Tsuna had to held back the groan of elation that escapes his lips as his plane touches down in Catania International Airport.
There was nothing more exciting than exploring a whole set of country- alone (granted, he was here on mission, but it wouldn't mean that he wouldn't enjoy every moment of it.), seeing new faces and the flames associated with their core always brings such an unimaginable joy in Tsuna's non-existent heart that he risks some of his safety (and free time, however short it is) to sneak out of his Headquarters and head to the nearest train station just so he could watch the flames dance beneath the surface of people's ignorance.
And to actually be in a official mission in the heart of Mafia's largest territory brought a wave of excitement -- and worry, and anxiety, and fear, and paranoia, every negative feeling there is that he couldn't afford to pay attention to lest he lost his composure and failed his mission. And wow, wasn't that a brilliant way of not trying to pressure himself? -- that he actually shivered in anticipation. Italy will be filled to the brim with Flame users, and whether he uses this chance to dig his own gold-mine (or grave, if you're looking at this pessimistically) on his side quest would be his to decide. With no Vetra or Vernon to coddle him to the point of suffocation, he was free to explore.
And naturally, with Tsuna's non-existent luck, he run into his first problem as soon as he arrived at the arrival gate.
First of all, there was an unreasonable crowd in front of him, arguing and holding the line as they grew louder and louder as seconds ticks by.
Secondly, as he curiously observed the crowd that didn't care for the scene they caused; he found a tell-tale sign that they were most definitely not civillians. He could see it from the way they held themselves; there was a line of tension between their shoulder and back, legs spread away from the heels to better ground them should they resort to either flight or fight, legs pivoted away from each one of them-- no doubt to scatter if a bigger, stronger enemy intervene.
He could see a faint outline of gun harness pressed on their clothes as well, and, well-- one of them was like a beacon of lights to Tsuna's exceptional senses, because the light he was blaring freely was so bright that Tsuna had to avoid looking directly at him.
He must be their leader, Tsuna muses, with the bright yellow flames pulsing through him as if it was beating in time with his heartbeat. No doubt an excellent flame user, as well.
Thankfully, everyone ignored him and they were redirected from the crowd -- Mafioso, Tsuna reminds himself -- and into another line by an apologetic attendant.
Tsuna caught his eye as the man looked up from the paper he was holding and Tsuna could feel his breath catches on his throat as he stared at the man currently examining his papers.
He was by no means an extra-ordinary person, in fact, he was the most normal-dull-unimportant- man Tsuna ever laid eyes on. With sun kissed skin, dull bluish-grey eyes, short black hair cropped slightly above his eyebrows and ears in a style that could be narrowly be called spiky, and a small, polite smile as he confirmed the content to Tsuna's passport.
It was this... normall-ness that chilled Tsuna to the bone as he detected a faint outline of mist-flames from the man's right eye.
Normally, flames comes from the core source, just above their hearts but well below their ribs, distributed evenly between each person's body as it would mimic blood-streams and would respond to said person's personal emotion better than their biological body will. It came in various size, but they've always had been connected with their heart -- their dying will, their literal life-force -- that it was easy to spot those with an active flames than those who had no presence at all.
But, upon looking at this man...
There was no way, there was never a case on an isolated flame source other than one's heart! So, why...?
"Here you go, mister."
Tsuna snapped out of his thoughts at the mocking lilt on the man's tone. He found the man -- Tsuna eyed the name-tag on his left breast and commited the name in his memory -- Leo, staring at him in amusement. And Tsuna had a sinking feeling that he had been found out.
Tsuna relucantly accepted the papers -- faked to avoid detection but he was sure now that it does not matter. Nothing matters when you find yourself scrutinized by a mist flame user, however weak they may be, they could detect lies better than a hound to fresh carcass, and that's saying something -- with trembling hands and quickly replaced it inside his bag-pack, he couldn't help but hear the amused reprimand from the man.
"We will meet again soon. Take care of yourself until then."
He must've imagined it, whatever the man said had no relation to him, even thought it sounded more like a foreboding warning than a promise of another chance of meeting. (Which he seriously doubt will be as pleasant as the man made it sound with his unnaturally calm voice.)
He had never intended to catch any attention to himself, and still he had gained it without even trying. Didn't he do a wonderful job at that?
Nothing rankled his senses more than an unexplainable source of flames.
Especially those whose aura screams 'danger' the more he thinks about it.
He will avoid bumping into the man at all costs, and if his instinct is to be believed, he should probably cut all ties with the human civilization before the man sniffs him out and hunt him down.
iIIi
"I... don't want to lose you... please stay."
iIIi
Death Tally (Canon-OC): (1-2)
Basically AWOL: 1
Basically Dead, but not really: 1
AN: you have no idea how much foreshadowing went in this chapter. If you count those from previous chapter and could figure out where this story is going... well, the warning "lots of character's deaths" are going into play as we speak.
Just remember that this is a Dark AU. I'm trying to write out of my element here with this suffocating atmosphere. Damn, Tsuna why you so complicated?! Why are you so ANGSTY?!
Anyway, I have soooo much plans for this fic and countless of villains/bad-guys (all of them are canonical character, so don't worry about Mary-sue/gary-stu overpowered characters lol) are going to make appearance.
I'll give you a hint, though, you've already seen 3 villains/bad-guy so far. Who could they be?
I'm sooo excited that the story is FINALLY moving on things that matters! LOL