Chapter Seventy-Two
(Day Thirty-One: New World)
Izuku sighed and put his pen down. Leaning back to his chair, he stared ahead to his All Might poster as his mind swirled with what happened three days ago.
Pride and will.
His pride is what fuels his resolve. No wonder Tsuna is so good at everything. Why he almost never makes a mistake. It was because his resolve is to protect his family which is his pride too. When he asked Kaachan about it, the blond quirked a smile as if he remembered something before scowling at him. Shinsou surely has a clear image since he was able to bond with Tsuna nicely. While he and Todoroki haven't really.
Sinclair-sensei has reminded them that they don't need to really bond with Tsuna. Although they are compatible with their classmate's flames, it doesn't mean they had to take it as an obligation. As they stated it, it was free will. Aizawa-sensei asked them to not think about it. That they can find other people to bond with Tsuna. The two rather have it in free will than force it on them. Right now, Tsuna has three elements in him. A blue rain, a purple cloud and one red storm. According to Sinclair-sensei, there are one prospect each for a lightning, a mist, one more storm, and two suns.
He kinda informed this to All Might with Kaachan. The blond, as much as he wanted to pout, has been the first to bond with Tsuna. The blond preened about it, grinning so widely. All Might asked about it and they gave the simplest explanation, Tsuna needs soul bonds because of his 'life-force-bounded' flame quirk. They didn't tell the hero that it was because of too much other-colored-flames use that put him in coma, because they both know that the hero will feel guilty and beat himself for it. They won't like it. Tsuna won't like that.
He asked the hero if it will affect One for All if he bonds with Tsuna as his lightning. As what Kawahira checked on him, he enumerated the same thing to his mentor. The hero was reluctant about it. That maybe it will affect his quirk because their quirk grows too. Kaachan pointed out that it's mostly dormant and they influence Tsuna with their personalities not by quirk (they included a lot of yelling and cursing by the way). So All Might hesitantly gave in.
(He didn't know that Sinclair-sensei explained the concept to All Might after, because Tsuna, regardless of how much he keeps it, will always spill the problem to his advisor to get advices. So yeah. Reborn did the explaining.)
(All Might was relieved.)
"With my Dying Will." He murmured as he noticed the poster Tsuna bought with him when they finally talked to each other.
His heart fluttered with the memories of Tsuna replaying in his mind.
If he has someone to thank other than his Mom, it will be Tsuna. He won't be in Yuuei without Tsuna's help. Yeah. He could do it alone. He could survive his initial training to get his body accommodate the One for All quirk without anyone's help, but Tsuna made it lighter. When he's having a hard time in their classes, Tsuna will be there to provide him notes, make him eat lots for lunch and encourage him to hold on cause success is sweeter after a hardship. For once, he felt like someone is assisting him and helping. That he doesn't have to worry because someone out there will help him. After finally talking to Tsuna, he never felt alone anymore.
Up until the three of them got accepted to Yuuei, Tsuna never left him. When Kaachan tried to talk to him alone, almost fumingly threatened him to come with him, the brunet was there to act as a buffer between them, kicking the blond on the shin with a laughter and pulling him away to escape the shouting bully. Even when they entered the Yuuei, Tsuna never ceased to give him a hand and lend him an ear when he's having a hard time. Always listening to him and asking him permission if he wanted to listen to the brunet's opinion, and when he does, they will always make sense.
They owe the brunet a lot for assisting and saving All Might, helping them with Hero Killer Stain, saving Pixie-bob and Ragdoll, accompanying Kaachan when he got kidnapped, helping them with Eri's case and healing Nighteye when he should be dead. Tsuna has always been there. He never shies away from anything. He will risk his life for the sake of others. And Izuku admires that. It's not because Tsuna disregards the rules, but because the brunet will bend the rules for his gain to save others. He's not reckless, he calculated all risk.
'But not this risk.' His mind contradicted, pertaining to his comatose state.
Closing his eyes, he thought of all the things he discovered since Tsuna went to coma. After rationalizing, Izuku stood up from his seat and took his phone. He looked up to the clock and read six in the early evening. Rushing out, he went for the elevator and waited for it to take him down to the ground floor. When he got out of the small transporter, he ran for the main door. He greeted the others who greeted him. He caught Todoroki's eyes before he went out after putting his red shoes on.
He ran for the teachers' dormitory. He knew Aizawa-sensei and Sinclair-sensei goes to the hospital together somewhere around six. Aizawa-sensei sleeps in the dorm three days out of seven and the rest is for the hospital, since he has to take care of Eri too. Sinclair-sensei will always be with Tsuna to assure Aizawa-sensei that the brunet is being looked after while he's gone.
When he arrived at the teachers' dorm, he was right on time. Fearsome onyx eyes noticed him first before blank black ones do. He stopped running, panting a little from the adrenaline.
"Yes, Midoriya?" Aizawa-sensei queried.
He took a deep breath. "I want to be Tsuna's lightning."
Both men looked at each other before Sinclair-sensei turned to him. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." He answered with conviction as he recalled what he was thinking awhile ago. "I owe Tsuna so much. From being my other support as a hero other than my Mom. He said he never doubted that I will become a hero. Even if I don't have a quirk, he said I can be a hero. Someone who can save people like those people I admire. He protected a lot, protected us when we can protect ourselves, and now that he's vulnerable, I want to protect him too. So yes," His green eyes flashed electric green. "I want to be Tsuna's lightning."
"A lightning is someone who will draw the damage to himself and away from the sky and his fellow elements. Like a literal lightning rod. Can you be like that?"
His eyes widened in realization. No wonder hardening is the property of lightning flames. Because it will receive damages. Can he do that? For his family and friends? For Tsuna? "Yes."
"Then come." Sinclair-sensei permitted as they started to walk. He followed suit. "We'll make the bonding commence."
"Y-You accept me?" He queried.
"I acknowledge those people Tsuna accepts. You are among the people he gives high regards, and always worries about when something happened. In our world, the one he accepted as his lightning was a child ten years younger than him." Black eyes looked back to him as the teachers opened the doors for the driver's and passenger's seats. "Tsuna sees you as someone he needs to protect from the moment he knew your situation. He may not do it frontly, but he does it subtly." Aizawa-sensei entered the car while Sinclair-sensei remained to talk to him. "He doesn't want to do it openly because he doesn't want you to get in trouble and depend on him. Knowing your analytic skills, I'm certain you know what I mean. Come inside, Tsuna is waiting."
Izuku went for the backseat and waited for Sinclair-sensei to drive off. As they go, he thought back to those times Tsuna saved him. If he remembers it right, when the brunet transferred to their pre-school and the bullying started, Tsuna will be there for him. When he cries after a push, Tsuna will be the first to rescue him, giving him a candy. There won't be a bullying that the brunet won't be present on to assure him that he's there for him, until they advanced to middle school. In those years, Tsuna will brazenly tell them off, but not prominent enough for others to say that he's being saved.
God. He owes Tsuna a lot.
Arriving at the hospital, he never felt so ready. Sinclair-sensei led the way and opened the door for him. He was instructed to sit on the usual chair beside the bed. Like how Shinsou was briefed, he was also given the same speech in different context. Izuku stared at Tsuna's peaceful sleeping expression. He wonders what the brunet is dreaming about. With a deep breath, he thought of his pride and resolve.
His pride is the people in need. His resolve is to help them as a hero at all cost. Simple but realistic. Just the way Tsuna wants it.
He gasped when he felt the familiar warmth hugging him in assurance before it disappeared like a snap. He stared at Tsuna who's lips carved into a smile. He couldn't help smiling back.
"Good job." Sinclair-sensei nodded with a smirk. "Right now, we only need four more to get Tsuna to wake up."
"Thank you, Midoriya." Aizawa-sensei expressed with a brief smile.
He smiled back then looked back to Tsuna. "I can't wait to see him smiling and laughing again."
(Fourteen more days to go before the sky wakes.)
(Day Thirty-Two: Old World)
Caramel eyes blearily opened up to search for the ringing gadget. The owner let out a hand to get the cellular phone which is over his head. Checking it, he sighed and clicked 'receive' before hiding under his blanket again.
"Yes?" He answered, tone in a drawl due to sleepiness.
"You're still asleep?" The voice from the other side gawked in surprise. "You said you'll visit later."
"Later." He repeated, trying to stay awake.
"Tsuna!" The voice whined.
"Hm?"
"Wake up!"
"Hn."
"Tsuna-"
He fell asleep.
When he woke up again, it was nearly twelve in the early afternoon. Feeling refresh and well-rested, Tsuna went off his bed and stretched like a cat then proceeded for the bathroom. He did his thing before splashing some water on his face and brushing his teeth. After that, he walked out of the bathroom to get some clothes and change in them. He perked up when his intuition poked him, amused. He chuckled as he heard the main door opening. He ruffled his hair more in the mirror before going out of his room.
When he got down, he got greeted by a glaring Aeturnus who has two bouquet of assorted flowers in his hands and baskets of fruits and boxes of mochi. He chuckled when the glare intensified, but he went on and continued for the kitchen. He has to cook lunch for the both of them, and besides, he knows his companion is pretty much famished after his little 'shopping'.
They're currently in Namimori, Japan, in the Sawada residence. It was an out of whim decision of his that Aeturnus (as usual) agreed on. In his baby's defense, the best travels are those unplanned ones. He just wanted to visit his parents' graves before he goes. Unfortunately, Aeturnus was called for a hit once they touched down so he had to go home alone and sleep his jetlag away, hence the call early morning from the hitman. The young man was pretty reluctant of leaving him alone to travel, but it was a hit. Reputation against accompanying an old man to his old home. Besides, the remains of mafia think that the Saint Sky is already dead, and they won't look at a young version of one Vongola Decimo that suddenly appeared out of thin air.
Placing a scrambled egg on a dish with three sausages, a toasted bread, and some cut fruits, Tsuna placed it in front of his companion before fetching the glasses of orange juice. Aeturnus sighed and sat down on the provided chair while he sat across from him. He chuckled at the disgruntled expression of the hitman before offering his thanks.
"You slept on me." The young man sighed again, dejected.
"To be fair, I had a jetlag." He defended as he took chopsticks. "You woke me up early in the morning when we both know that my body isn't that good with travels anymore."
Aeturnus made a whiny voice before sighing again.
"Eat." He urged with an amused smile on his lips. "After we're done, we're going to the cemetery. The weather is quite nice for a walk too."
Grey eyes glinted. "You'll tour me around after?"
He nodded as he pushed the plate to the other. "I'll try. It has been years, you know."
"Yeah." The other nodded, seconding, before digging in.
Tsuna smiled. "So how was your hit?"
After washing the dishes with Aeturnus, they went out. He didn't really tour himself around Namimori when he got there. He just went off to the convenient store to get something for breakfast before going home to retire for the night. Namimori has changed under the influence of Vongola. More advanced establishments, but there's also a care for nature. It was influence by Kyouya's love for nature and animal hierarchy.
Since Namimori is Hibari family's territory (Tsuna will forever deny that it's his territory for Kyouya is his element and literally dumped him the papers for full transfer of ownership from the Hibari clan to Tsunayoshi Sawada which he didn't (was magically) signed at the end of argument), the Sawada house was preserved for the main family alone (including the Hibari traditional house if needed for shelter), thus how he was able to stay there. Honestly, his guardians wanted to come too when he said something about it, but they were not ready while Tsuna and Aeturnus were, so they left them behind. Aeturnus got hate emails that both of them snickered at.
Entering Namimori Cemetery felt a little nostalgic for Tsuna. He remembers visiting his parents no fail for the last four years of his life before he died. In a way, he can't help musing the thought that his new world 'parents' died too, for not even a year passed. Well, he does visit Oboro for the past nine years of his life. Surely (and regrettably), he will visit more people by the time he comes back.
Aeturnus followed him to the Sawada graves. He can still remember the path so it was fine for him to lead the way. When he got there, Tsuna instructed his companion to stay put and look after their gifts before going for water shed where wooden water tubs, ladles and scrubs can be burrowed for them to use to clean the grave stone, and bought some sticks of incense from the small temple there. He put water in the tub before returning to Aeturnus. He glared at the child when he saw the latter pulling weeds around the grave. The hitman stared at him in confusion before stepping aside.
"What's wrong?" Aeturnus questioned.
"You're going to dirty your suit, idiot." He sighed as he splashed some water to the grave stone and started to scrub. "We're going to tour around Namimori later, so it's best that you stay neat instead of plucking some weeds here. Come here, so we can clean your hands."
The hitman blinked as if surprised before nodding slowly. "Okay."
Tsuna continued to clean the grave before lighting up the incense with his flames and offering the food and gifts to the two. With his knees on the grass, he brought his hands together, closed his eyes and bowed his head as he prayed. He felt Aeturnus did the same thing beside him, but he didn't mind. As long as the other didn't dirty his clothes. Gentlemen are always neat, as Reborn said it.
He relieved things inside his mind as he prayed, as if speaking to his late parents of what had happened to him lately and how he's back. He'll remember his Kaasan's awed expression that will lead to naivety, then his Tousan's laughter and (more or less unhelpful) advices and praises after relying his misadventures to them. Tsuna expressed how he's good. That the one who 'nurtured' him was a nice guy who is a literal hero. Just remembering his Dad makes him smile a little.
'Kaasan, Tousan. Thank you for looking after our huge family.' He started off. 'In thirteen days, I'll be going off again, returning to my new world, my new family. I'll be leaving and slowly move on. I'll be leaving my life here, my family and friends.' He softly sighed. 'My new bonds are calling me to come home to them. I'm only missing a mist and a sun and I'll be back after my flames become stable and at full charge again.' He took a deep breath. 'But please look after my Aetu. He doesn't have anyone left. He already lost me first, then Reborn, and now me again. I can't have him cry and be sad. I can't have him feel lonely because we aren't with him anymore.
'He's too young, and I know we're running out of time to spend as much moments together. I don't even know if I had made it up for him. For the twelve years I wasn't there, and for the future I won't be there for him. I want to see him become a legend like Reborn and bask on the fear and attention he'll gain for his reputation.' He sighed. 'I honestly want to regret not having my own family, but... Aetu is enough for me. My baby is enough for me. Regardless of how old he is now, and how mature he looks and thinks, and how amazing he is, he will always be my silver lining. Aetu... I want him to be safe always. So please... Look after him.'
Opening his eyes, he looked to his side to see the young man praying too with his fedora placed by his chest, Leon at his shoulder and eyes closed in a serene expression. He smiled, not doing any movements that may alert the young man that he's done. How he wish he could take a photograph of him, and brag him around that the noiret is his son. Reborn will tease him relentlessly if he accepts the fact. In his defense, he wants Aeturnus to declare it to him, permit him to call him his son.
He knows Aeturnus knew that he's just waiting. Tsuna's not-subtle declarations were intentional but it doesn't mean he doesn't need confirmations. He wants Aeturnus's permission out loud. Xanxus had admonished him about it, telling him to take the first step, but he just can't. Tsuna may have been the one who nurtured Aeturnus more willingly than Reborn in his first years, but it doesn't mean he can say he's one of the parent. He had never declared such thing back then, and he knows Aeturnus will get hurt if he does it now. If he declare it now, instead of years ago.
Tsuna looked away and closed his eyes when his intuition alerted him that the young hitman will open his eyes. After a second, he opened his eyes too and dropped his hands. Doing the last things, he gestured for the kid to follow him out.
"Where are we going?" Aeturnus questioned.
He hummed as they exited the place. "You've never been here?" The noiret shook his head. "Then let's go to the places I know you'll like."
"I want to know the places you always go to." They halted as he looked back to the young man who stared back at him with hidden wonder. "I just want to know."
He smiled placatingly. "Let's go to Namimori High then down to kindergarten." Then he led the way.
"Why?"
"Cause where's the fun if we start from the depressing start of my life when we can go down to it?"
"Depressing? Is that why Papa calls you useless sometimes?" The other questioned as he catch up to the brunet.
"Dame-Tsuna." He supplied. "Don't get shy calling that out. It's something our family, except for your generation, that know well enough what it means." He took the other's sleeve and pulled him inside Nami-high. "I'll tell you what kind of life I lived here in Namimori."
If Aeturnus got scarred with all the things Tsuna said about the place they visit, the brunet honestly doesn't know. He gave what the kid wanted, went honest for his own accord and never left things. Besides, Aeturnus deserves the information. Tsuna was a civilian turned to mafia boss then a vigilante leader. He's proud of that, but some things, like what he thought in that 'high way' during that time he was there, are not something he could talk about freely, yet he still did. Because Aeturnus needed to know that.
"I'm not scared." He turned to the hitman when the latter said that, just as they were entering the Sawada compound. The noiret looked determined and quite relieved. "I've been asking Papa about you since you died, and he never really answered me directly, always resorting to deep words like poems. And with what you've said about your life, I kinda understand what he was saying."
"I didn't mean to scare you too." He said. "I know I had to have restrictions on what to say and what information to give you, but you're old enough now to understand why I did those things, why it brought me to such decisions and how much it took me time to do it."
"And I'm glad you didn't give, Tsuna. You're stronger than they let you on." Aeturnus beamed.
He smiled back. "Yeah."
"Come on then, let's go cook something together. It's good you stopped me from dirtying my suit. It got me a lot of food for us." The hitman smirked as he walked in first.
Rolling his eyes, Tsuna followed. "Yeah yeah."
'And I hope you'll gather your strength to be strong enough to let me go too, Aetu.' Tsuna thought as he stared at the noiret's back. 'You'll need that.'