Disclaimer: I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.
"What should I tell Iemitsu when he comes looking?" Bianchi asked. She had her arms crossed.
Reborn smirked. "Tell him I went for a walk." They stood outside by the ship's helipad, waiting for the favor that he called in.
Bianchi sighed helplessly but still very much enamored. "Alright. But Reborn, must you really go?" She tried again to convince him. "Those kids should be able to handle themselves now."
That was true but that wasn't why Reborn was going. If it was just the hitmen, Reborn would have waited for them to find their way back. As it happens, other powers were involved. Powers that Reborn couldn't ignore nor can he speak out loud about in case someone was listening in. "Monitoring my students are part of a tutor's duty," he said solemnly. "What kind of tutor would I be if I didn't at least see this through? Besides — assassins? Tsuna's capable of handling that much. Nicolas? Not so sure."
Bianchi sighed again. "Okay. I can imagine Tsuna would be having a hard time with him. Nicolas can be so... intense. It's very different from Iemitsu."
Intense fit just right. Reborn had sadly missed it but from what he gathered, it had been a war of egos. The Young Lion of the Vongola versus the Savant Son of distinguished military honor. Reborn didn't coin the nickname but it was probably Basil. The boy had a habit of giving out grand titles to anyone that impressed him. Whether it was due to his own shiny spine or the fact he was the son of General Matteoli, it seems Nicolas had left a lasting impression on CEDEF members.
"You should go back now Bianchi. Maman might wake up again and it would help to see a familiar face."
"Very well. I see the need but I still wish I could go." Bianchi set Reborn down.
"Next time," Reborn promised. The smiled. Bidding him a kiss on the cheek, Bianchi left the deck to head back inside. As soon as Reborn felt that she was gone, he called out to his 'crew'. Stepping out to the pad was the Fox wearing his fox mask, Skull and to his pleasant surprise, Lal Mirch.
"Man, I thought she was never gonna leave." Skull complained. "And did you really have to leave me with these two?" He jabbed his thumb at the other two. If the Fox was bothered behind his mask, he wasn't obvious about it, choosing to remain silent.
Lal Mirch however, twisted his arm. "Ow! Ow! Ow!" Skull cried.
"Lal, I'm surprised you wanted to come along." Reborn said, ignoring Skull. "Not complaining, the more the merrier."
Lal ignored Skull too. "Its bad enough that CEDEF is compromised. Can't have you making it look bad too."
"CEDEF's business is its own. If it wants to clown around, that's fine but I still do what I want. I just hope you weren't expecting Colonello — he's out on a mission today so he can't come." Lal Mirch turned pink.
"I—I wasn't expecting anything!" she yelled, embarrassed. Reborn smirked. "A-Anyway, how long do we have to wait?"
Reborn listened. He could faintly hear the chopping sound of helicopter blades in the distance. "Not long."
"Hmph." Lal finally let go of Skull and the Arcobaleno tripped. He fell over the fox's shoes, grumbling. "Who is this anyway? He wasn't recorded getting on the ship." She fixed the Fox with a glare.
"He's an associate of Mia's. Hasn't Basil mentioned him?" Lal suspiciously glanced at the the fox who stood as still as a statue while Skull ran around him. "Hmph. Be as it may, care to explain how he got here? This boat is heavily guarded. You're not supposed to have anyone unauthorized here Reborn. Strictly Family only."
A sharp retort was ready to fire off his tongue but the hitman reeled it in and instead replied, "I invited him of course, just like Skull." Reborn watched as Lal fumed. She was a stickler to the rules that one — a habit from her time as a soldier. But Lal had been there when Iemitsu had undermined his authority as Tsuna's tutor. She had seen when her own boss brushed aside his advice to reach out to the main family. She wouldn't dare stoke his ire anymore than it already was and deny him his right.
Lal's frown deepened but she didn't protest further. Reborn took her silence as submission. Had it been anyone else he would have shot at them already for asking way too many questions. Lal knew he had his reasons but she had to ask out of duty. Also, he lied about inviting Skull. He had almost forgotten that he had dragged the other Arcobaleno with him. If the fox hadn't found him in the cargo hold he would have left him there for weeks.
"Hey, hey. You're kind of interesting there bud, want to become my subordinate?" Skull nudged the Fox's ankle. Ian didn't reply. This didn't deter Skull — he pointed at him. "I like this guy!"
Reborn held his fedora in place as the helicopter flew in. "Alright, showtime people."
Tsuna didn't know what happened. The ring hanging on his neck lit up and the next thing he knew it weighed like a million pounds. Sandwiched between a force that weighed his body down and the floor, he couldn't lift his head or his body. The air was whipping all around them, he couldn't hear or see his friends. He thought his guts would go spilling through his mouth first before the torture ended and then... it did.
His ring stopped glowing. Ears pounding, guts threatening to line the floor...the room still spun even when he was able to finally move. He pushed himself up on shaking elbows and roughly wiped his mouth. He could hear someone crying. He unsteadily looked around.
His friends were slowly picking themselves up. Ryohei and Lambo just straight up throwing up while Hayato was holding a hand against his mouth. Chrome was looking green and Takeshi was using his sword to prop himself up. The swordsman swayed. Hibari was already on his feet but he was stumbling around.
If they weren't crying then who —
He glanced around. Nicolas was before one of the doors, on his knees and weeping against it. Panic shot through him and his surroundings snapped into place. Why was he crying? And where was Mia?
He got to his feet and stumbled towards Nicolas, who's cries were sharply becoming his only focus.
"Nicolas-san... Nicolas, where's Mia?" his own voice sounded distant in his ears.
"She... went through one of these. I-I tried — " his voice cracked and Tsuna saw his nails were bloodied. "N-None of them would open! I can't lose her too — "
Tsuna nearly choked trying to swallow his pills but his powers didn't come. Why wasn't it working? He felt like his legs were pulled right under him and he was slipping. Everything that he ever feared by coming here was coming true. He staggered and someone caught him. Did that mean Mia was — ?
"Tenth! Tenth!" His cheek stung and he realized he was just slapped. By Hayato of all people.
"H-Hayato?" he asked, numb.
His friend was still looking green but his eyes were determined. "She is not gone Tenth. Pull yourself together! Nicolas needs us — she needs us and she especially needs you."
Mia needed him. Tsuna realized he was hyperventilating. He forced himself to remember the breathing exercises he had with Mia — oh god, Mia — and to get himself under control. Hayato was right. She wasn't dead Tsuna! He refused to believe it, not until he sees her for himself.
The thought alone nearly sent him spiraling. He swallowed. "You're right. I-I'm sorry, I just — "
Hayato pressed something into his hand. His pills. When did he drop these?
"Its okay Tenth." Hayato said gently but there was a quiver in his voice. "One thing at a time right?"
Tsuna nodded and went to Nicolas. He knelt before the older man. Nicolas continued to stare beyond him but the pain in his eyes were vivid, so raw, Tsuna couldn't help his own tears from escaping. He furiously wiped them away. If only he said no harder. If only he insisted they stayed in Japan then Mia — he stopped himself. He had to believe she was okay, he had to. "N-Nicolas-san." He started lowly, unable to keep himself from choking over the words. He hesitated before deciding to pull the other man for a hug.
If there was one thing he knew about this family, it was that words alone were never enough. He felt Nicolas tense and Tsuna was afraid he would be shoved off but the man didn't push him away. "She's not gone yet Nicolas. We'll find her!"
Nicolas clung to him like a lifeline. "Tsuna I can't lose her." He said brokenly.
I can't too. Tsuna thought painfully. "You won't." He said earnestly. In a stronger voice, filled with everything he had, he said, "I swear it."
They will find her. No matter what, even if they had to bring down the entire mountain just to do that. If that didn't work, he would raise hell with the Vongola and use all its resources and wealth until nothing was left until they find her or die trying.
He focused on those thoughts instead of the ones that would tear his heart in half if he even briefly entertained them. No, he can't give in just yet.
Nicolas took a moment to gather himself, pressing his face against his shoulder. Tsuna didn't mind. Nicolas can use him as an emotional crutch anytime. His brain felt slow, as if it hadn't completely caught up yet. But holding Nicolas like this, gave him something to anchor himself. Steadily, a plan began to form in his mind. "Thank you Tsuna." Nicolas murmured.
Tsuna pulled away. Despite one of pupils blown wide, he saw a spark amongst the hollowness.
Tick.
"Its starting again." Nicolas slowly got to his feet. Tsuna helped him up. "I would suggest going through the doors but I'm not sure how to open them." He looked at his bloodied fingers. Tsuna stared at his hands in concern. Nicolas had nearly torn all his nails off trying to pry the doors open.
"Professor..." Chrome tugged at the man's sleeve. She held a handkerchief. "L-Let me, please." Chrome nodded towards Tsuna encouragingly, her eyes ladden with worry.
Tsuna tore his eyes away from Nicolas to focus on the doors. Mia could open the other doors just with her touch, but only because she was recognized as a 'key'. They didn't have that.
"I can't use my flames," he confessed to Hayato. "There's something in this room that's stopping it."
Hayato's eyes widened. "It might be just this room." He speculated. "What are your orders Tenth?"
He sized the doors up. He couldn't tell which one Mia went through except for the one they came from. "We'll have to break through each of them," he said out loud.
Tock.
He faced his friends and looked at three in particular. Hayato, Ryohei and Hibari. "You guys think you can get some of these open?"
"Thought you'd never ask Tenth!" Hayato whipped out several sticks of dynamite. He eagerly headed for the middle door.
"Dibs on the extreme right!" Ryohei cracked his knuckles.
Hibari took the one on the left. His fingers flexing as he adjusted his grip on his tonfas.
Tick. Tock.
They didn't have the time or the wit to figure out another way to open the door but what they lacked was made up for in spades with firepower and brute force. Hibari struck first and and the blow had already made a dent.
Yeah, brute force sounded just fine.
The first thing she felt was pain. Story of my life. If she felt pain then that was good right? It meant she was alive. What wasn't so good was how excruciating it was to even move her right leg. Did she break it? She wasn't sure.
She must have broken it when she was sucked in through the door and then what? She racked her brain. Most likely she hit something and blacked out from the pain.
She felt a drop of water hit her face. The ground was wet too, now that she thought about it. Mia blinked the water from her eyes. In the dim light she realized she had fallen down in some sort of pit. That's... a really long fall. Mia gulped as she gauged the distance. Fifteen feet? Thirty feet? Regardless, she was lucky to have survived and — her right hand twitched — she could feel her arm again. It still felt heavy but at least she could move it again.
"I'm alive." Mia croaked breathlessly. Another drop hit her face, this time on the nose. Mia pushed herself up to her elbows, careful not to jostle her right leg. It was still too dark to see. Thankfully, her bag hadn't gotten lost in the fall and she pulled out a flare.
She steeled herself. "Alright Mia," she tried to hype herself up. "You can do this." She lit it and almost wished she didn't. The red light emanating from the flare didn't help either.
She whimpered. Her leg was a mangled mess of burns, torn flesh and blood. She didn't know what happened. She didn't even recognized it as hers. Her leg was... whole... but there was a lot of blood. Too much for her liking and coming from everywhere. It soaked the ground around her and even her clothes and hair. She felt faint. It looked like it had gone through a shredder and then dragged through an open fire. Another drop hit her on the head and she snapped out of it.
With deep practiced breaths, Mia focused on the sound of her heart until it was all she could hear, then willed it to a slower beat. The fear was still there — held back by a thin wall of discipline — but for now she had a clear head. Mia quickly got to work before she bled to death. Working like a machine, she shrugged her jacket off first, then her shirt, leaving her in a tank top and proceeded to rip her shirt apart with her teeth. Using the strips and a broken rod she found, she made an improvised tourniquet. She held it against her leg and resisted the urge to cry. God it hurt — she had to bite down on what was left of the shirt just so she could finish tying her leg. Anything that was left she used as makeshift bandages to staunch the flow.
When she was done, her hands were shaking and she was out breath, maybe a little lightheaded too but her leg looked less like it had been mutilated and more like it had been mauled. She shrugged on her jacket again. Her flare was dying out so she lit another one. She only had a couple left.
Mia slowly looked around. From what she could see she was in some sort of cavern but upon closer inspection, saw parts of broken columns, rotten beams and even a giant stone hand that was sticking out of the ground. Did she fall even deeper in the vault? It looked like a section of the room she was in fell into a natural cave a long time ago.
"Hello?" she yelled out. "Tsuna? Pa? Anyone?" Nobody answered.
So she was alone. Hopelessness threatened to consumed her.
Alone. Pandora stirred. She flinched, having forgotten it was still there.
A lone light twinkled in the distance, like a star in a dark sky.
Alone, it repeated. It sounded like it disagreed. Aliveeee. It echoed in her voice.
It gave her goosebumps that she could hear her own voice like that but did she really sound that sluggish? She didn't lose that much blood did she?
"What happened to you?" she whispered.
Happppennnneddd... you aliiivee... It sounded weaker and the light flickered briefly.
Mia started to piece it together. She shouldn't have survived that fall but somehow she did. "Did you save me?"
...Save... It sounded weaker.
Oh no no no — it was not leaving her now! Not wanting to be left alone, she started dragging herself through the floor, gritting her teeth. She did not come this far, to die now for nothing. She could see it now — it was still chained to the wooden pedestal it sat on. The pedestal was tilted, its rotten base halfway submerged in water and keeping it in place were chains so finely made, it almost looked like spider silk.
Pandora's box was no bigger than a toy and could have been easily overlooked if anyone but her saw it. Its bleached white surface gleamed like ivory as it emanated light. A light that was fading now.
"Hey!" With one hand holding the flare, she dragged herself with one shaking arm into the shallow pool of freezing water. "You can't... bail on me...ahh!" her leg got snagged on something. She looked back. Hot, frustrated tears slid down her cheeks. It has gotten snagged on a half sunken brazier. Shit, she'd need to lift it over to free it. Wedging her flare in between some nearby rocks, she flipped her hair to the side. Breathing harshly, she steeled herself for what she had to do and tightly grasped her leg. "My... Nonnino always taught me... if I didn't start a fight... I should finish it — AHHHHHH!"
She screamed as hundreds and thousands of red hot nails pierced her nerves as she pulled on it. It went on and on until it was finally free and it fell uselessly back in the water with a splash. She crumpled, falling backwards on her elbows. Through the haze of pain, she struggled to latch on anything to keep her slipping into despair. She thought about her friends, who had willingly come down here with her, her Pa who was probably scared out of his mind for her and Tsuna... Tsuna with his warm chocolate eyes and endearing smile, who's kindness was as bountiful as the skies above...
They were here because of her. For sure they must be up there still, looking for her, but time wasn't on their side. She slowly pushed herself up again. The flare began to fizzle out and the darkness began to close in on her again.
It might be too late for her but not for them. Summoning the last of her strength, she lit her last flare. Not all hope was lost. There was still one thing left that she could do for her friends.
She was close to Pandora. She can see it now. "We started this... and we will finish this." She hauled herself to the base and briefly leaned against it to catch her breath. Cold water lapped around her waist. Just a little bit more Mia!
Pandora's light flickered. Finish...
"I found you... like I promised." She gasped. "But now you gotta help me...help us... get out of here."
Help? Mia liked to think she was getting better at translating it's feelings.
"I don't think I'm in any condition... to walk out of here." She panted. Everything around her started shaking as the walls and even the ground groaned. Bits of rock loosened and fell and she flinched as a particularly large one nearly hit her. It passed after a few seconds but she had a feeling it wouldn't stop.
She didn't know how the Vault operated but if she was right, and the sequence to trigger a self-destruct had already began, it won't be long before the entire monastery will come crashing on top of them. Tsuna, her Pa and all her friends were all still inside. If she could just help them find their way out —
Help. It repeated tiredly. Mia could tell what it needed.
"We're b-both weak." The cold was seeping already into her bones. "You need me... and I need you. B-But that w-won't be enough." Using the pedestal, she pulled herself to a stand on her one good leg. Mia faced the object of her nightmares.
It was as she remembered it. Oddly enough, it didn't seem so terrifying anymore. Somewhere along the line since she confronted it, it felt less like the monster hiding under her bed and more like an old imaginary friend that she had forgotten. Its light shone briefly. Through the hole in the box, something gleamed.
Enough? She felt its disgruntlement. Despite her bleak situation, she cracked a smile. Pandora didn't seem to agree. She pictured her friends again in her mind, then her leg. She knew, to some degree it can read her thoughts if she let it. It quieted.
"I'll give you e-everything I have," she promised it. "But y-you need to help them. Help them get out. Safely. C-Can you promise t-to do t-that?"
She stared, transfixed, as a lone magnificent golden eye peered at her through the hole. Her hand unconsciously curled into a fist as she waited with bated breath. Just when her final flare went out, it finally responded.
Its light hummed warmth...Promise. In that moment, a deep understanding washed over her. Pandora was incapable of lying. It will keep its promise. The information came to her so easily it nearly made her forget how to breathe. She didn't have time to dwell on it long as immediately relief took over.
She smiled so wide her cheeks hurt. "Y-Y-You're not s-so bad..." She didn't get to bask for long as another earthquake hit.
BOOM! Stalactites started falling. In the distance she heard rushing water. Mia tried to pull at the chains but only succeeded in cutting her hand. Water rose to her knees. With nothing else to lose, she firmly grasped Pandora with her bloodied hand and focused everything she had into it. She didn't have a conduit to channel her flames out and feared it might not work. Then she felt the tug, followed by a dull roar in her ears as her flames poured in. The box grew warmer as her vision dimmed. The water was up to her waist now.
As she succumbed into the darkness, she heard it.
Click.
Reborn was impressed. Not many people had the patience that the Fox had right now. Throughout the entire flight, they had to listen to Skull chatter incessantly in a one-way conversation with the Fox. Even with the aviation headsets on, Reborn could tune Skull out just fine but if he was in his place he would have thrown the other Arcobaleno out.
As it is, he thought it was pretty amusing.
"So, where are we going?" Lal Mirch decided to cut in. She tapped her gun irritably.
"Ignis Fatuus Monastery," Reborn replied. Lal's brow rose at the name.
"Huh. Why would Sawada even be there? Isn't that place abandoned?" Lal said. "I doubt he came there to sightsee."
"Tsuna has his reasons," Reborn said. "Just like Iemitsu has his reasons to focus on CEDEF than his son."
Lal Mirch frowned but didn't comment further. If she was offended on behalf of Iemitsu, Reborn didn't care. CEDEF was more than capable of sending out a small elite force to bring Tsuna and the others back but chose to deal with mutiny in their ranks instead. He had proposed to contact the Ninth but was denied because he was an 'outsider'. Somehow, Iemitsu got it in his head that CEDEF would be able to handle it without the main family. It annoyed Reborn to no end but he wasn't wrong. Reborn wasn't part of the Vongola, he had never pledged allegiance, he was only here as a favor for an old friend. So, since he was such an outsider, he decided to act independently for now.
"Man, the politics in the Vongola are really heating up," Skull gossiped to Ian. "Talk about complicated — not to mention the drama."
At this, the Fox tilted his head towards Skull to Skull's giddy delight.
"Hey Lorenz," Reborn spoke into the mic. "We almost there?"
"Two minutes!" Their pilot informed them cheerily. Reborn had met Lorenz in a bar several years ago when he still tutored Dino. Dino had the bright idea that it would make him more mature if he started drinking — Reborn didn't stop him and as he predicted, got in a fight with other patrons when he flirted with one of the ladies.
Reborn didn't interfere, as Dino brought it on himself, but a friendly drunk did step in to help. Lorenz was amusing and had great aspirations to be a pilot. Since he had helped Dino, Reborn offered his connections to jumpstart his career and from then on they became friends.
"Get ready to drop off folks!" Another thing Reborn liked about him — Lorenz didn't ask questions.
"Lal, can you get a visual up ahead?"
Lal Mirch slipped on her infrared goggles and slid the door open. She surveyed the trees ahead.
"They're crawling all over the place." Lal noted loudly over the helicopter's noise.
"Ya want me to land by the base friend?" Lorenz asked.
"Nah, we're dropping off from here." Reborn unclipped his seatbelt and strapped on a parachute. Lal followed his lead as well as the Fox.
Skull gulped. "Hey, we're like thousands of feet in the air right?"
Leon morphed into a grenade launcher. "If you wanna chicken out, Lorenz can drop you off. Just tell him where to go."
"Well..." Skull trailed off.
For the first time since they left, the Fox spoke. "That's too bad Master Skull. I was hoping to see you in action. From what the Miss Mia told me, you are very impressive but I suppose there's always a next time."
"H-Hold on! Mia said what about me?" Skull fumbled with his seatbelt. They couldn't see his face but the mischief was there. The Fox gave them a salute and jumped off. Skull gaped then quickly recovered, he roughly unbuckled his belt and took off after the Fox.
"Wait for me! Oh — I forgot my parachuuuuuutttteee!" They watched as he fell. Lal let out a long suffering sigh. Then jumped after them.
"Lorenz, you mind waiting staying close by? We might need you."
"You got it friend! Radio me when you need it." The curly mustached pilot grinned over at him.
Reborn hopped off. The wind whistled in his ears. A feral smirk grew on his lips as he aimed at the group ways away from where he guessed the entrance was. He had a lot of pent up frustration and he knew just where to take it out on.
The first door that gave way was Hibari's. He had successfully beaten the door into a mangled heap of scrap metal but in the process had destroyed his tonfas. It didn't bother the prefect. He carelessly tossed them aside as he strode inside. Second was Ryohei. His first punch only created a deep dent on the door the shape of his fist but that didn't deter the boxer. He rolled on the balls of his feet and came at it again. BAM! BAM! BAM!
He jumped back and launched himself forwards. "MAXIMUM CANNON!" he yelled and blew the door in. His knuckles bleeding, he grinned widely. "Yo Matteis!" He stuck his head into the next room.
Kchik!
Tsuna immediately got a bad feeling and jumped into action. He pulled the boxer away just as spikes protruded from both the floor and ceiling.
"Ryohei, you need to be careful!" Tsuna stressed as the spikes slowly sunk back into the ground.
Ryohei laughed sheepishly. "My bad. I guess she isn't there then?" They looked through the doorway. Nicolas limped behind them. Using the flashlight he borrowed from Chrome, he shined it into the room.
It was a narrow stretch. The only thing they found was an old skeleton held together by the last remains of its skin sitting in the corner.
"Oh... uh..." A bead of sweat trickled down the boxer's face.
"Not here," Nicolas said.
Last was Hayato's. The bomber had blown off the hinges after three attempts. The doors shuddered and groaned before falling forwards. Hayato quickly pulled out a spare flare and cautiously went in.
Tick. Tock.
The mechanism was starting again. Hayato leaped out of the doorway in a panic just as the whole room he was in lit up like a crematorium. The heat so intense they had to back away. Had he been a second late he literally would have been burnt into a crisp.
"Shit!" His pant leg caught on fire. He frantically patted it out.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
"Boss, its going to start again soon." Chrome said worriedly.
All that was left was the door Hibari went through. "Lets go!" They quickly left the chamber. Immediately Tsuna felt a weight lift from his back and he looked at his hands. He wasn't entirely sure how but the room they came from was definitely suppressing his power.
Sounds of crashing reached their ears. Lambo covered his ears and whimpered. "I-I really don't like this place. L-Lets find Mia-nee and go home!" He hiccuped tearfully, then started to cry, unable to keep it in anymore.
They tried to cheer him up. Ryohei tried to do a funny face but between that and the grim environment, it only made Lambo cry harder.
"Lambo..." Tsuna didn't know what to do. His own worries were bubbling up again, threatening to overwhelm him.
Nicolas wordlessly picked Lambo up and carefully tucked his head under his chin. He looked awkward at first but gradually adjusted his hold and posture. Lambo didn't protest and wrapped his arms around the professor's neck, his cries dying down as he welcomed the comfort. Nicolas rubbed his back.
"Its alright now..." Nicolas caught his eye and motioned to leave it to him. Tsuna could see he was trying his hardest. For a moment he was worried the Professor would break down again but it seems he didn't have to worry.
He looked left and right for Hibari but the prefect was nowhere to be found. A great tremor shook the entire hall they were in and this time it lasted longer.
"The hell is going on?" Hayato yelled.
This was no normal earthquake. "Its another trap," Tsuna realized. It was the trap Mia's mother had set off once. The one Ian warned about that would destroy this place completely. He looked at his friends, his body growing cold. "Its coming down." There was no time. They need to find Mia and fast. "Come on!"
They found Hibari deeper in the tunnel, through another section that was big as the chamber they came from. He was standing over the edge of a giant hole. One of several that peppered the floor.
"Hibari?" Tsuna stopped a foot away from his Cloud.
Hibari looked up, his expression serious. "She may have fallen through one of these."
"What?" Instead of replying, the prefect chose to shine his light across the floor where splatters of fresh blood sprayed the ground. His heart pounded painfully in his chest and he looked around, hoping to catch sight of hair, a shoe or clothing — anything. Frantic with fear, Nicolas started screaming for her. Lambo clung tightly to the professor, his eyes screwed shut. Tsuna joined in. The others followed, calling for her name. Please. Tsuna prayed. Please let her be okay.
"Shit!" The loose dirt under Hayato sunk and he quickly stepped back. "Its like a fucking minefield of sinkholes here!" Another giant BOOM reverberated throughout the entire structure, followed by bits of rock falling. A few holes grew wider from the commotion and they were forced to back away.
"How are we supposed to find her like this?" Chrome cried fearfully as she was pulled by Hibari into a corner.
"This place isn't going to last much longer!" Takeshi added.
What little hope he had was quickly running out. He found himself clutching his ring, praying for a sign or anything. What was the point of even of having power if he couldn't even use it?
The rumbling subsided briefly and it was then they heard it. A voice. It sounded like a little girl singing. Was this part of another trap? Tsuna thought apprehensively. But the voice — it sounded familiar and so was the song. He couldn't place where he heard it from.
"Isn't that the song Mia-nee was singing the other night?" Lambo exclaimed, finally looking up.
...room... light won't... find...
Recognition gleamed in Nicolas' eyes and he slowly set Lambo down. "Mia!"
... holding hands... walls... tumbling down...
"Professor no!" Hayato threw himself at Nicolas, trying to stop him from going farther. "Its not safe! The ground isn't stable!" Hayato cried. "Takeshi help me!"
Takeshi rushed forwards but Nicolas wasn't deterred. Driven with something close to madness the Professor struggled in their grasp. "I hear her!" Nicolas insisted, desperate.
Tsuna believed him. It didn't make sense but he has heard that voice before. In his dreams, he realized with a jolt. His heart thudded loudly in his ears as hope bloomed. But where was it coming from? Tsuna turned his head left and right. The song was growing faint. He whipped his head back to the Professor. "Nicolas — sing back!" Despite highly likely suffering from a concussion, the professor understood him immediately.
"When they do — I'll be right behind you!" He sung, voice tight and begging. It echoed throughout the dark.
...right behind you... The voice echoed back.
"Keep singing!" He pulled on his mittens and swallowed his pills. Feeling the familiar wash of calm envelope him, Tsuna thanked every god out there. But the relief was brief and he didn't have time to relish in it. He propelled himself in the air, his flames lighting up the chamber with ethereal light.
As Nicolas sang, the voice began to grow stronger as it matched with him word for word. A warm breeze caressed his neck and Tsuna turned, his ears tuning into the sound coming from one of the gaping holes. He saw a flicker of light. Without thinking, he propelled himself towards it and took the plunge, leaving behind his friends as they shouted after him. Their voices faded as he flew deeper into the void. Tendrils of warmth was mixed with the rushing cold air. His Intuition spiked, as did his pulse. She was here.
As it was dark he didn't see the water until he hit it. The freezing water bit into his skin but he didn't let it stop him. His flames continued to burn under water and as the bubbles disappeared, he saw it - encased in an orange dome of fire was Mia. She was lying on her side, her back towards him. Half of her body was submerged in the water. Whatever that dome was, it was preventing water from rushing in and drowning her. He sped towards her. Before he could even break through its surface, two intelligent eyes manifested in the fire, piercing him from the dark.
Tsuna yelped, unwillingly swallowing some water.
It was Pandora, he realized. Its golden eyes were as he remembered it - gold and unlike anything he had seen before. It got out? How? Did Mia do this? What now? Tsuna thought, thinking furiously. His lungs were already burning from the lack of oxygen. He couldn't afford to fight underwater. But it didn't want to fight. To his shock it blinked and the dome pulsated.
... So glad we've almost... made...it...
Even underwater, her childish voice rang out clearly. Somehow it was echoing Mia, using her voice and her song. Why? He thought. Why was it helping her now? Whether if Pandora could hear him or not, it didn't show. Instead, a seam of orange rose from the dome. A neck then a misshapen head of fire. It jerked its head towards Mia, as if telling him to go right ahead. Tsuna didn't think much on why it was helping them now, choosing that Mia was more important and phased through its barrier. He dropped to his hands and knees, then scrambled towards her still gasping on air. He gathered her in his arms and brushed her hair back.
"Mia," he pleaded. Her face was an unnatural shade of gray and her skin was cold to the touch. She couldn't be dead. She can't be. "Mia its me, wake up!" He cradled her face. Droplets of water began to hit her skin as he touched his forehead against hers. But despite his begging, she didn't open her eyes. Her face blurred as his tears fell. "No no no... Y-You can't leave me like this — " The emotions that he had been holding back was slipping through and bit by bit, he felt something inside him crack.
He shut his eyes tight and prayed. He would give anything so please, please don't take her away. They had barely had the chance to live their lives yet!
Tsuna didn't know if some god out there took pity on him or maybe his will was able to reach her but he felt a hand touch his face. He stilled. "D-Don't cry Tsuna." Her voice was weak as a newborn kitten but it was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard.
His eyes snapped wide open and he slightly pulled back. Half-lidded blue eyes looked up at him. "H-Hey." She whispered.
He didn't reply. Choosing to kiss her instead and pouring everything he had in it. When he released her, there was some color back in her cheeks. "Don't you ever do that to me again!" He scolded her harshly.
Mia had the audacity to smile. She stroked his brow. "W-Wouldn't dream... of it..."
He was going to make sure she would regret scaring him like that but for now, he was just so relieved she was alive. He looked her over and was horrified to find the state her right leg was in. Blood was already seeping through her makeshift bandages. He looked around. "We're gonna have to go back the same way I came in," he told her and explained where the others were. He helped her sit up.
"Pa-Pandora." Mia grabbed his wrist. "W-We need t-t-to take him with us."
Tsuna made a sound of frustration. "Mia, we don't have the time for this! We need to go before you catch hypothermia!"
She shook her head. "P-Pandora knows a-a-a w-way out." Her teeth chattered uncontrollably. She pointed at the pedestal. "W-We need to br-bring him." She insisted, her blue eyes pleading.
Tsuna threw his hands, exasperated. Fine. He stood and took a look at the box that brought them here. All of this hardship for something so small. Tsuna was tempted to chuck it deeper into the abyss but he felt Mia's eyes on him. Taking hold of the chains, he tried melting them. It didn't work. He tried it again with a higher output but all it did was deplete his own reserves. He stopped when he felt himself tiring. He still needed to get them out of here, he couldn't afford to tire himself out. If melting it won't work then...
The flame on his forehead flickered and frost began to travel from his hands to the chains. He tightened his grip and tore the chains apart as if they were nothing but threads. The dome around them grew brighter as Pandora let out an earsplitting roar of approval. Tsuna picked the box up. Outside, the water began to boil. He stepped back down to Mia's side.
"T-T-Thank you," she stuttered as she reached for the box. Tsuna hesitated in giving it to her. Sensing his hesitation, she touched his wrist. "I-It'll b-b-be o-okay."
I almost lost you. The words were stuck in his throat. He couldn't bring himself to say it, afraid that she would disappear if he did. He pressed the box into her hands. If Mia believed that Pandora would help them, then it was good enough for him. "Can you get on my back?" he asked her as she set the box inside the pink bejewelled bag. She nodded and took a deep breath. Carefully, he helped her stand on her good leg. She held on to the pedestal as he crouched down, his back to her.
"Okay, one. Two. Three!" He felt her weight on his back as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Okay, now carefully... he tried to stand but Mia let out a pained scream. "Shit!" He quickly lowered her but even this pained her. Her arms shook from the strain.
"I-I can't d-do i-i-it." Mia panted, her words trailing off to a sob. "I-I'm s-s-sorry."
"No, no, no." He quickly assured her. "It's okay Mia, I'll think of something." Thinking furiously, he weighed out his options. Her leg was not in a state where they can move it. They didn't have time to make a splint. If only they had a cast - wait. "Mia, you trust me right?" he looked over his shoulder.
Blue eyes searched his. "A-Always," she gasped out weakly. He gave her a warm smile.
"Okay, lean back on that!" He guided her back against the pedestal. "Try to keep your leg as straight as possible. Can you do that for me?" Nostrils flaring, knuckles white, Mia jerked her head into a nod as she repositioned herself. He knelt down before her leg. He didn't know if it would work but he had to try. She clenched her jaw as she slightly extended her leg to him, keeping it straight as best as she could. He gently touched her ankle and then the back of her knee.
Mia bit back another pained scream. "It'll be okay," he repeated. His flame once again began to flicker. The moment he was in the minus state, he released the ice. It bloomed from his fingertips, crawling across her leg until it was fully encased. He let go. "How's that?" He asked her.
"T-That wa-as b-b-brilliant T-Tsuna." She was still in pain but she could put some weight on it now. "C-C-Cold though."
"One more try!" He turned his back to her again and this time, she was able to firmly wrap her other leg around him. Her injured leg hung awkwardly but Tsuna didn't mind, he had to make this work. His own injury ached but he ignored it. Wrapping one arm under her for support, he readied himself.
"All set." He looked at the dome of fire. The eyes watched them, waiting. Using one hand, Tsuna lifted them a foot up but still within the dome.
"Y-You can go ahead. P-P-Pandora will follow." Mia said. He didn't question her and began to fly. The dome around them shifted and moved with them, condensing and becoming a sphere around them as they traversed across the flooded cavern. When they broke though the water, Pandora shot upwards, ribbons of fire following in its wake and lighting their way. As they escaped the pit, cries of alarm and relief met them. Tsuna landed before their friends with a grunt.
"Mia!" Nicolas was the first to reach them. He stopped at the sight of her leg in ice but it didn't stop him from catching them both in a tight hug, ignoring that they were both soaking wet. There were no words for the relief he felt but they felt it from his embrace and from the way his shoulders shook. Next were the rest of their friends except for Hibari that hung back. The group hug only lasted for as long as Pandora tolerated it.
The creature approached them and blew warm air into their faces.
They went bug-eyed. "Gah!" Lambo yelped as the rest of them scrambled backwards in horror.
Pandora had manifested into an eight-foot tall mass of fire that resembled an emaciated bird with legs. Its limbs were bony, as was it's elongated face, and it was constantly shifting, as if it couldn't decide what it looked like. The only thing constant were its eyes. Tsuna tried not to flinch as it came close to them. Only Mia didn't seem to mind. Pandora lifted its head. It had no mouth but it made a low sound. It raised what it seemed to be its nose in the air. It sniffed as another drawn-out tremor shook the cavern. Unbothered, it looked to the side, then zipped towards a passage they hadn't seen before that was hidden behind a few boulders.
Mia tugged on his shirt. "F-F-Follow him."
Hayato snapped his neck towards her in disbelief. "I apologize my Lady... but what the fuck?" They looked to her as if she had grown another head. Her father included.
Tsuna adjusted his grip. "She's right. Come on!" They didn't have time to digest that they had essentially brought a monster with them as the passage they came from began to collapse, spewing dirt and rocks. In Tsuna's defense, he had seen and fought enough crazy. Did it bother him? Yes. Was this insane? Absolutely. But Mia trusted the damn thing for some reason and he trusted her. Still carrying her on his back, Tsuna chased after it while his friends followed.
Pandora led them to the deepest trenches of the vault where the deeper they went, the more industrial it became. The ground transitioned into steel and they could hear steam whistling in the distance. Eventually they came out to a catwalk.
"Woah!" He ended slowing down to take in the sight.
Beneath them, sixty feet down was a submarine straight out of a scifi novel. Spanning the length of fifteen meters, its metal body resembled a crusade ship with no masts while its front looked like a giant angler fish had been welded to it, complete with the crescent shape mouth and bait. It was suspended by giant chains over an underground river. A single deteriorating gangplank connected the catwalk below to it. Pandora made a whistling noise at the end, where a set of stairs waited for them.
"My god," Nicolas whispered as stared at it.
"Let's extremely go!" Ryohei shouted, overtaking Tsuna and Mia. Even Hibari looked impressed. Mia let out a shuddering breath, snapping Tsuna out of it. He quickly headed towards the stairs, carefully making his way down while carrying her.
Ryohei was the first to reach its deck, breezing past the gangplank as if falling off of it didn't bother him the slightest bit. "C'mon Tsuna!" Fuck it, Tsuna thought and leapt over the plank instead. Using his other hand, he gave himself a boost where Ryohei then caught them, helping them stabilize as the sub rocked.
"You okay Mia?" He whispered back at her. She nodded into his shoulder.
Pandora latched against the side, then proceeded to crawl into the deck. It let out a series of clicks and squawks to what looked like the sub's hatch. They heard a grunt as Hayato came on board next. He took one look at Pandora, made a face and dove at the hatch. Chrome was next to board, then Nicolas, and Takeshi. At this point, the bomber had managed to open it. He gestured at them to hurry up inside.
"Come on Tenth!"
"C'mon Lambo!" Tsuna looked back and saw his youngest guardian shaking on the opposite side of the plank. Ryohei reached out, encouraging the young boy. "Don't worry, I extremely got you!"
"B-But its scary!" Lambo cried. He tried to backpedal but had run into Hibari instead. The prefect glared at the boy before grabbing him by the scruff and tossing him towards Ryohei. The boxer caught the wailing child. As Ryohei secured Lambo in his arms, he glowered at Hibari.
"Not extremely cool Hibari!" The prefect crossed the plank and gave the boxer a scathing glare of his own.
"Tenth!" Hayato urged again. "They'll be fine! Come in already!"
The base's ceiling groaned as a large crack began to run along it. Tsuna quickly and carefully helped Mia down the hatch where Takeshi caught her. "I got her!" He said and moved back as Tsuna hopped in. The inside of the submarine was bigger than he thought. There was a deck where the controls were and view of the outside via the sub's crescent mouth. Behind the controls was a seat with several pipes and tubes were connected. Hayato dropped down beside him.
"There's nothing here to power it on!" Nicolas was going over the controls, pressing and pulling at the levers. Hayato went to check on the other set of controls as the rest of them stayed close on deck. Soon the last three came aboard with Hibari locking the hatch after them.
"None of it is working!" Hayato growled.
A screech demanded their attention as Pandora clung to the glass by the mouth. It let out a long screech that forced them to cover their ears. Only Mia didn't seem hurt by it, as if she was hearing it differently.
"Power." She repeated, her eyes drawn to the seat. "T-Takeshi, put me d-down there. H-Hurry!" Takeshi didn't need to be told twice. He carried her down and set her down on the chair. Tsuna came down to her side as she strapped herself in.
"Mia, what are you doing?" He watched her place her shaking hands on the two spheres either side of her. She didn't reply as her eyes slipped to a close. At once, the sub hummed into life. A meter to their far right flickered on as the bar rose exponentially. Hayato briskly went over to check it out as one by one, lights began to turn on. He looked back at her, then at her hands that were grasping the spheres. Small licks of flames trickled from the corners of her hands.
"Power at fifty percent!" Hayato looked back and his expression slackened. "My Lady?"
"J-Just focus on g-getting out of here!" she bit out as sweat dripped from her brow. Tsuna knelt beside her.
"Mia, let me do this!" He tried to convince her but she shook her head.
"N-No. My r-reserves a-a-are more than y-y-ours." He was taken aback at the resolve shining through her eyes. Out of everyone here she was the most battered and he was scared something would go wrong. She already looked like she was struggling. Tentatively, he placed his gloved hands over hers. He promised her they would do this together. "Let me help you." He pleaded once more. If something happened, he never would forgive himself. He'd almost lost her and it was enough to tear him apart. She searched his eyes.
He heard the others run around the sub. Nicolas was barking orders left and right but he only had eyes for her. "Together, remember?" Her shaking fingers tugged at his. He intertwined their hands together over the spheres. The world around them seemed to fade into a dull echo as he felt his flames being drawn out. Mia touched her forehead against his, her eyes slipping into a close.
The sub creaked and groaned as it was released. Even when it crashed into the water, they didn't break away. Tsuna stayed rooted where he was. Hanging across his heart, he felt his ring grow warm. From the connection shared through their hands, he could feel everything going around in and out of the sub. It was as if he had unlocked a new aspect of his Hyper Intuition. He felt Pandora whisking around the sub, its elation at becoming free bare for him to feel. It sent his chest soaring and he knew Mia was feeling it too.
It guided them through the underground river, avoiding pillars of stone and falling rocks. He felt the mountain shake. He felt, almost seeing it, as the Vault, monastery and all collapsed behind them. The resulting force propelling them forwards through the underground channel. He felt the shift from freshwater to seawater as they escaped to see. It almost too overwhelming and he nearly blacked out from the sensory overload if it hadn't been for Mia. Mia was much more resilient, despite her injuries. Only when they had drifted into a safe distance away from the monastery did she relinquish her supply of power.
Her grip slacked and she lurched forwards. Despite his arms feeling like they were made of lead, he still caught her. "Mia...?" His flames flickered out and suddenly he was overwhelmed with exhaustion. Despite that, he didn't let go. Afraid that she would disappear if he did. He felt large hands support his shoulders but he was too tired to look. He felt the warm hand close over his eyes. That feels nice, he thought sluggishly.
"Its okay, you can rest now Tsuna." Really? Tsuna wondered. But what about Mia? "I'll make sure she stays with you." The voice assured him. Tsuna felt a sliver of anxiety cut through the fog. No, he should stay awake a little longer. Another voice joined in, reminding him of soft rain.
"It'll be alright Tsuna. We got you." Tsuna churned it over his head. Okay, he slowly decided as his mind slipped into a lull. Before he knew it, he was out.
Author's Note: We're finally nearing the end Readers! This has been a real experience from start to finish. Honestly I can't believe it. Just 1 more chapter and an epilogue to go. Before we get to that, I'd love to hear on what you think about Sunset Hue, what were your favorite moments or which character interactions asides from Tsuna and Mia are fun or interesting?
Thanks again Readers for sticking with this story for so long.
Next up, Tsuna deals with the aftermath.
