THE NEW WORLD – A PERMANENT SOLUTION
The Himalayas Hideout
The Himalayas continue to exhibit their mixed weather as the conversation between the Varia officers and Tsuna's comrades continues. They struggle to hear each other as the hideout is bombarded with wind, sleet and snow. The weather is not enough to put off these men and women though.
A great variety of subject's come up, the main concern is how to go forward through the war. This sort of strategic meeting has always bored Tsuna in the past, the Vongola boss has always considered himself more of a fighter than a strategist. Despite his reservations, Tsuna enjoys the conversation more than he ever expected he would, being reunited with his old friends brings great joy to the boss' heart.
Gokudera summarises the information the Varia have provided. "So as things stand, the worse scenario is that we go back on the run and continue what have been doing all this time".
"That may be so" Ellen mumbles, "But there has to be a better way than this".
The 10th speaks his mind, "I want to establish this as a long standing base for the resistance, before I leave we have to accomplish that much at the very least".
Discussing the possibility of leaving before accomplishing anything brings mixed emotions to Tsuna. Certainly it is true that he will not be able to remain here and train if this is to become a permanent base. It is also true that the resistance effort would benefit greatly going forward if there were to be a permanent base established. Still going three years without seeing three years without seeing old friends and then being immediately forced to leave this is hard for any man, even the legendary boss.
"I've always thought this would be a good spot for a permanent base" Belphegor concurs before turning to Gokudera, "Aren't I a genius".
Gokudera flinches after seeing Belphegor's creepy smile. The duo has a long standing rivalry dating all the way back to their first fight. The battle for the storm ring. The positions of the two storm flame users blur history and confuses many people who wish to know about their past, for back then Belphegor defeated Gokudera due to extreme circumstances.
"There's no way I'm accepting you as a genius" the storm guardian casually insults his assassin counterpart.
That elicits a chuckle from Belphegor, "Oh well, everyone will know my genius eventually".
"I agree with Tsuna" Haru declares, "Back in Europe and even in Pakistan we set up temporary resistance camps. If we could have just told people that there was a permanent resistance out there somewhere, it would have brought them great hope".
Xanxus interprets this agreement as confirmation that they would develop a permanent base here. "In that case we need a checklist of things we need".
"Lord Xanxus" Levi begins, "What sort of things are you referring to".
Squalo, knowing Xanxus mind best out of the Varia, takes it upon himself to explain. "What he means is we need permanent sources of food, permanent sources of water and perhaps even electricity and more sophisticated communications equipment than this old radio".
"Does that mean you haven't got any of those things yet" Tsuna asks as he turns his gaze towards Squalo.
"No, we have none of them boss".
"How have you even managed to survive this long" Gokudera questions. Without permanent sources of water and food it would be very difficult for even seasoned veterans to survive. For a group of resistance members who had never seen battle before it was almost unthinkable.
"It's because I'm a genius" Belphegor answers.
"I wasn't talking to you" yells the storm guardian as he points at the self-proclaimed genius.
The son of the 9th ignores his two argumentative allies. "Extreme rationing and suicide mission" he answers.
"It's not been easy on the men and women here but we have just about got through the worst of it" Squalo adds, "Winters are particularly hard".
"It's going to get better now guys, I promise you".
Xanxus nods, "OK, in that case water should be first right".
"Water will be difficult to obtain here, especially permanently" Ellen concludes.
"Digging isn't our specialty, but you can find springs if you dig deep enough into the mountain" says the Varia leader.
"I use bombs" Gokudera reminds the group, "Digging is very much my specialty".
Atop the Nearest Mountain
This has been suggested by Squalo as a good place to 'dig' for a water spring. If you could label this process as digging. Gokudera's plan is nothing humans haven't done before, using explosive for the purposes of mining has been done for many years, the problem is that it's not a subtle process.
"Isn't this going to be detected" the storm guardian yells as he places several bombs on the surface of the stony formation.
"Mammon says he can block off all light and sound from the mountain for a while" replies the storm officer of the Varia.
"How am I supposed to trust you" Gokudera yells, bringing up the sour history between the duo.
"Come on" huffs the 'genius', "When haven't I had your back".
"Almost every time we meet one another you try to kill me".
Belphegor nods, "I missed out on that chance didn't I" he decides as he looks at the horizon.
"Stop sounding so disappointed about it" demands Gokudera, waving his fist as he maintains the heightened volume of his voice.
The Himalayas Hideout
Ellen looks through her binoculars at the storm guardian and officer. The two, Gokudera in particular, seems to be waving their fists and pointing a lot. This confuses the former soldier as she has little knowledge of the duo's past interactions.
"Are these two supposed to get along" she asks without looking away. "They sure yell at each other a lot. Well Gokudera yells and Belphegor seems to just be chuckling to himself".
Tsuna looks at his Varia leader with wide eyes. "Xanxus of all the men why did you choose to send Belphegor with him".
"There is one reason and one reason only" Xanxus answers as he raises his index finger, "His laugh was starting to annoy me".
The boss sweatdrops, "Don't give a reason like that".
3 Hours Later, Atop the Mountain
Boom is the sound that resounds through the mountains (if you are inside Mammon's barrier). A collection of explosions coloured blue, green and red put a huge dent in the mountain top, shattering its previous appearance and replacing it with a look anew.
The man who placed those bombs runs over and looks into the crater he has created. "Belphegor, come over her".
The knife wielder runs over to join his rival, patting him on the back as he looks into the crater. "You did it bomb boy, you found us our water source".
Belphegor raises his arm so that it can be seen from the base.
The Himalayas Hideout
"Belphegor has given the signal" Ellen declares as she removes her face from her binoculars, "We have a permanent source of water".
"Yosh" Squalo shouts excitedly.
"Squalo, collecting water is a relatively safe job" Xanxus points out, "It doesn't require you to go far from HQ and there should be no enforcement officers between us and the water".
"I understand boss; I will get the kids to collect the water".
"You have kids at a permanent resistance base" Tsuna incredulously asks as he looks Xanxus in the eyes.
Xanxus snorts in reply, "What do you expect me to do, turn them down and send them back to their god".
The 10th bites his upper lip and shakes his head, "I suppose not, this job is perfect for them".
Soon Belphegor and Gokudera return.
"We have our hot spring" Gokudera announces.
"And that has gotten us thinking quite a bit" adds Belphegor with a toothy smile. "If we got someone a bit more delicate than either of us to carve the rocks then…".
"Then…" Haru prompts.
"They could make this whole thing seem natural, then as the water passes inside Mammon's illusion barriers he could make it seem like a stream" the storm officer finishes.
The issue as it stands is that Mammon's illusion barriers don't encompass the peak of the mountain where the crater has been made. The barriers have only been improved temporarily and it has put great strain on the Varia's illusionist.
"To the outside world it would look like a stream" notes Gokudera, "But in actuality it would be an irrigation system, we could use it to set up a small farm".
"That's a great idea guys" smiles Tsuna.
"Yosh, good thinking Belphegor" shouts Squalo, as ever the quickest in the Varia to criticise and to praise his comrades.
"Squalo you use a blade; you should be good at carving" the 10th decides as he places his hand on the swordsman's shoulder.
"Me?"
"Go and start already" demands Xanxus, impatient as ever with his second-in-command.
"Voi, don't you have any idea how much work that will be".
Xanxus nods to Levi who opens the door. Without any concern for the rain officer's safety, Xanxus pulls Squalo's chair out from under him and kicks him just hard enough. Squalo hurtles out of the door.
"He was annoying as hell anyway" comments the dark haired assassin.
Tsuna can't help but agree, "He's a little over-enthusiastic anyway".
Xanxus casually nods before he turns to look at Haru.
"What… what is it" Haru asks as she holds Juu tightly to her body.
"So who is the father anyway".
"Me obviously" Gokudera shouts at Xanxus.
Levi smiles sarcastically at the mafia's second in command, "We just didn't think you had what it took bomb man".
"Come on, I just got you your water source".
Xanxus points at Juu, "So what do you keep it around for anyway, spare rations?".
Mammon joins in, "They must use it as weights for training".
"You can all go straight to hell" Haru shouts.
Laughter fills the room as the storm guardian and policewoman begin to realise that the Varia were only teasing them. Although laughter and joy fill the room right now, there is still a long way to go for the mafia if they are to win this war.