Chapter 29
The theory behind biting one to death.
Disclamer: I do not own any songs that are used in this chapter. They all belong to their respective copyright owners. And of course, I do not own these awesome characters either.
In a room filled with Alcoholic Beverages, there was a rather urgent discussion going on. All eyes were directed to the wide screen television set up against the wall. On it was a rather interesting collection of video footage from the latest New Year's celebrations.
"I am going around the world to learn how to be a better detective. And when there happened to be a KID heist here… well, I'm not one to back down from a challenge." And he smiles confidently at the camera. "International Phantom Thief 1412, The Magician under the Moonlight, Kaitou KID. What an arrogant thief you are, stealing New Years. But what a nice way to start the new year with your monocle adorning my mantel piece." He raises his chin in challenge, staring the thief down
"See! See that right there." And the man rewinds the video back to the confident smirk. "He knew we would be watching. He's toying with us. He's been alive and in hiding all this time."
"But if he's still alive, then how many other victims are still alive?" asks a deeper slower voice, still, the wave of uncertainty was clear.
"Well, it's your fault for not destroying the body afterwards isn't it?" smirks a woman's voice, smooth and confident. "You may leave us now." She orders, talking to the subordinate who had shown them the evidence. Slightly deflated he still leaves the room. If anyone had noticed her clenched fists during the video, then no one commented on it.
I wonder why he chose now to reveal himself. He's been in hiding for the past three years. We haven't made a major move against him for a long time. So what's changed? What's pushed him forwards and out into the open? How is he going to stay like that and not revert to being Cool Kid? And the open taunting… What's your plan, Silver Bullet?
"In any case, he needs to be eliminated. We can't let someone like him walk around, he saw your faces after all" says a different man, nodding in the direction of the two people who should have killed the interloper.
"We'll get around to it. He must feel safe if he's out in the open like that. He's got to have some kind of protection. We're going to need to look into it" There are sounds of agreement from the other members.
"It's just a precaution, Decimo."
With Nono's thoughts running in his head, Tsuna sulks in the back of the car. However the reason Tsuna is sulking is because Nono is exactly right.
"You need to get used to the blood before I let you execute anyone"
Tsuna knew that if he couldn't conduct a punishment without feeling squeamish and nauseous, then there was no way he was going to be able to kill anyone. This is why he wasn't fit to lead a Mafia Family! Especially the bloodiest one in history.
Shaking his head to clear those thoughts, he notices the car come to a stop. They were… in the warehouse district, near the docks. The loud crashing of moving cranes and containers would cover up a lot of the noise they might make. If not then the roar of the machinery or the blast of fog horns might. Raising the hood of his hoodie so no one will recognise him, he exits the car and steps into the office like compartment at the front of the warehouse. There he finds Xanxus and Gino waiting for him.
Xanxus looks ready to punch his lights out… permanently. Tsuna holds his hand up in the air to show he isn't wearing the gloves and instead turns to focus on Gino. Of course, Tsuna still keeps an eye on Xanxus, he doesn't want to die yet, and it would be certain doom to forget that the man was in the room.
"What's the target done Gino?" Tsuna asks. The man looks between the pair, noting the tension, before flicking open a file.
"Hmm… Selling highly dangerous drugs on Vongola territory… ignoring our warnings… multiple times… the usual I guess." He says, flicking through the file to find the important data. "Been selling the drugs to minors too. He was caught because a few too many people were dying of the drugs, or having near death experiences because of them."
"Vongola doesn't deal in drugs, do they?" asks Tsuna, although it's more confirms. He remembers a comment made about the Carcassa. They weren't allowed to be at Mafia Land because they dealt drugs. It would be hypocritical of Vongola to set that law and then not abide by it.
"Correct, Decimo. Vongola does not condone Drug trafficking." Confirms Gino before walking over to a door leading into the warehouse proper.
"What's the price list this time?" Tsuna asks coldly as he follows Gino towards the sole light at the middle of the warehouse.
"Nono said you could Hammer what Nail you chose this time Decimo" explains Gino, looking back once more to the file.
"Pathetic old man" grumbles Xanxus after hearing that.
They arrive at the light and Tsuna finds the victim, as they all seem to be, tied to a chair for his convenience.
"You know dealing drugs is wrong right?" Tsuna asks the man, ripping the gag from his mouth. The man wiggles his jaw to get feeling back into it.
"What's wrong with providing a high? All my clients seem to have no problem with it." Says the man, not scared of Tsuna's soft appearance. Gino doesn't look that scary either. Unluckily, or maybe luckily for the target, Xanxus is standing out of the light, content to watch the brat continue to break himself.
"What you are providing them with is a short lived lie" says Tsuna staring the man down. But once again, the man doesn't seem fazed at all. Hmm, people were usually at least apprehensive of him, what was different this time? Oh, he didn't have his flame turned on. He was still using his normal- god damned high- pitched voice. So whilst he listens to the man's answer, he turns his flame on low, just enough to give that deep sense of calm. People seemed to be worried about how calm his voice was like this. It seemed to put them off edge.
"If a lie is what they need, than it's what I'll provide." The man has a tone of superiority despite his current situation.
"Why sell drugs that you know are dangerous then?" Tsuna asks, generally quite curious.
"Why? Because they provide a better service that's why." Tsuna growls in his throat at the answer, before deciding that it's not worth talking to this man any longer. "People's lives are so bad that they come to me for any chance of having even a moment of happiness. Why shouldn't I provide them with a worthwhile product?" Tsuna finds that reasoning slightly strange. If you kill your clients in the process then what's the point?
"Ahh, so that's why Nono's not killing you." Says Tsuna, walking up to the man. "You think you are helping others, cute. But I bet you've never even take the risk yourself." The man's freeze provides the answer Tsuna was looking for, but he decided to show the physical evidence too. Grabbing the sleeves of the man's shirt, he pulls down harshly, pulling the sleeves off the shirt and revealing the man's arms.
Just like Tsuna knew, not a single needle wound and no drug tracks.
Well, that was going to change. Tsuna knew he could handle this a lot better than limb decapitation. He holds a hand out to Gino. "A knife please" Gino flicks his wrist and a knife slides into his hand. He passes it over, hilt first, to Decimo.
"I'll bet that you sell drugs to inject right?" says Tsuna looking at the man, but he doesn't answer. Tsuna didn't expect him to. Instead, steeling himself, he pricks the knife's tip into the man's upper forearm. "How many times to you think your clients do this. Once?" and he lifts the knife up and moves it to a different location on the same arm "Twice?" he switches to the other arm "Three times a day? More?" he asks adding another two stabs to the man's arm. "Do they do it so often that the evidence becomes clear for all to see?" and he drags the knife in a straight line down the man's arm, joining one prick to another. "And you think you're helping them?"
As Tsuna does the same to the man's first arm, the target starts to bawl tears, fighting his bonds to get away. Of course that struggling just causes more friction between his skin and the knife, creating an even bigger trail of blood. "No, I'm doing wrong, let me go!"
Tsuna's intuition says he's lying. And who's he going to believe… his Hyper Intuition of course.
"You sell drugs to sniff to right?" Tsuna says, moving the knife to just infront of the man's face. "Think of those children, who have their whole lives ahead of them, snorting their lives away." He places the tip of the knife at the bridge of the man's nose, right between his eyes. "Instead of saving their money" and he starts to drag it down, pushing right to the bone "to give themselves a better future" right to the tip "they come to you" over the tip and down "To waste their money, their lives, on a fix" and continues on, right to the start of his lips. " that won't fix anything at all."
The man's been screaming this whole time, begging Tsuna to stop. He can't handle the pain, he just wants it to stop.
Tsuna can't stand that screaming anymore. This is for the man's own good. He's being the Hammer of justice and saving the man, his clients, those children. He's hammering in the message that what he's doing is wrong, that he should repent for his sins. But Tsuna couldn't help him if the man was making such pitiful sounds that tore right at his soul. How could doing good feel so bad? Shaking his head, he feels his headphones rub against his neck.
Well, if the target wasn't going to stop screaming, then Tsuna would have to just block out the noise. It was for the best. For both of them. Pushing the earphones on, Tsuna fiddles with the MP3 Player, turning the volume up loud. Tsuna laughs to himself at the song choice: Funny Sunny Day by SxOxU (op7). This song was all about things that were the opposite. The sun setting in the east, was just the opening example. And his life had become like that. Never before did he think he would be here, doing this. But unlike the song, he doubted that he would wake up in the night and find it was just all a dream.
Xanxus notices the headphones, but instead of feeling angry at them, he just wants to laugh. The brat was trying to stop himself from falling. But didn't he know it was just easier to let go of the edge and drop into the abyss. It was easier to just lose his sanity rather than to hang on to it. Xanxus stood there and watched as the brat just broke himself more and more. The brat didn't know that the screams never stopped, they just came back at night, creating the BGM for nightmares. No amount of music was going to save him from that. At least the brat was making this interesting. There was nothing better than watching someone break, to struggle to stay sane and ultimately, failing in the end. But how would the brat snap? Would he scream and become insane, or would become an emotionless killer. Xanxus hoped for the second option. It was certainly the more interesting option. He had enough loud trash at home.
As the target scrunched his eyes together and screamed once more, he suddenly froze, becoming stiller than a statue. For he could feel the tip of the knife against his tongue.
"You sell drugs to smoke, to take as pills." Tsuna did nothing more than pinprick the tongue, he didn't think he could do more than that. But it was enough- it'd be sore for a while.
And just like he had done for the last punishment, Tsuna signed his work. Two quick flicks and an X is permanently etched on the man's cheek.
"If you want to help people so much, get a different job. If not, then stay off Vongola turf" With a quick flare of orange in his eyes, that moment was burned into the man's memory.
Spinning on his heels Tsuna turns and walks out of the warehouse's main compartment back into the office-like space.
Xanxus watched him go, reconsidering the brat infront of him. Something had changed between here and last time they had met. The brat seemed different, like he wasn't letting this affect him. Xanxus doubted that the brat was trying to seem hard infront of him, that wasn't the trash's style. But he was still having trouble adjusting, hence the need for the headphones. Smirking, Xanxus stalks into the light and decides to take the proper payment on top of what Tsuna had already dished out. Consider it thanks for the interesting show. Grabbing the man's left hand, he grabs his own knife and cuts the thumb clean off. The man now couldn't prepare syringes, the man couldn't roll up cigarettes, the man couldn't pop the packaging of the pills he was no doubt adding into the pure drug. But Xanxus wasn't nice like Tsuna was, and left the man to bleed.
Gino watches as Xanxus leaves through the back entrance, no doubt going back to his house. Turning to the man, he lays sharp eyes over the pathetic body. "You know the score, tell anyone who did this, and you won't be living much longer. Not even the police can help you now." As soon as he cut the bonds, the target fled the warehouse, tears still falling from his cheeks. `
Back in the car, and Gokudera was helping Juudaime into a clean hoodie, since there was blood on the last one. Tsuna had learnt to wear cheap clothing he didn't want to wear again to these missions, since it would be a waste otherwise. Gokudera was helping since Tsuna was shaking almost too badly to do it himself. As soon as Juudaime had entered the car, Tsuna had turned off his flame and the shakes had started. However, Tsuna only smiles at Gokudera and says "At least I wasn't sick. I did it this time, right until the end". Gokudera looks at Juudaime's pitiful face, trying to be hopeful about the situation and provides those words Tsuna needs to hear so badly at the moment
"Well done Juudaime. You're getting better"
It wasn't shouted though, it was just quietly sincere. Tsuna bows his head and tries to get the shaking under control. Gokudera offers what little support he can and holds his boss until the man stops shaking. "Why are you being so helpful Gokudera?" Tsuna whispers.
"Since I never had anyone to do this for me when I was going through it." Is the bombers reply. "Juudaime is suffering badly as it is, I just want to help where I can. It's my job to support you, not only as your Right Hand man, not only as your Storm Guardian, but most importantly, as your friend."
"Thank you Gokudera" says Tsuna, leaning into the hold more as the shakes start to subside.
A slightly similar scene to Tsuna's was taking place across the city. But the weapon was different. The knife was in the prey's hands, attempting to sharpen its claws. But in reality, a stick would have been more useful. At least a stick could be used as a splint for the broken bones.
"Kyo-san," comes a voice behind the predator. The predator spins on his heels and stalks off, past his sectary and into the light of the main boulevard.
"He was disturbing the peace" the predator growls.
Just like Nanimori in Japan, Hibari Kyoya was patrolling the streets, making sure that there was peace.
(Luckily enough, this whole town was under Vongola protection, and they were warned beforehand of the Carnivore's arrival. Plus no one missed the Vongola ring hanging from his neck. So instead of retaliating, the town's people acted like the sheep they were and just followed orders, trying their hardest not to be bitten)
He had taken time off to make his new house up to scratch, but then he had gotten bored. So he decided to start Patrolling the town that would be his new home for now. These herbivores were on a different level to the Japanese ones. They did their best to follow the rules and respected him- just like they should. But those who grew claws and attacked back were definitely better than the Japanese herbivores. Hibari is enjoying the new challenge.
(Little did Hibari know that he was actually helping Vongola. These clawed Herbivores were actually gangsters, either from gangs or from small rival Families. Hibari was protecting the town and taking out the trash. Vongola never even needed to get involved.)
As he was walking down the street, enjoying the sun on his face, Hibari hears the sound of snickered laughing, along with a herbivore's whine. That could only mean one thing- someone was disturbing the peace. Walking down into the alleyway, he spots a herd of herbivores surrounding a woman on the ground. All the herbivores are male, some with tattoos on their arms and shoulders, others with a collection of piercings. Step by step he walks closer, growling when they don't notice his presence immediately. But as his anger rises and the murderous aura creeps away from him, they are quick to spin around to find the source of that aura. Of course all they see is one single 21 year old, and a foreigner at that. The gang look at each other and laugh, before one at the front walks closer to Hibari.
"There ain't nothing to see here." He says, trying to sound threatening. Hibari stops and folds his arms- do they really expect him to just walk away.
The gang take that as a sign of Hibari trying to look tough, so the front man walks forwards once more, and goes to lay a hand on Hibari's arm, about to turn the man away and kick his ass down the street.
Kusakabe looks at the gesture and immediately knows the outcome. Taking a look at the rest of the gang, his experienced eye tells him what they are going to do, so he stretches his legs, getting ready to run.
Hibari raises one eyebrow, astonished that anyone would try to touch him, and his aura grows more violent. Looking his prey in the eyes, he says "For disturbing the peace I'll bite you to death" A flick of his wrist and the tonfa is sat comfortable in his grip. Hibari brings it around and into the man's stomach, using the clear space under the outstretched arm. The man staggers in that direction before hands fly to his stomach.
"Why you" the prey growls. Straightening up, he reaches for a butterfly knife and brandishes it at Hibari. Hibari vaguely wonders where all of these knifes are coming from, since most of his prey have retaliated with them. Not that he really cares. Herbivores with claws are certainly more fun to play with.
Propelling himself forwards, he brings one tonfa down and onto the man's wrist, almost snapping it, and the prey drops the knife. During that moment of pain, Hibari brings the other tonfa up and smashes it into the herbivore's jaw. The man falls backwards, smashing his head on the floor and falls unconscious.
Just like Kusakabe expected, after watching this brutal display – which was rather calm for Hibari- the rest of the Sheep turn and flee.
Hibari smiles slightly.
The chase made the fight even better.
Hibari runs after them and quickly goes after one who breaks away from the pack. One slam on his back and the prey starts to fall. Another tonfa comes down and smacks the knee joint, whilst the other slaps the man's bicep. As the herbivore turns to face him, Hibari introduces his tonfa to the man's brow line before adding a final whack to the man's jaw.
Whilst Hibari was doing this, Kusakabe walks over to the woman who is still sat on the floor in shock. He holds out a hand to help her up.
"Please don't worry, Hibari and I are from Vongola. He only goes after people who break the rules, so a lady such as yourself should be fine." She looks up and nods, a light of recognition in her eyes. She had heard of the new man patrolling the streets. She accepts the man's hand and stands to her feet. "Are you hurt?" he asks. She shakes her head. Out of the corner of his eye, Kusakabe notices Hibari return to the main alleyway and follow the trail of the rest of the pack. Since the lady was fine, he says good bye before following his Boss.
"Thank you" the lady shouts down the alleyway.
Hibari expects that his gang are native to the town since they seem to know every shortcut to try and get away from him. They stay in the maze of backstreets and alleyways, never coming out into the public view. Their trail is easy to follow, he just looks for the tumbled piles of boxes and over turned trash cans. He quickly catches up to the herd and catches the back runner off guard. They never expect an attack from above. He was done quicker than the first sheep was.
As he comes to an intersection he decides which way to go, but finds that two sheep have laid in wait for him. Coming from both sides at once, Hibari smirks before spinning on his heels with both tonfas outstretched. Both tonfas land on their targets, the force of the impact numbing their arms. Hibari turns to the one on his right and brings the tonfa along his cheek and into the man's nose. As that man shouts out, Hibari flicks the other tonfa behind him, not even needing to see to defend from such a poor and cliché attack. The two pieces of metal clang, resounding and echoing in the alleyway. Keeping his tonfa where it is, he ducks under his own arm and slams the other tonfa into the prey's stomach. The man gasps, dropping his weapon and folds in on himself over the impacted area. Still crouched on the floor, Hibari pushes upwards, the tonfa slamming into the prey's chin. The man falls like the others to the floor. Hibari looks at the two men, gives then one more smack each for good measure and finds himself disgusted by the way they are moaning in pain from such attacks. He waits to spot Kusakabe running down the alleyway before continuing on his journey, finding who he assumes to be the leader of the gang.
As he turns down a different alley, the smell of the sea hits his nose and he realises the he must have chased these men across town. Hearing the thump of more boxes falling to the floor, Hibari turns in that direction and runs. He jumps over the boxes and turns the next corner, eyes shining as he finds the last of the herd. One slam to the centre of the chest and the man goes flying out into the open, a shout escaping his lips. He lands on the ground and rolls across it, gaining scratches and gravel burns along the way.
Tsuna and Gokudera hear the shout and look out of their window to see what was going on. They watch as Hibari stalks out of the alleyway and over to the man.
The prey holds his hands in the air "Whoa Whoa Man! Calm down" he stutters, trying to make Hibari stop. "we were only after her purse, honest. We wouldn't have harmed her"
Tsuna laughs quietly to himself. "Juudaime?" asks Gokudera, wondering what's so funny.
"Even here, far away from Nanimori, Hibari is still Patrolling. Maybe he misses home" says Tsuna.
Gokudera doesn't think so. "Che, I bet he just got bored. I didn't know he had started doing that though."
"Well, since he's not in the mansion with us, we can't keep a close eye on him. I expected that he would though. It's against Hibari's nature not to do so" Gokudera nods. He couldn't imagine the ex-Prefect not patrolling the streets.
"Those who break the rules and disturb the peace will be bitten to death" Hibari growls, arm and tonfa raised, glinting in the sun.
"Aren't you going to stop him?" asks Gokudera, looking back to Juudaime.
Tsuna shakes his head "No I'm not. After doing a punishment myself, I think I understand him a little better" Gokudera just looks confused. What was there to understand- Hibari likes to beat people up right? "You know his saying right. I'll bite you to death. Haven't you noticed that we've never seen Hibari actually kill anyone? The victims generally are unconscious, or have bruises and broken bones. But none of them are dead. Ever."
Gokudera thinks back and does notice the trend. Hibari's punishment seemed to fit the person too. Hibari never gave more damage than the target could stand. The delinquents who were used to fighting got off worse than the geeks who had never received more than a paper cut. Whilst the damage on the outside may look equal, the weak had only bruises and cuts where the strong ended up with broken bones, torn muscles and swollen faces.
"Gokudera" Tsuna says, snapping him out of his thoughts. Gokudera looks once more to Tsuna, only to find him looking out of the window at Hibari. "Do you know how I managed to talk myself into Punishments?" Gokudera didn't quite know how this was related, but shook his head. All he knew was that Juudaime didn't like cutting off fingers, which was understandable. "Gino called punishments as Hammering. The hammer comes down on them to stop them reaching out for temptation. So I call it the Hammer of Justice. By harming the target, I'm reminding him what he's done is wrong. By harming him, I'm saving him, along with those who he could harm in the future if he was left to reach for temptation once more." Gokudera nods. Juudaime was good at saving people. Just look at himself and Yamamoto, who Juudaime had saved from death. Gokudera was glad that Tsuna saw these punishments in this way. It showed that Juudaime hadn't changed: He was still thinking of the other's benefit rather than just following orders.
"Hibari is exactly the same."
Juudaime said what?
"I'll bite you to death for disturbing the peace. He's telling them exactly what they did wrong and why they are receiving a punishment. His targets know that what they were doing when he arrived was wrong and shouldn't be done again. I'll bite you to death is actually metaphorical rather than literal, since like I've already said, he's actually never killed anyone."
"Metaphorical Juudaime? Che, as if he's that deep." Scoffs Gokudera
Tsuna shakes his head, still watching Hibari out of the window. "It's more like, I'll bite the evil you to death so the good you can come out. Hmm, that's not quite right, but it'll do. Getting beaten up by Hibari is almost like repenting your sins. Once he's done, you are considered forgiven. Hibari only attacks a person for each mistake they do, he never attacks again because of a past mistake. Some people need to have a clear punishment before they can consider themselves clean and start over. So recovering from Hibari's injuries gives them time to think over their mistake and once they are recovered, they can start again."
"You make him sound like a priest Juudaime." Says Gokudera.
Tsuna laughs "No he's not a priest, but talking in terms of sins and atonement is the easiest way to understand it. I don't know why, but Hibari wants Nanimori to be a good place. He wants that so badly that he's willing to become the bad guy to make sure that everyone there stays on the good path. Like at School, just knowing Hibari would be at the gates makes you stop before you arrive to check your uniform was in order."
"That guy does have an unnatural affection for that place. But why do that here then?"
"Well I suspect that there are two reasons for this. Firstly is that the need to have everyone be good is so ingrained in him that he can't help but do it here. And secondly, Hibari is someone who needs to fight. He uses it as a stress reliever and to stop himself from getting bored. He's a demon in the same why Reborn is."
"I know what you mean Juudaime. I think during his fight with Kaito was the last time he snapped. But why compare him to Reborn?" Over the past 5 years, Hibari had only snapped twice before. Once was when Mukuro was pissed and leaking murderous intent everywhere. Luckily the fight was not inside the house, nor near the city, so Tsuna let them wear each other out. The second time was when a terrorist had threatened Nanimori with a bomb. Needless to say, Tsuna stopped Hibari before he could kill the man. Tsuna had been in the hospital for a week afterwards though.
"It takes a certain mind-set to live the life of a Hitman. Reborn has it and has total control over it. The Varia have it, but have less control over it due to their personalities. Even Yamamoto has it." Gokudera opens his eyes wide. "Reborn noticed it from the moment he saw Yamamoto. It's why he's always said Yamamoto was the best one out of all of us to be a Hitman."
"It's those serious moments he gets, where his eyes go ice cold" comments Gokudera, understanding.
"Close, but there is a difference between being serious and the demonic aura I'm talking about, but yeah, it basically is. Ryohei doesn't have it, even though he likes to fight, because he doesn't want to kill."
What about that bastard Mukuro. He's certainly a demon"
"Hmm. Mukuro's a different sort of demon. Just like you he's been forced to act like that. But he's not like that really. Because of the Estrano he has no problems killing, but he's not a Hitman. It's the emotional detachment and the need to test yourself against someone else I'm talking about. Yamamoto is competitive and actually enjoys testing his fighting skills against someone else. Hibari does it unconsciously by categorising people into Herbivore and Carnivore."
"It still sounds like Ryohei though. He's always asking for boxing fights" questions Gokudera.
"He could have been like that, if it wasn't for Kyoko. He used to get into fights when he was younger, but Kyoko stopped that. Even then it was because those people were bullies. That's his natural justice shining through. He fights to defend and he doesn't want to kill anyone. And his boxing matches are because his sun flame is always active. He needs to get rid of the extra energy, and training allows him to do that. Boxing was obviously an amalgamation of the two."
"And you and me Juudaime?" asks Gokudera.
"We were forced into it. You were born into the mafia, so it was all you knew. Yet you aren't like that at all. You actually care more than you show. Even though you've killed people, and harmed them, you don't actually like to do it, but do so because of necessity. At the time, it was the need to fit in. Now, it's to protect and because you still haven't gotten out of the mafia. And Me… well, just look at me now. I'm still shaking. Chrome doesn't want to fight, but will do so because she want to protect those who have finally accepted her. She does it so she won't lose Mukuro. Mukuro fights to undo the injustice done to him… Mukuro is lost really. And as for Lambo… Well, I'm not too sure yet. We've kept him away from the fighting."
Seeing that Hibari was done teaching the man his lesson, Tsuna steps out of the car.
"Hibari, do you want a lift? It's nearly time for Dinner and you wouldn't want to be late." Hibari looks over as does Kusakabe who had been keeping an eye on Hibari.
"Hn. What are you doing here herbivore? And you're shaking." Replies Hibari. Tsuna looks away and wills his body to stop shaking. He didn't think Hibari would be able to see them since they were so slight.
"Um, I was here for…" Tsuna doesn't need to answer the question as the bleeding target from before runs across the open yard between them, crying in pain from Xanxus's treatment. He sees Tsuna and stops, screams at him and runs in the opposite direction, right past Hibari and Kusakabe and down the alleyway they had come from.
Hibari raises his eyebrow at the bleeding man's reaction to Tsuna. Gokudera, who had stepped out of the car to make sure that Hibari didn't attack Juudaime, looks towards Tsuna.
"Your target?" he asks, Tsuna nods. "What was the crime?"
Tsuna knows that Hibari can hear him, Kusakabe can too. But he still answers anyway. They would find out sooner or later. And Hibari would understand what he was doing anyway. "Drug trafficking. His drugs were killing those who were using them. He was selling them to minors too" Tsuna doesn't look at Hibari during that, but he still hears Hibari's growl at the last statement.
"You did that herbivore?" asks Hibari, a considering gleam in his eyes.
"Oi, lay off Juudaime" shouts Gokudera, stepping forwards threateningly.
Tsuna puts a hand on Gokudera's back to stop him. "Yes Hibari, I did. I've been taking missions like that for the past week. That was a punishment for the crime he committed."
Just like Tsuna thought he would, Hibari doesn't care. There is no shock, no glances of horror, no backing away in fear and no looks of disgust. If anything, his opinion of Tsuna rose. The man before him was becoming less of an herbivore each day. This was a huge jump. There was a difference between having claws and using them. One quick hand movement calls Kusakabe to his side. Hibari walks towards Tsuna and Gokudera readies himself for an attack. Instead, Hibari and Kusakabe climb into the car.
As Hibari walks past Tsuna he whispers "Good work" and enters the car. Tsuna blinks, as does Gokudera, before they both climb into the car too.
"So what had that guy done?" asks Tsuna as they leave the docks.
Kusakabe answers that one since everyone knew Hibari wouldn't. "They were crowding around a woman and were going to steal her purse."
So there was a gang of them then, not just the victim they had seen. "And did you teach them a lesson?" Tsuna asks, looking straight at Hibari.
Tsuna swears he sees Hibari's lips twitch into a smile, but it was gone in an instant. "They won't be disturbing the peace again"
Tsuna smiles back at Hibari. "And if they do?"
Hibari takes a good look at Tsuna and pieces together the look he can see in the Herbivore's eyes along with the words. Again, there is another twitch of lips "Then I'll bite them until they die"
Tsuna continues to do missions like that for the next two weeks. Slowly, bit by bit, he manages to have fewer side effects. That is to say, fewer visible side effects, for nothing can stop the wound in his heart. However, he knows it's for the best, and that Nono wouldn't give out orders like this without good reason. As he does more of these missions, he finds different ways to cope. For those who scream for forgiveness, or who cry at every touch of the knife, Tsuna puts on his headphones and turns the music up as loud as they will go. For those who seem to feel no pain, Tsuna scares them with a flash of his flames- something that no one has ever seen before. He threatens where he can, determined to harm as few people as possible. A lot of the time he can't believe some of the injustices that go on in the underworld. Selling drugs to minors is just the tip of the iceberg. And with every crime he finds, his resolve to change all this grows. He promises himself that when he becomes Decimo, he will try his hardest to change the underworld, to make sure that crimes like this never happen again.
As Nono watches Gokudera's over protective behaviour, he decides to take Decimo up on his offer and give Gokudera missions too. Gokudera always completes them quickly, wanting to get back to Juudaime as soon as possible. But just because they are quick doesn't mean it's not done properly. Gokudera wants to make Juudaime proud of his work and completes each mission to the best of his abilities. Not doing so would mean to scoff at the trust Juudaime has put in him.
After talking with Hibari, Decimo and Nono decide to allow him to take missions too. Of course all arrangements are made through Kusakabe. However, Nono is careful to send ones to Hibari that the man thinks will interest the Cloud Guardian. Hibari has no problems giving punishments. Getting information out of people is something new and takes his interest. He finds that there is a lot more skill involved that there sounds. So he takes it like another challenge.
But the rule still stands, that no one kills until Tsuna has.
Don't worry, I haven't totally forgotten about the other characters. Everyone will get a turn. If fact, we will soon be leaving Tsuna behind to watch over the others. If there is anyone specific you want to see doing a punishment or an information gathering, then please tell me, otherwise I might just gloss over them slightly. Depends on what I write.
This bit will be over soon actually. For I have other places to go, and other characters to introduce. Learning how to kill won't be the hardest thing Tsuna will have to deal with.
I hope that you are all enjoying this fic, and like I said, if you are finding this bit boring, then don't worry for I will be moving on soon.
And for all of you KID Heist lovers out there, make sure to read my latest challenge fic called Devil's Contract Challenge. If you want to take part in the challenge then please go ahead. If not then take a look at a Heist where Shinichi is a Phantom too. Yes you read that right, I've made our Shinichi suit up and help KID look for Pandora. It's only a one shot at the moment, but I will be adding another one shot heist later. KID is slightly different in that fic- he's more serious than the playful Kaito we have here.
See you all soon!
Phantom Hitman 1412.
First Published 18 April 2012.