Chapter 38: The Probability of Possibility
Juudaime was coming home
Gokudera believed that wholeheartedly. Or at least he wished that he could. But he knew the Mafia far better than anyone else. Juudaime was not one to go missing without warning anyone about it. Juudaime knew by now that leaving without warning did a lot of harm to the family and he never wanted to harm them. So it didn't matter if Tsuna was in one of the rare moods where he felt like 'killing' them all just to make them shut up and the paperwork stop flooding in, he was still kind enough to leave a note. It had happened a few times in the past 5 years. After all, the Tenth Generation weren't exactly the sanest of people, nor the most calm and even Tsuna deserved a break. However, unlike the others, Tsuna was unable to take a break. The Sun set in the sky, it wasn't always pouring with Rain, rumbling Thunder nor whipping out a Storm. There were moments of a Cloudless blue sky and plenty of times where Mist had evaporated and wasn't seen. The Moon eclipsed and the Stars meagre light was blocked out. But the Sky was always, always there. It was impossible to turn the sky off. Orange, blue or black, the sky was always there being a home to everything, and in Tsuna's case, everyone else.
So in those rare moments when Tsuna wanted peace and quiet to himself, to just be alone and think, to realise that silence was a word with meaning, Gokudera let him. He let Juudaime take a break and did everything in his power to make sure that the cause of the problem- aka, everyone else- went nowhere near him. Of course Gokudera generally didn't have to do much since Tsuna had the added advantage of being able to fly, which no one else, apart from Gokudera himself- just barely- could do. And even then, Gokudera couldn't fly in the same way Juudaime could, he could really only hover on the disks of his Sistema CAI.
So whilst Gokudera was praying to anyone that would listen that Juudaime was taking a breather, his intelligent mind reminded him that the others hadn't done anything recently to cause such behaviour in Juudaime. It had been a week since Shinichi had left them, so surely if Tsuna wanted time to think over that, he would have done so by now. Basically, any way Gokudera tried to reason himself into the belief that Juudaime was coming home, he just couldn't.
So that left him with the next most probable outcome that made his blood run cold.
Juudaime had been kidnapped.
As that thought entered his head, Gokudera knelt down and was about to smack his head harshly on the concrete of the roof he was on before he caught himself. What would be the use in apologising without Juudaime infront of him? He should do so when he finally found Juudaime, and the bastard that had the guts to steal his most precious Juudaime was sat in a hospital bed with only bandages keeping him together. He'd engrave his storm mark so deeply into that bastard that the man would fear even thinking the word Vongola again. Whilst he had a generally angry personality, like Juudaime had expertly analysed (since Juudaime was amazing like that) Gokudera never actually wanted to kill anyone. What one said didn't always correspond with what one meant after all, and lines like I'll kill you were more cliché than meaningful. They were stereotypical of his nature, of how people viewed him and had unconsciously become part of his vocabulary. His gruff words were merely a defence mechanism stopping anyone from getting in close enough to break his heart once again. But this man, this person who had dared to even touch Juudaime, Gokudera truly wanted to kill him. For taking Tsuna away from them was like killing Juudaime.
Being as observant of Juudaime as he was (He did not call it stalking, he was in plain sight and Juudaime always knew he was there, so it was not stalking, just healthy obsession) he knew that Juudaime was dependant on the rest of them. Taking Tsuna away from them was worse than taking away oxygen from the man. And Gokudera knew this because he was exactly the same. A live without Juudaime in it was not worth living. Juudaime had saved him, brought salvation to his troubled soul, and in return, the Guardians had saved Juudaime too. They had saved him from his worthless life, from a life of bullies, from failure and ridicule. They had unwittingly provided Tsuna with a reason to live, and no matter how much Tsuna disliked the idea, a worthwhile job and a stable life. The mere act of standing by his side, of talking and interacting with him had given Tsuna a life that he wanted to live.
So taking Tsuna away from them was taking away his reason to live.
Gokudera knew that he had to find Juudaime as soon as possible. Not just to reduce the time Tsuna was held captive and submitted to whatever treatment the enemy decided to give him, but to make sure that the Sky was whole as soon as possible. Without Tsuna there, the Family could fall apart. It wasn't supposed to, but it was highly possible. Whilst Yamamoto was the calming aspect of the family, even he wouldn't be able to hold the family together for long. None of the others respected either Gokudera nor Yamamoto enough to actually listen to them in Juudaime's stead.
Think you idiot! Think! Berates Gokudera to himself. How to find Juudaime? Well, the first thing to do would be to stop the incessant shouting that was coming from his hand. With a growl he snaps the phone shut, ending the call and the annoying high pitched shouting, before turning around and prowling down the stairs and back to the last place he had seen Juudaime. People were quick to get out of the angry man's way. So standing in the first smaller square, he looks around. From here, there are only two exits: The one where Gokudera exited originally and the one that he had just come from. So first things first was to determine which way Juudaime had been going. He walks into the shop and finds the girl working at the counter.
"Did you see where the man sat at that table went?" he asks, voice cold even though he was pulling his emotions in. He points a hand out of the front door and in the direction of where Juudaime was sitting.
The girl looks that way and furrows her eyebrows, obviously thinking about it. "Umm, Yeah he went that way" she says pointing to the left. "He had a phone call. I thought it was strange that he got up so quickly since he'd only just sat down. He's been on a rather long phone call since he's not even back yet."
Gokudera thanks the lady and takes the left exit out of the square, leading into the larger plaza. There was an alleyway connecting the two squares, and it was rather dark, cool in the shade of the taller buildings on both sides. This was the most likely place for the kidnapping to take place (if there was even a kidnapping, which he really really hoped there wasn't). However looking around, there weren't any signs of a fight- no over turned boxes, no drag lines in the dust, no splatters of blood, nothing.
Something must have made Juudaime drop the phone though, and the girls hadn't reported hearing the sound of a fight before the phone cut off. He'd have to ask them more details later on. So if there was no fight, what made Juudaime drop the phone? Shock, some sort of paralytic, or a tranquiliser? Hmm, then there would be evidence of the last two. So crouching down on the ground, Gokudera starts to frantically, yet methodically look for any evidence he could. However just before he started to move things about, he remembered something. Shinichi was a detective- he'd be able to help. If only the idiot was here at the moment. He was a Guardian, how dare he leave Juudaime's side! He didn't care that 'Stars and the Moon were supposed to be farther away from the sky', or whatever Juudaime had said the other day. They were Guardians, and that contained the key word of GUARD. How could they do that without even being in the same place? Gokudera was conveniently forgetting the fact that he had not been at Juudaime's side either and pinches his arm harshly in punishment. But still, if he took photos of the place, then maybe Shinichi could do his Star Observation on it and find clues. No! He'd do one better and video record everything so there would be as much evidence as possible. Reaching into his Magical jacket, he pulls out a roll of bandages, sets his phone to record and ties it to his head. The phone was a Vongola Original, or a Mechanic original if one wanted to be specific. But the important thing was that it was better than any average mass produced phone. The camera was the best out there, as clear as the real thing with perfect colours and no distortion even when zoomed in. Plus it did one hundred other things that only Gokudera saw fit to use. The others just played games on them instead of using all of the other useful applications the Mechanics had put on them.
So with the Phone recording and strapped in a place as close to his point of view as possible, Gokudera started to work. As methodical and careful as always, he started from the end nearest the café and worked up towards the square. Boxes were moved, lifted, checked under and then replaced as near as perfect as possible. Passers-by gave Gokudera strange looks, first of all wondering just what he was doing crawling around on the floor. When they caught sight of the camera, they assumed he was on some sort of weird reality TV show and left him to it. At least most people left him alone until the most useless, unobservant, obtrusive, thick headed and utterly carefree Baseball fanatic arrived on the scene. Gokudera was quick to grab Yamamoto's trainer before he could accidentally kick a crisp packet that was lying on the floor.
"Don't you dare move, Yakyuu-baka. Don't move a thing." He growls lowly before checking around, under and in the crisp packet and finding no sight of a tranquiliser dart, bullet or needle.
"Haha, What are you doing Gokudera? Did you lose one of your contacts?" Yamamoto asks, looking around him to see if he could spot anything shiny on the ground. He noticed, but ignored the phone bandaged around Gokudera's head. Contrary to popular belief, Yamamoto was not stupid, nor unobservant, but just knew that every word counts. So why bother saying depressing ones? He had always been happy go lucky and decided that everyone else should feel like this too. Life was certainly more fun feeling like this. So he observed, read the atmosphere and did what he could to change it to a more favourable one. Which often meant making a fool out of himself and having the running gag of making everything seem to be about games, since he was 'only a jock'. So whilst it was possible that Gokudera really was looking for his contact, with the current situation- a rather paranoid phone call about Tsuna's whereabouts- Yamamoto knew that Gokudera wouldn't be wasting time looking for something as insignificant and replaceable as a contact lens. He knew that if Tsuna was in trouble Gokudera would run blind in the right direction just to try and protect Tsuna.
"Of course not stupid. I don't even need contacts. I just use glasses for when I'm studying to stave off headaches. And anyway, I only wear contacts for my Sistema CAI." It was something he was rather proud about since it was another common link that he shared with Juudaime and him alone- wearing contacts for battle. Yamamoto knew Gokudera was concentrating really hard since he got a reasonable reply, rather than being shouted at and punched. "I'm looking for evidence"
Yamamoto's eyes sharpened at that and his mouth pursed slightly, considering what that really meant. The only thing he could be looking for evidence for would be related to the phone call he received earlier. The one asking if he'd seen Tsuna. So putting the two things together meant Gokudera was looking for evidence surrounding Tsuna's disappearance.
"So Tsuna really is missing? I wondered why you had phoned me asking where Tsuna was, you always know where he is." Yamamoto places a hand at the back of his neck nervously.
"Yes Juudaime is missing!" shouts Gokudera, looking up. It's then that Yamamoto can see the worry and stress in those grey eyes.
"Okay okay. Calm down. You are doing everything you can to find him right. So there's no use getting stressed over it. Tsuna doesn't like to see you get stressed after all. So what can I do to help?" calms Yamamoto. He knew better than to just butt into whatever Gokudera was doing. The careful way the man was looking at the floor proved he had a plan and interfering with that plan could be detrimental. Plus, Gokudera was hell of a lot smarter than he was and most likely knew what to do. Gokudera was Tsuna's right hand man, and should know how to handle things when Tsuna wasn't there. Yamamoto certainly would turn to him if Tsuna wasn't around.
"I need you to go and find Hibari. He can police this area off until I've catalogued everything for evidence. Then he can go off and do what he wants to to help fine Juudaime." Says Gokudera slowly, thinking things through. Yamamoto nods, takes some very careful steps backwards and runs off to find Hibari. In the meantime, Gokudera goes back to cataloguing and videoing every inch of the alleyway.
A few minutes later and he's about half way down the alleyway. Near the wall, he notices a disturbance in the dust on the ground. It's hardly noticeable, but there seems to be a slight scuff, a collecting of dust in the shape of the heel of a shoe. It looked like someone had started to slip. He looks up and can track the footsteps in the dust coming from the direction of the café. But the footsteps stop here, which was weird since there was nowhere for them to go. He looks up the wall, wondering if someone climbed it, when he notices something shining on the wall. He moves slightly and it disappears. He stands and finds he can't find a trace of it. So kneeling back down again, he moves until it shines once more and takes better track of its exact location. Standing up carefully, he finds the area where the shining patch was and rubs his hand over it. It was slightly wet and sticky. He rubs his fingers together, and whilst he can't see anything, he certainly felt it. Gokudera moves his hand around until the substance shines once more. He brings the substance to his face and sniffs it. It doesn't smell of anything. His eyes blur slightly, but he assumes it's just from the stress, so he shakes his head to clear it and carefully licks his finger. It doesn't taste of anything either he notices as his world blurs once more and he suddenly finds himself on the ground looking up at the sky. That's strange, when did he get down here?
Damn, a tranquiliser after all. He thinks as his eyes shut and he forces them open once more. However, the last thing he sees before his eyes close completely, is the thunder clouds covering his view of the blue sky.
As the first rumble of thunder sounds, Yamamoto runs into the opposite end of the alleyway and is just in time to watch Gokudera lick his fingertip. Just as he was about to ask Gokudera what he was doing, his eyes widen since Gokudera has suddenly collapsed.
"Gokudera!" he shouts as he runs over there. He leans in close and feels the bomber's breath tickle his face. Just for an extra precaution he feels for Gokudera's pulse and finds it slow but steady, just like his breathing. He sighs in relief as he realises Gokudera is only asleep. He warily eyes Gokudera's hand, but is confused when he can't see anything there to put the Bomber asleep like that. A drop of rain lands on his face and Yamamoto looks up to be met with the grey thunderous sky. Not wanting the phone to get wet and lose all of Gokudera's hard work, Yamamoto unwraps the bandages and stops the recording before placing it in his jacket pocket. The rain starts to get heavier, running down his face and over Gokudera's body. Yamamoto's eyes are once again drawn to Gokudera's hand. Something must have made the bomber pass out. Deciding that it wouldn't hurt to be cautious, he wraps the bandages around Gokudera's hand, not wanting any evidence to be washed away.
Reaching into his jacket, Yamamoto pulls out his own phone and calls up their driver for the day. After telling the driver to meet him somewhere closer to his current position, Yamamoto phones Hibari. Knowing he wasn't going to get any greeting, he starts talking as soon as the call starts. "Hibari, Something's up. Gokudera found something and after tasting it, he's fallen unconscious. Seems to me that Tsuna really was taken."
"Hn" is all the reply he gets in return.
"I'll leave everything up to you then" says Yamamoto happily before ending the call. He wasn't quite sure what things Hibari had to work with- whether he had a new version of the disciplinary committee or not, but decided that Hibari could handle it. He was good at handling any police like business after policing the streets of Nanimori for so long. Hefting Gokudera up over his shoulder, Yamamoto leaves to meet up with the driver.
"Kyo-san, has Tsunayoshi really been kidnapped?" Kusakabe asks Hibari as they walk in the direction of Tsuna's last known whereabouts.
"Useless herbivore" mutters Hibari. Kusakabe knows that Hibari must be mad or at least disappointed in Tsuna since he had used Herbivore, whereas recently, ever since the incident at the docks, Hibari had been calling Tsuna Omnivore.
Kusakabe wasn't going to ask the obvious question of 'Why was he kidnapped?' since there were many apparent answers. The first being that he is Heir to Vongola. Next being revenge for the recent punishments and information gatherings he's done. Another reason could be to get to Iemitsu since Tsuna is his son. Alternatively, it could be a dig at Reborn, who is supposed to be looking after the man. Then there was the possibility of him being kidnapped for a ransom or to get someone to co-operate with the kidnapper's demands. An Enemy Family might want to kill him off. Or there was the rather slim possibility that Tsuna was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and was a chance victim.
When Hibari arrives in the place where Gokudera deduced the attack should have happened from, Kusakabe watches as a very common smirk crawls onto his face. Hibari was happy with the scene before him. Like Gokudera had noticed, there was no signs of disturbance apart from the scuff of dust where Gokudera collapsed. That meant that whoever had kidnapped the Herbivore was strong. Maybe he'd even be a carnivore since he could take Tsuna by surprise- which he knew was not an easy thing to do. He was going to hunt down the Herbivore and find a new play mate. It was one of the reasons he even bothered to crowd with the loud herbivores that constantly swarm around Sawada Tsunayoshi; the boy somehow managed to attract very strong people. First was the Baby, then the Bucking Bronco and Mukuro. Then it was the Varia, then the trip to the future. Strong people were just attracted to the strange herbivore. So as long as strong people stayed around the boy, Hibari would at least consider staying nearby and tolerate the crowding.
He turns and walks away, Kusakabe following along as usual. I had better start the hunt. I want to find this carnivore as soon as possible since all of the new interesting opponents have left. Hibari meant Shinichi and Kaito, since he'd only fought with Kaito once, and not at all with Shinichi. Shinichi was another mystery since a Sheep had left in the company of wolves. Hibari was interested to find out whether Shinichi was a wolf in sheep's clothing or not. He'd wait for the sheep to come back and see whether he had shed his skin and become a wolf or not.
"Then there are only two possibilities left. He's most likely gone off to be alone for a while. Hopefully he should come back home later on."
"Or?" asks Haru and Kyoko at the same time.
Gokudera hesitates before saying "Or it means that Juudaime's…"
"Or Tsuna has what? Gokudera tell us! We deserve to know" demands Kyoko, worrying over Tsuna. She didn't like Gokudera's tone of voice. It was short, painful and fully of worry and anger.
"Or it means that Juudaime has been kidnapped" he finishes.
The girls gasp and look at each other with wide horrified eyes. Their Tsuna had been… kidnapped? No, that couldn't be possible. There was far too much protection around Tsuna for that to even happen.
"Don't be silly Gokudera" nervously laughs Haru "Of course Tsuna has gone for a moment of peace. We did drop some rather bad news on him after all" However, neither girl receives an answer from the bomber. In fact they can't hear anything except the very quiet sound of the crowd in the background.
"Gokudera! It's not possible for Tsuna to be kidnapped!" exclaims Shoichi "He would have fought them off or something. You'd be able to find evidence!" But again there is no answer at all from the bomber. They can't even hear his breath.
"Gokudera?" asks Shoichi. He winces slightly as the nervous pain starts in his stomach.
"Gokudera!" Haru and Kyoko, wondering whether the bomber has gone into shock or not. It was highly possible. Knowing someone had been kidnapped was a shock in itself. But for it to be someone like Tsuna, who Gokudera looked up to and admired so much, it must have been awful.
They hear a very aggravated growl before the phone line cuts off from them.
"What? Gokudera?" shouts Haru, annoyed that Gokudera would do such a thing.
"Girls, don't worry. I'm sure that Tsuna has just gone for a flight or something. He'll be back before you know it. So how about you get some sleep and we'll keep you up-to-date in the morning?" he gently suggests.
The girls look once more at each other and collectively sigh. There was nothing they could do from all the way here in Japan. "Alright, desu. But we want to know the moment you know more information!" demands Haru. After Shoichi assures them he'll tell the any information he receives… yes even if it's in the middle of the night for them…he hangs up the call.
Haru looks over at her rather quiet friend and sees she's paler than usual and slightly shaking.
"Why Haru?" she whispers, staring at the table top infront of them. "Why is it always Tsuna? Everything bad happens to him and it's not fair" Tears slowly drip down her cheeks to land on the table. Haru rubs Kyoko's back and gives the crying girl a hug.
"Haru don't know, desu" she replies, for she really didn't know the answer to that question. However it was one she wanted answered too. Why did everything bad happen to someone so sweet, caring and innocent as Tsuna?
So anyone guessed who has kidnapped Tsuna yet? Or maybe you'd like it to be a surprise.
And where's the detective when you need him, eh?
I'm actually making two key plot points with this new arc and Gokudera has quite plainly stated one of them here, so anyone want to take a guess?
Join me next time where we shall finally see just where Tsuna has ended up!
Phantom Hitman 1412
First Published 20 June 2012