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: Eventual!G27
Warnings: AU; Language
Chapter Warning: This chapter might (or rather, will) get a little dialogue-ish at times, because there are simply too many people involved in this chapter.
Fiamma: The Assassin
Chapter 11
Giotto was close to panicking as the assassin slumped in his arms.
After a few futile attempts at waking Tsunayoshi up, the Vongola boss gritted his teeth and lifted the brunet into his arms. (A small part of him that had yet to given in to the panic noted that the assassin seemed to weight almost nothing―Tsunayoshi was too light for someone working in the assassin industry.) Giotto ignored the burning pain at his throat that that kept him out of action for the most part, and headed out of his utterly destroyed office, only to slam into someone entering the room. The Vongola boss grunted, tightening his hold on the assassin as he braced for the impact, only for a foreign hand to grab his arm, steadying him.
Giotto cracked an eye open, meeting narrowed orbs of onyx. "You're… the hitman from before… Reborn…!"
"Yes, and you're Giotto di Vongola, founder and head of the Vongola Famiglia," Reborn replied curtly. "Now if we're done with introductions put Tsuna down and let me see him."
"I'm about to bring him to the infirmary…" Giotto protested.
Reborn didn't even bother gracing the stunned Vongola boss a reply, simply pulling Tsunayoshi away from his grip and walking into the room. As Giotto spluttered incoherently, Reborn laid Tsunayoshi on the couch and immediately began inspecting the brunet for the damages. Bruises and wounds were scattered all around his body, but those weren't of too much concern to Reborn; what stood out to the hitman was the lower back wound that was still bleeding out. Onyx eyes narrowed, fixed on that very wound as the silence of the room was broken by a hysterical shout.
"Tsunayoshi-nii-san!"
Reborn turned to see a distraught Yuni running towards them, almost stumbling over the various fallen objects on a few occasions. The hitman immediately let his eyes roam over his other, less official charge, nodding to himself when he noticed no apparent injuries on the teen.
"Reborn, you ass! Why did you run off like that? We needed a healer, dammit!"
The hitman barely held back the urge to roll his eyes, whose sight was back on the door, where two other figures stood. "You were fine on your own, idiot. I have more important matters to take care of." Reborn replied, turning back to the unconscious assassin on the couch.
"I didn't think we have to worry about Tsunayoshi, but it appears that I was wrong."
"Something is up; this isn't like that brat."
Yuni, who was holding tightly onto one of Tsunayoshi's hands, turned over to Reborn tearfully as she quietly sobbed out, "Please… Reborn-ojii-sama… Save Tsunayoshi-nii-san…" Her sparkling blue eyes turned back to Tsunayoshi, whose face was frozen into one of pain. "Tsunayoshi-nii-san… You can't die… Please… Please don't die…"
Reborn's frown softened as he reached out to squeeze the teen's shoulder in encouragement, "He's not dying, Yuni… Not on my watch." He promised. A calloused hand reached into his suit jacket to retrieve a handkerchief, and he dapped gently at Yuni's tear-streaked face. "He wouldn't want to see you crying like this either."
The hitman's words had its effects as Yuni took the handkerchief and wiped her tears away. During their exchange, the two figures had stepped into the room. One of them gently laid a hand on Yuni's shoulder in comfort, while the other was inspecting the destroyed room in an attempt to figure out what happened. The Don Vongola stood by himself to one side, golden orbs, filled with concern, never straying too far from the unconscious assassin lying on his office couch.
"Don't touch that!" Reborn's uncharacteristic shout cut through the tense silence, and startled everyone, stunning them in place. "Fon… hands away. Now." The Sun Arcobaleno said forcefully.
The man clad in question gracefully retracted his hand away from the dagger sitting on the ground, its blade gleaming with still-wet-blood. "Well now… Considering Tsunayoshi's condition, there really is no need for me to ask for a reason, is there?" Fon remarked thoughtfully.
Yuni frowned as she turned to Giotto, who had been strangely tolerant of the strangers invading his office ―or rather, what's left of it. "Don Vongola… How long as it been since the dagger was pulled out…?" She asked quietly.
Giotto gave himself a moment to think about it before answering firmly, "About ten minutes or so."
"Ten minutes…" Fon echoed in a soft murmur. "That isn't too long, yet there is still cause for concern." He said. "…Are you able to do anything to help him, Reborn?"
"Anything I do will make it worse." Reborn snarled. "Why else do you think I'm not healing the wound with Sun flames right now?!"
"What should we do…?" Yuni mumbled under her breath. "At this rate, it'll be too late to do anything…!"
Reborn grimaced as he searched his mind for answers. He knew very well that he couldn't do anything about Tsunayoshi's conditions ―it annoyed and irked and downright pissed Reborn off that he couldn't do anything to help the brunet; and, as if to add insult to injury, anything that Reborn did do would only serve to worsen Tsunayoshi's conditions ―his already life-threatening conditions. They needed help and they needed it fast, and Reborn knew who he had to turn to for help but ―dammit― it was unlikely for him to reach the Vongola estate in time and there was no way in hell Tsunayoshi was fit for travel ―the assassin was still bleeding out, for god's sake.
And as the hitman snarled at his uselessness, several other voices cried out.
"BOSS!" "Tsuna!" "Tsunayoshi-nii!" "Sawada…!"
Reborn turned to see more people streaming into the room, and, seeing the varied looks of horror on their faces, made a split-second decision. "Gokudera," He called out loudly, raising his voice above all the noises of panic. "Call your mentor and tell him that if he doesn't get here within the next five minutes, he's next on my hit list." When the silveret stared dumbly back at him, the hitman nearly lost his patience as he snapped, "NOW!" Startled back into reality by the uncharacteristic shout, Gokudera nodded and ran out of the room, scrambling for his phone in the process.
"Who…?" Giotto, who had been standing quietly at the side, muttered as people he didn't know flooded into his office. The fact that they had made it past the main gate security meant that they were, at the very least, considered to be visitors without intent. Still, the Vongola Primo couldn't help but be worried. 'Where are my Guardians…?'
"Giotto-san," A calm and soothing voice greeted him, and Giotto turned to see none other than his Rain Guardian smiling gently at him.
"A-Asari…!" The blond nearly sighed in relief, only to suck in another breath. "Where are the others?!"
"Please calm down, Giotto-san. We're all… well." Asari replied. Giotto didn't miss the hesitation in his voice, but didn't question it, allowing his Rain Guardian to continue. "…The Arcobaleno… they saved us. Both us… and the assassins we fought."
It was then did Giotto recall what Reborn had shouted out earlier:
"The Vongola Guardians are fighting against the assassins while the Funeral Wraths are going to destroy them!"
'The assassins… He meant the Gesso assassins, right? So then…' Giotto glanced at the unfamiliar faces in the room. '…this must be them…' The Don Vongola gave a nod as he turned back to Asari, "what exactly happened? And… where are the others?"
"We… were lured into a fight by those assassins." Asari replied, gesturing to the Gesso assassins. "And… when we fought, the Funeral Wreaths showed up. It seems they were ordered to take out both sides. That's when the Arcobaleno had showed up and saved us." The Japanese replied. "They informed us of what was going on here, and we all rushed back, though by the time we did, it seems that everything's already over." Asari continued, sounding just a little frustrated. "We split up. G-san is checking the estate for damages; Knuckle-san is at the medical wing while Lampo-kun is sending anyone who needed medical attention to the medical wing. Alaude-san is handling security while Daemon-san is setting up a Mist barrier. He says that the barrier would allow him to know, from the point of its set-up, anyone and everyone who enters or leaves the estate."
Giotto nodded as he let the information sink in. This time, the Vongola Primo let a sigh escape his lips as the fact that his Guardians (and everyone else, actually) as safe.
"…Reborn called us up a few days ago. The Arcobaleno, I mean. I'm not certain if this is known, but despite being called the Arcobaleno as a whole, we don't usually stay together unless a need arises." Fon said as he walked over. "…Oh, that reminds me, I've yet to introduce myself, have I? My name is Fon, the Storm Arcobaleno. You've met Reborn, the one in the fedora over there. Reborn's the Sun Arcobaleno. The young lady over there is Yuni, the Sky Arcobaleno. Despite her young age, she is our leader, as well as the head of the Giglio Nero Famiglia." Giotto smiled; Fon sounded like a proud family member. "That man over there in the military jacket is Colonello; the other lady is Lal Mirch. They share the title of the Rain Arcobaleno. The others have left or disappeared. Again." The raven sighed.
"I see… Thank you. For saving my Guardians and the assassins." Giotto said.
If Fon was surprised that Giotto had thanked him for saving the assassins as well, the man didn't show it. Instead, Fon had smiled and replied, "Perhaps thanking Reborn would be a better idea? He's the one who called us, after all." Fon smiled kindly, "But still, you're welcomed, Vongola Primo."
Giotto was about to ask the Storm Arcobaleno to call him by name (as he does with others) when yet another figure burst into the room.
"What the hell, Reborn?" The figure growled as he entered the room with Gokudera by his side. He paused when he felt just about every set of eyes turned towards him. He ignored all of them, however, as he glanced around the room. Seeing the two fallen figures, it didn't take long for him to piece together what he was urgently called here for, though the words still slipped past his lips in shock, "…What… what the hell happened here…?"
"Shamal." Reborn called impatiently. "We don't have time; hurry."
The doctor snapped out of his shocked daze as he made his way towards Tsunayoshi. "Again, I ask, what the hell happened?"
"Tsunayoshi fought with Byakuran." Giotto spoke up. "He had stabbed Byakuran with his dagger but… Byakuran managed to do the same with him in the back… with his own dagger."
"Dagger's laced with Fiamma's poison." Reborn added.
Shamal frowned as he left to inspect said dagger. "That brat…" He cursed. "Dammit. That… That brat!" He growled.
"What is it?" Reborn snarled.
"The dagger was laced was three times the normal dosage for his poison, that's what!" Shamal answered, glaring at the unconscious brunet. "Even if it was to ensure death… his poison is lethal enough that the normal dosage will do! There's no need for triple the amount!"
The doctor turned to Reborn, but the hitman cut him off, "I know what you want to say." Reborn gritted, "But I want you to save him. The only person who has the slightest chance of reversing Fiamma's poison is you, Trident Shamal."
"But, Tsunayoshi-nii-san―" Yuni started, only to be interrupted by Shamal.
"Even if it's Sawada we're talking about, triple the normal dosage will still be able to kill him." Shamal sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, I don't treat males. But, for you, Reborn, I don't mind making an exception." Shamal said. "But, as a doctor, I will not treat someone whose wish is to die."
'Tsunayoshi's wish… is to die…?' Giotto's eyes widened in shock and horror. '…Wait… Didn't he say something about that before…?'
"You know this better than anyone else; the reason why Fiamma is so successful."
"It's because he doesn't fear death. He welcomes it. Fiamma is an assassin that seeks death."
'…Why… why would… why would anyone wish to die…?' Giotto could barely conceal the shudders that threatened to shake his body.
Reborn, however, was unfazed by the 'accusation'. "I won't let that happen." His eyes flashed in anger dangerously. "Shamal. Tsuna."
"Reborn," Shamal sighed. "You are the only one left who knows Sawada more than any one of us here. Heck, you probably know Sawada better than he knows himself. You know that brat's been asking for death for the past few years; the only thing stopping him is that body of his." He ran a hand through his hair again in frustration. "Now that he's found a way that will ensure death, even for him, what makes you think that he won't try this again even if I save him?"
"Trust me, Shamal," Reborn gritted out. "The next time that idiot lies on his deathbed, the only reason why you'll be invited is to do the autopsy because I'll be the one to put him there." He snarled darkly.
"Old― …Shamal." Gokudera spoke up. "…Please. Save our Boss. I know you can."
"Shamal-san, what you said about Tsuna… I… I don't think I can deny it." Yamamoto started slowly, despite the looks his fellow assassins shots him. "But… Tsuna… He… He has always put us first and protected us, despite what he might have felt. He's important to us, Dr. Shamal. That's why… please… please save him."
The other assassins nodded in agreement, Yamamoto having voiced their thoughts.
"Dr. Shamal… No matter what Tsunayoshi-nii-san's stand is, he has never failed to protect me. He has been there for me ever since my own mother has left me." Yuni wiped away her tears, turning to look resolutely at Shamal. "Please, Dr. Shamal. Please save Tsunayoshi-nii-san. Please… Please don't take Tsunayoshi-nii-san away…"
"Yuni…" Lal murmured, drawing the sobbing teen into a comforting embrace.
Shamal scowled as he paced the room. Just about every single pair of eyes in the room was staring at him pleadingly, begging him to save the unconscious assassin on the couch, just barely hanging onto the brink of life. A part of him was tempted to do as the majority wished (or, at the very least, attempt to ―given that it was Fiamma's poison they were talking about), yet the other part of him was reluctant to. Shamal may not have known Tsunayoshi as well as the others had, but his past experiences with the brunet had led him to be wary. The doctor may be picky, but he still had his morals as a doctor.
"Shamal." Reborn called once more, his eyes fixed on the brunet. "…Please."
Shamal's eyes widened. 'Reborn… he…' The hitman had pleaded. Reborn never pleaded. He was the Sun Arcobaleno and the strongest hitman in the Mafia. People begged him, not the other way round. Yet… the hitman had put aside his pride to plead with him. "…Reborn…" Shamal started slowly. "I know Sawada is your charge, but… why are you so concerned about him?"
"…I can't answer that." Reborn said quietly, reaching up with a hand to tilt his fedora. "Answering that question would require me to go into Tsuna's past, I promised him that I will never talk about his past to anyone. His past is his problem, not mine to freely talk about." The hitman continued. "And, unlike a certain someone," Onyx orbs flickered back to Tsunayoshi, "…I keep all my promises."
"Yes, unlike someone." Shamal retorted curtly.
"I'm very sorry for interrupting," Giotto cut in smoothly. "…But I believe this isn't the time to be arguing." He turned to Shamal. "Doctor, we're running out of time. Could you please save Tsunayoshi…?"
"…He tried to kill you, you know." Shamal remarked.
"He also called me an idiot. More than once." Giotto replied with a wry smile.
Shamal sighed, "Fine. I'll give in. I'll save that brat." He scowled. "But, Reborn, this is the last time I treat a suicide attempt."
"W-Wait." Giotto called out, finally realizing what is it that his Hyper Intuition had been poking at him about. "…What suicide attempt?" The varied looks assured Giotto that he wasn't the only one who didn't understand ―in fact, only the Arcobaleno present, Shamal, Yamamoto and Mukuro seemed to have caught on.
"…Sawada Tsunayoshi was stabbed by a dagger he coated with triple the usual dosage for Fiamma's poison." Mukuro said. "…In the back, might I remind you."
The assassins let out a gasp as realization hit them.
"…N-No assassin will turn their back on their targets without ensuring that they're truly dead…" Gokudera swallowed.
"And the triple dosage… It wasn't for Byakuran; it was for Sawada…" Ryohei's voice shook dangerously.
"Tsunayoshi is a very experienced, and very professional assassin." Fon spoke. "He wouldn't make the mistake of not checking for pulse or turning his back on his target. Furthermore, killing Byakuran would not require such a high dosage of poison."
"…You can all kill the brat later if you want." Shamal interrupted. "Saying that I'll save the brat is one thing, but doing it is another. We still have a very huge problem here. After all…" He grumbled, staring at Tsunayoshi. "…there is no none antidote to Fiamma's special brand of poison."
"But the other day, Lampo was poisoned by Fia―"
"―that couldn't have been Fiamma's poison." Shamal shook his head. "Fiamma's poison, at normal dosage, is lethal to anyone but its creator, Fiamma himself. That brat invented that poison himself; said something about it being more 'elegant' than simply slaughtering someone." The doctor rolled his eyes at that before continuing, "There's no antidote because it was never made; it was to be used for assassinations, after all."
"By the way, if you were really poisoned by Fiamma's poison, you'll be looking like that in no time," Lal remarked casually, jerking a hand towards the fallen Don Gesso.
"Can you make one, Dr. Shamal?" Yuni questioned.
"I don't know all the details about Fiamma's poison. Finding out the contents then working on an antidote will take too long; that brat can only hold on for a few hours at maximum, even considering his body." Shamal replied, his brows furrowed into a frown. "How long have you been pumping in Rain flames?"
"Close to half-an-hour now, kora…" Colonello spoke up. "I'm getting drained…" The Rain Arcobaleno had been pumping in Rain flames to slow down the poison in Tsunayoshi's body at Reborn's request, and had been doing the entire time.
"It probably won't work for much longer. We have to work fast." Shamal frowned as he fell silent.
"…You have an idea, don't you?" Reborn said, staring at the doctor.
"Stop doing that creepy mind-reading thing already," Shamal groaned, rubbing at hair in irritation. "Yes, I have an idea. But… it's a dangerous idea." The himan gestured for him to go on. "Fight poison with poison. I'll mix some of my Trident Mosquitoes' diseases together to make something that's even more potent than Fiamma's poison. If it works, my poison will engulf and overcome Fiamma's poison, then taking care of my own Trident Mosquitoes is no problem at all. Of course, this will put a considerable strain on the brat's body and just might kill him."
And, as he expected, several cries of protest came, though they were quickly neutralized by a gunshot ringing out in the room. It had effectively shut everyone up as they stared in fear at the annoyed hitman.
"Just do it, Shamal." Reborn said.
"Again, I say, I could kill him in the process." Shamal replied.
"Tsuna won't die." Reborn answered.
"There is no will in a suicidal person." Shamal pointed out cruelly.
"…Tsuna won't die." Reborn repeated firmly. "Shamal, we don't have any more time… Just do it."
"Fine," Shamal sighed for the umpteen time. "But I'm not going to be responsible if he really dies." He announced. "Oi, Giotto di Vongola."
"Yes?"
"Where's the medical quarters?" Shamal asked. Before Giotto could reply, however, Shamal continued, "No, never mind that. I just need a clean room along with some medical supply."
"I'll bring you there." Giotto replied.
"The lot of you," Reborn called out to the assassins. "Get to the medical quarters to get yourself checked."
With the hitman sending a deathglare at them, the assassins had no choice but to comply, following Asari out of the room to be led to the medical quarter. Reborn stepped over to lift Tsunayoshi into his arms before turning over to Giotto, who nodded and moved out. The remaining Arcobaleno followed quietly.
"Here, this was the room Tsunayoshi used when he…" Giotto paused, feeling his throat tightening as the memories of him flooded him. "…When Renato stayed. There are medical supplies in every room. I'll go get it." The Vongola Primo fled into the adjourned bathroom.
"While I'm at it, I'll have a look at his other wounds too… see if they need some cleaning up." Shamal announced. "Colonello, if you're still up to it, give me a hand. Reborn, you're helping. Ladies; you might wanna clear the room."
"Right, we'll be back." Lal nodded. "Yuni, let's go check up on the other brats for that brat, shall we?" The Rain Arcobaleno smiled as she lead Yuni out of the room.
With some help from the two male Arcobaleno, Tsunayoshi was stripped off his shirt, jacket and pants. Shamal grimaced as he noted the amount of wounds on Tsunayoshi's body. The fight today had earned him several cuts and bruises, and more importantly, the wound he had received from Squalo just a week ago seemed to be bleeding internally as well. The doctor couldn't help but praise himself mentally for sending Yuni out of the room; given her relationship with the assassin, seeing him in such a state right after what had happened a week ago would probably not bode well with the teen.
"The cuts and wounds will heal on their own. Bruises will take some time, although… All that would happen only if we can cure him of his poison first, of course…" Shamal muttered. "Alright. Let's see…"
The doctor took in a deep breath as he went to work. Engrossed in his task, he barely acknowledged Giotto as he brought back the medical supplies, neither did he notice Reborn healing Giotto's throat as he worked on cleaning the assassin's wounds. At the same time, he went through the list of all the diseases he had at his disposal, mixing them and predicting the outcome, finally making his choice as Reborn and Colonello helped him to redress the assassin. Shamal gestured for the two Arcobaleno to hold Tsunayoshi down as he injected the diseases and, just as he expected, the assassin started convulsing violently soon enough. By then, the assassins had returned, along with Lal and Yuni, and they watched in pain as the assassin continued to trash around on the bed.
"Oi, Shamal," Colonello grunted out, pushing down on Tsunayoshi with more force as he continued, "How long is this going to go on for…?"
"The two poisons are fighting with each other, so to speak." Shamal replied. "And, until one of them 'wins', Sawada's body will be the one suffering."
"Just shut up and hold him, Colonello." Reborn gritted as he tightening his hold on Tsunayoshi's upper body. "
Tsunayoshi groaned as his movements became more violent. His arms and leg nearly hit the two Arcobaleno quite a few times as he trashed on the bed, coughing out more blood in the process. The others cursed themselves for being able to only watch helplessly by the sides. Ryohei and Yamamoto had taken over Reborn and Colonello when it seemed like the two Arcobaleno was getting tired from holding down a constantly trashing body. The pain on Tsunayoshi's face did not fade as his eyes were still squeezed shut and sweat continued rolling down his face. It had seemed like forever before the trashing stopped.
"What's happening?"
"One of the poison has 'won'. In other words, the weaker poison ―whichever it is― has been consumed by the stronger one." Shamal replied, watching Tsunayoshi closely. "Before you ask me which it is, I'm not sure yet. We need to wait for the symptoms… and here we go." Tsunayoshi had started shivering on the bed and Shamal quickly threw the covers on him. "Someone get me a towel and a basin of warm water." He instructed, moving to check the brunet's temperature.
"Shamal?" Reborn questioned.
"Fiamma's poison works by causing the body cells to replicate rapidly, eventually leading the internal organs to… Well, burst. The victims then die of organ failure and excessive internal bleeding." Shamal explained.
"I know that." Reborn scowled in irritation.
"Well, generally speaking, Fiamma's poison also causes overheating in the body, so I put together something of the opposite effect. Trust me; having his body cooling down is better than him overheating." Shamal continued. "The brat getting cold means that my disease is working. I'll let it run for a little while more, than cure it, and the rest will be up to the brat."
"So, he'll be fine…?" Giotto asked.
"If all goes well, ye―" A scream cut off Shamal's reply. "What is it?"
"T-Tsunayoshi-nii-san…" Yuni's voice ―her entire body― shook as she stared at the bed with horror-filled eyes. "H-He…"
"―He's not… breathing…"
A/N: W-Well, it's been a while since an update. Apologies because I was trying to rewrite this in a way that didn't seem very dialogue-y, but I think it still turned out to be so. Sorry that some characters didn't even speak at all. And, umm... W-Well, that's all for this time. C-Ciao ciao~ *runs while holding shield*