FIVE YEARS LATER – FANCY A WEEK IN THE SUN?
NORTHERN JAPAN, A FIELD
This part of the country is famed for being quiet, it's a scenic area with excellent views but this is not the case during the cold of night. The faint frost layer on the ground makes the surface slippery, a difficult place to get your footing if you are running from someone. This issue was being discovered at this moment by Rokudo Mukuro and Chrome Dokuro, the two purple haired mist guardians that have fought alongside Sawada throughout his life.
Unlike Mukuro who has been on the run for a large part of his life, Chrome is unused to escaping the police, "Mukuro, I don't think we will be able to get away, it's too slippery".
The tall and mysterious figure reassures Chrome, "We're not running away, I'm just getting into a better position to fight".
Normally escaping the police would be easy for the pair of illusionists, they are of course elite fighters who fought in the battle of the rainbow, regardless of this they are being pursued and their pursuer has caught up with them.
"There is no surface you can beat me on Mukuro", the policeman taunts, there is only one man in the entire police force who can make this claim with any legitimacy.
Mukuro leaps into the air flipping himself in the process and landing so as to face the chaser head on "Just as I thought".
This a face off that has happened many times before, Rokudo Mukuro vs Hibari Kyoya. In the five years since the battle of the rainbow Hibari has become a policeman with a superb record, many successive promotions have landed him in a prominent position.
"Field work is below me but nobody else would be able to catch you would they" Hibari muses, illusionists are difficult to catch even for the cloud guardian.
Illusions are powerful deceptive projections, if you are not looking for one you wouldn't notice it was there, only those with power similar to the illusionist in question are able to see through their illusions.
"These recent murders, you are responsible right" Hibari notes in spite of already knowing the answer.
Chrome still struggles to understand the former discipline officer, "Hang on, Mukuro is doing what he is doing to save people, we're part of the same family, can't you just let us go" she suggests, however for Hibari matters aren't so simple.
Chrome's suggestion falls on deaf ears, the situation has everyone present fully on guard, their bodies show the signs of the psychological stress they are all under, nobody is feeling the cold right now.
"Family, what kind of crowding is that?" Hibari questions.
His hatred of crowds is often the source of the cloud guardian's comments and his dislike of human interaction is what pushes him over the edge this time. Drawing his twin tonfas to his hands with speed that could only be exhibited by a master of their use, Hibari kicks the ground and launches straight towards Mukuro.
A small but familiar giggle escape Mukuro's lips, "Didn't you hear what I said, I'm getting in a better position to fight".
For this man to make such a claim while fighting Hibari Kyoya could only mean one thing, Hibari slams his foot hard into the ground, the weak forces of friction from the icy surface stop him just short of an explosive trap Mukuro has laid.
Chrome once again feels it is her duty to stop the fight, "Please stop the fighting, we are part of the Vongola family aren't we".
Hibari and Mukuro however enjoy their fights too much for either to wilfully stop, on the contrary Hibari is annoyed by the distraction, he raises his hand up and then down with great speed, tossing his tonfa towards Chrome's face with a speed that no normal human can react to, however someone does react to it, a small man in a loose fitting suit appears and catches the tonfa with hands that wore the same gauntlets as all those years ago.
Raising his head to face his guardians upon catching the tonfa, a look of frustration appears in the man's face, this is a scene that is all too familiar to him.
"Do I have to break you up again?" he asks with rhetoric.
"B... Boss" Chrome stutters, she is correct, this spiky haired man is the next in line to become Vongola boss, the future Vongola 10th, Sawada Tsunayoshi.
Tsuna has changed in these five years, unlike the nervous kid of before he is now a confident adult, ready for anything that comes towards him. A flame flickers on his forehead, the flame known as the 'hyper flame', grants Tsuna the great power he used to catch his cloud guardian's weapon. This is the man who has earned the respect of everyone present, his appearance changes everything.
"I have incriminating evidence that proves Rokudo Mukuro has committed several murders, bringing him to justice is my job, wouldn't you agree?" questions the solitary Hibari.
Ever the expert at wordplay however, Mukuro chuckles as he indicates "We have to do ugly things to protect the family, you would be best off not knowing about these things, such is our job as mist guardians".
The man who selected Mukuro for this job was Tsuna's father, Sawada Iemitsu and he selected him for this very reason, Mukuro is capable of living in the darkness unlike the other guardians.
Tsuna having been put in a difficult spot briefly considers the big picture, "You don't have permission to break Japanese law Mukuro, however you are still a valued member of my family, I won't let the police touch you".
When being faced with an unstoppable force such as the Vongola successor, it would not be unusual to step back in fear, or even to run but Hibari is in the mood to do neither of these.
Hibari loves to fight strong opponents, confronted with the strongest man he knows he eagerly asks, "Oh, are you going to fight me".
Hibari raises his remaining tonfa, preparing for the most difficult fight he would ever have but that alone is far from enough to prepare him.
Tsuna escaped from everyone's sight, he instantly appears behind Hibari, "are you excited to face me… an opponent you can't hope to touch".
Ignoring the taunt Hibari ignites his remaining tonfa with purple dying will flames, this purple tinge is a symbol of the cloud aspect. Hibari swings his flaming tonfa straight towards Tsuna's unguarded head but Tsuna is well prepared for the predictable attack.
Raising his hand up, Tsuna not only catches the tonfa but also uses the 'zero-point breakthrough, first edition' to instantly freeze the flames on the weapon.
The fight has already been lost and won, "I won't hurt you too badly Hibari, you have always protected the family from the police, however I have to make it look like you put up a fight" observes Tsuna.
Tsuna proceeds to punch Hibari in the gut, he punches him as hard as he can not once but twice before letting his friend fall to the floor. These blows are strong to the level where they could destroy a building, rather than that though Hibari spits a mouthful of blood onto the floor as he clenches himself in pain.
"You give me hope Herbivore, there is one person left in the world, who it is fun to fight against" said Hibari, defeat not upsetting him as his excitement over Tsuna's strength only increases further.
Tsuna replies, "Train hard Hibari, when you are ready I promise the two of us shall fight".
After receiving this promise of a rematch Hibari slowly gets to his feet and limps away, his smile reflecting that his job has taken the back seat, he doesn't care that Mukuro escaped, that was far too much fun.
With the conflict sorted Tsuna is left with his two mist guardians, "Mukuro", he says, "I need you to come to Italy with me".
"Mukuro is needed in Italy, but why" asks Chrome, confused about the sudden decision for her counterpart to leave the country.
"The 9th generation mist guardian is giving a full briefing; you're taking over his duties full time" explains Tsuna. This meeting would represent progress for the Vongola family, one step closer to the inauguration of the 10th generation.
"I'm doing something more important, take Chrome", Mukuro orders as he disappears suddenly into the night, leaving only Chrome and Tsuna present.
Chrome sighs, disappointed that she has been abandoned by her once saviour, "He treats me like I'm his secretary", she complains.
"It's not like that, he is entrusting you with his responsibilities as well as your own. Never forget that you are a mist guardian too Chrome" interjects Tsuna, immediately trying to cheer up his friend.
Chrome can't help but smile at Tsuna's flattery, 'he's gotten much better with words'.
"So, fancy a week in the sun?" asks Tsuna.
Chrome knows this won't be a holiday but appreciates the positive attitude Tsuna displays, not something Mukuro does very often, "Sounds good" she replies.
"Well then, let's go to Italy" suggests Tsuna, turning on his heel and walking through the field as if he intends to walk the whole way.
Chrome does not start walking like her boss though, she has to ask the question on everyone's mind, "Boss, where have you been for so many years" she asks, almost fearing how Tsuna could answer.
Tsuna sighs, "When Kyoko died I fell into depression. My university results became so poor that even Reborn couldn't help me.", the hitman tutor is a world renowned somehow manages to maintain his status as a world class academic despite his other duties.
"My only chance to make it in life was to become Vongola boss, so I decided to learn about Vongola, every little detail" he explains, "it won't be long Chrome, the 10th generation will be reunited very soon".
Madison Square Garden, New York, USA
The stadium is all set for a boxing match, it is night here and the arena has been prepared with as much professionalism as the general public have come to expect from the staff. Tonight is a big night, it's the world heavyweight champion in action here, facing off against his number one contender. The champion always has close matches that come down to the wire, he is legendary for it, that is because he has to make the fights look genuine. The opponents seldom offer a true challenge to Sasagawa Ryohei.
His team have left him alone for his pre match ritual, Ryohei leans onto a small desk in front of a cheap mirror. The stadium is legendary but the backstage setup for a boxer is small and remains that way through tradition. Fixed to the mirror are two photos, one of Ryohei with his younger sister Kyoko. 'Kyoko, I hope you will be proud of me for what I accomplish today'.
Ryohei takes a moment to recall the painful memories from that day, the day of Kyoko's death. Kyoko and Haru, the two very close friends had come to this country America for a girl only holiday. Ryohei was invited to a get-together by the male contingent of the 10th generation Vongola but he declined, training always takes top priority when you are extreme. Ryohei did go extreme that day, just as he does every day in training, he went extreme right up to the last moment.
Upon completing his training session that day Ryohei followed his usual tradition, he cooled off in the showers before getting his phone out of his bag to read any messages. That day there were no messages on his phone, just missed calls, tens of missed calls. Most of those calls had been from his good friend and fellow guardian Yamamoto Takeshi, so he phoned Yamamoto at the earliest convenient moment.
"Yamamoto what is going on, everyone has been phoning me all day", asked Ryohei, eager to know what was going on.
"Kyoko and Haru are dead Senior Sasagawa, it was a car accident" replied Yamamoto.
Those were the most devastating words that Sasagawa Ryohei had ever heard, seemingly full of stamina despite his long session of exercise he ran around to the Sawada residence to find Tsuna.
Waiting in the Sawada residence were the two men engaged to Kyoko and Haru, Tsuna and Gokudera.
"Octopus head are they really…", Ryohei mutters, unable to complete his own sentence.
"I…", Gokudera starts through tears, though he is unable to coherently string the right words together.
"Our people in America have confirmed it Ryohei, they are dead" said Tsuna.
That day Tsuna put everything beyond doubt, the resources he had as Vongola 10th were reliable, Ryohei's sister had died.
The thought of Sawada Tsunayoshi though put Ryohei in a better place, he looked over to the other photo on his mirror. This photo is the happier of the pair, it shows him, Tsuna, Lambo, Gokudera, Yamamoto, Chrome, Mukuro and Hibari, the boss and guardians of the 10th generation Vongola. It wasn't often that all of the guardians were gathered in one place, more seldom still that Mukuro and Hibari were willing to pose for a photograph, however it was on that day that team Reborn won the battle of the rainbow. Not everyone in the photo could claim to be a victor but all of them were relieved by the result, Sawada Tsunayoshi never let them down.
Ryohei's coach opens the door as he walks into the room, "It's time Ryohei" he prompts.
Ryohei smiles at those words, "I have been waiting for those words, for far too long" he replies.