human
Tsukiko Sawada & Yuri Ikeda
August 16th
Namimori, Japan
13:49 PM GMT +9
It took two years but finally ... it seemed everything was back to a more 'normal' way of life. And for the now sixteen-year-old Tsukiko Sawada? This was perfectly fine with her. In fact, 'fine' was too generous of a word to use. It was a blessing, and she wasn't the only one who agreed on that view. Her twin brother, Tsunayoshi - often called simply Tsuna - concurred with that thought also, as did both of her parents. Her mother had been finally filled in and had everything revealed to after the last conflict, with the Vendice getting as close to harming her as they did. Iemitsu had no choice by then and had to reveal what was going on with Tsuna and, to the smallest of extents, Tsukiko.
Granted, Tsukiko had been kept away from all of the fights and ongoings precisely to avoid being dragged into any of these events. But unlike her mother, she'd known from the very first day that Reborn appeared what his true intentions were. She hadn't liked any of it, least of learning that her brotherhadto take over a mafia family. In fact, she had wanted to help out. And Reborn would have gladly let her ... except for one huge problem, particularly when the Ring Conflict rolled around. She had Sky Flames and, unfortunately, only one person per Flame was needed.
This further strengthened the idea to keep her hidden and in the background. It was, of course, much easier said than done ... particularly with Tsukiko having her own close calls as well as her mother, namely with the incidents involving not only the Vendice but even Byakuran. By what could only be described as a miracle ... she had managed to stay safe and, just as importantly, sane throughout everything that had happened over the two years.
"Sweetie!"
The single word caused Tsukiko to return to the here and now, barely hearing through her headphones that her mother was calling for her. A quick glance down revealed that prior to Tsukiko zoning out, she'd at least beentryingto get a head start on her summer homework. Somewhere between writing out the answer for an algebra problem and reminding herself of the exact formula she needed to use, she had gotten lost in her thoughts. Her cheeks quickly turned crimson as she began realizing what had just happened and quickly shook her head, then finally cleared her throat.
"Yes?" she called, pulling one earbud out to better hear her mother.
"You have a visitor downstairs. A classmate of yours."
Oh? Tsukiko pondered, an eyebrow raising upon hearing the words. Nowthatdefinitely was interesting. Usually, it was Tsuna who had company come over; typically Hayato, though Takeshi had been known to stop by every now and again also. Her head lifted as she quickly looked back over to the calendar. Sure enough, it was still summer vacation. That made this more interesting.
"I'll be down in a bit," Tsukiko finally called down, realizing she'd almost zoned out for far too long. Her gaze shifted from the calendar to her homework. She tried to quickly solve it ... only to find herself eliciting a frustrated sigh. Math was one of the few things she had in common with Tsuna; neither of them loved the subject much. Otherwise, Tsukiko was very much the opposite of her elder twin, especially when it came to school. Everything he had trouble with, she tended to excel at, be it academics or sports.
Homework could wait, she decided. Besides, there were still two weeks of summer left. Now that she knew she had someone waiting for her, Tsukiko found herself more curious about that than finishing up her summer assignments. Her intrigue was only piqued in knowing it couldn't be any of the Guardians ... simply because they were all out and about training with Tsuna. It was definitely frustrating to have her brother repeatedly dragged away, more so when it was during the break.
But after everything Tsuna had endured? It wasn't like she didn't understand the concern. Hedidneed to keep himself prepared and ready. Everyone he had faced two years ago seemed to accept their fates. Varia hadn't attempted to perform another coup, nor had they run into Byakuran and his group in any form or fashion. But that didn't mean anything just yet; peace never lasted forever, after all. It was what her history classes taught her, and it did seem to hold enough truth for her to accept being without her twin at the moment.
The pencil was set down as she quickly stood up and hurried down the stairs. Just as her mother said, there was indeed someone waiting. And, just as she thought, it wasn't any of the Guardians. In fact, it was one of the transfer students that came into her and Tsuna's class.
"Yuri-san! S-sorry ... you haven't been here long, have you?"
A ghost of a smirk appeared on Yuri's lips as she shook her head. "Not very, but that's okay. I'm patient. I thought you'd wanna kill time somehow. Maybe head out for a swim or something?"
"Um ... well ... " Tsukiko's head turned to her mother, who merely grinned, silently encouraging Tsukiko to take the offer up.
"This might be your summer break, but I don't want you spendingallof it in your room. Besides, you still have at least two weeks to finish with everything."
Tsukiko mulled over her mother's words then slowly nodded. It made enough sense, she supposed. And while Tsunahadmatured and changed in some respects over the past few years, there were some things that hadn't changed. Sadly, his inability to swim was one of them. A smile appeared as she gave Yuri a nod. "Sure. Give me a few more to get changed real fast."
"It's still early in the afternoon, we definitely have plenty of time."
As Tsukiko rushed up, she could hear her mother begin to converse with Yuri. She managed to hear Nana thank her ... but that was much as she heard before entering her room once again. Thankfully, it wouldn't take too long to find what she wanted to wear. She studied her appearance in the mirror, her smile subconsciously widening as she looked at her clad in thepink bikini. She then covered it with ablouse and skirtcombination, donning her feet in heels.
A content sigh that Tsukiko had been holding back finally resounded from her lips. Now that she was ready to head out, she went back downstairs. Her mother grinned happily as she gave Tsukiko a hug.
"Don't worry about feeling like you have to rush back, okay? Just keep in touch like usual. I'll likely have dinner ready when you and your brother return." Nana turned her head as she looked into Yuri's eyes, "She shouldn't give you any trouble. That's typically Tsuna's job."
"Oh don't worry. Even if she did, I doubt it's anything I can't handle."
" ... Don't talk like I'm not here, mom," Tsukiko muttered, a new layer of crimson now painting her face.
"Have fun, sweetie!"
Tsukiko nodded, waving and giving Nana a quick hug before leaving with Yuri. A brief pause lingered before Tsukiko finally spoke up, "So ... I'm flattered and all, but ... I can't lie, this is a bit unexpected. Why me if I can ask?"
"You seem like one of the more interesting people. You didn't greet me rudely when I arrived unlike a lot of others. That certainly helps. I just ... let's say I have really good instincts. Besides, I've wanted to get to know you better anyway, but I get the homework and overall school life makes it challenging. So now that break is here, why not? Okay. Get on and hold on tightly."
Upon hearing her last words, Tsukiko looked down and found herself staring at a motorcycle. "You .. this is yours?"
"Mhm."
"But aren't you just barely too young."
"I don't look it though, do I?" Yuri quipped, wearing a sly grin on her face. "Don't worry. I won't let us get in a wreck or anything."
"Okay. Bear with me. I've never really ridden on any sort of ride before."
"You'll be in for a real treat, then. These are fun!"
Tsukiko took a breath to calm herself then sat down. She heeded Yuri's words and held tightly onto her shoulders. "I'd actually suggest the waist. Better grip, but before that ... here." Tsukiko was handed a helmet and put it on first. Her hands lowered ... and her face, though covered by the helmet, burned a brighter hue of red. "You ... sure?"
"You're not hurting me or anything. And besides, if anyone's gotta do this, someone as cute as you is an honor, not something to be embarrassed about."
Cute? Me?
Sure, Tsukiko had crushes on some guys ... but those were men. She'd never really thought about women before. Her head shook as she dismissed the thoughts. Whether Yuri would hear the 'thanks' from her or not was anyone's guess, but it would be uttered at the exact same moment the engine revved and came to life. The two began riding off, heading to the public pool nearby.
gpt
Two years...
It had been two years since the Representative Battle of the Rainbow, where Tsunayoshi Sawada and the six guardians of the would be 10th leader of the Vongola Mafia Famiglia battled in the infamous hitman, Reborn's stead to remove the curse of the Arcobaleno. It had been two years since Tsuna declined for the hundredth time joining the mafia and becoming the 10th Vongola boss. It had been two years since Tsuna had returned to his no-good life at Reborn's departure, only for the home tutor to return once again with a new goal to make him into the so declared 'Neo Vongola Primo'. Two years since Tsuna returned to the life that had become his new, not so no-good hectic life, and in those two years-
Still notmuch had changed...
"Uwaaahhhh! This is too much!!" Tsuna complained as he sprinted down an open field to the absolute symphony of explosions following and barely missing the poor boy. "I was just going to the store!! Why is this necessary!!!" He cried out as he jumped just in time to avoid another piece of dynamite from going off in his face.
"Sorry 10th!" The source of the hail of dynamite shouted back as he ran to keep up with Tsuna. Hayato Gokudera, right hand man of the boss that Reborn insisted would be Tsuna was raining sticks of lit dynamite all around him on a longer route to the market that they were forced to take. "Er... Neo 1st!" Gokudera corrected himself, still not used to his Famiglia Boss' new title.
"That's even weirder!" Tsunayoshi shouted, not too keen on getting used to Gokudera addressing him weirdly in public after it became normal that he called him '10th'. It was just too much to explain to people.
"But Reborn said-" Gokudera tried to explain himself as started to catch up, still pelting dynamite Tsuna's way.
"AHHHHH Don't get closer while throwing bombs!" Tsuna tried to drastically run faster. "Wait... STOP THROWING BOMBS" he yelled.
"I can't- Ack!" Just as Gokudera tried to explain himself he leapt mid run, still catching up closer to Tsuna. What he barely avoided was a bullet shot just under his feet from far away. Back on the street a small, deceptively baby-like hitman aimed a high caliber sniper riffle down the abandoned field. It was clear Reborn was motivating Gokudera to motivate Tsuna into some weird twist on a morning run to the store.
Catching up too close, the dynamite Hayato threw went off close enough to stumble the two of them. Which of course caused Gokudera to drop all of his bombs plus the ones falling from the air. A gigantic explosion engulfed the two, flinging them across the field and rolling in unison to the edge of the nearby park that was across from his destination.
"Guuuuuhhhh...." Tsuna and Gokudera laid flat on their backs, covered in soot and scorch marks. "Whyyyy.... Why is it always like this" Tsuna coughed a cloud of smoke as they lay defeated.
"Because" the familiarly higher pitched yet deadpan voice answered matter of factly.
"Reborn!!" Tsuna sat up quickly at the presence of the mysterious hitman.
"Along with becoming Neo Vongola Primo, you don't know what kinds of darkness lurks around the corner..." Reborn told him.
"Why are you all cryptic all of a sudden?!" Tsuna complained. "And I told you I'm not going to do that!!!" He reminded.
It had been like this for a while now. Not that it was any different than before, it was just... More. Little games like with Hayato, having to make up incidents to Hibari that Reborn as usual set up, every chore turned into a death trap, and usually one or more of his guardians of the Vongola family being roped in. It was exhausting to say the least, as if Reborn's made up title gave him the right to try and prepare him for something even more grandiose even though it was no different.
"Mom! I'm home!" Tsuna called as he took his bags to the kitchen. Quickly he headed up to his room but as he passed his sister's open door to see no one in there, he grew curious and leaned back over the top of the stairs. "Where did Tsukiko go?" He asked out to his mother.
"She's sure adjusted quickly..." Tsuna gave a blank stare to the empty room.
After the final battle he took part in it had been a long time since Tsuna had seen his twin sister Tsukiko. When Reborn first showed up in his life, she was already out and about preparing for a trip so she wasn't around and soon she was away for a while. It wasn't until later that Reborn informed him that the family had actually placed her in protective custody while maintaining her schooling and as normal a life as possible. At first Tsuna had a conniption fit but soon came to understand the danger and that it really would be best to keep her away and out of it, accepting not seeing his sister for a good while.
Now that things were peaceful and they had dealt with the darkness in the mafia world, it was deemed safe enough to bring her back as far as Tsuna was told. As such she was finally home again, albeit with a plethora of new guests and visitors. Luckily she knew about all of what happened so it didn't take much explaining.
It was an odd, sometimes frightening feeling whenever a new comrade, enemy, or something else entirely came to stay or visit the Sawada home - which could be any of the three with Reborn around. This was different though, still that nervously new feeling of someone else around but a sense of calm relief instead of worry that he was about to be shot or poisoned. Tsuna was truly happy to have his sister back.
That didn't mean he didn't envy her though. After all, while he was busy with... Well, everything that happened, she got to have a safe protected life. Reborn wasn't threatening her life daily as far as he knew and she wasn't being expected to become the boss of a mafia family. Now she got to just come back and go out with friends. Tsuna would sooner have her take on that responsibility if he hadn't already suggested it and been shot down by Reborn, she was the one who was actually good at everything. Still she hadn't earned it going through everything he did, much to Tsuna's despair at how logical an answer that was when Reborn gave it. Tsuna wouldn't want her in danger nor to have gone through what he did any more than he'd want Kyoko or Haru to.
After sitting a moment in his room, Tsuna went back downstairs to the kitchen to finish putting the groceries away.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda & Chrome Dokuro
Thanks to Yuri using the motorcycle, what would have been a twenty or so minute walk was cut in half. The vehicle stopped and arrived at the parking lot. Tsukiko hadn't necessarily been panicking, so to speak, but she was relieved to see Yuri had kept her word about avoiding any crashes. To be fair, Japan tended to have more people walking than using public transportation, and even then, the train was much more favored than cars. Still, better safe than sorry - it was a belief she had followed and believed in even before Reborn appeared in her and Tsuna's life.
A smile could be seen as Tsukiko took the helmet off. "You were right. That was actually very fun."
"See? Nothing to worry about."
Fortunately, the pool wasn't too crowded. Whether it was because people had their own pools to swim in at home, citizens were using the beach, or some other reason, today seemed to be a good day to come over. This thus made it easy for them to find a chair to set their towels down on and get out of their casual outfits. As Tsukiko finished peeling her skirt and blouse off, Yuri let out a whistle. Tsukiko looked up ... and sure enough saw that Yuri was staring right at her when she let out that noise.
"Very cute indeed. Sorry. I'm not making you feel too awkward, am I?"
"Definitely a bit. No offense or anything. I am flattered, just umm ... not really used to the praise either."
" ... Are you telling me even the guys at school don't give you any sort of acknowledgement?"
Tsukiko mulled over this as they both stepped into the pool, using the stairs to do so. "Hmmmm ... I'll word it this way. Some may have and frankly? I may have missed it. Dating .... I haven't really thought much about it."
"Damn. You're more mature than I expected. Most girls would be frantic to find someone to get attached to ... or at least fuck around with." Yuri shrugged as she saw Tsukiko blush. "What? That's just how some people are, and I'm not the only one who words things that ... crudely."
"I ... you're right. Just another thing I'm not used to."
" ... You've been kinda sheltered, huh?" An almost knowing grin appeared as she watched Tsukiko offer an affirmative nod. "Doesn't that ever bother you?"
"Only sometimes, yes. But ... I do know the intentions are at least good."
Truth be told, Tsukiko had sometimes hoped to be considered. She'd seen the stress the past two years had taken. It had already been frustrating enough she could only watch during each and every trial that popped up. At best, she could only support Tsuna over the phone or whenever she was allowed to see him which, thankfully, was able to happen now that they were on break and seeming to be in the clear.
And yet ... she couldn't completely admit that even she would want to be in charge of something like a mafia family. Not just because of the dangers that would come with it, but would she be able to do well in that type of situation? She highly doubted it, and worse than that was the fear of Tsuna's Guardians not liking her enough to agree with that sort of change.
She'd probably have to find her own ... and that'd just result in more problems, not less.
"You okay?"
Yuri's voice plus the repeated sound of fingers snapping in front of her caused Tsukiko to snap back to reality. Her hands covered her face as a new crimson coat appeared on her face. "Oh god. I'm so sorry, I umm ..." Tsukiko sighed, shaking her head in disappointment at herself, "I have no excuse. I'm being a horrible guest."
Yuri merely wove a hand dismissively through the air. "I kindadidcome in and abruptly suggest this idea to you. You weren't expecting this, let alone me, at all. It shows. You're at least not telling me to fuck off or anything, and that's a good start. So ... what were you thinking about? A crush?"
"Not this time, no. Just ... home. My brother, specifically."
"Tsuna, right?" Yuri was given another affirmative nod. "Youaretwins, huh? Is that whole myth about twins being super close true?"
"It is, actually. We just ... haven't been able to be close. We've both been too busy."
"Do you wanna head back home now? Make up for that?"
Tsukiko quickly shook her head. "He'll definitely be back by the time we return. I can make up for lost time afterwards. It has been a while since I've been able to enjoy a good swim, so I'm perfectly fine staying here."
"Perfect. So ... who even is your crush, if I can ask?" Yuri smirked playfully as she watched Tsukiko blush furiously in response.
"Okaerinasai, Tsuna!"
That would be the first voice he'd hear, which came from the top of the stairs. Standing there was Chrome, wearing a smile and a summer dress, as she bowed her head politely before descending the stairs to properly greet Tsuna.
"Your sister's with Yuri-chan from school. Probably at the public pool since the beach is further away. Going for a swim of some sort, regardless."
It was practically spelled out on Tsuna's face that he was absolutelyexhausted. Chrome didn't evenneedto use her Mist Flames to sense that much. Poor Tsuna had no doubt gone through another of Reborn's .... unorthodox training sessions.
"Are you hungry now, Tsuna? Or are you fine waiting for your sister?" Nana asked.
gpt
"Ch-Chrome!" Tsuna exclaimed as he turned back up the stairs to see Chrome Dokuro, his Mist Flame Guardian, standing there suddenly.
"When uh... When did you get here?" Tsuna asked to the surprise guest, trying hard not to sound rude. He was happy to see Chrome well and never minded a visit from her, it was just that on top of not expecting her presence he hadn't often been alone with Chrome herself. Admittedly she was a cute girl in her own right, so it was natural for Tsuna to fumble a bit like this.
"I invited her" Reborn said sitting up on the rail next to Chrome, having to have gotten there when Tsuna wasn't looking.
"Well... It's sure nice to have you over" Tsuna shyly but genuinely retorted.
"She'll be living here now" Reborn quickly added.
'So blunt!' Tsuna thought as his mouth went agape and he leaned back in surprise.
"Did... Something happen with Haru, Chrome?" Tsuna asked with concern in his voice. It was then that his mother interrupted.
"Hmm? Oh I can wa-" Tsuna's stomach started growling loudly, cutting the brunette boy off as his eyes went wide and mouth slack with embarrassment. Before he could say anything though Reborn landed a kick right in Tsuna's abdomen, causing his face to bulge out comically as the air left him.
"We can wait for Tsukiko, Mama" Reborn politely answered.
"I was gonna say we could wait!" Tsuna got back up barking back at Reborn.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda & Chrome Dokuro
"Awww. Not gonna tell me?"
"It ... doesn't matter. The chances of it happening are so close to zero, it's not funny," Tsukiko muttered, glancing down slightly. She was trying - God help her. But now ... she was feeling closer to wanting to get out, dry off, and leave ... with or without Yuri's help. She must have been able to sense that, because Yuri's head bowed deeply, her eyes even closed gently.
"Okay. Okay, I get it. There's such a thing as too much teasing. And there are definitely better ways to go about knowing this. Point made. Look .... you're not the only one new with this sorta talking situation, okay?"
"That's hard to believe. The mere implication you ever had difficulty at school more so. You had a lot of people stare at you in awe and admiration on your first day."
A knowing smirk mingled in with her smile as she looked into Tsukiko's eyes, "And some were also filled with jealousy and annoyance as well. An even smaller handful had racial and even misogynist incentives added in. There were a lot of things that few people knew about and one of them, of course, was Hibari. But I learned after the first few hours that was to be expected considering ... who he is within the school."
Tsukiko merely nodded. Indeed, it would have been very odd if the head of the Disciplinary Committee somehowfailedto hear all the whispers going around the school. He'd always been amazing with his job. The thought made her smile ever so slightly ... but enough for Yuri to see it, which made her own expand. "That's who it is, huh? I see. I kinda figured just from the words you said, but ...."
"W-well ... now you know why it doesn't matter."
Yuri shrugged. "I disagree. Chances being low is one thing. Zero is another. Besides, you have two more years of high school left. And come on. Do youreallythink he's gonna leave the school even after graduating? If anything, I was also told there's a rumor he lives there. He probably doesn't actually, but with how devoted he is, I can see why some people joke about that."
Even Tsukiko chuckled at that. The image was an interesting one, and it definitely helped lift her spirits up enough to feel better. "You do have a point. I have wondered about that largely because ... well, like you noticed, this year is going to be his last. But he's more in charge than the principal so ... " As Tsukiko's voice trailed off, she looked curiously towards Yuri, "Now that you know my answer, what aboutu yours? You got any crushes?"
"Well .... you're kinda not alone, but you are at the same time. Hibari's definitely a good choice, but I'm not gonna fret on it nearly as much. I'm not even sure if I deem myself as the type wanting to worry about finding someone to settle down. He may not be as compatible with me ... even if he'd probably be anamazingman to fuck with. Aside from him though? I got a few other friends I hang out with. They're kinda hot in their own rights, but .... we're closer. More like co-workers or colleagues than fuck buddies."
"Wow. That's ... quite the bond."
It made her think to her brother and his own Guardians. That was easily one of the few things thatdidchange; they had all gotten closer. And it was true in some senses to Tsukiko. She definitely could at leasttalkto some of them better, but for the most part, it more so applied to Tsuna given ... who he was and all. Tsukiko was this time able to quickly detect she'd zoned out and turned to apologize. However ... she couldn't help but notice that now Yuri seemed to be doing the same. She was ... staring at her.
Am I really that cute? she wondered, blushing slightly at the thought before clearing her throat.
"Heh. Oops. My turn, it seems. I think that's our cue. Maybe I should get you back. It's not like we can't arrange to meet up again, anyway. There's still two weeks of break left. We'll haveplentyof time, and this will allow me to make sure to organize my shit way better for next time."
"Sounds good. I ... sorry again."
"Nah. You were right to start getting annoyed at me. I tried to push over some personal boundaries. That's completely on me. I'm grateful you're as kind and understanding as you are; not everybody is."
The two got out of the pool and began drying off, slipping their casual outfits and shoes back on afterwards. They then wordlessly went back to the motorcycle, put their helmets on. With a simple turn of the key into the ignition, they were heading back to the Sawada residence.
"Thank you. I'll try not to be too much of a .... "
"Don't even finish that sentence, sweetie. There's no way you could start to be a burden. Honestly, I'm a bit amazed this invitation wasn't extended sooner considering your circumstances."
" ... You knew about those?" Chrome asked, blushing slightly.
"Of course. Tsuna mentioned them not too long after you joined. But at least for a bit you had somewhere to stay, so I tried to just let you handle yourself."
"Anyway, it wasn't just because Reborn invited. Things were kinda getting real awkward with Haru. She's ... ummmm .... clingy, almost possessive, when it comes to you. Then she wasn't even around much with her being in a completely different school, so I found myself being more alone than with anybody."
Nana gently rubbed Chrome's shoulders. She immediately went tense, but then practically slumped against Nana as the gesture helped calm and relax her. "There you go," Nana reassured, lightly patting Chrome. "Here. Come with me. You know how to cook, right?"
Chrome smiled as she nodded. "I kinda had to teach myself considering my ... upbringing. Or lack thereof, depending on your point of view."
"Come on, then. Tsukiko usually helps me, but since she may not be back for a bit ... and even then, I doubt she'll be in the mood to assist, so you can."
"She won't ... it won't look like I'm trying to replace her or anything, will it?"
"Not at all! If anything, she's teased about wanting a younger sister. Since you'll be with us, that's close enough for it to count."
Nana and Chrome would be just about done cooking before the door opened up. "Tadaima!" Tsukiko called back. She turned back, ready to extend an invitation to Yuri ... but she'd already dropped her off and driven quickly away.
Guess she had to get back,Tsukiko mused, slipping out of the heels and holding them in her hands, ready to take them back upstairs to her room.
gpt
"She's right, y'know" Tsuna agreed with his mother from his crouched position, rubbing the pain from his abdomen as he smiled up at Chrome Dokuro. He rubbed the back of his head when his mom revealed he'd told her, "aha... Sorry about that" Tsuna said with a slightly reddened face.
As Chrome explained her situation with Haru however, Tsuna's gaze shifted to the side. "Yeah... She can be like that.." he said a bit exasperatedly, noticing the girl's petite shoulders tense and then melt against his mom's comforting massage.
Tsuna smiled as Chrome seemed happy to be invited to cook. He took the opportunity to sneak away and wash up before dinner, coming back down in a loose white t-shirt with green shorts by the time his sister had returned.
"Hey, Tsukiko!" He greeted back as his twin sister opened the door. Tsuna smiled softly letting her pass up the stairs, it really was nice having her home and it wasn't bad at all to have Chrome around either. Tsuna imagined a peaceful breakfast with such light company and-
His thoughts were snapped out of when he walked into the kitchen to see quite a lot more people than he had anticipated.
"Hey Ten-... Neo Primo" Gokudera was sitting on the windowsill, lit cigarette in his mouth as per usual.
"Yo, Tsuna" Yamamoto, the Rain Guardian of the Vongola greeted casually from a seat at the table.
"Heeeey!!!" Ryohei called as well, the muscleheaded passionate Sun Guardian sat opposite Yamamoto, next to Lambo who had also joined them. Everyone was here except for Hibari though that was the usual.
"Everyone's here?!" Tsuna exclaimed in surprise, "h-hey" he said quickly snapping out of his shock. "Uhm... Are you sure you're okay helping prepare so much food?" He asked, suddenly feeling like they were putting her out like that to do so much work when she just got there.
"Chiaosu" Reborn greeted them all from another seat Tsuna hadn't noticed at first.
"Reborn, did you call everyone over?" Tsuna asked.
"Let's eat first" Reborn suggested nonchalantly
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda & Chrome Dokuro
Tsukiko's arms were just about to wrap around her twin and then ... voices. Thankfully, not in her head. No, no - they came from all around her. The first was Hayato's ... which, in itself, wasn't unusual. He tended to be one of the first extra guests to come over for any meal. A slight grimace appeared on Tsukiko's lips as she saw the lit cigarette in his mouth.
"Oi, Hayato. I'm glad you're at least near the window, but seriously, you know how I feel about those. Besides, they're bad for you."
"That they are!" Nana called back in agreement, leaving it only at that. If only because she heard a confirmation from one of her that child that Gokudera was at least abiding by their house rule regarding things like cigarettes. "They can ruin your sense of taste, even!" she added ... just in case he needed anymore incentive. It wasn't a secret that Hayato - all of the Guardians, really, but especially Gokudera - loved Nana's cooking.
But soon, Tsukiko would join Tsuna in seeing everyone sans Hibari had arrived. " ... You all got here quietly," she muttered, internally clicking her tongue at the absence of the Cloud Guardian. That, sadly, was another typical habit. Hibari had never been a fan of huge crowds and, in some respects, Tsukiko understood that in some respects. Prior to it becoming dangerous, Tsukiko had briefly been at Tsuna's coronation; dressed up in such an elegant manner that she purposely looked like a completely different person. Certainly not Tsuna's twin.
But then the Shimon interrupted that, and she had to be hidden away in one of the rooms ...
"Sweetie!" Nana called out, causing Tsukiko to drop her shoes near the front door and hurry into the kitchen. Nana merely nodded and smiled as her daughter began helping with the unspoken order and assisted Chrome as well as her mother with finishing up cooking.
The table would be set within ten more minutes. Chrome would sit close to Tsuna while Tsukiko was beside her mother.
Meanwhile, a bit outside of Namimori, Yuri finally arrived. An exasperated sigh resounded from her lips. It was unfortunate ... deep down, some part of her did enjoy Tsukiko's company. Unfortunately, she and the others had waited far too long. She knew where her priorities were supposed to be, and there would be no point in turning back anytime soon.
Wordlessly, she entered into the control room of the abandoned asylum and sat down in front of the monitors. She gave a loud whistle ... not really for any specific member of her family. Just someone to relay everything to. By the time they arrived, they would see Tsukiko's face as well as her school file all pulled up. Yuri gave a nod towards the monitors and smirked proudly.
"That's her. She'll be the one who joins Enma-kun soon enough. Her Flames are like his ... but not quite the same. Strong ... yet weak. Likely because she hasn't been in any actual fights like her brother. But the best approach is to wait for her to be alone in the house or out in the streets. Make it look like a group of thugs grabbed her. Her mother already knows my name and face, so if she disappeared while they knew I took her out ... "
Yuri's head shook.
"That wouldn't be good."
Yuri's hands tucked under her jaw as her grin widened. "I'm going to assume Enma's been a good boy and has been staying put in his cell, yes?"
gpt
"Tch..." Gokudera was ganged up on now, he quietly put out his cigarette even if he didn't look happy about it. He wasn't going to be disrespectful after all, and it couldn't be helped against both the Boss' momand twin sister.
"I invited them too" Reborn remarked in response to Tsukiko's comment. "Hibari was told too" he mentioned seemingly out of nowhere as if that was meant for Tsukiko, to no one else's notice.
"You called them over, Reborn?" Tsuna asked. That did make sense, it was a bit sudden that they all appeared instead of the usual commotion that brought his friends in one by one. Not to mention neither Kyoko or Haru were around either. Just what was Reborn planning?...
Tsuna's thoughts were cut off though when he smiled to Chrome as she sat next to him and his sister across. With everyone around like this it felt like home, that was usual but with Tsukiko back things really felt complete. For a moment Tsuna couldn't help smiling to his sister, daydreaming momentarily before he caught himself, shook his head, and looked to the food that was set out for them.
The spread was amazing and there was more than enough for everyone. Tsuna wondered if this was meant to celebrate Tsukiko settling in, but either way he was happy in this moment. Ryohei energetically ate his food along with some other pieces caught in his passionate frenzy, only causing Gokudera to bicker with him when some of his bites got caught up. All while Yamamoto laughed between more peacefully eating his food, entirely aloof from the heated feasting Hayato and Ryohei then started. This was the mealtime Tsuna was familiar with, and having Tsukiko there, almost nothing could be better.
The darker control room was dimly lit with low hanging lights here and there, but as the monitors flicked on the room illuminated from it leaving the rest in shadow. This included five other figures who had tasks of their own but seemed to be off of or done with them for the moment.
"Doesn't look special..." Sighed a soft male voice from the blond sitting behind a table set in one corner of the room. His looking down upon the ordinary looking girl was tangible in his voice.
Another shadow sat knees curled to his chin not having anything to contribute beyond a disinterested "hmm..." As their target was shown. This one sounded less uncaring and more worn down by the matter.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda & Chrome Dokuro
Tsukiko smiled, flashing Reborn a small but very noticeable smile at his words. "I didn't think you omitted him. That's just how he is," she whispered back. It wasn't a reply meant to be generous. That really was just how Reborn was, particularly with mafia business. No one was ever excluded, and no good reasons had come up yet, like betrayal, which was one of the few off the top of her head head that she could ever envision Reborn not inviting any of the Guardians - or anyone from the Vongola, Neo or otherwise, over.
Poor Tsukiko was trying to stay happy, but she was nervous. Everyone being gathered tended to mean something had happened. There had never been an instance everyone was at their home when it was just simply to celebrate or having fun. But Tsukikodefinitelywanted to be wrong. Still, she tried to focus on her own food and even the laughter. Out of the corner of her eye, she couldn't help but notice even Chrome looked .... pensive? Something for sure, but it made her feel better that she wasn't the only one feeling as if this wasn't just something random and happy.
Tsukiko would help Nana serve out seconds, giving herself her own portions last as she rejoined everyone. Whilst helping Nana gather the dishes to put into the dishwasher, she gave a nod upstairs towards Tsuna's room ... silently asking if that was where she needed to go after finishing up cleaning. The sight of some of the Guardians already heading there was all she needed to see. She then held up three then five fingers, signaling that'd be about how long she would take.
Yuri quickly spun around in the chair, her eyes going from calm and content to narrowed and pissed off.
" .... Are you two serious with me right now?"
Her fists tightly clenched ... then slammed against the armrest of the chair.
"LEADER-SAMA WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IF THEY HEARD YOU SOUNDING THIS NON-CARING! I MAY NOT BE THE DEFACTO OR EVEN THE RIGHT-HAND, BUT COME THE FUCK ON!"
Scoffing in disdain, Yuri took a few moments to close her eyes and regain her composure. Her head tilted back as she took several long, deep breaths ... moving her arms in front of her chest and crossing them. Clearly still upset, but revealing she was more tolerable when Yuri spoke up again. "Okay ... I can't argue that, yes, she doesn'tlookspecial. But that's exactly why they have the proverb about not judging anything by its cover. Besides ... Enma doesn't look overly special at a first glance, does he? And yet, look how that turned out. Also ... don't ignore my questions on him. We can't afford to lose him. There's probably already been some missing persons report on him; if he gets out and runs his mouth, that could lead toactualtrouble, and last I checked, we don't want that do we? Now .... try replying to me again, and please do smarter."
"If either of you want to go to the school when the break rolls around, you can. But excuse me if I remind you all that the reasonIwent is because I'm one of the better among us when it comes tosensing auras and Flames."
"Age too," came a much calmer - even colder some would argue - voice asHitsukiwalked into view. "It is true, however, that some of us could pass off as students or even teachers."
"Thank you ... thank fuck."
"That being said, Yuri-san .... chill. That temper isn't going to get you anywhere."
" .... Then you talk to these idiots before I completely lose it." Yuri muttered as she pivoted and turned back around in the chair. Instead of listening to her words, Hitsuki glanced up at the monitor, stared at the picture and file, before speaking up again. "Do you have some ... reassurance that this is the right person we need to go after?"
"Actually, yes. And it took me a hell of a while to get access to these. Someone clearly was trying to keep them hidden, though considering what they have, it's no surprise why."
A proud smirk appeared back on Yuri's face as she quickly entered some commands into the keyboard. A video began to play and soon ... they found themselves staring at the battles from The Ring Conflict. Tsuna versus Xanxus was currently playing. Yuri nodded to his face while the fight continued to play on.
"That's his twin brother. Like I said, I've met the family, though more so the mother. But I have seen for myself in class this is indeed Dame No Tsuna .... though the 'Dame' part seems to have at least faded if not outright disappeared."
And just in case the others weren't sold on this idea yet, Yuri huffed and finally got to her point, "If he's really the one who won the Ring Conflict, then does he not have a link to the Vongola? Which means, by default, Tsukiko has them as well as a good chance of possessing powerful Flames also."
gpt
Reborn's expression remained knowingly oblivious in response to Tsukiko, a special look that only he had that simultaneously looked as if he was hilariously completely removed from the situation and as if he knew the answer to every question you could ask - even if he wouldn't answer them.
Tsuna was one of the last to notice everyone funneling into his room. Gokudera and Ryohei were obvious about it as noisy as they could be but appeared as if they were going to go to the bathroom or anything but meeting. Yamamoto laughed light heartedly as he went up the stairs as if he was instructed and going along with it. It wasn't until only Tsuna and Chrome were left at the table with his mother and Tsukiko cleaning up that he realized they were much more alone than before, including Reborn who was nowhere to be seen. This made Tsuna nervous.
"Aha... Should uhm, should we go up?" He asked, face reddening a bit at the idea of inviting Chrome up to his room so personally.
Heading upstairs and into Tsuna's room, everyone was gathered around the Room with Reborn in the center mid way through pointing up at a large decorated sign inexplicably now hung up on his wall. The sign read in big bold letters: "Neo Vongola Primo Famiglia Guardians' Training Program To Become Neo Vongola Famiglia".
"Ack! What does that mean?!" Tsuna jumped back as Tsukiko joined them upstairs, 'and why is the same so redundant?!'He thought to himself loudly. "I told you I'm not part of this!" He complained, a complaint that was promptly ignored as Reborn went on.
"It means you'll all be taking intensive training competitions with one another" Reborn answered as if that were a completely normal thing to say. "Specifically.... You, Tsuna" he clarified ominously.
"Me?! 'Me' what?! What are you trying to make me do this time Reborn?!" Tsuna frantically asked.
Reborn tipped his hat up in a serious manner with a slight smirk. "You're going to face off with each of your Guardians in tests of my choosing" explained Reborn.
Tsuna's eyes shot to everyone around the room. Gokudera was giving Tsuna a thumbs up looking as if he couldn't be happier for the opportunity. Ryohei stood up, "alllll right! We're gonna compete to the extreme!!!" He declared, clearly without knowing all the details yet. Yamamoto flashed an agreeable grin, seeming to not take it seriously as per usual.
"Not yet" Reborn calmed everyone down. "You wont actually know when and what you'll be doing, that will come as a surprise" he told everyone.
Everyone jumped to varying degrees when Yuri belted out.
"Hmph!" The blond namedAkioscoffed, turning up his nose, a glint of his longer left earing shone from the light of the monitors. "Of course Icare,and that's exactly why some pipsqueak flames simply wont do" he explained rather haughtily. "Flames should be brilliant and bright.... All the rest should just be extinguished" he spoke with an exasperated huff as he talked down to the very idea of flames not good enough for what they needed.
"We haven't even figured out Enma's..." Akio added before his green eyes shot back to Yuri, "which yes, are still in there, with him, like you assumed" he sassed. He seemed more confident of their methods than Yuri who was clearly being more careful.
"He wont be going anywhere..." The softer, more reserved voice ofToumaassured. Though his headphones rested around his neck over his longer messy brown hair, the light sound of his music could be heard subtly from them if one listened.
Akio and Touma seemed too above the matter and unenthused respectively when Yuri brought up them going around the school to help scout. Luckily Hitsuki intercepted the conversation in general as well as tried to calm Yuri.
They all watched the footage Yuri had scrounged up, but even knowing the flames of the Vongola's Tenth Boss would be greater than this by now closer to Enma's, Akio seemed not too impressed. "If she can't actually produce them too, she's a waste like the rest" scoffed Akio, referring to the many failures and missteps it took to get where they were now with their current target.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
"Y-yes ... I suppose we should ..." Chrome nodded in agreement, her heart beating a bit. In truth, she'd been inside while Tsuna had been out. However, now that she was about to go in with him ... that held a different feeling. Granted, the others were around, so it wasn't as embarrassing or intimate ... but it still lingered even as she entered.
Chromealmostdidn't notice the sign. It wouldn't be until she heard a "Really?!" from behind her and then watched Tsukiko pivot on her feet and go into her room, clearly looking upset as she shut her door, the click indicating she locked it.ThenChrome looked over to where everyone else was looking ... and couldn't help but feel a bit guilty.
"Reborn ... does it really have to be done during the summer break of all times? I'm not saying no, but ... now?"
A faint smile appeared on Tsukiko's face as she heard that much. But before she could hear too much more, she put the same earbuds that had been in her ears back in place. Tears slowly began to fall down her face. This was bullshit. He'd technically already done everything he needed to as far as she was concerned. From beating literally any and everyone who attempted to defy Tsuna to even having his coronation.
It was days like today where Tsukikoreallywished Reborn had never come into her brother's life. She hadn't just missed two years of her life, but adolescence, by having to be hidden away constantly on a frequent basis. Even if she didn't have to hide again, just knowing Tsuna would be busy until school started made her disheartened to say the least.
Yuri let out an exasperated sigh as she shook her head, getting very quickly - and visibly - more frustrated. But at least as she spoke up, her tone indicated she wastryingto remain calm. "I don't get you guys sometimes," she muttered, rubbing her forehead before continuing, "Yes, no shit. That's exactly why we sell anyone not worthy off."
It had definitely earned them a decent profit, but it also caused their search in freeing their true leader to take a while. Longer than Yuri, in particular, wanted. Thankfully, it hadn't been the absolute longest duration they had Enma in their custody. It was enough that there was no doubt a missing person's report, yes ... but that in itself was - for Yuri - one of the main concerns. People were probably still looking. No one likely got disheartened enough to quit looking.
"Hence my point. Why is she different than Enma save for the confirming of her Flames, hmm?Hedoesn't look any better than herself, and yet, we've seen what he possesses. Evenfeltbriefly until that collar was snapped around his neck."
"He's still trying to fight, of course ... but Touma's otherwise correct. Enma's still in his place."
Yuri didn't even need to look over, but she did ... and quickly confirmed Yukiko had finally spoken up. "Hmmm? Are you unsatisfied with me hinting I'm here?"
"More like whoisn'there," Yuri snapped, not bothering to be subtle about being annoyed the defacto leader was, once again, absent.
"That's how they've always been," Hitsuki reminded Yuri, who shook her head quickly in annoyance.
"We're trying to get everything back to normal. If anything, they should be here for things like this. Now then ...." Yuri glanced between Akio and Touma before sighing, "You two should be lucky I might not be able to drag you out next time. A woman's touch might be better, anyway. She seemed to speak with women easier."
This caused Yuri to turn to Yukiko, who slyly smirked. "What? You look as if I'm not going to behave."
"You don't usually."
"I can when the situation calls for it. Besides, you're not gonna tell me you yourself were on your best; at least not without some naughty thoughts going through your head during that meeting."
Yuri now mirrored Yukiko in smirking as she shrugged, "Guilty enough, I suppose. No, but fucking seriously. Appearances don't mean shit. If we relied solely onthatfor the end call, we'd take even longer than we already are. I have half a mind to drag one of you two along anyway, just because. I've been the one doing all these fucking errands. Ican'tbe the only one just because I'm attending the damn school."
" .. In some respects, she is correct, Akio and Touma. In fact, everyone else here at the moment is a valid option save me. And the answer to why is my age. I'm post-high school at twenty. There'd have to be a legitimate reason, or lie, why I accompany any of you."
Everyone understood well enough where Hitsuki was going with his words and nodded.
"Normally, I'd be game to accompany Yuri-san, buuuuut .... I've been keeping the brat - and the rest of us - fed. So I need to stay behind for that."
Yuri clicked her tongue, having seemed to temporarily forget that it was indeed Yukiko who had been handling the cooking. Or ordering out if shereallydidn't feel like making anything. Regardless, that was a point ... and a really good reason that she had to choose someone else.
"Well then ... Akio .... Touma ... one of you damn well better man up. Fortunately, you both have time, considering the next meeting probably won't happen until a few more days. But I expect one of you to come to me and willingly agree to help me out. Otherwise, I'm picking one of you and dragging you out, end of story." Yuri would stick around long enough to hear their last words, complaints, whatever they had. But after hearing them, she went off to her room, getting into a shower to rinse the chlorine out of her hair.
gpt
Tsuna felt the same, and wished he could do the same and just walk out. They really were twins, but Tsukiko's reason was more deeply seeded, more than just Tsuna's lack of ambition to do anything but live life at his own pace. Still he related, "see?!" Tsuna tried to reason but Reborn just ignored him for Chrome's concern.
"Nope. It's not something that can wait this time" Reborn answered nonchalantly. There was a lot of meaning behind his words however; after all when had he ever let Tsuna 'wait' on one of Reborn's wild tests and tribulations? Yet this time was the something that 'could not wait'. Tsuna never picked up this kind of thing but there was an air of seriousness to the seemingly tone deaf answer. Reborn was more determined this time even if one wouldn't be able to read it from his oblivious expression.
"Gah!" Tsuna spun around and nearly ran into Chrome but stopped just short. "O-oh! Uhm... S-sorry I didn't mean to... let me just..." Tsuna meant to storm out but of course he ended up awkwardly shifting around Chrome. He hadn't thought of it until he was right up near her face but Tsuna hadn't actually been this close to Chrome, ever. Clearing his throat and shifting away, Tsuna exited the room and went down the hall.
Both Hayato and Ryohei could be a bit dense and so with the commotion being something they were far too used to they continued on their blabbering - Gokudera picking for details from Reborn, anything to help the Boss, that Reborn wouldn't give, while Ryohei was too wrapped up in the contest.
"I hope she's alright" Yamamoto said with a sweat drop at his brow and a light smile, being the one to notice yet as usual not being able to see the seriousness in her feelings.
Tsuna took a breath once he was finally out and away from the crowded room. He went over to Tsukiko's door and knocked softly, "Tsukiko?" He asked familiarly, concern in his voice.
"Tch... To more dim, flameless lowlifes..." Akio retorted with a hint of the same disdain as someone with a lesser flame as he assumed the target to be.
In a way Akio was right to be exasperated, they all were in their own ways. It had been a long road here and with every failed experiment or kidnapping it put them in more and more danger. Every instance was a risk to be discovered early, and though Akio was a snob about this, he did care enough to be tired of such unworthy prospects, rather than excited to burn them away.
When the options boiled down to the two of them, Akio put his hands on his head and fell back onto the beat up couch dragged into there. "I'm not going" he said snobbishly.
"I don't mind, Yuri-San..." Touma spoke up softly, she was right he had nothing better to do. Besides, Touma would rather have been out helping the family anyway than waiting around. It made him feel not so useful, a bit of a harsh work ethic that Akio lacked entirely.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
Chrome rose an eyebrow, looking more than slightly worried at the response. "Why? Is there something we should know about?"
That had to be it, right? The reason they were all here. It was the logical explanation and yet, much like Tsukiko deduced, there was one huge problem with Reborn's words. There was no one left to worry about. All of the threats that had originally been a concern years ago ... dealt with in some form or fashion. Admittedly, for at least a good chunk of last year, even Chrome had been a bit worried on another coup happening. She had half-expected Xanxus to refuse to accept the verdict ... and had been pleasantly surprised when no moves were made.
So ... was this their signal that was no longer the case?
Perhaps worse than hearing Reborn's adamant stance, though, was seeing Tsukiko's reaction to the sign. Tsuna had insisted she wouldn't be a burden, but ...
"O-oh! No problem!" Tsuna would see Chrome manage to offer him a gentle smile before carefully moving aside. Suddenly, she felt horrible about staying here in some respects. Mainly because Tsukiko barely had been able to make up for the constant absences. And it was becoming more and more clear that it was becoming more difficult for her to better accept her brother almost literally getting dragged away from her.
She couldn't necessarily relate given her own family had been ... crappy to say the least. But Chrome herselfhadlearned to treasure everything that came off as precious, because it could just as quickly disappear in the blink of an eye. And with Tsukiko's happiness and even some of her sanity disappearing after each time something had to come up ... she couldn't help but feel bad.
"I honestly don't think so, Takeshi. We've been making her go through this exact same sorta thing the past two years now. Everyone has their limit with patience ..."
Tsukiko wouldn'thearTsuna. Sense, however, was another story. They always fit the stereotypes of twins and everything that came with them, from being able to feel one another's emotions, be it pain, happiness, or something else altogether to severely disliking separation. Tsukiko had put up with it simply because it wasn't wrong to say she didn't want to get hurt.
But if things hadn't changed over two years, they never would. That was what her gut was telling her, anyway.
Tsuna would first hear a few sniffles before the door finally unlocked. The earbuds had been taken out and were laying on her bed. Tear-stricken cheeks would be the first thing Tsuna would see before Tsukiko looked right into her brother's eyes. "Is there really no way I can be your Guardian? Or at least someone who does more than just watch from the goddamned side? I can't .... I can't do this all over again. I refuse to ... if you have to take over, fine. But I can't just donothing. Besides ...."
Her head lowered as she stared at the floor, teeth gritted tightly and her fists clenched just as firmly.
"You may have succeeded in keeping me safe so far ... and I do appreciate that. Truly. But what about you keeping yourself?! What the hell happens if one of these days someone finally ... ??"
Even though the words trailed off in a shaky tone, Tsuna could piece where she was going with that thought well enough. Her legs began to shake and it looked like she was about to outright collapse on the floor soon. She was forcing herself at this rate through sheer willpower, "Am I supposed to just ... take over? Accept that outcome?! What then?!"
Her head shook as she looked back up to Tsuna, "I couldn't live with that ... not being able to help you and just ... "
The tears began to fall again, but she didn't hide them. As someone who had been forced to do exactly that the past two years, Tsukiko was very much done with continuing to keep things concealed. And honestly, it felt good to let them out. Granted, she doubted Tsuna would feel overly great seeing her like this ... and she certainly wasn't intending to guilt trip him or anything of the like. But she was done being silent, too.
Touma would catch a glimpse of an appreciative smile before she got out of sight. "At least one of them's a good boy," she muttered to herself upon entering her room, closing the door. Her clothes were peeled off and tossed into her makeshift hamper. After grabbing a new outfit, she then walked to the adjacent bathroom in her bedroom and turned the shower on. A soft sigh mixed with a groan elicited as water began to cascade down every inch of her body.
Meanwhile, Yukiko lightly tapped her fingers against the chair she'd been sitting in before slowly standing up. Hitsuki's head tilted as he noted her moving. He didn't need to voice his question out loud; Yukiko could practically see it written all over his face.
"It's been long enough. I'm gonna see if Enma-kun is ready to be a bit more nice now."
"You want me to make sure he doesn't do anything rash?"
"I'm not a frail flower, but thank you. Besides, it's like they said," she nodded to Akio and Touma to indicate who 'they' meant, "He's not going anywhere. I've been making damn sure of that myself."
After seeing Hitsuki nod, Yukiko excused herself and sauntered through the halls of the mostly empty asylum. She went to the holding cell area. It was easy enough to find Enma - not only because he was the only prisoner, but due to the state she left him in. His entire cell was coated inside and outside in snow. The heat had been kept off, so the only warmth he had to rely on was himself.
There was, however, a plus side to his situation. He had been left with clothes on. Also, the snow was falling slowly. Akin to if this were a Chinese water torture technique. It at least gave him time to try to get warm and ignore the snow. But definitely not escape.
His collar doubled as a shackle, and was secured to the wall. His legs were attached with their own set of manacles, ensuring that he couldn't run on the off-chance he did somehow get the collar undone.
The door sounded as if it groaned as Yukiko slowly opened it and walked inside, kneeling down and grabbing a fistful of his hair to make him look into her crimson eyes. "So? Ready to tell me more about your Flames yet? Or should I start making things .... less pleasant to deal with, hmm? I don'thaveto feed you. I don'thaveto let you have any of those clothes. All things considered, we've beenverygenerous. But patience ... can only last for so long. So do yourself a favor. Talk to me."
The briefest of pauses lingered in the air before she smirked at him and added on, "Unless .... we should just start looking into your own comrades. They'd probably get sold off unless weneedtheir Flames, but I'm sure they'd talk ... just to hope and pray about getting you free. I'm sure there's at leastonewho would gladly cooperate. There's always one ... and I'm confident enough to say that even your family is no exception."
All the while, Yukiko forced Enma to keep looking at her ... trying to look for a read, to see if he ever reacted in a way that indicated her threat was right. Eyes were, as the saying went, windows to the soul. So what easier way to figure out how to get him to tick and start talking than seeing what made him even remotely terrified? It made sense that since he was trying to hold out for himself ... then safety for someone else would do the trick.
gpt
A bubble would appear floating from Reborn's nose as he retained his blank stare, not answering anything further. Though the matter was interrupted anyway.
Yamamoto gave a slack frown of worry, not sure what to make of that answer. Well, Tsuna was going to go talk to her and it was probably best not to interfere with that. He just had to trust the Boss here, even if that didn't simply erase all concern.
Tsuna's eyes softened in wide concern as Tsukiko's met his. How could Reborn say something like that...
What he wanted to say was that he didn't want Guardians at all, he never asked for any of this and for the first time it was really hurting someone in his life besides himself. Of course officially his Guardians were set. There were others in the Mafia besides them and the entire Vongola family otherwise, but how was he supposed to endorse his sister getting involved in that stuff when he still felt he shouldn't have to?
Tsuna's brows arched in worry as Tsukiko looked down, before declaring how worried she was for him. As she started to shake, Tsuna could do nothing more than wrap his arms around his sister and pull her tight to him.
As Tsukiko started to cry into him, Tsuna could only think of one thing to say.
"Reborn... Won't let that happen..." Tsuna spoke up. 'Did I really just say that?!' He thought to himself immediately. It was such a confident answer out of nowhere. Sure he could have told Tsukiko her big brother was the strongest and he wouldn't let anything happen to him or her, but they both knew that he didn't believe that, that he was always just as freaked out as ever of what was going on around him. Reborn on the other hand always got him mixed up in insane things, but... The way Tsukiko just told him all he had been through and how much worry it was, they had all been through a lot and somehow he was still here. That was because of Reborn.
Somehow, some way, no matter how close things came, Reborn always made sure they got out one way or another. Subconsciously he knew this, and it brought forth an answer confident enough to voice. That he did actually trust Reborn, even if he didn't always realize it.
It was a sorry sight. Enma Kozato sat up slumped in his cold cell.
The redheaded Tenth Boss of the Simon family had been being held by these people, the strange cold power weathering him down ever so slowly. He'd of course already tried many times to use his flames. It wouldn't directly do any good but the pressure of gravity, or even just moving his own flames, anything to circulate heat. Problem was, doing so only seemed to make things worse. This snow wasn't normal, it didn't fall like regular snow or melt into water. When the flakes hit it felt less like it was cold and more like heat was being drained from him, and Dying Will Flames only seemed to exacerbate the process.
When his straight red hair was gripped roughly, Enma tried not to but couldn't help groan softly from the sudden pain agitated further by the cold. His red eyes shook in trying to focus through his shivering.
"Nhh..." Enma gritted his teeth softly, "what... The hell do you want..." Enma was never the most threatening person but in his state even his demand sounded more like begging. It was to this statement Yukiko began to tell him exactly what they didn't have to do for him. Sure, generous, but Enma didn't even have the strength to voice that sarcastically.
After a pause Yukiko mentioned his family. "Ngh... Don't you dare..." It was one of the few things that could get Enma fired up. "They're... Better than me anyway... You can't get them.." His breathing was slow and shuddered but his anger still shook through. If there was one thing Enma had confidence in it was his comrades, even if he couldn't muster it in himself.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
Chrome let out a soft sigh as she quietly sat down. She knew and understood what that bubble meant -- Reborn was officially asleep. And much like the form he had, he did indeed sleep very deeply, as if he truly were an infant. Of course, she knew better. They all did. But right now, it seemed like they would have to wait ... and at this rate for both Reborn to wake up and Tsuna to return. Which would happen first? Chrome had a guess, but even she wasn't completely sure.
Tsukiko's head shook as she returned the embrace, pulling Tsuna tightly against her. "That's not good enough! Look at everything that alreadydidhappen! Mukuro controlled most of everyone at least once! Even Hibari was at least incapacitated and captured, and ... that's insane to think about! No one was supposed to be able to dispute you becoming Juudaime, but Varia showed up and damn well nearly killed everyone! And then ... the future! You weredead there! How many of those things did Reborn stop?!"
It was rhetorical, of course. And probably felt a bit like a slap to Tsuna, but unfortunately, it was one of the few ways Tsukiko could think to get her point across.
"And then mom ... she nearly got hurt by those stupid mafia police ... how many more, Tsuna? How many more close calls do we have to endure? How much longer do I really have to just watch? I may not like it, but I'm linked to this family too. My connection to the Ichidaime exists also; it can't just skip me because of some petty reason. I know you didn't want this."
The smallest of smiles appeared on her face as she chuckled softly.
"I've lost track of how many times I've heard you say that. But ... you've had your coronation and everything already. So ... if this has to happen ... don't just make me keep watching. Please ...."
Finally, Tsukiko allowed herself to fall to her knees. Not from exhaustion ... but genuinely looking up and allowing Tsuna to see how serious she was with her own devotion and resolve. She was literallybegginghim to let her do more than observe from afar. Her eyes remained staring into the matching orange orbs as she held shakily onto her brother's hands.
She wouldn't like it if he still said no after this ... but the painful truth was Tsukiko knew and understood there was little she could do in the first place. Much as she hated it, supporting her brother was one of the few things she could begin doing at all. And if that was all she was destined to do ... she would. A bit bitterly - mainly at Reborn - but she'd do it all the same.
Yukiko chuckled as Enma attempted to muster some bravado. It was clearly false ... or at least half-assed. But it was cute in its own rights. Her left hand tightened, keeping a firm grip on the red locks as her right rose ... and gently landed on Enma's cheek. Effectively giving him a bit of pain and pleasure ... even if he didn't want either side of the coin, so to speak.
There we are,Yukiko noted, finally seeingsomethingget a reaction from Enma. The snow made him cold, of course. But he had been fighting against that despite having no real way to keep himself as warm as he could do so under more typical circumstances. And he had definitely held his tongue a lot better ... before now, that is.
Now, though ... she was finally getting somewhere.
"Is that one person a woman by chance? Someone you love, maybe?"
Her hand lowered from Enma's cheek and lightly traced the collar adorning his neck.
"Would she look as good as you with this on? Better, perhaps? Would you like to see her have one, hmm? If not ... if you want to save her or any of them .... keep talking. You don't have our Flames, so what are yours? Yuri-san has already found out about who our next guest will be .... but I can see about having her find your precious friends. Or ..."
Reaching back, Yukiko dug into the pocket of her pants .... and finally pulled out something that Enma hadn't seen in a while. In fact, he may have forgotten he had it on him. It was his cell phone.
"I can just always see about calling them. The signal's not the best, admittedly, but it'll be enough to get a hold of someone. Let's see ..."
Flipping it open while simultaneously keeping it out of Enma's reach, Yukiko continued maintaining her grip on his hair. "Adelheid? That who I should give a call? It's the only real feminine name I'm seeing so .... I think it is."
The tone was confident and very sing-song in nature. Not completely cocky, though it did get as close to that as humanly possible.
gpt
Tsuna couldn't really say anything to that. All of these dangerous things did happen, she was right about that. What did exactly Reborn stop? Well... In a way all of it, in a way they were all here because of the efforts and forced training of Reborn. How could Tsuna word such a thing though when even he himself didn't realize it fully?
Before he could muster an answer however, Tsukiko got to her point, so strongly expressing her feelings that she collapsed to the floor. Her hands slipped into Tsuna's and he gripped back as she grabbed them. He was shocked, not so much at how she felt but that she felt so strongly about helping. It was a feeling he could relate to, he thought back to the many times he just couldn't stand to see someone get hurt or hurt others. How powerless he felt during those times due to his own lack of power but here Tsukiko, who was better than Tsuna at pretty much everything, was being held back by his status as well as Reborn and the Family it seemed.
All Tsuna could do was slowly look down to his sister and nod softly. "I... I don't know what I can do but... When it's up to me, I wont make you sit back" he told her. The unfortunate truth was Tsuna wasn't sure if it would ever be up to him. Sure he was going to be the Boss, despite his protests, but he never made the call to hide Tsukiko away or keep her out of the fights in the first place, only agreed before slowly coming to realize the feelings that he understood now.
Enma flinched as her hand approached, but a weak gasp shuddered from his lips as it touched his cheek gently. The pull of his hair stung but the soft skin against his cheek was warm, warmth being something he hadn't experienced in days now. Enma felt sickened by the way he couldn't help but lean into it, both from her firm grip and his inability to pull away, but also because he was weak... Too weak to go without the warmth that he would slowly die without.
"Tch..." Enma scoffed out as Yukiko toyed at the collar around his neck. When Yukiko continued, Enma mustered the smallest smirk, "we don't have one of those..." He referred to the notion that one of them would crack. When Yukiko mentioned a lover however, his eyes couldn't help but flash with a hint of anger as he figured already where his captor was heading with this.
"What... Flames...?" Enma lied, and poorly at that. That was when Yukiko retrieved something he recognized... His phone?!
"Hey!" Enma almost shouted, barely able to push out a yelp through his shivering voice. Immediately he settled down, "it's... It's not me you have to worry about if you mess with her..." Enma threatened. He had a lot more confidence in his Famiglia than he did himself it seemed.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
" .... Is it not technically up to you at this moment?! Aren't you official if only ...."
But Tsukiko stopped in midsentence, an exasperated sigh leaving her lips. She was exhausted, fed up, frustrated .... ready for whenever thiswouldbecome official to just finally happen. Her hand wove dismissively through the air as she turned around and got back on her bed. "It doesn't matter right now. Even if you let me somehow help, I can't now. Just .... go on. They're waiting on you anyway, aren't they?"
She wasn't necessarily trying to take her emotions out directly on Tsuna ... but he was the only one around at the moment. Worse off, had just about anyone else come over and attempted to speak with her, there was a good chance Tsukiko may not have even talked back as much, if at all. So even if she was coming off a bit harsh, this was - in its own rights - the best case scenario, not worse like it might be sounding.
By the time Tsuna went back to his room, everyone else was gone. Even Reborn had seemed to wake up and moved ... who knew exactly where. Either way, only Chrome was sitting in his room. Right beside his bed, to be more precise. "We agreed that since Reborn wasn't in the mood to elaborate, we'd meet up later."
The other thing Tsuna would perhaps finally take note of - even if it required him to do a bit of a double take - was Chrome herself. Gone was the outfit he'd seen her in. Now, she was in asilk nightgown. Tinges of crimson painted her cheeks when she noticed his gaze looking at her new wardrobe.
"It's ... not too much, is it?"
Each and every single movement that Yukiko noticed from Enma was noticed. From the way he tried to avoid her hand to him quickly leaning into it. Her tongue lightly danced around her lips. Even if the boy seemed confident in his comrades ... he himself was steadily caving in and ready to give up. He needed a bit more ... just another few good pushes. So the real question ... was how to go about that?
Her head lowered as she stared down at the name "Adelheid" reflecting in her crimson eyes. There were tons of options and, unlike Enma, everyone here had the ability to freely move. They also had time and, above all else, the ability to use their own Flames.
"Hmmmm ...." she mused, her fingernail lightly tapping against Enma's phone.
"To call or no?"
It wasn't just whether to make the call she was considering. It was whether to bother doing so in front of Enma. Sometimes, it wasn't what youcouldsee happening that could make a person terrified, but what theycouldn'tsee. Although the Veleno's specialty was trafficking, most of them had other knowledges that could be useful. Anatomy and Psychology were two in particular, and Yukiko had learned both of those; mainly because she was one of the primary interrogators.
"You don't have anyone who'd crack that easy? Are you sure? Then .... either they're shitty trackers, or they've given up on you completely. Such a sad family you have."
All the while, Yukiko's gaze had stayed focused on the phone. Trying to determine the best course of action. Finally, it came to her. She first took a moment to memorize Adelheid's number .... and then .... without much of any warning.
CRASH!
She threw the phone to the ground, smirking at Enma. "We'll get in touch onourterms. Plain and simple. That's the best compromise, I'd say. Okay. If you're going to keep being a brat ... then I hope you enjoyed that last meal. Nothing else for the rest of the day, and maybe not even breakfast. Youwillstart learning to appreciate everything we give you ... one way or another. We hold all the cards at the moment, not you. You'd do well to remember this. One way or another, through your comrades or yourself, one of youwillfill in the blanks for us about those odd Flames. It's just a matter of when, not if. For now though ...."
Yukiko finally pivoted on her heels, walking out of the cell and re-locking it. Enma would be left alone to his thoughts ... and the now shattered remains of his cell phone, maybe even a bit of pride and stubbornness also as the cold continued to wrap around him like an unwanted, very weighted blanket.
gpt
Tsuna sighed, he couldn't really fault his sister for that, but still he thought it was obvious that someone like him shouldn't be calling the shots. Not to mention that Reborn did in this matter anyway, but that was frustrating in of itself.
"Yeah..." Tsuna started to back out of the door.
"Tsukiko?" He then stopped for a moment, only his head poking in the door. "Thanks" he told her before closing it behind him, he was grateful his sister wanted to protect him.
Heading back to his room he was relieved that it sounded quiet. "Oh!" Tsuna answered when Chrome told him they all split off for now, "that makes the most sen-....".
Tsuna froze solid as he noticed Chrome left in his room. "Ch-Ch-Chrome!" The boy stuttered as his eyes widened, not able to take themselves off of her attire. He couldn't help but notice her frame, how small the girl was. The purple gown she wore hung over Chrome's tiny shoulders, whereas the shape of her smaller chest could be made out vaguely.
As she worried it was too much, Tsuna threw up his hands. "N-no not at all!" He answered. Crap... Maybe he had sounded a bit to excited about that. "I'm.. Just uh... Surprised, don't worry about it, really! I mean... Why would you worry? It's not like uhm... Anyway" Tsuna cut himself of from rambling on too much longer but another thought crossed his mind. That meant Chrome had to have changed right?In his room. Was Chrome Dokuro naked in his own room?! The thought alone nearly made his nose bleed but he grabbed it before hand as his face reddened.
Enma couldn't deny that this group was hard to find. Even he had no real bearing of where he was outside of this cell. He couldn't blame anyone for not coming to his rescue yet, and even then he was more afraid what would happen if they did come to fight.
The redhead stayed quiet as Yukiko mused over herself until she insulted his family. Less so out of being that easily riled up and more out of beginning to miss the quiet from before. "You... Like to t-tal-" Enma shivered through his words but flinched as he was cut off by the sound of his broken phone.
They already weren't feeding him the best anyway, he didn't need their so called hospitality at the cost of his friends. That much the usually more unsure young man knew. Still he was too tired to egg her on any more, but he kept in mind the last important information he could gather at the moment.
These people, whoever they were, didn't know about the Dying Will Flames of the Earth. Enma needed to keep that from changing for as long as he could.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
By the time Tsukiko's door was closed, she got up. Honestly, she was restless and didn't really feel like sleeping much. But she knew she needed to try. So, unbeknownst to her, she ended up mirroring Chrome in appearance ... at least to some degrees. Same type of wardrobe, but in a light baby blue color. She slid back under the covers of her bed, turning her lights off before doing so.
Sure enough, she could feel it. The last thing Tsukiko felt was physically tired. It was all way more on an emotional level than much else. She grabbed her phone .... and then set it down. She'd wanted to text someone ... just about anyone, really, but who was she kidding? She wasn't as close to the Guardians as Tsuna ... and the only one she'd want to try getting a hold of ... well ....
That really was a pipe dream. Her crush on Hibari wasalmostas sad as Tsuna's with Kyoko. The biggest difference? She hadn't been holding onto those feelings for nearly as long, definitely not the second grade.
Besides, I doubt any of the Guardians like you intimately ...
An exasperated sigh pierced through the otherwise empty room. It was ironic, if not a bit saddening, that despite being in her own house .... Tsukiko felt so very, very alone. It was one of the worst feelings in the world. A few more tears fell down her face as she locked her phone and closed her eyes, not knowing what else to do except cry herself to sleep.
And the moment even Chrome barely caught the sounds of Tsukiko sobbing, she immediately felt even worse. The arrangement had been for her to literally sleep with Tsuna; not necessarily for intimate purposes, but because there weren't any spare bedrooms. Now though ... itreallydidn't seem like the best move to make. Her head bowed as a slight frown appeared on the Mist Guardian's face.
"Maybe .... I can take the couch?" she offered, giving a nod towards Tsukiko's room to indicate where this came from in case he hadn't yet heard his sister and just how upset she clearly was.
"So? How'd it go?" Yuri had long since finished up with her shower and was sitting on her bed as Yukiko walked in after finishing up her chat with Enma. Yukiko's hand tilted ... although the same smug grin she'd been wearing reappeared soon enough.
"It wasn't perfect, mind you, but I definitely got a good lead. We'll get a hold of her tomorrow."
As Yuri's eyebrows rose, Yukiko elaborated, "One of his comrades. Some Aldeheid person. But if she truly is a lover ... hedidreact when I brought that up, so ... likely is. And because of that, she'll talk for him ... hopefully. I may need you or one of the others around when I make that call. Help ... persuade her to speak and fill in the blanks for us. You get my drift."
"Mhm, I do. This must be a hell of a lead, though. You don't typically like having any of us help you out or, at that rate,needus."
Yukiko nonchalantly shrugged. "This is an exception. Nothing more, nothing less. Either way, Enma's barely hanging onto keeping his Flames hidden from us, and there's a good chance we may not have to wait much longer for him if this goes well enough. It'll depend if this Adelheid will actuallythinkabout what she says or not. Shemightbe smart enough to hold her tongue ... but I'm hoping she won't. Just because Icando these tasks .... it does steadily get a bit tiring. It's literallybecausewe need Enma he hasn't been sold off or even outright killed yet."
Yuri nodded, giving Yukiko an understanding look.
"I get it. Really, I do. That's why we're all on edge and frustrated."
"Thank goodness we have a bit of a solution for that, huh?" Yukiko quipped, lightly rubbing Yuri's leg, earning a soft moan.
"Teasing bitch. It did take you long enough. Get over here." Not really waiting for her, Yuri tugged Yukiko down, beginning to make out with her. They didn't necessarily keep what they had a secret. In fact, they did sometimes mess around with the others. Hitsuki knew this all too well, as he'd been the first guy both women had been with.
Still, it wasn't something they outright boasted about either. Not because of shame, but not everyone needed to know. Even if less so if they were the only ones in the mood which at least seemed to be the case at that moment.
Clothes began to litter the floor as they stripped one another, another groan resounding as the two went from simply making out to being more feisty with one another.
gpt
Tsuna shook his head waving his hands more frantically now. "N-n-no please don't worry" Tsuna said nervously, "I can take the couch" he offered. "I mean... I've slept there a hundred times I'm sure and you're the guest you should have a bed and..." Tsuna cut himself off from rambling on too much longer. "Please take my bed" Tsuna said politely as he gathered up a spare blanket.
"Please make yourself comfortable" Tsuna said as he gave a light, somewhat awkward bow in overpolite fashion. Quickly he excused himself from the room and headed downstairs. To his surprise however, the couch was occupied.
"Seriously?!" Tsuna exclaimed to himself as he saw Reborn sleeping on the couch.
"Die..." Reborn mumbled under the bubble coming from his nose as he pulled a gun seemingly out of nowhere and aimed for Tsuna threateningly.
"What kind of sleep talking is that?!" Tsuna shouted before covering his mouth. Looked like squeezing into the couch on the other side of him was out of the question
Wandering back into his room nervously, Tsuna sort of hoped Chrome could have somehow fallen asleep in the minute or two he stepped out but knew that probably wasn't the case. Without a word, the red faced boy laid out his pillows and took a cozy spot on the floor.
"Aha... Uhm, sorry about that" Tsuna said as Chrome couldn't possibly have fallen asleep that fast. "I'll be comfortable here" he was vague about Reborn's obstruction. Didn't he know about the sleeping arrangements?!
Tsuna curled up in his blanket on the floor. Looking up at the ceiling Tsuna had an oddly pleasant feeling not being alone, like the comradery of a sleepover and for once without the hectic nature the normally lively house usually held.
"Chrome?" Tsuna asked softly up to the bed.
"It's nice, having you here" he admitted before sleep finally claimed him.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
"This is your house, though. Yourroomeven. Are you sure?"
Apparently, yes. And he was - for once - actually adamant and certain about this choice. Chrome couldn't help but smile as she saw and heard his new determination. It was a trait he desperately needed, some times more than others. Granted, she wished the display was from something mroe positive instead of seemingly coerced ... but it was a start in the right direction.
She, herself, had been at least making efforts to better herself over the years. Particularly when it came to ever being kicked out of the old school Mukuro, Ken and Chikusa used to reside in. Chrome originally blamed herself for their decision to make her leave, assuming it had been because she was too weak or useless. So as someone in a similar predicament as Tsuna, she knew his struggles well enough and how tough they could be ... which made the fact she was seeing any indications of improvement as quite the accomplishment in its own regards.
"Okay. Sleep well, Boss."
Except he didn't get to, apparently. Indeed, Chrome was a light sleeper ... when she fell into a peaceful slumber. Alas, she was feeling the sleepover effect and, as such, was still awake. From what she could hear, though, poor Tsukiko's sobs had stopped, which meant she probably cried herself to sleep ... or was stifling herself if she was awake.
Hopefully she can get rest soon, Chrome quietly prayed. Maybe before anything happened tomorrow, she'd see about speaking with her. The last thing Chrome wanted Tsukiko to feel was that she was being replaced, particularly given Chrome was a Guardian and Tsukiko wasn't.
"Huh?" Chrome rolled over, looking down at Tsuna as he laid on the floor. And then ... he said one of the nicer things anyone had ever relayed to her. "Thank you. That truly means a lot to me. I finally don't feel lost for the first time in years."
From being born to two parents who didn't seem to want her in the first place to being abandoned by Mukuro and the others to having to leave Haru ... it seemed as if Chrome hadfinallyfound where she truly belonged. It was a nice feeling, strengthened by the blankets keeping her warm and cozy. A combination of the words from Tsuna and the comfort she was feeling helped her finally doze off into what was easily one of the best slumbers Chrome had ever experienced.
Yuri woke up feeling a bit more warm than usual. It didn't take long for her to recall why, though, as all she had to do was turn and find Yukiko still lying with her. A proud smirk spread over her face as she lightly stroked Yukiko's cheek, earning a content moan from the Snow Flame user. "Mmmm, you always know how to make waking up feel real good," she muttered softly. "Round two?" she asked hopefully, clicking her tongue as she opened her eyes in time to see Yuri shaking her head.
"Not yet.Maybelater during the night. We got work."
Yukiko huffed, but gave an understanding nod. Considering everything she'd relayed to Yuri, it wasn't overly amazing to hear that verdict.
"Before that ... you gonna be able to join me in a shower and behave?"
"Not happily, but yes."
"Okay. Let's go then. We both need one."
As the two slipped out of bed, Yuri noted on a nearby clock that it was almost nine in the morning. By the time they finished washing up, it was nine thirteen in the morning. Wordlessly, she guided Yukiko to the control room. Yuri would emerge in her preferred attire; very casual.Ripped jeans and a blouse, specifically. Yukiko, on the other hand, was in something more ....bold.
Yuri shook her head as she snuck a glance at Yukiko.
"Slut," she teasingly muttered before beginning to move her fingers over the keyboard.
"Is it working?"
"Not enough to make me change my mind. We'll never get anything done if we only fuck around. Now ... what was that name you said to me yesterday?"
"Name ...?? Oh yeah. Adelheid. I highly doubt there's more than one nearby."
"Be that as it may, go on and give me her number. It'll make sure I track the right one down."
Yukiko groaned but nodded as she sat beside Yuri and watched her quickly work after relaying the number. Her hand lightly rubbed Yuri's thigh ... only to get slapped away. "I'm serious," Yuri stated in a now firm and sincere tone, "We need to get shit done. Behave .... and I'll more seriously consider tonight as a nice reward, incentive, what have you."
"Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine. Alright, alright."
Twenty more minutes would tick by before finally, a triumphant "Aha!" from Yuri resounded. She zoomed the map of Namimori up and revealed the exact location where she, indeed, was. Courtesy of the internet. A hotel ... pacing. The look on her face indicated she probably had a hunch something had happened to Enma, and the fact she was holding her own cell phone in her hands strengthened that belief. Yuri rose an eyebrow slightly, nodding towards Adelheid as she spoke.
"We got his phone, right?"
"Had. I went on and broke it yesterday."
"Good. Best to get to her on our terms, not theirs. Okay ..." Yuri leaned back, studying the camera before nodding. "Tomorrow. You can go with Akio and see about bringing her back. It looks like she's not gonna go anywhere today, so take advantage of that to prepare. Alternatively, even if she does try to look for Enma, watch and note where she goes."
"You're still more fun, but fine. I will."
"Good girl," Yuri teased, resulting in Yukiko hissing through gritted teeth as she fought the urge to shove Yuri against the wall. "Want food? Yes, I do mean actual food."
"Nah. That's what I'm gonna do with Touma when we go see Tsukiko." She patted her pocket, showing she'd already taken the time to grab her wallet in between finishing bathing and getting dressed.
" ... You're not replacing me with her, are you?"
At that, Yuri busted out laughing, even slapping her hand against her denims. "Come now, I can't believe you're asking such a dumb question! She's a means to getting our leader back; nothing more, but certainly nothing less. But she doesn't know that yet. As far as she's concerned, I'm her classmate. I need to stick to my script. That's all this is."
"Better be," Yukiko muttered before turning and heading into the kitchen.
gpt
"I'll be happy to oblige you later, Yukiko-San~" the gently condescending tone of Akio appeared as quickly as he did to the side of the monitor desk. His finger trailed under the slightly taller woman as his own head tilted softly, the charm of his thin cloth choker dangling with his motion before he pulled away and walked passed her. Akio was certainly a ringer for someone who could tease as much as Yukiko, though much more from a sense of sadism surely than Yukiko's more flirty and at times domineering nature.
This was the usual, as this family had bonded truly and by now all of them had had one another. Touma, who was still asleep in his room, had actually believed that was why their bonds were so strong and that no one could overcome them, they were that close.
Akio swung open the door to the worn little mini-fridge they had plugged in to grab a bottle of water. He too wore his normal attire minus his jacket, thinner jeans with a black sleeveless top draped over his lean build.
"Finally, maybe this one can show us something dazzling" Akio mused before taking a drink, seeming to not mind being called out on a job as long as it gave him the chance to witness a brightly shining dying will. He desperately hoped this Adelheid wouldn't disappoint.
A soft yawn came from the side entrance of the room as Touma's bare feet patted the floor from under black soft cloth pant legs that drooped over them. The brunette boy was dressed in a loose light blue t-shirt with a leather wrist cuff on his right hand as well. "When are we going, Yuri?" He asked gently as he entered the room.
As Yuri and Yukiko teased at one another over this target, Akio glanced over the visuals and information displayed about Adelheid. Now she looked like someone who could give him a good show.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
"You damn well better!" Yukiko called back, scoffing. Not at Akio's words, but the timing. He knew perfectly well she was heading off to go get food ready. So ofcoursehe chose to tease her when her priorities were on literally anythingbutfun times. Although ... that didn't stop her from glancing back and sneaking one last peek at that lovely collar around his neck.
Of course, unlike Enma, any that were worn by the Velenos were strictly for decoration. There were zero downfalls with what they wore, and they could freely use their Flames.
Teases, the whole lot of you ...
Yukiko took a few moments to close her eyes ... and take a long, deep breath. She'd definitely get back at someone, sometime. And when she did .... until then, fine. She promised Yuri to behave so - even if it wasn't her preference - she'd comply.
As Touma entered, Yuri knelt down so she could be eye to eye with the Undertow user. She lightly rubbed his back, then chuckled as she noted he still had bare feet. "Well ... after you get socks and shoes, to Tsukiko's. We'll then eat brunch together. Don't worry; it'll be my treat. You just be on your best behavior; I gave Tsukiko a half-lie and said I do have friends and colleagues I'm close with. Play along with that script. You're also going to help me confirm I'm not mistaken in thinking Tsukiko's a good choice. Alternatively, if I am, we can make up for that mistake sooner than later."
Regardless, her words were a very clear jab at Akio for his response to her report from yesterday. She was clearly still a bit miffed in his lack of faith at her selection, and the best way to get back at him would be to prove him wrong. Touma would be the best way, as he was the next best sensor, particularly with Flames in potential people to use for their experiments, among the Veleno Familigia.
Only after Touma returned completely ready and dressed did Yuri turn and begin exiting with her comrade. "Don't let the place burn down somehow while we're out!"
She knew that wouldn'treallybe an issue. It was just her way to get at Yukiko from afar ... which, sure enough, she did hear the faintest hint of an irked scoff from where direction of the kitchen, causing her to smirk.
This time, though, she wouldn't take the motorcycle. Simply because there would be three people, not two. So, she grabbed a set of keys off the ring near the front door and unlocked a waiting SUV. Ah, the beauty of having a fake license. The drive would be brief, lasting fifteen minutes at most due to the bits of lingering traffic that did exist. Thankfully, Japan tended to have more people that didn't use cars as opposed to did, so it wasn't nearly as horrible as other countries.
They wouldn't need to do more than get to the door before it opened, revealing Nana was behind it.
"Oh, Yuri-chan! Nice to see you again."
" .. I guess that was a slightly loud car, huh? Heh. Sorry."
"Oh no, it's perfectly fine. It's not like you woke us or anything."
"Good, good. Is Tsukiko around by chance? I wanted to make up for yesterday. I kinda ... made things a bit too awkward, so I wanted to treat her to help repent."
"She is, yes. And actually, that may help lift her spirits up immensely. Her brother's going to be occupied the rest of the break and he already got a head start with ... certain tasks this morning. So she's been alone the past few hours."
Perfect,Yuri thought, allowing Touma to make a telepathic link if he so desired. Otherwise, the thoughts remained tucked away in her head.
"Let me call her down, but while I do that, please come in. Get comfortable. Tsukiko!"
They'd hear hushed talking from upstairs before footsteps descending the stairs. Tsukiko would come down in anoutfitsimilar to Yuri's, but also different in its own rights. A smile crossed her lips as she bowed her head politely to Yuri.
"You um ... don't read minds or anything, right? I was actually thinking about texting you."
"Hah, nope. I got good instincts at most." Yuri nodded down, grinning happily at Touma, "This is one of the people I was telling you about yesterday." She left it at that, for now, allowing Touma to otherwise speak for and introduce himself.
gpt
Akio merely tilted his chin up in a subtle jerking motion at Yukiko as she exited almost as if he were looking for a fight. A dare. Though everyone there would know this was only half true, but not on a battlefield that was for sure.
Touma nodded, headphones draped over the back of his neck. The boy smiled ever so slightly back up at Yuri, he knew what she was doing of course picking at Akio like that. Despite his age he was no more out of the loop on their more sordid activities that he too had taken part in. "Right" he said to following along, that he knew he could do for sure, Touma could do anything when it came to his Famiglia.
Heading to the front entrance to the control room Touma slipped into sandals. The control room along with research was treated as their home, shoes kept by the door due to lack of a proper lower step area. Exiting the front took them through the rest of the facility and down at the garage Touma got into Yuri's SUV. The drive was peaceful, Touma easily the most agreeable of the family.
Following Yuri up to the door, Touma bowed politely as he greeted their target's mother. She was rather pretty he noted, and he introduced himself before they headed inside.
Green eyes scanned Tsukiko subtly as she emerged in such a nice outfit. The pictures didn't lie about how cute she was either. The messier haired boy stood with Yuri as she came down, and when she introduced him, Touma bowed again.
"It's nice to meet you, Sawada-San, I'm Touma Hirano" he greeted. It was normal for him to be overly polite, even with his Famiglia albeit less formally, that much wasn't a lie.
Now on the road once more with the target along, Touma sat in the back seat to let Tsukiko sit up front. "So, how do you know Yuri?" He asked conversationally, answering the same for when he would be inevitably asked after. "I used to live down the street from Yuri when we were kids" he lied enough in return. All the while he felt out for her, reading all he could from the young twin sister of Tsunayoshi to try and estimate her worth.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
Tsukiko wasn't quite sure what she expected ... but it was clear Touma, let alone his appearance, was not it. He was basically the exact opposite of Yuri; smaller, seemed incredibly generous. Not that Yuri wasn't, but ... she had a special 'attitude' with her at all times. And sure enough, those thoughts were all confirmed as he bowed his head. Tsukiko smiled as she returned the favor.
If it weren't for the fact you just met him, he could easily pass off as a younger brother,Tsukiko mused. Even though she already had Chrome now, that was an unofficial type of arrangement. Not out of spite or jealousy ... but in case she ever ended up with Tsuna on the off-chance he finally gave up on Kyoko. Incest wasn't frowned on in Japan, but it'd still be ... simpler if she weren't thought of as a younger sibling in her eyes. Less scandals, and it'd be much better overall ... at least in her thoughts.
"It's ... very nice to meet you, Touma-kun." Yukiko turned to give her mom a quick hug before leaving out the door and entering the SUV. Although ... she did take a few moments to look the vehicle over first. This was new to her; not so much seeing one, but more so actually being in one. "It's not Japanese made, is it?"
"Hah! Guilty! Americans do have certain things that ... appeal more so to me. Cars are one of them."
"N-nothing wrong, mind you just ... even on the streets, I haven't seen many models like these, so ... it stands out."
Hmmmm ... Yuri smiled on the outside, but already was mentally noting this. It was a huge and very important detail. When they agreed whether to abduct her or not, it meant the car probablyshouldn'tbe used. Just their powers and stealth. "I never really thought much about that, but I suppose you got a point. I'm not much for subtlety, though you've probably noticed that."
Maybe it was because of his appearance, but Tsukiko honestly had expected Touma to seem a bit more shy. Which made it pleasantly surprising to hear him speak up willingly, and not just because he'd introduced himself. "Classmates which .... if this isn't too invasive ... are you home-schooled or something? You're easily the right age for Namimori and ... we don't have many other schools. The ones we do aren't right for you or shut down?"
"Aren't right?"
"Yeah. An all-girls' school, so ... that's out of the question."
"Haha, yep, you're right then. But yeah. All of them are. A small handful are done with high school, even. I've been trying to convince some of them to join me, but meh. They have their reasons and .... what they're doing works."
"Wow, you weren't kidding about your bond, were you?"
"Nope. So ... you've probably known Namimori a lot better than myself. What's a good place to eat at?"
"Hmmm ..." After some quick thinking, she nodded and gave directions to a caf. Definitely not a maid one, just a normal one. But it also had sandwiches and salads to eat, and even what were deemed some 'comfort foods' plus a handful of breakfast and dessert items. It'd been a very long while since she'd been and ... it was a place she missed. So if Yuri was treating ... why not?
"You like simple things, huh?" Yuri half-teased as they arrived and exited the car. Tsukiko blushed a bit, shrugging. "I ... I guess. I hadn't really thought about it that way."
"It's fine. You're just easy to tease. But on a more serious note, Psychology is a favorite of mine, and it's just something I immediately noticed. A lot of choices we make, be it our clothes, the colors they are, the way we hold ourselves and so much more ... they kinda hint the type of person we are. So this caf ... you don't like overly fancy things unless there's a really good reason. Perhaps a celebration of some sort?"
"That ... umm ... wow. That's actually really spot on. How ... we don't have it here, though?"
"Self-teaching."
"I may look into that myself. That's really cool!"
"There are definitely some topics I think you'd enjoy, yeah. Particularly the more ... spicy ones."
"Spicy?" It took them a few moments, but it clicked as Tsukiko's face went even redder. Yuri smirked as she held her hands up beside her head. "Don't worry. I'll leave it at that this time. I meant it when I said I wanted to behave and make up for yesterday, but it's the truth. There's alotof stuff about that topic in Psychology. I was just giving you a heads up before you dove into it so you wouldn't be too surprised."
"I ... fair enough. Thank you."
They would be guided to a booth, where Tsukiko would sit closest to the window. Yuri would wait a moment ... before letting Touma decide if he wanted to be beside her or Tsukiko. Either way, she was across from Tsukiko. All the while, though, Touma would have been feeling one thing since meeting Tsukiko; she definitely did have something in her, and it was as Yuri had said. Weak ... but not. Whatever shedidhave just needed a bit of coaxing. But when they woke up, they'd be very formidable.
gpt
Touma took note too of every little thing he could; she recognized the car, as well as keeping a mental note of the areas she did seem to know as Yuri talked it out of her casually.
"Mm!" Touma answered with a nod to Tsukiko's question, only taking a beat to come up with his excuse. "My uh.. Parents were always pretty sheltering" lied Touma, "Yuri helped me out of that shell" he said somehow a bit more genuinely in comparison as he looked to Yuri with a kind closed-eye smile. Touma let Yuri explain away the rest as not to cross their stories too much, that always left open chances for contradiction.
Touma couldn't help but snicker as they got out of the car when Yuri picked on Tsukiko playfully. "Aha... Sorry I don't mean to laugh" he genuinely apologized as he waved a hand casually. That hand covered his lips as they curled into a smirk knowingly when Yuri mentioned her 'spicy' topics before explaining her way out of it quickly. Yuri knew how to talk, not that Touma was all that shy, but Yuri had a way of slipping her words in fast and turning conversations her way at a whim that he couldn't replicate. In a way it was fun to watch her work, to do so purposely to gain the advantage.
The brunette sat next to Yuri across from Tsukiko, too polite to crowd her so suddenly after meeting her in normal company, even despite their objective. He'd been watching, really 'watching' Tsukiko this whole time but he had a moment to really sit on what he felt from her here. The weakness of it would be obvious, this Tsukiko never had activated a Dying Will, like most she technically didn't have flames to speak of but the potential for them. What he and Yuri were feeling was that potential, and while it wasn't openly vast like one would see of one with conclusively immense potential, it was... vague, just out of sight, it... Had room to grow so to speak. A rare trait in of itself.
When the waitress arrived sweet as could be, Touma ordered a plate of finger sandwiches. "Could I have some peppers on them?" He asked with a twinkle in his eye, "oh! Also some hot sauce if you have any?" Touma loved spicy food, the hotter the better.
When the food inevitably came, Touma was quick to shake out drop after drop of hot sauce onto his sandwiches. Upon getting looks he blushed lightly and chuckled, "Aha... Sorry I love hot food" he clarified bashfully.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
"Eh ... heh, n-no, it's fine. Sadly, Yuri's right. I'm easy to jest at. Must run in the family, because Tsuna's no better .... which I suppose I can take some solace in. That it isn't only me."
She took a moment to get a better look at Touma and Yuri as they sat in the caf. Even though Yuri had been in her class for several months now, she never took the best glance at her. While Tsukiko had admitted she'd never originally thought about women before ... she could consider making an exception. A slight tinge of red began to paint her face. She quickly brought the menu up ... but apparently not fast enough.
"See something you like?"
"M-maybe, but even then .... " Tsukiko cleared her throat. "I haven't completely forgotten where we are."
" .... You'll have to forgive me for saying this, but you've been kinda sheltered too in your own rights, haven't you?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"For me, yes. This, unfortunately for you, is my forte and right now ... you are a very open book to me. Don't get me wrong. Your mother is very generous ... more so than most of ours were. And in that regard, I envy you. But on the flip side ... I get the desire that is practically radiating from you."
"And that would be?"
Yuri paused, mainly with how to word her response. She nodded after a few moments ... but before she could speak, the waitress arrived. Which made Tsukiko just a bit relieved. She knew and understood the break was temporary, but suddenly, she was feeling a bit nervous. It wasn't like any of Tsuna's Guardians were dense. They technicallycoulddo this sort of thing easily. But ... none had tried. Whether it was because she wasn't Tsuna or some other reason, she wasn't certain. All she did know for sure was no one had ever understood - or, as Yuri worded it 'read' - her this well. Ever. Not even Hibari, and it was practically his job to do so, in some regards.
"Jasmine tea for myself."
"Umm ... green for me," Tsukiko replied. "I umm ... need a few more moments. It's been a while since I've been here."
"Of course! I'll be back with your drinks!" the waitress replied, tucking her notepad away as she walked off to the kitchen area.
"Adventure. You crave it in some regards. But you're - rightfully, mind you - a bit hesitant. After all, be careful what you wish for and all, and some of those ... can come with a lot more than you bargain for. You're a bit envious because your brother's gotten some things you've hoped for, and you haven't even had a taste."
At this, the menufellfrom Tsukiko's hands. Her mouth was slightly agape ... before she managed to catch herself and close it, then cover it with her hand. She took a few moments to calm herself before moving her hand away, blinking several times, and finally finding her voice again, "Has .... anyone ever suggested you should be a Psychic or something?"
"A few people actually have. Problem is ... that's not really what I am. It's purely Psychology-based information I'm using. The momentthatgot found out ..." Yuri shrugged, "They'd likely bitch and whine, even if it was completely accurate. Find ways to call me fraud, get me in trouble. Meh. Some things are definitely worth the risk. Anything on the financial side, though?"
She quickly shook her head.
"We're already having our challenges with that as it is, thanks. Most of the others are just barely old enough to work. We're some of the few who can't."
"O-oh ... that never clicked for some stupid reason. Probably because you really do look and act older, but I suppose I can see your point."
An eyebrow rose slightly when Touma abruptly apologized for enjoying spicy things. Yuri took the chance to jumped to her own mind and gently rubbed his back, "He's being a bit too generous. He was a bit more so than sheltered. It may not be the .... happiest way to have found a bond with everyone, but it's what ended up working. We either had shitty parents or none at all. Another thing I can't deny envying you for; your mother's very kind. People that areactuallygenuinely that way and not faking it or wanting something in return are very rare to find."
"That's horrible."
"Thankfully ... that proverb about what doesn't kill you making you stronger holds quite a bit of truth to it. I'm trying to help him remember he doesn't need to apologize for certain things; definitely not ordering things he wants. It's a work in progress."
"At least you have someone, period. It isn't just everything you've noticed that's correct to say. Tsuna .... well, he has more people as far as friends go."
Granted, it was primarily because of his role, but the point was, everyone spoke and interacted with him. She was known about, sure, but that was as far as her connection with most of the Guardians went. She did note that Chrome had at leasttriedto speak with her in the morning; unfortunately, by the time Tsukiko fully woke up, she'd left with Tsuna.
"I honestly feel like I'm more of a tag along than a sister some days ... more so than not. It isn't his fault, mind you, but ...."
"Nah. I wasn't gonna put that blame on Tsuna. I've at least seen him during class. He's got ... a trouble magnet of sorts. It always finds him, not vice versa."
"Heh, yeah. That's pretty much it. But umm ... she's right, Touma-kun. You definitely don't need to apologize for yourself or likes."
When the waitress returned, she took orders after setting drinks down. "We most certainly have a lot of hot sauce. I'll make sure to add that in with your order, young man," the waitress replied. Yuri quickly got Udon for herself while Tsukiko only slightly contemplated, but ended up going with a Teriyaki Donburi. Only after the waitress left did Yuri finally speak up, "Well .. effectively, there's two weeks left before school resumes. You can text me whenever you wanna kill time, particularly on days Tsuna's occupied."
Noting the raised eyebrows, Yuri added, "Your mom kinda revealed that much before she told you we'd arrived. Which ... makes sense. It does fit with everything else you told us. But since I, myself, can't really work yet ... I at least can see about helping you not die of boredom. Can't promise you'll always find the exact types of adventures you want with me, but who knows, hmmm?"
"Thank you. Truly. That umm ... means a lot."
"No problem. He also doesn't get out enough, so this is a win-win all around."
gpt
"S-Sawada-San?" Touma asked when Tsukiko's face went red before she hid it, "you alright?" He'd asked before Yuri chimed in. The boy chuckled through a smile as Yuri teased her again.
"Oh, water please" he added when the girls put in their drink orders as well.
Touma watched as Yuri broke her down, barely giving time to breathe as she peered into Tsukiko with pure skill of word. It was interesting how much she enjoyed reading people like this. When Tsukiko dropped her menu, a sweat drop beaded from his brow as he smiled empathetically, "Yuri tends to uh... Read her books to the finish" Touma fumbled upon a polite way to say that he understood the feeling of Yuri expositing from start to finish all she could glean from a person, giving a small apologetic laugh to Yuri.
The shaggy haired boy grinned when Yuri put an arm to his back affectionately, his eyes popping open when she said he'd been more than sheltered. "Y-Yuri-San don't put it like that I'm not that much of a loser" he blushed softly, not one to be that shy but when he was his polite mannerisms skyrocketed. Touma relaxed as Yuri continued on.
When Tsukiko expressed her lack of those closer to her in comparison to her brother, Touma gave another kind smile. "We'll be your friends, Sawada-San" he offered sweetly.
Tsukiko then assured him as well, "thank you" he smiled.
"Yuri does find some.... Adventures, that's for sure" he teased lightly.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
The more accurate wording for Touma was shereallygot into analyzing people that grabbed her attention. And given she hadn't heard or seen a cue of any kind from Touma, Yuri was safely guessing he agreed she hadn't messed up in finding the right person. But no one else needed to know that ... not yet, anyway.
"That ... is definitely one of the biggest understatements I've heard in a while. Damn ... "
Tsukiko didn't typically swear, but there really was something incredibly impressive and equally intimidating about everything Yuri had accomplished. And within mere minutes, too. Somewhat thankfully, the attention briefly shifted away from her as now Touma was the one blushing slightly. "Loser? Why would you be for enduring that sort of situation? If anything, that makes you a fighter."
"See? Someone else gets it. She's exactly right, though. The only losers are those that decided we weren't good enough." When Touma reassured Tsukiko that Yuri was indeed good at finding 'adventures', she smiled in response. Ah, how true it was. Sexually or not, she was indeedverygood and right now ... Yuri was steadily regretting not helping Yukiko prior to leaving. Enough to find herself zoning out ... thinking of Tsukiko outside of the caf. Against a wall somewhere ... anywhere more discreet. Pinned ... while she began to explore the girl's body.
Poor Tsukiko was practically begging forthosekinds of 'adventures'. She could almostfeelthat sort of aura coating her. And it was taking every single fiber in Yuri's being to keep behaving .... in fact, she gripped the back of Touma's shirt slightly to ensure she didn't slide her hand down and sneak in a few lewd and inappropriate touches.
Thankfully, she was given a different - and very needed - distraction in the form of their meals arriving. Her head bowed to the waitress as she and Tsukiko began to eat. If she had noticed her fist clench around Touma's shirt, then at least Tsukiko wasn't asking or saying anything about it. But as far as Yuri was concerned, they were - fortunately - in the clear as far as that went.
Meanwhile, a few blocks away ....
"I think that's finally it," Chrome replied, helping Tsuna check for what had to be the third or fourth time. Indeed, Nana had asked them to head out and restock groceries for the house. It was needed, more so now that she had an extra child, so to speak, to feed. She carefully dug into Tsuna's pocket, helping him retrieve the yen they'd be given to pay for the groceries as Chrome carried all the bags she could in her hands.
" .... You think she's okay? I know she's not my biological sister, but I still feel really horrible. And now I've just ... kinda butted myself into your house, your lives and .... "
The words trailed off as Chrome lightly latched onto her lower lip. She felt confident enough that Tsukiko at least didn'thateher, but it didn't necessarily do much to make her feel less guilty, either. She would go quiet when they approached the cashier. Chrome offered the employee a polite bow of her head before leaving with Tsuna after everything was paid for.
She began walking home alongside her Boss, sneaking a glance every now and again to make sure he had an okay handle on the bags he was carrying in his hands. Not that she doubted his balance or strength or anything of the like ... but theyhadended up buying quite a bit.
gpt
Touma was taken aback for a second, looking to Tsukiko as she said something so simple yet insightful. It was so kind of her to say such a thing, and if he were a bit less composed because of the mafia as he was Touma might have even choked up at that. He swallowed and smiled, "thank you... Sawada-San" he told her.
The boy felt Yuri's tugging at his shirt, he may not have had Yuri's insight into others but Yuri herself was radiating just as much desire right now. He could pretty much tell what she was thinking, which put similar thoughts in his head. They had spent so much time talking about this girl measuring up, Touma couldn't help but think about how he measured up in other ways as well once the idea crossed his mind.
His thoughts were cut off before he blushed too hard when the food arrived. Quickly Touma poured as much hot sauce as he could onto each sandwich without being messy and began to eat as well.
"Yup!" Tsunayoshi nodded, his arms full of the bags of groceries they picked up. "Eep!" He blushed as he let Chrome dig around his pockets for the cash they were to use, smiling to her assuredly albeit a bit embarrassed as she was so close.
As they walked together down the street Tsuna looked to Chrome as she started to doubt herself again. "I hope so... How to say this...." Tsuna thought for a moment, "I know shewill be okay, I can just... Know that much" he tried to explain. He was worried about her though, after all he cared deeply for her, sometimes to the point of very deeply given a thought or two he'd had in the past, even if such thoughts were 99% of the time reserved for Kyoko. It was hard to not be able to really do anything despite his supposed status, which was started to feel like not much at all given this was the first time he really wanted to use it to help Tsukiko.
"Ah- Chrome... No, don't think like that, please" he asked her. "You were invited, and like I said I'm happy to have you here" he told his Mist Guardian. "Besides..." Tsuna said a bit awkwardly in a tone that suggested he was trying to figure out how to say this, "you're uhm... Part of my Family" he said regarding the Vongola Famiglia. It was still odd to say something like that without the kneejerk reaction that he definitely didn't consider himself like that or to say that he never wanted this position in the first place. Now wasn't the time for that however, even 'no-good' Tsuna could read a room for that much.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
"You umm ... don't need to be that formal with me. Just Tsukiko will suffice." Even despite her reply, though, she was smiling. She was grateful that if Tsuna truly had to be occupied the next two weeks, she found herselfdefinitelyhaving a solution for when she couldn't be around her twin. And if there really were others that Yuri tended to hang out with .... that'd just make it better. Or so she hoped.
"He's lucky to have a sisterly figure like you," Tsukiko merely stated before clapping her hands together then breaking her chopsticks and beginning to eat. Yuri merely grinned in response as she mimicked Tsukiko and began to eat. As everyone was finishing up, the waitress would return, "Anyone want any dessert? Or are you ready to pay?"
Tsukiko's cheeks flushed ever so slightly as she nodded and rose her hand, waiting to finish the portion she was swallowing before quickly replying, "Tiramisu for me, please."
Ohhh?
Now ... that was intriguing in its own rights. Yuri tucked her hands under her jaw, nodding after a bit, "I think I'll get something too. It's been a while, so why not? Dango for me, though."
After taking down whatever Touma may or may not want, Yuri looked right to a still slightly blushing Tsukiko, "Why tiramisu, if I can ask? It's a very ... unorthodox choice."
"I know," Tsukiko muttered, "But umm ... the few times I have been to Italy, I've had it and it's really amazing."
"Youdoknow it has the faintest amounts of alcohol in it, right? Rum, to be specific?"
"Yeah. But you're gonna get me home, so I'm not worried. I trust you despite not knowing you the longest."
"I'm flattered. I think I scare too many people away to get that type of reaction, so ... thank you."
Tsukiko chuckled, "Well, with you being able to read everyone as easy as you can, I can sorta understand. But I don't think that should be a trait that makes people look away from you. That'd draw attention ... I'd think, anyway."
By the time everyone finished their main courses, the waitress would return and set down all the dessert plates, as well as the check. Yuri pulled it towards her, sneaking a peek down. It wasn't cheap ... but it wasn't the largest amount she'd seen, nor earned at that rate. She hadn't been worried or anything, just wanting to get an idea. And this had been a very worthwhile trip; not only had they managed to confirm that Yuri had indeed been correct with her choosing, they even learned some details to tuck away about Tsukiko. Anything, no matter how small and unimportant, could always be vital to note for later, and Yuri definitely put anything that came off as remotely essential tucked away into her mind.
"This was fun. I definitely feel a lot better about yesterday now." As Yuri noted Tsukiko reaching into her pocket, Yuri shook her head. "What did I tell you when we first arrived? My treat, silly. That means I'll cover Touma and your portions, even though we're supposed to handle it ourselves."
"You su --??"
The stern yet somehow playful look she received was all Tsukiko needed to see to get that answer. She nodded, merely grabbing back onto her fork and resumed eating the rest of her tiramisu. After putting all of the yen down, Yuri resumed eating her own dessert as well. The three would stand up and stretch a bit before turning and heading to the car afterwards, with Yuri getting back in the driver's seat. Once everyone got in and put their seatbelts on, Yuri nodded before turning the key in the ignition.
"Next time, I'll see about planning a bit more. I admit I just kinda thought about this idea real spontaneously and slightly regret doing so. I know we technicallycouldsomething else ... but alas, I have other things to work on anyway. But definitely another day, most definitely."
Hopefully Yukiko had been heeding her words and paying attention to the cameras. Yukiko was easily one of the bigger brats of the group ... so it ultimately depended on her mood whether she needed any 'reminding' of her obligations or not. Though, really, that applied with everyone in some form or fashion. A lot of them were one way or the other and, admittedly, even Yuri could be a bit of a brat if she felt like it. Few people she completely - or mostly - submitted to. Most she enjoyed being in charge of in some form of, and also depending on whom that was, she could be a sweet domme or more on the strict side.
She had to grip onto her lower lip slightly to stifle a groan. Even if he didn't know it yet, Yuri definitely had plans. And they involved the precious 'brotherly figure' in the back.
She'd wave farewell to Tsukiko as they arrived, allowing her to simply get out of the car and go back inside her house. Once the front door shut, Yuri snapped her fingers. "Take her spot," she swiftly ordered, waiting for him to comply before heading back. "What about you, Touma? What'd you think and, just as importantly, didyouhave fun?"
"Well .... I know. And I'm grateful for that, more so now that I don't have Mukuro-sama using my body. That was probably a very awkward revelation in the beginning, huh? I don't blame you too much, given your history and all. But umm .... I just ... this is a huge deal. Me now being with you two, and I don't want her feeling like she needs to leave for any rhyme or reason."
It truly had been an odd introduction the more she thought about it. From the kiss on Tsuna's cheek to eventually changing when she faced Marmon, then reverting back to her true form. Passed out, mind you, but at least successful in earning her half of the Mist Ring. Even though he and the others had turned their backs on her, she couldn't fully do the same back. So, she found herself briefly wondering how they were .... and then stopped. She also always ended up reminding herself that Mukuro was still trapped in that prison.
Sad as it was to admit, he sealed his fate there. Even still ... could they not try to make an appeal somehow? Perhaps when Tsuna truly was in charge?
Don't be ridiculous. Don't try to use him like that. He's already done more than enough.
Her head lifted in time to see they'd arrived. She was about to try to knock, before the door opened ... and revealed Tsukiko behind it. Her head shook as she chuckled, "Groceries? Well ... I suppose that was eventually inevitable. Welcome back!"
"Morning, Tsukiko. You ate already, didn't you?"
"Mhm. Yuri picked me up a bit after you two left. Ah, here!" She helped Tsuna and Chrome balance and hold onto the bags, getting them into the kitchen and beginning to aid them in unpacking.
"Forgive me, but ... you didn't ... drink, did you?"
"Chrome, come on. I can't do that legally even if I wanted to. But ... can you really pinpoint the rum from the tiramisu?"
"Ahhh, that's what it is. Yes, yes I can. It may not be a French dessert, but we ... cook sweet things in a similar type of manner. So it stands out."
gpt
"Alright, Tsukiko" Touma smiled back to her.
Touma gave a sly grin, though blushed doing so. "Yeah you're right, Yuri-Oneesan is great" he teased lightly even if he did so a bit bashfully. Touma elbowed Yuri playfully as the server came back to take their dessert. "Ice cream, please" he ordered along with the girls' desserts.
When they dropped Tsukiko off and Yuri snapped her fingers at him, Touma smirked and crawled over the console into the front seat. "I did" Touma chimed, "thank you, Yuri" he politely thanked her for asking.
His smile slacked for a moment as he looked back to the direction they had let Tsukiko out. "I think... She's worth checking out" Touma admitted, though he wasn't the one who doubted her in the first place. Still, Yuri wanted her vindication and she was right about this, even if her connection to the 10th Vongola Boss made for a risky target. That just meant it made for a more sure thing if they could attain it from her.
"It won't change Akio's mind unless he can take her on, but you're right" Touma commented. They both knew that Akio's issue was with her need to have it pulled forth regardless instead of already having a strong flame. Wasted potential was just that to that guy, a waste that he wasn't here to pick up.
"Aha... It uhm..." Tsuna rubbed the back of his head, "it was a surprise that was for sure" he put it lightly.
That was an understatement, Tsuna remembered how the first time they met he'd seen Mukuro Rokudo manifest through Chrome. How before that he had seen her already tiny stomach cave in as her organs disappeared and then thankfully were restored. How before that still she had greeted him, 'the Boss', as her simple duty to him and the Ring Battles, and she kissed him on the cheek. Tsuna's face reddened now like it did back then when he remembered this.
"A-ah anyway yeah... I agree" Tsuna shifted awkwardly to the latter part of her statement. "I want her to feel just as at home as ever" he expressed.
"Tsukiko!" Tsuna exclaimed happily to see her up and about. "Ah, thanks" he let her help put the groceries down before he started to help put them away.
"W-wow Chrome your senses are incredible" he commented as she so sharply sniffed out what Tsukiko had had. "Did you have a good time, Tsukiko?" Tsuna asked with a smile, he was happy that she hopefully was with how he knew she'd been feeling.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
"Good. Onee-san's happy to hear that."
She knew perfectly well it was just a nickname, but it was one of the few Yuri was actually fine hearing. In situations like this where they had to lie to strangers, it actually helped out greatly. So not only was it one of the few names that wasn't Yuri she enjoyed hearing, but preferred in some cases. A content sigh elicited from Yuri as even Touma admitted they were on the right track. She took advantage of the numerous straights she had to take on the way back, as well as the red lights, to finally reveal her intentions.
Light caresses on his cheek, rubbing his back ... even teasing his leg, purposely missing his cock by mere inches. And finally ... affirmed through her words as she spoke.
"I understand. And you're not wrong. It's definitely a huge risk. But we're going to make it work out. I promise. For now, though, worry about this instead. We're going to have fun when we get back. However .... not right away. I can wait for us all to finish up with dinner. When you finish up your meal, though, get washed up. Then come into my room. Get on your knees and await further instructions - I should be done washing up myself, but all more the reason to do so. Just in case I'm not. You'll only need pants to start, so just come in wearing only those. I'm sure I don't have to repeat any of those directions, do I?"
It was rhetorical. Yuri knew the answer ... she just wanted to hear the words come from his mouth. And she grinned when he relayed it, even lightly ruffled his hair.
"Very good boy. I feel pretty confident that this may be one of - if not the - best session we'll have had between us ever." Since she was stopped at a red light, she leaned down quickly and whispered softly into his ear, "I hope you're ready ... I know I am."
She then gave his earlobe the gentlest of tugs ... giving but a small hint of what may or may not come later on before sitting straight up and getting them back to the base.
"Hopefully Yukiko didn't fuck around too much," she muttered, finally voicing those thoughts aloud. "Everything is finally falling into place, and if she doesn't want to worry aboutmywrath, then she should with Kaito's. I know he definitely wouldn't appreciate plans being delayedtoolong."
And for good reasons. In fact, it made the fact they agreed to use Tsukiko that much more ironic, because she was similar ... and yet not. The two would arrive back easily enough within ten more minutes. Before Touma finished unbuckling himself, however, Yuri gripped his shoulders to keep him still and lightly nipped along the side of his neck. She moved at a slightly quickened pace, purposely making sure to grip as much skin and tug and tease it as swiftly and a bit roughly.
Within a minute of stimulating the area, a decent sized hickey had already formed. She grinned and lightly kissed the area before letting go.
"There we go. Now you'll be ready after dinner. No trying to hide that ... wear it proudly for your onee-sama."
One last tug would be given to his earlobe before Yuri forced herself to stand up and exit the vehicle after ensuring it was parked. They'd started their mission early ... which meant, somewhat sadly, she had to wait. On the plus side ... this was also very much a good thing, too. Thankfully, she arrived and found that Yukiko at least looked like she'd been productive enough, as she was still sitting near the monitors.
"So? Has she just been there the whole time?"
Yukiko tilted a hand in the air. "She actually did leave for a bit. But she came back pretty quickly. I'm pretty sure she made a call, because she took her cell with her."
"Hmm .... you think she knew she was being watched?"
"Honestly? That is a possibility. Why would she need to leave her own hotel room otherwise? That felt ... odd. But whatever the case ... she's smart. She's got awareness. So .... what about you? Did Touma agree Tsukiko was the right way to go?"
"Mhmmm, he did."
" .... Do we know if she can even fight? You know how Akio is, and ..."
At that, Yuri crossed her arms over her chest. "Andheknows how Kaito can be, if not myself. If Kaito says he goes after Tsukiko and not this Adelheid girl, that's how it's gonna work out. No bullshit, no excuses. We're finally making progress, and if he wants to be the one to risk fucking things up, I'd love to see him give his defiant bullshit to Amaya-sama's own sister. See how that works out for him. As for whether she actually can fight? Maybe. We can't prove she's unable to; though given her personality, it is fair to assume she doesn'tlikeit. However, if she were forced to defend herself, I'm sure she can in some capacity, even if not the best."
Yukiko let out a whistle as she put her hands beside her head.
"Wow, chill. I was just stating ... "
"As was I. Sometimes, I swear you people try our patience on purpose. That's notalwaysthe smart thing to do. You should know that by now. Has the boy been fed? Enma, I mean."
"Yeah, yeah. He's not dying from starvation or anything. So? Have I been good enough?"
Yuri tilted a hand from side to side. "The problem isn't that you've been horrible or anything; it's timing. And I have plans tonight before you ask."
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" When Yuri's expression didn't change, Yukiko let out a frustrated huff. "You're such a tease, it's not fair."
"Not fair? You were with me last night. If anything, it's unfair to others who have waited way longer than you."
"What can I say? You're good."
"Flattering ... but not enough to make me change my schedule."
Yukiko clicked her tongue, finally acknowledging she wouldn't win this 'fight', per se, and walked out of her chair. A very petty, but significant enough, way to get back at Yuri. Now that she was back, she could deal with watching the monitors for a while.
Most of the groceries were put away before Nana happily walked in and began assisting them. "I got it from here. You all can head upstairs and play or something."
"Thanks, mom!"
Tsukiko snuck in a quick hug before taking the invitation and heading up to her room. She didn'tdislikechores. She just didn't want to do only that for the remainder of summer. She briefly contemplated before walking into Tsuna's room, nodding as she sat down and acknowledged the question her brother had asked her, "Mhm, I definitely did. Maybe one of these trips, you should join me. She's not as bad of a Yankee as you assumed, though I can get why you may have thought that. She definitely does have the mindset of one ... when she wants to be."
"A what?"
"Ah, true. You've probably never heard that term before, huh? It's slang for a delinquent teenager. Hayato's way more of a Yankee than Yuri. You didn't hear that from me, though."
Chrome merely smiled back as she sat beside Tsukiko. "So umm ... I just .... you do I'm not trying to take over your spot or anything or whatnot, right?"
" .... Is that really what you've been thinking?" Tsukiko chuckled a bit as she shook her head, "No, no. That didn't even begin to cross my mind at all. If anything, I'm more concerned about being an only child here before that."
Maybe not because anyone dangerous like Xanxus or Byakuran were around, but because Reborn was constantly having him away and training ... as if something along those lineswerecoming up.
"I don't know if you've ever heard any myths about twins ... but we definitely personify some of those. We're empathetic as hell, especially around each other. And we've never really done the best with being separated ... save for a small handful of exceptions, like bathing." A teasing grin appeared, knowing it'd purposely make her brother blush. Tsukiko had done enough of that for today, so it was his turn as far as she was concerned. "But yeah, for shit like what Reborn is having him do a lot?"
Her head shook as a more stoic look appeared on Tsukiko's face, "That's new to me. And I .... " An exasperated sigh elicited from her lips as Tsukiko slowly nodded, "I do get it. That he needs to do this and shit. But seriously, it's summer right now. Of literally all the times .... Ireallywish he'd wait for two more weeks."
"Y-yeah," Chrome agreed, feeling very relieved she wasn't being looked at with hate or any other negative emotion, "I tried to talk to Reborn about the timing. He seemed adamant this has to happen now, unfortunately. You probably could come along, though."
"Why though? What would be the point when I'm not a Guardian?"
"Maybe just to literally pick up some things? You did a bit of fighting and self-defense despite not being involved with The Conflict or anything."
" ... I'll see about it," Tsukiko decided. "Admittedly, I have been slacking on that, but like you just stated, I haven't really needed to use them ever. Still, keeping those tactics at least a bit strengthened may help."
gpt
Touma blushed then as Yuri agreed with the nickname like he did now. Not so much out of embarrassment as much as arousal.
"Loud and clear.." Touma grinned as Yuri ruffled his hair. He raised a brow curiously when Yuri suggested this might be somehow better than the already great sex he usually got from her. That was certainly an intriguing prospect. Touma's green eyes followed Yuri's hand as it danced around his lap subtly as they talked business, just barely missing the slowly forming bulge in his pants.
The boy nodded solemnly when Yuri assured him they would be alright, but smirked as she changed the subject to the night time plans that she had just made for them. Touma simply grinned cheekily as he was asked a question he didn't rightly need to answer. Yuri got the message and moved on.
"I think Yukiko is reliable enough" Touma vouched as they rode back together. "She may be a bit of a slacker... But she comes through when it matters" he said with a genuine smile.
Touma let out a soft sigh in pleasure as a hickey was worked into his pale neck. Chuckling softly as Yuri asserted her nickname, Touma nodded again, "right" he affirmed as they went inside.
As Yukiko got up after bickering, or more like pleading, with Yuri, Akio came from the other way and as he passed Yukiko, he gave a playful slap to her ass and a smirk as if he really wouldn't do anything about that to follow up. Of course he knew better than that, but that just made it all the more fun to tease her.
"Thanks!" Tsuna repeated almost in unison as their mom took over, heading up with the other two girls.
Tsuna chuckled with a nervous bashfulness, "I didn't say that exactly..." He defended. At the very least he never used that word, even if he did worry at first that Yuri might have gotten Tsukiko in any trouble. "N-no I'd love to go sometime" Tsuna insisted, putting up his hands defensively. After all he didn't want to be so judgemental of people, especially those Tsukiko herself trusted.
Tsuna couldn't help but be amused as Chrome questioned the silly word, but she merely accepted it before moving on.
"Sh-she really went and asked straight forward!" Tsuna exclaimed internally as Chrome expressed her worries, but he gave a sigh of relief and smiled at Tsukiko's response though he wasn't surprised at all.
"Eh?!" Tsuna blushed bright as Tsukiko mentioned not bathing together. It wasn't something they had done for ages, but for Tsukiko to bring it up so nonchalantly like that and in front of Chrome no less. It also made the thought cross his mind in general, bathing with Tsukiko now, what would it be like? Tsuna quickly shook his head of the embarrassing thoughts as his sister thankfully went on with her original point.
Tsuna nodded as Chrome reasoned for Tsukiko to join. "Besides" Tsuna chimed in, "Reborn did say they would happen at random..." he shuddered to himself at the suspense of such a thing being sprung on him. "Who's to say you wouldn't be there anyway?" He asked before smiling, "we should spend as much of these next two weeks together as possible and then you'll be there no problem" Tsuna suggested, cleverly yet innocently expressing his desire to see Tsukiko as much as she had for him.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
Akio was given another irritated glare. But before Yukiko got too far away, he also got something else; a whiff. Poor Yukiko was so frustrated, she was already fragrant with her arousal. And given the fact she'd been more busy than not all of today, it was easy enough to guess she hadn't had any time to help herself out. And right when he smacked her ass, it was no exception that she was stuck with yet another thing on her to-do list ... but, as Yuri pointed out, this was her forte. Cooking.
Meals were one of the rare instances when most, if not every, Guardian were around each other. Tonight would be no exception ... hell, even if not Kaito, Daiki would be there. Which meant ... she had to behave for evenlonger.... something that made her huff and sigh in frustration. It meant she had to do the same thing Yuri was currently doing ... killing time until after dinner.
Yuri, meanwhile, had leaned back in the chair. For once, she couldn't blame Yukiko. This Adelheid girl was honestly kinda boring as fuck to watch. The red eyes implied she'd probably cried for a bit ... which at least made her grin, if only because it strengthened the belief that she and Enma truly were close. Good. Her head tilted as she began to wonder .... would there even be a reason for keeping her at all?
Yuri hadn't originally thought so, mainly because they were already taking a lot of risks with Tsukiko. However ... maybe. It would ultimately depend on her own Flames. And hell, maybe Enma would be more cooperative if he saw his comrades weren't strong enough to get away from them? It was at least a thought, something she mentally kept in her head for when dinner rolled around.
The loud whistle and bell would both be heard several hours later. As Yuri got up to report to the dining room, she briefly turned around. And in time to see Adelheid grab the camera and slam it onto the ground, breaking it.
"Oh? She knew, or at least found out? Interesting."
She at least had awareness if nothing else. Akio would beecstaticto learn that, more so if he was indeed assigned to Adelheid like even she was guessing. With the control room being one of the closer rooms, she was the first to enter and sit down. And as she smelled Yukiko all but dripping, she chuckled. "Jesus, slut, get a hold of yourself."
"Shut up. I've been trying. But between you and Akio --"
"Oiiii, don't put any of it on me. If last night wasn't enough to satisfy you, that ain't my problem."
"So? Who's tonight?"
Yuri merely smirked as she sat in her spot, "Come on. If you don't kiss and tell, why would you fuck and tell? Besides, you got more to worry about. Namely yourself."
Yukiko rolled her eyes but didn't argue back. Instead, she took a breath to get her composure back before setting the table, sitting after she finished. Mere moments later, Hitsuki would arrive and take his own spot. No one made a move to eat - not yet. There was always a golden rule, one that never needed to be spoken out loud many times, if ever, and that was no one started until either Daiki or Kaito arrived. Usually just Daiki, but Kaito had been known to surprise them all every now and again.
"It was close enough," Tsukiko shot back, sticking her tongue out at Tsuna .. not even caring enough that she did so in front of Chrome. For that matter, Chrome didn't mind the gesture. It helped put a smile on Tsukiko's face, so who would she be to complain?
Tsukiko quietly thought on their words, their attempts to reassure her that she could, in fact, be with them during these training sessions. The nagging voice in her head still tried to say it was pointless ... but the logical side it wasn't. If Reborn really was as persistent about this happening, Tsukiko could assume one thing to be right; it wasn't just for the hell of it. It never was. He either knew something was gonna happen ... or had enough of a hunch to be correct in his guess. It still bothered her and for the exact same reasons Chrome - and probably the other Guardians - had come up with.
What else was there to worry about? Or, to be more accurate, who?
If it were someone they'd already dealt with, Reborn just would have outright said it. But he was sticking to his cryptic ways, so ... a new threat? It was what would most likely happen, but Tsukiko couldn't begin to think of anyone else. Who was as bad - or worse even - than a professional group of assassins, the mafia 'police' or a group from the Future that had so much more advanced technology?
"I guess if it's random ... then we'll have to see. For now ..."
Tsukiko waited for Tsuna to finish sitting down before hugging him. "I'd just feel better if he was fine doing this. Or even spending his summer doing things he wanted to. We're both only going to be sixteen once, after all."
And really, seventeen wasn't too far off. A few months at most. Tsukiko had never been easy to shop for since she hit her teen years. In fact, she found herself wanting ... less material gifts and more ... idealistic ones? Was wishful thoughts the better choice of words to use? It was a weird way to word it. But this year ... she wanted Tsuna to have some peace by the time they hit seventeen which ... that at least might be possible. Hopefully. It was a hope she'd cling onto for damn sure.
Alternatively, him hooking up with Chrome wouldn't be half bad. She is gorgeous enough.
You think so?
Oh yeah. You're Mist ... oops. Well, yes.
A ghost of a smile appeared on Chrome's lips as she nodded to acknowledge the brief mental talk. "Well," Chrome finally mused out loud, deciding to act normal and not make it obvious there had been a brief telepathic talk, "Until we start for sure and aren't being needed for chores ... wanna go downstairs and watch a movie or something? It's probably gonna be a while until dinner is done anyway."
gpt
After Adelheid smashed the camera, a pair of hands came down to rest firmly on Yuris shoulders as she leaned back watching the monitors. Hovering above her was a wild mane of long red hair and piercing blue eyes staring down at her from underneath it. "Been at it long?" Daiki had entered the control room from the front door, having been away from their base for a few days.
Daiki was a towering man and oldest of the Guardians of the Veleno Family. He had smaller, round eyebrows that arched with his concern despite sharp eyes who's hardened look sometimes betrayed his expression to those who didn't know him unlike his fellow Famiglia. The young man usually wore tops that exposed his arms and torso, today a hooded sleeveless black jacket vest, as it showed off his most striking feature. Daiki had blue scale tattoos in a band around each bicep, as well as around his abdomen.
The redhead jerked his head towards the kitchen, "let's eat" he told her when Yukiko called out to all of them.
It wouldn't be long before Daiki joined them at the table. "Akio" greeted Daiki as he bumped fists with the blond who merely reciprocated. "Touma!" He put a hand on the boy's shoulder who smiled up at him.
"Hey! Daiki!" Touma responded excitedly, not having seen his fellow guardian for a few days.
Nodding to Hitsuki as well, Daiki sat as they all began to eat. "Ahhh.... Amazing as ever, Yukiko" he commented after downing some of his food.
Only after a while did Daiki decide to bring up business. "Kaito... Couldn't make tonight again but I do have orders" he explained after taking a drink. "We're going to take the Simon chick" he told them matter of factly, "Akio, you're up" he told him, "and Yukiko you're going for backup" he added.
The blond smirked, "excellent!" He said excitedly, pumping a fist. Finally he'd get a chance for some action.
"Mm" Tsuna nodded with a smile before being taken off guard by Tsukiko's hug. He embraced his sister back and smiled again.
"It'll be okay" Tsuna told her, "I... I don't think Reborn will let things not be okay" he said with a bit of hesitation as if he was trying to figure out how to word it. Of course things were hectic with the home tutor around and Tsuna wouldn't be just let free of the obligations he never wanted but was growing into. Still, Reborn often made sure Tsuna still got to live his life and always intended to bring him back to his loving if not crazy life.
Tsuna was completely unaware of the conversation behind him, of course not able to peer into the shared thoughts of Chrome without her intentionally letting him in. Entirely oblivious was he to the thought Tsukiko and her had just exchanged. Which was probably for the best as Tsuna would certainly explode with embarrassment if he heard something like that so casually.
"Yeah, sounds good" Tsuna nodded as he obliviously headed downstairs.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
"Hello there, Daiki-sama," Yuri greeted, grinning as his hands landed upon her shoulders. Him, Kaito, and Hitsuki were easily the three that - willingly or otherwise - she submitted most and easiest to, and there were very specific reasons why. Had today gone badly, that grip on her shoulders could have been ... tighter. Full of anger and malice. Thankfully, that wasn't how things had been going, and it was partly why she was smiling. Fortunately for Touma, she was a woman of her word, so she wouldn't go back on her plans.
But that didn't mean her mind didn't briefly wonder other places .... particularly now that Daiki was here. Her head shook as she heard his question, "Nah. Me and Yukiko have been swapping with this. It hasn't been too long. Actually ... I was primarily with another certain someone. I'll tell you more at dinner."
Yuri merely nodded in agreement, having walked in with him. And once everyone was there .... she began eating. With the hours that had gone by, she did work up enough of an actual appetite once again.
Yukiko gave a smirk whilst acknowledging the decision to accompany Akio. "Okay. We cantalkover that afterwards then." It was clear enough, at least to Akio, she wanted to do a lot more than simply that. But at least to avoid looking like she was literally fucking around too much, she kept her reply worded professionally.
Yuri would wait at least several seconds to make damn sure Daiki didn't have anything else to add before finally speaking, "So ... you told me to keep an eye out while I was at the school. I did, and I found someone that will be a helpful aid to our mission with Amaya-sama. Touma went out with me and agrees it's worth investing. The girl's name is Tsukiko Sawada, twin sister to the Juudaime or Neo Primo, whichever he's going to be acknowledged as. Either way, she definitely has Flames that could be used to help us in the long run ...."
Yuri held a finger up, hinting there was a part two, so to speak.
"But ... it isn't just Tsukiko who's seen us both. Her mom did too when we picked her up, so while I'd normally be fine taking this mission on, it wouldn't look good if she vanished after being last seen with me. I wouldn't be amazed if I'm contacted pretty quickly after she disappears, in fact, so .... if I'm going to keep playing my part well enough, I can't be the one to deal with her. Nor should Touma now that she and her mom knows about him."
Now Yuri went silent, focusing on her meal as she allowed Daiki to mull over her words and give an official plan regarding her. Sure, they had time. But they, of all people, knew how quickly it could go by. Hell, the school year was a decent enough example. Yuri had joined the school in April. It was already August. Point made, as far as she was concerned.
The smell of food being made would hit all of their nostrils as they descended the stairs. Nana glanced curiously at them before Chrome pointed towards the living room. "We're gonna kill time in there for a bit."
"Ah, okay. Probably for the best. I still got twenty to forty-five left." Besides, Tsuna and Tsukiko actually didn't watch too much television. They were actually quite the opposite. So who was she to object to them rewarding themselves for once? She watched them all sit on the couch before going back to cooking, wearing a happy and proud smile on her face. Truthfully, she'd been a small bit worried Tsukiko would take Chrome's 'moving in' badly. Thankfully, she'd adjusted very well, it seemed. If anything, her reassurance about wanting a younger sibling had been true enough and she seemed to be looking at Chrome's presence as that ... or something similar enough that she wasn't bitching or whining.
Each girl would sit on either side of Tsuna. Tsukiko grabbed the remote ... before handing it to Chrome. "Guest's choice."
"O-oh? Thank you. Umm ... let's see."
The screen flickered on as she went to a large menu that listed all the channels. She began browsing through ... and found a spy action-adventure film. She flashed Tsuna a brief apologetic look. His life probably had more than enough action as it was .... but she hoped the fact this was a movie would help. Pressing down on the remote, she then set it down after selecting it.
Tsukiko visibly relaxed as the movie started up. This was definitely a good start to making up for the past day. Sure, she still had two more weeks .... she really just didn't want those to pass by with few to no opportunities in being able to have fun with her brother. And, now that she was here, her new 'imouto'. A smile appeared on her face ... it did indeed seem and feel like things were turning around.
gpt
Akio merely smirked back to Yukiko, he knew just what they'd be 'talking' about.
"Just the news we've been waiting for, yeah" Daiki bounced a fist on the table lightly in excitement before Yuri brought up her second point. He wasn't exactly shocked by the target, they had a list of candidates who were found to be notable in some way in regards to their flame. Enma was captured for his secrets however, Tsukiko, her connection to the Sky Flames and her potential was what they were after.
"Right" Daiki nodded, "when I get ahold of Kaito we'll figure out who to send" he explained. "With a target related so close to the Vongola, it should be either me or Kaito anyway" he added to Yuri's logical deduction.
"Is Kaito... Alright?" Touma asked softly.
Daiki sighed softly, "as much as ever" he answered. "It gets hard for him to join us, to have dinner without... You know" it was clear he didn't need to elaborate, and to a degree they all felt the same way if not as deeply as their leader.
Still, the Famiglia Guardians ate together and enjoyed one another's company as always. All of them had the knowledge that sometime they would save their precious comrade, and they would have meals like this with everyone again.
After dinner everyone went to their separate rooms, at least to wash up for a couple of them before meeting for more late night plans. Touma in particular padded into Yuri's room, pulling off his light blue t-shirt, Touma sat on his knees in now nothing more than his black cloth pants and leather wrist strap awaiting Yuri with a smirk on his face.
Akio on the other hand made his way to Yukiko's room, leaning in the doorway as smugly as ever. "I heard someone is in dire need and needed someone brilliant to help them" he chimed cockily before flashing her a smile and a wink.
Tsuna smiled back to Chrome assuringly, of course he'd had such a hectic life but there was still a disconnect between that and fiction for him. To Tsuna it was just another movie and he enjoyed watching it with them. Tsuna couldn't help blush a bit as Chrome and Tsukiko sat on either side of him, he gulped softly and then smiled again. As bashful as he was, he was happy to have them both here.
After the movie they had a surprisingly peaceful dinner. As much as they could with Lambo running around as usual anyway. Even with Reborn there things felt... Tame. It was nice. Tsuna wondered if maybe Reborn was intentionally giving Tsukiko as much normal time as possible, though he seemed no more serious than usual so maybe it was a coincidence. Still, it was something Tsuna wanted to remember.
That night they all finished up and showered before bed. Tsuna laid onto the floor and though he was awake for a while, staring at his ceiling in pleasant thought, he was silent - letting Chrome sleep until sleep claimed him as well.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
Yuri nodded, taking in Daiki's response and mentally tucking it away. It was a bit of a shame that when the mission rolled around, she would have to be absent. Watching Daiki or even Kaito work was a wonder in its own rights. Everyone was competent in their own rights. But when their de-facto leader or even the right-hand man worked ... it was like watching a real life blessing play out. As good as the rest of them were, their presence, their abilities made it easy to understand whytheywere at the top of the family for the time being.
"Understood," Yuri merely replied in agreement. No matter how much she felt irked about missing such a display, she knew Daiki wasn't wrong. Staying away whenever that day rolled around would be the best for her. Even she'd admitted as much. So there was no point in arguing over it.
The rest of dinner was peaceful enough. Now that tasks had been assigned, everyone went to their rooms ... except for Yukiko. She didn't only cook, but cleaned also. So the first place she went was the kitchen, where she had to keep herself from damn well nearly dropping the dishes. Or even half-assing her efforts in washing them and putting them away in the dishwasher. But the moment she finished, Akio was already there ... waiting for her. All while wearing that arrogant grin of his.
"Get in here!" she growled, not even really waiting for hm to comply with the order. With almost unnatural speed, Yukiko grabbed Akio by his collar and tugging him inside the room, almostthrowinghim onto the bed. She then straddled him, placing her knees firmly on either of Akio's sides to keep him in place. "You smug prick,you'renot any better than Yuri with today's bullshit teasing! Don't play coy with me!"
Before he could toss over any smart quips, Yukiko grabbed a fistful of Akio's hair and locked lips tightly onto his, showing she wasn't in the mood to do much more talking, if any. Right now, she wanted action ... to be touching him and get that in return, regardless of whether she had to make him do so or not; evidenced by her using her other hand to slide down under Akio's pants and waste little time in jerking him off. The sooner he was ready to enter her wanting cunt, the better.
Yuri, meanwhile, had left dinner in a far more calmer mood. Pensive, if anything. As she stepped into her room, she stripped and threw her clothes away into the hamper. Keeping true to her word, she wordlessly began to bathe and get cleaned up. "Probably go quiet for a few days," she muttered to herself, nodding in mild annoyance. It was, once again, probably the right move to make. But if she seemedtooclingy with Tsukiko, that would also probably draw suspicion on herself eventually.
So, even though she had originally considered at least texting her tomorrow ... nah. Unless it felt right or she was given the green light, she'd probably remain silent until she was brought over here.
Nodding once more to reassure herself, Yuri's thoughts then went to the immediate future, licking her lips at knowing Touma would be coming to her room soon. Or .... she assumed he would be. He was usually a good boy and not nearly as uppity as herself. Her head tilted upwards ... partly to allow the shampoo and conditioner to flow easier out of her hair, and also to figure out what she should wear.
Or, rather, whatcolorto use. There were points to her wardrobe decisions, and the colors could sometimes be hints on her mood.
By the time she finished drying off and brushing her hair out, Yuri grinned as she knew the answer. Right as she finished getting clad in a ratherrevealing lingerie set, Touma walked in. Her fingers tapped against her arm as she watched him comply. However ....
"Youdoknow I could count that as you being a bit of a smart ass, right? I very clearly said to come in here withonlyyour pants. Fortunately ... I'll let that slide for tonight. Next time, though, if you pull off something like that again, there will be consequences."
And hell, who was to say there wouldn't be later on? It just wouldn't be in the physical form like a slap.
"So ... since you otherwise listened to me ... this one."
She walked over to a certain part of her wall, where numerous collars were hanging up. All normal ones, none had the nullifying ability like what Enma wore. In fact, they all had words included on the leather, ranging from "SLUT", "BITCH", "FUCK SLUT" to more tame ones like "OWNED" and "SLAVE", to name a few. And even though part of Yuri had a mind to get one of the more crude ones for Touma, she knew deep down he didn't deserve that one ... yet.
Making sure to keep her selection hidden, she walked beside Touma, securinghis selected collararound his neck for him. Not because he couldn't, but that was another of Yuri's rules. Anyone serving her didn't put their collars on. She did that for them.
"Hmmm ...." Yuri slowly walked around Touma, deciding how to begin tonight's session. After making at least one full circle around Touma, she moved away from him, grabbing and attaching a leash to the ring of his collar and giving it a light tug. She'd point down to the ground, indicating when to stop, as she sat on the bed and spread her legs.
"I don't think I need to tell you what to do, right? You're not only a good boy, but a smart one. So come ... claim your dessert."
gpt
Aiko didn't bat an eye as Yukiko yanked his collar to throw him into her room and onto her bed. He bounced against the mattress before Yukiko pounced onto him,firmly straddling him to the point he had no doubts she could feel the bulge in his dark wash jeans just as firm against her.
Before he could crack wise however, Yukiko gripped his messy blond hair and pulled him against her lips. Akio's snarky grin widened wickedly before he met his lips with hers and kissed her roughly. His hand made it's way back behind her and grabbed Yukiko's round ass, pulling her against him. Though the space would be slipped into by Yukiko's impatient hand as it slid under the waist of his jeans and boxers, grabbing his semi-hard length and beating him off right there. Of course it took no time at all for the 8 inches in his pants to harden to full, pulsing eagerly in Yukiko's hand. The blonde undid his button with a free hand letting her rapid motion deal with the zipper on it's own.
Neither gave the other much time to settle however, as Aiko gave a playful little smack against Yukiko's pert ass, the sound pleasingly muffled by the cloth of her pants. Gripping her, Akio shoved her hips to the side and rolled so that he would land atop her now. The kiss broke but he didn't pull away her grip on his collar.
Sitting up between Yukiko's legs on his knees, Akio merely grinned to Yukiko as he pulled off his black tank top. Akio had a lean build with minorly toned abs and a firm chest, his fair skin exposed to Yukiko now.
Reaching down, Akio let one hand hold him up aside Yukiko while the other took firm grasp of one of her tits. Groping and molding it in his hand Akio wasted no time then yanking up Yukiko's top roughly to do the same over her bra, before yanking that down too, leaving one breast exposed between a lifted shirt and lowered bra. Neat and total clothing removal wasn't rightly on either of their minds at the moment surely.
Akio bent down, taking Yukiko's nipple into his mouth and sucking sweetly, his sharp eyes gazed up at Yukiko, a smirk almost able to be seen in his glare despite his mouth being currently occupied.
Touma could play, and to a degreewas, slightly more innocent than the others, but he knew what he was doing. "Hai...~" Touma answered politely with a sheepish but knowing smile.
His green eyes innocently scanned Yuri's outfit with delight, a small blush across his features as he watched her pick at her collars. He was good and decided not to try and look as she hid the plate, and of course he knew the rules as it were and let Yuri place it firmly around his slender neck. Touma was of a thinner, more lithe build than Akio. He had some tone to his body but was slightly more pale and small boned as well. Touma was the type to be deceptively strong despite his smaller appearance.
His eyes followed Yuri back and forth as she circled around behind him and then around front again. Tilting his head up innocently, Touma let Yuri leash him as she guided him to her bed. When she ordered him to have his 'dessert', Touma blushed softly at the compliments she gave as he crawled over to her, slowly, on all fours.
Resting his hands under and onto her thighs, Touma leaned in slowly Gently the boy kissed her knee, then her inner thigh. Switching sides he kissed the inside of her other thigh before gently running his tongue along her soft skin. Slowly Touma got closer and closer, trailing his sweet, loving kisses and licks up her thigh before he was right before her womanhood. Looking up at her, Touma gave a kind, heart melting smile.
"Thank you for the sweets... Onee-Chan~" Touma remarked before he pressed his lips to her own lower lips and ran his tongue between them. Using the nickname they had playfully brought up with Tsukiko, Touma sweetly licked against Yuri's clit, swirling it around the sensitive nub before he licked over her entrance again. This time Touma pushed his tongue in, sliding it into her hole before pulling back and doing so again repeatedly, tonging Yuri's sweet hole for moments before returning his attention to her clit.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
Yukiko groaned happily, not only at feeling Akio give her everything she was wanting, but noticing he was already pretty hard and raring to go. Good. Normally, she could wait and help whomever was being intimate with her out. But tonight ... she'd done enough waiting. She'd been teased more than enough. Her patience was honestly wearing a bit thin, so the sooner she started getting - and giving, she wasn'tthatselfish - pleasure, the better for her.
By the time she pulled away from the kiss to regain her breath, she was panting heavily. "I ... I don't care wh ....ohhhhhhhh, yes! Fuck yes!"
Yukiko threw her head back, a long and loud moan leaving her lips as Akio went to working on her stiff nipples. "Yes, that's right! Right there, right there!" Her grip on his hair tightened as her body shuddered in a mix of arousal and anticipation. Juices from her moist and eager sex were steadily leaking down her legs and thighs.
"I ... don't care where, but you're fucking me somewhere. N-ngh ... no more teasing ... I'm done with that shit for today."
It was clearly obvious that despite her words, she did have a preference. However ... if he wanted to use her ass first, that was fine if only for one reason. Yukiko had more than enough solutions, in the form of toys, to accept that decision.
Of course, there was an unspoken part two ... but she'd give him a chance to act. If he didn't pick sooner than later, though ... well ... he'd find out just how little patience she was clinging onto at that moment. His mouth and tongue dancing along her nipples was all well and good ... but it was by no means the 'perfect distraction' in any form or fashion for Yukiko. Still, it was something and, as the proverb went, that was definitely better than nothing.
"Good. I'm glad you're not trying to bullshit me or anything," Yuri responded, flashing Touma a proud smile. It made her feel like she'd given him the right collar. Rarely, if ever, did she switch in the first place, but there had been some rare instances where she did so in the middle of a session. Typically, it was when someone gavehera collar. It didn't usually happen in her room, but it had been known to occur every now and again.
She licked her lips as she watched Touma crawl over. A few juices dripped just from knowing what all he was about to do. As his hands lightly rested on her thighs, she patted his head, gently moving her fingers through his dark locks. And then he began to work .... causing Yuri to latch tightly onto her lower lip. Yuri moved her legs so they were draped over Touma's shoulders as she let out a simultaneous sigh and a moan.
"Mhmmmm, that's it. You're very welcome, ototoooooooooooooooo, ohhhhhhhhhhhh!"
A very rare apologetic look entered her eyes as she squeezed and gripped on Touma's hair. None of them were frail, or anything close to that. Even still, she tried to give her partners some sort of a heads up on when to expect pain, regardless of how much or little it actually was. Assuming said partner wasn't being a complete bitch or brat to her in the first place, anyway.
"Good boy, yes! Yes, mmmhhhh, yes! Right there!"
Yuri began rocking against Touma's face, her own set of moans and other erotic noises echoing throughout the room. Her right fist clenched tighter, causing her to grasp more of Touma's hair as her grip strengthened. Her left hand, however, managed to find the sheets and give them the same treatment. She was close ... very much so. And all just from Touma's mouth and tongue.
He's definitely been improving ... she mused, her body quaking as she gritted her teeth. Right before she caved in and climaxed, Yuri gave a tug on the leash, panting heavily as she moved her head from side to side.
"S-stop ... long enough .... you lie down first."
Yuri stood up, albeit with slightly trembling legs, and waited for Touma to obey the orders. She then straddled his face, giving him a firm nod. "Now resume. You just keep working. I'll take care of you, just like I promised."
She'd wait for him to continue eating her first before first tying the leash to the headboard of her bed. She then opened up a nearby drawer and retrieved the very item she'd decided to use on Touma. A cock ring. Her hands moved down, first unzipping and unbuttoning his pants to expose his member. She gave the head a light kiss ... before slipping the ring in place. After counting down from three in her head, a button on the side of toy was pressed ... and soon, Touma would feel it begin to hum and vibrate around his cock.
"We're going to see how long you can keep that on before itreallydrives you insane," Yuri stated, a smug smile hidden from his view due to their position. Even still, he would definitely be able to hear it, even if not see it. In the past, she'd had a set amount of time. Five to ten minutes tops. This though ... this would all depend on Touma. If he could hold out for as long as an hour before screaming and begging to have it removed so he could cum inside her, that was how tonight would play out. It was all a new test and experiment of sorts ... to see how patient he was, or alternatively, what would cause him to lose his patience. He didn't seem or look it, but even Touma had a bit of a wild side to him. It just ... needed coaxing. And Yuri was easily one of the people who could do just that. Slowly, she began engulfing Touma's member into her mouth, beginning to very, very slowly drag her tongue up and down as she returned the favor and began orally stimulating her 'ototo'.
gpt
Akio chuckled darkly against Yukiko's nipple when she made such a demand. She really wasn't there for foreplay and Akio, though he loved teasing her, was more than happy to oblige such pure, carnal urges.
"Deal~" Akio said after he pulled away from Yukiko's nipple, sucking on it until he pulled away with a softpop. Sitting up on his knees, still between Yukiko's long legs, Akio pushed his jeans to his knees as taking them off fully right now would take time - he'd just kick them off in the middle of this when he could. Akio's hard cock pulsed with anticipation as he pushed up Yukiko's skirt to find she'd already dealt with the problem of wearing panties, more than likely a problem she'd already solved by that morning.
Gripping his base, Akio took one last moment to tease, sinister smirk on his face as he rubbed his tip against her clit rapidly for a moment. He was thinking the same preference Yukiko was, not that he didn't enjoy pounding her tight ass, but she was just too wet to resist.
"Ahh~" Akio grinned as he pushed into Yukiko, sliding inch by inch in until he buried himself into her. Akio's trimmed blond pubis pressed against hers as he glared down at her, watching Yukiko's own anticipation boil over as he waited just a moment before he thrust once, and then again, firmly from the get go.
He wasted no time picking up the pace, one hand resting on Yukiko's hip as the other grabbed her exposed breast. He began pumping into he roughly, drilling Yukiko just like she wanted. Just like sheneeded.
Touma's face reddened as Yuri played along with his nickname in return. It was so sweet pouring from Yuri's lips through her music-like moans. Touma placed his mouth over Yuri's clit as he continued, sucking softly as he flicked it rapidly with his tongue. He groaned as she tugged his brown hair, not out of pain but pleasure even as Yuri showed the concern on her face. As she pulled more of it, harder, he could feel her hips rutting for his face. Touma could tell Yuri was about to cum and so he doubled his efforts, tongue fucking her once more as she got close to the edge.
The boy could feel Yuri's body stiffen up, tense suddenly, shake softly, Touma knew she was about to cum. He sucked on her clit once again, licking as rapidly as he could against it as she started to cum. "Mmmnn~" Touma hummed against her pussy, licking swiftly through her orgasm before slowing as she came down from her peak.
When she commanded, Touma smiled against Yuri and pulled back, standing slowly before he sat and then laid back onto the bed. He watched happily as Yuri then straddled over his face. "Mm" Touma nodded determinedly against Yuri's slit, sliding his tongue between her sweet folds again, twirling around her entrance as he awaited what she would do.
Yuri was rather tall, letting her reach over to the nightstand without dismounting Touma's eager little face. He couldn't see at first what she had retrieved, but as she slid the elastic ring down his length and turned it on, he knew.
"Nhhh..." Touma huffed as his cock tingled with the light buzzing but also tensed with restriction. He couldn't help but gulp as Yuri told him exactly the trial he would be facing with her tonight. Yuri could be scary after all, in the best of ways.
As a sign of agreement, Touma cupped Yuri's soft backside, squeezing her ass lightly as he pulled her down against him, licking more eagerly now as he pushed his warm tongue inside again.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
Teasing could be all well and good. In fact, she would have been perfectly fine with foreplay .... had onlyoneperson done so. Just Yuri alone was irritating enough. Dealing with both Yuri and Akio throughout the whole day? Nope. Not this time. A groan of approval would be what Akio received as he pulled away from her stiff nipple, the other just as hard in anticipation as she looked up and watched every single movement of his. Particularly with removing his jeans ... and then laying eyes on his already erect member.
Yukiko licked her lips, reaching down and spreading herself open for Akio.
"Mmmmhh! Yes, that's so gooooooooooooooooooood!" Yukiko swiftly - almost desperately - wrapped her legs around Akio's waist, helping him hilt himself fully inside. Her legs stayed encased and firmly in place, refusing to be moved away easily. Her muscles began to clamp along Akio's cock, acting as if it were its own version of a mouth stimulating him while he began to pound away.
"Yes, yes, please! Grab my tits! Play with them! Enjoy them!"
If anyone hadn't known yet what Yukiko was doing ... now they did. Not that she was subtle much, if ever, to begin with. Nor even shy. No one really was. Her thoughts were interrupted as his pace began to quicken, helping her squirt and soak his cock in her juices from his movements to the oral stimulation Yukiko was getting from his mouth.
"Fuck yes! Mhmmm ...." Yukiko shuddered as she rocked against him, eagerly riding along his rod, continuing to quake and drench on his member. Normally, she could hold back ... but with how the day had been, she felt herself already so close to a climax. "Don't you dare stop," she whimpered, "I'm so fucking close!"
Yuri grinned as she felt Touma's cock twitch against the ring ... as well as her tongue. She continued slowly dragging her muscle up and down his length, grinning as she decided what would happen next. But first and foremost ... she'd enjoy his tongue a bit longer. Yuri pulled up to the head, panting lightly against his throbbing cock as she moaned while he continued indulging in his dessert.
"Such a good boy," she cooed, lightly grinding back along his face. "Mmmmmmhhh, yes. Such a good boy .... ohhhhhhhhhh! Fuck! There! There!"
Yuri sat up straight, allowing him to more properly stab up at her g-spot. Her arms shot up as she began to grab and tug her nipples, helping spur her on more. "YEAH! YEAH! FUCK YES! AHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Yuri remained on top of Touma's face as she began to cream and cum hard, shuddering in delight. Once she calmed down, she stood up and turned herself around. "You stay right there. Don't hold your moans back. Let me hear them. Also, no moving your hips .... not until you're all the way in." Even if he didn't understand what she meant yet, he would soon enough.
Yuri first hovered over his cock, not yet allowing it to slide inside her waiting pussy. Exactly one minute went by before the first inch was guided inside. Another pause ... then two more inches at two minutes. All he'd need to do was note the time to literally add up what exactly Yuri was doing. She was purposely timing how long it took to add his entire cock into her waiting cavern. What would normally be a quick process would now take much, much longer.
Long enough to see if that in itself would make him cave in and surrender to his wild side .... or if he could hold out long enough.
Once she got all the way down, Yuri moaned, lightly patting his head. "Mmmm, very good. Go on. Fuck your onee-sama! You can move now!" As he moved, she began to bounce up and down with him, her breasts joining in as they swung with each motion either of them made. Yuri leaned down after spotting Touma's hickey and began teasing the area, lightly nipping and tugging the same bits of skin she'd stimulated earlier. After working on the same spot a bit longer, she whispered in Touma's ear, "You don't need to behave anymore. If you wanna talk and act dirty, go for it. I love that part of you, you know?"
Without much warning or waiting for him to respond, Yuri lowered her head again, now sucking and licking on the - for now - unmarked collarbone.
gpt
Yukiko was tight, and her pussy gripped Akio's length even tighter as he pushed into her. Her long legs held Akio flush against her until he pulled back, fighting the resistance of powerful smooth legs only enough to pump into her with the aid of her pulling back into him. Again, again, hips thumped against hips as Akio drove his cock to her very core with each firm hump into Yukiko.
Akio groped her tit, letting the other bounce at a steady pace with deep, slow thrusting before he picked up the pace and made Yukiko's large breast sway about faster. The blonde soon let go of her hip, sitting more up on his knees as his hand moved to the free breast's nipple. Akio pulled the stiff little pink nipple, lightly tugging it just enough to pull her tit with it while squeezing the other.
He could feel her getting wetter, her eagerness letting him fuck faster as well. Akio used the grip around him with her legs to lift back and pull Yukiko with him before smashing her back into the mattress making a light bounce against it as she cried out. "Ahhh... Fuck~" Akio's groans accompanied his arrogant chuckling as he enjoyed his fellow Mafia's curvy body. Leaning down he licked against her left nipple, lashing his tongue around it through a twisted grin looking up at her, rutting his hips faster as he felt Yukiko's juices dripping down his shaft.
"Nhh... Already?~" Akio teased pulling up to hover over her while he fucked harder. He winked, not giving her too much trouble for it, rather enjoying just how much she would be cumming for him that night. "Wouldn't dream of it" he then answered with a pleased huff of effort as he planted his hands on either side of her and slammed into her faster now. His throbbing cock drilled deep through her walls, balls crashing against her ass over and over.
"Do it already~" Akio playfully urged, leaning on one hand to move the other to Yukiko's collarbone. Not rightly grabbing her neck or choking her... Yet, but merely pressing lightly his presence over her as he stuffed his cock into her.
Touma shuddered with pleasure, light moaned breaths warmly crashing against her folds as he licked deep. "Mmh!" Touma excitedly half questioned as Yuri sat up so suddenly, he knew what this meant.
How perfect a sight a woman's body tensing and jerking about, all composure either lost or enforced when orgasm hit his partner of the time like a wave. Touma eagerly pistoned his tongue at just the spot she stopped him at. He didn't care that she stopped tonguing his aching dick even as the cock ring buzzed almost counterintuitive pleasure through it. Touma gripped Yuri's firm, round ass as he ate her out vigorously.
As she came, Touma's cock visibly twitched - he was really enjoying this. He lapped at her spot throughout her orgasm, tasting her juices as she came onto his face.
Moments later she dismounted, leaving a panting Touma about to sit up before he was instructed not to. "R-right" Touma caught his breath slowly as Yuri hovered herself over him. Another nod signified his understanding of the next order, he would try not to move.
Easier said that done as Yuri merely hovered over him, his tip barely able to feel the warmth of her cunt. Biting his lip he watched as Yuri touched the tip to her hole, the vibrations just barely tickling at the edges of her entrance before Yuri, like a clock, ticked down every inch of his cock with almost mechanical movement and timing. "Hngh!..." Touma didn't intend to quiet himself but even the simple feel of her hole sucking against his tip was incredible.
Just barely Touma held on as Yuri clapped herself against his pelvis, sheathing him to the base inside of her in a single sit. "Ahhh..." Touma's dick noticeably twitched inside, the buzzing smothered against her lower lips. "Y-yes..." Touma answered as he pushed upward, grinding up into her to slide his cock in, scraping against her walls as he pulled down to do so again. The younger boy rutted up into Yuri before she started to return the moment, bouncing down on his cock.
"Fuck..." Touma grunted as Yuri leaned onto him, licking and nipping at the sensitive flesh she had marked earlier to ensure it's longevity. When she whispered in his ear, Touma's blush actually softened. "Really?" He asked with panted breath as Yuri admitted it so forwardly, not that he didn't know but it was something he felt deep when she complimented his nature.
It wasn't that Touma was suddenly not shy, but to affirm like that during the act made him comfortable, a level he couldn't just reach with normal people. "Yuri...." He said almost bashfully at first, "f-fine... I'll let out just how bad I want to fuck you Yuri-Nee~" Touma breathed back to Yuri as she rode him and he humped up into her faster. His hands groped her rear again, pulling himself up into her and her down onto him with his grip.
"You're... You're always so tight..." Groaned Touma as his cock continued to ache with the buzzing and intense warmth squeezing against him now. "Agh..." Touma grunted as he humped into Yuri, his 'Onee-Sama'.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
"Mmmmmhhhh .... " Yukiko groaned, thoroughly enjoying the hard fucking she was getting from Akio. Each thrust up inside her made her squirt and gush more onto his stiff rod. Quite a bit of her juices were already making a mess on her bed. She'd definitely need to do laundry come morning before going on her mission with Akio. In fact, were it not for the fact she was so famished and needing this attention now, the logical part of her would remind Akio that they'd need to stop fucking around and eventually rest.
As she was, though, she wanted more right now, and was relieved he wasn't going to cease his actions anytime soon.
"Sh-shut up," she growled back, whimpering and shuddering as he continued to rut hard and deep inside her. "Yo-you and Yuri are horrible teases, I s-swear ... mmmffff! Ahhh, right there, right there, yes! YES YES YES YES OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Her muscles clamped tightly down as she came hard, creaming more along his pounding member while he continued to thrust with wild abandon. Her finger managed to find the ring attached to Akio's collar as Yukiko pulled him down, stifling herself as she thrust her tongue into his mouth and began hungrily Frenching him, groaning and shuddering while still climaxing.
Yet, even despite reaching her peak, she wasn't done. Evidenced by Yukiko wildly riding Akio, her hair beginning to fall in front of her eyes as her breasts swung, regardless of whether they were being played with or not.
Yuri, meanwhile, was going on a much steadier pace. She was content to enjoy Touma lose himself in bliss, even heeding her advice and talking dirty to her. "Mhm, really. I never say anything I'm not sincere about, ototo. Like I said, mmmm, right now you don't need to be good or 'nice' to me. That's what sex is for; to indulge and be your true self."
It wasn't the only thing it was for, no. But she knew he got the picture otherwise. Yuri gently blew over the newest hickey she'd created, licking her lips as she watched Touma's reaction. Felt his hips repeatedly clash with her own. All while lightly riding on top of him.
His actions seemed like he was giving in, or getting close to it. But ... nope. That wouldn't suffice. She'd told him he needed to beg first, and he hadn't done that with wanting the cock ring off. So, for now, it'd stay on him.
"Mmmm," she moaned in his ear before proceeding to tug his lobe, "It'll be amazing when it comes off, won't it? You'll really be able to fill your onee-sama so nicely. I'm looking very, very forward to feeling your warm spunk enter me."
Ever since everyone started indulging in one another, certain precautions were taken, particularly with herself and Yukiko. Whether with Flames or medical help, sometimes a combination of both, they made damn sure nothing could come from any of their sessions with any of the men. This was just fun time, but not at all their goal ... not yet. Maybe after getting Amaya-sama back, as a second generation would be nice and perhaps needed. But not before then.
"Such a good, honest boy," Yuri cooed, moaning and purring happily. "Mhmmmm, you like me being nice and tight, do you? It's all for you, my precious ototo. Enjoy the bliss your cock is feeling, knowing the pleasure's only going to get better when you're ready."
Yuri actively began squeezing along Touma's throbbing member, continuing her steady pace as she coated him and the ring in her juices. A few more tugs were given to Touma's ear, then collarbone ... before Yuri moved her mouth. She lightly tugged his hair, forcing his mouth open before locking lips with him. But whereas Yukiko was doing so in a rough and wild manner, Yuri offered soft, passionate kisses. As if she were with a lover instead of a mere fuck buddy. She even gently stroked his cheek, lightly caressing him and simultaneously silently praising him.
Were she with Akio, or literally any of the others, she would probably be mimicking Yukiko. But right now ... she was with one of the few people that she was fine being a more gentle domme with. So she'd enjoy it while Touma was still with her.
gpt
Akio flashed his sinister smirk down at Yukiko as she told him to shut up while he slammed his hips into her. "Nhh... If we're tied..." Akio groaned as he pounded against Yukiko, "I need to start teasing you more then~" He posed playfully as he drilled deep, filling her tight hole with his length every time he crushed against her.
The blond felt her pussy spasming, clamping down on him as she screamed out. Akio had found her spot and he wouldn't relent, fucking exactly like that, aiming his thrusts once he found exactly the right angle, his tip scraping her spot rapidly, harshly, over and over before he could feel Yukiko clench down on him tightly.
"Cum Yukiko... Cum!" Akio encouraged roughly as he fucked her hard, clapping loudly against her hips with each thrust as he pummeled her tight pussy ruthlessly. As she came Akio could feel Yukiko's juices spilling down his cock while her walls gripped firmly. Pulled down by the collar Akio kissed Yukiko back deeply, sucking on her tongue as his clashed with it, fighting to invade her mouth with just as much vigor. His hand slid up gently around her neck so the two now had a grip on each other while making out, the white haired woman's body shuddering under his touch in orgasm.
Moments later they had changed positions, Yukiko now sat atop, straddling Akio as her plump ass crashed down onto his lap over and over. Akio groped and squeezed Yukiko's left breast letting the other bounce and sway with her vigorous motions. His left hand grabbed her backside tightly, pulling away to smack her ass before groping it again. Each time she slammed down on him, Akio pulled Yukiko against him and ground his hips up into it as well, fucking her back from underneath as she rode his cock so wildly.
"Heh... I know" Touma answered back bashfully, knowing Yuri wouldn't say anything just to sound attractive or make things better in the moment. She could do that plenty with her honest feelings and Touma knew it.
As Yuri toyed at his sensitive mark left by her, Touma shuddered softly, his hardened dick so tense inside of her. As she slid up and down it, steadily riding his length Touma groaned in ached pleasure. It wasn't as if hehad to cum yet and the ring was stopping him, but Touma could feel the unrelentingly building pleasure, knowing he wouldn't be able to expel his tension with it on.
"H-Hai... Yuri-Nee..." He breathed against her in answer. The way she spoke of him pumping his spunk into her, blatantly telling him she wanted his seed, Touma's dick twitched with the thought though such a thing wasn't possible yet.
When their lips met, Touma lost his breath to the kiss. The two kissed one another deeply, passionately, as Touma's hips rutted faster up against Yuri's. A soft whine of a moan escaped his lips against her as they fucked so lovingly. Touma's arms wrapped around Yuri and his hands caressed at her back, fingers digging softly against her supple skin as their hips playfully bounced off one another's.
The kiss broke and Touma sat up, keeping Yuri in his lap but putting his head against her breasts. He wouldn't beg yet, not for the cock ring to be removed, but there was one thing he wanted first and maybe even more. "Y-Yuri... N-Nee-San... Please..." He begged near wordlessly, almost cutely in his desire not to be satisfied but to satisfy her, he pumped up against Yuri though the position still left her mostly in control. Touma wanted to see Yuri pleased to the point of no return, strained with pleasure for him, and he would beg for it. However, his body shuddered eagerly under her touch, if it was denied Touma may not be able to stop himself taking what he wanted in this instance...
Without much hesitation, Touma pushed against Yuri, getting to his knees and planting her back to the bed. Now on top for the moment, Touma's hips started to pound into Yuri faster as the younger boy hovered over her red faced but mischievously eager.
"S-Sorry Onee-Chan... I need you..." He smirked softly through his innocent expression.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
"H-hell no you won't! Just seeing you walk around ... knowing your real appearance ... nnnh ... that's .... ahhhh, yes!"
Poor Yukiko was beside herself. The rest of the words that had wanted to leave her mouth were long gone, replaced by lewd, erotic moans. Juices squirted with each deep, rough upward thrust from Akio. The fact he was ensuring to assault her sweet spot made her eyes roll to the back of her head, causing the naughty noises resounding from her to become louder and more frequent.
"Yeah, yeah~ Mhmmmmm, fuck yessssss! Right there, yes, Akioooooooooooooooooooooo~"
Those were some of the few words she could properly say, her body doing the rest of the 'talking' right now. Shuddering, trembling, convulsing hard ... almost violently. Caving in more and more to the bliss and ecstasy overwhelming her. It usually took longer to literally fuck her senseless ... but god help her, sheneededthis so bad, it wasn't funny. And now Akio was seeinghow direlythis had been needed.
Her body moved, seemingly on its own, as she held onto Akio's shoulders and bounced up and down his rod eagerly. Happily even. Some juices and sperm were squirting so hard that they were flowing onto the sheets beneath them, pooling and making an even bigger mess than the two family members had already made.
"You too!" Yukiko whimpered, clamping tightly around Akio's rod, "Cum! Cum in me! Cum, cum, cum, cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum!"
Even though it was meant to be an order to him, she let out a mewl ... and her own body heeded the word and did just that, quaking as her climax surged through every inch and muscle of Yukiko's body.
"Mmmmm .... amazing," Yukiko muttered, waiting until Akio finally gave in and laid her head atop his shoulder, panting heavily. "W-we ... sleep. We need to ... for ... the mission. Soon ... if not now ..."
Yukiko wasn'tcompletelyexhausted, hinted by the weak rocking of her hips. But itwaseasy to note that she was definitely down to anywhere from one to three really good orgasms left in her. Normally, she could go for a lot longer ... which went to show she hadn't just been begging for a good fuck randomly. This was proof she truly had needed to be railed as hard as she'd been by Akio.
A smirk spread over Yuri's face. Even while she was making out, she most certainly felt the gropes on her ass. She pressed back against his hands, helping them grab her rear tighter. As she pulled away, her up and down motions along Touma's cock began to quicken. "Such a naughty ototo. Happily fucking his onee. Indulging in her ... mmmm ... but I suppose I kinda am too. Even in front of Tsukiko, I wanted to touch you so fucking badly. Right under that table ... not at all caring if she saw or not ... definitely next time though."
Yuri grinned, licking her lips at the thought as she continued bouncing along the throbbing member inside her wanting cunt.
"You ready yet?" she muttered in a sultry voice.
Her answer would be rather quickly given as Touma swapped places, soon getting on top of Yuri ... who wagged her finger.
"Mmm. Bad boy .... is what Ishouldsay. Be glad you begged before that because ... I'll allow it. So .... since you did what I wanted, you can remove it now. Then thrust right back in your onee and ravage her. Fuck her as hard and wildly as your cock desires. Show me how much you love taking my holes."
And once he complied .... a content purr resounded from Yuri. She easily slid her legs over Touma's shoulders, giving him more access as he slid inside deeper. Her breasts bounced as his hips crashed against hers. Yuri rose one hand up ... moaning as she smacked it right against an already stiff and perky nipple.
"Yeah, ototo ... ohhhhhhhhhh ...."
Her muscles squeezed and sucked rapidly around his rod. "W-With me ... cum with me ..." And to help ensureshecould heed her own words, Yuri bit down on her lower lip, forcing herself to hold back. Waiting for the cue, the signal that Touma would be unable to hold back and finally erupt deep inside her waiting cavern.
gpt
Akio couldn't help but laugh through a moan at Yukiko's knee jerk response to the idea that he would be even meaner to her in regards to teasing. He grinned as her eyes rolled back, he loved to see this look, to see the pure pleasure on the face of those who were brilliant by his definition. He admired the strength behind the so pure feeling and the expression that showed it.
"Aha... Yeah... Ngh..." Akio reveled in Yukiko's rambled shouts, his cock pulsing deep inside. He dragged his nails down her back as Yukiko twitched and tensed and convulsed between each bounce down his length, gripping her thigh with the other hand before caressing up to return it to her ass. Akio's hands explored her as she rode him, reaching up and smacking against her breast before groping it while scratching down her back again.
Yukiko gripped his shoulders and really started driving herself down his member, fucking down onto him roughly as she told him to cum too. "Nhh... Sure~" He played apathetic for only a moment before grabbing Yukiko's hips. Both held onto one another fucking roughly, Akio pulling her down as Yukiko gripped into his shoulders.
"Yeah... Let's cum... Fuck" As she shouted for him to cum it seemed Yukiko couldn't even hear the word without letting lose herself. As Akio felt Yukiko's pussy spasming, squirting down his cock, he let go as well.
"Gngh!" Akio grunted through gritted teeth as Yukiko slammed down on him and at the same time he pulled her flush against him. His cock twitched as it spurt a thick load right inside of her. Akio's body jerked, tensing up as the next shot flooded her as well. His cock spilled over and over, making sure that every last drop dribbled into her.
"Ahh..." Akio panted as he laid back and Yukiko laid atop him. He felt her hips rocking against his cock still inside her, the lean young man smirking down at her as he held her against his body. "You... Don't seem like you're ready to sleep" Akio suggested as he groped Yukiko's ass that was still rising and falling subtly against him as she rocked.
Touma's face reddened again at Yuri's scandalous suggestion, "you thought that that Tsukiko was cute too hmm?~" He teased back bashfully, "You would take advantage of me in front of her... I have such a scandalous Onee-San..." Touma smirked softly.
Once he was atop her, fucking ravenously, Touma coyly smiled as he just barely got by without breaking Yuri's orders. When she gave him the okay, Touma pulled out, sliding the vibrating ring off of his slickened length and tossed it aside. His dick twitched eagerly, Touma biting his lip before he slammed it back into her.
"Youwanted her to watch, didn't you, Onee-Sama?~" Touma accused as he pounded harder, letting out an efforted breath as he held back as long as he could from the immense pleasure. He moaned as he watched her smack her nipple and his hands went to her hips when Yuri's legs draped over him. "I bet you wantedto touch her too..." smirked the boy against her leg as he kissed it softly, holding them over his shoulders. Touma felt her plush thighs as he smacked his hips against them shoving his sensitive member inside over and over.
"Y-Yuri Onee-Sama... I'm close..." Huffed Touma as he railed her, cock pulsing and heart pounding with the way they were talking to one another here. Fingers dug against Yuri's toned waist as Touma fucked harder, pounding into her pussy as he teetered over the edge.
"G-guh!" Touma groaned as he clapped against Yuri's thighs pressing flush against them. As he felt Yuri's tight hole squeezing him, Touma couldn't hold back any longer. Those sweet words danced through his ear, to cum with Yuri, and he couldn't help but heed them. "Yuri- agh!" Touma's dick gushed into Yuri, spurting as he held tight, shooting every last drop inside. The boy bit the soft skin of her leg gently, rutting his hips with each warm rope of spunk he spilled into her.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
As the two were steadily recovering from their climaxes, Yukiko lightly nuzzled her head against Akio's cheek. "Nnnh ... it's true that don'twantto stop. But ... we seriously ... probably should." It was a very unfortunate response, but it was the technically correct one also. And she knew that Akio would understand that much. Hooking a finger into the ring attached to his collar, she pulled them both down on her bed, making it so they were each lying on their sides.
Everyone in the family had switches, per se. And they weren't just ones to get themselves all wound up and ready to fuck. There were a small handful of ones that helped calm people down.
So .... Akio would understand perfectly what Yukiko was doing as she began to run her fingers through his hair. Any irked look she may get was met with a knowing smirk. "We both need to be at one hundred percent, you know? That doesn't just mean with our powers, but energy too. Besides ... you know I'll make it up to you."
"Of course I did," Yuri swiftly replied, "I wasn't just asking her all those questions to get a good read off of her. It's so I can knowexactlywhat to do when we get her. And knowing who she has a crush on ... maybe something even better than if she had been with Hibari could be arranged. Either way, I think I have a pretty decent idea on what would get her ... wild enough."
Two and two was quickly adding up, shown by all the questions Touma was swiftly asking her. She gave him a simple smirk at first ... then nodded.
"Mhm, I absolutely wanted to do that also. See her reaction ... see if it'd get her curious enough to want in on the action which I feel confident she would have. The poor girl was all but begging to be pinned and taken. It's what she wants. I'm not gonna shame her, though; thatisone of the more fun ways to be approached."
Not to say she couldn't enjoy being in charge. But sometimes, she enjoyed being the one wearing a collar, being manhandled, restrained, even lightly choked, stuff like that.
"Go on, go on, mmmmfff! Yes, Toumaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Yuri's back arched as she joined him, moaning as her juices mixed in with his semen that shot deep inside her waiting cunt. She made sure every single drop was deposited before gently pulled Touma down, using the leash to help guide him beside her. She planted one last soft, deep kiss on his lips before pulling the covers over them both.
"Very good boy," she muttered in a low but still clearly blissful voice. "We may not head out in the morning for missions, but we definitely need another shower. Don't worry about waking up, though. Sleeping in a bit won't kill us, after all."
As each word left her lips, Yuri's hand snuck around .... and lightly rubbed Touma's back.
"Just remember ... we're all a bit scandalous here. It's notjustme, but you're definitely not wrong on your observation. Now ... rest up."
It wouldn't take long for her own body to heed the same commands she just gave out. The hand that had been rubbing Touma's back would go still to reveal the exact moments she lost her consciousness.
gpt
Akio merely smirked knowingly, he had the confidence to know even a bit worn things would be of no issue to him let alone the two of them. Still Yukikowas right, at the very least it was a bitch being tired during a serious objective and while Akio would have loved to say screw it and pummel Yukiko into the night, the promise of it being made up for was tantalizing in of itself. As such Akio let Yukiko pull them to each other's side as she began to caress and coddle her fellow Famiglia.
"You better" Akio smirked back, his own hand trailing up and down Yukiko's curved side. Despite only one good go at one another, that would still make it easy to sleep that night. A fact proven by the two actually being able to fall into slumber quickly together.
Touma's cock stiffened at Yuri's answer as he still pounded into her. It was true that Tsukiko was related to their enemy and that she was their target, but that all had it's own tempting effect to the idea. Touma wouldn't have objected, being exposed to someone he'd just met as his fellow member of the family Yuri used him to tempt her, the thought alone aroused him. On top of that however to join in on taking someone so important to their mission in a joined effort together, it had Touma's heart racing at the idea before the two reached their peak's together.
Touma came hard into Yuri as she too came over his twitching, spurting member. Touma panted softly as Yuri rolled them to the side, cuddling into her as Yuri caressed his back and spoke softly to him, they were still joined at the hip. He kissed her back slowly as the covers were pulled over him.
"Hai..." Touma smirked up at Yuri as his hand caressed over her hip. He too could go more if they wanted, but Touma was content letting the adrenaline drain and the tiredness wash over him as his 'Onee-Chan' coddled him.
"Trust me... I know~" Touma grinned a bit devilishly, he definitely wasn't trying to hide his more crude desires with that comment either. Soon Touma closed his eyes and in the warmth of Yuri's embrace he too was able to find sleep soon. He barely made out feeling Yuri's hand limp as she passed out just before he did too.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
"Ngggh ...."
Morning always arrived way too quickly. Without fail, Yukikoalwaysfirmly believed in this opinion, and it seemed to be more accurate if she had spent the night before with a fuck buddy. So the moment she felt the sun begin to shine through the window and land upon her skin, she groaned and rolled in protest. Was it a childish gesture? Absolutely. But that wasn't going to stop her from responding in the only way that felt correct, not even with knowing Akio could easily hear her.
In fact, it was preciselybecauseshe was expecting him to be awake now ... or soon ... that she would finally speak at all.
"I'll get up in a few more moments to make breakfast. We head out afterwards but before I cook ..."
Yukiko would slide out of her bed and walk towards the bathroom. Before she got too far out of earshot, she quickly added, "If you can behave, you can join. Otherwise, use your own shower."
Regardless of what Akio would choose to do or not do, Yukiko would sneak one last glance at him. After admiring him briefly, she turned away, wearing a very content smirk. At least she had last night to help keep her satisfied long enough, as well as the promise of making up for cutting their session short. For now, she focused on the main task at hand ... which was getting herself presentable first and foremost.
A sigh that just barely avoided sounding akin to a moan resounded as she stepped into the shower and felt the warm water quickly begin greeting every inch and curve of her body. A hot shower was just as good, sometimes better, than a very hard and much needed fuck.
Tsukiko, meanwhile, had been awake. She had always been used to assisting Nana with chores, particularly cooking. This morning was no exception and, thankfully, the talk she'd had with Tsuna at least succeeded in making her less anxious. Or - gods forbid - succumb to even worse emotions. She was certainly still frustrated with him being constantly dragged away, oh hell yes.
But at least she felt more hopeful. And although she hadn't assumed Chrome would be aiding in that fear becoming a reality, hearing her reassure her helped further calm her ... which led to Tsukiko being in a much better mood. There were other factors helping out, like the lunch she'd had and being able to hang out with Yuri and Touma, but being home and able to start over was just as good.
"You going to go get your brother and wake him up?" Nana inquired while Tsukiko helped her place food on each of the plates. A coy grin quickly appeared on Tsukiko's face as she shook her head.
"Chrome will probably be able to help with that. We'll see if I need to in the first place. But unless I'm given any cues to do so, no."
In truth, Chrome had been awake for about ten minutes. She hadn't completely adjusted to the new surroundings. It was weird ... but in a good way. Definitely not bad. Alas, her body and mind were just used to being in the old, abandoned school for living, let alone sleeping. So she had to remind herself upon waking up why she was in her Boss' house, as well as bed.
A quick downward glance revealed that Tsuna was indeed still asleep. Nodding at the sight, she took advantage of the unconscious figure and carefully stepped over him, moving to her small bag. A slight frown appeared; it hadn't dawned on her just how little she'd had until she found herself looking at the small handful of extra outfits. It was something at least ... but it was clear a trip to the mall was something that would need to be arranged, and likely sooner than later.
For now though, she had more than enough to change and get ready for whatever today would bring.
After getting clad in her skirt and top combination, she leaned down and gently shook Tsuna by the shoulders. "Boss. You need to wake up. Breakfast is done. I can smell it from here."
gpt
Akio was awake only shortly before Yukiko, still groggy when she protested getting up at all. With a silent smirk to Yukiko's conditions, the blonde did indeed follow her into her shower, and did indeed behave.... Mostly. After all it would have been rudenot to help wash Yukiko's back after all, while making sure to get every little curve and crease.
Alas Akio did have to get ready as well and so he washed with Yukiko, still edging on good behavior for now.
Tsuna stirred lightly before he woke to Chrome's gentle urging. While he didn't need to get used to the place he woke up in like Chrome did, Tsuna certainly had to get used to waking up to her. To hear the soft way she called to him, her 'Boss', as the first thing he sees is the unique pineapple shape of her dark hair dangling down over him from aside her delicate face - well it wasn't so bad a way to wake up in the morning if he had to be up.
The way she addressed him too... Tsuna certainly, most definitely, without a doubt did NOT want to be a Mafia Boss. Though, when Chrome said it, it was probably the only person he heard it from that wasn't too bad to hear. Maybe even... Pleasant?
Red forming in his cheeks, Tsuna shifted his attention to anything else and smelled the second most wonderful sense he picked up upon waking. His stomach growled in response which only deepened his blush, but at least he had a better excuse for it now.
"Aha... Y-yeah... Let's go eat" Tsuna said awkwardly half awake through the adrenaline as he sat up. Standing up and stretching, Tsuna grabbed the nearest clean white shirt and threw it on, staying in his pajamas for now.
"Good Morning, Tsukiko, Mom" Tsuna greeted politely as they all sat down for breakfast.
In the middle of their meal however, there was a rapid knock at the door. "Teeeeennth- er... Neo Vongola Primooooo" The familiar shouting of an overexcited Gokudera shouted through.
"Geh!!" Tsuna cringed at the sound,'It's worse when he says that!' he thought to himself.
Upon entering, Hayato stood holding up a flyer of some kind. Surprisingly Reborn was sitting on his shoulder, the two apparently having met up first. "Look! We have to go!" Gokudera declared, handing the flyer to Tsukiko who happened to be closer than Tsuna.
It was some Namimori Paranormal Club flyer asking around for information on reports of mysterious happenings in Namimori Forest: a dense thicket on the outskirts of town that was often the center of all sorts of abnormal anecdotes and ghost stories. Most involved how hard it was to navigate and rumors of people getting lost as well as feeding on the fear of how dark it is at night due to the dense tree population.
"Hayato thinks he has a lead on a U.M.A. out in Namimori Forest" Reborn spoke up, "I thought we could all go help him search" he added.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
The sensation of Akio cleaning her back was perhaps theonlyinstance of touching that was welcomed and encouraged in the bath. It helped earn content sighs and moans of approval as she enjoyed him guiding the sponge slowly up and down her back. "Mmm, very nice. You make it real tempting to stay here longer than I should, you know?"
Which made it all the more annoying that wasn't an option right at that moment. Her brain quickly reminded her of the mission, making her mutter under her breath, "Yeah, yeah. Deal with that bitch soon, I know."
Granted, shedidat least seem interesting and not like a pushover. But she wasn't nearly as hyped about this as Akio was, though ... who knew? Maybe going out with him andseeingthis Adelheid would help her out. And that was when another thought came to Yukiko's head, which got voiced as she began to return the favor and wash Akio's back.
"Bother Yuri long enough to see if she's got definite coordinates on this girl. I'd rather catch heroutsideof that hotel than in it ... mainly in case she is good enough to hold her own. We don't need unwanted attention being drawn to us."
After finishing washing her hair and the rest of her body up, Yukiko stepped out and began looking through her wardrobe. She was studying each article of clothing carefully. That alone indicated she was in her more serious mode at the moment.
If the tone hadn't hinted how seriously she was taking this mission, her outfit she gotclad inwould. Skimpier items were for fun. And while some people could argue the top was questionable, it would be the sight of jeans that helped get rid of any doubts. Jeans were only worn during missions like this, when she acknowledged she could get legitimately hurt and was refusing to make it overly simple for her potential targets to cause any dire harm to her.
Wordlessly, she exited her room and went first to the kitchen to cook up breakfast for the Familigia. From what she'd seen and heard, Adelheid had been smart enough not to use any of her Flames in front of the cameras .... which meant one of two things. She couldn't use them ... which wasn't likely in Yukiko's mind, or she could but wasn't showing them off. She was betting on B, and only slightly irked about that.
Mainly because theystilldidn't know what exactly Enma's were. The gravity effect was the best they'd had to go on, but as far as what Flame it was or what it could have done had they not collared and eliminated his ability to use his Flames? Nope, nothing. Yukiko clicked her tongue as she began setting ingredients down, then grabbing numerous bowls as she got to work.
Yuri, meanwhile, had already woken up. The more accurate wording was she'd been awake since five in the morning, spending a good chunk of her time in front of the monitors. Now, however, she was actually taking Yukiko's spot and visiting Enma ... albeit in a less pleasant manner. With the snow constantly falling and weakening him, it had been stupidly easy to chain his wrists over his head and attach them to the top of his cell.
"Okay, boy," Yuri started after cutting his shirt open so his back was exposed. "You may not believe me, but Yukiko's actually been pretty damn civil with you. Perhaps too nice, so something's gotta give. These secrets ... are theyreallyworth holding your tongue over? We just want the information, but goddamn you're making this so much more tougher on yourself. I'm not sure if it's more foolish or irritating."
Her head shook as she grabbed a bull whip and unfurled it. If he didn't peek over his shoulder to see what exactly had been grabbed and unfolded, he'd soonfeelit as the whip mercilessly greeted his back, landing hard enough to threaten to draw blood.
But whereas he may have expected another lashing within five to ten seconds, it didn't come that fast. If Enma counted, he'd get to thirty before the whip flew threw the air and a second mark was made.
"Really now, we have all the cards against you ... like more time, for example. In fact, the one we're steadily losing ... which is patience ... is now going to workagainstyou instead of for you. And the more of us that get this way with you ... well ... your stay is going to become more and more painful. So ... you're either a huge M and just haven't begged for this yet, or are too stubborn to be smart in knowing what youshoulddo."
An amused grin appeared on her face.
"Honestly, if you wanna keep the 'tough boy' act up ... I suppose you can. I hope your girlfriend is as great as you boasted about, because if she isn't ... this act of defiance will be for nothing. Hope you know and understand that much."
Hopefully, dropping the hint that some of them were intending to find and fight - if not worse - Adelheid wouldfinallyget him to panic and start speaking. Granted, it wouldn't change or cancel the mission, but he didn't need to know that. The third and fourth lashes would fall upon his back during the silence.
"So? Got anything to say about that? Or have you become cold and uncaring like the snow surrounding you?"
"See, mom? Chrome's got that covered now."
Nana merely grinned and chuckled, "It does look that way. You're fine with that?"
"Yeah. I wouldn't mind him if he wanted a newer face waking him up. Besides, I'm still doing this much among some other mundane tasks. I can afford to let Chrome take over a few things for me."
Chrome wasn't sure why ... but hearing that sort of thing made her oddly happy and ... blush? Yep, it did, though she wasn't sure why. Either way, she didn't question it and simply sat beside Tsuna, enjoying the breakfast with the Sawada family.
And then ... she supposed itshouldhave been expected when Hayato arrived about half-way through the meal.
Wordlessly, Tsukiko got up and grabbed another plate, setting it down in front of Gokudera before resuming eating her own meal. Her attention quickly went to the flyer ... and she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "You'll have to forgive me for saying this, Hayato, but I didn't think you were into paranormal stuff. I actually thought that was something you actively avoided because you were scared and believed a bit too heavily into things like spirits and such?"
Chrome curiously tilted her head as she, too, glanced at the flyer. It seemed a bit odd for a club like the Paranormal one to be meeting over summer break ... but maybe not. A few other clubs did some meet ups over break. Still, she couldn't deny that the topic Hayato had brought over was incredibly intriguing. Almost as much as the idea of him liking these sorts of things was.
After nodding and studying the poster, Chrome first spoke up, "I don't see why not. We should join him."
Tsukiko quickly nodded in agreement, already knowing Tsuna was going to be a bit hesitant because ... well ... it was her twin brother. When it came to things like these? He wasn't exactly known for being the most brave. Thankfully, Tsukiko had come up with some responses meant to reassure him, "In the best case scenario, it won't be anything violent we find. Or, alternatively, we may not find anything at all. But I'm definitely coming along. I don't like staying insideallthe time."
gpt
Akio nodded as the two discussed strategy while bathing one another. "Yeah, if we're really going to see a brilliant flame from her it's best in the open" he agreed if only for his own excitement over the task at hand. Though that didn't mean he wasn't focused on the job, quite the opposite if anything.
Slipping away to his own room the blond dressed in a black pair of jeans and another black tank top. He smirked to himself as he shook out his short wavy blonde hair, Akio was starting to really anticipate the upcoming mission. After breakfast he'd need to bug Yuri like Yukiko suggested.
As for now it was Enma who would see Yuri first today as the first sound different from the white noise around him he'd heard in days came from the door opening, startling him awake from the half sleep he could manage off and on in this place. In a constant state of grogginess, Enma was out of it when he first felt the tug of his cuffs lifting his arms over his head. Simply moving was a heavy task, his arms shaking as much from the minimal food giving him no energy as the cold. He barely registered that he was being turned around until his face was near the wall, Yuri behind him with... Something.
Enma breathed sharply as the cloth was cut open from his back, exposing his skin to the cold. This snow wasn't just that however, it was flames. Yes they were cold but being Dying Will Flames meant they didn't have to behave exactly like ice water. In this case that meant they could leave him there in that cold and while he would feel it to the fullest extent, it wouldn't actually freeze his skin, cause frostbite, or present any other limit to his torture before they would have to stop for any reason. Enma was stuck here, and with each flake that landed against his bare back he felt his own energy evaporate with it only making him endlessly weaker.
Crack! Enma hissed through a loud grunt as the whip slashed against his back with an alarmingly loud noise. He felt so numbly cold he almost didn't feel the initial lash, which only made the sharp pain that followed worse as it was all the more sudden as it surged through sensitive skin.
"Agghhck!" Enma coughed out in pain as he was whipped again for his silence.
"It's... S-s-s-stalling... You guys... Isn't it?..." Enma spoke up through weak, shaky breath as he mustered a small smirk. Whatever they wanted they almost had. It was obvious they could get to or at least go after Adelheid or his Famiglia without his cooperation, which meant what they needed from Enma was nothing more than a missing puzzle piece. Giving up information about the others or not, reacting to their threats or not, none of that made the situation any less convenient for this enemy.
No matter the promises, an enemy of his Famiglia... They had to be stalled by any means. All he could do would be to not tell them about his flames, keep whatever they needed as long as possible. It was the only way he was sure they would be slowed down in some way, which to Enma was the only way to preserve his Family regardless of their threats.
Gokudera was taken aback by the assumption, "what?! Are you kidding?!" Hayato gasped. "It's my DREAM to meet a U.M.A.!" He declared proudly with a fist held up, his eyes literally obscured by twinkles of light with how excited he was.
"Aha... Yeah it's kinda a big hobby of his" Tsuna backed him up, face slightly flushed as a sweat drop beaded his brow. "How did you even find this poster?" Tsuna asked.
"It was right outside my house!" Hayato answered eagerly.
"Who would deliver it right to-" Tsuna looked over to Reborn but was cut off by everyone else's interest.
"Chrome?" Tsuna asked rhetorically as he hadn't expected her to be into the idea. "Tsukiko?" He'd answered the same way when she tried to assure him, showing her own interest as well. He was outnumbered. Tsuna hung his head drastically, somehow it always ended up like this.
"C'mon Tsuna" Reborn said encouragingly at first, "don't wuss out on everyone, a Boss should support his Famiglia's hobbies" he added backhandedly through his always deceptively innocent expression.
"You don't have to say it like that..." Tsuna grumbled at Reborn. "I guess I can go, sure" Tsuna nodded, "but we still gotta be careful out in the woods okay?" He said, perhaps trying to sound protective though it came out sounding more scared than anything.
"Great! I'll get my gear and we'll meet up just off-" Hayato gave them the road and coordinates he would set up at before speeding off.
Later after breakfast and some time to get ready, the three of them would find Gokudera geared up and ready with Reborn likewise on his shoulder. Reborn was decked out in a safari hat and matching bush jacket, backpack and all. Hayato on the other hand was in more normal wear of jeans and a white t-shirt with designs on the front, but with a contrasting tan sleeveless safari vest over it, as well as a hat matching Reborn's complete with binoculars around his neck.
"W-woah... You're decked out Gokudera-Kun..." Tsuna said with a usual mixed sense of impressed and disbelief, noticing the large backpack he carried along with a side bag in his left hand.
"Of course!" Hayato was a glow, face lightly flushed with excitement at the possibilities of what they might find.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
Tsukiko rose an eyebrow. She'd sworn she heard something about him being scared of the supernatural, but ... at this rate? Even if that were true, it was easy to see his excitement was all but shoving aside any fears and uncertainties Hayato may have had. Tsukiko nodded, flashing him a small smile as she focused on finishing up her breakfast .... only to soon hear she wasn't the only one willing to accompany Gokudera. Thank goodness she was in the midst of chewing, otherwise she would have chuckled then and there.
This was indeed how Tsuna's luck - or lack of some would argue - almostalwaystended to go. Without much, if any, fail. At the same time though, it was also the best chance Tsuna could have had with someone siding on him. Mainly just because Chrome was a wild card and much harder to predict compared to the other guys, but ... nope. She wanted in on this too, it seemed.
Ah well. Kinda works out better.
Chrome's head tilted slightly, indicating she'd heard as much. This time, however, Tsukiko was careful not to say too much. There was a very specific reason why ... and she wasn't gonna say it here or now.
After everyone finished up, Tsukiko started to grab the dishes before Nana shook her head. "Go on and get dressed. I'll grab all of these for once."
"A-alright. Thanks, mom!"
A quick jog up the stairs ... and soon she would find Chrome already in her room, looking something in between sheepish and nervous. "So ... umm .... mind if I borrow some of your clothes?"
" .... I suppose that trip does need to be arranged pretty quick, huh? Ummm ... there's only one real issue I have with it. I think a lot of mine may be a bit large."
"I can alter them as needed."
" ... I suppose you could, huh?" Tsukiko mused after hearing those words, nodding slowly at the thought. "Okay. Sure. What kind of outfit do you want?"
"Something close to what I'd usually wear."
Within moments, askirt and blouse combo was tossed over towards Chrome. Tsukiko dug a bit more before grabbing ajeans and top combo for herself.
"Forgive me for asking, but are you trying to seduce someone with that outfit?"
"W-what? Why do you ask?"
"That's alotof shoulders you're exposing."
Tsukiko quickly shook her head, blush already adorning her cheeks. "N-no. Definitely not my intentions. I give Tsuna somewhat of a troublesome joke, but it does seem to be at least partly true. But Hayato seems a lot more invested in him than me ... or any girl at that rate."
" .... Do you really think he's like that?"
Tsukiko shrugged. "I'm not gonna judge. Heishalf-Italian. Europeans in general ... well, a lot do support, if not partake, in non-hetero relationships, so ..."
"I suppose that is true," Chrome softly agreed, unable to argue with Tsukiko's logic.
"Besides," Tsukiko added, "Neither of them are the right guy."
"So you could have been ... if someone else were here?"
Tsukiko nodded, taking a moment to look long and hard over at Chrome. A soft sigh passed her lips before she forced herself to voice her thoughts, " ... Be honest with me. Am I really just that easy to read? Even without your Mist Flames."
Chrome grabbed some socks and shoes before dwelling on her answer while getting dressed. "Hmmm ... I don't think so. You're probably around older people who are used to reading other individuals more than much else. But especially if you want me to gauge you without my Flames? No, you're nottoosimple to read. You can be sometimes, but that's not the same as all the time. I just used common sense, really. You and Boss are both sixteen. Hormones are probably strong in you, so it wouldn't be too weird to think you may have a crush on someone."
"Okay. I'll accept that answer. Thank you. Just ... it is kind of annoying to think I'm too open of a book, per se. I don't want to be for all of my life, you know?"
"It's not necessarily the worst thing though, particularly if you do end up with someone. They can help you however they need to."
"True enough," Tsukiko replied as she grabbed her own pair of socks and shoes. Tsukiko shook her head and the thoughts away. Now wasn't the time to be focusing on such things. "Go on and meet up with my brother. I'll be down in a bit."
Sure enough, a few minutes after Chrome descended the stairs, Tsukiko would arrive with a backpack of her own. Inside were a few items ... just in case they were needed. A few flashlights with spare batteries should they stay out till dark, insect spray, her own cell phone, and in case it got too warm ... sunscreen.
"Alright. I'm ... pretty sure I grabbed enough. I'm ready."
"As am I," Chrome added.
gpt
Tsuna was still in his white T-shirt but had changed out of his pajamas into dark green cargo shorts. With that they had left to meet up with Hayato.
"You too, Te-... Neo Vongola Primo!" Gokudera commented as he noted the very large pack Tsuna happened to be carrying on his back.
"Tenth is fine!" Tsuna comically retorted sharply. "Uh... Yeah... Reborn made me carry a lot of stuff..." His legs were shaking because of the weight and long walk. Apparently before he'd left with Gokudera, Reborn had left the huge backpack in his room with a note basically ordering him to transport it here.
"Oh good you brought it" Reborn said all too casually for the importance his note seemed to place on it.
"I've already set up a few cameras" Hayato explained, one tripod set up behind him pointed into the forest, with a couple more around the perimeter as well.
"So what is all this stuff, Reborn?" Asked Tsuna.
"Let's head in first before getting it all out" Reborn replied shortly.
Tsuna supposed that made sense, it felt like a lot. It was definitely a hassle to bring it all, but Reborn always with the vague answers made Tsuna groan tiredly nonetheless. With that the group made their way in.
About twenty minutes of walking had gone by before Reborn stopped them, with Hayato setting up a camera or two on the way. "We can stop here a second" Reborn noted.
"Thank god..." Tsuna grunted as he tried to gently let the large pack down where he sat. "Whew..." He breathed out a sigh of relief letting off the heavy burden.
"Hey guys look!" Gokudera pointed out into the woods. When peering in through the light fog a small, thin shape could be made out. His eyes started to sparkle, "could that be it?!" He asked in an excited whisper.
"Tread carefully" Reborn warned.
Gokudera nodded and stepped ahead of the others with Reborn in tow. It wasn't far away enough to lose sight of them so Tsuna, and likely the others, waited back to let him investigate.
"WHAAAAAAAT?!" Hayato belted out in a shocked but disappointed tone.
"Gokudera!" Tsuna called out, huffing as he picked back up the pack, steadying himself before hurrying over to Hayato. "You okay?!" Tsuna asked worriedly as they approached to see that what they had seen was... A camera? The shape they had seen in the fog was another tripod camera set up.
"H-huh?" Tsuna scratched his head when they saw it. "Does... That mean others are out here too?" He asked.
"Gaaaaaah if we got a bunch of tourists around it'll be harder to-" Gokudera cut himself off as he eyed the camera. "Wait..." He peeked around, darting from side to side to behind the camera, checking it out suddenly very carefully.
"This...." Hayato looked a bit perplexed, "this ismycamera... Did we get turned around?" he asked.
Reborn smirked subtly.
"We couldn't have" Tsuna proposed, "we've been walking in a straight line since you put the last camera up ten minutes ago" he remembered.
"How did we end up back at this one? I marked it and everything!" Gokudera protested their own apparent mistake, he really had thought ahead of everything as per usual, "so Iknow this is the one I just put up!" He revealed. "Could this..." Hayato loomed over the camera, "could this be the weird power of the forest the sightings have been talking about?!" He theorized with concern.
"I think this is the perfect spot" Reborn finally spoke up.
"Eh?" Tsuna looked worried, he knew Reborn had to have something to do with this!
"Let's begin" Reborn said. "This will now be the 'Storm Trial of the Neo Vongola Primo'" Reborn announced.
"WHAAAAAAAT?!" Tsuna replied in the same shock and volume as Gokudera when discovering the camera.
"First thing's first" Reborn ignored Tsuna's anxiousness. "No Vongola Gear" he told them, "you're only allowed to use what's in the pack" revealed Reborn about the purpose of the bag.
"You knew this would happen!" Tsuna accused as he set down the backpack.
"To be honest it was just rumors" Reborn replied, "but it's the perfect opportunity, now open the pack" he told them.
Undoing the top flap there would be a bunch of metal contraptions. Some seemed to be lures of some sort, a couple looked almost like bear traps but they had no spikes and looked like they folded a bit more complicatedly. "What even is all this?" Tsuna asked.
"Special traps I had commissioned" Reborn answered.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
"Shouldn't we have mom drive us at least to the halfway point?"
Unfortunately, the question didn't click to Tsukiko until the group had walked about said distance. It hadn't clicked beforehand just exactlyhowfar of a walk this would be ... something she scolded herself for. They'd even said they were going to theforestfor crying out loud! Most of those were near, if not in, the outskirts of Namimori!
A long, frustrated groan echoed in her head. She damn well nearly jumped, however, when Chrome 'spoke' up.
At least you were able to join us.
A faint grin appeared on Tsukiko's face as she nodded in agreement.
Yeah, I do appreciate that much. But holy crap, did it have to be so far?
Chrome internally giggled and nodded.
Yeah, it is a lot further than I expected.
That response, however, made perfect sense to Tsukiko. She and Tsuna had been here their entire lives. Chrome had arrived not too long after Mukuro's arrest. Despite having two years to better improve herself or learn more about Namimori, you'd need to be incredibly devoted to learn about areas just barely outside of the actual city. And there were very, very, very few people Tsukiko could even guess may bother doing such a thing. Not that Chrome was stupid or anything, but she just didn't come off asthattype of individual.
After what felt like forever, they were finally allowed to stop walking. Tsukiko slumped against a nearby tree, panting slightly. Chrome started to sit beside her ... up until Hayato started to move.
Couldn't it have been longer than a single second? Tsukiko internally whined.
I ... I agree with this ... Chrome replied, helping Tsukiko up to her feet before the two girls hurried to stay caught up with Hayato.
"How .. the hell are your legs moving? Aren't they burning by now? I didn't thinkyoudid track also." It was a jest meant to lighten up the mood. If nothing else, when this was completely finished, Tsukiko could definitely check off her daily work out. It was something she tried to get in even during the school breaks.
Suffice to say, Tsukiko was grateful for the bits of fog. It allowed her to roll her eyes safely. They'd really come here to find a camera of all things? That was stupid ... or so she thought at first. Then it got weird ... as Hayato revealed it was his that got set down.
"But ... I saw it back there too?"
She glanced over to Chrome, who replied with a confused but affirmative nod. "Okay, so then you didn't move it? With Mist Flames or anything?"
"N-no! There'd be no point in doing that, particularly without Hayato's permission."
"Didn't think so. Just making sure."
So ... what the hellwasgoing on? It was seeming like they had foundsomethingalright, even if not a UMA. Ghosts and spirits didn't necessarily scare her ... not as bad as they did her brother. It depended on the nature and, hopefully, the moving of the camera was meant to come off as something pranky or at least more friendly than violent.
Finally ... Reborn dropped the shoe that everyone - well, Tsukiko at least - had been waiting to be dropped. This was indeed a trial. Her head shook as she heard the words. Honestly, this meetinghadseemed a bit too perfect. She hadn't thought Hayato lied, made this up, or anything; but the timing was far too impeccable. And it'd been so quickly after Reborn had that meeting, so ... it made sense to Tsukiko this was the first of many more encounters she should expect.
After taking a somewhat shaky and nervous breath, Tsukiko moved forward with Chrome and found the contents of the pack Tsuna had been carrying. "Are ... these really going to work? I've never exactly seen a bear trapwithoutspikes function before, so ... "
On the plus side, they would allow anyone to set them without hurting themselves nearly as bad if the spikes had still existed. That was definitely a plus, and not at all something Tsukiko would question. She carefully grabbed a few of the traps before glancing over at the camera. While keeping her eyes glued on it, her next words would be directed at Hayato, "Does ... that have any way to see if you can find out who or what may have moved it, by chance? Just ... so we can make have an idea on where exactly to start moving?"
gpt
It was something that crossed Tsuna's mind as well but he knew better by now that no doubt Reborn planned it that way. It was typical for Reborn to make things slightly less convenient or more of an ordeal if only to force him through more exercise. This time it seemed that included the others however and not just him. A negligible difference Tsuna didn't register at the moment. Though this little workout was revealed to be the first Trial that Reborn had spoke of.
Just Tsuna's luck...
"Mm" Reborn nodded to Tsukiko, "we don't want to hurt whatever we catch after all" he explained. "These special devices wont let go of something that easily" the tiny hitman added.
"What makes it so special?" Tsuna hesitantly questioned.
"I'm glad you asked" Reborn pointed up a finger, "first of all, these traps are set and activated by Dying Will Flames" he explained.
"So that's why we can't use our Vongola Gear..." Hayato had been taken aback like the rest of them but as usual he was quickly catching on.
"Yep" Reborn answered, "more specifically... Tsuna, you are only allowed to light the traps, with your Dying Will Flames" he pointed to Tsuna who gulped at the prospect of the rules Reborn was about to set for this supposed Trial. "Hayato, you are only allowed to set up the traps and instruct Tsuna on lighting them once you figure them out, but you're not allowed to pick where" Reborn instructed. He turned to Chrome and Tsukiko with a smile, "you two get to tell Gokudera where to place his traps - but no Flames or Gear either, Chrome" he told them. It seemed Reborn really didn't intend to leave Tsukiko out of this anymore, for better or worse.
"Wouldn't Gokudera know best where to place them?" Tsuna asked, he could sort of understand the cooperation lesson Reborn was likely trying to teach but dividing up the tasks so thinly seemed more counterproductive than an efficient team effort.
"Exactly" Reborn answered, "don't complain. You can't always use your best assets at all times, or even the skills and teamwork one usually prepares for" replied Reborn. "A Boss needs to help draw out his subordinates' strengths, but also needs to listen to them and let them bring out his own strengths" Reborn cryptically told them.
"But I'm not gonna be in the Mafia!" Tsuna protested, but as usual it fell on deaf ears as they all continued.
Hayato perked up when Tsukiko had asked about his camera, he hadn't thought of that. "Right!" He answered as he hurried over the camera. Tsukiko was right, if he could look through the footage they could see if anything had moved in front of the camera to grab it, or at least see how it moved from here to there. Gokudera started to clip back through the playback of what had been set up so far.
For a moment it seemed normal, he played the video from when they left and fast forwarded through here and there. For a while nothing was coming up, the camera as still as it was expected to be. Soon however something could be seen moving through the fog, closer and closer until the shadowy grouping was revealed to be them, the group of five coming back to the camera with nothing weird in between. That in of itself was odd... As by the looks of it, it seemed as if the camera wasn't moved but that they themselves had come back around to it.
"Did... Did we really get lost?" Tsuna asked, given that clearly the camera wasn't moved.
"Hmm... Well what if we try to back out of the woods and regroup?" Gokudera suggested. If they really were back where he first placed that camera, then they couldn't be too far from the edge of the forest itself.
"That sounds like the best idea..." Tsuna suggested hopefully, any excuse to get out of here even if he knew Reborn would make them just go back in.
Heading back the way they came however, the trip seemed to take longer without any break in the trees. That would be confirmed as in the fog a familiar shape could be seen that upon closer inspection was, once again, Gokudera's same camera.
"Whaaaaa?!" Tsuna shivered, were they caught in whatever the legends were about? Would they disappear without a trace like the rumors said?
"How?!" Hayato was frustrated in his own way, darting around the camera to look for any tampering but even the indents in the grass showed that the camera had indeed stayed exactly where he had originally placed it. The video of course showed the same thing; that, despite heading back the way they came away from the camera, they had somehow ended up back in the same place.
"It seems just like the others... We're lost in Namimori Forest" Reborn said purposefully eerily as he shone a flashlight under his face.
"AAAAAHHHH Don't say that!" Tsuna protested as he covered his ears almost as if not hearing it would make it untrue.
"It's okay, Neo Vongola Primo!" Hayato tried to bring his spirits up, "all the more reason to catch this U.M.A. and figure out how it's doing all this!" He offered.
"Right" Reborn agreed, "let's get started" he told them. "Besides, if we place more traps up we'll have landmarks to get us a bit less stuck by the camera" reasoned Reborn. "Tsukiko and Chrome, why don't you pick out the first spot for us?" He asked politely. They did have some options, along with the ground bear-trap looking objects there were some that were meant to be mounted on trees, some with rope to be slung over, as well as some extra provisions like regular rope, flags, hooks, and the like.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
We don't?
The implication that whatever they were about to run into needed to be unharmed definitely grabbed Tsukiko's attention. Words like that hinted Rebornknewwell enough whatever they would find. Or at least that it wouldn't be anything overly violent ... which, prior till hearing his words, wasnotanything that any of them had a guarantee on. Sure, they could all hope for a peaceful encounter, but that was a chance ... or it was supposed to be. But going off the way Reborn was speaking ... he soundedextremelyconfident they would be fine.
In the end, Tsukiko merely nodded and tucked the knowledge away. As chaotic as Reborn and his 'trials' tended to be, there was at least one major point that Tsukiko had always noticed, and it was that he truly did have good intentions when all was said and done. So if only for that reason, she'd put her trust into him rather than question him. The gesture of being included certainly helped her faith in Reborn.
However, even if he tried to keep her away, she'd at least have enough trust in the Arcobaleno to ensure her brother returned safe enough.
Finally, he began explaining how exactly this trial was going to go. And when the girls heard their role .... they both looked at one another, clearly a bit anxious. While Tsukiko did know how to use her Flames, it wouldn't have done her any good in picking out a good spot. Chrome's would have though ... and now the realization that they were going to have to use pure instincts was a bit intimidating.
For Tsukiko, she had a pretty decent hunch that Hayato knew the 'right' answers already. Chrome? It was rare for her to not use her Flames. She didn't use them nearly as often or in as large of an amount to keep her organs in decent shape, but she did still have to invest some power in keeping herself from abruptly dying of something failing on her.
"Okay then," Tsukiko finally said, giving Chrome a reassuring nod as she then turned her head and began to look around with the Mist user. They at least seemed to decide one smart thing from the get-go; since they were both helping determine where these traps went, they'd split up. Chrome would pick spots behind the camera and guys while Tsukiko would do so from in front of them.
"If you don't mind," Tsukiko finally called out, the words clearly addressed to Reborn despite her gaze remaining firmly focused on the ground whilst still looking for a good place, "Since me and Chrome are both in charge of the same task, can we pick out our own places? It makes sense and we can get more traps prepared quicker."
After seeing an affirmative nod, both women continued their search, seeming to double their concentration and efforts on their tasks at hand.
"I think I got mine," Chrome would state. When Hayato turned, he'd see she was three steps behind him, albeit slightly to the right of the camera. He wouldn't need to wait long, however, for Tsukiko to speak up.
"I've got mine also."
She had also taken three paces. The other difference, aside from being in front versus behind the group, was she was right in front of the camera. There was no angle. She had noticed when Hayato reviewed the footage that whatever had moved seemed to go very directly at the camera. She was taking advantage of noting what she'd seen and hoping to use that to help them. It made sense that if this thing - whatever it may or may not be - truly was curious about the camera, it would want to try to approach it again.
So it made sense to place at least one trap in the same path towards the camera.
Both women would stay put, allowing Gokudera to come forward and set each trap down. While Tsuna would begin activating each device, they then began looking for different places to put the new traps down at. If anyone paid close enough attention, they could see a ghost of a smirk appearing on Tsukiko's face.
Okay ... so maybe this training was abitfun. Definitely not as horrible as she'd originally thought.
If they're like this ... maybe I can get better used to participating and encouraging Tsuna to take over ...
That last part would need work. She'd seen and heard as much over the past two years. But maybe displays like this would also help Tsuna feel better? Time would tell. For now, her focus went back to looking for another good spot.
gpt
"Of course" Reborn nodded back to Tsukiko.
"Right! That's good..." Hayato eyed between Chrome and the camera before Tsukiko called hers out too. Perfect he noted as he headed to Chromes spot first.
Okay lets see this Gokudera started out with one of the flat bear trap looking ones. It was a circular platform that he placed on the ground, a small open hole was in the top assumedly wherever their prey would be caught. There was a small space in the circular top showing that the trap opened outwards and closed in, as opposed to a set of jaws closing upwards. A metal bar was extended around the edge possibly for holding, and the weight and feel of it hinted that there were more mechanics inside than a simple spring trap.
It was Hayato's job now to fiddle with the machine to figure out how it worked. He poked and prodded into the top feeling a sort of funnel under the trapping mechanic, maybe a fuel dispense of some sort. It wasn't so complicated, other than the fact that Hayato had to press it down against the ground to turn it by holding the outer bar - on top of how long it took him to figure that out.
"G-got it!" He told them. As he pushed his weight on it some sort of suction, magnetic, or sticking effect fastened it to the ground, while turning it drove the funnel up through the top hole so that it was exposed. "This... This thing's a bastard to hold!" He grumbled, trying to hold it steady but only succeeding momentarily before the pressure didn't hold and the trap snapped back into place under him giving no time to figure out how to light the thing. "I think... You gotta put your flame to that?" Hayato pointed to the now retracted funnel.
Tsuna looked down to the twin rings on his right hand. His Vongola Gear, it wasn't using it if the Gear was deactivated. Without the aid of bullets or Gear made to manipulate Dying Will Flames, they manifested within one's body only by sheer force of... Well, 'Will', like big brother Ryohei did. In full it resulted in a pure flame that resonated through the body long before it could actually burn outside of it. That's what the original Vongola Rings, and so many others that followed, were for. Tsuna knew what Reborn and Gokudera meant.
Clenching a fist, Tsuna focused for a moment. It was much more difficult but he didn't need to be in Dying Will Mode to run his Sky Flame waves through his body and into the ring to ignite a Dying Will Flame. The blue jewel glowed before it seared orange, a flicker sparking into a Dying Will Flame from it. It was a smooth but firm orange flame that danced about in front of his fist. "Okay... Try again I'll try and light it" Tsuna coordinated.
"Right" Hayato leaned into the trap again, pressing down and turning it with a hefty motion. Once again it stuck to the ground, the top panel opening by expanding outward as the torch funnel rose up through the opening. "Ngh... Okay okay hurry, Boss..." Hayato grunted as he held open the trap.
Tsuna nodded and leaned in, hovering his fist over the funnel as he tried to get the flame to spill into it.
Nothing.
"Am... am I doing something wrong?" Tsuna asked.
Gokudera chose to slowly let the trap close while he could instead of wearing his arms out. It snapped shut, spooking Tsuna who jumped back with a yelp when it did. "Hmm... Maybe we have to shoot the flames through a port of some kind..." Hayato poked around the side of the circular panel until he felt something familiar that reminded him not entirely but slightly of the Box Weapons of the future. It was a small open hole with a ring pattern around it which gave him an idea.
"Hmm... One more time, here" Hayato pointed to the hole on the side before he got on the opposite side and once more pressed down to turn the trap.
Open again, Tsuna put his ring to the hole on the side of the trap as he fed his Sky Flames to it. This time the flames were sucked in, the funnel on top lit up with orange splendor as the flame poured from it like a torch. "Woah..." Tsuna watched as he pulled away, the flame successfully lit and no longer needing his ring.
Hayato felt the trap click, and he turned it the other way slowly. Now it was an effort to pull it the other way as the funnel torch sank back into the opening where the orange flame was concealed, and the top opening that would spring shut on it's prey opened wider. With another loud click, Gokudera was able to let go carefully, the trap set.
"Whew... Okay, not the worst thing ever" Hayato wiped his brow as he grabbed the next trap and dragged it over to Tsukiko's spot. The next trap was easier to set knowing what they were doing.
"I think the next traps should go up on some tree-HmPk!" Gokudera was cut off by Reborn who slapped a cross hatch of tape strongly over his mouth.
"I said no instructing them" Reborn reiterated firmly.
"Mmm mmm mmm! Mmh mmm! MhMM!" He futilely tugged at the tape that wouldn't come off.
"You two can follow his advice if you want this time" he told the girls, leaving it up to them to figure out where and how far best to set the other traps.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
As Tsuna and Hayato went to work on getting the first trap set up, both Chrome and Tsukiko grimaced and watched. It was a shame they were restricted to finding spots ... well, it was for Tsukiko, anyway. Admittedly, Chrome may struggle a bit with that sort of task. With her being forced to hide away during the past fights came knowledge. So Tsukiko did know about Chrome's background ... and that included the fact she was always keeping herself alive due to 60% of her stomach technically being gone.
In that right, it was amazing to watch. If she was ever having trouble, then she didn't voice any troubles.
Soon, though, Tsukiko found herself accidentally staring ... and quickly averted her gaze, focusing on her spot where she wanted Hayato to put her trap down. Thankfully, as Gokudera started working, he hinted the first trap had indeed been the most difficult. It made her feel better about being stuck to only picking spots as opposed to helping out.
But then as Hayato tried to offer some advice ... maybe it was for the best she stuck to her role. She definitely wouldn't wanna be gagged with tape.
Fortunately for Tsukiko, she had a way to hide her desire to chuckle at the way Hayato looked, and it came in the form of moving closer to Chrome and having a pep talk about what he was in the midst of trying to say. Since Flames were out of the question, that applied to either of them using telepathy. "What do you think? It didn't look like it resorted to using the trees is my main worry."
"True," Chrome replied, "But that doesn't mean whatever creature this is can't do such a feat. Just that the camera didn't catch it going upward."
"Hmmm .... " Admittedly, that was a fair point. Nodding and briefly looking up towards the nearby trees, Tsukiko nodded slowly, taking Chrome's words into consideration. "If you wanna stay to the ground, I can get that covered."
"Thank you. Much appreciated. Since I can't use my Flames, well ... climbing isn't my forte. Never has been."
A ghost of a grin appeared on Tsukiko's face as she jumped up ... and rather easily grabbed onto a branch before beginning to ascend it. Most of everything Tsuna lacked were traits or gifts that Tsukiko had in spades. From her academic grades to being able to do sports. He wasn't saying or revealing as much at the moment, but she knew that when she was a lot younger, she actively annoyed him a lot ... particularly if they played games like Hide and Seek or anything of the like. She'd always found ways to remain hidden too well, and climbing had been one of the few ways to accomplish such a thing.
Bragging wasn't usually something Tsukiko liked doing ... but she felt best being able to do so here and now. Mainly because it was in a more subtle way, and something that you had to actively look for in order to know exactly what she was doing. Which would likely be mainly Reborn ... but she doubted he'd speak up on that matter.
"Alrighty. Go on and get Chrome's first. I need to arrange myself slightly first."
Hayato would see that Tsukiko had meant exactly that; she reached up to pull herself up to her feet after getting up on top of the branch. She then started walking around ... moving so she wouldn't be in Hayato or Tsuna's way, but also making sure all the way that Tsukiko wouldn't fall out of the tree, either.
Chrome, meanwhile, had indeed finished choosing her spot. It was diagonally to the lower left of the camera, about five paces away from her first trap. If Tsukiko was going to deal with the trees, fine. But keeping the camera surrounded seemed like a sound idea to Chrome. So she was going to focus on that now that Tsukiko agreed to assist with any traps being put in the trees.
gpt
Hmm mmhmm Hayatos nodded under his taped mouth as he and Tsuna hurried over to chrome to set another ground based trap. They were getting more of a wide perimeter around the camera but it seemed as long as the camera was still in sight, they werent being turned around. It also unfortunately meant they werent that deep in the forest yet, but at least they were finally getting somewhere.
Once again Gokudera set up another trap, pressing it down right at Chrome's feet. Tsuna crouched down near Chrome's legs to light it's socket when it was twisted into place. The Mist Guardian's legs were pale and dainty, like the rest of her they could be described as scrawny even, but Tsuna happened to like scrawny. He was just lucky Chrome couldn't read minds right now as his face reddened from the thought. Tsuna's flames clearly also responded as the trap didn't lock and instead sprang up, spooking the two boys.
"Focus, Tsuna" Reborn reminded.
"R-right..." Tsuna chuckled nervously as they tried again and locked the trap in place this time.
Next was Tsukiko again. Unlike her, Tsuna had no atheletic ability but with the help of both her from above and Hayato from below he was able to scramble up into the tree. Gokudera shortly followed with a different trap in tow, this one was longer and meant to be mounted up on the trunks of trees. It had spokes that drove into the tree easy enough and was open in the front with rods poking out of it. This time the socket for Tsuna's Sky Flames was on top, meaning he had to balance as he reached over it to insert his ring and pump flames into the contraption. On the bottom there was an inward dial Hayato had to navigate.
This trap required Tsuna to fuel the trap with his flames to a certain degree that let Hayato turn the dial. As he did, each rod cocked back into place and loaded, the rods to be fired out as sorts of trackers. It was trickier with this one to get the fine tuning right but it wasn't as if Tsuna didn't have skill in adjusting his flames, that was something he did have practice in - even if it was usually in Dying Will Mode.
It was starting to get easier though as the four of them got used to placing, setting, and arming respectively. What's more, the more traps they laid out the easier it was to keep track of where they were. Another kind of trap involved what was almost like a trip wire with two parts spread out only linked via Tsuna's flame at the end of each piece, while another seemed to work similar to a snare trap.
The fog thickened making it impossible to see the camera anymore but they could all still keep an eye on the last trap they set away from the others. Finally far enough in to justify it, Hayato excitedly set up another camera, this time pointing in a different direction. Their first real step was taken, it was just a matter of waiting now for a signal that the traps went off while setting up more as far in as they could.
"Whew..." Tsuna plopped down by a tree setting down the bag that was lighter now but still a burden he needed to rest from. More than that was the usage of his flames so often outside of Dying Will Mode, it was taking it out of him.
"Good a time as any to eat I'd say" Reborn casually hopped down from Gokudera's shoulder. A little picnic spread was set out for them all after a few minutes. It wasn't anything big or fancy, a small blanket they could pick up quick and sandwiches and the sort.
"Hmhmmm!" Hayato pointed blankly to his face where an 'X' of tape still covered his mouth. Reborn leaned up towards Hayato and ripped the tape off in one swift swipe.
"AAHH-mmph?!" Gokudera went to scream from the sharp pain but Reborn had leaped up and with a skillful hand shoved a sandwich in his mouth.
"You don't wanna scare anything off shouting like that" Reborn told him matter of factly, "or call anything to us" he added ominously. To which Tsuna perked up with a pale expression of fear.
"Hmph..." Gokudera bit his sandwich and chewed behind a pout, "c'mon, nothing's gonna come out at us just because-" Hayato was cut off by a rustling deep in the trees.
A large shape burst through the fog and screeched a loud unsightly sound. It was a big, round thing with sharp claws that upon closer inspection looked like a racoon, or maybe a huge dog....
It was a monstrous Tanuki! It was a towering beast as tall as two or three times either of them and it was rampaging wildly damaging trees as it came through now face to face with the group.
"AAAACK WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!" Tsuna cried out in shock.
"IS THAT A BAKE-DANUKI?!" Hayato cried out at the same exact time in a much more excited tone even if he was just as fearful of it's immense size.
human
Tsukiko Sawada, Yuri Ikeda ,Chrome Dokuro & Yukiko Shirogane
It was only mere minutes, but they felt like an eternity. Finally, though, they passed and the last of the traps had been set. Tsukiko let out a sigh of relief as she let herself drop from the branch. Thankfully, she hadn't gonetoohigh upward in any of the trees; just enough to keep it from immediate sight. The fog, hopefully, would help keep the traps hidden. But on the off-chance they ran into something with decent sight ... they could still get it stuck in at leastoneof the devices.
For now, Tsukiko and Chrome were both glad that they were done. Helping the guys out had been rewarding, of course, but also a bit tiring.
"Please!" Tsukiko eagerly replied, Chrome nodding with a smile on her own face. "Lunch does indeed sound good." Each took a seat on the ground, as well as the meals they were given. They bowed their heads politely before beginning to dig into their sandwiches.
I should have brought water bottles or something, Tsukiko lamented as she otherwise silently ate her meal. Only when Reborn told Hayato to be silent lest he gained the attention of a creature did Tsukiko raise an eyebrow. It wasn't that she doubted anything with good hearing was around. But did that apply with the exact types of creatures Hayato was hoping to find?Thatwas the million yen question more than much else.
Did he know something they didn't? Like that something indeed was around or not?
Whether it was a coincidence or not was anyone's guess. But soon, both Chrome and Tsukiko would be staring at ... what evenwasit, exactly?!
"Huh? That's ... you know what that thing is?" Chrome inquired.
"So ... how do we deal with this, then?" Tsukiko added. "Any ideas ... or even things to avoid doing to this? That ... would also help out."
Fortunately, Tsukiko had finished the last of her lunch. Even more luckily, she had a pretty strong stomach; otherwise she may feel the urge to vomit were she weaker. She was definitely nervous to actually behold such a sight. There was no doubt about that, not one bit. But she was doing her best to avoid outright panicking.
Probably is aggressive, huh? Tsukiko deduced, taking note of the creature easily hurling trees aside. Chrome, meanwhile, slowly stood up and tried to think of an illusion to use. Or something else, should her Mist Flames not even work to start with. Which meant waiting to hear Hayato's response to her and Tsukiko's inquiries.
Until they got a response, she kept her muscles ready, be it to dodge, run, or do something else entirely. Whatever was deemed necessary for this situation.
gpt
Even Reborn wasn't sure what exactly was out here. Like most things he gave as advice however, it was a smart hunting tip at least whether it was a scared prey that would know they were in wait or a predator that would know where they are. That fact would prove itself, apparently with the latter as the group was attacked by the giant mythical Tanuki.
Tsuna's eyes widened in frightened shock but danger wasn't as new to him anymore and instinct took over as he reached for a Dying Will Pill. Surely with Hyper Dying Will Mode would make it easy to scare off even this big an animal.
However a gunshot cracked through the air and Tsuna's pill had disappeared from between his fingers. "Ehck?!?!" Tsuna snapped his hand away as he felt the pop between his fingers of the pill being shot out of his hand. "What the?!" Looking over to the direction it came, Reborn stood, Leon's green gun form in hand with a thin smoke trail briefly snaking out from the barrel.
"I said no gear, and only the flames you can produce on your own with your ring" Reborn reiterated swiftly.
"But it's dangerous!" Tsuna protested.
"It's a Trial" Reborn noted casually.
"Tch.. Okay!" Hayato lit up a cigarette as he faced the beast. He pulled out his usual modified sticks of dynamite, holding a few by merit of gripping many between his fingers. "I don't wanna hurt ya' big guy, so fall nice into one of those traps for a bit" Hayato warned with a smirk as he lifted the dynamite towards his lit cigarette.
"Gokudera" Reborn calmly called to him. "Let Tsuna light them" he instructed.
"Eh?" Hayato picked up what he meant fairly quickly, only weighing the danger of ignoring Reborn for a second before he pointed the wick end of one to Tsuna. "10th, hurry!" Gokudera urged quickly.
"But!... Ngh... Okay okay!" Tsuna shakily held up his closed ring fist to the wick and pushed out the tiny orange flame from the ring's jewel. Holding it to the wick for a second it quickly ignited and Hayato backed up a step before skillfully throwing it at a curve towards the side of it's head, hoping the flash and loud noise would scare it off.
However the trajectory suddenly went off. The throw was fine and as the dynamite spun it's secondary bottom rocket bombs went off as planned, the tiny explosions carried it off course, the flame seeming to have been a bit unpredictable to Hayato. The stick bounced in air harmlessly behind the creature far enough that the explosion didn't phase it.
Everyone's face deadpanned...
Until the Bake-Danuki raised a heavy paw and swiped at them. Tsuna dove out of the way ungracefully with a yelp as Hayato jumped back both barely evading the hit, luckily it was slow enough that everyone should have been able to get out of the way. The paw thudded against the grass and dirt, reverberating through the ground underneath their feet.
"Gaaah I've never used Sky Flames in my bombs before!" Hayato cried out in realization of the different feeling that threw off his aim as they ran from the beast, while Reborn kept up near Chrome and Tsukiko. "H-here try again" Gokudera quickly fumbled another stick over to Tsuna, who mid run struggled to but successfully lit the next bomb.
Skidding as he spun on his heel, Hayato reared back and with a second to breathe he tossed his next bomb. Expecting it now, the giant Tanuki swung an enormous arm to try and bat it away.
This time when the second blasts went off though, the bomb successfully curved in a rather soft arc over the arm and went off far enough from it's face that the brightness and sound would hopefully only incapacitate it a bit.
The orange flash seemed to have an effect. The huge racoon-dog covered it's eyes and cried out as it turned heel and ran, crashing through trees back and forth as it clumsily ran off.
Hayato and Tsuna stood dumbfounded, Tsuna falling back on his butt with a breath of relief.
"You two did good" Reborn admitted, "it's not over yet though" he added.
"How do you expect us to catch something like that!" Tsuna demanded, "this is crazy as ever!" He complained.
"Well..." Reborn reached into his pocket and pulled out a small screened device. "You guys got lucky enough" he waved the small rectangular device that looked like a thicker or industrial smart phone, "because that Tanuki ran right back through one of the tracker dart traps" Reborn revealed as he turned the device on. The screen flashed with a dark grid of the area and a couple of little gathered orange dots blipped across the screen. "Now we'll know where it is first" he explained.
"Tsukiko" Reborn tossed her the tracker, "could you lead the way for us?" he asked.