Chapter 6: The Things That Follow
"I will bring forth to you're your greatest heart's desire: Tsune."
Tsuna sat, bewildered. In front of him, stood the other half of his own life. He was silent as he stepped forward towards the solid form of Tsune. "How...I don't understand... you're...right in front of me..."
"You're 13 now, Tsuna...time has come for you to begin training."
He backed up a step. "N-now? But...I..."
"Listen to me, Tsuna..." Tsune said. "There's no other option..."
"But I can't do it, Tsu-sama! I can't!"
"Don't say that...you can. I'm here to help you...I promised I would."
Tsune knelt in front of Tsuna. "I was in your position once...and I'm sure you don't understand the reason for all this...but you just need to trust me...alright?"
TC half smiled behind them. "You are well spoken, Tsu-senpai. Indeed, it is all true, Tsuna."
~Flashback~
"Mr. TC, sir, I have a question."
TC sighed, and looked up from the book in his hand. "What is it, but make it short. I'm trying to read."
"Yes sir...I'm just wondering, why am I hanging upside down?"
"Irrelevant. Just do what you're told.""Yes sir, sorry for bothering you..."
TC continued to read. The young Tsune, of at least 5 years old, hung by his feet above a pool of ice cold water. "Mr. TC! My head hurts!"
He once again looked up from the book. "You're a whiny little shit, aren't you? That's what I get for training children..." He snapped his fingers, and Tsune was released from the straps. He crashed into the ice cold water, screaming when he had come up. He scrambled out, shivering and soaked to the bone. "Th-that's..c-c-c-cold! I don't want to do this anymore!"
"You're giving up so easy? What's a little ice water? You need to learn patience and discipline."
"But why! Why do I need to learn this stuff! I don't understand!"
"Why? Because you are going to grow up to be a mentor to your other half, Tsuna. You're the only person who will understand him in times of hardship, you're going to be his only light in the dark. Everything you are learning, will be passed along to him. And it must be started when he turns 13. That is why. Is it that hard to understand?"
"But why me?"
TC was quiet for a moment. "Because you are one."
Tsune stared at TC. We are...one? The young boy clenched his fists. "We're one...I understand now...He needs me..." Pure resolve shone in his oddly colored eyes. "I promise that I will do my best!"
~End of flashback~
"We are one, Tsuna. Remember? And together we have a job to do...I don't make promises that I won't keep. So trust me."
"I trust you...I'm just scared..."
Tsune pulled him into a hug. "It's alright to be scared...But I'll always be by your side, no matter what."
[1 week after]
KT called in through the bathroom door. "Breakfast will be ready in a few, Tsuna!"
"Okay! I'll be right there." He unplugged the tub and let the water drain. He got out and quickly grabbed a towel. He looked into the fogged mirror, only seeing the distorted image of his face reflected back at him through the haze. ~My first day of school in almost a month...Oh man...I've missed so much! I'm going to have no idea what they're learning...I'm not ready to go back after all...~
~"Calm down, kid...Don't stress yourself over it...If anything, they should stress themselves over you! You, the one they thought was weak, survived being hit with a plane!"~
~You might think so, but you've never met these people in person.~
Tsuna put the towel to his head and started to dry his hair. ~But, I can't stay here anymore...I've lived through all the torture school can throw at me, it's not like I'm not prepared for it...~
~"Don't worry, Tsuna. You'll be fine."~
He turned slightly to grab his uniform when something in the smoky mirror caught his attention. He promptly cleared the mirror of its haze, and turned his back towards it. "What is that!"
From the kitchen, KT heard his uproar. "Grand...his ego swallowed his rational thoughts whole...dumbass can't even remember to tell him..."
Tsuna stared at his back's reflection. Inscribed there was a large array. All the elements of the Sky were depicted: The Cloud, the Sun, the Mist, the Rain, the Storm, and the Thunder, all in their colors. Then, branching off into his lower back, was an open faced diamond, outlined in black, with a black Star of David at every corner. ~"Oooh...I forgot to mention that...whoops..."~
"Forgot to MENTION!"
~"It's not as bad as it seems...I have one too...It's just a tattoo..."~
"You have one too...how could you forget something like this?"
~"Okay...I admit that was stupid on my part, but there's nothing you can do...it's there to show the attribute your powers are specialized in."~
He took up his uniform. "Why...me...?"
Tsuna sat eating his breakfast. "What was that all about?" KT asked him. He swallowed a cheerio whole. "You could hear?"
"Only a lot."
"I didn't know I was going to be branded for life!"
She smiled. "Don't worry...there is a way to conceal it when you need to."
"Thank God..."
–RANG?–
TC appeared in the kitchen in younger form, sitting on the kitchen counter. "What's up?"
"Get off the counter."
"Whatever..." He jumped down from it. "So Tsunayoshi, are you ready to go to school?"
"I would be if I had known about the tattoo earlier."
"Get used to the changes, it's going to be happening all the time. But forget about that! It's time for school."
"Why does that matter to you? It's not like you–no...you're not..."
"Yes...Yes I am."
"But why..."
"That is irrelevant. So, let's get going!"
[At the school]
KT pulled up to Namimori Middle school. "You've got your phone, right? And all your stuff?"
"Mhm...It's all here..."
"You'll be fine. And as much as I hate it, TC will be around to watch you. Even though that's the last thing I want..."
Tsuna opened the car door. "Well...here I go."
"Goodbye...I'll see you after school."
He got out of the car and walked to the gate. ~Day 1: Here I go.~
~"I'm right here with you, kid...every step of the way."~ The campus was full of kids romping around waiting for the day to officially start. He felt eyes on him while he walked through the courtyard. Tsuna felt a tug on his pants from behind. "Excuse me..." He turned around. A little girl stood, holding a card in one of her hands. "This is from my family..." She handed him the card. He opened it. On the inside was a note from her parents and a hand drawn picture. He smiled and blushed slightly. "Thank you..."
More children had begun to group in with the little girl. "Wow! You're so brave!"
"You're like a superhero!"
"Thanks a lot..." he said. Some of his classmates were staring at him, 8th graders were also. ~Oh that's right! TC should be here somewhere!~ "Hold on...I need to go find someone..." He walked away from the group, looking in all directions for TC. He found him talking to a few upper class girls. "TC!" He jogged over to him. "TC, where have you been?"
"Over here talking to these wonderful ladies...where were you?"
"I was talking to some 3rd graders...They said I was a hero, and I got a card too..."
"Hey, look who it is! Dame-Tsuna is finally back! Here's your welcoming committee," called Ty from the middle of the courtyard. He grabbed a dodge ball and threw it towards Tsuna. "Get down, Mr. President!" TC tackled Tsuna to the ground an instant before the ball was about to hit him. "Are you OKAY! Say something!"
"Can't...breathe..."
"Oh, sorry." TC removed himself. Ty walked over, his hands clenched in fists of rage.
"What's with you? I was only trying to welcome him back to school. New kids like you should know better than to be going up against me...Or you'll end up like all the others...crying like a little girl!"
"This is the kid you were telling me about?" TC asked. "He doesn't seem so tough. I've fought a lot worse."
"TC...don't make him mad! That's the last thing want to do!"
"Shut up, small fry...I don't like it when bugs to interfere with my business."
"Bugs." TC scoffed as he grabbed Tsuna's arm and lifted him from the ground. "Lets go before he really gets me mad..."
They walked away. "Thank you..."
"You better be thanking me...do you know how much it took me to keep from going ape shit on him? A whole fucking lot! Once you start to train you won't need my ass to be saving your ass. That reminds me...you have until the end of next month to start training. So start preparing yourself."
He nodded. "I'm sorry, TC...I'll be stronger, I promise."
TC watched him as they walked. The first bell of the day rang out in the October air.
"Are you ready?"
Tsuna gripped his school bag handle tighter. "Y-yeah...I'm ready."
He felt his feet get heavier and heavier as he strode to the classroom. All the stares of his peers were weighing him down, making him feel crushed under its pressure. The classroom was noisy, everyone seemed to talk at the same time. The voices struck him all at once when he stepped in, his quiet life was officially gone. TC looked around. "Cute girl, 9 'o clock! See yuh!"
Tsuna walked to his normal seat, which within his absence, was untouched by anyone. ~I can't believe this...my life has instantly gone back to normal.~
~"As it should, though, normal isn't the word I'd use. It's only just the beginning of what is to come. Just shove those thoughts aside, and try to enjoy your day. Okay?"~
He sat in his desk, but he couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place in it all. His story was spread to all expanses, there was no doubt in his mind that everyone knew. They just didn't seem to care. ~And why would they?~ He asked himself. ~Why should they care? I've never meant anything to them before, why would things change now?~
~"You're over thinking this too much. Don't stress yourself over it. It's bad for your health."~
The final warning bell rang. The rest of the students shuffled into their seats, waiting for class to begin. Tsuna lay his head down on his desk. The teacher walked into the room, interrupting the chatter of the class. "Quiet down. Honestly, you should be a little more considerate to your classmates. If you haven't noticed already, one of our very own is finally back with us." She walked up to his desk, and softly laid one of her hands on his back. He turned his head to glance up at her. She smiled. "Welcome back...I'm so glad you are able to join us here once again. And I know there are many in here who do also. Truly a miracle..." Her smile turned into a chuckle. "Enough of my words, I'd like to hear what you have to say...anything."
Tsuna sat up as straight as he could. "I-I don't really...I've lived a pretty normal life...Nothing has really changed, other than where I live, and the occasional headache or pain in my chest."
"It may be a touchy topic for you, but can you recollect anything from that day? Any details?"
"I was half asleep when it happened, I don't know what happened between the crash and when I woke up in the hospital. I have been told about the mysterious man who saved my life. It sounds like a dream...It's still so hard to believe it all happened." He watched the faces of the students around him. They seemed like young children being entertained by a story. There was interest in their eyes, a beckoning for more. For once, he felt comfortable speaking in class. "There are still things I can't do, like swimming or running for a long time."
His school day went by pretty slow, the giggling of the girls over TC was on and off. He was given everything he needed to catch up to the rest of the class, though his mind wasn't entirely focused on that. His mind was elsewhere, reminiscing things in the past and thinking forward to what was to come.
~Flashback~
"We're here, Tsuna! We're at the zoo!"
Tsuna woke up from his nap. "We going to see amamals?" The six year old rubbed his eyes.
"Mhm, come on."
They got off the bus and walked up to the admissions booth. "Two tickets, please," KT said. The man looked at her.
"Are there any adults with you?"
"No, sir. I don't have parents here, but I have money."
Tsuna was gripping her shirt. "I hear birdies, KT! Amamals!"
"Please, sir... I've been saving up to bring him here for a while..."
"How about this...I'll be your accompanying adult, and you keep your money to buy souvenirs. How does that sound?"
"Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!"
The man went to talk to another employee, then walked out of the admissions booth. The gate opened. "Come on, kids."
"YAY! AMAMALS!" Tsuna said, running in through the gate.
"Slow down there," the man said. He lifted Tsuna and sat him on his shoulders.
"Whoa! Hehe..."
KT walked next to him. "What is your name, sir?"
"Hayato, Hayato Gokudera. And yours?"
"Kera-Taka."
"And what about you?"
"Tsu-na!"
"Nice to meet both of you," Gokudera said.
"Which way, Tsuna? To the big animals, or the small animals?"
"I wanna see BIG AMAMALS!"
"Look Tsuna! Elephants!" KT ran up to the fence. "They're HUGE!"
"EFFEFANTS! YAY!"
Gokudera set him down. Tsuna ran up to KT. "Big BIG amamals!"
"Mhm..."
There was a roar in the distance. Tsuna gasped. "Kitties! Big Kitties!"
"Let's go!" The both of them ran towards the lions. Gokudera followed behind. The Lions were all close to the fence. Tsuna was giggling. "Big kitties."
Gokudera was shocked. The Lions were quiet, all staring at Tsuna. What's...going on? he thought. "Pretty kitties," Tsuna said, and put his hand to the fence. KT and Gokudera went to protest, but the cats didn't attack. He pet the Alpha's head. "Good big kitty..."
"Impossible."
The large cat purred, and licked his hand. Tsuna cried out in fear and the Lions ran off, also scared. KT hugged him. "Shh...it's alright."
What power...does this child possess? He tamed the giant cats, then made them cower in fear!
"Let's keep moving," she said. Gokudera nodded. "Lets go see the Meerkats!" KT said, pointing to a sign. Tsuna sniffled. "Okay!"
Lunch time had come around. "KT...I'm hungry...can we eat? Mr. Gokudera, sir...can we eat?"
"Sure...there's a food place right up here..."
"Okay..."
"You guys sit, I'll be right back, okay?"
"Yes sir," KT and Tsuna said together. Gokudera walked up to the food stand.
"KT..."
"Hm?"
He leaned his head on the table. "I'm tired..."
She smiled, and ran her fingers through his hair. "Just a little bit longer...don't worry..."
Gokudera walked over with a tray. "Everything alright?"
"Yeah...he's just tired...it's almost his nap time..."
"Do you want me to get a stroller?"
"That sounds nice..."
"Alright..here's lunch...enjoy."
He set the tray down. KT took a box. "Thank you so much..."
He walked away.
Gokudera returned 5 minutes later with a stroller. Tsuna was asleep on KT's lap. She was stroking his face gently. "Is he your brother?" He asked her. She shook her head. "Is he family at all to you?"
"No...he's just the little boy who lives in the poor part of town with his abusive mother...but I love him like a brother...I want the best for him..."
"He's very special...what he did to those lions...do you know?"
"He's always been this way...I can't explain it...I don't know." She shook her head. "He's so...sweet, even after all he's been through. He's got a bully that tortures him everyday in school, a mother who hates him and neglects him, his father left him...I don't understand it."
"He's a very special child...he's got power I've never seen before. And you, I feel a strong presence with you too."
"How?"
"It's just my intuition."
"Oh...I need to find a way to get him home soon...Do the buses run regularly?"
"You just missed one...there won't be another one for an hour. I get off in a few, I can drive you home. I don't mind if it's out of my way, I have no plans."
"Really? That would be so nice! Thank you!"
"No problem...eat up and we'll get on our way."
They sat in a car driving along on the ride back to Namimori. "Thank you so much, sir...I'm so grateful, and if Tsuna we're awake, he would express his thanks too.."
"Don't mention it...I think that was the best day I've had giving tours ever. You both are probably the most well behaved children I have ever met. No doubt in my mind about that."
He exited onto a smaller road that lead into Namimori. KT Pointed to Tsuna's house. "Right there...I've got to get him home before his mother gets back." She got out and unstrapped Tsuna. She carried him to the gate of the porch. "Thanks again!"
"Bye," Gokudera said. He drove off.
~End of Flashback~
Someone tapped him on the shoulder, or so he thought. ~"Doing a little thinking are we?"~
~Just a little...I'm not really paying any attention...I didn't think I'd get too caught up in it. Thinking of some of the things in my past help me feel a bit better.~
~"So I can tell...The past also has a bad habit of changing the future."~
"Hey! Tsunayoshi! Get your head out of the clouds and listen to this! What is brown and sticky?"
"Uhhmm..."
"Gosh you have a dirty mind! It's a stick, dumbass!"
The lunch bell rang. Most of the classroom cleared in a matter of minutes, but the girls that were interested in TC stuck around. He walked over to Tsuna. "What now?"
"It's lunch time..."
"Oh...so where do we go to eat lunch."
"Anywhere...the safest is the roof, in my opinion."
He turned to look at his group of drooling middle school girls. "Is the roof alright with you?"
"MHM.."
"Great! Shall we get a move on..." –They're making puddles...–
~I really do hate you...~
–Yeah...I get that a lot...you do get used to it, eventually.–
"To the roof!"
They all ventured to the rooftop of the school. A few groups were scattered here and there on the layout, but the atmosphere was quiet. "The roof...Don't enjoy it too much..."
"Well, wait...what's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing really...I just know you very well..."
"Ha, whatever. Where do I get food?"
"Uhm...You're TC! Why are you asking me?"
TC's arms went up. "Oh yeah! What are you having?"
"Lunch KT made me..." He pulled a Bento box from his school bag. "The usual, rice balls..."
"Soo...lets eat then!" TC pulled a Sushi boat from his Trenchcoat. "My lunch, in Deluxe."
"How'd I know you were gonna do that?"
"As you said before, and I quote: 'it's me'."
Lunch passed with everyone surviving. They all returned to the classroom to start Science. "Today's lesson, is Charles Darwin's theory of Natural Selection."
Tsuna's looked up in full attention. ~Natural Selection...I've heard about that before...~
"Charles Darwin's theory of Natural Selection states survival of the fittest, the strong will survive, and the weak will die off. Which, naturally, in nature we find this to be relatively true. Weaker animals are preyed on by the bigger and stronger ones."
In the meantime, TC was pestering Tsuna, poking him in the arm. ~Ooh...yeah. Natural Selection...~
The P.A. in the room buzzed. "Sensei Yamaha, Sawada Tsunayoshi must report to the Headmaster's office immediately...and his...friend..."
"Hai...Sawada."
Sweat beaded on Tsuna's face. "Y-yes Sensei...Let's...go, TC..." He grabbed his bag, and walked to the door. TC walked to the door, his arm up , his fingers in the rock star pose. "You guys have been wonderful! See you all later!"
They walked down the hall. "Why would they call me to the office...I didn't do anything...did you?"
"Not that I...know of...maybe he wants he wants to give you a gift!"
"I don't think..." He sighed. "The office is right there..."
Tsuna and TC both walk inside. ~Why...you have a plan if things go wrong, right?~
–Processing...processing...buffering...buffering...LAG...LAG...LAG...DING. Yep, I got one.–
~Good...~
The office was small, only two chairs and a desk, behind which the Headmaster himself sat waiting for these two boys. He stood. "Come, sit. I need to talk to you boys."
"Yes, Sir."
They sat in each of the chairs. TC placed his feet upon the desk. "What up?"
The man just stared, his glasses reflecting the boys. "Yes, I can already tell you are going to be in my office quite often, TC."
"Cut the crap, Josh. We're all acquaintances here."
"Oh. In that case, I will let my disguise unfold."
"Negative, Ghost Rider. Cameras."
Josh, the god of thievery and mischief, nodded. "I forgot, sorry."
"Come on, Jew-bag, I don't have all day. Spit it out."
"Wait...you're...Josh? You're a god, why are you working as my school's Headmaster!"
"Questions later, time is money." Then to TC, "I have nothing to report to you, I haven't really heard of anything going on since I last talked to JD...though that was almost five minutes ago..."
~And knowing TC and his family anything can go wrong in five minutes!~
"Good, good. So, anything else you need to say while you have us down here, you're taking away from our precious edumacation time."
"Oh yes," his tone switched from everyday acquaintance back to important figure. "Kera-Taka called. She told me to tell you that she'll be in work late and that you need to ride the bus home."