Chapter 21
Chapter 43
"Small Gia?"
"Yeah, Alejandro?"
The psychotic Vindice questioned as he continued to look into the sky almost as though he was searching for something.
"Where's Teddy?"
"Ah, about that," the Torture Specialist spoke slowly- If Alejandro didn't know better he would swear the platinum-haired Vindice was a bit hesitant- even as his eyes never strayed from the night sky above the two, "The Brats currently getting a first-hand experience at exploring the hemisphere."
"Ah, that's nic-" The Blue haired Vindice choked over his words as the other's statement finally registered, "What?!"
"Ow, Watch it! Are you trying to deafen me?!"
"Deafening you will be the least of your worries if Bermuda finds out about this."
Shaking his head, Small Gia granted the blue-haired Vindice a pitying look, "He won't. See when the brat comes down I'll catch him and then no more 'Upsy Daisy'. No one will know if you keep your mouth shut. "
Meanwhile, up in Bermuda's Office the Night Arcobaleno couldn't help but blink as he stared out his window.
"Jager?"
"Yes, Lord Bermuda?"
"Why is Teddy hanging from the perch outside my window?"
"Jager?"
"Yes, Lord Bermuda?"
"Who is this 'Santa' the Guide speaks of?"
"Santa is a jolly fat man which the holiday of Christmas is dedicated. On Christmas Eve he breaks into people's homes while they're sleeping, devours their milk and cookies before leaving behind bribes- usually as toys for children since he mainly targets Family Homes though sometimes adults as well- in the form of 'Presents' so they don't press charges against him."
Jager spoke firmly- an air of confidence and self-assurance all but oozing off the golden-eyed man- and without a moment's hesitation. With every word he spoke, his beloved Lord's inhuman eyes would darken a shade- a clear sign of concern for anyone who actually knew how to read the younger as Jager himself did- as they bore into his loyal companion.
"Parents actually allow this?"
They allowed a strange unknown 'Jolly Fat Man' into their Homes- the place their children lived and slept- to do whatever he wanted while they were sleeping? How could they be sure that aside from Breaking and Entering; stealing their cookies and milk was the only thing the man was doing?
What is the 'Jolly Fat Man' was a pedophile like prisoner Birds? What if the presents were his way of ensuring the children didn't inform their parents about what he was truly up to? And what if he made the ones his bribes didn't work on be 'Spirited Away'?
After all, Bermuda had a six whole files of Missing Children Cases of Little Ones that had disappeared without a trace the same night as this 'Christmas' and all the witnesses had shared a common story which involved 'Santa'- who according to Jager was the Jolly Fat Man. Some of those children, Bermuda still had yet to locate. Some of them, he had only located their remains and few- a sparse handful- had been granted a 'Happy Ending'.
"I fear they do more than 'allow', Lord Bermuda. They encourage it."
For a moment, a tense silence filled the room before His Lord's Night Flames flared in an unspoken signal ordering the Vindice to him. In a matter of mili-seconds, the once empty office found itself filled to the brim of what appeared to be every Vindice within the Halls of Vendicare.
"Bring me the head of this: Saint Nicholas Clause," Bermuda spoke firmly, his inhuman eyes trailing over each and every Vindice within his office before finally landing upon his ever Loyal Shadow, "I don't care if you have to sever it to do so but I want it before the stroke of midnight upon December twenty-fourth."
Breakout in Azkaban: Albus Dumbledore Missing From Cell!
By: Rita Skeeter
Dumbledore or Houdini?
Ex-Headmaster Escapes Azkaban!
By: Susan Wreight
Albus Dumbledore: Missing
By: Johnathan Filious
Inhuman eyes narrowed as they glanced over the titles once more as small toddlerized hands tightened their grip upon the paper- barely resisting the urge to set it aflame in his silent rage- as a scowl twisted onto Bermuda's lips, "Jager."
"Yes, Lord Bermuda?" The golden-eyed man spoke softly, relishing in the furious twist of Night Flames that danced beneath His Lord's skin which promised pain and death- he adored this side of his Lord the way the younger's bloodlust would curl around him in a silent promise of an unsung lullaby which sent pleasant chills down his spine while stirring his own thirst for Death - to the unfortunate source of His Lord's ire.
"Find him."
Break him, is the unspoken command- one Jager finds he would be all too happy to comply with- shining clearly within those inhuman eyes.
"I would be my GreatestHonor, Lord Bermuda," Jager speaks firmly- a steel resolve within his silky voice- as he threads his hands through His Lord's hair to calm the other's temper. For while he loved it, Teddy- the innocent toddler obvious to what was going on around him, focused instead upon his 'coloring book' that was once His Lord's paperwork- did not need to see that side of Bermuda.
It worked like a charm as the tension seemed to all but evaporate from His Lord's small shoulders and the younger leaned further into the golden-eyed man's chest with half-lidded eyes listening to the silky voice whispering unspeakable- especially within a child's presence- promises into his ear.
Now if only the universe didn't seem so against maybe then Jager could do more than just sweet whispers.
Mourning silently to himself, Bermuda allowed a resigned sigh to slip past his lips as he knew he was running out of reason not to tell the older man of the surprise which greeted him this morning.
"Jager?"
"Yes, Bermuda?"
"I've been invited to live with the 'Cured' Arcobaleno."
For a moment, an unnerving- yet strangely comfortable- silence filled the room before, "WHAT?!"
"Man the Gates! Arm the cannons, sharpen your swords, polish your chains and get ready for war men!"
Jack couldn't help but blink as the rouge haired Vindice watched Jager shout as he stormed pass rows of Vindice- who had originally been called for an Important Meeting instead of the preparation for war- which stared at their Lord's Right Hand in open signs of confusion or 'He's finally lost it' pity lootings.
"Jager, what the hell is going on?!"
"This," The golden-eyed man snarled as he shoved a letter directly under Jack's nose, forcing the rouge to step back so he could actually read it.
'Bermuda von Veckenschtein
Night Arcobaleno, Founder and Warden of Vendicare, Leader of the Vindice;
You have been cardinally invited to live within the Arcobaleno Mansion with your Brethren under your Shared Sky of Former Sky Arcobaleno; Yuni de Giglio Nero.'
They thought that Brat was Bermuda's Sky?
"Jack, what's going on?"
"Jack, what does it say?"
"The Fucking 'Cured' Arcobaleno are attempting to steal Bermuda from us!" The rouge haired Vindice rages as his eyes steamed with Night Flames, "They want to Harmonize him with that Giglio Nero Brat!"
Alexi could only watch as the room around him descended into Chaos as hoards of Vindice attempted to arm themselves and Vendicare with as many 'protections' as possible. Almost as though they were expecting the 'Cured' Arcobaleno to storm Vendicare right then and there in an effort of stealing their Lord.
"If those 'Cured' Arcobaleno want a War, it's a War they'll get!"
Alexi, unable to help himself, joined in the cheers of agreement.
This place is Paradise, a small eight-year-old 'World's Greatest Hitman' decided as he watched the chaos unfold beneath him. And to think all this glorious Chaos had been caused by a single letter.
If Reborn was honest, he liked Vendicare.
Sure it was a hellish prison run by the Undead- all of which appeared as though they truly belonged in a Mad House, though the World's Greatest Hitman wondered if they had always been that way or had time, their Curse and their unique Flames drove them insane- but there was a sort of charm to the Chaos that resided within its Walls.
It was addicting. He wanted to be a part of it yet at the same time, he loathedit.
It was everything he ever wanted within those halls but it was the wrong group, the wrong Famiglia, the wrong Sky. He wanted this Chaos with Vongola and Tsuna, not with the Night Arcobaleno and his undead Guardians.
The Soulless eyed hitman knew he wasn't being fair- Despite everything, Bermuda was a Good Sky, yet Reborn couldn't help himself. He was a man used to getting what he wanted- being it willingly or by force- yet now here was something he couldn't fix by pointing Leon in the 'issues' direction.
It frustrated him, but Reborn dared not break the bond.
He recalled how easily the Vindice had all but annihilated them all during the Representative Battles- where they had barely been using a fraction of their true strength so what would happen if someone granted them enough reason to take matters seriously?- and dared not risk severing the bond and drawing their ire.
Not until he had a good, solid- As in so solid not even that bastard, Checkerface would find a way out of it- reason to do so at least.
What?
He rather liked living and would love to continue doing so without having to constantly look over his shoulder or a sudden fear of shadows as only God knows what would be lurking inside, waiting for him to lower his guard.
Elsewhere in Namimori, a white-haired 'Last True Earthling' sneezed suddenly knocking his beloved ramen onto the earth.
"Damn you, Bermuda," The Creature knew as Checkerface scowled as he mourned the loss of his favorite food.
Couldn't that Devil wait until he was done eating before attempting to curse him to utter Damnation?
Within the Halls of Vendicare, Bermuda von Veckenschtein couldn't help but scowl as a sudden sneeze caused him to knock over an inkwell onto his just finished paperwork, completely ruining it.
"Damn you, Checkerface."
'Dear Vongola Decimo Sawada Tsunayoshi- kun,
We, the Vindice, are currently on Vacation. Whatever World Disasters you have currently caused and have traveled out here to beg for our Aid, we suggest you fix yourself for if we have to do it for you, we will charge you with Harassment and Purposeful Endangerment of a Minor.
Considered yourself warned.
Sincerely,
The Vindice'
"Vacation?!" The brunette couldn't help but shout as he stared with wide orange tinted eyes at the letter he had found pinned to the sealed Gates of Vendicare. "Can they even do that?!"
They were the Vindice, the Mafia's Worst Nightmare, bogeyman and Law Enforcers. How could they just up and leave without so much as a warning?! What if someone- like he currently did- needed them?! Who was keeping the Law if not them?!
"Everyone is entitled a vacation, Dame-Tsuna."
"But they're the Vindice!"
"So?"
"They're living corpses! What do they need a vacation for?!"
"Maybe its because they're living corpses they need a vacation, Dame-Tsuna," Reborn spoke bluntly as soulless eyes stared down his student, "Seeing how long they kept the Peace and upheld the Law, I believe they are long overdue a little vacation time to relax and enjoy themselves."
"But-"
"Dame-Tsuna, how would you like doing the same thing every day for centuries?"
The Brunette couldn't stop his jaw from clamping shut at the thought of him spending centuries trapped behind his desk with a never-ending- and possibly breeding- pile of paperwork before him- if he recalled correctly wasn't the Vindice's paperwork alive? Hadn't it tried to eat Hayato and Lambo the last time they broke in?
"Fine," the brunette mumbled more to himself than anyone, "Maybe they are overdue a vacation. "
Click.
"A Mafia Boss does not mumble, Dame-Tsuna. Nor should they be inconsiderate of those around them and sulk over the fact someone else won't clean up their messes."
"But... I-"
"BAM!BAM!BAM!"
"HEEII!"
Once the sound of gunfire and high pitched screaming disappeared, Jager allowed himself to sigh in relief as he relaxed the firm hold he held upon his Lord. That had been a close one but thankfully they had realized the Arcobaleno would attempt to use the Vongola Decimo as lure to draw Their Lord out.
Bermuda- on the other hand- sighed softly as he allowed inhuman eyes to dart to his office ceiling in thought.
For the Life of him, The Night Arcobaleno couldn't figure out what was wrong with His Vindice lately- they had been stalking him everywhere and Jager had forged a letter with his signature just to ensure Tsunayoshi-kun wouldn't attempt to talk to him. Honestly, what was going on in their heads?
"Don't worry, Lord Bermuda. We won't let them have you?"
What?
Inhuman eyes stared blankly at the golden-eyed Vindice- didn't seem to notice- as he mumbled about manipulative Arcobaleno and deceiving Decimo's attempting to steal something or another.
Maybe it was time Jager- and the rest of the Vindice- took a proper vacation as their work was obviously beginning to get to them.
Chapter 44
For a moment, all the brunette could do was stare at the empty space before him -that once held the Vendicare Warden -in utmost horror as a numbness filled his being and a now open scroll at his feet.
Jager is going to kill him; in the slowest, most painful way the golden-eyed Vendicare could think of and if - by some miracle- the golden-eyed warrior didn't the rest of the Vindice would.
He was a dead man walking to the point he might as well go dig his own grave and lay down in it to save everyone else the trouble of doing it for him. He was so dead, even the dead wouldn't recognize him once the Wrath of Vendicare fell upon his shoulders.
"Dame-Tsuna, calm down."
"Calm?!"The Brunette all but shrieked as his horrified eyes moving onto his mentor,
"How can I 'calm down' Reborn?! I just killed Bermuda!"
This was all Vongola's fault...
No, the bandaged infant would like to think he wasn't being biased- Vongola just had a bad habit of being the source of a large majority of his countless headaches- after all, who else but Vongola's Decimo would somehow mistake 'a scared, forbidden scroll that should never be open least one wishes to suffer an unspeakable fate' into 'Please open me as soon as the Vindice arrive to collect and reseal me'?
No one, that's who. Unless, of course, you happened to be named Sawada Tsunayoshi.
The Ex-Night Arcobaleno supposed one could say that Vongola's Decimo suffered another of his rather infamous 'Dame-Tsuna' moments through the Chibified Vindice was keeping firmly to his belief the brunette had done it on purpose- he could imprison the other longer if it was a premeditated assault instead of being a complete accident.
Still, planning meant nothing if he couldn't reach Giotto 2.0 to strangle...eeerrrr imprison- He meant imprison. He had absolutely no intentions of wrapping his small hands around that fragile neck and wringing it until even bone broke; leaving it with a rather similar impression to a wet noodle... Honest!- the brat. Which meant he really should get off the ground and figure out where the hell he was. Jager was probably committing enough blood murder against Vongola for the both of them anyways.
After all, he could literally feel the worry, rage, and righteous fury- It was all but screaming for their blood. For the golden-eyed Vindice to brutally Murder them with his own two hands...And while Bermuda could have sent a calming pulse to ease the other, the infant sized Vindice didn't bother- coursing through the other's half of their Bond.
The first thing the Ex-Night Arcobaleno noticed was the trees- a dense forest that somehow felt off for any he had seen before- that stretched out as far as the eye could see.
The second thing The Vindice Warden noticed was the large tiger- which was more the size of a horse than an actual tiger. What were these things eating?- lunging for him as though he was a free midday meal and maybe too it, he was.
Just to be crystal clear, this was all Vongola's fault.
Bermuda could feel his Flames surging beneath his skin yet before he could actually release them from their confinements-and show the creature exactly why he wasn't on the menu- the soft platter of sandals on wood reached his ears followed by a heavy Killing Intent saturating the air around them.
"A brat? How the Hell did you get in here?!"
Turning his head ever so slightly, the Vindice Warden was greeted to the sight of a dark blue- to the point it looked purple- haired woman wearing a tan overcoat that was left open to show a fishnet shirt and a miniskirt. Beneath his bandages, Bermuda allowed himself to blink in confusion:
What was a Lady of the Night doing alone in a forest like this?
"HHEEEIII! Reborn Help!"
"If you have time to scream you have time to run, Dame-Tsuna," The 'Worlds Greatest Hitman' deadpanned, "Unless you want Jager to catch you?"
Sometimes Reborn wondered how Jager of the Vindice could have ever been the Rain Arcobaleno when he was so obviously that of a Cloud in terms of personality.
The Vindice Warden has been in this so-called 'Hidden Village' for a week and already he wants nothing more than to burn this village to the ground before dancing upon its ashes.
First of all, everyone kept treating him like a toddler -He rightfully decides to place the blame upon Checkerface and the creature's Arcobaleno Cruse which left him with the body of a two-year-old that looked more one then two- by talking over his head and discussing his future.
Though Bermuda fount he could overlook such treatment -if The Night Arcobaleno's theory was correct the scroll Tsunayoshi-kun had open had somehow transported and stranded him in an entirely new world then what he once knew. The Night Sky had been especially telling when he glanced upwards only to realize it was completely foreign to him and everything he knew about it - in favor of using it towards his advantage.
Next was the Healers- who's hand would glow with a strange energy that was neither Flames nor magic and far too many needles for his liking- with an unholy tendency to poke and prod him like a lab rat.
Something about a lack of chakra, whatever that was. How they missed he didn't have a pulse let alone a heartbeat was beyond the Mummified Chibi though he once again laid the blame at Checkerface's feet. After all, when all goes wrong: Blame Checkerface for somehow- one way or another- the creature was behind everything.
He spent three days in their 'tender' -coughHellishcough- care before being sent to an orphanage once they deemed he wasn't just going to keel over dead. Afterward, they had them moved into an orphanage.
An orphanage...
They put him in an orphanage.
They left Him surrounded by hundreds of young impressionable children that spent half their time shrieking their lungs out of existence or slobbering on anything they could reach. Unfortunately- due to his toddler-sized body- that included himself...
Mentally, the Chibi sized Vindice swore vengeance against both Tsunayoshi-kun -for opening the scroll that got him into this situation- and Checkerface for somehow- someway- the Night Arcobaleno's Instincts were screaming that creature was behind this.. Well, that and just outright existing.
If he actually got around to burning down the village, Bermuda was starting with the orphanage- hopefully when the Matron and Minders were all sleeping inside. If needed he could easily use his Flames to wrap out the children- as his sense of Law and Justice- Not to mention Vindice Pride- demanded that building went first.
Vendicare or no Vendicare to throw the perpetrator inside, Child Abuse would not be tolerated.
Bermuda only spends a half a night within the confinement of the orphanage before using this Flames to wrap away and into an alleyway nearby where he was welcomed by a pleasant night breeze.
Jager is going to kill him.
And he toughly deserves it, Bermuda decided as he thanked the deities he didn't need to breathe.
"YATTA!"
The blond haired toddler- who looked no more than two yet was still taller than the Night Arcobaleno, much to his internal annoyance- all but deafened the Toddlerized Vindice as he crushed the infant in a tight hug while completely ignoring the lifeless bodies littering the alleyway around them.
"Oh Dear."
Hearing the soft voice, Tsuna's head snapped towards the white-haired man sitting across his desk with dark inhuman eyes focused solely upon the scroll he had been attempting to decipher.
"You know what this is?"
"Of course," Checkerface answered while nodding his head, even as petite finger plucked the scared artifact from Vongola Decimo's clumsy hands, "I made it. "
"HEEEIII! Then you can find Bermuda!"
Bermuda?
Now that he thought about it, the Vendicare Warden had been unnervingly quiet as of late. Why even the daily attempts on his life had all but come to a cold stop.
"Tsunayoshi-kun," The Last True Human began slowly through the brunette stayed obvious to the danger- consumed by a small sense of hope and relief that maybe just maybe he would get out of this alive- in the creatures tone as dark eyes peered over at him from the rim of the creature's glasses, "Exactly what have you been doing with my scroll?"
"I... You see... I didn't mean to, it just... It just opened and Bermuda was there and then he wasn't...then Jager found out despite us trying to hide it from him... "
Oh, Gods Above.
Had his hair not been naturally white, Kawahira was certain it would have turned so as he listened to the Vongola Decimo's sputtered explanations on exactly what happened to The Devil- and his beloved Lilly's Son- known as Bermuda von Veckenschtein.
"So," Tsuna began hesitantly as orange tinted eyes darted from Checkerface to the scroll in his hands, "What is it?"
"This," The white-haired humanoid held up the scroll so it could be seen better, "Was the results painfully crafted for an Atlantean Woman by the name of Kaguya who so desperately sought to leave this world- alongside all the pains and sorrows it held for her- behind."
He took a breath, as he chose his next words carefully least the extra presence lurking in the shadows- with barely contained Killing Intent- took ill to his answer, " This Scroll is a teleportation scroll keyed to another world, another planet entirely."
"HHHEEEIII!"
"I don't have a name. Everyone either called Demon or Fox."
For a moment silence filled small room- beneath the bridge Bermuda had discovered the child was using as a home. A toddler without a proper home that had been kicked out by the orphanage for being a 'Demon'. One way or another, Bermuda swore he would burn that hellhole until there weren't even ashes left for the wind to cart off- before the Night Arcobaleno stood with a stiff nod and headed for the flimsy sheet that served as a door.
"Bermuda-san, where are you going?"
The blond questioned nervously- Had he already driven off the strange infant? Was Bermuda-san going to leave and ignore him like everyone else did? He hoped not, despite how unsettling the other made his gut feeling he rather liked the strange creepy infant- as he stood to follow.
"To burn down this Village."
Corruption like this could not be allowed to exist.
"That's a joke, right?" The blonde toddler questioned but only silence served as the damning answer which caused Blue eyes- looking much like the morning sky- to widened considerably as the small blond began to race after the other, "Bermuda-san, wait! You can't do that! It's illegal!"
Pretending not to hear the toddler's shouts, Bermuda quickened his pace while marking the best place to began the unholy bonfire he intended to release upon this cesspool of a Village.
"Bermuda!"