Moving In
I repressed a groan as my hair caught on a branch of a bush. It was one of those thorny ones that loved clinging to what hurt. Rather than simply cutting the strands free I meticulously untwined them from the branch. Stray strands that glittered in the sunlight often attracted unwanted attention from any living organism with a brain and curiosity. Turning my attention back to the tunnel that was carved through the mountain in the center of the Simon Famiglia's island, I wondered where it went. An entire day had been spent here yet I hadn't seen anyone pass through. The pitch blackness of places the sun never touched did not bother me but this was not familiar territory and the Simon are worse than sharks at a feeding frenzy with their attitudes to the Vongola.
Staying out of the mouth of the tunnel was easy until I had to go in. Not for the first or last time I said my prayers that I was slim. Remaining out of the sunlight as much as possible was a shade harder but necessary. The sun would clearly illuminate me if I entered it directly and anyone coming out would see me unless they were blind. From what I've seen, no one in the Simon Family was blind.
The dry air was still and provided no natural sounds for me to conceal my movements with. It was amazing what could be concealed in the soft rustle of leaves so long as an individual wasn't too clumsy. Thinking of clumsy drew Tsuna to mind. I wondered how he was doing. It's been hours since Sasagawa and Koyo were dragged into Vendice. I would prefer to die rather than go back to Japan to tell Kyoko she will never see her big brother again. Having Xanxus telling me Superbi was gone forever...let's not even think about it. I don't want to have to break my promise to Superbi. Being caught by the Simon here on their home ground while I know nothing about their Flames would be a death sentence. Whenever I don't have a relative idea of my opponent's abilities it never goes as well as I would like. My future self's encounter with Byakuran in combat clearly proves that since I found myself in a morgue. But the 'key' Vendice released was rather puzzling. From the way the Simon had gone on, I though there had been more years of antagonism between Giotto's Family and Cozart's Family. At least the clues would continue to be provided as the battles went on. I didn't like this, the battles. It seemed orchestrated but not by any of the Simon. It seemed intent on sabotaging both parties somehow. There was no concrete proof just a feeling in my gut. Whatever, I shook myself, turning back to the night of the tunnel.
Tunnels, for me at least, have always had a sense of pressure to them. I could sense the weight of the earth pressing down on the walls and it wasn't solely because of claustrophobia. The pressure faded when a ghost of a light sparkled at the end of the tunnel. I didn't have to be as careful here as the shadows would conceal me however security has caused many a spies' downfall. Moving apace from shadow to shadow, I felt my jaw drop. In the great cavern that the tunnel ended in was a rather tall castle. Spires leapt from almost any corner and Earth flames illuminate certain points. My eyes had seen many bizarre things but this was the most bizarre. A European style castle in an island off the coast of Japan didn't make much sense unless you were an Italian bringing home over to foreign land. Two heart beats later my awe retreated into wariness as I became aware of another pressure. It wasn't the closed space pressure as it had a more human feel to it. It was more...contemplating and aware that a jaguar was in the jungle but not sure where it was precisely. I also felt Enma's Flame. How could I forget that intense gravity that threw Tsuna and company around with no problems?
Approaching the wall furthest from the burning Flames and most set into the shadows wasn't easy. Finally settling for a nook, I slid my hands over the rock that composed of the castle. Even if it was made by Flames there would still be handholds. If I used my ring or whatever it is now it would be much easier to get up but since I need a tonne of willpower to activate it, it would only draw attention. Even the least intuitive would be able to feel the Flames need to release my new weapon from its crystal. Besides, it's not a good idea to become dependent on Flames no matter how useful they are. They can always be sensed no matter how thinly spread out they are. Running my hands along the wall to search for groves to use as handholds, I noticed the first ten feet were perfectly smooth but above those ten feet it would be ideal for free-style mountain climbing. Getting up would be the problem though. I'm a few inches shy of six feet and there are still four feet to go. Ugh. Sliding through the window I heaved a sigh. I am way out of shape if that short climb was causing rivulets of sweat to cascade.
Kufufu, you have gotten used to the 'everyday' life.
Shut up. I took a few deep breaths to restore oxygen to my lungs. While softly gasping I glanced around the room I had slid into. A layer of dust covered the entire floor and there was no furniture. Footprints marked where someone had recently and inadvertently cleaned the floor. They lead up to the window where they turned back and straight out the door. This must a watch turret. It was ideally located to observe all the tunnels that lead to the cavern the castle was housed in. Even the tunnel I came in by was clearly seen. Mercifully, the footprints had a day's layer of new dust so no one had been here when I came in. Turning my attention up, I found the rafters. If I lay on my side on the beams then no one would be able to see save from select angles. The blocks that made up the castle were smooth on the outside but roughly hewn on the inside. Climbing up them would be easy.
A sudden sense of 'HIDE' had me up the wall and in the rafters before I could draw a breath. Breathing deeply and slowly to soothe my hammering heart and cool the adrenaline, I built up an illusion that would mimic the walls around me. For this kind of thing photographic memory was actually useful. If the person wasn't perceptive or not expecting the illusion I would be safe. I should be since no one was expecting Tsuna soon...I hope.
The door to the tower slid open silently as Julie stepped in. Something was very different about him now. It seemed as if a veil had been lifted and his true...no, not true self. This echoed of Chrome, how she had a veil of Mukuro's identity over her's after all the times Mukuro possessed her. The lazy womanizer that was Julie was smothered by a duvet of cold, malicious intent with a power drive that was deadly. Goosebumps were blooming across my arms. If I had a mirror, I would not have been surprised if my hair was bristled like a cat confronted with a cat-eating dog.
Julie's body was perfectly relaxed as he gazed out the window. Then it tensed as he found something he didn't like. Timing my footsteps with his breathing I crossed the ceiling like a cat, clinging to the beam. His eyes flicked up for a few beats. I froze, keeping my breathing synchronized with his while controlling my heart rate with deep breaths. All that blood giving me a rush was the last thing I needed. Whoever had Julie in his grasp was terrifying in his intent. Shrugging he turned back to the window. Not even wondering if it was a ploy I shot across the remaining beams and swung myself down the stairwell up to the room. My pure, un-polished leather silenced my rapid footsteps as I shot down the stairwell. I didn't stop racing until I reached a great hall, shot up a pillar and reached a point where all the rafters met. Once secure behind the column I let out a quick gasp. Why on earth did I bolt out of there like entirety of the Millefiore and Varia were on my heels?
Mukuro's only comment was his silent astonishment. I shivered as I thought of that quilt that was covering Julie. It seemed old, like First Generation Vongola old. When Primo released the Vongola rings' seals I had sensed irritation in the Mist Guardian but nothing like what I felt in Julie. Its ruthless ambition made Xanxus a philanthropist.
Again so soon! I reeled from the new key. I have no idea how the battles were going. It could be 0-2 (Vongola-Shimon) for all I knew! More importantly right now though, I need to regroup. Okay, we saw how Cozart's and Giotto's friendship started. They both helped out a local kid who lived in the same town as them. Now, I find out Cozart had suggested that Giotto start and lead a vigilante group. What the hell? I'd always known history is perverted by the writer but this is beyond what could be conceived! From what I know so far, Giotto and Cozart had no reason to stab each other, yet the Shimon Family has been reduced to what it is now. The descendents of Cozart's family were after the lives of the Vongola yet the reason for the fighting seemed to have bloomed out of nowhere. But nothing comes out of nowhere, there is always a source and that s what I want to find. Sadly, to find the source I need to wait for the puzzle pieces to present themselves. I hope they aren't at the cost of my friends.
Mentally groaning I continued to move on. It was hard to stay on this sturdy wooden beam. I desperately wanted to find out how everyone was doing. Thinking about Sasagawa made my stomach heave but I didn't have that same reaction for everyone else. As much as I didn't want to consider it, it seemed to be the only reasonable conclusion: Ryohei lost.