Posted: April 18, 2016

Proofread and Edited: December 27, 2016

Thank you so much for all the positive feedback. I agree this universe is a little crazy right now and hopefully Tsuna gets out alive rofl.

I think I may have used too many game/technical terms this chapter so I apologize in advance. Please let me know if you need more clarification, although I do hope the context the terms were used in is enough to explain what they meant.

Thanks for the support!

Chapter 05

Tsuna ran.

Kyouya kept chase. But, really, did Tsuna expect anything less?

"Don't run, herbivore," Kyouya uttered in his usual, sinister way as he brandished two daggers with both hands. "It's futile."

Tsuna was doomed. If Kyouya was deadly when using tonfas, he didn't want to know how the guy was when using daggers. Besides, why was Kyouya talking to him in the first place?! He was an NPC for all intents and purposes!

Fortunately, Hayato appeared at the most appropriate time at the hallway. "Oi, you bastard! Stop chasing Tsuna-ouji-sama! He's not aggressive!"

Tsuna took this opportunity to run behind Hayato, and consequently, behind Takeshi and Ryohei who appeared moments after. If this Kyouya was like his Kyouya, then Tsuna knew what would happen next. Just as expected, Kyouya went straight for him and completely ignored Hayato —

And then his double daggers were blocked by a long, shiny katana.

"Haha, are we having a duel, Hibari-san?" Takeshi grinned as he attempted to disarm Kyouya, but the guy was faster and he dodged under Takeshi's arm. Tsuna's final line of defense was Ryohei who looked eager to fight anyway, so no worries here, only Tsuna remembered this guy was more of a healer rather than a fighter.

It wasn't like Tsuna was completely helpless. Getting transported to a different world didn't mean he forgot all his physical training. Sure, his Flames may not be working right now (as he had attempted in the past to activate them, only to be met with disappointment), but he still knew how to evade and deliver regular blows. He had kept up with his exercise however the sparring was nonexistent. His mom didn't like the thought that her dear, adorable son was trying to do combat. That's why we have Knights, Tsu-kun, she would giggle before ordering said Knights not to obey his requests for a spar.

It didn't matter, Tsuna thought, as Kyouya dodged Ryohei's tackle as well and aimed his daggers at Tsuna —

But a green, translucent circle of light that appeared in front of Tsuna blocked Kyouya's attack.

"Yare yare," Tsuna heard Lambo's voice from behind him. "What's all the commotion?"

"Remove the spell, Paladin," Kyouya growled at Lambo as he continued to strike at the circle of light in front of Tsuna. The circle of light, although translucent, was actually very solid and it was effective in blocking off Kyouya's attacks.

"Like I told you, you crazy bastard," Hayato appeared at Tsuna's side while glaring at Kyouya, "This guy is friendly. So stop attacking him."

"Besides he doesn't look like he has good drops anyway," Lambo yawned. "Why design a noble character wearing bunny-printed pajamas?"

Ryohei laughed. "About that — " He was interrupted when Kyouya tried to attack the green circle again.

At this point Hayato looked like he was going to cause some massive destruction with the way he was looking. "Don't you two read messages?! Seriously!"

Kyouya stopped and glared at Hayato. "It's a waste of time. Since I'm here, say it to my face."

Lambo walked around Tsuna as the green circle of light dissipated into the air. If Takeshi was clad in a full-plate armor, it was even more surprising to see Lambo wearing more armor than Takeshi. Although, when Tsuna thought about it, it looks somewhat similar to his Vongola gear . . .

"Reading is boring," Lambo grumbled.

Hayato let out another sigh before taking out his map. "If those two were here . . . where the heck are they anyway?" He pulled open the map while Tsuna peeked. Tsuna could see blips of light congregated together, usernames hovering above them. MaximumPower, Hibassassin, SirTakeshi, Feanor, AmazingLambo. Then he saw another blip of light from the distance, with the username Chrome, moving towards their little group.

Hayato looked displeased anyway. "One's missing . . . why?!" That one missing was definitely Mukuro, Tsuna thought, if the trend stayed the same.

Nobody had an answer.

"Whatever! Let's wait for the other one then I'm going to start the meeting," Hayato snarled as he tucked his map away.

Tsuna was still standing at the sides watching them. It was . . . a really nice image to see Hayato leading their group. Of course Tsuna knew his Hayato had impeccable leadership and good decision-making skills; he wasn't his right-hand man for nothing. However, whenever Tsuna was around, the man would always relinquish the controls over to him. You're the Boss, of course your decisions are more important, Jyuudaime. I will do anything for you, just say the word!

So, the kind of situation that called for Hayato's leadership were the kinds that Tsuna wasn't around.

Tsuna sealed his lips. He was a bystander.

"I think this guy's bugged," Lambo spoke all of a sudden as he reached out his hand and grabbed Tsuna's wrist. "It's just standing here."

"Bite it to death so it resets," Kyouya raised his daggers.

"No!" Hayato quickly interfered, stepping in front of Tsuna. "It's . . . he's different."

"Oh! I get it," Lambo nodded, his hand still on Tsuna's wrist, "He's a mercenary, right? But I've never seen a noble mercenary before. Is he following you, Takeshi-nii?"

Takeshi chuckled. "I hope so! But no."

"Ahoyato?"

"Stupid, don't call me that! And no!"

Lambo tilted his head. "What is he, then?"

"Oi!" Ryohei suddenly exclaimed in protest. "You're not going to ask me?"

"I already know you don't have the charisma to accomplish it," Lambo deadpanned.

Tsuna giggled. Lambo was capable of deadpan jokes!

At the next second, Tsuna quickly realized his mistake.

Lambo immediately released his wrist from his hand and stepped back. "He," Lambo turned to Hayato, "He laughed!"

Hayato, for the first time in the past few minutes, actually maintained his cool. "It's part of their idle animation. You know that."

Lambo frowned. "Yeah, but, it's just too coincidental! Kinda creepy."

For some reason or another, Kyouya suddenly had a look of curiosity mixed with malicious glee, something that Tsuna never really wanted to see on Kyouya's face. But there it was, accompanied with his own signature smirk, as he neatly stashed his daggers back in their sheaths. "Paladin," he began, stalking forward, "If you want to accomplish something, sometimes it's better to do it on your own."

Tsuna saw Hayato tense up. "Oi oi Hibari, what are you planning?"

"Watch."

Kyouya was suddenly a few centimeters from Tsuna's face. "You're a GM, aren't you?"

Tsuna stared back at Kyouya's eyes. It was a shade of steel gray, just as it had always been. But, as Tsuna kept reminding himself constantly in every minute and every second that passed, this Kyouya was not his Kyouya.

The guy continued. "That explains this ridiculous outfit." He was referring to Tsuna's bunny pajamas, apparently, which should have already been replaced with proper clothing if not for the fact three of the people here decided to make his bedroom an appropriate meeting place.

Tsuna heard Takeshi chuckle, although it was a little strained. "Hibari-san, GMs glow."

"Is it not?"

Nobody replied.

Takeshi laughed again, this time a little solemn. "Kinda right, but it's a different kind of glow."

What the heck were they talking about? Glowing?

Hayato rubbed his face with his palm. "He's not a GM nor a player character, Hibari. If you read my messages, you'd know! The same goes for you, Lambo!"

"W-what?" Lambo sounded like he was about to cry.

"Kufufu, hitting on an NPC is a new low for you, Hibassassin."

Tsuna tried his best to stay calm. He realized Mukuro was standing just behind him, while Kyouya was almost on his face. Well, Tsuna knew these two sometimes didn't know the concept of personal space, but . . . and besides, he was expecting Chrome to arrive, not Mukuro! Did his eyes deceive him when he was looking at the map?

Mukuro continued to talk. "I know you love your lore and roleplaying, but I think there are limits to how much you can love this world, hmm?"

It was not enough to deter Kyouya as he continued to hover above Tsuna, even as he addressed Mukuro with his next sentence. "You talk too much, Rogue. This NPC," Tsuna felt a cold, pointed metal brush his chin — when did he even pull out his dagger? "Is obviously one of a kind. It leads me to believe it's either a GM in disguise or a Boss-type." The guy smirked. "It does not look like a Boss."

Ryohei scoffed from behind Kyouya. "If you believe that, then you're pretty much threatening a GM right now, aren't you?!"

Kyouya chuckled a little. "Pretty much."

Lambo whined. "I don't want to get banned!"

"He's not a GM though," Takeshi sighed.

Mukuro giggled. "Indeed." Tsuna could see Mukuro's arm reach out and extend from behind him before Tsuna felt the dagger getting pushed out from under his chin, and Kyouya getting pushed back along with it. "Dear esteemed Hibassassin, if you would just use your Inspect skill, then there won't be any need for these dramatics. But fear not! I, Chrome, have the results on hand."

"How dare you touch me," Kyouya growled before stepping to the side. "Prepare to get bitten to death." Then he went on to the offensive and rushed towards Mukuro. Tsuna had no idea what was happening behind him since he didn't want to turn around, but judging from the faces of these four other guys who were in front of him, they were probably at each other's throats.

During this time, Tsuna put together some pieces he managed to pick up. So Mukuro's username was Chrome. He was the one going to their direction. But Hayato mentioned there was one other member . . .

"This always happens!" Hayato grumbled and sighed before turning to the other party members. "Whose turn is it today?"

"I think it's Nagi-nee's turn today," Lambo answered. "But she's not here."

Tsuna kept his mouth shut. So the other member was Chrome, or in this case, Nagi.

Lambo was wrong though. She was here. Tsuna knew the moment he felt something cold and dark pass by under his feet, not to mention the restrained noises from the two guys behind him.

"Mukuro-san, Hibari-san, please don't fight," Tsuna heard Nagi's meek voice from afar. "It's going to be expensive."

"Where were you?!" Hayato demanded.

"Good evening, Hayato-san," Nagi greeted him as she appeared besides Tsuna. "I didn't go offline . . . I was on my way here the entire time. The map doesn't show my location, for some reason."

"My, my, Kuromu, still as strong as ever," Tsuna heard Mukuro laugh accompanied with grunting noises.

"Let go of me, you damn carnivore!" Kyouya yelled.

Ryohei let out a shudder. "And this is why I don't want to get on Nagi's bad side . . . "

Nagi smiled and continued to ignore the struggles of the two men from behind them. Then in a heartbeat, she turned to Tsuna, who thought his heart was about to jump out from his chest. "Is this him, Hayato-san?"

For some reason or another, Tsuna was even more nervous right now than how he was when faced with Kyouya earlier. Chrome . . . his Chrome had always been a shy and meek person. She preferred not to stand out much and always stayed at the sidelines. Even as they grew up and even after it was established that she was the Mist Guardian, she had always been content with providing support and assistance from the background. On worst cases she lets Mukuro take over her position (not that it was wrong, since Mukuro himself also had the merit of being a Mist Guardian), but to be honest Tsuna wanted her to be more confident with her own abilities.

Witnessing this right now, Kyouya and Mukuro powerless against her, and Ryohei acknowledging her abilities? It was a very touching scene for Tsuna. Unfortunately, this Chrome was not his Chrome, and they were in a video game . . .

If Tsuna was being rational and truthful, these people here were so uncannily similar to his Guardians, with the exception of Chrome; did that mean this Chrome was the first "anomaly"? If it was, he wondered if there was some relevance to his circumstance right now.

Then he saw Nagi wave her trident, and then two distinct sounds of objects dropping followed.

Which was quickly followed by two humanoid forms headed towards Nagi — and consequently blocked by the same green circle of light Tsuna saw earlier.

"Remove the spell, Paladin," Kyouya snarled as he continued swinging his daggers at Nagi and continued getting blocked by the circle of light. Tsuna had a sudden sense of déjà vu.

"Once in a while, it's healthy to have a duel against your partymates," Mukuro added as he, too, brandished a pair of sai and was attacking Nagi relentlessly.

Nagi, on the other hand, remained standing still as the attacks were deflected by the circle of light. Then a much bigger dome of yellow light appeared, surrounding Nagi and catching Tsuna within it too.

"This is a serious waste of mana points," Ryohei complained.

"Haha yeah!" Takeshi laughed as he stood from a distance. "Hibari-san, Mukuro-san, even if you do get to hit Nagi-chan, what do you think will happen?"

"Just one stab," Mukuro chuckled.

"I'll bite her to death," Kyouya growled.

Hayato pinched the bridge of his nose. "This party's so hard to control . . ."

Tsuna felt a little sorry for Hayato, since he knew what it felt like leading his Guardians. Not that they were difficult. Nope.

"OH!" Ryohei suddenly exclaimed. "Kyoko called me for dinner!"

"NO! Meeting first!" Hayato panicked. "We're all here! So let's have that damn meeting!"

Lambo was already sitting on the floor, his horned helmet sitting beside him as he leaned against the wall. "I'm so bored. I'm taking a nap."

"LAMBO —

Consequently, the circle of light and the dome of light vanished, giving Mukuro and Kyouya free reign on attacking Nagi. It seemed like Nagi was prepared though when a huge purple circle appeared from under her feet and wisps of shadows materialized from it. The shadowy wisps swished and flailed wildly, aiming for Kyouya, when the guy jumped backwards to avoid the attack. At the same time Nagi had swung her trident at Mukuro but he was able to block it with his sai before stepping back himself.

Tsuna was having some serious flashbacks. It wasn't everyday his Guardians fought against each other, but it always ended up a tragedy for the Vongola because of how much property damage they cause.

Meanwhile, Takeshi had seated himself beside Lambo and was watching the fight while laughing, Ryohei was still standing but unmoving (Tsuna thought he may be AFK), Lambo seemed to be AFK too and Hayato was busy scowling and muttering to himself.

It was then Tsuna decided that he was seriously, seriously having none of these.

He walked away.

Nobody noticed.