Chapter 27 One step forwards.
As you may all have noticed, I'm getting to the darker side of the story now. I'm warning you all now that it's going to continue like this and get worse. How much worse, I'm not sure, depends on what I come up with. But if you don't like where I'm going for this arc, then maybe you should wait a while and come back later. It's scenes like what Tsuna did last time that made me put this fic as M rated when I first had it up. I think I might put it back up too- tell me if you think I should.
Gya! Primo forgive me! *bows* I forgot to put your birthday in. Um, Kaito says having the heist in Italy is your present. Hope you enjoyed it! *runs of quickly*
"Geez Boss, you're bloodier than a murder victim."
Tsuna and Gokudera spin around, not having heard anyone get close. Although there was a lot of shouting going on earlier- mostly the bombers fault. Looking at who has caught them, they wonder how much he heard. At least it's not an enemy though.
"Would you stop sneaking up on us like that? Kaito already does it, I don't need you doing it too. I didn't even know you could move like that" scolds Tsuna lightly.
Shinichi rubs his neck in embarrassment, but isn't willing to tell Tsuna how he got to be like that. "I'll think about it" he says, but has no intention to stop doing so. The looks on the other's faces when he and Kaito appear is just too good to forego.
"Ouch, Gokudera, be careful" hisses Tsuna, turning his attention back to the problem at hand.
"I've seen this happen before. Some Murderers do it." Both look up at Shinichi, who was quieter than before, as well as closer. Tsuna tilts his head, silently asking the question. Shinichi stares Tsuna straight in the eyes, not willing to back off. "I know what you've done" Tsuna pales slightly so Shinichi hurriedly adds "Not specifically, but I can guess. You hurt someone in anger didn't you? You weren't fully in control when you did it. You weren't emotionally ready to do what you did either. I would reckon that you were sick also."
Tsuna nods, in awe of Shinichi's deduction. It was as if he was in Tsuna's head. Was this what it was like to be on the other end of his hyper intuition?
"It's usually those murderers who snap and regret their actions that do what you've done" here Shinichi nods in the direction of Tsuna's arms. "You want all traces of what you've done to be gone. You don't want their blood on you anymore, it's just a reminder." And even though there are tears in Tsuna's eyes, Shinichi carries on "It's retribution. You're harming yourself to try and repent for what you've done. You're angry for what you did, so you're punishing yourself."
"Shinichi, Tsuna's not a criminal. You should stop" Gokudera and Tsuna's heads turn in the opposite direction whilst Shinichi raises his eyes to meet this new person. Kaito has walked out of the trees on the opposite side of them and is striding towards them. Walking straight past Tsuna and Gokudera on the floor, he walks directly up to Shinichi. "Tsuna isn't a murderer, so stop treating him like one. He doesn't need your cold hearted analysis right now. At the moment, you're not a detective, but his Guardian, so start acting like one"
Shinichi raises an eyebrow at this. "I am acting as his Guardian. 'The one who guides in the dark' . I'm telling him what this darker side is like. He needs to know what the consequences of his actions are. It's not cold hearted; It's the cold hard facts. This is just how people like Tsuna react to harming others. It doesn't matter if it's murder or not. The reaction is still the same."
"Shinichi" growls Kaito, warning Shinichi to stop.
"I can tell how you'd react to murdering someone. You would-"
And in a puff of white smoke they are gone.
Tsuna and Gokudera look at each other. Tsuna's eyes are wide in shock; from the truth in Shinichi's words, or from Shinichi's attitude he's not sure. Gokudera's eyes are narrowed in anger that Shinichi dare talk to Juudaime like that. His grip on Tsuna's wrist tightens until Tsuna has to pull away.
"Don't listen to him Juudaime. He hasn't even known you for that long, so how can he analyse you like that? You are nothing like a criminal." Gokudera growls, glaring at the spot the detective was last standing in. "I'm going to have a word with him when we get home. I don't care if I have to blow up the whole mansion just to find him. He's not going to be able to hide from me. How dare he talk to you like that?"
"But he's right" whispers Tsuna, stopping Gokudera's anger from spiralling anymore. "I threw up in the alley before flying off. I don't want his blood on my hands. I attacked him in anger and couldn't follow through with it. I can't believe that I caused that amount of pain" Tsuna goes back to staring at his hands, but Gokudera's grabbed his wrists before he can start to scratch them again.
"And there is nothing wrong with that. We all find different ways of coping with it. This just goes to show that you aren't a bad person. The Crack Maze changes people, it makes them snap, so I'm glad that you've had this reaction. It shows that you are still the Juudaime that I respect. Like I said, I'm going to be here every step of the way to help you acclimate."
"The Crack Maze?" Tsuna asks. Gokudera grimaces over the slip.
"Just Mafia Slang, don't worry about it" he explains.
"You sound like you've done it before" Tsuna and Gokudera were really starting to hate this now. But there was a little bit of respect for their skills in there too. Kaito was walking towards them from the forest. Shinichi was nowhere in sight.
Gokudera stares at Kaito but doesn't answer the unasked question. And for once, Tsuna didn't want his intuition to give him the answer.
"We should be heading back. Nono's worried as it is. If it wasn't for me spotting you, he'd already have the hounds trying to find you." Kaito suggests, looking at Tsuna.
"Alright, let me just finish this first and then we can go back. I don't want to worry the others." Kaito nods in acceptance, and Gokudera hurries to finish the job he was doing. Despite the rush, Gokudera's hands were light. Tsuna didn't know he could be that gentle.
Standing once they were finished, they start the trek back down the hill, through the forest, and down to the city. Once in the city, Kaito speeds up slightly, turning a corner into an alleyway before them. When they finally turn that corner, Kaito is nowhere to be seen, accept for a shadow turning the corner at the opposite end. Running down the alley, they find Kaito in civilian clothes a lot further down the street. A small game of chase ensues, with Kaito leading them without looking like he is doing so. The distance ensures that no one thinks he is actually with Gokudera and Tsuna. When they finally turn into the City Square, Kaito is nowhere in sight.
But the others are.
They notice Tsuna and Gokudera the moment they enter and almost collectively gasp at the bandages covering all of Tsuna's arms. As they rush over to check on him, Tsuna self-consciously rubs them, wishing he had long sleeves to hide them behind. Gokudera stops that motion with a sidewards look and raised eyebrows. It was a good thing that his t-shirt was black, it hid any blood stains there might have been.
"Tsuna are you alright, what on earth happened?" asks Yamamoto, being the first one to get to him.
"Gyahaha, I bet Dame-Tsuna fell over again" laughs Lambo, hands on hips.
Tsuna leapt on the idea given to him. Rubbing the back of his neck in fake embarrassment, he laughs nervously. "Yeah. I did it again. I tripped over some gravel and it caused some cuts. But Gokudera patched me up again, so everything is alright." And he smiles in true appreciation for Gokudera's help.
"It was nothing Juudaime." Says Gokudera, bowing at the complement.
"Come here. I'll fix it to the EXTREME" offers Ryohei, causing quite a few people to look in their direction at the volume.
"Not here, Onii-san. Let's go back home and you can do it in the car" offers Tsuna. He wants nothing more than to go back to the mansion. Gino might still be in the city after all. He didn't want to have to go back and finish the job.
"I'll call for the car Juudaime" offers Gokudera, phone in hand.
5 minutes later, Tsuna and co are climbing into the car.
"Hey, what about Shinichi and" Yamamoto looks at the driver for a moment "KID? Aren't they coming home with us?"
Tsuna shakes his head. "No, they went on home earlier than us." He expected that they did anyway. The rest all accept that and clamber into the car.
Tsuna sits opposite from Ryohei so it's easier for the boxer to work. The process is not as easy as it was in the future, since Ryohei has no box weapon to help. Instead, he has to use pure sun flames. Training to learn how to control his flame has helped over the years, and being healed so many times has made Tsuna used to the side effects. But Gokudera's sharp eyes stop Tsuna from scratching, even though the healing process is as itchy as hell, just like it was in the future. These are simple scratches, surface wounds, and by now the boxer is an expert at healing them. Anything more than cuts took a little longer and a lot more sun flames.
"You're all done now. There shouldn't be any traces left of what you did"
Tsuna's breathe catches in his throat. He knew that Ryohei didn't mean it like that. He purely meant that there would be no sign of such an embarrassing action as 'falling over'. Bosses and heirs weren't supposed to lose fights with mere gravel. Tsuna quickly undoes the bandages to see that it's true; his skin is perfectly unmarred. No scratches, no blood.
No evidence.
My actions can be so easily removed. It can be made so that there is nothing linking me to the crimes I have done. Just like that, all the signs have been erased. Just as simply as that…
"Hey Sempai, good job as always" compliments Yamamoto.
Tsuna puts back on his happy face, determined not to worry the others. They don't need to know what he's done.
As they drive through the gates of the Vongola Mansion, Tsuna notices that there is someone waiting on them. Stepping out of the car first, Tsuna is surprised by the sight.
Shinichi is on the top step in front of the doors, bowing down on one knee, head held low, not looking at Tsuna at all. When Tsuna reaches the top step, Shinichi quietly says. "I'm sorry for my actions earlier. I shouldn't have said something like that."
As the others crowd behind Tsuna, wondering what's going on, Gokudera takes a step forwards and gives Shinichi a harsh bop on the head.
"I had better never hear you talk to Juudaime like that again, or else I'll use my dynamites to silence you permanently."
"Maa maa Gokudera, calm down. He apologised didn't he" calms Yamamoto whilst having no clue what's going on. But Gokudera was known to take offence at any slight to Tsuna, so it was hard to tell how severe the situation was.
"It's alright Shinichi. What you said was true after all and it was something I needed to hear. You can stand up now" Consoles Tsuna, smiling gently down at Shinichi.
Shinichi's response is a smile in return, before it changes to a grimace. "About that. A certain bastard glued me to the floor to make sure that I apologised. He thought that I'd run away from it." And Shinichi's eyes flick to the right. "That's right. I apologised, so let me up." He says, voice raised. Everyone else looks in that direction to find KID sitting on the balcony. Unfolding his legs, he elegantly jumps off and walks over to Tsuna.
"Alright then Tantei-kun." He gives Shinichi a grin that usually is only found at heists and clicks his fingers. A bucket of water appears. He hands it to Tsuna. "Purify him of his sins!" he dramatically claims. Shinichi rolls his eyes whilst Tsuna looks confused. KID leans over and stage whispers "That glue is water soluble, so giving him a good douse will free him easily enough." Shinichi glares at KID over yet another punishment. Trust him to have glue that needs water like that. The thief was so going to get it later.
Tsuna splutters and takes a step away from the offered bucket. "I-I couldn't do that. It's not fair."
But Gokudera is more than willing. Taking a step forwards, he snatches the full bucket out of the gloved hand. "I'll do the honors then Juudaime". Before Tsuna can even protest, before the others can even stop him, Gokudera upends the bucket over Shinichi's head, hands it back to the thief, and drags Tsuna inside.
Shinichi shakes himself off before staring at the thief in anger. Said thief immediately runs inside, chased by Shinichi. Those left on the steps trade glances, wondering if any of them knew what was going on. Since no one did, they just accepted it as family fun and games and walked inside.
They are met by the sight of Tsuna laid flat on the ground, Reborn stood firmly on his chest. Without speaking a word, he jumps off and Leon changes into a rope. Winding around Tsuna, Reborn drags him off in the direction of Nono's office. Gokudera looked worried and kept rocking slightly in place, as if his body wanted to go, but his feet were glued to the floor. Once Tsuna was out of sight, Gokudera storms up the stairs and off in the direction of his room. Shinichi and Kaito were also looking in the direction Tsuna had been dragged off in, both looking rather sad, pity clear in their eyes.
It didn't take a fool for the rest to realise that they were missing something. But before they could ask, Kaito and Shinichi had disappeared once more.
Reborn had the decency to knock before entering Nono's office. After being permitted entrance, he opens the doors and drags Tsuna inside, shutting them afterwards. Nono smiles at Tsuna and Leon on the floor before directing his gaze to the mini-Hitman.
"Oww. Reborn, what was that for?" mumbles Tsuna, rubbing his aching head. Looking around, he realises that he's no longer in the entrance hall, but in Nono's office. "Oh."
"Take a seat Tsunayoshi" orders the Ninth. Leon removes himself from Tsuna's legs before returning to Reborn's hat. Slowly, Tsuna gets up off the floor and takes the offered seat. He sits with his hands in his lap, fiddling with his fingers, head bowed. He knew what he had done wrong after all.
"Well Tsunayoshi, care to tell me what went wrong?" Tsuna flinched, but raises his head to answer
"The feeling of crushing the target's finger made me nauseous. So I left the building." He explains simply.
Nono gives him a look, telling Tsuna that he wasn't going to accept part of the truth. Sighing in resignation, Tsuna takes a brief look back at Reborn before continuing.
"I was conflicted. The need to protect my friends caused me to punch him and to crush his finger, yet I couldn't stand being the person to do that. I don't like to harm people, especially when they cannot fairly fight back."
"All you lack is experience and knowledge. There is nothing wrong with that, and it's the reason that you are being trained like this in the first place. Usually when recruits go through the process, they are not as kind hearted as you are, and are fully aware what they have been asked to do. Most people come into the mafia due to criminal connections, or are of a suitable personality. You, however, are different. And it's because you are different that Primo passed his Will onto you."
Tsuna gets what the Ninth is saying, but doesn't understand where the man is going.
"Your path will be harder than most peoples. So we are going to have to go about it differently. You will still continue to do these sessions" Tsuna bows his head, not pleased with the outcome, but fully expecting it. "However, we are going to inform you about them a little differently. Hopefully, once you understand the need better, you can overcome the feeling of being the bully."
"You were nearly there" comments Reborn. "You said that it was the need to protect your friends that drove you to punch him across the nose and to twist and snap his trigger finger" Tsuna lowers his head even further; Reborn was there. Reborn had seen what Tsuna had done. "You need to find the resolve within yourself."
There it was again, that word: resolve. Everything about his life was about resolve. His flames only worked when he had resolve. He could only act when he had resolve. Because of his resolve, he had moved from Dying Will Bullets to pills to conscious control of his flame.
Was protecting his friends worth harming others over? Wouldn't his life be so much easier if he left it all behind? Tsuna shakes his head to removes those thoughts. What was he thinking- of course they were worth it. He could no longer live without them. He was no longer alone because they were constantly there for him.
"O-okay then, I'll accept." He mumbles. "I'll try to strengthen my resolve"
"Good. You're next assignment will be tomorrow. Go and relax." Orders the Ninth.
Noting the dismissal, Tsuna rises to his feet, bows and leaves the room. He walks through the corridors and hallways, absently nodding to those who acknowledge him. Once he arrives in the entrance, a football rolls to a stop infront of his feet. Looking up, he sees that most of the others are standing there waiting for him.
"Well, are you joining us or not?" asks Yamamoto, smiling brightly as usual. Amidst raucous encouragement from the others, Tsuna smiles and bends down to pick the ball up.
"Thanks guys" Tsuna replies, smiling sweetly back at them. Some of them look confused.
"Thanks for what?" Yamamoto asks.
Tsuna just shakes his head. "Don't worry about it."
"Ne, Shini-chan! You lot coming or what?" Tsuna turns his head to look out of the open door to find Ken, Chikusa and Chrome all waiting outside. Chrome had a book in her hand, showing she was going to sit on the outskirts and watch instead of participating.
"Haha, Tsuna-nii, hurry up, let's go!" says Fuuta, happily bouncing in place. Fuuta and Lambo rush up to him, Fuuta taking one arm to drag him out with, whilst Lambo pushes from behind. Tsuna has no choice but to laugh and be dragged off.
Thanks guys, for everything.
Tsuna couldn't believe what he was seeing infront of him. How could anyone let children become like that? Their clothes couldn't even be called rags. He could see every rib on their chests, he could see every bone on their gaunt bodies. Rushing over, he grabs the chin of one boy and looks straight into his eyes. There was nothing, no spark of life. Letting go, he quickly moves onto a different child. But child after child, it's all the same. They've given up; they are totally broken with no hope of ever being free again.
"Wha- How could?" Tsuna stutters, letting the last child out of his grip.
"Why not take a look at this Decimo?" asks Gino, waving a piece of paper.
Running over, he snatches the pile of papers from Gino's grip and flicks through them. They are financial reports and copies of correspondence between this… this, man, and Vongola.
Whilst Tsuna may not be the best at math, he can still tell what's infront of him. It had taken a very long time (and I mean a very very long time) for Gokudera to train Tsuna into understanding the basics of accounting. It was needed knowledge for him for when he took over the V.F. Corporation. Reborn had started Tsuna off small and had made Tsuna do the family accounts for him and his mother before Reborn would even let him near the company's accounts.
So it was clear to him that these financial records were a load of bullshit. There was no way the figures could match the image infront of him.
"We were giving you this much money to run this orphanage, and you dare to ask for more? When the children are in this state?" His voice shook just as much as his hands did. Tsuna knew that the money this man was being given by Vongola could keep his family happy for a year, and that included looking after Reborn, Bianchi, Fuuta, Lambo and I-pin, as well as the money to cover the food costs when the others came to visit. Hell it was more money than the Japanese branch spent in a year. Yet he was asking for more money to look after the children with.
"You were given the task of looking after these children. Yet look at them! None of them want to live anymore. How are they supposed to hope for better futures if they assume that everyone will treat them like this? How are they supposed to find new families to look after them when they are barely hanging on to life? And you DARE to ask for more money!"
Tsuna truly couldn't see how anyone could treat children like this. What on earth was the man spending the money on?
Tsuna's answer was in the gleam of gold on the man's wrist. Tsuna's answer was in the sparkle on the man's fingers. Tsuna's answer was in the perfect skin, perfect nails, perfect hair. Tsuna's answer was in the designer suit the filth wore. This person was taking the money that was supposed to go towards looking after these children and spending it all on himself. Tsuna would bet he had a nice car and a fancy house filled with every luxury one would ever want too.
"For this assignment, you will be doing what is known as Hammering. It's formal name is Punishment. Vongola trusted him to look after these children. Not only is he not following his orders, he is also stealing from Vongola. He needs to be punished for his misdoings."
Gino leads Tsuna into a separate room, dragging the bound owner in after him. Gino threw him into a heap on the floor.
"Hammering is to hammer into their thick skulls that what they did was wrong. It's to ensure that they never do those deeds again. As the hammer falls, it stops them reaching out for temptation." Explains Gino, looking at Tsuna. Tsuna nods in understanding.
"Hammer of justice" he whispers. By harming this man, he was not only going to save those children, but also the man himself. Was this what Hibari did? Hammer in the massage that wrong doings (disturbing the peace) were not going to be accepted. Was Hibari really after more than a good fight?
"I understand" said Tsuna, voice seemingly monotone and uncaring. But that wasn't it. His emotions were really hidden under the orange flames. Tsuna takes a step forwards towards the man.
"Wait a second. Punishments like these come with a Price List. Just beating the man up isn't going to teach the lesson. There needs to be some long lasting evidence, the Nail as such. A reminder every time they look at it, or feel it, that what they did was wrong. The Nail's shape usually fits the crime. In this case there are two crimes. Mistreatment of Children and Stealing. The stealing one is easy."
"What is it?" Tsuna asks, orange eyes turning to Gino. Gino reaches behind him and produces a small slender knife.
"What do people usually use to steal with Decimo?" Gino asks, spinning the knife in his fingers.
Tsuna looks confused for a second. "Um, their fingers?" he guesses.
"Correct. People steal money by reaching out and grabbing it with their fingers. So, we're going to take a finger from him." Tsuna's eyes widen. They were going to what? "However, since we want him to continue with his life afterwards, we are going to take an unimportant finger. Yet he'll remember the message every time he looks at his hand. So cut off his 4th finger on his right hand." Gino walks over and presses the knife into Tsuna's hands. He freezes for a moment, not believing what he's about to do. Yet coughing and whimpering from the other room remind him of the children who were mistreated.
If this was what it takes to save the children and the man from himself, then it's what Tsuna would do. Tsuna walks over and behind the man to find where the target's hands were bound together behind his back. The man starts to squirm to get away, yet Gino stops that action with a harsh kick to the stomach. Tsuna grabs the man's hand and shakily holds the knife close.
When Gino sees Tsuna moving the knife up and down the man's hand, he realises that Tsuna has no clue where to cut. "The middle knuckle. It'll be easier for you. There are also fewer nerves there so you'll do less pain and damage to him" Gino whispers softly. Understanding, Tsuna wastes no time in cutting the finger. He wants to get this over and done with. Placing the hand flat on the floor, he moves the other fingers away so he won't harm them too. Taking in a deep breath, Tsuna lays the knife against the knuckle and brings the other fist down hard and fast.
The target screams in pain for a moment before it dies down to whimpers. Seeing all of the blood makes Tsuna want to gag. As he panics over the feeling, he loses control of his flames for a moment. His gloves flare with fire, catching the man's hand in the process. Another scream from the target snaps Tsuna back into focus and he quickly turns the flames off again. Taking a look at the wound, Tsuna sees that he's unwittingly cauterised the wounds to stop it bleeding. Gino looks over too. "Hmm, that's a good idea. This way the targets won't be bleeding for too long, and they won't fall victim to blood poisoning nor infections. Trust Decimo to be so merciful and forgiving even to those who do wrong."
Tsuna looks up at Gino. It was alright? He wasn't going to be punished for doing that? Stopping the flow of blood had made him feel less guilty. He was still helping the man. The pain was for his own good. He must have subconsciously known that somewhere; His flames never burnt like real flames unless he told them too.
However looking down again, Tsuna spots the decapitated finger lying on the floor. Tsuna goes rather green and brings a hand to his mouth before running out of the room.
Gino sighs at Tsuna's actions fully expecting them. "At least he's got the resolve down" he says seemingly to the air. Reborn steps out of the shadows, petting Leon soothingly.
"Yes. It seems that Nono's new plan worked perfectly. Showing Tsuna why these people need to be punished allows him to talk himself into doing the punishment." Gino nods.
"Now we just need to figure out how to make him into a man."
Running through a corridor, Tsuna bursts the doors open and runs down the street before turning into an alleyway. Finding a trash can, Tsuna runs over to it and vomits inside. A soothing hand rubs his back as he heaves whilst the other brushes back his hair from his face. Once he's done heaving, a bottle of water is thrust into his hands. Tsuna takes a gulp, swilling it around is mouth to remove the taste before spitting it back out. He does this a couple more times as the hand continues to rub circles along his back. Finally feeling steady enough to stand up straight again, he looks up into concerned sympathetic grey eyes.
"Feeling better Juudaime?" asks Gokudera, handing over some breath mints.
Tsuna looks a little embarrassed at being caught like that, and laughs nervously "Haha, yes thank you Gokudera. What are you doing here anyway?"
Now it's Gokudera's turn to look a little flustered. "I followed you, Juudaime. Like I said, I really want to support you through this. Yet I know that you wouldn't want me to watch, so I left you your privacy." Typical Gokudera. "But what made you so sick?"
Tsuna looks down "He stole from Vongola." Is all Tsuna wants to say
"Ah, Hammering then. You had to take one of his fingers." Tsuna nods, before looking up, his eyes full of shock and sadness.
"So you have done this before." He states, looking Gokudera straight in the eyes.
Gokudera looks away, ashamed. "Yes Juudaime. It was between the time I ran away and when I met you. To get into any Family I had to show my worth. And the way most Families check people's worth is to send them through the Crack Maze- this training session. It's basically the same for each Family, the same terms, the same punishments."
"B-But! You were only 8 or 9 at the time." Cries Tsuna in astonishment.
"Not quiet Juudaime, I was 12 when they first let me do it. It's not common for people to do it so young, but I forced them to." Gokudera corrects, not that it really makes a difference. Any age is old enough to hold a gun and shoot. A 5 year old Lambo is proof enough.
"You forced them to?" Tsuna is quite shocked by that.
"I was trying to prove that I was worth having. I was trying to find a home so badly that I was willing to do anything." Gokudera stops at the feeling of a hand on his shoulder.
"Well, you've found a home with me now. You don't have to prove anything to me." Tsuna smiles at him, as bright as the sun in Gokudera's eyes.
"Yes Juudaime! I really am not worthy of you. I shouldn't even touch you with these stained hands of mine." Tsuna grabs him before Gokudera can bow on the floor.
"Don't say that! Weren't you the one saying about us being equal yesterday? Well my hands are stained too now so there's no reason for you to act like that." Growling at Gokudera, Tsuna adds in some shakes for emphasis.
"What an amazing Boss you are, Juudaime." Says Gokudera, eyes sparkling with respect and devotion.
Tsuna sighs, knowing the rest of the conversation is hopeless.
Shinichi had noticed Gokudera secretly try and follow Tsuna to the punishment location. He found Gokudera's devotion cute. Annoying at times, but cute. Shinichi was there to keep an eye on Tsuna in case Tsuna decided to run off once again. He was just about to warn Kaito when it seemed as if Tsuna was going to stay where he was because Gokudera had gotten to him first. Shinichi wasn't going to interrupt them, they could have their conversation as long as Tsuna didn't try to fly off again. It was a shame that Kaito's own Sky flames weren't strong enough to allow him to fly- he could have chased after Tsuna better. Although Shinichi didn't want to think what Kaito would be like if he could fly.
So knowing that Gokudera has Tsuna's mental state under control, Shinichi left his post and started to walk back into the bustling streets. Feeling his phone vibrate, Shinichi leans against a wall and answers it.
"Hello" Shinichi says in Japanese. He was pretty sure that this caller couldn't speak Italian.
"Shinichi what the hell were you doing on New Year's Eve?" she shouts down the phone. Hadn't the last phone conversation started off like this? Really, what were the women in his life like?
"Ran calm down. I was in the area and decided to go up against KID again. You know I can't let a criminal go loose." He calms, or at least tries too.
"Of course I know that you Detective Geek. The first thing I hear from you in nearly two months is from you on the television. On a KID heist of all things! I thought you were laying low for this stupid case of yours? Every time you help the police solve a case, you ask for your name to be kept out of it, but now you just appear during the most popular event you could have possibly choose. You even left with KID's monocle on your face. I don't think there is a way to get more attention than that!"
Shinichi let her rant on, knowing that it was best to just let her say her piece. He got shouted at less that way. But suddenly she stops. That means she's thinking. And as a detective's daughter, her thinking is not always a good idea. Especially when it came to him. "Unless." Yep, here it was. "You've finished that case. If so then why haven't you come home! Shinichi I haven't seen you for nearly one and a half years now. I've..." and then she mumbles "I've missed you. It's not the same just talking to you on the phone every now and again."
Shinichi could feel his heart tighten. She really knew how to dig a knife into his heart. The last time Ran had seen Shinichi in the flesh was during a dangerous case one and a half years ago. She didn't realise how much he wanted to be there by her side, living a normal live with her. He could remember dreaming of a time when the Organisation had been taken down, and he would marry her and they'd live a peaceful life, with him being a detective as usual. He'd come home, see her smile, eat her cooking, fall asleep with her in his arms. But that dream had shattered long ago. The longer he had spent as Conan, the more that dream had become laughable and unobtainable.
And the more he thought about it, the more he realised that he didn't feel that way about her anymore. She was still an important friend to him, she always would be, they had grown up together and a bond like that was important to him. But his heart didn't beat faster, or at least not as fast as it usually did. There was no excitement, no anticipation, no wanting, no longing. There was just… the feeling of being siblings. Shinichi wasn't sure when things had changed, but he realised that some time during his stint as Conan, she had moved from Girlfriend Hopeful to being a Sister.
Who was he kidding? He had decided to let Ran go before he got the Nano Bots implanted. So now was that time. He wasn't going to drag Ran around any longer. It was time to set her free and allow her to live the life she should have been instead of waiting for him.
"Ah, Ran, don't sound so sad. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, but I've finished that case now. But as soon as I finished it I got caught up in something else." Shinichi knew it was one huge lie, but what else could he do? He was not letting Ran anywhere near his Mafia life. Even if he didn't love her anymore, she was still important to him.
"Oh you have have you? Am I not important enough to tell? Is some silly case more important than me?" Ran knew her words were harsh. She wanted to take them back as soon as she said them. But she needed to know. She is as stubborn as hell and stood true to her words.
"I, um, I" Shinichi stutters. Damn, why was this so hard? Why was hurting her so hard to do?
"Kufufu~. Allow me"
"Ran, I'm going to be traveling around the world learning how to be a better detective. I've made a contract with the V.F Corporation, so they are financially backing my trip as long as I do any detective work they need me to do."
"Oh, that sounds wonderful" She says dejectedly.
"Ran, you know what this means right? I'm going to be away for a very long time and I won't be coming back to Japan any time soon."
"I can take it from here. It wouldn't be right if I didn't"
"Shinichi, what are you trying to say?" she asks, her voice wavering slightly.
"What I am trying to say Ran is that I don't think it's fair for me to keep you. I always thought that the end of the case would be around the corner and that I'd be back to you soon. Yet it never happened. The case just got harder and harder and I kept putting you off. But now there is no chance of that. I won't be returning" He keeps his voice firm, hoping to make her strong at the same time. He was sure that if he fell apart then she would too.
"You mean you won't be returning this year? If that's the case Shinichi I'm more than willing to wait…" Shinichi could hear the hope in her voice. She really would be willing to wait that long for him. She didn't want to lose him either.
"No Ran. It's going to be longer than a year" The truth was Shinichi didn't know how long it was going to be before he returned to Japan. He might even have to permanently live in Italy.
"W-w-what? Shinichi, what are you trying to say? I've waited this long, another few years couldn't hurt" God damn it Ran. Why are you making this so hard?
Sighing, Shinichi runs a hand down his face. Straightening his shoulders, even though Ran couldn't see that, Shinichi becomes all business. "Ran, I'm sorry, but I'm going to come out and say this to you straight. It's the least you deserve."
"Shinichi…" she tries to interrupt,
But Shinichi raises his voice and speaks over her. "I don't want you to wait for me anymore." There is a stunned silence on the other end of the phone so he continues. "I want you to be happy. I want you to go get a boyfriend that will be able to be by your side, who will focus on you and only you. I want you to find someone other than me because I can't make you happy."
Shinichi swears he could hear Ran's phone creaking from the pressure she must be putting on it. "Shinichi… YOU… YOU ASS!" He squeezes his eyes shut when he hears the sob she lets out afterwards.
Hanging his head, he mumbles a quiet "I know" He didn't even expect that she heard it. He was sure that the next thing he would hear was the dial tone.
The tears stop so fast she hiccups "You… know?"
"I know that this may seem harsh to you. But I've always been a Detective Geek and you know it."
There is a faint laugh over Shinichi calling himself a detective geek. "Yes you were. Even when we went to Tropical Land you were talking about Holmes all the time. Being a detective was the only thing on your mind."
"So you can see what an opportunity this is for me. Ran, I really don't want to lose you, but I know better than to keep you waiting. You always smacked me whenever I was late." He knows that he's rushing his words, but he wanted to get his point across before she hung up.
"That's because you kept putting cases before me!... Oh… that's what you mean, isn't it?" She sounds so despondent, yet Shinichi was sure she finally saw his point. He gives her a few moments to think about what she had come to realise.
"Well, you wouldn't be my Detective Geek if you didn't. So…" Shinichi could hear the sigh in that sentence, but he wasn't sure whether a shout was next or not.
"So?" he prompts when she didn't say anything else.
"I'll try Shinichi... I can't promise anything, but I will try. But you had better send me post cards from all of these places you are going. I want to know what you are up to. And… and souvenirs! I expect those too."
Shinichi laughs, it seems like his Ran is back. Without being there, he couldn't know for sure, but at least it was a start.
"I will Ran. I promise." Shinichi finally smiles, hoping that this is a catastrophe averted.
"Oh, that's Dad coming up the stairs. Grr, he's drunk again. I've got to go Shinichi. Remember, souvenirs!"
"Yes yes Ran, now go before he starts singing, I don't want to hear that." Presses Shinichi. He'd heard enough drunk singing as Conan.
"Okay… Bye Shinichi."
"Ciao Ran"
As he closes the phone, he sighs and slumps against the wall. That could have gone a lot worse than it did.
"Well, you managed to turn that around. I was sure she was going to hang up on you and never talk to you again" says Mukuro unhelpfully.
"So was I. But at least she was laughing at the end." Shinichi looks up at him, a small glimmer of hope in his eyes. Mukuro however, sighs and looks down at him with pity in his eyes.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that Detective. Whilst you were hoping that she just happily moves on, I'm afraid that love doesn't work like that."
Shinichi tenses. Mukuro would not ruin this happy moment. "Oh? And you would know?" he snaps.
"I too have lost one I love. I know how hard it can be to just pick yourself up and continue living your life. I can understand her point of view better than you can." He replies haughtily. To Shinichi, it sounded like a telling off. Mukuro was right though.
"Of course. I forgot. Esmeralda."
"That's right. At least with this Ran of yours she's alive and there is the hope of firmly becoming friends. My precious Esmeralda is dead, so I have no such hopes." Shinichi thinks he can see tears in Mukuro's eyes, but that couldn't be true: Mukuro never cried.
"May I make a suggestion?" Mukuro asks. Shinichi shrugs his shoulders, telling Mukuro to go ahead. "Whilst she may seem happy, I'm sure that inside she's still torn up. That feeling will last a long time too. She may never get over it."
"You're not helping Mukuro. Get to the point" Shinichi growls. He though he'd solved this case. "Actually, why are you here in the first place? I never told anyone where I was going."
"I was in the city when I saw you sneaking around. So having nothing better to do, I followed you. When I felt your heart waver, I decided to step in and give you that first push you needed to get the job done. Sometimes you need someone to take the first step for you before you can act. And as for my point, for you two to truly become friends and be happy, you both need to move on." Seeing Shinichi's blank stare, Mukuro makes it clear "You need to find someone else."
"Was that how you got over her?" quietly asks Shinichi.
"I never have truly gotten over her. Her death forced me to continue living, to do the actions I have done so far. However now, I think that I can. For I have found someone else to fill that void."
"Y-you have?" scoffs Shinichi unbelievingly. It certainly didn't seem that way to him.
"Yes, I have" Mukuro smirks evilly.
However Shinichi never gets to find out who that person is for Mukuro's body starts to become transparent, his body turning to mist from the feet up. Before Shinichi can question Mukuro further, the illusionist has disintegrated completely, leaving Shinichi all alone. But Mukuro's not finished yet, and a phantom voice rings parting words into his ears.
"Kufufu~. Once you both find other people to be happy with, then she can truly get over you"
Tsuna feels a bit better going into Nono's office once again. It's not like he'd failed totally this time. He'd done the bulk of the work before running off. He must have done better since Reborn wasn't there to knock him out like last time. Entering Nono's office, he sees that both are smiling: he must have done well then, he hadn't been Dame Tsuna this time. He didn't feel as guilty this time either. Tsuna supposed that knowing he was saving that man from himself by doing the punishment was the reason he didn't feel like a bully. There had been perfectly legitimate reasons for what he did.
"Tsunayoshi, well done. You got through most of it this time." Compliments the Ninth as Tsuna bows towards him.
"You're still pathetic though Dame-Tsuna" informs Reborn. That smile on his face didn't show disappointment though. Oh no, that was his Spartan tutor smile. Tsuna feels the urgent need to run off now, before he can find out what Reborn is hiding behind that smirk. "You can't even be called a Mafioso let alone a Boss if you can't handle the blood Dame-Tsuna."
Tsuna rubs his neck in embarrassment and drops his head.
"So we are going to train you to get used to the feeling." Explains Nono.
"We are going to force you to stay during these training sessions" Reborn clarifies. "It's no use if you just run off. You need to man up and face it." Nice verbal slap to the face there Reborn.
Nono leans forwards, placing his elbows on the desk. "And there is only one person who can do that"
Sorry for jumping around a bit in these two chapters, but these people would phone Shinichi relatively soon after seeing him on television, so it needs to be written. It would be weird to wait for a later date. Plus I'd prefer to deal with one person at a time, instead of having everyone phone Shinichi at once. Ran was a bitch to write in this chapter. It took me three attempts and some help from Midnight Kaito, and then another attempt before I got what we have here. In all of the other versions, she ends up hanging up the phone in anger.
I DID IT, Midnight Kaito! I got Ran and Shinichi to be friends! I still used as much of our RPing as I could, but I really wanted this to be relatively sorted. So at this point in time Ran can wait until she finds Shinichi again.
WARNING! I am currently on Easter break at the moment, and will be for the next two weeks, so there may be some more updates rather than waiting until next Wednesday. It all depends on what I get written. Mafia Row will still be every three days to give me more time to work on this and some other fics I'm in the process of writing.
So keep an eye out, wouldn't want you to miss anything!
Phantom Hitman 1412.
First Published 04 March 2012,
11 September 2012: Removal of Kiss scene.