A/N: 'bout time I was able to upload this chapter! Longest month (so it was almost 5 months!) since I last updated. Ryohei's section gave me the worst author's block I ever had as to one reason.
So has anyone been missing the Varia? Well they up next! Not to mention some mysteries are solved.
Disclaimer: I do not even own a grain of Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
Chapter 18
DREAM REALM, OTHER DIMENSION
At the center, which one could call the control center of the Dream Realm, stood in deep concentration was Wonomichi. Ever once in a while, he will check his notes on his arms or sense for Reynardo's will in case it passes to the point of no return of fighting the commands of Talbot. Wonomichi tries not to think too much of that old blind man who caused so much trouble for his uncle and the world.
Shaking his head of such thoughts, his usual mocking smile was nowhere to be seen and looked for his once-student, Mami Kozato and Tsunayoshi's past self. He needs Tsuna's guardians to get those special stones that Rey-Rey able to sneak off from Talbot before the old man cursed Reynardo. Wonomichi and Mami knew Checkerface/Uncle Kawahira will sense the powerful stones together with the supposedly dead Mami, so they created a special path within the Dream Realm to hide the stones along with the missing for five years Tsunayoshi and Mami until the guardians are ready to receive the stones. They realized only the true Vongola heir can pass them on to his/her guardians, hence the kidnapping of the guardians in front of the Arcobaleno.
By now he suspects his uncle will be furious for leaving a back door for the rescue party to enter their dimension. So he decided to spread out the time of the guardians in different times within "lost five years" of Tsunayoshi. This will leave a subconscious imprint on the boy of his guardians and when Tsunayoshi leaves the Dream world or wake up, it will not stop the boy, who will forget his time in Dream Realm along with other side effects, from feeling some familiarity at a subconscious level.
Wonomichi felt the tug of Reynardo losing his free will, I trust you Tsunayoshi, as Mami has done, as fate dictates…I know you will be great and break the curse one day. He guided Tsunayoshi's guardians to meet the past (in a sense older) self of their boss.
"Aren't you dead?" Mukuro blurt out. Tsunayoshi turned to him in horrified look and Mukuro was tempted to kick himself. Mami released a barely contained sigh, muttering about so much of a lying mist.
"Tunafish?" Iemitsu asked his son worried.
"Sorry for the-" Tsunayoshi was interrupted by Iemitsu rushing toward him, "No wait-!"
The man went through his son. Iemitsu turned around and looked heartbroken, "Huh? I'm really losing my mind just like Lal feared."
"We don't have time fah yah pity party!" Mami snapped at the CEDEF boss.
"Oh~ So we are in the past~" Mukuro smirked.
"You can't effect much," Tsunayoshi pointed out that wiped off Mukuro's evil planning smirk.
"Who are you talking to Tunafish?" Iemitsu asked as he got over his shock of seeing his disappeared/dead son.
"Huh?" Tsunayoshi turned to his father in confusion.
Mukuro strut toward an unresponsive Iemitsu of his presence and asked, "Oi! So who gave you that box? Oh and that Mami-chan practically gave me permission to have your little bunny's body," he laughed at the boy's spluttering and Mami rolling her eyes.
"Tunafish what's wrong?" he went through unaffected Mukuro, but Tsuna flinched in his behalf.
"Errr…."
"We don't have time fah this," Mami snapped, "now Iemitsu situation has worsen, its time."
"Is there any other way?" Iemitsu asked grudgingly.
"Has Rey-," Mami closed her eyes in pain, but opened that her eyes looked determined, "has the new Decimo been instated?" Iemitsu growled at this. Mami smiled bitterly at him. Tsunayoshi just sighed, but was silent, unable to look at his father who looked questioning at them.
"Wait," Mukuro glared at Mami, "So are you going to let Reynardo be Decimo? Because if you are, then you are surely mistaken-"
"He have to do his part," Mami blankly explained. Mukuro glared.
"Did you know what he done?! He-" Mukuro growled, but Tsunayoshi interrupted.
"Nothing good is easy," Tsunayoshi looked at Mukuro, "I'll bet it hurts, but sometimes people do horrible things with good intentions," he looks away, "I am not justifying whatever deeds he done to you or anyone else, but I will find a way to make it up to you."
"So you condone it then," Mukuro coldly responded, "To let us rot with that boy for almost five years."
"Being boss means to make difficult decisions, but maybe you of all people should see through the illusion he created," Tsunayoshi faced the angry mist, "there are worse enemies especially those who are unseen leading you to a trap."
Mukuro frowned at this, "So you saying there is something else at work here?" He glanced at Mami who now is talking to Iemitsu and setting up a portal. Tsunayoshi nodded, "She and Wonomichi wouldn't say, but his Uncle is not really who we should fear, but for the time being he's planning something unforgivable. I don't know what though." Mukuro looked at the world-worn look of the boy, who shouldn't have to deal with these types of things. It didn't look right. Especially now realizing this boy, who will be his sky, is alone without them and carrying such a burden. Unaware that he no longer has to do things alone anymore.
"Ok," Mami walked to them and turn to Mukuro, "I will need your help to convince someone to join our cause."
Mukuro smirked, "By any means?"
"If you can," Mami said while raising an eyebrow. Mukuro placed his hand on his chest in mock hurt.
"Simon Decima the gate to Vindicare Prison is open," the CEDEF boss stated. Mukuro barely hid a hint of surprise.
"I am not the true Simon Decimo, Iemitsu Sawada," Mami coldly said, staring at him purposely.
He sighed, "The boy hides a bit too well, but I know he is still alive." Mukuro frowns and turns to Tsunayoshi who looks at Mami worried. She ignores them and walked back to the portal with Mukuro and Tsuna trailing behind her. Iemitsu's shoulder's slumped for a second before putting on his Boss façade on and they all entered the portal.
For a while it was like walking through a strange tunnel of darkness, though one can still see the path. The air was stifling and despair began to enter their hearts. Fortunately it was only a small distance, but the imposing air in Vindicare Prison barely hold back the despair. Tsunayoshi looked around curious, noticing how Mukuro looking very wary more so than he was with Mami.
When they reached what seems the entrance, the Vindice were waiting for them and began without further ado, "Are you truly willing to be responsible for these prisoners, Iemitsu Sawada?"
"Say yes, trust me," whispered Mami.
"I do," Iemitsu responded without any hesitation. They followed down the dark bandaged cloaked beings into the worst parts of the prison. One of the guards explained, "Even though the prisoner destroyed the whole Famiglia that would cause trouble in the future, the boy was too powerful and had to be sealed."
"That was pretty dumb if that is the only reason," Tsunayoshi said rather annoyed and glanced at Mukuro, who was shaking his head at him as if expecting such an answer from him.
"You better not antagonize them in the future, Tsuna," warned Mami.
"Kufufu, he didn't," Mami sighed in relief, but Mukuro smirked, "I heard he befriended them."
"You became friends with these mummies?!" Mami yelled at Tsunayoshi. The boy glared at unrepentant Mukuro.
The Vindice stopped at the room with a large water tank holding a young boy. Mukuro growled and whirled to face the trio of Iemitsu, Tsunayoshi and Mami.
"What is this?" he growled.
"Your younger self," stated Mami.
"Mami? Are you talking about my son or…?" Iemitsu asked at the girl. Fortunately, the Vindice ignored what to them was the CEDEF boss talking to himself, much too busy giving temporary release of the imprisoned younger Mukuro.
"Oh," Tsunayoshi stared at the tank and at the furious younger Mukuro. He barely contained his fear at such pure hate and spite being directed to them.
"He can see you two?" Iemitsu asked in surprise.
"Two? You mafia scum, I see three," he looked at the healthy older self then sneered, "Its too good of an illusion, so either you are more powerful than I thought or something is up."
"We are temporary leaving you here to speak with the prisoner and we are not hold responsible of any untimely demise." The Vindice stepped out, "You only have five minutes to set up any conditions you feel it will be necessary and that is if you still willing to take the risk."
"Risk? Oh are you in need of my power? Kufufu, how naïve," younger Mukuro mockingly laughed.
"Well, how will you like to leave and see the world," Iemitsu asked. Mami and Tsunayoshi groaned. Older Mukuro laughed. The Vindice took this as a cue to leave.
"Tell me he isn't going to be in charge of me if I do accept such stupid proposal," younger Mukuro stared at the spluttering Iemitsu.
"Mmm, I think I see the resemblance between the little bunny and his cowardly lion father," older Mukuro thought out loud.
"I look nothing like Dad!" Tsuna shouted out.
"Tuna fish! Wait… you call me Dad," he looked star-eyed at his son. Tsunayoshi took a step back, but felt a disturbance and jumped further back.
CLANK! Older Mukuro stood in front Tsunayoshi with his trident blocking the younger Mukuro attack from a sudden appearance of his own trident. Seems years in prison didn't weaken his control of his flames.
"Kufufu, what are you doing?" Older Mukuro asked threatening.
"Oya so it is an illusion. There is no way I will be defending such a weak child," younger Mukuro responded.
"Do not insult my little bunny," growled older Mukuro. He raised his trident as his eye change.
"No Mukuro, you can't hurt your younger self!" Tsunayoshi tried to stop them, but Mami hold him back.
"MUKURO!" Tsunayoshi suddenly felt something shift as he saw Mukuro began to swing his trident to fight himself.
Older Takeshi stares at the younger Takeshi standing at edge of the empty roof when suddenly something was dropped on him. Well more like someone, who was Tsunayoshi precisely, who looked different for some reason.
"Hieeee! I'm so sorry!" Tsunayoshi apologized without looking at him. Then he panicked when he saw where the younger Takeshi stood.
Younger Takeshi stared through Tsunayoshi and gaped leaving Tsunayoshi confused by the fact that the stare seemed to be directed above his head. That is when Tsunayoshi realized who did he crashed into, the older self of Takeshi. His eye twitched at this.
"You can't see him?" the older Takeshi asked at his unimpressed younger self when he pointed at Tsunayoshi.
Tsunayoshi just sighed in relief. The older Takeshi looked questioning at Tsunayoshi, who walked toward Takeshi's younger self. He tried to touch younger Takeshi, but his hand went through him. Tsunayoshi turn to older Takeshi and said, "Yamamoto-san, you must stop yourself from jumping."
Older Takeshi looked unsure, "Tsuna-san how can I do that? I don't even remember what stopped me."
Tsunayoshi looked surprise by the familiarity, but shook his head, "Then think of something that would hold you back if you feel like this now," Tsunayoshi waved at his younger self.
"Well…" Older Takeshi looked hesitant at that.
"I'm guessing I didn't jump after all," younger Takeshi stated dully, "unless my mind is doing a last minute regret."
The older Takeshi gave a start when his younger self took another step toward the edge, "No! Wait!"
"Even my mind is pitiful if it couldn't stop myself," he turned around and looked down.
"Y-yamamoto-san!" Tsunayoshi panicked and tried to pull him back, but it was like touching air.
"TSUNA-SAN!" Older Takeshi yelled. Both Tsunayoshi and younger Takeshi turned to him.
"Tsuna-san is my reason and make my father proud and my friends," he gives a soft look at his younger self, "my true friends who will stand by me and I stand by them no matter what life will bring."
The younger Takeshi stared at his confident and the absence of the darkness he been caught up in. He began to walk away from the edge when suddenly there was a outcry.
"Don't jump!" a young girl slammed opened the roof door. This surprised younger Takeshi and nearly fell off the edge of the roof. Tsunayoshi panicked.
"The mushroom hat girl?" older Takeshi wondered out loud.
"Sometimes, Yuni-chan, you rely too much on your visions," mumbled Tsunayoshi, after catching his breath when he saw the younger Takeshi was going to be fine. Older Takeshi laughed.
"You really know a lot of people Tsuna-san," older Takeshi laughed while Yuni reprimanded at the surprised younger Takeshi.
"What is up with you people acting as if you know me?" sighed Tsunayoshi.
"People? Wait you saw the others? That's weird, I thought for sure they would have rescued you."
"Why? Ma– she told me I shouldn't leave yet, " Tsunayoshi cut himself off. He stared hard at Takeshi and looked away embarrassed.
"What?" Takeshi asked with a growing grin.
"Did you really mean that?" Tsunayoshi asked without looking up and played with his shirt.
"Mean what?" Takeshi smiled at his shy sky.
"Being your reason? I must be someone great in the future, but how?" Takeshi stopped smiling and stared when Tsunayoshi looked up with honest confusion. He remembers how he barely remembers the boy from school before all this happened, but knows no one bothered with Tsuna. Despite of being ignored and forgotten, Tsuna fought their old boss and saved them.
"Because you're our sky and no one else's," Takeshi responded and pulled in Tsunayoshi into a half hug, "Now we are here to rescue you." Tsunayoshi still looked confused, but gave a half-hearted smile.
"I guess I can somewhat understand Yuni-chan and Byakuran, but I cannot be selfish," he looked down and took out a glowing blue stone.
"What is that?" Takeshi pointed at the strange rain flamed stone.
"Hopefully you will find your Tsuna of your time," Tsunayoshi gave the stone to Takeshi. Before older Takeshi could ask what he meant, he already had the stone on his hand and disappeared.
Just before Tsunayoshi's guilty thoughts began, Yuni interrupted them.
"Lets go and find your purpose Takeshi Yamamoto," Yuni put out her hand at younger Takeshi. He looked hesitant, but then he looks right at Tsunayoshi.
For a split second Tsunayoshi was confused, but felt a familiar warmth within his soul, "Don't worry and do what you feel what you must do."
Takeshi nodded and before Tsunayoshi could hear his response to Yuni-chan, he was pulled back into the dimension he been residing for almost five years.
A young white spikey short hair boy stared at his body. Then at his little sister, Kyoko, who was crying next to his unresponsive body. His body was covered with wires and his head was bandaged. He was confused. The boy knows he isn't bright, but even he knows it isn't normal to be able to see your body like this as third person. So he thinks hard and tries to remember how his body is in such as state in a hospital room.
He remembers he and his little sister had been living with their grandparents in Namimori. They were happy and loved. Also the Kurokawa family also helped with the aging couple to deal with the Ryohei's extreme nature. Their daughter wasn't happy with him, but Ryohei didn't mind since Hana, who was their daughter, was a very close friend with his little sister.
Then their absent parents wanted them back to the city believing they knew best. Ryohei, the young boy thought otherwise. He has seen how his parents always fighting each other. Ryohei himself have been taking care of his sister. Besides, he loves Namimori because there is less chance for any unextreme people hurting his precious sister compared to the dangerous city they had lived before with their parents.
Unfortunately, they had no say and tearfully said goodbye to his grand parents and that serious Hana girl. That is when Ryohei frowned trying to remember what happened in their car trip to the city. His forehead began to sweat at the sheer concentration before screaming, "EXTREME HEADACHE!"
"EXTREME! THIS IS WHEN I EXTREMELY WENT INTO A COMA AFTER MY PARENTS EXTREMELY HIT THAT EXTREMELY LARGE TRUCK!" someone yelled behind the younger Ryohei. He turned and faced with a slightly older boy.
"WHOA! IT'S AN EXTREME MIRROR!" Younger Ryohei gaped dramatically at his older self.
"EH?! NO WAY! YOU'RE THE EXTREME MIRROR! I AM RYOHEI, THE FUTURE SUN GUARDIAN OF MY EXTREME BROTHER!" Older Ryohei pointed at his younger self, though he is still unaware of it.
"FUTURE WHAT?" The younger Ryohei stared at the older Ryohei. The older one in the other hand frowned in concentration and then pounded his fist onto his other palm.
"YOU'RE AN EXTREME GHOST!" The younger one paled and before he can say anything, they heard a murmur behind them.
"Kyoko-chan…" The two turned to see a more faded image of an older boy, but slightly younger than the older Ryohei. He had gravity defying brown hair with soft large brown eyes. The younger Ryohei stared confused at this boy, but the older one cheered. The latter rushed to give a crushing hug to Tsunayoshi.
At this, Tsunayoshi sighed in resignation with whatever breath he able to muster within the hug.
"LET US GO EXTREME LITTLE BROTHER!" Older Ryohei tugged the transparent boy. Suddenly the older Ryohei no longer hold Tsunayoshi, who made himself intangible.
"EXTREME LITTLE BROTHER?!" he asked confused.
"I'm not going to lie, I don't know you," the older Ryohei looks crestfallen as Tsunayoshi went on quickly, "not yet though! But I still have some unfinished business to attend to," he looks to the younger Ryohei, "a friend of mine is going to visit you if she hasn't already."
"HOLD UP!" Younger Ryohei shouted confused, "I DON'T EXTREMELY UNDERSTAND!"
"Um what?" Tsunayoshi felt a little overwhelmed with the constant shouting and extremeness.
"WHO IS THIS EXTREME GUY?! AND WHO ARE YOU?!" Younger Ryohei pointed at his older self and at Tsunayoshi.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" Tsunayoshi blushed, "My name is Tsunayoshi Sawada and I have suspicion," Tsunayoshi nodded at older Ryohei, "he is your older self by what I have been seeing for a while."
"EXTREME! I GOT HIT BY THE LITTLE COW'S BAZOOKA?!" Older Ryohei put in.
"Um I don't think so…" Tsunayoshi trailed off, realizing he doesn't know the older boy's name.
"ONII-SAN! YOU CAN CALL ME ONII-SAN!" beamed the older boy no longer sad by being forgotten, "THOUGH I EXTREMELY THINK YOU LOOK EXTREMELY DIFFERENT!"
Tsunayoshi nervously laughed before he began to explain, "Well, I think normally you wouldn't able to see me unless you in deep emotional distress or in this case…" Tsunayoshi looks at the third Ryohei, but looks almost asleep, "in a coma from an accident."
"I EXTREMELY DON'T REMEMBER SEEING KYOKO-CHAN WHEN I WOKE UP!" Older Ryohei commented.
"EXTREMELY WHY NOT?!" Younger Ryohei asked, but then the door opened. A young girl with a large hat came in accompanied by a blond hair man.
"Oh no," groaned Tsunayoshi putting down his face in his hands, "please don't do anything foolish."
"Good evening, Sasagawa-san," Yuni bowed at Kyoko. The latter looked confused.
"We have heard about the condition of your brother," Yuni went on and then beamed, "fortunately I have sources that will help him!" Kyoko looked very confused, but slightly hopeful.
"How? We don't have money—" The young girl began, but Yuni interrupted by waving her hand as if is a silly concern.
"Don't worry, it has been paid for or will be by someone very precious to you." Kyoko frowned at this.
"We just received permission from your only living relatives, who are your grandparents since your parents passed away or will soon anyways," Yuni frowned as if trying to remember her visions. She didn't catch Kyoko's stricken face.
Both Ryohei looked offended and troubled to not able to comfort their sister.
"Don't worry though! I heard the Kurokawas will be taking you in, so you won't be lonely!" Yuni clasped Kyoko's hands, "Your brother will be in good hands."
"Yuni? What happened to you…?" Tsunayoshi looks up horrified and glances at the younger Ryohei. The boy looks torn and unwilling to leave his sister alone. As the older Ryohei, he looks blank.
"…will I ever see him again?" Kyoko's voice broke a little, but somehow Yuni didn't caught on as she already let go and began texting someone with her older blond guard looking very vigilant.
"Oh yes," Yuni didn't look up and press the send button, "just stay safe and soon you will see your brother crazy antics again!"
"…is that true?" the younger Ryohei asked. Tsunayoshi may have just met them, even if they are the same person, but he knows Ryohei is an extreme person who shouts. He also knows how protective he is of his sister. He is unsure to how to respond that.
"YOU EXTREMELY WILL! WHY," Older Ryohei pulled Tsunayoshi in a energetic half hug, as if sensing Tsunayoshi feeling troubled, "THIS EXTREME LITTLE BROTHER HELPS ME PROTECT HER! THAT MUSHROOM HAT MAY BE WEIRD, BUT HAVE EXTREME FAITH THAT YOU WILL SEE KYOKO-CHAN!"
The younger Ryohei beamed and practically tackled Tsunayoshi, who was surprised, "I EXTREMELY BELIEVE YOU ARE AN EXTREME MAN!"
"Eh?! But I didn't do anything!" Tsunayoshi hold the urge to be intangible again.
"YOU EXTREMELY PROTECTED MY SISTER AND HAVE MY FUTURE EXTREME APPROVAL!" the younger Ryohei gave Tsunayoshi his thumbs up. He began to fade.
"Onii-san?!" Tsunayoshi shouted.
"ITS TIME FOR ANOTHER EXTREME DREAM!" Younger Ryohei punched the air and gave a last bright grin to Tsunayoshi before fading away. Soon even the background gave away as well, leaving the older Ryohei and Tsunayoshi in a black empty space.
"I EXTREMELY KNEW I COULDN'T EXTREMELY TRUST THAT UNEXTREME GIRL," muttered the older Ryohei.
"She means well," Tsunayoshi tried to explain, "she's sometimes overtaken by her visions and acts upon them to feel she has some control over her power."
Ryohei stares for a second, but gave a hopeful look at Tsunayoshi. He asks, "TIME TO EXTREMELY GO HOME LITTLE EXTREME BROTHER?"
"I-I wish, but I still need to tie up lose ends," Tsunayoshi reached into his pocket and took out a yellow flamed stone, "I feel this will led you to your true extreme brother."
Ryohei stares at him and frowns as if contemplating something. Suddenly he takes Tsunayoshi's hands, but doesn't touch the stone.
"My little extreme brother," Ryohei whispers with the unspoken is you no matter where or when.
Tsunayoshi freezes and gives a watery smile, "I can't wait to formally meet you, Onii-san."
Ryohei beams at him and cheerfully takes the glowing stone. He ruffles Tsunayoshi's hair before fading away as well.
When Tsunayoshi lightly touches his hair, he remembers the recent talk he had with Mami-chan. How she too ruffled his hair and wished for him to find people who truly care about him, regardless of him being one of the Tri-Ni-Sette skies.
Your prayers has been answered Mami-chan, I will find people who wishes for my happiness... Tsunayoshi silently cries.
VONGOLA MANSION, ITALY
Timoteo or Nonno, the ninth boss of Vongola was worried when as he felt his intuition flicker about, warning him of possible danger. The odds are not good especially with his record. He may have outlived the cursed short life of bosses, lived through all his true heirs premature deaths and misunderstanding of his last son (who cares if he's adopted, he is his son!). Timoteo also remembers the unknown fate of a young boy who was like a grandson to him. Who also the one who had the most potential to be the greatest Vongola Boss since Primo's time. Someone who along with the other two skies from allied famiglias helped his last surviving son, Xanxus.
Timoteo believes it started since Tsunayoshi entered their lives almost five years ago.
Nonno has to make decisions for the Famiglia. Timoteo regrets them. He wonders if it's a Vongola thing. When he meets Iemitsu's ten year old son, who he had already met when he went to seal the five year boy's flames in part regret and relief (regret at not able to appoint the boy his birthright as heir and relief at not having to taint the bright sky to lead the bloodiest and dirtiest mafia Famiglia of all time). He saw the seal had weakened. What caught his attention was the resolve in the boy's eyes. Timoteo was worried at his intuition warning a terrible fate is being decided, in the other hand Nonno saw his chance.
He released Xanxus, seeing how the strain between Tsunayoshi and his father began to heal and wonder if there is hope for his relationship of his surviving son. He guided Tsunayoshi to Xanxus and saw him come in terms with his rage and being good-naturally teased by the Gesso Primo, Byakuran and Arcobaleno boss, Yuni. Tsunayoshi's shyness and true kindness prevailed most of all and Xanxus was almost back to his irritable, but no longer resentful self.
After a couple of months of unnatural calm, he heard Yuni and Byakuran near death condition. He worried. But he wept when Tsunayoshi disappeared; for Iemitsu, for his wife, and Xanxus, who focused all his energy into Vongola. He seemed not to blame him for some unknown reason. He asked once, but Xanxus just stared at him blankly and grumbled out it wasn't as if he was at fault.
His thoughts were interrupted by another sharp poke from his intuition, but he yet to see what it is.
"Looks normal enough," he muttered and was surprised by the doors of his office opened with a swift kick from…an anxious Xanxus?
"My son, what is troubling you?" he asked after overcoming his shock. There was no answer as the Varia boss stomped until he stood in front of his desk. Xanxus slammed his hands on the desk and glared/stared at Nonno hard as if looking for something.
"Go to the Boss Escape tunnels," growled Xanxus. Nonno stared at him bemused, "Trust me…please."
Timoteo sighed and nodded, "Be careful Xanxus." Timoteo tap his cane on a certain way that sent a special message to his guardians that were nearby. Be on guard.
"Mou! Where did everyone go?" pouted Lussuria.
"Huh?" Leviathan looked back rather annoyed at Lussuria.
"Well you know the boss wanted all of us to walk together and…Oh my!" Lussuria gasped dramatically.
"What now?" complained Levi, but Lussuria gapped at him. He turned to see his boss in front of them, but only to be faced with an empty straight hallway, "Where's Boss?!"
"Wait," Lussuria cut into his panic, "You were following our leader? I thought you were following Squalo-chan."
"Agh! If you hadn't distracted me you girly-man, I wouldn't have lost sight of Boss!"
"Rude!" huffed Lussuria and kneeled Levi with his metal knee on Levi's gut.
"Y-y-you…!" gasped Levi bending over in pain on the ground.
"Still its weird how I feel like I am lost, but I've been in this mansion enough times to not be," Lussuria tapped his foot in thought and glanced at a sobbing Levi either from pain or not being with his precious boss. Lussuria watched Levi mournfully carve two X marks on the ground with one of his parabolas.
"Oh! How wonderful, sometimes I surprise myself for being fabulous!" Levi glared, but tried to ignore Lussuria, "Now don't be like that! Come, come!" He pulled Levi who protested and Lussuria covered his eyes with one of his dark fluffy scarves he carries around within his coat.
Levi in retaliation at being manhandled by Lussuria tried to take it off, "How many times I tell you I am not your mannequin and now its not a good time—!"
Lussuria wasn't having it and cut into his protests, "Mou! Don't be like that! You look magnificent. Besides we all know about your wondrous Boss detecting skills!" This froze Levi and seemed to listen as he went on, "Now I am betting its an illusionist confusing our senses, but if you rely fully on your Boss radar instincts. Nothing will stand between you and our lustrous leader!"
"You think I can do it?" Levi asked shyly.
"I do!" Lussuria clasped Levi's hands, "I deeply believe in you!" Lussuria quickly put on a leash on Levi once he felt the fire of determination overcome Levi and to finish it off, "Go forth loyal lightning and find our leader!"
"BOSS! WE'RE COMING!" Lussuria giggled as he flew through the mansion's hallways, holding onto leash on the running Levi.
"The prince has craving for sushi, Sharkie Commander," Bel commented.
"Focus you little precocious brat!" Bel was very amused how Squalo actually lowered his voice in their infiltration of Vongola Mansion. The Varia felt something off about the air and little disoriented with their orders. Somehow they were separated and no longer in communication with the Gesso weirdoes and with each other. They hoped that Mammon, their residential Mist/ illusion breaker would figure out what happened. Right now though, Bel was bored.
Which is why Bel decided to whistle. Bel noticed when he reached certain notes, Squalo twitched. After walking to the other side of Vongola mansion with a long time of high and bad whistling, Squalo snapped, "VOI! STOP IT!"
"Ushishishi, you broke a new record of holding your temper Sharkie Commander," smirked Bel. He ignored Squalo's yells as per usual by starting to whistle again when he noticed an increase amount of guards.
"Oh what does the peasants want with the prince?" and with an after thought, "and the snapping Sharkie?"
Squalo tensed and pulled Bel back. Before Bel could question him, strong waves of strange dying will flames were shot where Bel stood previously.
"Master it stinks here," Fran deadpanned.
"You don't say," Mammon rolled her eyes.
"Aren't illusionists weak and need big, strong muscle to cover them, Master?" Mammon froze and frowned.
"I don't need a man to protect me!" hissed Mammon.
"Hurray, I won the bet with the false prince," Fran falsely cheered without changing his dead tone.
"What bet? No bet can be done or started without I overseeing it!" Unfortunately Fran ignored her and walked what seemed aimlessly into an empty corridor. He then stopped in the middle for some unknown reason and focused in a certain spot in the air above him.
"Hey aren't you one of those old men that tries to control Vongola and part of my Pineapple Master's old grandpa's fruity order?" Mammon frowned at this comment and exposed all lingering foreign illusions around them.
The illusion broke and stood one of the three elders, one of which leads the Daemon Order, which believes power is the answer and promotes Vongola bloodshed now and questions later. He wore a long mist flamed colored robe with a strange monocle insignia on the back. His long white hair was tied in a high ponytail. He wears an antique monocle on his left eye.
"Hello Elder Daemon," Mammon greeted in annoyance.
"The third, Miss Viper," corrected the Elder Daemon the Third.
"Oh!" Fran interrupted their standoff. He blankly pounded his fist on to his other hand, "The fake prince will be displeased, that I, the newbie Fran beat the stupid genius of Varia."
Mammon glared at her student before turning to the elder, "What are you doing?"
"The question is what were you doing, silly child?" the elder casually put his hands in his other arms sleeves, looking serene.
"Oh burn," deadpanned Fran.
"I see you took in a student, better than mine if it sensed someone like me, don't you think?" Elder Daemon smiled condescending at Mammon.
"You didn't pay enough, which is weird in itself since you are an elder," Mammon accused.
"I'm just here fulfilling what my predecessor wished," Mammon rolled her eyes at hearing such an overused excuse, but Elder Daemon went on to ask, "So its true that civilian boy will inherit the Famiglia?"
Mammon frowned as she finally felt the small illusions around the mansion, enough to disorient the guards. "You're the elder," Mammon shrugged and casually hid Fran. She signaled the younger boy to break the illusions.
"You always were too high maintenance with the whole-" The elder began his reprimand.
"And you always nagging on about bringing glory to Vongola, but its best to find ways to save money instead off destroying and having an unlimited bribing quotas," Mammon complained.
"Vongola has enough money and show off all its power," he responded back as if talking down to an ignorant child.
"Hmph, the one thing I learned from the self-proclaimed world's greatest hitman is blackmail. So information and knowledge is true power not just strength."
The elder tilted his head and tap on his monocle, "Where did you hide your student?"
Mammon thought quick to buy time for Fran break all the illusions, "...Technically he is part my student and that Vindice ex prisoner-"
"My, so that student is the by product of two of you?" Mammon twitched, but scowled when the old man smirked, "concentration my dear. Never drop your guard especially from another powerful illusionist."
"Got it Miss Viper," Fran appeared on his own before the elder found him.
"Students these days show no respect to their masters," Mammon glared at Fran who was fixing his hat and staring unimpressed at the elder.
"Or fear," sighed the old man, "well I believe its time for my afternoon nap." He silently disappeared into the air as if he never was there.
"Oh he left without showing mist flames. Can you do that Miss Viper?" Fran stared at his master.
"I'm letting Bel skewer you and I'm going to like it," Mammon said through her gritted teeth. She turned her mental focus to Xanxus, "I want triple pay Boss and there were complications and-" she abruptly cut off the connection when she landed on the ground, no longer floating. Mammon shakily stood up.
"Hey Fantasia-sama looks bad," Mammon frowns and felt something land with a pat on her hood.
"Oh it just got worse," Fran leaned his head to the side and reported, "That creepy blind elder man is here with his creepy army of doom." Mammon curses.
"Hold it," Squalo grunted out.
"The prince follows no orders," Bel scoffed at Squalo.
"VOI! BETTER NOT MEAN MINE'S AS WELL, BRAT!" Bel took out his knives and prepared escape from Squalo's grasp.
"The prince shouldn't be taken prisoner like some low petty thief," complained Bel as he fidgeted around.
"Hello Talbot," Squalo dully greeted. Bel froze and glared at the elder.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Varia, whatever you doing? Isn't this wasting your last warning?" crackled Talbot.
"Ushishi is that weird elder, can we kill him?" Bel looked at Squalo hopefully. Squalo signaled in regret that no they couldn't.
Talbot crackled, "If you do, we gave orders to the Vindice to arrest you lot."
"...what?" Bel froze. Even he doesn't like that place, so is good of a threat as any especially from someone of higher power than them.
"VOI! LIE!" Squalo denied.
"True I lied," Squalo yelled in frustration with Bel laughing hysterically, "you can still kill me," Talbot fingered his worn cane smiling a toothy cruel smile as if daring them.
"Ushishi, blood!" Bel eagerly twirled his knives and escaped Squalo's grasp.
"HOLD UP, VOII!" Squalo lifted Bel from the back of his shirt barely catching him again, "WHAT'S THE CATCH?!"
Talbot smirks, "What a waste of talent on letting that bad breed being in charge of such high prestigious Varia."
"Ushishi, last time the prince checked, it was just more mindless killing who careless of Vongola itself," retorted Bel. He wanted to escape from Squalo's grasp again, but stayed to see what is Talbot's angle.
"Your point?" Talbot asked as if waiting for them to figure something out.
Squalo stared at him, "Do you wish for more enemies?"
"You can attack, but keep in mind little ones," Squalo growled and Bel's smile looked strained, "the one who will suffer the most is that nobody's child boss of yours, to put it in clean terms." They sneered at him.
"Voi, wait for the signal," Squalo whispered to Bel who nodded, trusting his superior officer. Suddenly they felt a wave of illusion weaving around them.
"K-ching, the prince recognizes that annoying feeling anywhere," smirked Bel and prepared to throw his knives out.
"I don't like posers either, your wannabe highness," Fran's deadpanned voice echoed in Squalo's and Bel's head.
"Guess what, Shark-man? Master Mammon is-gshz!" someone interfere the message for a second, but Fran went on, "Master is acting weird."
"VOI! FOCUS ON YOUR JOB, I DON'T FU**ING CARE WHAT THAT BABY DOES-" Squalo projected his thoughts once Fran solidify a mental link between the three of them.
"Oh, Master stopped floating, and Fantasia is not responding," they sensed a faint feeling of panic from the young illusionist in training, "and were are about to be attacked by some weird zombie things."
Before they responded to that statement, an explosion or flames of wrath went off from between them and the enemy. Squalo ducked a flying wine glass.
"Fu**ing trash! Go save those two idiots from themselves!" growled Xanxus. His scars became more dominant when he caught sight of Talbot. The blank looking guards image wavered to reveal the living dead walking.
"Pity, Gokudera might know how to defeat these things," Bel sighed dramatically then saw Lussuria and Levi, "Ushishi, or our residential dead body expert Lussuria works too!"
"Mou! Any guards you see are infiltrators, so go Varia, GO!" Lussuria cheered out from kneeling an enemy trying to destroy Xanxus' throne chair that Levi conjured up.
"Take out the trash! Right, Boss, right?!" Levi excitedly sparked lightning around himself. The Varia rain and storm nodded and went through the enemy-free path Lussuria eagerly created with his metal knee.
"WHOSE BRILLIANT IDEA WAS TO LEAVE TWO UNGUARDED ILLUSIONISTS TO FEND THEMSELVES ANYWAYS?!" Squalo yelled as they chopped through the undead alongside with a gleeful Bel.
"Ushishi, you did!" Bel snickered at his superior's lack of memory.
"VOI! BRAT! I DID NOT! BOSS DID!" he ducked wine glass and was now under the illusions to get out of there.
Lussuria giggled, "Come along, let our leader~ have his battle and support him by defeating these fashion disasters~" Lussuria dragged Levi from Xanxus' side and went on the offensive.
"Fine let's get rid off these low lives," an annoyed Levi took out his umbrellas.
Xanxus ignored his throne chair and faced Talbot. He took out his pistols and fired them up in preparation.
"It has been a while boy," an elderly man leaning on a staff with a black bandana over his eyes faced toward the rage he senses is at.
DREAM REALM, OTHER DIMENSION
Chrome got lost when she fought back the strange river that tried to let her somewhere. She caught glimpses of her friends talking to their younger selves. Then she saw Reynardo stressed out, alone in his office working on paperwork that was classified and speaking with irritated Elders something about the guardians are too out of line. Before she can see what happened after wards, she no longer was able to hold back since Chrome is now low on her mist flames. She suddenly landed on a cold ground and heard two gasps that sounded exactly the same. She looked up.
"Two Mukuro-samas?" With one eye she looked at her cousin staring at one side of her and a weaker (younger?) one on the other side. It seemed she stood between them who both had their tridents pointed at each other.
"Chrome?! What happened to you?!" the younger Mukuro rasped out, staring at her eye patch. He glared at his older self, "What were you doing when that happened to her?!" The older Mukuro showed no sign of discomfort, but Chrome saw a hint of it in his normal looking eye.
"Oya, oya, why should you care since you prefer to be locked up here instead of stopping it from happening, not that it would matter," Mukuro casually said as he twirled his trident. The younger one growled.
Chrome looked around and realized she was in Vindicare Prison; fortunately she came out of her shock when she saw, "Bossu!" Tsunayoshi blankly stared at her and looked around.
"Wait what?!" Tsunayoshi gapped as he realized she was talking to him. Mami laughed.
"More invisible people?" Iemitsu resignedly asked.
"Aren't you dead?" Chrome cocked her head in confusion.
Tsunayoshi flinched at the question, "What do you mean by that? He asked the same thing," Tsunayoshi pointed at the older Mukuro. She frowned and silently scrutinized Tsunayoshi.
"You're not our Bossu," she stated. Tsunayoshi shook his head, but then looked at his glowing pocket.
The younger Mukuro stared at the confident look of his cousin, "how's the world outside?"
"Better with you Mukuro-sama," smiled Chrome. The younger Mukuro blinked and smirked.
"Fine I wish to be release, but not because you said so," the younger one glared at the older one, who happened to stand in front of the oblivious Iemitsu. He nodded confused.
"Of course, I'll never trust myself either way or no matter when in this case, kufufu," Mukuro darkly laughed.
"I would trust you," Chrome and Tsunayoshi protested in synch. They turned to each other and smiled.
"What?! My Tunafish trusts more a convict than his own father?!" Tsunayoshi's eyebrow twitched at his father's protests.
"Iemitsu Sawada, are you finished talking to yourself? We will now start the process with the prisoner's agreement. We will need your sky flame to finish the approval of the deal of letting him and his minions in probation." Older Mukuro blinked and stared at the reluctant look of Iemitsu feeling déjà vu. He turned to face his younger self and notice his glazed look.
He frowned. He then noticed Chrome who was inspecting a mist flamed stone from Tsunayoshi's hands.
"Kufufu, why little bunny," he gave a mischievous smirk, "already giving gifts to my Chrome? Without my permission, tut-tut."
Tsunayoshi blushed, "It's not like that!" Then turned to Mami, "Its not working."
"Mmm? You must be missing something," Mami off-handily said as she finished muttering a spell or code and waved her hands in abrupt movements. Then she stared at Chrome and the older Mukuro in surprise, "You guys still here?"
Mukuro grabbed both Tsunayoshi and Chrome and leered at Mami, "Oh, feeling lonely, don't worry my sweet tomato," Mami growled, "I am going nowhere." Feeling curious, older Mukuro grabbed the stone to look closer. He felt himself fade.
"Sorry," Tsunayoshi looked at him sheepishly at a raised eyebrow of older Mukuro and panicking Chrome, "even if I wont remember this meeting." Chrome quickly holds on to Mukuro as they disappeared.
Mami pulls Tsunayoshi and left without so much a goodbye at a surprise Iemitsu before he pulling out a reluctant younger Mukuro from his cell.
"I am Lambo! You are Lambo!...We all…are….Lambo…" Lambo sang, but after singing nonstop for hours, he started to falter. Just as he was about to panic and pull out his bazooka or grenades he heard a familiar voice.
"Hey little one," Lambo grinned brightly when he saw a familiar man.
"BOSS!" He jumped into the laughing man outstretched arms.
"Silly child, how many times I have to tell you I am your father? Call me Papà!" Pouted the Bovino Boss.
"BOSS IS MORE AWESOME!" Lambo heard good-natured laughter behind him. He turned and squealed.
"Lambo-sama knew his Famiglia were not dead, Lambo-sama knew it!" Lambo cried out what would have been smug if it wasn't for the tears and snot.
"We've been watching you my little bambino, I'm so proud of how brave you been," the Bovino boss whispered to his son as he tighten his hold on the wailing boy.
"We are just in another dimension because that wannabe Decimo guy warned us and needed our help with something," one of the scientists in Bovino's Research and Development department explained.
"Yeah and you lot almost had to be destroyed for real if you hadn't heeded his warning!" snapped a young girl. She muttered, "For bunch of geniuses, they were sure were idiots."
There was an outcry, "Bovinos are the most eccentric and proud of it not idiots!"
Lambo quickly clean himself in his father's coat and interrupted, "Who are you creepy eyed pineapple wannabe?"
"Pineapple wannabe..?! Why you little…!" the young girl was hold back by a younger boy.
"Mami-chan, don't be rude to him," it was a familiar brown spikey haired boy with warm brown eyes.
"Tsuna-nii!" Lambo latches onto him, "Gwahahaha! Take that Bakadera! Lambo-sama found him first!"
"Um.." he looked down at the beaming boy in confusion.
"Worry not Vongola," the Bovino boss smiling happily, "I'm betting you will met my son, though before you entered this interesting pocket dimension, Lambo was still a couple of months old or so."
"Eh?! You are the past Tsuna-nii? But Tsuna-nii is ten not bigger!" Lambo pouted.
"It's complicated you little brat," Mami huffed still annoyed at being compared by that pervert who she now regrets to give Tsunayoshi to.
"Lambo-sama is not stupid! Try me!" at the background the Bovinos cooed at the heir.
"Sorry Lambo-sama," Tsunayoshi began, "maybe we could explain to you later. Right now don't you have a mission?" Lambo was about to complain, but on the mission part, he brightens up.
"Yes Tri-Sky Rescue Mission!" Tsunayoshi laughed good-naturedly and patted the boy.
"Well the Tsuna-nii you need rescuing is not past-Tsuna-nii, which is me, but if you get this stone, you will level up and able to rescue your-Tsuna-nii." Mami and the Bovinos stared at Tsunayoshi's explanation.
"What? I pay attention sometimes," Mami wasn't impressed, "fine it just felt right saying it-"
He was cut off by Lambo's outburst, "Then Lambo-sama accepts your payment!" Tsunayoshi shook his head in amused look and took out the lightning stone.
"Wait isn't that the stone-" another Bovino scientists began. Mami glared at them to silence.
"Don't touch it Lambo!" Tsunayoshi looked up in confusion at the panicked look of the Bovino boss.
"Why?!" whined Lambo, just inches from touching the stone. The Bovino ignored him and looked meaningful at the head of the R & D department.
"What? Oh!" She quickly pulled out a couple of rolls of plans and a jump drive. Mami was suspicious and Tsuna was looking hopeful trying not to look at Mami.
"Give these plans to your caretakers, Giannini and Spanner, alright?" the woman said. Lambo cutely looked determined as he nodded and put them in his afro. The woman nodded to Mami and Tsunayoshi to proceed.
"See you soon Lambo-sama," Tsuna let the little boy finally reached the stone.
Sticking his tongue out, Lambo said, "Tsuna-nii has permission to call me Lambo-sama Lambo!" Teary eyed, the Bovinos waved farewell as the child disappeared.
"Kufufu, took you long enough," all Tsunayoshi's guardians stared at each other.
Lambo whined stopping his foot, "Lambo-sama wanted to stay longer!"
"Shut it you annoying cow," Hayato glared at the pouting child, "Did you already forget our mission?"
"Aw, but Hayato don't be like that," Takeshi put in, calming somewhat the storm flame user.
"HEY! ISN'T THAT THE EXTREME KIDNAPPER?!" Everyone turned to face what Ryohei was pointing at. There stood a grinning dot eyed, dark haired man with checkered pattern gloves.
"Why are you doing this? What are you gaining?" Hayato asked.
Wonomichi smiled at them, "Everyone needs friends and its cruel to lose them, no?"
They stared at him confused and wariness. Before they could ask what he meant, Wonomichi cupped his hands and an orb formed above them.
"Go save him before Uncle Kawahira finishes his plans, Rey-Rey cannot postpone it any longer," were his last words before they were engulf at the sudden rapidly enlarging orb.
A/N: Sorry for taking so long! My laptop gave out lose most of files and once I caught up, then came the Ryohei's section problem. Thank you to those who faithfully waited for this update, and yes I am almost done. :)
When I started this story, I had Reynardo to be my OC who was one-dimensional lame villain, but nooo he just had to have a reason for his so call madness and Talbot was a surprise for me. Thank you for still holding on!