."
"The herbivore better win, Kami Korosu."
Shamal could do nothing but stare as the teens interacted. He like so many others was completely taken aback by the trust each guardian displayed even if some sounded goading or taunting. Not one of them had any doubt that they would win this conflict. Shamal believed that this 'win' didn't even mean that they had the rings by the end of it.
"I think you should have more faith in your student, Shamal." Tsuna smirked as everyone else- instinctively moving to Tsuna's words- turned towards the monitors.
Hayato had just released new dynamite, and as much as Tsuna froze – because why the fuck was Hayato using something that didn't work the last time- he was confident in Hayato's ability. What surprised them all was the sudden direction and speed change the dynamite took as a secondary fuse burnt out and sent them rocketing towards an equally surprised Bel.
"Even if I said all that, there one thing I know," Shamal sighed, "Hayato has honed the skills to improve during life and death situation at an exponential rate." Tsuna could see the proud smile life the stoic man's lips. For all his harsh words and all the complaining, Shamal considered Hayato precious.
But the relief was short lived because as the smoke cleared a new kind of laughter erupted from the bloodied prince, Belphegor.
There was a drunken manner to Bel's movements. Clear confusion marred most of the guardians' faces; the boy was giggling about the blood pouring over his skin. His body flopped uncomfortable as he wobbled on his feet.
"Mukuro, what's wrong with him?" Chrome hid behind Tsuna and Mukuro as the illusionist stepped up to Tsuna's side.
"I don't like this, Tsunayoshi; I've seen people like this in Estraneo."
Over the intercom the guardians listened to the Varia as they discussed the dark history of the prince storm. Tsuna cringed back as even Mukuro and Chrome looked pale. To kill his twin so easily because he was looking for happiness and being so drawn to bloodshed that he joined the Varia? It was truly disturbing.
Belphegor proceeded to fight recklessly running into Hayato's precise and well thought out movements and attacks. But the recklessness showed how truly genius Belphegor was, without hesitation he could dodge closer and miss by millimeters rather than centimeters. It was dangerous, but seemed to work as the Varia member chased Hayato through the school.
As if things couldn't get worse and alarm sounded to signal the final five minutes of the battle.
With Hayato stuck in the library even Ryohei could understand that he was at a disadvantage. Dynamite was a double edge sword. For every explosion that hit Bel, in an enclosed space would also hit Hayato. He would not get out of this fight unscathed. And at this rate he would be even more wounded than Bel would.
Belphegor began to fight close, stuck in a library with no exit, the two fighters started dancing closer together, and Bel's knives nicked and sliced Hayato up until his silver hair was more bloodied than it was silver.
For a moment everyone held their breath as Hayato sent of another volley of dynamite. The explosion rocked the entire library toppling bookshelves and sending various tomes scattering across the room. Even the Varia was unsure of how to react to the explosion. No one, not even the masochistic prince could have survived such an explosion.
Tsuna was sickened a little as he thought of that, he could not blame Hayato, they were all going into their fights knowing that they may or may not have to kill their opponent; as was the mafia's code of conduct. To know that he may have just forced Hayato to make his bones at eighteen, Tsuna was sickened. But at least Hayato was alive and was only inured. He wasn't dead. He wasn't dying.
Tsuna nearly had a heart attack when Hayato faltered. "Maa maa, I don't think Hayato can afford to fight much longer."
"Idiot is feeling dizzy from just a little blood loss." Shamal said. Tsuna wanted to give the man a square punch to the jaw, but Reborn beat him to it with a quick smack to the back of the head.
"Be more considerate. Idiot."
Hayato walked towards the downed Belphegor with a sad look on his face. He was surprised to feel no gloating in his chest, simply appreciation for a good rival. He leant down and gently pulled the ring from the downed blonde.
Then a hand was around his throat.
Before anyone could really react Hayato was pinned to the floor with a cackling, completely erratic Belphegor strangling him. The boy was babbling, seeing but not seeing and Tsuna felt Hayato's fate string buck uncomfortably as its owner fought for breath. Being taken by surprise is never a good thing.
"How is that bastard still moving?" The fact that Ryohei was swearing gave anyone in the viewing area enough sense to know that the situation was dire.
The explosions started at the far end of the school. Tsuna's face swung around to see the windows explode outwards and felt his chest constrict in panic. Hayato was still pinned and fighting. Tsuna was sure that Hayato would give up now, having heard the explosions.
To Tsuna's horror Hayato's demeanor changed as Bel pressed down on him with whimsical lack of care. Blood splattered as the prince moved around, trying how just to kill Hayato and not get the rings. Tsuna didn't want to look anymore.
For all the planning and assurance Hayato had given him the bomber had just switched back to his ingrained actions. It looked like Hayato was now willing to die to get the storm ring.
"I won't go until I get that ring!"
Tsuna wanted to scream, but he found himself suitably numb. He couldn't blame Hayato, his child hood was filled with lessons about his worthlessness and how he had to die to be recognised. But Tsuna has hoped the greater part of a year and a half with people who genuinely cared for him would bring him out of that. For the most part it did. But now Hayato was being pursued by a reckless predator.
"Don't you dare." Tsuna breathed. "Hayato don't you dare!"
His voice carried across the intercoms and blasted the battling, wrestling guardians right in the ears, even the Varia stopped when Tsuna's commanding voice drifted through their observation box.
"What did I tell you right before you started battling? I told you that you are precious and it's not worth your life for a stupid ring."
The bomb expert looked like he was going to protest as he tried to get the ring from Belphegor's neck. Tsuna however had no intention of letting the silvernet continue.
"Don't even! Why do you think we fight, Hayato? We fight to spend more time together. We still need to have a snow ball fight and see fireworks together. We are fighting for tomorrow! No matter what, your life is no substitute for that!" Tsuna's voice was commanding and full of a certainty that rarely filtered into his tone. "How will we do those things if you die?! Don't you dare die on me now Hayato, just abandon the fight."
"Tsuna..."
"Hayato I don't care if you play the piano beautifully or if you fight like a monster, all I care about is that you are alive."
The explosions went off much to Tsuna's horror and he lost sight of both Hayato and Belphegor. Before even Tsuna realised it his knees were folding and he was heading for the ground. However, Reborn and Takeshi reacted quickly to grab an arm each and get Tsuna to his feet.
Reborn and Takeshi where whispering calming, soothing words but Tsuna was lost to his own world. He was trying to concentrate on Hayato's string, trying to feel what the boy's condition was. He couldn't figure anything out though as the smoke cleared.
Hayato walked calmly towards the infrared box that his boss waited in. He had an ashamed look on his face. He gripped the elbow of his left arm and would not meet Tsuna's eyes.
"I forfeit."
Almost before the words left his mouth the Cervello announced Bel- who was being dragged bloodied and broken out of the library- the winner. The infrared beams disappeared and Tsuna was out of the box. He tackled Hayato around the waist, guilty for the painful hiss but not caring at that moment. Hayato collapsed into Tsuna's arms, and it was only the constant training that made sure Tsuna could hold up his friend before the others joined him.
"I'm proud of you, Hayato. Thank god you're okay."
"'I'm sorry Tsuna. Didn't get the ring."
"That doesn't even matter. You are alive, we can win other battles. No one said we had to win them all."
The Cervello came on the screens at that point to officially announce Xanxus' victory before announcing the next fight. Though, Tsuna was already on his way back to Shamal to demand that his friend get treated.
"Next is the battle of Rain guardians."
So here's Hayato's chapter. I know you may be disappointed in Hayato losing the battle, but you have to imagine that Hayato is really 'damaged' as a person. He's been abused throughout his life and it would be difficult for him to understand that he is special for himself. That is why in the end he lost the battle, but believe me when I say this has changed him for the better.
Thank you for reading!
~~Bleach-ed-Na-tsu :3