103. Migraine

"Daemon probably, accidentally or not, I don't know-- nearly killed him?"

Ironical as this may sound, Takeshi may have felt his heart stop in horror as Enma said that. His world seemed to freeze over-- but his chest-- it boiled. 

"But then he just- stood back up."

This made even Gokudera perk up. Because what?

"He started acting like someone else. He was speaking like he wasn't Ninomiya." Enma tried his best to explain, but this information itself was second-hand. He didn't know what even he was explaining. "He ran into the forest, but we lost him soon after."

Such an update on Rei's situation stuck the mood in a heavier viscosity of tension than before.

Was this confusion? Disbelief? Or just perhaps, irritation? Regardless, the vexatious mixture of feelings was about to drive Tsuna mad.

"This may sound rude, but," Enma was firm this time—He was resolute, not hesitant—he was being honest—"He's weird. Very."

To this, no one had a word of comeback. No defence, no word of protest and no debate to go against that opinion. Unanimously, the fact was agreed on.

"Everything about him is just," Enma clenched his fist, "Unnerving." He chose his words bitterly, "It's like—what he exudes, his aura—it's just like the Vindice."

Tsuna lifted his head, realizing the same.

"They know things, but they aren't telling us because they apparently can't." Gokudera mumbled under his breath, spitting a curse in between. "The similarities are uncanny."

"Stop that, Gokudera," Yamamoto said in response. "Rei has his own reasons-"

"And so do the Vindice!" Gokudera retorted, "How do we know he's not in cahoots with those mummy freaks? He's obviously hiding something big, and-"

"Gokudera!" he snapped.

This made everyone just stop. Yamamoto-- Yamamoto, of all people, had lost his temper. With Gokudera, of all people. 

If Tsuna remembered anything about these two, their fights never got anywhere. And that was because Yamamoto never took Gokudera's words to heart.

But now-- Gokudera was the one silent to an angry Yamamoto. Clearly, that was not a good sign. Not at all, in many different ways.

"Wa-" Tsuna reacted quickly, his instincts taking over, "Wait, let's-- put that aside for now!" he urged to change the topic, "Let's hurry, c'mon, Chrome is fighting Daemon now!"

Tsuna couldn't guarantee, but he's never seen these two with such tension between them.

-

"Daemon Spade, who acquired Rokudo Mukuro's body, has broken out of his confines." Jager explained, "It's only a matter of time before a jailbreak occurs."

It was quite a turn of the situation when the Vindice came to the Vongola for help. Ironic, even.

"We could handle the situation with our power, but that is something we would like to avoid." Jager spoke, authoritatively, "You should be the ones to deal with Daemon Spade."

Tsuna, as the decision maker-- not the Boss, please-- knew this was a stupid one to agree on. They were no match for Daemon, not all of them if they worked together. 

But on the flip side, Tsuna had no room to reject this request-- order, from the Vindice. If Daemon had to fight them eventually, this would have to be the time.

And Tsuna had to take advantage of that.

"But now that this is the case," he negotiated, "The battle between the Shimon and the Vongola is negated. Please release everyone from the Shimon and Vongola from the prison!"

"Everyone..." the Vindice spoke up with hesitation-- "I suppose that would include..."

"Rei," Tsuna interruted, "You have him, don't you?"

A moment of silence told Tsuna the answer he wanted. Clear and precise-- the message was told. Tsuna and Yamamoto both held scrutinizing, mildly hostile gazes toward the Vindice now-- while Gokudera's was a little more of annoyance and contemplation, as if he were trying to solve a tough puzzle.

"We do have him," Jager affirmed, "But perhaps not the the state you desire."

Tsuna swore he heard Yamamoto click his tongue.

-

It was scary enough, the earth quaking and the sky splitting apart from a beam shooting straight down onto the island. The earth cratered, and even Vongola Gears barely kept u a shield to hold where they stood. 

The atmosphere faltered, a black gash tearing itself a place in mid air-- a gloved hand reached out from within the gap. 

Daemon Spade emerged from the portal of Black Flames-- in a presence, in an aura and in a completely different identity that pressured Tsuna from within.

Tsuna felt his chest clench in anxiety. The mere being of Daemon was-- that of an evil spirit. A demon. A monster, or much, much more than that. He was dangerous,much more than the Vindice at the moment-- 

But something else truly made Tsuna's heart fall; and his stomach drop in dread.

As Daemon stepped out from the portal, his right hand held onto a figure. A young boy, Tsuna's age, with light brown hair-- and Daemon was grasping it casually by the collar of their shirt.

Dragging it forward to his steps, Daemon's eyes land on the Vongola-- and he simpers.

"Pleased to meet you," he greeted.

Tsuna's eyes widen. Ninomiya Rei-- yes, that was Rei. His clothes torn, his hoodie half intact-- his hair was disheveled and alarmingly rust-coloured in some spots. Rei's head hung down low, and his arms lay lifeless by his sides.

Catching his line of sight, Daemon chuckled. "I found something interesting back there," he found it in himself to explain it, a way to taunt the young Vongola-- "So I brought it back."

Matter-of-factly; as if it were obvious.

Tsuna felt anger boil.

But Yamamoto-- at this point, Yamamoto was just plain fuming. Everyone felt a shiver, sensing the intense bloodlust ooze out in floods from the black-haired baseball ace. Tsuna didn't dare look back to see his face.

Who did it to Rei? The Vindice? Daemon? 

At this point, Tsuna could only believe it was the latter.

-

-

-

The battle commenced, and Rei was simply left aside. No one was available to barge through the center of the battlefield to look at him. 

As the battle ended, Jager was first to reach the boy. Silently, with scrutiny, Jager simply spoke.

"You were awake," he observed.

At that, Tsuna and Yamamoto, still a clean distance away, flinched in alarm as they realized Jager was beside the boy. Quickly, they made their run over.

Getting onto one knee, Jager reached out an arm.

"We have come to an agreement with your... comrades," the word was emphasized in a sort of irritated way, "and as such we will not hold you in the prison."

Ninomiya Rei, still not a fidget in response--

"In return, we shall seal those Flames from you, for good." Jager said, "As the creator of these Flames, Bermuda holds the authority."

His hands were now an inch away from Rei's face.

Tsuna and Yamamoto perked up in alarm. What was going on over there? They couldn't hear any conversation occurring from the stretch.

But this was when Rei's eyes snapped open. At the same time, his hands-- not his ring-- erupted into Black Flames. 

This made Tsuna and Yamamoto halt in their tracks. In horror, mostly. Other eyes had turned. The other Vongola and Shimon, Reborn. Everyone saw.

One hand clutched Jager's wrist-- holding it tight and bone crushingly in place. Tugging Jager downwards, Rei's other arm swerved up, tightened into a fist, and shot straight towards Jager's face.

But he stopped short. 

Rei's world freezing over for one full second, the flames on his hands were blown away by an invisible force of wind-- his head exploded in pain.

Curling up, contorting and doubling over in agony, he clutched his head and screamed.

The voice snapped Yamamoto out of his shocked trance and he ran over faster than before. "Rei?!" he called, "Rei, what's--"

Standing up with a sort of impertinent calmness, Jager could almost sigh.

"I repeatedly warned you of this," Jager sounded tired, "Yet, you refused to listen."

It was unclear if Rei even heard Jager speak. However, it was clear the boy was in no condition. Taking a step back, Jager turned around and began to walk away.

"Wait!" Tsuna called after, "What- What did you do to-"

What did you do to Rei?

The question hung in the air. 

"We weren't able to do anything," Jager answered slowly, choosing his words.

The unexpected answer rendered Tsuna taken aback on what to ask next. The next he realized, the Vindice had gone.

Rei's screaming was now hushed into soft, sniffled whimpering, his arms wrap a tight clutch around Takeshi's stomach, his nails digging into fabric and leaving indents on skin.

Takeshi rubbed soothing circles around the boy's back-- but it didn't seem to be working.