Katekyo Hitman Reborn! Fan Fiction ❯ Cavallone Moon ❯ Lost ( Chapter 1 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A youthful girl leaned against the edge of the white bridge, peering down at the pond busy with colorful koi fish. Her beautiful mother stood beside her, enjoying her daughter's laughter when the fish would splash her.
A girl stood in the blurred distance, watching forlornly. More of these recollections have begun to fill her dreams, replacing the usual. Even in this form, she was lucky to have them. Though it felt like a hindrance every time she'd wake up, disheveled and awkward.
"It is inevitable that I find you…"
Snapping out of her thoughts, she glanced around swearing she heard a whisper. As she searched her surroundings, black flames enveloped everything in a matter of seconds. She tried to holler at the mother and child on the bridge, but the flames had already blocked her path. They vanished before her eyes.
"You cannot escape me…"
A voice…? She rubbed her temple, trying to ease the pain and make sense of the voices.
"How dare you run from me..."
What? Who are you?
"Death…will greet you…and those you hold dearest…"
Dammit! She clutched at her throbbing head, suddenly feeling nauseous. Stop!
"Very soon…"
Breathing heavily, an exasperated dark blunette stared up at the vast cloudy blue sky, clutching her erratically beating heart against her pained chest and aching head. Sweat clumped her hair to her pale skin, shivering as the air cooled her heated body. She observed how her unsteady hand shook as she raised it, blocking the sky and sun from her view.
Exasperatedly, she dropped her hand to her side and closed her eyes to calm her shaken body. As the pain slowly dispersed, she opened her eyes and observed her unfamiliar surroundings. Many trees surrounded her, giving her little view besides the vast lake beyond. There were buildings, however, peaking through the huddled trees. She had a limited view from her sitting position.
With further inspection of her current misfortune, she looked down to see what she was wearing, hopefully finding some clue as to who she was. Her choice of clothing was definitely that of teen tastes: slim light blue button shirt with a black skirt held up by a belt with a silver skull, and some 2-inched strap boots reaching just below her knees. Riding high on her upper thigh was a colorful tattoo just under her skirt, somewhat concealed. Looking closer, she noticed it was a simple, yet stylized design of a wolf's head, silhouetted in a flame of white. She had no idea what that meant. Considering none of what she wore gave any hint to her identity that would help, she moved to worry about her current location.
"Wh-where am I?" Attempting to move, her wobbly legs struggled to support her as she half crawled to a tree for support, still dazed from the deep sleep. Her head felt dangerously light, giving her blurred vision and a nauseated feeling. She felt like someone hit her in the head with a rock, drugged her even, or she fell and severely hurt herself. Though, there were no injuries that she could see. She did feel occasional pains shooting through her body, making it hard to move or breath.
"What's…going on..?" She tried to rub out the blurry white spots from her vision. Her ice blue eyes shifted from one thing to another, every tree and building for any sign she could recognize. Her memory was a blur, unable to remember anything before waking up. She was…unsure of how to feel.
A sudden energy discharged from a direction off in the distance behind numerous buildings. The awareness was strong, yet recognizable almost. It was something she indistinctly recalled. Using the tree for some support, she unsteadily made her way out of the tree-filled region. She could hardly name anything besides the straightforward facts, such as tree, lake, buildings and so on. She was thankful for that, at least.
As she made her way through the cement forest, she followed her instincts towards that proverbial atmosphere. She could scarcely make out a few of them, they developed stronger and stronger the closer she got.
The people she passed on the streets seemed uninterested about her disoriented condition, as if no one were concerned. This didn't bother her in the slightest, just badly wanted to uncover what she was struggling to trail. The busy streets made her feel a bit uncomfortable, probably because she was lost and in every sense, too. She tried to translate the signs, but they came out in a jumbled mess of letters and symbols, nothing recognizable as of yet.
The source flickered every so often, intriguing her even more. She wondered if these strong energies would give her the answers she needed.
She was pulled towards another distant building, blocked by a gate and trees. This feeling that she got came from beyond a gate. It kept calling out to her, but she had no idea why.
The same uneasy feeling overwhelmed her senses suddenly, causing her to stumble before she stepped foot on the driveway. She was barely there, but the sensation pushed her down and made it difficult to breath.
"What's going on with me?"
She pushed herself to continue and slowly made her way closer to the gate. Before actually stepping on the driveway, she stood next to the wall and observed the surrounding area inside. She needed to find a way inside without drawing so much attention. Slowly, she made her way away from the gate and towards another side. She tried to be inconspicuous about it, but it's kind of hard to do that when you struggle to just breathe. Observing the outer wall, she had sudden flashes of having done something similar like this before. They weren't crystal clear, but the experience was there.
The blunette stepped back and breathed in and out slowly to prepare mentally. She bolted in quick steps, crouched, and then leapt over, using her hands to take hold of the edge to heave her body up and over.
It wasn't with ease, that's for sure. Her footing as she landed left her ungracefully in a bush. The moment she landed in the sharp branches and loud crunches, she quickly hid behind it as soon as she regained her balance. She had no idea where she was and for all she knew, she was stepping on dangerous ground.
Quetly, she peaked through the holes given from the bushes to take in her surroundings. There didn't seem to be many people, but the aura she searched for continued to grow. She could feel it in her chest and throughout all her senses.
Since there wasn't a single soul around, she weaved her way through the many trees and avoided any cameras she spotted. Occasionally, she'd have to stop and catch her breath, the energy was growing intense and harder to withstand.
Second thoughts came to her, now she wasn't so sure.
'Someone must have seen me by now…' It was hard to imagine, with so many cameras that no one would have popped up and tried to stop her in her tracks. 'Or maybe they want me to come in? Or…they have terrible security…'
It wasn't long until she had to stop entirely. "Th-this pain! It's…getting…unbearable!"
At that moment, the girl collapsed.
"S-Someone…I-I…" She gasped and tried to relax the best she could and leaned against a nearby tree. She gripped her shirt in soft pants, and closed her eyes momentarily. The pain erupted from the center of her chest and and head. It felt as if someone was clawing from the inside and out, trying to to escape. Her heart sped up to the point it felt like it was about to burst through her chest.
The girl paused, breath held in as she felt the same energy near her location. All she could hear was her erratic heartbeat and footsteps. She stiffened when she heard whispers only steps away from her.
"Hello there, young lady."
Daringly, she turned around, eyes landing on a larger set of feet. She tried to steady herself, but her struggle grew more evident. She didn't care anymore who saw, if she was going to die, so be it.
"What brings you here to our lovely building?" Slowly looking up, she was greeted by a concerned older scruffy man in a suit accompanied by a few others: a suspicious bald man, a cautious woman with glasses, and a teen boy who appeared to be either her age or a few years younger. They didn't look happy. More like...alarmed and on guard.
"I-I…don't know…" She felt a little worried, being caught in her current state. She felt vulnerable but for some reason she knew that these people wouldn't harm her just from the feeling she got from the older man. As she spoke, her eyes were glued on the older man who gave her a simple smile. "I-I felt some…energy from..here. I thought that I…I could..check it out. To see…if…it would help me remember. Please…I don't know what to…to do…lost…"
She collapsed to the ground, barely looking up and panted irregularly. The boy ran to her side immediately due to their boss' say so. The boy helped her sit up properly and checked her to see if there were any abnormalities.
"Energy? Basil. Oregano. Help her inside." The older man ordered the boy before smiling widely at her. 'Hm. She seems to be disoriented and exhausted. What would bring her here in this state?'
"Wh-what?! Sir! We don't know who she is or why she's here! You can't possibly let some strange girl inside our base! She snuck in! I mean, for all we know, she could be an enemy!" whispered the woman with glasses.
"Heh, Oregano, this girl is clearly not a danger. She's barely standing on her own two feet. I have a feeling she's just trying to find answers." The man chuckled and waved the woman off without a care in the world. He caught a glimpse of the unique rings she wore. 'Hmm…'
He looked into her reddened ice blue eyes. "These two will help you inside, so please bear with us for a few and we'll help as much as we can. What's your name, young lady?"
"I-I'm…" They helped her to lean on their shoulders. She felt a sudden ache and grabbed her head, furrowed her brows. "Aaaagh! I…can't remember! It hurts…to try…"
The blonde boss rubbed his scruffy chin with a raised brow and stood curious about the girl. 'She truly can't remember, huh? How interesting…something or someone must've done something to her.'
The girl tried to stand on her own to move, but felt weaker by the second. It was strange, she thought. To be helped by someone now, as no one else bothered to check her condition. Yet this man...he seemed...familiar, somehow.
As they entered the building, they immediately placed her in their personal infirmary with a few guards to keep an eye on her. She couldn't hold out any longer and passed out on the spot.
"H-huh?! Hey! Wake up! Are you ok?!" The boy tried to keep her up. The woman beside him rushed to her side.
"Basil, leaver her be." Their boss watched from the doorway, observing the girls pained stricken face. Her hand fell from the edge of the bed, directing his attention to a glimmer. With closer inspection, her hand wore a few rings. One of which was something he swore he'd seen once. 'Where have I seen that ring before?'
"Y-Yes, Master!" The boy stepped back and looked over the girl, concerned. Footsteps echoed from the hall, pulling their full attention to the new visitors. "A-Ah! Lal-san! Collonello-san!"
"Hey." The two Arcobaleno glanced up to the unconscious girl. Lal spoke up first. "So is this the intruder we were alerted about?"
The blue-haired woman scrutinized the unconscious girl. "How did she get this way? She doesn't appear harmed."
"No clue." The boss, Iemitsu, shrugged his shoulders and then scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. "She said she followed a strong energy here. So…I'm assuming she sensed our flames and/or rings, which is a curious thing. She must have a sensory skill. Also, she has no idea who she is or where. Possibly amnesia…"
"Amnesia? How crude. Then why keep her here? Just give her to the hospital." The indifferent Arcobaleno crossed her arms. "She could be lying. An assassin possibly."
"Haha! I would have. Honestly, Lal. But if this girl was an assassin, or a danger to us, why would she come to us unprotected and in the state she's in? She can sense our flames from wherever she came. I doubt it would stop her especially if she needed answers." Iemitsu left the room, signaling the guards to stay, and led the group elsewhere. "I doubt she's lying. There have been a lot of abnormal occurrences going on lately."
"You mean those bizarre energies emitting from the Vindicare?" Collonello, the blonde Arcobaleno, spoke up grimly. "If there are more of them, what do we do? I get that they're...undead, but how can we stop Bermuda all over again?"
"It isn't just that." Iemitsu turned to face them with a serious face. "We confirmed intelligence from an allied Mafia family who were recently investigating the disappearance of a Yakuza family in Tokyo, Japan. We assumed that they're in hiding, or worst case scenario...dead. However, I have a feeling that this girl is from that family, but what I don't understand is how she got here. Hopefully Nono may know something. I need to see if we can have an audience with Talbot. Those energies from Vindicare may tie in with what's happening with the Yakuza."
"Why Talbot?" Collonello inquired. "How is he related to any of this? Kuro!"
"Did you notice those rings she wore?" Iemitsu pointed out with a smirk.
"Huh? They looked like ordinary expensive rings, but what about them?" Lal inserted.
"Really~? You guys didn't notice the detail on them?" Iemitsu faked shock. "C'mon, guys! Those rings weren't ordinary. The detail didn't look familiar? There's only one person in the world that could create something like that."
The two Arcobaleno closed in on the rings the amnesia girl wore on her slender fingers. The ring that caught Iemitsu's interest had 7 different colored rocks surrounding a larger clear crystal. The craftsmanship is certainly distinctive, a usual design meant for flame summoning.
"Y-You don't mean that Talbot created them?! If that's the case, why would he mold rings for the Yakuza?" Lal thought suspiciously.
"You should know better, Lal. This is Talbot we're talking about. With the right strings pulled, he'll fix up rings and weapons for anyone. Varia, for instance." Iemitsu chuckled, opening the door to his office. "Not that it's a bad thing; the Yakuza family that we were investigating isn't your average Yakuza thug. Besides, I believe Talbot would not be so irresponsible."
"I need to call Nono and discuss this more. He may have an idea." Iemitsu slumped in his chair and reclined. "Oregano, look into this. Give me anything that you can possibly find."
The blonde woman searched through their computers, running back and forth for the past 30 minutes. Iemitsu plopped down at his desk chair, leaning to one side with his chin propped by his right arm as he swiveled back and forth in deep thought. He wasn't surprised anymore with these events occurring one after the other. First, these odd energies from the once thought abandoned Vindicare. Next, the unexplained Yakuza disappearances. Finally, this lost, homeless girl with amnesia. Honestly, what's going on?
Immediately, the blonde man moved for his cell from his pocket, dialed, and waited for an answer.
"Hello, Iemitsu-san. What can I do for you?" A kind older male voice spoke.
"How are you, Nono?" Iemitsu brightened up immediately. "Everything ok, I hope."
"Everything is well. Thank you for asking." The older man on the other end smiled. Iemitsu could hear it in his voice. "Simply enjoying a cup of tea in the greenhouse."
"Excellent." Iemitsu hesitated. He never liked bothering his old friend in fear of worrying him unnecessarily. Only when it seemed urgent. However, now seemed urgent enough. "Actually, sir...there is something I would like to discuss. Of course, if I may, sir."
"You may. We are old friends, Iemitsu-san. No need to be so formal." Nono chuckled.
"Of course, sir." He began. "It's difficult to know where to even begin."
"Take your time, Iemitsu-san."

"I see a possible connection as well. I remember Tsuna explaining the Representative Battle against the Vindice. I'm relieved that all of them survived. The Vindice are not ones to take lightly." Nono crouched beside his blue rose collection in his green house.
"I'm sorry, sir, for keeping the events secret from you. Uh, how is Xanxus? Squalo?" The blond scratched his stubble nervously.
"Good as new. There are some light scaring, but in time they will vanish. They are a tough bunch." The C.E.D.E.F. relaxed a bit. He didn't sound upset, or angry, even now.
"I am relieved. They aren't Varia for nothing. Still adjusting to Reborn's new appearance?" Iemitsu joked lightly.
"It's amazing to see the Acrobaleno curse removed. I've known Reborn for a long time, so it's great to see them all as they once were. However, with the Vindice gone, I wonder what will happen to the Mafia Law and the Vindicare. They were the ones who kept the rules of the Mafia World." The older man settled back into his chair, watching as a maid refilled his cup of tea.
"I'm wary that there may be more Vindice, but it all seems unlikely that they'll attack or act up if there were more of them. The curse is gone. Tsuna's plan to replace the curse with the same flames worked unexpectedly." The blond swiveled to face Oregano who was still busy searching for more information.
"He even asked me about Talbot's whereabouts. Which is where he gathered the solution. It seems Tablot wished to learn more about the Pacifiers and the Black Flame." Nono paused. "However, at this time, I'm afraid that I do not know where he is currently."
Iemitsu sat there in thought, wondering how everything could possibly fit together. The Mafia and the Yakuza are worlds apart, even if there was a small alliance. The laws and way of life are what separates them. "It seems as if these events and Talbot are tied in some way. Perhaps he really does know of something. His disappearance brings up questions as well. But he's always been an ally to the Vongola, so..."
"I could send out a search group for Talbot, Iemitsu-san?" he offered thoughtfully.
"I would appreciate it if you can, it'll help us greatly, Nono-san."
"Of course. Now," Nono set his cup down and crossed his legs, reclining more in his white chair. "This girl that you've found..."
"Ah, yes. Well, there isn't much to discuss as of yet, besides her rings possibly designed by Talbot. Oh, and she seemed to be able to sense flames and locate them. That's how she managed to find us despite her condition."
"Perhaps...she is the link connecting everything. Her ability sounds rather strong. She must be from a family of Dying Will Flame users." Nono pondered further on the girl’s state. "However, her condition is a great concern as well."
"I'm not so familiar about the causes of amnesia. Aside from damage to the head."
"I have met one other who suffered from it."
"Sir?"
"In definition, amnesia is a condition where the memory can be either wholly or partially lost due to the extent of the damage. In the brain, memory is stored in several parts of the limbic system. If something were to happen, any condition interfering with the functionality of the system, memory is then lost."
"I see..."
"There are also functional causes, mostly psychological factors. For instance, mental disorders, post-traumatic stress, or in psychoanalytic terms, a defense mechanism. However...there are different variations of this syndrome."
"Like what?"
"It depends on the extent, of course. Long-term memory, the loss or impairment of the ability to form new memories through memorization. Constantly forgetting a piece of information, people, or events. I hope that this is not the case. It can be a difficult condition to deal with."
"I do not believe that is the case. It's more of pre-existing memories and identity loss."
"Unable to recall some or all of her life or identity prior?"
"Yes, sir."
"Hmm." He was still concerned with the extension of the damage, even if it did not sound too terrible. "There are different types of memory. Procedural memory, automated skills, and then there is declarative memory, which are personal episodes or abstract facts. She can forget one, but retain the other. Not all is entirely lost if isn't so severe."
"That's a relief."
"There is one other thing that interested me in these cases..." Nono stood and walked over towards the blue rose bush in a corner of the spacious room. "Another form of amnesia may impair the ability to imagine future events. It's a case I read a while back, a study, explaining the hippocampus and elements of experiences brought together in the process of re-experiencing the past...or imagining the future."
"Potential foreshadowing..? That's…an intriguing idea." It sounded impossible, yet Uni can do it. Then again, she was an Acrobaleno. So what would this girl be if she was capable of predicting the future? That's a whole different level.
"I can help further if I were to speak to her in person and see for myself, Iemitsu-san. Should I visit?"
"Certainly, Nono-san. I'm fairly certain that she isn't a danger, but just in case we will keep secur-"
"Don't worry, I am capable of handling myself. Please inform me when she awakens." Nono assured him. "I will visit noon tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
"I will also inform you if we find anything more on Talbot. Be careful, Iemitsu-san."
"Thank you. And take care, sir."
The other end clicked to a silence. Iemitsu leaned back and rubbed the sides of his head. There were too many unknowns for him to feel comfortable. It's time to make a move to solve these mysteries.
"Sir, so far, we can't find anything. There's nothing on her in our records. It's like she never existed in the Yakuza, Mafia, or any family at that. No records of school either…how bizarre." Oregano reported, baffled from the lack of intel.
"Interesting." His brown eyes looked down at the picture frame on his desk. 'I wonder…maybe…'

"-iko…wake up…kiddo."
Huh? I am…but I can't…see.
"Brat! Wake up!"
Eh? I'm trying to!
"Please…be safe…Ts-…"
Wh-why? Is something...
"Idiot…You better not have died…"
I'm alive! Can't you see? Hear?
"I swear. We'll find you…wake up…"
"WAKE UP, IDIOT!"
Bolting up, the girl awakened to a strange white room, filled with unfamiliar equipment. It startled her at first, but she recollected the events slowly and tried to make sense of the voices calling out to her. They were eerie, but maybe they're fragments of her forgotten memories. In that case, it's best to let them come to her naturally rather than forcing herself to remember. After struggling to sit up properly from a dizzy head, she looked around the room observantly. She tried to get out of bed, but ungracefully stumbled off with a surprised 'eep', foot tangled between the sheets.
"What was that?!" Shuffling could be heard from the other side of the door as it slid wide open, revealing several black shoes. She couldn't see their faces from hanging upside down on the opposite side of the bed, peering through the bottom.
"Ah! Are you ok?!" A smaller set of feet scampered to her side, helping her untangled her from the sheet. It was frustrating to still be weak like yesterday. She still felt lightheaded, but the nausea was gone, at least.
"Hahaha! A bit clumsy, aren't you? You remind me of someone we know." said Iemitsu, chuckling. She flushed a bit from the embarrassment. Glancing up, she saw it was the Basil boy helping her. She just gave him a scrutinizing look, causing him to blush uncomfortably.
"Thank you…" the girl spoke. The boy looked into her eyes for a brief few seconds before averting them bashfully.
"So," their boss walked around and sat at the edge of her bed. "Did the rest help you remember anything, yet?"
"…" Sitting down, the girl pondered a little longer, trying her best to remember. Her eyes were downcast, looking at her hands. Then something caught her eye, a few letters written in elegant font. She raised her hands to get a closer look. "For my…dearest…Tsu…Tsu-ki…ko…Tsukiko…"
"Tsukiko, huh?" Iemitsu rubbed his chin in thought. 'Yeah, no clue…but this is better than nothing. If she is from our Yakuza allies, then we need to make sure she's safe and alive…'
"That's…my name?" Her eyes never left her rings. "There's a moon on my ring. Does that mean anything to you?"
Iemitsu leaned over and took her hand to observe the ring closely. The details were definitely a rarity. "The moon in engraved in the rock…I can't say for sure what family this is from, I've never seen it before."
"Thank you…" The girl's eyes lifted to his. "You've helped me a lot."
A large hand patted her head. "You don't need to thank me, kiddo. I'm glad to help a little lady in need of help. Call it a 'Father's Instincts'."
"'Father's Instincts'?" She looked at him skeptically, unsure about the expression. Iemitsu caught onto quickly and explained himself.
"I've a son close to your age back home. So I guess...I dunno..." He paused, a moment of hesitation flickered through him. He hardly felt like the father as he should have been for Tsuna. Barely there, not exactly raising him like most father's would. He just...had his own method. He expressed his love and fatherly image a bit differently. They were Mafia.
"I see, well, he's lucky to have a father like you. One who helps those in need of help. Thank you again." She smiled warmly.
Bashfully, the blond folded his arms as his head rose slightly, pointing in the air, with pride. "I do try. Hahahaha~!"
"Don't inflate his ego now..." Lal scoffed, earning another boisterous chuckle from the man.
The girl sat there feeling happy to return a piece of her identity. She finally found something about herself, and for that, she was grateful. A name was a very good start for her memory issue, but…
"I have a question." Sitting back, she lifted her legs and wrapped her arms around them. She stared at them with a curious child-like expression, occasionally using hand gestures. "That energy I felt from here. Do you know? It was…strong, warm, and…familiar."
"Hm? Oh that? Perhaps you mean this?" Iemitsu revealed a bright flame from his hand, as if it were nothing. However, Tsukiko was in complete awe. It felt like the same energy as before. "This is called a Dying Will Flame. Is this the source of energy that you feel?"
"That's it!" She jumped towards him, catching Iemitsu off guard who just chuckled at her child-like behavior.
"Hahaha~! Someone's full of energy." He watched bemusedly. "If you say that it's familiar, then maybe you have a Dying Will Flame…"
The flame illuminated in her wide blue eyes. She felt tempted to touch it. "Dying Will Flame…"
This caught her full attention. Could she do that as well? She looked down at her hands, wondering if that were really possible. "Could you teach me?"
"Why not!" said Iemitsu, but paused when he saw her distant stare. "Do you remember anything more? How did you find your way here?"
"Maybe a little, but looking at it now…it felt so familiar. I suppose I… followed my instinct. As if…it was directing me to you for help. It's difficult to explain. I'm sorry." She felt irritated trying to explain in words, but put up a smile anyways.
"That's fine, Tsukiko-san. Actually," Looking over his shoulder, he nodded towards the blue haired Arcobaleno. "Lal, why don't you help this girl by giving her some lessons, eh?"
The goggle wearing woman stumbled back and paled. "Wh-What?"
Watching his ex-instructor's reaction, Collenello smirked. "Hahaha! Don't you enjoy training others, Lal? Kuro!"
"You too, Collenello~!" Iemitsu sang, just to mess with them.
"Iemitsu!" The blonde Arcobaleno glared at the CEDEF leader.
Tsukiko watched as they argued. It was strange to her. She smiled and giggled when the one named Lal punched the army clad blonde beside her.
"Sigh," Lal directed her full attention to the teen girl. "If I'm going to train you, it's going to be all-out, little girl."
"Huh?" Tsukiko smiled nervously. 'This…can't be good…'
Lal walked up to Tsukiko with a dark smirk. "Be ready in one week at 6 a.m. sharp Monday morning. That'll give you some time to relax fully."
The girl stared at the woman, in awe of her demanding respect attitude. "Don't you dare be late."
Tsukiko stared after the retreating angry woman. The blond man beside her sighed with a small shrug and followed soon after.
"Don't worry. You'll learn a lot with them."
The girl turned to the man and nodded slowly.
"It may be tough and SHE may be difficult to tolerate, but Lal and Collonello are some of the best to train under." Iemitsu smiled at her reassuringly, even if what he said didn't really help put her at ease. 'That way we can keep an eye on her and allow Lal and Collonello judge whether they can be trusted or not.'
Nodding numbly, she sat there in her own reverie, unaware of the rest leaving.
"Continue resting for now, we have guests who would like to speak with you in a few hours." He checked his watch. "It's 8 a.m. the day after we found you."
"I feel much better now...the rest did some good for me." She stretched her arms above her head and popped her back, ending with a contented sigh.
"They'll be here about noon. Here are some clothes that I had Oregano grab for you. The bathroom is right over there, so clean up if you'd like." A set of clothes in a small bundle was placed at the foot of her bed. He turned to leave, but stopped when she made a motion intending to say something. "Yes, Tsukiko-san?"
"Ah...Iemitsu-san...thank you." She muttered nervously, loud enough for him to hear.
The man smiled genuinely. "No problem."
Then he left. She took this moment to get dressed, observing the clothes he left behind. It was very similar to what they wore. Simple, yet sleek, black suit with a light blue button shirt. There was a pair of undergarments, too. She didn't feel so uncomfortable with knowing the fact that it was the woman who gathered these clothes for her. Had it been any of the others, it would definitely have been awkward...
She was in and out of the shower, drying her hair, and getting dressed. She felt refreshed and clear-minded. The headaches and chest pains were gone. Yet her condition remained the same. It was frustrating to say the least.
In the meantime, as she waited, she took her time to observe her silver rings closely. They were certainly unique in their own designs. Someone special must have made them for her. The larger ring resembled a class ring. It, however, had a wolf etched in the clear rock. The others weren't as large, but one other stood out to her greatly. It reminded her of the rainbow, all colors aligned in a circle round a slightly larger clear rock with a moon etched in it. The theme was strange, maybe cliché, but it fit to something about herself. Perhaps she loved wolves and the night sky moon. It must have a relationship with her origin and identity.
Then, an idea hit her. Watching Iemitsu summon his brilliant flame spurred something in her. If what he said was possibly true, then why not try it out for her own?
Standing straight and assertively, she raised her hands and focused on them completely. Maybe if she could focus on one point in her body, she could do it?
Closing her eyes, she tried hard to cut out everything around her and breathed steadily. She felt a spark from within, but nothing visible came from her. Shaking her head and arms briefly, she steadied herself again and watched her hands this time. With furrowed brows, she stared without a blink with great determination and irritation. He made it look so natural.
Nothing happened still.
"Ugh! What gives!" She threw her hands in the arm frustratedly. "I know I can do it..."
A presence from the door interrupted her fuming head. It was the Basil boy.
"Hello, uh, Tsukiko-san." He bowed respectively.
"Basil, was it?"
"Ah, yes! I hope that you are feeling well." He looked over her briefly to inspect. "You look good in the suit Oregano bought for you."
"She bought them? I should thank her...um, where is she?" She stepped forward, towards the door he stood under. It was then she realized that they were the same height, maybe a little taller than him. She must be older in that case, or he was just short.
"She's on an errand right now, but she'll be back later. You can tell her then." He turned sideways, allowing an opening in the doorway. "However, Nono-sama and his Guardians will be here shortly to meet you in an hour. Let's wait in the lounge, please?"
"Lead the way, sir." She smiled politely.
Basil lead her out and down the hallway. She hadn't seen the rest of the building except the outside and the room she stayed to rest in. The hallway was much larger, decorated in a dark red carpet, expensive paintings, and rich red wood furniture. It is far from anything she'd seen before, or remembered. She could smell the cleanliness, even the scent smelt expensive. She took great caution in each step she made. She feared she'd make a mistake, break something, and owe her life to pay the debt. Not something she wanted to risk and find out the consequence. This place amazed her already.
"I saw that you were trying to summon your flame in the room." The dirty blond hair spoke up to start a small conversation.
"Yes, well...as you probably witnessed, nothing happened. I truly believe that I can do it. I just don't know why it isn't working." Blue eyes looked ahead as they walked into the elevator, falling distant and uncertain.
Taking in her confusion, the boy frowned slightly, understanding what she might be going through. "You shant worry, Tsukiko-san. I'm certain that you will find your answers soon. Lal-san and Collonello-san are excellent teachers."
She turned to the boy, eyes slightly widened by his comforting words. These people, most of them, were kind to her. She felt as though she didn't deserve it entirely. They didn't know each other. Such random acts of kindness were rare, but she knew they were not unheard of.
Life was strange and unexpected.
Just then, the doors opened up as they arrived to their destination. They walked down yet another hallway, the same colors, size, and theme. Only, it seemed more homely. More used.
Basil lead her to a large set of doors with the same red wood as the hall tables she saw every so often. He pushed ahead, opening them waited for her to walk in first. His gentlemanly behavior surprised her even more.
No one was in the large room, set up much like a cozy living room. In the end stood a bar and a balcony at the opposite side. It was a comfortable lounge with leather couches, red wood center table, and a large fireplace. Was this a style for western homes and Europe?
Thinking about it, what was her home like?
"Are you thirsty and hungry? I imagine that you haven't eaten yet." Basil offered.
"Honestly? I'm famished. And a bit dehydrated." Tsukiko giggled nervously.
"There's nothing to worry about. Here." He pulled out a clear, plastic container with a halved wrap and water bottle. He smiled as he handed it to her, gesturing his hand towards the bar to eat. She followed his example as he sat at one of the stools.
She tried to bear with being the only one eating and watched occasionally. It was making her nervous. "It's delicious. Thank you."
He smiled in response. As she downed the wrap and water, failing miserably to hide her hunger, Lal and Collonello burst through the doors arguing.
"I swear, Collonello! If you don't shut that damn trap of yours, I'm going to shove this gun so far up your ass-Oh. Basil. Um. Tsukiko?" The older blunette walked over to them, shortly followed by a grinning Collonello. His expression held a cocky, suggestive attitude as his gaze stayed a bit on the younger male. This act didn't slip either teen. Basil blushed when the blond eyebrows wiggled and had a 'shit-eating-grin'.
"So, a mini date around the building, eh, Basil? We were about to go get her, but I see that you had already beat us to the punch." Collonello teased to the boy's dismay. "Didn't think you go for the older ladies, too, Kuro!"
"Collonello!" Lal hissed, her face flushing a bit red from either anger or embarrassment.
The blond looked at her, feigning ignorance. "What?"
Lal rolled her eyes at the blond and turned to the teens. "Iemitsu is meeting Nono downstairs, but the meeting will be held here. Collonello and I will be waiting in the other room, but I think you, Basil, should come with us, too."
"Certainly, ma'am." Basil nodded affirmatively.
"Don't call me that..." Her expression darkened.
"What? Does it make you feel old? Well, to be fair, you kind of-" "Don't you dare finish that statement if you want to live."
Their bickering began. Through her light blue eyes, she found the exchange immensely amusing. They fought like an old married couple. It was tempting to say so out loud, but based upon the older woman's temper, it wouldn't be a smart idea.
"Let's go. C'mon, Basil!" The woman stormed out, leaving the rest to follow accordingly.
"Is she always so short-tempered?" She had to ask.
"Ah, well," Collonello folded his arms and considered what to say without regretting it later if caught. "Not always, but when pushed, yes. It's just..Lal. Kuro!"
"Anything I should be wary about?" She needed to know these things if she wanted to survive.
"Just watch what you say and follow her instructions. Even then, go beyond and work hard. I feel that will keep you alive long enough. Kuro!" Of course, a joke.
With that, she was left alone in the lounge till Iemitsu and the guests arrived. That was fine with her, she wanted to check out the view with this chance.
Throwing away her trash, she stepped over towards the balcony doors and flipped the latch up to open. The wind wasn't terribly strong, but gave her a cool breeze. It was comforting to be outside.
There were many flowers placed on the balcony. They were beautiful, but she could only recognize a few. Violet, bluebell, and jasmine. She was tempted to sleep in the reclined chair up there.
Even as she gazed below, she felt no fear of the height. In fact, it gave her a certain exhilarating feeling of excitement and...power. These reactions existed to a forgotten memory. The connection was still there, but they all confused her.
Experimentally, she leaned forward a bit, gradually hoisting herself up onto the edge. She sat and allowed her legs to sway. The view of the far ground hit her with realization of what she was doing. She wasn't crazy, but this feeling was much similar to before as she leaped over the wall. It seemed natural to her.
While she observed the ground below and drowned in her own thoughts, she remained unaware of the doors opening as several footsteps walked in one by one. She was too caught up in listening to the city beyond to notice Iemitsu joining her on the balcony.
"You're not thinking of jumping, are you?"
"Eh?! Y-You startled me!" His voice kicked her out of her own thoughts with a skip in her heart beat. She looked back ahead and down, her expression distant. "I wasn't planning to jump. Don't worry. It's just...this...it feels...natural. Does...that make any sense at all? Haha..."
"Natural?" Iemitsu leaned over a bit to see her expression clearly. "Why don't we go inside and talk about it. There's someone I'd like to introduce to you. I think that one of them can help you."
Nodding, she swiveled around and pushed off gracefully on the balls of her feet with well managed balance. She turned to the blond as he walked inside, the room was filled with about seven others, mostly older men, either Iemitsu's age or older. Six of them stood around the one sitting much older man. He faced her with a gentle smile, slowly standing up to greet her. He extended his hand to her with a slight bow as she shook it.
"Tsukiko, I presume?" He asked politely. "I am Timoteo, but some call me Nono."
She nodded slightly, her eyes glued to his calm and kind face. There was something about him she was drawn to. His presence...it was powerful, yet...benevolent. However, the men standing around them put her on the edge, it was making her nervous with them staring at her so intently. Only a two of them, couple of the obvious younger individuals, smiled kindly and nodded in greeting. That calmed her a bit, but the others looked so tense. It could just be their personalities, but she still didn't like it. The odd thing was how she was so tempted to throw them off guard by saying something or, well, make a face at them. It was definitely a childish thought. Was she like that before?
As if sensing her distress, the older man, Nono, waved for them to leave the room. Iemitsu sat beside them, giving the Guardians a reassuring nod. She watched one of the older men, about the same age as Nono, give her a strange mistrusting glare. She didn't blame the guy, honestly. She was an unknown.
"Child, there is no need to be afraid. I'm simply here to help you." He spoke softly, drawing her attention to his wrinkled, smiling eyes.
"I appreciate you doing so, but why would you want to? It's strange for either of you to be so...helpful. Why?" She looked at her hands nervously, fidgeting worriedly. "Neither of you know who am I. Nor do I..."
Nono could sense the doubt and fear in her voice and posture, especially those beautiful sad eyes brighter than the blue sky. It had been a while since he had last interacted with an amnesia victim; even then it was upsetting to watch them live on without knowing who they were or their loved ones. For all their beloved knew, they were lost without a way home, or deceased.
"I understand how you must feel about your current situation. Lost and alone." He paused, thinking over what he could say to help her quail her struggling confusion and loss. Of course, they need her to remember whatever information she can in order to help them. However, he couldn't exactly bring that up without potentially upsetting her and getting her to accuse them of manipulation and whatnot. She needed to feel comfortable and eased into the situation. Conditions such as amnesia can be risky. "Someone dear to me has suffered from amnesia."
Surprise light up her sad face, head snapping up to look at him unexpectedly. "Just as I am? How are they? Did they...recover...their memories?"
Nono hesitated with the answer, but he must remain honest to the girl. "Not all, but the stronger events and memories of most people were restored. He is fine. Returned to his wife and children long ago. He lives happily."
She still smiled, even knowing that there isn't a 100% recovery. Nono relaxed and kindly smiled at her response. This child must be very patient and understanding, he thought.
"How did he recover them?" She inquired.
"Well, that is the interesting part." The older man motioned to Iemitsu, who stood and walked to the door and called in someone. "If you will allow it, I'd like to help you as we did for him."
"Definitely! If it'll help, of course." She smiled widely at him, her childish enthusiasm returning. Nono chuckled at her in amusement.
Just as Iemitsu returned, one other followed him. It was one of the men who accompanied Nono, posisbly the tallest of the group. He stood out a little in appearance with dark tanned skin, many ear piercings, a sharp angled face, and interesting dreadlocks. She was more intrigued by why Iemitsu had brought him. Was he this special method that helped the other amnesia patient?
"Tsukiko-san, this is Bouche Croquant. His is one of my...guardians. He, too, summons a Dying Will Flame." He explained to help her understand the man's importance. "However, his is a different color and holds different attributes than others as all are unique."
"There are different types of flames?" She wondered which one she had then. How could a flame be different, though? Fire is usually orange or red, possibly blue. So how many variations are there?
Nodding, the older man then began to recite something. "Creating something from nothing, and nothing from something; thus bewildering the enemy, to render the Family's true form intangible with deceit."
She had no clue what he was trying to tell her. Creating something from nothing and nothing from something? Enemy? Family? Was he giving her a riddle to solve?
"He holds the Mist Flame of illusions. In our Family, and few others, there are those with Dying Will Flames who can use them to fight and protect for their friends and families, though not all follow that example. They are considered 'Guardians', special individuals who are able to control and use them to fight with." He lifted his scepter as a demonstration, summoning a flame much like Iemitsu's to light up from its top. Just as before, she stared in awe as his flame blazed brilliantly.
"Yours is just like Iemitsu-san's!" She watched from across the table.
"It is. We hold the Sky flame. It is orange."
"Sky? How are there different types of flames?" She paused and then looked up at the taller tanned gentlemen expectantly. "What does yours look like, if you don't mind?"
Without waiting, Bouche lifted his ringed hand and summoned his indigo colored flame. She observed in awe at the shape and texture it held in comparison to the orange, blazing sky flame. Since when were flames such odd colors, she mused.
"So the mist flame, essentially, is construction?" She thought out loud, glancing at the old man once more. "To create something from nothing. Building illusions to deceive."
"Yes, but we can discuss that on a later time. Shall we begin?" Nono looked over to Bouche and then the other two for confirmation. "Now, Tsukiko-san, please lay down on that couch you are on and we will begin."
Nodding obediently, she then scooted over and lifted her feet to remove her shoes. She laid back and looked over at them patiently. She felt herself grow nervous, but with great excited anticipation. She trusted them, somehow.
"Now, Bouche, here, will use his ability to tap into your memories and dreams."
"I-Is that really possible?" She watched the taller male intently as he moved closer.
"It is the same technique we used previously, though Bouche has had more practice and should be able to do more this time around." Nono stayed put, giving her verbal support. "There is nothing to worry about, nothing bad will happen. He will just take a peep inside your mind."
Bouche walked over and sat carefully at the end of the center table to face her. "Relax, miss. Close your eyes, release any tension from your body, and focus on anything remotely familiar. Think about it and focus on just that."
Doing as he instructed, she closed her eyes and steadied her breathing, in and out. There was a moment of silence, besides their breathing, as she felt herself drift.
What could she remember first? Something familiar?
Instantly, her first thought were the voices from every time she woke, as if they were actually trying to communicate to her. It was either that, or the dream she had beside the bridge when she first woke.
As she settled on that, she felt herself slip into a deep sleep. Noticing this, Bouche settled one hand on her forehead, closed his eyes and focused his flames into pressure points. Pushing them into her temple, he focused on the sleeping energy he found from within her.
It was moments later when he managed to successful walk the floors of her subconsciousness.
Iemitsu and Nono observed for minutes as Bouche sits quietly and firmly in his spot. Tsukiko appeared to have slipped into a deep slumber.
A concerned Iemitsu watched as the two remained still, oblivious to their external surroundings. He couldn't see any changes, or what was possibly happening. "So...how does it work?"
"Bouche is searching her mind and dreams for any clues. From that, we will see what our next step is." Nono settled back into his seat and looked over towards the C.E.D.E.F. "It is up to her on what she is willing to recover, as well as what is recoverable. Certain memories are able to be erased and rewritten. However, it's rare for some illusionists. It is especially rare for one to be able to experience the memories and dreams of some. It takes a special ability and power."
"Body and mind possession." Iemitsu couldn't help but think that if this didn't work, perhaps Mukuro Rokudo would be of some help. Chances of that happening were slim. He still didn't hold a very high opinion of the Vongola, but seemed to tolerate Tsuna and the other Guardians a lot more since the Representative Battle. In time, even he will warm up. To some degree.
A soft whimper caught their attention.
Tsukiko was twitching. Her eyes rolled constantly from behind their lids, her hands flexing, and her jaw moving as if attempting to speak. She was beginning to show signs of panic from her dream-like-state. Her breath grew irregular, as if experiencing a bad memory, or nightmare.
Concerned the two men moved around to see how the illusionist was holding up. He seemed slightly effected by whatever was happening to her as his brows were furrowed and slowly beading sweat.
"What the hell is going on? Is that normal?" The blond turned to the Vongola 9th who looked just as concerned.
"No, this is...strange. All he is doing is viewing whatever it is she is creating in her mind. Then again, since this is a subconscious connection, I suppose anything is possible. As dreams are limitless, but her memories..." Nono leaned forward, peering up into Bouche's pain-stricken expression. "What could he have found?"
….
Voices, there were so many inside her head. Several of them were static, but were repetitive. Perhaps they were pieces of memories looped in her head, but she was then unable to understand what they meant. With this unique limitation, he needed to try and make sense of her dreams, or memories. The goal is to unlock and interpret the meaning.
Naturally, the mind is a mysterious and fascinating world of dreams, where the rules of reality do not apply. No logic. Possibly no physics. There were endless possibilities. Colors, shapes, people, events, creatures, etc.
Bouche had studied the moods and interpretations of dreams to help his skill and understanding. No other individual can share the same background, emotions, or experiences, which all make up who you are. All dreams, as he read, are connected to your reality, memories suppressed, experiences, or even a future you wished for. At times, you can't control them.
Yet as he observed the strange space he stood in, he couldn't help but sense that...someone, or something, was watching him. Of course, that could be Tsukiko's awareness kicking in, yet he was certain he had made himself invisible to even her.
Could this near emptiness be what she dreams about every night, or was it just this specific memory she found most recognizable?
Shadows flickered in the distance, the static voices becoming clearer each moment they were visible. A certain few were male voices, clearly attempting to communicate to her as they repeated her name and some broken sentences he could only catch.
The words 'safe', 'family', and 'find' were some of the few he was able to decipher in their buzzing voices. A dream like this was difficult to understand. Yet these words hinted at something. That much he was certain.
In dream terminology, shadows have several meanings, dependent on how she feels about them. Fear. Illusion. Unknown parts of yourself. Aspects of yourself that you have not acknowledge. Or a piece of yourself that you are rejecting. One meaning that stands above the rest at most, the shadow in a dream is a sign of inheritance, or legacy. In that case, Iemitsu's assumption would be correct.
Experimentally, he moved forward, following a few of the shadows, eerily resembling apparitions, that seemed to have grouped together in one direction.
A new, clear feminine voice whispered, alarming him. It wasn't Tsukiko's. Much older by the sound of it.
'You shouldn't be here...get out...'
Just then, the floors in the far distance all around him began to crumble and collapse, revealing a fire that surrounded him to the point he had no where to escape. He wasn't too concerned about the fire until it closed in enough that he could actually feel the heat radiating from the it.
That is not possible.
This is a dream within the mind. It shouldn't be able to construct something physical like this.
He began to panic as the heat grew stronger, yet stopped far enough to not actually touch him. Was this a warning, he wondered.
Taking in the assumed hint, he focused on his own escape. He saw enough.
Abruptly, Bouche is shut out of Tsukiko's mind, breathing in short, ragged breaths. Nono and Iemitsu were startled, surprising the mist user as they were now sitting beside him and the still unconscious Tsukiko with strangled concern written all over their faces. They clearly wanted answers to what the hell just happened.
"Are you ok, Bouche?" His boss questioned him worriedly.
The 9th Mist Guardian nodded shortly, still trying to regain his composure and process the information to share. The two boss' sat back and waited patiently for Bouche to calm down.
"Her mind is...unusual, or her dreams, at least. I only found a few pieces to use, but it was strange." Bouche straightened himself and stood to clear his mind.
"What did you see? Verdict?" Iemitsu asked seriously.
"There were shadows. A few of them. In dream terminology, it could mean anything. I believe that a few may apply to her, even in this condition." He faced them directly, one hand in his pocket as the other gestured when he continued professionally. "As I gathered then, the shadows represent fear, rejected aspects of herself, or unacknowledged. Which can also define her amnesia and the voices with no faces as you had described to us. However, Iemitsu-san, I do agree with you that she is somebody of great importance. The shadow is commonly viewed as a sign of inheritance, or legacy."
Iemitsu folded his arms, clearly liking the positive direction this is heading. Her link to the Yakuza has a higher percent chance of being true now. Even if their only source of backup comes from her dreams. "Then we can safely assume that she is related to our allied Yakuza and needs our protection till we can understand what is going on."
"That is a start." Nono inserted as he gazed down at the now relaxed girl who now began to stir. "I may not have Tsunayoshi-kun's Hyper Intuition, but I know that this child is innocent. She is a victim. Somehow. Some way."
"I do agree with you, sir, but...there is more." The mist user paused.
"What happened? You looked like you were in pain externally." Nono noted.
"Something unnatural happened while I was in there." Bouche looked over them. "After the shadows, another voice spoke to me, as clear as we are now. She had told me to 'get out'."
"Tsukiko-san's?" Nono guessed.
Bouche shook his head. "It wasn't Tsukiko-san's. I don't know who, but an older woman's."
"Wait, the dream, or memory, spoke to you?" Disbelievingly, the blond narrowed his eyes. That sounds a bit...creepy.
"It felt like someone was watching me. Then they surrounded me with a burning fire to prevent me from going any further." Bouche gazed at his hand, remembering the heat. "It was real."
"Real..? Wait, this doesn't sound right." Iemitsu sat at the foot of Tsukiko and observed her seriously.
"I have a theory that Tsukiko isn't suffering from a normal type of amnesia. It's seems as if someone had locked away her memories. It isn't like before. While I was in there, it was...empty, except for the lingering echoes, as I assume we can call them. Echoes of her memories." He had a hard time understanding this girls mind. "It's as though someone is guarding her mind. Yet...it seems all impossible."
"In our field of work, NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE." Iemitsu spoke half-jokingly. "So her amnesia is abnormal. Brain-washed, perhaps? That sounds awfully desperate. What could she have gotten herself into? Or...why would someone do this to a child?"
As Tsukiko stirred, the men settled back into their seats, intending to not alarm the girl. Her eyes fluttered open sleepily, unaware of what happened it seemed. Sitting up, the girl looked around, catching the subtle concern emitting from them.
"What happened?" She asked.
The three hesitated to speak up. However, Iemitsu felt the need to take up the responsibility and fill her in. As he shifted to sit beside her, he looked at her calmly.
"It seems that there were some unexpected events." He patted her back reassuringly and proceeded to explain everything he could. He relayed all, except the bits of her relations to the Yakuza. The time wasn't right.
"I see...Someone may have done this to me..." Her blue eyes were downcasted, feeling a bit depressed. Yet she knew that she shouldn't be, there was still hope. "What about recovering my memories, or is it too damaged? Although...I'm not so sure I can understand how someone could just...manually remove or lock my memories."
"We assume it was a skilled Mist user, or someone with certain abilities." Nono inserted. "However, there is no need to worry over this. We will figure this out together, Tsukiko-chan."
The blunette nodded slightly. Truly appreciating the help that they were giving her. She felt reassured and safe.
"I will help however I can, young miss." This time, Bouche eased her tension. She looked over towards with small concern. He seemed ok now, but from what they told her...it sounded a bit scary. Stuck in a dark area with fire surrounding you. And a voice. She was certainly unaware of that bit. She just dreamt of the same things over and over with the darkness and voices all familiar to her. Her problem was abnormal, apparently.
After a few moments of discussion on her physical and mental state, she learned more about amnesia and similar states than before. Most questions were directed to understand the limits and possible damage. Just as they had concluded, it was not a natural. She provided them with enough information to take a next step. However, it clearly required time and little help from Bouche.
Soon, Nono left with his Guardians after he genuinely guaranteed her that he was going to help her. She smiled, giving him a tight embrace filled with gratitude. She didn't understand why they were helping her, but, honestly, does one have to have a reason? She could trust them. She just...knew it.