Le Pendule du Temps
Chapter II
Il Serpente di Mare
(The Acqua Serpent)
RECAP:
They kneeled in front of him and each held Tsuna's hand, Hibari on the left and Chrome on the right. They both recited in chorus.
"As the future Cloud/Mist Guardian, I, Hibari Kyoya/Hibari Chrome, swear my loyalty and service in protecting and aiding the Vongola Decimo, Sawada Tsunayoshi together with my fellow guardians. With thy sacred vow, I bind thy promise with my life and soul," with that said, they both kissed the hand of a baffled and embarrassed Tsuna.
Hibari Kyoya narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized the profile of each Acqua Serpente member. After the ordeal yesterday, he immediately accessed the top secret file prepared by Varia's top information provider, the Mist Arcobaleno, Mammon. Luckily, he brought with him these files from the future. He was supposed to review it at home after having dinner with his wife.
The future Mammon is much easier to deal with compared with his younger version. Just mention that the Vongola Decimo would gave him a raise and he would comply immediately with any espionage request. The herbivore holds that kind of power that even the Varia who swore to serve only the Ninth extended the same respect to Tsuna. In fact, he is even on better terms with the Varia Boss.
Those herbivores ate their words, especially their boss, Xanxus who took the herbivore's other military squads under his wing and made sure to train them to be top-class soldiers. He also fondly calls Tsuna as "Boss" like the other members of the Famiglia. Really, that herbivore is packed with too much convincing powers.
Hibari is currently alone at the Reception Room, drinking a cup of coffee that Kuromu had brewed a while ago. She was away doing her job to protect their damn boss, tailing after him and making sure their fellow Guardians are doing their job to stay alert.
Taking a huge gulp from his coffee, Kyoya continued his perusal of the documents at his hand.
Acqua Serpente
Also known as AST.
An independent assassination group whose notoriety and bloody escapades is only below to Varia despite its young age. Has seven members who came from different influential Famiglias in Italy but eventually betrayed their roots and banded together to form AST.
Angelo (26)
Nickname: "The Angel of Destruction"
Position: Boss
Flame attribute/s: Sky
Weapon: scythe
Lineage: Italian
Personality:
A playful individual off the battlefield but a cold-blooded assassin on the field.
Loves dark chocolate and other cocoa-based confectionary.
Have a soft spot for weaklings and the bullied.
Extra Information: He is rumored to be the last survivor of the Estraneo Famiglia.
A picture of a young man with long sea green hair and deep set charcoal eyes was attached to the file. He may look like a harmless man but based from his profile, he is exactly like the herbivore. His ordinariness is what makes him dangerous.
Ekaterina (23)
Nickname: "The Puppet Manipulator"
Position: Right-hand man
Flame attribute/s: Storm (main), Thunder
Weapon: dolls, puppets, toys, (anything with no life that can be possessed)
Lineage: Russian
Personality:
A product of failed human experimentation that aimed to produce a "perfect soldier" that can practice alchemy and control the human mind.
A loli-shota and childish despite her mature appearance.
Diagnosed with Anti-Social Personality Disorder and admitted to a psychiatric homecare facility for five years before she escaped.
Extra Information: She annihilated everyone from the research facility and escaped, only to be apprehended and admitted to the psychiatric homecare facility where she practiced her alchemy and manipulation to her fellow patients.
The woman looked beautiful, with flowing curly silver hair and ocean blue eyes. Complete with a black, lacy loli-shota dress, she is staring at the camera looking like a porcelain doll herself.
Rebecca (21)
Nickname: "The Ensnarer"
Position: Head of the independent 'Acqua Serpente Intelligence Group' (ASTIG)
Flame attribute/s: Thunder
Weapon: a long sword that serves as a lightning rod
Lineage: Spanish
Personality:
A former Vongola member before deciding to "kill herself" because of her father's involvement with a traitor family.
Fiercely loyal to the group and has a past with Varia's Superbi Squalo.
She secretly loves animals especially sharks.
Extra Information: In connection with her relationship with Superbi Squalo, Maria is the boss' daughter where Squalo served before defeating the Sword Emperor.
This woman has a connection to that shark? Interesting. Hibari smirked as he assessed the woman who looked very mature with her short electric blue hair styled in bobcut and emerald green eyes.
Adrienne (29)
Nickname: "Patroness of Bloodbath"
Position: Spy
Flame attribute/s: Cloud, Mist (combination creates smog)
Weapon: two daggers made of hardened cloud and mist flames
Lineage: French
Personality:
A notorious assassin who killed 3,768 member of her Famiglia in just half an hour.
A sarcastic, foul-mouthed woman who serves as a spy for undercover missions of the group.
Someone who loves bloodshed that she earned the title 'Patroness of Bloodbath'.
Extra Information: She was the childhood friend of the Varia boss, Xanxus, before their family went back to their native country, France.
Hibari's eyebrows furrowed as he thought of the 'relationship' between two out of seven members of the AST to the Varia. Is there a significant connection about these two squads? This crimson haired woman is a sure threat to the Vongola. Especially those bloody red eyes, they spell only one thing: bloodbath.
Hilda (16)
Nickname: "The Battle Maiden Hilda"
Position: Assassin
Flame attribute/s: Mist
Weapon: harpoon
Lineage: Scottish
Personality:
A talented musician that plays the violin, prefers to be alone and rarely appears to accomplish a mission for the squad.
Surprisingly, she is the secret fiancée of the Vongola Storm Guardian, Gokudera Hayato.
The youngest of all the member of the AST but also the most twisted and considered as a 'prodigy in the art of killing'.
Extra Information: Reported to be the protégé of Gokudera Hayato's deceased mother, killed the former Mist AST guardian and took over his place. Reason for joining is unknown. The woman has shoulder length auburn hair and hazel eyes hidden by thick reading glasses.
Cedric (30)
Nickname: "The Underworld Chieftain"
Position: Advisor and Envoy of AST
Flame attribute/s: Sun
Weapon: three pistols
Lineage: American
Personality:
The eldest of all members although he refused to assume the leadership, instead working on the background by gaining more alliances to other traitors.
Most peculiar and unpredictable of all the AST members.
Has an extensive network of spies all around Italy that may have possibly invaded the Vongola HQ.
Extra Information: The founder of "Blood Traitors Alliance", a mother flagship of all traitor families that turned against the Vongola or other Famiglias that are not affiliated to the Vongola.
The herbivore has a charming smile with blonde hair and blue eyes. Truly, a typical American with a perfect smiling poker face.
Fixxione (age unknown)
Nickname: "The Pretender"
Position: Squad Captain
Flame attribute/s: Rain (main), Storm, Thunder
Weapon: rifle
Lineage: unknown
Personality:
Nothing is much known about this member except that he is a sports man.
A foreigner who loves Japan and its culture.
Extra Information: His parents were killed in a severe flooding, probably caused by Fixxione himself.
The mas has cream colored hair and silver eyes, appearing cold and confident while standing over a heap of soaked bodies.
All of them are not to be underestimated. This Fixxione guy assassinated the Varia's Fran. They better be alert or else they may be caught in surprise and everything they worked hard for will just crumble into pieces in one misstep.
"Yo Tsuna!"
"Good morning Tenth!"
"Morning Tsuna-san!"
"Extreme morning Sawada!"
"Everyone, good morning," Tsuna smiled as the usual band of his friends greeted him at the front porch of his house. Since the arrival of his future guardians, Hibari Chrome and the demon prefect Hibari Kyoya, Tsuna began to accept his true destiny. His destiny as the Vongola Decimo. Even Reborn was surprised when Tsuna came home later that day with Dying Will flames reflected in his eyes as he personally asked his tutor to give him advanced classes in combat and controlling his Dying Will flames.
Flashback
"What do you want to talk about Hibari-san?" Tsuna looked at the head prefect nervously as he shuffled through numerous papers. Tsuna happened to catch a glimpse of a page and saw "Acqua Serpente". Reborn started teaching Italian just a few months ago and if he remembered correctly, 'Acqua' means 'sea' and 'Serpente' means 'serpent'. The assassination squad?
"Sawada Tsunayoshi,"
"Ha-hai?"
"I'm pretty sure that you are now aware of how dangerous our situation is. The Decimo made it clear that the Vongola of ten years from now made a grave miscalculation with regards to an uprising assassination squad. Many died in the process. The lives of the family members were compromised and there was chaos in the Underground. Other herbivore bosses are seeing this as a golden opportunity to throw off the Vongola from its throne. Two of our most powerful allies, the Cavallone and Varia were affected badly. Varia lost two members while the Bucking Bronco is missing."
"Ne Hibari-san,"
"What?"
"Can I ask a question?"
"You are doing so herbivore,"
"I know,"
"Fine. Speak."
"WHAT IS MY STUPID FUTURE SELF DOING? HOW COME HE LET IT LEAD TO THIS?" Tsuna practically screamed.
His voice was so powerful that the sleeping Hibird perched on Hibari's shoulder awoke and frantically flew away. However, Hibari remained impassive. The future Sawada Tsunayoshi acts the same, reduced to a volatile teenager especially when his family members are concerned contrary to his icy demeanor when dealing with others as the Vongola Decimo.
Disregarding Hibird, he began ranting about their carelessness and irresponsibility. He was so absorbed in his tirade that he didn't notice Hibari stand up and get himself a cup of tea. Tsuna continued ranting and screaming that is uncharacteristic of Dame-Tsuna until his energy was spent and he collapsed on the couch. Silence ensued.
"Are you finished now?"
Tsuna looked ashamed, bowed his head, and apologized for his sudden outburst. Hibari said nothing and fixed another cup of tea. Offering it to his boss, the Cloud Guardian just sighed inaudibly. He almost forgot how the idiotic herbivore expressed his anger and frustration during his younger years and rare moments that really struck his nerves of steel.
There was a time when a stupid member of an ally family became cocky and bullied the weak, using the name of the Vongola as a leverage to lord over others. He demanded money from a poor guy and beat him to death when the guy cannot give him anything. It so happen that the guy who was beat to death was a member of the Calcassa family. Skull and his men were sent to exact revenge on the stupid herbivore. If the Vongola Famiglia would not bring out the bastard, the Calcassa family would launch an all-out war against the Vongola.
Reborn and the other Arcobalenos tried their best to dissuade Skull but the lackey remained firm. It seems the boss of the rival family was very angry with the assassination of his Famiglia member. Tsuna sent a search party to track the traitor but the bastard was slippery as eel and nobody can track him down. With great worry and stress placed upon his shoulders, Tsuna collapsed. However, even with illness and weak body, Tsuna still went out and tried to sort out things with the Calcassa family.
It was a good thing that Varia came at help. Even if they proclaim themselves as the independent assassination group who only serve the Ninth, they knew that they needed to help the Decimo this time. Xanxus was the one who issued the order, which surprised Tsuna greatly.
No matter how stubborn Xanxus can be, he could never turn his back on the Vongola Decimo. The Varia became a useful asset in handling matters, threatening matters to be specific. Everyone was tense especially Tsuna. This meeting would be a crucial one. If a full blown war or a renewed peace treaty would be formed, nobody knew.
As if his prayers were answered. A miracle occurred in the form of Superbi Squalo and the rest of the Varia guardians. He dragged the bastard by the collar and shoved him in the feet of the Calcassa Famiglia. The boss was so enraged and almost sprang in action if not Tsuna himself stopping the raged boss.
Tsuna looked so composed and collected at that time. He spoke so gentle and sympathetic towards the bastard and almost everyone in the room applauded at his professionalism. Well, except for Hibari Chrome that is, being the Mist, she can see through the creeping black aura on her Boss' heart. She kept quiet about it and stayed on the shadows. Nobody noticed her being there at all, except for the Boss and her husband.
The scum tried to desperately defend himself even though he was obviously on fault. Tsuna clenched his fists tightly that it turned white. His normal honey colored eyes turned somewhat darker, more sinister. Hibari and Chrome knew what would come next so they quickly grabbed their Boss.
"STOP LYING YOU FOOL! I HAVE THE HYPER INTUITION! OF COURSE, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE LYING! I GAVE YOU A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS BUT WHAT ARE YOU DOING? AS THE BOSS, I AM SO ASHAMED OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!"
Everyone winced at Tsuna's outburst. Even the boss of the Calcassa family looked a bit shocked and shaken. Who knew that the gentle boss of the Vongola would explode like that? With Chrome and Hibari's intervention, Tsuna finally came to his senses and apologized. They assured him it was nothing but everyone contemplated and arrived into the same conclusion after that incident.
The Vongola Decimo is someone whom you should not dare to anger or else be at the receiving end of his wrath. His power (Hyper Dying Will Mode), influence (ally families and the Varia), wealth (almost ¾ of Italy belongs to the Vongola family), would surely leave you no space to fight. Add the fact that HE himself is powerful in his own way.
Thankfully, no war ensued. The case was closed after a compromise. The Vongola would help the Calcassa in the territory matters while the Calcassa family will decide the appropriate punishment for the traitor except death. The Vongola and Calcassa then enjoyed a harmonious alliance and no other herbivore dared to abuse the power of Vongola.
End of Flashback
"Kyouya," Hibari's eyebrows rose as he heard the more familiar term on his Boss' lips. It seems that the herbivore has found his resolve, judging from the fire displayed in his honey colored eyes.
"We just have to defeat them right? Then we can protect our family." Hibari smirked. This is the beginning of the emergence of the most powerful Vongola Boss in history, Vongola Decimo, Sawada Tsunayoshi, the Il Santo di Cielo, The Saint of the Sky.
つづく
Tsudzuku