All hell broke loose.
As the young girl, Uni the other half boss of the Millifiore Family, leader of the Black Spell denounced her alliance with the Millifiore Family and asking Tsuna and the Vongola guardians for protection, since along with her are the other pacifiers of the Arcobaleno. Furious, Byakuran ordered his Funeral Wreaths to kill everyone except for Shoichi and Uni as they all run and escaped back to Namimori Town. After destroying the teleportation system everything became peaceful for a while, as Tsuna and the others went back to the underground Vongola Base, where Shoichi and Spanner were sent to the Medical Rooms, while the girls entertained Uni as they and the boys changed their clothes.
"How are you feeling? Do you still feel any pain in your body? I'm sorry for what you have to go through…." Tsuna asked apologetically, after he was done changing clothes and visited Shoichi in his room.
"I'm alright, thanks to Ryohei and Reborn. My condition isn't critical anymore" Shoichi said in assurance, as Tsuna sat near his bed and looked down in disappointment.
'That's right. We lost. If only we didn't lose then all this chaos wouldn't have happened' Shoichi thought as he looked sadly at Tsuna who sat at a chair beside him. Head bowed down and hands clenched on his lap, understanding exactly what he's thinking and feeling right now.
'This is bad, not only is Byakuran hot on our heels, with the addition of Uni and the pacifiers, Byakuran will have no hesitation in killing everyone in sight…. Everyone except….' Shoichi tried not to think too much about it as he shivered in fear about the horrible truth.
"I'm sorry-" Tsuna started but was halted by Shoichi.
"Don't. Don't ever apologize for our lost Tsuna, it wasn't your fault. None of this is your fault. In fact this is all my fault. Because of me -" Shoichi regretted as he felt tears coming out of his eyes but blinked himself in seconds before it came out.
"No it's not! None of this is your fault Shoichi-kun! It was all an accident! You! And Lambo! You guys didn't know that this would happen! So it's no one's fault. But during the Choice game….! We lost, because we couldn't protect you! Because we couldn't defeat Byakuran-san!" Tsuna shouted in frustration admitting his failure and feeling nothing but lost and disappointment.
"I doubt that was possible" Shoichi stated, making Tsuna look up at him in surprise.
"What do you mean?" Tsuna asked.
"From the very start Byakuran-san already knew what was going to happen. He knew the battlefield and knew the outcome of the players during the Choice" Shoichi revealed. Byakuran's betrayal was like a knife that stabbed him in the heart, he still couldn't believe how naive and foolish he was during the whole Choice game. After all the doubts his comrades spoke off during the Choice game he brushed it off thinking, believing, that Byakuran would never betray Shoichi's expectation of him. When right from the very start he was already cheating.
"I was a fool! I thought! I thought-!" Shoichi shouted in resentment, for being an oblivious idiot during the whole Choice game, clenching his fist and punching the side of his bed in the cushion, shocking Tsuna at his action.
"Shoichi-kun! Please calm down or else your wound might reopen up" Tsuna reminded him in worry.
"Sigh…. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…." Shoichi apologized as he calmed himself down.
"It's okay. Just stop pushing yourself too hard from now on. Please" Tsuna begged as he looked at Shoichi in the eyes full of concern, mellowing down the ugly feelings deep inside Shoichi.
"Now that Byakuran is after us head-on. You don't need to force yourself to stay by his side or make bargains with him for our sake. This time, I'll protect you with all my might. So please don't push yourself any longer and just rest up and let yourself heal, ok" Tsuna coaxed as he grabbed Shoichi's arm. His hand was warm, his compassion and kindness can be felt by Shoichi as his eyes widened in Tsuna's sincerity.
'Tsuna….' Shoichi called as his heart was touched by Tsuna's empathy towards him. Just knowing that a person is worried for him puts a smile on his face,easing the tension in his body as he starts to properly relax this time.
'How long has it been since anyone showed any kind of kindness and generosity towards me?' Shoichi thought deeply as he took a deep breath to calm his mind. Ever since he joined the Millifiore Family as Byakuran's lover, everyone greeted him with nothing but hostility and danger. They were like vultures, waiting for him to make a mistake, one wrong move and they would eat him alive. They taught him to always be alert, conscious and careful about his moves and actions. It was a battlefield where survival of the strongest thrive and weakest dies. Literally.
"Forget about me, what matters is Uni's safety" Shoichi dismissed as he shook his head at the disappointed Tsuna, before looking at him seriously.
"When the time comes and you have to choose who you need to save between Uni and me. Choose Uni, do you understand?" Shoichi voices out seriously as Tsuna stares at him in disbelief.
"What do you mean?! What are you saying, Shoichi-kun!?" As Tsuna stood up from his chair and stared at him incredulously. After all that, Tsuna couldn't believe that Shoichi would say something like that when he just declared to him that he'll protect him no matter what.
"Listen, Tsuna. Right now, Byakuran is hot on our heels because of me and Uni. But between the two of us, Uni is much more important in the faith of the whole world than me. She holds the key to the balance of this world. We can't. No matter what, let him have her, do you understand?" Shoichi reasoned sternly, leaving no argument in the room as Tsuna bit his lips in frustration.
"I understand, but I can't accept it! I almost lost you twice during the Choice game, if I lose you again towards Byakuran, I would never be able to forgive myself! Who knows what kind of horrible things he'll do to you!" Tsuna opposed back.
"He's not going to kill me. Or torture me. I doubt he plans on hurting me physically. Yeah he's obsessed with me, so obsessed that the last thing he'll do is to get on my bad side. Of course, there's a limit like now, but my point still stands, between me and Uni, she'll have a much tortuous life if Byakuran ever gets his hands on her" Shoichi stated logically, half-lying half-truth. As he lets Tsuna imagine the horrible things that Byakuran will do when he does get a hold of Uni, making Tsuna upset and queasy at his own horror of imaginations.
"But still!" Tsuna insisted stubbornly. Shoichi chuckled, smiling a bit at his refusal to leave him behind even if it's for the sake of the world.
"Why is Byakuran so obsessed with you?! I get it's because you indirectly opened his ability, but is that really enough for one man to be so obsessed about?!" Tsuna questioned in confusion, as if there's still a missing puzzle that's missing that he just can't let go or forget.
Shoichi's eyes widened at Tsuna's words, as he turned his head and stared at the ceiling as he closed his eyes for a second to compose himself on his bed.
"It's because of me. Of what I did, that's made Byakuran so obsessed with me" Shoichi started quietly as he opened his eyes, staring at the orange ceiling above him.
"When I realized he gained that ability because of me, I tried to stop him several times in the other parallel worlds. And through extensive research on the other parallel worlds, I learned the different strategies I used to counter him. And for every failure that I take I changed my approach…. But no matter what type of tactic I come up with, he's always 2-3 steps ahead of me.…." Shoichi chuckled bitterly.
"No matter what route I take! It always ended up with Byakuran's victory" Shoichi confessed as he reminisced about all of his comrades' deaths along with his losses, gaining a heavy feeling in his heart, as he started to breathe in and out to calm himself and not break down in front of Tsuna.
"And before I realized it, from trying to stop Byakuran from destroying the world, it became a battle between the two of us on whose side will win the war. Since I'm the only one who has prior knowledge about Byakuran's existence and power, I knew that I was the only one who could stop him at that time. And for Byakuran, who had a dull and boring life and has the world at the palm of his hands, he would gladly entertain himself by playing with me..…."
"Pawns for pawns, tactics to tactics, we would battle it all out…. Is what I would've proudly like to say, but obviously he was never really that serious about fighting me and was just a mere game on his quest for his world domination. After all I never knew about the Funeral Wreaths existence up until now" Shoichi took a drink of water that was standing beside his bed on top of a desk, wetting his drying mouth from all the talking, also to give him some time to relax and calm down.
"I'm sorry, Irie-san. But there's something I've been meaning to ask you, you said through extensive research you learned the different tactics that you've used in order to defeat Byakuran. But can a mere computer calculate all of that, when there are millions of countless possibilities out there?" Tsuna asked, Shoichi smiled a bit at Tsuna's curiosity.
"I guess, you could say I also gained a little bit of Byakuran's ability" Shoichi admitted, as Tsuna looked at him in dumb-foundedness at the information.
"What?! You gained his ability?!" Tsuna shouted as he looked at him incredulously.
"To be precise, it's more like a deja vu feeling. Like when I sleep I dream of the events that happened in the other parallel worlds, also when I tend to do an action, I get this feeling that I've already done it and gain an idea on the conclusion of that event" Shoichi corrected.
"And along with gaining that ability…. I also gained his curiosity. His curiosity about his playmate's life and identity" which gained Tsuna's attention.
"At first, he was only interested in playing with me due to the monotony of his life, but then he got curious about his playmate and started paying more attention. Our continuous battle triggered his interest in me, for even though I lost a hundred countless times in our battles, that never really stopped me from stopping him no matter what. So he started observing me more, researching all and everything about me, my family, my likes and dislikes, everything that he can get a hold about me ..."
'Curiosity led to an interest, and then became wanting….' Shoichi thought darkly, as he remembers the times Byakuran tried to get close to him. Even without memories, Shoichi always felt that there was something wrong with the popular idol of his University to suddenly want to make acquaintances with a nerdy genius nobody like him. WIth that happy-go-lucky smile of his and handsome face, he always felt that beneath that mask an underlying danger was hidden inside him.
"Needing to understand my thoughts, my reasoning, my morality, my philosophy, he wanted to know and understand everything about me. Why does a weak pathetic man like me keep trying to hinder him from trying to take over the world and becoming god, when I got first-hand experience on what happens to the people who defy him. And when Byakuran wants something, Byakuran gets it no matter what and through any means necessary…"
"So he crafted a perfect plan for me. A perfect set-up where he can trap me by his side, to examine me more closely, to learn more about me to the point that he could read me just from my minimal movements and facial expression….And what's more of a perfect place, than the place where it all began? The place where we first crosspath with each other? It was in that University in a foreign country, that was the starting point"
"Suddenly just barging into my life and forcing himself in with no respect or remorse, he was quite annoying at first, honestly…. But as days went by, creating the Choice Game while talking about what happened during the day, going to a Cafe to eat sweet cakes while relaxing after long hours of studying, watching movies on the weekend after a tiring exam week, I started having fun spending time alone with him…."
"From the times where I wished that he would leave me alone grew into yearning for when he'll be back, when he leaves my side so I could relax and relieve myself turned into fear and anxiety when he seeks other people's company…. That's when my feelings for his friendship… blossomed into love" Shoichi said softly as he remembered the good times when they were still in their University. The times when Byakuran would hang out with him whether in his apartments or going out to eat or just hang out, when they started dating
'I felt it. I knew there was something wrong…. I knew it, but I couldn't ignore him any longer. Before I realized it, his presence has become important to me' Like a moth to a flame, it was already too late to back out as Shoichi thought longingly for Byakuran, already admitting defeat by accepting the fact that he already fell in love with him a long time ago.
"Love…." Tsuna whispered it like it was an enchanting word, a red tint can be seen on his cheek.
'He really is just a kid' Shoichi looked amused at the child's reaction, it must be Tsuna's first time hearing about a love story in person, and not the over-dramatic ones like in the t.v and movies, making Shoichi's heart flutter and blushed a bit as this was also the first time that he talked to someone about his love for Byakuran.
"I don't know about Byakuran, but I did fall in love with him. After erasing my memories of my time travel and following the instructions that was sent to me by my future self, I was in disarray on what to do to my life, but when I came to that University I was so shocked at how much fun I was having fun to the point my heart was filled with joy when I gained Byakuran's little respect. He was like a light at the end of the tunnel for me who had nothing but instructions to follow all his life, like a marinette that's being controlled by an unknown stronger being. He was the change that I needed in order to reclaim the life that I deserved for myself…."
"Maybe one of his versions did fall in love with me, but since they're all one and the same, and can communicate with all of his other million other selves in the other parallel worlds, gaining memories that doesn't belong to you, and yet belongs to you at the same time, one man can only handle so much…."
"And as love turned into an obsession. When you have millions of voices in your head who's just as crazy and insane as you are, along with thousand of memories of your lover betraying, assassinating you one would surely go into madness, just like what happened to Byakuran" like an intertwined web, that's getting more knotted and entangled by the second, as more and more Byakuran got curious and fantasized about their own relationship with their Irie Shoichi of their world, things become more chaotic.
'Where did it all go wrong? One second we were happy with our lives, the next….' Shoichi asked himself as if he doesn't know the answer to that, he very well knows exactly when and why.
"It only got worse when he found out that I've gotten my memories back from the other timelines of the future, when I started acting differently towards him, started to distance myself from him…. Our relationship truly became irreparable when I tried to break up with him…. After that confrontation…. He became more controlling…. It was suffocating, just being near him boosts my anxiety and fear. And when we graduated College, he took me in his family as his lover…. And that's how I got into the Millifiore Family" Shoichi ended, giving no further details of the pain Byakuran dealt him with.
"Why didn't you tell the future me about it? Surely there had to be some way for you to get out of that situation?! If you would've told the future me I'm sure he would've gladly helped you!" Tsuna protested.
"Because it was the perfect place to be. They can hate me for all of their lives because I got into the family as the boss's lover, but they can't suspect me as a spy when it's Byakuran himself who invited me in. It's basic 101 in the Mafia World to always make a through check on the newcomers who wants to join in a Mafia Family, and since it was Byakuran himself who invited me they didn't need to, besides my background is clean of suspicion so they won't be able to get any dirt on me. And anyone who would proclaim that I'm a bad apple in the family would be immediately killed by Byakuran…. In a way, Byakuran protected me from any kind of harm"
'Except for himself' Shoichi thought indignantly, the only one who's allowed to lay a hand on him. Hurt him. Heal him. Comfort him. Was Byakuran. And anyone else, would've no doubt met death sooner rather than later.
"You're right, Tsuna, your future self would've gladly helped me out at that time, in fact even though I never said anything to him he was willing to help me out of my situation with Byakuran and the Millifiore" Shoichi admitted, smiling kindly at the young Vongola in front of him.
No matter the era, Tsuna was still Tsuna, even when he became Vongola Decimo of the famous Vongola Family, his benevolence and kindness was renowned throughout the whole Mafia world. And for those who believed that kindness is a weakness, quickly learned their lesson to never underestimate him, for no matter how generous he is, there's a beast that resides in him.
"Then why didn't you?!"
"For this world's sake I had to decline. Some sacrifices are meant to be created in order to gain a better future outcome, just as Vongola Decimo was willing to sacrifice his life, I was willing to sacrifice my freedom. Tsuna, if I hadn't come to Japan and built the Melone Base here, then you guys wouldn't be as strong as you are now. It's because of the battle you've experienced when you were trying to reach me so desparately in order for you and your comrades to go back in your original timeline, that gave you the power and reason to beat me" Shoichi explained, regretting not one bit of his decision as he stares at Tsuna's blank face. Surely, trying to sink that information in on his brain as he controls his emotions.
"Tsuna" Shoichi called, breaking Tsuna's stupor, his brown hazy unfocused eyes stared at Shoichi's unwavering emerald eyes through his glasses.
"You have to promise me. No matter what, don't let Byakuran get a hold of Uni" Shoichi stated seriously, but before Tsuna could reply to the room, the whole underground base shook, alerting everyone as they heard a huge explosion. Dread and adrenaline filled everyone's body as Tsuna and the others run towards the source of the noise.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Found you, Uni-sama and Irie Shoichi~" A lazy voice spoke out, wavy red hair and burning eyes that looked bored yet glints of burning power.
A tall young man stands lazily in front of Tsuna and the others, unease and fright spread through everyone as the magma man stands right in front of them.
As Squalo bid them time by fighting one of the Funeral Wreaths, Storm guardian, Zakuro, everyone scrambled to get as far away as they could from the base, with the help from Squalo who was left behind to give them more time as they heard the loud explosions and clashes of the battle behind them. And as they got out of the Underground Base, Tsuna and the others thought of places where they could hide, but were quickly shut down by Shoichi until Haru suggested one.
"The ground is shaking! Get down!" Reborn warned as all of them duck down on the ground just in time as the entrance to the base exploded, smoke and blazing thunder flames filled the entrance.
"There's no time to lose! Let's go!" Bianchi urged as soon as everyone hurried to stand up, steadying Lal Mirch at her side.
"Everyone! Run!" Tsuna commanded as and everyone run as fast as they can and as far away as they could from the ongoing battle.
Once they got to their destination, Haru started calling for her grandmother (technically not her grandmother, she just calls the person that). And just when all hope is lost since the realtor might've died already, thankfully a man named Kawahira opened the door.
"Why are you people just standing there? You're being chased, aren't you? Get inside" the mysterious man named Kawahira, urged them as they scrambled to get inside the house and hide.
"Stay quiet and hide, I'll deal with the funeral wreaths for you" Kawahira said, shocking everyone to his knowledge, but didn't have time to question him any further as the enemy was right behind them. A few seconds after they entered they heard a commotion outside, hearing two familiar voices arguing just in front of the building.
"Idiot. Don't lie to me. I may not look like it! But I have an extraordinary sense of smell!" Zakuro yelled roughly, hairs on their skin standing up at the angry voice as they stayed still and quiet at their place.
"Bang!" The door was forcefully opened, unconsciously everyone took hold of their breath as if their breathing could be heard. It was eerily quiet, hearing nothing but the loud thuds of their beating hearts as Zakuro scans the room from the entrance. Shoichi closed his eyes, as he prays to Jesus, Allah, Zeus, Vishnu or whoever's out there with an almighty power to help and save them from this impending doom.
"You can't possibly think I'm hiding them" Kawahira lied smoothly, weirdly enough no fear can be heard from his voice.
"Tsk! No choice, I guess I'll just burn down one house after another until I smoke them out, huh?" Zakuro threatened, as if he knew everyone's inside was listening. Just waiting for Shoichi and Uni to come out of their hiding.
"Stop right there! Idiots!" Zakuro yelled in annoyance as he run out of the building and suddenly flew away. Far away from them.
"The coast is clear, he's gone, you guys will be safe for now" Kawahira informed, once Zakuro was nowhere in sight, and everyone sighed in relief like a huge boulder was suddenly taken out of their shoulder as they relaxed a bit as they got out of their hiding place. And after Kawahira suddenly left them, Tsuna and the others tried to contact Dino and Kyoya out of worry. And everyone celebrated as they heard from them that Kyoya beat one of the Funeral Wreath, Daisy sun guardian of the Mare ring.
'Hah…. as expected of the strongest Vongola guardian!' Shoichi cheered along with the others, one down and five more to go. With Daisy's death, a glimmer of hope can be seen in everyone's eyes as all hope is not lost and they can still turn things around for them.
After a few hours of silence. When everyone felt safe and sound, Takeshi decided to go back to the base to look for Squalo, along with Bianchi, Gianini, and Spanner with their own personal reasons. After their departure along with the commotion that Lambo made, everyone stayed inside, safely awaiting for the others return, when Shoichi noticed Uni looked pale.
"Uni are you alright? You don't look so good?" Shoichi asks in observation, sitting beside her on the couch, touching the child on her shoulder in worry.
"Uni! Shoichi! Play with me! Hey Uni! Shoichi! Play with Lambo-sama! Gahahaha!" Lambo insisted in annoyance, Shoichi smiling in exasperation at the energetic child. No matter the danger they're in, the little child is always the first one to recover from the danger they were in, just a few hours ago.
"Lambo, leave them be! Shoichi's still injured and Uni's tired" Tsuna scolded at the playful child, and when Haru tried to grab him, he just ducked under her hands avoiding capture from her and hiding behind Shoichi's leg instead.
"Sorry, Lambo. Maybe later, I'm still recovering from my injuries and Uni doesn't look good, right now. Maybe later, ok?" Shoichi cooed as he promised to play with the little child later, grabbing him from his leg and putting him on his lap as he patted his cow headed hair to calm him down.
"Chrome-chan doesn't look good either" Kyoko voiced out as she wrapped her hand around her shoulder, who looked just as pale as Uni.
"No… boss…" Chrome speaks up softly, as if forcing herself to say something.
"Something's close by…." Uni agreed with the warning, as Tsuna and the others run in front of the entrance to guard. Alert and ready for the incoming attack from the enemy.
"Get into battle positions, everyone! Shut every exit!" Shoichi ordered seriously, heart beating strongly as another battle came closing in.
'Could it be Zakuro, had he come back? Or is it the other three? Are they alone or -?!' A lot of questions suddenly burst in Shoichi's mind as every second ticked by. Tsuna, along with his Vongola guardians Basil and Reborn were at the front door, guarding for the incoming attack. Fuuta and the girls were at the very back, defenceless to fight or protect themselves. While Shoichi, Uni, and Lambo were in the middle, seated on the couch, making sure to become a barrier for the civilians if a fight does break out. Last thing Byakuran wants is to hurt his two most precious toys in this battle.
"No, it's close…. Much closer" Uni warned softly as she started shivering from fear.
"Boss! It's Lambo!" Chrome warns too late, mist comes out from his body as he transforms into a tall muscular being with a red Oni mask and hooded grey cloak, shocking everyone in the vicinity.
"Gasp! Funeral Wreath of the Mist guardian!" Shoichi gasped as he and Uni were grabbed, wrapping his arms around their shoulders tightly as they flew past Tsuna and the others.
"Shoichi! Uni!" Tsuna shouted as he and the others were thrown across the walls, due to the heavy wind that surrounded Torikabuto, like a leaf that was blown away by the wind. But everyone quickly stood up and run outside to see all of the Funeral Wreaths right above them.
"Torikabuto go! Take Uni-sama and Irie Shoichi back to Byakuran-sama's side. We'll take good care of these guys" Kikyo ordered confidently, smirking down at the pathetic Vongola's down below.
"Your opponent is now Bluebell!" the blue-haired girl declared proudly, as she took out her box weapon, flared her Rain Ring and opened the box.
"Die!" pointing the box down at them, attacking them while they're still defenceless.
"Argh!"
"Kyah!"
"Everyone!" Uni shouted in worry.
"Stop! They have civilians with them! Kids even!" Shoichi pleaded at the two Funeral Wreaths who were having fun hearing their enemy screams.
"That's not our problem. After all you were the one who brought them here, not us" Zakuro rejected indifferently and directly stabbed Shoichi with guilt at the cold hard truth.
'It's my fault! They're going to die and it's going to be my fault! Because of me-!' Shoichi thought helplessly as he closed his eyes and clenched his fist at Torikabuto's tightly wrapped arm around him, Shoichi felt nothing but miserableness spreading to his body. Glimpses of mini-memories come into his mind like a Déjà vu, the screams and shouts of his comrades in the other parallel worlds. Their plea of mercy. His plea of mercy to Byakuran to spare their life as he watched them get executed one after another, their massacre being a form of game for the Millifiore Family on who could get the most kills as his comrades fight to their death…. Shoichi felt lightheaded, his eyes dimmering at his own helplessness.
'We lost!... Again!' Shoichi thought for the worse. The kind of torture that the Vongola Family will have to endure, in which case death is much more merciful punishment than life. And it's all because Shoichi decided to ally himself with them in order to defeat Byakuran, and now they're the ones who's going to pay for Shoichi's betrayal.
"Stop it! Everybody! Uncle!" Uni cried out as smoke filled the area. And as they waited out for the smoke to clear, Torikabuto was suddenly attacked from behind, letting both Uni and Shoichi go.
"Argh! Waah!" Both Shoichi and Uni shouted at the sudden gravity, shouting as they fall from the sky.
"Are you hurt? Princess?" Gamma asked softly as he caught Uni carrying his princess safely into his arms, his two loyal dogs beside him and two of the other Black Spells in front of them, ensuring protection to their boss.
"Shoichi-kun!" Tsuna called as he flew out of the smoke, intending to catch him.
"Tsuna! Hngh!" Shoichi called, and for a moment of thought believed that he'll be saved. But that was quickly dashed away when Zakuro caught him first, halting Tsuna's advancement, glaring angrily at them. As Zakuro lined up with his comrades.
"Tsk! Black Spell! They should've died during the warp of the Melone Base. Zakuro, go now. We will catch up with you as soon as we retrieve Uni-sama" Kikyo ordered indignantly at the sudden turn of events.
"Torikabuto! What are you doing?! Grab Uni!" Bluebell ordered angrily.
"Roger~ yawn" Zakuro answered drowsily, not bothered one bit at the situation. As he flew away from the upcoming battle.
"Stop right there! Shoichi!" Tsuna called out
"Tsuna!" Shoichi called out in desperation, turning his head around to see a glimpse of Tsuna who tried to follow them but was quickly blocked by the other three Funeral Wreaths.
"Shoichi!" Tsuna called out from the distance as he was blocked by the rest of the Funeral Wreaths along with his duty of protecting Uni from them.
