Disclaimer: ...Yeah, I own Reborn. That's why I am writing a curious made up fanfiction. Yeah uh no. I don't own them. Tch.
Chapter 9: Forgiveness
"Forgiveness is more than saying sorry." - Just Friends
Anya's hands shook and nearly crumpled the paper she was holding. It had been only three days since he had been touring all over Japan and she was already being charged over hundreds of dollars. She regretted not saving more money and reducing her calls overseas. Room service was also too good not to order. But… She laughed creepily, holding a silver mastercard. Her mom would get a great surprise on her next bill.
It was her last day, so before she could do anything that morning, Anya worked on trying to connect a webcam on her blue Dell laptop. The wifi was free and right now she was mentally scolding herself for not trying this sooner.
After a few minutes of struggling with wires and software installation, she finally saw her little brother Emile, who was sitting on the older sister, Lillian's lap while the middle child Kristin waved at Anya with a small smile.
Anya tucked a strand of loose red hair behind her ear and smiled widely at the sight of the family she loved.
"Hiya An!" Lillian greeted.
"There's an eight hour difference from over there and here right?" Kristin questioned. Anya nodded and checked the world clock on her iPhone, and her eyes went wide. "It's two a.m over there! What are you guys doing awake and video chatting me! You're missing sleep! I would have called later!"
Lillian rolled her blue eyes and paused to rub them. Kristin's black hair looked messy signaling that she had just gotten up recently.
"Emile kept bugging us to connect the computer already," Kristin complained and glared at the said little blonde boy. He winced. "Can you believe this boy! He woke us up banging a wooden spoon to a pot!"
Anya stifled a laugh. "I used to do that whenever you two wouldn't wake up. It runs in the family I guess."
"Hey sis, how's it over there?! Is it like we said it was?!" Emile, who didn't look tired at all jumped up and down and nearly made the other side's computer crash down; if it wasn't for Kristin grabbing it on time. Lillian sighed in relief.
"It's actually better than the pictures we saw on my laptop! It's very cool over here! I get to eat their food, I shopped a little here and there. I have my last tour today after breakfast. When I come back tonight, I have lots of presents to give each of you!"
The sister with ash blonde hair rolled her eyes. "Lots? You mean a ton. I swear to Big Ben if you get me another ridiculous T-shirt, you will never hear the end of it."
Anya puffed cheeks out in a pout. "But the t-shirts are cool! I'm sure you'll like this one!"
Before the Marter children knew it, an hour had already past. It was time to get some sleep.
"I think it's time for our leave," yawned Lillian drowsily.
"-yawn- Come home soon An! We'll be waiting! The big one-eight little sis!" Kristin cheered. "You made it. We're so proud of you."
"Aw guys!" Anya blushed and nearly cried. "You're the best siblings a girl like me could ask for. I have to get ready for my tour now so I'll leave you guys here!"
"Anya! Wait!" Emile waved the screen and his gaze became tender. "Happy early birthday! Thank you for doing your best!"
Anya jumped at the gentleness of her little brother and she smiled with a blush. "Thank you. Now, get some rest! We'll see each other later. Lillian, I'll make sure to send you my terminal number so you can pick me up. Love you!"
A few hours after the video call, the children of the Marter family watched the news in despair and utter disbelief.
"Flight number 270 was spotted on the air crash landing. Reports say that the pilot did not check a certain valve and the plane ceased flight in the sky. About half of the passengers were found dead and twenty were injured. Here is the list of deceased passengers found by identification."
The reporter was replaced with a white list, and the screen read one name the Marter children hoped not too see. Their blood ran cold.
Anya Marter
Age: 17
Passenger no. : 38
Deceased
They couldn't believe their eyes. They had just talked to her a few hours ago. She couldn't be gone that fast. It was a tragic day for Lillian, Kristin, and especially Emile. They had prepared the whole day to celebrate with Anya but now they couldn't even think of the balloons, the presents or the cake at the moment. She would never be able to turn 18. She had died on her own birthday.
She wasn't going to come home.
She hadn't expected for things to turn out horribly in a flash. If only she hadn't interfered. If only she hadn't been in the way, and stopped Tsuna, Gokudera wouldn't have gotten stabbed with assailant's needles all over his chest.
But that didn't mean one of the twins didn't get off easy.
When Tsuri pushed Tsuna out of the way from another attack, Yamamoto did his best to slice and dodge the next set of needles from reaching with his sword bat. Tsuri got pierced on her right shoulder with the strays and before their friend could chase him further, he ran away after attracting a crowd. The twins had never seen Yamamoto so angry. He was the most laid back and friendly person anyone could ever meet.
Reborn called Shamal to treat the two teens as a favor. Because the needles were poisoned, it required an antidote. Gokudera was on bed rest as his injuries were far worse than Tsuri's. Shamal had nearly shed buckets of blood when the female had to shrug her sleeve so he could administer the shot. If Tsuri hadn't held onto Tsuna to stop him from leaving, she was sure the perverted doctor would have done something more to her. Because she didn't like needles, it took some restraining to give her the first two shots. By the third, her struggling caused the needle to penetrate farther into her skin and form an internal bruise. Shamal earned an earful from her after her tears and cries subsided temporarily.
The enemy said they'd come back to finish what they started.
Like hell they would.
Slipping on a plain sky blue T-shirt and skinny jeans back at her home, Tsuri gently tapped the large bandage Shamal had covered the wound. It didn't hurt too much due to the painkillers she took earlier but the it did catch attention by the location it was in.
Tsuri watched as her brother talked to their mom about heading out for the afternoon, his face smiling, but his eyes reflecting the slight fear he was feeling. She knew he didn't want to do this. He's rather just hide under a rock and pray it passed. But they were aiming for him for a reason, and if they didn't do anything then the people who were in the hospital got hurt for nothing.
She bit her lip. 'I can't let the pain show, or Tsuna will make me stay.'
"Ara Ri-chan, why is your school blouse and skirt drenched in red?" Nana pointed at the rugged and balled up bloody uniform her daughter had so tried to hide under her bed. The ones that were covered in her and Gokudera's blood. Tsuri instantly started to pale. How wonderful a mother's radar was if she spotted that in their messy room.
"A-Ano I u-um...dropped some red paint on my uniform?"
Nana sighed and shook her head as she picked up the dirty clothes and dropped them in her laundry basket.
"Mou, be a little careful Ri-chan. For a second, I thought it was blood!" Tsuri laughed it off like she always did when she had an accident like this.
Tsuna eyed the soiled white blouse's right sleeve. 'You lost a lot of blood. Are you sure that you're okay to be coming with us?'
His twin who wouldn't meet him in the eye. She was picking at her nails as if they were more interesting than talking to him. 'I took three shots to the arm. I took something for the pain. I'm fine.'
"Tsuna." Reborn was sitting cross legged on their TV. He was messing with Leon, who had now turned into a shapeless slime. "You need to be careful. Whenever Leon gets like this it's means one of my students is near death."
He put him away in his fedora. "Also, I won't be fighting so good luck."
"Are you kidding? Why not?!"
"The Ninth's orders were for you two. I'm only allowed to shoot deathperation bullets."
He held out his palm, two red things they recognized immediately to be the Dying Will Bullet. "You only have one shot. The second one is reserved for Tsuri, in case she decides to jump in and help you. Even if she doesn't, I can't shoot you with two, your body won't be able to take it. Discuss with each other and come up with a plan."
Tsuna nodded smally. Tsuri eyed the bullet. She wondered what it would feel like. Would she go rampant and wild like Tsuna usually did? Or would it have a null effect on her?
She wouldn't know until she talked to Tsuna about it.
"Yo Tsuna! I brought us some sushi and juice!" Yamamoto showed up, carrying two plastic bags.
'He thinks this is a picnic trip doesn't he?'
'If that will help him blow the tension he felt earlier, leave him be.'
"Are you trying to compete with me Yamamoto Takeshi?" Bianchi was holding some more bentos she made. Their bright purple appearance was indicator enough that it was not edible whatsoever. Yamamoto tried to edge away from her.
"Uh… why don't we just bring them together?" he suggested carefully.
"G-Good idea Yamamoto!" Tsuna said nervously. "Gokudera-kun is downstairs already. We should go."
"Give me a minute. I forgot something."
Tsuna knew Tsuri needed some headspace. But he couldn't just let her process everything by herself. He was going to tell her he was going to stay but Yamamoto grabbed him from the shoulder. He shook his head, silently telling him that she wasn't in the position to have him hover.
Tsuri took a big breath in and out. She tried to hide her shaking hands inside her sweater and felt she was fine enough to go out the door and walk down but Bianchi was still there, leaning on the frame with her arms crossed. Her green eyes were like scanning beams seeing through her.
Tsuri never really talked to Bianchi one on one. She was very intimidating to get close to, and did try to kill her at one point in the time she was here to get Reborn back to Italy. She wasn't exactly the most trustable woman, but she did help their mom with what she could at home and kept her company.
"A-Ah, Bianchi-san. I'm ready. We can go."
"You can't fool anyone Tsukairi."
She tried to laugh but it came out weaker than expected. "W-What do you mean?"
"Don't let it get to you. It's not your fault that Hayato got hurt. You're doing what you can in your own way." The rose haired woman took the squirrel looking costume Reborn was offering her on the side. She jerked back. Shit. She forgot he was still here.
"Dame-Tsuna may be wussing out but he's determined," Reborn said.
"Will you follow, or cower all your life?"
Cower? Their lives were in danger and Reborn was calling her a coward for playing it safe?
"This is why I haven't shot you yet, Dame-Tsuri," Reborn hopped off his seat and perched himself on Bianchi's shoulder.
No-good. Reborn never called her that.
"As long as you still keep playing it safe, your dying will will always remain dead. You better fix that or you'll never survive in this world."
...
Kokyuo Land. It was the place of their childhood. The place used to be big and clean, now it was all in ruins and neglect after being abandoned.
Tsuna had the most visual memory so he was in charge of guiding them. Tsuri was sure the mountain they were climbing was a buried building but she didn't want to say anything. Better to trust Tsuna for now. She wouldn't be any use to anyone after Gokudera's accident.
Speaking of the bomber…
He seemed to be okay-ish. She could tell that he was struggling to catch up, endurance wise. He didn't seem to be complaining of any pain as of late. She wondered what he did to feel conditioned enough to help, then again he was always a determined individual; when it came to his precious Juudaime, he'd put his life on the line without even asking.
"I think that we are…right here should be a fauna… or was it the glass zoo." Tsuna stopped walking. "Tsuri, do you remember?"
"There's nothing like that here," Bianchi commented. "You must be blind."
"Sis…"
"It should be here," the other female spoke, looking around for any glass that could confirm. She stopped when she saw Yamamoto bend to the ground, a deep imprint near his shoe. Something was here recently.
"What is this? It looks like an animal print" Yamamoto asked me.
"Heads up. Something's coming" Reborn suddenly warned. There was a rumbling and a rustle. Something popped out of a bush. No one was able to take a look by how fast the attack was. It knocked Yamamoto down on his back hard and had no time to get back up because the whole ground opened and swallowed him whole.
"Welcome~" the voice introduced itself in the dark. Everyone hovered from the hole above carefully to check if Yamamoto was okay.
"Tsuna's memory was correct. The zoo is buried below the dirt."
"So we're on its roof?!"
"You see, there's something called erosion and overtime the ground—" Tsuri started explaining from what she remembered on yesterday' science session with Bianchi.
"Oh shut up. I know!"
"You alive, baseball freak?"
"Ouch! Hahaha! That caught me off guard." Yamamoto yelled back up.
"Yamamoto! There's something down there with you! Be careful!"
There was a growl. Was there really an animal down there? Or…. A beast? "I welcome you, Yamamoto Takeshi…I'm Ken. Kakipi's still out cold and I have no orders from Mukuro-sama so I grew bored out of my mind. Now that my prey's shown up, I'm so happy~" the figure came out and Tsuri gasped. It was the same person she saw at the shack this morning! That violent Kokuyo student! But he looked different! He wasn't human-looking… he resembled an animal. Was he cosplaying or was it the real deal?
"Y-You!"
"Haha! You look like a dog! Is it an impression or something?" Yamamoto asked curiously.
"Huh? Are you some kind of retard or something? Well who cares. Here we go~"
The strange kokuyo human hybrid began to attack and hide within the dark spaces of the run down glass zoo. It was difficult to think of a way to help Yamamoto get out: if Gokudera used his bombs then he'd not only bury the enemy, but their friend as well.
Everyone was in a panic and as Yamamoto raised his bat for defense, it broke. Tsuri raised an eyebrow.
Yamamoto's eyes… they were the ones he'd worn earlier when he got them out of the way from the yo yo freak. They weren't eyes of fear, nor were they sad or sorrowful or worried…they were filled with burning determination, and something even more dangerous. Something a bit more sinister, if not deadly. Was he pissed about his only defending weapon being broken to pieces?
Was this really the same happy go luck Yamamoto Takeshi?
Wasn't he afraid?
"Let's end this shall we? Wolf Channel!" Ken said as he changed cartridges and changed himself into a wolf. He attacked Yamamoto with lightning speed. Luckily. Yamamoto managed to dodge.
He was fearless and yet…
"Yamamoto is being careful with his body…like he's afraid of being hurt." Reborn explained.
"Or is playing it safe."
Tsuri's shrunk at Reborn's dark stare. Was he trying to make her learn something here?
"…maybe he has good reason to," she answered him with a glare.
"Are your puny friends right? Are you holding back? Come at me with all you've got!"
"That's not it… There are just more important things than playing mafia" Yamamoto explained referring to his favorite sport. Baseball. It was everything to him.
'How many times must we tell him it isn't a game.'
"Tell him yourself if you're complaining," Reborn suggested. Tsuri didn't have time to react. One minute she was an observer, and the next she was dusting dirt off her cheek.
"Are you kidding me?! Why the hell did you throw me down here!"
"Reborn! Why did you do that1?" Tsuna demanded, clearly angry. "She's hurt! She can't defend herself!"
"Shut up and watch." Reborn said. 'Tsuri could learn something from Yamamoto.'
Joshima Ken had changed form, and target as he took pleasure in Tsuri's eyes full of terror. This was the first time that fear kicked in her system instead of adrenaline. She wanted out; she wanted to leave. Ken charged towards her, fangs waiting to rip her open as he said. Tsuri shut her eyes, settling for the inevitable. When she opened them, her friend was in front of her.
Ken's mouth was on Yamamoto's wrist. Blood started seeping through his sweater's sleeves. Yamamoto made sure the bite was held and used the back of his broken bat sword to knock him out on the face.
Yamamoto supported her with his good arm before Tsuri's legs gave out under her. "I got you."
"Y-Your arm! You shouldn't have—!"
"If it came to baseball or protecting my friends, I'd choose the second option always," he said with a grin. "I learned that from you and Tsuna."
She wanted to cry. How many times were the people around her willing to get hurt, when she couldn't even lift a finger? Was she truly so weak and careless that she couldn't go into the deepest parts of her body and bring the courage she'd been showing all of these months whenever they were in a pinch? Or had it been faked the whole time?
Was she even as strong as she believed?
...
...
The next opponent had been a girl that went by the name M.M. It was Bianchi's turn to debut. The opponent's clarinet melted away all the lunch they had hoped to eat after a well deserved break but they should have known better. Either way the opponent ate her words; literally due to Bianchi's lethal touch of turning everything into inedible poisoned food.
The next had Tsuri stressed. It made her regret not staying home because that perverted bird man and some skull twins were bribing them to hit Tsuna, or they'd target Haru and Kyoko. She should've had more faith in Reborn, turns out he had prepared for the worst and aimed for help from Shamal, 10 years later I-pin and Lambo.
The enemies were less, they'd taken out at least five people. Futa had popped out of nowhere after the last stressing battle and disappeared into the forest part of Kokuyo Land.
Tsuna and Tsuri decided to follow the runaway hostage while the others caught their breath. Wandering above in tall trunks and dirt, Tsuna examined the left and right sides before stopping. Tsuri wiped some sweat off her brow. "Tired already? Why'd you stop?"
"Tsuri, I want you to go back home."
Caramel eyes scrunched up in rising exasperation. "What?"
"Kaasan looked scared when she saw your blouse stained red. Having you around only makes me worry for your safety… I can't let you get even more hurt," Tsuna lowered his head in remorse. "This battle is too dangerous for you-"
"Stop it. I don't want to hear this from my no good brother who was about to wimp out. I'm not going back home!"
"T-There's a difference in that! You're injured!"
"For the last time my arm does not hurt! I'm moving around fine without problem!"
"Stop being stubborn Tsuri! I'm the oldest out of the two of us!"
"Don't start pulling that I'm-the-oldest-twin-so-obey-me type of crap! I don't care! I'm staying and I'm helping!" She retorted.
"Tsuri!" Tsuna repeated more sternly and pleading this time.
"Do you think I'm weak? That because I haven't moved a finger means I can't help?"
Tsuna groaned in frustration. "I never said that! You have never been weak, but you have something on your mind, something your afraid of but you won't tell me—"
"Is it so wrong that I want to play it safe and keep us alive?!" Flashbacks to her kidnapping went through her mind like darts; suits with guns, the threats and scary sounds she'd heard. She could picture everyone she loved, hearing their screams.
'You won't survive in this world.'
By the clawing of her nails. Like hell she won't.
Tsuna wanted to read her mind, help her and ease the conversation like they usually did whenever the fought but it was as if she were blocking him out, refusing to open up. "I'll prove you and Reborn wrong. Don't bother following me, I'll go find Futa myself," Tsuri angrily turned her shoes heel back to the direction Tsuna and he aimed for in the beginning and ran, ignoring the persistent yells.
Tsuri stopped in her tracks for a brief moment, finally letting her brother through in their telepathic communication. His voice was different, laced with a flame that she was sure was burning within him. His resolve. How jealous she was that Tsuna had one.
'I will be waiting for you. Promise me you'll be careful.'
'I will. I'll come back to you safe and sound. That's a promise I won't break, Tsuna.'
Tsuri wandered throughout the forest with feet nearly soaked wet because of the moist ground and stopped to find an old building her family used to enter once a year when visiting. Tsuri examined the area in a sad like manner.
The bright grey blue color that covered most of the outer walls of the building were now peeled off like an apple's skin when bitten. Debris of rubble were scattered around the bushes and cement floors, making it look as if a wrecking ball had come and hit it. Some of the windows were broken and pieces of the glass decorated the floor with the rubble as well.
'Maybe Futa came inside here' Tsuri eyed the entrance. More destroyed furniture. There was no light in any corner so she could go no deeper than the hallway where the broken windows were to use for her vision.
Footsetps. She could hear them. She turned, hopeful in seeing the little child she was keen on rescuing when she caught a pair of eyes staring at her through one of the doors of the destroyed structure. Tsuri ran inside urgently to see this mysterious person. It sure wasn't the little boy she was searching for, but the gaze he gave made her curious. His stare felt so cold, so murderous and malicious.
Her footsteps ceased as her body froze at the sight of the person in front of her. Had she seen this person somewhere before? It took her a few seconds until something clicked and eyes widened when she recognized the heterochromatic eyes, the dark blue pineapple shaped hair. It was the same person that had been in her dream a couple of months ago, except he wore a Kokuyo Middle school uniform.
"You're... You're the person I saw in my dream," Tsuri pointed at the spikes above the boy's head. Clearly her mind was still fuzzy because she had forgotten his suspicious persona. Tsuri paused. His eyes were full of death… hidden pain and revenge.
"I should be asking you the same question," the mysterious boy replied with a sly smile.
Before she could ask what he was talking about, Tsuri heard a huge thud a couple of meters away from where she was. She could hear Tsuna's loud voice bellowing their target enemy's name. Mukuro Rokudo. They found him. Finally, the terror was over.
"They found him, thank goodness," Tsuri sighed in relief. She turned to the nameless Kokuyo student and scratched her head. "Sorry, I need to go. My brother just found the person we are looking for. I have to get there now. I'll come back for you soon!"
She was about to run out the direction where she had come from when the other person's hand grabbed her from the shoulder tightly. She tried to shrug him off but he would not let up. "They found the enemy?"
Tsuri nodded slowly. The boy smirked.
"How disappointing."
"Why would that be disappointing?"
"What your dear little Tsunayoshi found was a decoy of mine," he chuckled darkly.
"Decoy…? Wait, I never told you his name." A new itch grew at the nape of her neck, her hair standing by the chilling voice and her nerves feeling sensitive to the air around her. "You're...You're the real Mukuro!"
"Kufufu, allow me to introduce myself properly. I am the real Mukuro Rokudo," Mukuro fixed his position and bowed, a silver spear in his hand.
He lunged without warning, the force of which left Tsuri reeling back as the ground rumbled under her feet. He jabbed a foot towards her head, making Tsuri duck. The spear struck the wall next to her head instead and she winced. It would leave a scar if it punctured through the plaster. It could crumble the whole second floor if she didnt get away.A piece of stone from the openeing on the room bounced off her head. "Ow! Shit!" She yelped and stumbled backwards.
"I thought you had some promise in you," he said coolly, raising his spear to throw at her again. She darted out of the way, and he paused only briefly before launching another spear from across the room. She jumped back and fell to the ground. 'Damn! This guy is fast, too damn fast.' "Clearly I was wrong. Sawada Tsunayoshi may look weak, but you take the cake. You're worse."
"Shut up!" Tsuri scrambled to her feet, her face twisting as fear clawed its way up her throat. "You don't know shit about me!" Her voice shook with adrenaline as she lunged forward and threw a kick into his cheek. Mukuro jerked away and retaliated by striking the wall where she'd just been standing. The sound made blood run down her knuckles angrily when she saw him smirk.
"Oh? Is that so? Make it easier for yourself Sawada Tsukairi. Surrender. Or better yet why don't you just try running away, like a coward." His smile stretched across his face wider as he raised his spear once more. "I could make it fun for both of us~"
Tsuri screamed as she dodged a series of jabs, the force sending more debris flying. 'How is he this strong?' With all her might she swung around and kicked him hard enough to send him back several feet. A small gash appeared on his shoulder, though he didn't seem concerned by it.
Instead he smirked cruelly. "You know what you need? More practice."
"Screw you!" Tsuri charged forwards, throwing herself onto her knees and kicking out, knocking him right on his backside. She landed on top of him and straddled his waist, trying her best to keep her hold on the spear. Mukuro struggled to regain control of his weapon. Tsuri tried not to think about how badly this was hurting her arms and legs but the adrenaline kept her mind sharp.
There wasn't time to waste. She couldn't let Mukuro go again! If she couldn't beat him now she never would! She would have to resort to Plan B. Which meant she had no choice; her first priority was to escape.
Her eyes scanned their surroundings frantically. Could she make it back to Tsuna on time if she ran like her life depended on it? She cursed under her breath. "Shit, shit, shit.." 'Shit shit shitshitshit-' She felt the spear shake beneath her hands as Mukuro pushed against her weight. 'This will probably be my last chance.' "Okay! Okay!" Tsuri panted and released her grip, launching herself as far away as she could from him. She scrambled to her feet, taking one last look behind her to see if he'd gotten out of his predicament yet.
He's gotten up with no problem, and in a blink of an eye, a literal one, there was a change in her opponents eyes. His left read eye had the kanji numeral one. Tsuri's whole line of sight changed in an instant. One moment it was the broken building and debris that decorated the floor. The next, fire pillars had burst from the ground up. One, two, four… all of them burst with fire like shooting geysers. She was late in her movement so her hands became grazed by the heat, and she cried out. What was this…? It nearly burnt her whole skin off! She squinted her eyes, shielding her whole body from getting singed, to see if she could reach an exit and find safety.
He was nowhere to be seen. Thinking he must've disappeared with the fire, Tsuri drew forward and was going to dash away at the speed of light but then screamed at the top of her lungs. There was a searing pain coming from the left side of her abdomen. She slowly moved her arm to touch the area; an object plunged into her body and opened a newly created wound. Her Blood dripped down all over like water, non-stopping.
Tsuri could savor the metallic taste of blood running down her mouth. Mukuro had stabbed her with his weapon from behind her. She had let her guard down.
For the first time in her life, a murderous intent spread through like wildfire. She wanted to kill this man with her bare hands. She had been stupid… so so stupid… "W-Why..."
"I can't hunt down my prey without a little entertainment. You're going to be my extra bait," Mukuro forced the Sawada twin to look out a nearby window. Tsuri winced at the tremendous pain, but what she saw out the glass, it made another part of her cry even more. Her friends were on the floor unconscious. Her eyes widened as she watched her brother descend on the floor in his dying will being crushed by a metal ball.
"NO!" Tsuri yelled at the top of her lungs. She wanted to escape, away from all of this, but with Mukuro's weapon still inside her, she couldn't go anywhere.
"No wonder… they have such a bad reputation… mafia criminal "Tsuri coughed.
"Mafia?" Mukuro pushed his trident deeper, earning a well deserved shrill cry. "Do not compare me to that insolent corrupt system. I am nothing like them."
"Calling...them...corrupt...ha. What makes you any different?" Tsuri growled in a hoarse voice. "I thought you were just another innocent hostage…"
Tsuri's itch wasn't leaving. Despite all the major nerves reacting to the agony she was suffering, something at the back of her mind pushed her to dig. What would Tsuna do? Tsuna wouldn't let anger consume him whole. He was a kind soul, someone who searched the why instead of the how. The Ninth, Reborn… the whole mafia community. Just what did these criminals, these kids do to get chased?
By the despising look in his eyes, Mukuro wasn't fond of the mafia, nor wanted to be associated with it. Almost like her and Tsuna. Tsuna never wanted to be involved, nor denied it. Tsuri's experience as a kid freed her to have curiosity, and a bit of hate towards them. Maybe that's why she was scared. The system that had scarred her was also one that they were defending and was drawing her closer to that life.
She understood Mukuro… despising a system as flawed as it was. But innocent people should never pay the price for it. Never.
Mukuro harshly slipped out his sharp weapon from Tsuri's hip and grabbed her from her chin. "Innocent is not a part of my vocabulary. You should learn that looks can be deceiving."
Ready to collapse, the last thing Tsuri saw was the wicked look on Mukuro's face and the pleasure in seeing her writhe in agony. She pitied him. She pitied his hate. If Tsuri always played it safe, hiding and hating the mafia… would she end up like him?
"I pity you," Tsuri said in between short breaths. "Your grudge… your hate… it consumes you so much that you truly lost sight of what you're really after."
Mukuro raised an eyebrow silently, watching the young girl go limp.
'Tsuna, I'm sorry. I broke my promise.'
As he saw his extra bait and spare vessel on the floor, Mukuro hid the spark of fire he had in his eyes as Tsuri's words resounded in his mind.
'You've truly lost sight of what you're really after.'
He wouldn't admit that her words had begun to bubble up inside him. No. He hadn't felt like this in 8 years. He couldn't go back to that feeling again. Shove it down. Let it die. Hate and grudges were all he had now. He picked up Tsuri's body and began to walk to his destination where the Vongola would surely come and where he'd be waiting to give him this surprise.
As Mukuro walked, a little boy's voice at the back of his mind spoke in a sad, mourning manner.
'Liar… you lie…. What I truly want… I just want to see her again.'
—-
Tsuna, in fact wasn't defeated. He had won against the man who claimed to have been the real Mukuro. His friends were were unharmed and dirty. He couldn't be any more happier that everything was over. Tsuna couldn't wait to see Tsuri with a well Futa come back so they could go home. Or so he thought.
Tsuna stared at the man he fought on the floor utterly confused. "Huh?! What are you saying?! Aren't you Mukuro Rokudo?"
The man who had faked to be the enemy shook his head in denial. "I'm a double."
Tsuna felt so weak that he could've passed out for a fluffy cloud of white. "The enemy is still around wandering someplace," Bianchi said worriedly, noticing that the other Sawada twin wasn't present.
"If that's true, then Tsuri must've found the enemy," Reborn commented. "And if she hasn't come back that must mean that she has been captured."
Tsuna's ears twitched. Gokudera began to feel a bombard of emotions swim inside him. Bianchi and Gokudera shared the same look towards the Vongola to be. Tsuna nodded.
"Let's go. I won't leave until I have Tsuri and Futa safe with me."
—-
Tsuna entered the theater room with precaution and observed his surroundings along with the people beside him. Bianchi had her guard up looking sideways while Reborn kept an eye out. Mukuro, who hid behind the shadows laughed silently as he observed the resembling twin by his side struggling plenty with his invasion of her consciousness in amusement.
'Time to start the show, my puppets.'
The struggle minimized and until he knew she was deeply subjugated she then nodded at her controller.
Tsuna skimmed the room for any possible movement and his eyes landed in the middle of the stage where someone was sitting down in the darkness. As Tsuna began to realize who the person was, the door behind him, Bianchi and Reborn closed. They turned around to see Futa and Tsuri.
"Tsuri! Futa!" Tsuna cried relieved. "You're safe!"
"Thank goodness," Bianchi breathed. "So the enemy did end up capturing you."
"Baka-Tsuri. Look what you've done," Reborn pointed to the bloodied part of her shirt. "You were supposed to keep yourself away from harm." Tsuna's protective instincts kicked in, flinging his arms around like a chicken. He'd expect Tsuri to comment normally and brush them off. Instead he heard a frightful chuckle. It came from her.
"Tsu…ri?"
"I can't help it can I? I'm just the extra twin. Why do you need me when you have the true Vongola X, Reborn? " Tsuri retorted with a voice that sounded like her normal voice… but it didn't belong to her.
A shiver ran up the other brunette's spine. "So much for bringing me along, Dame-Tsuna."
Futa who was next to her smiled cruelly and laughed. The three figures stood in their place extremely confused.
"What's...going on...?" Tsuna stared at the wicked grin his own twin sister was wearing. Similar faces… this is what he would look like if he were twisted and insane.
"Wait Tsuna." Reborn narrowed his gaze. Tsuri smirked and raised her arm and began to sway it back and forth like a metronome.
"Hmmm, I think..." Tsuri's finger stopped at Bianchi. "You're first!"
Futa rushed at Bianchi and stabbed her with a weapon that was unfamiliar to the arcobaleno. Bianchi collapsed. Tsuna tried to regain her senses but she was already unconscious.
"Tsuri! Futa! What is wrong with you!" Futa's grip on the weapon tightened. Tsuri cackled loudly.
"I have such a pathetic brother. Why don't you defend your friends, Vongola Decimo? If you keep running," Tsuri pointed directly at him as if pointing at his own soul. "You're going to be his next target."
Futa tried to catch Tsuna with the trident, but the brunette dodged with his reflexes. "It can't be... Are Futa and Tsuri being manipulated?"
"Looks like mind control," Reborn stared at the hollow eyes his other student and ranking kid dwelled. Mukuro only watched the scene in amusement. "Tsuna you have to stop him," Reborn said as he began to examine Bianchi's wound. Tsuna was handed the whip Dino had gifted him for emergencies but not even that could help him right now. He didn't want to hurt him and Tsuri. Tsuna became cornered and Futa was about to pounce on him when Tsuna felt an itch, a tiny little voice coming from the little boy himself. He said some words, and it touched the little boy deeply that the mind control came undone and collapsed.
"You're forgetting Sawada Tsunayoshi, I still have her," Mukuro eyed Tsuri who picked up the fallen weapon near a sleeping Futa and started to attack Tsuna with her fists and legs. The other twin let himself, too afraid to even lay a hand on Tsuri.
As toddlers, fighting was normal. They'd pull each other's hair, punched each other on the nose. One time Tsuri accidentally tripped him and Tsuna had hit his head on the metal part of their old beds. She had felt so guilty and cried for hours until Nana and their father had reassured her that he would be fine after getting checked up. She promised herself, and he to her, that they would never do that to each other again, no matter how angry or upset they were at each other. He couldn't go back on his word now, even if that meant Tsuri was not herself right now.
"How does it feel to be weak Tsuna?" Tsuri asked darkly as she roughly pushed him to the nearest wall. "I know you can't touch me. You're too scared to. C'mon Tsuna, defend yourself!"
"Kufufufu, I knew I chose the right sibling. She's very entertaining." Mukuro smiled widely. Tsuna shot him a glare from where he was.
"Mukuro ! What did you do to my sister?!"
"I merely showed her a wide and broad perspective from my point of view."
Tsuri grabbed Tsuna's throat and squeezed hard. His breathing… he couldn't take any air…
"Oya, it looks like she really really hates you."
"T-Tsuri!" Tsuna gasped out and began to claw against the other's hold, reaching up to pull at the hand at his neck. "Snap out of it! You're being controlled!" He pleaded wheezily.
It wasn't reaching. Whatever he was saying wasn't either not going through or she was ignoring it for a reason. Instead, the brunette tightened her hold and squeezed harder. Tsuna stared at her empty caramel eyes that were supposed to be filled with light inside. Instead all he saw was that same gaze she gave to him when they had argued in the forest. It was fear, remorse. He should have known better than to let her out of his sight. Tsuna let out a grunt. He had to break her out of Mukuro's control.
'Tsuna remembered earlier when all of his friends were at the hospital patiently waiting for Gokudera to wake up from his bed. Tsuri had become silent after her tantrum and Tsuna saw that lips and hands were quivering, almost as if she had stared at a corpse instead. Also when Reborn had kicked her off the flora and fauna roof when they arrived earlier, Yamamoto sacrificed his arm to protect her from the enemy. Tsuri ended up looking even worse than she should have been. Yamamoto assured her that his wound wasn't such a big deal, but Tsuri was harried, and bit back words that were clearly lodged in her throat.
'That's probably why she didn't want to go back... She wanted to make it up to us and find Futa before any of us got even more hurt,' Tsuna concluded. 'This was her only way she thought she could protect us.'
'Is it so bad that I'm playing it safe and trying to keep us alive?!'
"We...don't blame you..." Tsuna managed to breathe out. The squeezing stopped. Her bland eyes widened in surprise.
'So that was it!'
"It's okay! It's not your fault! You're focusing on the injuries more that the person Tsuri! Gokudera didn't blame you for his injury and neither did Yamamoto. They're still alive aren't they?!"
Tsuna grabbed the now loose hand on his neck. "I know you think you broke our promise when you said you'd return to me safely. You're standing right here with me aren't you! That proves you aren't weak! So snap out of it and come back to me, to our family!"
Reborn watched and tried to remain poker faced. Tsuna's sky flame… the leaking he was aware of was trying to ignite Tsuri's own buried flame within their physical touch. Both couldn't sense it or see it yet, but he watched the way the Vongola don's pulsed from his hands and traveled around Tsuri's body like a chain reaction, reaching and being absorbed by her. It seemed to work because she was no longer choking him;
Tsuri was blinking, responding and fighting her way back, to get control of the body she had. Tsuna grabbed the hand and stared at now clear, tear stained caramel eyes that matched his own in every way. Tsuri, the real her, was in front of him, looking like a wilted leaf as she dropped the trident on her hand and hugged her brother so tightly that Tsuna lost his breath again. "Tsuri!"
"Tsuna... I'm sorry..." The girl's body sagged and she closed her eyes in sleep. Tsuna tried to move her safely down and gently next to Futa on the ground, feeling his palms wet. When he looked down, an ardent red color adorned them. It was unbelievable to him, to see so much blood at this young age. And even more so, it enraged him that it had to belong to a family member of his, one he considered his other half.
His pulse elevated higher than ever and he was sure he could feel it calling for justice. "What do you take people for Mukuro Rokudo?!"
Mukuro stared at the bait he had lost in annoyance and put a finger on his lips. "They're...toys."
Reborn glanced at determined Sawada Tsunayoshi and at the fragile looking Tsukairi. The arcobaleno slightly frowned as he felt the lizard on his back jiggle.
This was meant to happen.
These twins had to battle together or else all would be lost.
"This trial is not only for one twin," Reborn whispered and tilted his fedora down. "Raise yourself up Sawada Tsukairi. It's time you show fear that it will no longer control you."
Dun dun dun. Cue dramatic music and depressing background.
(2023 me: I still suck at writing battle scenes…. I did my best and if it doesn't make sense well um… just watch the episodes and picture it instead ^^' Back to my old commentary below)
Get ready to see a little history flashback, and Emile! Who's he going to be reborn as? You can only guess for now! Until then my wonderful readers!
~Ciao Ciao
-Blu