Pinkie's Part:
Hihi, arigatou for the responses. It really makes my day, and it always will. I'm happy that you are all enjoying the story still.
Beta'd by CoffeePocky. She's pretty much awesome.
Influenced by the song Shadow of a Man by Jhameel. :)
I apologize for some of the content; like mentioned previously; I do not like inflicting pain to characters..whether it be physicallly or mentally. However, sometimes it just cannot be helped.
Enough of my rambles.
onward.
Chapter: When I Say So.
A hushed symphony of carefully placed footsteps was greeted with the smallest sound of protest. The slippery sound of rubber smacking against skin, and small, yet heavy objects being lifted bounced off the walls. It was then followed by little clicks of glass that resonated as liquid was stirred quickly. The small viles reflected in the dark as the fluid was extracted by a needle. A small amount was discharged through the tip, before it was introduced to the gentle rise and fall of someone's chest. A muffled rise of a weak voice was followed by silence, and then the process was repeated.
The dark, dingy room was lighted by a single candle in the center of a table placed randomly in the enclosed space. The cold metal slab that the victim had been placed upon was covered by a thin sheet of linen; the white color had long vanished after the stains of blood, sweat and tears had settled into its once pure pigmentation.
A male cried out as several sharp pains began to pulse at once. The slender form twisted away from the administrator, his whimpers being a full indication that he wanted these ministrations to stop. He willed his cries to be as quiet as possible, but alas, they were drawn out shamelessly and mixed with malicious, crazed laughter.
"Ne, ne little bunny... do you like pain?"
A flash of white blurred into the walls. The sides of Tsuna's vision began to waiver as the brunette's eyes filled with hot tears. The strength within him pulsing, but was being progressively drowned out with the medications forcibly pumped into his system.
Mischievous fingers slid under the thin shirt of which clung to sweat slicked skin. The raised, irritated pores were red-tinted with the beginnings of an infection. A childish giggle rose and then fell soon after. Violet eyes glinted with a predatory charm as fingers drew thin pink lines down the white surface. Amber eyes glanced around; glazed with sadness and a withering will.
Tsuna cursed to himself, the inner strength of Tsunayoushi was being dulled. The inner demon that the petite male possessed was thrashing in the medication induced cage. His roars falling onto deaf ears as he continued to lash out. He bit back another cry as a needle dug into his bruised skin. His eyes no longer having the strength to stay open, the glares he had fruitlessly thrown now a fading reminder of the energy he had once had. The flickering flame of a candle tilting was the only image in his retinas as Tsuna fought to stay awake, but was forced once more into a state of rest, the sound of laughter ringing in his ears as his skin burned. The wax from the candle slapping onto his skin, thickening before drying. The surface cracking before another layer was added. Tsuna hissed, the areas in which the heated substance had touched was beginning to throb.
The heavy scent of lilac hung in the air as the white haired male continued this. His eyes glowing as they roamed over the surface of the weakened form before him. He pulled off his latex gloves before dropping his fingertips to the red, burned skin buried beneath the layers of wax. He gently felt the raised injection sites before he smiled.
"Ne, little bunny... I think I'll keep you. The scientist will be upset, but that's one thing I care little about."
The voice had lost all of its childish sweetness; the seriousness in the tone caused Tsuna to shiver. The feather light touches that grazed across his sweaty torso were unpleasant, the wax shavings tickling his sides as they fell, the slight heat from the substance replaced by two large warm hands the kneaded his sides affectionately.
Those hands ventured upwards before rising, and then pushing damp locks of chestnut hair out of amber eyes that fluttered; desperately trying to stay open.
The white haired male dipped his head before placing his lips against the chapped surface of Tsuna's. The protesting huff only caused him to force the jaw open with his fingers, before he invaded the dry cavern. Hot tears filled the brunette's eyes as he was forced into the kiss, he remained still, not wanting to encourage the other; but his prayers were unanswered as the restraints tightened as one Byakuran climbed on top of him after lowering the metal cot.
Tsuna's lower lip trembled as Byakuran nibbled on his ear lobe before licking the smooth surface just below it. The white haired male's hands were wandering down the brunette's sides before resting on his hips. Tsuna let his tears flow freely, his pleas barely heard as the white haired male continued his unwanted affections.
There was then a light tap on the door, and the white haired male begrudgingly stopped. His huff of disappointment caused Tsuna to shudder involuntarily as he let his hands linger for a few more moments before he stood and walked to the door. He pulled it open and disappeared behind it. Hushed, annoyed voices talked back and forth; the muffled volumes made it impossible to decipher the conversation that took place.
A sigh of relief slipped from the brunette's mouth as he heard two pairs of footsteps begin to leave. His body began shaking, and he bit down on his lip. Just how long had he been trapped here? The darkness gave no sense of time, and the exhaustion and malnutrition he was subjected to whilst being injected with that fluid caused him to be too weak to remember how to estimate his surroundings.
Fresh tears now fell from the brunette's eyes. The lines of liquid salt reflected slightly by the dim yellow of candle light. Tsuna tilted his head back and glared through the blurriness at the darkness he was sure was the ceiling of his captive room. He wanted to thrash, to hit something; but alas he was pinned to a metal cot. The cold texture soothing him slightly as he fought to release himself. He gave up, the will to survive, to escape slowly regaining the momentum to disappear.
The brunette closed his eyes, the darkness embracing him, coaxing him into a pseudo state of calm. He soon gave in, his eyelids slipping closed as he allowed the thoughts he kept locked away to berate him. To let him know how useless he truly was. The soft hiccups that accompanied his breakdown were his saddened lullaby.
Tsuna's heart began to beat in the steady rhythm in tune to the only sane thoughts that he currently could process.
Please, Reborn, Please.
Please.
Please.
(HisBarrierWasWeakened)
A certain hitman had wasted absolutely no time in preparing. With Mukuro having been tucked away comfortably in a Vongola cell until Nono could question him appropriately; his part of the bargain had been injuries to the blue haired illusionist were close to minimal, the Vongola Don had noted; albeit surprised- despite the rage that a certain fedora wearing man had displayed through his silence. He shook his head in frustration and murmured something about fools in love.
Elsewhere, a black clad man leaned against the frame of a building. His sideburns bouncing slightly in the breeze. His black eyes scanned the edge of the harbour as people hustled passed him. His expression grim, as he rolled a slip of paper between his fingers. He wanted nothing more than to get things into action.
His ammunition was fully loaded, and he had caved and strapped an additional three guns to his person. The holsters made him feel heavy; but something told him that he would need more help than just his deadly accuracy with a gun. He had scouted the facility. He had watched the time schedule, the changing of shifts between gaurds on duty. He had estimated the amount of men in which would be in any area in any given time. He had weaponry. What he did not have was man power. But did he want to get it, was the question.
Sure he could convince people, he was Reborn. However, would he tell the men that he was rescuing the only living candidate for Vongola, or his lover? His pride as a man was on the line; yet he could care less. His world seeming to dim without the bright smile of a certain lion. His eyes swept up and down the map of the facility. The facility that his little lion had been taken to. He grit his teeth as he thought of the fear that was more than likely plaguing his gentle lover.
The idea of Tsuna in a dark place somewhere, not knowing where he was. The fact that the kindhearted being had been trapped there for a little over two and a half weeks caused the hitman to shake. The mental, detailed image of the petite form huddled on the floor, tears streaming down his face; his soft voice begging to be released. Reborn lost it, his fist coming into contact with the wall he was leaning against. People whom had been passerby's hurried away from the handsome stranger, their looks were a little suspicious, but they carried on.
The raven haired hitman cradled his fist against his chest. His breathing ragged as he tried to calm himself down, shaking his head to regain his composure. Without missing a beat, Reborn pulled out his phone and dialed. The phone line rang three times before a sleepy voice responded. The raven haired man took a deep breath before he started.
"...I need your help...actually, I think I need more than that." He urged. He noticed the octave of his own voice in which had not been used in a good number of years. The tone of desperation, of pleading.
The hushed voice on the other line was now fully awake. Somewhere in China, a muscular man by the name of Fon sat up on his futon. His trained ears taking in the worried voice of one usually confident hitman. The tone was one that was so odd, that Fon sat entirely at attention, doing his best to take in even the shallow breaths that left the mouth on the other line.
"Are you calling all of the Arcobaleno, Reborn?" His voice was cautious, as if doing all he could to ensure that the sanity of the man on the other line would not break. The breathing hitched, and Fon remained still, holding his own breath as he waited.
There was a drawn out silence on the other line, and then a whispered, "Yes...I can't... I can't do this on my own."
Fon's eyes widened as the realization hit him. Reborn never asked anyone for help, ever. His eyes flickered over to his alarm clock-
"I'll be there on the next flight to Italy... I'll call the others. Do not do anything rash, Reborn. Do you hear me?"
There was a good natured snort on the other line, and Fon smiled gently. He bid his goodbyes and threw on his robes with an unrivalled grace. The Chinese man made haste in packing only the items that he found were absolutely necessary. A shake of his head as there was a hurried state in his steps around his flat. Black eyes had glanced once more at the clock, a huff slipped passed his lips, before calm had once more settled into his features.
He had time; had plenty of time. He locked his door behind him and strut to his vehicle. In less then six hours he would be there. He had been sure to send out text messages to the others; to ensure that they would hopefully be arriving around the same time.
Due to the pact that a certain woman had made them swear under; they could not back out. Fon smiled to himself, it had been awhile since he had seen everyone, and despite the circumstance, he was happy he had been called.
On the other end of the world. A weight had been partially lifted from a certain man's shoulders. A breath had somehow escaped the tight shell of his chest as Reborn had closed his phone. A ghost of a smile on his lips, with Fon and the others on their way; he dared to hope that he would see his little lion soon.
"I'm coming. Those bastards better have treated you like the king you are...or so help me god...there will not be a single place on earth they could run to escape me..."
He tipped his fedora before looking to the sky, the usual luminosity now slightly dimmed. His days were numbered, and he wanted nothing more than to spend them with the person who lit up his days. His eyes dropped once more to the map, before he rolled it up and placed it within the inner pocket of his vest. His fists clenched as he put them into his slacks pockets and began to saunter down the street.
Soon, Tsuna. Soon.