A/N: Thanks for all the favs and follows! Only two chapters in and so many people are interested...I hope you enjoy this chapter! To my guest reviewer to wanted to see the Inheritance Ceremony, here is part one.
Chapter 3
Two days earlier...
"Ara! So the Ceremony is today?" Nana smiled as she set Reborn's cup of espresso in front of him.
Reborn accepted it and took a sip. "If you think about it, it was delayed for quite a while. The first Inheritance Ceremony was around ten years ago, after all."
Nana sat down across from the eleven-year-old hitman and rested her chin on her hands. "Mm. Will Enma-kun be attending this time as well?"
"Of course. He's Tsuna's best friend and the Shimon Boss."
"I wish I could go," Nana said with a faraway look in her eyes. "Tsu-kun is going to be Vongola Decimo after tonight and I want to see it happen."
Reborn smirked. "There's no reason why you can't go." He told her his plan in a few words and sipped his espresso.
Nana stared at him for a second before clapping her hands together. "Reborn-kun, that idea is perfect!"
"I don't have a problem with the room," Tsuna insisted, tilting his head back to see his Cloud Guardian leaning against the banister on the second floor.
Hibari raised his eyebrows. "I didn't say you did."
Tsuna scowled and loosened his tie. "I'm just nervous, okay? That's why I can't relax in this room. It's not what's in here." He pointed to the doors. "It's what is on the other side of the door."
"Hn."
Tsuna ran his hands through his brown hair. "What if something goes wrong? I know Enma's not going to crash the Ceremony this time, but what if someone else does? What if Xanxus starts thinking I'm trash again and starts killing people?"
A bloodthirsty glint lit Hibari's eyes. "Oh? Is that your Hyper Intuition talking?" He fingered his Vongola Gear, which was partially hidden under the cuff of his black suit.
"No, it's not saying that! I haven't been getting any alarms—don't you dare start a fight, Kyoya."
Hibari glared at Tsuna. "Herbivore. Shut up and stop pacing."
A chill ran down Tsuna's back at Hibari's words. They'd known each other long enough that Tsuna heard the unvoiced threat. "Okay, okay..." Tsuna rubbed his head and took a seat on the red and golden couch, which was placed a few metres away from a large window. His footsteps were muffled by the carpet, which covered every square inch of the room, from the doors to the winding staircase that led to where Hibari stood.
Tsuna leaned against the backrest and felt something under his seat. Cautiously, he reached under the cushion…and pulled out a pink grenade. He examined the grenade he clutched in his right hand. "This is Lambo's. Why is it...?" He looked around the room again. "Is he here already?"
"You should know the answer to that question," a child's voice said. "No one else has used this room since the last time you were here."
Tsuna turned around and saw Reborn in the doorway. The hitman was wearing his customary suit. Even on this occasion, Leon rested on the black fedora.
Tsuna couldn't help but sigh in relief that he hadn't jumped at Reborn's approach. As always, Tsuna didn't hear Reborn enter, but he should have sensed him. Guess I'm not paying enough attention.
"What do you mean? Why hasn't anyone else use this room?"
"Only the Vongola Boss and his Guardians have their photos taken in here. But Nono and his Guardians decided long ago that they preferred to take their pictures elsewhere." Hands in his his pockets, Reborn leaned against the wall. "Everyone, except the cleaning staff, is prohibited from entering unless the Vongola allows it."
"It doesn't look like they cleaned the room very well," Tsuna said, tossing the grenade up and down a few times before putting it away in his pocket.
He heard familiar footsteps race down the corridor toward the room and steeled himself for anything. What was happening now?
Gokudera entered the room and went straight to Tsuna. "Juudaime, I'm terribly sorry."
"Don't be. You didn't do anything wrong." Having grown used to Gokudera's polite demeanour, Tsuna's words came almost automatically.
Gokudera was clearly worried about something. His impeccable suit was unbuttoned and his tie was hanging out of a pocket. Gokudera had taken it upon himself to be the perfect right-hand man he thought the Vongola needed and was always prepared when it came to social functions. The Inheritance Ceremony should have topped that list.
"Hayato?"
Gokudera sucked in a breath and threw a glance behind him before blurting out in a hiss, "Aneki was giving me a ride to the venue when Reborn-san called and asked her to pick him up, and of course, she agreed, so we headed to your house. She parked right outside your house and got out in her formal dress. I went with her to the door, thinking that Reborn-san only called us when Okaa-san was out, but she was home and came to the door with Reborn. When she saw us in formal attire, Okaa-san asked about the occasion."
With the room only occupied by Tsuna, Gokudera, Hibari, and Reborn, it was quiet. But even if Yamamoto, Lambo, and Ryohei arrived, Tsuna didn't think he would hear them. All of his attention was focused on his Storm Guardian's words. His heart nearly stopped as he thought of what he was hearing. It just couldn't be possible, right? Very slowly, he raised his hands. He grabbed Gokudera by the arms. "And?"
"Reborn-san told her that we were going to a party to celebrate you taking over Nono's company, and she wanted to come—"
His fingers dug into Gokudera's sleeves. "What?" Blood drained from Tsuna's face and he looked toward the door, now as frantic as Gokudera.
"—Aneki and Reborn-san couldn't find a good enough reason to stop her from coming, since after all, it's an important day for Juudaime, who will officially be taking over the Vongola, and of course, everyone should know about your accomplishments—"
"—H-Hayato, focus—"
"—Okaa-san came with us and, well..." Gokudera faced the door.
Tsuna watched Sawada Nana step over the threshold with a bright smile on her face. She wore an elegant deep blue dress that fell to her high heels, shoes Tsuna had never seen his mother wear before. A black purse hung from her shoulders by a golden chain.
"Kaa-san!"
Nana twirled around in fascination as she took in the entire room and all its splendour. "Tsu-kun, this is a wonderful mansion! I haven't explored it yet, but from what I saw on my way here, it's beautiful!"
What do I do? What do I do!? Why is this happening to me? "Kaa-san, why are you here?!" At least we're only in a villa and not in Vongola HQ! Thank goodness for small mercies.
Nana giggled and gave her son a once-over. "My, you look all smart and handsome! Oh, Reborn-kun told me there was a party being thrown just for you. What kind of mother would I be if I didn't attend? I'll be in the crowd with your dad. I'm so proud of you, Tsu-kun."
She enveloped him in a hug and Tsuna forgot his worries, if only for a moment. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment.
"Mum, Iemitsu is looking for you. He just realized you were at the party," Reborn said, holding his phone away from his ear. Even from where he stood, Tsuna could hear Iemitsu screaming through the phone, asking why Nana was at a Mafia gathering.
"I'll go find him," Nana said. "Is he in the garden we just passed, where a nice young man was playing with his mink?"
"Ah."
Isn't that Bel!?
"I should walk you there," Tsuna said.
"She'll be fine, Tsuna," Reborn said and pocketed his phone.
Before Tsuna could protest, Nana walked out the door. Tsuna followed her to the doorway, but she pushed him back in.
There was a moment of shocked silence in the room.
"Reborn, Kaa-san is at the Inheritance Ceremony!" Tsuna whirled to face his ex-tutor, who...wasn't there. "Reborn?"
The distinctive aroma of Reborn's special blend of espresso reached Tsuna's nose and he turned to the espresso machine, which he swore wasn't in the room before now. It sat on the writing desk with Reborn standing in front of it.
"Don't worry. I told her it was just a party," Reborn said and hopped onto the desk. He crossed his dangling legs and sipped from his cup.
"But why is she here?" Tsuna pointed the ground in emphasis.
"Bianchi couldn't convince her to stay at home."
Bianchi and you, Tsuna corrected in his head. He gulped when Reborn eyed him over the rim of his cup.
Tsuna tried to mask his thoughts with the problem at hand. "Y-You do know that she's going to know we're in the Mafia the moment she talks to someone or sees the Ceremony, right?"
"The Inheritance Ceremony shouldn't mention anything about the Mafia. From the outside, it looks like an ordinary party to celebrate a new CEO for a business."
Tsuna tried to see it, but couldn't. People like Squalo, who had a sword for a prosthetic limb, just didn't scream "business man" in the normal sense.
"I doubt any of the Mafiosi would be openly talking about the Mafia, either. You never know who is listening."
"As in spies?" Like undercover cops? Apprehensively, Tsuna eyed the room in a new light.
Gokudera also looked the room over with a critical eye. "Don't worry, Juudaime. I won't let anyone harm you! We dealt with Nori Kenshin easily. We can do it again if we have to."
Tsuna frowned at the mention of the detective who, ten years ago, tried to investigate the next generation of the Vongola. He wasn't really sure what happened to Kenshin. Between witnessing grenade blasts and assassination attempts, and experiencing poison cooking and seeing the Ten-Year Bazooka in action, Kenshin probably wasn't fully sane by the time he finally left Namimori.
If the police decided to send an undercover cop to spy on the Vongola family... Tsuna shivered. I worry for that detective's sanity.
"Don't worry too much about it," Reborn said. "CEDEF's sweep for spies came up negative. Either they are very good, or there aren't any in the Vongola as of..." He checked his watch. "Twenty-six hours ago."
"That's good—"
"THIS PLACE IS EXTREME!"
The walls shook and china cups vibrated on their saucers. They nearly fell off the tables, thanks to the thundering voice, which grew to deafening proportions when its owner stood in the echoing chamber that was the foyer.
"Ryohei, that was way too loud," a bored voice complained when the echo subsided. "I think one of my eardrums burst."
"You're just lacking spirit, Lambo! Come on! It's this way!"
"O-Oi, wait for me—hey, you're going the wrong way!"
"Juudaime..."
"...Yeah?"
"If there were any listening devices planted in this mansion..."
"...They're probably broken."
Gokudera sighed and opened the door. He paused for a second before shouting, "Hey, you idiots, it's over here!"
"Oh! Hayato, there you are. This place is extreme!"
"I heard you the first time. Everyone probably heard you." Gokudera tsked and stepped back to let the Sun and Lightning Guardians into the room. Ryohei and Lambo were both dressed in black, with their dress shirt matching the colour of their flame: green for Lambo, and a golden-yellow for Ryohei.
Tsuna called out to Lambo, who lurked by the door. "Lambo, catch."
Lambo looked up and, with eyes bugged out of his head, scrambled to catch the pink grenade that Tsuna tossed at him. He caught it and with some relief, noted that the pin was still in place. "Yare, yare, Vongola. Where'd you find this one?"
"Under that couch."
"I swear I didn't do it!"
Tsuna sighed. "It's from ten years ago. You probably put it there as a prank, but forgot about it by the time we finished taking the picture."
Lambo squinted at the grenade. "You're right. The colour's off. The Bovino Family doesn't make grenades this type of pink anymore."
Gokudera grabbed Lambo in a headlock. "Juudaime was sitting on that couch!"
"He wouldn't have died!" Lambo protested. "Besides, I was probably aiming for you!"
Tsuna stepped in between them with his arms outstretched. "Hai, hai. No fighting amongst ourselves today, remember?"
"Of course, Juudaime." Gokudera shot another angry look at Lambo before shaking his head. "It was ten years ago. I should just forget about it."
Ryohei put a firm and pitying hand on Gokudera's shoulder. "You can't do that because five-year-old Lambo has been appearing to the extreme!"
Gokudera stifled a groan as he remembered. "I thought I was rid of that Stupid Cow."
Lambo winced and laughed. "Right…my five-year-old self…"
Ryohei straightened his tie with his bandaged hands. "By the way, why aren't you ready, Octopus-Head? I thought the photographer was coming in fifteen minutes!"
Gokudera glared at Ryohei and whipped out his tie. "There's a problem. Juudaime's mother is here."
"Why is that a problem? We're all allies here. She'll be extremely safe, even if she's with other Mafia members."
Gokudera threaded his tie through the final loop of the Windor knot and jerked it downward. "That's not the point, Turf-Top. She doesn't know we're in the Mafia."
"What?" Ryohei's eyes widened. "She doesn't know!? Hmm. That's an extremely long time to keep a secret, Sawada."
Tsuna scratched his head. "I know. It's just...the way she acts sometimes...she's so cool with everything we do with Reborn and the kids, and never questions anything. It just...I was never directly confronted by her. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"She accepted the lies I told her about you without question," Reborn said. "She never put pressure on you to tell her the truth, so you never felt burdened by ten years of secrecy. Isn't that right, Tsuna?"
His guardians turned to Tsuna. Shamefaced, he nodded. "I shouldn't have taken advantage of Kaa-san like that. She has the right to know what her son and husband are up to."
Not commenting on Tsuna's statement, Reborn finished his espresso. "Setting that aside, a few of your guardians are late."
Tsuna nodded. "Where's Takeshi? Chrome and Mukuro aren't here yet, either."
Yamamoto stepped into the room just at the tail of Tsuna's question. "Didn't Chrome say she was going to hang out with Haru ad Kyoko during the day?"
"Takeshi!"
"Yo!" Takeshi gave them all a wave with his bamboo sword, which was encased in a cloth bag. He set it next to the couch. "Who's up for a midnight baseball game after the Ceremony?"
"Takeshi," Ryohei said with a disapproving look. "We should go boxing, not play baseball! Boxing is the EXTREME SPORT!"
Yamamoto laughed and put his hands on his hips. "Come on, let's go play baseball this time!"
As the two sports maniacs continued to—again—debate the extremeness of their favoured sport, Tsuna returned to his seat on the couch. He smiled and took in the argument between Gokudera and Lambo as Gokudera fought to straighten Lambo's unruly locks of hair.
Chrome quietly slipped into the room, only to be met by a scream from Lambo, who still wasn't used to her sudden appearances out of mist. However, Lambo was quick to ask if she brought back any cakes. Yes, she did. They were in the fridge back home.
Tsuna let out a soft chuckle. He and everyone else had grown used to the noise after so long. Now, Tsuna felt unease when his day wasn't filled with his family's chatter. Even Hibari's silence spoke volumes at how he had grown used to the other guardians. When he looked up to the second floor, Tsuna could only see the back of Hibari's head over the couch. The Cloud Guardian was probably taking a nap. Or whatever he did that wouldn't be easily disturbed by the noise downstairs.
His eyes caught the glint of Hibari's bracelet on the Cloud Guardian's left wrist. Looking toward his other guardians, Tsuna saw that they wore their Vongola Gear as well. Gokudera's Buckle of the Storm was polished so well that it gleamed whenever the light hit it.
Ryohei's Bangle of the Sun rested on his upper arm. It moved whenever he gestured wildly at Yamamoto, whose Rain Necklace chimed on its chain around Yamamoto's neck as he moved around the room with Ryohei in tow. Those two never could hold a conversation without moving, Tsuna mused.
Chrome's Mist Earrings, shaped like cut diamonds, dangled from her ears and complemented her indigo-coloured gown. Her purple hair, no longer following Mukuro's pineapple-shaped style, was left untied and the tips brushed against her shoulders.
Lambo...Tsuna scanned his Lighting Guardian to make sure that he was well-protected. He was confused when he didn't see it. Lambo was at least wearing a ring, but...
"Lambo, where's your storage box?"
Both Gokudera and Lambo's hands were digging into Lambo's hair when they paused to look at Tsuna.
"Um," Lambo said. "It's right here." Tugging a hand free, Lambo flipped the left flap of his jacket up to reveal a silver chain. He pulled at it and the green Vongola Box Weapon, customized into a Vongola Gear Box, was yanked out of the pocket Lambo kept it in.
Lambo waved his right hand. "I even have the Class-A Lightning Ring that Hibari found for me."
It was a simple ring made of the finest materials that could withstand the power of Lambo's Lightning Flames for at least ten uses. Hibari still wouldn't tell them where he was getting them from, but he had enough to supply the Vongola with what they needed.
Lambo pushed Gokudera off of him and straightened his suit. "My hair is fine, Bakadera."
"Um...excuse me... Decimo?" a woman with short spiky brown hair peered into the room, carrying a black rectangular camera case. She was dressed in a black Oxford shirt and a pair of red jeans.
Gokudera and Lambo stopped wrestling. Across the room, Yamamoto and Ryohei paused in their imitations of baseball and boxing.
Tsuna froze in his seat. Ah...she saw us, he thought with a mental cringe—he didn't dare make it physical, as he was sure Reborn would be able to sense it from the espresso machine—that man, er, boy, er hitman, saw everything!
Tsuna cleared his throat. "Are you the photographer?"
"Yes, I'm Isa. Should I start setting up?"
Tsuna gestured her in with a smile. "Please do."
Isa returned the smile. "It'll be just five minutes, tops." She turned around and bracing her legs and back, she dragged in the trolley that was in the corridor. She yanked it across the room over the carpeted floor. It was so thick that the trolley's wheels dragged more than rolled over the carpet.
"Do you want some help?" Gokudera asked in the silence as Isa passed him. She was five feet tall, and it looked like she was using every muscle in her body to roll the trolley.
"Nope!" Isa sang out. With a final huff and a grin, she whirled to face Tsuna. "Alright. Would everyone please take their seats?"
Isa pulled out the digital camera as Decimo's guardians got into position. The Storm and Rain Guardians took the seats on either side of Decimo, who sat in the middle. The Mist Guardian stood to the Storm Guardian's right, while the Sun and Lightning Guardians stood behind the couch. The Lightning Guardian whispered enthusiastically with the Mist Guardian, but the Storm Guardian smacked the younger man's arm to get him to settle down.
She tilted her head and stared at the image. Yeah. The lighting needed to change.
Isa went to the window and dragged the drapery from each side to the middle and stepped back to make sure the curtains were fully shut.
"That's better."
She looked up the stairs and saw the Cloud Guardian making his way down. Well then. All of them are here. Now she had to focus on setting up the equipment. Tapping her fingers against her thighs, she hurried back to the camera and connected it to the computer. Automatically, the program began to run. She let it adjust the camera's focus and tripod height. That would take another minute or two.
Heck, if only her boss had let her set up the camera and the computer before Decimo and his Guardians entered the room. That way, she won't have to have all seven of them staring at her for so long. But orders were orders and Isa's boss told her to not, under any circumstances, leave the thousand-dollar camera and computer in the room with Decimo's Guardians. Why? She had no idea. Even her boss didn't know. He was just told by his boss that he might never get his camera back if it was left alone in the room with them.
The lightning was still off. With a remote control, Isa adjusted the light in the room until she was satisfied. The Cloud Guardian joined them on the left side of the couch and leaned against the wall.
"There's just one more person," Decimo said.
Isa looked up from the computer. She was about to ask but she shut her mouth. Of course. Vongola Decimo had two Mist Guardians. "I'll wait."
Decimo looked hesitant to speak for a moment. When he did, his voice was carefully casual. "Actually, it's not that we need to wait…" he paused for a second before sighing. "Mukuro, are you coming out yet?" he called out.
All the guardians sighed and looked around for the person their boss was talking to. Isa did the same, wondering if Decimo was a little touched in the head. Maybe he had an imaginary friend and the rest of his guardians were humouring him—oka-a-a-ay, or not, she corrected herself as she heard a chuckle resound through the room.
"Kufufufu. I thought I finally caught you this time." A man with long blue hair, tied in a low pony tail, emerged from a cloud of mist to stand next to the Sun Guardian's right. The female Mist Guardian turned around and greeted the man, who was the male Mist Guardian. He wore a black jacket that reached his legs and black leather gloves. His right eye was red, as though he was wearing a contact lens or had eye surgery.
Those eyes swung to her direction and Isa gulped when the man gave her a cold smirk.
Decimo glared at the man. Apparently, it said enough to stop the man from smirking at Isa, who was ready to call it a day and go home to a bottle of strong wine. She dealt with solid portraits for the Vongola Family because she knew that things like this happened around flame users. She wanted so dearly to take pictures of solid objects—of objects that didn't suddenly appear or disappear in front of her eyes. What she caught on camera existed at the time. Then again, what was she thinking? Portraits for the Vongola meant taking pictures of their family and friends, who were all most likely flame users, and not all are polite and will stay in solid form. No, they'll appear, disappear, grow arms and legs...
Isa shook her head and took in a deep breath. "If you're ready, Decimo?"
Tsuna looked at each of his guardians. This picture would mark the next chapter of their lives. The barriers that kept them separated from the Mafia world would come crashing down. Were they ready? His questioning gaze was returned with smiles, smirks, and glares. Oh yes. He closed his eyes. With a reminiscent smile, he activated his Hyper Dying Will Mode and nodded. "We're ready."
"Very well, Vongola Decimo and fellow Guardians. In three…two…one."
A/N: Well, what did you think? :D Who wants to guess what's going to happen in part two? What do you think of Tsuna? Cool enough? I tried to make him still Tsuna-esque, but rereading DIT 1, I noticed I portrayed him as a rather mysterious character.
Thank you for reading!
Uploaded 2016-10-04th
Edited 2016-10-09th
-LLM
