Chapter 7
As an adult bound to a bed inside a half destroyed school gym while supernatural battles were fought left and right, while two homicidal maniacs had me at their mercy, I should have felt a lot more fear than I did.
Instead, most of what I felt was annoyance, as I tried to glare at them.
Not sure if I succeeded, since my body control was probably not at its best.
Anyway, annoyance.
It was caused by two reasons. One, the headache I had from the damn poison in my body and two, the fact that those two maniacs were way too smug about this situation, even if it was understandable.
"Well, well, well. The commoner awoke to greet his prince at last!" The demon named prince giggled in his usual haughty voice, playing with his little knifes to my right.
That little action was enough to piss the slightly bandaged baby off, as it sent Belphegor a glare.
At least I think that was what happened, because I was fricking high.
"I already told you, he is mine. I didn't get to finish him," it spoke coldly and smirking sadistically at me.
I was certain if I wasn't drugged up, I would have been afraid. Instead, I think I drooled a little as I stared back with a rather blank expression.
Damn, my body control was terrible with that crap in my blood flow.
Obviously dissatisfied by my lack of proper reaction, the prince decided to change to subject and shook his head haughtily at the floating baby.
"Shishishi! You already had your fun! Now it's my turn!"
"You got the Storm brat. Don't be greedy," Viper snarked back, but the prince only put his left hand on his hip, while holding his blade closer to my skin. The cold steel at my skin didn't really register in my brain, so I focused on not blinking like I'm overdosed.
The success was...not something to sing about.
"You are the last person I want to hear that from."
"If you want my silence, then pay me," the baby replied in a deadpan tone, making the prince sneer in response.
"A prince never has to pay-"
Mentally, I rolled my eyes.
Dear Jesus, couldn't they shut up?!
The moment I thought that, suddenly words flowed out of my mouth, interrupting them.
Unlike what I thought, the words were...very different in tone and attitude..
"Ye talk...ta much~!" I slowly drawled out, interrupting them as their voices gave me a bigger headache than ever. Then I blinked slightly in surprise, at the same time as them.
On the one hand, I sounded way too detached and happy about this and it sounded like a foreign voice, as if my vocal chords were hacked by another person.
On the other hand, wow. I was surprised I managed to talk with all that poison in my system.
Or feel anything at all. Or even move slightly.
Huh. Guess trying to focus helped against being high. Maybe?
Wait, that sounded stupid. Wasn't it used against elephants? I did remember Kyoya being able to move despite it. On the other hand...anime.
How durable was he? How durable was I?
Questions for later.
Later preferably without any bindings, insane mafiosi and drugs.
Anywho, Viper turned to the prince with what I assumed was a raised eyebrow.
"I thought they said it was stun poison or something, not marihuana."
Belphegor casually shrugged in response before pointing his shark grin at me as his knife dug deeper into my face, blood slowly dripping down from it.
"Are you certain you want to talk back to us like that?" He asked gleefully.
As a response, my face put up a massive grin and my body began to slowly bobble my head.
"Bored as fuck! Yup, yup, bitch~!" My voice sang cheerfully, as if not aware of the danger.
The not high part of myself was very aware of the danger and tried its best to wrestle control back from my drugged up part.
Naturally, my reply did not please the prince as the weapon began to eat even deeper into my flesh, making the blood flow even faster and making my head stop moving.
On a side note, I could almost feel it. Almost.
Most pain was from the paralyzing poison thing though.
"Watch your mouth. If we wanted to, you would be dead already," Belphegor stated, amusement replaced by a glare.
Of course, I replied appropriately.
"A ducky could... kill me...you-you're not special~!" A giggle escaped my body after the dragged sentence.
Memo to self, poison did not hinder own ability to talk shit and quote stuff from the internet despite lethal situation.
It did however, grant me the tick of adding a singing tone to my words.
Drugs are bad, kids.
"My, that was almost amusing." He grabbed my tongue and pulled it out, while softly tapping it with the sharp end of his knife. "How about I help you with that loose mouth of yours?"
At least now, my drugged up body realized the danger, since it actually stopped to smile.
This only made the prince grin widely again and Viper must have shared the same amusement, considering it didn't say anything.
And here I was, powerless to do anything.
Fucking hostage situation.
A small flicker awoke in my chest.
Before the maniac could cut off my tongue however, the entrance doors opened up in a loud smash and two figures entered the hall.
Hayato Gokudera and Takeshi Yamamoto.
The two of them took a look around, shocked that the pillar thing containing the mist ring was destroyed. But the latter's eyes quickly fell on my and the Varia members and narrowed his eyes.
"Stop right there!" The swordsman exclaimed and unsheathed his blade. Hayato quickly stepped forward next to him and prepped his dynamites in his fingers.
The two assassins only shared a look, before Belphegor let out his creepy giggle and let go of my tongue.
"Look at that, more brats coming from their holes!" The prince exclaimed, before holding his weapon back at my bleeding cheek. This only caused the two teenagers to glare even more at the enemy.
"Hey, this brat kicked your ass! Also, heard that Hibari gave you a bad time!" Hayato snarled back and the prince clicked his tongue in irritation.
"This prince had pity and let you win."
As drugged up as I was, even I knew that was a total lie. I made it apparent with a flat stare, shared by my temporary teammates.
I wasn't even a kid anymore!
Anyway, the students were about to move forward to attack, but froze on the spot when Belphegor, yet again, began to cut into my cheek skin.
Hopefully I wouldn't get scars from it.
"Tutu!" A wide, ugly grin graced the prince's face. "I might slip my hand if you come any closer."
Viper made some sort of choking sound, but considering it didn't say anything, I guess it decided to roll with the storm Varia's plan.
Obviously, the bomber teen grit his teeth at the blatant threat.
"Bastard!" He yelled, but the prince was unfazed as he casually shook his head.
"You give us the rings and we let him free. Easy as that."
Hayato clicked his tongue and opened his mouth for rejection, but a raised hand stopped him in his tracks.
"Let's surrender the rings."
Hayato wasn't the only one who felt shock at Takeshi's words, as he held the Vongola rings in his left hand with a solemn expression.
Even though I expected it, those words still surprised me and I think my eyes widened.
The flicker became a flame.
"What are-" The storm guardian began to object, face filled with fury, but Takeshi's smile threw him off guard.
"As short as it is, we are still teammates, aren't we?" Then, he glared at the mafiosi. "And we are better than them. Tsuna is better than them."
"Fine...But only because I honor the Tenth's virtues!" Hayato grumbled back, clearly displeased with the situation.
Meanwhile, I was at a lost of words. I knew that they went as far in canon for Chrome, but to experience it myself, to help me in this moment of weakness…
The flame grew in size.
"But first, you have to cure the poison in his system. Then, we will give it to you," the rain guardian demanded with a determined face. In response, the two assassins shared a small glance, before shrugging at the same time.
"Hmph. Fine. We will win anyway," the floating baby said in a condescending tone and threw the mist ring at the prince, who in turn pressed them into the arm device of mine.
With a click, I could feel a small prick at my wrist, before my head slowly, but surely began to clear and the numbness began to vanish. Meanwhile, I saw how Takeshi began to motion with his hand to throw the rings forward in order to start his trick.
Knowing that it wouldn't work and could cost everyone's lives here, if outside help wouldn't arrive in time...
The fire began to go out of control.
I was a bit touched by how the two of them cared enough for me to save me and risk their lives with this gamble. It felt like a soft warmth in my heart, next to the small feeling of fear and panic at the situation.
Oh, and the big stain of being high, despite the antidote starting to work against it.
Anyway, it reminded me of my friendship with the girls. Not on the same level, but it made me feel...happy.
However...
They stopped what they were doing when I began to chuckle. The swordsman stopped in his tracks before he could throw the rings forward and do his trick. He and the others turned to me in confusion.
First quietly, but then it grew louder and louder, into a full blown laughter. In response, the four of them shared uncertain glances with each other, completely forgetting that they were enemies.
However…
Those feelings were overshadowed
by all this UNYIELDING RAGE!
My amusement instantly vanished, replaced by a furious snarl as the inferno called wrath went out of control in my body. Barring my teeth, I strained my muscles against the remnants of the drug in my bloodstream and the restraints they used on me.
At the same time, I locked onto the aura of the two Varia, in case Viper wanted to use its illusions against me.
"Next time you are in a bad spot, focus on your dying will."
Time to follow the advice of the hitman teacher.
"I've had it with you fucks doing your holier than though bullshit! I've had it with you motherfucking mafia shits in this shit stain of a fucking school!" I screamed, this time coherent and in full control of my own body as if I willed my body to be free from the drug.
For a moment, the others stared at me in shock, but it was the prince who shook his head in schadenfreude.
"Pff, there is no way you can-"
He was jinxing it.
It fueled my rage.
Murphy, grant me your might!
With a feral roar, I put all my power into my limbs and with a jolt, I broke free. A moment later and I threw the backs of my fists after the two Varia members. They quickly dodged out of the way despite the surprise, but I used the time to take a jump forward, standing next to Tsuna's friends in mere seconds.
Breathing heavily, I wiped my mouth from the sweat and drool I created. Ignoring all talk around me, I stared at my hand in confusion.
My body felt like it was on fire. As if it was about to break apart, as something from the outside cut it open and released all emotions out of me.
And honestly, I didn't care for some reason. All I cared about was one thing.
"I am going to beat the shit outta you and if it's the last thing I'll do!" I said in a heated tone and pointed with my right index finger at them, with my palm pointing upwards, while my head tilted slightly to the right and with a sneer.
Then, I noticed one other thing as I tuned out any banter my allies nor my enemies did.
One thing on my ring finger on my right hand.
These idiots forgot to take my hell ring away from me!
With a wide grin, I erased my presence and hunched over the ground a little.
"Belphegor!" Viper immediately yelled at its partner before I could finish my disappearance and the prince already had a handful of knifes ready, while the baby began to spawn tentacles out of itself and around us.
"Already on it!"
I clicked my tongue in irritation.
How annoying.
I didn't want to use more flames than I already did. Oh well, erasing presence only it was then.
With that in mind, the ground underneath me cracked immensely as I shot off in high speeds, ignoring the enemy attack as I aimed for Viper.
Because I didn't have to deal with it.
"Last Minute Rain!"
"Rocket Bombs!"
Just when Belphegor was about to throw his knifes with high precision as I dashed off, crossing the distance in a mere two seconds, a katana pierced his right shoulder like a bullet, preventing him from his attack. At the same time, the swordsman followed his weapon only slightly slower than me, fully intending to commit to his preferred range against the prince.
At the same time, Hayato blew up any tentacles that might have stopped me or Takeshi.
Including the ones in Viper's face.
Normally, there was no way they could have hit the real ones with such ease, since they were under the illusion of Viper.
Thankfully, all I had to do was overwrite it with my own illusion. And creating exact images of other people was completely in my power.
Take that, overly exotic illusions!
No offense, Chrome.
Anyway, Viper saw the cracking floor, so he could prepare a mental assault on me by shooting off its tentacles at my face, recovering from the explosions rather quickly.
Still, his mind was shaken from the damage. The illusions were not even remotely as threatening as before.
Therefore, they gave in like wet noodles, not stopping my super man punch in the face in the slightest.
My fist dented its face and blood spilled out of it as it was about to shoot off from my attack.
But I didn't let it fly off, instead keeping a strong hold on the tentacles. Viper, with what little consciousness it had, gave me a scared stare.
Well, bitch. Believing those limps to be real bit you in the ass, huh?
I let the satisfaction of the situation show on my face with a wide grin.
"Where the fuck you think you going, little baby?! I still need to pay you back, ARCOBALENO!"
Landing on the ground, I held the baby high above me, as my hand had an iron grip on its tentacles. I was certain it tried to erase them, but I concentrated on keeping them real.
Memo to self, I could support other people's illusions.
Anyway, payback.
Long story short,
I went full Hulk on it. Flailed him against the ground like a morning star, destroying the ground more and more until it was a destroyed floor.
When I finally felt satisfied, I threw the body against the ground one last time.
Well, less ground and more baby sized crater.
With a spit against the barely conscious baby, I walked off.
"Puny Arcobaleno," I said and cracked my neck.
Man, did that feel good!
Though in hindsight, the hell ring was redundant in this...well, fight.
Anywho, I heard another body fell down like a sack of potatoes and I sighed in relief.
Guess Takeshi finished the prince.
My suspicion got confirmed when the teenager appeared to left with a wide smile, slapping my back.
"Good work, team!"
I hissed in pain from the gesture, despite feeling equally happy. Takeshi held his hands up in a sorry manner, but I waved him off with a strained smile,
Speaking of strain, the feeling the strain on my body growing past my pain threshold. Considering the super human feats I committed, I guess that was natural.
Before I could take the rest I wanted however, Hayato's eyes widened and took out a mini dynamite out of his pockets.
"Watch out!" He exclaimed, but Takeshi and I already turned around.
Just in time to see a blood crazed Belphegor reaching for us with his hands like a beast.
How did Takeshi not knock that idiot out!?
Still, with the warning, all three of us were ready for the giggling maniac.
The swordsman quickly held his weapon in a baseball batter stance and swung it at the enemies' head with the dull side. The mini dynamite was about to hit the maniac at the legs. I did a front kick, that despite its amateurish execution, still flew in high speeds and power.
All three attacks landed solidly on Belphegor and shot off like a cannonball, denting the wall behind him with his body and created big cracks on it.
Much to our shock however, the prince was still conscious. And he could still move, judging from the body twitches and the way he slowly raised himself from his cross position body imprint in the wall.
"Huh, forgot how tough he was," Takeshi said in slight awe. The bomber man and I sent him a flat glare, before I directed my anger on Hayato.
"What the fuck is wrong with that guy?!" I asked, pointing at the prince in agitation.
"Believe me, I asked myself the same question!" Hayato yelled back, prepping more dynamite in his hands.
As the prince managed to break his right arm free, he pointed it at himself with a blood stained, crazy smirk.
"Because I'm a prince!" He said gleefully.
I on the other hand, was done with his shit.
"Fuck you!" I yelled at him and put up my kick box stance.
How did he even hear us?! He must have had a concussion and broken bones!
As if heeding my wish, the universe decided to throw me a treat.
Just when the prince managed to free his left arm, the wall behind him exploded. Belphegor gagged out blood when the main force of the blast hit him straight in his spine. Our trio ducked when he got sent flying yet again.
We turned our head around and carefully observed the body outside on the ground.
Despite the occasional twitch, the Varia didn't make any moves to stand up.
The three of us let out a sigh of relief and then turned to the source of the explosion.
Said source held his bleeding hand with a smirk of pride.
"Ryohei Sasagawa, reporting for duty!" He raised his bleeding fist and pointed it at me. "I still need to give you a good punch, so I have to extremely rescue you!"
I blinked.
"Thanks, I guess?"
Luckily, Hayato had a bigger reservoir of words against the boxer as he ruffled his hair in irritation and pointed at him with aggression.
"You're late as hell, idiot! We already had this!" The bomber man yelled in anger. This agitated the boxer as well, as he crossed his arms, ignoring his own injurie.
"I just saved you!"
"We could've finished this guy ourselves!" Hayato countered and gesture to Takeshi and I.
I blinked, feeling all the heated emotions of mine slowly draining out of my body.
The rain guardian on the other hand laughed casually and stepped in between the two with raised hands.
"Now, now, guys! We're all on the same team here!"
Ryohei and Hayato sent each other a heated glare, before sighing in surrender.
"Right...we have more important stuff to think about. As in..." Hayato turned to me and shot his finger at me with a glare. "How do you have the Dying Will Mode?!"
Wait, what?
I blinked a third time. Seeing my confusion, the bomber man pulled out a mirror from...somewhere and showed it to me.
When I looked into it, I didn't saw my usual reflection.
My usual reflection did not have a bright, indigo flame on the forehead.
I blinked yet another time. Then I jumped back with wide eyes.
"Holy shit, I'm in Dying Will Mode!" I exclaimed in disbelief.
Just when I said that, the flame went out.
"Aaand it's gone. Of course," I said with a sigh. Still, I felt excited.
I had a transformation! Somehow!
I threw my arms up in the air in excitement and the two sports junkies shared a smile with me.
Hayato on the other hand tapped his chin in thought for a moment, before his eyes widened.
"Baseball head, catch him! I'll get the ring!"
"What are you-"
Before I could finish my question however, a wave of exhaustion and pain hit me. The world began to spin, so I was barely noticing the other three moving.
Memo to self, find out how to deactivate and activate Dying Will mode at will, so that I do not pass out because of bad energy management.
At least I was alive. That was the only thing that was important.
With that in mind, I felt my body surrender itself to gravity as darkness claimed me.
I fell unconscious way too many times.