Chapter 90

And New Experiences

Sorry again for disappearing, but this time I was ill for a week. You know how you get ill after finishing school or after exam week, well it was like that. I'm a lot better now, so I can finally write something for you all.

And well done to all of you who guessed who is appearing at the start of this chapter!

Tsunayoshi followed everyone else towards the room for their science lesson, listening to the chattering going on around him. He hoped that Science was fun, with things exploding and fizzing and bubbling like Verde did sometimes. Although Science was always fun if it meant he got to spend time with Verde, even if it meant sitting and being quiet and still for a long time.

He opens the door and walks inside, looking at all the posters on the walls and the ornaments on the sides and all of the really big books with lots of pictures. They all sat down, looking around with interest. To avoid any fights they all sat in the same places around Tsunayoshi- not that he had noticed this at all. Within a few minutes, a tall man wearing a lab coat and thick green glasses walks in and slams his clipboard onto the desk, drawing quiet from the children around.

"I am Professor Midori and will be your substitute for today. You actual teacher, Clara Bovino is currently ill and will be returning for your lesson tomorrow. I'm merely covering for her as a favour."

Tsunayoshi blinked, and blinked again. The children burst into chatter- guessing correctly that this was the unusual thing that their previous teacher had warned them about. But for Tsunayoshi, there was something else unusual about the teacher, who had spiky green hair, wore two pens in his pocket, had the same dull yet keenly observant eyes as someone he knew very well. It was clearly Verde, with green glasses on instead of black ones and a stethoscope around his neck - a very Reborn-like cosplay change. And just like with Reborn, anyone he asked said that the person infront of them wasn't Verde. But it just had to be, even the name was like one of Reborn's- Midori was Japanese for green after all. Although to think that Reborn and Verde had successfully collaborated on anything was purely a miracle.

Later, when Verde was handing out papers for the students to play dot-to-dot with and draw star constellations (pre-prepared by the actual teacher, Verde would never design something so simplistic) Tsunayoshi almost reaches out to touch him, but he doesn't. All day Verde's had this hard cold atmosphere around him, and it was one Tsunayoshi knew very well. It was his work or public persona, one all of the Arcobaleno had to keep their prestigious reputations in place as unreachable superstars, as the best in their chosen fields, the perfect Arcobaleno. Tsunayoshi knew the implications and rules surrounding this aura too, it meant he couldn't run up and hug Verde.

But Verde catches the look in Tsunayoshi's eyes. Over the past five years he had gotten better at reading and understanding human emotions- something he had never really bothered with before- and it was especially easy when Tsunayoshi wore his heart on his sleeve.

"Why so surprised?" He asks, voice low enough that it won't travel past Tsunayoshi's friends, even if none of them recognised him. "I did say I would see you later, did I not?" He puts the paper down before walking onwards to place the next piece of paper on Enma's desk. Tsunayoshi's jaw almost drops- had Verde… just made a comedic remark? When Verde had said 'See you later' this morning Tsunayoshi had thought it meant what it usually meant, and that he'd see Verde after school. But now he was here instead.

Then it struck Tsunayoshi that it meant Verde had not only left the lab but also snuck in to the school. Tsunayoshi had to wonder whether the teacher was genuinely ill, or whether an 'accident' by Reborn had made it so. Although at least it was a Bovino being his real teacher, they were always fun to work with. So he attacked his work with vigour, grinning like a sane version of Belphegor the whole time, highly delighted with Verde's behaviour, and in Tsunayoshi's eyes, show of love.

His enthusiasm is noted by a lot of people, his fanclub across the room finding his smile adorable, and Hayato thinking it was all rather marvellous. Although, Hayato might have had the wrong idea...

"I didn't know you liked astronomy too Tsunayoshi-sama!" He whispered during the dot-to-dot exercise. It was just like Hayato to know the posh word for this.

"Yeah! I love star gazing," he replies, nodding. It was always nice to go outside with Verde and Colonnello on a cloudless night and watch the stars.

"I do to! Lots of UMA's come from outer space, so I'm always keeping a look out in case they try to communicate with us!" Hayato explains excitedly.

The lesson continues with its astronomical theme, but basically ends up being a game of 'name that picture' as constellations were shown on the projector- luckily lots were animals like Leo or Taurus. However ten minutes later finds the class staring dumbly at their teacher as he talks, none of them understanding every other word that comes out of his mouth, not even Hayato or the mechanics know what Verde is saying.

Only Tsunayoshi is brave enough to do something about it. Verde in work mode was highly overwhelming and rather intimidating, even for adults and other scientists. So gingerly he raises his hand, knowing that Verde doesn't like being interrupted in mid-flow, but knowing that it was important. Verde stops and looks in Tsunayoshi's direction, head nodding to show he could speak.

"Um Ver- Midori-Sensei, you're using big words again." He explains, hoping that no one noticed the slip. In general the class didn't, and those who did were more concerned with the 'again' part rather than the 'Ver' part.

Verde blinks, takes a second to repeat what he had just been saying in his head and realises that he had indeed been talking at too advanced level for these children, even if they were all highly smart for their age. Professor Midori takes another look at his clipboard with the notes Bovino-Sensei had been going to use for this lesson, and starts to re-explain himself in much simpler terms that the rest could understand.

The lesson ends soon enough, Verde making a hasty and to the point exit as usual. Tsunayoshi pouts, he hadn't even gotten to say goodbye. Tsunayoshi stands with his friends, talking to them about the lesson and what they expect from their next lesson, walking across the classroom towards the door. They take a look at the posters and objects on this side of the room, not having gotten to see them earlier.

He looks to the wall closest to him and sees a huge skeleton that was the height of any adult. It didn't scare him, Verde had one like it in the lab, and also one that showed the insides of a person- he had liked to play with it as a baby according to Luce and a grossed out Skull. However it was wobbling, leaning further and further forwards as if it wanted to look over this girl's shoulder. Seeing it waver again, Tsunayoshi knew it was going to fall. He runs forwards, shouting at the girl and pushes her out of the way before the skeleton collapses on top of him. He squeaks at it's weight, and also from yet another impact with the floor (although he was used to it with how clumsy he was).

"Tsunayoshi no!" Enma shouts, rushing over, "Shittopi-chan said that the living dead would rise and attack us!" He almost cries, not sure whether to help Tsunayoshi or run from the moving skeleton. In the meantime, Ken is laughing his head off at Tsunayoshi's misfortune, finding it hilarious, more than used to the small boy's clumsiness from their time together at home. Hayato, who had been at the other side of the room looking at one of the posters of the stars, immediately rushed over to help lift the skeleton off. The girl who he had rescued, along with her friends, and finally Enma, all helped, and soon Tsunayoshi could wiggle free and stand back up again.

"Ah! Tsunayoshi-sama, you're bleeding!" Hayato exclaims, hands waving around in panic.

"Maa maa Hayato, calm down, it's only a nose bleed." Takeshi says, peering over Hayato's shoulder.

"Oh no Tsunayoshi!" Haru cries, "Here, take this desu." She hands over a handkerchief with little flowers in the corners.

"Don't worry Tsunayoshi, it's not a bad one." Enma comments, knowing from personal experience- his family were rather rough, added to his clumsy nature meant he got rather a lot of them.

"I'll take you to see the nurse!" Hayato shouts, hands out to the sides to push everyone away to give him space. The girls agree, as do most of the others. Shoichi doesn't say much, not really liking the sight of blood, it made his stomach hurt. Spanner just hands Tsunayoshi a lollipop as he passes 'to make the ouches stop' apparently.

Hayato mutters the whole time to himself about stupid skeletons and stupid schools that couldn't even take care of their stupid equipment properly, getting angrier and angrier by the second. Tsunayoshi doesn't really mind, knowing that Hayato got into these moods every so often, although these mutterings were usually about pineapple madmen and rabid mutated mutts instead.

The bomber slams the door to the infirmary open, shouting "Oi woman! Come and heal Tsunayoshi-sama!". Tsunayoshi is flabbergasted by Hayato's language, he hadn't heard the other sound like that since he had left his old house. Of course, Tsunayoshi never heard how the residents of The Shed talked to each other, with the exception of Chrome, who demanded respect, both as a female and also because she could be damn scary if she wanted to be.

There is a yawn from over by the window, a lump by the desk moves, sitting up and stretching. "Hmm… stop being so loud in the morning brat." Says a man's voice, not a woman's like they were expecting. "I was having a nice dream until your horrid voice interrupted it."

The speaker turns, and the pair find that it's Shamal.

"Hey, Old Man, what you doing here? Isn't this place too young for one of your Sisters to be here?" Hayato was sure all of Shamal's sisters were in their early twenties or above. He'd never seen Shamal babysit someone their age.

Shamal himself looks disgusted, drawing himself up regally straight. "Of course not you idiot. I'm not a lolicon or a sick pervert." He looks away, a scowl on his face. "I'd much rather be at the high school, at least there the girls have something to look at, flat chests are boring. But No, I'm stuck here with a load of smart brats around my ankles." The pair were sure that Shamal was now talking to himself. "If only Luce hadn't asked so sweetly…"

"The Arcobaleno will be mad at you if you don't fix Tsunayoshi-sama right this instant. You know I'll tell on you." Hayato threatens. And whilst normally Shamal would scoff at the notion of being 'told on', when the Arcobaleno were involved, the threat was a serious danger.

So instead he looks at the rather quiet Tsunayoshi and the red handkerchief. "Nose bleed is it chibi?" Tsunayoshi nods. "Sit down over there, put your chin to your chest and pinch just here really tightly. It'll stop in a minute." Leaning forwards, Shamal shows Tsunayoshi just where to pinch, also feeling to check whether the bone was broken or not. Since the Arcobaleno's kid was alright, he returns to sitting at the desk, flicking through a magazine that was certainly not suitable for either a school nor anyone this young.

Tsunayoshi sits where he's told, Hayato sitting next to him. The silveret looks up at his mentor before asking. "So if it ain't because of a sister, then why are you here?"

Shamal sighs once again, spinning on the chair to look at the boys. "For some extra cash. And because the Arcobaleno asked me to." And so he could chase some sexy teachers and maybe some sexy single mothers, or not so single ones, he wasn't picky. And maybe… so he could watch Lavina's brat grow up in her place.

Hayato seemed to accept this as a reason and instead focused on Tsunayoshi. A few minutes later, the bleeding had stopped, and after a quick wipe with a damp cloth, Shamal kicked them both out, wanting to get back to his nap.

But instead of heading towards their next class, Tsunayoshi takes a different way, Hayato following behind like a puppy. He doesn't know where Tsunayoshi-sama is going, although it looks like they are following someone, if the look on Tsunayoshi-sama's face is anything to go by. Actually Tsunayoshi is following someone, someone who had been watching them for a little while now. Now if only she'd stop walking!

Finally the two boys stop outside of a closed door that read 'Finance' on it.

"Why are we here Tsunayoshi-sama?" Hayato asks, looking at the door. "This is only for adults, we don't have a class here."

Tsunayoshi ignored him, instead putting an ear to the door. Like he suspected there wasn't the sound of anybody in there. Good. "Ne, Hayato, why not go back to class, I'll be there soon." Seeing that Hayato was about to protest, he adds, "You need to check that the others' haven't taken our seats."

"Che, if that baseball idiot thinks he can take my chair I'll prove him wrong. I'll blast him so hard he won't be able to see straight for weeks!" Hayato grumbles, stomping down the corridor towards their next classroom.

Once Hayato was gone, Tsunayoshi slips inside the room, closing the door behind him.

"I'm alright, there's no more ouchies. And I don't need a kiss and a plaster either." He says, smiling up at the person before him.

She grumbles, looking away. "I wasn't checking on you. I was checking to see if that worthless doctor was actually doing his job. If not I'll have to dock his pay. This place, whilst grand and prestigious runs on budgets like any other."

"Shamal was doing his job. He fixed me up." Tsunayoshi protested. "Anyway, what are you doing here Viper? I've already seen Reborn and Verde this morning. Do you all think I'll get into that much trouble?" He tilts his head, looking cute and fragile.

The obvious answer to that question was yes, he did get into that much trouble, but that didn't need to be said. "Well that's not surprising. Reborn is actually the dean of all three schools, this one, the high school and the university. The places pretty much run themselves but Reborn still has the final word on things. And as for Verde, I didn't know he was coming. It's hard enough to get him to teach the odd university lecture, he never teaches anyone younger than that. Did he say why he was there?" Viper asks, looking up from her paperwork, curious. It was hard getting Verde out of his lab for any reason.

"Um, he said that Clara Bovino was sick and he'd come to take over for the day." Tsunayoshi explains.

Viper's pen stops moving and she's glad that her hood covers her eyes or else Tsunayoshi would see them widen. So that's why Reborn had asked her for that information out of her locker… Oh well, Clara's loss.

"Ah, I see." Viper says, her voice not expressing her emotions at the revelation. She then points with her pen at the paperwork around her. "As you can see, I'm here to do the accounts. Reborn pays me handsomely for it," And indeed Tsunayoshi can see her money-happy smile on her face, it really must be a lot of money. "and the Varia don't need me whilst they're stuck here. The accounts are always good at the start of the year, but by the time it comes to the last semester, everything's gone wrong and they're nearly always running out of money. I want to keep a better eye on it this year. I am not losing money again." Tsunayoshi takes a step back at her fierceness. Losing money was a big no-no, he knew that much.

Tsunayoshi pouts, having thought that Viper had snuck in here to see him too. But it seemed that all three Arcobaleno had had legitimate reasons for being here. But he doesn't let that news stop him from walking around the table and jumping onto Viper's lap- the door was closed so it was alright. Plus he didn't want to go back to lessons now, it was far too late. More importantly, he had a feeling that entering a classroom late was a humiliating and scary experience. Considering he'd been on time for both classes so far, he didn't know where these feelings came from, but he wasn't going to ignore them.

He jumps when a bell rings, he had been engrossed in watching Viper work.

"That's the noon bell, you should go outside and find your friends for lunch." Viper explains, lifting Tsunayoshi down.

"Okay Viper. Don't forget to eat lunch too you know." He giggles before walking towards the door. "Bye-bye!"

He walks down the corridors that are filling up with students, noticing the sudden arrival of taller people. They were all coming down from upstairs it seemed. It had been mentioned in a class earlier on that the second and third years had the upper two stories, whilst the fourth and fifth years had the two stories underground. All the students are heading towards the open doors, sunlight, fresh air and general freedom. Tsunayoshi follows the crowd, not really having a choice.

"Hey, who are those scary people in black around the place?" A girl asks to someone who seems like her older brother. Looking in the direction she was pointing, he could see a person dressed in all black and white patrolling the walls of the school, keeping an eye on both the inside and the outside. He realised that this must have been the flash of black he had seen earlier going to sort out trouble in the room above.

"Hm?" Asks the older brother. "Oh them. They are always wearing those funny clothes, but they aren't funny people. They are security guards for the school. If students start very dangerous fights, or if people from outside try to get in then they stop them. You know that some of the students here carry weapons even at our age, and that others are from rich families, so the protection is needed." Tsunayoshi believes that this pair are civilian students or else they wouldn't mind the array of weapons that the mafia children used.

Interested, Tsunayoshi walks over to the man in black, looking almost directly up since the man was walking along the wall.

"Um, excuse me, Mr Vindice sir, but does Bermuda know you're here?" Tsunayoshi asks politely. He only vaguely remembered this particular Vindice, which mean he wasn't one of Bermuda's close friends.

The Vindice member looks down before jumping off the wall to stand infront of Tsunayoshi. His chains were nowhere in sight at the moment, although Tsunayoshi suspected they were under the cloak so he didn't scare the students. "Good Afternoon Tsunayoshi. Of course Bermuda-sama knows that I am here, he was the one that designed the rota after all. Although he gave rather short notice, I was only told this morning." Upon hearing this, Tsunayoshi smiles and giggles- Bermuda had mentioned creating some rotas this morning.

"So why do you have to be here? Surely children our age don't need a security guard?" Tsunayoshi asks, looking up at the man, brows lowered and lips pursed in confusion. This Officer now knew what Jager meant by the child having decaying sweetness.

"For protection. Mafia Bosses' children attend this school. This makes it a prime location for some sort of attack, either between rival and allied forces, against a certain boss in particular. Then this school is known publically for teaching students of high intelligence, which makes it a good target for the general sort of kidnappers and terrorists who want to make a point. This place needs protecting and who better than the Vindice."

"We are the Vindice and our word is law." Tsunayoshi recites, smiling. The Officer bows his head, a hand to his hat in reply.

"You had better run along now Tsunayoshi. I'm sure your friends are looking for you." The Mafia Jailer explains, rising from his bow. Tsunayoshi nods, waving to the Officer before running off to find the others. The Officer jumps back onto the wall, looking down the other side. "Really Bermuda-sama, why did you hide? The child shall notice you eventually."

"Because I'm not supposed to be here." Bermuda explains, peeking over the wall to get a glimpse of Tsunayoshi. "And anyway the boy can take care of himself."

"If you knew that My Lord when why are you here?" Asks a third cold voice. Bermuda freezes, then sighs, knowing he's been caught. "I do believe that there's some very important paperwork awaiting your attention in your office. I'm not letting you get out of it. We can play chase all day if we have to, but it just means you won't be going back to Tsunayoshi tonight."

"Yes Jager, I'm coming." Bermuda sighs again. Why did his right hand have to be such a kill-joy? The pair both leave the premises, leaving the original Vindice officer to get back to protecting the school.

Tsunayoshi hadn't noticed any of this. Since they were around civilians, the Vindice had kept a very tight control on their Flames, making them hardly noticeable. For most Mafioso even just the sight of a Vindice would send them off running scared. Instead, Tsunayoshi weaved his way through the crowds of children eating and playing, trying to find a familiar face. Not seeing anyone, he decides to walk between two buildings to get to the back of the school and see if they were there instead.

But that, it seems, was a mistake.

And with this ends the setting up chapters! Hopefully everything from here on will be more interesting.

See you all next time!

Phantom Hitman 1412

First Published 07 April 2013