Chapter 21: International Heartache

I wrote this chapter and the following two as one long chapter at first, but didn't like the contrast in atmosphere so split it into three.

Please make sure that you guys have read chapter 19 (I've called it 19, but on the little drop down bar, it's chapter 20). Looking at the Stats, it seems as if quite a few of you have missed it. I posted the chapters in quick succession rather than with a week between the two like usual. I don't want you to miss anything important

Earlier on in the month

"Hey Pops" says Yamamoto cheerfully as he enters his Dad's sushi house. It's just after closing time, so there are no customers in sight. Yamamoto starts to clear up the restaurant.

"Hey there son, it's a surprise to see you back here." Comments Tsuyoshi, wiping a table clean.

"Yeah, well, things have been busy lately. We've two new friends living with us, so we've been trying to help them fit in and look after them." Yamamoto pushes some chairs in before clearing the table of plates.

"Oh, that's nice." Comments his dad. There is a pause in the conversation. Tsuyoshi knows his son wants to say something and patiently waits.

Finally Yamamoto turns to face him. "Dad, I'm going on a trip" he claims, a smile on his face as always.

"Wow, that will be nice. Where you going?" Tsuyoshi looks impressed.

"We'll be going to Italy, well Sicily to be more exact. It's to help with Tsuna's grandfather's company." Explains Yamamoto, taking the plates into the kitchen.

"Ahh, my young boy is growing up. Entering the international working world. I'm proud of you." The man heartily pats his son on the back.

"Haha, it's going to be interesting, but at least Tsuna, Gokudera and everyone else will be coming too." His son has a large smile on his face as he returns to the restaurant to pick up some more plates.

"Well, be careful out there. Italy can be quite dangerous." Warns Tsuyoshi. He notices Yamamoto's hands tighten on the plates and his face becomes harder.

"I know. But I'm sure that we will be alright. As long as we say together, we'll be fine."

Tsuyoshi isn't blind, nor ignorant, and knows that there is more to his son's life than the boy will tell him. He had known ever since that day over 5 years ago when Yamamoto had asked to learn his sword style. But his son's life was his own, and he let Yamamoto decide what he wanted to do. As long as his son was happy with the decisions he made, the people he was with and what he was doing, then Tsuyoshi wasn't going to stop him. And if that meant his son was going to leave his protective eye, then there was only one thing he could say really:

"Stay safe, and make sure to protect the ones you cherish"

Yamamoto looks up with wide eyes before the smile returns. "Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way"

"Kyoko, I need to EXTREMELY talk to you" says Ryohei, sitting down opposite the girl.

"Oh, what's wrong Onii-chan?" she sweetly asks.

Ryohei puts a fist to his chin in deep thought. Kyoko just sits there politely, waiting for him to speak. Ryohei makes a disgruntled noise, as if he can't decide, before scratching his head.

"We are going to Italy" he decides on. Kyoko looks shocked, this being the first she has heard about it.

"I-Italy?" she asks.

"Yes. Little Bro, me, Tako-head, Yamamoto and all the others. You are staying here with Haru and Hana." He clearly explains. Kyoko looks shocked, tears forming in her eyes.

"All of you. Without me." Ryohei nods "But Onii-chan, why?"

Ryohei looks away, not liking to upset her. Seeing she's not getting an answer, she scrunches up her fists, puts on a pout and thinks. The last time they kept information from her was when they went to the future. To try and protect her. She thought that they had learnt their lesson. But then again, so had she. Her brother and the others put their lives on the line to keep everyone safe. But that didn't mean she had to like it.

"It's to do with the Mafia again isn't it? That's where it all happens, in Italy." She demands

"Yes, Kyoko, it is." He agrees. There were to be no more secrets now that she knew.

"Fine then Onii-chan" he blinks, expecting screaming and tears. "It's what you all decided to do. But remember our promise, no more fighting." Ryohei opens his mouth to object. "I know, what I mean is, no more pointless fights, alright" She smiles up at him, a teary twinkle in her eye.

"I PROMISE TO THE EXTREME" He roars. He even stands up and punches a fist in the air, barely missing the ceiling.

No more pointless fight. But so far every fight has been needed. And I expect the ones to follow will be needed too. But for you I'll make sure that they are. I won't use these fists without a good reason. I promise you that.

Tsuna knew that leaving her was the right thing to do. He didn't want her to get harmed either. His blood ran cold at the thought of anyone harming her. But he would miss her.

Awhh, I won't get to see her smile anymore He thinks to himself, blushing slightly. Even after all this time, she still had that effect on him. Any room she entered lit up, her smile could clear any bad mood he was in. His heart pounded whenever she was near. But he still hadn't asked her out. He didn't think that he would ever have the courage to do so- dying will or not. But there was something else too. Whilst his heart did pound faster when she was near, it wasn't as much as he remembered. Maybe having her so close for so long had eased the feeling? Or maybe it was something else? He sure hoped not. He still wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, at least he thinks so. Having her so close was wonderful.

But now she would remain here. The Sasagawa siblings seemed to be his light, his sun, and he hoped that they remained that way for a long time. Life would be dark without her, he knew.

"Keep Nanimori following the rules"

That was the biggest sign of trust the Disciplinary Committee had ever had from their leader. Even though they were no longer in school, they were still called the Disciplinary Committee, and were a force to be reckoned with. They made regular patrols of the town, making sure everyone was following their rules. Anyone who wasn't (or who seemed like a good fight to Hibari) was punished. No one was going to stop them. Not even the police could, or wanted to. In actuality they were scared of Hibari. Not that it mattered. Anyone who really needed police attention usually made their way to the station. Bruised, bleeding and begging for the cell maybe, but they still ended up in custody. And that's all that mattered.

The men were shocked at their leader's words, but knew better than to act shocked or ask for an explanation. Hibari smiled at them, showing teeth.

"I'll bite you to death if you don't." and they all knew he would. It wouldn't matter where he was going. Most of them had been bitten before, and none of them wanted to repeat the process. Hibari stalked out of the room after giving a satisfied nod.

Kusakabe looked at the subordinates. "Kyo-san and I are going to Italy for some work. We don't know when we'll be back. But we will be getting regular updates, and from a highly reliable source. Kyo-san will be back if you mess up." The men all nod.

"Good luck sir" they say, before Kusakabe follows Hibari out.

Why was Kusakabe going? Well, Hibari wasn't about to do all of the boring paperwork himself now, was he. So Kusakabe was there doing what he normally did, keeping an eye, watching, recording, and keeping Hibari's schedule. He had been informed of what was going on from the start. Romario had sat him down when Dino was training Kyoya (still in sight so Dino could actually do something of course) and told him about the ring battle and what was going to happen. Over the years, Tsuna and Gokudera had kept him up-to-date, and he'd been helping Kyoya ever since.

"Kufufufu, we are going back to where it all began it seems" comments Mukuro, seemingly to himself. But Ken, Chikusa and Flan were in the room too.

Ken tilts his head and walks over to Mukuro, and sits by his feet. "Back to the beginning, byon?"

"Yes, we'll be accompanying young Tsunayoshi to Italy." Oh, that beginning

"Why are you going back there?" Ken asks. He didn't think that they would ever return to Italy.

"Well, for my plan to succeed, I need to keep an eye on young Tsunayoshi. I have a feeling that our time will be arriving soon."

"Do you really think so Mukuro-sama?" asks Chikusa, interested too.

"Why of course. The process has already started." And he smirks, twirling the trident in his hands

"That's good. Now I won't have to get on a plane every time the Varia want me" says Flan.

Mukuro ignores this comment and settles for poking Flan with his trident. "I'm not training you to work for them" However, at the moment, Flan is their biggest source of income. Varia pay exceptionally well and tools are meant to be used after all.

Of course Mukuro will be living separately from Vongola and arrangements have already been made. He highly doubted that Vongola wanted him under their roof anyway, not that he wanted to be their either.

For you Esmeralda. I'll destroy the world and make it anew.

And who were the others to complain? If Mukuro so wished they would follow him into Hell, for that's where they would still be if not for him. Plus Italy meant new sweets for Ken to eat again.

"Ne, ne Kaito-nii, Shinichi-nii, we're finally going home!" cheer Lambo and Fuuta.

"Oh, you are?" Kaito asks, patting the boys on the head.

"Yeah, Lambo can't wait to go to Italy again, the food is great, but Mama's is still the best." He cheers, but then is almost instantly sad. "I'm going to miss Mama" he sniffs "Gotta, Stay, Calm"

"Now now Lambo, it won't be all that bad, Shinichi and I will still be with you. I know that you'll miss Mama" and both boys nod "but you need to show her what a big boy you can be. Then she can be really proud. You need to do your best in Italy or else she would be disappointed in you" Both boys look down.

"Just remember that what you are doing in Italy means that you are protecting her and I-pin too." Shinichi reminds. He smiles to see Lambo blush over the thought of protecting I-pin too.

"And who's going to rule the world?" Kaito asks

Lambo perks up "I am" he sniffs

"And who's going to obliterate Reborn?" Shinichi asks

"Lambo-sama will" says Lambo, wiping his eyes even though no tears had fallen.

"And how can you do that if you can't even leave Mama's side?" asks Kaito, smiling down at him.

"Just make her your reason to fight. Remember her when times get tough and everything will be fine" says Shinichi kneeling on the floor to look at Lambo

Kaito looks down at Shinichi "Personal experience there, Chibi-Tantei?" Shinichi looks down but doesn't answer.

"We'll show you all of the best sights Shinichi-nii, Kaito-nii. Italy is really beautiful." Comments Fuuta. "I can even rank where the best places to be are" Shinichi and Kaito find this sweet, not knowing that Fuuta actually can. So far, they had had no experience with the 'Star' part of Fuuta's name.

Lambo turns to Fuuta "But aren't you scared that the Mafia will come after you again?" he asks. Fuuta shakes his head

"No, I'm not. Even though I'm not officially affiliated with any Family, I am under Tsuna-nii's protection, and therefore also under Vongola's. So no one really comes after me anymore. Plus, if something does happen I've got all of you to help me" he smiles, including Lambo in that sentence too.

"Hahi! Tsuna and Chrome are going to Italy. And Haru's staying here?" she squeaks.

Chrome nods her head in confirmation.

"We need you to hold down the fort" Chrome says. Giving Haru a job to do would make her feel important, and she would be more likely to agree with them leaving her behind. "You need to protect everyone here"

"Haru will do it. How can Haru be a Mafioso's wife if Haru can't protect the house?" she rhetorically asks. Chrome laughs, hoping Haru will be alright. It was never easy to tell with this girl. Chrome suspected that whilst Haru was a naturally happy and bouncy girl, it also covered up and hides the emotions underneath. Chrome was sure that Haru wasn't happy, but there was little she could do.

We're nearly there.

Phantom Hitman 1412

First published 28 Feb. 12