Three
Tsuna flipped through the pages frantically, counting them. They still needed a lot more of these flyers to make the unlock notice them. Tsuna knew it wasn't safe to hand out flyers telling people about recruiting people but he also knew that it was the best way to get back on the new family silently. They were going to hold a competition for the new generation. Gokudera had suggested to go to Tokyo to hold the competition, due to more people for candidates and possibly gain even more fame. Tsuna was iffy about it. He wondered if Tokyo was too... Big. He was uncertain about how the new family would react for Tokyo really is the centre of Japan. However, Yamamoto had told hi2m firmly to do so when he came to the Vongola and found out what had happened. His anger was more than obvious and even now, after four days, Yamamoto still is holding a grudge.
Yamamoto had changed quite a bit-ever after his dad died. He suddenly turned into a quiet person, though he still talks when needed. However, he started being not all that happy looking and for a while he looked almost looked depressed. After that, Yamamoto recovered (which took three years) and got over his dad. He started opening up again and was able to laughed things off. Though he made progress, Yamamoto can hold grudges for a long time, if he wish it.
"Tsuna, what's wrong?" It was Yamamoto, looking at Tsuna sternly with a hand on Tsuna's shoulder. Tsuna jerked up, coming out of his haze.
"Ah... Nothing." Tsuna said. Yamamoto grinned when he realized that Tsuna had finally 'awaken'.
"Really? I have been calling your name for didn't reply till I had to slap you on the shoulder." Yamamoto said in a light tone.
Tsuna rubbed his temples and felt a felt ache behind his eyes.
"Sorry Yamamoto-kun. I guess it's been tiring." He pressed the start button on the photocopier and made another 50 pages of the flyer. Tsuna watched the paper go in and out and in and out. Yamamoto was drawing new ones so that they styles of the flyers would be different.
"I really don't think this is acceptabl-." Yamamoto was about to tell Tsuna what he wanted to do when Lambo barged in.
"Tsuna! Sorry I'm late!" He shouted, stretching his hands out. "Here, give me those flyers, I go tape them everywhere right now."
Tsuna frowned at Yamomato but he turned towards Lambo.
"Don't sweat it. You can take your time."
"Well, I'm ready now so just give them to me." Lambo said that in a laid back way. Tsuna shrugged and gave the flyers to him.
"Thanks, Lambo. You're a great help." Tsuna curled one side of his lip up and looked genuine. Lambo stopped as he was receiving the flyer. He looked at Tsuna and stared. He looked like the Tsuna he knew twenty years ago when Tsuna made that expression.
"Lambo-kun! Let's go already!" Ipin was standing by the door and broke Lambo's trance. Lambo nodded and took off with the flyers.
"They look fantastic together, don't they?" Yamamoto mused as he handed his newly finished drawing to Tsuna for photocopying. Ipin and Lambo were engaged, and they were very compatible looking. Tsuna smiled.
"They sure do. Now, Yamamoto-kun, as you were saying...?"
...
"HE'S HOLDING A MAFIA COMPETITION?!"
Karina raised an eyebrow, her dad was holding a competition for 11th generation? She'd go for sure.
Akane frowned. "What competition?"
"Vongola! Mafia! They're holding a competition for the 11th generation! Ugh! I can't believe my dad didn't even tell me! Wait but look- An individual cannot qualify until they get enough people for all the rings..." Karina then looked to Akane silently. Akane fidgeted.
"Kari-chan, calm down! And hold my new Stuffie! What do you mean by mafia and Vongola? You aren't joining, are you? Mafia… It's all dangerous and stuff..."
Karina took a deep breath, ready to explain everything.
"So you know how my dad kind of goes out on so called business trips he is actually kind of a mafia-ish thing boss so like he fights people and sort of protects the world-ish and I guess he's holding a competition now for the Vongola family eleventh generation which is the family he's in because there are different families and by generation I mean like different bosses and it's all very complicated and such so will you please join? Please, please please with a cherry on top?" Karina said in one big breath.
Akane frowned. "B-but… It's the mafia… I mean, it's dangerous… wait, are you pulling another prank on me?"
Karina tugged on her friend's shirt. "Please! I beg you! It's my dream! And my dad's the boss so he'll definitely take care of us! I promise, at least come try out with me!"
Karina could tell that Akane was sacrificing a lot to do this, and she wasn't sure whether or not to believe her. But Akane should trust her... right? She was loyal AND gullible, so Akane should believe Kari.
"I mean, aren't mafias the ones that kill people?" Akane said after a moment.
"Oh, Aka-chan! They protect the world! Sure, they fight but… I can't believe people think they are bad...Okay… Maybe you're right. Some mafia families does go around causing havoc but not the Vongola! As far as I know, my dad is trying his best to keep peace and is in league with the police forces. They are kind of like the mafias of Tsushima island and this is their territory. So any other mafia family that comes and create chaos would be driven out by them… They're really just protecting us." Karina said.
Akane was silent for another minute. Then she exclaimed. "OH! SO THAT'S WHERE IT'S FROM! I knew I heard the name 'Vongola' before! They're the ones that helped capture a whole entire group of criminals two years ago, no? It was all over the papers!"
Karina broke into a grin. "Yes, that's it! So will you form a team with me?"
Akane looked a little hesitant again. "You mean… Fights and all that…?" Akane spoke silently. But then she spoke louder. "You mean… Protecting the world and wielding rings?" Akane's eyes were suddenly sparkling. "Why yes, Karina, yes! It would be worth it… Right?"
Karina laughed. "Yes, Akane! It would be worthy!" 'Now I just have to find five more people to join and we'd qualify!' She then thought and stretched out a fist. "You're in then?" Akane's eyes gleamed as they met Karina's. She punched Karina's fist, hard.
…..
"KAZU! KAZU! GET DOWN! GUESS WHAT I SAW TODAY!" Kari hollered, ignoring her mother, who was telling her to take off her shoes. Kazu ran down the stairs, slipping on the last step, and landed on his back. He rubbed his head, and his blue eyes looked into Karina's brown ones. With a sudden realization, Karina saw just how much Kazuto resembled their father. They looked practically identical, except Kazu's hair color was more like Haru's.
"Kazu! I saw a flyer near school today! And it said that Vongola is holding a competition for the 11th Generation members!"
Kazuto stood up slowly, wincing in pain, not fully understanding his sister due to her high-pitched voice when she got excited. "So? A flyer? So what?"
"A VONGOLA FLYER! I SAW LAMBO-SAN PUTTING IT UP! FOR THE 11TH GENERATION COMPETITION! AND I'M ENTERING WITH YORI AND AKANE!"
It took a second before something in her twin's head clicked, and he realized what she was talking about. "You're entering in the 11th Generation competition?" Kazu asked, smiling brightly. However, something about his voice and manner sent chills up and down both Haru and Karina's spines.
"I'm going to pick up Yuri now!" Haru said nervously, and quickly stepped outside, slamming the door shut. An awkward silence filled the entire house while Kazuto smiled at his sister. Karina blinked. Kazu almost never got really, truly angry, but if she remembered correctly from about an year ago, when he got angry, he smiled just like that beforehand.
"U-um, onii-chan~" Kari said, almost in a whining tone. She never called Kazuto 'onii-chan', unless to get on his good side. "I'll, um… go upstairs to d-d-do homewo –"
"YOU ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" Kazuto roared, slamming his hand against the wall. The force of his punch rattled the windows on the first floor. Karina was stunned. She was never scared of her twin – but angry Kazu was a different Kazu.
"O-onii-chan, ca-calm dow –"
"HOW DARE YOU, SAWADA KARINA?! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU NOT TO GET INVOLVED IN THE VONGOLA MAFIA BUSINESS?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'RE GETTING YOURSELF INTO? DO YOU?! DAD IS ALREADY IN THE VONGOLA BUSINESS AS THE BOSS, AND THAT CAN'T BE UNDONE, BUT IF YOU JOIN, DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO US?! MOTHER, YURI, AND I – WE'LL ALL BECOME TARGETS TO OTHER MAFIA FAMILIES! DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE TROUBLE YOU'RE PLACING ALL OF US IN?!"
Karina was still stunned and looked down, unable to look into her brother's piercing blue eyes. Why did he even have blue eyes? Why didn't he have brown eyes like the rest of their family? Karina tried to think of any random thing she could to keep her mind off of her current situation.
"KARINA, LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M TALKING!"
Karina didn't budge, and backed up a step, wanting to escape.
"THAT WAS AN ORDER, KARINA. LOOK. AT. ME!"
She looked up against her will. Her brother's face showed pure rage. He was breathing heavily and glared at her with such a look that she felt trapped. Kazuto's punch had made a dent in the wall, and parts of the it crumbled down onto the floor.
"Karina, do you understand what will happen if you join the Vongola? Don't be so selfish, and think of our whole family's safety," Kazu said in a quieter voice, though not by much.
"W-well, if I go into the Vongola to train, I'll be a-able to protect you all…" Kari muttered. She was shaking. Her brother was fearsome and has not treated her like that before. He had never told her that his anything was an order.
"KARI! THAT'S NOT THE POINT! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE STAKES OF JOINING THE MAFIA! IT'S NOT THAT EASY!" Kazuto once again started to shout.
"Why don't you fight me to find out who's stronger?! Why do you have to take charge of my life?!" Kazuto was weaker than Karina, since he never really wanted to train. So if she beat him… Anger was filling her stun.
"BECAUSE I'M YOUR OLDER BROTHER AND I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU! AND YOU WANT TO FIGHT, DON'T YOU? THEN COME AT ME!" Kazuto roared. Karina noticed that his brother's eyes had turned yet another color- orange and they were wild and unfocused. Karina gasped, backing away. Her back bumped into the door and her hand closed around the knob. A golden flame appeared on Kazuto's forehead. His biking gloves were wrapped in Sky flames as well. Kari yet again flinched. Kazu had never been so violent; she didn't even know he could summon Sky flames. Karina was truly stunned now, her anger had turned into complete surprise. She couldn't even do that, no matter how hard she tried. If she fought him now, she would surely lose, and he had guilt-tripped her way too much that she felt ashamed for her actions.
"I'm sorry," Karina murmured.
"THEN GO TO YOUR ROOM AND STAY THERE! I FORBID YOU TO THE VONGOLA COMPETITION. GO!"
As he watched Kari go upstairs, Kazuto's rage faded along with the sky flames. He blinked and was dumbfounded. What had just happened? Kazuto couldn't remember anything at all and felt extremely tired, it was as if he fell asleep and just woke up. Kazuto thought for a moment, then shrugged and remembered that he was getting ready to go biking, but somehow no longer had the energy to. He also remembered that Haru was supposed to be there... When did she leave? Kazuto then shook his head. It happened sometimes, when he had those blackout moments though they were rare and he never took them too seriously. His eyes drifted to the dent in the wasn't there before. What in the world happened? Feeling way too tired to care, Kazuto squinted his eyes, which were blurred by tiredness. He probably overworked or something and his head wasn't clear enough to stay awake any longer. Swaying to the sofa across the dining table, Kazuto collapsed on it and began sleeping immediately.
Meanwhile, Kazuto's twin sister was upstairs, holding a large grudge against him. What he said did hurt. Now that Karina recovered from the shock, anger boiled inside of her. It made her want to shout in her brothers face. Standing up, Karina put on a stubborn face. Of course she wasn't going to give up her dream just like that. No, if Kazuto wanted to keep her imprisoned he would have to work hard. She shuddered. Angry Kazuto was so much different from happy Kazuto.
When Karina went stomping downstairs, her anger faded away. She saw her brother sleeping. Affection swept through her. She really understood his thoughts. But he was being selfish if he tried to take control of her life. Sure, Karina understood that it was a risk. But it was her life. Silently, Karina went upstairs again.
...
"Hey guys! I'm home!" Tsuna called out as he stepped into his house. Instead of the usual cheerful mood his family usually exerted, there was an nervous feeling. Haru practically ran to Tsuna, reaching him before anyone else could, and they were moving slower than usual.
"Tsu-kun…" Haru started, "Try not to… upset Kazuto or Karina today."
"What, did they have a fight again?"
"I'm guessing that was what happened. I went to pick up Yuri before the fight broke out. Something made Kari very angry. She punched the wall," Haru pointed to the dent in the wall.
"What makes you think Kazu didn't do it?" Tsuna mused, thinking that it was just one of those minor sibling fights they had all the time. Yuriko ran over to him and hugged him while he picked her up.
"Well, he never really gets angry, does he? But something probably happened to him too; he should have gone to apologize to Kari already, like he usually does. However, he acts as if nothing has happened at all."
Tsuna frowned and set Yuriko down. Once there was something odd with Kazuto, there was probably a disaster. He went up the stairs and rapped on his older daughter's door.
"GO AWAY KAZU!" she yelled.
Tsuna tried the doorknob. Locked. "Kari, it's me."
Crashes were heard along with drawers opening and closing until the door was flung open. "YES! OTOO-SAN! YOU'RE FINALLY BACK!" Karina hugged her father tightly. He chuckled and pulled her off – noticing that the rim of her eyes were red.
Tsuna pursed his lips. "Now, Kari, this is serious. What happened when your mother went to pick Yuri up?"
Kari frowned and stuck out her tongue. "Nothing much." Karina lied. The truth was that she really wanted her father to prick the truth out of her so he would be more interested in the topic. It was a common tactic she used. Then what she knew was coming came.
"Don't lie Karina, tell me what happened. You've been crying."
Karina didn't expect that her father could tell the last point he made but she smiled when her father knew – again – that she was lying. She was embarrassed about crying. Karina shook her head. "I wasn't crying."
Tsuna lifted his eyebrows and reached out a hand. He tugged gently on Karina's sleeve. Rubbing his fingers, he looked at Karina.
"Your sleeve is wet. I could tell, and it just got proven." Tsuna said.
"Okay, okay. Well, I saw Lambo-san putting up these flyers, and though they seemed to be about some shopping store's 11th sale competition, I saw the Vongola emblem in the middle, and realized that it was a competition for the Vongola 11th Gen. Then I came back home and told Sawada Kazuto what happened and he started yelling at me and ora-"
"Dinner!"Haru called out, interrupting her.
"Tell me the rest later, okay?" Tsuna said to Karina. Then he led her down the stairs to the dinner table.
...
During dinner, the household was abnormally quiet. Finally, halfway through everyone's meal, Haru couldn't stand it any longer. She set her chopsticks down on the table with a loud bang, startling everyone.
"What is the matter with all of you?! Ever since Kari came home, something has been wrong."
"Oh, so you're saying it's my fault?" Karina said, stabbing her rice.
Kazuto looked up, completely baffled. "I-I don't know...Karina has just been ignoring me so I thought I did something wrong… I didn't know though so I don't know how I should apologize and what to apologize for. I rea-"
Karina cut him off by pushing her chair out and standing up. "Sawada Kazuto." She said, her eyes burning with blame and anger. Karina was trying to keep calm, anyone could tell. Her voice shook from the strain and if anyone pricked her, she was sure to explode. The family held their breath. "How can you do this?" By then, Karina's eyes were filled with tears. "Kazuto." She choked. "You are not stopping me. At all." With that, Karina turned shoulder and walked upstairs. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. She couldn't believe that her very own brother had just sputtered out such a big lie. It was unforgivable. After him punching the wall, him burning the ceiling with all his burning hair, and him yelling and spitting in her face, he claimed that he didn't know what was wrong. Hatred filled within her. Yes, she was his twin, but so is he. Him being four minutes older does not mean he is more responsible, nor at any more authorities. If Kazuto really wanted to play it that way, then why doesn't he go around bossing people in the same grade that are even a day younger and blab about how he is more responsible just because he is a month older than another guy? It was pathetic, what Kazuto said. He made it sound as if she were at least four years younger than he is and hadfour years less experience than he does. Karina reached her room and slammed the door shut.
Haruhi frowned.
"Kazuto, what did you do?" She asked softly, being the perfect mother.
Kazuto, who looked nothing more than bewildered, shook his head in silence.
"I'll take care of this," Tsuna muttered in Haru's ear, and continued on with his dinner.
Kazuto, too, finished his dinner and excused himself. Tsuna, Haru, and Yuriko were left in an awkward silence.
...
Tsuna went up to Kari. "Can you tell me everything now?"
Karina sighed. "So I told Kazuto about joining the Vongola and showed him the flyer, and he exploded like a volcano. He literally did. I swear I saw smoke coming out of his ears. And dad, did you know that he could summon sky flames?"
"What? Kazuto can summon sky flames?!" Tsuna exclaimed, though Karina motioned for him to keep his voice down. If he could really do that, he would make a wonderful Vongola boss. Pity he didn't want anything to do with mafia business…
"Yes! I swear I saw them on his forehead and gloves! He was the one who made that dent in the wall!" Karina then took a moment and swore colorfully. "Even I can't summon sky flames! Da-ad! Have you been privately teaching Kazuto?"
Tsuna gave his daughter a sharp look when she used many swear words. "No, I haven't. He must have Vongola blood…He should consider joining." Tsuna looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Hello? I'm the one who actually wants to join!"
Tsuna looked at Karina. "Is that what this is about again? Him keeping you from becoming a mafia, and you going the opposite?"
"Sort of…" Karina muttered. But it was more than that. Her brother has never treated her like such before. "Except this time… He was spitting in my face. Dad… You'll never know what he said… It hurts. He's saying all the 'I'm the bigger on' stuff and trying to take control of my life. I-I… Really don't like that. He also said that I was being selfish… He forbade me to join! He forbade me!" Karina shook her head. "He's no senpai, no sensei, and no oto-sama and also not a oga-sama. I'm not listening to what he says. He certainly does not have the power to 'forbid' me to do anything. Dad, all that I can handle, you must understand. But it's just that he is acting as if nothing had happened." Karina broke into laughter. "He is acting as if nothing in the whole sh*tty world is wrong! How can I get over that, dad, how can I!?"
"Calm yourself down, Kari, and watch your language. I think I know what is happening." Tsuna instructed. He then looked into Karina's eyes. "It must be because of the flames he summoned. I believe this is the first time. When I summoned my flames for the first time, I was filled with remorse and regret. I was shot dead, Karina." Karina gasped. She didn't know that he was shot dead. She wondered how she never knew. She did hear her dad's first flame summoning plenty of times. But he has never mentioned anything about being dead. Yes, she knew that some kind of special thing was injected into him for his flames to come out, but not the dead part. Karina shook her head.
"How does thi-"
"Listen." Tsuna continued. "I was a wimpy kid, and always wanted to propose to a girl. However, I never had the gut. Then one day, just after I decided to let my wimpy wits win over and miss a great chance of asking her out, I got shot. Reborn shot me. And I was dead. I remember dying. I remember regretting. Regretting about how I should have asked her out. Really. After that, I didn't know what happened. It was as if there was a hole in my head. A blank space of memory. When I came to my senses again, I was standing in front of the girl. I was standing in front of the girl in my underpants.
"Ooh! Ooh! Was it oga-san?" Karina interrupted.
"Kari, pay attention. And no, it wasn't. It was-" Tsuna suddenly stopped talking. A pained look clouded over his eyes. "Another girl. Anyways, that's not the point. When I first summoned sky flames, I forgot everything. That probably happened to Kazuto too, except he didn't whip out Sky flames the last time he was angry... and he forgot everything that happened too..."
Karina stared at her dad intently. He held her gaze steadily. Tsuna was telling the truth "Whatever. I'm going to join and that's that. I bet when I get super angry, I can summon sky flames too. After all, we are twins. Dad, you will let me join, won't you? You will keep me in for the team, right?" Karina was getting a little nervous. She wanted to join so badly that she can't afford losing the competition.
Tsuna's eyes gleamed. "I won't stop you from trying out. In fact, you are welcome to. I agree that you have to decide your own future. But Karina, your dream must be fulfilled by yourself. When at the tournament, my role is the tenth Vongola boss, not your father. You must understand that if I were to asses anyone, it'd better be fair and square."
Karina widened her eyes. "What!? But I'm your daughter!"
"You must learn to grab onto chances and work hard to earn something. Karina, don't be like I was, missing so many opportunities." Tsuna said and kindly patted her on the shoulder. "Well then, train hard for the next three weeks. After that, we are heading to Tokyo."
Karina was left gaping at the door, after Tsuna leg the room. So that's how it is. Nobody in the family supported her. It was common sense for her dad to give his spot to her, after Kazuto rejected. That made Karina extremely angry. She stood up and flipped her hair to one side.
"Fine! I'll show you what I can do! It's just beating a few other teams, no big deal." Karina growled and cracked her knuckles. She was ready to fight for the rings.
Regi: Sorry guys! I know this was a pretty boring chapter… but it should get more interesting within the next few or so.
Ailurophilek: What? I thought it was pretty interesting… Kazuto was mad. *Shudder* Scary Kazuto. Btw, sorry for the late and short chapter.