This was actually supposed to be updated 2 weeks ago, but here it is now. Longer than I originally intended...
Disclaimer: I don't own KHR
"Hello…" greets a figure in the shadows. The only parts visible are the wise glean in his sienna eyes and flowing chestnut hair.
"Who are you?" I ask. The person chuckles, but doesn't move. Frustrated, I try to step forward.
His face, previously full of gentleness, becomes shadowed with grief.
"I'm so alone, but I can't let you step any closer. He doesn't like strangers," the man warns, giving one last bittersweet smile before a new aura fills the dark room.
I involuntarily shudder. Maliciousness licked my spine, the pure evil more than I had ever felt from any of my past enemies.
The figure's chocolate orbs turned a glowing sunset orange, and all previous emotion was lost.
"Who the hell are you?"
"AAAAAHHHHHH!" screeched the blonde, launching himself into a seated position. Panting, the 14 year old clutched his blue sheets, sweat dripping off his brow. He was in his room, in his bed, in his house. The teenager could even hear his mother humming in the kitchen.
Glancing at the clock, he realized it was his normal wake up time for a Saturday, 6:50 on the dot.
What the hell was that? Who was that person? the blonde wondered, and maybe it's because of my hyper intuition Reborn keeps talking about. Groaning, he was about to heft himself out of bed when something occurred to him.
"Reborn! Crap! Wasn't today when he was supposed to return?!" he shrieked, throwing off the covers. It was Saturday, but with Reborn, there was no excuse for not looking your best. Especially if you're a Mafia boss in training, the blonde added sourly.
Hastily, the boy stripped himself of the pajamas and rifled through his drawers to find something wearable, not even noticing the mess he was creating. In a matter of moments, he had on khaki shorts and a white flannel shirt. A silver chain with a skull, which Gokudera had given him for his last birthday, and his sky ring on a slightly thicker chain dangled from his neck.
"Ie-kun!" called his, Ieyasu Sawada's, mother from the bottom of the stairs. Gulping, the blonde's trepidation increased 10 fold. Straightening the crinkles one last time, the teenager left his room to see his tutor, who must've been in a good mood not to do anything horribly violent to him, yet.
Reborn had been gone 10 days now, and although Lambo and Ryohei were as loud as ever, and Hibari, Mukuro, and Gokudera were perhaps even more violent, it was strange without the hitman constantly watching him from the trees or walking with him or not causing him pain with that bastardly smirk. Unfortunately, it had just increased the amount of fangirls that flooded his vicinity upon immediately entered Namimori middle. Then Hibari would have a fuss and chase him around to the brink of being late.
It was only thanks to him already being athletically bodied and the hellish stamina and speed training Reborn had been giving him for the past year, that Ieyasu was able to get away with only a few scratches and bruises.
Reborn had been called back so suddenly. He worried if Ji-chan and Xanxus had another fight. But they wouldn't have to involve Reborn in it. Most likely, it was a job. Deciding to ask the hitman when he saw him undoubtedly eating his breakfast, fed by Bianchi.
He definitely saw I-Pin chasing after Lambo, and Bianchi eating his mother's homemade omelet. But, just like the past 9 days, there was no Reborn. Scrunching his eyebrows he asked his mother and Banchi.
"Reborn-san? He said there were a few more things to sort out before he could come back home~," Nana Sawada, Ieyasu Sawada's mother, chirped cheerfully, sipping her miso soup. The blonde relaxed his body, unconsciously preparing for the brutal beatings that would surely follow their reunion.
He turned to Bianchi for some form of elaboration. "Reborn isn't finished," she replied indifferently, continuing to eat. Grumbling, Ieyasu took his seat, and ate his mother's wonderful cooking.
Upon finishing at around 7:30, he was about to walk upstairs to play some videogames, when the doorbell rang. Being so close, he shouted to his mother that he'd get it and opened the door.
"Um, hi, Ieyasu."
The blonde smiled back at his timid friend, Enma. Unlike all of his allies, the redhead had first been his friend, and then he fought with him. It had gone all the way back with their connected ancestry, a deep grudge that the Simon family misunderstood.
Enma is, like him, the future tenth boss of Simon, but is different in every other aspect to their appearance from the flames they wield. But the small 14 year old had an interesting perspective and personality that Ieyasu appreciated. Enma was someone he could wholeheartedly talk to.
Smiling, the blonde responded, "Hey, En-"
"GOOD MORNING JUUDAIME!" screamed Ieyasu's right-hand man and storm guardian, Gokudera Hayato screamed, running up to Enma, distraught by the volume. Shaking his head disapprovingly, Ieyasu, lightly chastised him.
"I'm so sorry, Juudaime! Enma-san! If it hadn't been for that idiot," the silver haired guardian annoyedly gestured over his shoulder at the smiling teen at the blonde's gates, "I wouldn't have arrived late."
Sighing, Ieyasu asked them all to come in.
In truth, Enma had ordered by Adelheid to directly go to the other teenage boss-in-training's house so he could stop acting 'moody' all the time. Gokudera came because he wanted to be by his side, and Yamamoto just wanted to hang out since he was free.
He loved his famiglia, Ieyasu really did, even when they were annoying, creepy, violent, and challenged his very mentality.
The blonde had been taking it pretty easy for the past week and a half. Of course, Ieyasu could never escape doing homework, housework, and daily training. Not only did Reborn that 'killer sixth sense', but the hitman was very talented in engraving things into your soul. Perhaps it was the way his onyx eyes stared at you, or maybe because he shoots at you every time you screw up, and perhaps how he enjoys seeing you squirm whenever he threatens/attempts to murder you in whatever new way that fedora-ed brain managed to concoct.
Whatever it was, it was near physically impossible for Ieyasu not to do his chores and training.
"So, Ieyasu-kun, how about we all go into town? It's past 8, so most of the stores should be open," suggested Enma. Smiling, the blonde agreed. "About you guys? Gokudera? Yamamoto?"
"It would be an honor, Juudaime!" the silver haired 14 year old chirped. He was already standing. Yamamoto joined him, nodded his head in concurrence.
Grinning, Ieyasu and his closest friends walked downstairs.
He asked his mother, who let him as long as the child pick up some groceries. With that, their little group walked out into the already warmed atmosphere of August.
That was how Ieyasu's first day of Summer Break started. The blonde will look back at this moment, a week, a month, years into the future, and wonder if if he really should have stepped out of his house that day.
Their first stop was a cafe.
Yamamoto insisted that they go there first because of their light cream cakes with cinnamon and caramel. Gokudera soon protested that Juudaime was the only he followed and that the Rain Guardian had no business giving orders. The baseball star in question easily laughed it off.
Ieyasu was quick to quiet the storm. The adventure would be ruined far too soon if his too closest friends destroyed the all of Namimori's shopping district.
Gokudera was muted, only until they had arrived and he mumbled an insult vaguely sounding like 'A pathetic place for a pathetic guy'. The leader decided to ignore that.
Enma picked out a seat by the window, and the four of them sat down. Ieyasu was facing Enam, and Gokudera sat on his left, as he was beside the window. Yamamoto was then across from him, with Gokudera sitting in front of Yamamoto.
"Do you think we should have invited the girls?" muttered Ieyasu, holding an inquisitive hand to his face. Happily, Gokudera reassured him that this was a time to hang out with Ieyasu and it could be ruined by 'those annoying women', as the semi-delinquent put it. Sighing for the third time that day, and the blonde getting an intuitive feeling that he would be sighing a lot more, he told his order to the bumbling waitress practically bathing in positive energy.
She didn't even blink as Gokudera insulted her, caller her words that middle schoolers shouldn't come out of a middle schooler's mouth. Ieyasu could only give his apologies, as she moved on to Yamamoto without missing a beat.
They ended up all ordering Yamamoto's recommendation, and an assortment of beverages. Yamamoto had fanta, Gokudera got coke, Enma ordered tea, and Ieyasu was content with water.
As they waited for their treats to arrive, Gokudera explained what he had heard about Reborn. Yamamoto had been even more weary and with the hitman's absence. What came with trusting Reborn was a sense of security in which one could rely on. Ieyasu had been gaining an increasing amount of attention after faking the Inheritance Ceremony. Now that Ieyasu had defeated both Enma and Checkerface, Yamamoto had the feeling that the blonde would be experiencing that for real with in several years. It hasn't been since Genkishi that Yamamoto wasn't careful and attentive with mafiosi. He needed to stay as sharp as his blade for the sake of his sky.
"Alright," the bomber began, "It appears the Kyudaime had sent Reborn, your tutor, Xanxus, your past rival, and Byakuran, your future enemy, to gather information on something. What it is, however, is highly confidential information." Ieyasu groaned. The worst people on the planet he'd ever want to fight. All that was missing were his friends and the Arcobaleno (including Checkerface).
"Whatever the target was, it must've been insanely important and difficult. To send Reborn and those two and still taking over 10 days," commented Enma. Concern and worry swam in his red crimson irises. Ieyasu had always been fascinated by Enma's particular shade of red-for both his head and eyes.
His serenity was soon disrupted by the prickling sensation of a familiar aura..
"Kufufufufu~ So that's what happened~" purred Ieyasu's Mist guardian, Rokudo Mukuro. The blonde bit back a shriek (one that the blonde swore would never pass his lips after entering his second year of middle school), sighing at the illusionist's antics. Chrome was close behind him, meekly observing the whole scene of Mukuro leaning right up to the blonde's face from behind, and Gokudera going red in the face.
Yamamoto had minutely stiffened, in case it had been an enemy. Reborn on multiple occasions praised the swordsman for his reflexes and response time. As it was uncharacteristic of him to compliment people, Yamamoto and Ieyasu both knew it had to be true. The Rain guardian could be very sharp at times, especially when in 'danger' (before truly getting involved with Ieyasu, 'danger' had been the baseball field.
Gokudera howled angrily, though easily ignored by Mukuro. Growling, the silver haired mafioso sat down. He had never liked Ieyasu's Mist guardian, who had introduced himself after mercilessly hunting him down by brutally slaying his sempai and classmates (as Ieyasu was a freshman at the time).
"What do you want this time, Mukuro?" wearily asked the blonde, not easing his guard. Although Mukuro was far greater an ally then foe, and a bit closer to something like a friend after the year he's fought beside him, the pedo-pineapple could very easily kill them all and claim Ieyasu's body. For the sake of his closest friends, and the world, he didn't want that to happen. Besides, wherever Mukuro goes, bad things follow in the form of the future boss's violent and introverted cloud.
"Sawada Ieyasu, where is the carnivore?" demanded Hibari Kyoya, head of the D.C. and the blonde's cloud guardian. He had a peculiar habit of labeling people following the ecological food chain, and so far, Reborn is the only one to have earned the title of top predator. Also, the raven had a deep-seated resentment after Mukuro immobilized him and trapped him. That was one thing Hibari hated more than anything; a cage.
Ieyasu questioned if it was fate that Hibari got the position as Cloud Guardian, who was supposed to the most distant. He got to freely protect and watch the famiglia from a farther standpoint, not being 'crowded'-the most common form of 'entrapment' to him-but still with the famiglia and boss. The blonde wondered if he thought being allied were like metaphorical chains, and Hibari would kill them all. Anything that went against Hibari's wishes and desires was probably considered binding, as well, however.
"Yes, the skylark followed me, as I was headed to you, so he could locate and fight with Reborn. He is a bloodthirsty monster, after all," Mukuro replied, all the while smirking as Hibari glowered at him. Electricity shot between them, their glares were so heated. Mukuro possessed the same contempt for Hibari.
The waitress, awfully frightened at the appearance of the infamous Hibari Kyoya at their table, quivered. The brunette girl placated trying to stealthily sneak the tray onto their table without catching the high schooler's gaze. However, her body kept screaming to forget the job and run as far away as possible.
Quietly gulping, she resolved to sit in the table behind the group and casually place the platter on the table. Smiling weakly at herself, the waitress sat down unnoticed. As she was about to rest the platter on the table, the firm grasp of one Yamamoto Takeshi on her wrist stopped her. Yelping, she futilely tried to withdraw her arm. She broke into a cold sweat at his piercing stare.
Thankfully, it only lasted a moment, as Yamamoto quickly released her, awkwardly apologizing while scratching his neck. "Sorry. I can never be too careful!" he chuckled. With the entire tables(and the two intruders') gazes on her, the waitress curtly assured him it was fine and darted out of the danger zone to the haven that was the kitchen.
"Poor girl," mumbled Enma, as Hibari and Mukuro took fighting stances. "Oi!" shouted Ieyasu, shooting up from his seat, "No fighting! Didn't you see that waitress!? She was scared stiff of getting 'bitten to death', and very well could be! Sit down, BOTH of you!" he ordered, staring intensely at his two most troublesome guardians.
Hibari, although annoyed the herbivore-omnivore candidate just ordered him him(thus trying to make the cloud bend to another's wishes), he was impressed by the audacity and resolve of the younger. Smirking (one that rightfully sent shivers down Ieyasu's spine), Hibari sat behind Ieyasu in the next table over.
Pouting, Mukuro shrugged, stifling his excitement, and sat behind Enma, in the next booth, opposite to Ieyasu, and most importantly, Hibari.
The smirk fluidly slipped into a stoic face, as he commanded his 'boss'(Hibari would laugh at this is he hadn't like beating people bloody so much more), "Call him." Steely eyes sharpened at the other's brilliant blue irises, which had earnest confusion swimming in them. He sneered, not wanting to explain something the herbivore should already know.
"I don't have his number," Ieyasu dumbly replied. Mukuro chuckled. "I highly doubt that. Try checking your contacts and call anyone you don't know," he suggested. Sighing, the blonde fished his iPhone out of his pocket. With only a small series of clicks, he was there.
"Kate Kyo-sama," muttered Ieyasu darkly, glaring at the screen. Mukuro smirked impossibly wider at that.
Grumbling, he selected the name and held it to his ear. Enma seemed worried, but all his present guardians seemed to very interested. Hibari was leering a little too close for his heart to hear. Mukuro jumped over the small boundary separating them, plopping right in between Yamamoto and Enma, who, besides a small amount of wariness, ignored him.
"What is it, Baka-Yasu?"
The blonde gulped at the dark tone. He had never heard something so… dangerous. Not even Byakuran or Xanxus got such a reaction from his hyer intuition. The rest of the table obviously sensed it as well. Leave it up to Reborn to transmit murderous aura over the phone.
"Um… W-why aren't you here?"
~~~ Vongola Personal Effects Museum, Primo Isle ~~~
Reborn was close. He could feel it.
Although he was over the promised 10 days, the raven knew, with the few remaining letters, the puzzle will finally be complete. Reborn had easily found the large bundle-it took up a third of his isle-3 days prior. He started from the top, going down. The one in his hands wasn't very long, unlike the ones he first read. From what Reborn has been able to figure out, Giotto and Tsuna were once very close, which would make sense as the current HQ is literally a block away from Tsuna's mansion.
After Giotto moved to Japan, the letters were several pages, but he had passed that yesterday, and now there were maybe a dozen left Reborn had yet to read.
It was frustrating how he still didn't know as much as he wished, but even more excitement built up for when he would know. The truth of Tsuna's existence and relationship with Vongola.
As finished the one he held, Reborn was about to grab the next one when his phone vibrated. Growling, the raven grabbed, reluctantly fighting the urge to destroy the new Galaxy, and accepted the call.
"What is it, Baka-Yasu?" he demanded without even looking at the caller ID. Reborn had only ever given his main phone number to the Sky Arcobaleno, Nonno, and his moronic student, Baka-Yasu. Of course, since the blonde was such an idiot (and because Reborn is such a badass), he wouldn't have realized he possessed his tortu-tutor's number. That meant Mukuro, and probably Hibari as well, were in the same room.
"Um… W-why aren't you here?"
Reborn, normally would have punished him for stuttering, something that a boss should never do, but that only happened if it concerned Reborn or if his famiglia was hurt in any way. It sort of made the hitman proud when Baka-Yasu hadn't stuttered once against Byakuran or Xanxus. And that he was the only to cause so much fear in the usually brave and calm boy.
Plus, his tone came out much more… malicious than Reborn had intended.
"Hibari and Mukuro getting too bored?" the raven inquired, smirking. Ieyasu groaned, and Reborn took that as a yes. "You still haven't answered my question," he persisted. Sighing, the raven grabbed the next letter. "Bianchi should have told you I'm busy," he responded, about to end call, when Ieyasu continued.
"When will you be back, then?"
Reborn felt like groaning, glaring in annoyance at the device. "Soon," he barked, dropping it on the pile of letters he's already read. As the raven scanned the paper, longer than the previous one, screaming, threats, and explosions came from the other line, but as Reborn was used to such background noise, he easily concentrated on the paper.
As he finished on the usual 'I love you and Goodbye for now," the raven smirked. This was it. It may not be all of the puzzle, but most of it certainly did click right there in his hands. Picking the mobile back, Reborn commanded Ieyasu's attention.
He could hear his idiot student scrambling to put his cell to his ear.
"Summer break just started, and you and your famiglia are going to do spend it Vongola style," Reborn said, chuckling darkly. He could hear Ieyasu gulping on the other side. "Tomorrow, ALL 7 of you idiots are going to board a plane to Italy, and you will be on that flight, no matter what."
"What?!" the blonde exclaimed.
"I'm sure you heard me. That's all you need to know for now, so make sure to tell your guardians, the ones present and not. Ciao, Baka-Yasu." At that, Reborn ended the call, his smirk widening. This was going to be one hell of an interesting August.
To think that Tsuna's mansion had actually been the first and original Vongola HQ.
I hope you liked it~! Please review!
9CatLives