A/N: Sorry for the wait, needed a refresher on the end of this arc. And I thought that everyone would appreciate something light hearted before I wrote this. Just one more chapter and the Varia Arc will be finished! As always, hope you enjoy and feel free to leave a review!
Mafioso NEVER Fight Fair
Everything went quiet as Tsuna took down the malfunctioning Gola Mosca, a large dent and scorch marks on the machine's chest plate. Tsuna felt a sudden chill as Xanxus gave an unhinged laugh. He turned to his sister and Shizuka grimaced. "Tsuna-nii, that thing wasn't just a robot. It has a person inside."
The chest plate opened, revealing an old man. One that looked familiar to Tsuna but he couldn't quite remember when or where he'd seen him. There was a sharp intake of breath as Tsunayoshi saw his sister tremble in anger. "That's him, that's the man that locked away your flames." As a being made entirely of flames, having them sealed was synonymous with true death.
A primal part of her wanted to burn the man to a crisp and was at war with the part of her that knew Xanxus would want that outcome. Either way, it looked like they'd walked right into a trap.
"You struck down the Ninth without any hesitation." Xanxus says with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
Tsunayoshi flinched, his hands trembling as he looked at Timoteo. Reborn looked at the old man and shook his head. "His injuries are too severe to be treated with first aid." He says, Leon already morphing into a cell phone.
"You killed the Ninth with your own hands."
"Shut up!" Everyone looked at the scowling Shizuka, flames radiating off the teen. "Let's just stop this stupid charade, you were planning this all along. And that old man isn't dead yet!" She yells, looking ready to punch Xanxus.
"It was my own weakness that caused all of this." Timoteo was in rough shape but still conscious. "It seems that I did both of you children a disservice." He says, not only to Tsuna but Shizuka as well.
Tsuna frowned, not knowing what the elderly man was talking about. Shizuka, however, did. "Actions speak louder than words, you won't be forgiven easily even on your death bed."
A weak flame flickered on Timoteo's finger and Shizuka paled, a flashback of when they were children in the forefront of her mind.
XoXoXoXoXo
It was an odd day for the Sawada siblings. Nana was in the kitchen, humming to herself as she made enough food to feed a small army.
"Is okaa-san planning a party?" Shizuka asks her brother curiously. Tsuna was curious as well. "Okaa-san, are we having guests today?" He asks, Nana gave him a bright smile. "Your father is coming to visit with his employer so I'm making yummy food for all of us." Nana says, ruffling Tsuna's hair.
"Aw, no fair." Shizuka pouted. She liked having her brother's attention all to herself, now she had to share with two strangers!
Tsuna gave her a reassuring smile. "We can still play Shizuka, maybe otou-san will join us!" Shizuka still didn't look convinced and Nana cooed at how adorable her son was with his imaginary friend. It often made her wish she could give her son a real sibling. The two flame aware mafia men, however, didn't have the same opinion.
"Get that old man away from him before he causes even more damage!" Shizuka yells at Reborn, unfortunately the Arcobalenco decided to watch what might have been the Ninth Boss's final act. The weak flame was pressed to Tsuna's forehead and it was as if something had clicked in the teen's head. "Forgive this old man for his selfish actions. I entrust you with the fate of my famiglia." And Timoteo fell unconscious.
"How dare you kill the Ninth boss. No need for any investigation with the Cervello as witnesses, I'll just kill you for vengeance." Xanxus states.
"What part of he's not dead do you not-!" Shizuka froze when she saw the dangerous gleam in the Wrath Sky's eyes. She had no doubt that he would kill the Ninth himself if the old man survived. She ran over to her brother, glaring at Reborn before pulling the shaken teen into a hug.
"In light of recent events, the results of the earlier battles are now null and void. The upcoming Sky battle will decide the winner." The Cervello announce. Violet stood behind the Baku representative, aware that she would no longer be welcomed among her sisters. It was only when they left that she allowed herself a moment of weakness and felt her legs give out.
Timoteo was immediately rushed to the hospital and the teens were left at the school, trying to make sense of what happened.
Shizuka felt torn between comforting her brother and checking on Violet. Eventually she reasoned that Tsuna's guardians could take over and that the now former Cervello needed someone more. The Baku subordinate nodded to Shizuka, giving the teens a moment to talk. "Hey, you alright Sunshine?" Shizuka asks, kneeling down to speak to Violet at her level. The former Cervello glared at her. "Other than being cast out of the only life I've ever known and knowing that they'll try to kill me for betraying them? Just peachy." She spat.
Shizuka didn't rise to the obvious bait, knowing that she just happened to be the closest person for Violet to lash out on. "Like I said, Baku would be more than happy to take you in. And once word gets out about the Cervello abandoning their "neutral" position during these battles, what do you think is going to happen to them?" Shizuka asks, Violet looked to the ground instead of meeting her eyes. "I'd rather not think about it." Violet admits.
"Well, look on the bright side. You won't have to wear that disguise anymore." Violet looked up as Shizuka in shock, Shizuka chuckled. "Honestly, unless your organization is able to use cloning technology there is no way all your members look the same. You were the only one not using Mist flames."
"D-Do you really think that your brother is going to win?" Violet asks, Shizuka grinned. "Of course! He's my older brother after all and he isn't in this alone." She says with confidence. Violet still felt unsure herself but maybe Shizuka's confidence was rubbing off on her as she gave the Sky a shy smile. "Being myself does sound nice." Violet admits, yelping in shock as Shizuka pulled her in for a hug. "Awesome! I can introduce you to Chrome and Natsumi and we can hang out together!" She says cheerfully.
Is this what being around a Sky feels like? I can see why elements are so desperate to find them. Violet thought, beginning to relax in the warmth of Shizuka's flames.
XoXoXoXoXo
"Shizuka-san. The boss insists on being present for the battle tomorrow night. He didn't sound pleased with the results tonight." The Baku subordinate says with a grimace. "Before I would say it wasn't necessary but with how Xanxus-san acted tonight... the extra precautions would be appreciated." Shizuka admits.
The walk home was tense, Tsuna's gaze glued to the ground. Shizuka sighed. "Look, none of this was your fault. Xanxus obviously had this planned the entire time and that old man deserves no pity." Shizuka states. Reborn turned to Shizuka with a suspicious gaze. "So much animosity for a man that you only met once."
Shizuka scoffed. "Once was enough. He sealed Tsuna because he thought his imaginary friend was a Mist trying to manipulate him. Not taking into account that sealing flames, especially for someone made solely of flames or that is a fucking Sky, traumatizes the victims. And we were both kids." She spat.
"But he seemed so nice." Tsuna says, Shizuka shook her head. "Nice or not, he's still a mafia boss. And if Iemitsu is any indication, they'll screw over their own family if it means Vongola will thrive." Reborn tilted his hat to obscure his facial expression. It was that logic that kept him from joining any famiglias himself. While being involved with the mafia may have given Tsuna friends and a purpose, it also sealed his will and made him friendless in the first place.
"If Xanxus takes over the family, the bloody cycle will continue itself. Be better than the mafioso you despise so much." Reborn states. Later that night, neither Sawada sibling could fall asleep. There was a faint feeling of foreboding in the back of their heads about what would happen tomorrow.