COLLISION COURSE – YOU HAD FAITH IN ME
The Hall in the Vongola Mansion
It's a rainy day in Rome, Tsuna and his guardians are training indoors as a result. The one guardian who is missing is Hibari Kyoya who of course didn't come due to his hatred of crowding. At the top of the staircase is a nice little spot where one could sit to observe the training, something Reborn took full advantage of. The 10th generation are feeling laid back with the exception Ryohei who as always insists on going to the extreme, they remained laid back until a surprise guest stormed into the hall, that man was the 9th's adopted son Xanxus.
Xanxus stopped in his tracks to observe the training session, "You are… warming up?" he asks with a stutter.
Tsuna smiles, this is the first time Xanxus has made the first move in creating conversation, "Xanxus… yeah, we're loosening our bodies for a fight" replies Tsuna.
"The opponent is strong but the guardians should be too weak to…" Tsuna is interrupted as Xanxus punches him in the head.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING". A small smile appears on Reborn's face. "This is not an opponent you can afford to take lightly" reminds Xanxus, "Your friend from the future, he fought against him and died, a victim to the ultimate dying will flame".
"B… Byakuran" mumbles Tsuna, shocked at the sudden loss of a friend.
Gokudera takes a few steps towards Tsuna and the Varia leader, "Why should we believe you, you've been against the 10th this whole time" comments the storm guardian.
Prior to Tsuna going missing Xanxus usually opposed Tsuna becoming boss, the last ring conflict saw Xanxus face Sawada Tsunayoshi in a brutal contest. Some enmity between the guardians and the Varia still lingered as should be expected.
"We're all going to suffer when that guy gets into power," says Xanxus. "I'm not going to tell you what happened when we met, but if you take that guy lightly you are going to die".
Xanxus storms off towards a nearby corridor. In no mood to continue the conversation with people who refuse to take this threat seriously.
"Where are you going Xanxus?" asks Tsuna.
"I'm going to make preparations for the Varia's safety when you lose," replies the son of the 9th.
With that, Xanxus disappears down the corridor leaving the guardians to continue what they were doing. None of them however continue to train; all of them are just left looking at their feet. They don't make a sound for a minute or so until eventually the young Vongola boss speaks up.
"He's right isn't he Reborn" Tsuna asks his home tutor.
"Of course" Reborn flatly replies.
Tsuna may have taken the enemy too lightly, however this is a man who has defeated many challenging opponents in the past. He uses the sky flame because he appropriately represents the role of caring for all and being stained by all, he has worked hard with his guardians before. Sawada Tsunayoshi knows exactly how to make the people around him stronger.
"You were the sun arcobaleno, please train Ryohei" Tsuna beseeches Reborn.
"I am part of the Vongola family too, you will be my next boss, of course I will do what you say" Reborn smiles as he makes this promise to Tsuna.
Tsuna has always been able to count on Reborn. His life first started to change when his mother contacted a home tutor and was answered by the baby in a suit. Reborn is the reason he was able to make so many great friends, the reason he was able to become so strong. Tsuna relies a great deal on this young teacher of his, the trust the two of them share has no limit.
"Hibari will probably train by himself" comments Tsuna.
"That just leaves you three" says Tsuna as he looks at his younger brother and his two good friends.
"Gokudera, please train Lambo" Tsuna asks of his right hand man with a bow.
"The stupid cow?" asks Gokudera. "Ha, I can try some of my new bombs on him, that will be good training" he suggests with enthusiasm.
"New bombs?" questions Tsuna, Gokudera had stopped using bombs as his main weapon long ago.
"That's right, I can make bombs purely out of dying will, very potent bombs, of any variety as well" explains the storm guardian. "Perhaps some lightning bombs are in order".
"Lightning doesn't hurt Lambo" retorts the youngest guardian in an attempt to annoy Gokudera.
"Good point stupid cow, I better use fire bombs" says Gokudera with a smile.
"Good idea Lambo" reinforces Tsuna.
"Uh…" replies Lambo, only now realising his own mistake.
Tsuna turns wordlessly to his last remaining guardian. Yamamoto Takeshi, his rain guardian. Tsuna has known Yamamoto the longest out of all his guardians, the baseball lover was easy to talk to and get along with, one of his first friends. In the past Yamamoto had been trained by his own father, by Squalo and even by Reborn however as to his trains him now.
"I have no idea who should train you Yamamoto" says the young Sawada with a dumb look on his face.
"Haha, thanks Tsuna" replies Yamamoto, "Don't worry though, I have plenty of ways to train by myself".
About 1 hour later, in the Vongola Mansion
Xanxus sits at a desk sorting through some files, doing his best to work out a way to keep all of the members of the Varia safe. One thing Xanxus won't admit to in conversation is that he has become a lot more attached to his subordinates in recent years. Inspired by what he saw from Sawada Tsunayoshi and the friendship offered to him by Squalo, he has come to appreciate friends and allies. One person who hopes to identify as his friend walks through the door that very moment.
"Xanxus" says the newcomer, in order to gain his attention.
"Trash" Xanxus momentarily raises his head and offers his customary greeting to Sawada Tsunayoshi, the man his father wants him to work under.
"What's the matter" asks Xanxus, "Were you expecting me to call you boss?".
Tsuna sees through the attitude of his peer, "You have respect for me, I already know that… that's why you were hoping that I would save you".
Xanxus quickly raises his head from his papers again, "Save me, what are you talking about trash" asks the Varia leader.
"When you came in, you were angry that I was unprepared because you were expecting me to protect you and the Varia" offers Tsuna with an understanding smile.
It's the first time in many years that Tsuna has truly felt a feeling of camaraderie towards Xanxus, they were now two men with a common goal, to stop Bana. Xanxus doesn't share Tsuna's optimism at the situation though.
"Me, expecting protection from you?" he questions.
Tsuna begins to reach his hand out towards Xanxus shoulder before he is stopped.
"DON'T TOUCH ME" yells Xanxus as he jerks his shoulder away.
Tsuna doesn't let Xanxus off though and he proceeds to grab his shoulder, "Even if it was only for a moment Xanxus, you made me really happy, because you had faith in me". Tsuna continues, "That's what the leader of the Varia should expect from his boss".
Xanxus quickly raises to his feet sending a few of his papers off the desk. He quickly moves to exit the room and only stops when he reaches the door. Tsuna stares at the back of his family member, wondering what he is thinking.
"You're not my boss, get away from me" demands Xanxus as he opens the door before him.
"I've come to ask you for something" Tsuna quickly declares stopping Xanxus in his tracks, "You're the only one who can provide me with what I need".
"What could you possibly want from me" questions Xanxus.
Tsuna reacts to the question in a way Xanxus didn't expect, he bowed.
"Please train me" requests Tsuna as he maintains his respectful posture towards his prospective teacher.
Xanxus laughs, "Now I didn't expect that, me train you, ha". Xanxus lowers his head and his eyes widen as he realises Tsuna has not ceased to bow to him.
"You seriously want my training?" he asks, "The great Vongola boss the 10th, wants to become my student?".
"That's right" replies Tsuna instantly.
"Very well, but my training is hell itself, if you can survive this, I will be more than ready to acknowledge you as boss" promises the assassination specialist.
"Thank you very much Xanxus" thanks Tsuna with a smile. A promise like this from Xanxus is a big deal, a very out of character move.
"I'm going to get Mammon" Xanxus opens the door and takes the first step out.
"Mammon, why?" inquires Tsuna.
"You're not just going through my training, you're going through Varia training, don't worry Trash, I will have you more than ready to be Vongola 10th after you've been through this" promises Xanxus.
"Perhaps I'm going to regret this" Tsuna postulates.
"Oh you most definitely will" smiles Xanxus.
Elsewhere in the Vongola Mansion
Nothing can be heard in this room except the cool slicing of air. The sword master Yamamoto Takeshi spins with the elegance of a gymnast and the grace of a dancer as he practices his sword techniques. He continues to train on his own occasionally stopping to look at the rain, his assigned weather, out of the window. Until eventually, he sees a ghost.
"WHO'S THERE" Yamamoto shouts as he spins and points his sword towards the ghost.
"Only me…" replies the ghost with his signature giggle, "Yuni's technique worked".
"By… Byakuran" notices Yamamoto, "I thought you were dead, no, this has to be an illusion".
"Well sort of, my body was destroyed, this is merely an ethereal form of myself" explains the Millefiore boss.
"I don't really understand" Yamamoto scratches his head.
"A ghost" says Byakuran as simply as possible.
"Oh, so are you immortal" Yamamoto quizzes Byakuran, eager to learn of his friends capabilities.
"This ghost will die if it doesn't quickly find a body to latch onto" explains Byakuran, "That's where you come in".
"I'm not giving you control of my body" replies Yamamoto, quickly closing off that avenue.
"I'm not suggesting you do, all I need is a small part of your brain to maintain my consciousness, it won't affect you at all" says Byakuran.
"That sounds pretty cool" Yamamoto smiles, expressing his inner child, "What is the downside though".
"Only you will be able to see and hear me, at least until I find a real body" reveals Byakuran.
"Oh, wait so you will be able to see everything I see, how will I maintain privacy" asks the sushi chef.
Byakuran has a little giggle at that, "I know when to look and when not to" he replies. "Anyway, I'm not asking you to do this for free".
Yamamoto looks curiously at Byakuran, "You're going to pay me".
"It's nothing like that, if you promise to protect the Millefiore family in my place, then I will teach you a few of my moves, what do you say" offers Byakuran, stretching out his ethereal fist towards Yamamoto.
"I promise Byakuran, that offer, is too good to turn down" says Yamamoto as he bumps fists with his ghostly new partner.
At that moment the training was set in stone, one speech from Xanxus has put everyone on the right course, and for guardians, that course is a collision course.