[lamborghini] Anomaly (Part 2/2)
Link to Part I
After the traumatizing meeting yesterday, in which Tsuna just let the information pass by one ear and leave on the other (he's going to count on the notes that Gokudera diligently wrote down), he learns that his last-minute cramming-slash-training session is going to be with the scary duo of Lal Mirch and Reborn.
"Why am I not training with Hibari-san?" Tsuna asks forlornly as he finishes his warm-up stretching.
"Do you want to die, idiot Tsuna?" Tsuna sputters at Reborn's insult, "At your level, a full-time training with Hibari will just kill you."
Lal Mirch makes a sound of agreement, adding, "It will do nothing good. You must finish the basics first. I saw the video of your training with Hibari and you were pathetic beyond means."
Tsuna knows it, but he cringes anyway. "B-but the synchronization…"
Lal's voice turns softer, "No one comes out of a SYNCHRO with Hibari uninjured."
A split second, and Tsuna feels that Lal and Reborn are concerned for him, despite their frightening countenance and mean words.
"Then please make me worthy of being Hibari-san's partner!"
He has realized, throughout the past few days, that being Vongola's Tenth is a harsh responsibility, but he's going to take that responsibility. He doesn't want to let down his friends who have pinned their trust on him. He's going to do his training well and he's going to do his best.
He tries to ignore the nagging feeling in his mind of Hibari-san not even stopping by to assess his training. Of course, seeing that he's busy dodging Reborn's negative-destruction-bullets and Lal's positive-centipede box weapon, he doesn't notice Kusakabe-san watching him train from the end of the training room.
*
ROKUDO MUKURO HAS BEEN CAPTURED BY MILLEFIORE'S BYAKURAN.
The news enters Vongola's information network thirty minutes ago and panic has already seized every single MAFIA member. Rokudo Mukuro, the person who is Hibari-san's previous partner before Tsuna came to the picture. Rokudo Mukuro, the person who talked to Tsuna about Hibari just before he left for his mission to spy on Millefiore's leader, and their major enemy, Byakuran.
Everyone's on edge because they might dislike Mukuro (or distrust him, Gokudera's case), but they all acknowledge his strength as one of the best amongst the MAFIA organization. If the person who lives at the borderline between reality and illusion, who treads the territories of truth and lies expertly-if that person has been captured by the enemy just like that, then, do they still stand a chance?
"It's better if we just focus our forces on raiding Millefiore," Gokudera answers to Reborn's proposal of splitting the MAFIA's forces into different coinciding missions.
Everyone shifts restlessly in their seats, torn between supporting the rescue-Mukuro-mission and ensuring a greater success rate for their raid-Millefiore-mission.
Tsuna finds himself speaking up, voice shaking, but still very determined. He's not really friends-friends with Mukuro, but there's a thin thread of connection between them-something that's more than Mukuro's taunts about Hibari-san and more than Mukuro's promise of possessing Tsuna's body. It's something that he can't really explain, but. "I want to save Mukuro. He's…" He searches for the word and tries not to feel too self-conscious when Gokudera and the rest of the Family turn to him. "He's family."
"Thank you, Boss," Chrome says gratefully, worry about her master evident in the creases on her forehead, on the dull twinkle in her eye.
"If… if that's what Tenth wants, then…! As your right-hand man, I'll…!"
"Well said, young Vongola," Lambo comments from the side, ignoring Reborn's scoff at him.
Tsuna turns to search for Hibari-san's reaction to his proposal, and tries hard not to feel depressed by Hibari-san walking out of the meeting without any preamble.
*
It is sick, Tsuna knows, to feel jealous over Mukuro.
He almost asked Gokudera to keep an eye on Hibari, because he fears that his partner will embark on the rescue-Mukuro-mission alone and without Tsuna's knowledge.
He stopped himself though, because one, that will be cruel to Gokudera even though Tsuna knows (and is a bit embarrassed by that) that Gokudera will do anything Tsuna asks of him; two, Hibari-san values his privacy and Tsuna doesn't want to completely destroy the fragile rapport that connects the two of them.
But he wants to know…! Why did Hibari-san react that way towards Mukuro's disappearance? Is he simply that uncooperative to the Family's procedures? Or is it because he wants no part in rescuing his previous partner? Or is it because he's actually angry at Mukuro's capture?
Those thoughts are clawing ferociously at his mind, contributing to his even-poorer-than-normal fighting standards. Lal Mirch is obviously displeased with him and is questioning him about his lack of will to improve.
He wants to…! It's just that-he's worrying too much about Hibari-san, and it's driving him crazy and he's already pulling at his hair hard enough to loosen a few hair strands and he's still not snapping out of this cycle.
"Take a walk outside for a while. Come back before the day is over," Reborn commands him, despite Lal's protests about wasting valuable time.
Tsuna is about to protest about wanting to train, but he knows that Reborn knows that he's distracted, and for once, he is grateful for Reborn pointing gun-transformed-Leon at him and threatening him to either go out or die.
*
A couple of months ago and he would have been ecstatic at having clearance to leave the Facility. Now, however, it's like the consequences of the ongoing war has finally settled in him.
He sees the expanse of streets covered with dirty water and grime and it looks so far-off from his last memory of Japan. He had to pinch his cheeks for a few times before he finally realizes that this is real and the world is really thrown into a vicious cycle of destruction-revenge-and-wars. Shadows cover every nook-and-cranny of the area outside the tall buildings of the MAFIA facility.
Helplessness is the only atmosphere that Tsuna can feel in this area.
He shivers and decides to visit his mother in the evacuation center, the only other well-maintained building aside from the Government Towers and the MAFIA's Facility. He feels sheepish at the respectful bows given to him by the guards and he hopes that his mother hasn't learned about him being a Vongola yet. He doesn't want her to know, doesn't want her to worry.
"Tsuna-kun," Kyoko greets him with a sunny stretch of her lips, coaxing an answering smile from Tsuna.
"Kyoko-chan," Nana pats the seat beside her, which Kyoko accepts. They talk to Tsuna, asking him about his health, about Kyoko's big brother, about Tsuna's progress in the MAFIA. Tsuna answers everything as truthfully as he can, but he leaves out his new status as the Vongola's Tenth and about Ryohei's involvement as a Guardian. He asks his mother about his father, but Nana simply smiles dreamily and tells him her usual answer: that his father is a good man is probably staying cool under these dire circumstances.
He appreciates Kyoko and her infectious cheeriness-but he knows he can't stay here long, not if he wants to protect them and make sure they can keep on smiling. He thanks Kyoko for taking care of his mother, to which his ex-classmate chuckles at, and adds that it's a pleasure for her to spend her days here with his mother, with her friends Haru and Hana.
He's glad he took Reborn's advice (or rather, Reborn's command) on taking a walk to sort his thoughts. He's now more confident with his decision to fight as a Vongola.
His gratefulness for this break from training disappears soon after, for a group of crazed-looking gangsters are now blocking his way back to the Facility and are jeering at him. He raises his hands reflexively, a defensive posture that earns mocking laughter from the surrounding mob.
These people are not trained, and his resolve is to fight for the sake of his friends and they're not harming his friends, and Tsuna sees no reason to fight them back with the techniques Lal Mirch and Reborn ingrained to him during the past few days. He has been so used to simply accepting bullies' beatings-the idea of fighting back in a situation like this is foreign to him. Furthermore, his body is still tired from the training, and.
Tsuna stops his stream of thought and wishes for the police to arrive. It appears that his training sessions weren't for naught, because he has improved in lessening the damage and the pain he feels from said damages. It's like, he has harmonized completely with his senses, and while it's stressful to feel and understand the waves of bitter hatred and hopelessness clutching these gangsters, he also acquired a greater control over the things affecting his senses.
He feels Hibari-san's arrival even before his assaulters stop their array of punches on him and divert their attention to the stronger opponent. Hibari-san carries a formidable aura that can pierce through his haze of pain and overwhelming misery of this land.
"Are you okay, Sawada-san?" Kusakabe-san asks him, coupling his positive-wavelength with the first-aid he applies to Tsuna's bruises and scrapes. Hibari-san is busy dealing punishment to the people disrupting the discipline and order inside Japan's walls. "It's a good thing that Kyoya-san is on patrol duty today."
It's not a good thing, Tsuna wants to reply, but he can't really fully explain why the thought of Hibari-san seeing like this, back to his pathetic self (or maybe, he hasn't really moved away from his helpless form?), brings an ache to his very being.
Hibari-san finishes the wandering gangsters with a disdainful scoff, before he walks over to where Kusakabe is holding the partially-healed Tsuna. Tsuna winces, expecting his partner to bite him to death as well.
"You're that pathetic, herbivore? Not even willing to save yourself," Hibari tells him coolly, prompting Tsuna to grimace in a way that's unrelated to the pain from being beaten up, "Those who are all-too-willing to be defeated don't interest me."
He turns his back to Tsuna yet again. Maybe, someday, Tsuna will have the courage to tell Hibari-san about his convictions and his resolution to only fight for the sake of his beloved ones and not about any other reason. Maybe someday, but for today, he can only accept Kusakabe-san's hurried apology for Hibari-san's harsh words, he can only watch the two leave him in that lonely road as they continued their patrol around this desolate city.
"I'm sorry I disappointed you, Hibari-san," Tsuna tells the dirt-covered road, but Hibari is long gone.
*
After a good night's sleep thanks to Yamamoto and Basil's sleeping pills charged with their positive, calming wavelength, Tsuna wakes up to the day when Reborn is going to hand them their respective Vongola Rings.
It's another Vongola Meeting, though everyone has enough sense to not start fighting amongst themselves. It doesn't stop the Varia members from shooting nasty glares to the Guardians, and it certainly doesn't stop the Guardians (especially the hot-blooded Gokudera and Ryohei) from glaring right back.
"Look, you're already strong in your way," Colonello remarks, "but these rings will be your ace, hey."
"It works out quite well that Mukuro despised using the Vongola Ring, so the Mist Ring is still in our hands," Lal Mirch says as Reborn hands over the Mist Ring to Chrome Dokuro.
"Such an annoying jerk, refusing a Vongola Ring like that," Gokudera mutters angrily below his breath, earning a mildly-disapproving glance from Tsuna.
"Mukuro is still one of the strongest Guardians even without the Mist Ring," Reborn tells Gokudera with a tinge of amusement.
("But that's only because of his two Hell Rings," Mammon resentfully comments, to which the new Varia recruit, Fran, answers, "Hell Rings are really more special, huh, senpai?" while showing off the single Hell Ring adorning his hand.)
"We're counting on you as the Mist Guardian, Chrome," Bianchi says, looking slightly ridiculous wearing a pair of goggles, but it's for Gokudera's sake, so nobody comments on her get-up. Everyone has high hopes for Chrome as Mukuro's temporary replacement, since she's Mukuro's apprentice and is genetically-modified to fit Mukuro better.
The rings are handed to the other Guardians without much fuss, with even Hibari obediently sliding the ring to his finger (and promptly igniting his ring with his overflowing soul wavelength).
The Vongola Sky Ring is the last one to be handed. Tsuna swallows past the lump on his throat, nervous and excited and giddy and anxious and he thinks he's going to drop the ring and it'll break and he'll be the worst boss ever.
"You're really desperate to hand over the Sky Ring," Xanxus offhandedly notes, but Tsuna allows the ring to be placed on his finger. It doesn't reject Tsuna like it did to Xanxus, as related in the hushed rumors running around the MAFIA.
"The Varia is not going to participate in a mission with such a dismal success rate," Xanxus informs them like Reborn has predicted, "And because the Varia won't take orders from such a wimpy leader."
Tsuna knows that Xanxus isn't lying, not per se, but he also knows that there's another reason for Xanxus not wanting to go with the Vongola's force in attacking Millefiore and saving their original Mist Guardian.
"With the acceptance of the Sky Ring, you have fully committed yourself to Vongola, idiot Tsuna."
He closes his eyes and opens them, sees his Family's answering loyalty and he smiles in return. "I'll do my best to not be a disappointment."
Reborn regards him with a hint of pride, glad for the changes brought by the past days filled to the brim with stress. The fedora-wearing arcobaleno clears his throat to get the others' attention. "The day of the mega-mission is tomorrow and I want you all to focus on practicing with your partners the SYNCHRO."
Answering nods meet Reborn's command and Tsuna feels nervous all over again. Gokudera and Yamamoto go together in one direction, followed by Ryohei and Chrome. Reborn tells Lambo to wait for him in Reborn's training grounds, while Hibari-san is already making his way out of the conference room.
"Let's go, No-Good-Tsuna. It's time for your training with Hibari."
*
Reborn and Tsuna arrives at the arena where Tsuna has last faced off against his partner -which turns out to be Hibari-san's special training room.
Without further ado, Reborn passes a pair of heavy-looking gloves to Tsuna. As soon as his hand touches them, he senses the onslaught of powerful positive-attribute waves radiating from the gloves. 'VONGOLA X' is engraved on the gloves. "It's my weapon," Tsuna realizes in awe.
"Those gloves are the weapons used by the Primo Vongola. If you're really fit for your role, you'll be able to use those as well."
"T-the P-Primo?! The strongest Vongola boss?!"
"Stop your slacking and start working, useless Tsuna."
As Reborn utters those words, Hibari-san moves away from his spot in the wall, tonfas out and encased with a huge, overwhelming purple-colored wavelength. Tsuna is at a loss on how to place his partner's wave attribute -it looks deadly enough as a negative-attribute, yet it looks like a positive wave waiting to envelope its enemies.
"I'm going to pry all of your abilities open, Sawada Tsunayoshi," Hibari-san declares, before he disappears from Tsuna's view and reappears a split-second after, bringing down his tonfas against Tsuna's arms, the soul wavelength burning Tsuna's skin where it contacts.
Tsuna hastily kicks at the taller male to propel himself away, clutching in reflex against his arm. He wills himself to make the sizzling sensation disappear, but he doesn't receive a chance to make sure that he's healed, because Hibari continues attacking him relentlessly, meeting Tsuna at all directions and not giving him a moment to catch himself and recover.
Not even five minutes since the start of their training session and he's already battered and panting, but he's still standing on his feet and he's still determined to not let Hibari-san defeat him yet again. It's a different resolve and he doesn't dwell on it much, as he starts to attack Hibari-san as well. He ignores the dizzying beat of his heart as he spies the pleased smirk present on Hibari-san's face.
"You've become interesting again, Sawada Tsunayoshi." Hibari-san declares, his Vongola Ring on a silver necklace, but his fingers have three rings on it.
He opens his box weapon -a harmless and adorable-looking hedgehog that is now expanding at an alarming rate. The clouds covered in spines block Tsuna's sight of his smirking partner, and all he can hear is Hibari's line of: "That is why I will kill you."
*
I don't want to disappoint anyone.
I want to protect everyone.
Those thoughts fill him, even as his mind is tortured by images and sounds of the world beyond Japan's walls, assaulted by illusions of his friends dying and bathing in their own blood because Tsuna wasn't strong enough.
I am not the Vongola's boss because I am strong, nor because I want to fight.
I am just Sawada Tsunayoshi who's fighting for his own beliefs.
Tsuna might be an anomaly, but his resolve to protect everything dear to him is strong enough to surpass any divisions of plus or minus or zero. Unexpected of him, but his resolution is strong enough to awaken the X Gloves into the X Gloves Version Vongola Ring.
The needle-covered sphere crumbles around him and he crawls out with great difficulty, his throat burning from the shortage of air inside the sphere. He's on all-fours, breathing heavily to help relieve his oxygen-starved lungs.
The first thing he sees after his eyes adjust to the bright lights of the training room is Hibari-san. Or more specifically, Hibari-san's shoes.
"I was going to kill you, Sawada Tsunayoshi," His partner tells him smoothly.
I don't want to disappoint Hibari-san again.
His nervous laugh sounds somewhere in-between a hacking cough and a groan of a dying man. "I knew you would."
The taller teen crouches down to be on eye-level with him and Tsuna feels another wave of déjà vu.
Hibari-san's eyes look fierce. With a raised eyebrow and a dangerously-low voice, he asks, "Oh? And you think you know what I'm going to do…?"
Tsuna flinches, but he gathers bits of courage residing deep within himself and continues, "But I also knew you wouldn't."
No reply comes out of Hibari-san, though Tsuna takes the lack of anger as a good sign.
"Congratulations on staying alive, as well as passing the Vongola Test," Reborn tells Tsuna but the infant hitman's voice sounds small and far-away. Tsuna cranes his neck to pinpoint Reborn's location, and he dimly notices that the infant is moving away to leave the two of them to their own devices.
"Let's go practice the SYNCHRO, Hibari-san," Tsuna softly says.
Hibari-san doesn't move from his crouching position. "You're going to pass out."
Tsuna pouts slightly, "I'm not going to-"
*
"Were you not aware of the consequences of passing out while we're still holding a conversation, Sawada Tsunayoshi?"
Tsuna stops a groan from escaping his lips. So yeah, he passed out. Hibari-san didn't have to wait for him to wake up just so he can chew him out for violating discipline, did he?
But then again…
"Thank you for carrying me here, Hibari-san." Tsuna remembers this room. This is where he was brought to after he first met Hibari-san. The thought makes him smile slightly.
His partner doesn't look so happy with that though. "I had to endure the crowding your followers started outside my room."
"Are Gokudera and Yamamoto still there?" He hasn't seen his friends since he became busy with the trainings, but he thinks that those two are busy with their own trainings too and he doesn't want to bother them.
Hibari-san looks at him as though his question is insane. "I beat them up for their noisiness and herding."
"W-what?!" Tsuna asks in all his horrified and high-pitched-squeak glory.
"Blocking my doorway and being noisy is defying discipline," Hibari-san asserts steely.
"You didn't have to bring me here if you don't want extra trouble," He continues to protest, even though his smile widens and he really is glad for Hibari-san, though a bit worried for Yamamoto and Gokudera.
Hibari-san raises his teacup to his lips, sipping his tea in silence, not bothering to dignify Tsuna's last statement with a reply.
Tsuna stares at his partner's face-at the sharp angles and the deadly aura that sits so well it's almost unbelievable. Tsuna decides that Hibari-san is really a collection of contradictions that make perfect sense.
Hibari-san continues to drink his tea, sitting on the bedside chair as though he's waiting for Tsuna to become able to fight again.
Tsuna wants to ask if it's okay that he and Hibari are not really practicing synchronization at the moment, but he stops himself, because Hibari-san is Hibari-san, and practicing with weaklings like him-or even fighting in groups, is something that will never be associated with him. But that's okay with Tsuna, because he knows Hibari-san -even though he scares him!- and he knows that Hibari-san will never lose and if Tsuna needs help, Hibari-san will be there to bite the opponent -and Tsuna, for being unable to win by himself- to death.
"Let's do our best tomorrow, Hibari-san," Tsuna says instead, smiling cheerfully, placing all his trust to his partner in those words. Tsuna may not really understand the way Hibari-san's mind and motivation work, but he knows that he trusts Hibari-san and his iron will and solid strength.
*
On the day after the Vongola Test, the war between Japan's MAFIA and Italy's Millefiore starts.
Everyone is assigned to their own missions, everyone is designated to their optimal partner, and everyone is entrusted to guard their posts.
The Varia chose to stay at the borders of Japan's territory, to protect the defensive architectures and kill anyone who dares to even scratch the surfaces of Japan's walls.
Gokudera and Yamamoto are assigned to infiltrate the enemy via East Route 864, while Reborn and Lambo are going for the underground tunnels at the West Route 452. These are routes predicted by the top intelligence of MAFIA, using the Ranking Prince Fuuta's knowledge as basis.
The Chrome-Ryohei and Lal Mirch-Colonello teams are taking advantage of Chrome's top-notch illusion skills in order to enter the main Millefiore base and destroy it from its control tower.
Protect the base, attack the enemy and rescue Rokudo Mukuro: these are the objectives of this A-class mission for the members of Japan's MAFIA.
The last task is handed to Hibari and Tsuna.
Tsuna takes a deep breath as he adjusts the gauntlet gloves on his hands. They don't feel like they weigh much, though he knows that there's a huge power burning from within those elegant-looking gloves.
Hibari-san is looking steadily at the mass of enemies awaiting them, an impassive façade in place, betrayed only by the brilliant glint in his grey eyes. He is excited for this battle, for his tonfas to strike fear and cause injury, and he wants to see people crumbling under his power, wants to hear people moaning in agony and defeat, wants to smell the rich, metallic scent of blood flowing freely with each torn skin.
Tsuna remembers how terrified he feels under various bullies' beatings, but Hibari-san is different. He doesn't know if it's better that way-Hibari-san is obviously stronger than the normal arrogant gangsters, but with that fearsome power comes a threatening aura and an insane bloodlust.
But Hibari-san is not going to fight Tsuna today, for which Tsuna can relax slightly (because Hibari-san will only bite him to death if he slacks off, right? So No-Good-Tsuna must become Useful-and-NOT-Herbivore-Tsuna for today, because the way Hibari-san is grinning in anticipation is definitely intimidating).
Hibari's ring shines dully when it catches the ends of the sunlight hiding partially in the clouds. The sky is starting to darken, so Tsuna touches Hibari's sleeve for support.
The Cloud Guardian stiffens slightly but doesn't pull away, which makes Tsuna release the breath he has been holding. He gives a gentle tug, commanding as a leader yet not pushing Hibari to do something he doesn't want.
Tsuna feels like he's futilely taming a wild dragon-getting the dragon to do one chore for him in exchange for one of his limbs. Tsuna shakes that feeling away, because Hibari-san will kill him if he knows he has been compared to a dragon-and more importantly, Hibari-san cares for Tsuna, in his very Hibari-like way. Tsuna knows it, can feel it with the intuition rooted into his very being.
"Let's go, Hibari-san," Tsuna says, knowing that this day, he found his purpose. He may not fit that well into the bloodstained and violence-filled world of today, but he knows that standing beside Hibari, in order to rescue a comrade, in order to protect the peaceful world of his friends and his family-
-He is not a burden. He is not an anomaly.
Tsuna feels his hand being grabbed roughly by callused hands. His right hand ends up touching the Vongola Cloud ring and it feels strangely intimate, to be this close, to be in a physical contact willingly initiated by Vongola's most feared man.
Instead of being confused by the action, Tsuna instinctively understands, and he smiles and holds in to Hibari-san's much-bigger hand tightly.
"Needle Sky Form!"
And as they called out the attack's form, Tsuna can feel his soul reaching out and curling into Hibari's, in order to make their attacks melt into each other, in order to fill the sky with clouds with protruding needles.
At this moment, Tsuna knows, as the needles rain down on their enemies with pinpoint precision and deadly force, that his attribute might not be classified accordingly, but he exists, and he exists to accept and trust Hibari's eruptive soul.
At this moment, Tsuna knows, that as long as he fights alongside Hibari-san and Vongola and for the sake of his loved ones, he will never be an anomaly.
*
End
After the traumatizing meeting yesterday, in which Tsuna just let the information pass by one ear and leave on the other (he's going to count on the notes that Gokudera diligently wrote down), he learns that his last-minute cramming-slash-training session is going to be with the scary duo of Lal Mirch and Reborn.
"Why am I not training with Hibari-san?" Tsuna asks forlornly as he finishes his warm-up stretching.
"Do you want to die, idiot Tsuna?" Tsuna sputters at Reborn's insult, "At your level, a full-time training with Hibari will just kill you."
Lal Mirch makes a sound of agreement, adding, "It will do nothing good. You must finish the basics first. I saw the video of your training with Hibari and you were pathetic beyond means."
Tsuna knows it, but he cringes anyway. "B-but the synchronization…"
Lal's voice turns softer, "No one comes out of a SYNCHRO with Hibari uninjured."
A split second, and Tsuna feels that Lal and Reborn are concerned for him, despite their frightening countenance and mean words.
"Then please make me worthy of being Hibari-san's partner!"
He has realized, throughout the past few days, that being Vongola's Tenth is a harsh responsibility, but he's going to take that responsibility. He doesn't want to let down his friends who have pinned their trust on him. He's going to do his training well and he's going to do his best.
He tries to ignore the nagging feeling in his mind of Hibari-san not even stopping by to assess his training. Of course, seeing that he's busy dodging Reborn's negative-destruction-bullets and Lal's positive-centipede box weapon, he doesn't notice Kusakabe-san watching him train from the end of the training room.
*
ROKUDO MUKURO HAS BEEN CAPTURED BY MILLEFIORE'S BYAKURAN.
The news enters Vongola's information network thirty minutes ago and panic has already seized every single MAFIA member. Rokudo Mukuro, the person who is Hibari-san's previous partner before Tsuna came to the picture. Rokudo Mukuro, the person who talked to Tsuna about Hibari just before he left for his mission to spy on Millefiore's leader, and their major enemy, Byakuran.
Everyone's on edge because they might dislike Mukuro (or distrust him, Gokudera's case), but they all acknowledge his strength as one of the best amongst the MAFIA organization. If the person who lives at the borderline between reality and illusion, who treads the territories of truth and lies expertly-if that person has been captured by the enemy just like that, then, do they still stand a chance?
"It's better if we just focus our forces on raiding Millefiore," Gokudera answers to Reborn's proposal of splitting the MAFIA's forces into different coinciding missions.
Everyone shifts restlessly in their seats, torn between supporting the rescue-Mukuro-mission and ensuring a greater success rate for their raid-Millefiore-mission.
Tsuna finds himself speaking up, voice shaking, but still very determined. He's not really friends-friends with Mukuro, but there's a thin thread of connection between them-something that's more than Mukuro's taunts about Hibari-san and more than Mukuro's promise of possessing Tsuna's body. It's something that he can't really explain, but. "I want to save Mukuro. He's…" He searches for the word and tries not to feel too self-conscious when Gokudera and the rest of the Family turn to him. "He's family."
"Thank you, Boss," Chrome says gratefully, worry about her master evident in the creases on her forehead, on the dull twinkle in her eye.
"If… if that's what Tenth wants, then…! As your right-hand man, I'll…!"
"Well said, young Vongola," Lambo comments from the side, ignoring Reborn's scoff at him.
Tsuna turns to search for Hibari-san's reaction to his proposal, and tries hard not to feel depressed by Hibari-san walking out of the meeting without any preamble.
*
It is sick, Tsuna knows, to feel jealous over Mukuro.
He almost asked Gokudera to keep an eye on Hibari, because he fears that his partner will embark on the rescue-Mukuro-mission alone and without Tsuna's knowledge.
He stopped himself though, because one, that will be cruel to Gokudera even though Tsuna knows (and is a bit embarrassed by that) that Gokudera will do anything Tsuna asks of him; two, Hibari-san values his privacy and Tsuna doesn't want to completely destroy the fragile rapport that connects the two of them.
But he wants to know…! Why did Hibari-san react that way towards Mukuro's disappearance? Is he simply that uncooperative to the Family's procedures? Or is it because he wants no part in rescuing his previous partner? Or is it because he's actually angry at Mukuro's capture?
Those thoughts are clawing ferociously at his mind, contributing to his even-poorer-than-normal fighting standards. Lal Mirch is obviously displeased with him and is questioning him about his lack of will to improve.
He wants to…! It's just that-he's worrying too much about Hibari-san, and it's driving him crazy and he's already pulling at his hair hard enough to loosen a few hair strands and he's still not snapping out of this cycle.
"Take a walk outside for a while. Come back before the day is over," Reborn commands him, despite Lal's protests about wasting valuable time.
Tsuna is about to protest about wanting to train, but he knows that Reborn knows that he's distracted, and for once, he is grateful for Reborn pointing gun-transformed-Leon at him and threatening him to either go out or die.
*
A couple of months ago and he would have been ecstatic at having clearance to leave the Facility. Now, however, it's like the consequences of the ongoing war has finally settled in him.
He sees the expanse of streets covered with dirty water and grime and it looks so far-off from his last memory of Japan. He had to pinch his cheeks for a few times before he finally realizes that this is real and the world is really thrown into a vicious cycle of destruction-revenge-and-wars. Shadows cover every nook-and-cranny of the area outside the tall buildings of the MAFIA facility.
Helplessness is the only atmosphere that Tsuna can feel in this area.
He shivers and decides to visit his mother in the evacuation center, the only other well-maintained building aside from the Government Towers and the MAFIA's Facility. He feels sheepish at the respectful bows given to him by the guards and he hopes that his mother hasn't learned about him being a Vongola yet. He doesn't want her to know, doesn't want her to worry.
"Tsuna-kun," Kyoko greets him with a sunny stretch of her lips, coaxing an answering smile from Tsuna.
"Kyoko-chan," Nana pats the seat beside her, which Kyoko accepts. They talk to Tsuna, asking him about his health, about Kyoko's big brother, about Tsuna's progress in the MAFIA. Tsuna answers everything as truthfully as he can, but he leaves out his new status as the Vongola's Tenth and about Ryohei's involvement as a Guardian. He asks his mother about his father, but Nana simply smiles dreamily and tells him her usual answer: that his father is a good man is probably staying cool under these dire circumstances.
He appreciates Kyoko and her infectious cheeriness-but he knows he can't stay here long, not if he wants to protect them and make sure they can keep on smiling. He thanks Kyoko for taking care of his mother, to which his ex-classmate chuckles at, and adds that it's a pleasure for her to spend her days here with his mother, with her friends Haru and Hana.
He's glad he took Reborn's advice (or rather, Reborn's command) on taking a walk to sort his thoughts. He's now more confident with his decision to fight as a Vongola.
His gratefulness for this break from training disappears soon after, for a group of crazed-looking gangsters are now blocking his way back to the Facility and are jeering at him. He raises his hands reflexively, a defensive posture that earns mocking laughter from the surrounding mob.
These people are not trained, and his resolve is to fight for the sake of his friends and they're not harming his friends, and Tsuna sees no reason to fight them back with the techniques Lal Mirch and Reborn ingrained to him during the past few days. He has been so used to simply accepting bullies' beatings-the idea of fighting back in a situation like this is foreign to him. Furthermore, his body is still tired from the training, and.
Tsuna stops his stream of thought and wishes for the police to arrive. It appears that his training sessions weren't for naught, because he has improved in lessening the damage and the pain he feels from said damages. It's like, he has harmonized completely with his senses, and while it's stressful to feel and understand the waves of bitter hatred and hopelessness clutching these gangsters, he also acquired a greater control over the things affecting his senses.
He feels Hibari-san's arrival even before his assaulters stop their array of punches on him and divert their attention to the stronger opponent. Hibari-san carries a formidable aura that can pierce through his haze of pain and overwhelming misery of this land.
"Are you okay, Sawada-san?" Kusakabe-san asks him, coupling his positive-wavelength with the first-aid he applies to Tsuna's bruises and scrapes. Hibari-san is busy dealing punishment to the people disrupting the discipline and order inside Japan's walls. "It's a good thing that Kyoya-san is on patrol duty today."
It's not a good thing, Tsuna wants to reply, but he can't really fully explain why the thought of Hibari-san seeing like this, back to his pathetic self (or maybe, he hasn't really moved away from his helpless form?), brings an ache to his very being.
Hibari-san finishes the wandering gangsters with a disdainful scoff, before he walks over to where Kusakabe is holding the partially-healed Tsuna. Tsuna winces, expecting his partner to bite him to death as well.
"You're that pathetic, herbivore? Not even willing to save yourself," Hibari tells him coolly, prompting Tsuna to grimace in a way that's unrelated to the pain from being beaten up, "Those who are all-too-willing to be defeated don't interest me."
He turns his back to Tsuna yet again. Maybe, someday, Tsuna will have the courage to tell Hibari-san about his convictions and his resolution to only fight for the sake of his beloved ones and not about any other reason. Maybe someday, but for today, he can only accept Kusakabe-san's hurried apology for Hibari-san's harsh words, he can only watch the two leave him in that lonely road as they continued their patrol around this desolate city.
"I'm sorry I disappointed you, Hibari-san," Tsuna tells the dirt-covered road, but Hibari is long gone.
*
After a good night's sleep thanks to Yamamoto and Basil's sleeping pills charged with their positive, calming wavelength, Tsuna wakes up to the day when Reborn is going to hand them their respective Vongola Rings.
It's another Vongola Meeting, though everyone has enough sense to not start fighting amongst themselves. It doesn't stop the Varia members from shooting nasty glares to the Guardians, and it certainly doesn't stop the Guardians (especially the hot-blooded Gokudera and Ryohei) from glaring right back.
"Look, you're already strong in your way," Colonello remarks, "but these rings will be your ace, hey."
"It works out quite well that Mukuro despised using the Vongola Ring, so the Mist Ring is still in our hands," Lal Mirch says as Reborn hands over the Mist Ring to Chrome Dokuro.
"Such an annoying jerk, refusing a Vongola Ring like that," Gokudera mutters angrily below his breath, earning a mildly-disapproving glance from Tsuna.
"Mukuro is still one of the strongest Guardians even without the Mist Ring," Reborn tells Gokudera with a tinge of amusement.
("But that's only because of his two Hell Rings," Mammon resentfully comments, to which the new Varia recruit, Fran, answers, "Hell Rings are really more special, huh, senpai?" while showing off the single Hell Ring adorning his hand.)
"We're counting on you as the Mist Guardian, Chrome," Bianchi says, looking slightly ridiculous wearing a pair of goggles, but it's for Gokudera's sake, so nobody comments on her get-up. Everyone has high hopes for Chrome as Mukuro's temporary replacement, since she's Mukuro's apprentice and is genetically-modified to fit Mukuro better.
The rings are handed to the other Guardians without much fuss, with even Hibari obediently sliding the ring to his finger (and promptly igniting his ring with his overflowing soul wavelength).
The Vongola Sky Ring is the last one to be handed. Tsuna swallows past the lump on his throat, nervous and excited and giddy and anxious and he thinks he's going to drop the ring and it'll break and he'll be the worst boss ever.
"You're really desperate to hand over the Sky Ring," Xanxus offhandedly notes, but Tsuna allows the ring to be placed on his finger. It doesn't reject Tsuna like it did to Xanxus, as related in the hushed rumors running around the MAFIA.
"The Varia is not going to participate in a mission with such a dismal success rate," Xanxus informs them like Reborn has predicted, "And because the Varia won't take orders from such a wimpy leader."
Tsuna knows that Xanxus isn't lying, not per se, but he also knows that there's another reason for Xanxus not wanting to go with the Vongola's force in attacking Millefiore and saving their original Mist Guardian.
"With the acceptance of the Sky Ring, you have fully committed yourself to Vongola, idiot Tsuna."
He closes his eyes and opens them, sees his Family's answering loyalty and he smiles in return. "I'll do my best to not be a disappointment."
Reborn regards him with a hint of pride, glad for the changes brought by the past days filled to the brim with stress. The fedora-wearing arcobaleno clears his throat to get the others' attention. "The day of the mega-mission is tomorrow and I want you all to focus on practicing with your partners the SYNCHRO."
Answering nods meet Reborn's command and Tsuna feels nervous all over again. Gokudera and Yamamoto go together in one direction, followed by Ryohei and Chrome. Reborn tells Lambo to wait for him in Reborn's training grounds, while Hibari-san is already making his way out of the conference room.
"Let's go, No-Good-Tsuna. It's time for your training with Hibari."
*
Reborn and Tsuna arrives at the arena where Tsuna has last faced off against his partner -which turns out to be Hibari-san's special training room.
Without further ado, Reborn passes a pair of heavy-looking gloves to Tsuna. As soon as his hand touches them, he senses the onslaught of powerful positive-attribute waves radiating from the gloves. 'VONGOLA X' is engraved on the gloves. "It's my weapon," Tsuna realizes in awe.
"Those gloves are the weapons used by the Primo Vongola. If you're really fit for your role, you'll be able to use those as well."
"T-the P-Primo?! The strongest Vongola boss?!"
"Stop your slacking and start working, useless Tsuna."
As Reborn utters those words, Hibari-san moves away from his spot in the wall, tonfas out and encased with a huge, overwhelming purple-colored wavelength. Tsuna is at a loss on how to place his partner's wave attribute -it looks deadly enough as a negative-attribute, yet it looks like a positive wave waiting to envelope its enemies.
"I'm going to pry all of your abilities open, Sawada Tsunayoshi," Hibari-san declares, before he disappears from Tsuna's view and reappears a split-second after, bringing down his tonfas against Tsuna's arms, the soul wavelength burning Tsuna's skin where it contacts.
Tsuna hastily kicks at the taller male to propel himself away, clutching in reflex against his arm. He wills himself to make the sizzling sensation disappear, but he doesn't receive a chance to make sure that he's healed, because Hibari continues attacking him relentlessly, meeting Tsuna at all directions and not giving him a moment to catch himself and recover.
Not even five minutes since the start of their training session and he's already battered and panting, but he's still standing on his feet and he's still determined to not let Hibari-san defeat him yet again. It's a different resolve and he doesn't dwell on it much, as he starts to attack Hibari-san as well. He ignores the dizzying beat of his heart as he spies the pleased smirk present on Hibari-san's face.
"You've become interesting again, Sawada Tsunayoshi." Hibari-san declares, his Vongola Ring on a silver necklace, but his fingers have three rings on it.
He opens his box weapon -a harmless and adorable-looking hedgehog that is now expanding at an alarming rate. The clouds covered in spines block Tsuna's sight of his smirking partner, and all he can hear is Hibari's line of: "That is why I will kill you."
*
I don't want to disappoint anyone.
I want to protect everyone.
Those thoughts fill him, even as his mind is tortured by images and sounds of the world beyond Japan's walls, assaulted by illusions of his friends dying and bathing in their own blood because Tsuna wasn't strong enough.
I am not the Vongola's boss because I am strong, nor because I want to fight.
I am just Sawada Tsunayoshi who's fighting for his own beliefs.
Tsuna might be an anomaly, but his resolve to protect everything dear to him is strong enough to surpass any divisions of plus or minus or zero. Unexpected of him, but his resolution is strong enough to awaken the X Gloves into the X Gloves Version Vongola Ring.
The needle-covered sphere crumbles around him and he crawls out with great difficulty, his throat burning from the shortage of air inside the sphere. He's on all-fours, breathing heavily to help relieve his oxygen-starved lungs.
The first thing he sees after his eyes adjust to the bright lights of the training room is Hibari-san. Or more specifically, Hibari-san's shoes.
"I was going to kill you, Sawada Tsunayoshi," His partner tells him smoothly.
I don't want to disappoint Hibari-san again.
His nervous laugh sounds somewhere in-between a hacking cough and a groan of a dying man. "I knew you would."
The taller teen crouches down to be on eye-level with him and Tsuna feels another wave of déjà vu.
Hibari-san's eyes look fierce. With a raised eyebrow and a dangerously-low voice, he asks, "Oh? And you think you know what I'm going to do…?"
Tsuna flinches, but he gathers bits of courage residing deep within himself and continues, "But I also knew you wouldn't."
No reply comes out of Hibari-san, though Tsuna takes the lack of anger as a good sign.
"Congratulations on staying alive, as well as passing the Vongola Test," Reborn tells Tsuna but the infant hitman's voice sounds small and far-away. Tsuna cranes his neck to pinpoint Reborn's location, and he dimly notices that the infant is moving away to leave the two of them to their own devices.
"Let's go practice the SYNCHRO, Hibari-san," Tsuna softly says.
Hibari-san doesn't move from his crouching position. "You're going to pass out."
Tsuna pouts slightly, "I'm not going to-"
*
"Were you not aware of the consequences of passing out while we're still holding a conversation, Sawada Tsunayoshi?"
Tsuna stops a groan from escaping his lips. So yeah, he passed out. Hibari-san didn't have to wait for him to wake up just so he can chew him out for violating discipline, did he?
But then again…
"Thank you for carrying me here, Hibari-san." Tsuna remembers this room. This is where he was brought to after he first met Hibari-san. The thought makes him smile slightly.
His partner doesn't look so happy with that though. "I had to endure the crowding your followers started outside my room."
"Are Gokudera and Yamamoto still there?" He hasn't seen his friends since he became busy with the trainings, but he thinks that those two are busy with their own trainings too and he doesn't want to bother them.
Hibari-san looks at him as though his question is insane. "I beat them up for their noisiness and herding."
"W-what?!" Tsuna asks in all his horrified and high-pitched-squeak glory.
"Blocking my doorway and being noisy is defying discipline," Hibari-san asserts steely.
"You didn't have to bring me here if you don't want extra trouble," He continues to protest, even though his smile widens and he really is glad for Hibari-san, though a bit worried for Yamamoto and Gokudera.
Hibari-san raises his teacup to his lips, sipping his tea in silence, not bothering to dignify Tsuna's last statement with a reply.
Tsuna stares at his partner's face-at the sharp angles and the deadly aura that sits so well it's almost unbelievable. Tsuna decides that Hibari-san is really a collection of contradictions that make perfect sense.
Hibari-san continues to drink his tea, sitting on the bedside chair as though he's waiting for Tsuna to become able to fight again.
Tsuna wants to ask if it's okay that he and Hibari are not really practicing synchronization at the moment, but he stops himself, because Hibari-san is Hibari-san, and practicing with weaklings like him-or even fighting in groups, is something that will never be associated with him. But that's okay with Tsuna, because he knows Hibari-san -even though he scares him!- and he knows that Hibari-san will never lose and if Tsuna needs help, Hibari-san will be there to bite the opponent -and Tsuna, for being unable to win by himself- to death.
"Let's do our best tomorrow, Hibari-san," Tsuna says instead, smiling cheerfully, placing all his trust to his partner in those words. Tsuna may not really understand the way Hibari-san's mind and motivation work, but he knows that he trusts Hibari-san and his iron will and solid strength.
*
On the day after the Vongola Test, the war between Japan's MAFIA and Italy's Millefiore starts.
Everyone is assigned to their own missions, everyone is designated to their optimal partner, and everyone is entrusted to guard their posts.
The Varia chose to stay at the borders of Japan's territory, to protect the defensive architectures and kill anyone who dares to even scratch the surfaces of Japan's walls.
Gokudera and Yamamoto are assigned to infiltrate the enemy via East Route 864, while Reborn and Lambo are going for the underground tunnels at the West Route 452. These are routes predicted by the top intelligence of MAFIA, using the Ranking Prince Fuuta's knowledge as basis.
The Chrome-Ryohei and Lal Mirch-Colonello teams are taking advantage of Chrome's top-notch illusion skills in order to enter the main Millefiore base and destroy it from its control tower.
Protect the base, attack the enemy and rescue Rokudo Mukuro: these are the objectives of this A-class mission for the members of Japan's MAFIA.
The last task is handed to Hibari and Tsuna.
Tsuna takes a deep breath as he adjusts the gauntlet gloves on his hands. They don't feel like they weigh much, though he knows that there's a huge power burning from within those elegant-looking gloves.
Hibari-san is looking steadily at the mass of enemies awaiting them, an impassive façade in place, betrayed only by the brilliant glint in his grey eyes. He is excited for this battle, for his tonfas to strike fear and cause injury, and he wants to see people crumbling under his power, wants to hear people moaning in agony and defeat, wants to smell the rich, metallic scent of blood flowing freely with each torn skin.
Tsuna remembers how terrified he feels under various bullies' beatings, but Hibari-san is different. He doesn't know if it's better that way-Hibari-san is obviously stronger than the normal arrogant gangsters, but with that fearsome power comes a threatening aura and an insane bloodlust.
But Hibari-san is not going to fight Tsuna today, for which Tsuna can relax slightly (because Hibari-san will only bite him to death if he slacks off, right? So No-Good-Tsuna must become Useful-and-NOT-Herbivore-Tsuna for today, because the way Hibari-san is grinning in anticipation is definitely intimidating).
Hibari's ring shines dully when it catches the ends of the sunlight hiding partially in the clouds. The sky is starting to darken, so Tsuna touches Hibari's sleeve for support.
The Cloud Guardian stiffens slightly but doesn't pull away, which makes Tsuna release the breath he has been holding. He gives a gentle tug, commanding as a leader yet not pushing Hibari to do something he doesn't want.
Tsuna feels like he's futilely taming a wild dragon-getting the dragon to do one chore for him in exchange for one of his limbs. Tsuna shakes that feeling away, because Hibari-san will kill him if he knows he has been compared to a dragon-and more importantly, Hibari-san cares for Tsuna, in his very Hibari-like way. Tsuna knows it, can feel it with the intuition rooted into his very being.
"Let's go, Hibari-san," Tsuna says, knowing that this day, he found his purpose. He may not fit that well into the bloodstained and violence-filled world of today, but he knows that standing beside Hibari, in order to rescue a comrade, in order to protect the peaceful world of his friends and his family-
-He is not a burden. He is not an anomaly.
Tsuna feels his hand being grabbed roughly by callused hands. His right hand ends up touching the Vongola Cloud ring and it feels strangely intimate, to be this close, to be in a physical contact willingly initiated by Vongola's most feared man.
Instead of being confused by the action, Tsuna instinctively understands, and he smiles and holds in to Hibari-san's much-bigger hand tightly.
"Needle Sky Form!"
And as they called out the attack's form, Tsuna can feel his soul reaching out and curling into Hibari's, in order to make their attacks melt into each other, in order to fill the sky with clouds with protruding needles.
At this moment, Tsuna knows, as the needles rain down on their enemies with pinpoint precision and deadly force, that his attribute might not be classified accordingly, but he exists, and he exists to accept and trust Hibari's eruptive soul.
At this moment, Tsuna knows, that as long as he fights alongside Hibari-san and Vongola and for the sake of his loved ones, he will never be an anomaly.
*
End