Acknowledging Change

Title: Acknowledging Change
Chapter: Chapter 03 - Blue
Fandom: Katekyo Hitman Reborn
Pairing(s): Reborn/Lambo
Author: Athame (a.k.a. Ghost of a Rose/Morrigan Moonwater/Nephthys Snape/Soundbreaker)
Disclaimer: Katekyo Hitman Reborn, and the characters therein, belong to Amano Akira. I make no profit in their use.
Summary: Lambo is surprised to find a gift on his bed, but what does it mean and who sent it?
Rating: G
Words: 2813
Author's Note(s): There are so many ‘uses/beliefs’ for agate, and its various colors. I will not say that the ones used in this story are correct or all inclusive. I find that it pays to keep an open mind when dealing with pieces of nature and the various ‘uses/beliefs’ cultures and civilizations have found for them. I, personally, do hold stock in some of the ‘uses/beliefs’ for the stone.

***

Lambo stared at the small box sitting on the center of his bed. He had only stepped out of the room for a moment, and had even locked the door out of habit. While it didn’t mean much in a house full of Mafioso, whoever had snuck in while he was speaking with Tsuna, had been very quick and efficient; not to mention they’d know he wasn’t going to be there. There was no sign of their entrance and exit, nothing disturbed or different save for the package that rested on his bed.

With still too many possible answers as to who had entered his room, he slowly reached forward to pick up the small but heavy blue wrapped box. Perhaps the contents, whatever they may be, would provide some form of answers.

Sitting on the end of the bed, the Bovino carefully removed the two pieces of tape holding the shiny sky blue foil paper. He folded it neatly and set it aside. Then, he hesitated, having a moment of apprehension. Did he really want to see what was inside? What if it was a prank or something meant to upset him?

‘No one would do that to you,’ he reminded himself. With bated breath, the Thunder Guardian lifted the top off the small square box and sat it upon the folded paper. Whatever he had expected, a blue rock certainly wasn’t it.

The stone was heavy and as large as his fist, raw and jagged save for a small cut out place in the center of what he assumed to be the front. There rested a silver ring with a blue stone at its center. Draped on the highest ‘peak’ of the stone was a leather cord with a pendant in the shape of a snake, or maybe it was a dragon, he wasn’t sure, with its tail in its mouth. The snake looked more like a snake to him, was wrapped around another piece of blue stone.

Lambo frowned. For one, blue was almost always associated with rain. Had someone left the box in the wrong room? Surely if they bothered to break in while he was gone, they’d know they had the right room… Right?

He set the stone, and the jewelry it held, to his right then picked up the paper. No indication of who the package was for could be found. Nor was there anything inside the box itself.

Just as he was about to wrap the box back up, he noticed a bit of folded paper stuck up inside the lid. His name was scrawled across the paper in a strong, broad, confident calligraphy that he didn’t recognize. He tugged it free and opened it a bit quickly, nearly ripping it in the process.

Inside were words, but he had no idea the language. Like his name, they were written in a strong, sure hand. The broad strokes started to seem familiar the longer he gazed at them, but the strange words threw him off. He saw so many different writing styles, and so many of them so bold and confident, he just didn’t know. He couldn’t help but sound out, or try to, the unfamiliar words, hoping hearing them might register something. It didn’t work, even as he repeated the words a second and third time, more fluidly each time.

The mystery would have to wait, he reminded himself. He had a mission to see to, and while it wasn’t anything major-ly important or dangerous, he still had to see to it as if it were. One thing he’d learned in being a Guardian, in observing Reborn, never let your guard down. Anything could and would happen, anytime.

Lambo didn’t think anything would, not on a simple errand, but he double checked his weapons and that he had his ring. Standing, he set the paper inside the box then placed it on his bureau, setting the stone and jewelry beside it. He fingered the note, reaching out to place it down, too, when he had a thought. Quickly, he shoved the note and the jewelry in his pocket and headed off to see to his duty.

***

Lambo stretched as he stepped from the car. He hadn’t been driving long, and it still left him a little anxious when he did. His muscles tense then pulled, causing him to groan in pain and relief. Ignoring the slight residual soreness in his shoulders, and the fleeting thought of strong, long, thin fingers belonging to a certain number one hitman kneading it away, he walked up to the massive stone staircase that led to an equally massive stone and wood door at the front of the Pagano famiglia castle.

The place was intimidating, like the Vongola estate, in sheer size, but it was the décor that really creeped the Thunder Guardian out. Large gothic dragons framed the stairs, mouths of sharp looking teeth open wide, holding crystal balls that seemed to flare and flicker in the center with ever changing colored flames, Dying Will Flames. Their bodies made up the railing, the spines set at just the right height for easy, comfortable grip. The tails wound around tall columns with pots, or what appeared to be cauldrons to Lambo, resting atop them. These, too, had fire burning in them, reminding him of the flames he’d seen when he’d watched the Olympics one year, only, like the crystal balls, the flames changed in color.

The door knockers, once he made it to the massive doors, were gargoyle heads, matching the many gargoyles that adorned the entire perimeter of the castle’s many towers, walls, balustrades, and just about anywhere else. They were tastefully spread out, but they still sent a chill down his spine, giving the place a foreboding and dark uninviting appearance. He swore the few times he’d been there, that the eyes of all of them followed him.

Stilling his nerves, noticing that he felt oddly calmer than he usually did when he was at the Pagano famiglia home, he reached up and clicked the knocker thrice. He didn’t know why it mattered how many times he did, unless the family had a set number for certain sorts of guests, but he’d been asked to always knock three times. Nine if he was in a real hurry or it was an emergency.

His wait was short. Soon the elderly porter for the family opened the door and gave him a quick, subtle once over. “Ah, Mr. Bovino,” the man said, and Lambo had learned not to bother with correcting people calling him that. They did, anyhow. “The boss is indisposed at the moment, but I will show you to Mr. Spada. He is waiting for you.” The man bowed slightly and turned, fully expecting for Lambo to follow him.

The study was not too far from the main hall of the castle. The porter knocked twice before entering and holding the door open for Lambo. Stepping inside, the Thunder Guardian quickly glanced around, taking in the various pieces of armor and the varying styles of martial weapons adorning all the walls and most flat services in a slightly cluttered yet somehow tasteful manner.

Spada, Pagano Decimo’s right hand man, looked up from where he was polishing a sword and smiled at Lambo. “Please, have a seat, Lambo. I’m nearly finished here.”

Lambo nodded, seating himself and waiting quietly as the older man finished what he was doing. The porter had since left them, but the butler had replaced him and was setting tea at Lambo’s elbow before the Bovino even knew he was in the room. Lambo nodded in thanks and sipped it as he waited.

“Your boss had some things he wished to discuss with mine, correct? It seems like a wasted trip if you came here just to set up an appointment.” Spada set his sword down and began cleaning up his stones and oils, placing them in a drawer. “I assume, then, there is something else?”

“No. Vongola Decimo feels it is more polite to negotiate, even something this small, in person.” Lambo prayed that the other man didn’t realize why he was really there. ‘It’ll be good experience for the boy,’ Reborn had said, before leaving the office to allow Tsuna to talk to Lambo. It was odd. Reborn never really showed such courtesy before, especially with him.

The older man looked at him a moment then seemed to shrug it off, likely deciding it didn’t matter one way or another why Lambo was really there. “Lady Pagano is free whenever Vongola Decimo would like to meet. She said she’d make sure that no prior engagements would hinder their meeting. So, all I need to know is when he wants to meet.” He picked up and sipped his own cup of tea.

“The second of next month would be the most convenient for Sawada-san; a ten thirty brunch, if Lady Pagano would be agreeable.” Lambo sipped his tea again, finding himself sinking into the easiness, the casualness of this minor negotiation. “I express my don’s apologies it is so long from now. He is looking forward to meeting with Lady Pagano, but he is a busy man.”

Nodding, he jotted the date and time down. “That is fine. She understands. Running the Vongola can be no easy task.” He sipped his tea and watched Lambo, tilting his head after a moment. “I sense something troubles you. You wish to ask about something.”

Lambo frowned. “Troubles me?” He puzzled over that, unable to think of anything troubling him. The negotiations were over, and as soon as he finished his tea he’d be leaving. There was nothing at home that should be bothering him. The only thing that had happened, out of the ordinary, was the box . . . He realized that was what was bothering him. He had wanted to ask Lady Pagano about the stone.

Sheepishly, the Thunder Guardian looked at his tea. “Well, there is something . . .” He set his tea down and pulled the ring, necklace, and note from his pocket laying them on the desk. “I wanted to ask your boss about these. I’ve heard she . . . knows things.” He didn’t want to offend the man, but he also felt the need to explain himself.

Spada picked up the jewelry, examining it briefly before looking at the note. “Someone seems to care for you.” He smiled at him. “This is blue lace agate,” he explained, holding up the antique silver ring with the light blue stone at its center.

“Blue lace agate,” Lambo repeated so he’d better remember. “And someone cares for me by giving it to me? You mean because it’s a gift? Or, can you read what the note says?”

“Both, as well as the stone itself.” Spada stood up and moved to a set of bookshelves. Pushing aside an ax and a set of nunchaku out of his way, he pulled out a thick book and returned to the desk. With ease of frequent use, he opened the book and turned the well worn pages to where he wished to open the book to.

Lambo looked at the book as it was placed before him, taking in the way the raw stone looked. “What’s so special about a blue rock?” He looked up at the Pagano Rain Wizard, as they called their male Guardians.

Spada didn’t answer, in a straightforward sense. How very Reborn-like of him, Lambo thought. “You should read this,” Spada informed him. He placed the letter Lambo had received in the book to mark the page. Then, he turned and grabbed another book from behind a Japanese sword set and placed it on top the other. “This will translate the words on the paper.”

“Couldn’t you just tell me?” Lambo eyed the books. If some of the others saw him with them… Not to mention he didn’t really enjoy having to research things.

The Pagano smiled. “I could, but that wouldn’t be as rewarding.” He sounded almost like Reborn, well a nice Reborn. It was beginning to be a bit creepy. This was all starting to smell like Reborn. Lambo frowned.

“Alright.” He stood and picked up the books. “Thank you for your time, Spada-san. I will inform Sawada-san of the meeting with Lady Pagano.” Lambo smiled and bowed to the man. “I will have your books returned as soon as I am finished with them.”

Spada smiled, and Lambo didn’t like the smirkiness of it, as if the man knew a lot more than he was saying. “No rush,” he responded. “Let me show you out.”

***

Lambo made it back to his room without running into any of the others. He dropped the books onto his desk quickly before going to report to Tsuna. Knocking on the door, he shoved one hand into his pocket, fingering the jewelry hidden within. A voice telling him to enter jerked him from his thoughts and he pushed his way into the room only to find Reborn there and not Tsuna.

Reborn didn’t look up from the paper he was reading on the couch in the office. “She agreed to Tsuna’s date and time?” Though it was a question, it certainly didn’t sound like it.

“Yes.” Lambo stood near the door, watching Reborn. “Ten thirty brunch on the second of next month, as Sawada-san wished.”

“Good.” Reborn turned the page of his paper. “Is that all?” He asked from behind the paper barrier.

“Yes, Reborn-sama,” Lambo answered, turning to leave. Reborn obviously had no real interest in talking to him, and he had other things to do himself.

Reborn lowered the top of the paper and looked over it at the back of the teenager. “Be back here in an hour. Tsuna has another job for you.” He returned to reading his paper.

Lambo said nothing, leaving the office and returning to his room. He picked up the rock and sat down with it at his desk. An hour likely wouldn’t be enough for him to do what he wanted to, but he’d try. Maybe he’d get lucky and the translation would be easy. If it wasn’t for not knowing what it said, he’d just have someone else do it.

Sighing to himself, he cracked open the book on the stone first. There was a lot of information on it, and he wasn’t sure what of it was really relevant, but he grabs a pad and took some notes. From what he could gather, the stone, agate it was called, had a lot of things associated with it: easing stress; calming the mind; giving courage and confidence; banishing fear; granting luck; improving communication, strength, memory, vitality, intellect; suppressing anger; discerning truth; and even stilling thunder and lightning. The particular kind of agate, blue lace, gave peace and happiness, as well as de-stressed. Agate was also the stone of his zodiac sign and his Roman birthstone.

Spada had been right. It seemed someone cared for him in giving such a . . . thoughtful gift. Apparently even the color light blue granted protection, trust, inspiration, and stimulated self-awareness. Someone obviously thought he was under a lot of mental strain and stress. He had to admit he was a bit . . . high strung sometimes. Pulling the jewelry out of his pocket, he fingered it before sliding it on. He was pleased to note the necklace rested just below his normal one without overlapping.

Moving on passed the stone, Lambo picked up the paper. The book Spada had given him was thick, and it would no doubt take a long time for him to find what he was looking for inside of it. Still, seeing that the stone seemingly meant so much, or he was just putting way too much thought into all of this, he decided he’d spend as much time as he needed to, to discover what the note said.

He had to take a break to see what Tsuna needed, it taking a good half hour to meet with him and Reborn to receive his next mission; which was simply another negotiation errand that could have easily been handled over the phone. He expressed this only to have Reborn smack him upside the back of the head, rather hard in his opinion.

Once out of the office, he returned to his room yet again, and finished his translation. It didn’t take him long, once he was finished, to see that it wasn’t a letter or note but, for lack of better term, an incantation. That, he would admit, freaked him out a little. But, from what he could discern, it was meant as protection, given to someone you cared dearly for and wanted to protect.

Staring at the paper in wonder, Lambo was still left with one great big question. Who?