A/N: I'm working on Halloween so I guess I have to post this chapter earlier than expected, sorry if it seems rushed. Hope you all enjoy and feel free to leave a review!
Chapter 2
"I see. At least we know where he is. We'll take it from here old friend." Timoteo hung up the phone and sighed.
"Well? How is my darling Nana and Tsuna-fishy?" Iemitsu asks, inwardly snickering at how his son must've reacted to the Arcobalenco.
"Your boy took one look at Reborn and left town. Tsuyoshi and other active elements in town distracted him so he could escape." It was no surprise, after the failed sealing the town of retired criminals had accepted the young Sky.
"What?! Where could he have-" Iemitsu snarled as he realized where his son went. "He ran off to that bastard in-law of mine, didn't he?"
"We need to approach this carefully Iemitsu, don't be reckless. The city Tsunayoshi went to is currently under government surveillance after a terrorist attack last year." It had been the first instance of internationally reported psychic terrorism. Vendicare themselves had confirmed that the criminals weren't using flames and, therefore, hadn't broken Omerta to civilians. There was still debate among academics in the flame community if said powers were a result of latent flames or if they were a different phenomenon altogether.
"That con-man always has to ruin everything!"
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Tsuna looked down at the uniform Reigen had tossed at him and sighed. Hibari had assured him in his own way that his father's associates would have difficulty finding him and they'd be dealt with if they did. His great grand-uncle Fon was another cursed baby but this one didn't have such a detached and chaotic aura.
"Reborn is stubborn but not even he can go through the Hibari family without a scratch. You've made some powerful allies little Sky."
The ghosts clinging to his father had called him that, then Luce. Was that some sort of lingo only those in the mafia knew? Whatever it was, he wanted no part of it. Reigen opened the door and tossed a packaged melon bread at him. "Mob will be here to walk you to school in a few minutes. You need to get dressed."
Tsuna nodded in acknowledgement, throwing on his undershirt and pants. The all-black uniform made his light brown hair and almost orange eyes stand out. Nana would've pinched his cheeks and told him what a handsome young man he was becoming. He shook his head, no need to get depressed before getting to school.
Tsuna sensed Mob before the teen was visible and why didn't his uncle warn him?! His aura was like a storm so Mob's appearance in comparison was underwhelming. His face wasn't very expressive and he had a bowl cut. The slight raise of eyebrows showed Mob's surprise. "Teacher didn't mention you were an esper."
Tsuna chuckled. "He probably forgot, he can be pretty absent-minded at times. Mom is the same way."
"Did sensei help with your powers too?" Mob asks curiously. "He mostly just screamed whenever something burst into flames. He did teach me to redirect them to items and not people. He's still a bit sore that I caught a pair of his pants on fire when talking to a client." There was no way the client's skeptical daughter could dispute the supernatural when Reigen's slacks spontaneously combusted. Tsuna considered it a win in his books when Mob gave a slight smile.
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Ritsu looked over the paperwork for the new transfers to his year. Sawada Tsunayoshi had average grades, volunteered as a library assistant at the Namimori library after school and had Reigen Arataka listed as one of his guardians. It noted that objects would spontaneously combust when he was frightened.
The other student was Yamamoto Takeshi, a baseball prodigy. He'd seen the teen himself when Namimori Middle defeated Salt Middle for the first time in a decade. His pitches were brutal and Ritsu shivered when he saw Takeshi's smile up close. Comparing the students side by side, they looked to be total opposites.
"Vice President, is something wrong?" A member of the student council asks. "Hopefully our new students won't cause any problems." Sadly, like most matters including espers, peace was never an option.
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"My younger brother is part of the student council; he'll take care of you from here." Mob says, his blank expression turning to one of pride. The esper was a bit socially awkward but was a good person from what Tsuna could observe. He took a deep, calming breath and entered the room.
He face faulted as he saw a familiar face grinning at him. "About time you got here Tsuna! Thought we'd have to go looking for ya!" Takeshi says jovially.
"Takeshi... The baseball team is going to kill me if they know you followed me here." Tsuna deadpanned; Takeshi shrugged. "They weren't that fun anyways and Pops said I needed a break. Something about suing the coach for not noticing deteriorating health?"
Tsuna winced. "So it was more than a sprain then."
Ritsu cleared his throat. "It seems you both transferred into 2-A. Is there any particular reason you transferred halfway through the year?"
"Family issues. My uncle offered to take me in while the authorities deal with my dead-beat dad and his criminal friends." Tsuna says.
"I thought your dad was dead?"
"So did I Takeshi. That explains why we weren't able to summon his spirit like your mom."
Ritsu sighed. How did his brother go from being the only known esper in the city to their town being a magnet for them? "Just follow the rules and don't set anything on fire."
Takeshi gave Ritsu a reassuring grin. "Don't worry, my family knows how to deal with his panic attacks."
"I do not have panic attacks!"
Takeshi shrugged. "Emotional episodes then."
"You'd be high strung too if you were constantly stalked by evil spirits looking for a conduit." Tsuna grumbled.
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The school had very few spirits, Tsuna let out a sigh of relief. In Namimori Middle he had to constantly be on guard, exorcizing them where no one would notice. He was still known as Fire-bug Tsuna, the town was oblivious to the supernatural and they all thought he was a budding arsonist. It didn't help that witnesses saw objects spontaneously combust as he fled in terror from Hibari or spirits.
"So what club are you gonna join Tsuna?" Takeshi asks, ignoring the lovestruck girls' looks in their direction. "I'll probably be helping my uncle with his various jobs. You could tag along, see what it's like." Tsuna offers.
"Sounds interesting. But I thought that he was a psychic consultant or something." Takeshi comments, Tsuna deadpanned. "A lot of paranormal stuff ends up being something completely different. Most of the clients uncle Reigen gets are very superstitious. I remember this one lady that thought her house was haunted because there was something moving in the walls. Turns out they were mice. And the spirits we did encounter weren't that strong."
"Could I help too?" A timid voice asks, Tsuna smiled at the spirit. "Nagi-chan, it's nice to see you again! I'm sure your illusions will come in handy."
The ghost blushed, giving Tsuna a shy smile. "You're too kind Tsuna-kun."
"Nagi-chan is here? Did anyone else follow you?" Takeshi asks curiously.
Tsuna's brows furrowed. "Sagara-san tends to wander around, he'll catch up to us eventually. And I'd rather not run into Battousai again." He says with a shiver. The bandaged ghost only remembered his title and wielded black flames after death. Strangely the man had calmed down after Tsuna was forced to defend himself with his own flames. Last he saw a group of similarly bandaged men were trying to recruit or capture Battousai.
"He's the one that you think is a deceased Hibari, right?"
Tsuna deadpanned. "If he isn't I'll give up pocky for a month. I still don't know how they keep finding me."
"You're warm and feel safe." Nagi says.
Yamamoto laughed, bumping Tsuna's shoulder with a teasing grin. "Like constantly being wrapped in a cozy blanket. You're a walking security blanket!" Tsuna facepalmed but couldn't refute their claim. Especially when Hibari-senpai used him as a pillow during winter!
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Reborn gritted his teeth, none of the information the CEDEF had on this kid was correct. He was flame active to the point of being called an arsonist and when he stayed overnight at the Sawada residence Luce had decided to haunt his dreams. She was not pleased he was trying to drag an innocent civilian into the mafia.
A platter of sushi was placed in front of him, the sharp gaze of the chef unnerving him. "You'll find that you have no allies here Reborn. The Sky won't be chained." Tsuyoshi states.
"I've never failed a job and I won't be starting now. That coward will be taking over Vongola, willing or not."
Tsuyoshi shook his head. "Not a coward, just knows how to pick his battles. Braver than Iemitsu in any case." A metal chopstick from the washing area started to levitate, an unseen force aiming it straight at the hitman. Reborn ducked, the utensil going straight through his fedora and pinning it to the wall. Leon was still perched on the brim, looking shaken.
"Is that you Sagara-san? You just missed the boys a few days ago. Any luck finding your head?" A pen floated and wrote "No" on a nearby notepad.
Reborn looked for what he assumed was a Mist user but only felt unease. Tsuyoshi smirked. "Be glad it wasn't Battousai that visited. I doubt you'd have both your eyes intact."
The hitman grimaced. It wasn't often that the supernatural was involved in his jobs but there was only one person he could think of to deal with this. And their assistance wasn't going to be cheap, especially when it was a conflict of interests with their current position.