THE NEW WORLD – I'M ON TV
A Resistance Hideout, Ghana
The latest resistance hideout settled upon by Tsuna, Squalo and Ellen is here in Ghana. The environment is treacherous this time of year but it is also ideal for hiding from the Yakuza. Africa is perhaps the best continent for hiding, it is the least developed and therefore is the most difficult in terms of administration.
While Tsuna begins to go into his ultimate form Ellen is sat in the driver seat of a nearby car, Squalo to the side of her in the passenger seat. Most people would be astonished by the shear quality of powerful flame spawning nearby but this duo have stood by it so many times now. They have spent more time in recent years with Tsuna than they have their own family.
Ellen looks over her maps one last time, checking for the best escape route to head North. The direction she knows they intend to go after this training session. She then throws the map onto the back seat as she is done.
"So, where are we headed next" she asks Squalo while checking on Tsuna's position in her mirror.
"It's back to Europe" the rain officer says, "I think it's Southern Europe, Spain I believe".
Ellen sighs, not a depressed sigh or frustrated sigh but an exhausted sigh. "I bet that Spain is nice this time of year".
Fantasies run through Ellen's head, fantasies of one-day holidaying in Spain when this is all over. Taking a holiday in the baking hot sun and heading down to the bar each night for a nice cocktail.
Squalo snickers as he realises what Ellen is thinking. "I wouldn't bet on a holiday while you're there".
The rain officer then thinks about what he will do when the war is over, assuming the mafia win. It is unlikely that there will be many more assassinations required but perhaps the mafia would begin to act more like a police force. Or maybe they would be made into an international aid group, a lot of good could be done by people with supernatural powers, especially in the most impoverished areas in the world.
Squalo's eyes close for a moment while he dreams of using his skills to help people instead of kill people. He smiles as he thinks that his sword skills may get a bit rusty, perhaps Yamamoto is still alive, perhaps he would be willing to practice with him from time to time.
Then Squalo's eyes open in an instant. "I… I can feel it".
"Feel what?" Ellen asks.
"He's broken through… I feel the rain element coming strongly from him".
The pair in the car look out the right side window and see Tsuna running towards them. The Vongola boss slides down a slope as dust follows in his wake. He jumps into the car without bothering to dust himself and leaps onto the back seat, ignoring the map as he does so.
Tsuna slams the door shut, "GO".
The tires of the car skid as Ellen lets the clutch out and slams on the accelerator but it eventually pulls away, by the time Honda arrives they would be long gone. The three occupants of the vehicle hold their tongues for a while as they travel to North, they maintain their silence until they reach, what Squalo deems to be, a safe distance.
"I can feel it boss" he says with a toothy grin, "Your rain element strength has increased, it's shining through".
Squalo smiles as he continues, "It's something to behold for those of us who share that element".
Tsuna returns the smile and nods, "Yes, I have indeed broken through in the rain element, the circle is not split into quarters, one yellow, one green, one red and one blue".
The 10th continues, "Now all that's left is mist and cloud… just mist and cloud to go".
"Mist and cloud" Ellen repeats as she drives along, happy now that they are 2/3 of the way done. "Not much of that in Spain".
Squalo laughs at his comrade's weather predictions, "Voi, perhaps it will be a holiday after all".
Las Vegas, USA
It's night time in Las Vegas yet the city is still bright. This is one of the few major cities in the world that has avoided the curfew imposed by the Yakuza, the flow of money in the gambling capital of the world is important for them to control. This city has a great effect on the economy.
Yamamoto and Byakuran walk along the streets at night, watching as people drink excessively and lose all of their money on stupid games. It may seem trivial but have they got anything else to live for under the dictatorial reign of the Yakuza.
Yamamoto continues to look at the faces of people as they walk by, copying a trick used by Vongola Bana, he focuses dying will flames on his eyes in the hope that he will see something important.
It doesn't work though, "It's no good, we can't find them" Yamamoto concludes.
"Yeah, perhaps we have to start using our heads a bit more" Byakuran concurs as he looks between the passers-by.
The Millefiore boss shakes his head, "Thinking has never been my strong point". He recalls when he first became friends with Tsuna and Gokudera, god knows what they must have thought when Yamamoto claimed that it was all a Mafia game.
Byakuran looks over to the smiling Vongola-Millefiore member, wondering what he is thinking about. "Then what is your strong point Yamamoto" he asks this bringing the boss back to attention.
"I'm good at making sushi, swordplay and baseball" he answers. His heart tightens slightly as he thinks about sushi, his father is probably dead now. Someone who taught Yamamoto his signature sword-style, someone strong enough to stand up to the Yakuza but too weak to win. Yes, he is almost certainly dead.
"Baseball huh" Byakuran mulls over the word, "I wonder if baseball is still played here in the USA". The USA is one of the few countries in the world that can claim to have a better baseball set up than Japan where Yamamoto became the star player.
"Are you a fan?" the player asks his mentor.
"Well I wasn't but then I watched every one of the games one season, I picked up a thing or two about Japanese baseball".
Yamamoto scratches the back of his head, "Sorry about that".
"Don't be, I quite enjoyed it after I got to know the rules" the former Millefiore boss replies.
"We're pretty close aren't we" Yamamoto turns to his friend and places a hand on his shoulder.
Byakuran closes his eyes and tilts his head, "We couldn't get much closer".
"Not unless you want to get married" the rain guardian replies with a laugh.
"Want to try it?" Byakuran joins in the laughter.
"We could do one of those funny ceremonies, they do those here in Vegas right?".
"We can do it with whatever ceremony you want" the white haired mafioso replies.
Yamamoto looks at Byakuran with a blush. He's not sure whether or not his predecessor as Millefiore boss is serious and doesn't know how to react. "I… uh…".
Byakuran laughs once more, "You're you getting all flustered so I'll tell you what". He offers his little finger to his comrade, "We'll do it once we've taken down the Yakuza, right?".
Yamamoto looks at Byakuran and then smiles and locks their little fingers together in a 'pinkie promise', "You've got it".
"Good, that's nice" Byakuran smiles, "Also, your baseball comments have given me an idea".
The New York Hideout
Vongola Bana is sat in the New York resistance hideout, tapping the laptop in front of him. Bana has never had time to learn about technology such as this and finds it very frustrating when it doesn't work. His role as leader of the New York resistance has involved little other than technological challenges and archery training, two things which are very repetitive and after a while very boring to the clone of Primo.
"Please be patient boss, I will get it working" an engineer assures Bana as she continues to mess with some cables coming out of the laptop.
Bana knows this engineer personally now, she always shows up early after her work day is done and she is always late to leave. She gives one hundred percent effort each time she walks in the building.
The chief policeman smiles at her, "I'm sorry, video communication just makes me a bit edgy you know".
"I know, it's a big step forward and it's taking longer than it should" she replies, "But I promise we are close now, just wait a little longer".
Bana nods as he observes what the engineer is doing. He feels he should at least take this opportunity to learn about technology, it's something he would need a good understanding of in future should they win the war.
Nearby the mafia police who work under him are watching a TV intently, who would have thought the resistance would have people who are so strong doing such menial work. Not too many years ago these people were fighting to become the Vongola guardians, the leading group in the Mafia.
"Can you turn that TV down" Bana calls, "We don't need to watch baseball at a time like this".
"Oh come on" Kyoko whines to her husband, "We had a friend who played this game".
"Well it wasn't in the US" Bana comments. What he fails to realise is that generally the standard of baseball is higher in the USA than it is in Japan.
Seeing that his subordinates are unperturbed by his comments Bana approaches the TV with the intention to turn it off. He is far too grumpy to argue with these guys today, especially when someone as argumentative as his wife is involved.
The commentators on the TV make an announcement. "And a guest batter is batting for the home team today, a world famous batter from Japan".
Sorata rises from his seat and points to the TV, "IT'S HIM".
"WHAT" Bana exclaims.
"It can't be" Kyoko mutters, "This must be a trick".
What has catches the eye of the mafia police is the guest batter that the commentators mentioned. It is the Millefiore family boss, one of the seven great mafioso, Yamamoto Takeshi.
As the ball is pitched towards Yamamoto he hits it with what seems like a casual posture. Despite the lackadaisical attempt the ball flies out of the park, it is a home run.
Bana throws his arms in the air, "Well that confirms it, it must be him".
"That idiot" Kyoko scolds Yamamoto from the other side of the country, "What does he think he is doing on TV".
"It's a come get me signal" Bana realises as he points at the TV, "I have to go and get him".
Kyoko stands up as Bana begins to walk away, "They will want to guarantee his defeat, so they will either send Honda or Gon and they can both beat you".
"Trust me Kyoko" Bana says before gently kissing her forehead.
"Tokata, I need you to come with me, I need your help".
Bana continues, "We will get in and out without any casualties".
"Yes sir" the knife enthusiast replies.