Chapter 13
Chapter 25
"Sometimes when we talk I question your sanity."
"Oh?"
"Then I remember who I'm talking to and realize I can't question something you've Never had."
"Tsunayoshi-kun,"Bermuda spoke bluntly as he met the glowing orange eyes of the Vongola Decimo head-on, "if you attempt to break into My Prison once more, I shall personally ensure you never leave."
They needed a new plan.
It was obvious to the brunette Decimo that Bermuda had officially had enough of their constant efforts and would all too happily throw them into the darkest abyss Vendicare had to offer if they attempted to grace its darkened halls once more. He hadn't meant to set Bermuda's office on fire, Honest! It just happened. How was he to know the Vindice Warden had just finished a months work of sadist torture... Err... He meant paperwork. Nothing that could be classified as sadist or torture there. Yep, nothing at all.
"Dame-Tsuna, how long do you plan to hide under your bed? Its unfitting for a Mafia Boss to cower."
Not when a furious Bermuda von Veckenschtein wanted your skin on his wall- the brunette would forever swear he saw Hellfire burning within the Chibi's visible Inhumane eye- though despite what Reborn assumed, Tsuna wasn't cowering... He was just checking for assassins that may be waiting for them to lower their guards.
"Reborn, I'm not cowering. "
"Oh? Then you won't mind coming out then, will you?"
Though it was phrased as a question, Tsuna could already hear the soft click of his sadist tutor's gun in a silent threat that scream 'If you don't get out from under there now, I will shot you'.
"Of course not!"
Though he had all but shouted the words with a fearful confidence, the brunette didn't move outwards instead he seemed to be shirking inwards like a turtle retreating into its shell. Silence filled the room as neither occupant stared upon one another before Reborn slowly raised a brow, "Well Dame-Tsuna, I'm waiting."
"..."
Sighing softly, The chibified hitman leveled his gun at the bed's mattress and in turn the brunette cowering beneath it.
"You have to the count of three Dame-Tsuna."
"..."
"One."
"..."
"Three."
BAM! BAM! BAM!
"HHHEEEIII!"
All he could see was crimson- a mixture of bright red and dark maroon that clashed as they swirled together into a beautiful piece of Priceless Art- that filled the air with a metallic scent so strong he could taste it.
The precious life liquid dripped from bandaged hands onto the dull tile floor as a body soon followed, inhumane emerald eyes didn't even bother to watch their newest victim as he moved onto the next unfortunate soul to cross his path. If Bermuda was honest, he knew The Famiglia while deserving of an upper level of Vendicare didn't deserve to bear the brunt of his fury- Oh no, it should have been Vongola- yet the Vindice Warden couldn't bring himself to care.
That Brat, Giotto 2.0, had somehow managed to set his office on fire- in the five seconds he wasn't looking- and turned a months worth of work- done in quill of all things- into ash only moments after the Ex-Night Arcobaleno had just finished it. Then the Ex-Night Arcobaleno had to deal with these suicidal idiots- for what else would one call it when they had been warned to resist would result in Death and still chose to fight- only moments after finally finishing cleaning up the disaster that was his Office.
He needed stress release and these idiots had all but begged for it while throwing themselves at his feet. How could he possibly be cruel enough to deny their silent requests?
Ducking beneath a sword aimed to cut him in half, the Vindice Warden swiped at the brave- or stupid. Most likely stupid- man who dared attempt to attack him. Though none could see it, emerald eyes shined as blood-spattered and two separate pieces crashed to the floor.
When Bermuda finally returned to Vendicare - Bandaged hands dyed crimson yet not a speck of the darkening color could be seen anywhere else upon his being and not a single soul in sight- it was to the sight of the Vindice's Strongest Warrior holding a triple layered Dutch Dark Chocolate Cake with a chocolate covered strawberries and truffles topping.
"Jager, I love you."
A smug smirk found its way to the golden-eyed man's face, "I know."
"Luna, "The emerald eyed Chibi spoke softly despite the headache he could already feel forming behind his temples," tell me you did not steal a heard of Pegasi."
The blonde in question just smiled that distant smile of her's as she lounged in the air as though she didn't have a care in the world- knowing Luna, she probably didn't, "Alright Bermuda. I did not steal a heard of Pegasi."
"Then where did these come from?"
The Vindice Warden raised a brow -curious to see what her excuse would be- as emerald eyes darted around what had once been a majestic ballroom yet now might as well have been a Stable with the number of winged horses inside it.
"Silly Bermuda, I didn't steal them. I liberated them."
Well, when she put it that way...
"You will be cleaning the Ballroom without magic later, Luna"
All the blonde Mist did was smile.
There was something wrong.
Reborn couldn't quite put his finger on it but something was... Off, so to speak.
The World's Greatest Hitman knew what he wanted and he knew how to acquire it but His Flames -for the first time since he was thirteen- refused to obey. No matter how much he pushed, shoved and all but screamed at them, his Sun Flames refused to form a Guardian Bond with his Brunette student.
It wasn't that Dame-Tsuna's Sky was too weak to hold him or that his Sun was too strong for brunette's Sky instead if the chibified Hitman is blunt; His Flames seemed Repulsed every time he tried for forge anything more than what they already had. It was ridiculous, besides Luce- who was long lost to him- Tsuna had the Purest Sky Flames Reborn had ever stumbled across.
Which was why the Ex-Sun Arcobaleno was certain something was wrong.
There was no solid reason for his Flames to be so repulsed with the idea of Bonding with Tsuna's. The only reason the Hitman could think for them to be doing such a thing was: An outside influence. Somehow, someone was tampering with his Flames.
Pitch Black eyes narrowed in disgust at the thought as small hand momentary tightened around Leon before relaxing.
If that was the case- once he found the person behind it- Reborn swore to kill them. Happiness had always alluded him and now it was right there- So close that if he reached out he could touch it. So close he could taste it- and he refused to allow another to compromise his chance at finally acquiring it.
"Jager."
"Yes, Lord Bermuda?"
"I just want in on record I believe this is a horrible idea," The Vindice Warden stated bluntly while eyeing the contraption -Death Trap- before him.
"You have to learn eventually, Lord Bermuda. Now is as good a time as any."
No, he didn't. Bermuda had no need for the death trap people call 'Vehicles'. He could drive a carriage, ride horses, use Flame Portals and Fly. Not to mention various magical transports he was fully capable of using. What use did he have for a box of metal and glass on wheel?
"Can we just say I did and Not?"
The golden eyed Vindice couldn't help but sigh before granting His teenage Lord a firm look usually reserved for when the other had been younger- Judging by the slight shifting it was still as effective as it had always been- before deadpanning, "No."
"But-"
"No."
Jag-"
"Lord Bermuda, you will be learning how to drive today if I have to chain you to the steering wheel to ensure it. "
As though to emphasize his point, the elder's -rather famous and not the least bit terrifying when aiming for you- chain all but materialized into bandaged hands. Inhumane eyes slowly glanced from the serious gleam to the elder's visible golden eye than towards the chains and back.
"...So, which side is the driver's seat again?" No, he was not scared of a chain, Bermuda just held a rather healthy amount of respect for one when in Jager's hands.
An hour later found the two Vindice staring down from the Cliffside upon the burning inferno that had once been Venice, Italy.
"We never speak of this again."
"Agreed."
"Of course I know where Harry Potter is," Byakuran answered with his Cheshire Cat smile all but splitting his face into two as he plucked another marshmallow from the bag within his lap, "He's my Best Friend after all."
Asking Byakuran had been a stroke of genius- thought of by Lambo of all people- as far as Tsunayoshi Sawada was concerned. After all, the Silverette could see the outcomes of all possibilities and Time Lines. Surely he, if anyone, would know the Fate of Harry Potter.
"Where is he?"
The brunette couldn't' help but lean forward, a clear eagerness burning within his eyes -finally, he would get an answer that wouldn't involve that Hellhole knew as Vendicare or the unspoken horrors that lied waiting within- as Byakuran swallowed his marshmallow and spoke as if obvious.
"Safe."
"Safe?" Tsuna couldn't help but repeat dumbly as the other nodded.
"He's currently at the Safest Place in the World."
"And that is?"
"Home," slender fingers plucked another marshmallow as that unnerving smile never faded.
"And where is home?"
"Where he lives."
Of course. Taking a breath, Tsuna closed his eyes before choosing his words carefully, "And where does he live?"
Slowly that Cheshire Cat smile widened -showing far too many sharp white teeth- causing a chill to race down the brunette's spine.
"Why Vendicare, of course~ Where else could someone Checkerface killed live? It's not like he can leave Bermuda's side to live in Hawaii."
Vendicare? Checkerface Killed? Can't leave Bermuda's side?
Tsuna felt as though someone hit him upside the head with a brick as the facts of what he just heard rammed into the Vongola Decimo: Harry Potter must have been a Former Arcobaleno as those where the only ones Checkerface killed by stealing the pacifiers, only for Bermuda to bring him back as a Vindice like he did for the others. The only Vindice Tsuna knew of that was similar -but not identical- to the information Viper gathered on Harry Potter was...
"HHHHHHEEEEEEIIIIIII!"
Chapter 26
"So what's your favorite part of living in Vendicare?"
"The Screams."
"!"
"Bermuda, I know the truth."
Though none could see it, the Ex-Night Arcobaleno couldn't help a brow at the stern voice of the Vongola Decimo as he spoke with an utmost confidence.
"Oh? Do you now?"
Bermuda knew what the Decimo was searching for and where it was, but a part of him was curious of wither or not the Brunette was actually onto him. Tsunayoshi-kun granted the Vindice Warden a certain-full of reassured confidence but not an ounce of arrogance- look as the two stared down -or at least he believed they were. It was hard to tell with those bandages- one another.
"Yes, I know."
"Know what?"
"I know Jager is Harry Potter!"
Silence filled the office as Bermuda stared blankly at the Vongola Decimo before speaking bluntly, "Wrong." Wrong on so many levels. Seeing as if Jager was him and he was him, their marriage would take a whole new level to awkward.
"So you don't den- Wait... What do you mean wrong?! All the clues point to him!"
What type of clues had this child -teenager, was there a difference- been looking at?
"Tsunayoshi-kun, listen carefully. I don't know who your Source is but you need a new one seeing as Jager is not Harry Potter. Despite their hair color, they don't even look alike."
"But Byakuran said Harry Potter was his Best Friend." Huh, did being Cake Buddies make them Best Friends?
Tsunayoshi-kun," The Vindice Warden spoke slowly as though to a toddler, "Jager hates Byakuran. He tries to kill him every time their paths cross. I don't know why you assumed Byakuran's 'Best Friend' was Jager but if he overhears you shouting that I doubt even I will be capable of finding enough pieces to identify your corpse."
What? It was nothing but the truth as for some reason, Jager really hated the Silverette and anyone so much as mentioning the marshmallow obsessed teen within his presence. Bermuda shredder to think of what would have happened to the Vongola Decimo had The Vindice's Strongest Warrior actually been here for this meeting like the golden-eyed man was supposed to. Judging from the rapid paling of his skin tone, Tsunayoshi-kun understood his barely missed Fate as well.
Elsewhere, Jager couldn't help but narrow his eyes. For some reason, the golden-eyed Vindice had the sudden to locate the Vongola Decimo and rip him into microscopic pieces.
This must be a joke and a horrible one at that.
Slowly Inhumane emerald glanced from the letter in his hands towards His Guardians, who had crowded themselves into his office once they noticed the owl heading for their Lord.
"It's from Riddle. He wants the Vindice to side with him."
Silence filled the room as multiple brows rose and others scowled.
"That's a joke, right?" Alejandro questioned bluntly, a hint of 'who does he think he is' within the platinum Vindice's voice. Bandaged hands plucked the letter from Bermuda's own as golden eyes trailed over the transcript, with every word he read Jager's scowl seemed to deepen, "No."
It was all there: Politeness, arrogance, promises of wealth and fortune, subtle threats, the whole nine yards and all directed towards His Lord. Judging by the slight shaking of the words a Pureblood -and one Bermuda was quite familiar with- wrote the letter as the Half-Blood 'Dark Lord' spoke it aloud.
Though most might as saw it as a sign of importance- this was only so if it was done but Royalty or those holding a higher status then the ones they were writing to- Riddle was a minor Lord; just barely over a fourth class civilian and therefore lacked such status to have someone else write the letter to them. For the so-called 'Dark Lord' to do was a sign of arrogance, lack of education, and worse in Jager's opinion a clear insult addressed to His Lord.
"What will you have done Lord Bermuda?" This could not be allowed to go unpunished.
The Vindice Warden leaned back in his chair slight, "The Malfoy's are a main support in Riddle's Finical Support for his 'Crusade, " Inhuman emerald eyes darting from one Vindice standing before him to the other, before turning towards the Doll Maker and speaking, "Alejandro, you were originally supposed to inherit the fortune but were denied due to not fitting the Clause of Having Magic. Now though, is another matter."
Bermuda could feel his smirk growing as understanding slashed within the other's silver eyes, "I want to present yourselves to the Goblins and undermine the Malfoy's hold on their wealth, strip it all away except the bare minimum necessary. Let's say; four gallons a month."
"Jack?"
"Yes, Bermuda?"
"Why are the Dementors running the halls and not within their own castle?"
For a moment, the redhead glanced up from where he had been cuddling several of his Soul Eating Pets with a sheepish smile, "The Dark Lord tried recruiting them by promising them all the Souls they could eat. "
Though the other couldn't see it, the emerald-eyed Chibi raised a brow, waiting for the other to continue.
"And I might have promised them they could stay here so he couldn't harass them."
Of course. What else could it possibly be? Jack had all been all but begging to bring the creatures into the Halls of Vendicare and now that he actually had a solid reason the redhead all but jumped upon it.
"In that case; Carry On. Though I expect them to stay down here, Jack." After all, it wouldn't do for the Dementors to 'accidentally' eat the prisoners before their sentence was over.
The smile the rouge granted him was all but blinding as the other held one of the Demons to his chest like it was an adorable kitten, "You won't regret this Bermuda. I promise."
He was so going to regret this. Bermuda just knew it.
"Lord Bermuda."
"Yes, Jager?"
The soft scratching of quill upon parchment filled the air as the Vindice Warden continued to work without looking upwards. He was already backlogged thanks to Tsunayoshi-kun, the emerald-eyed Chibi couldn't afford to waste a moment least he ends up buried alive.
"There's a Princesses at the gates, demanding we hand over her fiancée to her."
What was it with everyone and demanding they hand over their prisoners?Be it common thief or Royal Prat, Bermuda refused to hand over anyone-... Wait a moment, The scratching stopped as the emerald-eyed Chibi hovered his quill over the wood of his desk. The slight twitches of the bandages were the only sign of the scowl forming beneath.
"Jager, we haven't arrested a Prince in two hundred years," Reaching into his desk, The Ex-Night Arcobaleno pulled out a small mirror before allowing his Flames to seep inside it. Instead of a two hundred plus-year-old woman was a young woman of no more than twenty-six; glaring at their gates while all but verbally chewing Small Gia to bits.
"Jager, isn't that the child we rescued twenty years ago?"
"Actually Lord Bermuda, you recused her. I was all for leaving her behind," the golden-eyed man confessed as though he was talking about the weather instead of leaving a child to a slow painful death- if the fire didn't kill her first, the collapsing building would have seen her buried alive and well out of anyone's reach- before granting His Lord a pointed look, "Which is why she's demanding we hand you over to her."
Bermuda couldn't help but blink, "I beg your pardon?"
Surely he had misheard. Jager had earlier claimed the woman was here for her Prince. The last time Bermuda checked- just this morning- the Vindice Warden wasn't a Prince.
That lone golden eye granted the younger a piteous, "Apparently because you rescued her, you now fit the requirements of a 'Prince'. The Princess is rather stubborn about it; claiming she will marry you and you alone. I believe she said something about 'Soul Mates'."
Oh God, not again.
Chapter 27
"My Clan has served the Vindice for Millennium. I have Personally dealt Business with Bermuda von Veckenschtein for centuries, so tell me; why should I be afraid of Self-Proclaimed Dark Lord who couldn't kill an unarmed infant?"
He blames Jack.
While Bermuda's not sure how the other had done it, this current 'Issue' had the redheads name all over it. The rouge had probably gotten drunk and stood on top of a metal pole while shouting challenges at the Gods again- the other had somehow managed to get struck by lightning twelves time in the three minutes he was screaming curses towards the sky- or maybe he had raided Small Gia's Hand Crafted Elixirs -coughPosioncough- and spiked The Vindice's drink?
"Achoo!"
A soft groan slips through the Vindice Warden's lips as he curls beneath the overwhelming pile of blankets attempting to cook him alive. This was all Jack's fault. Bermuda didn't know how and he didn't really care. It was far too much of a headache attempting to place logic to the rouge's actions.
"I'm going to dismember Jack," A soft voice speaks out with the undertone of misery from next to the emerald eyed Chibi causing the smaller to roll towards the source and bury his face into the golden-eyed man's side.
"Get in line. "
While Bermuda didn't know how Jack had done it, he certain the redhead was behind this: After all, no one else the Ex-Night Arcobaleno knew could manage to get a living corpse-fueled solely by Night Flames- sicker than a dog?
A Vindice.
His Grandson -His Beautiful Lilly's Son- was a Vindice. Just the thought alone caused Kawaria's stomach to churn as he stared at the Vongola Decimo, who was being torn into for comforting the Vindice after obtaining the information by Reborn.
"-Stupid ideas! What if you had been right about Jager?! They would never have allowed you to leave in anything but a casket if that was the case, Dame-Tsuna!-"
The Ex-Sun Arcobaleno was shouting more but the white-haired Atlantean couldn't hear -everything sounded distant as though he was submerged beneath heavy waves- anything but the pounding of his heart.
His Grandson was a Vindice. Which meant His Grandson was a Former Arcobaleno and that in turn meant he had indirectly killed His Grandson- even if he did it unknowingly- by taking the Pacifier. If not for that Monster, Bermuda...without Bermuda...
Honestly, Kawahira didn't want to think about it- He could already taste bile in the back of his throat- as the humanoid couldn't bring himself to image the horrific images that came to mind when he thought about the results of taking the pacifiers. Twisted and burnt. Skin peeling off the bone, leaving vital organs and inwards for the world to see. The horror, anger, betrayal in their eyes as he torn away from their Flames and in turn a part of their Soul. Twisted and Mutilated bodies fueled by a desire for Revenge and The Devil's Night Flames. Yes, Kawahira did not want to think about it. Yet...
Somewhere underneath those bandages and cloaks that hide the horrors of his Crimes, was a Vindice who once bore His Grandson's face
Still, the question remained; which one and how could he possibly separate- save for His Grandson must to terrified enslaved to Bermuda- Harry from the Devil when only Bermuda's Night Flames still kept His Grandson alive, if one could call it that.
There was a reason Bermuda didn't cook.
it wasn't that he couldn't nor that his food came to life and attempted to eat everyone likes Jack's did. If Bermuda liked to think his cooking skills were rather decent, he had plenty of experience after all. The problem was...
"It mine!/ Touch that plate and I'll blow your head off!/ Over my dead body!/ We're already dead you idiot!"
A soft sigh left the emerald eyed teen- sometimes the Ex-Night Arcobaleno wondered if the Vindice were actually the greatest of their times or just oversized children- as Bermuda was certain if he turned around he would find a small army of Vindice Warriors surrounding the plate of cookies he had just set out to cool with weapons already drawn and dressed for war.
This happened each and every time the Vindice Warden allowed himself time within kitchen.
If the Vindice Warden was honest he couldn't see what the fuss was about -his cooking was rather plain and dull in his own opinion- seeing as Jager's cooking was a million times better then his own. Though Jager's cookies only caused minor brawls not all out riots like Bermuda's always seemed to do.
"Those cookies are mine!/ Like Lord Bermuda would waste his time baking for you!/ And what makes you think he did it for you? If anything cookies are meant for a woman!/ Like hell they are!"
"Actually," The teenager spoke- bluntly ignoring the Blood Lust and Killing Intent flooding the air around him- of his hands paused in the midst of molding the freshly made dough, "Those cookies are for Jager."
The golden eyed Vindice would deserve something warm once he finished capturing those Mafioso attempting to hide from them in Antarctica.
Despite what you Wizards like to think, a Dark Lord is not a title that one can just claim with a bit of Death and Destruction. There were certain requirements one must meet to become a Dark Lord and then they have to present themselves to a True Dark Lord to decide wether or not they are worthy of such entitlement.
"As the Dark Lord Voldemort, I demand you to tell me where the Vindice are located-"
"You're not a Dark Lord and I highly doubt your mother named you 'Voldemort'."
"-d so I may enlighten them upo-... What do you mean I'm not a Dark Lord?!"Did this creature not notice the trail of Death and destruction that trailed in his wake? Did it not witness the fear and terror of those around it? How could he- who had a whole hidden society terrified of uttering so much as a symbol of his name- Not be a Dark Lord?!
The Goblin, Shadowheart, granted the creature -for surely this thing could not be fully human let alone wizard- a blunt look as he ignored the magic swirling threateningly around the creature, "Refrain yourself for another outburst, Thomas Riddle, Least I have you thrown out on your backside. "
The Humanoid Snake like Creature just gapped for a moment at the Goblin before his eyes flashed a darker shade of crimson, "Do you NOT know who I am?!"
Was this creature too stupid to realize the danger that stood before it?
"I know who you are Thomas Marlovo Riddle," Shadowheart answered honestly, leaning over the corner so dark eyes would meet crimson, "I just don't care. Next!"