It was lunch for Sora, and he stayed at his own house for it.. for once.
He was resting on his comfty bed at last, happy that the constant white was now in normal 'sweet-home' colors. The only sound in the room was the patient ticking of the clock.
Rebirth let him go back home and resume training besides the base. Sora had a feeling that Rebirth was also weary of staying in there as well. "It's not good to train in one place. Every surrounding provides a different situation. It's best to stay used to things like that." she excused herself about two times now.
Sora heard Kyoko's voice call downstairs. "Sora, dinner!"
"Hai!" He rushed down the stairs.
The food was all prepared and placed on the table presentfully. The smell almost made his mouth drool, but the dinner wasn't what they always ate.
There was a basket of bread, a few plates of creamy soup, a fish, cheese, and vegetables.
"We're going Italian today!" Kyoko smiled, "Rebirth and Congii is staying here, so I wanted to buy what they like!"
"Eh? Congii?"
"Wep!"
Congii jumped and hugged Sora's neck playfully as she dangled around like a scarf.
Sora looked surprised for a second, but grinned back cheerfully. "Ha ha~ Stop Congii, you're going to- G-Gak!"
The toddler was weighted with pounds of clothing- but she showed no signs of limping under something heavier than her. The weight shot pain through Kagisora's neck as he tried pulling her away. "Ite ite!"
She landed down evenly and giggled. "Waw! Sora is okay?"
Sora rubbed his neck weakly. "I'm alright Congii-chan.." Though he couldn't help but laugh.
The entrance door suddenly opened appearing Haruka, Hiroshi, and Edward.
"Yo. Where's Congii?" Edward asked. He motioned to keep walking, but Haruka glared at him, and he slid off his shoes.
"Right here bwoothor!" Congii jumped at her brother to hug him, but he gently nudged her away.
Haruka sauntered to Kagisora cheerfully. "Hi Boss!" she greeted. "How was your break?"
"It was fine- yours?" Sora smiled.
"It was-"
"Voi fatto flirtare con?" Edward punched Haruka's head interruptedly.
Haruka glared up at him irritatedly. "Ehi! Mantieni la calma!" she spat angrily. She punched him back in the hip, but Edward made no flinch whatsoever and resumed walking to his seat.
Congii trotted after him happily.
Sora watched Edward ignore Haruka and walk to his seat, but he couldn't interpret what just happened. When he turned to Haruka, there was a look of pain in her eyes.
But they almost didn't notice Hiroshi who said:
"Haruka- are you ok?"
The Storm guardian looked up. "Eh? Oh yeah! I'm fine!"
Hiroshi looked at her. "... Okay, we don't get along with each other alright?" she stormed away, but she was more angered than pained.
The dinner was more cheerful than what happened earlier. Suzako had managed to get Haruka take her mind off of the short fight and act much differently than before.
Sora didn't dare eat the vegetables, but quietly take a few spoonfulls of his soup. Anyway, Congii popped a few brocolli's in his mouth a few rapid times with a sharp fork.
Haruka was attempting the same thing with Hiroshi, who shoved it away like a tempered cat. "No wonder you hate sports! Vegetables is the most important for athletes! Kora! Eat it!" she tried forking a carrot in his mouth, but he quickly moved his head away.
"Dammit! I'll eat what I want to eat- so ge-" Successfully, a single carrot popped in Hiroshi's mouth. He didn't spit, but he munched it vigridly.
Unexpectedly, Suzako also popped him a few carrots- then celery. Hiroshi's mouth was so full that it looked like a chipmunk's cheeks in cartoons when it shoves a bunch of nuts in it's mouth.
Hiroshi tried to open his mouth to complain, but munched it quietly, mumbling a few complaints under his breath. "I hate you."
Suzako merely laughed. "I expected that."
"What -munch- do you-munch- mean you did?"
"Oh it's nothing really.." he gave a I'm-sure-you-know look at Haruka, who stared back, but kept herself busy with Congie as she hid a scoffing smile.
After dinner, everyone departed to do their late outings but Mom and Rebirth, who stayed home of course.
Rebirth still sat where she was, drinking her last container of soymilk for that day.
Sora, still having many questions in his head since the day they met, was inclined to stay in the kitchen.
"Rebirth-san? I still have some questions." he settled on one chair across from Rebirth. The tutor didn't look at him. "And what is it?"
"Well it's about our training lesson before.. when we climbed Mount Fuji?" Kagisora scratched his head nervously.
She said nothing, so the student went on: "You shot me with a er- Dying Will Bullet, but is it possible for me to see what I did instead of blacking out?"
Sora thought it was a stupid question to inquire of Rebirth, but she nodded her head. "Of course. Your father never blacked out.. but I'm still questioned about you too."
What?The Boss stared at the arcobaleno puzzledly. "Um what?"
Rebirth didn't appear to be annoyed at all, but curious. "It could be amnesia. Do you take drugs?" she frowned.
"N-No!" Panic entered Sora. Was he making a bad impression on his own tutor?
A smile slid from the baby's mouth, telling him that she was kidding.
Kagisora shot her a disdainful look.
"Course not. But there is one reason why."
"What is it?"
"Tsunayoshi is still alive. If it is so, then the bullet can't take full effect, unless it was specially made for those who are not Boss."
Rebirth noticed her student's curious questioning look by her sentence, but she shook her head. "But it's just a theory. I'll have to test on more different bullets on you then if it works."
Kyoko called Sora and Rebirth to sleep soon. The Boss gladly set aside his late manga readings and settled into a humble sleep. I wonder where Rebirth sleeps.. I hope it's not here.
He thought to himself wearily as he yawned one last time and closed his eyes.
What he expected to be humble and peaceful wasn't so great at all. In his dream, Sora was plumetting down darkness leading to nowhere, with nothing but himself falling to his doom.
No one was there to help him- not even Haruka. Only voices filled his head, telling him to turn back. Turn back..Turn back?Kagisora looked helplessly for a way to stop the voices harassing him any longer.
The next morning, it was a normal breakfast ( but Sora did notice a celery stick sitting on the table ), with Rebirth contently eating chocolate cereal for breakfast with butter-spread toast. Kagisora quickly grabbed a tart and darted for the door.
"I'll be going now okaasan!" he called as he unbolted the door and sped off in a rush.
Kyoko sighed to herself silently. "Ah.. and I thought he would never do this." She stared at the door dreamily.
Rebirth looked up curiously. "Hm?"
The mother scooped up the last raisin bread and placed it on the toddler's plate.
"Sora used to be so shy going out. Now it looks like he's meeting up with Haruka and his other friends.." Kyoko smiled warmly as she focused washing the dishes left in the kitchen. Rebirth said nothing as she waited.
"It seems like since he discovered Tsuna's Vongola Family, he looks brighter and more confident now. I thank you for that Rebirth-chan." All the dishes were finally washed clean, giving off a shiny glow that reflected Kyoko's smiling face.
"But I do knew someone Sora went off to play with when he was really young. I just can't get the name.."
"Boss!" Haruka waved her hand in greeting at Kagisora as he trotted up to her cheerfully.
"Gomen, Haruka! I guess I stayed up late." Sora half lied to his Storm guardian weakly, scratching his head.
The Gokudera showed no sign of notice in the tone of his voice and smiled in return. "Oi. Can you hurry up before we're late?" Hiroshi called a few yards ahead. His large hair tip twitched in impatience for the two.
"Alright alright," Haruka rolled her eyes, but her eyes still concentrated on Sora.
"Don't worry. Hiroshi sounds kinda mean, but he really isn't.. I could tell." she whispered cheerfully as they caught up with the Rain guardian and took up to their usual walking speed.
"Really?" Sora blinked. How was she so sure?
Luckily, the late bell didn't ring. As the periods passed by, he heard a lot of whispers and murmurs that involved with him. Though, he couldn't make out what they were saying. The whole school was into him.
Kagisora was followed everywhere by a trail of eyes and passer-by students and teachers who eyed him suspiciously, curiously, or in full fright. To find the answer, he decided to meet up with Haruka and Hiroshi during lunch.
When it was sixth period, he walked upstairs to the roof- like they did before.
Haruka and Hiroshi were sitting like a triangle, with one person missing from the last edge. They didn't look so amused, but a glint of worry held when Sora arrived.
"Boss, have you heard?" she asked.
Sora sat down with them. "I did hear my name a lot of times, but what?"
"The whole school knows that we're part of the Vongola Family. They're even more afraid that you're the Boss!" The brunette sighed with distress.
"And it's annoying how they look at you as a stupid terrorist or something.." Hiroshi mumbled under his breath. He took a large bite out of his sandwich.
Kagisora couldn't believe it. Was it possible for someone to spread it throughout the whole school in one day? "Isn't that bad?"
"Not really as long as we don't do anything strange, but we'll have full-security watching our moves in school.. I just want to beat up the one who babbled their mouth out for this!" Haruka threw her bread at the cloth she took to carry her lunch. It bounced dully onto the surface.
Sora clutched his milk box tightly. "Then what will we do then?"
"Just go with it I guess. We can't help it I guess.." Hiroshi shrugged. He hunched his back forward to reach the remaining napkin.
"Wrong." Just when he touched the napkin, Rebirth appeared out of nowhere and kicked Hiroshi directly at the back, making him fall straight at Sora's bento box. His head landed right in it.
Kagisora's slits widened in surprise, but Haruka already reacted.
"Why the hell did you do that?" she yelled.
Hiroshi swatted away the remains of the wasted food frustratingly. "That baby just kicked me! How could I help it?" he yelled back, throwing the bento box off his head.
"Well be more observant then!"
"What do you mean? She came out of nowhere- hell I know!"
The argument soon lead to a hair-tugging, kicking, and shoving engagement as Rebirth landed softly onto the surface.
" Buon pomeriggio-desu." she greeted.
Like Reborn, Rebirth also had an unknown number of costumes, ( or rather called by Rebirth, "disguises" ) the maker of them, anonymous. That day, she was wearing what looked like a elementary school girl outfit with neko ears.
"Rebirth! What did you do that for?" Sora asked, offended.
The tutor ignored his urgent inquiring question. "We have to find the culprit."
"B-but how?"
Levy hopped on Rebirth's shoulder and transformed into the same blue pistol he saw before. "Die of course."
Before Kagisora died, he glimpsed the bullet sparkling not red, but a bright red orange.
...
Haruka and Hiroshi jumped in surprise by the sound of the bullet and watched helplessly as their Vongola Boss fell. Sora thought he was dead. Why did he see darkness then? No one was there, not anyone. Only pitch blackness.
'I can't die..! I still have a lot to do..'
When all was thought to be lost, Sora saw a small flame in front of him. It was small, yet alive- like him. The flame was pale orange that didn't die out or grow.
'Is this my flame?' Sora slowly cupped up the flame in his hands. When they touched, it suddenly burst and engulfed him into blindness.
"I WILL FIND THE PERSON WHO DID THIS!"
The three Vongola's jumped back aside for the Reborn Kagisora to do his job.
His clothes blasted off but his underwear and a bright orange flame blazed on his forehead fiercely.
Haruka's eyes glinted with full admiration when she saw Sora. Hiroshi almost threw up. "Go Sora!" she cheered.
"ALRIGHT! LETS GOO!" The Reborn Sora dashed through the door ( literally smashing it into pieces ) and zoomed downstairs.
Rebirth and the other two ran after him.
"ZUZUZUZUZUZU-ZUUUUUUU!"
As the Reborn boy ran at super-human speed through the hallway, nearby people yelped and screamed in bewilderment. The girls screamed as they held down their skirts to prevent the perverted to see under, teachers yelled in annoyance, and some Discipline Committee dogs tried chasing after the runner- but walked as soon as they were out of breath.
Kagisora dashed past a corner and noticed a stranger who trailed past through a corner. He screeched to a stop and ran after the person. Somehow, he had a feeling that this person was the one- the one who spread the truth. Was the bullet giving it's effect?
When the stranger noticed, he/she broke off into a run.
"YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY!" The Reborn Boss screamed. He ran as fast as his Dying Will could take him. The stranger however, had a disadvantage. He/she hidden his/her body with large layers of clothing, a hat that covered most of his/her hair, and even a dark jacket.
The stranger finally slowed down, huffing with exhaustion.
"THERE YOU ARE!" Sora leaped at the suspect, ready to grab him in case he/she struggled. Somehow, the stranger didn't. "S-Stop!"
Boss unloaded the hat off and blinked in confusion. "WHAT?"
"I s-said s-stop!"
He released the person, and immediately the flame went out.
Sora blinked for a moment as he regained his original conscious and observed the person closely. He couldn't tell if the person was a boy or a girl, but by his estimation, the person was a male. He had hazel brown hair and green eyes. The original clothing he wore was not visible, but the most unusual part of his description was that he wore a sick mask with a large X on it. He didn't appear to cough at all though..
"Who are you?" Sora asked. There was a slight hostility and order in his tone.
"I-I-I-'m sorry! It's j-j-j-j-ust that Xia-sama t-th-hreatened m-me to d-do t-t-this! I-I swear! I didn't m-mean it!" The boy stuttered nervously.
"He just asked you a question. Who are you?" Rebirth appeared with Haruka and Hiroshi behind her. She walked up to the boy with suspicion as she stared straightly.
The stare frightened the boy even more. "I-It's Rebirth!" He fell down and quickly forced himself by the corner, shivering with fright and terror.
Rebirth held her stare. "Well?"
"I-It's Uno!"
"So you're their Lightning Guardian am I correct?"
"Y-Yes M'am!"
"Hrm."
Sora was baffled. Whoever this person was.. he's the Varia's Lightning Guardian?
"U-Uwa.. W-Why did Xia send you?" he asked slowly, stuttering as well.
"Isn't it obvious? Xia didn't want to trail her butt here so she sent her guardians to do it for her." Uno was about to speak, but Hiroshi spoke first. Hiroshi glared straight at him with the same hostility with Haruka.
Uno squeaked.
"Guys, stop! You're scaring him.. Why don't we talk somewhere more private?" Kagisora suggested anxiously. "I mean.. he's not our enemy is he..?"
The boy looked at the Vongola Boss with full admiration and stood up. His eyes sparkled cutely as he blushed bright pink.
"Um.. I would like to."
After settling down at an empty classroom, Uno finally sighed.
"I know I would get hit by a million tea cups by this, b-but.." he bit his lower lip- at least that was what it looked like.
"Xia was just bored.. I mean, she kept throwing tea cups at Loss, so I suggested what I could do for her and she threw one at me too! And then she thought of some- some idea that made me have to enroll in Namimori and spread the rumors all around with my cute attract that girls always love like Loss said, and and-" Uno breathed for more air heavily.
Imaginary sweat drops formed on everyone's head but Rebirth and Uno.
"Y-you caught up with me!" The boy looked at Sora with full respect. "I thought I could still run fast even with all these.. layers of clothing,." he said as he took off most of his unneeded shirts and jackets, "and I was really surprised!"
Rebirth smiled. "He's the Vongola Boss."
Uno's eyes widened. "R-Really? Oh I'm so sorry Sir!" He bent his head many times rapidly until his neck hurt. Sora shook his head a few times to stop him from breaking his neck in disagreement. "It's not your fault! And please call me Sora! All my friends call me that."
Somehow that triggered Uno into a rasped gasp. "B-but I can never call you by that! You're much higher than me Sir!"
It's no use I guess.. Sora sweat more.
Seeing the pile of clothing there reminded him of something.. Something important, but he couldn't quite catch it. He reached for his sleeves the stretch it absentmindedly, but nothing was there. He looked down.
"Uwaa! I'm not wearing anything!" he cried.
Uno and Haruka jumped in surprise. "Here!" Uno grabbed the same school uniform and handed it to Sora quickly. "I hope it fits the best to your suiting Sir!"
Having nowhere to run to for privacy, Kagisora quickly wore everything as fast as possible; adjusting the wrinkled tie and buttoning his shirt.
Finally, he sighed and slumped back to his chair. "Whew.."
Translations:
Edward: Are you done flirting?
Haruka: Hey! Keep calm (will you?)
Okaa-san- Mother
Buon pomeriggio- Good afternoon
Bento box- home-packed meal common in Japan
chan- referring to someone adorable or someone you show affection to ( usually given to females, disrespectful to adults )
desu- a cute saying for girls at the end of each sentence
san- referring to someone older than you, and to show respect.
neko- cat in japanese