Chapter 13: Varia Comes
A few days later, Kouga and Ruki heard from Tsuna that his father is coming back.
"He–h. It's great that your old man's coming back!" Yamamoto says.
"Well, yeah…" Tsuna hesitantly says.
"So Juudaime's Otou-sama is going to be here?!" Gokudera says with pride. "Once he returns, I, Juudaime's right-hand man, must be the first to greet him!"
"But isn't Tsuna going to greet his father first?" Kouga says.
"By the way, our parents are coming to visit us soon." Ruki says.
"Really?" Yamamoto asks the siblings.
"Yeah." Kouga replies.
"Besides, you don't have to do it for that irresponsible guy!" The brunette states.
"Hahaha." The baseball ace laughs. "What do you mean, 'irresponsible'?"
"The things he says and does have always been insane." Tsuna states. "When I was little, he was rarely at home. Once, I asked him what he did for a living. He replied that he flies around the world and manage traffic at construction sites."
"All around the… world?" Gokudera shocks.
"That sounds wild." Yamamoto comments.
"Something is really wrong about this picture…" Kouga says aloud.
"Yeah…" Ruki agrees.
"Doesn't it sounds suspicious?!" The brunette shouts.
"N-Not at all!" Gokudera denies.
"I didn't really get it when I was little. Now that I think about it, he always said weird things. Besides, it's just unthinkable that he couldn't manage to come back even once in two years. Even if that kind of father comes back now…" He sighs.
"Juudaime…" Gokudera says.
"Tsuna-san…" Ruki pities him.
"Mm…" Yamamoto thought for a moment. "Hey, you want to hang out somewhere?"
"Eh?" Kouga, Tsuna, and Ruki look at the baseball idiot in confuse.
"Nice going, Yakuu Baka!" Gokudera says. "Let's do that, Juudaime!"
"Eh?!"
"It's best not to worry about family issues too much." He states.
"Gokudera/-kun…"
"My family is messed up beyond recognition!" He adds with a smile and thumbs-up.
"He said something that disturbing with a bright smile!" Tsuna and Kouga thought frantically.
"So, let's hang out." Yamamoto says.
"But school…" Tsuna points out.
"Today is a review day, right?" He states.
"That's right!" The bomber agrees. "It is Sunday all around the world. It's important to relax time to time!"
"Sokka!" The baseball ace says. "Since it is Sunday, let's call everyone!"
"Just don't call the morons!" Gokudera states seriously.
"Maybe the two of them are just worried about me." Tsuna thought. "A-Arigatou…"
Kouga smiles at Tsuna at other two teens' action.
However, it ended up with almost everyone they know coming along with them, including Yuuri.
"Gyahahahaha! Lambo-san's family coming through!" Lambo shouts as he along with I-pin run around.
"Oi! Don't run too far!" Kouga calls out.
"Geez, I told you not to call the morons…" The silverrette mumbles to the baseball idiot.
"Hahi! Who are you calling a moron?!" Haru questions angrily.
"And now, it became a crowd…" Tsuna says tiredly.
"But it's great." He thought as he looks at Kyoko next to him. "Kyoko-chan came too!"
Yuuri shyly looks at Kouga with a small blush as the later notices her and smiles at the girl. This causes Yuuri's face to turn red and looks down as Kouga confuse at her action.
"Huh?" Kyoko looks around anxiously.
"What's the matter, Kyoko-chan?" The brunette asks her.
"Lambo-kun's not here!" She states.
"Eh?!" Tsuna looks around. "Honto da… I wonder where they have gone to…"
"I-pin found him!" The Chinese assassin states as she points out Lambo in one of the pet-shop cages.
"He fits right in!" Tsuna exclaims as he takes him back out and apologizes to the shopkeeper.
"In front of Kyoko-chan… This is so embarrassing!"
"Don't do that again, Lamb-" He then notices that Lambo is not here. "Ah? Where are they? Lambo?" He then notices Lambo standing with a bra in front of his eyes.
"Eyeball Torpedoes…" He shouts. "Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire!"
Please forgive Lambo!" The brunette pleads. "Please!"
They spend the entire day playing at the arcade with Reborn winning the slot machines every time, listen to the music at the music store and take photos at the photo-booth with Kouga and Ruki, Tsuna and Kouga, and then Kouga and Yuuri. Ruki is left with Tsuna while Kouga and Yuuri browse around the book shop.
Yuuri tries to concentrate on reading a book in front of her, but she looks at Kouga who is reading through a book in his hand.
"Wh-What is this situation?!" Yuuri thought and then remembers a conversation back at school.
~Flashback~
"Eh?!" Yuuri exclaims at her friend. "Confess to Kouga-kun?!"
"That's right. You did give him the chocolates you made for the guy. At least confess your love to him."
"But…" She trails off and hears Kouga's voice laughing to see that he is laughing with Tsuna and the two teens with them.
"I heard that most of the girls in the school already confessed to him, but Kouga declines them. And so this is your big chance to tell him!"
"Big chance…! Sonna…" Yuuri thought.
~Flashback Ends~
"What should I do…?" While Yuuri contemplating how to tell him, Kouga notices the look on her face.
"What's wrong?" He asks.
This surprises her and panics. "N-Nothing is wrong! Why do you ask?"
"You really had a thoughtful look on your face." Kouga answers and looks at the book cover. "Maybe this book wasn't interesting at all?"
"N-Not at all!" Yuuri replies and Kouga smiles.
"That's good." He then looks back at the book. "This book was the first one I read when I was little."
"Eh?"
"I practically grew up at America so I barely knew any Japanese words. Even though my father taught me how it doesn't sink into me. Then one day, he gave this book to me. Of course, either my dad or use the translated dictionary to help me read, but this was my starting point. And I still have the copy of this."
"Kouga-kun…" Yuuri says and remembers what her friend said.
'Most of the girls in the school already confessed to him, but Kouga declines them.
This is your big chance…!'
"Big chance…" Yuuri thought and resolves herself and looks at Kouga.
"K-Kouga-kun!" She calls out getting his attention. "Um… I… About you…"
*BOOM!* They abruptly hear the noise and see smoke coming from the area near Tsuna.
"That's near Tsuna is!" Kouga thought and turns to the girl.
"Shizuki, I want you to stay here. I'll go check up on the others."
"But-!" Before Yuuri can continue, Kouga runs out of the store and to the area. The black-haired teen comes to the area and then sees Yamamoto and Gokudera on the floor, unconscious. He then looks around and sees a man with long white hair with a sword tied to his arm, looking around as if trying to search for something. The black-haired teen draws out the wakizashi from his sleeve and gets ready.
"Onii-sama!" Kouga turns to see Ruki running up to him with her sword and tessen ready.
"VOI!" The man shouts as he smashes down a couple tables that were used as a barricade. "I see how it is. This is an emergency I can't let go. I need to defeat you and take those back, along with the other one that was missing!"
"Damn it all." The dirty-blonde boy next to the naked Tsuna says.
"What are they?!" Tsuna shrieks. "What's going on?!"
"VOI!" The man says once more. "Before I take those… How do you want me to take care of you?"
"Thou canst not give those to him, Sawada-dono!" The boy tells the brunette.
"B-But…"
"Move away from them, you noisy bastard." The man turns around and both Kouga and Ruki standing behind him, with weapons in their hands. "Or else…"
"You're fighting with us." Ruki finishes.
"Kouga-san! Ruki-chan!"
"This is interesting…" The man states as he gets ready to attack them. "Well then, say your prayers you brats!" He leaps at them and swings his sword at them, but Kouga blocks it with just one hand holding the sword. "Huh?"
"Don't underestimate us." Kouga says as he swings his sword away and slashes down but misses as the man leaps back to avoid it.
"Oh? There's a kid here that blocked my blade." The man says when he hears a voice coming down from above and sees Ruki diving down with the blade in front of her. The man deflects her sword and soon she sends a rapid jab at him which he dodges easily.
"What?!" Ruki exclaims in shock.
"VOI! You're weak!" With a strong swing, the man sends a powerful air-pressure pushing the white-haired girl back and hits the wall behind hard.
"Ruki!" Kouga calls out and glares at the man. "Why you…!" The air around him begins to change as his hair slowly turns yellow.
Ruki manages to push herself up and sees this with widen eyes. "Don't, Onii-sama! If you do that, you're body will-!"
The teen didn't listen to what she said as he rushes towards the assailant with a cry. The man blocks Kouga's attempt to attack, locking their blades in place.
"He–h. You and the girl aren't bad. But!" Kouga's intuition tingles as the sides of his sword fire a small bomb-strip that explodes, causing the teen to kneel down in pain.
"Kouga-san!" Tsuna cries.
"Hm. I thought he would be a challenge but in the end," The man states as he looks down on him, "he is still a piece of trash."
"No… Not him too…" Tsuna mumbles.
Ruki's eyes shake looking at her brother kneeling there and tears start to build up. "Onii-sama… ONII-SAMA!" She shouts.
"You haven't changed at all;" Tsuna looks up and sees Dino walking up to them with his subordinates behind him, "Superbi Squalo."
"Ah! Dino-san!"
"Behind so serious against children…" Dino states. "Aren't you embarrassed?"
"Bucking Horse Dino?!" The man named Squalo thought. "So the kid had connections with the Cavallone…"
"If you continue your tasteless game," The Cavallone boss states, "I'll take you on."
"This is going to be a hassle if I take on the Bucking Bronco…"
"VOI!" He shouts. "It'd be fun to take you here and now, Bucking Bronco! But the brass won't like it if I take on the family alliance."
"Family Alliance?" Kouga thought.
"So I'll go home quietly…" He states but then he grabs Tsuna by the head and lifts him up, "Like hell I'll do that!"
"Tsuna!"
"Let Tsuna go!" Dino cries.
"Geez…" They all turn around to find a man in a brown trench coat, with a hat covering his face. "I came here to see my children with my wife, but there's already a rowdy fight going on."
"Huh?!" Squalo looks at the newcomer. "Who the heck are you?!"
"Just a father." He cheerfully states.
"That voice…!" Kouga realizes as Ruki also notices this.
"Whoever you are, just get lost or I will-"
"Or you'll what?" The man suddenly appears behind him, before kicking the long-haired man, resulting in him losing his grip on the poor brunette and is sent flying into a building.
"Tsuna!" The blonde boss runs over to him. "Are you guys all right?"
"S-Somewhat…" Tsuna coughs.
"Teme!" Squalo shouts as he swings his sword at the man but is stopped by a dagger in the man's hand and then sends an air pressure at the assailant, pushing him away.
"Do you want to leave now?" The man states.
"Tch! Well, no matter!" he holds up a box in his hand. "I have what I came for! VOI!"
"Oh!"
"Ah! The Vongola Rings!" The other male shouts.
"Vongola… Rings?" Tsuna says in confusion.
"See ya!" He shouts as he jumps up the building and away from their view.
"M-Matte!" The male shouts as he tries to go after him, but the pain from the wounds are hurting him all over.
"Oi, don't push yourself." Dino tells him.
"Pursuing him wouldn't be smart." Reborn tells them.
"Reborn!" The brunette shouts at his tutor. "Why are you stepping up now! Why didn't you help me?!"
"I'm not allow to attack him." The hitman replies.
"Why not?!"
"Because he's in the Vongola Family as well."
"Eh?! A Vongola almost killed me?!" He shrieks. "What's going on?!"
"Boss," Romario tells his leader as he and another man help Yamamoto and Gokudera on their feet, "they're not in good shape."
"Yeah…" Dino agrees as he picks up the unconscious male.
"Looks like you're having inner troubles, young man." The man says as he takes off his hat revealing white hair and silver eyes similar to Ruki's with his face somewhat similar to Kouga's.
"Ah! You're…" Dino realizes.
"Tou-san/Papa!" Kouga and Ruki call out as they go towards him.
"Oh, Kouga, Ruki! It's been awhile." He states.
"Eh? E–H!? This person is Kouga-san and Ruki-chan's father!" Tsuna shouts.
"Looks like it. Mitsurugi Souha. I heard rumors about him, but I didn't think that those two are connected to him."
"Without seeing you, you've become more beautiful, Ruki. As for you Kouga…" He looks at the teen seeing the blond parts of his hair. "You tapped into Mako again didn't you."
Kouga looks down with a depressed expression with his fist clutches tightly, but then a hand is placed on his head.
"It's all right. I'm not faulting you for it. What matter is that you and Ruki are fine."
"Yeah…" Kouga nods as his hair turns back to black.
"Kouga-san… I've never seen him act this way…" Tsuna thoughts.
"Anyway, we can have this talk later," The man, Souha says, "We need to get these youngsters treated at once."
"Ah! Gokudera-kun! Yamamoto!" Tsuna cries as he runs towards them.
"Juudaime, you're safe!" Gokudera says in relief.
"Tsuna!" The baseball ace cries out loud.
"Are you two alright?" The brunette asks worriedly.
"I'm sorry…" Gokudera apologizes. "I'll defeat him next time I see him!"
"Maybe he's still in the area…" Yamamoto states as they look around.
"That's not a good idea." Souha says. "You two can go home."
"Why are you ordering us around, ossan!" The silverrette yells at him.
"You should listen to him." Reborn tells them.
"Reborn-san!"
"You must have realized it from the last fight." The hitman tells them. "At your current combat strength, you'll be in the way."
Both of them stiffen at the comment.
"Reborn!" Tsuna yells out his tutor. "What are you saying?!"
"Let's go, Tsuna." Reborn tells his student as he wraps his Leon-rope around him and drags him along.
"We should go too." Souha tells his children following the rest of the group following. "They probably know it themselves."
"Huh?" Tsuna and Kouga look at the people dragging each of them.
"There's no way their blood is boiling after such a one-sided battle." Reborn adds. "Leave them for now."
They all are taken to a hospital where the dirty-blonde boy, Kouga, and Ruki are treated for their wounds, although the boy's injuries are far worse and had to be taken into surgery immediately. Kouga's and Ruki's are more minor so there is no rush. After the treatment, Souha takes Ruki back to their house leaving Kouga with Tsuna, Dino, and Romario.
"How's Basil's doing, Romario?" Dino asks his subordinate.
"His life isn't in any danger." Romario answers him. "Looks like he was trained well. His wounds are shallow, Boss."
"Um…" Tsuna starts. "What is he? Is he a member of the Vongola?"
"And why is that man after him?" Kouga follows.
"No, he's not a Vongola." The Cavallone boss tells him. "But if one thing we're sure of, it's that he's on our side."
"Huh?" The brunette shrieks. "What's going on?! The enemy is the Vongola, but my ally is someone who isn't?! Besides, I don't really have enemies or allies!"
"Seems like that's no longer the case." Dino sighs.
"It's because those rings are on the move." Reborn concludes.
"Rings?" Tsuna and Kouga ask.
"He mentioned that, too." Tsuna says. "Something about Vongola Rings…"
"Ah," The hitman tutor says, "the official names for them is the Half Vongola Rings. They are supposed to be held secret location for three more years. They are the Vongola Family's treasures."
"Are they really expensive rings?" Tsuna asks.
"They certainly are priceless, But that's not all. An untold amount of blood has been spilled over those rings in the Vongola's long history. They are rings with a dark past."
"What are those?!" Tsuna shrieks. "Are you serious? Thank goodness that the long-haired guy took them away."
"Well, thing is, Tsuna…" Dino starts.
"Yes?"
He takes out the same box from his coat. "I have them right here!"
The brunette blinks for a few times and shouts, "E–H?! What?! Why?! I thought they were stolen!"
"These are the real ones." Dino states.
"Then, the one from before are…?"
"Must've been fakes." Kouga states.
"I came here because of these." The Cavallone boss explains. "A certain individual asked me to give these to you."
"To me?!" Tsuna shrieks.
"But there's a missing ring."
"A missing half-ring?" Kouga asks and then he realized. "Could it be…" He digs through his pocket and takes out the ring that his American Grandfather gave him. "Is this the missing ring?"
"Ah! That's the one!" Dino realizes. "But why do you have it?"
"Anyway, why are those scary rings given to me?!" Tsuna asks.
"Because you're the Tenth Vongola-"
"Stop!" Tsuna screams. "Stop! Stop! I have to go and study for my reviews! I better do my best!" He says as he runs out of the room.
"Oi! Tsuna!"
"See you later, Dino-san!" The brunette says as he runs off screaming.
"Then I'll leave too." Kouga tells them. "If Tou-san is here, then Kaa-san came too." He also leaves the room.
"Does he still think that he could run away from his position?" Dino sighs.
"So, Basil was the bait…" Reborn says.
"Yeah, he probably didn't even know." Dino states. "I think he knew this would happen, but it could have been an easy decision…" He then looks at the box. "He should have just given these to Tsuna directly. He came with me to Japan."
"I see." Reborn says. "So he came."
Kouga comes back home as quick as he can but as he opens the door, he is greeted by a huge hug by a woman.
"Kouga! Are you all right?" She asks worriedly. "Souha-san brought Ruki back home without you so I was worried!"
"I-I'm fine! But Kaa-san, you're kind of crushing me!" Kouga says and the woman lets him go.
"I'm sorry."
Kouga sucks the air for his lungs to breathe and looks at the woman before him. She has long white hair that reaches to her lower back and green eyes. She wears a white shirt with a yellow long skirt that reaches to her knees.
"Onii-sama!" Ruki runs over to him.
"Yo, Ruki. I'm back."
"Onii-sama, is your body fine?" She asks.
"Yeah. No problem."
"I heard it from Souha-san. Kouga, you have to be careful using that. If you used too much, your body will be burden with pain." Their mother says.
"I already know that." Kouga replies.
"Really?"
Kouga nods as he gets the message.
"Good. Now hurry go wash up. Ruki brought a guest here for dinner."
"Okay." The teen says and realizes what his mom said. "A guest?" He quickly walks into the dining area where he sees his dad, grandparent, and Yuuri. "Shizuki!"
"Ah, Kouga-kun!" The girl calls.
"Why are you-" He stops himself when he feels something heavy over his shoulders.
"Look at you, Kouga. You found yourself a girlfriend." Kouga turns his head to see an elderly man who has white-haired and gray strands due to old age, and a muscular figure.
"Grampa Dan! What are you saying? Shizuki isn't my girlfriend."
"Th-That's right!" Yuuri exclaims as she stands up with red shades on her cheeks. "We don't have that kind of relationship!"
"Really~?"
Just then someone hits the elderly on the back of the head, letting go of the teen and turns to see Kouga's and Ruki's mother behind the two.
"Would you stop that, Dad. You have a bad habit embarrassing others out in the open." She says.
"But Joan…"
"No buts!"
Moving away from Dan, Kouga mends his shoulders as he looks at the man who is scolding by the mother.
"That Gramps of mine…" He mutters and looks at Yuuri. "Sorry for the commotion earlier."
"No." She shakes her head. "Your family is really lively."
"With Gramps joining in at this side, it's more like noisy." Kouga shrugs and remembers something earlier. "By the way, what do you want to say back at the book store?"
"Eh?"
'K-Kouga-kun! Um… I… About you…'
Remember what she said makes her face red and a poof of smoke comes off from her head.
"That's… Um…" Yuuri fidgets on her seat as Kouga stares at her. "Maybe I can tell you later."
"That's alright with me."
Later that day, everyone in the household eats dinner as Dan, Souha, and Joan tells Yuuri the days when Kouga and Ruki were younger, much for the two dismay and embarrassment. When that's over, Yuuri decides to leave and Kouga offers her to take her back home but she declines and tells him that it's alright. Then, Kouga and Ruki decide to go to sleep for the night in their rooms. Soon after the teen is deep sleep, Dan enters his room looking at him with sad eyes.
"Sorry, Kouga. Leaving you this heavy duty I'll give you."
"You're not the only one." Turning around standing is Souha. "With the Varia on the move, we have no choice but to leave it up to Kouga, Ruki and the other children."
Dan moves his head away from his son-in-law to his grandson. "You may be right."