Merone Base: A VERY LONG DAY (Part 4)
(History)

In the meantime, after dealing with Cappuccino, Ryohei's party now encountered Lightning Gamma who was in fact, guided to them too, and they learned the truth behind the black boxes of the base's blueprints. He's OK with telling them though. Just that he wasn't too happy with the set-up.

Elsewhere, when the earthquake happened again...

Tsuna found his items while Spanner was looking for an important piece that somehow got scattered. He secretly pocketed his ring, gloves, boxes and pill canister and hid his box of eggs and headset in where he could easily get it later. But for now he will stay here but for some reason, before he left Mukuro felt...upset? He wondered what could have happened...

xxx

Still the subways...

Hibari's group had to deal with the Phantom Squad and they just won't stay down. And to think they're close to the base too after going through hatches and vents!

'Er...shouldn't we kill them right now? We're losing time y'know.' Mai asked Kusakabe.

'...it takes a long while for him to warm up after long breaks.' Kusakabe sighed. 'Kyo-san is at his most scary when sufficiently-warmed up which is why we're going slow.' he said. 'If he's very hot now...we'll bulldoze through everything. For now focus on your job watching.'

'Right...but still, this is like watching a zombie flick or they're a bunch of sadomasochists. How many times is it that they fell down by now?' Mai scoffed as they watched, while concealed by Chrome's flames at the side of the walls.

'I lost count, forget it.' said the man wryly in amusement. Soon, three more White Spell came.

'Captain Nicola!'

'He's just one man, what the heck were you doing?!' Nicola demanded. 'Kill him!'

'...you guys are boring.' Hibari drawled as he took out his hedgehog and dosed it with A-Class, causing spiky spheres to come out, crashing and crushing the tunnels. 'Just die.'

The illusioned company wisely got out of the way.

When Hibari says he's bored, shit tends to get shittier than ever.

'...nanda, so you CAN do it.' Mai drawled as they went back to running. 'But after this, can we find a public CR before we actually go in?' We're here for five hours now and I really need to go! As if we can use the ones in the enemy base without the rooms shifting on us!'

The Cloud twitched.

xxx

After getting some business done, they went into the base themselves...

'We've been spotted.' Mai reported, seeing electric signals with her radar. 'Due to the base shifting, new cameras have been activated so the ones Lal fooled are of no use to us.' she said. 'They'll control us now.' she said, narrowing her eyes.

'That makes it more interesting.' said Hibari. 'The sooner they bring the herbivores over, the sooner we can finish this.' his grin was so feral it spooked his second.

"Kyo-san is...pissed." he noted.

Hibari hated being controlled and bossed around, even moreso when he's restrained.

In his opinion, this base's commander just signed its death warrant.

'So we go all out then?' Chrome asked him.

'Of course. Moreover I want us to finish before the Varia herbivores do in Italy.' Hibari grunted. 'I'm pretty sure that loudmouth herbivore said it. Vongola's allies will simultaneously attack all Millefiore Bases in Italy while we handle Japan.'

'I wasn't in that meeting...I was too busy causing brain deaths and procuring weaponry for our convenience you know.' said Mai wryly. 'And even with Fuuta-kun's help, it was a bitch locating hidden entries. I wouldn't know that plan.'

'Nanda.' Hibari sighed. So someone was clueless not by choice. 'At any rate, anything interesting?'

'It seems the room shifts separated them into pairs. Gokudera-kun and senpai are together, while Yamamoto-kun, Lal and Tsuna-sama's pokemon are in another group. We're close to Yamamoto-kun because it shifted again, leading him to a powerful Mist. Not quite Mukuro or Mammon-levels but still strong. Low A-Rank but better than nothing I suppose.'

Hibari looked eager to play and they were glad they weren't the chosen playmates.

'Opps. 15 signatures of C-Rank personnel heading our way. Have fun, senpai.'

'I don't want them, you get them.' the others sweatdropped.

'Yare yare...I don't want them either.' Mai griped petulantly, scratched her head. 'Chrome, I-Pin, have fun.' Chrome gulped as she and I-Pin got ready with their boxes.

'Come out, Mismagius!'

'Hitmonlee let's play!' the girls cried, releasing their pokemon and charged into battle.

'Time for Chrome-chan to grow up a bit too.' Mai smiled. 'Tutors aren't worth their salt if their teachings aren't put to practice afterall.' she whistled when she sensed an ominous air around Hibari. 'Senpai?'

'Mai-san...this is something that wasn't told to you kids just yet.' said Kusakabe softly. 'The reason why Sawada of our world died. If any, Kyo-san hated those two words...tutors and teaching.'

'Elaborate.'

'Sawada and the others officially became Vongola right after high school.' Kusakabe told her. 'And everyone was under OJT for three years in how Vongola and CEDEF are run, as well as learning languages, computers, strategy and tactics, the whole package before they became officially public at ages 20 and up. However, when Sawada took over, he was basically made to clean up the messes his predecessors could not finish in time...think two rooms worth of paperwork stacked to the ceiling. Cases, records, documents that still needs answering and investigating...Sawada was basically chained to the desk while we did the action.' Kusakabe explained. 'He only goes out on Boss-level jobs and meetings thus he wasn't experienced even if he knew politics and bureaucracy, and how to get people to do what he wanted.' he sighed. 'Fighting is another story. He was severely compromised compared to back when we used to be teenagers. You can say that Sawada was at his best back in middle and high school...' Mai gaped at that.

'But OJT and being a paper-pusher basically ruined him.' Kusakabe continued. 'We knew that but things were beyond our control...Reborn tried to keep him up in shape through simulations but that's basically that. Simulations with computed results. In real-time battles and missions, things never go the way we want them to while Sawada had everything by the computer. We protested it because our boss is stagnating. Even Sawada protested but we were shot down every time by the council. But we made our displeasure known and Sawada...paid the price just a year and half ago and we never forgave the council for that and made it clear by seceding ourselves.'

'What happened?' Mai asked him.

'Sawada was made to be stagnant and ruined...he could no longer think out of the box because of endless herbivorous simulations as Kyo-san would put it. And we mean mafia standard thinking because the council disapproved of how he works.' Kusakabe shook. 'When the Millefiore led by Byakuran wanted to meet up with him for business alliances...Sawada suspected foul play because he was told to come alone...and he left his ring to Kyo-san for safekeeping with his suspicions. He was shot dead and according to his wishes, Kyo-san destroyed the rings because Millefiore was after the Vongola Rings. His instincts and reflexes in his younger days gone. The council and his own father ruined him by chaining him to that stupid desk and Reborn thought things are going perfectly well according to his plans...after that, Arcobaleno killings began. Their pacifiers taken. Sawada suspected Byakuran when he was able to effortlessly control the Sky Arcobaleno Yuni who was practically his yes-person. While saying its because she's still a child is a plausible excuse but the fact is, no one can control or should harm a Sky. His instincts went haywire upon seeing her...but Yuni, in a small moment of lucidity warned him by sending her butler as a messenger...we were able to catch on.'

'To this end, we separated from Italy, and fulfilled one of his last requests. Built a base here in Namimori. That was of course because we blame them for what happened.' Kusakabe sighed. 'Losing our sky was horrible even though Sawada never let the Guardians harmonize with him despite knowing they would resonate. He feared that if he were to ever die, we would be severely damaged. So we consoled ourselves with knowing that we are a family and bonds speak more than flames. And as he predicted...' he sighed. 'The only one to truly harmonize with him was Gokudera because that happened back in middle school without us knowing. When he died...Gokudera, he...he broke down...we couldn't help him for a good year until Yamamoto and Sasagawa stabilized him but even then, he was never the same ever again. We lost Sawada and Gokudera suffered Loss of Harmony. We could do little to help him but we often needed Yamamoto to stabilize him by tranquilizing his feelings. He was heavily reliant on Yamamoto and did missions together as a pair.'

'And why Lal joined the Japanese base?'

'It was to protect something she never told us by being away from Italy. Everyone was suspicious of her at first thinking she's a spy from them but she never acted. She however, worked for us instead so we're thinking something must have happened.' he said as by the time he finished, Chrome and I-Pin finished their fight.

'...never mention tutor and tutoring around us in private ever again.' said Hibari. 'If Chrome is also your student...don't let her end up like him. We only tolerated that baby because he came from the past. A different person. He isn't our baby. Don't repeat his mistakes.'

'As if...' Mai scoffed. 'Chrome is under my care during the day and she's Mukuro's by night and we're good teachers. And I'm not a coddling idealistic fool either. The world ruined me since I was a kid so I know what reality is like. Life never goes the way you want it to after all. Things will never go according to plan either, that's just arrogance and hubris. Should I tell Tsuna-sama how he died?'

'That would be...unwise for now.' said Kusakabe. 'Like I said, the us of this world is different from you of your world. But you can tell the other guardians.'

'Hai. We will prevent that same mistake on our sky as well.' Mai sighed. 'Some of us harmonized with him when the Ring Conflicts are over...it happened, OK?' she said. 'Gokudera-kun, me, Yamamoto-kun were the very first ones...senpai harmonized with him on his own free will. The only ones who weren't were Hibari-senpai and Chrome-chan. Mukuro forbade her to.'

'While we know about Gokudera...when did you and Yamamoto?' Hibari narrowed his eyes.

'Yamamoto-kun after the Ring Conflict...I did after a week after you fought Mukuro ten years ago.' how can Hibari forget THAT? 'I was a serial burglar fully aware of my lightning powers and abilities.' two jaws dropped.

The two men stiffened.

'Serial...burglar?' Mai sighed and told them how she came to Japan and soon...Namimori. But she left out her transformation and the truth of her heritage of course.

'I harmonized with Tsuna-sama when he talked to me...worried about me of all things when normally, people are wary and distrustful of criminals in your house after you defeated me.' Mai chuckled. 'Well, I'm only 13 at the time and yet to Tokyo I'm a feared burglar who was never caught nor left a clue behind. It was to them, a phantom. A Kaito. A true phantom who was never found unlike some idiots who used the name but still gets caught. When Tsuna-sama offered me a place so I never have a need to steal to live ever again...it happened. He gave me a normal life and gave me justice. My relatives got their dues, and records for me to exist in society were forged so I could go to school and be a normal girl. He did all that for me. He gave me life...so my life is his. I'm willing to dirty my hands for his sake whether he likes it or not. And now that you told me how he died in this world...I have to protect him from stagnant idiots too.' she smirked. 'I'll kill them all if I have to.'

'I see...so things went differently in your world...' Kusakabe frowned.

'Aa. But the me of this world is different. The Fiore Potter of this world is weak, downtrodden and never had a life...when this is over...I ask of you to take care of her for me. Give her the life she was denied. Denied of a childhood. Denied of a normal life. Denied of even human rights...although I wonder how she grew up or managed to break free I don't know since she reached adulthood...but still...healing a broken person is not easy. Your Gokudera-kun is an example.' she said when she perked up. 'Tsuna-sama is with an enemy. A B-Rank Class...this wave signal...Cloud. Four of them.'

xxx

Spanner's Room...

Iris Hepburn and her Deathstalk arrived now that Spanner is known as a Traitor...but Tsuna smirked after testing them for some time and after learning their history...that pissed him off.

'Spanner...' he said. 'You said that you're a big fan of Japan...right?'

'Er, yeah, but what's that got to do with our situation?' Spanner asked, perplexed.

'If her Deathstalk can crush your Moscas and both of you are Class-B...how can they handle...Class-S, I wonder?' Tsuna flared out powerful, pure Sky Flames on his rings and activated his remaining two pokemon...a Dragonite and a Blaziken, causing Spanner to gape at something that only exists in the virtual media world.

'P-Pokemon?!' Spanner yelped before going fanboy mode. 'Its official! I love you Vongola!' he gushed out, seeing an otaku's dream come true.

'Hade ni yare*, Dragonite, Blaziken!' Tsuna commanded as the two pokemon acted, and easily decimated Iris' Deathstalk, effectively...killing them all.

'N-no way...how?!' Iris gasped out, wide-eyed from shock. 'I never heard of box weapons like those being made...and I never heard of S-Class Boxes existing! That's just not possible!' she shrieked in anger.

'...you killed them all.' Reborn commented as Blaziken also finished off Iris to Spanner's disbelief. Nevermind killing them all, it was the fact that Tsuna himself killed.

'They are no longer human, Reborn.' said Tsuna softly and yet sadly. 'They were all ordinary men once...falling for her charms and became like that. They lost their humanity and free will that freeing them from eternal misery is kinder. And if she lives, how many more men will she turn into this?' he said, looking at the deceased Deathstalk Squad. 'For the sake of future would-be victims by her even if they have yet to meet her, she has to go. Its a...necessary death...' he said as he shook from shock of his first kill and vomited. 'Guhaa!'

'Vongola!' Spanner gasped, but Reborn raised his hand as Dragonite and Blaziken came to his side, patting his back in comfort while Mini-Mosca went to mop up his mess.

'She's his first real kill, Spanner.' Reborn told him grimly. 'He did not consider the Deathstalk as human any longer but Iris classified as human despite how horrifying her character is.' he said when Blaziken perked up and killed another newcomer. Another Ginger Bread while Dragonite was on the defensive. Only then did the pokemon relax as Ginger Bread crumbled to pieces.

/Ginger! Iris!/ they heard a horrified gasp from the comm link. Tsuna went to pick the one fron Ginger Bread's body.

'...Irie Shoichi huh?' Tsuna spoke to the comm link. 'I'll be coming for you...no matter what. I know that you and your device brought us to this world...you can be sure that we're coming for you.' he said as he then crushed it. He also blew up Iris' comm link. 'Spanner, you coming? Because of me...this place is no longer safe for you.'

'Well, I DID say I only follow my interests.' Spanner chuckled as he sat down. 'But for now let's stay here a bit longer...a bit more and the contacts I made will be completed. It'll be A-OK.'

'Wakatta.' Tsuna sighed as he relaxed off his Hyper Mode to rest and recover from his shock as his knees gave in. 'Naa Reborn...is it always like this...first kills I mean.'

'If you have such a reaction, you still have a kind heart, Tsuna. Its what makes you different and still human.' Reborn said approvingly. 'Because to enjoy using others and killing...it makes you a monster who must be put down. Just like how you put down Iris for what she's done to those men.'

'...'

'For now rest. It'll be a while before the shock wears off.' said Reborn as on Tsuna's will, the box animals fired flames at him for him to absorb, and for them to return to their boxes as they devolved back to Dragonair and Combusken...then to their primary forms Dratini and Torchic...then back into the box they go.

'That's...amazing...' Spanner gawked in awe as he watched the pokemon return to their er...'pokebox', he labeled in his mind. 'But how...?'

'Let's just say we have incredible resources.' Reborn chuckled. 'Who also happens to be an Otaku just like you.'

'Er...'

'Anyway Tsuna, where's your backpack? You're injured, remember?'

xxx

Elsewhere...

'OK...all that's left now is Ryohei-senpai to switch...' Mai twitched as she stepped up because upon arrival, Hibari switched with his younger self before he could fight Genkishi because Lal and Yamamoto are defeated when they came, and Arcanine is severely injured but still alive. 'I'll fight!'

'...what's the meaning of this?' Hibari demanded as he came with Hibird.

'Chrome, drill Illusionary Information in his head while I fight.' Mai instructed as Hibari twitched.

'I refuse.' he grunted. He HATES illusions with a passion, so HELL NO!

'Explaining right now wastes time!' Mai snarked as she went on ahead.

'You're now sending a girl against me? Now I'm seeing things.' Genkishi snorted but Mai just laughed.

'I believe I'm more than a match against you.' Mai smirked as her body sparked. 'I'm also excited in fighting a real-quality opponent too.' she vanished and appeared in a blink to give him a powerful uppercut.

'This is it...Mai's true worth.' Yamamoto winced as he just freshly-recovered from his wounds.

'Mai's...true worth?' Ryohei asked him. He too, just freshly-recovered.

'Aa. As it is right now, in our time she's the strongest guardian.' said Gokudera. 'But if Hibari masters his abilities, he can quickly catch up and surpass her. She defeated Levi in an all-out fight afterall and he's a freaking Varia Core Member. As it is now, she's a true master of Lightning and Lightning Combat. Its why CEDEF chose her instead of the stupid cow.' he said as the two were in an all-out fight with Genkishi barely able to see and catch her in her hit-and-run tactics. 'And too bad for Gamma too.'

'What about him, tako-head?' Ryohei demanded.

'When you were lights-out...Gamma revealed to me that Millefiore is a merging of two families...The Gesso Famiglia and the Giglio Nero Famiglia. Vongola's aware of that fact but not what led to it. He essentially sold out the Giglio Nero without them knowing forcing a ten years old impromptu head Yuni to meet with the Gesso Famiglia to form an alliance in hopes to stop the assaults on her famiglia...but she returned 'without a heart' as Gamma put it and a loyal subordinate to Byakuran and Gamma found out too late upon noticing Genkishi's behavior when the merging was done. The two famiglias merged...with Byakuran running the show and Yuni merely a figurehead puppet vice-commander!' Gokudera growled in anger. 'Genkishi's betrayal of the Giglio Nero is the first step to this era's chaos! Mai! Did you hear me?!' Gokudera yelled.

'I heard you loud and clear!' Mai swore as she clashed blades with Genkishi. 'Why did you betray your Sky, Genkishi?!' Genkishi remained silent as in his mind was the reason why. 'Not talking eh...Chrome! Go get what we want! A piece of the puzzle! I'll hold him off!' she roared as she created a highly powerful attack, causing Genkishi to scream in pain.

'H-hai!' Chrome gasped as she used her ring and her power when Genkishi fell from the air and covered him into her flames for her to dive for information.

'Use this opportunity to gather what he knows about the betrayal. It played a key part why we're here after all.' Mai remarked coolly as in the Control Room, Irie and the Cervello stared at the screen about the revelation of how the Millefiore was started.

'What the...its how Millefiore began...?' Irie croaked out. 'What the hell is going on here?! I wasn't told of this!'

Meanwhile, Hibari picked up the boxes his older self left behind. Box Pokemon Mai had produced in this world. From the information drilled in his head, he got the gist of everything. They're all taken to the future for the enemy to get their rings and the way back home is a device they're after in this world, and defeating their summoner. He wasn't too happy with being shoved here against his will just for an accessory on his finger and he's just as pissed. However, he doesn't know what's in the boxes as Chrome doesn't know what boxes his older self dropped for him to take when he knew he would be switched.

'Mai-san, I got everything.' Chrome called out.

'Good. We no longer need Genkishi then.' said Mai coldly as cue a powerful lightning pillar literally obliterating Genkishi's corpse. 'Betrayal of one's Sky and family...is unforgivable no matter the reason. You're not worth the Guardian title you were born with, trash.'

Down below, the other past Guardians watched dispassionately. Indeed...betraying their Sky, their home is unthinkable.

'No mercy...' Ryohei and Kusakabe choked incredulously.

'That's how she rolls.' Yamamoto chuckled after his dispassionate stare. 'Mai, you OK?'

'Aa. I got off my temper.' Mai smiled. 'Chrome, information feed please.' she told Chrome who sweatdropped.

'I need a little help...you're way too many heads.' she squeaked, taking out Ralts. 'I'm not as skilled as Mukuro-sama in this you know!' with the help of Ralts, they received from Chrome what needed to be known.

'So that's how it is...well shit.' Kusakabe whistled.

'That's still no excuse!' Gokudera grunted. 'Let's go find Juudaime and that stupid machine! Mai, we're counting on you!'

'Youkaishita.' Mai took the lead. 'I'll be a bit destructive from now on so watch out for falling debris. Normally that job is Gokudera's but for now I'll do it.'

'Haha, sorry but Gamma had me nearly spent.' Gokudera snorted as now, three people rode Arcanine. Him, Yamamoto and Lal.

xxx

'Irie-sama...' twin 2 gasped out as Irie shook.

At first he feared Hibari but now there's a great change. A girl...a ruthless girl replaced Lambo as the Lightning Guardian...did it have something to do with the woman that appeared as well when the past selves came?

xxx

Elsewhere...Tsuna was relying on his hyper intuition to get him by, while flying...and Spanner riding on Dragonite.

'You know, I never thought this would be made possible.' Spanner sighed wistfully. 'Dang, here I am, an ordinary robotics engineer, never dreamed to be in the Mafia I wished I discovered Vongola sooner back in College.' he complained. 'You guys are more fun to be with.' he lamented. 'Imagine...Box Pokemon!' he sighed dreamily while snuggling into Dragonite's back.

'Haha, someone's having fun.' Tsuna laughed jovially. 'But I have my Guardian to thank for them.'

xxx

Meanwhile...Irie was at his wits' end. Since the Surveillance System was down before, he could not see to what extent was the Merone Base damaged.

But when he activated his box, he saw that A LOT OF ROOMS are damaged beyond repair, therefore creating huge gaps! Half his base is an utter wreck!

'What the...hell...' Just what kind of monsters are Vongola of the past?! It seems they were utter monsters of madness at youth, only to be weakened upon reaching adulthood? Did they just bring in MONSTERS just to get their rings?! Not even A-Class bosses could do this much wanton mayhem in one room!

'Er Irie-sama...you were speaking out loud...' Twin 1 pointed out, sweatdropping because the redhead lost his cool. 'Should we find out why Vongola weakened?'

'Please do, I'm up for anything at this point.' Irie deadpanned grumpily. 'After that, we will head to the Research Lab. I have a last trump card up my sleeve. One of you stay here for the information.'

'Sir.'

A:N- 'Hade ni yare' -Go Crazy