Burning Water- Chapter 1 – Before the Fire
"Tsuna, hurry! You'll lose a second if you keep on at that pace!"
Tsuna was running hard, his face dripping with sweat, as he dashed past the finish line on the track. Taking a pleasantly icy water bottle from a worried Gokudera, he chugged it down in mere seconds as the gym teacher looked at the stopwatch.
"Not bad," She looked up with a small smile. "If you stay motivated, you'll get a lot faster. You beat your time by a few seconds."
"I got better just like that in a week," Tsuna smiled. "Thanks, Mrs. Lal Mirch."
The teacher brushed away the blue hair that was flying into her face when she noticed that several others were still on the track.
"Oi!!!" She called to a purple haired punk. "No slacking off, Skull!!"
"Juudaime…" Gokudera looked at Tsuna. "You okay? It's already a burden for you to take training from Uncle Reborn. You don't need to join the track team, too…"
"Well…" Tsuna thought for a moment, letting the calm breeze brush past his brown spiky hair. "I just thought that somehow I should learn to be able to keep on par with everyone else. I am boss, after all."
Gokudera smiled just when a boy with blue hair was shouting from the bleachers.
"Tsuna! Gokudera! Milly says she wants a meeting now!"
"Coming!" The two smiled. Tsuna walked to the lockers and thought for a moment. Out of all the people in the Vongola residence, only he, Gokudera, Lambo, Ipin, Uni, Mukuro, Chrome, and Hibari were able to attend Ashford Academy without prejudice on their shoulders. It irritated him that those like Kyoko and Yamamoto would be discriminate more easily as "Elevens." To call people by just a number, it sounded like slaves branded for service. Tsuna was one-eighth Italian, and he only got in the Academy because of Uncle Reborn and Aunt Bianchi's special way of pulling strings… it wasn't pleasant, either.
"You're here!" Milly flung her arms around Gokudera's neck, who "che'd" in response and tried to pry her off. Tsuna sweatdropped and noticed that Shirley and Rivel were sitting on the couch, waving to them in response. A pair of footsteps took his notice and he saw Lelouch, the vice president of the student council. Elsewhere in the room, Nunally and three other children her age were entering the room as well.
"Ger offn' me, crazy woman!" Gokudera struggled until Milly voluntarily let go, sending him crashing to the floor.
"Everyone here?" She looked, seeing Nunnally and her set of friends decided to be the guests of the meeting today.
"Afternoon, Milly," Uni and Ipin, two decent students in Nunnally's class, waved politely as Lambo gave a wide grin. Lelouch silently went to his place on the couch, a king chess piece in his hand. He looked at Tsuna. Lelouch then placed a hand on the shoulder opposite and let go. Tsuna understood and then raised an eyebrow in doubt as if saying, "Are you serious?"
Gokudera noticed the interaction with the corner of his eye. It was until then when he realized what Lelouch meant, and the silver haired teenager palmed his face in annoyance. Sheesh, and Lelouch will never learn when and when not to gamble and worse enough, asking others to come with him.
Because Reborn and Bianchi had pulled strings for Tsuna and Gokudera, they were allowed licenses to operate motorcycles of their own and drove home to their own estate.
The Vongola residence was a vast on, taking a great many acres, since half of it held the headquarters and research centers of the prestigious Vongola Corporations, the best Knightmare-designing company in the Britannian Empire. And who was boss? Tsuna. But he was far to young to take on the business openly. So Reborn played the puppet of the show, but the Tenth hid in the shadows to manipulate every single transaction and meeting without the ambassadors' noticing. He was a master at deception, like Reborn said, a trait of his ancestral history as the boss of the formerly most powerful mafia family within a span of two centuries.
They entered the grand iron gates of the estate, driving down a paved road of landscaped orchards, and an occasional sakura tree within them. The road spanned to a slow turn and to a massive mansion, a working fountain forming an arched pathway for drop-offs. Tsuna watched as a garage door opened and the two drove in quietly.
As they expected several people were waiting for them. Yamamoto, grinning as sheepishly as ever, was wearing his work clothes, a suit, but a somewhat untidy tie. Kyoko, a warm smile on her supposedly delicate face. Not many could tell what lies behind the act. Haru was waving furiously to Gokudera. The two boys screeched to a stop and dismounted the vehicles. They took off their helmets and laid them on the seat. A man with black spiky hair and curly sideburns accompanied by a pink haired woman, presumed to be his wife, approached Tsuna with a fatherly air.
"What a flashy entrance, for a kid like you," he joked and Tsuna smiled weakly. Reborn, caught the strange behavior and nodded. "I see, I will see you in the office, shortly."
"Tsuna!" Kyoko hugged Tsuna tightly. "How was school?"
"Brilliant, I guess…" Tsuna blushed. Kyoko was in grave danger if she stepped foot outside the residence. She was an pure "Eleven." Lately, she, Yamamoto, and Haru have been home-schooled by Bianchi and Reborn, and they didn't really get to interact with people other than those who lived in the residence. Mentally, Tsuna promised that he would someday find some way to make a world for Kyoko to live freely and not in a compromised cage.
"Haru was waiting for you all day!" Haru smiled brightly, and Gokudera smiled back. Then Haru then wore a look of concern. "Kallen had recently stopped by. She wanted to see you and Bianchi, but Ohgi didn't let her. It seems that they're going to launch another hit and run."
Gokudera nodded understandingly. Kallen Stadtfield, or Kouzuki, was his rebellious half-sister. He, Kallen and Naoto, and Bianchi, were born of the same father but of different mothers. It made him feel sick of the concept of polygamy, but he shook it off anyways. As much of a hothead she was, Kallen always came to Gokudera and Bianchi for comfort and advice, since she could not confront her real mother who worked as a maid in her home, and her brother, who was exiled from the mansion and was constantly with the Resistance. Looks like he'll be looking out for her again, the twentieth time? He palmed his face. Having younger sisters (Kallen was younger than him by a few months, which made his thoughts about polygamy more sickening) was a big pain.
"So Lelouch vi Britannia is going out to gamble again tomorrow…" Reborn rubbed his chin in thought as Tsuna watched with unnerving eyes. "That does it then. You and Gokudera should accompany him. It'll be good for you…"
"Hye?" Tsuna jumped. "You're asking me to do life-risking things…"
"I only said go with him, not do what he does," Reborn rolled his eyes. "I have a feeling that the Resistance Gokudera's half-siblings Kallen and Naoto will be intercepting you rather soon. To be safe, I'll let you two use the Cielo and the Tempesta case you get into a bad brawl."
"I understand," Tsuna nodded. "Now, how was the conference while I was at the gym running my feet off?"
"Using humor in serious dialogue," Reborn smirked. "Looks like my hellish training straightened you out really well."
"Yes, it has," Tsuna nodded. Reborn looked at the stack of papers he was yet to sign and for Tsuna to read.
"Nothing much really," Reborn said. "The emperor requested a repair service for one of his Knights of Round. The ambassador seemed scared out of his mind when I stared at him."
"You shouldn't stare at people like you're wary of them," Tsuna frowned. "It's surprising you were able to marry Bianchi in the first place."
"Sometimes a fierce face attracts those who like the dangerous ones," Reborn smiled. "You should try it sometimes. You're still too soft."
"Never mind that." Tsuna brushed off the comment. "I'll need another test run on the Cielo before I can use for actual operations. If you say I'll use it tomorrow, I need to practice now. I might get rusty."
"You?" Reborn chuckled. "An eighteen-year old like you shouldn't worry about being rusty. The time you should worry is when you turn my age."
"So…" Tsuna chose his words. "elaborate on why I should go with Lelouch to gamble again?"
"I see… you need research…" Reborn pulled out a stack of files. "I happened to get Giannini to download these files from the Britannian Empire's Science Division. They've been very naughty at the moment, and I hear they're performing experiments on humans as test subjects. Just one, actually. I suggest you read it before you set out tomorrow."
"Ah, thanks, Uncle Reborn," Tsuna bowed and he exited the room.
"And oh, I almost forgot," Reborn reached into the drawer of the desk and tossed a orange-white-winged-shaped key to Tsuna, who caught it easily with one hand. "You'll need it to run the Cielo, no?"
Tsuna nodded. But he stayed for a moment.
"Who was it who helped you get the information from the Science Division?"
"Oh, I'm sure you know who they are, Tsuna."
"Kufufufu… this is exciting…"
"Brother… Don't give our cover away…"
"Yeah, herbivore, you're trouble some enough."
Three people were standing in the hallways of the pristine white laboratories. Apparently, they were the ones assigned to set lights out today. Immediately, like mist, they faded away, and no one saw it.
They appeared once again in the balcony of the quarters Vongola estate. Their appearance changed as well. First was a blue haired boy whose hair was tied to a short ponytail, reminding many of a pineapple. The second was a purple haired girl with an eyepatch over her right eye, for she is the sister of the first boy. The second was a black haired boy. The siblings wore the uniform of Ashford Academy, while the other wore a suit. The door of the room opened behind them, and Tsuna stepped in, swinging the key he received from Reborn by the lanyard. The boy with blue hair chuckled, and Tsuna stopped and smirked.
"You sure took your time." The strange boy started.
"Well, what can you expect?" Tsuna smiled. "I needed to tell Uncle Reborn that Gokudera and I will be out gambling tomorrow. Wanna come?"
"Does this mean that I'm driving?" the black haired boy's narrow eyes showed discontent, and disapproval.
"I only asked, Hibari. Mukuro?"
"Kufufufu…" Mukuro smiled widely. "If the more the merrier, then I'll join you."
"Thank you, and you'll need to test the Nebbia. Uncle Reborn says that the Resistance might show up."
"Not a bad idea," Mukuro walked past Tsuna. "Come on, Chrome, and Hibari. We don't want to disturb my little brother here in his sleep."
"I'm not really your brother, got that?"
"Course not biologically," Mukuro smirked as the other two exited silently. "But we've been under the same roof for seven years. Surely that gives enough credit, does it?"
"I suppose so," Tsuna headed to the bathroom. "See you at the training room."
"As you wish."
Kallen was trying to be as silent as possible. Naoto was doing such a better job than her, too. Hmph, she should've taken the offer of extra training under Bianchi with Gokudera.
"How much longer?" She whispered.
"In about two minutes." Naoto smiled. "Looks like we can place a check in this game."
"I wonder about that…" I've heard that Gokudera was going to be in the city tomorrow. I hope he won't get into this. He knows far too much about us…
"Kallen, you paying attention?"
"Sorry…"
The pink haired girl followed her brother to ambush to guards with a swift take down. They were knocked out immediately, and Naoto handed her a jacket that belonged to the guard he subdued.
"Take this one," He gave a caring look. "It's much cleaner."
"Th-Thanks, brother…" Her blue eyes beamed as she took it.
Lelouch was staring at a smirking Rivel.
"Nobility, eh?" Rivel fingered one of the papers he needed to sign as a Secretary. "Sounds pretty ritzy… and risky, for the likes of you."
"Hey, it should be more exciting," Lelouch smiled evilly. "Maybe next time, I'll try the mafia."
"I won't be so sure about that, Lelouch," Rivel frowned. "You've already seen how brilliant Tsuna is. How can you possibly top that?"
A year had passed since the two boys learned of Tsuna's heritage and his secret. But only Lelouch knew of Tsuna's resolve that resonated with his own: to destroy Britannia. The two geniuses had been working together ever since.
"I didn't say I was going to play against Tsuna," Lelouch turned to the open window. "I meant lower families. Sure, they'll be easier, a lot easier, but it's still a challenge anyways. A hitman can be as deceptive and be a natural genius even at chess."
"Well, you're going against that baron tomorrow, so don't sweat it," Rivel waved a hand dismissively.
"What are you talking about, Rivel?" Lelouch smirked. "I never… ever 'sweat it.'"
"Cool as a cucumber…" Rivel added.
"You could say that again…" Lelouch stared at the clock. Ten o' clock. Ten hours before the game of his life will start. He just didn't know it.