"There are two reasons for the illusion." The mist guardian grinned. "One, is serving as my warm up. And the other, is to gather data on the real 6 funeral wreaths' power. By giving them a feeling superiority with the illusions, I succeeded in gathering data on Bluebell's absolute defense territory, and Kikyo's method of attack from the ground."
"Nyu~!!"
"Hahah.. I see."
"...And there's one more, hmph, more like, my own reason. Kufufu."
"Oh, and what is that?" Kikyo grinned this time.
Mukuro's grin disappeared. "A little payback for our right hand woman."
Bluebell pouted when the most hateful words were said. "So what?? Whatever happened with that woman has nothing to do with us!"
"Oh. Do you think so? Then I guess this is not enough to give some lesson for giving Riekka nightmares."
"Y-Yeah.. Shouichi ever told us about Torikabuto and Riekka. Is that what it is?"
"You got it right, storm guardian." Mukuro chuckled.
The moment where your love to your husband has changed into a guilt feeling, Byakuran took that chance to sneak in Torikabuto to gather data about Vongola and you. He disguised himself as a normal human, pleading for any empty slots to work in Vongola family, and pulled you down in his illusion from your kind symphaty.
Byakuran sealed you in a dark room, forcing you to spit out any information and suck out your celestial power without your own will. They used a dirty method to trap your mind between the truth and reality, the fake and dream, and resulted in you, whom kept on blaming yourself that Tsuna chose you because of pity, leaving the person that he really love because he felt sorry for you; which was not true.
Not true but it had consumed your flesh.
The words, screams, and cries were repeated everyday,
"I'm sorry..! I'm sorry..! But I really love you.. please, please forgive me..!"
Mukuro used his full power to search for you, and informed Tsuna when he found you. Seeing your lifeless state had made him furious, and that was one of the reasons why he went all the way to disguised himself and get into Byakuran's army to gather information from them, despite his limited illusion power.
***
Bel throws his flying knife to Fran's frog head.
"Ouch. That hurts, Senpai~"
"How long are you going to keep Rokudo Mukuro's illusion up? That guy is still in the Vindice cell."
"Oh, haven't you heard?"
Fran smiled as he point at Mukuro. "That pineapple hair isn't an illusion. It's the real thing on a full scale. I helped my master escape from the cells of Vindice together with Riekka-senpai's special request to the Vindice guys- ah." He was stabbed with Mukuro's trident.
"...!!"
"What??"
"W-what do you mean by.. Riekka's special request to the Vindice?"
"Kufufu. Didn't you know that Riekka is a special exception to the most feared guards who protect the laws of the Mafia world?"
"Huh..?? Special.. exception?"
"Kufufufu. Other than possessing powerful bloodline that could change and create chaos with a flick of a finger, Celestial clan's people are special beings that were protected by Vindice, which comes in Law No.1 of Mafia world; 'To cherish and to avoid from damaging even a single hair of the maidens, or an eternal death will await for every single members of one mafia famiglias.' And of course,.." He narrowed his eyes. "These pathetic beings in front of us were one of those who breaks the first and foremost law in mafia world."
"What did you just say??? Pathetic beings??" Zakuro groaned.
"Oya, oya.. did I point out a wrong truth towards you?" He replied with a chuckle.
--------------------
"T-then the Mukuro who came just now is the real one??"
"Yes..!"
"But wasn't he-"
"You know the Celestial beings is a special exception to Vindices right?"
"O-oh.. I see.."
'The Celestial clan are very powerful indeed. That is why there's a lot of mafia families desired for them.'
Tsuna glances to your belly. 'And Riekka must give birth to the child safely in order to expand her ceased bloodline once again.' He balls his fists. 'I must.. let it happen. I must save the future so her child wont get harm by Byakuran..!'
"Riekka?"
You tilted your head to the side. "Hm?"
"Promise me that you will stay here with Reborn and the others. Please be safe when I'm away to fight with Byakuran."
"...."
"Reborn is the only one I could rely on to protect you in my place.. I-"
"Okay, I wont. Please be safe, Juudaime-sama ^^." You said it simply as if it was nothing.
'I'm being serious here T_T..'
Thump!
"....!" Your eyes widened and you lift up your chin automatically.
"..Riekka-chan?"
"Riekka? What's wrong?"
You clench on your chest. "Sensei.. that thing is coming.."
"'That thing?'"
"Riekka-san.. that's.."
"Yes, Uni. I can feel it too." Tsuna hold on your shoulder when he noticed your hands was trembling. "Riekka..! What's the matter?"
"Juudaime-sama.. the feared member of funeral wreaths; the last, trump card of Byakuran.." You pursed your lips. "Ghost..! He had made his appearance over there..!"
***
"Isn't that.. Byakuran??"
"No.. the mark on his face is opposite."
Bluebell gasped to the sight of the man who radiated green sparkling light around him. "Is that.. the rumored ghost? This can't be good..!"
Mukuro glances to the aqua haired girl. '...? Even it's allies seem unsettled by this..'
"But he's one of the enemies! There's no mistake that he's from Millefiore!" Levi points down. "Look at his finger! It bears a Mare ring!!"
Chikusa adjusts his glasses after he examined Ghost's Mare ring. "Thunder.. of the real 6 funeral wreaths."
Bel snickered as he jumps down from the tree and flies towards Ghost. "Shi, shi. If that's the case..!" He pulled out his knives and throw it to Ghost's direction. "The first shot will be the winner~!"
"....!" Kikyo and Bluebell gasped in unison as the knives fly through Ghost's body, sucking the flames around the knife, leaving it drop onto the ground like a normal sharp object.
"..!! It passed right through!!"
"An illusion??"
"..What do you think of this?" Mukuro turned to Fran.
"My instincts tell me.. that this isn't an illusion."
"Correct. It is very real indeed."
--------------------------
"You are saying that the other funeral wreath members didn't know much about this 'Ghost' existence?"
You nod to Reborn's question. "They are afraid of it too. Because it is impossible to win over him."
"If I'm not mistaken.. it has the ability to suck out someone's flame and energy until zero--or by other words, until they die." Shouichi added. He was trembling from fear like you too.
"*Beep*"
"Riekka. Can you hear me?"
"Mukuro-kun..? How is the situation over there..? I feel like something bad is happening-"
"It is." He chuckled. "I've checked it with Daemon's lens. That thing is not a human being. He is more like a phenomenon."
You widen your eyes. 'Byakuran.. you've come all the way for this.. because of me..' You clamped your lips as your grip on your earphone tightened.
Tsuna grind his teeth to your scared expression.
"*Beep*"
"..? Onii-san?"
"Sawada!!! The opponent is too dangerous!! Our rings and boxes didn't work against him!! Take Uni and get away from here as quickly as you can!!" Ryohei panted at the other side. "Quick!!"
'What should I do..? Everyone.. will die like this!! But I can't leave Riekka and Uni either.. what should I do if I failed to beat Ghost??'
"Sawada-san."
"...Uni?"
"Please go. I have Uncle Reborn with me."
"Juudaime-sama."
He turned to you. "Riekka..?"
"I will protect Uni together with Reborn-sensei. So please, save our family."
"But-"
"I will hold with our promise. I wont leave here."
"It's your decision, Tsuna."
"Everyone.." Tsuna breathe in as he swallow the dying will mode pill. "Thank you..!"
He changed into dying will mode. "..I'm going in."
"Sawada-san.. Good luck."
"Yes."
"Tsuna-san!"
"Tsuna-kun!"
The expressions on the two girls can be seen. They wanted to say 'Please don't overdo it!' and 'I don't want you to go..', but they hold it back and says "Good luck." together to ease his worry.
You hold back your tears and clench on your chest. 'Anata..' You closed your eyes and open it back again. "Juudaime-sama..!"
Tsuna paused before he prepare himself to depart.
"..Riekka..?"
"....."
There was a short, but meaningful silence. Tsuna parted his lips, as if he ever seen that particular expression on your face before. Somehow, he have this kind of feeling where.. he was in the position of to whom you ever gave those 'farewell' to.
"..I will wait for you."
"Riekka.."
"And promise me too, that you will be safe..! Or.. I will get angry, you know..!"
He smiled. "Yes. I will."
He turned around. "Please take care of Riekka and Uni."
"Leave it to us." Reborn smirked.