Chapter 64: Chapter 56
The little Sky reels back as if slapped. It takes him a couple of seconds to regain his composure. Seconds Renato uses to think. They're sidestepping the topic. Either too paranoid about whatever the topic is, even with a powerful Mist hiding them, or unconsciously doing it. He goes for both options. Mafer seems to be of the former, while Tsuna comes from the latter. Now, what is this mysterious topic that speaks of the destruction of universes so easily?
He can wave it off as crazy talk or he can take the words with the same seriousness all 'in the know' seem to give it. Even that Misuto guy looks serious, the bastard.
After a couple of false starts, Tsuna asks, "What do you mean?"
The older Sky glances at Renato, then at the two Mists. What is seen on her face confuses him. He silently curses the fact this is a masquerade and not a normal Ball, briefly wondering if it has been done with this same objective behind it. Not that it matters. Whatever thing she knows seems to be more important for the little Sky to hear than to try to hide it behind cryptic words.
She sighs in clear resignation.
"This is the main timeline. That means, from this one, more have been born. If something happens to it, if someone tries to change what it's supposed to happen, then others will die. Are you ready to pay that price, kid?"
Tsuna visibly swallows. "If I'm planning to change it, would that not mean those timelines would not be born in the first place?"
Surprisingly, it's the powerful chef Mist the one speaking, "It doesn't work like that. They're called parallel worlds for a reason."
"You knew?!" Tsuna hisses, voice hurt. Renato doesn't know exactly what's going on. And while he's still filing everything he's listening to browse later in the privacy of his current room, he still moves to Tsuna's side, between him and the Mist, in a show of support. He then glares at the Mist as he waits for Tsuna to compose himself.
The Mist flicks a couple of bangs away from his forehead. "Of course I did. Have you forgotten? You were the one who said you would do anything to help them. Anything."
Tsuna takes another deep breath. The words don't seem to come easily but it does come. "We're going to have a talk later."
"Sure. We can cuddle afterward, too."
There's an implied roll of eyes going on. Tsuna then turns to Mafer with the desperation to change the subject of a thirsty man in search of water. "You were saying?"
"Does this seem funny to you? I'm being serious. You're going to kill people."
Immediately the good humor Tsuna was exporting banishes. "I'll search for a way then. A way to—"
Mafer's Lightning snorts. "Are you that naïve? Mafer already told you it can't be done."
This time is Viper the one who steps forward, entering the conversation for the first time. "Perhaps we can make clear how does she have hold of this information. Does she have some sort of prescience?"
"Of course, the information broker wants to know about that," she almost sneers.
"Kyra, stop. It's okay." She then turns to look at them. "I've gained the ability to look through other parallel universes. I can't quite obtain the information from my other selves but I can glimpse some of what they know."
"Really?" Tsuna blurts out. "The guy I knew who had the same power could do… both" he trails off when he realizes he's the focus of everyone's attention.
"You knew someone who had the same power?" Her tone is dubious. "It can't be done."
"Like what you said I can't cure the curse without killing anyone?" Tsuna snarks back, his whole attitude screaming annoyance.
It's kind of hot seeing him with all this confidence. Now if he only wasn't wearing a mask…
"It's different."
"Sure it is."
Viper interrupts again. "And how it's done? You've implied it can be gained, can we know how?"
Tsuna and Mafer look at each other. Tsuna is the first to turn away to look thoughtfully at the bastard Mist before his head turns again to look at Mafer. "Yeah, it's gained. Actually, how did you get, uh, you know, that?" he asks with honest curiosity.
Mafer ignores the question, her usual warm personality making a sudden shift into some hostility. "It's mine, that's the only thing you need to know."
"Is it?"
"Yes. Now perhaps you can answer me why I can't see you." Her forceful tone is back. She holds her breath for a second before letting it out in a soft sigh. "Again, I'm sorry. Can you tell me why I can't see you?"
Tsuna doesn't turn to look at him but he can feel his eyes on his form. It's nice and calms something inside him that's been raging at not being the center of his attention. He doesn't know how he knows that touching his arm is the right thing to do but he does. He's not into a public display of affection when there's no sexual connotation, but he doesn't care at the moment. His little Sky—Not yet his, his traitorous mind supplies—needs to be reassured.
It's surprising to realize that he wants to do more. He wants to press him close against his chest, hug him and kiss him.
(It weirds him out. A little.)
It works. Tsuna nods with a determination a mask can't hide. Renato feels anticipation and anxiety dwell inside him at seeing it. "You can't see me because—"
"Someone's coming," Viper interrupts. It seems to deflate Tsuna as if all the courage he's gained is being sapped out of him.
Renato wants to grit his teeth as he turns towards the bastard Mist who is supposed to be hiding them.
"Ho?" he forces his mouth to say in a light tone. "Someone's not feeling up to par? Maybe you need some help."
The long nose of his mask hides more than his domino mask does, but Renato still can see the condescending twist of the Mist lips. Like a grown-up looking down at the naïve child that still believes in the monsters under their bed. "She's important. Not that you would know, of course."
That little shit. He's actually feeling disappointed he respects the Vongola family so much as to not bring a weapon to this Ball.
Tsuna turns to look at the Mist. "What do you m—"
The little Sky stops. His gaze fixed on a point to his right. Renato follows his lead and glances to where he's looking at. It's then when he sees her. A beautiful woman is slowly walking towards them. Unlike Mafer's blue dress with orange embroidery, she wears all white with just a hint of orange showing in the neck of her dress. She's regal in her bearing, all soft curves, contrasting startlingly with her sharp eyes. Her Sky flames are faint but not less powerful for that. The only giveaway of her identity is the flower tattoo under her left eye.
"Pleasure to meet you all," the powerful Shaman says, now standing in front of them. "My name's Luce. I'm the head of the Gligio Nero famiglia."
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