Trigger: N/A
Warnings: N/A
Important Stuff:
Small OC Cheat Sheet
Spirits:
Zephyr -The wind spirit that Reborn met in the Spirit World.
Kamikawa - The origami spirit that Reborn exchanged information with.
Engetsu - Silver kitsune that Reborn met in the Spirit World. Knows Ayame.
Meishi - A green falcon that lives in the Sawada Household
Ienari's Guardians
Matsushita Hachirou - Ienari's best friend. Captain of the Judo Club. Lightning Guardian
Akemi Kaori - President of Ienari's fanclub. Black Hair, Purple Eyes. Sun Guardian
Kakusu Hideki - Former student council president, son of politician. Red Rimmed Glasses. Mist Guardian
Koujin Fuun - Ninja assassin. Dark purple hair, crimson eyes. Kunais as weapons. Cloud Guardian
Inmen Hisen - Mochida's cousin. Ienari's crush. Hime-cut black hair and ocean blue eyes. Rain Guardian
Others:
Hibari Koumei - Kyoya's Father. Interpol Agent.
Hibari Yun - Kyoya's Mother. Deceased. Fon's sister.
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Supernatural Reveal
Fon wearily but happily welcomed the sight of the Sawada Household. By now the adrenaline was fading and he was coping with the very idea of how close he came to losing his student and nephew. (Though, given the strength that Fon saw Kyoya display, it was entirely possible that his nephew could have and would have taken on all the enemies he could have found and come out none the worst.)
Dino was the one to greet them. "There you are," the blond said. "Who needs Shamal?"
"I-pin and Haru," Hana said, pointing to Kyoko who was carrying I-pin and Kyoya who was carrying Haru.
"Shamal has set up in the living room. One of the guest rooms has Mukuro currently and Ayame is in Tsuna's room."
"What's wrong with Neesan?" Kyoko asked sharply.
Dino hesitated. "Well, ah, she collapsed on me this morning? Shamal said it was just exhaustion."
Fon watched amused as his nephew and the two girls growl at this knowledge.
"Stupid Omnivores," Kyoya hissed. He looked at Hana, scowling. "Fix this," he demanded, before pushing past Dino to deliver Haru to Shamal.
"This fight has gone long enough," Kyoko said, irritated before following after Kyoya.
It had been an eye opener to see the brown haired girl at the riverside. Fon had known she was a fighter of some sort. He could see it in her stride and the way she held herself. Still, to find her with a smoking crater and inferring from Kyoya's words, she was not just a beginner but someone his nephew respected as a fellow carnivore. Using Kyoya as a measuring stick of skill, that meant Sasagawa Kyoko was nowhere near as harmless as she first appeared.
What a mystery Namimori and its inhabitants were.
"Is everyone all right?" Tsuna came around the corner.
"I thought Shamal was still looking you over," Dino pointed out.
Hana crossed her arms. "Yes, what was this about that you didn't come home last night?"
Tsuna gave a sheepish laugh. "I may have… fallen asleep outside yesterday? Reborn was with me and Dino-nii I'm actually not injured! I'm perfectly fine!"
Fon left Hana to scold Tsuna. Hana's words were alarming. What did she mean that Tsuna had not returned home yesterday? If that was indeed the case, given how much trouble Tsuna normally got into, he would not begrudge her lecturing the brunet.
Dino followed him into kitchen where Reborn could be found. The hitman looked calm, drinking from his green coffee cup.
"Reborn," Fon greeted.
"Fon," Reborn said. "Dino, let me borrow your phone."
Dino blinked, but didn't question it. He handed over his sleek silver phone to Reborn. Fon watched as the minute Reborn touched the phone, it went flying across the room.
Fon's nerves were already teetering on the edge. It had been a long morning and he instantly snapped to attention. Next to him, Dino pulled out his whip, searching for the same enemy.
Reborn, however, just growled. "Engetsu," he said. "Please give the phone back."
Eyes snapping to Reborn, Fon stared in mild shock. That… was downright polite for Reborn.
"Reborn?" Dino asked.
Reborn didn't look at them, staring resolutely at the spot where the phone floated in mid-air.
Then, there was shimmer and there stood a glowing seven tailed silver fox. 'No,' Fon thought, eyes growing wide. 'A kitsune.' His mind sputtered to a halt. They were real?!
"What was is that?" Dino asked.
"A kitsune," Reborn remarked. "One that doesn't want me to make a phone call."
"Don't be so hard on him, Engetsu."
Fon felt as if someone had punched him hard in the stomach. There in the doorway, stood a man who should be by all accounts dead: Vongola Primo. From the sputtering next to him, Dino recognized him as well.
"Giotto," Reborn greeted. "I would like the phone back."
Giotto looked at the silver kitsune. Engetsu turned its snort upward, before bounding out the door, pass Giotto.
"Well, it seems that she doesn't want to," Giotto said. "I'm not someone who can force her to listen to me. Your phone is a lost cause."
"What is going on?" Fon finally asked. His patience had reached its end and he was in no mood to deal with any of Reborn's games.
"Welcome to Namimori and the Sawada Household," Giotto remarked. His smiled as if there was an inside joke that Fon wasn't privy to.
"I told you," Reborn said. "You won't believe me until you meet them for yourselves."
Fon's mind whirled back to one of the first conversations he had with Reborn about the strangeness that was Namimori. This… Giotto was the one who didn't eat? Didn't Reborn also say he had suspected that ghosts were the ones eating off the white plate with blue moons before he had discovered the plate belonged to Ayame?
"The one who glows, that is the kitsune Engetsu?" Fon asked, remembering the other mysteries that Reborn had explained to him.
"Correct," Giotto said.
"I'm lost," Dino said, throwing his hands up in confusion.
"I'll explain," Giotto offered. "The first thing you should know is that Namimori is a bit of a supernatural hot spot."
Fon closed his eyes, trying not to feel overwhelmed by the information being provided to him. Ghosts. Of course. Then again, how strange was it compared to being cursed into a baby and Dying Will Flames?
But ghosts?
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Waking Up
Ayame woke up, feeling warm, safe and loved. She took a deep breath. The exhaustion still lingered, but the edge of the weariness had dulled. Carefully, she sat up, noting that she was in Tsuna's bedroom.
Ah, right. She had collapsed.
The wards had settled, so she took it as a sign that the kids had managed to handle whatever the issue was.
"Neesan."
Ayame blinked, noticing for the first time that Tsuna was standing in the room with her. He stood, fidgeting slightly as if he couldn't make up his mind to come closer to her or retreat.
"Tsuna," Ayame said slowly. He didn't look angry or upset which was an improvement over the last time they had parted ways. She hoped it would last. Frankly, she was too tired to deal with emotions right now.
Tsuna quirked a crooked smile at her. "Hana threatened to lock us in a room together until we worked it out whatever problem we're having. Everyone is kinda annoyed and worried."
"That does sound like her," Ayame remarked dryly. She gestured to Tsuna's desk chair. Another flick of her hand and privacy wards spells were casted. She didn't need anyone else in the house to overhear this conversation.
Tsuna pulled the chair up to the bed, taking a seat.
"Do you regret what I decided to do?" Ayame asked.
"No," Tsuna said, shaking his head. "I… understand the necessity of why you did and you more or less told me it was going to happen eventually. What I want to know is why."
"Because there's precedent," Ayame said.
"But why is the plan to kill you?" Tsuna cried out. "Why have you gone so far as to implant a bomb in you? You've always told me to value my life, how can you treat your life so carelessly?!"
Ayame took another deep breath. The familiar feeling of grief, of hysteria, of insanity swelled before she forced it back. "Not today, not even soon, but remind me to tell you one day the story of Kagennotsuki," she said, voice breaking.
She took another deep breath. "As for the bomb, it's not really a bomb and no I'm not going to tell you more about it or that I'm going to disable it," Ayame said, collecting herself. "The bomb has been in me for a very long time, Tsuna. Before I even met you. The idea was so that no one I knew would ever be forced to kill me should it ever come down that. The only one who can activate it is Engetsu and I have an unbreakable vow with her that it would only be activated under certain circumstances."
"But-"
"No," Ayame said, cutting Tsuna off. "I trust Engetsu with this. I have no desire to stain your hands with my death. It's just a precaution, Tsuna. I value my life greatly. No desire to move to the afterlife. It's quite boring there, truth be told."
"Precedent or not, I still don't understand why this is even a possibility or not," Tsuna complained. "You're not going to go crazy!"
"Asher said the same thing," Ayame said with a huff. "Tier didn't even blink. He had already considered the possibility, I think."
Tsuna hesitated. "You never talk about them," he said softly.
Ayame shrugged. What was there to say? They were gone and it hurt too much to think about them.
"So they knew about the bomb too. You've had it that long?" Tsuna asked.
"Yes," Ayame said. "Tier had the activation sequence was well. Asher didn't want it and you know if you ask I will give it to you as well."
Tsuna looked at her horrified. "No!"
"If that's what you want," Ayame said.
"How can you just trust something like that to people?" Tsuna asked, frustration leaking into his voice.
Ayame felt a touch of pity. Trust… was a tricky issue for the both of them. In many ways, Ayame had it easier. She trusted practically no one. The only person she did trust inexplicitly was Tsuna. She trusted smaller degrees to other people. She trusted Kyoya and Kyoko would be strong enough to keep the small group of friends out of trouble. She trusted Shoichi's genius and lead in their experiment. But her secrets, her fears, her lies and truths? Tsuna was the only one who got to hear it all.
Tsuna on the other hand, wanted to trust, did trust, but it was so cautious and fragile. Ienari was the first betrayal, shattering Tsuna's ability to trust into complete dust. Iemitsu's lies and neglect was the second hit. The third was the madness, the effects of the miasma on the town and the impacts being called Dame-Tsuna and bullied day in and out. She had feared these last several weeks that their fight would have been the fourth.
Like her, Tsuna trusted to smaller degrees. He even trusted to larger ones, trusted that his friends would have his back. But there was still this lingering doubt, the idea that as soon as something better came along, he would be dropped like a hot potato. The idea that he still wasn't important that, that if he gave up and faded away, no one would mourn, or at least wouldn't mourn for long. The idea that he was expendable.
Ayame had to look no further than Tsuna's friendship with Hayato. She could see that Tsuna valued Hayato's friendship. It was steady enough that Tsuna was willing to trust Hayato with some of the secrets that his other friends already knew. The knowledge of the Bridge Incident that came out so early in their friendship, that knowledge which was freely offered. But she could also see that Tsuna hesitated, still believing that by choosing not to be Decimo, Hayato would eventually leave, follow Ienari to the 'greatness' of Vongola.
Trying to convince Tsuna that he was valued, that he could believe them when they said they would stay with him forever, had been a losing battle. That Reborn, who forged, strengthen, augmented Tsuna's resolve, managed to convince Tsuna of that was downright miraculous. For that alone, Ayame would forever be grateful.
"Well, I imagine it has to do with a person's personality," Ayame said. "Tier was the type who had to know everything, had to plan for everything. I trusted him, he trusted me and the best way to show him that was to trust that knowledge to him. Asher on the other hand didn't want to know because he trusted that I would never go crazy. His faith in people was… immeasurable."
She smiled wryly at him. "In that regard, you're very much like Asher."
Tsuna returned her smile. "I'm sorry for getting so angry with you, Neesan," Tsuna said quietly.
"It's well within your right to get angry," Ayame said. "I'm aware of my bad habits of doing things without permission." It was a miracle that Tsuna didn't get angry at her more often, given the way she would carefully rearrange his life.
"But you always have the best intentions," he said fondly. "I mean it, Neesan. I don't regret this."
Ayame felt something settle within her. It seemed like their fight was finally over.
"Where do we go from here?" Tsuna asked.
"Well," Ayame said. "There's currently whispers that Nono is planning on bring Ienari back to Italy. Vongola is worried. Nono wants his heir close by, just in case."
"Am I bad person to sacrifice my own brother like this?" Tsuna wondered. "It was something Mukuro had originally said during our fight."
"You're allowed to be selfish, Tsuna," Ayame explained. In fact, she worried how Tsuna wasn't selfish enough. That he would willingly martyr himself for the sake of others.
"I know. It's just… the mafia. I know becoming a Don will be destroy me. I know Ienari is stronger than me, that he has never accepted anything less than the best. He will thrive in a way that I won't in that world," Tsuna said.
"That's because you have a gentle heart."
Tsuna gave another crooked smile. "But I'm also the oldest and despite our differences he is still my younger brother. This burden should have fallen to me first."
Ayame closed her eyes. This, this was exactly what she was worried about. Ienari didn't deserve this chance from Tsuna. Ayame could plan and predict everything, but Tsuna's heart always laid it to ruin. "Do you want to be Decimo?" she asked, fearing just a little what Tsuna would say.
Tsuna shook his head. "No. I absolutely do not want to be Decimo. Is there really no other way?"
"Well, Plan A…" Ayame trailed off. "But that one you find unacceptable."
Tsuna turned his gaze to out his window, watching the clouds roll across the blue sky. "Everything is going to come a head soon," he stated quietly.
"Time is running out," Ayame agreed. Soon, they would know if Plan C would succeed or not. It had to at this point. Failing to do so…
War would be at their doorstep.
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Demons Run
Koumei skidded to a stop, pulling off his helmet. It had been a long trip between the plane and the motorcycle he had rented, but he had finally arrived. Deep the mountains of China, hidden among the forest stood the heart of the Triad.
"You're late Koumei."
"Otousama," Koumei said, politely bowing to his father.
Hibari Keii was the current head of the family, a position that Koumei would eventually inherit as his eldest son. Despite his frail appearance, Keii was still one of the most deadly warriors in the clan. In his youth, he was a bit of mercenary, a bounty hunter for both the underworld and the government.
Keii tapped the wooden cane against the rock he was resting against. "The rest of the family had already arrived and finished without you," Keii said. "All that's left is to execute the leaders."
The Hibari clan was infamous throughout the world. A clan of warriors of the many various different shades and paths in life. The family valued honor, pride, and justice, but to each individual, it meant vastly different things. Those same words led to different walks in life. For Koumei it led to the government, to his younger sister the life of an assassin, to his uncle as a black ops agent, to his aunt as a judge and many other ways.
To live life freely, unbound and without regrets, with only your personal honor and justice to guide you, that was the Hibari way. The one thing they had tying them together was the bond of family. When a Hibari called, the clan answered. It was why the name Hibari struck terror into the hearts who knew of their exploits.
Koumei walked into the house where some of his family had gather, watching their prisoners. Sliding the open the door, Koumei saw the tied up Triad leaders on the ground. These were the men responsible for the dark underworld in China. These were the men that threaten his son. These were the men were responsible for his wife's death.
He pulled out his gun, taking aim at the forehead of the first leader. "For my family, I'll bite you death."
Shots rang.
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Sensible Adults
"Tell me," Shamal said with just an edge of desperation, "that the kids don't normally get into these situations all the time?" He was use to craziness. It came with the territory of being an assassin in a dark and shady world that had access to rainbow colored flames.
But Namimori was just another pot and kettle all together. He was use to kids getting in over their heads. Just look at how many times he had to haul Hayato out of trouble. But taking on the Triad? Ghosts? Spirits? Even this blind game of hide and go seek they were playing with Vongola that Shamal was busy ignoring that it was happening.
Both Nana and Tsuyoshi looked at him with a touch of pity.
"At least you weren't here for the Death March," Tsuyoshi said calmly. He poured a shot of sake for Nana and Shamal. The three of them were sitting on the patio outside as the kids bustle inside.
"Or the Kyoto Spring Trip," Nana mused.
"How do you two cope with this?" Shamal asked in disbelief.
"Practice," the other two adults chorused.
"Why aren't more adults concerned about this?"
"Kyoko-chan and Ryohei-kun's parents work overseas," Nana said. "Hana-chan's parents are in the dark I believe. Chrome-chan's parents, Ayame has custody of her at the moment."
"Koumei, Kyoya's father, also works overseas, but he is very much aware of what is going on in here," Tsuyoshi continued. "Ayame's parents… well we've never met them and she's never mentioned them."
"Basically you two are it," Shamal concluded.
"Oh I don't know about that," Tsuyoshi said with a grin. "You're shaping up to be a good influence in the kids' lives. Hayato has mentioned you more than enough times and Ryohei always has a good word about your teaching."
"Reborn-san and Fon-san have been extremely helpful since arriving," Nana agreed. "My sons are growing under Reborn's tutorage."
"You two do realize that we're all assassins?" Shamal asked frankly.
"If we're basing off of that," Tsuyoshi laughed, "then the only qualified adult here is Nana. Even Koumei had a brief stint as one before deciding he wanted to be a government agent."
"Holy shit," Shamal said, finally recognizing Tsuyoshi. "You're Phantom Rain. The Japanese swordsman assassin who vanished nearly two decades ago. Your hits were so flawless people weren't even sure you really exist."
"Fell in love, got married, had a kid and cut all ties," Tsuyoshi said. "It was easier for me since very few people knew who I really was and what I looked like. Rain Flames made it easy to dull their senses."
"Is there anything normal about this town?" Shamal asked, cradling his head.
"There's plenty," Nana said, sipping her sake.
"You're just in the heart of the strange part and have no means of escape," Tsuyoshi said in good cheer.
"I'm afraid you're stuck with us," Nana said.
Shamal drowned down his shot in one gulp. Oh joy.
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Lightning Child
Haru woke up slowly. Her eyes fluttered open as her mind tried to grasp what had happened.
"Take it easy," a voice said kindly next to her.
Haru turned to see Kyoko sitting beside her. "Kyoko-chan," she said weakly. She recognized this as one of the many guest rooms in the Sawada Household.
"You're safe," Kyoko said. "We found both you and I-pin and the people responsible for hurting you are gone."
"I-pin?" Haru asked. Her eyes darted around, trying to find the small girl.
"She's fine," Kyoko said. "I promise."
"I couldn't protect her," Haru swallowed.
"About that," Kyoko said, hesitating. "I-pin mentioned you have Lightning Flames? They're green and well look like lightning."
"Oh, that green light," Haru said, mind flashing back to the strange power she had used when that man lunged at her and I-pin. "What was that?"
"Well if you want to learn how to use them, we know a teacher," Kyoko said.
Haru thought about it, the fear she had faced, her inability to protect I-pin. "I want to learn," she said firmly. The next time something like that happened, she wanted to be able to protect her friends.
She watched as Kyoko turned to a seemly empty spot in the room. "Lampo-san, she can't see you yet. You have to shift down," Kyoko said.
Haru's eyes widen as a young green haired man materialized in the room. She shot up to a sitting position, confused.
"Easy, easy," Kyoko said. "This is Lampo. He's a ghost. We'll explain more about it later, but he'll teach you how use your Lightning Flames."
"Do I have to?" Lampo asked with a heavy sigh.
Kyoko placed her hands on her hips, frowning. "Alaude-sensei told me the Lemon Cake Incident story and that Giotto still holds a grudge over what happened."
Lampo snapped to attention. "You wouldn't. Fine, fine. No need to blackmail me into doing this," he grumbled. "I suppose it was only a matter of time before I picked up a student. Everyone else has one or two."
Kyoko huffed before reaching over to pat Haru's hand. "Lampo-san can be lazy. I'll teach you later all the blackmail information you need to keep him motivated in teaching you."
"I'm still here," Lampo complained.
Haru could only nod dumbly, still trying to understand that a ghost was going to teach her Lightning Flames.
"I have to check in with Tetsuya-san," Kyoko said. "So I'll leave you two to figure out a teaching schedule. Lampo-san can't always be here, so best to figure it out now while he is." She left the room, closing the door behind her.
Haru turned her attention back to her new teacher. Well, might as well make the best of her situation. She was always the type to make lemonade out of lemons. "Hahi, I'm Haru!"
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Bedside
In another room, Chrome sat beside Mukuro's bed. Ken, Chikusa and Lancia had left to help with the cleanup of the many Triad members. Just a few minutes ago, Ayame had staggered into the room to check on Mukuro. Once she declared him to be fine, Tsuna had all but dragged her back to his room with instructions that she needed to rest.
It was up to Mukuro to wake now.
"Mukuro-san," Chrome murmured. She remembered the terror she felt this morning, the one that had her stumbling out of bed, half bind and reaching. She remembered the blood and the screams, flashing back to the horrible experiments she had seen in his dreams. She remembered the desire to help, the helplessness, unable to do anything.
Chrome reached out, hesitating just for a second before wrapping her hand around Mukuro. "Please wake up," Chrome whispered.
To her delight, Mukuro squeezed her hand back and let out a groan.
"Mukuro-san!"
"Where?" Mukuro asked groggily.
"We're at the Sawada household," Chrome said. "You collapsed this morning. The wards were sounding alarms."
"Alarms?" Mukuro asked, sitting up. He pressed his palm to his left eye.
"The Triad attacked," Chrome said. "They're gone now. You've slept through the whole thing."
"The Triad?" Mukuro asked dumbly.
"Ah," Chrome said. "You don't know. Well the Triad have been after Kyoya-san for some time. They decided to attack to get him under control, but it backfired."
Mukuro just stared at her, the tiniest hint of confusion reflected in his eyes.
She reached over to pat his hand. "Just rest," she said kindly. "Neesan said you should be able to get of bed later today if you rest now. The dizziness and headache will fade."
Still, Mukuro stared at her; his eyes narrowing in disbelief. Chrome simply stared back, not saying anything else.
"Why are you here?" Mukuro asked.
"You saw my dreams, Mukuro-san. You saw how distant my parents were," Chrome said softly. "When I was sick, all I wanted was someone to take care of me." Her head tilted to the side. "Is it wrong that I want to offer you the one thing I wanted if our situations were reversed?"
Mukuro laid back down, pressing a hand against his left eye. "Do what you want," he said.
Chrome smiled.
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Falsifying Reports
Reborn scowled, glowering at the semi-transparent form of Giotto. Both Fon and Dino had wandered off in a daze, no doubt trying to wrap their minds around the concepts of ghosts and spirits in Namimori. That left Reborn with Giotto.
"Have you been modifying my reports?" Reborn snapped, irritated. If Engetsu was actively trying to stop him from calling Nono, it would not be a stretch to figure out that someone was tampering with his reports. He didn't know how, but it would certainly explain why Nono wasn't responding back to his inquiries.
"I'm not doing it specifically," Giotto said. "But yes, your reports have been modified."
"Who?" Reborn demanded to know.
"You already know," Giotto said kindly.
Reborn drew in a sharp breath. He did know a spirit, a spirit with the ability to know all written information. A spirit made of paper. "Kamikawa," he said.
"Information, all information is Kamikawa's domain," Giotto said. "If it is written, whether typed on a computer, texted or ink to paper, it falls under Kamikawa's control. She simply removed any mention of Tsunayoshi in your reports."
"Do you realize the type of power you're giving Ienari if he inherits Vongola? With his grudge against his brother, countless hitmen and assassins will flock to kill Tsuna," Reborn snarled. "Even Vongola themselves will come, if only to prevent the fallout of a potential civil war."
The room grew cold and heavy. Reborn felt Sky Flames surged to life and watched as all friendliness vanished from Giotto's stoic expression. He kicked himself for nearly forgetting. Despite all the happy cheerful aura around Giotto, this was still the man who took the law into his own hands, who created Vongola. This was Vongola Primo.
"Don't interfere Reborn," Giotto said coldly. His orange eyes were hard.
"Tsuna is my sky," Reborn snapped. "I will do whatever it takes to keep him safe. Even if it means dragging him into the underworld just because it's better than letting his twin paint a target on his back!"
"Vongola is not a threat."
"How is Vongola not a threat?" Reborn demanded.
Giotto was silent.
"Tell me," Reborn said. "If you want me to stop trying to contact Nono, then tell me how you're planning on keeping my Sky safe?"
"It depends on what you are planning on doing," Giotto said, some of the cold draining away.
"Why does it depend on what I do?" Reborn asked. "Nono may be a friend, but I am a freelancer for a reason. I'm not allied with Vongola." It went unspoken that should Tsuna inherit that would most likely change.
"But you're still part of that underworld. More importantly, you haven't made the decision yet."
"What decision?" Reborn asked.
Giotto pinned him a serious look. "You should ask yourself what is Tsuna worth to you."
Before Reborn could demand more, Giotto vanished, fading back to a different plane where Reborn couldn't see him.
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From the Great Beyond
Dino was trying very hard to wrap his mind around the facts he had just learned. So…. Ghosts were real. Gods and Spirits too, and that was just, his brain stalled.
He sank into the nearby open seat, dimly realizing that everyone in the room was watching him closely. "Ghosts are real," Dino said, still stunned.
"Obviously," Hayato grumbled out.
"Of course," Bianchi said.
"Yes," Irie agreed.
It was a small comfort to find out the same time as Fon, to know that someone else was just as lost as he was. It hurt a little that Reborn hadn't mentioned it at all despite all the time Dino had been visiting Namimori. The hurt even more that it seemed everyone in Namimori appeared to know about these ghosts and spirits.
"How long?" Dino asked.
"Since I met Neesan," Irie said.
"Since Mukuro's attack," Bianchi said.
"Same as aneki," Gokudera said.
Oh, well that was only a few weeks ago for Bianchi and Gokudera. Dino had no idea when Irie had met Ayame. So maybe Dino wasn't trailing so far behind.
"Are you alright Dino-san?" Irie asked. "You're looking rather pale."
"Ghosts exist," Dino said softly. "Does this mean I'll be able to see my father?"
Gokudera and Bianchi both stared at him, drawing in a sharp breath. Irie on the other hand just casted a pensive look at him.
"No," Irie said. "From my understanding, the majority of people move onto the afterlife, heaven or hell. Some had strong enough regrets to stay as a ghosts, usually those who die tragic and violent deaths as they are feeling those regrets at the moment they died. So if anything, your father has moved on. Even if he remained as a ghost, you wouldn't be able to see him."
"But Primo," Dino said.
Irie shook his head. "It's a little different for Giotto-san. But it has to do with Sight."
"Sight?" Gokudera asked.
"Sight is the ability to not only see but interact with the different spiritual planes. The reason why you three can see spirits right now is because they're changing their frequencies to the Physical Plane," Irie said. "For example, our eyes cannot see xrays or infrared red light without special equipment. Sight is the same thing. There are multiple different planes. You can learn Sight, enough exposure to spiritual particles is usually the key. It's why sometime you'll see Tsuna talking to Giotto-san. To you he's talking to himself, but to Tsuna, he can see Giotto as easily."
"So what does that have to do with seeing ghosts?" Bianchi asked, curious.
"Like I said, it's a little different with Giotto-san. He's not a normal ghost. The ability to see normal ghosts is actually a bit uncommon to learn. You're either born with it or you're not. Over 90 percent of the people with the ability to see normal ghosts were born with the ability. The remaining who learned it, very few gained the ability without doing something extremely drastic," Irie said.
He paused, pondering something. "That said though, Neesan described normal ghosts who are recently deceased and were people with no exposure to spirit energy while they were living. Since Dying Will Flames are a form of spirit energy and given who you are, it's a logical assumption that your father had Dying Will Flames, I'm not entirely sure how would affect him if he had remained on the Physical Plane as a ghost. That's of course assuming he stayed as a ghost. It's still most likely that he moved to the afterlife."
Dino swallowed tightly. His father's death had been so sudden and without warning. It was the reason why he had been so holy unprepared to become a Don. He had always assume that he would take over at least another decade later. Only for his father to have a heart attack one day while out riding around the compound. They had found him too lately and suddenly Dino found himself thrusted into the position of boss.
He never had the chance to properly say goodbye.
"Is there any way to talk to someone who has passed to the afterlife, or even confirm that they made it there?" Dino asked. He noticed out of the corner of his eye that Gokudera was paying sharp attention.
Irie shook his head. "I don't know. That's something you would have to ask Neesan."
Dino would do that.
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Grudging Respect
Reborn left the Sawada Household to check on his wayward student. He was aware that Ienari had launched an attack on the Triads. While Reborn hadn't foreseen such a large scale attack on Namimori, he had hoped that Ienari's attack would fail, showing his student how much further he had to go.
Only for the attack to succeed and not only that, it actually did a decent amount of damage to the large scale attack on the Triad. Reborn wouldn't say it had been the tipping factor, but it had certainly made it easier.
He hate to admit it, but Ienari was shaping up into a fine Decimo Candidate. The boy managed to gather his own set of Guardians (not as good as Reborn's original choices but a decent set nevertheless). Ienari launched a successful attack, carried out the plan with the fitness suitable for a mafia boss.
It just burned to know that Tsuna would be so much better, taint of the underworld or not. Tsuna was such a strong Sky like no other, not since Giotto's original death. Ienari was a good candidate, but not the best and Reborn hated to accept anything but the best.
"Hey Reborn," Ienari greeted. "You missed the fun."
"I didn't," Reborn said. "Sloppy. You didn't even stop to consider how you would cover it up had you failed." Or if backup had come, or worse if the Triads would retaliate as a result. Ienari had no idea how lucky he was that the Triad wasn't even aware of Vongola's presence in Namimori.
Even now, Reborn wasn't sure how Fon proceeded would from here. If it had been anyone else, it would have foolish to challenge the Triad like this. But Fon was an Arcobaleno and one with the backing of the Hibari clan, not to mention whatever support Tsuna and his friends could come up with it.
If they succeeded in getting the Triad to back off, then maybe, Reborn could see why Vongola wasn't a threat. After all, Vongola and the Triad were about the same in terms of power, strength, and reach.
"But we succeeded," Ienari pointed out.
"And you still had to rely on Hibari's Disciplinary Committee to take away the bodies," Reborn said. He weighed his options, before continuing. "But not bad. You have a lot to learn and this was a foolish conquest that you just so happen to get lucky in."
"It wasn't luck!" Ienari protested.
"It was luck. I told you not to go headfirst into anything without knowing who your enemies are. You're lucky this group you decided to attack was distracted by Hibari who had been cleaning them out for weeks that your little stunt was actually successful," Reborn said. He would cover who the Triad was and why it was stupid for Ienari to do what he did on a later date.
"We're strong," Ienari boasted. "We could have taken them all, without Hibari's distraction."
Reborn mentally scoffed. What was he going to do with this boy?
"Go have fun with your friends," Reborn said. "Go celebrate. Your training will resume tomorrow."
"Thank you Reborn," Ienari said, still completely obvious to his tutor's irritation. He took off, joining his guardians.
Reborn let out an annoyed sigh. He had never expected any of this to happen when he had first arrived in Namimori.
Come Home
Fon found Kyoya on Namimori Middle School's roof. His nephew was laying down, seemingly asleep.
"Kyoya," Fon said quietly.
The sliver of gray eyes was the only sign that his nephew was listening to him.
Fon hesitated, unsure what was it he really wanted to ask. The idea of ghosts, of spirits, it had been a hard idea to swallow. Add in the stress of this morning, the Triad and their attempt, the consequences that were sure to follow. The war he was going to drag his student and nephew into because of Fon's own sins.
"Otousama called," Kyoya said. "The Triad has been neutralized."
Fon drew in a sharp breath. "What…?" he asked in a stunned voice.
"It's something Otousama and the Omnivore have been planning for a while. With a good chunk of their forces here, Otousama decided it was a good time to strike against the heart of the Triad," Kyoya said dryly. "They're dead and the rest of the family is currently in the process of freeing the hostages."
That was the final straw that broke the camel's back. Fon's legs gave out and with a small thud, he sat down. He hadn't expected to hear such news.
It had been an idea once, to fully challenge the Triads for his freedom. With Yun's death, his blood family was gone. The only family he had left was I-pin, Kyoya and Koumei. If anything, Fon was reasonably sure he could have won his, I-pin and Kyoya's freedom permanently. Never had he considered taking down the Triad in its entirely.
"I don't know what to do," Fon admitted. This was all unfamiliar territory, a dream of freedom that he didn't think was quite possible.
"You can stay," Kyoya said bluntly.
Fon blinked. Stay? Stay in Namimori?
That…
That… was a novel idea, but not an unwelcomed one. Despite Koumei's job overseas, Namimori was what both Kyoya and Koumei called home. I-pin loved it here, Fon didn't think, didn't want to take her away from her new siblings and Nana. A delirious joy bubbled in his chest, a hope so thick and overwhelming.
He could stay. That was an option now. There wasn't a need to return to China for whatever job the Triad had for him. There wasn't a need to seek out new allies in hopes that one of them could assist in him in quest for freedom. There wasn't a need to take on additional odd jobs to build up some sort of funding. He could stay.
"I think I will," Fon said.
Maybe he could learn to call Namimori home as well.
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Two Days Later
Fon blinked, eyes soaking in the strange scenery around him. He warily looked at the pink sky and the green ocean before him.
"Another one of you?"
Fon turned around to see a young man with iced blue eyes looking at him. The young man ran hand through his black hair and huffed. "I do not get paid enough to do this," he grumbled.
"Who are you?" Fon asked.
"I'm Zephyr. Welcome to the Spirit World."
Okay so I lied, this is the end of the Triad Arc -coughdidn'tthinkthewrapupwouldtakeanotherchaptercough-
Everyone now knows about spirits and ghosts and Fon is in the Spirit World. Ayame and Tsuna aren't fighting anymore and hey most of you figured out that Reborn's reports were being modified. Now to set up everything for the Ring Arc. So much to get done.
Don't forget to visit Goddamn Namimori for extras related to this universe.
Also, I've got a request for a timeline/recap/FAQ for the story. Is there anything you want me to clarify? As long as it isn't a spoiler, I'll answer it.
Please leave a review on your way out. :3