Title: Fiamma: The Assassin
Summary: Every assassin have their own rules, yet all follows one golden rule: Never get emotionally involved with your target. Fiamma knows this. Yet, meeting that person, he can't help but break the most important rule of all…
Disclaimer: Katekyo Hitman Reborn! belongs to Akira Amano
Pairing: G27
Warnings: AU; Language
Fiamma: The Assassin
Chapter 4
"Thank you for the breakfast. It's really nice." Tsunayoshi said.
"Thank the chef." Giotto replied. "Well, happy eating guys." Giotto said to the others. "I'm taking half the day off."
"Where to?" Asari asked.
"I'm bringing Renato out." Giotto replied.
"Dating?" G smirked.
"We're just going out, Signore G." Tsunayoshi replied smoothly.
"Yeah, that." Giotto said, quickly ushering Tsunayoshi out. "Sorry, just… ignore that. I swear, it's G's favorite pastime to annoy the hell out of me on a daily basis."
Tsunayoshi gave a small laugh and shook his head. "Shall we go?"
"After you." Giotto grinned, as he held out an arm.
"Nice place. Nice and secluded…" Tsunayoshi commented as they took a step out of the mansion doors.
The Vongola estate was located in the forest with a path that led into the main streets of Northern Italy. Many other estates were also located in the forest, but the Vongola estate sat at the very back, away from prying eyes. It certainly made traveling into town a cumbersome chore, but in the end, safety outweighed effort.
"It's quiet here. Peaceful, even. Well, ignoring the occasional chaos inside, that is." Giotto chuckled.
"You like it here?" Tsunayoshi asked.
"Hmm… Yes. I do actually." Giotto smiled.
'If only I could have lived here… Wait, what am I saying? What's wrong with you, Tsuna? You're not supposed to be thinking like that!' Tsunayoshi bit his bottom lip hard until it drew blood. 'You're someone with blood-covered hands… And this fact can never be erased. Don't forget that.'
"Renato?"
Tsunayoshi blinked. "Y-Yes?"
"You're spacing out. Is something wrong? And… you're bleeding!" Giotto gasped.
Tsunayoshi licked the blood off his lips. "It's fine. I'm fine." He said quickly.
"Can I ask something?" Giotto asked.
"…You just did." Tsunayoshi smirked. Giotto blinked and chuckled. "But, go ahead."
"…You don't really look Italian, but your Italian's pretty good." Giotto commented.
"Ah…" It took the brunette everything not to flinch at the unasked question. "I'm not born Italian. I'm… J-Japanese. But I lived here for most of my life, so I speak Italian rather well. And… I've taken on an Italian name as well."
"What was your Japanese name?" Giotto pressed.
"I… can't remember. It's been too long." Tsunayoshi swallowed and look away.
"I see... I'm sorry for asking." Giotto frowned.
"It's alright. Come on then." Tsunayoshi said. Giotto blinked. "Are you really going to show your guest around with such a glum face?"
Giotto laughed. "You're right." Giotto smiled. "Do you want to go out? Like into the city?"
'Where are those people? Knowing Master, the people he sent would be here by now. Maybe they're outside.' Tsunayoshi thought. "I wouldn't mind."
"Great! Let's go!" Giotto exclaimed happily.
'This is someone who is a threat to Byakuran? He acts like a child. Or maybe he's just pretending. I'm an assassin. I kill for a living. I can't trust, after all. Especially... not my target.' Tsunayoshi smiled bitterly to himself as he followed the other. He paused momentarily at the faint sound coming from their surroundings. '…I heard that. They're here.'
The duo walked further out down the path until assailants burst out from the brushes around.
"What's this? Vongola Primo walking around without your precious Guardians?" A man taunted.
"Vongola?" Tsunayoshi feigned innocent. 'Finally. I thought I was going to fall asleep waiting.'
"That a new recruit for your Family, Giotto di Vongola?" Another smirked.
"Giotto?" Tsunayoshi pressed lightly. "What Family? You're… from the Mafia?"
"…Not… exactly." Giotto muttered.
"'Not exactly'?!" Tsunayoshi arched an eyebrow.
"Can we… talk about this later?" Giotto let out a soft sigh in both defeat and exasperation. He turned back to the assailants and asked in an annoyed tone, "What do you guys want?"
"Oh nothing… Just your life. And that brat's too, since he's here."
Giotto frowned. "Renato. Go back to the mansion. Get G. I promise I'll answer all your questions later." Giotto said.
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" Tsunayoshi said accusingly.
"No! But you're still injured!" Giotto argued.
"I can fight just fine." Tsunayoshi replied. 'Great job, Tsuna. And how exactly are you going to fight without weapons?' The brunette groaned inaudibly. 'Forget it. Who says I need a weapon to fight. Time to put that person's training into use.'
"You can fight?" Giotto raised an eyebrow.
"Only hand-to-hand combat, I'm afraid." Tsunayoshi replied.
"Good enough." Giotto nodded.
The blond pulled out a pair of black gloves and slipped them on. The gloves were metal-clad, with an 'I' on the back of the gloves. 'Vongola' was written on the circle the 'I' was sitting on. Giotto closed his eyes in concentration, and slowly, a light orange flame burned brightly on his head. When his eyes opened, it was no longer cerulean in colour, but a warm amber.
"Now… I believe you said you're going to take my life?" Giotto taunted with a predatory smirk.
'Is it possible? He's even calmer than before…!' Tsunayoshi thought.
"Get them!"
'Sorry, but it has to be done.'
Tsunayoshi frowned as he ducked an attack. He spun around and kicked the nearest person, ignoring the twinge that shot up his still-recovering leg. Out of the corner of his eyes, Tsunayoshi observed Giotto as he fought. The gloves were lit with the same type of flame on his head. Tsunayoshi suppressed the urge to gasp in shock as he merely knocked his assailant unconscious. Soon, the assailants were systematically knocked out as the remaining ones retreated.
Giotto let out a deep breath as he let the flames extinguish. "Are you alright?"
Tsunayoshi nodded. "I'm fine."
"I… don't think you want to go out anymore, huh?" Giotto frowned. "Let's go back. I'll answer your questions there."
Tsunayoshi nodded and the two turned back in silence. They walked into Giotto's office and the blond ushered his guest onto the comfortable couch.
"Do you mind if I make a call?" Giotto asked.
"No, go ahead." Tsunayoshi shook his head. 'Finally. My ticket to free investigation.'
Giotto smiled and headed out. "G? It's me. Get the Guardians in my office."
"Something happened?"
"…Yeah. We need to… come clean. Look, G, don't ask anything, just… get the others here. ASAP. And I mean everyone. I'll explain everything when you guys get here." Giotto said.
"…Alright." A sigh. "I need ten minutes, knowing those two."
"Okay. I'll see you in a while." Giotto clicked off the phone. "Right." Giotto muttered, sitting down at his desk. "Go ahead, shoot. Not literally, please."
Tsunayoshi managed to crack a laugh. "How about you start? You have only a question for me, but I have much more for you."
Giotto looked surprised, but smiled. "You can fight, I saw that for myself. So why are you still injured? Why did you run?"
Tsunayoshi was prepared for the question, having done a pre-stimulation in his mind on the way back. "Giotto, do you remember what I told you? About the situation then?"
"You were chased by twenty-over people with guns?" Giotto replied.
"That's right." Tsunayoshi nodded. "I knew I couldn't win against them, because I didn't have any weapons… Only my combat skills. So I did the most logical thing then –run."
"Ahh… Yes, I suppose so." Giotto nodded slowly. " Okay, you've answered my question. Now my turn to answer yours."
"…So… You're the Mafia?" Tsunayoshi asked bluntly.
"Not… exactly." Giotto said.
"You said that just now." Tsunayoshi sighed. "So what exactly is it?"
"We're a vigilante group that was somehow morphed into a Mafia Family."
Giotto blinked. "That was fast, G."
"Alaude was fighting with Daemon again. Pretty easy to find." G shrugged.
"What do you want?" Alaude growled.
Giotto sighed. "Would you guys please calm down for the next one hour?" He asked.
"Nice to see you again, 'guest'." Daemon smirked at Tsunayoshi.
'This man really creeps me out… More than Mukuro does. Wonder which is scarier, the fact that he creeps me out, or that he creeps me out more than Mukuro does.' Tsunayoshi thought.
"He's Renato." Giotto introduced. "And he knows about Vongola. So I want you guys to give a self-introduction."
"Including title?" Asari questioned.
"…That would be helpful. I haven't asked much, if you're curious." Tsunayoshi said.
"I'm Asari Ugestsu, the Rain Guardian." Asari smiled warmly.
"Lampo, the Lightning Guardian." Lampo said lazily.
"Knuckle, I'm the Sun Guardian to the extreme." Knuckle grinned.
"Alaude. Cloud Guardian." Alaude glared at Giotto, who shrugged.
"Daemon Spade… Mist Guardian." Daemon laughed.
"G." The redhead grumbled. "Right-Hand Man, Storm Guardian and unfortunately, this idiot's best friend." G jerked a thumb towards Giotto.
"What's with the 'unfortunately' behind?!" Giotto said. "Anyway… I'm the Sky Boss of the Vongola Family."
"…Like those in the sky… I'm guessing there's meaning behind the Guardian titles? What are Guardians anyway?" Tsunayoshi asked.
"The Guardians are… just as the name suggests. Each Guardian does have their respective roles and are represented by six weather phenomena in the sky." Giotto explained.
"The Storm is the one who defeats the enemies with a relentless stream that never falters. It is always at the centre of the attack, the furious storm that never rests." G said.
Getting the hint, Asari continued. "The Rain is the one who becomes a blessed shower; the requiem rain that settles conflicts and washes everything away." Asari smiled.
"The Lightning draws the damage to themselves and away from the Family, serving as a lightning rod that reflects any attack back to the enemy." Lampo said proudly.
"Destroying the misfortune that attacks the Family with their own body, they become the Sun that brightly shines upon an area. That is the role of the Sun Guardian." Knuckle continued.
Surprising everyone in the room, Alaude spoke. "The Cloud is the aloof, drifting cloud that protects the Family from an independent standpoint, and whom nothing can every blind." Alaude muttered under his breath.
Daemon laughed and smiled creepily. "Creating something from nothing, and nothing from something, thus bewildering the enemy… The Mist renders the Family's true form intangible with vision of deceit…"
"The Sky influences, understands and accept all… The Sky captures and encompasses all." Giotto finished.
"Interesting." Tsunayoshi muttered. "Well, with this, I believe that you guys are really of a vigilante organization… but how did you guys evolve into a… Mafia-like Family?" Tsunayoshi frowned.
"I'm guessing it's the large increase in people." Giotto shrugged.
"Of course, more importantly, it's strength." Daemon said.
Tsunayoshi nearly shuddered upon seeing the strange glint in the blue-haired man's eyes. "W-Well, that makes sense…" Tsunayoshi said slowly. "So… about just now…"
Giotto raised an eyebrow. "You mean, the attacks?"
"Sort of." Tsunayoshi nodded. He chewed his bottom lips as he thought about how to phrase is question. "You… have an interesting… combat form."
"…Oh. That." Giotto groaned quietly as he looked to G for help.
The redhead sighed. "That is… really complicated." G said. "Go ahead Giotto. Give your long explanation."
"Why me?" Giotto whined.
"Because you're the creator and the only user, idiot." G snapped.
Giotto sighed. "…Well… Renato, do you know how people can die with regrets?"
"Yeah…" Tsunayoshi replied with a raised eyebrow.
"What you saw just now is called the Hyper Dying Will Form." Giotto said. "In a manner of speaking, it allows the user to fulfill his dying will, which is also the last thought that he has before he 'dies'. It uses the pressure during a crisis to remove internal limiters and releases one's hidden awareness."
"So… In a way, you're 'reborn'?" Tsunayoshi asked.
"You can say that." Giotto nodded.
"And also hence why you looked so calm when in that… form." Tsunayoshi said. Giotto nodded again. "Ah…"
"It's really complicated." Giotto chuckled softly.
"And the orange flame is a symbol of that form?" Tsunayoshi questioned.
"Not really." Giotto said. "See this?" Giotto asked as he lit up his ring. "This is called the Dying Will Flame. It's kind of similar to a real flame but not exactly a real flame either."
"You're rather complicated." Tsunayoshi commented.
Giotto blushed very lightly. "I shall take that as a compliment." Giotto replied smoothly.
"I have just one last thing to ask." Tsunayoshi said.
"And that is…?" Giotto raised an eyebrow.
"What happens to me now? Do I stay? Or do I leave?" Tsunayoshi asked. "I mean… Who exactly are those people after?"
"It is likely that they attacked you for being near this place." G said.
"But now that you're here… It's safer to be inside than out." Asari added.
"So… Do stay." Giotto smiled.
"Then… I shall thank you for your hospitality." Tsunayoshi smiled.
'Now then… I've gathered quite the amount of information. Let me digest this today and I'll start on the rest tomorrow.' Tsunayoshi thought. 'Not to mention I have to send a report over. Who to get… Ah. Of course. Him.'
"Ara, so quick?"
"Keep it quiet, Mukuro." Tsunayoshi hissed. "And thanks for coming."
The 'Demon of the Six Paths' grinned. "I'll never refuse a maiden's request."
"Who the hell are you calling a maiden?" Tsunayoshi growled, his eyebrow twitching. Before Mukuro could speak, Tsunayoshi continued. "Answer that question and I'll torch you."
"I thought you lost that ability quite some time ago?" Mukuro replied, and eyebrow arched elegantly. "And forgive me for commenting on your beauty, Tsunayoshi."
The brunet glared. "I haven't lost that ability. I just… gave up using it." Tsunayoshi frowned. "In any case, here's the report. This is what I've gathered yesterday."
"So then, the 'incident' worked?" Mukuro asked.
"Yeah. Perfectly as expected." Tsunayoshi replied, a small grin on his face.
"You're used to this, aren't you…?" Mukuro muttered.
"…Used to what?" Tsunayoshi frowned.
"Lying… to everyone around you." Mukuro murmured, mismatched eyes glazing over.
Tsunayoshi swallowed. "…This is how I live… How I do my job."
"A job that you never liked." Mukuro continued.
"It doesn't matter whether I like it or not." Tsunayoshi replied firmly. "I can't run from this."
"Ahh… How admirable." Mukuro smirked. "…Do be careful you don't… lose your touch."
"What do you mean, 'lose my touch'?" Tsunayoshi demanded.
Mukuro chuckled lowly. "No one can help you if you get… too attached. Don't forget what you can't run from."
And before Tsunayoshi could speak more, the other disappeared in a cloud of mist.
'Mukuro… Just what are you hinting at? It's not possible for me to get attached. After all… No one will care about… a murderer like me.'
A/N: And there we go. Chapter 4. Nothing you didn't expect, I think. I'm not sure how Tsuna turned out. A little too dark, but he is working as an assassin quite against his will, so I think his bitterness is justifiable. Well. Thanks for reading, peeps!