Chapter 40: A psychic guesses
So for all of you who tried to guess what File: TFBLAR stood for, I shall reveal it now. Actually it's a bit of selfish advertising and stands for the title of another fic of mine: The Fight Between Leon and Reborn. Which if you haven't read it is about how Leon and Reborn meet; Leon's just been freed from being an Estraneo experiment, Reborn's just been cursed into Baby form that day and Checkerface brings them together on the mountain top. Leon helps Reborn to become the World Best Hitman once again, hence the reference. The Pacifier does weird things to them, such as forcing them to stay near each other, making them have to get used to each other. So take a read if you get bored.
Tsunayoshi looks around himself with eyes so wide it was amazing that they didn't fall out. There was just so much to see. And it made him forget about his sea sickness.
Why would Tsunayoshi have sea sickness?
Because he had just had his first (that he could remember at least) boat ride. That's right, Tsunayoshi had just left Mafia Row. Everyone else was out of the house, even Luce had something important to do, and Viper had lost the competition to see who would take Tsunayoshi with them. But then again, todays tasks were some of the less dangerous ones. Today was not a Varia Day, with no crowns, guns, swords or feathers in sight. Instead, Viper had been asked if she would attend the world largest Psychic Fair. The Money said yes.
Luckily enough, the island of Mafia Row was relatively near the site for this Fair, and as such Viper took one of the boats and rode it to their destination. Tsunayoshi had not ridden a boat before (he couldn't remember the times as a baby), and he hadn't taken well to it. Luckily enough he had not been physically sick, but he had turned almost as green as Verde's hair. Fantasma was not much better, and the frog and the boy had spent most of the ride clinging to each other as they leant over the rails. Viper, not wanting either seasick lifeform to fall over the edge, had had one hand on each of them.
However now that they were back on dry land, both had recovered. Tsunayoshi was currently being held by Viper, twisting in her grip to do his best attempt of looking at everything at once. Fantasma had an easier time since he was sitting on Viper's head. Viper herself was a recognisable figure, with the frog on her head, her cloak and distinctive tattoos, so the crowd parted ways for her. She rather that people didn't since it brought attention to herself, but there was nothing else she could really do.
Viper was not like Luce, by the fact that she hated shopping. Shopping meant handing money over to people. It meant departing with her beloved. Nor did she like how 'window' shopping wasted time. Viper was not a woman who liked to browse the shops and see what was out there. Nope, she preferred to get straight to the point, do the transaction and leave. That way there were less people talking to her who wanted her to depart with her money. The same theory applied to this Fair. She was here to do her part and leave. However, there were a few shops that she needed to visit first. Annoyingly the location of stalls at this fair changed year by year. However she had a tool to combat that. Reaching into her cloak she grabs one of the sheets of toilet roll that was there. Why toilet roll? Quite simply it was the ratio of sheets to cost, aka cost per sheet. Toilet roll was very cheap to buy and you got a vastly huge quantity of it. Tissues, such as the ones in boxes, were more expensive and didn't do the job any better than toilet roll did. The choice was clear in her eyes.
Viper closed her eyes and took a breath in. Knowing what his mistress was doing, Fantasma started croaking in a rhythmic pattern. Tsunayoshi watched on in silence, somehow sensing something was going on here. Viper exhales before taking another breath in. As her lungs get to their full capacity, she sneezes into the piece of paper in her hand. She opens her eyes as Fantasma stops croaking. She takes a look at her newly created map, memorises the location of the stall she wants and sets off on her journey.
As she walks around the corner, she spots the stall she wants. Viper's eyes gleam and she heads straight for it; This was one of the few times people moving out of her way was useful. Tsunayoshi's eyes turn to the stall to see lots of different muted colours, lots of smoke and in some cases, pretty flames. However as they get closer, Tsunayoshi inhales some of this smoke and he sneezes. Fantasma has no such reaction and instead jumps off Viper's head, runs down her arm and onto the stall in question before searching around.
"Ah, Good Morning Miss Mammon and Fantasma." Greets the store holder, obviously happy to see the pair. He even pats the frog before moving a sign out of its way. "What can I get for you today? I believe you would love our new range of scents over here, we have a special offer running on them. But for you, I'll add it to your usual payment instead."
Viper had headed to her favourite Incense store since she needed to stock up. Incense was one luxury she allowed herself, purely to cover up the scent of sweat and 'Manliness' coming from Skull and Colonnello's rooms across the hallway from her. It was rather off-putting. Plus the incense helped her to concentrate and get in the right kind of mood for her divinations and other psychic affairs. More importantly, she needed some to help her gain money later on.
"I'll take my usual along with whatever Fantasma chooses." Viper says. The usual stuff was for her later on, and what Fantasma chose was for the house. The frog hated the smell as much as she did, and had an amazing smell-sense (as opposed to its fashion sense which was awful). The man behind the counter nods before pulling out a bundle of sticks from under the counter.
"I'd got them ready for ya since I knew you'd be coming." The man smiles before handing over a black bag. "And what d'ya want little guy?" he asks, bending down to look at Fantasma. Said frog was currently standing between two sticks of burning incense, looking back and forth between the two. Viper bounces Tsunayoshi in her arms slightly, gaining the child's attention.
She places Tsunayoshi down near where Fantasma was. "Which one do you like best between these two?" She asks him. Taking the first stick, she waves it in the air infront of Tsunayoshi, drawing some sort of symbol. After a second she prompts him to smell the smoke that was left behind. She repeats the process for the second stick.
Prepared for the strong smelling smoke, Tsunayoshi didn't sneeze this time. "Hmm, that is a hard pick Fantasma." The frog nods its agreement. "But I like the first one best!" Tsunayoshi clapped his hands when he made the decision before pointing to the one he meant.
"That's a good pick boy," comments the owner "created using a rare flower Down Under, I didn't tell anyone but it's limited edition." The owner then sets about bagging up the sticks of this rare incense before handing over the second bag to Viper. "I didn't expect ya to 'ave a kid Miss Mammon."
Viper blushes and quickly snatches the bag from the man's hand. "He's not my child by blood. However he is family."
Tsunayoshi beams brightly before saying in an extremely cute voice, "I love Mammon!"
Viper is quick to grab the child and the frog and vacate the area in as little time as possible.
"Viper, what's the 'usual payment'? You didn't give him any money. Luce says you have to give people money when you get stuff from them." Tsunayoshi asks curiously.
Deciding it was best to focus on the Money-orientated question rather than the memories of that scene, she quickly answers, "I have a deal with him. I get things for free and he can use my name as a selling point. If he says that I've brought a certain stick of incense, then other people are going to buy it too. It's mutually beneficial."
"Moo-chew-ly what?" he asks, not understanding that word.
"Mu-tu-al-ly Ben-i-fic-ial. Mutually means for everyone involved equally and beneficial means that it's good or a positive thing. So mutually beneficial means that it's a good thing for the both of us. Tell Verde that later, he'd be happy."
"Yeah! Verde would be happy!" sings Tsunayoshi.
They eventually come to an official looking table with people running to and from it, all holding pieces of paper and talking quickly. One person- who happens to be in the middle of the largest group of people- looks up and notices Viper's approach. Elbowing her way out of the crowd, she quickly comes over and shakes Viper's hand.
"Welcome back! Welcome Back, Miss Mammon. We are honoured that you could make time in your busy schedule to come here. Everything has been set up for you just like you asked for. Here, let me escort you." The smile never left the woman's face, even if she did look drop dead tired already. The Fair hadn't even started yet. It was only support staff and other traders that were here at the moment.
They follow the nice lady to a room leading off the main walkway. Viper was sure to get lots of customers from this position. Already signage and banners had been placed around to advertise. They are lead inside where black and purple curtains are covering the walls. Apart from that, there is very little else in the room, just a table and chairs along with stands in each corner.
"Would you like me to get a chair for your guest too?" asks the lady, finally noticing Tsunayoshi hiding behind Viper's cloak. Viper nods and the lady talks into the walkie-talkie attached to her hip. Within minutes another chair is brought along and covered in a purple material to match the rest of the room. After that the Manager says some other things that were all basically meaningless polite babble before leaving.
Viper places her bags down on the table before bringing out the first of the bundles of incense. "Fantasma, check these." She prompts. The frog climbs out of her cloak and sniffs the sticks before nodding and retreating back into the warmth. Viper walks outside before placing the sticks into their holders and lighting them.
"Viper, what are they for?" Tsunayoshi asks, watching her place the sticks all around the doorway and the surrounding area.
Now finished, Viper brings Tsunayoshi back inside and closes the door. "They are to draw customers in. According to research Verde did for me, the individual notes of this scent draws in customers and makes them more willing to part with their money. Something to do with the effects these scents have on the brain, I'm not sure. But he said this one was the best one to use, so that's why I buy it regularly. It was worth paying him since my revenue increased more than enough to cover the cost and make a reasonable profit on top. I had Fantasma check them to see if they still contained all of the ingredients that were needed. Verde trained him to be able to detect them all for me." Tsunayoshi looks at Viper with wide eyes.
"Fantasma's awesome then!" he smiles. It amazed Viper that Tsunayoshi wasn't worried about her immoral and unethical use of science to gain a profit, but then again this was Tsunayoshi and he was only young. "And so is Verde. He's so nice helping you like that." Yeah… sure… Verde was nice. It had nothing to do with the blackmail she had stored away, or the considerably large sum of cash that changed hands… No, Verde was just nice wasn't he.
No one minded Viper's blackmail since they all knew deep down that she wouldn't give it out. Viper may seem ruthless when it came to money, and would go to considerable, and sometimes dislikeable, lengths to obtain it, but she was also loyal to those she deemed worthy of it. She knew the others needed her just as much as she needed them. Viper knew that she may have been dead several times over without the protection and support the Arcobaleno gave her, whether it was physical protection from people who owed her money and didn't want to pay (Reborn loved harming these guys for her), or making sure she stayed healthy and ate properly- it gave Luce someone to mother over. They were there for her so she was there for them. And she couldn't exactly do that if she threatened them and they hated her.
Viper took a look at her mobile (Luce insisted on everyone having one) to check what the time was and saw it was nearly time for the Fair to open. "Tsunayoshi, come here." Asks Viper, reaching into a different bag she had brought with her from home. Tsunayoshi follows her over to where the bag is, before looking at the object in her hands. His eyes light up and he starts jumping and bouncing whilst clapping in excitement.
"I get to wear that?!" He asks in utter exhilaration. He was going to wear a mini version of Viper's cloak! How awesome was that? Viper rolls her eyes but can't help smiling as she throws the cloak over Tsunayoshi's shoulders and ties it closed before pulling the hood up.
"Luce made it especially for you in case you ever came out with me. She said something about it completing my image at work. Luckily enough you haven't grown taller a lot since this was made." She rummages around in the bag before producing some makeup and a paint brush. "Stay still!" Viper asks when Tsunayoshi starts bouncing around once more. He couldn't believe he was getting the tattoos too! It was a shame that he couldn't get actual ones like Viper had, but no one would let him, not even Viper herself.
Not long after they are finished, there is a knock at the door. Viper sits down on the seat before pulling Tsunayoshi onto her lap and warning him not to say anything.
"You may enter." Viper says.
The door opens, and a lady in a wizard costume walks in, looking around the room. "Is this it?" the lady rudely asks. Viper rolls her eyes since some people asked that. The room was bare because she didn't need anything else to do her job. Anyone with crystal balls, stars, Wiccan signs, or astrological signs about the place either was a fake or was preying on the type of customer who liked clichés. Viper was the real deal and therefore didn't need any gimmicks to cover up her lack of talent.
Viper gestures to the seat across the table from her instead of answering the question. The lady does so before leaning forwards in a business like manor. "I hear that you're the best. So I want my fortune told please."
One of the most common things she was asked for was for fortunes to be told, so it was a good thing that she was ESPer Mammon, and Precognitive abilities were one of her skills.
Viper was silent for a few moments and the customer patiently sat there, eyes fixed on Viper's form, watching every little twitch and movement.
"If you keep on working on that Business deal with the Chinese company, it shall prosper. You should work through any problems that occur and you will be rewarded greatly in the end. You'll finally have enough money to buy that diamond necklace you keep on looking at in Lacie's." There is more silence for a few moments at the lady across the table collects herself and gets her jaw off the table.
"You really think that deal is worth it? I keep on telling the Bosses but they don't listen to me." Pouts the customer, leaning her elbows on the table.
Viper nods. "You have a good business sense. For the seeable future you'll create many good ones. However, I'd stay away from the Russians, they'll try to trick you like they did last time. You shouldn't fall for it this time around." Viper continues.
The woman drops her jaw again. "How did you know about that? Hardly anyone knows about that, it was never made public. You really must be good." Smiling, the lady reaches across the table and vigorously shakes Viper's hand. "Thank you! It was better than I thought it was going to be." She left a pile of cash on the table before bowing and leaving the room.
Viper's hand shoots out and grabs the money before counting it in a practiced gesture. This makes Tsunayoshi giggle since it was so like her.
"That Lady is a lucky one. You were right, she'll be good at her job." Tsunayoshi smiles.
Viper looks down at the boy. "How do you figure that?"
Tsunayoshi furrows his eyebrows and brings a hand to his chin. "I don't really know. I just got this feeling." Even before the revelation at the Bovino House, Viper had learnt that these feelings were often true. It was interesting to see that their predictions matched.
Before she can ask anything else, there is another knock at the door. This time a man enters and sits down.
Viper is surprised when Tsunayoshi grabs her cloak and buries his face in it. However she didn't have time to worry over him at the moment.
Sometimes when she wanted things to go quicker, or when she wanted to understand her customers better, she used her telepathy to read the customer's mind. This time certainly sped up the process. It was also now clear why Tsunayoshi was crying into her robe. "What you are thinking is true. You're time on this Earth is nearly up."
The man looks at her with eyes that accepted the truth since he had guessed it himself. "How much-"
"I would say you have a month left to live. You're going to feel worse during that time, but your passing shall be painless. If it's any help to ease your mind, I know that, whilst they may grieve and be affected by your loss, very few bad things will happen to them from now on. You can leave them knowing you've done enough to set them up for a good life. You've done well for them."
The man nods, tears falling from his own eyes. The man stands up, wipes the tears away and takes the payment from his pocket before laying it on the table. "Thank you." He whispers before leaving.
Tsunayoshi looks up as the door closes. "It's so sad." He sniffs. "He is a good person. He doesn't deserve to disappear." Viper agreed, and stroked the boy's back in a soothing manor. Fantasma crawls down Viper's sleeve to appear infront of the boy. Tsunayoshi picked him up and gave the frog a cuddle before stroking him.
"Not everything I have to say is happy Tsunayoshi. It is a truth of this world that there is bad and good. Everything must come to an end eventually, it is an inescapable fact. However at least he can properly say goodbye to the people he loves before leaving them."
After a few minutes, when Tsunayoshi has calmed down, still stroking Fantasma, the next customer arrives.
"You want me to tell you about your boyfriend? Whether he's suitable for you or not?" The lady nods before looking at Viper expectantly.
This was something that required Viper's Retrocognative abilities. After a few moments, she said, "He's been cheating on you. It's true that he does love you, however he doesn't like-" Viper suddenly remembers that a small child is in the room and covers the boy's ears with her hands. "how you are in bed. He goes to this other woman for a purely physical relationship. But like I said, that doesn't mean he doesn't love you. You've been his longest relationship so far. He's never kept a woman for longer than 2 years, 3 months and 12 days before."
The girl before Viper doesn't look happy, in fact she looks like she wants to punch something. So before the woman can get too angry, Viper continues on, "You should remember all that he's done for you, like the trip to the gallery in Paris, or the trip to the Pyramids. You need to remember that date on August 14th. Remember the top 5 things you like about him: his intelligence, his job and pay, your shared interests, his looks, and the respect he gives you. Weigh that up against his only mistake and see whether he's still worth it."
The girl thinks about this for a moment. She gets up and starts mumbling angrily to herself. With clenched fists she pays Viper and leaves.
"Poor Lady." Comments Tsunayoshi. "Ne, Viper are you connected to the Ranking Planet too?"
Viper wasn't expecting that question and slowly looks down at the boy. "What makes you say that?"
"Well, you said her top things she likes about him, right? That's what Fuuta does too." Tsunayoshi had seen Fuuta last week when Verde had made another visit. Apparently his top flavour of ice cream was Vanilla Chocolate Chip.
"No, I'm not. I just used what's known as Clairvoyance. It's an ability to be able to gather information about a person or object that I shouldn't be able to know otherwise." She explains. Tsunayoshi nods, kind of getting what she was talking about.
"You know Tsunayoshi, they say that ESP is also known as intuition. So maybe you have it too." The Vongola Hyper Intuition may have been a type of ESP passed down through bloodlines. Although as far as she could tell, Tsunayoshi's intuition only worked on people though, whereas hers worked on objects too. Him being able to stop Lal's traps was purely down to the training they had put him through, and possibly this other Tsuna's memories and experiences.
The day continued on in a similar fashion, with various reactions coming from Tsunayoshi even before the clients had said anything. But altogether, they had a fun time.
"Can you do my future Viper?" Tsunayoshi asks on the way home, trying not to be sick from the waves.
"Well, I predict that you're going to be a pain in the ass, a huge depletion in my bank account, a cause of worry, concern… and someone that I want to keep seeing in my future for a very long time."
Well then, there we go. I hope you all enjoyed it and aren't high on a marshmallow rush from last chapter.
And I can't believe I've left this for so long, but please check out this awesome fanart by Amplifying Loud.
http: (/) baby g panda. (It doesn't like this word, keeps on deleting it even with loads of spaces, but it's the usual site) art .com (/) art (/) Tsunayoshi - with - Natsu - Rawr - 311568779
I'm so sorry for leaving this so long Panda! *bows Gokudera style many many many times*
See you next time!
Phantom Hitman 1412
First Published 27 September 2012
A psychic guesses,- at a fair where she's doing her work. People enter the tent, and Tsunayoshi says whether they are good or not with HI, she doesn't serve the man who Tsuna hates,. Tsuna cried for a man whose about to die. Oppsie, forgot a bit :P
Esper:
Precognition- the ability to predict the future
Retrocognition- the ability to tell past events when there is no other way for the user to have known that.
Clairevoyance- present seeing, the ability to gather information about a person or object through means other than the human senses
Telepathy- to hear others thoughts.