AN: Hello everyone! Its been awhile since I last wrote.

I am going to have an essay writing test soon, and there isn't any topic except that it's a one-word, free writing essay. So I've decided to practice a bit. I've already made a list:

-Victory

-Distance

-Silence

-Wrath

-Jealousy

-Gift

-Dream

-Imagine

All takes place in alternate universes in a way, and these are mostly practice pieces. Not to be taken too seriously.

If you have any suggestions, feel free to put it in. All will be roughly 350~800 words.

Warning: Contains character deaths, AU, and sometimes a bit of OOC. Please bear with me.

Victory

The constant pounding in Iemitsu's head did not stop. His breath was heavy as he clutched his rifle in his hands, leaning against the run down rusty car. "Itemisu! Fall back already!" His assistant, Basil, commanded.

Gun shots filled the air as Iemitsu held his breath. "Iemitsu!" Basil yelled once more, glaring at his boss. Iemitsu's eyes narrowed as he carefully lifted himself to a kneeling position. "Yeah, I got it." He managed to say, the words barely leaving his cut lip. Before he knew it, he was sprinting away from the war site.

As the war continued all the way in Italy, back in Japan, a timid little brown-haired boy tugged his mother's dress. "Mom, when will daddy be back?" He asked, his chocolate brown eyes looking up at the woman. His mother gave a slight smile to her son, "He will be back soon. He only went for work, Tsu-kun. Don not worry." She turned back to the dishes as her son, Tsuna, gave a small pout.

Sawada Nana's smile slowly faded as she placed the dishes on the edge of the sink. She knew that her husband would probably never come back, but she could not bear to tell this to her one and only son. To her, the happiness of the entire family was the most important priority in her entire life. She could not bear to see her son cry. She silently bit her lip, praying the best for Iemitsu.

The war ended three years later, and by then Tsuna had grown into an early teenager. Whatever happened to Iemitsu, Tsuna still believed he was away for work. "Mom, I'm going to school!" He called out as he swiped a slice of toasted bread coated with butter off the plate. He opened to the door and rushed out with the bread in his mouth.

During class, he felt a shiver run down his spine. Something was not right that day. "Hey, Tsuna. You alright?" His raven haired friend, Yamamoto, had asked. Tsuna turned weakly to him and gave a small nod. Something just was not right, and Tsuna did not feel comfortable not knowing it.

By the time he reached home, Nana was staring at a letter, her eyes widened and watering. "Mom. What's wrong?" Tsuna asked, concerned and curious at the same time. Nana burst into tears, causing Tsuna to step back in surprised. "T-Tsu-kun...Your...your father..."

It hit Tsuna hard. He felt himself choke at almost nothing as the letter was clutched tightly in his palms, fingers causing creases to the paper. "...Dad...Dad was...in a war?" Tsuna stammered, his eyes widened and lips pressed tight. "Mom...why did you not tell me this?" His vision was becoming blurry from the tears wanting to fall from his eyes.

Nana sobbed dryly as she took a tissue paper from the tissue box resting on the coffee table. "I..I did not want you to worry Tsu-kun. Your f-father had been in the war for years already..." She paused to blow her nose, "But our country was victorious. His sacrifice was meaningful."

Tsuna could only stand there like stone. He felt his hand clench into a fist, biting his bottom lip angrily. "Victory?" He mumbled, looking down at his shoes, unable to face his mother. Nana let out a small whimper. "I...I do not get how this is victory. I lost my father." Tsuna bluntly stated, his fist clenching tighter as his nails dug into his skin. "Tsu-kun?" His mother called him in a worried tone. Tsuna walked towards the staircase, and with every step he fought back his tears. "I will be in my room."

Throwing his bag near his bedside, Tsuna laid on the bed with his arm over his forehead. His tears fell down his cheeks as he silently sobbed in the quiet room. After a few minutes of crying silently, his phone beside him rang. "Hello?" He managed to mumble out. "Tsuna! Are you alright?" A familiar voice on the other end had asked. "Gokudera?" Tsuna managed to mumble out again, his voice tired.

"I heard the news. I'm truly sorry..." Gokudera had said, his voice soft. Tsuna gave out a small sigh and rolled over on his bed, "It is okay." There was a short moment of silence before his friend said something again, "We did win the war though..."

This caused Tsuna to give out a loud grumble. "So what? I lost my own father in the war. I do not see how this is victory, Gokudera." He felt his eyes water again. Gokudera let out a breath he did not know he had been holding. "Tsuna...Many men lost their lives. You father was not the only one." He explained to his friend, trying to calm him down.

Unfortunately, this caused Tsuna to let out a loud, frustrated growl. "Gokudera! You do not understand! It does not matter if we win or lose, and it does not matter how many men live! What matters is that lives had been lost, and that is not victory at all!" Gokudera fell silent when he heard his close friend's voice get louder. He was not usually like that.

"...I am sorry, Tsuna. I really am. I better not disturb you...See you in school tomorrow." And just like that, Gokudera hung up. Tsuna dumped the phone beside the pillow lazily, and looked up at the ceiling.

Japan won the war. This was supposed to be victory.

But to Tsuna, the boy who lost someone important and dear to him, this was not victory.

It was a loss.