Peripeteia
A fanfiction by Yuri Warren
Disclaimer:
1) Katekyou Hitman Reborn belongs to Amano Akira and its related companies; I only borrow the characters in the manga/ anime.
2) Peripeteia belongs to The Cloud's Essence with permission for adoption.
Summary: Tsuna was a well-known thief. And after another work-filled day, the most influential mafia Famiglia requested his assistance. Story adopted from The Cloud's Essence.
Author's Note: Got a bit fight with my mother…currently very unhappy.
Thank you to everyone who following, reviewing and favouring this story, I really appreciate it.
Chapter 03: Threats and Information
Tsuna watched as Reborn took a calming breath and the pressure alleviated a little. "Now tell me Bambi, what just happened."
Tsuna was confused, didn't Reborn know already? "What just... happened?"
Reborn sat down in one of the hotel chairs. A light bruise was already blooming his cheek.
Please let it be gone before he looks in the mirror, Tsuna hoped, but he already knew it would be there for a while. He could punch pretty hard.
Reborn drank from an cup – Tsuna wondered if where it came from – and clarified, "Yes, what just happened."
"Um, I accidentally," he cringed, "punched you?" Please don't mention the shriek. Please don't mention the-.
"Wrong." Reborn stated calmly. Wrong? How is that wrong? "Nothing happened. You came in, I greeted you, and that was it; right?" The same glare appeared again, but was gone when Tsuna nodded rapidly.
He got the message. Reborn wouldn't mention his screaming, and he wouldn't mention the punch. If anyone ever found out either, it'd become the joke of the year. The embarrassing meeting could potentially follow them throughout their careers. They'd be the laughing stocks in the criminal world: Bambi shrieks like a girl or Reborn punched by a shrieking Bambi. Yep, it didn't fair well for either of them.
Reborn continued to drink from the same cup. Tsuna had a feeling the beverage was what was keeping him from snapping. Lucky me.
Tsuna bowed his head towards Reborn in a attempt to restart their introductions, "It's nice to meet you, Reborn."
Reborn reciprocated with a simple tilt of his fedora, "We'll see, Bambi." An awkward silence stretched on. Tsuna shifted uneasily on the bed, no longer tired from the earlier commotion that was agreed never happened. That made no sense, did it?
Tsuna stared harder at Reborn and realized something. He was the only one suffering from nerves, while Reborn was acting like he owned the place. Deciding to not delay, and get the man to leave as soon as possible, Tsuna broke the silence.
"Vongola Nono said I was to receive the information from you." Tsuna said all nervousness surrounding him gone.
Reborn raised his eyebrow at the sudden change. The kid may be bi-polar, but he'll leave that up for later speculation.
Reborn simply replied, "Yes, I have it."
"May I have it?" he asked unsure.
The hit man's lips grew into a devilish smirk. "No."
Tsuna felt his irritation rising. "What do you mean no?" the brunet ground out. He hated it when people messed with him.
The black-haired man sighed exasperatedly, as if the answer was obvious, "You don't expect me to give out information for free, do you? I'll be kind and charge you 50-50. You answer my questions and I'll answer yours."
I needed the information to complete the job. Blood drained from his face. If I don't complete the job, the Vongola would become angry. When the Vongola is angry, bad things. I don't want to die yet, or worse... .
"I wouldn't think you would." Reborn said. Tsuna stared at Reborn shocked. Did I talk out loud again?
Reborn grinned, "No, you're face is just easy to read." Tsuna frowned at this. That's bad, good thieves aren't supposed to be easy to read. Does that make him a bad thief? He discarded the thought instantly, what does it matter anyway? He's still a criminal.
A folded paper was placed on the bed. Tsuna looked up.
"Directions," Reborn grunted, nodding towards the paper, "Go there tomorrow."
Tsuna continued to frown. Usually he was aware when people were close to him. Being distracted in front of a hit man is definitely not good. Especially one you just punched.
Tsuna glanced at Reborn's cheek, and to his horror the bruise was bigger and darker than before.
The hit man was waiting for an answer. Unable to trust his voice at the moment, Tsuna nodded.
Reborn grunted and walked out. The door shut with a soft click. Tsuna's shoulders relaxed and the brunet collapsed on the bed. Finally, Reborn was gone. The hit man's presence was discomforting, to say the least.
He'll have to try his best to answer the questions without giving too much information. Maybe it didn't matter one way or the other, the Vongola wouldn't give out his information easily. They were one of the few trustworthy criminal organizations.
The teenager crawled under the covers and fell into a deep sleep.
Tomorrow would be a long day.
Bambi slid into the seat across from me. He was in casual clothing again, but this time a white t-shirt and tan shorts. Reborn found himself wondering if the kid really was dressing to blend in or had cheap tastes. A smiling waiter approached them.
"Welcome to Takesushi, what would you like?" The boy greeted. Reborn noted it was most likely Yamamoto Tsuyoshi's son: Yamamoto Takeshi. His cousin talked about the boy constantly.
Bambi smiled at the boy, "I'll have the nigiri special please."
So Bambi could speak Japanese fluently? He doesn't even have an accent.
"Tekka Maki," Reborn told the grinning Yamamoto.
"Okay, I'll be right back with that." Yamamoto left with the menus. Reborn and Tsuna sat in silence until Yamamoto came back with their order. They started eating.
He switched to Italian, "A name." Tsuna looked up and Reborn nearly pinched the bridge of his nose. Did he have to explain everything to this kid?
"Your name, and you'll get one question"
A smile was forced on Bambi's face and it looked like he was struggling with something, "Bambi."
Reborn crossed his arms, "Your real name or nothing."
Bambi sat back and thought for a while, "Tsuna."
"What kind of name is Tuna?" he criticized. Did Bambi really think he would fall for Tuna?
Bambi's eye twitched, "Tsu-na. Tsu not tu."
"What about last name?" Reborn asked Tsuna. Tsuna finished nibbled on a shrimp nigiri.
"None. I answered your question, so it's your turn. How did it happen?" He said sharply.
Reborn scowled. As if he'd believe that, but Tsuna had answered the question. "The ring was being transported to the heir. It was stolen before it reached him." Reborn took another bite, then said his next question as a statement, "Birth place."
Tsuna rolled his eyes, "Earth."
A glare was directed at him. "Don't get smart with me, kid. You know what I mean."
"Italy." He replied and continued to eat.
"I need more specifics than that. A city or a town." Reborn said. Leon crawled down from his hat onto the table. The green chameleon nibbled on rice that had fell out of the roll.
Tsuna stared at the chameleon for a while, making no indication he had heard. Reborn couldn't tell what the child was thinking, which was weird. He had been so easy to read before.
He poked at his food, "I don't know. I moved around a lot when I was little. I didn't stay in one place very long."
So apparently Tsuna doesn't have a last name, and he doesn't know where he was born? Even if he was an orphan, they usually can tell the children that information. He may be a street rat, that would make his occupation make sense. But that would only make it harder to find information of his past. It was likely why he couldn't find a name or face, even with prints. The kid wouldn't be in the system.
Reborn was about to inquire about this when he heard a familiar laughter.
"Reborn! What are you doing here in Japan? I thought you were on a business trip in America?" A man spoke in Japanese, and laughed. Reborn turned and stared at him: Asari.
He didn't think Asari was going to be visiting his uncle and cousin today.
"Aren't you supposed to be in high school?" Reborn asked pointedly. Asari should learn how to read the mood.
Asari smiled – Reborn noticed the similarities between the two cousins, "It's Sunday, Reborn."
"Ah, Asari! How've you been?" Yamamoto asked pleasantly surprised by the visit. The middle schooler hugged his cousin.
"I've been doing wonderfully, Takeshi-kun. Have you been well?" Asari responded just as cheerfully.
"Haha, of course," Takeshi gestured to Reborn and Tsuna, "Are they friends of yours?"
Asari laughed, "No. Reborn," he gestured towards the said man, "is just an acquaintance." Asari looked thoughtfully at Tsuna, "And I believe he is Reborn's friend, um...?"
Tsuna looked up waved his hands in front of him, "Oh no, you're mistaken. I'm just visiting, and I happened to get lost. Reborn-san here was kind enough to give me directions, so I'm treating him lunch for his kindness." He rubbed the back of his sheepishly and offered a slight bow of his head, "I'm Tanaka Mamoru. Nice to meet you, um, Azari-san I believe?"
It was delivered perfectly. Reborn himself would've believed it if he hadn't known better. He narrowed his eyes. So the kid was good at lying, but for some reason he felt Tsuna hadn't lied to him yet. It was odd considering the answers he had received. He'll listen to his gut for now, until he was able to check the facts.
Asari looked surprised, then his smile was back on full blast, "No, it's Asari. I didn't know Reborn was that kind. I guess everyone has good in them."
The idiot eyes wandered towards Reborn, and widened again. "What?" Reborn nearly spat.
Asari hesitated, "U-uh, wel-ll, I was j-just wonde-dering, where that b-bruise came f-from? Hahaha... ."
Reborn glared at Asari. He took a step back. Sweat ran down the side of his face. "N-no. Not at all Reborn. You can just be a bit stubborn sometimes." He laughed nervously and glanced at his wrist, "Well, I have to go. See you later Takeshi-kun, Reborn, Tanaka-san."
"Ah! Bye then, Asari! Stop by whenever!" Yamamoto shouted at the retreating figure and then went back to serve other customers.
Tsuna snorted, "He didn't even have a watch, but I'm guessing he must have been in a hurry to get away from you."
Reborn let out a soft chuckle. Who was he one to deny? He loved intimidating people. "Of course, I'm the greatest hit man in the world. It's his survival instincts kicking in for once." I'm honestly amazed that Asari even has any. The man usually has no sense of self-preservation usually.
Takeshi appeared at their table again. He handed Tsuna the check, "Here you go, Tanaka-san!"
Tsuna nodded and gave him a debit card. He signed his 'name' on the check and waited for Yamamoto to return. Reborn looked at the check, and wasn't surprised to see 'Tanaka Mamoru' written in perfect kanji, like he had signed that name his entire life.
He didn't need to check any database to know that identity would check out fine. The kid obviously knew what he was doing.
Yamamoto gave Tsuna 'his' card back and told them 'Have a nice day. Please come back soon.'
"So Tanaka Mamoru?" Reborn asked when they walked into a park. Tsuna scratched his check.
"Insurance?" He offered. Reborn shook his head. The kid was weird. One moment he was hesitant, and then he was suddenly confident.
Tsuna was unsure of where they were going, so he asked. Reborn replied with a flippant, "No where."
"So who did it?" Reborn stopped, causing Tsuna to run into his back.
"Bambi," Tsuna frowned at the name, wasn't Reborn calling him Tsuna now? It was nice actually, he hadn't been called his real name in years. "I'll make this clear. I don't trust you. I've never liked thieves, and I don't like you. But if you ever give away any information you learn on this job: relations, names, places, whatever. I'll make sure to kill you in the worst way possible personally."
Chills ran down Tsuna's spine, "O-okay." He never thought of that, and he'd never do it. Tsuna never disclosed information from his jobs or clients. Not that any asked before, because of the omertà.
But he understood why Reborn explicitly told him. It wasn't often deals like this got this personal. However, now he'll try to be on the opposite side of the globe at all times from Reborn once this is over.
Reborn successfully scared the shit out of him. Not literally; that'd be disgusting.
"Good. And you will answer my questions first, then you can ask yours. Not the other way around." The hit man stated, "How long have you been stealing from the big guys?"
Tsuna blinked. That question was unexpected. He thought Reborn was going to continue asking about his personal life: Family, friends, age, et cetera. Maybe even schools and where he's lived. "Since I was nine."
"How old are you now?" Reborn asked, but he was clearly impressed. Nine was unbelievable age someone would even think of stealing from the rich and influential.
"That's another question Reborn," Tsuna said accusingly at Reborn, "You're cheating."
Reborn looked at Tsuna oddly, "This isn't a game, so I can't cheat." Tsuna pouted. "Fine, shoot." No, he wasn't defeated by the pout. He didn't fall for such tricks; he was Reborn.
"Who did it?" the doe-eyed male asked.
They continued walking down the empty street. "We don't know for sure. The Vongola subordinates who were transporting the ring were killed. Right now, there are only suspicions. The Gesso Famiglia is one. Along with Xanxus."
"But isn't Xanxus the Nono's son?" Tsuna questioned.
Reborn watched Tsuna try to make sense of it. He decided he'll help him out this once, "He wants to inherit instead of Enrico. He's shown himself as a potential threat, so he's first on the list. Unfortunately, we can't just accuse him because of his position; it would cause a controversy."
"Oh," Tsuna breathed.
"That costs you another answer."
The boy looked confused, then realization dawned on him. He had received an extra answer, thus the price was an answer from himself.
"So how old are you?" Reborn repeated his earlier question.
Tsuna shrugged, it didn't really matter on this one. "Fourteen."
The fedora-bearing man broke into a fit of coughs. Tsuna was about to ask him if he was all right, but Reborn's fit ended and he stared incredulously at Tsuna. "So that would mean you've only been in the business for five years? You're really only a kid! Barely a teenager."
"H-hey!" Tsuna started loudly, "I'm almost fifteen, you know?! I'm not a kid, so please stop addressing me as one."
Reborn snorted, "I just realized that Bambi suits you perfectly. You were a just a Bambino when you started." Red rose to Tsuna's cheek. Out of anger or embarrassment, Reborn had no clue.
He went on, "You are a kid. Also, you're short for your age." Tsuna's face fell. It wasn't his fault he had yet to reach his growth spurt. Reborn's taunting smirk wasn't helping his mood either.
They walked in silence once again down a new street. "S-so...," sniffed Tsuna. He hated being called small. And he might be a little insecure about his height.
A glare was shot at Tsuna. "Don't stutter. It's irritating." Tsuna held in a shriek.
He took a breath and started over, "So... all I have to do is find out if Xanxus or the Gesso Famiglia stole the ring and retrieve it?"
Reborn shoved his hands into his pockets. "And everything will be rainbows and sunshine. Yeah, no. It's not that simple, kid. Xanxus has taken over the Varia, I'm sure I don't need to elaborate about them. You've probably heard the stories. They're all true in case you doubt them." Reborn stared intently at a tree, "The Gesso? They've become a problem recently. Have been rising steadily, and have no intention of allying themselves with the Vongola."
That was news to Tsuna. The Vongola was in a precarious position. If they weren't careful, they could be attacked from both the outside and inside.
Reborn continued, "The purpose for you coming to Japan is because the Gesso are rumored to be located here. Apparently they have been sighted here recently, which is especially unnerving."
Tsuna furrowed his brows. 'Especially unnerving'? Maybe Reborn knows more people than Asari here. They must be important to him. Family and, or friends.
His eyes became glassy temporarily, family and friends, huh...?
"So what am I going to be doing if I can't just get in and out?" Tsuna asked.
"No," Reborn answered slowly, "you'll be doing just that, but I'm going to be doing my own negotiations of my own. The Gesso's security rivals even Vongola's. You just have to be careful, and if you're caught Vongola won't back you up. They don't want war, so that's why they hired you and me. My loyalties may lie with them, but I'm not part of the Vongola. We're outside of the family, so the blame can't be put on them."
Reborn looked at Tsuna with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "I'll give you that answer for free right now, but I'll collect the debt later."
Tsuna sweat dropped, that doesn't make a difference. "So what am I going to do?"
"Gather as much information on the Gesso's presence here, and present it to me tomorrow evening. If they don't have it, we move on to Xanxus. If they do, you'll start the hard part."
Sorry for the late update, need to do something important. The next update will be later like this, please bear with it. I'm very unhappy right now….
Thank you for your support. Until next chapter –Yuri Warren.