A Mukuro treat is in this chapter. I loved writing every bit of it hehe~ !
Chapter 22: Wilted Star
Nana knew her children. Being a full-time mother who had hawk-like tendencies and super-human skills, she was an expert with her twins. Every diaper she'd changed, every playdate, fight and project, she was there. The Sawada twins were ever so evolving in personality.
Tsunayoshi had clumsy tendencies and wasn't the smartest cookie. He was introverted and shy, but Nana knew that all those areas dissipated when Tsukairi was around. Tsuna was a natural whiner, complainer but was such a good boy.
Tsukairi was loud, and gave no effort to what she considered a waste of time. She was too outspoken, a fighter, arguer, yet never had much friends growing up either because she lacked "girlish charm." Tsuna's two-year barrier on her probably gave birth to her ever so rising aggression.
Nana loved her twins. She couldn't be more grateful to have been sent two angels who were polar opposites and similar reflections of each other.
Going back to her girl…
Sawada Tsuri never woke up early. She hated being woken up, and would rise in crankiness. Reborn-kun was helping that area, thank goodness, since he'd arrived. Nana couldn't be more grateful that the throwing pillows ceased, and yet…
What was she doing up, awake and dazed at the ceiling for?
"Ri-chan?" Nana put the bowl of gratin in front of her and sat down. "Is everything okay?"
"Hmm?" The young girl broke her trance. "Sorry Mama, did you say something?"
First thing Nana did was touch her forehead. Normal temperature. She turned her head left and right. Skin color was its usual color. She did have a trace of eyebags, and that only happened when she was occupying her free time playing her games in her room or having nightmares.
"Did you get enough sleep last night? You weren't staying up late and playing games were you?"
The daughter gently put her mother's hands down and shook her head. "I'm still waiting for the new console to come in the mail."
The mother pressed her lips together. "Are the nightmares back?"
There was a small twitch in the corner of her eyes and it appeared as if she'd been reminded about something. There was a small spike of irritation in them. "Nope. I've been sleeping fine."
'Thought last night was definitely on my top five of nightmares' Tsuri shuddered, her stomach pricking weirdly.
"Something isn't right," Nana put a hand under her chin, pondering. "You're not ill? What could it be?"
"I know Maman."
The painfully aware groan she let out audiably now that her tutor was up too made Tsuri want to bury her head down a hole.
"Ciaossu."
"Good morning Reborn-kun!"
"Shouldn't you be somewhere else?" Tsuri pouted, grabbing her food before he decided it'd be fun to knock it over and make her starve. "Like finding an evil method to wake up Tsuna or something?"
"Do you really want me to wake him up considering how the conversation was left last night? I had to hammer him to sleep by how ticked off he looked."
"About what! My goodness he's acting like I showed interest in someone already! I have more important things to focus on right now than catching feelings—" Tsuri's voice trailed off slowly.
His heart wrenching green eyes that oozed an emotion she'd never seen in him, made her whole insides swirm with unfamiliar sensations. The dark hollowed patterns under them were strained, and she could almost feel it too, like just seeing her younger self gave him a form of alleviation. He'd been facing pain and Tsuri guessed it was the worst kind. She didn't like to see him like that and never would've expected to.
There was a chuckle. And it came from Reborn and Nana.
Uh-oh. Her silence had definitely given Rebkrn the chance to whisper into her mom's ear and share whatever her dad and Tsuna were talking about last night.
"Ah so thats what it is~! Don't mind Tsuna! You should bring him over Ri-chan. I'd like to meet this boy."
Tsuri out her bowl down and let out a long minute groan, burying her whole head in her arms. What was it with this family and relationships for the love of Nami!
"I just said there was no one Kaasan— you know what I'm heading to school early. I've been skipping practice too much and it's a miracle they haven't kicked me off the soccer team yet."
"You got training straight after school!"
"I know that! Tell Tsuna I went ahead!"
"Take an umbrella Ri-chan! It's going to rain today!"
"Hai hai!"
Nana giggled to herself as she handed Reborn his daily coffee and readied more bowls for the incoming kids and Bianchi. The arcobaleno raised an eyebrow at Tsuri's racing pace to get out of her own house.
Tsuri may have her own room and the door may have been closed for a certain amount of time, but her mind had definitely been vulnerable to read. Lambo proved to be useful in some sense.
He wondered if Tsuna would like the news that Tsuri wasn't even aware of her budding attraction to Gokudera Hayato yet.
There was someone following her around, she could tell. Her hairs had stood up high since the minute she stepped out of her home, but Tsuri hadn't wanted to go back in and face more Reborn's scheming antics so she sucked it up and ran to school.
They didnt have a hostile presence and it didn't make her reach for her scrunchies at all but it was ominous. Like a prick at the back of her neck, it was an invisible sensation that her body recognized, but she didn't. Tsuri decided after classes ended for the day that if it persisted, she'd tell Reborn and have him help.
Stage 3 was put into motion. Tsuri needed to wait a bit to see if Tsuna could prepare his muscles to face the strain the Hyper Dying Will Bullet would give, but each time he closed his eyes and stretched, he'd leave it half-way, his focus trailing off over and over again.
He wasn't the only one. Tsuri still couldn't come to terms that Lambo was going to fight tonight and dreaded being there to see it.
Rosemary took charge of Tsuna today and was making sure he restarted again and again, holding an umbrella to keep herself dry from the pouring rain. Tsuri sighed for the seventh time, causing Reborn to tap her on the head with a leon shaped stick.
"Distraction isn't good for training."
"I'm really trying here you know." Tsuri swatted the stick away, not at all happy at being interrupted. "I'm trying to decide how to feel about this."
"Tsuna's worried about your state of mind as much as he is about Lambo," Reborn observed Tsuna getting katana smacked by Rosemary once again for messing up his form.
No wonder she hadn't sensed or heard his voice. Tsuna had put a mental barrier up all day to shield her from hearing their thoughts. He was also off but Tsuri just assumed it had to do with his overprotective nature.
"I want to conquer this trauma," Tsuri lifted her palms up. "But every time I remember Lambo, Futa and I-pin's near death, it puts me off." She shut her eyes hard. "Why did my dad think it was a good idea to give the responsibility of a guardian to a mere child?"
"He knows he has the potential to mature into his role when he's older."
"That's just…"
"Like how he views Tsuna and you," Reborn finished, crossing his arms. "He probably is taking this as a chance for you to face what happened to you."
"Which is why you'll be undergoing flame meditation while your debole di un fratello here works on his body tolerance," Rosemary yelled over before poking her brother with her sword again. "Come on Tsunayoshi! Put your back into it!"
"You can do it Sawada-dono!" Basil encouraged with fist pumps to the air. "Its only been three hours but you can do it!"
"R-Rosemary-san is scary…" Tsuna muttered in fear as he resumed back to his stretching, and gave up again half-way. He sighed. "It's no use. I can't focus. Not like this."
Tsuri and Reborn glanced at each other before moving from their dry position under a tree.
"The Special Shot carries a high risk of death. If you keep that up, you'll be dead soon."
"Say what you want but I can't help it! I'm worried about tonight's fight!"
Tsuri held her bandaged arm, not able to meet Tsuna's eyes. She was partially responsible for this. She didn't know he was that concerned on her well being too.
"We'll postpone stage three then," Reborn stated in a neutral tone and turned around. "Let's head back home."
"Huh?" Tsuna sat on the ground, confounded by Reborn's reply. He'd usually be forcing them to use through into their training until they cried uncle. Why wasn't he doing it now?
The Solleano woman helped her nephew from the ground and handed him a dry towel from under her raincoat. She tried giving one to Tsuri too but she refused to take it, pointing at her hoodie.
"Why isn't he holding me at gunpoint…?" Tsuna asked the two women, unsure where to go from here. If he headed back home then he was sure he'd think about all of this more and drive himself into a corner.
"If you two don't talk about that bad memory in the back of your minds," their aunt began with a solemn look, "You won't survive. Your heart and mind will kill you before any special bullet can."
Before Rosemary walked away, she turned to the water soaked twins. "Give the meditation a try in your own room. Both of you. Maybe you'll understand when you relive it."
Tsuri now knew why Rosemary was the perfect person to have in her training. She held star-like qualities too, guiding her with advice, making her that she let light come to peek inside her.
The next to pick up his feet and walk was Tsuna. He was somber and sad, and only handed Tsuri his hand to hold it if she wished. Like he needed her physical comfort more than her words. Or maybe he was doing it to ease her anxiety. She hated this weather by what it reminded her of.
She didn't want to cry in the rain. It was a cliche. And yet Tsuri let her inner child take control of her actions to hold her twin's cold hands. It felt like they were ten year olds again, standing in the rain and holding an umbrella together in the same way they had done that day.
She decided that she was going to talk about it. It would be the first step in making sure Tsuna would never have to worry about her like this ever again. She had to believe that Lambo would be in safe hands, and if they had to risk stepping in to protect them, then she'd let Tsuna do it.
'Maybe you'll understand when you relive it.'
What did Rosemary mean by reliving it? That's the last thing she wanted to do. Was there any method to where she could just gain memory loss and forget it forever?
Maybe pull a Mukuro and bury it so deep inside herself that she'd seal it inside a bottle?
It was still a few hours before they would head out to Nami-chuu again, the rain wasn't letting up and the darkness in her room was not helping her emotions.
First thing she needed to do was to have the talk with Tsuna. But how could she? She'd only worry him more if she opened up about it now.
She could take initiative on her own for now. Maybe? She didn't know what side effects the meditation could have when done by herself but if it'd aid in holding back another possible panic attack tonight, she'd try anything.
After making sure the room was locked, Tsuri turned off her room lights and plopped herself on her rug in the middle of her room, crossing her legs and shutting her eyes.
'You'll need to take deep breaths. Focus on visualizing a flame on both your palms. When you feel it beginning to grow, put your hands together. It should let the memories play. If it gets too intense, break it. Your flames can go haywire based on your distress.'
Tsuri inhaled another big wave of oxygen and breathed out slowly. Time to re-live.
At first the barrier was refusing to comply, but after a few forceful pushes, she had been able to get through.
... ... ...
One minute she was walking home with her brother after making a trip down her favorite bakery for a snack. They were talking about school and how their new tv show was getting better each saturday morning. In all the conversation, she had seen some older men in some dark suits eyeing them back at the shop, but her thinking they were the place's security, she heeded no mind to them.
They were half-way home by the time they secured their snacks, but Tsuri could tell something wasn't right. The streets were empty because of the rain, making it hard to travel anywhere dry. And the suited people were a few feet away from them, following them carefully. She looked back at Tsuna who seemed fine and unaware of everything that was going on. Then the man behind her suddenly grabbed her arm, spinning her around harshly.
The umbrella they'd held together was knocked down easily by the grab and Tsuna had stumbled backwards and tripped over his own shoes, falling to the ground and landing hard onto the concrete.
Tsuri let out a small yelp, struggling onto his hold and screaming to be released, but the bigger and buffer man stared at her dead in the eye to make her stop. Tsuri was able to land a bite on a hand and the hold was loosened. He dropped her roughly onto her butt and crouched next to her brother. Tsuna let out a cry and tried reaching towards her, but the man kicked him away easily and reached out towards her again. She scrambled to get away from him as quickly as possible. However, he was quick to regain his composure and grab her again, slipping a towel under her nose and begin running away.
Tsuri remembered the lost and complete oblivion Tsuna dwelled in his eyes as she was snatched away from him. It was the last thing she viewed.
When she came to, the complete silence and darkness was replaced by a faint light shining above her, it reminded her of hospitals but the lighting was different, dim and flickering. The only sound she could hear was the sound of her own harsh breathing and the ticking of a clock somewhere in the background.
Her body ached all over, her muscles were cramped and sore, a throbbing headache began forming near her temples. She tried making sense of what was happening, but her fight and flight response, the adrenaline in her whole little body was urging to run, to escape.
Why had she been taken? Who were these people? What was the reason she was kidnapped?
As soon as she thought the words, the light above her began flickering faster and the light in the room dimmed as if someone switched on the lights. Then something hit her hard across the face. Pain shot through her entire body as something heavy crashed into her left cheek. She cried out in pain, feeling the blood flowing freely from her split lip, but the impact was so severe that she couldn't scream.
She heard footsteps coming closer and another blow hit her directly in the stomach, knocking the air from her lungs with a gasp. This is when they started asking questions, "Where is Iemitsu! We know he's your father!"
She was starting to feel sick, her body was trembling and shaking, her skin was hot and sticky. Something warm trickled down the side of her face, dripping to her mouth, its bitter taste unpleasant. She couldn't tell whether the liquid was her own saliva or blood.
Another impact landed in her other cheek and she cried out, curling into herself and trying to shut out the sounds. She knew she should reply to her captors, but her vision was slowly fading out and she was becoming more and more nauseous witj every tumble down the ground and up, her legs unable to keep up with the repeating blows. She couldnt understand most of what they had said, it was a different language and the one who inquired had this thick accent behind his broken Japanese.
She didn't care about it. She wanted her brother. She wanted her father.. anyone to make this end. Who in their right mind would hit a child randomly with no cause, no reason?
"You idiots! You kidnapped the wrong kid, AGAIN. WE NEEDED THE SON!"
"Does it even matter!?"
"Iemitsu! You bastard! Your daughter's here and you haven't come yet! Come and face your death!"
A new set of hits hit her in the chest, causing her ribs to creak painfully, the pain making her cough out blood again, leaving her panting and shivering. The beating stopped for a second, but resumed quickly. Another hit landed on her forehead and she collapsed, her vision turning grey.
Someone grabbed her legs and pulled her along, pulling her further from the source of light. One of the suits grabbed her arms and tied her wrists, then took off their coat to wrap it around her. The cold seeped through her shirt and she shivered uncontrollably. She was left alone to contemplate what was going on around her, and now she was lying on a mattress. Her head was dizzy and her ears rang.
She didn't know how long she had passed out or how her rescue happened, it had felt like days and months, but in between all the hazy shots of pain from her fragile body, a warm, enveloping presence had raised her carefully into their arms and was the only thing keeping her conscious. There was shouting, begging and the sounds of blasting rockets echoing in the drifted off again.
She'd woken up twice. Her body felt like it had been laid on a row of burning coal. She could hear herself screaming at the top of her lungs, each part of her body felt cramped, her skin burned as if it were on fire, the agony was excruciating. She couldn't breathe or have a moment to prepare herself to take it in.
Then its as if all the pain had vanished away, like how a thorn is removed from skin. The first thing Tsuri saw when she was able to finally open her eyes, was the face of her father, and some lingering lights of gold and orange coming from somewhere else. It didn't look like she'd been sent to the hospital, but she could tell that her injuries weren't major anymore and the throbbing ceased to cause her vision to blur.
Iemistu had worn such a frightening expression but he immediately broke down into tears. She didn't understand why he was repetitively asking for forgiveness, why he couldn't let go of her. All she could see in his eyes was sadness and regret, regret for not realizing sooner, regret for being too late.
... ... ...
There it was. The same sensation that blurred her rationality and instilled so much fear in her system. It was similar to a needle prick, not pleasant but tolerable. But after the memories decided to start rounding over like Russian roulette, her whole her whole nervous system felt like it was being electrocuted over and over. 'No. No no no I don't want to see this. Make it go away. Someone make it disappear! I don't want to see this again!'
She needed it to let her leave. Tsuri could feel her flames beginning to sway out of their regular position on her palms.
'You can't do this by yourself. You'll break!'
That voice. It wasn't hers. Someone else inside her. The same one that had spoken to her just mere days ago. Soft like a feather and yet fierce like a sword. The pitch and tone; was this Anya's voice in her head?
'You need his help! Don't let it loose!'
'?'
The reels were going at sonic speed that Tsuri swore she was going to be ill. She decided it was better to put a stop to it herself how ever possible. Then, the spinning stopped. The visualization had taken her into another location.
It was a dark and isolated prison with no walls or windows. She could make out rivers of blood on the ground… screams of children, and one of those chairs that were used to strap bodies down right down in the middle of the room. Machines, doctor coats… the sounds of wiring, smelting and burning…
She hadn't seen this before. This wasn't her memory.
It couldn't be.
"Shit Shit Shit stop!"
It took all the willpower and hyperventilating in her being to open her eyes. When she did, the orange fire in her palms transformed. Like how a stove fire ignited after the first sparks, they adjusted to blue… to orange… then something abnormal happened.
At the center of her flames, charcoal colored smoke began spreading and pulsing like veins, swarming on all directions. The ever so growing flame was leaking fuel of explosive rage and with all efforts she made to hold back whatever menacing presence was taking control of her.
The sound of the doorknob trying to twist open broke her hypnotic state of survival and a switch was moved. The flame had dissipated and she was left dumbfounded.
"Tsuri! Open the door!"
Tsuri scrambled over to remove the lock to let the person inside. "I heard you yelling. Are you okay?"
She hid her hands behind her back, afraid it'd have some visible residue. "I'm fine! I was just…meditating. Are you okay? You're sweating like crazy."
Tsuna watched back and forth, searching over her head, out the window and back. He ran his hands through his hair. "Reborn said that a nap would do me good. I was sure I was dreaming and I can't remember much but…" Tsuna tried to take a peek at her hidden hands. "I could see you. You were in a dark room, holding a flame. It looked like the Deathsperation one except, it was black."
"Huh?"
"It tried to swallow you whole. I was trying to pull you back but then I got woken up. Reborn kicked me awake."
Had Tsuna's deep sleep turn into meditation as well? If so how was he able to see what she'd seen? Had he seen through her memories too?
They were interconnected in little areas, like their mind conversations and twin intuition. Nothing special. but if he had, then his whole demeanor toward her would be different. He'd treat her like a fragile vase.
Was it possible that Reborn was right, that besides her, Tsuna had the potential to unlock his Hyper Introspection? If he did that meant that he'd peeked into her soul. What was inside?
What did the black flame mean? And what did Anya's voice mean? She needed his help? Was it Tsuna? Reborn?
"Y-You were probably having a nightmare," Tsuri raised herself up and smacked her brother on the arm to dissolve the suffocating atmosphere in the room.
"But—"
"W-We should go eat dinner. Or else we won't have the energy we need for tonight."
"Y-Yeah." Tsuna studied Tsuri's hands as they trodded down the stairs. Clear enough, there was some black residue seeping out from her fingertips.
Had everything really just been a dream, or had it been real?
...
Budding questions were gathering up like a mountain. Why the hell was Tsuri having so much trouble with her own inner self? Was she that broken?
Observing memories of someone she had no connection or relation to. Hearing voices in her head like some loony person out of an institution. What was wrong with her?
The error she made was not looking into it right away. She had been thinking it was just something out of the ordinary like Reborn shooting flames out of his shape shifting chameleon or Lambo's bazooka that let people travel ten years into the future.
But the presence of the black flame and the fact that Tsuna saw something dangerous inside her…
What the hell was wrong with her?
Everything was just irritating her. Worse beyond imagination. After dinner, she had given birth to a short fuse that had come out of nowhere. It stuck like chewing gum. She didn't want to be here, she shouldn't have even come. She could care less into what the Cervello rules were, they were mere pawns being bribed and used by Xanxus to just beat the shit out of all of them and call it a day.
Reborn warned her with his dark beaded gaze to keep it low and restrained. She was doing her best to hold out all that impending rage trying to seep out of her fists and mouth. The nerve he had. 'If you know what's wrong with me' She glared, 'Then tell me instead of perching yourself up on my friend's shoulder and being so ominous.'
Reborn wasn't so keen on her behavior ever since they'd left their house. She knew that he was probably responsible for Tsuna's accidental meditation too. But what had he hoped to gain from it at all? The meditation hadnt worked and left her with these side effects and she had no clue whether to chain them up into a ball or let it gradually out and die on its own.
Had he wanted her to come to Lambo's match with this explosive need to burn someone? It was better than bending over and crying into a panic attack but what was she supposed to do with all this negativity stored inside? Reborn was too busy making sure Tsuna's stable mind remained that way. He wouldn't tolerate her wavering on and off behavior. Tsuri wanted to blame it on growing hormones if the body, but even this went far beyond that. Physics that he haven't converted and understood yet.
All the guardians were present; except the cloud and mist once again. Tsuna was definitely concerned with the outcome of the night rather than their presence indeed.
They were all guided toward one of Nami Chuu's rooftops. Its emptiness was no where to be found. There were wires, boxes and what looked like lightning rods were scattered around the battle ground. Only the area by the roof access where they'd come from, and the upper top of the building's air conditioning system were electric-free.
"VOI! Let's get this over with!" Squalo and the other Varia members stood on said air conditioning box while the rest of them remained on the main ground.
Tsuri wanted to grab some of the cables and electrify Squalo's loud impatience out of him. Maybe that was the therapy she needed right now. Those cracks of lightning only matched what she felt. If she could just replace Lambo in this fight just maybe she'd be able to bash someone's head on solid concrete and make them bleed—
"You need to control yourself before I tie you up."
Yamamoto, Gokudera, Ryohei and Tsuna glanced over at the only girl in their party, her body language emitting out the worst waves of vexation. She crossed her arms over her chest like a punished child in a corner.
"Tsuri?" Yamamoto patted her shoulder gently. "You sure you're fine?"
Sh shrugged him off without meaning to. "I'm good."
"You don't look it. If you dont feel well, you should sit down.
Even refreshing and sweet Yamamoto was irking her. She scolded her inner self for being so mean when it hadn't been of her own accord. She put a hand out to stop him from talking. "I'm fine."
"Baka-Tsuri~ Baka-Tsuri's face looks stupid~" she could hear Lambo chant over and over. She shot daggers at her twin to make it stop.
Gokudera bit his tongue. This was worse than the usual copy who argued back and forth like no tomorrow. This behavior was different, and he could tell by the way Reborn had reversed his Leon rope back. She was on edge.
"You got something to shoot out of your ass now or what?"
Gokudera was not going to feed it. He'd been right. She was definitely not in the right headspace to be present. He walked away and stood next to Ryohei instead. The muscle head was infuriating, but with Tsuri acting like a wild boar? He'd take the sun guardian any day.
"Is it just me or is the other Vongola brat baring her teeth at her own allies?"
"Of course she is," Cielo tossed a small squishy ball from his hands up and down to keep himself from yawning in boredom. "Did you not see the panic attack she had when Levi's squad nearly skewered the cow brat?" He snickered. "She's not made for this life. What a loser."
"The peasant is weak. Why was she even chosen? She'll snap herself like a twig."
"I'm sooooo ready to see that happen. Or maybe I'll just save her the trouble and let Xanxus crisp her to ashes."
"Uishishishi."
"There's so many puddles!" Lambo jumped on them with his yellow rain boots. "Ne ne, let's play Tsuna!"
"He thinks this is an amusement park…" Tsuna picked him up to avoid hitting the electric currents flowing from the cables.
"Let me go! I'm gonna have fun!" In all the squirming, Lambo's horns fell off. Gokudera was the first to pick them up, scribbling on one of them with a black sharpie that had come out of nowhere. "Stupid cow. Don't make the boss worry."
He turned it back to show him and Tsuna. "If you ever lose these horns then all you need to do is make sure by this mark."
"He wrote stupid on it!"
Ryohei dragged everyone into another huddle, embarrassing as it was.
"That was hilarious! Let's do it again."
"Not happening!"
Lambo started pouting and spewing puffs of smoke. "Tsuna's such a party pooper."
"You really think he'll be okay though?" Yamamoto asked.
"He obviously has no clue about what's going on here."
'No one told him. You didn't tell him?'
Tsuna yelped at the purple figure behind him and gulped. For all of that was heaven, he prayed this whole anger tantrum passed or he would ascend before his time came.
"I know what's going on, dumbbell!"
"You stupid cow, why I oughta—"
Tsuri remained at the back, tucked away from everyone. She decided to pull her hoodie up so she could avoid being side-eyed. Mostly also for the reason that she couldn't bear see Lambo let go.
"Wait, Lambo." Tsuna had stopped him by patting him on his fluffy hair. "Listen carefully. You don't have to go if you don't want to."
"Juudaime…"
"I don't know how my dad made his choices. but it's wrong to make a kid like you fight. You don't want to die, right?"
"Arara. Didn't you know? Lambo-san's invincible. I can't die," Lambo bragged and picked his own nose.
"Be serious about this!"
"See ya~!"
"Wait! Don't fire the ten-year bazooka. Adult Lambo said not to."
'Adult Lambo? Did he pop in when I was sent back too last night?' Tsuri thought. 'That means my ten year future self should have traveled here too.' She checked over toward Reborn. 'I wonder if he interacted with myself…'
"Shut up!"
Lambo was a complainer and a whiner. He was spoiled, childish and rude. Someone who couldn't stand kids his age would think good riddance.
Tsuri had no heart like that. And neither did Tsuna.
He handed him some dusty and worn out horns from somewhere in his orange jacket's pocket and there went Lambo, into the zap trap that spelled death.
...
...
One thing was for sure. Lambo was a literal crybaby who hadn't been able to stay in the beginning minutes of his match. He had special skin that let him tolerate being hit with electric currents, Electtrico Cuio it was called, but as it was underdeveloped, Lambo had cried when the opponent, Levi, had struck him with a hit.
Out was summoned, Lambo dug into his hair to take out the very think Tsuna said not to. Props to him for not listening. Ten-years older Lambo had shown up, in what was probably his time of eating.
In he stepped, with Tsuna apologizing to him about how he'd tried to keep his word in not preventing his younger self to summon him. But his calm self told Tsuna he was more than capable of taking the responsibly for his fight. He had the potential now, and he had helped defend the girls back when they were fighting at Kokuyo Land. It made Tsuna feel less concerned.
But even that wasn't enough. Lambo had been hit with more of Levi's umbrellas, and rendered him unavailable to fight equally. Lambo ran away again in tears, for his grown age, and did the unusual. He'd jumped in again inside the bazooka.
The atmosphere's pressure had transformed. In all the smoke came out someone much older. It was still Lambo but at the same time it wasn't. It was a bigger difference.
This 20 years up Lambo had more reliable ability considering that even the Varia's overconfident smirks were gone. It lowered the hostility inside Tsuri's brain, letting her focus more on believing that this match could be won, instead of picturing a mutilated child.
"Is that one of Sawada's friends?" asked Ryohei.
"Y-Yeah, probably." Said Yamamoto.
"Is that supposed to be…LAMBO FROM TWENTY YEARS IN THE FUTURE?!" exclaimed Tsuna in shock.
"My, my…what's this?. Either I'm dreaming or I've been summoned to the past by the ten year bazooka for the first time in a while."
"Is that really that stupid cow?" asked Gokudera.
"Lambo seems really dependable somehow." Commented Tsuna.
Lambo turned to the crowd behind him, a soft and somber smile in his features. "I didn't expect to meet you people again. Sure brings back memories. Such familiar faces…"
That flash. The same exact one she saw last night. On the face of the older Gokudera Hayato back in that room where she had been battling for her life until she got poofed back.
Lambo's eyes were weighted with sadness and pity too. But why?
Why was thinking about the future getting so scary now?
"I feel tears rising, but this doesn't seem to be the time to get sentimental. I'm being glared at by a savage." Older Adult Lambo said as he turned towards Levi.
"It doesn't matter who you are. I'll eliminate you," said Levi.
Out of the Varia, this one seemed much more determined to win against a kid. From the comments above, the creep was worse than they had thought; he had some undying love and loyalty toward Xanxus and would dedicate all his blood sweat and tears for and to him. He'd probably let himself get bitchslapped and impaled and he'd still find some way to be grateful for it.
That oddly reminded the brunette of Gokudera. Tsuri shuddered. She prayed to Kami that he wouldn't get anywhere as near as him.
"The old me appears to have had a great deal of trouble with you, but I won't." Lambo took the ring on the chain, as well as the match in his hands. He used his matured skin and was able to stand after being hit with voltage from Levi-a-than's parabolas and the lightning rods on the ground to aim them to the ground, and gather up more energy than ever to shoot a long range aim at Levi.
In all of the battle, Iemitsu and Basil arrived at the scene to observe once more. Her dad's presence would have been better at a larger and farther distance. She thought she'd been able to divert her attention away toward the battle but the gripping clawing inside her chest at his presence just made its magnitude go up tenfolds.
It seemed the battle would've been concluded with them winning. Until the pink smoke arrived.
Smaller Lambo had come back, vulnerable as ever, shocked beyond what he would withstand, and collapsed into the ground without a swift breath. The effects of the bazooka hadn't changed any rules of time which meant that the older Lambo had been using some of Adult Lambo's time. Five minutes could not have been more useless.
Levi scoffed. He should have just snatched the ring and called it the end. He had other motives, his jealousy controlling his movements. "I am the one most suited to being the Guardian of the Lightning Ring. Scum like you is not needed."Instead, he had one hand on his head, while using the other to aim his weapon on him once more. "Disappear into nothing!"
Tsuri's stomach dropped just as fast. "Tsuna! Lambo!"
"LAMBO!"
"That bastard…!"
"That's not good!"
Gokudera, Yamamoto, even bandaged up Ryohei, took action to run, but the arcobaleno hopped off Yamamoto's shoulder to stop them.
"You'll be disqualified if you interfere." he said.
"What should we do?!"
"He is correct," the Cervello confirmed. "If you step into the Eléctrico Circuit, you will be disqualified. And his ring will be confiscated."
"If we can't do anything, he's done for!" Tsuna knelt in front of his tutor, desperate for a solution. "Do something Reborn!"
"We'll just have to sit and watch."
"That can't be an option!" Tsuri screamed. "Something, anything…"
'You need to relive it.'
'I can't—! The pain—!'
Tsuna watched as his sister's eyes scrunched up, a weird detectable color flashing through them before she started punching the door in the back and yelling out in total aggravation.
Lambo had been shot with another current, with Levi dropping him down like one would do to a feather and hit the ground.
"We'll be witnessing a harsh end," Mammon smirked from his seat on Gola Mosca.
"VOI! Burn him already!"
'Tsuna! Don't let them take me! Tsuna!'
The same helplessness he had back then was trying to keep his feet glued together. Was he really going to let it influence him now? There was no way he'd let a repeat of a kid getting harmed by people as heartless as these.
Tsuna started running forward.
"Where are you going? You'll be disqualified."
Tsuna stopped. He turned to see Tsuri who was now sobbing uncontrollably in silence, then at Reborn.
"I know that… I know that but… I need to protect Lambo!"
'Or else Tsuri's heart won't recover from this!'
Iemitsu glanced at his older child, taking in his words before grinning in approval.
"You're so hopeless. I have no choice."
Tsuri heard the familiar recoil of Reborn's gun. She blinked and in her line of vision, that radiant sky flame that only he could shine brightly, contrary to her own was released. These were the ones that were as calm and tranquil as a peaceful sky. Tsuna's flames.
She didn't know how fast Reborn aimed at him or if Tsuna had always carried his wool gloves around like she'd nagged him to do everyday, all she knew was that seeing him step in, despite feeling so hopeless and useless, he'd risked his own self to do what was right gave her some hope.
She was going to take this chance he was allowing her now that they were all distracted.
The three towers surrounded and used by the Varia assassin had been charged fully for one more attack. Instead, the three towers collapsed like legos, and allowing Levi to leap free and fail.
When the smoke cleared, Tsuri had been able to secure Lambo's body out of the pillars, kicking one away harshly to make her way back to their side of the area. Gokudera and Yamamoto instantly swarmed around her, checking her and examining to see if the cow child was still breathing. She handed him to Gokudera, who felt himself stiffen at the readable emotions in her eyes.
"It doesn't seem to be the wind," the wannabe prince scanned the towers' bases.
"Yeah. Look how the lightning rods are bent at the base. It was heat."
"Heat which melted the weak parts of the rod… this is heat conduction." The Cervello searched around for the source. Tsuna, lit in what was his hyper will state, had one of the sizzled cables in hand, labeling himself as the culprit.
"What's that flame?!" yelled Yamamoto.
"W-Who is it?" asked Ryohei.
"Could it be?"
"Tsuna?"
"Yeah. No doubt about it. That's Juudaime." Gokudera said with pride.
The sight of Tsuna's burning will left everyone in awe of it. Especially the boys, since it was their first time seeing it. No one had the opportunity to have seen exactly how Tsuna had been able to save everyone from Mukuro's possession shot back then. It was a given to see how fascinated they were. Rightfully so. And the fact that they did not once deny that it was the same Sawada Tsunayoshi gave Iemitsu the proof he needed of the bonds they dwelled.
"I see. The metal which composed the electro circuit's structure is heat-conductive. That heat reached the narrow parts of the lightning rods. Once melted, the rods collapsed because they could no longer her support the weight." Mammon said distastefully.
"I've never heard anything about a guy that could generate such a huge flame, Squalo."
"The phony prince is right. Either you bullshitted us, or you're going blind shark-head."
"Blind is right, shitheads."
Squalo and Cielo turned to the other twin who had finally spoken up after being silent the majority of the match. Both of them flinched at the lava-like colors in her eyes.
"No matter how important you guys tell me it is…Vongola…to be next in line for the boss…I can't fight for things like that." Tsuna said lowly. The flames died out. "But I will fight to stop my friends from getting hurt!"
A spike. A danger spike was acting up. From where she could tell. But it had been too late to listen to it.
'Tsuna! Above you!'
"Shut up!" Tsuna barely had gotten his arms up when it hit him. The sheer force of the attack made him skid backwards. He lowered his arms cautiously and angled his head carefully upwards. So did everyone else.
Xanxus, in all his self considered callous glory had thrown a shot his way, his eyes containing all that hatred and animosity he dwelled within.
Surprisingly for Reborn, Tsuna did not break the eye contact. He was facing him head on by using whatever resolve of his flame was left in his system.
"What's with that look? You don't really think you can seriously defeat me and become the successor, do you?"
"I'm not saying that. I just don't want… to lose any of my allies in this battle!"
Something in Tsuna's voice and words seemed to have triggered something in Xanxus's brain. Like it clicked and forced him to recall something unpleasant. He readied his hand once more to fire another shot.
"Tsuna!" Tsuri tried rushing over but her father's arms had grabbed ahold of her own, rendering her still. "Dad—! Let go!"
"You're unstable. You can't confront them like this. You'll get yourself killed."
The Cervello had tried to settle his temper down, but that effort was in vain. Instead Xanxus had let it out on the poor woman and she had flown like piece of thrown paper down to the ground, body burnt. Xanxus. The cruel man was smiling. It made her blood boil and her heart pulse faster This wasn't adrenaline.
"This is rare."
"When did we last see that? The Boss' smile?"
"About 8 years ago…"
His deep and brutal cackling let the rush of wrath flow once again in her body. Iemistu quickly noticed his daughter's body temperature beginning to rise at an alarmingly high rate. It took more than his strength to hold her and pray his gloves didn't melt off.
"I haven't snapped yet. In fact, I'm amused. I finally understand why the old man chose you even if it was just temporary. With that sickeningly putrid nonsense speech of yours, that pathetic excuse of a flame. You and that old fool have much in common." He let out a mocking laugh. "This will be quite the tragedy— no, comedy."
'W-what's so funny?'
His red eyes met her own. "Your replica is the same. Letting weakness control your actions. Pathetic." He gesture diver to the surviving Cervello. "Hey, woman. Continue."
The other Cervello, who didn't seemed as concerned of her partner as she should be nodded. "Of course. I shall announce the results. Due to the interference of Sawada and the Mezza candidate, it is determined that Leviathan is the winner. Both the Sky, Star and Lightning rings will be given to the Varia."
Tsuna stared at his ring, then back at Tsuri who was fuming. A weird color on her eyes was beginning to blend in with the usual caramel she had. Crimson…
He didn't know if it was still Tsuri but something inside him was telling him that the person in front wasn't her. And he needed to make sure it didn't run loose or she'd do more than bellow out insults.
Iemitsu was still struggling to keep Tsuri from escaping from his grasp. She was seething, her vision blurred from the person in front of her, like a set target she needed to reach.
Kill. Hurt. She needed to hurt someone or wouldn't calm down. A part of her was questioning these thoughts but she was too busy trying to let her dad let go of his hold on her than bother with it.
The Cervello woman was able to confiscate the boss ring from Gsuna easily without any protest. But when she tried to get near Tsuri's neck, the woman backed away from getting bit and scorched from her own leaking flames of fury.
"Touch my ring and I'll reduce you to dust!"
"Tsukairi, calm down!"
"Iemitsu, give her a tranquilizer—"
"No. It'll make it worse. Let it happen."
"Let me go you shitty old man! Let me go before I break your arms off!"
"What's wrong with her Juudaime?" Gokudera and Yamamoto watched the rampaging girl beginning to squirm more aggressively out of her father's grip.
"I don't know…"
"If she won't willingly give it…" the Cervello woman was going to take something out of her pocket before Cielo cleared his throat to stop her.
"Don't. Clearly that broken doll isn't in her five senses. Leave her with it. I can still win it easily off of her. Right, Xanxus?"
The Cervello were a joke. They indeed ever only listened to the varia boss' whims and as soon as they gave him the half of the ring to complete it, he was already wearing that haught pretentious look that screamed power.
She wanted to wipe the floor with him. Smear his blood and choke him until he saw pitch black.
"It's inevitable that I would get this ring. Can you imagine anyone else besides me being the boss of Vongola?"
There was a scoff. "Tainted blood of a stranger," Tsuri's voice dropped a few notes, making everyone in the room squirm. "Living within ice would've been better for you."
Reborn's eyes slanted down dangerously.
Xanxus, Squalo and Cielo were the only ones who reacted strongly to the words, but it faded away. There was more speeches, nonsense and bragging at the Vongola group. Xanxus had spewed more cryptic perturbing comments about the Ninth.
It had Iemitsu and Reborn questioning the safety of the Vongola boss.
The Cervello ignored all the chaos, and willingly followed Cielo's orders to let Tsuri keep her ring, and announced that the storm battle would be next. Everything on the roof was left empty and wrecked, the same way it had been the night before. Unsure where to go from the animosity from their enemies, and their one ally, everyone remained on the roof, the sounds of remaining thunder and lightning not aiding with the thumping inside the teens' chests.
Iemitsu touched Tsuri's forehead, the burning refusing to subside. He released his hands from her arms slowly, not before being met with a punch.
"Tsuri!" Tsuna immediately ran over to hold her back from the waist. "What are you doing! It's over! It's done!"
"It's his fault!" She shouted, eyes bloodshot and red from everything she was feeling at once. Too much. It was all too much to handle. She didn't want to do this anymore. She couldn't keep being that same strong girl that held the fort for her family. The bricks on her shoulders were making the steps harder to take. Rosemary would hate her for taking a step back from all the work she'd put into letting her mental state calm itself down but after this afternoon's visualizing, it only reminded her exactly why she had hated her dad leaving. It had been more than just leaving his family. He was to blame for her current self having scars that wouldn't heal.
"It's all your fault! How dare you do this to Lambo—! How dare you do this to me again! I can't move on from this pain because of you! Make it stop, just make it stop!"
Iemitsu connected the dots, and put an arm in between Basil and his daughter, with his eyes telling him that no harm should befall his own kid. He deserved it. He had it coming. Earning forgiveness from his daughter directly would prove more difficult than he thought.
Tsuna, with the help of Yamamoto and Ryohei's free hand, did their best to pry Tsuri away from scratching her dad's face more, Gokudera left speechless to lift a finger. Tsuna held onto her waist with all his might, praying to someone, anyone anywhere that could allow her to settle before she said or do something she'd regret.
Both twins could sense it. An invisible party somewhere off in the grounds, mist clouding their surroundings.
'Let me take over, Sawada Tsunayoshi.'
Huh? That voice was coming from Tsuri's thoughts. It was eerie and rose goosebumps on his arms. No. He didn't trust it.
'I am the only one who can truly help her. If you don't let me, the Sawada Tsukairi you know will be lost.'
'How can I be sure you won't make it worse?'
'She is one I will never harm.'
Tsuna knew. All this heat radiating from her…If it was a flame, it definitely wasn't the one she used to fight and train with. A resolve like this wasn't full of pure anger and urge to kill. He knew the voice, at the tip of his tongue he could recognize it if he focused but now wasn't the time for that.
'Okay! Whoever you are! Please! Let her calm down!'
With a snap of non-existent fingers, it was said and done. Tsuri's breathing was slowing down, the tension in her muscles loosening until it grew limp. Tsuna had the opportunity to catch her before she crashed down roughly.
The only people out of the loop as to what happened were the guardians, Tsuna and Basil. While Iemitsu patted the open wounds with a handkerchief in his pockets, softly explaining something to Reborn from afar, they all stared at the relaxed body, unsure where to go from here.
Plan B. It was time for plan B.
The external advisor instructed his son to put Tsuri on his back delicately in order to take her to the hospital. Lambo and them should follow suit quickly.
Tsuna was going to need to unlock that Hyper Introspection as soon as he possibly could in his training. He was the only one who dwelled the ability to purify Tsuri's flames. That black stain would be a challenge for removal if they didn't act now.
Lambo and Tsuri were both admitted into the hospital. Because of the severe electrical currents that had struck Lambo, he was taken to the emergency room.
As for Sawada Tsukairi; her temperature had been above 37.4° Celsius. No one, not even the doctors could tell what was the cause. Her scans were clean, her neuro tests fine. The only part that had worried the nurses was the injury to her shoulder but with a bit of a white lie, Reborn was able to shoo away the nurses and leave them alone.
Of course, Nana had been called which meant that the twins and the father owed her an explanation of yet another trip to common place, with another child in her custody involved.
Everyone refused to go home. They had paced back and forth, with Tsuna being the only person to be on the bedside and holding her hand.
"This wasn't supposed to happen."
Tsuna's shoulders were shaking. "I shouldn't have brought her. She should have stayed home."
"She would've dealt with worse consequences than just disqualification," Reborn leaped toward the bed, examining Tsuri briefly. "I called Shamal. He should be on his way."
"Shamal?" Gokudera repeated. "But Reborn-san, they said there was nothing wrong."
"This isn't something physical. It's internal."
"What do you mean?"
"Her flame's been corrupted."
'Corrupted?'
" I dont really understand," Ryohei started. "Sawada-chan is sick?"
"Rosemary-san told her to try meditating when we got home," Tsuna recalled. "I… took that nap. Its not—"
"Your dream. You didnt just imagine it. It actually happened." Reborn put a hand on Tsuri's palm, pointing at the faint black tint on the tips of her fingers. "She touched a corrupted flame within her. From her memory."
"Flame?" The three boys remembered Tsuna's odd behavior minutes ago. Did Tsuri have that skill too? They peeked over behind Tsuna to take a closer look. Indeed, her thumb, index and rest of her fingers looked like they'd touched soot or black paint.
Tsuna's back slouched in response to the word 'memory.'
"Juudaime? What's wrong?"
"Do you want to tell them?"
Tsuna looked back and forth toward the arcobaleno, then at his friends with hesitation. It wasn't just information he could casually start as a normal conversation. He wasn't sure how they'd take it, and if Tsuri found out that he blabbed to them about her business then she'd never forgive him for it.
"They care about Tsuri too, you know. They're your family. You two don't have to suffer with this knowledge alone."
"She'll kill me if I open my mouth."
"Tsuna…" Yamamoto stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on the older Sawada's back, his face stern. "You can trust us. You know that. Tell us what we can do to help."
"Yamamoto…"
"He's right Sawada! You've helped us all out in every way. You helped me keep Kyoko out of the loop when I fought!" Ryohei said passionately. "Let me help you with your sister too!"
"Onii-san…"
Tsuna directed his gaze toward the bomber. He could tell. His hands were shaking slightly, maybe in agitation or restlessness. He wasn't so good with hiding with just how much he regarded his sibling. tsuna still wasn't sure how he felt towards Gokudera's blind feelings for his twin or if he was just overthinking things, but he found himself tenderly grinning. Tsuri could assume that their friend frazzled himself over only him, but it was a straight fat lie. If she could see him now, she'd use this as teasing material until the day she died.
"Gokudera-kun?"
The silver-head shrunk at the telling eyes of his precious boss. He scratched his head sheepishly, not knowing how to stop his face from flushing at being read so easily. "L-Let us help you take the burden Juudaime. If that can help you feel less stressed about Tsuri, we'll lend an ear."
Tsuna nodded at Reborn, to confirm that whatever was to be said, he'd take responisbity as well if Tsuri found out. He'd probably blame it on him anyways and watch with glee as his sister ripped him to shreds.
And so Tsuna began his side of the story, and knew with his friends' acceptance and care, they'd be able to listen too if Tsuri explained her side later if she wished too.
After story time, they were told that Tsuna's mother had arrived. Reborn had to pry Tsuna away, explaining that she would be in good hands with their mom and if he didn't leave shifty, he'd have no excuses to give their mother on why they were here to begin with.
Tsuna felt bad leaving a white lie for his mom about Lambo and Tsuri, but if it could lessen her suspicions and worry, he'd do what was needed to leave her at ease.
... ... ...
The clouds and rain dispersing, leaving the sky clear, the stars twinkling and illuminating. The moonlight was beautiful and alluring, giving every living thing a sense of tranquil sleep.
The open window's curtains danced lightly against the breeze. And through the windows, the gentle earthy scent of still moist ground.
A figure had emerged from the shadows, standing in front of the large windowsill, his silhouette illuminated by the soft moon's glow. He was sure to take soft steps toward the hospital bed inches away.
His eyes were staring directly at the sleeping form of the girl. He stared at her peaceful, sleeping visage with tenderness, his lips curving upwards, and for the first time since his return to Namimori that night, he allowed himself to smile.
A gloved hand reached out to tuck one of the loose strands of her long brown hair behind her ear. The brief touch sent a warm tingle down his spine and he smiled wider. The subtle shift in her breath made her eyes flutter open drowsily.
Mukuro knew her conscious was still not fully regained since her caramel eyes were foggy and glazed over with exhaustion.
She stirred once again, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. Her lips curled up into the most adorable expression Mukuro had ever seen, making him chuckle softly.
"Mu...kuro?" her voice said his name in such an angelic way.
He leaned forward slightly, his hand gently caressing her face.
"Shhh. Go back to sleep." Her eyelids flickered shut slowly, her head leaning into Mukuro's palm.
"It was your voice. I heard you."
"Of course, my Little Mouse. It was me."
Mukuro took the chance to carefully sneak inside the side of her bed. She made no attempt to move away. Instead she shifted herself toward him, nuzzling herself into his chest, feeling it softer and preferred it than the rock hard pillow behind her. "Thank you," she whispered.
He chuckled again fondly, brushing his fingers through her hair. Her breathing grew slow and deep, lulling her back to slumber. The sight of her serene face gave him a strong urge to stay with her. But he knew that his time was limited and as much as his wish was to remain here, he could not strain his vessel's mist flames any longer than needed.
As soon as Tsuri returned back to a deep sleep, Mukuro leaned forward, placing his lips on hers. A kiss of passion. One of affection. A kiss full of longing. He lingered on her lips for a while but eventually pulled back, resting his forehead against hers, before he began fading away slowly.
"Rest, my little mouse. I will see you soon."
Ack. Sorry if it was short and sweet lmao. My heart is literally squeezing omg...