Target 08: Zen – Where in Tsuna meet a certain poisonous bird. (And no, he does not remind him both of Bianchi and Hayato. Not one bit.)
The day, surprisingly enough, started out in Tsurara waking Rikuo up to inform him that Rikuo would have to go on a trip with his father and grandfather to the mountains. The former Mafia Don with a mischievous streak that finally showed itself in this life, did not forget to show his displeasure at being woken up so early in the morning by laying out a number of pranks.
Now sitting inside Oboroguruma, Rikuo's mood finally turns cheery.
"Otou-chan~" He calls out happilyto his father as he turns his gaze away from the lush trees and the bright blue sky outside.
"Hm?" Upon hearing the child calling for him in the middle of his conversation with his father, Rihan turns his attention to his son. Both men didn't mind the young child's interruption of their dreary conversation about the health of a certain head of the Yakushi Clan.
"Where are we going? Who are we going to meet?" Rikuo starts bombarding his father with question after question.
"Are there any young yōkai that I can play with? Have I met them already? Oh! I hope we're visiting Uncle Hihi, I want to meet his son! His son sounds so interesting from his stories."
Rihan's lips quirk up into a smile as he watches his son chattering nonstop, from wanting to meet Hihi's son to how strong said boy is. Rihan holds up a hand in response to Rikuo's chattering, golden eyes glittering with amusement.
Seeing that usual gesture that signals for Rikuo to calm down and to shut up, the boy closes his mouth and smiles sheepishly at his father.
"We're heading to the Yakushi Clan to meet the clan head." Rihan speaks after seeing Rikuo settling down.
"There is a child that can play with you, he's the head's son and soon-to-be head of the Yakushi Clan." Rihan pauses upon seeing that flicker of mischief and anticipation in his son's amber eyes. He can see the child vibrating with barely suppressed excitement.
"And, you should tell Hihi about wanting to play with his son when you see him next time. Maybe he'll allow it." Rihan mildly adds, already knowing the result of that endeavor. After all, Hihi did ask for his approval about his son's matter. Something that Rihan agrees with; and if it was possible, would have Rdone the same with Rikuo.
Rikuo made a face in response, already knowing the result of that. Hihi is surprisingly adamant at raising his son without any yōkai related things. Said son didn't even know of his heritage.
Tsuna didn't agree with that at all. After all, when the child would find out of his heritage (and he will, secrets always comes out) it would be quite a hard pill to swallow. To find out that one isn't fully human.
"Too bad," He sighs, eyes glistening as he stares at the tatami mat.
Nurarihyon and Rihan exchanges glances with each other. How can this little hellion look like a kick puppy? Too cute really. The two thought to themselves.
How can this child one day command the Hyakki Yakō? Through cuteness? The two thinks before dismissing the mental image of a grown Rikuo looking at his opponent with wide puppy dog eyes and a cute pout on his lips.
Had they knew of who Rikuo was in his past life, they would have known that Tsuna did exactly that; conquering the Mafia World with his angelic smile and charms. Though in the opponent's case, better to fall into the hands of this angelic sky than those rabid and demonic dogs that he calls guardians and allies.
"We are here," Nurarihyon announces as Oboroguruma descends to the ground. They waited until the cart landed and the three went down, with Rihan carrying the five year old in his arms.
"Welcome, Nurarihyon-sama, Rihan-sama, Rikuo-sama." A frail beautiful woman greets as soon as she spots them from where she stands, bowing lightly to the three.
"Please follow me." She softly speaks before leading them to the receiving room.
Rikuo watches the sickly young woman walk in front of them worriedly. Mentally, he wonders why such feeble and weak woman who looks like she'll topple over the moment the wind blows, would be the one to greet them. Maybe it's just how she looks? He muses.
As soon as their guide slid the door open, a weak yet resolute voice greets them. They look inside the room to see a middle aged man bowing in greeting.
"I, Zhen, welcomes Nurarihyon-sama, Rihan-sama and Rikuo-sama."
Rihan smiles lightly at the sight of his friend and subordinate. "Yo, Zhen." He greets and shamelessly sat down at the seat prepared for him.
Nurarihyon nods in greeting and glancing at his grandson who was staring with wide eyes filled with sympathy, he speaks. "Rikuo, why don't you play outside while the adults catch up with us?"
Rikuo blinks, and that too old and weary look within his amber eyes disappears.
"Eh?" His grandson squeaks in surprise as his words finally sink in.
Rikuo stares at both his father and grandfather before glancing at the man. He pauses and then smiles, "Alright! Please excuse me~"
He turns and runs off, leaving behind a bewildered Zhen and an amused Nurarihyon and Rihan.
Besides, Rikuo doesn't want to hear them discuss the obviously detorating health of the Yakushi Clan Head. Tsuna can recognize that look after all. The look of a man who knew he's dying and welcomes that fate with open arms.
...
Rikuo, once stepping out of the courtyard, stops running and absentmindedly strolls through the courtyard.
His mind still on Zhen, the sickly looking Clan Head of the Yakushi Clan. He's going to die soon, he thought to himself; memories of the Future That Never Was resurfacing, of a certain Sun Arcobaleno having the same complexion and look, (Reborn just hid it better,) of a small coffin being buried to the ground (so heavy. So the saying was true that smallest coffins are the heaviest-)
He blinks, banishing the memory out of his thoughts because it didn't happen; his tutor lived and the curse was broken. Rikuo came back to his senses in front of a tree; the boy stares at the tree blankly before picking up a random leaf on the ground, wanting to play with it.
"Hey! What are you doing here, human?" A young and brash voice sounds out along with the rustling of the bushes behind him.
Rikuo's reflexes kicks in, body shifting into a stance ready to run (Because he can't use his flame, he's defenseless-) and he turns around just in time to see a young boy with khaki colored hair and russet eyes.
Just a boy and with how similar he looks to Zhen-san, probably the son that Otou-chan was talking about, he thought to himself.
He subtly relaxes and shifts his body into a more casual stance. Rikuo smiles brightly at the young boy before him.
"I'm Nura Rikuo." He introduces himself instead, knowing that stating his name is enough. "What's your name?"
The child pauses, processing the name before he sputters; his cheeks flushing red. Bowing deeply (painfully reminding him of his dear Storm), the child shouts out.
"Rikuo-sama! My apologies for not recognizing you!" He speaks formally. Rikuo watches in amusement as the child turns redder while glancing at him.
"My name is Zen." He adds surprisingly meek, and dare Rikuo say it, shy.
Rikuo blinks, clearing away the overlapping image of a brash teen with silver hair and green eyes. It hurts. How he misses them so so much. Why can't he rest and be by their side? Why was he given another chance in life? A life that doesn't include his elements. It hurts, seeking out bonds that are broken and no longer active.
"Rikuo-sama?" Zen tilts his head, bewildered at the sight of amber eyes staring at him blankly.
The younger boy blinks and that too sad eyes disappears.
"Zen-kun then! It's okay, no need to be so polite towards me~"
HayatoHayatoHayato that name keeps repeating within his mind like a mantra, but then his hyper intuition tingles and Tsuna knows that no matter how much he wishes that Zen was his brother, his best friend and storm guardian; this child wasn't and couldn't be him. Ah. He misses them so much.
"I can't! That will be disrespecting Rikuo-sama!" The boy replies indignantly and Rikuo couldn't help but laugh at the familiar response.
"Alright, alright. It's my first time coming here so can Zen-kun show me around?"
Hearing those words, the boy practically glows at him.
It was the start of a deep brotherhood. And maybe with this, Tsuna can ease that gnawing loneliness within his heart as a new bond takes place.