Chapter 1: Natural Selection

"Ready to go, Tsuna?"

"Mhm...I'll see you after school, mom."

The sun had just begun to rise as Tsuna walked out the door. "Nice summer day, right?"

He smiled. "Yeah! You're right!"

"You're going to ace that history test, aren't you, Tsuna?"

"Uhhmm..."

"Tsuna."

"I'll do fine, I promise."

"Good."

He got into the car. "Kera-Taka?"

"What is it, Tsuna?"

"Are you always going to bring me to school?"

She gave him an annoyed look. "Do you not want me to?"

"A-Ah! I do, I do! I just wanted to thank you."

"No problem." She smiled and drove the car forward.

The school had come into view. "I promise," he said as he gathered his things. "I'll pass this test!"

She parked the car. "I hope so..." She pulled the keys from the ignition. "Oh, I've got the day off from school today. I'll be helping out around the school. Will you meet me for lunch?"

"Mhm!" He jumped out of the car. She had gotten out as well. She donned a purple tank-top, black skinny jeans, and a nice pair of flats. "You look pretty today, KT."

"Thank you."

They walked towards the front entrance of the Middle School. Children were recklessly romping around the school yard. Tsuna stopped to watch a game of Jacks. "Do you have your clothes for Gym, Tsuna?" KT turned to notice he had disappeared. "Tsuna!"

"Hiee!" He fell to the floor, the kids throwing Jacks at him. She ran over. "Tsuna, are you alright?"

He grabbed onto her, tears in his eyes. "Shh...it's okay, Tsuna. Tell me, what happened?"

"I was just watching them play," he sniffled.

"He was in the way!" One of the kids, Ty, said. She got up holding Tsuna, then set him down on his feet. "Come on, just ignore them."

He followed her all the way to his classroom. "KT, why am I so weak..."

She placed her hands on his shoulders. "You're young...you shouldn't need to fight."

Tsuna looked down. "I don't like being pushed around, especially by Ty! I want to be able to show those bullies what it feels like!"

The bell rang. "Good luck, Tsuna. Do well on your test."

"Okay..." He walked into the classroom.

"Okay children, turn in your tests."

~Oh no!~ Tsuna thought. ~I'm not finished! I promised KT I would pass!~

The class ran up to turn in their tests. "Class dismissed for lunch."

They all went out talking. "Did you finish, Tsunayoshi?"

"U-h, no ma'am..."

"If you can come in later, you may finish."

"Thank you, Sensei!" He got up and carried his test up to her, then ran out to find KT.

"KT!" Tsuna exclaimed as he jumped on her back. She gasped; surprised.

"There you are, I was getting worried about you."

"Sorry," he giggled. "Oh! I have to stay after...Sensei is letting me finish my test."

"What a nice teacher...I'll call your mom to let her know we'll be later than usual."

"Okay!" He got down from her back. "What's for lunch today?"

"Teriyaki Chicken over rice, Miso Soup, and rice cake."

"Yummy, let's go!"

The lunchroom was loud, the students all trying to speak over one another. Students were sectioned together by grade; 1st years, 2nd years and 3rd years. "Hey, Tsuna." She removed bento boxes from her bag. "Go grab chopsticks. I'll get a place to eat."

"Okay!" He ran off to on the search for chopsticks. KT set the lunches down at a table in the 2nd year's section. "Here you go," Tsuna said as he set down a pair of chopsticks. "Thank you," she replied. He sat down, and grabbed a pair of chopsticks. He shoved a large piece of chicken into his mouth. "Whoa, slow down Tsuna. Don't choke yourself."

He swallowed, "Sorry, I'm just really, really hungry."

He's really thin...is he fed enough at home? KT thought. "Aren't you going to drink the milk I brought for you?"

"Nuh-uh...I don't like milk. It tastes nasty."

"Really, I didn't know that you don't like milk..." That would explain his fragility... She smiled when she noticed the mess on his face. "You messy eater, you." KT took a napkin to his face and wiped the food off. Tsuna giggled.

"Whoops, hehe."

"Come on, silly boy. You need to finish your test."

"Right." He got up and walked away. Ty walked up to him and tripped him.

"HAHA look at Dame-Tsuna! He fell!" It seemed as if the entire student body was laughing at him. KT went to help him when she saw Ty crash to the floor, out cold. "No one disrupts the peace when I'm around." The ENTIRE room went silent. There stood, most probably, the scariest 3rd years' student in all of Japan. "K-Kyouya Hibari-San!"

"Nani, Herbivore. I'm not going to stand for anymore erratic behavior." He put a steel tonfa to Tsuna's neck.

"Hiee!"

KT threw a ninja star at the tonfa, and the weapon went clattering to the floor. "Hnn...?"

"Back off..."

"Wao..." Hibari side stepped and retrieved his lost tonfa. "Lucky Herbivore." He walked away.

"Are you alright, To-shi?" She lifted Tsuna up. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

"N-no..." He hugged her tight. "Thank you for saving me."

"I'll always be here for you...now lets get you back to the classroom so you can finish your test."

"Mhm..."

[After School]

The drive was quiet. "Do you mind if I run into the store to get something?"

Tsuna shook his head. "That's fine." He stared out the window.

"What's up? Are you tired?" KT asked as she parked her old Volkswagen in the lot. She ruffled his hair. "I'll be right back..."

"Kay..."

KT took her purse and walked to the store. Tsuna leaned his head against the window, and watched the birds fly from their perches on the electric wires.

[MEANWHILE]

"WE LOST THE LEFT ENGINE!"

"WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO AN AIRPORT! WE NEED TO JUMP!"

"BUT IT'S DANGEROUS TO LEAVE A CAREENING PLANE UNMANNED!"

"DO YOU WANT TO DIE?"

"NO..." The pilot looked out the window. "FINE...LET'S GO."

The plane was dropping altitude fast, and its speed had increased to dangerous levels. "JUMP ON 3! 1, 2, 3!" Both pilots jumped from the plane and released their parachutes. The plane spiraled for miles until it hit ground. The pilots could see smoke from their position on land. "I really hope no one got hurt."

"Natural Selection, my friend. Now lets go call for a ride."

[Back to KT]

The store shook. "EARTHQUAKE!" someone screamed. Then, from outside, came the sound of a large explosion. KT heard the screaming and yelling of people as they ran out of the store to see exactly what had caused the sound. She dropped all she was carrying and ran for the front of the store. Smoke, fire, and the remains of what had been a 2 man aircraft was all that was visible. Her heart seemed to stop in her chest. "T..Tsuna...TSUNA!" She ran out of the store and plowed through the crowd of people. "TSUNA!" More flames erupted as she reached the front of the crowd. "NO!" KT tried to run forward, but a man caught her arms. "Don't! It's too dangerous!"

"TSUNA!" She closed her eyes, failing to hold back tears. "TSUNA!"

Her voice faded into the crackling of the flames.